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OBITUARIES Ernest L. Popp PG. 5
2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Vol. 165, No. 50
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Sauk Rapids, Rice buildings close to public access
Community pulls together
Cities maintain daily routines through COVID-19 crisis
in COVID-19 crisis
BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the cities of Sauk Rapids and Rice closed their doors to the public this week. “Everybody needs to remain calm; stay home if you can, make sure to wash your hands and all the things that keep your family safe,” said Ross Olson, Sauk Rapids City Administrator. “If you do need city services, city professionals and employees are here to serve. Make sure to reach out, look on our website and social media for contact information. We are at the government center, and we are ready to serve.” The Sauk Rapids Government Center and the city’s buildings will be closed to the public through April 1. The March 23 city council meeting is canceled,
Lunch, coffee, childcare being offered BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – The COVID-19 outbreak is evident in the Sauk Rapids and Rice communities. Restaurants have closed, schools are no longer in session, and large gatherings and church services have been canceled. As people heed warnings and begin to distance themselves from others, those who can are stepping up to services now void in the community. In addition to the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, Manea’s Meats decided to offer free lunches for children after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz signed Executive Order 2002 ordering public schools to close from March 18 through March 27. The lunches include turkey and cheese sand-
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PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
Megan Tomford makes sandwiches March 17 at Manea’s Meats in Sauk Rapids. The sandwiches are included in free bag lunches for children whose schools have closed due to Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order regarding the spread of COVID-19.
Responding to COVID-19, Benton County approves emergency declaration Confirms first coronavirus case BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Benton County commissioners approved an emergency declaration at its board meeting March 17 in response to COVID-19, the
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PUBLIC NOTICES
ing the school district to close its doors to students until further notice. Heck said the novel coronavirus. The first and only confirmed first case was confirmed case in Benton County in the county March 15. resulted in other indiCommissioners also viduals, who are high to voted to temporarily close medium risk of having its Department of Mocontracted the virus, to be tor Vehicles, which saw tested too. Ruhoff said the more than 1,000 customMinnesota Department of ers in the last two weeks; Health is in contact with the at-risk people, getGRAPHIC COURTESY OF BENTON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ting recommendations for A graph shows the impact of protective measures, such as social distancing, amid the onset of COVID-19 in the United States. testing and quarantine. Ruhoff said Gov. Tim Protective measures are recommended to prevent the disease from Walz’s move to close bars, overrunning health care resources. restaurants, health clubs and entertainment venues March 16 was an effort to “flatten the curve” – a reference to a now widelyspread graphic stemming from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing the contrast between the results of taking preventative measures and not. According to the graph, if successful preventative measures are taken it will expand the • Mortgage Foreclosures (5) - pg. 12,13 and 14 amount of time the virus • Benton County Ditch Authority Public Notice - pg. 14 spreads to the population • Watab Township Advertisement for Bids - pg. 14 but will not overwhelm • Benton County Request for Proposals - pg. 14 the health care system’s • Benton County Board of Commissioners Reg. Meeting Minutes, March 3, 2020 - pg. 12 Benton County • Benton County Deliquent Tax List - pg. 8B, 9B and 10B waived its remote work policies; discussed furloughing the least violent offenders in the Benton County Jail system; and discussed temporarily cutting services from the human services department. “Anyone released from jail will be a non-violent, low-risk offender,”
Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said. Benton County Public Health Supervisor Nicole Ruhoff told the Benton County Board that the person who tested positive for the coronavirus is in their 50s and at home in isolation. The person had an affiliation with Foley Public Schools, prompt-
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