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Saturday, June 6, 2020
Vol. 166, No. 9 • Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Scoring high on scholarship funds Conway earns $20,500 to aid with NDSU education BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – When Kyle Conway scored a 30 on the American College Testing, or ACT, exam, he was not completely satisfied, even leaving the test incomplete due to time constraints. “I knew I could do better,” Conway said. “I completely winged it and didn’t s t u d y much at all, but I knew if I wanted a chance at more scholarships, I w o u l d Kyle Conway have to take the test again.” After experience with the first test and a practice exam, Conway, son of Linda and Jim Conway, entered the exam a second time. His second score was 34.
Conway page 4
Back to
business PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
Emilee King (from left), Lizzie Trudell and Deb Kawlewski drink coffee outside of Rock Creek Coffeehouse June 1 in Sauk Rapids. Rock Creek is open for walk-in ordering along with outdoor seating.
Reopening page 2
Every lock tells a story Sauk Rapids couple find special meaning in padlocks
Sauk Rapids mayor runs uncontested
BY EVAN MICHEALSON STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Alissa Guerrero was a junior in high school when she first visited Paris. Loaded with sentimentality, the City of Love was eye-opening for the high schooler. She fell in love immediately, even before she came across the Pont de l’Archeveche bridge. Known for its romantic reputation, the bridge used to offer a memorable tradition for tourists. Padlocks known affectionately as love locks would be attached to the bridge, hanging there as a symbol of love. Unfortunately, the bridge removed the now-famous display after the fencing was damaged due to the sheer weight of the thousands of locks placed upon it. Despite its removal, seeing it in-person was lifechanging for Alissa. “I thought it was the coolest thing ever,” she said. “It was just romantic. I’m deeply senti-
Filing period closes for some elected positions
SAUK RAPIDS – Filing periods for federal, state and some local elected positions ended June 2. Voters will narrow candidates in races for Minnesota’s representatives in Congress as well as the state legislators of Senate District 14 and Representative District 15B in the Aug. 11 primary. Early voting takes place by mail or in-person June 26Aug. 10. All other races will be decided upon during the Nov. 3 general election. PHOTO BY EVAN MICHEALSON
Alissa and Miah Guerrero stand in their backyard June 2 in Sauk Rapids. The Guerreros have lived together in Sauk Rapids for almost four years. (Left) A love lock sits in the hands of Alissa and Miah Guerrero June 2 in Sauk Rapids. Engraved with the words, “You are my home,” this lock was originally placed on the love lock fence near the promenade at Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset Park.
mental, so I think that’s probably why more than anything. All of those locks are like stories of people and love.” Alissa’s story supports this notion.
Lock page 3
OBITUARIES
• Elizabeth J. Luberts
PUBLIC NOTICES
U.S. State Senator*: Kevin O’Connor, Oliver Steinberg, John Berman, Bob “Again” Carney Jr., Cynthia Gail, Jason Lewis, James Reibestein,
Filings page 5
ST R
Publications
• Benton County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing - pg. 5 • City of Rice Notice of Public Hearing - pg. 5 The newspaper of today • Benton County Board of Commissioners Reg. Meeting is the history of tomorrow. Notice, May 19, 2020 - pg. 9
NEWS
Page 2 | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
LARGE GREY EAGLE, MN AREA REGISTERED HOLSTEIN & FARM EQUIPMENT
AUCTION TUES., JUNE 16TH, 2020 • 10:30 A.M.
LOCATED: 1.3 miles northwest of Grey Eagle, MN on MN State 287 then ¼ mile west on County Rd #6 to farm #28880
Restaurants, salons welcome return of customers BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
126 HEAD OF HIGH-QUALITY REGISTERED HOLSTEINS SELL UNDERCOVER Note: One of this area’s leading herds, Official DHIA 2X 25,054 M, 3.95% 987F, 3.15 775 P, 88# tank ave. from beautiful udders, 15 over 100# & up to 140#, SCC 66,000. AI bred for decades with 10 Progressive Genetics Awards. Leading sires & service sires inc. Hashtag, Wiggins, Frazzle, Phantom, Zamboni, Supersire, Poole, Go Fast Red, Sexed Dynamo and the list goes on, milked in tiestall facility, cows are switched at times, accustomed to head locks and free stalls. 106.6 BAA, 4 exc., 22 VG & 29 good plus. Excellent herd health program, nice selection of red and whites. To order your catalog ph. 320-760-2979 or view online at www.midamericanauctioninc.com
SAUK RAPIDS – June 1 was a big day for the businesses in Minnesota. Restaurants and
bars resumed outdoor, in-person dining after being ordered to close their doors March 17, and hair and beauty salons reopened with restrictions in place.
Bars and restaurants are allowed a seating capacity of 50 people and reservations are required. Tables are limited to four people or family units of six or less. Staff mem-
INCLUDES: 65 Fancy Young Registered mature females, 4 Red and Whites, 48 1st and 2nd lact., a large group just fresh and in peak production with several due sale time on.
BRED & OPEN HEIFERS
Note: 14 of the following heifers are over 2500 Gtpi
16 Heifers, several will be just fresh and due sale time on, 1 R&W 9 Short Bred Heifers 36 Fancy Open Heifers from babies to breeding age inc, 2 R&W HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: Gerel, 90 pt. 3 yr old. Heisenberg, 2676 Gtpi, Dam is Dom with 5 daughters selling; Crimson, 86 pt. Rager Red just fresh; Riddle, 90 pt. Halogen out of 91 pt. Lauren, fresh Nov and milking 117#; Elinor, 87 pt. Supersire, fresh Nov, serviced to Sexed Delta, 103#; Schillview Sandy Glista 92 pt. Dom, Daughters, Grand Daughters and Great Grand Daughters sell; Goldfish, fancy 85 pt. 3 yr. old Silver fresh late Dec & milking 100#, she is the dam of the Dairy Star 2018 Christmas Heifer. SHOW PROSPECTS INCLUDE: Bethany, fancy June 19 Tetris out of 85 pt. Silver & Cinnamon R&W Diamondback Fall Calf, dam is 86 pt. Larson. ALSO SELLING: Select farm machinery, late model Penta stationary TMR, several skid loader attachments inc. bale slicer, unused grooming chute, calf huts, bulk bins, silage, and much more.
Merlin (from left) and Diane Berndt eat lunch and have a cold beer June 1 at the Old Creamery Café in Rice while socializing with owner Mark Larson. Larson added a patio in the business’s north parking lot.
bers are required to wear masks, single-use menus are mandatory, and indoor bathrooms may only be accessed by one person at a time. When weather foils plans, customers may shelter inside only long enough to box food and pay for orders. At barbershops, salons and spas, everyone – staff and clientele – must wear masks. Customers are also screened with temperature readings and questions upon arrival. Even though restrictions are in place, community members rallied by scheduling appointments with their local business owners.
Reopening page 12
City of Rice to open facilities Council grants outdoor seating permits
ROHDE DAIRY, OWNERS
28880 COUNTY 6, GREY EAGLE, MN
Jeff & Korinna Rohde Ph. Jeff 320-304-3608, Korinna 320-219-0866
BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
R-23-1-B-MK
ities June 2 after the Rice City Council approved the reopening the evening STEVE PETERSON, Holstein USA - PH. 218-849-2238 RICE – The city of prior. The city closed its FOR COMPLETE LISTING SEE: www.midamericanauctioninc.com Rice opened its city facil- buildings in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with Minnesota’s stay-at-home order at that time. WE CUT, GRIND, Sheet Metal & Heating, Inc. City offices are open AND MULCH ALL IN ONE! Emergency for walk-in business and 24 Hour facilities such as Old VilServices lage Hall and the Lions Residential/Commercial building at Westside Park • Sales • Service • Installation can be rented as long as JORDAN VANHEEL • Heating & Air Conditioning state and federal health 320-493-5463 • Qualitylandworks@gmail.com Call for Free Estimate! measures are followed. Forestry mulching, food plots, stump grinding, fence line clearing, field “You have to start 320.252.1371 edges, property lines, lot clearing, brush removal, pasture clearing. somewhere,” Mayor Briwww.lyonheating.com an Skroch said. City clerk Julie Fandel will issue a hand out License #BC681135 of guidelines when keys for the building are picked up. The guidelines will be forwarded to groups who use the buildings routinely and will also be posted on the building doors. The buildings will be cleaned as normal by public works staff and used at people’s own risk. Rental Locally Owned parties and groups will & Operated be responsible for cleaning and sanitizing after events as normal. People Free Estimates | In-Home Financing can choose to sanitize the areas prior to events for Licensed & Insured extra precaution. As the state reopened Call for a FREE Estimate and Consultation limited outdoor dining for bars and restaurants, Erik: 320-761-5909 • Josh: 320-339-4540 the city also approved Office: 844-275-4776 accommodations for its businesses. 3622 30th Street SE #2 • St. Cloud, MN 56304 A temporary outdoor seating permit was WWW.MY EX TER IO R P R O.CO M approved. The permits, STAR+RF23-1B-RB
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which have no fee, are effective through Aug. 2. The permit allows city staff and emergency personnel to review a site plan and ensure state liquor laws are being followed. The next Rice City Council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. June 15. The council plans to pass a resolution changing its regular meeting time to 6 p.m. permanently at that meeting. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the council was meeting at 7 p.m. In other council news: – Approved a bid of $91,039.36 from Burski Excavating Inc., of Rice, for the First Avenue Northeast and Third Avenue Northwest road construction projects. The motion was not to exceed an amount over 18% of the bid for added engineering fees. The lowest bid of four for the projects was Minnesota Paving and Materials, of Rogers, at $88,749. The city chose the local company as Burski’s bid was less than $3,000 higher and their employees are familiar with the city’s roadways. The city had $77,709 set aside for street projects with another $77,668 in an uncommitted fund where funds can be drawn from. – Approved placing a water tower rehabilitation project, water supply well and pump house project, and water main looping project on the state’s
intended use plan with hopes to retain state funding. – Approved sending the city’s newsletter via the Sauk Rapids Herald newspaper June 20. Fandel estimates the city will save over $300, distributing the newsletter this way. Copies will also be available by email, the city’s website and postal mail should someone not receive the newspaper and would like the newsletter. – Approved discontinuing the senior discount for utility bills. Skroch was the only person who voted in opposition. Prior to the vote, council member Paula Kampa said she had researched whether or not the city could provide a discount or if it was considered age discrimination in a legal sense. She said the city would not have an issue allowing a senior discount, but should, if the council continues or reinstates at a later time, provide specific parameters for verifying such discounts and the program should be monitored. Kampa said the city discovered some households were receiving the discount even though the person listed on the water bill was deceased. “I’m not saying that I don’t think we owe our seniors something, but I think we really have to have it right,” Kampa said.
NEWS
Lock
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 3
from front
In 2015, she received a chance to place a love lock of her own when her thenrboyfriend Miah Guerrero ssurprised her with a trip to -Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset yPark, where they placed a elock along the promenade. nThe small but thoughtful -action is one Alissa thinks eback to regularly. x “The theory is, you put a lock on the wall, and -it seals your love,” Alissa –said. “It’s just a neat, senttimental thing that doesn’t shurt anything. It doesn’t hcost that much. It’s just da nice, sweet, romantic thing to do.” The couple placed -a second lock June 12, d2016, when Alissa moved -from her hometown of lDyersville, Iowa, to Sauk Rapids, where Miah lived. Inscribed on this padlock was, “You are my home.” To the Guerreros, these locks offer a simplistic yet affection gesture to hold onto. “I’m a romantic when it comes down to it,” Miah said. “I really like the idea of having public, sentimental things. Whoever decided it was a good idea to put a lock on the wall, and how old were they? Where are they now? It’s cool.” With the park closing due to a major reconstruction project May 19, however, the fate of the Guerreros’ locks, along with
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Alissa Guerrero holds up a love lock June 15, 2015, at Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset Park in Sauk Rapids. The Iowa native, fascinated with love lock bridges, had an opportunity to place her own lock.
the other tokens of love, were unknown. Alissa and Miah made their way to the park days before it closed, eventually finding their second love lock and removing it from the fence. “I just thought, in a time where it feels like there’s not a lot of good news, to do something where your story matters,” Alissa said. “I just wanted to say, ‘I don’t want my lock torn up.’” Alissa realized, scanning the simplistic beauty of the locks lining the park fence, that she did not want to see other people’s locks torn up either. As a former photographer, she said there is a lot to be said about an object and the story behind it. “For me, it’s about the story, it’s the relationship,”
66th Wedding Anniversary
Alissa said. “Maybe someone would have come here and a person they loved may have passed away and now they have the lock there. It’s something (that) would be important to them.” In unlatching their prized possession from the fence, an idea formed. What if there was a way to track all of the oncelovestruck couples who left their mark by the Mississippi River? “If I got a hold of (the locks), I was planning to take a picture of the front and the back, putting it on Facebook, and putting it out to the world, the universe, and say, ‘Hey, anybody here?’” Alissa said. “There are things out there that are really meaningful that people can connect to other people with. It would be a fun thing to do.” The city of Sauk Rapids is exploring options
regarding the locks that remain at the park, according to Ross Olson, city administrator. Since the locks were originally placed, the Sauk Rapids couple has married, with Miah proposing atop the Ferris wheel at Betty Danger’s Country Club in Minneapolis and a ceremony being held at the Benton County Fairgrounds in October 2018. With a blended family consisting of five children, they have found comfort and sustained happiness in central Minnesota. Certainly, the landscapes between Paris and Sauk Rapids are drastically different. But the Guerreros see a similarity between the love lock promenade in Sauk Rapids and the Eiffel Tower, a staple of Paris; it looks completely different than everyone else around it, but people come to love it. “It’s nice for the kids to see a thing that people do for each other, that they appreciate, so they can hopefully get something similar to that in their life,” Miah said.
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Sauk Rapids releases two firefighters Cites troubling social media posts
SAUK RAPIDS – The city of Sauk Rapids released two volunteer firefighters Monday after becoming aware of the men’s social media activity. According to a statement released by city officials June 1, two members of the Sauk Rapids Fire Department made troubling comments on social media regarding the protests taking place following the death of George Floyd – an African-American man who died while in custody of the Minneapolis Police Department May 25. Unite Cloud, a non-profit working to reduce racial, religious and cultural tensions in central Minnesota, as well as area residents, called for the city of Sauk Rapids to part ways with the two individuals – confirmed by city administrator Ross Olson as Tyler Heinen and Tom Muehlbauer – and asked the city for a public apology. “The city of Sauk Rapids takes the concerns that have been raised regarding these comments seriously,” said the letter signed by Mayor Kurt Hunstiger, Olson, Fire Chief Jason Fleming, and Police Chief Perry Beise. “The comments in no way reflect the position of the city of Sauk Rapids, its fire department, city staff or the city council and are contrary to the core values and mission of the city of Sauk Rapids and Sauk Rapids Fire Department.” The letter goes on to say the city’s code of conduct prohibits violence and threatening, harassing, intimidating and other disruptive behavior, and threats of violence and racism are unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the city. Peaceful protests as well as looting, rioting and property damage have taken place in Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as across the country since Floyd’s death. The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to assist law enforcement in the Twin Cities metro area, and Minneapolis estimates at least $55 million in damages thus far. Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was filmed kneeling on Floyd’s neck while Floyd called for help prior to his death. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder. Three other former officers – Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, are charged with aiding and abetting. A peaceful memorial and protest took place in St. Cloud May 29 after area businesses closed early and boarded buildings in preparation for the unexpected.
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Ernie and Helen Thompson Ernie and Helen Thompson, of Sauk Rapids, were married June 2, 1954, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton. The couple celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this week. The Thompsons have lived in Sauk Rapids since 1966, and they raised their five children here. They have nine grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren. No celebration is planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What’s Happening Monday, June 8, 6 p.m. – Sauk Rapids City Council Meeting. Consult city staff for virtual access details.
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NEWS
Page 4 | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
District graduates receive scholarships SRRHS presents though virtual event SAUK RAPIDS – Sauk RapidsRice High School class of 2020 students were presented with scholarships to assist them in attaining a post-secondary education May 20. Via a virtual presentation, community members announced
scholarship recipients. The virtual ceremony can be viewed at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=VCFhAMYHnU&feature=youtu.be.
Benton Communications...............................................................................................Sidney Simmons Benton County Historical Society ...............................................................................Morgan Hoffman Rice American Legion Post 473 ......Madeline Bittman, Ryan Burgardt, Savannah Henkel, Alexa Martin, Leah Mohs, Morgan Paulson, Morgan Thompson, Hannah Van Derveer and Breanna Westby Central Minnesota Farm Show ........................................................................................... Noah Steffes Change the Culture ......................................................................................................................Tai Lam Coborn’s Inc. .......................................................................................................................... Bailey Bauer East Central Energy ...................................................................Madeline Bittman and Savannah Henkel Farmers and Merchants State Bank..................................................... Josh Krebs and Breanna Westby Tanner Fuls Memorial-Sauk Rapids Youth Baseball ..........................Madeline Fuls and Derek Durant Gray, Plant, Mooty Kyle Conway Gridiron to Grandparents .................................................................................................Tyler Summers Julie Ann Hanson Memorial .............................................. Madeline Fuls, Grant Hiltner, Elizabeth Julius and Morgan Thompson Kiwanis..................................................................................................................................... Ellise Fedor Kopp Family Foundation .................................................... Jacob Anderson, Sydney Simmons, Savanna Youngren and Megan Wahlin
HRA earmarks $100,000 in relief
Conway from front
Sauk Rapids business grants available for those impacted by COVID-19 SAUK RAPIDS – The Sauk Rapids Housing and Redevelopment Authority has set aside $100,000 to provide relief for area businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a letter drafted for area businesses by the city of Sauk Rapids, $5,000 grants are available to businesses that closed or partially closed (limited operations) after March 15 as a direct result of COVID-19 related government restrictions. The business has to prove a reduction in gross revenue in order to be eligible. The grants are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Nonprofits, professional service occupations and retail businesses with more than 25 employees are not eligible for the program. Funds from the grant can be used for modifications to real estate or changes to the business environment in order to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Health guidelines. These modifications include installing barriers to provide physical distancing and the purchase or lease of furniture for exterior dining. Expenditures can be made before or after application but must be made after March 15 and prior to Aug. 31. Questions about the program can be directed to Todd Schultz, community development director, at 320-258-5315, tschultz@ci.sauk-rapids.mn.us
2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135 Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 (320) 251-1971 Sauk Rapids Herald (USPS 21690) is published weekly, 52 times a year, by Star Publications, 2 2nd Ave S, Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379-1651. Second-class Postage paid at Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Sauk Rapids Herald, 2 2nd Ave S, Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379-1651.
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He learned to pace himself quicker on the exam and went with his initial response to each of the questions. Conway sits well above the state average score of 21.4 and the national average score of 20.7. Sauk RapidsRice High School had an average composite score of 22.1 for 2019, an increase from 20.7 in 2018. It was the best average for the school since 2015. A perfect score for the ACT is 36. Because of his exam’s high score, Conway received three scholarships totaling $20,500 over four years of college education and unlocked his admission to North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. “Kyle did an exceptional job on the ACT,” said Karl Nohner, principal at
Barb Mingo Honorary ....................................................................................................... Megan Wahlin Minnesota Honor Society .............................................................................................Savannah Henkel PineCone Vision Center................................................................................................ Olivia MacDonald Rapids River Food Fest .........................................................Nikkita Presler, Cora Weirens, Trace Wagner and Paige Mattson Rice Area Sportsmen Club .................................................................... Nikkita Presler and Grant Hiltner Rice Lions Club ............Gavin Fuchs, Alexandra O’Brien, Hillarie Markfort, Derek Durant, Anneka Meinke, Renae van der Hagen and Durham Welch St. Cloud Morning Optimist Club .....................................................................................Ben Gilbertson St. Cloud Orthopedics ....................................................................................................Chloe Stockinger Bill Sandy Pheasants Forever ........................................................................................ Thomas Daniels Sauk Rapids Citizen of the Year ..................................................Trygve Hanson and Morgan Thompson Sauk Rapids High School Class of 1969 .................................................................... Kaleigh Jorgenson Sauk Rapids Lions Club ..........................................................................................................Brady Pesta Tinville Lions Club........................................................................................ Leah Mohs and Alexa Martin Sauk Rapids-Rice Education Association ...................................Abigail Neisen and McKenna Brannen Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Staff ............. Ryan Burgardt, Morgan Paulson and Hanna Lauderbaugh Sauk Rapids-Rice Music Boosters ............................. Ryan Burgardt, Alexa Martin and Morgan Paulson Sauk Rapids Student Rotarian ....................................................................................... Ryan Burgardt Sauk Rapids Sportsmen’s Club ....................................................................................... Thomas Daniels Sauk Rapids VFW Post 6992 ........................................................Morgan Paulson and Savannah Henkel Silverstreak Dairies .................................................................................................................Leah Mohs Stearns Bank .............................................................................................Gavin Fuchs and Julia Donovan Storm Backcourt Club ......................................................... Josh Krebs, Josh Schloe and Landry Seaman Storm Dance Team....................................................................................Erin Nelson and Megan Wahlin Storm Football Endzone Club ................................................................ Josh Krebs and Landry Seaman Kyle John Thompson Hockey Memorial...............................................................................Brady Pesta SRRHS. “He was part of a larger group of students at SRRHS who faired well above average on the 2019 test. I am not surprised at the scholarship awards for Kyle, not only because he is an exceptional student, but because of his level of involvement in a large amount of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and events.” Conway received the NDSU Presidential Honor Award in the amount of $12,000. The scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen with a composite ACT score of 32 or higher, or SAT equivalent of 1,400 in math and critical reading, who have earned a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.5 at the time of admission and upon graduation. It requires four consecutive years of continuous fulltime undergraduate study at NDSU and to maintain a 2.5 cumulative college GPA. It is dispersed $3,000 per year. Conway also earned
Advertising: Our ad takers have no authority to bind this newspaper, and only publication of an advertisement shall constitute final acceptance of the advertiser’s order. Subscription Rates: Free in Sauk Rapids and Rice P.O. boxes, city routes and rural routes. Benton, Stearns or Sherburne Counties - $50 per year Other counties and outside Minnesota - $55 per year, $5 per month for snowbirds
an $8,000 scholarship from the Doosan and Bobcat Company, dispersed at $2,000 per year. The scholarship is awarded to incoming freshmen with a minimum 3.5 GPA with a high ACT or SAT score, with preference given to students majoring in engineering, computer science, mathematics, statistics or management information systems. He also received a $500 scholarship from Gray Plant Mooty, of St. Cloud. “NDSU was my top choice, but without the scholarships, I may not have been able to attend,” Conway said. “I was considering St. Cloud State University as well because my mom works there and it is close to home.” Conway will attend NDSU beginning in fall and will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He hopes to work for a company in the private sector. As Conway has pre-
pared for his future after high school, he said the variety of classes have helped him and solidified his plan to be involved in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics profession. The further he was into his high school career, he realized mechanical engineering was the best fit. Classes at SRRHS also helped him prepare for the ACT exam. When going into any test, Conway said he is calm. “Don’t stress about the test,” Conway said. “It only makes you less able to perform.” As far as earning the scholarships, Conway encourages others to apply for everything. “There were a few scholarships I missed out on, so apply to absolutely everything you can,” Conway said. “I saw myself best at NDSU and these scholarships helped me attain that.”
Letters: Letters to the editor and other opinion articles are welcomed. Letters must be signed with first and last name and include address and phone number. Letters should be short and to the point (400 words or less). We reserve the right to edit lengthy letters. Corrections/Clarifications: The Herald strives for accuracy. If you would like to report a factual error, please call (320) 251-1971.
Deadlines: The deadline for most news in the Herald is noon on Wednesday. Exceptions are obituaries which have a deadline of 10 a.m. Thursday. The deadline for advertisements in the Herald is 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Mark Klaphake Joyce Frericks Missy Traeger Natasha Barber Maria Bichler Anna Hinkemeyer Evan Michealson Jakob Kounkel Pat Turner Amanda Thooft Maddy Peterson
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NEWS/OBITUARY
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 5
County gives aid to CARE, offers final projects approval Board talks COVID-19 as it shuts down emergency operations center BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – On a diverse day of decisionmaking June 2, the Benton County Board of Commissioners granted the nonprofit Community Action Respecting Elders $5,000 as the organization toils to find new sources of revenue. The board also talked COVID-19, awarded a bid for a trail project in Foley and approved the final draft application for the Bend in rthe River Regional Park eto be officially designated eas a regional park. d CARE is a 16-yeardold Foley nonprofit that ,helps people ages 60 and older with essential needs, elike grocery shopping for healthy food and supplies eand transportation to routine checkups. It relies on fundraising, donations
and grants to operate. The $5,000 granted to CARE from the county is on top of $5,000 already given to the nonprofit by the county earlier this year. However, due to restrictions imposed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, CARE lost one-third of its funding, according to Connie Cardinal, executive director of the organization. Cardinal said the organization projects a $40,000 loss this year. “I don’t know how to make that up,” Cardinal said. “I’m asking for your help.” The board moved to grant CARE the requested $5,000. Benton County Board Chair Spencer Buerkle said he would bring the issue to the Central Minnesota Council of Aging to further address the shortage.
e
Filings from front
tSteve Carlson, Ahmad Hassan, Paula Overby, Christopher Lovell Seymore Sr. and Tina Smith e(incumbent).
U.S. Representative District 6*: Tom Emmer (incumbent), Patrick Munro tand Tawnja Zahradka
MN Sen. District 13: Jeff Howe (incumbent) and dMichael Willemsen dMN Sen. District 14*: Jaden Partlow, Jerry Relph (incumbent) and Aric Putnam MN Sen. District 15: Andrew Mathews (incumbent) and Brent Krist MN Rep. District 13B: Tim O’Driscoll (incumbent) and Benjamin Carollo MN Rep. District 14B: Paul Brandmire and Dan Wolgamott (incumbent) MN Rep. District 15B*: Myron Wilson, Shane Mekeland (incumbent), John Ulrick and Ron Thiessen
Benton County Commissioners District 1: Scott Johnson, Anthony Neis, Christine Scherbing and Christopher Winkelman District 4: Jared Gapinski and Richard “Dick” Soyka District 5: A. Jake Bauerly (incumbent) and Beth Schlangen Benton County Soil and Water Supervisors District 1: Wade Bastian (incumbent) District 4: Bernie Thole (incumbent) District 5: Charles Rau (incumbent) City of Sauk Rapids Mayor: Kurt Hunstiger (incumbent) Council (elect two): David Rixe, Nicholas Sauer (incumbent), Dottie Seamans (incumbent)
City of Sartell Council (elect two): Mike Chisum (incumbent), Aaron Johnson, Alex Lewandowski and Associate Justice Su- Jill Smith preme Court 4: Michelle MacDonald and Paul *Election fields narrowed Thissen (incumbent) during the Aug. 11 primaAll court of appeals and ry election. Seventh District Court judges are running unopposed.
After the board approved CARE’s grant request, it moved into its routine COVID-19 update but with a more enlightening tone. Emergency management director Jim McDermott said the county is shutting down the physical emergency operations center and reallocating some employees to their normal duties. He said the county’s public health supervisor, Nicole Ruhoff, does not need the additional resource at this time. Ruhoff said the county has completed 142 case contact investigations with an 80% contact rate. There were only two COVID-19 patients that refused to answer questions. She also said Minnesota has hopefully hit the peak infection rate, and she hopes the state will start seeing a steady decline. As for the Foley trail project, which was initiated by the city of Foley, commissioners awarded the project to Helmin Construction for $109,833.20. The city of Foley received federal grant dollars to construct a trail that runs from Norway Drive to Birch Drive within the highway rightof-way of County Road 25 in Foley. The project came in 2.1% higher than estimated, county engineer Chris Byrd said, but the city is responsible for all costs exceeding the grant award. Benton County is the fiscal agent for the project, meaning it facilitates the cash flow, which is why it awarded the bid. The Foley City Council approved the bid and final details of the project at its meeting June 2. On a late addition and the last item on the agenda, commissioners approved the final draft
application to be submitted to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission, a collective effort between Stearns and Benton counties. Benton and Stearns counties joined forces after both were denied regional park designation, which is the only avenue for the Bend in the River and Mississippi River County Park to receive state legacy grant funding. The two counties submitted a joint application to get the parks officially designated as regional parks. The final draft plans for future renovations and additional trails, which hundreds of public comments flooded in to support, Headley said. In other board news: – Amnesty Days remains scheduled for June 27 at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. – Pulled from the consent agenda for extra discussion was a request for permits for five special events, the earliest slated for July 24, hosted by Rollie’s Rednecks and Longnecks in Sauk Rapids. The county attorney and sheriff signed off on the permits, but commissioners are concerned about the first event and whether it will be allowed by the state due to potential pandemic restrictions. Buerkle was confident the private business would figure it out and was enthusiastic a private company found a way to host an event outdoors. Commissioners approved the request unanimously, contingent on state orders.
Public Notice CITY OF RICE COUNTY OF BENTON STATE OF MINNESOTA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the City of Rice Planning Commission at 6:00 pm on Monday June 15th, 2020 at the Rice City Hall, 205 Main Street East, Rice, MN 56367 for the purpose of hearing from the public, considering, and making recommendation to the City Council regarding a Conditional Use Permit for the following property currently zoned General Business (I-2): 500 Division St N PID 15004700 to digitize the north face of the billboard sign. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to comment, testify, or present evidence at the hearing. Dated: June 2nd, 2020 Julie Fandel City Clerk City of Rice, MN R-23-1B
Elizabeth J. Luberts
Mass of Christian Burial will be at a later date at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell for Elizabeth “Betsy” J. Luberts, age 64, who passed away June 1, 2020, at her home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, Sauk Rapids. Betsy was born April 1, 1956, in Little Falls to Ernest “Ernie” and Theresa (Czech) Burggraff. She graduated from St. Cloud Technical College with a degree in nursing. Betsy married Patrick Luberts Oct. 11, 1975, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls. She worked as a certified nursing assistant for CentraCare for 40 years, retiring in 2016. Betsy was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church where she was very involved in the prayer list. She was also a member of the Hope Chest Cancer Support Group. Betsy enjoyed four wheeling, volleyball, fishing, traveling, picking blueberries, spending time at the cabin, Monday Lunch Ladies Group, taking trips with the volleyball girls, family reunions in Bowlus, and spending time with her grandkids. She was strong, supportive, helpful, always willing
Elizabeth J. Luberts
to listen, and always impacted people and made connections. Most importantly she was most proud of her family. Survivors include her husband, Patrick “Pat” of Sauk Rapids; son and daughter, Brian of San Diego, California, and Angela (Matt) Fox of Sartell; mother, Theresa Burggraff of Little Falls; sisters and brothers, Sue (Greg) Brown, Mary Kay (Doug) Cook, Jane (Tim) Bauerly, Dave (Donna) Burggraff, Joe (Melanie) Burggraff, Kris (Kenny) Brausen, Kevin (Janet) Burggraff, and Julie (Tony) Lukasavitz; grandchildren, Ava and Ethan Fox; and many nieces and nephews. Betsy was preceded in death by her father; and son, Eric. Obituary, guest book and video tribute available online at https:// www.williamsdingmann. com R-23-1B
Public Notice NOTICE OF CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on June 18th, 2020 the Benton County Board of Adjustment will conduct a public hearing remotely*, beginning at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following: 1. 7:00 p.m. Erik and Jessie Wheeler requesting a variance to construct a dwelling 79ft from the centerline of a county road (125ft required) in the R-3 Residential District. Pursuant to Sections 7.6.6(B)(1)(a) and 11.5. The affected property is described as follows: part of Gov’t Lot 1, Section 22, Watab Township. *Effective immediately, the Benton County Board of Adjustment will conduct its regular, special or emergency meetings by telephone or other electronic means, as permitted by MN Statutes §13D.021. Some or all Board members may participate by telephone or other electronic means until further notice. At least one member of the Board of Adjustment or the County Department of Development Director will be present during meetings at the Board of Adjustment’s regular meeting location, which is the County Board Room in Foley, unless otherwise noted on meeting notices. Pursuant to MN Statutes §13D.021, Subdivision 3, the County will provide the means for persons to electronically monitor such meetings remotely. In person public comments will not be heard, to conform to MDH and CDC guidelines to minimize gatherings. You may submit written testimony by emailing Roxanne Achman at Roxanne.Achman@co.benton.mn.us or by mailing it to the Benton County Department of Development, 531 Dewey St, PO Box 129, Foley, MN 56329. Written testimony must be received by 3pm on the day of the hearing. The public can join meeting from their computer, tablet or smartphone. https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/687827373 You can also dial in using your phone. Phone: 1 (872) 240-3212 Access Code: 687-827-373 New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts: https://global.gotomeeting. com/install/687827373 FR-23-1B
FOR RENT Two Bedroom Private Apartment - in residential area in Sauk Rapids. Includes heat, central air, water, sewer, garbage. Garage with automatic opener. Three-season porch, patio. Available immediately. $1,000 per month. Sorry, no pets. Outside smoking only. Call 320-251-6278 or 320-250-1488. References and background check required. R-23-1B
EDITORIAL
Page 6 | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
Mechanical damage to trees It is difficult to keep our trees free of diseases, insects and suffering from droughts, but tree owners can avoid causing mechanical damage to their trees. The outer bark of a tree protects the cambium or inner bark which is immediately GREEN & GROWING underneath the outer IN BENTON COUNTY bark. The cambium con- BY LINDA G. TENNESON tains the vascular system for the tree. Therefore, damage to this inner layer stops water and nutrients from traveling from the roots to the branches of the tree. Trees have a capability to compartmentalize or seal off small damaged areas, but if the damage goes all the way around a tree, water and nutrients have no way to travel to the canopy and the tree will die. Injured bark is also an area where insects and diseases can more easily enter the cambium and infect the tree. There are many ways to protect our trees from mechanical damage. Weeds that grow next to the tree trunk should be removed by hand because the mowers and weed whip machines can easily rip into the bark layers. The outer bark layers may also be damaged if a mower or other vehicle encounters the tree with enough force to break the bark. It is not necessary to have grass growing right up to the trunk of a tree. Underground tree roots travel beyond the drip line or the farthest edge of the branches. Roots move moisture and nutrients from the soil into the tree, and they also anchor the tree, enabling it to withstand the storm force winds. Roots that are cut when the ground is excavated for building construction reduces their ability to survive in these conditions. Construction equipment used near a tree compacts the soil due to the weight of the equipment. Water, oxygen and nutrients cannot travel easily through compacted soil and be available to tree roots. Straps, wires and similar devices placed on trees to direct their growth may become embedded in the bark and damage the cambium. Newly planted trees should not have anchors used to hold them in place for more than one growing season. Plant trees to close to sidewalks where their roots may lift the sidewalk causing it to become a tripping hazard. And do not plant trees near or underneath overhead electrical or other lines where they may end up being topped or cut off by the utility companies. Trees are also damaged when landscaping raises the soil level around the base of the tree. Trees should be planted so there is a slight trunk flare where the trunk emerges from the soil. Tree trunks should not look like telephone poles planted in the ground. Mulch placed around a tree should not touch the trunk. Place mulch so it is 2-3 inches away from the trunk. This prevents rodents from hiding under the mulch and eating on the bark. Mulch touching the bark may also cause tiny roots to emerge from the trunk and follow the mulch layer growing in circles around it. If allowed to grow, these encircling roots can eventually strangle the tree. Mulch layers should not be more than a few inches deep and not piled up in a volcano shape. While mulch conserves moisture, it should be made of natural materials that allow water to move through it. Plastic placed around a tree and covered with rocks or other material prevents water from reaching the soil. This same plastic does not prevent weeds because dust and weed seeds blowing in the wind will accumulate on the rocks. This small amount of soil is enough for weed seeds to germinate on top of the plastic layer. Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener and Tree Care Advisor.
A minute to share discipleship I got to go, but I have a minute. ism if we want to be radical about it. If we I cannot get this saying out of my head. do not look to the Bible as our defining morIt was my cousin on Facebook, who wrote al code, we can start labeling things liberally to her friend who organizes protests, “It’s in order to sway arguments in our favor. The time to get the band back together.” After truth is, the Bible tells us we are all created George Floyd’s death and when people were in the image of God, male and female. When screaming in the streets, the comment stuck I nurture my children, I can show them my with me and inspired me. In a different way love for others by treating people of all color but just as important. with the same respect as I would someone Just as we need groups of people who who has the same olive skin tone as myself. LIFE BY FAITH are willing to fight for justice and racial inIf I share life with others who have preconequality, we need groups of people willing BY MERCY NYGAARD ditioned reservations of other people who to admonish others on how. I am referring have different skin tones as them, likewise, to the book of Titus and the beautiful instruction God we can model what equality should look like. gives us for the times we are in. In 2018, the women in our church began a thorThe book of Titus has clear instruction about what ough study into the book of Titus and what it looks like men in leadership should look like. It has detailed to share life with each other. If this is not taught in the descriptions of how and what we should be teaching church, then we will continue to have the confusion younger men and women. Men and women in leader- that comes from the devil regarding the way we love ship have the responsibility to model and teach what our spouses, train our children, and model to them how a healthy mind looks like and how a healthy mind re- we are supposed to treat each other by loving others out acts to situations in all levels of peace or distress. It is of the overflow of our love for our creator. This spark called sharing life – opening our homes and having sin- has been ignited under me by hearing the words, “It’s gle people eat with our families and join us at church, time to get the band back together.” and having young married couples participate in date It is time to get those who have the heart nurtured nights. It looks clean and tidy and messy while clean- by the book of Titus, refreshed and revived by the Holy ing and tidying. It looks like loving and disciplining Spirit and then sent out to make connections, spurring children and grieving losses and rejoicing in triumphs. one another on in the faith. If we are not sharing life with others who have less life All it takes sometimes is creating an opportunity experiences, we are asking them to figure out this crazy and ripening the environment for the Holy Spirit to world on their own and to go through all the hard mis- work. That can be as simple as an invite, a worship takes we did when they do not have to. song playing in the background, a Bible within reach, Let’s take the atrocity that shook our nation. which can all be things that invoke child of God quesGeorge Floyd was treated unjustly by not being al- tions. Not teaching by speaking at someone all that you lowed to breath. The devil capitalized on a white officer know, but teaching by asking good questions as Jearresting a black man and planted his strategies of de- sus modeled to us and, ultimately, listening well. This struction as a rippling tide of rage built throughout cen- requires action. Reach out to elders and reach out to turies unleashed onto the world. I heard a psychologist the younger. Get up. We all have to go. We are image express that scientific studies have shown that as young bearers, and the world needs to hear it. Hate and racism as 3 months old, children gravitate toward people who must be extinguished. Hate must be overcome by love. look strikingly similar to their parent. This is common The Lord has given me so much passion for this sense because we know infants are nurtured from their that I have at least four irons in the fire regarding sharprimary caretaker and look to them for comfort. Natu- ing life, and I must go attend to them. I have to go, but rally, as they are seeing things for the first time, chil- I always, always have a minute to share God’s vision dren gravitate to what they know helps them survive. for God’s church and how to make disciple makers. This shows we can try to label it as born with rac-
Letter to the editor
Picture this
Suzanne Aho, St. Cloud Respect: St. John’s Episcopal Church, of Washington, D.C., was asked permission by the White House and invited to jointly pay their respects with the people of America in this time of grief. Competency: Adequate and transparent planning was done to clear and secure the area before the event, hours to days ahead of time. Inclusion: With an adequate and secure perimeter, the people were invited to witness and participate. Diversity was represented. Consonance: With clear purpose in this sacred place, they come together to speak God’s truth and honor God’s command to love one another, as one united country in our healing. Faith based: Jointly, faith leaders, our government
and representatives of the people prayed together for healing, peace and justice. Consoler-in-chief: Our president, reading scripture, praying on bended knees with others in community publicly. I am outraged and saddened at what actually transpired June 1. Peaceful protestors, with no notice, were militarily removed, causing terror and harm to many. No naming of George Floyd or others. No words of comfort. No prayer or reading of scriptures. Holding and raising up the Holy Bible was sacrilegious. I pray to God to help us all continue to heal and come together. Lift it up. Do this peacefully. Please do your part.
EDITORIAL
Farewell reflections
As I finish my final month as the by the community through their input. In superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice fall 2022, a new Pleasantview ElemenSchool District, I have taken time to retary will open its doors and provide an flect on the past two years. When I began excellent educational space for decades my position as superintendent in 2018, I to come. made a promise to the residents of Sauk In the past two years, the school Rapids and Rice. I vowed to listen to district has also been listening to the their hopes and dreams for their children business community. The business comand strive to help the community achieve munity expressed a desire to establish its goals. I have spent the past two years SUPERINTENDENT’S partnerships with the school district to striving to do just that. During this time, promote workforce development. This CORNER there have been numerous challenges ininspired the Sauk Rapids-Rice School BY AARON SINCLAIR cluding building fires, water main breaks, District’s first ever Business and Indusmultiple extreme weather events and the global CO- try Summit. This event brought together K-12 educaVID-19 pandemic. Through all of these challenges, I tors and industry leaders to learn from one another have strived to keep our children at the forefront of about workforce needs and the skills and attributes each and every decision while listening to the desires students need in order to be career ready once they of the community. graduate. This event was made possible by the school School safety was one of the first items the com- district forging partnerships with organizations like munity asked to be addressed. The school district re- the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, sponded by planning and implementing district-wide Benton Economic Partnership, Sauk Rapids Chamsafety upgrades including: safe and secure entranc- ber of Commerce, Rice Chamber of Commerce, St. es, video camera upgrades and additions, and visi- Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, Career Solutions tor management systems. The district was forged a and United Way: Partners for Student Success. partnership with law enforcement to conduct annual The past two years have flown by, and I hope my active threat drills each summer in our schools to pro- promise to listen to the community has been proven vide training for law enforcement and school staff. by my actions. I am confident the district is in great Another issue clearly expressed by the communi- hands as Brad Bergstrom takes the reins as the next ty was the desire to replace Pleasantview Elementary superintendent. I am grateful for the opportunity to School. Through a series of 55 meetings and events have served as the superintendent of the Sauk Rapidsto engage the community, a referendum was brought Rice Schools over the past two years, and wish the forward and passed to build a new Pleasantview El- school district and community continued success. ementary on the current site. This process was driven Go Storm!
May weather, phenology in review Weather: Warmer and drier than last May 1 until a later frost ended the blooms. year. With the average high and low temps Dandelion bloomed and hosta leaves unof 67.9 and 44.2 degrees, it was about 3 folded May 2. Ice covered the bird bath degrees warmer than last year, making us May 8, May 9, May 11 and May 12, and think of spring. The warmest day was May swamp oak budding showed May 14. On 27 at 87 degrees while it was a winter jackMay 19, the frogs and crickets made lots et day May 9 at 26 degrees. of noise. The mountain ash buds emerged On the moisture side, there was no May 21. Still missing in action are our snow in May like last year. Rain on only purple martins. Although, I did observe eight days totaling 1.03 inches – well be- FROM THE NORTH them in St. Martin mid-month. low the average of 3.36 inches. The most SHORE OF LITTLE A helpful tip: Having trouble with rain fell May 16 when I recorded .54 inch. algae in your birdbath? Obtain a couple ROCK LAKE BY JIM HOVDA Yes, we do need rain, at least here. of three-inch copper tubing and put them Local weather records: The low ocin the birdbath. The algae will be greatly curred in 1907 when the mercury dipped to a chilly reduced. 18 degrees while it climbed to 105 degrees in 1934. Little Rock Lake: An interesting month. The waThe most rain, 9.68 inches, fell in 1900. We received ter level was 10.88 feet May 1. Some ups and downs 3.2 inches of snow in 1971. with the lake level, very low at 10.70 feet. Yes, the Phenology: Where do I start? Birds that left were numbers are confusing. Use these to note the rise and the junco just after May 1. New arrivals were: a rose- fall of the lake level. The state converts the numbers breasted grosbeak May 3 (reported by Jeb Willis), to above sea-level readings. a pearl crescent butterfly May 6, grey catbirds and Water clarity improved, noting my secchi disk northern orioles May 7, a ruby-throated humming- reading at the beginning of the month was 3.2 feet, bird and white-throated sparrows May 8, a brown then down to 2.5 feet May 8 and improved to 3.8 feet thrasher May 10, a cabbage butterfly May 12, a blue at the end of the month. indigo bunting May 13, a pair of scarlet tanagers May More good news: At the end of the month, the 16 (They stayed about a week feasting on suet.), a newly planted vegetation last fall is really looking house wren May 17, an orchard oriole May 18, and a good. The bull rushes at the north end of the lake are eastern tiger swallow-tail butterfly May 20. really growing. We all hope this will continue. Why Green and other things: Magnolia was in bloom is the lake so low?
SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 7
BREAK CROSSWORD
1. Swiss shoe company 41. Those who deal 5. __ Caesar, comedian 43. Apply a new fabric 8. __ and flow 45. Confusions 11. Horsefly 48. “To __ his own” 13. Egyptian pharaoh 49. Lowest point of a ridge between 14. African nation two peaks 15. Tony-winning actress Daisy 50. Heavy cavalry sword 16. Initial public offering 55. Partner to pain 17. Long-winding ridge 56. A type of savings account 18. Guinea peoples 57. In a way, felt pain 20. Fellow 59. Wide-beamed sailing dinghy 21. About aviation 60. Consume 22. Able to make amends 61. Jewish spiritual leader 25. Easy to perceive 62. Body part 30. Cut off 63. Midway between south and 31. Northeast Thai language southeast 32. Earthy pigment 64. Cheek 33. Water nymphs 38. Returned material authorization (abbr.)
1. Indicates a certain time (abbr.) 28. Company that rings receipts 2. Expression of sorrow or pity 29. Rugged mountain range 3. Central American lizard 34. Commercials 4. Muslim military commanders 35. NY football player 5. One who takes to the seas 36. A form of be 6. Select jury 37. Soviet Socialist Republic 7. Parts of the small intestine 39. Kindnesses 8. Painter’s accessory 40. Natural electrical phenomenons 9. Honk 41. Your 10. Ballpoint pen 42. Diana __, singer 12. Large, dark antelope 44. Upper surface of the mouth 14. Ancient kingdom near 45. National capital Dead Sea 46. Fluid in Greek mythology 19. Exhausts 47. Renowned jazz trumpeter 23. __-bo: exercise system 48. Freedom from difficulty 24. Not written in any key or mode 51. Swiss river 25. Chinese principle underlying 52. Prejudice the universe 53. Actor Idris 26. Corpuscle count (abbr.) 54. Revolutionaries 27. Powdery, post-burning residue 58. Criticize
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Community Education Corner COR Robotics Stay-at-Home Kits for Grades 3-10 During the registration process, community education will rent out your choice of the following kits: EV3 Lego Mindstorms Kit (grades 3-8), Tetrix Prime Robotics Kit (grades 5-10), CoDrone Programmable Drone Kit (grades 3-10). Once registered, a link to the digital curriculum is shared via email from COR Robotics. Participants must have a computer and internet access to run the kit at home. A tablet or smart phone is optional. Kits must be picked up and returned at the Community Education office. Rental is for up to seven days. Kits and kit components will be sanitized before community members receive them. Voice-Over Class, Ages 18+ You have heard Bridget’s voice in Samsung, Audible and Mazda commercials, as well as Spanish Telenovela English translations. Now hear Bridget live as she illustrates how you could actually begin using your speaking voice for commercials, films and videos. Bridget will show you an outside-the-box way to cash in on one of the most lucrative full- or parttime careers out there. This is a business that you can handle on your own terms, on your own turf, in your own time and with practically no overhead. This exciting and fun class could be the game changer you have been looking for. This will be a virtual class held on Zoom. A link will be emailed out before the class. Tuesday, June 23, 6-8 p.m. To register or for more information on programs and costs, contact Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education at https://www.isd47.org/ce or 320-258-1577.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Five ninth-grade geography students – Benaiah Hinz, Lillian Julius, Anna Rushmeyer, Chloe Molitor and Kaytlin Bittman – earned success in the Minnesota on the Map competition in May. Each earned a top five placing in the state, with Hinz qualifying for the national competition before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
success
SRRHS geography students nearly sweep competition
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Pulse on people
BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
AUK RAPIDS – Benton County marriage applications Sauk Rapids-Rice – Dean Joseph Sanderson and Kathy Lynn High School stood out Brickman, both of Milaca. amongst schools across the country this spring in Area students named to dean’s lists ALEXANDRIA – Danielle Holmvig, of Sauk a way never seen before. Freshmen geography Rapids, achieved dean’s list honors from Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria for students completed a class earning a 3.5 or higher GPA during spring semester. project and participated in WILLMAR – Adam Scapanski and Cindy the statewide competition, Schwegel, both of Sauk Rapids, achieved dean’s list Minnesota on the Map, honors from Ridgewater College for earning a 3.5 or through the Environmental Systems Research Inhigher GPA during spring semester. Scapanski attends the campus in Willmar, while stitute. Students chose a topic and then researched Schwegel attends the campus in Hutchinson.
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and compiled mappable data in relation to the topic using geographic information systems. They then explained their pieces through stories. SRRHS had 225 students participate in the competition this year, more students than any other school in the nation since 2016. “We are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Brianne Wegter, ninth grade geography teacher. “Our students not only led the state of Minnesota but also led the nation in that same regard. This is only the third year we have participated in this contest, and we are just thrilled at the success and recognition our students have achieved.” In addition to the student participation honor, the school had four proj-
ects receive top honors in the state. The competition recognizes five projects to receive awards, and the top placement goes on to compete at the national level. Benaiah Hinz earned first-place honors in the competition and was set to represent SRRHS and Minnesota in the national competition before they canceled the competition and its prize, which was an all-expenses-paid trip to a national conference in California and the opportunity to present to attendees. “I could not believe I won state,” Hinz said. “It was an amazing feeling, but then I was disappointed the national competition was canceled. I was hoping to see the results, especially because I felt I could do well.” Hinz chose to do his project on the impact of Emerald Ash Borer on Minnesota forests. He was searching for topics surrounding invasive species when he came across the insects. When he asked a couple people if they had heard of the bugs and no one had, he decided to pursue it. “I wanted to make more people aware,” Hinz said. “I really liked my whole project, but especially the portion about the ash tree population per acre. That was a fun slide to put together.” Andrew Weber, Hinz’s teacher, said he is proud of the hard work and detail Hinz put into his project, digging deep into research to expand his project. “This project is a superb example of what tremendous student work effort and creativity can lead to,” Weber said. “I believe it represents our Sauk Rapids community
and entire state very well. I am ecstatic for Ben to have achieved and be honored for such a successful project and commend his efforts at creating an impactful story.” Chloe Molitor and Kaytlin Bittman partnered on a project surrounding crime in Minnesota. “It was fun, because we didn’t feel we did that well,” Molitor said. “We were good friends already, so combining and doing the project together was an easy choice. We both like learning about crime and felt it would be more efficient working together.” Bittman said crime is a relevant issue. Compiling data was the most challenging aspect for the duo as some cities do not have as many online records as others. Lillian Julius and Anna Rushmeyer also earned awards for their projects. Julius researched federally qualified health centers in Minnesota while Rushmeyer did her project on the state’s changing moose population. Wegter said the Minnesota on the Map project meets many of the state’s standards for ninth grade geography but has the added bonus of a possible reward. Melissa Gebhardt Bloch, who also teaches ninth grade geography, said the project is difficult and teaches more than the specific subject. “It teaches students the essential life skills of how to persevere and ask for help,” Gebhardt Bloch said. “The winning or even great projects were successful because they kept open minds, problem solved or found other avenues to go down that worked.”
PUBLIC NOTICE BENTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 19, 2020 The Benton County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on May 19, 2020 in the Benton County Board Room in Foley, MN with Commissioners Steve Heinen, Ed Popp, Spencer Buerkle, Warren Peschl and Jake Bauerly present. Call to order by Chair Buerkle was at 9:00 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Peschl/Popp unanimous to approve the agenda as written. No one spoke under Open Forum. Consent Agenda item #2 was “pulled” for further discussion. Popp/Heinen unanimous to approve the remaining Consent Agenda: 1) approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2020 as written; 3) accept and file Veteran Service Officer quarterly report as written; 4) approve placement of employee of County Attorney’s Office to “unpaid leave” status; and 5) approve minor final plat entitled “Schaper Addition”, located in Watab Township, submitted by Rand Schaper. Board members discussed Consent Agenda item #2—consider approval of revised Benton County Fiscal Policies, the main issue being the question of whether the County Board can legally delegate its approval of contracts to department heads. Chris Byrd, County Engineer, explained that his survey of county engineers across the state resulted in 18 responses received, stating “...all those county policies had some level of delegated authority...most were tiered...some allowed department heads to approve purchases in contracts...some department heads along with county administrator...higher level contracts to the County Board for approval...often the highway department was called out separately... a lot of their policies did reference budgeted expenses...some recognized replacement of equipment versus a new piece of equipment...I think there was some acknowledgement amongst the counties that to do our work “day in and day out”, there needs to be some kind of delegated authority...” Michelle Meyer, Assistant County Attorney, explained “...the Board certainly has the ability to delegate some contracting authority by opening a purchasing department...those smaller budgeted items...that is something we can contemplate...there’s also provisions you can put in for emergencies...my suggestion is to follow the statutory process...have policies in place...otherwise, you are putting yourself at risk...if you create a purchasing department, the Board may choose who gets the benefit of the purchasing department, who has to go through the purchasing director, who needs to go through the County Board, and who can do certain contracts on their own...” Buerkle stated “...I, personally, would like to do it the correct way...wait a little while and get it right...” Monty Headley, County Administrator, noted “...a procurement department would have its own bureaucracy too...it can slow things down...we need to make it as streamlined as possible...allow certain contracts to avoid the procurement department...but I hear Michelle saying that that is the statutory means to make this happen...” Bauerly commented “...the highway department has some unique issues...it says (referencing Meyer’s memo to the Board) that the Minnesota Supreme Court has acknowledged that certain functions related to contracting may be deemed ministerial and ministerial acts may be delegated...this language could be interpreted to allow a county board to authorize any county office, department or agency to approve and sign certain specific contracts without first establishing a purchasing department or purchasing director...” Meyer clarified “...the statute still requires that policies be in place...you still need to decide which agreements can go through that individual...you can’t really proceed with appointing a purchasing director until you have policies in place...” Headley and Byrd offered their assistance in drafting such policies; an expected timeline would be late fall/winter. (No action taken on Consent Agenda item #2) Jim McDermott, Emergency Management Director, and Nicole Ruhoff, Community Health Administrator, provided updates on the COVID-19 pandemic. McDermott reported on the donations of masks, bleach, and hand sanitizer; in addition, Benton County has received an emergency management performance grant of $25,000 for COVID EOC expenses. He stated “...the Washington model is much more optimistic than the Minnesota model...the Minnesota model shows our peak not happening until late June...with the continuation of many deaths...” Ruhoff reported on public health’s efforts in “contact tracing”, the goal of which is to limit the spread of the infection within
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 9
the community; these efforts also include identification of clusters of the outbreak, understanding how the virus is spread, and offering resources to keep people safe. She added “...today we have about 142 cases...no more deaths other than the 2...no new long-term care cases...they will test every resident and every staff member in long-term care agencies to have a better picture of how the virus is spreading...” Headley provided an update regarding the reopening of county facilities, stating “...the Supreme Court Justice will decide when, and how, the Courts Facility will open...when that decision is made, the county will support that...they already have the capacity to screen and monitor people coming into that building... regarding the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Corrections gave us a waiver on jail visiting...when that waiver ends, the Sheriff’s Office will have to explore how it will allow people to enter their lobby...they already have the capability to monitor and control the opening and closing of the doors remotely... regarding Human Services...the current way of doing business is working OK...reopening Human Services is probably our most complex situation...regarding the government center annex...will open when we have three key measures in place—sneeze guards installed...daily sanitizing...person at contact station to manage the number of people that may enter the building at any given time...cameras to capture the public as they come and go...we’ve never been absolutely closed...people could still come in...they could call and a department person could meet them...when we say “reopening”, we are really easing our access restrictions...” Troy Heck, County Sheriff, presented the Sheriff’s Office annual report for 2019; key points of the report: • Benton County Dispatch generated 27,900 Initial Complaint Reports (ICR); peak hours were 2:00 PM- 5:00 PM (24% of all calls); Fridays generated the most ICRs, while Sundays generated the fewest; Dispatch also dealt with 45,317 incoming and outgoing telephone calls • Sheriff’s Office received 1,100 requests to serve civil process; 21 mortgage foreclosure sales were conducted (9 fewer than in 2018); 1,557 arrest warrants were received • 15,432 ICRs were assigned, most of which were handled by the patrol division; the five most common functions performed were assistance to the public and other agencies, suspicious activity reports, driving complaints, medical emergencies and attempts to locate; the five most reported crimes were theft, domestic abuse, fraud, DWI and harassment; majority of this activity occurred between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, with a spike in calls for service between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM; Fridays saw the most activity and Sundays saw the least activity; 567 crimes were reported to the Sheriff’s Office • 135 cases were assigned to the investigative division; of those cases, 117 cases were cleared, creating an 86% clearance rate • Benton County Sheriff’s Office is a participating member of the Central MN Violent Offender Task Force; VOTF investigators completed 25 cases in Benton County; seized 1,376 grams of methamphetamine, 37 doses of MDMA, 28 grams of cocaine and 6 grams of heroin • Jail had an average daily population of 67.36 inmates, a decrease of 8.4 compared to 2018; a total of 2,016 inmates were booked; average length of an inmate stay was 11.82 days; like all jails across the state, Benton County struggles to cope with the influx of inmates battling mental illness • Benton County Mounted Patrol volunteers worked a total of 685 hours; nine volunteer Reserve Deputies performed a total of 423 hours of service; approximately 134 individuals volunteer in the jail to assist with various programs provided to the inmates—these volunteers performed 1,309 hours of work in the jail • Sheriff’s Office continued public outreach efforts and participated in youth ATV instruction, youth snowmobile instruction, and the DARE program; several deputies worked with police officers from the Foley and Rice Police Departments to continue offering a Police Activities League • Sheriff’s Office continued to make use of Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor accounts to distribute information and crime prevention strategies; continued partnership with Benton County News and Sauk Rapids Herald to provide a monthly column on crime prevention and safety topics
Roxanne Achman, Department of Development Director, explained that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee met last night and discussed whether or not to move forward with the June 27th Amnesty Day event at the Sauk Rapids High School, given the fact that many large summer events are being cancelled due to COVID-19. She stated that while it is felt that county staff can practice proper social distancing and wear proper protective equipment, there is a question whether the contracted hauler staff and their temporary help are able to do so. Achman stated that the contractor must remove items from vehicles/trailers and then place them in the property containers, and because many of the items are extremely heavy or awkward to handle, it takes multiple staff to move and dispose of such items. She noted that Allied Waste has stated no issues or concerns with participating in the June 27th event; the Solid Waste Advisory Committee recommends moving forward with the event, but not make a final determination until the June 2nd County Board meeting. Achman stated her plans to reach out to the County Attorney’s Office to ask how this event fits within the current executive order. Board members stated their consensus with the recommendation of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. The Regular County Board meeting was recessed at 10:03 AM to conduct a Human Services Board meeting. The Regular County Board meeting was reconvened at 10:05 AM. The next item on the agenda was Board consideration of a lease agreement with the Foley American Legion to construct and maintain a veterans’ memorial on the County’s Courts Facility property. Headley explained that the lease agreement envisions a ten-year term with an option for a ten-year renewal; he noted several key features—no lease payment is required; the Legion is responsible for all construction and maintenance of the memorial site, including installation and maintenance of the sidewalk; the County will be responsible for snow removal on the sidewalk; the Legion will reimburse the County once per year for the cost of electricity supplied to the memorial site. Headley added “...there was a little concern on the part of the Legion about the fact that this is a lease and leases end...some Legion members had inquired of an opportunity at some point for the Legion to purchase the site...it wasn’t something that they were insisting on seeing in the lease...they just wanted you to know that...” Peschl/Bauerly unanimous to approve a lease agreement with the Foley American Legion for the construction and maintenance of a veterans’ memorial located on the County Courts Facility property, and authorize the Chair to sign. Johanna Mattson, Human Resources Director, explained that the proposed revisions to the public health emergency personnel policies include a new section addressing employee step dates. She stated that, under the current personnel policies, an employee’s step date (step increase) is delayed when the employee is on an unpaid leave exceeding 16 consecutive hours; the proposed revisions waive this step date change when the unpaid leave is directly related to the public health emergency (such as office closure, lack of work, or quarantine and isolation). Bauerly/Heinen unanimous to approve the revised public health emergency personnel policies as presented. Board members reported on recent meetings they attended on behalf of the county. Under Commissioner Concerns, Commissioner Popp raised some concerns relating to county paving of private driveway aprons on CR 78, stating the need for a “consistent county policy” in this regard. Engineer Byrd explained “...personal, residential driveways...we pave those back to the right-of-way... on field entrances...we pave a little bump out... sometimes that comes into negotiations when we are buying additional highway easement...generally, our policy is one paved driveway... residential driveway...paved back to the 60-foot right-of-way line...” Byrd stated he would research the specific situation referenced by Commissioner Popp on CR 78 and report back. Peschl/Heinen unanimous to set Committee of the Whole: May 27, Budget. Heinen/Popp unanimous to adjourn at 10:55 AM. Spencer C. Buerkle, Chair Benton County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Montgomery Headley Benton County Administrator
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 11
NBA to return in late July PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
A group of eighth-grade students walk through the pick-up and drop-off lane May 28 at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School. Teachers and staff cheered from the sidewalks as students and families came through the send-off parade.
Summer send-off District schools host farewell parades
BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Area teachers provided a closure to the school year in May by taking to the streets and sidewalks and bidding their students and families farewell until fall. Rice Elementary teachers and staff hosted a wish and a wave drive-by gathering May 14, where dozens of families drove through with their students. Pleasantview Elementary followed suit with a summer sendoff May 28, and Sauk RapidsRice Middle School hosted an eighth grade event for students who will transition to the high school in fall. Students could bid farewell to middle school teachers while being greeted by high
Carissa Solarz, a second grade teacher at Pleasantview Elementary School, waves to students May 28 in Sauk Rapids. Teachers waved, blew bubbles and talked with students and families as they drove by on the last day of school.
school staff. Distance learning and the COVID-19 pandemic have kept students, teachers and staff away from the school buildings since
March 13, so school administration saw the send-off parades as a way to connect with the students one last time before summer break.
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School staff members Steve Wagner (from left), Karl Nohner, Michelle Kremers and Sandy Logrono wave to eighth-grade students May 28 at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School in Sauk Rapids. The four welcomed students to the high school as students ended their last year at the middle school.
Molly Warnad, a kindergarten student at Rice Elementary School, rides with her family in the wish and wave parade May 14 in Rice. The event gave students a chance to see their teachers in person before the end of the school year.
NBA’s board of governors convened Thursday afternoon to approve a proposal to restart the 2019-20 season in Orlando in late July. The plan include the league’s 22 teams with the best records at the time play was halted March 11 – the COLUMNIST top 13 teams from the West- SPORTS BY ANDY THAYER ern Conference and the top nine teams from the Eastern Conference. The teams will play eight regular season games, and their record in those games will be combined with their existing records to determine the 16-team playoff field. However, there will be one new twist: should the eighth- and ninth-seeded teams in a conference finish within four games of one another, they will compete in a play-in tournament for the final playoff spot where the eighth seed would have to win one game to qualify for the playoffs while the ninth seed would have to win twice. Once the 16-team playoff field is established, the playoffs would proceed as normal. (Well, as normal as possible when all games are played on a neutral court in a quarantined biodome in Florida.) The NBA’s leadership deserves to be commended for working out a return-to-play solution that puts safety first and was amenable to all interested parties. Commissioner Adam Silver proactively collaborated with the league’s top players, owners and players’ association representatives to establish this plan, and his leadership during this pandemic reinforces my opinion that he is the best commissioner in major American sports. Silver truly wanted to accommodate his league’s fans, players and owners, and he worked hard to establish and broker the path forward that was best for all three parties. Think about the difficulty baseball is having right now because of the standoffish relationship between commissioner Rob Manfred and the MLB players’ union, and you will understand why Silver’s leadership is so valuable to the NBA. In times of crisis, strong leaders listen to experts, provide reassurance and drive positive action. Silver checked all those boxes, while Manfred remains a one-note stooge for baseball’s fat cat owners. Because of the inherent differences in their leaders, basketball will re-open training camps in a few weeks with players eager to compete for a championship, and baseball is missing its golden opportunity to re-take sole possession of the American professional sports landscape and discussion for a few weeks. For fans of the Timberwolves, this return-toplay plan is a stark reminder of our team’s ineptitude. Because of their woeful 19-45 record, the Wolves were the 13th-best team in the Western Conference and therefore eliminated from the return-to-play field. While it would have been nice to see Karl-Anthony Towns (who reportedly has fully recovered from his fractured wrist) and D’Angelo Russell get a chance to develop chemistry on the court, it makes sense from a safety perspective to keep the Wolves home during the pandemic since they had zero chance of qualifying for the playoff field. Wolves fans will have to wait until next year to see their new roster in action. It is reassuring to know we will have meaningful NBA basketball games to watch soon. It has been a tough past few weeks for the American public, and hopefully the return of sports will help provide a positive diversion for some people.
NEWS
Page 12 | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD Fred and Joyce Segler toast during a lunch June 1 at the Old Creamery Café in Rice. The two celebrated 57 years of marriage with lunch with friends.
Reopening from page 2
PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
(Above) Lily Stachovich (from left), Cecily Plantenberg and Jasmine Stachovich eat lunch at Jimmy’s Pour House June 1 in Sauk Rapids. Jimmy’s added onto their outdoor seating with a tent and tables in a portion of their parking lot.
Jenna Kingsley delivers a plate of food to a customer June 1 at Old Capital Tavern in Sauk Rapids. Restaurants and bars opened for outdoor dining for up to 50 customers June 1.
Lyle Fleck cuts Marty Thompson’s hair June 2 at Lyle’s Barbershop in Sauk Rapids. Fleck reopened his doors for business for the first time since March due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Bradi Busse cuts the hair of Valerie Weyer June 4 at Hair and Body Works Salon and Spa in Sauk Rapids. The salon had plastic curtains, sanitary and social distancing protocols in place.
Evie Bogatzki (left) and Ryan Stofflet have lunch at Rollie’s Rednecks and Longnecks June 1 in Sauk Rapids. The establishment has a small area for outdoor dining.
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Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, June 6, 2020
Benton County 4-H continuing on despite COVID-19 challenges
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
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FOLEY – COVID-19 has caused cancellations and altered life for nearly everybody, and Benton County 4-H is no exception. 4-H members and volunteers spend the entire year preparing to show what their endless hours of labor produced at county and state fairs. When the Benton County Agricultural Society canceled its county fair May 20 and the Great Minnesota Get-Together soon after called off its event, 4-H was left to do what it does best: be resourceful. “4-H remains committed to giving Minnesota youth opportunities to learn and showcase their projects for others,” said Ann Olson, University of Minnesota Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development in Benton County. “The youth begin early in the year on projects, and it is important that we give them an avenue to showcase their projects.” 4-H page 3B
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New bison association president talks about the breed
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BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
AUK RAPIDS – They can weigh upward of 2,000 pounds, stand 6 feet, 6 inches tall at the hump, run 35 miles per hour, jump 5 or 6 feet and turn on a dime. “If you just watch this animal, it’s got the wow factor,” said Adam Ulbricht, incoming executive director of the Minnesota Bison Association. “This animal is so big, so strong and so fast, it’s just natural.” Ulbricht, who spent his youth visiting his grandparents, Loren and Martha Ulbricht near Lakefield, has always had a fascination with bison but honed his interest in the last five years after visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota and watching the beasts interact in nature.
A bison stands among the wildflowers at the Hidden Bison Ranch in Sauk Centre while a small bird takes refuge atop its head.
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“They are a keystone species,” Ulbricht said. “They are integral to our environment, they shaped it – they helped shape everything. They are made for this climate, and they are just about as native and perfect as they can get.” Prior to people populating the west, it is estimated that 20-60 million bison roamed the land, Ulbricht said. There was almost a complete elimination of the species in the late 1800s when their population dove to a meager 1,000. Today, the population has rebounded to an estimated 400,000 in North America. As Ulbricht, a Sauk Rapids resident, gears up for his new position with the association, his goal is to spread information about the important role the animal plays in the environment. “They have a regenerative effect by nature,” he said. As ranchers rotationally graze the animals, the manure gets worked into the soil and long-dormant native plant species begin to grow. As that happens, he said, there is a return of ducks, birds and butterflies to the land.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Adam Ulbricht is poised to take over as executive director of the Minnesota Bison Association.
According to the National Bison Association, manure and urine provide the soil with vital nutrients, hoof action stirs the soil and buries seeds, wallows create depressions that capture rainfall and the resulting healthy grasslands capture carbon from the atmosphere and return it to the soil. “These animals can have a positive impact on our environment,” Ulbricht said. “I want to promote the good work our ranchers are doing.” The industry is ingrained, to a certain degree, in Americana. There are songs about bison, long-held stories about the species that are part of the country’s heritage, but Ulbricht wants to uplift their image even more. As people, especially
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A newborn calf romps alongside her mother in spring. When calves are first born, they’re called “red dogs,” or “cinnamons,” because of their coloring; when the calves reach a few months of age, they brown.
millennials, trend toward buying local, they want to know where their food comes from. With bison being such a niche market, he said, consumers can build that relationship and have a true awareness of the animal. Oftentimes, people refer to bison as buffalo, but there are not any buffalo native to the United States. There are water and cape buffalo found in Africa and Asia, but in North America, there are bison. The variation on the name can cause some misnomers in labeling. Sometimes, he said, products – especially pet food products – say they contain bison, but the ingredient is actually water buffalo. That can create a confusion for consumers and cause them to associate that product with the bison industry. The National Bison Association spends a fair amount of time and work promoting a truth in labeling act requiring water buffalo to be labeled as such when included in a product. As an economic player, the bison market is still a small industry in America. Through state and United States Department of Agriculture-inspected plants, the bison industry processes in a year what the beef industry processes in a day. Bison, Ulbricht said, is a lean product and coveted by the uber healthconscious. Whether the animals are grain-finished or grassfed, he said it is a healthy meat and protein and one he considers to be America’s original red meat. Overall, the meat is slightly sweeter than beef and is typically leaner but has a similar consistency to beef. From a farming standpoint, the animal is not domesticated. Bison page 3B
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SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | Page 3B
Bison from pg. 2B
Olson also said 4-H supports the difficult decision to cancel fairs. Olson, along with other Benton County 4-H volunteers, are working toward preparing for virtual judging in both general and animal science projects. Olson said 4-H families can be assured that virtual judging will replace the traditional style, and even though details are not yet finalized, she said she is excited to see what the 4-Hers have accomplished. More details on the events will be released in the next few weeks. While Benton County 4-H members and volunteers are doing everything they can to stay connected and continue with their projects, it is also easy to recognize the tangible hardships that accompany hard times. “We also know that our 4-H PHOTOS SUBMITTED youth and families continue to feel loss, grief and frustration,” Marissa Kuklok practices her photography skills. Kuklok, of Foley, is a Olson said. “We share that member of the Cornerstone Clovers 4-H Club. disappointment with them.” Some 4-H members hard at even if it is virtually,” she said. work on their projects echoed “I am super glad we have an that sense of disappointment but opportunity to still get judged on left room for optimism. our projects.” “It is hard to not be able to But even more than missing get judged at the county fair, out on the traditional practices but I am excited I still have a that 4-Hers have become chance to get my photography accustomed with and enjoy, judged virtually,” said Marissa Olson said many members Kuklok, a Cornerstone have commented how Clovers 4-H Club much they will miss member, working on the connections that a photography project. 4-H members eagerly “It is important to anticipate. receive feedback from “We can’t a judge. That way I can replace having an inPHOTOS SUBMITTED continue to improve person county fair, but my photography we will do our best to Morgan Matvick holds a baby in her jacket early this skills.” continue providing chick spring. Matvick, of Sauk Rapids, Morgan Molitor virtual opportunities,” is a member of the Graham 4-H Ann Olson agreed. Molitor shows Olson said. Club. poultry with the Graham In the meantime, 4-H Club. while Benton County 4-H The activities include weekly “While it will be hard not solidifies virtual judging plans, challenges, virtual 4-H camps to have the live experience it will be sending out summer and at-home kits for 4-H with the judge, it is great that opportunities for families to stay youth interested in the special we get to connect with a judge, connected and stay involved. opportunities.
Although they can be fairly passive, they can also be easily startled, prompting them to stampede. They also have a great herding instinct and where one goes, the others will follow. When Ulbricht first became involved in bison, he cold-called ranchers, asking if he could swing by their farms and look at their operations. He was used to farm life as he was experienced on his grandparents’ hog and beef farm. His mom’s father, Don Wessel, was a milk hauler for what was Kraft and is now Land O’Lakes in Melrose, and he’d go on the milk route on the weekends. Every single rancher Ulbricht called welcomed him to the ranch. From taking photos of ranches and visiting with owners, things began to snowball. He began helping with the Minnesota Bison Association social media page because he had a background in journalism. As he became more and more connected and continued to research ranchers, the executive director position opened up and Ulbricht applied. Now Ulbricht is poised to take the helm of the organization that has membership of about 150 farms and ranches across the country, but especially throughout the Midwest including Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Canada. It is not uncommon for members to travel hundreds of miles with their animals for the association’s annual sale at the sale barn in Albany. The Legends of the Fall sale is held annually the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The auction features consigned animals with classes that can be included in judged and unjudged categories. The North American Bison varies from the United States Plains Bison and the Woods Bison in Canada. The animals have differences in their cranial and skeletal makeup as well as differences in their horns, head, hump, hair and pelage coat. There is also a European ancestor to the North American Bison found between Germany and Poland. One thing bison have in common, no matter their descent, is they look into the wind when every other animal looks away from it. Wind pushes down a bison’s fur and helps insulate them. In the north, bison go into survival mode in the winter. Their metabolism slows, but the giant hump of muscle across their shoulders and their incredible sense of smell remain, as part of their natural ability to survive. Bison can smell foliage and grasses through 3 feet of snow in the winter and the hump on their shoulder is all muscle, a necessity when it comes to moving the snow for winter grazing. In the wild, bison feed on grasses below the snow line, drink snow water and birth on their own. “They’re a hardy animal,” Ulbricht said. Many farmers provide their bison with hay bales to supplement their feeding in the winter, and they also provide them with various nutrients as well as heated water tanks for ease of drinking. The rut comes in late June-early July, and the males tend to lose quite a bit of weight as they are focused on mating. Calves are typically born late March into May and many calves are born at around 50 pounds. Generally speaking, bison mature more slowly than cattle and do not have their first calf until they are 3 years old. Ulbricht is excited for his new position, working to promote this majestic species. “When you work with these animals up close and personal, you truly see how athletic they are,” he said. “It will blow your mind.”
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DAIRY MONTH
Page 4B | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD
June is Dairy Month Humphreys’ heart lies in agriculture Milaca graduate wins state FFA dairy award BY EVAN MICHEALSON | STAFF WRITER
MILACA – Alyssa Humphreys’ journey into dairy did not begin as a pursuit of passion. The Milaca High School graduate was in the ninth grade when Todd Hoffman, a Hayland Township board member, mentioned in conversation with fellow board member Eric Humphreys the need for work at his farm, Hoffman Dairy. As it turned out, Alyssa needed a job, and her eventual hands-on introduction to the industry came through feeding calves. Now, Alyssa is a college freshman at South Dakota State University. She is a longtime FFA member, having won first-place proficiency in dairy production placement at the Minnesota FFA’s virtual convention May 19-21. “My advisor had called me and told me, then they officially announced it,” she said. “I didn’t really believe it. It didn’t set in all the way until they announced it at the virtual convention. I was on their slideshow and everything, and it was more exciting.” As it turns out, her journey extended far beyond feeding calves. When she took up the position at Hoffman Dairy, she only worked on the weekends. However, she developed an ease and poise working in dairy, gaining more experience in the summer. During her sophomore and junior years of high school, she worked every night as her role grew from feeding calves to scraping free stalls and milking cows. Humphrey page 5B PHOTOS SUBMITTED
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Alyssa Humphreys feeds a calf during Elementary Ag Day in Milaca. Humphreys first began her agricultural experiences in feeding calves, something she continues to do at Hoffman Dairy.
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Alyssa Humphreys carries a set of FFA awards during the Milaca FFA Chapter banquet April 2019 in Milaca.
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