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BENTON AG
Storm 18U page 10
Section B
Plus
2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Vol. 166, No. 15
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Look at that car
County goes live with commissioner Maiers have meetings showcased Recordings offer extra accessibility for past, future meetings BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER
FOLEY – Starting July 21, meetings of the Benton County Board of Commissioners will be livestreamed via YouTube. Meetings take place at 9 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, making it difficult for residents with ordinary workday hours to attend. Supplementing its physical meetings with an online version also helps people who have transportation or health concerns, providing an alternative medium to listen to the meetings. “It definitely makes our meetings more accessible to folks,” said Monty Headley, county administrator, who organizes the board meetings. “It’s good making government more accessible.” The board originally made the decision to livestream its meetings late 2019.
Livestream page 3
Galaxie Skyliner in area parades BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Muscle cars and sports cars tend to turn heads and garner attention at car shows, on roadways and in parades, but one Sauk Rapids couple has a two-door classic that has gained a lot interest as its been paraded through central Minnesota towns. Ed and Helen Maier own a 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner. The car has a retractable hardtop roof which transforms the vehicle into a convertible. Since they bought the car in 1997, they have participated in approximately 150 parades, showcasing the white and navy full-size car in at least six events annually – including Rapids River Days and Foley Fun Days parades. This year, the Maiers figurative gas tank sits on empty as cities have canceled community festivals. “Parades are always a
PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
Helen and Ed Maier stand with their 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner at their Sauk Rapids home July 14. The couple normally takes the car along parade routes each year, but the events were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
highlight of our summer,” Ed said. “This feels like a lost year. Normally we would have had all the parades by now, but I haven’t even taken the car out of the garage.” Ed’s cousin, Al Maier,
became the chair of the St. Cloud Antique Auto Club, also known as the Pantowners, in 1997. Feeling like they needed a classic car to include, Ed and Helen put ads in newspapers. When they received some
good responses, they went out to look at the cars in person. The Galaxie 500 was the first vehicle they cast their eyes upon.
Galaxie 500 page 2
Benton County Historical Society in midst of renovations Granite home to be restored for use as museum, research center BY ANNA HINKEMEYER | STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Preserving history is part of the fabric of the Benton County Historical Society, so when the granite home at 202 Second Ave. S., Sauk Rapids, was in jeopardy of being sold for demolition, the board of directors stepped in. Now the home, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, will remain in use as the historical society un-
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• Probate Notice - Peschl - pg. 9 • Probate Notice - Ganz - pg. 9 • City of Rice Notice of Primary Election - pg. 9 • City of Rice Notice of Candidate Filings - pg. 9 • City of Sauk Rapids Reg. Minutes, June 22, 2020 - pg. 9
dergoes renovations and a relothe home was sold to Judson A. cation of their research center Stanton. Stanton was part owner and museum. of the flour mill and became a “Most people I talk to are construction engineer and counhappy we purchased the propty surveyor following a cyclone erty,” said Mary Ostby, Benton which destroyed the town and County Historical Society execmill in 1886. utive director. “The board decidAs the oldest known ed in their hearts it was imporbuilding in Sauk Rapids at 147 tant to preserve history. Having years old, the home has seen Mary Ostby a home on the national historical additions three times – in 1958, registry getting torn down isn’t 1965 and 1995. It has housed acceptable in our world.” families and renters and has been used for The home was built in 1873 by Leon- assisted living and group homes. Its last ard Robinson when he was recruited to the occupancy was 2018. area to construct a dam south of the city. When Robinson’s fortune ran out, his business and tools were sold, and Renovations page 3
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T OBIT ARIES • Geraldine Steman Chapman • Neva B. FrankNeva B. Frank
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