Sauk Rapids - February 22 edition

Boys basketball page 3

OBITUARIES Norman F. Volkers Lynn G. Kardell PG. 5

RICE CITY COUNCIL PG. 4 2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Vol. 165, No. 46

Same Local Coverage Since 1854.

Finalists chosen for superintendent’s position District will conduct full-day interviews next week SAUK RAPIDS – A pool of candidates for the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District’s superintendent position was narrowed Thursday.

The Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board selected two finalists Feb. 20.

Bradley Bergstrom, of Thief River Falls, and Kristine Wehrkamp, of Robbinsdale, will undergo full-day interviews next week before

Interviews page 3

PUBLIC NOTICES

GRAPHIC BY CONFLUENCE

A rendering of the proposed Southside Park riverscape showcases an outdoor fireplace and terraced performance area near the Mississippi River. The Sauk Rapids City Council approved plans for park modifications Feb. 19 at a special meeting.

Parks project approved for bids Committee alters plans to stay within budget

BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – The Sauk Rapids river• Mortgage Foreclosure - Schaefer - pg. 14 scape is about to get a • Mortgage Foreclosure - Miller - pg. 15 makeover.

• Benton County Public Accuracy Notice Plans for a $7.2 mil- pg. 17 • Presidential Primary Ballots for Benton lion parks project were approved by the Sauk County - pg. 16/17 • Benton County Automark Test - pg. 14 Rapids City Council at a • Minden Township Notice - pg. 14 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Reg. Meeting Minutes, Feb. 4, 2020 pg. 16 • Assumed Name - Country Financial - Bill Corcoran - pg. 14 • ISD 47 Request for Proposals - pg. 15 • Sauk Rapids Township Election and Annual Meeting Notice - pg. 14 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Markfort - pg. 15 • Mortgage Foreclosure - Knutson - pg. 14 • Mayhew Lake Township Meeting Change Notice - pg. 15 • Mayhew Lake Township Election and Meeting Notice - pg. 10

special meeting Feb. 19.

With staff authorized to seek bids, redevelopment of Southside and Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset parks will begin this spring. Most construction will be finished by year end; a punch-list that will likely include landscaping and turf restoration will be

completed in spring 2021.

The cost of the project excludes River Avenue road and infrastructure updates. That portion will be bid separately. In total, the city is expected to invest an estimated $8.7 million in the project area.

Finance director Jack Kahlhamer said the city

Claiming the top in first-time competition SCSU dance team, Keller celebrate national championship

BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – When Michaela Keller and the St. Cloud State University dance team arrived at the 2020 Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Orlando, Florida, they were prepared for a new experience.

Keller, a 2017 graduate of Sauk RapidsRice High School, is cocaptain of the team and said the team had not competed in the game day category prior to nationals.

“We have professional choreographers come in each season, and we did not know we were going to compete at nationals until they came and devised a routine for us,” Keller said.

“It was a great experience though.”

The team came home from the Jan. 31 competition, celebrating after earning a championship in the game day category, second place in pom and eighth in jazz.

“When they got to

Keller page 3

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Michaela Keller is a co-captain on the St. Cloud State University dance team.

Keller, a 2017 graduate of Sauk Rapids-Rice High School, led the team which claimed the game day category championship Jan. 31 at the 2020 Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

will pool its resources with the majority of funding coming from .5% sales tax but drawing on other funds where applicable. Kahlhamer said if the city purchases bonds, sales tax revenue should be more than enough to cash flow the project.

Original parks project estimates were $1 million higher prior to committee

members scaling back aspects of the design. City administrator Ross Olson said the city had not set a budget limiting their spending on the project, but council members were aware that saving at this site would free funds for other endeavors.

Parks page 3

NEWS

Keller

from front the top three (for game day) and we hadn’t been called yet, we were just trying to keep our cool,” Keller said. “Awards were nerve-wracking.”

Unlike high school section championships, the college nationals listed placings of each team in the competition. Keller said the team did not know anything about its competitors due to international teams nor the specifics of what the judges were looking for in the game day routine.

The game day competition was broken into three categories: time out, chant with our hay dance and fight song.

The team did not know the order in which they would perform each category.

The national competition closed Keller’s third season with the St. Cloud State dance team; she has been a co-captain for the last two of those seasons.

Since starting with the team, earning the national championship is Keller’s proudest moment.

“It was the best thing I could’ve wished for,” Keller said. “It was a dream come true and being a leader on the team pushed me to make the best out of this team. I would do anything to make this team succeed and that’s what we did.”

In addition to the championship, second place in pom was a victory for the team. SCSU had not competed in pom until the 2018-19 season, and only Keller and her co-captain had prior experience in the category. The team

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 3

Interviews from front

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The St. Cloud State University dance team – Gabbie Nygren (front, from left), Maxie Collen, Angelina Borgen, Michaela Keller, Megan Nephew and Olivia Maus; (back, from left) coach Brittany Kwallek, Eva Cherba, Lucee LaMotte, Hannah Baumann, Natalie Lamont, Sammi Martins, Adele Wolf, Lexi Nelson, Savannah Fetzer, coach Paige Groebner and coach Susan Uhrich – celebrate with a first-place trophy at the 2020 Universal Dance Association College Nationals trophy Jan. 31 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. The team took first in the game day competition after competing in the category for the first time.

placed third in that season’s national competition.

Keller said it was a wake-up call.

“We knew right then that it was some-

thing we could do and do well,” she said. “We upped our game this year, and the judges obviously thought we did better because we bumped up a spot to

Parks

from front

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Multiple renderings display aspects of the Southside Park renovations Feb. 19 at a special city council meeting in Sauk Rapids. Construction is slated to begin this spring with final completion in 2021.

“When you look at these renderings just be careful to understand that there are things that could end up looking a little different based on final selections of materials and how we fit that into the budget,” he said.

Plans for two additional structures, a water feature and a small performance venue, are a constant. The Southside Park building will seat up to 200 people and be complemented by an outdoor fireplace while a smaller building accompanies a 60-by-25-foot water feature at Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset Park. The performance area will be equipped with electricity to run lights and sound.

As construction begins, the city will continue discussions about operating costs and building rental rates.

Council members

Nick Sauer and Ellen Thronson will convert to a parks project committee while Jason Ellering and

Dottie Seamans have been appointed to the half cent sales tax committee to advise other projects.

Sauk Rapids

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The most noticeable changes from earlier plans are the building roofline and terraced outdoor seating at Southside Park. The roof peak has been decreased to a slight angle, and the outdoor performance area, which originally used embedded granite blocks as seating, will be poured concrete.

“It’s a purposeful move, too, because it does make it more accessible, more easy to sit on,” said Terry Minarik, of Confluence. “We had some stone here earlier, but I think the concrete will provide a much more useful space for people to get into.”

Minarik said although Southside Park has multiple grade changes, the area will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, allowing access to both the upper and lower levels by a trail system.

Other changes include reducing trail lighting and refraining from moving the existing structures in Sauk Rapids Lions Sunset Park. The city was also provided a list of 10 alternates to which they may consider while the project proceeds. Most pertain to material selection but items such as a basketball court and canoe or kayak launch are up for discussion and may be delayed and implemented at a later date.

Murray Mack, of HMA Architects, reminded the council of decisions that could affect the final outlook of the project.

second this year.”

While the team had opportunities for practice, the season has been much shorter than that of a high school team. SCSU debuted two weeks before leaving for nationals and competed in the Spirit of America Dance competition Jan. 11 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, where the team took first in both pom and jazz.

The team established an all-in mentality at the beginning of the season with the focus of working together; if one person messed up, they all did. Keller said this mentality led the team to its success.

With her senior season left, Keller said she will lead the team with the same sentiment next year.

“We can only go up from here,” Keller said. “We are going to get more talented dancers and keep growing to be the best we possibly can.”

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the board reaches a decision and begins contract negotiations with the chosen candidate.

According to a release sent via the district’s messaging system Feb. 16, community members are invited to meet the finalists at one-hour input sessions Monday, Feb. 24, and Wednesday, Feb. 26. The sessions will begin at 5 p.m. each day and take place at the Sauk Rapids Government Center in Sauk Rapids.

Bergstrom and Wehrkamp will appear on separate days.

At each event, a candidate will introduce themselves before Dr. Ken Dragseth, of School Exec Connect consulting firm, leads participants through an hour-long question and answer session.

Participants will have the opportunity to provide written feedback to the school board which will be reviewed prior to the board’s final decision.

Prior to the public meeting, the candidates will spend the day touring the district and having conversations with students, staff, administration and community members.

The board is expected to announce its decision at the culmination of Feb. 26’s events should a decision be reached.

The new superintendent will be scheduled to assume duties July 1.

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NEWS

Page 4 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Relaying the threat of trespassing Rice police County snowmobiling enjoys quiet gain additional winter but concerns remain coverage

BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER

RICE – The city of Rice will gain additional police protection thanks to a rare situation.

The Rice City Council approved posting a parttime police officer position while retaining its current officer. The decision came at its Feb. 17 meeting at Rice City Hall in Rice.

Part time officer Brent Curtis has found a new opportunity but will remain employed by the city, working up to 16 hours each month. A new officer will be hired to fulfill the hours Curtis was working.

This will equate to the city gaining roughly two shifts a month of an officer on duty.

Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann said his goal would be to employ an officer who will work one to two shifts per week on average.

“It’s not a crazy amount of hours, but it does help us a lot,” Hamann said.

Hamann said the police department had previously set aside $4,000 and was under budget by about $5,000 last year – leaving a $9,000 pool to be used toward the additional coverage.

“That amount will probably cover what Brent will be able to do for the year,” he said.

Hamann said that he is unsure if anyone will apply for the minimum number of hours the position offers; he said when Curtis was hired law enforcement had less job openings.

Mayor Brian Skroch said he was, “totally on board,” and the council members approved the action with little discussion prior to the vote.

The council plans to update Curtis’s employment agreement to reflect the change.

Applications for the part-time position will be accepted up until 4 p.m. March 2.

In other council news: – Approved an increase in the Rice Fire Relief Association’s pension. Members will receive $1,700 per year of active service when eligible. This is a $300 increase to the previously funded amount.

– Approved a three year contract with Moore Engineering contingent upon adding the dates of the contract to the document. The city’s attorney reviewed the contract and worked with the engineering firm to remedy any problem areas.

– Approved an employment agreement with Gene Thomsen. Thomsen will remain the Rice Recreation program manager through Dec. 31. His hours are limited to no more than 40 in any given week or 58 in any month.

– Approved a large gathering permit for March 14. O’Brien’s Pub will host the annual Heritage Day parade.

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FOLEY – Against Minnesota’s winter backdrop, snowmobiling reigns supreme.

The activity continues to grow with every passing winter, and it holds a special connection to the Midwest, specifically Minnesota. Almost 7% of all registered snowmobiles can be found in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, according to data compiled by the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association.

With a vast chain of trails stretching across all sorts of open terrain, it is hard to find a sport more unique. However, in the same sense, it can create equally-unique, troubling scenarios.

Take trespassing, a constant threat to the health of snowmobile trails, mostly comprised of private property owned by landowners both agricultural and commercial.

“Nobody wants people driving all over the land if they haven’t agreed to that,” said Troy Heck, Benton County Sheriff.

“We want people to respect those trails so people can use them in the future.”

Unfortunately for snowmobile clubs, not everybody stays on the groomed trails laid out for them. And with that action comes significant consequences.

Snowmobilers who venture into private property receive a graduallyincreasing punishment for each civil infraction within a three-year span. The first incident yields a $50 fine, a second occurrence bumps that sum to $200 and a final, third situation would lead to a $500 fine and your snowmobile registration revoked.

“As soon as the snow is on the ground, there’s a possibility people will go off the trail,” Heck said.

“It’s not good to stray

off those trails. They’re marked for a reason. Leaving those confines is dangerous on many fronts.”

As the situation varies, it is hard to find a set-in-stone sequence that immediately follows trespassing, but one factor that stands out as a viable risk is property damage. Criminal sanctions will be tacked on to an already hefty, noticeable trespassing penalty if the snowmobiler at fault also applies damage to the property they are trespassing on.

“If it’s a criminal violation, you could get up to a $1,000 fine and 90 days in jail,” said Tony Musatov, a conservation officer for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “In certain instances, you could have a gross misdemeanor trespassing charge, up to a $3,000 fine and a year in jail.”

Even tossing the legal ramifications aside, trekking into unfamiliar snowridden territory where groomers have not gone can leave snowmobiles in potential danger. Whether it is large, jagged rocks buried under the snow or a farmer’s crop field, trespassing skyrockets the likelihood of a snowmobile accident, a rare occurrence on the smooth, regularly-groomed snowmobile trails already established.

“Snow can blow over a lot of things that could cause damage to a sled,” Heck said. “It could cover up a boulder or it could drift across a ditch. With their speed, it’s difficult to avoid those hazards.”

That sort of recklessness also immediately affects the landowner of the property. Private landowners sign an agreement with local snowmobile clubs to allow trails through their territory. This, of course, pertains only to the plotted course indicated by signs and grooming. Trespassing and disruption of that nature can lead to landown-

run into is that once one sled goes off, that sled leads a track,” Heck said.

“That encourages someone behind them who may or may not know they’re going off the trail. As soon as one person breaks that boundary, it’s human nature for others to follow.

We really need people to be respectful of those trail boundaries for others that will come later.”

After all, these sporadic incidents do not just harm relationships with private landowners and trail systems – they harm snowmobiling at local levels, where snowmobile clubs ensure the sport’s wintry tradition continues with prominence.

“The snowmobile club spent a lot of time and effort into getting permission, mapping these trails out, then maintaining the trails, grooming the trails,” Musatov said. “They have a lot in that. There’s an investment in this, to get this thing up and running, keeping it open.”

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ers exercising caution and closing their land to snowmobile trails.

This leaves snowmobile clubs, who own at least 20,000 trail miles in the state of Minnesota alone, tasked with rerouting the trail system to support continued engagement while respecting the rights of private landowners affected by trespassing.

“If they have a landowner that wants to remove themselves from the trail system, the clubs do their best, but it’s not always possible,” Musatov said. “You have to get from point A to point B. If they can’t find landowners in that area, it could become a closed trail. If they can reroute them, they usually do.”

Benton County, especially this winter season, has found little trouble with snowmobilers trespassing on privately-owned land.

Mark Czech, who helped start several trails in the county’s trail system, owns snowmobile-accessible property in Benton County and holds local snowmobiling in high regard.

“I’m very happy to see that everyone has pretty much stayed on the trails,” Czech said. “When I was involved with trail maintenance, we did have some times where we would have to reroute a trail around someone’s land, but that’s just a handful out of hundreds of landowners. I’ve got nothing but positives.”

Signs indicating the proper trail direction are handily placed along the trailside, and like Czech has alluded to, most people have followed their guidance. However, a common slipup for snowmobilers is when one overeager soul travels off the trail, leaving marks in its wake. From then on, trailing vehicles follow those tracks and one by one, a trespassing spree grows.

That is why it is vital that all participants obey the rules of the trail, lest a widespread issue follow.

“The other issue we

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Page 6 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

How to plant a tree

Baby trees are small but should be planted where they can grow to full size both in height and width. First are there any utility lines in the area where the hole will be dug or where the expanding roots may encounter those lines as

BY LINDA G. the tree grows? Gopher State TENNESON Green and One Call, 1-800-252-1166, Growing in will mark your utility lines so you can avoid them. Also con- Benton County sider if the full-size tree will provide too much shade to nearby flower or vegetable beds. Or, will the roots be expanding under a driveway or sidewalk and possibly lifting parts of them? Check the potential height of your tree when it is fully grown. Will the branches be touching any above ground utility lines in the area? Is the proposed tree location on your own property or in the public right of way which may be 15 feet from the edge of the street? Any tree in the right of way might be removed if the street is ever widened.

Once a tree and location have been chosen, is the tree balled and burlapped, in a container or bare root? If the tree has been in a container for a long time, the roots have grown, reached the outer wall of the container and then turned following the curve of the container. Once a root has grown this way, it cannot be reoriented to grow outwards. These curving roots can continue to grow and eventually cause the tree to, in effect, strangle itself. The solution to this is to cut the root ball into a square shape with a hand saw. The curving roots are then severed at the point before they began curving. Once placed in the soil, those roots will grow naturally, that is straight into the surrounding soil. Balled and burlapped and bare root trees are also missing a lot of their original roots and need time to grow new ones.

Dig the hole one to one-and-a-half times the width of the root ball but no deeper than the depth of the root ball. The area around the root ball should be filled with soil originally removed from the hole.

Make a raised rim of soil around the tree to hold water in place until it can sink in around the tree.

Do not plant your tree too deep. Additional soil may have been placed on top of the roots when the tree is packaged for sale. Excess soil should be removed to where the root flare can be seen. The root flare is the natural expansion or widening of the tree trunk right at the soil level. A correctly planted tree should not look like a telephone pole stuck in the ground.

Once the tree is planted, it must be watered regularly if it does not receive 1 inch of rain per week. A general rule is to provide 5 gallons of water for every inch of trunk diameter measured 6 inches above the root flare. Mulch will keep the soil from drying out but should not touch the trunk of the tree. Newly planted trees should not be fertilized because they need to focus on growing additional roots, and the nitrogen in fertilizers encourages the top of the tree to grow. New trees also need to be protected from animals, sunscald and mechanical damage from string trimmers, lawn mowers or other items. Visit https://z.umn.edu/treeselectionandcare for details on which trees grow best in this area, susceptibility to insect damage and other considerations.

Linda G. Tenneson is a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener and Tree Care Advisor.

EDITORIAL

Built within

Hablo un poco de español. I speak a litbuilt within to the point it feels like instinct. I tle Spanish. That phrase is one I have been did not grow up with anyone speaking Spanwanting to say confidentially my whole life. ish around me, but it felt like I should be My mother was born in east Los Angeles and speaking it. I grew up in a blue home where grew up in the Chicano movement. That is my mom decorated literally only in blue. But, when a large influx in Mexican population I still favored the bright colors of far off travgrew on the east side of LA, and teachers els. If these small earthly longings are built forced the children to speak only English within me from a heritage that found its way through the 1950s and ‘60s. Speaking Spanto Minnesota, how much more is a heavenly ish in school or around town landed them longing built within us from a God that finds with a paddle beating or without service his way within each and every one of us?

BY MERCY from businesses. My mother’s parents spoke “The deepest longing of the human NYGAARD little Spanish around her, and by my mom’s Life by FAith heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God,” rebellious teen years, she wanted nothing to wrote the Rev. John Piper in “Seeing and Sado with her parent’s native tongue. If I was voring Jesus Christ.” going to learn Spanish, it was going to be through my “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from high school foreign language class. I grew up in a small the end of the earth ... whom I created for my glory,” northern Minnesotan town, and when I heard people (Isaiah 4:3-7). speak Spanish (in movies), a feeling inside would To see God, to savor our faith and to show God to spark. I desired to know what they were saying. None others – that is why we exist. of my intrinsic interests, however, led me to pursue furScientists have spent their lives trying to come up ther education or even to Rosetta Stone learning soft- with an answer to how the world was created. How did ware. we get here, and then finally it begs us to ask the quesAnother innate interest I had and only recently no- tion, why are we here? Sometimes the instinctual inticed is I am drawn to bright and ethnic things to make terests come from our heritage, but all the time there our home a home. Blues and greens, weather worn lingers an innate longing for something bigger – your browns and splashes of red have always been reoccur- heavenly heritage. God created man and woman for his ring colors I land on after I scan through my paint color glory. Wickedly jealous Satan put a nasty road block fan and imagine painting my walls. When I first moved between us and our creator, but God’s son, Jesus, blastfrom my rural hometown, I distinctly remember shop- ed it out of the way when he died for us on the cross. ping in a Pier One Imports store and fell in love with For there is one God and one mediator between God their hand carved, wooden boxes. They were chunky and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ranand looked like they were weathered from the outside som for all (1 Timothy 2:5-6). We need only to accept elements. The bright colors in that store made me feel Jesus’ sacrifice for our forgiveness, believe it as our gift alive. This is when Pier One actually imported goods to salvation and receive. from exotic craftsmen instead of mass-producing items Again, I beg you to receive. Fall in love with the like they do today. Believe it or not, when I started a one who has planted that innate desire to know him family, I decorated with beiges and neutrals and only more. Out of your love for him, you will start to walk incorporated an imported picture frame from Mexico in obedience. Unlike me, who has not pursued educahere and there. Of course, I have been considering my tion in the Spanish language or painting my walls bold husband all these years, who laughs at the thought of a colors, pursue educating yourself in the Bible and get to moody, bright or loud living space. So, I refrain from know God daily. Paint his word on your heart. You will painting the deep bold colors I desire. never regret tapping into what he has built within you.

Thinking of these two things that have followed me to today made me wonder how much our heritage is

Letters to the editor welcome

Letters to the editor and other opinion articles are welcome. Letters must be signed with a first and last name and include an address and phone number. Letters should be short (under 400 words) and to the point, and be submitted by at 5 p.m.

E-mail to natasha@saukherald.com

EDITORIAL

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 7

Top issues as the 2020 session gets underway The Minnesota Legislature returned year, and violent crimes such as assaults, to the Capitol in St. Paul Feb. 11 for the robberies and murders have spiked. It was 2020 session and significant decisions are reported two-thirds of the neighborhoods in store, especially related to the state’s in Minneapolis saw an increase in overall $1.3 billion budget surplus. crime in 2019 – including a 70% spike in While some legislators may have the Minneapolis Downtown East neighideas on how the surplus can be spent, borhood.

I remind them surplus really means an A Safety in our Cities press conferover-collection of tax dollars, not a free ence took place to announce a series of pot of money waiting to be spent on govbills the House minority has assembled

BY REP. SHANE MEKELAND ernment programs. That means tax relief to address this issue. The package of five MN House 15B should be a top priority this year, and we bills targets many of the issues driving could start by eliminating Minnesota’s Straight from crime in the metro area, including gang the Capitol state tax on Social Security income benand drug trafficking activity as well as the efits. Reports routinely show Minnesota need for additional officers and tools for as one of the nation’s least retirementlaw enforcement to combat crime on the friendly states with taxes on Social Security a major light rail lines and in communities. factor.

Other top priorities for me this session include Incremental progress has been made on reducing reducing health care costs and protecting our Second Minnesota’s tax on Social Security, including a 2017 Amendment rights, and I will keep advocating for an bill which provided 284,000 senior citizens with tax all-of-the-above energy approach instead of followreductions. Approximately 72,000 of our seniors no ing California’s ill-advised policies that would cause longer pay any income tax Social Security, and now instability in our state. it is time to finish the job. I have co-authored a bill I have authored two bills related to energy this (H.F. 56) that would provide an unlimited Social Se- session. One bill would create further penalties for curity subtraction and am optimistic it can get trac- trespassing or damaging critical infrastructure to detion this year. ter extremists from criminal activity that could cause Other top priorities this session include reducing public safety hazards. health care costs, overhauling Minnesota’s dysfuncThe other bill would prohibit cities from bantional Department of Human Services, protecting our ning natural gas after San Francisco mandated all Second Amendment rights and supporting our roads new government buildings and renovations be fully and bridges. electric. Forcing Minnesotans into an all-electric Headlines have painted the DHS as an agency mandate could have disastrous consequences when in disarray, with misspending, mismanagement and extended power outages occur during the winter staff turmoil. This is our state’s largest agency, and months. Besides, a report shows natural gas prices taxpayers deserve more accountability and transpar- fell to their lowest level since 2016 with the lowest ency. For instance, rather than forcing taxpayers to February prices in 20 years. foot the bill Minnesota owes the federal government Natural gas is a great source of stable energy that due to mistakes at DHS, the agency itself should take must remain part of our all-of-the-above approach to responsibility for this debacle and source the funding a stable grid. within its $17 billion budget.

Your input is welcome, and you can reach my Another subject that has risen to the surface per- legislative office by calling 651-296-2451 or by tains to a lack of public safety in the Twin Cities met- emailing rep.shane.mekeland@house.mn ro area. The crime rate was at an all-time high last

BREAK CROSSWORD

Letters to the Editor Justice denied by city of Sauk Rapids Ed and Helen Maier, Sauk Rapids One of the problems happened when our street was reconstructed in summer 2017. The surprise came when we received the bill. While everyone else on the street was assessed correctly – if they had 50 feet of frontage, they were assessed for 50, likewise if they had 100 feet, they were assessed for 100 – our frontage is 61 feet, but we were assessed for 146 feet. Quite a difference. We appealed the assessment but were unanimously turned down by the mayor and city council. Only after we went to the expense of filing a lawsuit in district court did the city talk to us, and we settled out of court.

Another problem happened last fall. Our lot with the blue steel building, the old bait shop, was zoned commercial. The city changed the zoning to

Caucuses are important Carina Moore, Melrose This year, Minnesota is having a Presidential Primary Election for the first time since 1992. The primary will be one week after caucuses. Some people might wonder why you would have a caucus if you are having a primary. Let us take a minute and see why the caucus is important.

At your parties’ caucus, you will get to meet and interact with your neighbors and community members, some of which you might not know or interact with regularly. The caucus provides attendees with opportunities to become more involved in their party. Whether you want to volunteer to door knock for a certain candidate or you want to explore the possibility of running for an office yourself. Your

residential. So, now it is restricted to the lowest possible use which greatly reduces its value. The legal term for this is inverse condemnation, and the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires the city to compensate for the drop in resale value.

We appealed to the city council and mayor but were again unanimously voted down. The neighbors we talked to agreed it should have stayed commercial.

We are still charged the commercial rate for storm water, while, ironically, half of the lot is devoted to water run-off.

We do not want to consider moving for there are so many good, friendly people in this area. The mayor said they do not have a vendetta against us, but as the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

party will benefit from your engagement. Some of the processes can seem a bit odd or outdated, but they are a vital part of participating in our democracy at every level. Some of the races that impact us the most directly are the smaller races like city council or school board as they can have the most impact on day to day issues that affect our families.

Making sure your voice is heard and that you did your part to ensure the best candidate gets the job is crucial to the success of our local, state and federal government.

By taking the time to participate, you help reinforce the notion that everyone’s voice and vote counts. Caucuses are Feb. 25. Contact your local party or check out the Minnesota Secretary of State website to find your caucus location.

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EDITORIAL

Page 8 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Paid Letter to the Editor

Ballot question for Watab Township, elected or appointed clerk?

By Todd Waytashek, Sauk Rapids I am presenting the position for keeping the clerk as an elected position. The electors currently have five voices on the board: three supervisors, the clerk and the treasurer. I believe the power to govern comes from the electors, and that more, not less, elected positions gives electors a better voice and makes for better, more informed decision making.

For the record, I voted in the December meeting to put the question on the ballot in order to hear what the residents want. The electors should have their say. In fact, the electors have demonstrated several times they demand it. Simply put, we need to slow down and have an intelligent conversation so everyone is fully informed before this comes for a vote.

The position of clerk has to be independent, not relying on the board members for their job.

This position has a multitude of tasks that require this independence and takes these tasks off the plate of the supervisors, allowing them to focus on policy matters. Records search, information gathering, record keeping, reporting, accounting and many other tasks all need to be undertaken by the clerk with the independence of knowing their position is not subject to the whims of the board members.

Another argument that has been raised is no one is interested in this position, supposedly evidenced by no one running for clerk this year. First, I doubt it was known there was going to be an opening; we did not know of Clerk Davis’ health issue until after the filing period closed. Second, while changing to an appointed clerk might increase the pool of possible candidates, why not spend more time exploring the 3,200-plus members of the community and asking for someone to step forward? When I suggested we put an ad in the paper, I was immediately shut down.

Our previous clerk, Nicole Burski, was willing to help solve this short-term clerk problem, I just had to ask her. Chris Davis, Nicole Burski, Jon Hull, April Burton and Pat Spence all volunteered their services in the last two years and all come from inside our township, stepping forward to help out when the township needed help. All are not in the position now for their own reasons which leads me into the next item.

We need to look internally to figure out why there has been high turnover in this position, which we have not done at the time of this writing. Speculating only here, there are a multitude of possibilities that come to mind; a lack of understanding of what the job entails, unrealistic expectations, personality conflicts with board members, personal attacks from meeting attendees, personal life changes that make extra work too much. I am sure I have missed some and probably have several that do not apply. We need to search out whatever problems exist before we throw in the towel. We supervisors owe it to previous clerks, as well as to the future clerks and the township as a whole, to find and fix the issue(s), not try to push the issue off.

Last, I do not believe this effort to appoint will stop with the clerk; the next question will be the treasurer position. Are the electors willing to give up two of their voices? I, for one, am not.

PAID

Letters to the editor welcome Letters to the editor and other opinion articles are welcome. Letters must be signed with a first and last name and include an address and phone number.

Letters should be short (under 400 words) and to the point, and be submitted by at 5 p.m.

E-mail to natasha@saukherald.com

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Josh Bauer (second from left), Sauk Rapids-Rice High School business and marking teacher, answers a question as he sits with district staff Phillip Klaphake (from left), Nancy Davis and Karl Nonher during the Sauk Rapids-Rice Business & Industry Summit Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. The educator panel addressed curriculum and ways businesses could collaborate with the district to be mutually beneficial.

SRR hosts business, industry summit

In order to collaborate and prepare students for an ever-changing job market, business and community leaders must connect with schools.

The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District fully understands that for a community to grow and prosper, its business and school community must work together.

The Sauk RapidsRice School District host-

ed a Business members to & Industry learn about Summit Feb. the busi18 at Sauk nesses in Rapids-Rice the comHigh School munity, in Sauk Rapdiscuss ids.

This the present

BY AARON SINCLAIR event proand future vided educa- SRR Superintendent workforce tors with an needs, and, authentic experience to most importantly, discuss engage with over 60 lo- the key skills, attributes cal businesses. The goals and habits our children of the event were for staff need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world.

The event consisted of a business and industry leader and CEO panel for Independent School District No. 47 staff. The panel was comprised of Joan Shotz, co-president of Park Industries; Ryan Cross, president and CEO of BCI Construction; Stephanie Brown, attorPHOTO SUBMITTED ney at Rinke Noonan; and District staff Stephanie Schlangen (left) and Carey John Bryant, CEO and Johnson listen to Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck during president of GeoComm. the Sauk Rapids-Rice Business & Industry Summit Feb. 18 “We applaud you, in Sauk Rapids. Over 60 businesses attended the event our educational staff, for to teach staff members about their employers and have your dedication in helpconversations about skillsets.

ing these young students grow, providing them with life-long skills that will be instrumental in helping them succeed in their future,” Bryant said. “At GeoComm, we believe a strong school and business partnership in the greater St. Cloud community is a valuable investment, equipping students with the most innovative tools and aids in ensuring they have the best chance at a prosperous future. We are excited about the current greater St. Cloud community collaboration initiative and are confident this important endeavor will not only be beneficial for the students but also set an excellent example for the greater Minnesota community on the value of business and school partnerships.”

The industry leader and CEO panel was followed by a business and

Sinclair page 9

Paid Letters to the Editor My goal is to continue positive change Bill Little, Rice Watab residents, My name is William (Bill) Little. I am writing to introduce myself and ask for your vote in the upcoming township supervisor election March 10.

My wife Sheri and I have lived in Watab Township for the past seven years. My father was very active on various boards and committees and instilled in me the belief that we can make a difference through public service. I have served on the Richfield Chamber of Commerce, Richfield cleanup committee, Archdiocesan Association of the Holy Name Society and Mounds View Merchants Association.

If you shop at Menards, there is a good chance we have already met. I work in the electrical de-

Vote Little for Watab supervisor Steve Wollak, Rice Watab residents, Please vote March 10. Can we as residents afford another three years of Todd Waytashek?

Todd is the last remaining member of the board of supervisors who spent $14,000 dollars to research creating a fire department, and then pushed to create a one-fire truck department manned by volunteers protected by the cast-off equipment of other departments. Todd was for it even when their budget analysis showed this reduction in service would cost residents more in taxes and fire insurance.

In 2019, one of Todd’s duties was to file the MS4 report with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (To be very clear, this is not the duty of

partment where I am known as the unofficial greeter. I really enjoy meeting new people and listening to what they have to say. This approach has been an asset in my current job, and I am confident it will help me be productive in my service to the residents of Watab Township.

I became interested in our local township government when I heard about the “time for a change” movement. Residents responded to the call for change by voting in Julie Johnson and Steve Wollak in the last elections. This has brought better communications with residents, improvements in the spending habits of the board and an increase in efficiency in which township business is conducted. My goal would be to continue the positive changes with a special interest in deterring crime and making our township a safer place to live.

PAID

the clerk.) He was asked several times by Supervisor Johnson and myself if he needed any help. He assured us each time he had it under control. After a notice in August that the report was overdue, Todd finally submitted it – in October. The township got fined a $1,750 late fee. It is our money as residents and taxpayers that was used to pay this fine. Todd felt the fine should be paid out of the budget as an administrative cost and should not even be brought up in our monthly meeting. Despite multiple people asking for his resignation, he has never apologized nor offered sufficient explanation for why he did not file the report on time.

I do not believe in wasting your money or sitting by silently while someone else does. I endorse William (Bill) Little for township supervisor.

PAID

Page 12 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD • Business • Auto • Home • Farm • Life • Health • COMPETITIVE RATES • EXCELLENT SERVICE • FLEXIBLE BILLING • STRONG COMPANIES

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 13

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Page 14 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Public Notice OF TEST OF AUTOMARK VOTING SYSTEM Notice is hereby given that a test and demonstration of the AutoMark voting system for the Townships of Gilmanton, Langola, Maywood, Mayhew Lake, Minden, St George, and Watab will be held at 321 6th Ave Foley, MN at 3pm, Thursday, March 5, 2020. Political Parties, Candidates, Local Election Officials and Members of the Public at large are welcome to attend, ask questions and/or observe the procedures.

FR-8-1B CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 (1) The exact name under which the business is or will be conducted is: Country Financial - Bill Corcoran.

(2) The address of the principal place of business is: 2395 Troop Drive Suite 103, Sartell, MN 56377 USA. (3) List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name, OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address: Bill Corcoran Insurance and Financial Services, Inc., 2395 Troop Drive Suite 103, Sartell, MN 56377 USA. (4) By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. /s/ Bill Corcoran 02/14/2020 R-8-2B Notice of Election – Annual meeting Sauk Rapids Township Benton County, Minnesota

The citizens of the Township of Sauk Rapids in the County of Benton and the State of Minnesota, who are qualified to vote at General Elections, are hereby notified that the Annual Election of Town Officers and Annual Meeting will be held at the Sauk Rapids Town Hall on Tuesday, March 10th 2020. Polls will be open from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Offices to be filled at this Election are as follows : One supervisor-(3-year term) One Clerk- (2-year term) The Annual Meeting will be held at 8:00p.m.

Business to be conducted is Revenue Sharing Funds for the Township, and Storm water runoff policy question and answer session.

The bad weather alternate date for Election and Annual Meeting is March 17th, 2020.

Absentee Ballots will be available to those who will be absent from the precinct on Election Day by contacting the Clerk at 320-250-7413, before Match 6th 2020 or during the Absentee voting hours of 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on March 7th 2020 at the Sauk Rapids Townhall 4651 Mayhew Lake Road East, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Given under my hand this 19th, day of February, 2020 Daryl Sheetz, Clerk Sauk Rapids Township R-8-3B NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS Notice is hereby given to the qualified voters of Minden Township, County of Benton, State of Minnesota, that the Annual Election of Officers and Annual Town Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. In case of inclement weather, the meeting and election may be postponed until the third Tuesday of March (March 17) and , if inclement weather also postpones, the election and meeting on the third Tuesday they shall be held on the forth Tuesday in March (March 24).

The election polls will be open from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm at which time the voters will elect: Clerk for one Two-year Term Supervisor for one Three-year Term The Annual Meeting will commence at 8:05 p.m. to conduct all necessary business prescribed by law. The Annual Election and Meeting will be held at the Minden Town hall located at 2989 Golden Spike Road N.E., Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 The Board of Canvas will immediately follow the Annual Meeting.

Absentee Ballots can by requested from the Minden Township Treasurer at Phone 320-251-9074, and on Saturday, March 7, 2020 voting will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Town Hall.

Noticed by Esther Ebnet, Treasurer Cynthia Abraham, Minden Township Clerk.

FR-8-1B

NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: September 6, 2011 MORTGAGOR: Christopher J Schaefer, a married man; also executed

by Stephanie M. Schaefer, a married woman MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for U.S. Bank N.A. its successors and assigns.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded September 22, 2011 Benton County Recorder, Document No. 383901.

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: U.S. Bank National Association. Dated August 14, 2019 Recorded August 19, 2019, as Document No. 437649. And thereafter assigned to Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC Dated October 1, 2019 Recorded October 1, 2019 as Document No. 438493.

TRANSACTION AGENT: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. TRANSACTION AGENT’S MORTGAGE

I D E N T I F I C AT I O N NUMBER ON M O R T G A G E : 100021200004357553 LENDER OR BROKER AND MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE: U.S. Bank N.A. RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICER: Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC M O RT G A G E D PROPERTY ADDRESS: 611 8th Avenue North, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 19.02342.00 L E G A L DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: A parcel of land situated in the State of Minnesota, County of Benton, described as Sect-23 Twp-036 Range-031 Scenic View Plat 2 Lot-018 Block-004.

COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Benton O R I G I N A L PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $180,000.00 AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID

BY MORTGAGEE: $164,701.54 That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action

or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: March 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: Benton County Sheriff’s Office, 581 Highway 23 Northeast Foley, MN to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns unless reduced to Five (5) weeks under MN Stat. §580.07.

TIME AND DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: If the real estate is an owneroccupied, single-family dwelling, unless otherwise provided by law, the date on or before which the mortgagor(s) must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on September 14, 2020, unless that date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, in which case it is the next weekday, and unless the redemption period is reduced to 5 weeks

under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 or 582.032.

M O RT G A G O R ( S ) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE:None “THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION

BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S P E R S O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.” Dated: January 8, 2020 Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee USSET, WEINGARDEN AND LIEBO, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 137 - 19-009777 FC THIS IS A C O M M U N I C AT I O N FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. R-3-6B

NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: J a n u a r y 27, 2006 MORTGAGOR: Nathan J Knutson, a single adult.

MORTGAGEE: Bankvista.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded February 9, 2006 Benton County Recorder, Document No. A335339.

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. Dated January 27, 2006 Recorded February 9, 2006, as Document No. A335340.

TRANSACTION AGENT: NONE TRANSACTION AGENT’S MORTGAGE I D E N T I F I C AT I O N NUMBER ON MORTGAGE: NONE LENDER OR BROKER AND MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE: Bankvista RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICER: U.S. Bank National Association

M O RT G A G E D PROPERTY ADDRESS: 3251 Orchard Avenue Northeast, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 190426000 L E G A L DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: LOT SIX (6), BLOCK TWO (2), FAIRVIEW FARM, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT AND SURVEY THEREOF ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER IN AND FOR BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA. COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Benton O R I G I N A L PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $130,700.00 AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID

BY MORTGAGEE: $135,757.79 That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the

power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: April 14, 2020 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: Benton County Sheriff’s Office, 581 Highway 23 Northeast Foley, MN to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns unless reduced to Five (5) weeks under MN Stat. §580.07.

TIME AND DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: If the real estate is an owneroccupied, single-family dwelling, unless otherwise provided by law, the date on or before which the mortgagor(s) must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on October 14, 2020, unless that date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, in which case it is the next weekday, and unless the redemption period is reduced to 5 weeks under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 or 582.032.

MORTGAGOR(S) RELEASED FROM

FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE:None “THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION

BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S P E R S O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.” Dated: February 12, 2020 Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee USSET, WEINGARDEN AND LIEBO, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 135 - 19-009541 FC THIS IS A C O M M U N I C AT I O N FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. R-8-6B

PUBLIC NOTICES THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED

BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: September 23, 2004 MORTGAGOR: Keith J. Miller and Dori K. Miller, husband and wife.

MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for American Mortgage Network, Inc. its successors and assigns.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded September 30, 2004 Benton County Recorder, Document No. 319046.

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP fka Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP. Dated March 23, 2012 Recorded April 2, 2012, as Document No. 387621 and by purported Assignment of Mortgage assigned to BAC Home Loans Servicing LP. Dated December 23, 2010 Recorded March 30, 2011,

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 15

NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE as Document No. A380898, Servicing at right angles along the East 10:00 AM subject to Rescission of M O R T G A G E D line of said Lot 1 and said PLACE OF SALE: Assignment of Mortgage PROPERTY ADDRESS: line extended in a straight Benton County Sheriff’s Dated January 4, 2017 121 5th Avenue North, Sauk line to the point of beginning, Office, 581 Highway 23 Recorded February 6, 2017 Rapids, MN 56379 according to the plats and Northeast Foley, MN as Document No. 420939..

TAX PARCEL I.D. #: surveys of said additions on to pay the debt then secured And thereafter assigned 190074900 file and of record in the office by said Mortgage, and taxes, to: Green Tree Servicing, LEGAL DESCRIPTION of the County Recorder if any, on said premises, and LLC. Dated January 8, 2013 OF PROPERTY: in and for Benton County, the costs and disbursements, Recorded January 14, 2013, See attached legal Minnesota. including attorneys’ fees as Document No. 394061. description.

COUNTY IN WHICH allowed by law subject to And thereafter assigned to: That part of the Lot One (1), PROPERTY IS LOCATED: redemption within six (6) MTGLQ Investors, L.P.. Block Six (6), Borup and Benton months from the date of said Dated December 5, 2016 Oakes Addition to the Town O R I G I N A L sale by the mortgagor(s), Recorded January 5, 2017, of Sauk Rapids and of Lot PRINCIPAL AMOUNT their personal representatives as Document No. A420388. Five (5), Block Eighteen OF MORTGAGE: or assigns unless reduced to And thereafter assigned to: (18), Wood, Russell and $104,800.00 Five (5) weeks under MN U.S. Bank Trust National Gilman’s Addition to Sauk AMOUNT DUE Stat. §580.07.

Association, not in its Rapids, described as follows, AND CLAIMED TO BE TIME AND DATE TO individual capacity but solely to-wit: Commencing at the DUE AS OF DATE OF VACATE PROPERTY: If as owner trustee of Legacy Southeast corner of Lot Four NOTICE, INCLUDING the real estate is an ownerMortgage Asset Trust 2019- (4) of Block Eighteen (18) TAXES, IF ANY, PAID occupied, single-family GS4. Dated August 14, 2019 Wood, Russell and Gilman’s BY MORTGAGEE: dwelling, unless otherwise Recorded August 16, 2019, Addition to Sauk Rapids; $115,196.43 provided by law, the date as Document No. 437594. thence North 100 feet along That prior to the on or before which the T R A N S A C T I O N the East side of said Lot commencement of this mortgagor(s) must vacate the AGENT: Mortgage 4 and said Line extended, mortgage foreclosure property if the mortgage is Electronic Registration which is the Westerly side proceeding Mortgagee/ not reinstated under section Systems, Inc. of Fifth Avenue North, to a Assignee of Mortgagee 580.30 or the property is T R A N S A C T I O N point of beginning; thence complied with all notice not redeemed under section AGENT’S MORTGAGE at right angles to said last requirements as required 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on I D E N T I F I C A T I O N line in a straight line to west by statute; That no action September 17, 2020, unless NUMBER ON line of said Lot 1, Block 6, or proceeding has been that date falls on a weekend MORTGAGE: 1001310- Borup and Oakes Addition instituted at law or otherwise or legal holiday, in which 2040582555-3 to the Town of Sauk Rapids; to recover the debt secured case it is the next weekday, LENDER OR BROKER thence North along said West by said mortgage, or any part and unless the redemption AND MORTGAGE line of said Lot 1 to the North thereof; period is reduced to 5 weeks ORIGINATOR STATED ON line of said Lot 1; thence PURSUANT to the under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 MORTGAGE: American Easterly along North line of power of sale contained in or 582.032.

Mortgage Network, Inc. said Lot 1; Block 6, Borup said mortgage, the above M O R T G A G O R ( S ) R E S I D E N T I A L and Oakes Addition to the described property will be RELEASED FROM MORTGAGE SERVICER: Town of Sauk Rapids, to the sold by the Sheriff of said FINANCIAL OBLIGATION NewRez LLC F/K/A New East line of Said Lot 1, which county as follows: ON MORTGAGE:None Penn Financial, LLC is the West line of said Fifth DATE AND TIME OF “THE TIME ALLOWED BY D/B/A Shellpoint Mortgage Avenue North; thence South SALE: March 17, 2020 at LAW FOR REDEMPTION

NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that default has occurred in conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 3, 2018 MORTGAGOR: Quentin Markfort and Crystal Markfort, husband and wife.

MORTGAGEE: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Everett Financial, Inc. D/B/A Supreme Lending.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded April 6, 2018 Benton County Recorder, Document No. 428665.

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC. Dated January 14, 2020 Recorded February 7, 2020, as Document No. 441194.

TRANSACTION AGENT: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. TRANSACTION AGENT’S MORTGAGE I D E N T I F I C AT I O N NUMBER ON M O R T G A G E : 100307110009143509 LENDER OR BROKER

AND MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE: Everett Financial, Inc. D/B/A Supreme Lending RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE SERVICER: M&T Bank M O RT G A G E D PROPERTY ADDRESS: 160 Dewey St, Foley, MN 56329 TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 13.00141.00 L E G A L DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: LOT ONE (1), BLOCK ONE (1), ALSO A STRIP OF LAND 40 FEET WIDE BY 150 FEET LONG, LYING EAST OF LOT 1, BLOCK 1 AND BEING THE WEST HALF (W 1/2) OF FIRST AVENUE (NOW VACATED) IN FOLEY’S REARRANGEMENT OF THE TOWN (NOW CITY) OF FOLEY, BENTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA. COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Benton O R I G I N A L PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $108,007.00 AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID

BY MORTGAGEE: $109,690.23 That prior to the commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements as required

by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: April 7, 2020 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: Benton County Sheriff’s Office, 581 Highway 23 Northeast Foley, MN to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, and taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns unless reduced to Five (5) weeks under MN Stat. §580.07.

TIME AND DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: If the real estate is an owneroccupied, single-family dwelling, unless otherwise provided by law, the date on or before which the mortgagor(s) must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 is 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2020, unless that date falls on a weekend or legal holiday, in which case it is the next weekday, and unless the redemption period

is reduced to 5 weeks under MN Stat. Secs. 580.07 or 582.032.

M O RT G A G O R ( S ) RELEASED FROM FINANCIAL OBLIGATION ON MORTGAGE:None “THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION

BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S P E R S O N A L R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.” Dated: February 11, 2020 Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee USSET, WEINGARDEN AND LIEBO, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 37 - 20-001478 FC THIS IS A C O M M U N I C AT I O N FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. R-8-6B

BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S P E R S O N A L R E P R E S E N T AT I V E S OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.” Dated: January 14, 2020 U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee USSET, WEINGARDEN AND LIEBO, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 164 - 19-009829 FC THIS IS A C O M M U N I C AT I O N FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. R-3-6B

MAYHEW LAKE TOWNSHIP NOTICE MEETING CHANGE The March meeting of the Mayhew Lake Township Board will be Monday, March 2 at 7:00 at the Clerks Home Lawrence Thell, Clerk Mayhew Lake Township R-8-1B

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 47 Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools 1833 Osauka Road NE Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOTICE TO SERVICE PROVIDERS Sealed proposals will be received by Independent School District 47 at its District Offices, 1833 Osauka Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 until 10:00 a.m. (CST) Wednesday, March 23, 2020, at which time all proposals will be opened and read publicly. Proposals are being requested on the purchase of transportation services.

A mandatory informational meeting will be held at the District Offices, 1833 Osauka Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379, at 10:00 a.m. (CST) on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at which time prospective service providers may inform themselves of the District’s specific transportation needs.

Service Providers may also examine maps, schedules, current route lists and other information made available by the District.

Proposals must be submitted on proposal forms “Exhibit A” furnished by the District and be in accordance with the specifications. The School District reserves the right to waive technicalities or irregularities; to accept or reject any portion of a quotation, when quotations are by items and to accept or reject any or all quotations; and to make arrangements in the best interest of the School District. All sealed proposals are to be addressed to Andi Johnson, Director of Business Services, Independent School District 47, 1833 Osauka Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN, 56379 and be properly identified with the inscription: TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PROPOSAL. Specifications will be available at Independent School District 47, District Offices, 1833 Osauka Road NE, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 on February 24, 2020. A copy may also be provided electronically by e-mail request to Rich Enga, Transportation Supervisor, at e-mail address: rich.enga@ isd47.org. Questions regarding the specifications must be addressed to Rich Enga, Transportation Supervisor, via e-mail at rich.enga@isd47.org. Questions concerning this quotation must be made in writing and response to such questions will be made in writing. All proposals, once delivered to the District, must remain effective until 60 days after the opening.

R-8-2B

Page 16 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

PUBLIC NOTICES

BENTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 4, 2020 5:00 PM The Benton County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on February 4, 2020 in the Benton County Board Room in Foley, MN with Commissioners Spencer Buerkle, Warren Peschl, Steve Heinen and Ed Popp present and Commissioner Jake Bauerly absent (excused). Call to order by Chair Buerkle was at 9:00 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Peschl/Heinen unanimous to approve the amended agenda (add item: Application for MN Lawful Gambling Permit—Northern Lights Royal Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation).

Henry Oehrlein (3425 Golden Spike Road) was present under Open Forum, noting a number of concerns with a neighboring property, including issues with snow plowing and the many miscellaneous items being stored on the property. Also speaking under Open Forum was Trevor McConnell (1993 – 2nd Street SE, St. Cloud) who spoke of the “major drainage issues” on the western side of the county.

He commented “...we had a meeting on County Road 75 behind the old Honda House...they tore that old railroad spur out of there and we had all that rain...that railroad grade is washed down into Ditch Number 3 now, causing all the water to come south across our property...the culvert under Number 8, which they are going to reclaim or are

supposed to reclaim this year...the culvert can’t handle it... before the water can hit the top of that culvert even, we’ve got a foot of water in our fields...that water is supposed to run into Sauk Rapids and it can’t get there because this ditch is blocked off...this is a county ditch...I said I would personally clean part of that out...if they cleaned out the spot next to 75...and nothing has yet to be done...I think we should enlarge that culvert while we have the road torn up...” Also speaking under Open Forum was Stephen Ertl (565 – 14th Avenue NE) who stated his agreement with Trevor McConnell’s statements regarding County Ditch 3, commenting “...I’ve lived on that property for 32 years and nothing has been done...it’s all over-growth...something needs to get done now...my basement floods out every year...there’s ditch cleaning money for this to get done...”

Peschl/Popp unanimous to approve the Consent Agenda: 1) approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of January 21, 2020 as written; 2) accept and file Management Team Meeting Minutes of December 12, 2019 as written; 3) accept and file Administrator’s Report—Monthly Financial Report as presented; 4) approve Amendment #1 to Snowmobile Safety Enforcement Grant Contract, and authorize the Chair to sign; 5) adopt Resolution 2020-#6, accepting donation to Sheriff’s K-9 Fund from the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation, and authorize the Chair to sign; 6) approve Application for Exempt Permit for Turn In Poachers Duelm Banquet to hold a raffle at Jack & Jim’s Event Center, 11025 Duelm Road NE, Foley, on March 26,

The Presidential Nomination Primary will be held on March 3rd. All Benton County polling places will be open from 7AM-8PM. Before voting, election law for the Presidential Nomination Primary requires that you select which major political party’s ballot you want. If you refuse to select one party’s ballot, you cannot vote. There are

two major political parties participating in the Presidential Nomination Primary. Each party has a separate ballot. Below are the sample ballots for the Republican and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Parties: FR-8-1B SAMPLE BALLOT

Official Ballot

Presidential Nomination Primary Ballot Republican Party Benton County, Minnesota March 3, 2020

Judge _____ Judge _____

Instructions to Voters:

To vote, completely fill in the oval next to your choice like this:

Minnesota Election Law permits you to vote for a candidate of only one political party in a Presidential Nomination Primary election.

Republican Party Federal Offices President

Vote for One Donald J. Trump

write-in, if any

Alberta Township

Prec: 0005

Ballot page 17

Typ:01 Seq:0001 Spl:01

2020; 7) approve Application for Exempt permit for Foley Area Ducks Unlimited to hold a raffle and bingo at Jack & Jim’s Event Center, 11025 Duelm Road NE, Foley, on April 19, 2020; 8) approve amended contract with Hoisington Koegler Group, Inc., extending the expiration of the contract to May 31, 2020, and authorize the Chair to sign; and 9) approve Application for MN Lawful Gambling Permit for Northern Lights Royal Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to hold a raffle at Jack & Jim’s Event Center, 11025 Duelm Road NE, Foley, on February 29, 2020.

Roxanne Achman, Department of Development Director, explained that the plat of Benton County Boundary Commission Plat No. 1 was adopted by the County Board on January 21, 2020 at a public hearing; since that date, the property owners of Lots 8 and 9 have placed both of their lots into the same name, which allows the parcels to be combined due to Lot 8 being nonconforming and under common ownership with an adjacent lot. Achman stated that an easement just outside of the plat boundaries is also being corrected to reflect a 33-foot cartway rather than the 66-foot cartway shown. Popp/Peschl unanimous to approve Resolution 2020-#7, adopting the amended plat of Benton County Boundary Commission Plat No. 1, and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution.

Steve Stang, IT Director, reported that, as part of the county’s iSeries (AS400) sunset roadmap, staff have been moving applications from the AS400 to Windows-based systems; as of January 2020, there are three large programs that are still on the AS400—Tax, CAMA and Payroll. Stang noted that the AS400 is a specialized skillset in IT and the position responsible for it is planning for retirement soon; IT will not seek to replace this skillset going forward—instead, they recommend a partnership with CPS Technology Solutions to manage and support the AS400 through a managed services contract until the remaining AS400 software systems have been moved to Windows-based systems by the software vendors. Popp/ Heinen unanimous to approve the iSeries Managed Services Contract with CPS Technology Solutions, and authorize the Chair to sign.

Chris Byrd, County Engineer, explained that funding of specific road construction projects is often a topic of conversation; however, funding of maintenance activities is seldom talked about. He provided background information on the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund; there is general consensus amongst all 87 counties on how to split up the gas tax revenue through the CSAH fund. Byrd pointed out that Benton County’s 2019 State Aid CSAH Allotment was about $4.4 million—60% must go toward construction projects and 40% toward maintenance activities (regular CSAH and municipal). He noted that maintenance includes routine maintenance, minor surface repair, cleaning of culverts, ditches and bridges, brush and weed control, snow and ice control, and traffic services. Byrd stated that, over the last five years, Benton County received state funding totaling $7,505,907; however, maintenance expenditures totaled $7,852,285—the difference of $346,378 is what the county spent on CSAH roads that were not reimbursed by state aid maintenance.

Engineer’s Update: Byrd informed the Board that the annual in-service bridge safety inspections for 2019 have been completed—95 of 112 bridges were inspected, 65 of those bridges are on the CSAH system and 30 of those bridges are on township roads or in the City of Foley. He stated that, as a result of those bridge inspections, 13 bridges (12%) have been classified as structurally deficient (up from 6 bridges last year). Byrd stated his intent to bring forth a resolution at the next Board meeting that prioritizes the replacement of those bridges, which is one of the first steps in applying for state bridge bonding.

The Regular County Board meeting was recessed at 9:37 AM to conduct a Human Services Board meeting.

The Regular County Board meeting was reconvened at 9:43 AM. Board members reported on recent meetings they attended on behalf of the county.

Under Commissioner Concerns, Commissioner Peschl inquired of the highway department fee for plat review.

Chris Byrd, County Engineer, explained that the $50.00 plat review fee has been on the approved fee schedule; however, up to this point, it hasn’t been charged. He stated that, going forward, this fee will be collected; staff will do their best to get the word out to potential developers.

Under Commissioner Concerns, Commissioner Buerkle reported that he had received a number of calls regarding making Benton County a sanctuary county for the second amendment. No action taken.

Peschl/Popp unanimous to set Committees of the Whole: February 13, Career Solutions Annual Workforce Development Highlights; March 18, 2020 Transportation Day at the Capitol (also to reschedule the February 24th Annual Goal-Setting).

Peschl/Heinen unanimous to conduct a closed meeting of the County Board (at 10:03 AM), pursuant to MN Statutes §13D.03, Subdivision 1, to consider strategy for labor negotiations.

The Regular County Board meeting was reconvened at 10:37 AM. Chair Buerkle adjourned the meeting at 10:38 AM. Spencer C. Buerkle, Chair Benton County Board of Commissioners ATTEST: Montgomery Headley Benton County Administrator R-8-1B

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 17

Sign stealing scandal rocks baseball In a story that continues to rock major league baseball with a new development seemingly every day, it has been revealed that the Houston Astros illegally used a real-time video feed to decode the signs of opposing pitchers and catchers and then relayed that information to their hitters en route to winning the World Series in 2017.

However, with each new allegation, it is becoming increasingly clear this scandal had an impact that stretched far beyond Houston.

It took former Astros pitcher Mike Fiers speaking on the record with reporters from The Athletic to finally force commissioner Rob Manfred to take allegations of sign stealing in Houston seriously.

Fiers, who now pitches for Oakland, candidly detailed how the scheme worked in Houston in 2017, and it was only after this information became public that Manfred’s hand was forced. The Astros were forced to surrender two draft picks in both 2020 and 2021, were fined $5 million, and general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch were suspended for one season (and then fired by the team).

No punishments were given to players, however, and the team’s championship remains intact.

Just glancing at the home-road playoff slash lines from three key Astros in 2017 is enough to know something was amiss in Houston.

Jose Altuve slashed .472/.513/1.028 at home and .143/.268/.229 on the road. Carlos Correa slashed .371/.421/.743 at home and .211/.231/.395 on the road. Alex Bregman slashed .273/.342/.515 at home and .154/.175/.333 on the road. I could keep going, but I think you can see where I am headed with this.

It turns out it is much easier to effectively hit a baseball when you know what pitch is coming. If anyone tells you otherwise, they are either Ted Williams, or they are lying. The entire goal of a pitcher is to disrupt a hitter’s timing and swing plane by changing

by ANDY THAYER Sports Columnist

pitch speed, location and movement. If the batter knows what pitch is coming in a game, then he is essentially taking public batting practice. I swear I have seen some Astros at-bats in the past where I was flummoxed a hitter could lay off a perfectly-placed anklehigh slider in, say, a 1-2 count, and I assumed it was because they were incredibly talented dudes with amazing eyesight and reflexes that had scouted pitcher tendencies well. Instead, as is usually the case, there was a far simpler answer – the hitters knew what pitch was coming and were much better equipped than hitters on other teams to determine whether they should swing at a pitch or not.

Many past and present major league pitchers have gone on the record and stated they would rather face hitters on steroids than hitters who knew what pitch was coming, and I definitely agree with them. There is no bigger advantage a hitter could have than knowing what pitch is coming, and I truly hope Rob Manfred takes this issue seriously moving forward. Using technology to steal signs compromises competitive integrity in a truly immoral and devastatingly impactful way.

The Astros edged the Los Angeles Dodgers in seven games in the World Series in 2017 (winning two of three games in Houston), and I feel bad for the Dodgers. Those players worked their whole careers to get to that point and then lost to a bunch of cheats. To make matters worse, the Dodgers then lost the World Series in 2018 to the Boston Red Sox who are also implicated in this cheating scandal.

While no official punishments have been levied toward the Red Sox as of Monday night, they preemptively fired their manager Alex Cora, so it is safe to say they knew he was involved in some chicanery. I would not be shocked if it were

revealed the Dodgers were robbed two years in a row.

Think about the players on the margins of rosters that pitched in Houston in 2017 and got shelled. Some of those guys lost their jobs or got demoted because of what happened there, and I do not feel like the slap on the wrist that Rob Manfred gave the Astros organization is enough to discourage another team from trying something like this again in the future.

I applaud Mike Fiers for coming forward with his story, and hopefully baseball can take its lumps this winter, develop a stronger precedent for this type of cheating in the future, and purge this sort of behavior from the game once and for all.

Public Notices

Public Accuracy Test-Presidential Nomination Primary Notice is hereby given that a public accuracy test of the voting system for precincts in the Cities of Foley, Gilman, Rice, and Sauk Rapids and the Townships of Alberta, Gilmanton, Glendorado, Graham, Granite Ledge, Langola, Mayhew Lake, Maywood, Minden precincts 1 & 2, St George, Sauk Rapids and Watab will be held on the dates, times and places listed below.

Political Parties, Candidates, Local Election Officials and Members of the Public at large are welcome to attend, ask questions and/or observe the procedures.

Precinct Date Location Time Sauk Rapids P-1 Feb 25 Sauk Rapids Gov Ctr 10:00 AM Sauk Rapids P-2 Feb 25 Sauk Rapids Gov Ctr 10:00 AM Sauk Rapids P-3 Feb 25 Sauk Rapids Gov Ctr 10:00 AM Sauk Rapids P-4 Feb 25 Sauk Rapids Gov Ctr 10:00 AM Sauk Rapids P-5 Feb 25 Sauk Rapids Gov Ctr 10:00 AM Alberta Twp Gilmanton Twp Glendorado Twp Maywood Twp Graham Twp Granite Ledge Twp City of Foley Langola Twp

Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25

321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN

1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM 1:00 PM

Mayhew Lake Twp Minden Twp St George Twp City of Rice Sauk Rapids Twp Watab Twp City of Gilman

Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25 Feb 25

321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN 321 6th Ave Foley, MN

3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:00 PM FR-8-1B

Ballot from pg. 16 SAMPLE BALLOT

Presidential Nomination Primary Ballot Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Official Ballot Benton County, Minnesota March 3, 2020

Judge _____ Judge _____

Instructions to Voters:

To vote, completely fill in the oval next to your choice like this:

Minnesota Election Law permits you to vote for a candidate of only one political party in a Presidential Nomination Primary election.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Federal Offices President

Vote for One Deval Patrick Tom Steyer Pete Buttigieg Amy Klobuchar Julián Castro John K. Delaney Marianne Williamson Bernie Sanders Andrew Yang Elizabeth Warren Tulsi Gabbard Michael R. Bloomberg Joseph Biden Uncommitted Cory Booker Michael Bennet

Watab Township

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Page 18 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

SPORTS

Nordic ski completes season SRR-Apollo team gains experience, looks to recruit

BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – When blankets of snow cover the ground during the winter months, activities like skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are popular for Minnesotans. One group of high school athletes took to the hills in true winter fashion.

The Sauk RapidsRice and Apollo high schools became a cooperative team this season in Nordic skiing. The crosscountry skiers wrapped up the competitive season Feb. 4 at the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships at Mapleag Resort in Callaway.

Six of nine girls, spanning from seventh through 12th grade, are

from SRR. Junior Abbie Tangen, the lone returner this season, finished in 51st place. Kaytlin Bittman and Lydia Zabinski took 57th and 61st, respectively. Hana Nichols, Ashley Konietzko, Taylor Gessner and Ellie Terhaar came in shortly thereafter. The team also included two middle school students from SRR, Hazel Snavely and Piper Froiland.

Section competition began with skate – a category where skiers use a v-stride, pushing off from one leg while shifting body weight to the other ski. The form is similar to ice skating.

Start times for the classic leg of the competition – the traditional style of cross-country skiing – were dependent on the

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Junior Ashley Konietzko finishes the classic portion of the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships Feb. 4 in Callaway. Sauk Rapids-Rice and Apollo high schools are a cooperative team and had nine girls on the roster this season.

Junior co-captain Abbie Tangen discusses race strategy with assistant coach Jon Vollen Feb. 4 at Maplelag Resort in Callaway. Tangen led the team across the finish line with a 51st-place finish at the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships.

Lydia Zabinski (from left), Kaytlin Bittman and head coach Nick Snavely keep warm before the start of the first race at the Section 8 Nordic Ski Championships Feb. Junior co-captain Ellie Terhaar starts the skate portion of the Section 8 Nordic Ski 4 at Maplelag Resort in Callaway. Snavely hopes to recruit Championships Feb. 4 at Maplelag Resort in Callaway. Despite being a novice team participants for the Sauk Rapids-Rice-Apollo cooperative with only one returning skier, the team triumphed over Willmar in section standings. cross-country ski team.

finishing times of the skate leg. Scores from the two events were combined for a race result.

With a novice team, the girls triumphed over Willmar in the standings.

“Our scoring was not the highest, but we have a strong group of girls,” said Nick Snavely, Nordic skiing head coach, who joined the team this year after 10 years of coaching experience as part of the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club.

“When it came to having a good time, enjoying the sport and learning, they did well.”

Tangen said the team’s main goals this season were to learn how to ski and turn the skill into a lifelong hobby.

They also wanted to get stronger at climbing hills in competition.

Snavely said high school teams start by learning the skate ski followed by the classic stride, whereas the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club members learn classic stride first. Snavely hopes members of the youth ski club are ready to compete at the high school level by the time they complete their club training.

“Coaching a high school team was different in some regards,” Snavely said. “The kids are focused more on racing instead of technique.

They want to race fast rather than if they were in the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club; they would be learning to ski for the first time and trying to improve on skills. Some of the skiers in high school have the skillset, but others it is like coaching with the ski club.”

While the team filled out its varsity roster, Snavely hopes to recruit more athletes next season.

“Students and parents should know about this activity even as early as the fall sports meeting at the beginning of the school year,” Snavely said. “It is hard to recruit athletes for the team if they are not aware of it being an option.”

SPORTS

SAUK RAPIDS HERALD | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | Page 21

Storm hold opponents at 42 SRR girls basketball earns two wins

BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER

Forty-two was the key number to hold opponents at this week as the Sauk Rapids-Rice girls basketball team steamed through a winning week on the court.

SRR hosted StaplesMotley Feb. 17 and Apollo Feb. 18, earning monumental wins in Sauk Rapids. Storm topped the two teams by 69-42 and 65-42, respectively.

SRR’s record climbs to 4-10 in the Central Lakes Conference and 7-17 overall. In the last seven games, the Storm have won five. SRR awaits Section 8AAA seeding Monday, Feb. 24.

Playoffs begin Thursday, Feb. 27.

“The girls have really made some nice strides,” said Jon Roesch, SRR girls basketball head coach. “We have continued to improve, we are playing with a lot of confidence, and we want our best basketball to be played at this time.”

SRR 65, Apollo 42 The Storm had a sluggish start to the Feb. 18 game against Apollo but pulled an early lead and extended it throughout the game. At the half, SRR held a 10-point lead over the Eagles which became a 14-point win at the final buzzer.

Coach Roesch said the team needs to play with more intensity but has been playing well as a team.

SRR had several standouts amongst the roster. Senior center Shayna Payonk led the team as per her usual

Ady Froiland shoots a basket Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids.

Froiland scored 10 points for SRR against Apollo.

PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER

Mia Rogholt reaches up to sink a bucket Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. Rogholt scored nine points in each of the two games this week.

scoring pattern, tallying 18 points. Freshman guard Grace Roesch, junior forward Kyanah Evans and junior forward Ady Froiland all scored 10 points to boost the SRR score. Freshman center Mia Rogholt posted nine. The remainder of the points were scattered.

Apollo 18 24-42 SRR 28 37-65 SRR: Payonk 18 points, Roesch 10, Evans 10, Froiland 10, Rogholt 9, Mackenzie Felchle 4, Belle Haddy 2 and Keanna Guggisberg 2.

SRR 69, Staples-Motley 42 The Storm took an early rampage and sunk significant baskets to pull ahead of Staples-Motley Feb. 17. Coach Roesch noted the necessary contributions from effectively playing full-court defense and running the court on offense at game start.

The start of the second half had a similar pattern as the Storm fueled the fire of a 15-point

lead at half to extend into a more comfortable 27-point lead.

Payonk pulled in 25 points for the Storm in the matchup. Evans and Roesch were other standouts on the court with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Staples-Motley 24 18-42 SRR 39 30-69 SRR: Payonk 25, Evans 13, Roesch 10, Rogholt 9, Haddy 5, Noel Reberg 5 and Froiland 2.

Kyanah Evans pushes through two Apollo defenders to shoot a basket Feb. 18 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. The Storm won its second game in a row 65-42.

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Grace Roesch moves the ball down the court Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. Roesch scored 10 points in the win over Apollo.

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Head coach Jon Roesch (left) and assistant coach Jeff Hille work through a game plan during a late-game timeout Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. The Storm defeated Apollo 65-42.

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Page 22 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

SPORTS

Turnovers costly in loss to Apollo

SRR loses lead, falls 79-71

BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER

From the start, the Sauk Rapids-Rice boys basketball team had goals in mind as they hosted the team from Apollo High

School Feb. 18: control the basketball, prevent turnovers and make good shots. Unfortunately for SRR, the team fell 7971 to the Eagles at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids.

Kobe Lee shoots a 3-pointer Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. Lee scored 20 points for the Storm against Apollo.

“We did really well all game besides about three minutes in the second half,” said Derek Peterson, SRR boys basketball head coach. “We had three back-to-back turnovers in that stretch and sped up the game which is what Apollo wanted. We can’t afford that against a team like Apollo.”

The Storm had an early lead that lasted until midway through the second half, where turnovers allowed Apollo extra scoring opportunities. Peterson said the Eagles ignited hot shooting after the half as well which helped them slide into the lead.

The tight game was a cumulative effort from several players on the team. Senior forward Josh Schloe tallied 22 points, and senior guard Kobe Lee posted 20 with many of Lee’s points coming off of incredible 3-point shots.

Offensive rebounds were a strength of the Storm. Sophomore forward Alex Harren pulled missed opportunities that resulted in extra shots for SRR. Junior guard Ethan Opsahl was a lead driver in getting the Storm into the basket on many plays.

Senior guard Nathan Valek was another top contributor.

“It was a great team effort,” Peterson said.

“We knew Apollo was a top-ranked team in the state, and they were not just going to roll over. We knew it was going to be tough, and we had to play together at the top of our game. We just came out a little short.”

PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER

Josh Schloe leaps to score a basket Feb. 18 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Schloe led the team with 22 points.

The loss drops the Storm’s Central Lakes Conference record to 4-10, with an 8-14 record overall. The team has a goal of crossing over the 10-win threshold prior to the Section 8AAA playoffs which

Alex Harren shoots the ball during the first half Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. Harren was a strong rebounder for the team during the game against Apollo.

begin March 3. Peterson is disappointed in the record and was looking for more wins this season but is hopeful of what is to come.

“We have played hard all season, and we haven’t given up,” Peterson said.

“We have had many close games, so despite our record, I am optimistic about our last games and our playoff opportunities.”

The Storm travel to play the Wildcats at 7 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 24, at Waconia High School in Waconia.

Apollo 29 50-79 SRR 35 36-71 SRR: Schloe 22 points, Lee 20, Opsahl 13, Harren 5, Valek 3, Landry Seaman 3, Dominic Mathias 3 and Carter Loesch 2.

Dominic Mathias a w a i t s an open teammate Feb. 18 in Sauk Rapids. The Storm was ahead 35-29 at the half but lost the game by eight.

Page 24 | SATURDAY, FEB. 22, 2020 | SAUK RAPIDS HERALD

Lumberjacks pg. 23

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“For us, we need to bear down during the week and prepare a little better,” Vold said. “You prepare like you practice, and we didn’t have a great week of practice.”

Granite City traveled to Breezy Point to face the North Stars Feb. 21. They will begin a two-game road series against the St. Louis Jr. Blues at 8:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Affton Ice Rink in Affton, Missouri.

“We expect it to be a battle against those guys,” Vold said. “They usually have a younger group with good skill and speed, so we’ll look to impose our will on them and play the right way.”

Alexandria 6, Granite City 3 Just like New Ulm accomplished Feb. 7, the Alexandria Blizzard earned its first win of the season against high-flying Granite City.

And it could not have come at a worse time for the Lumberjacks, who stumbled their way to a 6-3 loss to the Blizzard Feb. 14 at Runestone Community Center in Alexandria.

Granite City never led in the divisional affair, with the Blizzard jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first period on Wesley Johnson’s first goal of the season. With Granite City still reeling early in the second period, Alexandria points leader Brandon Connett recorded his 23rd goal of the season to give his squad a multi-score lead.

The home Blizzard, fighting for fourth place in the West Division, continued to pour it four minutes later as Michal Trejbal gifted Alexandria a 3-0 lead on his 12th scoring tally of the campaign.

Granite City goalie Nate Johnston faced an energized offensive attack and left the ice with 32 saves.

The five goals allowed marked a season-high for the rookie who picked up his third loss of the season.

Lumberjacks captain Ryan Pogue scored his 11th goal of the season with six minutes remaining in the middle frame, grappling his team closer.

However, Alexandria buried a pair of goals in the third period to cement the dynamic victory.

Blake Spetz and Jonah Jangula added their 17th and 19th scores of the season, respectively, in the third period. Alexandria’s Ville Hyttinen stopped 31 Granite City shots for his 10th win in net.

SPORTS

8AAA Individual Tournament will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Willmar High School in Willmar.

“Even though there’s no team points involved, we’re still looking for our wrestlers to bring energy as a team to Willmar and to fight for Sauk Rapids-Rice as they move through the tournament,” Brown said. “If PHOTOS BY ANNA HINKEMEYER Ben Gilbertson holds down a Bemidji wrestler during the Section 8AAA quarterfinals they do that, we’ll have a good chance of having Feb. 14 in Sauk Rapids. Gilbertson lost by 6-4 decision. some representatives at ing ways to get better as end their Storm careers the state tournament.”

106: Diederich won we moved through each having made marks both week. We’d love to keep as wrestlers and as team- in an 8-2 decision. 113: from pg. 23 moving in that direction mates. The trio com- Sean Christopherson lost by fall at 3:08. 120: Ness said. “I thought we did as we move into next bined for an impressive won by fall at 5:20. 126: regular season record of Spohn won by fall at 0:39. a great job as a program season.”

Spohn, Farnick and 73-16. working through this 132: Simmons lost in an Gilbertson “I thought this 8-5 decision. 138: Wollak and continuously find- Benjamin groups of seniors all did lost by fall at 4:50. 145: a great job coming from Dante Haywood lost by different places in the fall at 3:06. 152: Doherty lost by fall at 2:28. 160: past few years to grow Gilbertson lost in a 6-4 deinto leaders this season,” cision. 170: Krepp lost in a Brown said. “I think it 12-3 major decision. 182: shows the rest of our ath- Cole Ackerman lost in an letes that there’s not just 18-6 major decision. 195: one way to be successful Joey Hoeschen lost in a 3-1 decision. 220: Aden or to be a leader.”

Rollins lost in a 4-3 deciOne more step re- sion. 285: Farnick lost in mains for the Storm an 8-3 decision. wrestlers: The Section

Wrestling

Dante Haywood reaches for his Bemidji opponent Feb. 14 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids.

Haywood lost at the 145 pound weight class by pin at 3:06.

COME JOIN US! • Fri., Feb. 28 8:15 pm

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• Sat., Feb. 29 1:00 pm

Granite City Lumberjacks vs.

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• Fri., Mar. 6 7:30 pm

North Iowa Bulls vs.

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R8-1B-TV

Matt Krepp struggles beneath a Bemidji wrestler Feb. 14 in Sauk Rapids. The Storm wrestle in the Section 8AAA Graham Doherty faces off against his Bemidji opponent Individual Tournament Feb. 22 at Willmar High School in at the start of his match Feb. 14 in Sauk Rapids. Doherty Willmar. lost by pin at 2:28.

Leading the What is your favorite part about hockey? Playing games is definitely a favorite but also getting to spend time with all the guys on the team.

Frank White

Parents: Jason and Dayna White Accomplishment: Senior forward on the Storm boys hockey team.

Leading the Storm is

Sponsored by: How do you make a difference at school?

Being friendly to everyone and setting a good example by always doing the right thing.

What is your best game to date? Moose Which teacher has impacted your educaLake this year. I had two goals and one as- tion most? Mr. Nelson. He is a positive and sist. inspiring teacher who cares about everyone.

How do you prepare in the minutes leading up to competition? Listen to music What is the best advice you have ever and mentally walk through what I need to received? Never settle. Always want more do to be successful throughout the game. and push yourself.

What is your favorite Storm tradition? What is your favorite meal, movie, soSinging the school song after a win. cial media and song? Spaghetti with meat sauce, The Fast Saga (i.e. “The Fast and the What other activities are you involved Furious”), Instagram and “People are Crazy” in at school? Football and trap shooting. by Billy Currington.

Saluting great accomplishments in the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

A Proud er Support rm to S of s Athletic

Good Luck to All Sports Teams!

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