Sauk Rapids Herald - July 10, 2021

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Saturday, July 10, 2021

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Employee

Legislature passes $52 billion, 2-year budget

scarcity hits local businesses

Averts partial government shutdown

National trend holds true in Benton County BY JAKOB KOUNKEL | STAFF WRITER

BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER

FOLEY – Minnesota’s divided Legislature – the only one in the country – finalized a $52 billion, two-year budget July 2 in special session, marking the end of a contentious battle over a number of controversial issues. The special session took until the early morning hours of July 2, the day of the deadline, to pass the last piece of the budget, potentially averting a state government shutdown. “There was a lot of good in there, and there was some bad in much of it as well,” said Rep. Shane Mekeland, the Republican representative for District 15B. Two of the major priorities for Senate Republicans were ending Gov. Tim Walz’s emergency powers and providing tax relief, according to Sen. Paul Gazelka, the Senate majority leader. From the minority in the House, Mekeland said the focus was much the same. Walz ended his emergency powers related to the coronavirus pandemic July 1.

Budget page 3

Vol. 167, No. 14

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

A trailer sign attempts to draw passersby attention July 8 in an industrial park in Sauk Rapids. Many area businesses are struggling to hire and retain employees.

FOLEY – Across the country, business owners are desperate to find employees to fill out their labor force, in some cases offering incentives and increased wages to hire and retain workers. The story is much the same in Benton County, as the national trend continues to hold true. Many area business owners believe federal unemployment benefits, set to expire Sept. 6, are causing workers to stay at home. Those on unemployment insurance collect an additional $300 per week from the federal government so long as they were laid off due to the coronavirus pandemic and meet the state’s unemployment insurance criteria.

Employment page 4

Small-town atmosphere lures

power sports business

Owner hopes to carry on tradition of Power Equipment Plus BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

SAUK RAPIDS – Chris Daniels did not know Wayne Bellmont. He did, however, know of him. Bellmont was the longtime owner of Power Equipment Plus – a staple in the Sauk Rapids business community – until his death in April which ultimately led to the business closing. Daniels, who has owned and operated a power sports business in East Bethel for 18 years, learned the sad news through a sales representative and began thinking about the possibility of carrying on the successful tradition Bellmont established over three decades.

Plow World page 3 PHOTO BY TOM FENTON

Chris Daniels, of East Bethel, stands outside his new business, Plow World Power Equipment, located at 633 N. Benton Drive in Sauk Rapids in the former Power Equipment Plus building. Plow World Power Equipment opened July 6, and is the second location for the business, which also has a store in East Bethel.

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2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

OBITUARIES • Merlin M. Kamps • Inez M. Stangler • Ralph J. Stangler • Marlene Thielen • Gloria Warnert

PUBLIC NOTICES

• Benton County Ditch Public Hearing - pg. 19 • City of Sauk Rapids Advertisement for Bids - pg. 18 • Assumed Name - Enjoying Motherhood - pg. 18 • Assumed Name - Good Shepherd Supportive Services - pg. 19 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Minutes, June 15 - pg. 19

• Benton County Planning Commission Notice of Public Hearing - pg. 18 • City of Rice Annual Disclosure - pg. 18 • Watab Township Notice of Hearing on Street Reconstruction - pg. 19 • Watab Township Notice of Improvement Hearing - pg. 18


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