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Saturday, July 17, 2021
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Halt on You can be evictions Benton County calls is ending for open class
Vol. 167, No. 15
featured at the fair
participants Apply for BY NATASHA BARBER assistance by STAFF WRITER mid-October SAUK RAPIDS – to extend stay Nearly 170 years since the BY ELLARRY PRENTICE STAFF WRITER
Since March 2020, landlords have not been able to evict tenants for nonpayment, but new legislation will once again make it legal to remove tenants if they cannot pay rent. Gov. Tim Walz’s 15-month ban on landlords removing tenants for failing to pay rent – spurred by the coronavirus pandemic – is ending. A bill signed into law June 29 gradually phases out the eviction moratorium by June 2022. That phase-out comes sooner for those renters who do not make efforts to secure assistance. As the state’s emergency response to COVID-19 wind down, the legislation aims to protect tenants and landlords alike. Its phased approach is intended to ensure renters have enough time to access federallyfunded rental assistance to pay landlords, or to plan for an orderly transition to another home.
Evictions page 3
Benton County Agricultural Society established an event to showcase the year’s harvest and educate people about agriculture, those goals ring true at the Benton County Fair. Although the fair was not established until 1913, the idea of an open class exhibit – where people brought their best produce and grains – became a reality roughly 60 years earlier. Today, that exhibit includes much more than shiny red tomatoes and the tallest corn stalks. Needlework, baked goods and even home brewed beer or drone photos can be entered into the annual com-
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
A fairy garden is featured at the 2019 Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids. Open class exhibits feature livestock, agricultural products and crafts and can be submitted by anyone who registers.
petition. The ag society is gearing up to feature its open class livestock, agricultural and craft exhibitors at the Benton County Fair Aug. 3-8. And, anyone can apply. No matter age or county of residence, people may participate in showcasing at the Benton
County Fair. “We are right between Stearns, Sherburne and Benton (counties) and Morrison isn’t that far away, so we’d rather have more exhibits than limit it to the residents of Benton County,” Laura Falconer said. Falconer is the executive secretary for the Ben-
ton County Agricultural Society. A longtime veteran of the organization, having served 25 years, she encourages people to consider entering open class items into the fair, especially after a year of canceled events due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re trying to get younger people involved,”
she said. “This past year with kids not being in school a lot, there may be school projects that they did that they can certainly bring to the fair to display.” Falconer mentioned projects such as artwork and woodworking as examples. This year’s premium book, where people can obtain category and registration information and rules, can be found online at www.bentonfairmn. com. The decision to refrain from printing this year’s book was made due to the uncertainly created by the pandemic. The society prefers entries are registered by July 26 as each exhibit must be logged into a computer software system which provides an entry and claim ticket prior to judging. Registrations can be mailed, emailed or dropped off at the fair office.
Open class page 5
Auxiliary accepts $5,000 donation PHOTO SUBMITTED
Cheryl Scapanski (third, from right) presents Rice American Legion Auxiliary Unit 473 members – Mary Kivi (from left), Janice Martin, Pat Popp, Tammy Killman, Pat Fuchs, Cora Martin and Maryanne Keeney – with a $5,000 check to be used toward The Wall That Heals July 12 in Rice. The auxiliary has organized for The Wall That Heals, which is a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., to be featured in Rice Aug. 19-22.
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Obituaries • Roger A. Kuklok • Maxine L. Olson • Alma C. Yamry
Public Notices • Assumed Name - Good Shepherd Supportive Services - pg. 8 • City of Sauk Rapids Reg. Minutes, June 28, 2021 - pg. 8