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BENTON AG Section B
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Saturday, February 5, 2022
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Vol. 167, No. 44
Commissioners make another push for broadband Board partners with engineering firms BY JAKOB KOUNKEL STAFF WRITER FOLEY – With two actions at a board meeting Feb. 1, Benton County commissioners took the rst concrete steps toward county-wide broadband access. In the past, commissioners have explored the idea, and they have even dedicated funds to the project. But their action at the most recent meeting shows their desire to move forward with the physical part of the project. The board approved two agreements, one with Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc. and one with Finely Engineering Co. Inc. Commissioners chose to partner with SEH to administer a topographic survey, coordination meetings and preparation of a construction plan as the county looks to put ber in the ground. The agreement with Finley Engineering, a rm commissioners said has been great to work with, is to assist the county in obtaining proposals from service providers, helping to evaluate proposals and negotiate grant agreements with providers.
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PHOTO BY JAKOB KOUNKEL
Candidates for the Republican Party nomination for governor convene for a debate Jan. 26 at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. After all was said and done, the candidates agreed they were on stage fighting for many of the same causes.
Governor candidates fight for GOP nomination York, and in a trailer park in Oklahoma, and that it does not matter where a person starts because they do not have to stay there. Qualls eventually became the vice president of a BY JAKOB KOUNKEL | STAFF WRITER Fortune 500 company. Jensen, a clinician AUK RAPIDS Qualls, Dr. Scott Jensen, who worked his way – The six Sen. Michelle Benson, Dr. from school board to leading candidates for Neil Shah, Mike Murphy state senator, started by the Republican Party’s and Sen. Paul Gazelka – thanking the audience primary nomination were allowed an opening for being willing to stand for governor jousted in statement before Hauser up against unreasonable the auditorium at Sauk began. policies as opposed to Rapids-Rice High School Qualls said the sitting on the sidelines. He in Sauk Rapids Jan. 26. Democratic Party has been said it was not a bucket list With questions pushing an unhealthy item to run for governor, from Tom Hauser, the narrative that the promise but he sees today’s politics moderator and chief of America has been PHOTO BY JAKOB KOUNKEL as an existential threat to political reporter for rigged from the beginning. Tom Hauser, chief political reporter for KSTP-TV, democracy. moderates the Republican Party debate Jan. 26 at Sauk KSTP-TV, candidates put He said that needs to “Desperate times call Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Hauser has for desperate measures,” their best foot forward change. served as moderator for past debates. to prove why they are “The overarching Jensen said. “Quite the best option to defeat thing that we have to honestly, Minnesota’s in the incumbent, Gov. Tim make sure we ght for is trouble. Minneapolis is in the promise of America story is demonstrated Walz, the Democraticthe promise of America,” works regardless of proof that America works trouble.” Farmer-Laborer Party Qualls said. … “We need race, regardless of social for everybody. He said he representative. the right messenger and standing.” started with nothing in the GOP debate page 3 Candidates – Kendall the right message that Qualls said his life ghettos of Harlem, New
Hopefuls put their best foot forward
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OBITUARIES The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
• Robert W. Beitz • Karen M. Thelen
PUBLIC NOTICES • Benton County Board of Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes, Jan. 11 - pg. 11 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Reg. Meeting Minutes, Jan. 18 - pg. 6B • Assumed Name - Rosy Rhino - pg. 6B • Assumed Name - Real Apparel Company - pg. 6B