Sauk Rapids Herald - September 16, 2023

Pptabs for parents

‘Help Claire help others’ garners 185-pound donation

BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER

About 19 months ago in spring 2022, Claire Schultz set out to do something special.

Following a conversation at the dinner table of her parents Greg and Christine, Claire twisted a pop tab from an aluminum can and placed it in a mason jar. It was the start of a collection meant to change lives.

Now, 185 pounds of pop tabs later and with the help of friends, family and quite possibly complete strangers, 11-year-old Claire has reached the benchmark of helping families at Ronald McDonald houses in Minnesota. She donated her accumulation Aug. 25 at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester. The proceeds will bene t the Ronald McDonald House Charities Midwest MN, WI, IA.

Bauer, Petermeier crowned homecoming royalty

BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

With homecoming week arriving early in the 2023-24 school year, Sauk Rapids-Rice

High School wasted no time in selecting it next royal king and queen.

King Logan Bauer and Queen Sienna Petermeier were crowned Sept. 11 on just the

Sauk Rapids council opts to continue school resource officer contract

BY NATASHA BARBER & TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

Sauk Rapids City Council members were faced with a tough decision Monday evening: Terminate a school resource of cer position with Independent School District 47 or continue the con- Schultz page 3

tract despite new legislation. Over 30 police departments and sheriff’s of ces have pulled school resource of cers from Minnesota school buildings after legislation passed in May re-

reign Ready to Split decision

fourth day of the school year for the entire student body. placed the word “or” with “to” in the Minnesota’s reasonable force standard statute 121A.852, subdivision 1.

Coronation page 5

Under the revised law, school employees and agents of the school — which includes school resource of cers — may only use reasonable force “to prevent bodily harm or death to the student or to another.”

SRO page 4

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Claire Schultz, a Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School student, sits with five containers of pop tabs in August. She decided to begin collecting the aluminum flip tops for the Ronald McDonald House charity in spring 2022.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

King Logan Bauer and Queen Sienna Petermeier represent Sauk Rapids-Rice High School during its 2023 homecoming week Sept. 11-16 in Sauk Rapids. The two were selected by the ninth through 12th grade student body via votes.

Candace R. Nagel

Storm society

Homecoming week hails down on Sauk Rapids-Rice

BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District celebrated homecoming week Sept. 1115, which included royalty coronation, dress-up days, a powder puff football game and pep fest as well as annual athletic events and the induction to the athletic hall of fame.

License #BC681135

PHOTO BY TIM HENNAGIR

Pleasantview Elementary School Principal Aby Froiland (left) and kindergarten teacher Carissa Solarz celebrate Book Character Day Sept. 14 as the scholarly Cat in the Hat and the loveable rodent from “If You Give A Mouse a Cookie” book series. Numerous teachers donned costumes representing literary characters.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER (Left) Molly Schraut sings into a microphone after coronation was complete Sept. 11 at Sauk RapidsRice High School in Sauk Rapids. Homecoming week festivities are organized by the student council, and Schraut, who graduated in May, returned for the

PHOTO BY TIM HENNAGIR

Pleasantview Elementary School students Morgan Philippi (from left), Stella Lange and Eleanna Yanke take a recess break Sept. 14 to show off their Alice in Wonderland costumes during the school’s homecoming week Book Character Day. Philippi was dressed as Alice, Lange was the Mad Hatter and Yanke was the Cheshire Cat.

PHOTO BY TOM FENTON Sauk Rapids-Rice High School students Caroline Tykwinski (left) and Riann Mohamud display their shirts on Scrabble Day, Sept. 14, as part of homecoming week in the district. Their scrabble partners with the letters to spell “spicy” were in class while Tykwinski and Mohamud were at lunch.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

(Right) Sixth grade students Kaiya Drahota (left) and Sophia Vennemann wear buffalo plaid pajama pants and black T-shirts for Pajama Day Sept. 11 as they exit Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School in Sauk Rapids. Each school in Sauk Rapids and Rice participated in dress up days Sept. 11-15 as part of the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District’s homecoming week.

PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER

Alayna Furman and Gunnar Jacobson sing “Our Song” by Taylor Swift as part of a coronation challenge Sept. 11 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. The seniors were two of 10 people nominated for homecoming king and queen.

“I really wanted to help families in the children’s hospital,” Claire said. “I feel bad for all the parents who have had to deal with all the kids’ medical appointments.”

The Schultzes are no stranger to the experience many parents face when a child is in need of extensive or long-term medical care. When Claire was born, she spent several months in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“We didn’t end up using it, but a lot of the other families that were around us in NICU bene ted from the Ronald McDonald House,” Christine said. “We happened to have family close by the hospital, but not everyone does, and people come from all over and don’t have a place to stay.”

Ronald McDonald House homes are placed across the nation with the goal to support caretakers as they seek medical care for children. They provide a nearby place to rest their heads as well as a safe harbor to share their experience with others.

So, when Claire continually urged her parents that she wanted to do something to help, they suggested the Sauk Rapids-Rice student begin collecting aluminum tabs from beverages as a donation.

Pop tabs are recycled by the charity and bring in over $10,000 per year, according to the Midwest region’s website.

“We made these really cool jars, and we put ‘Help Claire help others,’” said Claire, who is siblings with James and Lydia. “We dropped them off with neighbors, families.”

What’s HAPPENING

Saturday, Sept. 16, 10-11:30 a.m. — Imagery

Unveiled: A Journey into Artistic Justice. Join artist Vatsalaa Jha for a conversation that takes art to a deeper level. Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

Saturday, Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m. — Meaningful Conversations Cafe. Monthly topic is on being good stewards of the earth, humans relationship to the natural world and climate change. Caribou Coffee, 4135 W. Division St., St. Cloud.

Saturday, Sept. 16, 1-6 p.m. — Oktoberfest. Foods, friends and music. Free event hosted by the Quality of Life Task Force. Lions Park, Foley.

Monday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m. — Rice City Council Meeting. Rice City Hall, 205 E. Main St., Rice.

Monday, Sept. 18, 6-7 p.m. — Nordic Walking Group. Meets every Monday. Some poles available. Municipal Park, Sauk Rapids.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. — Benton County Board of Commissioners Meeting. Benton County Administration Building, 531 Dewey St., Foley.

Claire distributed about 25 jars throughout the community whether in a relative’s garage, at a neighbor’s campground or inside a staff lounge where her mom works. As word spread of Claire’s effort, so too did the circle of people willing to help.

A sandwich baggie would be dropped on the Schultzes step.

Acquaintances stopped by with ice cream pails lled with pop tabs.

Small donation after small donation was placed in the corner of the family’s garage. That is until this August, when both a breaking point and a prime opportunity was reached.

The Schultz family traveled to Rochester to make the donation at the same time they met the newest member of their extended family.

“We were dumping Ziploc bag after Ziploc bag,” said Christine of preparing the donation before the trip was made. “We had a stack of ice cream pails and a ton of empty bags. It was a fun feeling to dump them all

into the big buckets and just to see that many.”

Claire was surprised at how her collection had grown.

According to Ronald McDonald House, it takes approximately 1,000 ip-tops to equal 1 pound of aluminum. Claire’s ve large tubs of pop tabs likely contained more than 185,000 tabs.

“We didn’t know how big it would get,” Christine said.

Claire said the feeling she got from helping families and making the donation lled her heart. Her word of emphasis: “Awesome.”

“She said it was the biggest donation (that the staff member had seen),” Claire said.

Claire said the project was a learning lesson in dedication.

“It felt pretty long (to collect the tabs), but by the end, I looked back on it, and it felt pretty short,” she said. “It takes a lot of time to do all of it.”

Claire was adamant about meeting a family her donation would help, and Greg and Christine were not sure that would

happen during donation drop-off. But, as fate would have it, another Sauk Rapids family who had been using the Ronald McDonald House recognized the Schultzes’ Storm gear as they made their donation. The chance meeting magnied the experience for Claire and her family.

“It helps people from all over, but also from here,” Christine said.

The question is circling the Schultz household as to whether the pop tab collection continues, but Claire’s de nitive “Yup” may be all this family and the community needs to set aside tiny aluminum with the hope of helping others.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to noon — National Voter Registration Day Event. Hosted by the St. Cloud League of Women Voters. Members will be available to register voters and answer questions about newlyadopted voting regulations. Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to noon — Living Waters Lutheran Church Food Shelf Distribution. Living Waters Lutheran Church, 1911 Fourth Ave. N., Sauk Rapids. If in need of emergency food assistance, call 320-255-1135.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10:15-10:45 a.m. — Fall Storytime. Stories, songs and fun for ages 3 to 6 years old. Younger and older friends welcome. Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 11-11:30 a.m. — Fall Storytime Stories, songs and fun for ages 3 to 6 years old. Younger and older friends welcome. Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 12:30-1:30 p.m. — Exercise

Tuesdays. Hosted by Helping Hands Outreach. Lions Building, 101 Fourth Ave. NW, Rice. Call 320-3934467 for more information.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 3-6 p.m. — Rice Area Women of Today Farmers Market. Free arts and craft activity for children. Veterans Memorial Park parking lot at the corner of Main and Division streets, Rice.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m. — Ruby’s Pantry. New Life Church, 931 Norman Ave. N., Foley.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. — Little Rock Lake Association Membership Meeting. Watab Town Hall, 660 75th St. NW, Sauk Rapids.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 7-9 p.m. — St. Cloud Area Singing Saints Men’s Acapella Chorus Practice Meets every Tuesday. New participants welcome. Good Shepherd Community Chapel, 325 11th St. N., Sauk Rapids.

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 1-3 p.m. — Cribbage Wednesdays. Hosted by Helping Hands Outreach. Lions Building, 101 Fourth Ave. NW, Rice.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 3-6 p.m. — Sauk Rapids Market. Every Thursday through mid-October. Parking lot at Coborn’s, 110 First St. S., Sauk Rapids.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. — Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting. Meets weekly. Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church, 1950 125th St. NW, Rice. For more information, call 320-293-9213.

Saturday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — 11th annual Bizarre Bazaar. Household and more, baked goods and canned goods sale, plants, produce and more.

Friday presale from 5-7 p.m. for admission fee. St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1111 Cooper Ave. S., St. Cloud.

Saturday, Sept. 23, 10:30-11:30 a.m. — Paws to Read. Reading alongside certi ed therapy for ages 4-12 years old. Great River Regional Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

Saturday, Sept. 23, 4 p.m. — Bouja & Bake Sale Fundraiser. Bouja available while supply lasts. St. John’s Lutheran Church in Popple Creek, 6855 Golden Spike Road NE, Sauk Rapids.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Schultz siblings — James (from left), Claire and Lydia — drop off a donation of pop tabs at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester Aug. 25 after Claire collected the aluminum with the help of family and friends. After collecting for about 18 months, she donated 185 pounds of pop tabs.

Do not toss fall leaves

Tree leaves are starting to turn color and gardeners will soon be raking them up, but leaves should not be discarded because they are useful.

A light covering of leaves may be left on the lawn to biodegrade. However, most trees deposit enough leaves to fully cover the grass, and therefore, they need to be removed. A thick layer of leaves can smother grass instead of fertilizing it.

Leaves can easily be chopped and collected with a mulching lawn mower and attached bag. This is best done when the leaves are dry. Once leaves have been chopped, they biodegrade easier and will provide nutrients and organic material, both of which enhance the quality of the soil.

Soil contains micro-organisms that need food and nutrients. Leaves provide this nutrition and this reduces the need for fertilizer to be added to the soil.

Heavy and deep tilling is no longer recommended because it disrupts the soil structure and reduces organic material. However, a gentle digging in of chopped leaves may be done to incorporate them into ower or vegetable gardens. This should be done in fall to allow maximum biodegrading to occur before spring.

Leaves chopped or left in their original condition may be used as mulch. Mulch conserves soil moisture, moderates the soil temperature, controls weeds and helps to prevent erosion. Leaves that have been chopped are less likely to mat together preventing moisture from reaching the soil surface.

Leaves are a major ingredient for compost piles. When combined with grass clippings and other green weeds, they slowly become compost. And, if left long enough, turn into soil.

The leaves may be combined with nitrogen fertilizer or dry cow, sheep or poultry manure to speed up compost production.

Nitrogen is used to break down the carbon in the plant material. The process of creating compost will occur in months if the pile is large enough to generate heat and is kept damp. Compost piles should also be turned every so often. Compost piles that are left unattended will also produce new soil but will take a year or more to do so. Leaf litter left in piles can provide a winter home for insects, salamanders, frogs, toads, etc.

Leaves may be placed around roses and other plants as insulating material inside an enclosure used for winter protection. They may be piled about the crowns of plants that need winter protection only at their bases. Wait until the ground has frozen before using leaves in this manner. The idea is to keep the plant cells from freezing and thawing as the temperature shifts. Plants that stay frozen until spring will survive while those that are subject to repeated freezing and thawing will not. A 3- to-6-inch layer of leaves will provide a suf cient layer of mulch around tender shrubs and perennials. If leaves are used around trees, keep the mulch layer a few inches away from the base of the trunk.

Small animals will use the mulch as protection from winter elements and then eat through the bark to the inner cambium layer. The cambium is where the circulation of water and nutrients travel up and down the tree and should not be disrupted.

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

Perfect, prayer-filled, critique

Let’s start off by stating the obvious. This is an opinion column. Although I include many facts, site my ndings and sources, and I often express my view or judgment formed as a result of my research, it is still categorized as an opinion column.

Learning how to give constructive criticism has been a practice I have beneted from by writing. Last week, I wrote how writing can be a tool to combat negative thoughts through relationship hurt. Likewise, writing can help turn critiques into constructive criticism.

Did you know there is a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism?

According to Pulitzer.org, this award has been presented since 1970 to a newspaper writer in the United States who has demonstrated ‘distinguished criticism.’ I’m more interested in de ning what distinguished criticism is rather than winning an award.

Distinguished means successful, authoritative and commanding great respect. I nd it dif cult to write a column, in which is the intention to inspire others to live a life by faith, without using the Bible as the main source of authority, humility as the only route to success and respect coming from telling the truth in love.

Yes, I am still learning to do this week in and week out. I’ve often found it very easy to critique. I grew up in a family that had opinions about everything, and naturally, I adopted that trait. Negative critics are lifetakers. When someone or something needs correction, there is a constructive way we can give a critique. In order to re ect Jesus, we must give correction with compassion and recognize that our hearts must be puri ed before we speak.

Jesus accused the Pharisees, “How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:34).” Is there something you are trying to critique in another, but your heart is full of contempt? If so, better not speak. It is better to pray.

This is a daily surrender, asking the Lord to create in us a pure heart, to remove all that is wicked from within us, and to lead us in the way everlasting. Contempt distracts us from our faith in God. Contempt is a disregard for something that should be taken into account, such as someone’s soul. Contempt is a feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless or deserving of scorn.

Do you want to help someone who needs correction? Get into a quiet mood before God, not heated by your emotions. Do not be swamped by the cares of this world which produce the wrong attitude. Cast away the desire to vindicate yourself. Then, pray for the person who needs constructive criticism. Don’t even speak a word to them. Just pray.

Oswald Chambers warns us, “When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.”

I have had to practice this by writing down scripture, writing down what the scripture says is fruitful, and contrast it with what scripture says is destructive. Then, through prayer, with my eyes lifted up, I wait until the opportunity presents itself to point others eyes up, and I obey.

Writing helps us learn how to distinguish the voice of God, and how to obey his voice through critical, organized thinking. Obeying helps us reach clarity. It’s not reasoning or trying to be wise that gives us clarity. Bringing every thought under control of the Holy Spirit is obedience, and by this the renewing of our mind will let us prove what the will of God is, which is good, acceptable and perfect. Critical critiques become life-giving, intercessory prayers that consider the souls of whom the words are aimed at.

LIFE BY FAITH BY MERCY NYGAARD

GREEN AND GROWING IN BENTON COUNTY BY LINDA G. TENNESON

“Our time on earth is a mere moment, but this fact only makes it more important, not less. Discovering what we are here to contribute and then passionately pursuing it is one sure way to add beauty and joy to this phase of existence. The question of whether our offering is grand or minute in scale is irrelevant. In all of eternity, there is only one person who is able to add your unique gift to both the earth and humanity.”

That quote, from artist Christopher Marley, made me want to write about legacy, what it is we want to be remembered for.

HUMBLE+BOLD

BY RHONDA SILTMAN

I had recently attended a memorial service for my cousin’s husband. Tino was an adventurer, a sailor, a lifelong learner, a family man with a big laugh and bigger heart.

Yet the words weren’t coming. And then my sister in-law passed unexpectedly, and there was another memorial. Sue lived a more modest life, always there for her kids and grandchildren. That got me to thinking that the notion of legacy is complicated and multi-layered. I decided I wasn’t ready to tackle it.

And then, someone we knew casually from local hockey games passed away unexpectedly at a much too young age. My family had just been talking over dinner about the good old days at the games, and all the fun we had years ago. Among the cast of characters my son was fondly recalling was Justin, with all his good-hearted taunts and funny comments. Returning from dinner and checking out the updates on social media, I was shocked to see he had died. Still, the words for a column were stuck.

A few nights later, I learned our church administrative assistant had died. Mary was a stitch, just a week ago regaling me with stories of bats surprising

women in the church restroom, guaranteeing I would never use that restroom again. Like Justin, I didn’t know her well, but she touched me with her humor and impressed me with her organizational savvy. Now the words are owing out in a mishmash of feelings. Four memorials, all very different, offer a wide-angle view of death, grieving and legacy.

Our pastor gave a moving and tearlled eulogy for a friend and coworker he lost as we gathered for her funeral. Our loved ones that pass have nished their race, he said, and can now rest. I love that. When the race becomes too dif cult, either mentally or physically, rest may be welcome, as hard as that may be to admit.

He also spoke of how many funerals are deemed a celebration of life now. It is beautiful to celebrate the life of a loved one, he reiterated, but we must also grieve.

Whether you have time to prepare for a loss or it is sudden, I wonder if we are ever truly ready for it. And so, we grieve in our own ways.

A dear friend lost her beloved husband completely unexpectedly many years ago. He was a truly good man. At the end of the sad, beautiful funeral, every person gathered in the pews stood and gave him a standing ovation. I’ve never seen anything like it, before or since. It spoke to his legacy and how we grieve and honor those we lose.

Loss and grief seem to come in waves. This last wave reminded me to not take relationships and what people mean to me for granted. With time comes wisdom. A reminder to take time with those who are leaving their legacy in my life.

Old tennis balls never die, they just roll away

History is one of Western theater’s three main genres, alongside tragedy and comedy.

A play in this genre is known as a history play and is based on a historical narrative.

A gift of tennis balls offered to Henry in Shakespeare’s “Henry V” is portrayed as the nal insult that reignites the Hundred Years’ War between England and France.

There’s a tennis ball battle playing out in modern times.

I learned more about it after the headline of an Associated Press story caught my eye in the Sunday newspaper.

FROM THE DOGHOUSE BY TIM HENNAGIR

“Tennis ball wasteland? Game grapples with a fuzzy yellow recycling problem” topped a story by AP writer James Martinez, who turned in a game, set, match effort.

Martinez’s piece from the U.S. Open did an excellent job in answering a key question:

Are tennis balls a disaster for the planet? Martinez went into fascinating detail about why the bouncy orbs are extremely hard to recycle.

Apparently, the tennis ball manufacturing industry hasn’t developed a ball to make that process easier.

Martinez reported nearly all of the 330 million balls made worldwide each year eventually get chucked in the garbage. That’s a lot of balls ending up in land lls.

There isn’t a large enough market for using the old balls as dog toys or non-skid caps on the bottom of chairs and walkers.

Tennis ball design has remained substantially unchanged since the advent of pressurized balls in the 1920s.

Before that time, tennis balls were packaged in wrapped paper and cardboard boxes. In 1925, Wilson-Western Sporting Goods Co. introduced cardboard tubes.

A year later, the Pennsylvania Rubber Co. released a hermetically sealed metal tube.

Martinez’s story was like a well-placed lob, en-

ticing a return shot of tennis research.

I learned balls from The Championships, Wimbledon are now recycled to provide eld homes for the threatened Eurasian harvest mouse, Britain’s smallest mammal.

Is there a way to design a fully recyclable ball? Martinez reported the International Tennis Federation is working to tackle the problem.

A Dutch company is working on a ball made of 30% recycled tennis balls. Wilson has a ball designed to be used at least four times without losing bounce of fuzz.

Nonpro ts, most notably Vermont-based RecycleBalls, are also repurposing balls.

The company recently reported it’s on pace to collect more than 3 million balls from across the United States and Canada.

Some collected balls are sold as dog toys or for the bottom of chairs, and some are ground up whole with the felt to be sold as footing for horse arenas.

RecycleBalls CEO Erin Cunningham believes in multiple lives for tennis balls. So do I.

It’s time to nd ways to help old tennis balls solider into a brighter future after dedicated years of service.

Here’s a closing thought on the subject from Douglas MacArthur, one of America’s greatest military leaders.

MacArthur was a tennis player during his years at West Texas Military Academy in the late 1890s.

He made his last of cial appearance in a farewell address to the U.S. Congress in 1951.

His last of cial appearance included a defense of his side of a disagreement with President Harry S. Truman over the conduct of the Korean War.

MacArthur’s speech is best known for its nal lines in which he quoted an old army ballad: “Old soldiers never die — they just fade away.”

It’s reassuring to know there are folks working to accomplish something better and honorable for our well-used tennis balls.

Defensive Driver Refresher

People ages 55 years and above who have taken the eight-hour Defensive Driving Course, may take a four-hour refresher course to renew their insurance discount. The course requires no driving or tests. The course is speci cally for Minnesota drivers and focuses on essential aspects of traf c safety. Participants will receive certi cates that can be presented to insurance companies.

Monday, Sept. 18, 5-9 p.m. — Sauk RapidsRice Middle School, 901 First St. S., Sauk Rapids.

Legos and doughnuts with Dad

Join for a memorable Lego brick building experience with Dad, Grandpa, Uncle or others. Build a Lego kit together and take the nished creation home. Indulge in delicious doughnuts and refreshing beverages during the event. It is an opportunity for quality bonding time and creative fun.

Saturday, Oct 7, 9-10:15am — Sauk RapidsRice Middle School, 901 First St. S., Sauk Rapids.

To register or for more information on programs and costs, contact Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education at www.isd47.org/ce or 320-258-1577.

COMMUNITY STARS

Benton County marriage application

FOLEY — The following couple has submitted a marriage application in Benton County.

— David Edward Landau Jr. and Hallie Elizabeth Knapek, both of Sandy Hook, Connecticut.

LOCAL CLASSIFIEDS

KONZ STUDIO - Debi Konz, BS, MM, ESL, ASL piano, guitar, voice lessons. Call 320-259-0227. R-36-2P

GERMAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES FOR SALE - Purebred 12/10/22 two females fixed. 1 white and 1 black/tan. All up to date on shots. $800. 320-293-3177. SR-37-1VM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Benton County Planning Commission will conduct public hearings on September 28th, 2023, the Commissioner’s Room, Benton County Government Center, Foley, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The Planning Commission will hear the following:

1. Vincent and Aurora Goering requesting a conditional use permit to use an alternative ood proo ng method in the R-2 Residential District. Pursuant to Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of the Flood Plain Management Ordinance and Section 11.6 of the Development Code. The affected property is described as follows: Lots 7 & 8, Kuehn’s Lake Shore Lots, Section 35, East Langola Township.

2. Michael & Leisha Wilcox requesting a conditional use permit to construct a storage structure on a residential parcel without a single-family dwelling or other principal building in the R-3 Residential district. Pursuant to Sections 9.1.2(B) (1) and 11.6. The affected property is described as follows: Lot 4, Block 2, Lake Andrew, Section 26, Watab Township. ANYONE with comments regarding the above will be heard at this meeting.

FR-37-1B

Noyes named to GREAT Theatre board

WAITE PARK — Sauk Rapids resident Jon Noyes has been selected as one of ve new board members of GREAT Theatre. Noyes will serve alongside new board members Debra Leigh, Burke Tagney, Matt Trombley and Erica Scott as well as new of cers president Chad O’Brien and vice president Dan Barth. The group will join experienced board members and of cers treasurer Chris Kudrna, secretary Marianne Arnzen and members Lori Glanz-Gambrino, Buddy King, Cassie Miles and Janet Reagan

NOTICE OF ABANDONED PROPERTY

Notice is hereby given that on September 23, 2021, the Benton County Sheriff’s Of ce seized a PJ brand dump type trailer with no VIN present. This trailer is currently being held at the Benton County Sheriff’s Of ce in Foley, MN. Anyone having an ownership interest in this trailer is hereby noti ed that they have 45 days from the date of the publication of this notice to exercise their right to reclaim the trailer as prescribed by law. Failure of an owner to exercise their right to reclaim the trailer within the 45 day time frame shall constitute a waiver of all right, title, and interest in the trailer and consent to the transfer of title to and disposal or sale of the trailer as prescribed by law and a waiver of all right, title, and interest in the contents and consent to sell or dispose of the contents as prescribed by law. Any owner who provides documentation from a government or nonpro t agency or legal aid of ce that the owner is homeless, receives relief based on need, or is eligible for legal aid services, has the unencumbered right to retrieve any and all contents without charge.

R-37-2B

Fire Prevention Fire Prevention WEEK

320.266.3949 R25-every3rdwk-B-TV

The 2023 Sauk Rapids-Rice

High School girls tennis team consists of Audri Lutz (front, from left), Sydney Entner, Piper Froiland, Erica Poganski, Allison Lundebrek, Faith Biorn, Miah Boos and Kaia Diablo; (middle, from left) Gabby Meyer, Kaitlyn Burski, Brielle Karasch, Ella Mrozek, Cece Heneke, Leah Roesch and Vienna Victorian; (back, from left) assistant coach Nicole Idalski, head coach Val Martin, Maya Strand, Maya Huseman, Sarah Amberson and Jared Hippman.

PHOTO BY R. TAMM PHOTOGRAPHY

REGULAR MEETING

SAUK RAPIDS CITY COUNCIL

SAUK RAPIDS GOVERNMENT CENTER, 250 Summit Ave N.

Monday, August 28, 2023

6:00PM MINUTES

1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Kurt Hunstiger called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Members present: Ellen Thronson, Jason Ellering, and Dottie Seamans. Members absent: Nick Sauer.

2. Additions or Changes to the Agenda

Ross Olson requested to add Approve Resolution Determining the Necessity for and Authorizing the Acquisition of a Certain Property for Road and Utility Purposes as agenda item 9-G. Olson also requested to add St. Cloud Area Joint Cities Meeting Agenda as item 11-C.

3. Approve the Agenda

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Thronson and seconded by Councilperson Ellering to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously.

4. Approve Minutes

A. 8-14-2023 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Thronson and seconded by Councilperson Ellering to approve the 8-14-2023 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Motion carried unanimously with Councilperson Seamans abstaining from the vote.

B. 8-14-2023 Budget Meeting Minutes

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Thronson and seconded by Councilperson Ellering to approve the 8-14-2023 Budget Meeting Minutes. Motion carried unanimously with Councilperson Seamans abstaining from the vote.

5. Receive and File

A. 6-12-2023 EDA Meeting Minutes

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Thronson and seconded by Councilperson Seamans to receive and le the 6-12-2023 EDA Meeting Minutes. Motion carried unanimously.

6. Mayor’s Communications

• Happy Birthday to Councilperson Thronson—Mayor Hunstiger wished Councilperson Thronson a very happy birthday since tonight’s meeting fell on her birthday.

7. Audience Items/Visitors Total Time Limit 2 Minutes for Items NOT on the Agenda

NONE

8. Public Hearings

NONE

9. Consent Agenda

A. Approve 2023 Plumbing and Mechanical Contractor Licenses

B. Approve and Authorize Gambling Premises Permit for Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association

C. Approve Construction Contractor for the 2023 Windsor Estates 2 Improvements Project

D. Authorize SEH to Complete Final Design, Bidding, and Construction Phase Services for the Ground Storage Tank Yard Piping Project

E. Authorize SEH to Complete Design Phases of the PFAS Abatement Projects

F. Approve Resolution Acknowledging That No Additional Cannabis Regulations Are Presently Necessary in Sauk Rapids

G. Approve Resolution Determining the Necessity for and Authorizing the Acquisition of a Certain Property for Road and Utility Purposes

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Seamans and seconded by Councilperson Thronson to approve consent agenda item 9A9G. Motion carried unanimously.

10. Regular Agenda NONE

11. Other Staff Items

A. Rock the Riverside Concert Series—Ross Olson provided an update on last week’s Rock the Riverside event in which Rinke Noonan was the sponsor. Olson thanked this week’s sponsor, which is Coborn’s Inc. He noted that Mark Stone will be the opening act with Rock Godz as the headliner.

B. Police Department Community Event Brent Bukowski, Police Sergeant, invited community members to attend this week’s Cookout with the Sauk Rapids Police Department, which is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, August 30th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the interactive water feature at The Clearing.

C. 8-29-2023 St. Cloud Area Cities Meeting Reminder Ross Olson reminded everyone that the City of Sauk Rapids will be hosting the next St. Cloud Area Cities meeting tomorrow night at 6:00 PM at Riverside Terrace in Sauk Rapids.

12. Other Council Items and Communications NONE

13. Approve List of Bills and Claims

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Thronson and seconded by Councilperson Ellering to approve the List of Bills and Claims. Motion carried unanimously.

14. Adjournment

Motion: Moved by Councilperson Seamans and seconded by Councilperson Thronson to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

Mayor Hunstiger adjourned the meeting at 6:11 PM R-37-1B

Vikings flop in opening loss to Buccaneers

The Minnesota Vikings, who were hoping to build on last season’s surprising 13-4 record, opened their 2023-24 season with an utterly lackluster performance. Their 20-17 loss at home to a bad Tampa Bay Buccaneers team featured many harbingers of a team that could be in for a long and disappointing season — a lack of discipline in key situations, poor offensive line play and a rash of turnovers. Other than that, things went great.

I’d like to begin by stating that the Sept. 10 game against Tampa Bay was, on paper, probably the easiest game on Vikings’ entire schedule this season. The Buccaneers nished last season with an 8-9 record despite having the greatest quarterback of all time under center. The drop off from Tom Brady to Baker May eld is substantial. Losing this game to Tampa Bay despite nearly doubling the Buccaneers’ offensive production (369 yards to 242 yards gained) tells me that this year’s Vikings squad is not going to recapture the magic (i.e., luck) that allowed them to somehow win all of their close games last season.

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: January 5, 2002

MORTGAGOR: Jeffrey Ralph Millner, a single person.

MORTGAGEE: Homeland Mortgage, LLC.

DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded January 18, 2002 Benton County Recorder, Document No. 282046.

ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to: First Federal Savings Bank.

Dated January 10, 2002

Recorded January 18, 2002, as Document No. 282047. And thereafter assigned to: Washington Mutual Bank, FA. Dated January 10, 2002

Recorded January 18, 2002, as Document No. 282048. And thereafter assigned to: Wells Fargo Bank, NA. Dated April 7, 2007 Recorded April 17, 2007, as Document No. A347525. And thereafter assigned to: Specialized Loan Servicing LLC. Dated January 25, 2019 Recorded January 25, 2019, as Document No. 433959. And thereafter assigned to: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as trustee for the bene t of the Freddie Mac Seasoned Loans Structured Transaction Trust, Series 2019-3. Dated March

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

3, 2020 Recorded March

5, 2020, as Document No. 441612.

TRANSACTION

AGENT: NONE

TRANSACTION

AGENT’S MORTGAGE IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON MORTGAGE: NONE

LENDER OR BROKER AND MORTGAGE

ORIGINATOR STATED ON MORTGAGE: Homeland Mortgage, LLC

RESIDENTIAL

MORTGAGE SERVICER: Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.

MORTGAGED

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 264 Birch Drive, Foley, MN 56329

TAX PARCEL I.D. #: 13.00648.00

LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: LOT TWENTY-ONE (21), BLOCK SIX (6), FOLEY DEVELOPMENT PLAT IN THE CITY OF FOLEY; COUNTY OF BENTON, STATE OF MINNESOTA.

COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Benton

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $115,000.00

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE:

$92,702.68

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: November 16, 2023 at 10:00 AM PLACE OF SALE: Benton County Sheriff’s Of ce, 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 May 16, 2024, 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 PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES 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: September 11, 2023 Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as trustee Mortgagee/Assignee of Mortgagee LIEBO, WEINGARDEN, DOBIE & BARBEE, P.L.L.P. Attorneys for Mortgagee/ Assignee of Mortgagee 4500 Park Glen Road #300 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (952) 925-6888 38 - 23-005114 FC IN THE EVENT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW: THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR

R-37-6B

The Vikings had twice as many penalties as Tampa Bay (including a back-breaking neutral zone infraction on a eld goal attempt that gave the Buccaneers a rst down deep in Vikings territory and led to a touchdown), and only moved the chains on six of their 14 third down opportunities. You’re not going to win many games when you play that style of undisciplined football, and it was jarring to see the Vikings fail in so many of the impactful areas of the game where they excelled last season. Tampa Bay quarterback May eld was quoted as saying he was able to decipher Minnesota’s defensive play calls as the game progressed, and that could explain why he went from being completely ineffective for most of the rst half to looking like a Pro Bowler later in the game. Simply put, the Vikings looked rusty and unprepared, and for a team that doesn’t give their starters any reps in preseason games, that approach may have cost them dearly.

When the Vikings weren’t shooting off all their toes with unforced errors, their interior offensive line was getting dominated by Vita Vea and Tampa Bay’s stout defensive line. The Vikings only averaged 2.4 yards per rush, and quarterback Kirk Cousins was under nearconstant duress despite only being sacked once. With a back injury looking like it will sideline starting center Garrett Bradbury for multiple weeks, ineffective interior line play might be a theme moving forward.

The Vikings will now head to Philadelphia for a Thursday night showdown with the reigning NFC champion Eagles, who feature the exact type of pass rush that can best exploit a team with a weak interior offensive line. If the Vikings don’t shore up their blocking issues and play mistake-free football, I would anticipate a lopsided score in this game. Starting 0-2 would not bode well for a team with playoff aspirations, but the Vikings will have no one for themselves to blame after their awful, uninspired performance against Tampa Bay in week one.

SPORTS COLUMNIST BY ANDY THAYER

Baby blue

Seniors win powder puff 50-6

BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER

The Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Class of 2024 senior girls held nothing back when they took to the football eld Sept. 13 for the annual powder puff game against the junior class.

With Campbell Arndt at quarterback and Gabby Fernholz as the wheels on the team, the seniors sped to a healthy lead of 38-6 going into halftime of the ag football bout. Donning their baby blue T-shirts, the class of 2024 had three pick-6 plays in the game to nish with a 50-6 victory.

Fernholz, Emily Vanvickle, Ava Athman and Sienna Petermeier had one or multiple touchdowns in the high-scoring affair.

The junior class, wearing pink, combined the signal caller position in Ava Plemel and Marissa Bomstad. Mallory Kosloski scored the lone class of 2025 touchdown.

blowout

Members of the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Class of 2024 — Trinity Maki (front, from left), Erica Poganski, Emily Vanvickle, Jaida Burrows, Kennedy Wahlin, Mckayla Harms, Jordyn Lee, Arianna Anderson and Campbell Arndt; (second row, from left) Sienna Petermeier, Sophia Markfelder, Grace Kitzmann, Sadie Johnson, Brielle Fiereck, Elizabeth Kruger, Maya Miller, Taylor Wolfe and Sam Haaf; (third row, from left) Courtney Paulsen, Katelyn Anderson, Ava Athman, Brandt Andres, Lillian Piotrowski, Mykayla Bluhm-Slater, Morgan Dorn, Gabby Fernholz, Teagan Guggisburg and Isabella Kitzmann; (back, from left) Lucas Barber, Gunnar Jacobson, Benjamin Rothstein, Walker Loesch, Shaun Walrath and Austin Beierman — gather after their 50-6 powder puff victory Sept. 13 during the school’s homecoming week in Sauk Rapids. Seniors wore baby blue T-shirts while the junior class wore pink.

(Above) Junior Addi Eisenschenk runs down the sideline of the Sauk RapidsRice Middle School stadium football field Sept. 13 in Sauk Rapids. A senior eventually grabbed her flag.

(Right) Gabby Fernholz carries the ball toward the end zone for the senior class Sept. 13 at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School stadium in Sauk Rapids. Fernholz had a strong running game, scoring multiple touchdowns and 2-point conversions in the 50-6 victory.

(Above) Junior Mallory Kosloski runs toward the end zone Sept. 13 during the seniors versus juniors powder puff football game at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School stadium in Sauk Rapids. Later in the game, Kosloski scored the juniors’ lone touchdown.

(Left) Trinity Maki screams with excitement after the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Class of 2024 scores a pick-6 touchdown Sept. 13 in Sauk Rapids. The seniors had three pick-6 plays during the powder puff game.

football, powder puff & girls tennis

PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER

Senior signal caller Campbell Arndt (center) receives a snap Sept. 13 at Sauk RapidsRice Middle School in Sauk Rapids. Quarterbacks for the juniors included Ava Plemel and Marissa Bomstad.

Cross-country

Boys soccer

Storm compete at Monticello, prepare for Buffalo, Cold Spring

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

Sandie Lahr-Cook has a question for every one of her runners after a race.

“Did you raise your oor?”

Regardless of the answer, it is a chance for Lahr-Cook and the athletes to think about what went well and how to improve.

“Our goals are to keep raising that oor and improving our times,” said Lahr-Cook, whose team competed in the 27-team Lucky Lindy Invitational Sept. 14 in Little Falls. “After the rst meet, we discussed how each athlete had set their oor, foundation or bottom layer with their time. Then re ecting that they could run the distance in ‘X’ amount of time.”

At the Monticello Invitational Sept. 9 at Bertram Regional Park in Monticello, 12 runners raised that oor.

“I am very proud of the effort and hard work all of them have shown so far this year and look forward to more success the rest of the season,” Lahr-Cook said.

The Storm boys nished eighth in the 11-team race, led by senior Alex Ostendorf’s 29thplace nish as well as eighth

grader Kade Lovell, who came in 43rd, and Collin Wiebe, who nished 46th.

“My varsity runners have been working very hard,” LahrCook said. “I have ve solid boys right now. It’s been a fun season so far.”

SRR’s girls had three runners, led Faith Bogle. The freshman earned a top-20 nish, placing 19th with a time of 22 minutes, 22.2 seconds to earn a race medal.

Amelia Reker nished in 35th, and McKenzie Wagman-Kelley 53rd for the Storm, who have been trying new mental approaches before and after races along with implementing new training exercises.

“(The changes) were an adjustment at rst for my veteran runners because they hadn’t done anything like this before,” LahrCook said. “These drills have been helpful with the prevention of injuries and helping the athletes to be ready to perform. This has been evident with their progress this season and how their times are dropping.”

The Storm will run Monday, Sept. 18, at Buffalo Heights Golf

Girls soccer

Course in Buffalo before competing in the Rocori Invitational Thursday, Sept. 21, at River Oaks Golf Course in Cold Spring.

Lahr-Cook said she will continue working on the new skills leading up to the closing races of the season.

“After our long (practice) runs, we’re asking ourselves, ‘Could I have run faster or could I have run farther?’” Lahr-Cook said. “This sets them up for the next run. We’ve also focused on responding and not reacting. Responding is having a plan to keep pushing yourself to work a little harder and what phrases can I say to myself to keep pushing.”

The Storm will not have a home race this season. The annual SRR Invitational, originally set for Thursday, Sept. 28, has been canceled. Lahr-Cook said the district have had trouble lling the eld as a portion of the course is run on crushed rock.

New approach, better times Tough stretch

Tech, Hopkins, EGF too much for Storm

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

The Sauk Rapids-Rice girls soccer team experienced among the best teams the Twin Cities metro area has to offer, then returned home and faced a familiar yet still strong area rival. Sandwiched between was a matchup against a former section rival.

Unfortunately for the Storm, none went their way.

Tech nished off a tough stretch for SRR, defeating the Storm 4-2 Sept. 12 at the Sauk RapidsRice High School elds in Sauk Rapids. The loss came two days after a 7-1 home loss to East Grand Forks and ve days after an unbeaten Hopkins team kicked their way to a dominating 15-0 victory in Hopkins.

Tech scored twice in the rst two minutes and never relinquished the lead. Storm junior Abby Feddema got her team on the board with 21 minutes, 56 seconds left in the rst half. Callie Kayser cut the Tech lead to 3-2 with 12:29 left in the second half, but the Tigers added a late goal to pull away.

“We played really well,” SRR coach Tash Neu said. “We let a couple get away from us that we could have prevented, but I’m very proud of our play. Now we just need to nd a way to nish and win games.”

Senior Gabby Fernholz scored the lone goal for the Storm in the loss to the Green Wave at SRRHS.

“Unfortunately, the score doesn’t even come close to how well we played,” Neu said. “We had some miscommunications that lead to goals, but ultimately we did some really nice things in the middle.”

Shutdown, shut-out

Tech stifles Storm offense, wins 2-0

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

The St. Cloud Tech boys soccer team showed the importance of a lockdown defense Sept. 12.

The Tigers scored a pair of rst-half goals, which proved to be enough as they held Sauk Rapids-Rice to two shots on goal in a 3-0 Central Lakes Conference victory at Tech High School in St. Cloud.

“We are proud of how the boys responded in the second half to going down three goals,” Storm coach Chris Rothstein said. “While it wasn’t perfect, it was a really good attempt at trying to come back. Overall, the team is playing well so far. However, I don’t think we are reaching our full potential yet.”

Trace Nelson stopped six Tech shots in goal for SRR while Liam Mick stopped both shots he saw in relief. It was the third straight loss for the Storm, who started the season with two wins.

Rothstein said his team needs to focus on playing a complete game to return to their winning ways.

“We have a lot of talent and hard workers, but we just need to put in a full 80-minute game from every single person on the team,” Rothstein said. “If we can do that consistently, we will be a hard team to beat. We are really working hard to clean up our touches and passes. We are getting better every day, but we need to keep striving to do even better with every opportunity to be able to compete with the big teams that we face.”

The Storm took a 2-3 overall record into a Sept. 14 home game against CLC foe Willmar and will travel to Bemidji for a 2 p.m. matchup Saturday, Sept. 16, before returning home to face Rocori at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19. They will travel to Brainerd for a conference match Thursday, Sept. 21.

SRR faced Hopkins to get a better feel of Class AA competition, which it will see in the upcoming section playoffs.

“Ultimately, we just got worn down by them,” Neu said. “They were big and fast, but it was a good test on where we need to be and what we need to do to get there.”

The Storm took a 2-5 overall record into a Central Lakes Conference match at Willmar Sept. 14 and hosted Moorhead in a nonconference matchup Sept. 15. SRR will travel to Cold Spring to face Rocori Tuesday, Sept. 19, before hosting Brainerd Thursday, Sept. 21 at SRRHS.

Tech

Tech 3, SRR 0 SRR goalkeepers: Nelson 6 saves of 9 shots on goal. Mick 2 of 2.

4, SRR 2 SRR (goals-assists): Feddema 1-0, Kayser 1-0, Plemel 0-1. Goalkeeper: Bischoff 14 saves of 18 shots on goal. East Grand Forks 7, SRR 1 SRR (goals-assists): Fernholz 1-0. Goalkeeper: Bischoff 17 of 24.

Storm compete,

fall to unbeaten Rocori

Athman surpasses 500 career kills

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

It was not a victory, but there were a few positives for the Sauk Rapids-Rice volleyball team to take away from their performance Sept. 12.

The Storm were facing a Rocori team that had rattled off an 8-0 record without losing a set.

The fact SRR got a notch on the scoreboard and threw a bit of a scare into the Spartans left the Storm satis ed though knowing work needed to be done after a 3-1 loss in at Rocori High School in Cold Spring.

“We played well, but we just couldn’t catch a break at critical times,” SRR coach Gail Bialke said. “Volleyball is a game of inches, and many balls were in on the line and out by inches. When we

are a full squad with everyone healthy, we will hopefully have a different result when we play them a second time around.”

Scores were 2519, 25-20, 17-25 and 25-21 for the Spartans, whose resume this season includes wins over Sauk Centre, Albany, Cathedral, Maple Lake and Alexandria. Rocori is ranked third in Class AAA behind eight-time overall and two-time defending state champions Marshall. Northeld is ranked second while Central Lakes Conference member Alexandria is No. 6.

time.”

Despite the loss, Ava Athman and her teammates celebrated the senior’s milestone moment. Athman, a Bemidji State University recruit, had a team-best 10 kills, surpassing 500 for her career. Athman added 10 digs and 3.5 blocks as her team fell to 5-4 overall.

Freshman Josie Anderson and sophomore Stella Lambaere each had ve kills to help the SRR offense. Katelyn Anderson had 16 set assists and Aubrey Marketon added 13.

“The girls are working hard every night at practice and games,” Bialke said. “They have the desire to win every point.”

sweep of longtime nemesis Willmar Sept. 7 at SRRHS. It was the was the rst time the Storm had overcome the Cardinals since a 3-0 win in 2015, and it included a marathon win in the middle set.

Scores were 2522, 34-32 and 25-14 as Athman had 18 kills, Katelyn Anderson 28 assists, Wendi Peterson 3.5 blocks and Josie Anderson eight digs. Lee added nine kills and Peterson seven.

The Storm hosted Brainerd Sept. 14, and will welcome Alexandria to their home court Tuesday, Sept. 19, before traveling to Fergus Falls for a CLC match Thursday, Sept. 21.

Sophomore Aubrey Marketon tips the ball over the net as the Storm volleyball team faced Willmar Sept. 7 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Marketon had 12 set assists as the Storm swept the Cardinals in three sets.

“We did a good job persevering,” said senior Jordyn Lee, who had two kills and four digs. “Rocori is a tough team, but we didn’t give them an easy win. They had to work for it. We learned what is important to focus on. We were focusing on things we couldn’t control instead of the things we can, but we will improve and be better next

Volleyballs were being bumped, set and spiked everywhere Sept. 9 at the 15-team SRR Invitational at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. The Storm went 2-2 on the day, defeating Foley 25-22, losing to Annandale 17-25, 2725, 15-13 and topping Royalton 25-16 and 25-17 before falling 25-17 and 25-22 to Watertown-Mayer in the fth-place match.

Albany won the title, defeating Annandale 25-18 and 25-23 in the championship, while Wadena-Deer Creek won over Sauk Centre 15-13 in the third set for third place.

“We didn’t play our best volleyball, but well enough to be 2-2,” Bialke said.

Sophomore Stella Lambaere dives for a dig as the Storm volleyball team faced Willmar Sept. 7 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Lambaere had three kills and four digs in the victory.

Senior Ava Athman lunges for a service receive Sept. 7 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Athman surpassed the 500-career kill mark in a 3-1 loss against Rocori Sept. 12 in Cold Spring.

“The season is going well,” Lee said. “We want to continue to a winning record and improve our physical and mental toughness.”

Rocori 3, SRR 1

SRR: Marissa Bomstad 1 kill and 4 digs; Lambaere 1 ace serve, 5 kills and 12 digs; Katelyn Anderson 16 set assists and 4 digs; Delia Gustofson 1 ace serve and 10 digs; Josie Anderson 1 ace serve, 5 kills, 1.5 blocks and 8 digs; Athman 10 kills, 3.5 blocks and 10 digs; Marketon 13 set assists and 5 digs; Lee 2 kills, 1.5 blocks and 4 digs; Wendi Peterson 3 blocks; and Vivian Kusilek 1 kill and 3 digs.

SRR Invitational

SRR 2, Foley 0 Annandale 2, SRR 1 SRR 2, Royalton 0 Watertown-Mayer 2, SRR 0

The Storm exorcised a few demons in the form of a three-set

SRR 3, Willmar 0 SRR: Lambaere 3 kills, .5 block and 4 digs; Katelyn Anderson 28 set assists and 2 digs; Ruby Gustofson 3 kills and 1 block; Delia Gustofson 1 ace serve and 5 digs; Josie Anderson 6 kills and 8 digs; Athman 18 kills, 3 blocks, 1 set assist and 5 digs; Marketon 12 set assists and 2 digs; Lee 1 ace serves, 9 kills, .5 block and 4 digs; Peterson 7 kills and 3.5 blocks.

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON

everywhere

Deep lineup key to SRR win over Alexandria

BY TOM FENTON | STAFF WRITER

Dual meet victories in swimming and diving are about far more than winning events — a fact Sauk Rapids-Rice proved Sept. 12.

The Storm girls took rst place in three of 12 events, but the team’s deep lineup turned out to be the difference in a 98-88 victory over Alexandria at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School pool in Sauk Rapids. It was the third straight dual meet win for SRR, starting with an Aug. 31 win over Apollo.

“Our depth really helped us out,” said Julia Wallace, second-year Storm head coach. “It was close, but our girls got the job done.”

The Cardinals led for most of the meet, though that changed with SRR’s 1-2-3 nish in the 500-yard freestyle. Eighth grader Rhema Knudson placed rst in 6 minutes, 12.86 seconds while sophomore Adalyn Godfrey and junior Grace Thompson completed the top-three sweep.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Knudson, Kate Walz, Ava Erdman and Ally Lucas clinched the team win, cruising to a seven-second victory in the nal event.

“This relay is really impressive given the fact we have three eighth graders (Knudson, Walz and Erdman) and a sophomore (Lucas) swimming for our ‘A’ relay in that event,” Wallace said.

SRR’s other victory came from senior diver Sophia Markfelder, whose personal-best score of 199.35 points is the 16th-best in program history. The Storm also got diving points from freshman Esme Grabinski and senior Madalyn Anderson, who placed second and fourth, respectively.

Lucas and Erdmann each earned two second-place nishes in their individual events — Lucas in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, Erdmann in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Also nishing second were the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams, Walz in the 200 freestyle, and sophomore Hayden Reinert in the 100 breaststroke.

The Storm claimed a 96-90 victory Sept. 7 at Willmar, getting event victories from Lucas in the 200 and 500 freestyles, Walz in the 200 individual medley, Erdmann in the 100 backstroke, Reinert in the 100 breaststroke, and the 400 freestyle relay team.

The Storm hosted Sauk Centre in a nonconference dual meet Sept. 14 and will travel north defend their title in the Andrea Soderlind Invitational Saturday, Sept. 23, at Lincoln Park Middle School in Duluth. The meet is hosted by Duluth Denfeld High School.

SRR 98, Alexandria 88

SRR (top 5): 200 MR: 2. Lucas, Olivia Schaap, Sam Haaf and Thompson 2:06.57; 3. Godfrey, Mya Miller, Layla Wolvert and Sophia Nielsen 2:12.46; and 5. Kendra Carlson, Mia Flores-Bonilla, Vivian Jaschke and Grace Carlson 2:20.39. 200 FS: 2. Walz 2:13.6, 3. Knudson 2:14.57 and 4. Thompson 2:23.18. 200 IM: 2. Lucas 2:32.13 and 3. Godfrey 2:39.56. 50 FS: 2. Erdmann 27.85 and 4. Madi Miller 28.35. 1M diving: 1. Markfelder 199.35, 2. Grabinski 162.85 and 4. Anderson 128.3. 100 FLY: 3. Haaf 1:08.97, 4. Wolvert 1:16.82 and 5. Jacschke 1:26.98. 100 FS: 2. Ava Erdmann 1:00.73, 3. Walz 1:01.62 and 5. Kendra Carlson 1:05.84. 500 FS: 1. Knudson 6:12.86, 2. Godfrey 6:15.31 and 3. Thompson 6:17.52. 200 FSR: 2. Erdmann, Madi Miller, Knudson and Walz 1:50.89, 3. Nielsen, Jaschke, Schaap and Haaf 1:58.77 and 4. Wolvert, Mya Miller, Lily Gregerson and Reinert

2:02.3. 100 BK: 2. Lucas 1:05.42 and 3. Madi Miler 1:11.44. 100 BR:

2. Reinert 1:21.78, 3. Mya Miller 1:22.84 and 5. Schaap 1:24.78. 400

FSR: 1. Knudson, Walz, Erdmann and Lucas 4:00.4, 3. Kendra Carlson, Haaf, Thompson and Madi Miller 4:21.5 and 5. Godfrey, Josie Dubbin, Gregerson and Reinert 4:32.73.

SRR 96, Willmar 90

SRR (top 5): 200 MR: 2. Lucas, Schapp, Haaf and Erdmann

2:04.31; and 3. Godfrey, Reinert, Wolvert and Madi Miller 2:14.17.

200 FS: 1. Lucas 2:08.72, 4. Thompson 2:24.24 and 5. Nielsen 2:30.

200 IM: 1. Walz 2:34.08 and 5. Wolvert 2:55.61. 50 FS: 4. Knudson

28 and 5. Madi

Feel-good victory

Entner’s win at No. 1 singles clinches 4-3 triumph

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

It is dif cult to understate the importance of the Sauk Rapids-Rice girls tennis team’s victory Sept. 11.

The Storm had lost six straight matches dating to Aug. 28 while enduring a schedule that featured far more matches than practice. Four of the losses ended in 7-0 scores, making their 4-3 non-conference victory over North Branch at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School courts in Sauk Rapids that much more important.

“It was a great win for the team and really helps boost their condence,” SRR head coach Val Martin said. “Brielle Karasch played awlessly (at No. 3 singles) and all four of our singles players played aggressively. We are getting stronger, playing better

and with more con -

SRR received all it needed from its four singles players in improving to 3-11 overall.

Sydney Entner, Leah Roesch, Karasch and Erica Poganski each won to complete the singles sweep.

Entner won a 7-5, 7-6 decision at No. 1, clinching the team victory by winning the second-set tiebreak 7-5 with the team score tied 3-3.

“I was very proud and excited to have gotten the win for my team,” Entner said. “Thanks to the support from my coaches, team and friends, I was able maintain the

positive mindset that helped push me toward the win.”

Poganski won a third-set super-tiebreak, 10-5, to get the win at No. 4, while Roesch and Karasch each won in straight sets.

North Branch swept the three doubles matches, though all were competitive. The No. 1 duo of Piper Froiland and Cece Heneke lost a 10-7 super-tiebreak in the third set.

“Cece and Piper played a strong match,” Martin said. “They are proving to be formidable opponents as a doubles team.”

The Storm faced Sartell in a home Central Lakes Conference match Sept. 14. SRR will travel to Willmar — a team it defeat 4-3 Aug. 24 — for a rematch Tuesday, Sept. 19, and will travel to Alexandria Thursday, Sept. 21.

“I’m very happy with how well our team is supporting each other this year,” Entner said. “It’s great to know that you aren’t alone during these battles. We have a very strong team, but we still have a lot to learn, so keeping a positive mindset is probably the biggest thing we are working on and it really shows.”

SRR 4, North Branch 3 Singles: No. 1 — Entner won 7-5, 7-6 (5). No. 2 — Roesch won 6-2, 6-3. No. 3 — Karasch won 6-1, 6-1. No. 4 — Poganski won 7-5, 5-7, (10-5). Doubles: No. 1 — Froiland-Heneke lost 6-3, 1-6, (10-7). No. 2 — Kaitlyn Burski-Miah Boos lost 6-3, 6-3. No. 3 — Allison Lundebrek-Maya Strand lost 7-6 (4), 6-0. Rocori 7, SRR 0 Singles: No. 1 — Entner lost 6-3, 6-0. No. 2 — Roesch lost 2-6, 7-5, (10-8). No. 3 — Karasch lost 6-1, 6-2. No. 4 — Poganski lost 6-2, 6-4. Doubles: No. 1 — Froiland-Heneke lost 7-5, 6-0. No. 2 — Burski-Boos lost 6-0, 6-2. No. 3 — Lundebrek-Strand lost 6-2, 6-2.

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON

No. 2 doubles player Kaitlyn Burski leaps for an overhead as the Storm tennis team hosted North Branch in a nonconference dual Sept. 11 at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School courts in Sauk Rapids. The Storm defeated the Vikings 4-3.

Senior No. 4 singles player Erica Poganski hits a backhand approach shot Sept. 11 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. Poganski won her match in a third set super-tiebreaker.

Storm No. 3 doubles player Maya Strand lunges for a backhand return Sept. 11 at the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School courts in Sauk Rapids. Strand and partner Allison Lundebrek lost a 7-6, 6-0 decision to North Branch.

Storm No. 3 doubles player Allison Lundebrek reaches for a backhand volley while at the net Sept. 11 at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School in Sauk Rapids. The next home match for the Storm is Tuesday, Sept. 26, against the St. Cloud Crush.

dence.”

hotter Heated rivalry gets

Late TD lifts Storm past Sabres

BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER

No passing or receiving records were broken this time.

Instead, the Sauk Rapids-Rice football team found a way to win in different, though not necessarily less-dramatic, fashion.

The Storm offense, plagued by mistakes and inconsistency, found a way to get the job done when it mattered most. Dillon Miller’s 2-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter awoke the offense from a two quarters long slumber, and it proved to be the difference as SRR grinded out a 14-7 victory over rival Sartell Sept. 8 at Riverview Stadium in Sartell.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you start but how you nish, and we nished strong,” said Hayden Brown, a junior two-way lineman. “As a group of guys who are maturing, we’re getting better, we’re getting stronger and we’re getting faster. We’re trying to become less dull and be more like a sharpened pencil.”

It was the fth straight regular-season victory for the Storm over the Sabres, dating back to 2018, though Sartell won a 1514 nailbiter in last year’s Section 8AAAAA seminals. The rivals did not play during the pandemic-shortened 2021 season.

The win came a week after quarterback Spencer Ackerman and receiver

Hudson Omoke each broke school records for passing and receiving yards. Sartell’s defense made repeating that performance nearly impossible, something head coach Phillip Klaphake knows will continue.

“Spencer and I are growing together as a young quarterback and a bald offensive coordinator and head coach,” Klaphake said. “He wants to throw for 360 every game, and he wants to go do that because he’s got that in him. But, he’s also learning now how winning is more important than that and really just making good decisions.”

What seems to be an increasingly tense rivalry with each matchup did not disappoint an over ow crowd that featured two

vocal student sections. Though the weather was picturesque, SRR’s execution was at times a bit blurred.

The Storm lost a fumbled punt in the rst quarter and also turned the ball over at the Sabres 2-yard line while driving for what looked to be a go-ahead touchdown in the third. Two other third-quarter drives ended when being stopped on fourth down — both in Sartell territory, including one on a botched snap from center.

Ackerman scored on a 1-yard run on SRR’s second possession, capping a 68-yard drive that featured an 8-yard run by Adam Purcell on fourth-and-4. Thereafter, the Storm offense struggled to nd a rhythm as Sartell did everything possible to pre-

vent Omoke from making big plays.

Trailing 7-6 early in the fourth quarter, senior running back Miller, along with a rejuvenated offensive line got things going. After Purcell — who rushed for 61 yards — left the game with a leg injury, Miller sparked the offense with runs of 15 and 8 yards before nishing the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run with 5 minutes, 16 seconds remaining.

“We’re a little young, but we when we play together, we can play really good,” said Miller, who nished wit 48 yards on eight carries. “It was an amazing feeling to get in the end zone.”

Junior linebacker Ben Ellerbusch (31) leaps to block a pass from Sartell quarterback Will Thompson as Storm junior lineman Anden Champman applies pressure Sept. 8 at Riverview Stadium in Sartell. The Storm improved to 2-0 win the win.

PHOTOS BY TOM FENTON

Sauk Rapids-Rice defensive back Chris Pepin puts a hard hit on Sartell running back Will Mathiasen (No. 3) as the Storm faced the Sabres Sept. 8 at Riverview Stadium in Sartell. Pepin had two tackles in SRR’s 14-7 victory.

Sophomore running back Adam Purcell lunges for extra yardage Sept. 8 at Riverview Stadium in Sartell. Purcell rushed 15 times for 48 yards for the Storm.

Sauk Rapids-Rice defenders Mason Sabraski (left) and Carter Riedeman team up to take down Sartell running back Will Mathiasen Sept. 8 at Riverview Stadium in Sartell. Sabraski had seven tackles for the Storm.

Football from page 15

The Storm, who saw their season ended to the Sabres in the section seminals last season, have won 14 of their past 18 regular-season games and will host Monticello for homecoming Friday, Sept. 15, at the Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School stadium.

The Magic are 1-1 after losing 20-18 to

Alexandria Friday night and defeating Bemidji 28-26 in their season opener.

Klaphake credited line coach Zach Brown with keeping the group focused, especially when things were not clicking. Once Miller found some running room, things opened up just enough.

“I know that we play hard, and I think that we get tired a little bit because we’re a little thin,” Klaphake said. “I know that we can be pretty tough. Right

now, we’re just not as clean as we need to be. It’s not pretty right now, but if we can nd a way to keep playing hard and be sharper, this team will be really fun to watch. But it needs to happen soon.”

The SRR-Monticello game was completed after this edition of the Sauk Rapids Herald went to press. Watch for game story online Saturday, Sept. 16, at saukrapidsherald.com. Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @ heraldsauk.

SRR

SAR

SRR — Ackerman 1 run (kick blocked)

SAR — Rylen Groth 2 run (Dominic Larson kick)

SRR — Miller 2 run (Mason Sabraski pass from Ackerman) SRR: Rushing: Purcell 16-61, Miller 8-48 and Ackerman 7-31. Passing: Ackerman 8-14-0 146. Receiving: Omoke 6-118, Sabraski 1-19 and Mason Anderson 1-9. Tackles (solo-assists): Omoke 5-2, Miller 4-4, Sabraski 3-4, Bradyn Kost 3-7,

3-4,

What do you enjoy most about being on the volleyball team? I enjoy working with my teammates every day and seeing each person grow individually and as a team.

What has been the highlight of your volleyball career? When the volleyball team made it to state my sophomore year. Playing at the Xcel Energy Center and being with the team is something I will never forget.

What other activities are you involved in at school or in the community? In school, I am involved in DECA, which is a business class where you compete in your projects or role plays against other schools. This year, it is my goal to make it to nationals in California.

What life lesson has being involved in activities taught you? Being in sports has taught me a lot of things, but one of the most important is not everything is going to go the way you want it to, but what defines you as a person is how you react to those situations.

Of all the things you have learned in high school, what do you think will be the most useful as an adult? While I learned many academically important things in school, the most useful thing I have learned is knowing what kind of person I want to be.

If you were principal for a day, what is one change you would make? I would get rid of the no phones rule and get rid of the E-hall pass. I would really like to go to the bathroom without filling out a pass.

What is your least favorite fashion trend? Space buns and braided pigtails. This trend has become very popular in volleyball, and I will not be participating.

Dinner and a movie: What’s on the menu and big screen? I would be eating tacos and instead of just watching one movie, I would have a movie marathon.

What are your post-high school plans? Attend college pursuing some kind of medical degree. The school and my exact major have yet to be decided.

Deagan Gondeck

Ben Ellerbusch 3-1, Ethan Martin 2-1, Anden Chapman 1-2, Carter Riedeman 1-2, Nolan Robish 1-2, Chris Pepin 1-1, Xavier Thurston 1-0, Anthony Camara 0-1, Jonah Thell 0-1 and Hayden Brown 0-1.

Fermentation

by Tyler Rice

I am the type of gardener who is more invested in growing vegetables than actually eating them. This comes at a cost, not only the obvious cost of the inputs like seed, fertilizer and time but also the eventual realization that I’ve grown enough cabbage (and squash and tomatoes) to feed a small army.

This year, to use up the surplus I decided we would try our hand at making sauerkraut.

You can call it my little silage experiment, and in fact, the parallels are unavoidable.

Fermentation is the way certain foods have been preserved for centuries, and in modern livestock production, ensiling bulk forage is nearly irreplaceable in its economy and nutrition.

To ensure silage products are managed in a way that produces a quality product, it is good to understand the biological and chemical processes that occur in the harvest, pre-storage and fermentation phases. A good understanding of these processes can help us to better control feed quality.

Fermentation page 3B

Crunching Crunching

away

BY MAURA WENNER STAFF WRITER

Tucked away in the sandy soils of Little Falls is Foothills Orchard, home to 12,000 apple trees.

Ron Woltjer, owner of the orchard, bought the 16-acre property in 2005. At the time, it was bare land, where he built a shed to start.

“I grew up on a big farm down by Willmar,” said Woltjer, who resides with wife Tai Jen Liu in Sartell. “I am mostly Dutch. My dad and grandfather had a small orchard of about 30 to 40 trees. So, I guess, I kind of got the bug.”

For the fall-driven person, pies,

Foothills Orchard provides apples

crisps and ciders are on the forecast with the arrival of the new harvest season. Woltjer has over 30 varieties of apples to make each recipe complete.

“The University of Minnesota is one of the leading apple breeders in the world right now,” Woltjer said. “Down by Shakopee, they have a research farm where they cross different kinds of apples together. Many crosses are centered around Honeycrisp — a hard, crisp and sweet apple which they developed around 30 years ago.”

University of MN Extension

Sauk Rapids Herald | Saturday, September 16, 2023

PHOTO BY MAURA WENNER Ron Woltjer, owner of Foothills Orchard in Little Falls, stands next to a Honeycrisp apple tree Sept. 11 at his orchard in Little Falls. Woltjer, a Sartell resident, bought the property in 2005 and has since planted 12,000 apple trees along with other fruits and vegetables.

Foothills Orchard page 2B

One section of the orchard contains heirloom apples including Prairie Spy and Wealthy, the rst apple developed in Minnesota in 1868, Woltjer said.

“My favorite variety is Sweet Tango,” Woltjer said. “It’s a cross between Honeycrisp and Zestar. (It’s) the whole package:

pretty, crisp and sweet with 21% sugar. That is what we are known for.”

Woltjer buys University of Minnesota-developed apple trees from an array of nurseries, depending on who has the variety he needs.

“Right now, I am at capacity, but I still buy replacements and sell trees

(320) 584-5520

in spring,” Woltjer said.

One full size tree will grow to be 30-40 feet tall. Woltjer’s trees grow to be about 6-12 feet, because they are dwarf trees.

“They are handy for picking, and they grow apples a lot sooner,” Woltjer said. “I have some trees in their second year growing small apples. Each year, more apples grow and they are bigger. A mature tree grows about 1 bushel of apples.”

Dwarf trees live for around 35 years if they remain healthy. They are relatively low maintenance, but a few diseases and pests do pose a threat.

“I need to spray my apples otherwise probably half a dozen insects would get in,” Woltjer said. “Then, there would be depressions in the apples, or they would have brown trails instead of a white interior from apple maggots.”

Fire blight it is a major disease that can kill an apple tree, and apple scab will leave brown spots.

“I use a fungicide that has a 10-day residual,” Woltjer said. “I haven’t sprayed now since July . If I didn’t, you wouldn’t get a perfect apple. Organic at this scale isn’t practical.”

Woltjer said people with one or two backyard trees can keep insects away organically by

placing plastic bags and rubber bands around each fruit set, but to do so on 16 acres would be quite time consuming. Other threats can also pose problems to orchard owners.

“A hailstorm could dent the apples and cause many to spoil,” Woltjer said. “A strong storm could also cause a heavy branch holding 12 apples to snap. Otherwise, the biggest thing is drought. It is important to keep the trees watered.”

Woltjer has a drip irrigation system that runs along each line of trees. Each evening, the system drips water slowly to provide consistent moisture to the fruit-bearing trees.

“The soil is sandy and not the best place to grow the trees, but we make do,” Woltjer said. “It is also important to choose plants that are hardy and can get through the winter.”

Granny Smith is a green variety of apple he chooses not to grow because it would not fare the colder weather. Yet, Golden Russet does just ne, he said.

“I also keep the property fenced in with an 8-foot-high fence,” Woltjer said. “Otherwise, I would be feeding the deer and rabbits. We put black boots (protective hard plastic) around the trunks to keep rabbits from

them. Last winter, we had so much snow they were chewing on the bark as they were sitting on top of the snow pile.”

When winter begins to set in during early November, the end of the season maintenance is complete.

“We pick every apply at the end of the year off the branches and pick up the ones on the ground,” Woltjer said. “Soft apples like Zestar and Prairie Magic could be shot in two weeks if left on the tree and maybe a month in the refrigerator. But hard apples will last up to six months.”

Pruning the trees begins in March taking around 10 days for four people to complete. Then, the trees ower and are in full bloom during the beginning of May.

“It is fun, but I won’t kid you, it’s a lot of work,” Woltjer said “I have three full-time employees and many part time. I also do a lot of nancial consulting and have an investment practice.”

During harvest season, people come to the orchard to select their favorite apples. Woltjer has posted hours and also books time slots by appointment.

“Many people love coming out and bringing their kids,” Woltjer said. “There is somebody

almost every day picking. We try to do the value-added products too.”

Foothills Orchard participates in the Farm to School nutrition program, picking and sorting many apples to be whisked away to local schools.

“We were given a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture a few years ago for a commercial kitchen,” Woltjer said. “So, we make jams, apple cider, apple juice and apple butter in there. I also have an Amish lady who I hire to bake pies.”

In addition to apples, a variety of plants are grown organically both on the property and in greenhouses, including blueberries, cherries, currants, tomatoes, kiwis, plums, pears, cherries and peppers.

“People can come pick vegetables too,” Woltjer said. “We are also at the St. Cloud and Little Falls farmers markets.”

Out of the 12,000 apple trees, only about 1,500 are producing apples because the majority are young. That means big things to come for Foothills Orchard.

“Really this is my retirement dream,” Woltjer said. “I love it; it is still a job, but it’s fun. And, if you nd a job you love, then it isn’t one at all.”

Foothills Orchard from page 1B

BA35-1B-BL

Cash bonus based on 560M round baler w/ pre-cutter. Financing is subject to approval through John Deere Financial. Some restrictions apply. See dealer for details. Offers end September 30, 2023

Sundaymorningchores

In full admission, doing chores is not one of my favorite parts of living on a dairy farm. I enjoy caring for the cattle and making certain they are fed well and comfortable, but it’s hard work. We usually have help with the chores and milking, but every other Sunday morning, the chores are my job.

There’s one sliver of light on those days though; my brother-in-law comes to help.

RUMINATIONS WITH MARY MARY BARRON-TRAUT

He is my hubby’s oldest and only brother, and he is fun to listen to. The amazing thing about him is he has been coming on those Sunday mornings for 38 years, and he has only missed a handful of times — and those were mostly due to hunting.

Those mornings begin with my hubby meeting him out in the barn, and while they begin milking, I make coffee and boil water. Once it’s ready, I ll two Yeti thermal cups with coffee and add a few tablespoons of hot chocolate mix for my hubby and me. Next, I ll another cup with boiling water, add a bit of milk, and mix in chocolate syrup for my bro-in-law. The two of them are so appreciative when I bring it to them as they are milking.

At this point in the morning, I help them milk by washing the cows’ teats and moving the milking units. The two talk like they hadn’t been on the phone with one another just the night before, and it’s fun to listen to their conversation. Sometimes, it’s about machinery purchases, prices and repairs; other times, it’s about people they know in common along with a bit of gossip. Seeing the two of them work alongside one another in a natural rhythm makes my heart happy. Also, I know how good these conversations are for my hubby; because my brother-in-law knows the farm and its history, he has someone to bounce ideas off of.

Once the barn cows are bedded with straw, it’s time for me to get on with the other chores. First, it’s feeding the calves. I ll two 2-quart bottles with warm milk from the Surge bucket and hand-hold the bottles as I feed a three-day-old Jersey cross and a one-weekold Holstein who stand side-by-side in the barn. I repeat the process with four other older calves, and then ll several tin pails with milk and feed some calves that have been weaned off the bottle. I check and re ll their feed and water supply for all of the calves in the barn before I bring several pails of milk to the calves housed outside.

As the calves gleefully enjoy their morning energy drink, I check out the chicken coop. I scoop up some wood shavings and a handful of straw to enhance their

Fermentation from page 1B

Time is of the essence. Respiration is a process that plants and microbes go through in order to create energy to live and grow. At a basic level, aerobic respiration involves the capture of oxygen, consumption of sugars and release of carbon dioxide, water and heat. After plants are harvested in the eld, they continue to respire and, in waste, consume valuable dry matter. Wasted energy through respiration when exposed to the air also equates to lost resources for lactic acid bacteria, the key players in fermentation. For these reasons, it is important to limit aerobic respiration and quickly move forage into an anaerobic environment, such as a silage pack.

Lactic acid bacteria is found naturally on crop plant leaf and stem exteriors and are abun-

bedding and am delighted to nd two brown eggs waiting for me. I place them gently in a partial egg carton and put them on the dashboard of my brother-in-law’s truck before heading back to the barn. By this time, they are done milking and are in the milk-house. My bro-in-law stands at the sink washing the milking units, and I stand and listen for a while as the conversation continues.

Next, I head behind the barn to feed the cows. I run the bunk feeder turning on the elevator which conveys the corn silage via a conveyor through the center of the 90-foot-long bunk, so the cattle can feed from either side.

Once that’s complete, I go to the hayshed where our feeder calves are housed; I like to call them teenagers because they aren’t babies anymore, and they aren’t old enough to be bred yet. There are three wooden bunks there, each about 20 feet long, and into them I evenly dump six 5-gallon pails of coarsely ground corn. I’m careful here to avoid any low-hanging spider webs. Because they get their hay from a round bale in the yard, I don’t have to break any open for them, so I take a few minutes to listen to their content chomping and watch for signs of sickness.

I go back to the barn to begin the next task. I stop in the feed room and ll two more 5-gallon pails with a corn-mineral mix for the adolescent calves. I carry them the length of the barn to the lean where those calves are housed. After dumping the feed in their bunk, I throw two bales into the pen and shake out uffy golden straw for their bedding. Lastly, I lug a bale of alfalfa hay into the bunk and break it open for them.

At this point, I check the milk house and discover that my brother-in-law is ready to head home. I share a quick chat with him while he nishes the last of his hot chocolate. I thank him, as I do each time, for coming to help, and he’s on his way — the barn a bit quieter without his booming laugh echoing throughout.

The last of the chores is much easier as my husband helps me to cart wheelbarrows of silage to the barn cows. After we feed them ground corn, one 5-gallon pail to six cows, we shake out some hay, sweep down the alley, and turn out the lights.

The morning chores now complete, we head for the house where I make our breakfast, and he lls me in on the pieces of the conversation with his brother that I missed.

Growing your education

Field Day showcases strip tillage

Wright Soil and Water Conservation District, University of Minnesota Extension and Centra Sota Cooperative are planning a Soil Health Field Day from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. This field day will be hosted at Mike Young’s farm at 5430 70th St. SW, Waverly. Attendees may follow extension event signs to the field day location. This field day will be an opportunity to see strip tillage in action. Young will be harvesting sections of his corn field, so participants can see how the equipment prepares the seed bed for planting while leaving residue to protect the soil between the rows. Soil pits will demonstrate how strip tillage affects soil structure, organic matter, plant root growth and more. There will also be presentations on how to utilize soil health management from the agronomic perspective.

The event includes a complimentary dinner. Registration can be made on the event page at z.umn. edu/StripTillFieldDay or by contacting Taylor Herbert at 612-394-5229 or therbert@umn.edu.

Farm Transition and Estate Planning Webinars

The University of Minnesota Extension is presenting four webinars on introductory farm transition and estate planning. Webinars will be Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon, beginning Oct. 4. There is no cost to attendees. Attend one or attend all four.

Transferring the farm has many challenges and each situation is unique. David Bau, Nathan Hulinsky and Susanne Hinricks, extension educators in agriculture business management, will discuss several issues and ideas for farm transition and estate planning.

Attendees will receive a link to materials from each session. Participants can register at z.umn.edu/farm-transition-and-estate-planning23.

Topics for each session are as follows:

— Oct. 4 is Developing Your Farm Transition Goals and Assembling Your Team.

— Oct. 11 is All Things

Tax: Gifting, Selling and Transferring.

— Oct. 25 is Wills, Trusts, Ownership Titling; What Does it all Mean?

— Nov. 8 is Putting the Basics Together: Estate, Retirement, Healthcare and Business Transfer Planning.

dant especially in warm temperatures and humid conditions. In silage production, encouraging the preservation and growth of this bacteria post-harvest is critical as it transforms sugars into lactic acid and lowers feed pH to 4-4.2. Lowering pH quickly to lower levels also limits excessive protein-degrading heat caused by overactive bacteria; this is important in preserving forage digestibility. When the pH reaches the desired level and oxygen exposure is minimized, very little microbial action continues to take place and silage reaches a stabilized phase.

Silage-making bacteria present on plant tissue come in two camps: those that produce only lactic acid and those that produce a host of byproducts including lactic acid, acetic acid and ethanol. When sugar

is low the latter type of bacteria tend to transform lactic acid into acetic acid; this happens most often when new feed material is introduced to a pack of stable phase feed. Both acetic acid and ethanol reduce the palatability of the silage. By this, total animal dry matter intake is reduced.

Too much or not enough moisture can be the enemy. When silage is too dry, it is dif cult to create that anaerobic environment because particles cannot adequately seal off air from entering the pack. When silage is harvested too wet and has been contaminated with excess soil or manure, conditions can lead to clostridium bacteria and yeast entering the fermentation process. Clostridium will convert lactic acid into butyric acid causing silage to have higher ammonia-N levels and a putrid smell. Wet silage re-exposed to

oxygen will encourage the growth of yeasts, mold and possibly listeria which can be a major animal health concern.

Additives and inoculants may be more or less helpful depending on the type of activity they promote; this is why it is important to understand the fermentation requirements and processes. Basic best management practices can set up silage pretty well if a producer is monitoring each phase of the process. These are manifested in the harvest and post-harvest environment, exposure to microbes — good and bad, management of oxygen exposure and eventual feed-out protocol.

My little silage experiment in my basement is not so much different, and besides, there is really nothing like a good kraut-dog for dinner when the chores are nished for the day.

Drought assistance programs 4-H youth exhibit best at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair

With the extremely dry weather we have been experiencing in central Minnesota, we continue to provide Farm Service Agency programs to assist our livestock producers. All producers in Benton, Mille Lacs, Sherburne and Anoka counties can apply for the following programs if applicable to their farming operation.

2023 livestock forage losses

by Ryan Brunn, executive director for Benton and Mille Lacs counties

Producers are eligible to apply for 2023 Livestock Forage Disaster Program bene ts on small grain, native pasture, improved pasture, annual ryegrass and forage sorghum intended for grazing.

LFP provides compensation if you suffer grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately-owned or cash-leased land or re on federally-managed land.

County committees can only accept LFP applications after noti cation is received by the national of ce of qualifying drought or if a federal agency prohibits producers from grazing normal permitted livestock on federally managed lands due to qualifying re.

Losses from additional cost of transporting water to livestock

If you’ve incurred additional operating costs for transporting water to livestock due to an eligible drought, assistance may be available to you through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program.

Eligible livestock must be adult or non-adult dairy cattle, beef cattle, buffalo and beefalo as well as alpacas, deer, elk, emus, equine, goats, llamas, reindeer, horses or sheep. Additionally, the livestock must have been owned 60 calendar days prior to the beginning of the drought and be physically located in the county designated as a disaster area due to drought. Adequate livestock watering systems or facilities must have existed before the drought occurred and producers are only eligible if they do not normally transport water to the livestock.

Livestock that were or would have been in a feedlot are not eligible for transporting water. ELAP covers the additional cost of transporting water and does not cover the cost of the water itself.

You must le a notice of loss on form CCC851 the earlier of 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent to you. Additionally, the deadline to submit an application for payment for 2023 ELAP assistance is Jan. 31, 2024.

You’ll have to provide documentation to FSA that shows the method used to transport the water, the number of gallons of water transported and the number of eligible livestock to which water was transported.

For more information, producers should contact their local county FSA of ce or visit fsa.usda. gov.

23 receive purple ribbons thus far

BY ANN OLSON University of Minnesota Extension Educator

4-H youth from across Minnesota again showcased their learning in the 4-H Building at the Minnesota State Fair.

Over 140 demonstrations were delivered and over 1,900 general exhibits were on display. In a continuation of the virtual state showcase format developed in 2020, over 70 of the general exhibits were judged virtually this year.

Throughout the year, 4-H youth select project areas that re ect personal areas of interest and pursue handson learning in both self-directed and guided environments. The results of their learning are exhibited at county fairs and other showcase events across the state. A collection of the best ex-

Brad Herickhoff, Owner 320-351-4872

hibits from each fair and showcase are brought to presentations in the 4-H Building at the Minnesota State Fair.

Exhibiting project work and delivering public presentations at the state fair provides youth an opportunity to

judging

rabbit judging teams. Benton County 4-H’er Maya Rahm, of Foley, receives a purple ribbon for her Mad Cow Disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy, poster at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights. The award was the highest given in the veterinary science division for ninth grades and above.

showcase their achievements and continue learning through interactive conference judging with project experts and team experiences.

The presentations, exhibits and presence of 4-H youth from diverse communities across Min-

nesota brought renewed and welcomed energy to the 4-H Building. See the full results and photos at z.umn.edu/4h-state-fairresults.

Benton County had 117 youth participating in the following areas: 46 livestock exhibitors, 51 general exhibits (up 40% from 2022), six lama exhibitors, ve horse exhibitors, 10 dog exhibitors and seven state shoot exhibitors.

So far with state livestock, state general projects and state llama complete, Benton County 4-H’ers have brought home 23 purple ribbons, 61 blue ribbons, 23 red ribbons and 17 participation green ribbons. Continue to watch for results from state shooting sports, state horse and state dog competitions, which are completed in September.

State fair page 7B

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Stearns and Benton County 4-H participants — Henry Miller (from left), Alex Moscho, Regan Listful and Lyla Beehler — combine efforts at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights. The group earned second in the rabbit

class and fifth overall with