PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 13
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
Sauk Rapids-Rice fills football vacancy
Klaphake hired isthing someI’ve always to lead Storm been very
(USPS 482-240)
July 7, 2016
Fleigle collects miracles Survives near-death accident
“It was so quick going from seeing him with tubes all over to him smiling, laughing and then, two days after that, seeing him walking. It’s truly incredible.” — Trelfa
comfortable with. I knew at that age SAUK RAPIDS — The I wanted coach Sauk Rapids-Rice District to by ANNA SALDANA handed the reigns of the high a sport of Phillip Klaphake STAFF WRITER school football team over to some sort.” Phillip Klaphake Tuesday. As he grew older, Klaphake SAUK RAPIDS - Danny Klaphake was hired to fill the said football became his passion, especially after playing Fleigle would “rather risk it vacant head coach position. all than play it safe,” accord“They’re going to get a for SCSU. In high school, Klaphake ing to his Instagram profile lot of energy from me. I’m going to work my tail off to give was a three-sport athlete play- and he may have had the last them the best opportunities ing football, basketball and of many risky experiences if it weren’t for several wellto be successful,” Klaphake baseball. He red-shirted his first placed miracles. said. The Saint Cloud State year at SCSU and learned Fleigle, 16, and five of University alumni will also from watching two senior his friends were on the Old Klaphake Sartell Bridge June 15 at 9 be the district’s middle school quarterbacks. PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA activities director and high gained experience from the p.m., looking for something Madison DeMarais and Abby Trelfa saved Danny Fleigle’s life on the Old Sartell Bridge the school recreation coordinator. sidelines. to do, when Fleigle wanted to night of June 15. Now, they get to spend more time with him as he’s out of the hospital. “It was hard not to play climb to the top. Losing his A 2009 graduate of Princeton High School, Klaphake that first year,” Klaphake said, balance, he was electrocuted to prevent brain injuries. He gle sustained. discharged from HCMC and graduated from SCSU in 2013 “but it was really good to be after grabbing a wire to break remained in the coma for five “God really played a transported back to the St. with a degree in health and able watch them play and get his fall. He then fell 30 feet days with his parents praying role. I think a lot of things Cloud Hospital for physical physical education. He went used to the college game. It to the bridge deck, where at his bedside. came together to get Danny therapy. on to get his master’s in edu- was a great learning experihis heart stopped and friends The medical team woke to where he is. This could “With everything that’s cational administration and ence. Then, when I got to came to his aid. The fi rst mirFleigle up from his coma have been a totally different happened to him, I’m play, it was really fun to play leadership. acle. June 21. His breathing tube outcome,” said Dr. Kiragu. shocked and excited he’s with great players on a wellAt SCSU, Klaphake Abby Trelfa and Madi- was removed and he began “A lot of people who have doing well enough to come played quarterback and was coached team.” just one of those things – an back to St. Cloud in less than Klaphake will immediate- son DeMarais called 911 and talking. a four-year starter, three-year Another miracle came electrocution or the 30 foot two weeks,” said Jerad Schlicaptain. He led them to the ly focus his efforts by creating began performing cardiopulnational tournament in three a positive environment for the monary resuscitation (CPR). when Dr. Andrew Kiragu, fall or a bad traumatic brain chting, a friend with him the kids to play in which he hopes They studied CPR in health medical director of the pe- injury (TBI) – usually die. night of the accident. “God of his seasons under center. The new head coach holds makes kids want to be a part class in school, which helped diatric intensive care unit at To have all of them and still knows it’s not Danny’s time them save Fleigle’s life. the SCSU career records for of Storm football. HCMC, revealed there was be here talking with us is a yet and He’s been with us “We want to have a posipassing yards (11,261), total “It was all a blur. I knew no brain damage. miracle in itself.” and is still here helping evyards (13,776) and wins by a tive impact on the kids. I want we had to save his life,” TrelHowever, Fleigle’s shortAs Fleigle is told about eryone, especially Danny, to quarterback (36). He was the to create a meaningful expe- fa said. “I think the moment I term memory was affected. his accident and the first days get through this.” third quarterback in NCAA rience where these kids are put my head to his chest and For the first two days he was of his recovery, he recognizes Two and a half weeks Division II history to achieve growing as better individuals realized he wasn’t breathing awake, he thought he was 14 there are lessons to be learned after the accident, Fleigle remore than 10,000 passing academically, socially and was when it hit me he might and in eighth grade. and it’s a miracle to be alive. turned home July 2, the final yards and 2,000 rushing yards. athletically,” Klaphake said. not make it. I worked hard to “He was very concerned “God must’ve had a role of several miracles. Klaphake spent the last “I think creating an environ- do everything I could.” about a lot of things – walk- in this, because it’s a huge “We are incredibly hapyear as the defensive back ment like that wins football When the Sartell rescue ing, running and even thought deal I’m alive and recovering py, but I still can’t believe coach at Gustavus Adolphus games.” he’s home this soon. It’s inKlaphake is excited for team arrived, Fleigle still he lost one of his legs,” this fast,” Fleigle said. College in St. Peter. He was wasn’t breathing, so they said Fleigle’s mom, Shelly. One thing that hasn’t credible and God truly grantpreviously a graduate assis- his Sauk Rapids players to run administered three electric “There was one day, shortly changed is Fleigle’s personed us a miracle,” Shelly said. tant at SCSU for a year and onto the field for the first time shocks to restart his heart beafter he woke up, where we ality. “We are nervous though bea half, where he coached the under his leadership. “I still have to be adven- cause he wants to do every“It’s hard for me not to re- fore transporting him to the were leaving his room and wide receivers before being flect on my high school play- St. Cloud Hospital. He was he asked if we were going to turous,” Fleigle said. “I will thing he used to.” hired by Gustavus. Dean agrees wholeheartKlaphake was excited ing days and remember how quickly flown to the Henne- plan his funeral. Of course be staying away from bridges though.” edly. when he was notified that he fun Friday night was in front pin County Medical Center we said no.” Since then, Fleigle has Trelfa and DeMarais “I’m totally grateful to was being hired for the Storm. of the hometown crowd,” (HCMC) with an injury to his “It was good to talk with Klaphake said. “I’m excited scalp, a concussion, a broken continued to improve. He don’t believe Fleigle will God the Father and our Lord Luke [Lutterman, athletic di- to pass on what I have learned rib, a cracked thoracic verte- was up and walking June 27, change. They quoted the truth Jesus Christ,” he said. “It rector for SRRHS], to get a coaching and playing in high bra, an injury to his airway another miracle. behind his Instagram profile. could have been many diffeel for the school and get to school, Gustavus and SCSU.” and lung and a contusion to “It was so quick going “I think he’s learned to ferent variations of bad – he Currently Klaphake and his heart. know how the program has from seeing him with tubes be safer and he knows it’s a could have been dead, parahis wife Allie reside in St. Pebeen,” Klaphake said. “We got the call and I was all over to him smiling, miracle to be alive,” DeMa- lyzed, brain damaged – but Coaching has been on ter, but are looking forward to scared to death. I thought he laughing and then, two days rais said. “I don’t think this he made a remarkable recovKlaphake’s mind since the moving and becoming mem- was going to die, so I prayed after that, seeing him walk- will stop him from being ery. It’s truly been a miracle fourth grade. His father, who bers of the Sauk Rapids-Rice to the Lord right away,” said ing. It’s truly incredible,” risky. It’s just who he is, but and we will be forever incoached him in youth bas- community. Fleigle’s father, Dean. Trelfa said. we will be stern on saying no debted to God and Jesus for “We both went to SCSU ketball programs, gave him a At HCMC, Fleigle was Dr. Kiragu recognizes all to bridges and power lines.” giving him a second chance.” football playbook for Christ- and have family in the area, placed into a medically in- of these as miracles and has Fleigle made the next so we know Sauk Rapidsmas. duced coma and the doctors never seen a patient recover step in his remarkable recov“It got me addicted,” said Rice is great,” Klaphake said. cooled his body temperature as fast from the injuries Fleiery June 29, when he was Klaphake. “I come from a “We want to be invested in the family of teachers and educa- community and be a part of it tors, so teaching and coaching as soon as possible.” by JOHN MILLER STAFF WRITER
City continues growth upswing
Rescuing reading retention
Book Mobile hopes to prevent “Summer Slide” by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE — If you’re old enough to remember the board game Chutes and Ladders, you’ll know that slides aren’t always a fun — sometimes they send you backward. One group of Independent PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER School District No. 47 staff Many improvements are being made in Sauk Rapids. Crews is trying to prevent a backdemolished this building near the railroad tracks May 6. wards slide with the creation by ANNA SALDANA Schultz, Sauk Rapids Com- of the Storm Roving Readers STAFF WRITER munity Development Direc- Rice Book Mobile. The book tor. “With the investments mobile is a van filled with SAUK RAPIDS — Sauk Sauk Rapids has made in its elementary-aged children’s books which travels around Rapids is seeing a lot of infrastructure in the past 10 the neighborhoods of Rice change lately – from the “3 years or so – the government each Wednesday. In its inauUp the Hill” road construc- center, public works building, gural year, it has one goal— PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER tion project to businesses ren- water tower, water treatment get books into the hands of Rice Elementary teachers Tina Douvier (left) and Nancy Davis (right) volunteered their time ovating buildings throughout plant, bridge, Benton Drive, young people. to work the Storm Roving Readers Rice Book Mobile around the Rice community June 29. downtown. Second Street, Golden Spike The “Summer Slide” is a Douvier was instrumental in getting the program started. With all this change, Road and others – the city is tendency for students to lose it’s easy to wonder what the well-positioned to continue achievement gains made dur- more than 80 percent of chil- to books, learning resources summer months growth is like for the city. Community Development ing the previous school year. dren lose reading skills over and ongoing enrichment opRoving Readers “I think the city is in a According to the Reading is the course of the summer. portunities. Students who continued on pg. 2 continued on pg. 3 Fundamental (RIF) program, This is due to a lack of access lose reading ability over these very good spot,” said Todd