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11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 16
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
Additional staffing requests raise questions by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — Discussion about newly-proposed stafÀng highlighted Monday’s meetings at the Sauk Rapids Government Center. The council held a special budget meeting before the regular city council meeting July 25 and questions were brought forth by council members regarding additional stafÀng requests. One position would be an assistant to help current Public Works Director Pete Eckhoff (Streets and Parks) and Director of Utilities (Water and Sewer) Craig Nelson. Other requests include additional full-time police ofÀcers. “There are always Àres that pop up and occupy a lot of my and Craig’s time. Sometimes I don’t get to follow-up as close as I’d like as to how my employees are doing or outline what they need to do for the next day. Time is really valuable up there because if it’s just the day-to-day opera-
tions, I have no problems. But there is always something that comes up,” Eckhoff said. Because both Eckhoff and Nelson would like someone with reasonable qualiÀcations in both areas of public works and utilities. Councilman Steve Heinen inquired as to whether or not the city would be able to Ànd a candidate experience in both. Nelson thought the city would have a good possibility of Ànding someone from a smaller community who already manages both aspects of public works within their position. Although not reÁected monetarily in the preliminary budget proposal, the conversation switched to managing the additional stafÀng needed to fulÀll the demand on the city’s building ofÀcial Jason Fleming. Finance director Jack Kahlhamer said that the city is looking to train internally or contract hire a limited li-
City Council continued on pg. 2
Detours expected with city’s road improvements SAUK RAPIDS — Infrastructure improvements progress in Sauk Rapids, despite inclement weather over the last few weeks. Curb and gutter has been installed on several portions of the CSAH 3 “Up the Hill” Project on Second Street N and bituminous surfacing has begun. According to Assistant Benton County Engineer Joe MacPherson, both trafÀc lanes between Summit Ave N and Stearns Drive N will be switched over to the eastbound, south half, of the newly reconstructed portion of CSAH 3. This trafÀc switch will provide working room for
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
the contractor to install new water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, bituminous bike path and other facilities along the north half of CSAH 3. Access will be provided to each business along the corridor. Closures of Summit Avenue and Stearns Drive will also occur over the next few weeks, but the county plans to work with emergency services for minimal impact. Work on the city’s Eighth Street North project also began this week. The road will be closed from Benton Drive to Sixth Avenue North. Please plan for detour delays.
RC enthusiasts participate at fair by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
FOLEY — There are some noises which go ear to ear at the county fair. Most often those attending will hear the drone of the barn fans cooling the animals, the piercing squeals of excitement echoing from the midway and even the roar from grandstand entertainment. But one not-so-typical sound found at next week’s festivities is the bumblebee buzz of remote control (RC) cars. Full Throttle RC Raceway will host RC car racing at the Benton County Fairgrounds activity area from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, August 6. The event will showcase seasoned racers who compete in both qualifying heat rounds and feature races, as well as a stunt show. The event is aimed at entertainment and is a chance for fairgoers to learn what the sport of RC car racing is all about. “It’s a growing sport,” said Sean VanDalen, owner of Full Throttle RC Raceway which encompasses both indoor and outdoor tracks in Foley. “It Áies under the radar because it doesn’t have the media coverage of larger events.” Sean has participated in the sport for over 25 years. “It was just something I picked up as a kid. It transferred from assembling plastic models to wanting something a little more complex. Once I started racing at about 15-years-old, I was hooked,” he said. Sean began racing RC cars around the oval of the
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Sean VanDalen and his son, Seth, of Foley, are RC car racing hobbyists.
roller-rink Áoor during winter months at the Skatin’ Place in St. Cloud. Eventually the group of enthusiasts progressed to reality based on-road tracks using rolled-out carpet pieces. But as the previous race director phased out of the hobby, Sean saw a need and phased in. Soon he was buying equipment to host races and built an outdoor track for competition on his property. Full Throttle Raceway was established in 2004. In its twelfth year, the track now operates club-style and state series racing events on a monthly average. As one of only eight commercial RC raceways in Minnesota, with the nearest located in Ramsey, Full Throttle attracts hobbyists across the state and offers two
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Roy Dodds, owner of Flying Pig Pizza and Urban Moose Brewing Co., opened its doors for business July 25. “We’ve Ànally made it,” Dodds said. “Lynn, my staff and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s been a long process to get here.” Community members participating in Ladies Night Out July 21 were able to get a sneak peek of the newly renovated building and taste some of the craft beer. Select Áavors of Flying Pig Pizza were available for the crowd to try as well. In addition to the pizzas, Urban Moose Brewing Co. offers a larger menu, including things like Àlet mignon and scallops. The restaurant and brew includes a 15-barrel taproom
and bar offering 12 selections of Urban Moose Brewing Co. beer, available exclusively from the venue. While they will only serve their own craft brews, wine and cocktails will also be available. Urban Moose Brewing Co. offers roof-top seating for approximately 30 people, as well as a variety of seating options at the lower level including semi-private booths, high-tops and soft-seating for dining near a Àreplace, accommodating approximately 90 guests. The taproom will be available for private-event style dining for around 125 people. “I have a great group of staff ready to serve our guests,” Dodds said. “After all the buzz in the community during the process, we are excited to be open for them to experience all we have to offer.”
lighted outdoor off-road tracks as well as the “510” indoor track located in a leased Quonset building. “Everything I make from the track, goes right back into the hobby. I’m not making a life off of it, it’s really a labor of love,” Sean said. Most RC racing quality cars are built from a kit where assemblers not only build the car, but also add the electronics and possibly gas motor equipment. “Any kind of motorsport is expensive, however, there are low-cost racing alternatives. There are some stock/spec class kits which come with a remote, charger, battery and car ready to rock. So you can be racing at your local track and having fun for less than
$250,” Sean said. Sean’s love for RC car racing has fueled his children’s passion for the sport, too. The family travels to nationally sanctioned Remotely Operated Auto Racers (ROAR) events across the country. In fact, Sean’s son Seth, now 15, won two privateer class national championships at the age of 12 and is a multisponsored semi-pro. Seth’s best national Ànish was at this year’s ROAR Nationals where he Ànished 18th in the Truggy class. “It’s a good feeling knowing I’m able to hang with some of the top guys because I’m from rural Minnesota and there are not many known on a national level,” Seth said.
RC Racing continued on pg. 3
Mixing dairy, demos
key is always paying atten- continue doing derbies, so tion. she’ll be in the stands, cross“You can’t stop look- ing her Àngers for a good Àning around while you’re out ish. there,” Mielke said. “ You “He says he’ll quit, but Once he has a car, he be- have to focus on how to hit he never will,” Jade said. “He gins gutting it down to the the other cars and keeping loves it too much. It’s his pasdriver’s seat and the basic your car running.” sionate pastime.” frame. Jade knows Mielke will “I keep saying I’m going PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA to quit doing derbies, but then Clint Mielke has been racing cow-spotI Ànd another good car that’s ted cars at the Benton County Fair deeasy to Àx up, so I keep doing molition derbies for 10 years, mixing his it,” Mielke said. hobby of derbies with his farming proAnother thing keeping fession. him in the derbies is the thrill. “You get such an adrenaline rush out there. It’s fun to hear the crowd cheering when you smack someone,” Mielke said. Mielke has his ups and downs in derbies. One year, he took the same car to two derbies and won Àrst both times. “That was a great year and I had a lot of fun,” Mielke said,” but I’ve had bad races too. One year, right at the beginning, two cars smacked me from the front and the back. My car started on Àre and I knew the car was toast.” Jade gets nervous for Mielke when he goes into a derby, despite watching derbies before. “It’s different when it’s your husband out there. I don’t want him getting severely injured or anything,” Jade said. Mielke said the
to Benton County Fair
PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
July 28, 2016
Racing on a smaller scale
Urban Moose opened Monday Mielke to take “cow car”
In March 2016, Roy Dodds started the process of renovating the American Legion building. Over four months of construction later, he has opened the long-anticipated Urban Moose Brewing Co.
(USPS 482-240)
SAUK RAPIDS – On his parents’ dairy farm, Clint Mielke works with productive black and white Holstein cows. On the demolition derby circuit, he drives destructive black and white cars. “Any car he runs will be a cow,” said Jade, Mielke’s wife. “It’s who he is, representing his job as a dairy farmer. I hear people cheer for the cow car in the stands, which is humbling.” For the past 10 years, Mielke has been participating in demo derbies. He starts with the Benton County Fair and enters more if his car is still together. “I helped a friend one year, went with him to the derby and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Mielke said. Each year for the derbies, Case IH or Arnold’s Farm Equipment typically sponsor Mielke, covering his entry fees and helping pay for expenses, adding to his farmer persona. Mielke’s preparation for the derby starts early in the year as he Ànds the car he wants to run. “I’m always looking for something to come along,” Mielke said. “I usually get cars from Craigslist or family friends.”