by Logan Gruber
(This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Part 1 was published Jan. 8.)
August
A ceremony was held in Royalton on Aug. 2 to unveil the “Ahoy Matey” memorial ship in honor of Levi Popp, 2, of Rice, who died of accidental drowning in June. Levi loved pirates and often called others “matey.” The 25-foot-long playground pirate ship is full of swings, slides and more.
Neighborhoods across Sauk Rapids and Rice celebrated National Night Out on Aug. 4. Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck stopped by a celebration at 10th Street N.
People like Jim Hixson, Sauk Rapids, and Bruce Olson, Rice, searched The Wall That Heals for names of friends and family who died during the Vietnam War. The wall is a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which arrived at the Benton County Fair this year. Three years of planning went into getting the wall here.
On Aug. 8, a married couple from Hibbing were killed in a car accident in Sauk Rapids. The driver who hit them, a St. Cloud man, was arrested on charges of criminal vehicular operation. The adult daughter of the woman who was killed in the accident was in the back seat, and survived.
Rice Family Fun Day was held Aug. 15. The main parade in the afternoon featured many floats, one of which had children spraying the crowd with water guns. The tractor-pull was also an attraction, as was live music at night.
The Stearns-Benton SWAT Team held training exercises at 200 Eighth Ave. N. in Sauk Rapids on the afternoon of Aug. 19. The house was chosen because it will soon be demolished.
September
Nicole Wilke, Sauk Rapids, had commuted to Annandale for work for the past 15 years, but now she is the community education director for the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district. She started her position on July 1.
Two additional teachers from China arrived in Sauk Rapids-Rice at the start of the school year. Wei Liu, also known as Holly, and Huan Liu, also known as Eva, join Qian Zhang, who started in this district the previous year. All three teach Chinese culture and language to various grade levels, from kindergarten to middle school.
Roy Dodds, owner of Flying Pig Pizza, announced he had purchased the American Legion building in Sauk Rapids to put his new brewpub, Urban Moose Brewing Co., into. Flying Pig Pizza will also move into the new location. The building should be open for business in the summer of 2016.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools held open houses for the school year on Sept. 2. School began Sept. 8.
Watab Township residents felt a bit safer from summer storms after a piercing siren was installed Sept. 3 on a lot near Hwy. 10 just south of the Pine’s Edge mini-mall.
Patricia A. Anderson, Rice, died at her home on Sept. 2 surrounded by her loved ones. Anderson had been stricken with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) Many of her relatives also fought and died from the disease.
Sarah Schmidt of Sauk Rapids was named Mrs. Benton County International for 2016. This title qualifies her to compete for Mrs. Minnesota International at a competition in St. Cloud in March.
Minnesota Army National Guard veteran and Rice-area resident Shelby Hadley was honored Sept. 11 with the Veteran’s Voice Award, given to 25 former and current military personnel who are making outstanding contributions to Minnesota. Hadley volunteers with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Wounded Warrior Project.
Fifteen-year-old Madelyn Adamski started fundraising for a new boat for the Sauk Rapids Fire Department. The boat would be an airboat, not a motorboat, and would be much safer and more versatile.
October
The 2015 Homecoming Queen and King for Sauk Rapids-Rice are Patricia Cazalvilla Torres and McKinley Lain.
Charlie Swiggum, Long Prairie, is sworn in at the Sept. 28 Sauk Rapids City Council meeting as the newest police officer. Swiggum has a wife, Becky, and, at the time, a 6-month-old son, Jameson.
Officer Dan Falk received recognition at the same meeting for 20 years of dedicated service to the police department, while City Administrator Ross Olson received recognition of 15 years of service to the city.
The Rice Fire Department hosted a very successful open house featuring Smokey the Bear and volunteers from the American Red Cross signing up visitors to receive free smoke detectors.
All but three of the Sauk Rapids Fire Department’s firefighters turned out for their open house. There was lots of food and fun to be had at the event, along with historic firefighting gear.
Don Posch, a retired senior volunteer, has operated the cameras for Sauk Rapids city council meetings for 10 years now.
Alex Wegner, South St. Paul, is the third and final hire of 2015 for the Sauk Rapids police department. Wegner has multiple family members in law enforcement, including his father who is a retired sergeant with the Minnesota State Patrol.
John Dough Pizza opened its doors to let customers try the newest pizza place in Sauk Rapids, which is located in the former Pizza Hut location.
A Watab Township man, Edward J. Ringwelski, 77, died Oct. 23 from injuries sustained in an accident on Oct. 18. Ringwelski was driving his golf cart, when a pickup truck backed out of a driveway and hit him. The driver of the pickup was not injured.
November
Veterans from across the area participated in the ninth annual Veterans Parade on Nov. 8, which started at the St. Cloud Veterans’ Administration facility.
Benton County Administrator Montgomery Headley proposed creating an economic development corporation for Benton County to the Sauk Rapids City Council. This organization would be similar to the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., but focus exclusively on promoting Benton County.
Sauk Rapids-Rice Superintendent Daniel Bittman was named the Minnesota Superintendent of the Year, which qualifies him to compete for National Superintendent of the Year in February.
Manea’s Meats co-owner, Rolando Castellanos, 89, passed away peacefully on Nov. 12, surrounded by family at the St. Cloud Hospital. Castellanos was born in Cuba, settled in Connecticut until 1975 when he and his family followed his oldest daughter Alina to Sauk Rapids after her wedding to Donald Manea, a Sauk Rapids native.
The school board has been looking at possible facility upgrades to keep up with population projections for the next 10 years. The middle and high school buildings are projected to be able to absorb population growth until 2025, so upgrades are mostly concentrated on pre-K through elementary school, as well as adult basic education.
Four-hundred students from across the state will descend on Sauk Rapids-Rice for the state student council convention in April.
December
Dylan Roses, of Rice, awaits a kidney transplant. Roses has end-state renal disease, which causes his kidneys to fail. The problem was discovered in September. In December, a kidney was still being sought, as was financial help for the $30,000 operation.
Al and Kathy Schlueter’s garage in Sauk Rapids turns into the North Pole this time of year, as they and family and friends stuff Christmas stockings with goodies for children and people in need in memory of their nephew, Aaron Herman of Rice who died unexpectedly almost 15 years ago.
Family Fun Day draws runners, donations and parade watchers to Sauk Rapids. Activities include the Trots for Tots 5K, the Toys for Tots drive at the fire station, and the parade at night.
Lavern Justin has been known simply as “Grandma” during her 18 years of volunteer work at the Pleasantview Kidstop. She received high praise from employees there and the children in her care, and she plans to stay as long as she can.
Sauk Rapids Police Officers Dave Rosenkrans and Eric Norsten were publicly honored for their 15 years of service to the city at the Dec. 14 city council meeting.