Herald Sauk Centre
NUMBER 46 • VOLUME 156
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2023 3 | WWW.STAR-PUB.COM
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Jay (from left), Donovan and Mara Kirckof share a moment April 8 at their home in St. Michael. Donovan was born in Sauk Centre with pulmonary stenosis and a rare type of chromosome duplication.
Donovan’s decade Kirckofs reflect on son’s 10-year health journey
with humor
BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER
Melrose Stages Inc. presents ‘Sister Act the Musical’ this week
Q
BY CAROL MOORMAN STAFF WRITER
uint Swedenburg loves hearing people laugh. There will be plenty of that this week when Melrose Stages, Inc., presents “Sister Act the Musical” April 13-16 at the Marit Elliott Performing Arts Center in Melrose. Swedenburg plays Curtis Jackson, who he calls the “main thug and ringleader,” depicting the seriousness of a thug with humor thrown in. “I love to hear people laugh, whether or not there is always something funny,” this experienced Sauk Centre actor said. “Sometimes you can pick people (in the audience) out, like Rox Behnen. She had a memorable laugh.” His “fling” is disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, played by Pam Rue, of Melrose. “Sister Act the Musical” is based on the hit 1992 film of the same name. It revolves around Van Cartier, who witnessed a murder, and she is placed in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure
Driving for SCHS Tractor Day fundraises for Reitsma
she won’t be found: a convent. Disguised as Sister Mary Clarence, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle of a nun and Mother Superior, played by Becky Kapsner, of Freeport. Using her unique moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Van Cartier breathes new life into the church and community but, in doing so, blows her cover. Soon, the thugs are giving chase, only to find themselves up against Van Cartier and the power of her newly found sisterhood. Locating Van Cartier and bringing her home is Curtis’ mission, with help from his thugs Joey, played by Jesse Kuechle, and TJ, played by Tom Satterlee. “My thugs are the comic relief,” Swedenburg said. “They’re behind me and chime in with background vocals.” They have run-ins with Eddie the cop, played by Brandon Wehlage and rookie cop, played by Mike Schaab.
PHOTO BY CAROL MOORMAN
Curtis Jackson, played by Quint Swedenburg (left), and TJ, played by Tom Satterlee, sing “When I Find My Baby” April 6 during a “Sister Act the Musical” practice at the Marit Elliott Performing Arts Center in Melrose. The musical is based on the hit 1992 film of the same name.
Katie Musical page 4
Ten years ago, Donovan Kirckof was a Sauk Centre newborn with a heart defect and chromosome duplication whose healthcare journey had only just begun. Now, the son of Jay and Mara Kirckof still has challenges to overcome, but he is healthy enough for normal childhood activities, and his family and everyone love his positivity and friendliness. “As hard as so many of the times were, I know we wouldn’t change any of it,” Mara said. “We wouldn’t be the family we are if we didn’t have him.” Jay and Mara married in 2008, and their family started with two daughters – Amari, now 14, and Kaimiah, now 12. Mara became pregnant with Donovan in 2012, and he was a textbook pregnancy until New Year’s Eve. Then, at 36 weeks, Mara began bleeding unexpectedly and was taken to CentraCare-Sauk Centre Hospital. An hour and a half into an induced labor, Mara began losing a lot of blood, and so the doctors ordered a cesarean section. Having had two normal births, a C-section was the last thing Mara was expecting. She remembers being scared of it happening, especially when a large needle needed to be inserted into her spine for a numbing spinal block. “When I was getting that done, they kept brushing my nerves with the needle in my back, and so I felt like I was being electrocuted,” she said. “Then, it took me a long time to go numb. You can feel movement and pressure but not pain, so I was scared I wasn’t going to be numb and they would just start.” Donovan aspirated blood and fluid during delivery and needed help breathing, and it was then the doctors discovered a problem with his heart. Mara got to hold her child for 45 minutes before a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit team from CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital took Donovan to St. Cloud.
Donovan page 2
‘As I have done for you’
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Senior Simon Marthaler (left) and junior Jacob R u e g e m e r (right) present the T-shirts and sweatshirts sold as a fundraiser for Katie Reitsma April 4 at Sauk Centre High School. Reitsma suffered a severe injury in the storm on May 12, 2022, and her recovery journey is ongoing.
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
The Rev. Greg Paffel washes parishioners’ feet during the Holy Thursday Mass April 6 at St. Paul’s Church in Sauk Centre. The Mass was the first of the church’s services for the Holy Week Triduum.
Tractor Day page 2
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Publications The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosures (4) - pg. 7 & 8 • Assumed Name - WheelSetGo - pg. 7 • Sauk Centre Township Notice to Residents - pg. 7 • Assumed Name - New Tread - pg. 7 • Melrose Township Property Assessment Notice - pg. 8 • Assumed Name - Country Acres South - pg. 7 • Assumed Name - Olde Brick House Irish Pub and • Assumed Name - Sign Design - pg. 7 Restaurant - pg. 7 • Stearns County Planning Commission Public Hearing • Assumed Name - Spoondrift Adventures - pg. 7 - pg. 7
OBITUARY Lidvina M. (Finken) Vener
$
1.50