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2803 Clearwater Rd. • St. Cloud, MN
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Herald Sauk Centre
THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2023
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Ambulance arrangements City approves ALS transfer agreement with CentraCare BY BEN SONNEK STAFF WRITER
The city of Sauk Centre has approved an ambulance agreement with CentraCare, affecting who responds to an Advanced Life Support transfer, although it is not anticipated to change the speed and care with which these transfers are already conducted. During the Sauk Centre City Council’s June 21 meeting at Sauk Centre City Hall, City Administrator Vicki Willer presented the agreement with CentraCare regarding ALS transfers. An ALS transfer has the ability to administer certain medications, where a Basic Life Support transfer does not. “In the past … (CentraCare) has a nurse in the ambulance, and then we pay the hospital for that service,” Willer said. “Because of their staffing issues and liability, they are being advised by their legal team to discontinue that practice … (effective) July 1.” In place of that practice, a new policy was developed in consultation with CentraCare and the cities of Sauk Centre and Melrose. Without a nurse on board, the city ambulances would be without the necessary individual with an ALS license, but the policy outlines how CentraCare could deploy its CentraCare Service or Mayo Clinic ambulance until city ambulance service members can obtain ALS licenses. Starting July 1, whenever a CentraCare doctor determines a patient requires an ALS transfer, they will request the deployment of an ambulance from CentraCare Emergency Medical Services though the Allina Communications dispatch, rather than requesting a transfer via the Sauk Centre Ambulance Service.
S N I O J I KOW S K
SCPD
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
Austin Kowski readies a squad car at the Sauk Centre Police Department June 16 in Sauk Centre. Kowski has been working for the SCPD since June 7.
City council page 4
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BY BEN SONNEK | STAFF WRITER
he Sauk Centre Police Department’s newest officer, Austin Kowski, has spent most of his life living in, participating in and being supported by the Sauk Centre community, and as an officer, he is ready to return the favor. “I’ve always loved the community here,” Kowski said. “Once (Sergeant Joe Jensen) brought the opportunity, saying ‘We’re going to have a spot open,’ I wanted to jump on that … . The community has given me so much with sports, always being supportive; I don’t think I could think of everyone and thank everyone in person,
but I do thank everyone … and now I can give back and be there for people.” Growing up in Sauk Centre, Kowski was always interested in becoming either a teacher or a police officer. “Once I got into seventh and eighth grade, that’s when it started to click,” Kowski said. “I started getting myself involved with law enforcement-type things, just to get my foot in the door, see the real aspect of law enforcement. Obviously, what you see on TV isn’t always what you get in the real world.” Those experiences solidified Kows-
Sauk Centre native looks forward to supporting community
ki’s desire to go into law enforcement. Kowski is grateful for the support of his parents as he set his career path. Of course, he also witnessed the anti-police sentiment, particularly from the Minneapolis area, during 2020, but knowing his own character and reasons for wanting to assist the public as an officer kept him on track. “I’ve never let that really affect me,” Kowski said. “It was obviously eye-opening … but staying within myself and knowing I’m doing this for the right reasons was the best thing just to keep me mentally there.”
Kowski page 3
Amazing
avenue art
PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
After breakfast, Tour of Minnesota cyclists prepare to hit the trail June 23 at the Stearns County Fairgrounds in Sauk Centre. The cyclists arrived in Sauk Centre June 22 and pitched their tents at the fairgrounds overnight.
A family of cyclists Bike tour through Minnesota begins and ends in Albany BY HERMAN LENSING | STAFF WRITER
For most of last week, there was a visible contingent of bikers in the area. The 2023 Tour of Minnesota bike tour began June 17 at Albany Area Schools. Tents covered the ball fields near the school parking lots. Throughout the late afternoon and early evening, people could be seen pitching tents, visiting and greeting each other.
Cyclists page 3
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Chalk in Sauk page 2 PHOTO BY BEN SONNEK
Nestor Mendoza from Sacramento, California, shows off his 3D octopus chalk art June 24 in Sauk Centre. This was the second year for the Chalk in Sauk celebration.
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosures (4) - pgs. 6 & 7 • Notice of Application for a Livestock Feedlot - pg. 7 • City of Sauk Centre Summary Financial Statement - pg. 8 • City of West Union Notice of Environmental Assessment - pg. 8
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