Benton County Fair page 24
2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Saturday, August 12, 2023
Cell phone policy at SRRHS changes Students no longer allowed to use devices in class BY TOM FENTON STAFF WRITER
Students at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School will have to put away their cell phones during class time when school resumes Sept. 5. The Sauk Rapids-Rice Board of Education approved updated building and activities handbooks at its Aug. 7 meeting. Among the major changes is high school students and staff are no longer allowed to use cell phones during class time. High school students were previously allowed to have their cell phones out during class but now will be asked to put them away. Students can have the phones in their possession but will be asked to turn them off. They can use cell phones before and after school, during lunch and between classes. “There’s a lot of research and a lot of conversation that’s coming out in regard to the concerns that are happening with students and cell phones, and we want them to be able to concentrate and spend time with their work in the class,” said Bradley Bergstrom, superintendent of Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools. “There’s also some privacy issues that show up with cell phones.” Elementary school students are not allowed to have cell phones out at any time, while middle school students will have the same rules as the high school.
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Vol. 169, No. 19
Parking
pandemonium
Residents near fairgrounds open lawns for visitors BY HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER
Prior to stepping foot on the Benton County Fairgrounds, the scene is hectic. Hundreds of drivers scour nearby streets for a place to safely park. In response to the annual parking mania, local residents observed the tradition of temporarily opening their lawns to visitors looking to rent a spot for their cars. The practice continued this year with homeowners between Second Avenue South, 12th Street South and Searle Street Northeast (and others) PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN advertising prices for vehicles Raeann Voegeli stands with a sign advertising parking in her yard for visitors attending the Benton to stay on their properties. County Fair Aug. 5 in Sauk Rapids. She said her husband and 13-year-old child often help her with the guiding drivers onto the lot.
Parking page 4
Benton County Board adopts 5-year road plan Commissioners approve slate of projects; Schlangen votes no BY TIM HENNAGIR | STAFF WRITER
The Benton County Board of Commissioners adopted a $43 million, veyear road construction improvement plan Aug. 1. County engineer Chris Byrd said the plan primarily relies on three revenue sources. Funding for 2024-28 includes $14.6 million in sales tax, $5.2 million from county wheelage taxes, $8.4 million in con rmed federal grants and $16 million in state aid. No levy dollars are included in the plan, Byrd said. “That’s something that I’m kind of proud of,” Byrd said. “All construction in the plan involves zero use of a levy.”
Cell phones page 2
County board page 3
The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
MAP COURTESY OF BENTON COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
This map shows the 2024-28 slate of Benton County construction projects approved Aug. 1 by the Benton County commissioners. Funding for 2024-28 includes $14.6 million in sales tax, $5.2 million from county wheelage taxes, $8.4 million in confirmed federal grants and $16 million in state aid.
PUBLIC NOTICES
OBITUARIES
• Mortgage Foreclosure - pg. 17 • Summons (2) - pg. 17 & 19 • Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board Meeting, July 17 - pg. 17 • City of Rice Notice of Public Hearings (2) - pg. 17 and 19
Hayden W. Edstrom Gary W. Fuchs
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