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2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 Saturday, August 26, 2023
Same Local Coverage Since 1854.
Vol. 169, No. 15
Students, guardians invited to school open houses
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BY NATASHA BARBER | STAFF WRITER
Students and guardians enrolled in the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools system will have their rst taste of back-to-school scenarios when the Independent School District 47 hosts open houses Wednesday, Aug. 30. The event is slated just one week before all students return to buildings. Early childhood programs and the district’s kindergarten through fth grade buildings – Mississippi Heights Elementary School, Pleasantview Elementary School and Rice Elementary School – host the gatherings where students can become acquainted with lockers and classrooms from 3-7 p.m. The Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School (sixth through eighth grades) and Sauk Rapids-Rice High School (ninth through 12th) observe open house from 4-8 p.m. High school students can begin taking photos for student identi cations and the school yearbook beginning at noon and throughout open house. First day of school The day after Labor Day — Tuesday, Sept. 5 — kindergarten, sixth grade and freshman students will return to buildings for the rst day of the 2023-24 school year. Early childhood program students, dependent on class schedule, will also attend this day as will seventh and eighth grade students who are new to the district and adult basic education students. Wednesday, Sept. 6, will be the of cial return of all Storm students.
Community under the
PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER
(Above) Hayden Midas (left) and Lili Henagin carry the Rice Women of Today banner as they lead the kiddie parade Aug. 19 at Rice Family Summer Festival in Rice. The temperatures reached into the 90s Saturday, but the Rice community showed its support for the annual event.
(Left) James Dean leads a horse as part of the Gaits of Hope parade unit Aug. 19 at Rice Family Summer Festival in Rice. Gaits of Hope, a Ricebased business, provides equine assisted healing, therapy and learning to a range of clientele.
Rice festival page 3
County plans move forward for new government center Conceptual design phase ends, construction manager selection underway BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER
Twenty- ve years ago, Benton County built a new criminal justice facility. Fifteen years ago, a new highway and public works department building went up. Human services space needs are driving the county’s next big construction project. “It’s the board’s consensus it’s time to take care of space needs associated with those governmental functions,” said Monty Headley, county admin-
months with St. Cloud-based GLT Architects regarding conceptual designs. That phase is about to end. The board is scheduled to interview construction manager candidates Aug. 28. It is likely commissioners will select a rm the rst week in September, Headley said. “The board would like to see all of the functions that are in the current government center moved to a new facility across the street,” Headley said. Headley said the county PHOTO BY HANS LAMMEMAN The former Foley High School site, sitting across from the current Benton County Government Center has been working with GLT at 531 Dewey St. in Foley, is the selected location for a proposed new government facility. County Architects to visualize space commissioners are scheduled to interview a group of construction manager candidates for the building needs, a general project footproject Aug. 28. print and a building con guration. istrator. It is a historic parcel of government center at 531 DewThe location of a new, mul- nearby vacant land — the forey St., Foley. timillion dollar county govern- mer Foley High School site Commissioners met Government center ment facility is not far away. across the way from the current monthly over the past 10 page 4
The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
OBITUARIES • Sharon M. Heurung • Sr. Mary Peter Marthaler, O.S.C.
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosure (2) - pg. 13 • Sauk Rapids-Rice School Ad for Proposals - pg. 11 • Sauk Rapids-Rice Reg. Board Meeting Minutes, Aug. 7 - pg. 11
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