Look what’s inside!
Same Local Coverage Since 1854. | 2 Second Ave. S., Suite 135, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Vol. 169, No. 23
Gearing up for green and gold SRR School District to celebrate homecoming week BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
Supporters of Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools will be donning green and gold next week as the district celebrates homecoming week Monday, Sept. 11 through Saturday Sept. 16. Festivities kick off Monday with coronation of the homecoming king and queen. Candidates and the rest of the court were announced Sept. 8 after this issue of the Sauk Rapids Herald went to press. Visit www.saukrapidsherald. com or the paper’s social media accounts for more information on who could be the next king or queen.
Homecoming page 3
First inday the bOOKS
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Kindergarten students from Emily Ringsmuth’s class — Margaretta Brown (front, from left), Blakely Klaphake and Averie Neil; (back, from left) Kensey Elness, Charlie Klaphake, Easton Hoelscher and Henry Rood — hold books inside the Mississippi Heights Elementary School media center Sept. 6 in Sauk Rapids. Two hundred ninety-eight kindergarteners make up the class of 2036, and 4,390 students (kindergarten through 12th grade) were enrolled at Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools as of the school year’s start.
Proper tree treatment requires proactive approach 2 types of boring insects pose biggest threat
with your tree care,” Paggen said. “Waiting creates challenges when we do have to treat a tree, and especially when emerald ash (borer) and two-line chestnut borers make BY TIM HENNAGIR STAFF WRITER an appearance.” The Minnesota Department Trees are an important invest- of Agriculture and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ment. They require proper and recommend protecting trees when continuous care. One way homeowners can en- emerald ash borer populations sure trees stay healthy is by hiring are abundant enough in an area to cause signi cant injury in the next a certi ed arborist, especially if trees are threatened by insect pests year or two. “The emerald ash borer has or disease. Professional and trained arbor- been found in Stearns County,” Paggen said. “It’s going to spread. ists know how to properly maintain trees, especially during times There’s not much a homeowner can do other than treat trees. It’s of drought. pretty much going to wipe out evMike Paggen, owner of Midwest Tree Experts in Rice, is a cer- ery other ash tree in a population. ti ed arborist with the Internation- Benton County is not under a quarantine right now, but it’s right on al Society of Arboriculture and a member of the Tree Care Industry the corner.” Association. Trees page 8 “You need to be proactive
The newspaper of today is the history of tomorrow.
PHOTO BY TIM HENNAGIR
Mike Paggen, owner of Midwest Tree Experts in Rice, inspects the leaves of a black ash tree Aug. 28 at a residence in St. Joseph. Stearns County is one of 42 counties in the state where the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has confirmed infestations of emerald ash borer.
PUBLIC NOTICES
OBITUARIES
• Minnesota LLC Notice - Braggin Rights Taxidermy L.L.C. - pg. 11 • Benton County Board of Commissioners Minutes, Aug. 15 - pg. 11 • Benton County Board of Adjustment Public Hearing - pg. 11
Carol R. Honebrink Nicolas S. Roering Grace Ann B. Wolter
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