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“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper” Vol. 162, No. 41
Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Benefit set for
Sauk Rapids man involved in multi-car crash
Bluhm BY CORI HILSGEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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AUK RAPIDS – Sixty-three-yearold Dave Bluhm didn’t plan to end his 17-year career as a public utilities maintenance worker for the city of Sauk Rapids the way he will in April. But due to his ill-health he will retiring early. Dave – a husband to Jan, father to six adult children and grandfather to four — was diagnosed with renal cancer in 2013. At that time, his right kidney, along with a cancerous tumor were removed. Follow-up medical appointments indicated he was cancer-free. That is, until September 2016 when he was informed his cancer had returned. Cancerous cells have been found in Dave’s adrenal glands, lymph nodes and blood, diagnosing him with stage 4 metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Because of the cancer’s progression, surgery is not an option. There is no cure, yet treatment is focused on alleviating symptoms and slowing cancer development.
NEW LONDON — A New London woman was injured when involved in a broadside crash Sunday evening. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Beverly Tauer, 50, of New London, was traveling eastbound on Highway 23 in New London Township Jan. 29 shortly before 6:30 p.m. Tauer made a left turn in front of a semi driven by Scott Schauer, 45, of Sauk Rapids, causing a broadside crash. A second crash occurred when Tauer’s vehicle struck the vehicle of 26-year-old Jacob Ternes of Marshall, which was stopped at the intersection at Highway 9. Tauer suffered non-lifethreatening injuries. No injuries were reported by Schauer and Ternes.
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Dave and Jan Bluhm celebrate at a family wedding. A beneÀt for Dave Bluhm, who has been diagnosed with cancer, will be held from 2-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at the Sauk Rapids VFW Post No. 6992.
A beneÀt will be held in his name Saturday, Feb. 11 from 2-8 p.m. at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6992, 901 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. A pasta dinner will be served at the event from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Proceeds will help the family with burdening medical bills and expenses. “It’s been a journey and a struggle,” said Theresa Bluhm, Dave’s daughter. “Did I ever think I’d be doing this for this man? Absolutely not. Dad’s our rock. This man has been our foundation, teacher and mentor. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for us. I want him to be able to enjoy the time, so he can make memories with his family. I want to be able to give back to him what he’s done for everyone else.” Dave, who has lived in Sauk Rapids his entire life, did not respond well to his Àrst trial of oral chemotherapy. But the family has learned how important it is to advocate for their own health care so medical personnel understand side effects and symptoms a patient is experiencing and can try other options. Therefore, he is now receiving immunotherapy. According to the American Cancer Society,
immunotherapy is treatment that uses a person’s body’s own immune system to help Àght the disease. This can be done by stimulating the immune system to work harder and smarter or by injecting man-made antibodies to help Àght the malignancy. Dave’s hobbies include racing, camping, shopping for antiques and more. This fall, Dave and Jan visited the Antique Archaeology in Nashville, Tenn. The store’s owner Mike Wolfe appears on “American Pickers” with co-star Frank Fritz. “American Pickers” is a History Channel television show, where Wolfe and Fritz roam the country searching for rare antiques and collectables. The Bluhms had previously met Wolfe at his home base store in LeClaire, Iowa. With a mechanic background and a love for all-things-vintage, Dave has been restoring a 1986 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. The car is a red T-top with pinstripes and has a black interior. “I Àxed so many cars in my life, this was the right one to buy,” Dave said.
Bluhm: page 2
Boy
WATAB TOWNSHIP — An Isanti man was arrested in Watab Township Jan. 26 after a tip from a local resident. Brandon Opatz, 28, was arrested after deputies made contact with him on 94 1/2 Street NE, Rice. Opatz had been wanted in Isanti County for burglary. He was transported to the Benton County Jail and held for the Isanti’s Sheriff’s ofÀce. The Benton County Sheriff’s OfÀce received a call from an alert citizen at 7:30 a.m. that morning, reporting a suspicious white pickup had been parked on the road, idling with a person inside, for roughly 90 minutes. A registration check informed the deputies of the outstanding warrant.
School board approves grant BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
Scouts
Boy Scout Week February 5-11, 2017 Page 7B
Citizen tip leads to arrest
Sports Page 5B & 6B
SAUK RAPIDS – The Sauk Rapids-Rice School Board approved a $624,000 grant Jan. 30 during their business meeting. The Minnesota Educators of Gifted and Talented Grant spreads across three years, providing additional support and training. “We continue to look for opportunities to enhance the education we provide to our students,” said Dr. Daniel Bittman, superintendent of the SRR School District. “This grant is just one more way for us to do that.” In other school board news: • The board approved a reÀned mission and vision statement for
School board: page 3
“Mom is my coach”
Zeilenga earns Triple “A” Award BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Skylar Zeilenga says she’s just like her mom. “She’s a really good inÁuence,” Skylar said. “It’s kind of a cute coincidence that I’m involved in a lot of the same things she was when she was in high school. I think that’s why I see her as my coach and my mentor. She’s always there for me and I think I remind her of herself when she was my age.” Zeilenga is involved in concert band, wind ensemble, pit orchestra, marching band, Minnesota Honor Society (MHS), LINK and takes several Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses. She also ran cross-country this fall and volunteers through MHS. She has also been a section leader for marching band and an ofÀcer for concert band, adding additional obligations to her already busy
schedule. All of these commitments come on top of being an “A” student. “Academics have come easy for me, so I try not to take that for granted,” Zeilenga said. “I don’t usually over-prepare for academic things, but I feel inclined to stay on top of it. Failing for me is like getting a ‘C’, something I’ve never done.” Her dedication to each of her activities is what earned her the Triple “A” Award. Triple “A” is awarded to two seniors in each high school who show well-rounded dedication to academics, arts and athletics. In order to be eligible students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in Minnesota State High School League sponsored activities and comply with the MSHSL code of conduct. “The award is never really something I’ve worked toward, but it really does sum up my high school career,” Zeilenga said. “I have pretty strong dedication in each of the three areas.” Between all of her obligations, she
makes sure to spend time with family. “They are important to me,” Zeilenga said. “They are the ones always there for me no matter what I’m going through. And I always turn to my mom when I need something.” Time with family balances Zeilenga’s busy schedule. “Because my mom’s a teacher, all of our schedules are pretty connected. We all get home around the same time, relax and make dinner,” Zeilenga said. “Then we will do homework, mom included, after dinner. Our meal gives us all a break, something I always need, versus going from school to more school.” As Zeilenga goes through the Ànal stages of high school and prepares for college, she knows her mom will be there for her through it all. “Mom has always told me to push myself as much as you can and work hard for what you want,” Zeilenga said. “That’s the mentality I’ve always had, and that’s why she’s my coach.”
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Skylar Zeilenga was recently awarded the Triple “A” Award for her dedication to academics, arts and athletics.