PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
Cyclones: page 8
New Look. Same Local Coverage since 1854. Vol. 163, No. 16
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Kerestes receives full military honors Holdingford sailor laid to rest after nearly 76 years BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
HOLDINGFORD — With temperatures reaching over 80 degrees Saturday, the day was a hot in central Minnesota, but it didn’t stop the local communities from coming out to support and celebrate the life and homecoming of U.S. Navy Fireman First Class Elmer T. Kerestes. After being killed in action nearly 76 years ago during the bombings of Pearl Harbor, Kerestes was brought to his Ànal resting place in the northeast corner of Highland Cemetery in Holdingford. “Wasn’t it wonderful?” said Kerestes’s niece, Jan Klug, of the ceremony. Klug had spent her days wondering of her Uncle Elmer. When the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identiÀed the remains of the 22-year-old sailor in March, she knew it would bring closure for herself and all of Kerestes’ relatives. Kerestes, the son of Thomas and Anna Kerestes, was aboard the USS Oklahoma when Japanese torpedoes destroyed the ship Dec. 7, 1941. Over 400 shipmates lost their lives while serving alongside Kerestes on the Oklahoma that day. Following a procession where hundreds gathered along the roadsides between Melrose and Holdingford, Kerestes was buried with full military honors by the U.S. Navy and Minnesota Army National Guard. Over a handful of legions and VFWs participated in the event. Family and community members gathered beneath the tall oaks to pay their respects to the local man who
gave his life so many years ago. “It was the least we could do,” said relative Bob Kerestes, of Rice. The ceremony, which was ofÀciated by Pastor Bobbi Bell of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Albany, included music and a poem “Bringing Uncle Elmer Home” written by Jan Klug and read by Dawn Christman. Community
members were welcomed to the Holdingford American Legion following the service.
Kerestes photos: page 2 PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER
U.S. Naval Captain Dan Pionk hands the Áag, which draped Kerestes’s casket, to Jan Klug, of Albany. Klug is the fallen sailor’s niece.
PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER
Members of the U.S. Navy Operational Support Center, of Minneapolis, carry Navy Fireman First Class Elmer T. Kerestes to his Ànal resting place July 29 at Highland Cemetery in Holdingford.
In full bloom
Meet the ambassadors:
Bell believes in advocacy BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
SAUK RAPIDS — Maddy Bell wants to serve her community — now and in the future. The Sauk Rapids-Rice High School senior was chosen as a Sauk Rapids Community Ambassador last June alongside Beth Kobluk and Brooklyn Harren. But underneath the glitz and glamour that comes with a sash and crown is a young mind determined to make a difference. “I have a bunch of activities that I’m involved in, but I’m also really passionate about the environment and really into politics, too,” Bell said. “When I get into college, I want to major in environmental studies and political science.” Bell, the daughter of Ralph and Allison Bell, of St. Cloud, said after earning her degrees she hopes to manage a parks and recreation department, practice environmental law or even become a senator. “I have some big dreams,” she said with a smile. “Ever since I was in middle school, I really started getting into that stuff. I enjoy reading what’s going on in the world. I
think it is important, as citizens, that we know about it, get involved and do what we can to help. It’s exciting to see change in our country.” Although the ambassador has a passion for policy, Bell keeps busy year-round with her many activities. She is employed at AirMaxx Trampoline Park, is a member of DECA and Link Crew, enrolled in advanced placement coursework and volunteers at her grandfather’s church. Bell earned her black belt in karate by age 11 and also participates on the Storm dance team. “I think karate helped me prepare for dance,” said Bell, who had no prior dance training before auditions in eighth grade. “There are some of the same elements such as Áexibility and strength.” Bell will be one of a handful of seniors on this year’s dance team and much of her time is dedicated to the sport. “We are one of the few sports that competes for three seasons because we practice summer, fall and winter. Even in the spring, many dancers do studio dance, too. So there is not really a lot
Jean and Kirk Kedrowski have multiple gardens at their property in Sauk Rapids.
Kedrowskis have yard full of gardens
The cactus and Russian sage garden located at the end of the right side of their driveway is just the start of their yard full of gardens. “We moved here 21 years ago and at that time, there was nothing in the yard,” Jean said. “We didn’t even have the trees in the front yard. I didn’t like it, but I also saw the BY ANNA SALDANA potential and it was nice to start with STAFF WRITER a clean slate.” Today, a row of trees separates SAUK RAPIDS – One thing their yard from the road and from you don’t usually see in Minnesota neighbors. In the back yard, a fence lines the edge of their property with is a cactus. But when one drives by Jean and gardens all the way up to the edge. Kirk Kedrowski’s home at 215 18th St NW, a cactus is there greeting you from the end of the driveway. Kedrowski: page 2
PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Sauk Rapids Community Ambassador Maddy Bell enjoys learning about the environment and politics.
of time off. It’s a very demanding sport,” Bell said. In the winter competition season, the dancers wake early in time for 6 a.m. practices. Then they attend their classes and return for an afternoon practice that dismisses at 6 p.m. But the demands of dance equal more than time — it is physically demanding as well. “We do our dance full-out over and over again and we drill certain parts. It gets to be a lot. You’re very p r o n e to injury in dance because it’s not normal to be doing a lot of things that we
Bell: page 3