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New Look. Same Local Coverage Since 1 8 5 4 . 11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Saturday, September 15, 2018
Hall of Fame inductee: Sports are his way of life
Vol. 164, No. 23
Pete Bergeson
BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS — Pete Bergeson, a 1979 graduate of Sauk Rapids, was a star athlete in three sports as a high school student. While his passion for athletics was fueled early in life – stemming from neighborhood games with his older brother, John, and his friends – it remains a interest today. “I have always loved sports,” Bergeson said. “As a high school student, I played football, basketball and baseball and really enjoyed it. I loved being a three-sport athlete because there were always different skills being used and having a cycle of coaches teaching you new things with each different sport.” To this day, Bergeson holds a record of four
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Pete Bergeson is one of this year’s Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Althetic Hall of Fame inductees who will be honored Sept. 29. Bergeson was a star athlete in football, basketball and baseball, earning team captain positions for all three sports during his senior year.
rushing touchdowns in one game. Bergeson’s will be inducted into the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School
“The induction is a Athletic Hall of Fame Sept. 29, alongside Leon real honor,” Bergeson Thelen (1960), Pam said. “I was hoping for it Brennan (1976) and the at some point.” During his senior late Jared Lazer (2002).
year, Bergeson was captain of all three teams he played for. “That was an experience I still treasure,” Bergeson said. “It was nice to have the respect from my teammates and coaches and know they trusted me to be their leader.” After high school, Bergeson played four years of college baseball – first at the University of Minnesota and then at St. Cloud State University. He also played in a basketball league. He spent time coaching summer little league baseball as a high school student as well. During his time as a college student, he was the baseball coach for Foley summer recreation, as well as the coach for Foley’s junior varsity baseball team.
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Remembering Storm Retired SRPD K-9 officer passes on BY ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Losing a friend is something no one wants to experience. For one Sauk Rapids Police Sergeant and his family, the pain is a reality this week. Sergeant Brent Bukowski was the handler for Storm, the former SRPD K-9, for 10 years. After Storm retired from the force in 2016, he became a part of the Bukowski family and transitioned to being a family dog. At 14 years old, he began showing discomfort and passed away Sept. 3. “He was a great companion,” Bukowski said. “Him and I bonded well, and I always enjoyed being with him.”
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Storm, retired Sauk Rapids Police Department K-9 officer, sits attentive. Storm passed away Sept. 3.
Since Storm’s passing, Bukowski has spent time reflecting on his career as Storm’s handler, as well as life after the K-9’s retirement. “Storm accomplished a lot in his time with the
department,” Bukowski said. “When Storm came home to Sauk Rapids, his career was the start of the reinstatement of the K-9 program within our department, so it was certainly meaningful to have
the partnership with him. I’m not sure how many people we apprehended while he was working, but he had a successful career.” Storm also served on the St. Cloud Police
SWAT team, had many call-outs and was responsible for taking suspects into custody. Storm’s presence touched many lives. “He showed the special bond he had with everyone in the community,” Bukowski said. “I never wanted to miss a demonstration or a visit to somewhere in Sauk Rapids because I knew he would make an impact.” After retirement, some of Storm’s behaviors remained. Any time he got into the car, he would only go in behind the driver and his protective nature persevered as well, including staying awake until Bukowski went to bed each night. However, daily life changed quickly for Storm. “The day he retired, he got a bath and he never went slept outside again,” Bukowski said. “When he was on duty, he stayed
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Public works to flush water lines SAUK RAPIDS — Residents in Sauk Rapids may experience low water pressure beginning Sept. 17 as the public works department will be flushing water lines in preparation for winter. Community members should not be alarmed and the low pressure should last for periods of less than one hour. Public works advises residents to let taps run for 10-20 minutes should water appear discolored during this time. The discoloration is not a hazard, only an aesthetic nuisance comprised of mineral deposits of manganese and iron. The flushing project should be completed within three weeks. Residents with questions should call Craig Nelson, utilities director, at 320-2585318.
PUBLIC NOTICES • Mortgage Foreclosure Schlien - pg. 7 • Benton County Planning Commission Public Hearing - pg. 5 • City of Sauk Rapids Public Hearing Notice - pg. 5 • City of Sauk Rapids Reg. Minutes, Aug. 27, 2018 - pg. 5 • City of Sauk Rapids Summary of Publication Ordinance No. 2018-778 pg. 7 • Sauk Rapids-Rice ISD Reg. Board Meeting, Aug. 20, 2018 - pg. 12