Girls basketball page 13
Don’t miss it!
BENTON AG Second section
Plus
11 2nd Ave. N., Unit 103, Sauk Rapids, Benton County, MN 56379
Same Local Coverage Since 1 8 5 4 .
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Legatt’s hobby fuels NOS business BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
RICE – Following the August 2012 permanent shut down of Verso Paper Corporation’s mill site in Sartell, Jerry Legatt was without a job. Legatt, of Rice, worked as a millwright for 37 years and had thought little about leaving the employer before retirement. Faced with no work, he looked into his metaphorical toolbox and picked out his passion for sleds and snow. The longtime snowmobile enthusiast expanded his hobby of selling snowmobile parts into a full-time enterprise. “My wife was gracious enough to let me do this rather than go out and get a real job,” said Legatt. “It worked out really well. I didn’t expect to sell what I’ve been selling.” Legatt is the owner of Jerry’s NOS Cat Parts LLC. He has accrued over 165,000 new old stock Arctic Cat snowmobile
OBITUARIES • Patricia G. Furst pg. 4
Finding the
missing part PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
Jerry Legatt works on a 1970 snowmobile clone Jan. 2 in Rice. Legatt is the owner of Jerry’s NOS Cat Parts LLC., where he buys and sells new old stock parts for Arctic Cat snowmobiles.
parts on his property and makes his business buying and selling through internet sales. It was an endeavor that began with a father-son vintage sled restoration
project. “When we got it all done with, I thought it was fun and wanted to do more,” said Legatt, who raced cross-county events before he was married. “I
bought a second sled and had trouble finding parts.” Legatt began fabricating parts for himself and soon the demand grew. He founded Arctic Restorations with friend Bill
Adams, and the two filled orders for reproduction and NOS – original, unused – parts for over 10 years before separating the two businesses in 2015. Legatt dedicated himself to strict-
Vol. 164, No. 38
ly NOS parts. “If I don’t have it, I refer them to Bill; if Bill doesn’t have it, he refers them to me,” Legatt said. Legatt’s stock includes vintage pieces that date back to the 1960s to present day items. “The older the parts, the less there are of them,” Legatt said. “They are getting used up. Finding some of the parts is getting harder and harder. As the years go up, in five-year or 10year increments, you find more.” Stocked in Legatt’s quonset shed are catalogued belts, tracks, skis, wear bars, washers and more. The warehouse mimics a parts store with each part in a specific location. Legatt works from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, filling orders and sorting through purchased stock. Some parts look brand new even though they are 45 or more years old. Others appear to have gone through a war zone. Worn parts are discarded and unidentifiable objects are stored in boxes to be sorted through
Legatt page 2
Kahl named member of the year Sportsmen’s Club gathers for meeting BY ANNA HINKEMEYER STAFF WRITER
RICE – Friends, fellowship, awards and conversation were the four aspects to the Rice Area Sportsmen’s Club meeting that took place Jan. 2 at the Old Village Hall in Rice. The meeting started with the member of the year award, which was given to treasurer Mike Kahl. The honor was voted on by all members present at the December meeting. “The award is given based on not only what the member has done in the current year, but what they have done in their entirety of their involvement in the club,” said
Jeff Popp, board member. “Mike has been involved in the club since the early 1990s and has helped out in just about every club function, from the game feed to banquets and program, planting trees and cleaning ditches among other things. He always brings a good attitude and is willing to help out whenever needed.” Kahl has served in several positions during his time with the club. “I want to thank everyone for the award,” Kahl said. “It is an honor, and I am thankful to continue serving the club wherever I can.” The club also took a moment to recognize Jim Petron, who received the legacy award at the Dec. 5 meeting. Petron, 77, is the first ever recipient of the award and was bestowed the honor for his dedication and involvement to the club since the 1960s.
PHOTO BY ANNA HINKEMEYER
Board member Jeff Popp (left) presents treasurer Mike Kahl with the Rice Area Sportsmen’s Club member of the year award Jan. 2 in Rice. Kahl has been a member since the early 1990s.
“The award really reflects who Jim is as a person,” said Jerome Kahl, president. “He works hard and is constantly advocating for our club.”
During the meet- of Trails End Taxidermy, ing, the big buck contest measured the racks. Cash also took place. Members prizes were given to the brought deer or elk antSportsmen’s club lers from the fall’s harpage 2 vest, and John Hlebaen,