PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #861
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7 Second Avenue Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
“Minnesota’s Oldest Weekly Newspaper”
Vol. 161, No. 32
Sauk Rapids, Benton County, Minnesota 56379
A continuation of the Frontiersman, The Free Press, Sauk Rapids Sentinel and St. Cloud Sentinel.
(USPS 482-240)
November 18, 2015
Berg arrested for felony theft Feneis and Olson have a reason to celebrate by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Jim Feneis and Brenda Olson have much to be thankful for as Thanksgiving draws near. They have the love of their lives, share a common bond for the love of cars and survived Feneis’s near fatal heart attack. On May 31, 2015, Feneis and Olson were at a party at a good friend’s home. When they were leaving, Feneis passed out at the end of their driveway. Feneis was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital. “To lay there and watch the person you are supposed to be married to in two weeks not moving and have a tube down their throat, cords and needles coming out everywhere. It was very, very hard, and I missed him very much during that time,” Olson said. With their wedding planned for June 20, the RSVPs were coming in when Feneis suffered a near fatal heart failure. Feneis’ medical complications forced doctors to transport him to the University of Minnesota Hospital in the Twin Cities. “I truly believe they saved my life. When they were putting me in the helicopter, my kidneys were shutting down and my liver was shutting down,” Feneis said. “Some people at the St.
PHOTO BY ANNA SALDANA
Brenda’s 1966 Dodge Coronet is special to the couple, as it’s the car the Jim gave to Brenda as well as the car where Jim proposed.
Cloud Hospital had said they didn’t think I was going to make it back from the University alive.” But he did, and he credits Olson for being there for him. “I truly believe that she was sent to me by God because had she not came into my life when she did and had she not been where she was on May 31, there’s no way that I would have made it, and the doctors agree,” Feneis said. Now that the couple has a second chance at marriage,
the two recall their earliest days together and the fond memories they made. Feneis and Olson met online and emailed back and forth for six weeks before they met at Jimmy’s Pour House for burgers, during a snowstorm. “It wasn’t sparks at first, but there was something there, so we kept communicating,” Olson said. “We were both seeing other people, and it eventually dwindled down to just us.” Shortly after they first
met, Feneis invited Olson to Idle Ridge, his 20,000-squarefoot home settled on the ridge of Highway 10 in Sauk Rapids. Inside, Feneis has an antique collection of cars, vintage gas pumps, motorcycles and a 1950s diner scene. When he invited Olson to Idle Ridge, she was overwhelmed. “I wasn’t into the cars, and it was very different from what I was used to, but once
Second chance continued on pg. 6
Dedicated to education Dr. Bi D Bittman embraces b lif life iin S Sauk kR Rapids-Rice id Ri school h l district di i by ANNA SALDANA STAFF WRITER Dr. Daniel Bittman has been around education all his life, starting with his own school days in Fridley where he grew up with his parents and older sister. “I was always a good student, and I grew up in a modest family,” Dr. Bittman said. “I was the first child in my family to graduate from college. Education was really important in our family, and my parents wanted to make sure both my sister and I received a good education, so they worked hard to make that possible.” His passion for education and serving kids blossomed at a young age and has been a big part of his life since then. “I always knew I loved children. Ever since I started working, I enjoyed being with kids and probably learned as much from them as they learned from me. From a young age, I was involved in things like the Park and Recreation departments, coaching and any type of community classes I could be a part of,” Dr. Bittman said. In his career, Dr. Bittman has held a wide variety of positions in different districts across the nation, including the Clark County district in Nevada, and has seen success in each position. When Dr. Bittman came to the Sauk Rapids Rice area in April 2010, he recognized the community’s uniqueness. “Sauk Rapids-Rice is a very special place for me. My wife and I were very deliberate about where we wanted to raise our children,” Dr. Bittman said. “We appreciate central Minnesota for its people and its nurturing environment, so we’ve really enjoyed
The Benton County Sher- suspect was similar in appeariff’s Office arrested 39-year- ance to Leonard Berg. old Leonard Berg of Sauk Further investigation reRapids, Nov. 6, for vealed Berg sold felony theft after batteries similar to executing a search those taken from warrant at Berg’s Warnert Racing to residence which a local metal reresulted in investicycling center the gators finding stosame day the theft len property. was reported. BenThe sheriff’s ton County depudepartment had ties executed a received a theft search warrant at report from WarBerg’s residence nert Racing, 2178 and located several Quebecor Rd NE, items of property Leonard Berg St. Cloud on Oct. believed to have 23. Several items been stolen from had been stolen from a trailer Warnert Racing, and a generaparked outside the business tor that had been stolen from including automotive bat- the St. Cloud Salvation Army. teries, electronic items and Berg was arrested for tools. Video surveillance at felony theft and brought to the business captured images the Benton County Jail. Berg of the suspect in the theft. is currently being held in A Benton County Sheriff’s the Benton County Jail on a Lieutenant viewed the video $10,000 bail. surveillance and found the
Headley seeks support regarding economic development by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – Benton County Administrator Monty Headley addressed the Sauk Rapids City Council Nov. 9 in his second attempt to gain support for the newly organized Benton County Economic Development. The organization would be a stand-alone non-profit body which would serve Benton County border to border. Benton County has been without an Economic Development Authority since 2011. In Nov. 2014, Benton County held a community meeting to hear feedback regarding economic development. The consensus was citizens desired the county to do more to entice new businesses and additional taxpayers to Benton County. The county has committed $75,000 in 2016 to help the infant organization. Headley said this is about half the
amount the organization needs to attract a highprofile director and provide marketing and operating funds. Headley based this amount off the budget of the Morrison County Community Development which is a similar organization. Although Headley did not provide a specific amount he would like to see from Sauk Rapids in monetary support, he did say he has heard of contributions from $5,000$10,000 from cities to the Morrison County body. The organization also plans on seeking funds from townships and the private sector as well. In other council news: • Finance director Jack Kahlhammer presented the 2016 budget and capital improvement plans to the council. Kahlhammer had good news for the council and said it looks like by
Sauk Rapids council continued on pg. 2
Veterans receive thanks by NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER
SAUK RAPIDS – The community was alive with events to celebrate and give thanks to our veterans on Nov. 11. Chaplain Ken Schulte of the Sauk Rapids Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6992, along with other members, visited both Mississippi Heights
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Dr. Bittman and his wife, Julie, were deliberate on where they wanted to raise their three children – Madeline, 13, Kaytlin, 11 and Aric, 8, – and Sauk Rapids-Rice has been a good fit for the family for nearly six years. being here. We’re excited we can be a part of this community and district.” Outside of school, Dr. Bittman enjoys hiking, fishing, reading and traveling, and is always looking for opportunities to get to know people better and learn new things. Another important part of his life is spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Julie, for 18 years. They have three children – Madeline, 13, Kaytlin, 11 and Aric, 8. “My kids are involved in everything,” Dr. Bittman said. “They love music, art and a variety of sports. They enjoy
learning as well and are surrounded by great people.” In their years of marriage, Julie has been supportive of his work. Since arriving in Sauk Rapids-Rice, she has taken to being a stay-at-home mom with their kids. In the wake of Dr. Bittman’s recent superintendent of the year recognition, she feels nothing but excitement. “She was very excited,” Dr. Bittman said. “Any time people are recognized, you can’t help but think about all the people who have played such an important role. My wife has been that person for me. She’s just been so wonderful and she sacrifices so much each and every
day so I can do the work I do. She takes good care of our kids and our family and makes sure I can spend the time I need to here at Sauk Rapids-Rice. She is deserving of this award as much, if not more, than I am.” In school, Dr. Bittman focuses on equal access and opportunity, as well as bringing in new opportunities for students throughout the district.
Dr. Bittman continued on pg. 3
Elementary School and the Good Shepherd Community to honor and present certificates to a number of veterans. Schulte’s message throughout the day was to remember five words when spotting veterans within the community. Thank you for your service, Schulte said, is a simple but powerful phrase that will make every veterans’ day. The school district had events throughout their buildings. The VFW spent the day in the community and Coborn’s offered a “Red, White and Thank You” free fried chicken meal to show their gratitude. PHOTO BY NATASHA BARBER
John Heintze was recognized during the celebration at Good Shepherd Community. Heintze was stationed in Germany from 1954-56.
More photos on pg. 2