Firefi ghters

“We are all really excited to get rid of those yellow helmets,” Patton said as she thanked the department and council and talked about the delayed training and testing to get to this day.

Clinton added to Patton’s comments, with Wippler later agreeing with his fellow fi refi ghters.

Mayor Brian Skroch thanked the three for their continuation with the city.

“Hopefully we can see you for lots and lots of years,” he said.

Sheet Metal & Heating, Inc.

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Residential/Commercial • Sales • Service • Installation • Heating & Air Conditioning Call for Free Estimate!

7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. March 27th

8:00 a.m. to Noon Large variety of items from cleaning out our shed!

Directions: Hwy. 23 East of St. Cloud to Junction Hwy. 95. Right 2 miles to Junction Cty. Rd. 25. Left 1 mile. FOLLOW SIGNS 320-493-6615

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The next meeting is 6 p.m. April 5 at Rice City Hall.

In other council news: – Benton County is proceeding with its plans to overlay County Road 55. The county and city are awaiting information on a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grant, so a proposed trail to Bend in the River Regional Park is on hold. The trail is suggested to be constructed separate from the roadway and shoulder. – Approved an increase to the Rice Fire Relief Association pension plan. Firefi ghters will receive $2,000 per year of active service when they leave the department, dependent on their vested service. – Accepted donations from American Legion Post 473 ($1,000) and Rice Area Sportsmen’s Club ($4,500) for improvements to the Old Village Hall. – Clerk Julie Fandel informed the council that the Rice postmaster does not have the authority to make a decision or speak on behalf of the United States Postal Service regarding the deteriorated sidewalk. The sidewalk is in disrepair, and, according to a city ordinance, the property owner is responsible for sidewalk maintenance.

The council moved to have city attorney Troy Gilchrist draft and send a letter to USPS about the matter.

Saturday, March 27 • 9am-2pm Frosty’s Bar in Pierz, MN.

There will be 12 vendors and crafters available

R11-1VM-BL PHOTOS BY NATASHA BARBER Boy Scout Trent Hinkemeyer (center) presents a wooden wall-hanging to Rice City Council members – Michelle Keller (from left), Paula Kampa, Mayor Brian Skroch, Chris Scheel and Emily Walters – at the March 15 meeting in Rice. Hinkemeyer and Troop 473 members earned their woodworking merit badges by participating in the project.

Boy Scout Parker Dietman gifts a blue-line fl ag, which supports and honors law enforcement, wall hanging to Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann March 15. The blue line shows support of law enforcement, and Boys Scouts Troop 473 made the items with the help from Tim Studanski. Layton Lenarz presents Rice Fire Chief Scott Janski with a red-line fl ag plaque March 15 in Rice. Lenarz wrote the meaning of the red-line fl ag, which shows support and solidarity amongst fi re personnel and honors injured and fallen fi refi ghters, on the back of the piece.

BY NATASHA BARBER STAFF WRITER

RICE – Area Boy Scouts had their city in mind when adapting to the coronavirus pandemic. After months of limited activity, Troop 473 Boy Scouts – Parker Dietman, Trent Hinkemeyer and Layton Lenarz – worked with adults to create wooden placards for the city of Rice and its fi re and police departments They presented the items at the March 15 Rice City Council meeting.

The Scouts worked with Tim Studanski on their woodworking merit badge in February. Studanski donated his time and wood shop to the Scouts.

The three Scouts cut the pieces, stained and wood burned the material. Then, they glued and joined the pieces to create the wall hangings. They spent about 1.5 hours each Monday and fi nished the project on a weekend day morning. A traditional American fl ag piece was gifted to the council by Hinkemeyer and will be displayed in the Old Village Hall. Dietman created a blue-line fl ag for the police department, and Lenarz created a red-line fl ag for the fi re department.

Mayor Brian Skroch agreed.

“We greatly appreciate it,” he said.

Weekly • Bi-Weekly Monthly • One TimeRO Cleaning ⬤ ONE CALL CLEANS IT ALL! ⬤ Residential & Commercial ⬤ New Construction Clean-up barb: 763-772-4129 HR11-1P-MT

HUGE SWANVILLE-LITTLE FALLS, MN AREA FARM RETIREMENT AUCTION AUCTION AUCTION

Located 4 miles east of Swanville, MN on Cable Rd. (County #12) To #4731 SATURDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2021 • 10:00 A.M.

NOTE: Very clean line of well maintained equipment. Online bidding available through Proxibid. For complete listing see: www.midamericanauctioninc.com Or Ph. 320-760-2979 10 MFWD & TWO WHEEL DRIVE TRACTORS: ‘98 CIH 8910 2 whl. dr., recent OH; ‘89 CIH 7130 MFWD, 7258 hrs; ‘96 CIH 7240 MFWD, 7531 hrs; ‘86 CIH 2096 2 whl. dr; ‘83 Versatile 875 4 whl. dr., 6873 hrs; ‘68 JD 4020; ‘79 Case 2590; ‘74 Case 1270, nice MF 444 w/WF & 3 pt, Standard Twin 2 Cy. w/attach. COMBINE-HEADS, NH LARGE SQUARE BALER, PLANTING, TILLAGE, GENERAL EQUIPMENT: ‘90 CIH 1680 Ax. Flow Combine, 5383 hrs; ‘95 CIH 1020 Flex Head; IH 1044 4RW CH; JD 244 Snapper Head; NH BB 9060 Square Baler, loaded, baled 13K bales, nice; ‘16 NH Pro 10-22, 10 wheelrRake; JD 820 9 ft. Mo-Co; NH 166 Inverter; NH 499 haybine; Several fl at racks and HD wagons; 10 gravity boxes up to 365 bu w/HD gears; CIH 496 18 ft. cu. gang disc; Hutch 18 ft. HD offset disc; JD 1750 Max Emerge 4RW planter; 2 (2) GT 580 Dryers; Sudenga 10x61 auger, like new, Meyers M-350 tandem ax. manure spreader; IH 10 ft. drill; (3) IH On Land and In Furrow Plows; Harrows; Snow Blower; 10 ft. Brillion Seeder; 6x10 ft. rock trailer; Plus more machinery and large amount of livestock equipment and farm related items.

LEE, BUNNY, SHANNON & LEAH JOHNSTON, OWNERS

**Tractors, Skid Loader, Late Model Haying Equipment, Planting & Tillage Equipment, Gravity Boxes and Misc. Items**

Very Clean Very Clean Line of Well Line of Well Maintained Maintained Equipment

Live Onsite Live Onsite Auction with Auction with Online Bidding