ST. CLOUD – Two area residents were injured April 27 when their vehicles collided in Maywood Township. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Tina Marie Boyle, 25, of Foreston, and Morgan Damian Gapinski, 17, of Foley, were hurt in the crash – both suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Boyle was transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital, while Gapinski did not seek immediate treatment, according to the report.

FOLEY – For years, the Foley City Council has deliberated whether to eliminate the sewer fee from sprinkler-related charges. As of late, with increasing water and sewer fees in place to garner funds for the city’s wastewater regionalization project, the notion has gained traction with the council, which is hoping to eliminate the fee to ease the financial burden on its residents. If water from any source reaches the city’s sewer system, the water will be treated and cleaned. When water is treated, expenses are incurred by the city, which is why homeowners are charged per 100 gallons of water used that enter the sewer system.

Benton County commissioners noted the return of a familiar face during a recent department update. Board chair Scott Johnson used four short words May 2 to welcome back Chris Byrd to county employment as engineer and public works director.

As the Foley American Legion Post 298 looks to decorate the inside of its building, Joe Kaproth, a longtime Legion member, is asking that veterans and families of veterans consider donating veteran memorabilia to the Legion to aid in the effort. Kaproth said there is no deadline to submit memorabilia and that the Legion will continue to add to its decorations as donations come.

FOLEY – The Foley Intermediate School was the site of a Spring Forward to Disability Transition event April 18, which brought various organizations and speakers to discuss and offer support for the transition for students with disabilities to life after school. Randall Olvenburg attended the event as a representative with The Arc Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that provides information and assistance to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout the state.

FOLEY – While the Foley Municipal Pool continues to operate during warm-weather months, newly elected Foley City Council member Deb Mathiowetz has called into question whether the pool is worth the cost.  Right now, Foley’s taxpayers shoulder the brunt of the pool’s finances, which loses anywhere from $50,000-$80,000 per year.

FOLEY – After a full day of interviews with five candidates for the Foley School District’s next superintendent April 27, the school board whittled down to three finalists in the race: Trish Perry, Adam Johnson and Nate Walbruch. Perry is an assistant professor of education at St. Cloud State University, Johnson is the superintendent and business manager at Hill City Public School District, and Walbruch is the Century High School principal for Rochester Public Schools.

OAK PARK – Rob and Samantha Ratka believe that couples who donate together, stay together.  The donors, who have been giving blood together since 2021 and have been married for 18 years, know the impact they can make through a simple prick in the arm and an hour of their time. 

FOLEY – Entering the summer of 2022, Macy Zawacki and Brittany Mellgren already had a lot in common. The pair are proficient in multiple varsity sports at Foley High School, both excelling in girls basketball and softball as talented teammates. They go to class together, play on the same sports teams, worship God and share a strong friendship.

FOLEY – Foley resident Ruth Gruba experienced what she called a once-in-a-lifetime moment when Rep. Isaac Schultz, who represents Foley in the Minnesota House of Representatives, invited her to attend the Minnesota State of the State address April 19.  “It was quite an honor,” Gruba said, who attended with her husband, Gary Gruba. “I’ve watched it on TV and then to be there – wow, what an honor it was.”

FOLEY – The owner of Danny B’s, Angela Brown, announced the Foley restaurant will close its doors after five years of business. The decision comes following the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, labor shortages and soaring operating costs.  Danny B’s last day of operation was April 29. 

FOLEY – When Shawn Wyckoff and Maria Kaneko Millar met, they were college students at The Juilliard School, a prestigious performing arts conservatory in New York City, New York. With an acceptance rate of 7%, the globally recognized school was a unique medium for musically diverse soulmates of different countries to meet. Wyckoff, a flutist, is from a suburb outside of Washington, D.C., and Millar, a violinist, is from Alberta, Canada. Growing up, their paths to music were entirely opposite; Wyckoff’s parents punished him by taking his flute away, and Millar’s parents could not get her to practice no matter how much they punished her.