The theme of 2014 could well have been “That’s Entertainment,” as a number of major projects came to fruition in the area in the past 12 months, along with a series of other interesting events and activities.

 

Some of the most visible projects recently completed have been in the Becker School District, where the spectacular new Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Aquatic Center (AC) have come on-line this fall to rave reviews from all corners.  The PAC has hosted many events already, including the first theatrical production in the new venue, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical “Cinderella.”  The production made full use of the state-of-the-art computer controls and the excellent acoustics, which were also noted in recent band and choir concerts.  The AC allows the school to host swimming meets for the first time in decades, as well as providing public swimming through the Community Ed. office. 

 

Plans are afoot to have all students in Becker schools to have access to Apple iPads® by the start of the new school year next fall, which includes students from pre-school through seniors.  Sixth-grade students at Clearview Elementary School in Clear Lake received iPads® this fall as part of the technology expansion plan in the St. Cloud School District.

 

Clearview is also undergoing significant renovations, with a new gymnasium, art room and expanded classroom space scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2014-15 school year.  A proposal to expand the school to include seventh- and eighth-grade classes may go to referendum in St. Cloud as early as May, according to district officials.

 

The November elections held no surprises for area residents, with Republican candidates outpolling all others by big numbers throughout Sherburne County.  MN Rep. Jim Newberger (R-Becker) easily won re-election to a second term, while candidate Tom Emmer (R-Delano) defeated Democrat Joe Perske in the race for the 6th Congressional Dist. seat being vacated by Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann.  

 

Republican candidates generally swept all other contests in the county on Election Day, though democrats won state-wide in the races for U.S. Senator, governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor.

 

The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus made a stop in Becker last July, setting up the Big Top on the lawn at the Becker Community Center to give area residents a chance to experience one of the very few travelling tent circuses still in existence in the U.S. The shows included animal acts, high-wire performers, trapeze artistes and all the sights, sounds and smells of a real old-time circus performance.

 

The Becker High School Robotics Team (aka The Coalition of Independent Students #4607) continued their winning ways, taking second place in the state tournament after an epic battle in the tournament held on the U. of M. campus in March.  The team had got off to a spectacular start in their first year of competition in 2013, winning the state title and being invited to take part in the national First Robotics® competition in St. Louis in their rookie season.  The team has expanded to over 60 students this year, and students, coaches and mentors are anxiously awaiting the start of the new season that will begin on Sat., Jan. 3 with a kick-off breakfast at BHS followed by the release of the build specifications for the 2015 competition robot.

 

Marty Meyer-Gad wrote an fascinating autobiography detailing with her efforts to be ordained as a Catholic priest which she titled “Seventy-Four Cents,” which was the amount of money she had in her pocket after being tossed out of her convent after a dispute with the Mother-Superior.

 

Entertainment abounded at the Sherburne County Fair in Elk River this year as well, including several shows played by country music legend Sherwin Linton, backed by his wife vocalist Pam Linton and his band.  Linton’s long career was also the subject of a Minnesota Public television documentary titled “Forever on the Stage” which aired in October.

 

In addition to the exhibits, tractor pulls and carnival rides, the fair also included regular visits by the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders, who gamely tried their hand at milking the mechanical cow at the very enjoyable Little Farm Hands booth overseen by Jean Johnson, chairperson of the Farm Friends Barn project.

 

Concerns were raised as to the increasing number of oil trains passing through the area in the past year after a derailment in 2013 led to a massive fire in Casselton, ND.  Area emergency responders and representatives from Burlington-Northern railroad had planned training exercises in the event of a local disaster, working to be prepared as over 80 trains a day pass through the local area, many carrying oil from the Bakken fields in North Dakota.

 

“Citizen” Production manager Idonna Hunter retired in 2014, and is enjoying a well-deserved opportunity to spend time with friends and family and do the traveling she and her husband Don had always wanted to do.

 

Becker Board of Education member Sheri Lumley resigned her position in October, after which the board appointed former school board member Phil Norgaard to fill the vacant seat starting in January.  Board members Aaron Jurek, Mark Swanson and Bryan Olson all ran unopposed in the November election, and all won new terms on the board.