St. Joseph Newsleader - Nov. 17, 2017 by The Newsleaders

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St. Joseph

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 Volume 29, Issue 45 Est. 1989

Town Crier Resurrection to hold holiday craft sale

A Holiday Craft Sale, featuring 24-plus vendors, prizes and food, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 in Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Proceeds will benefit Youth and Family Ministries. For more information, email lwallin@gmail.com or visit Facebook #CraftFairRLC.

Sartell Winter Market is this Saturday, Nov. 18

Sartell Winter Market will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Nov. 18 at Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. Some of the many items you will find include the following: eggs, vegetables from storage, canned goods, baked treats, breads and many craft items. Come start your holiday shopping early. All items are grown, produced or crafted locally.

Cross-country ski patrols sought for winter season

Cross-country ski patrols are needed for the winter season running from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28 at the following county parks: Quarry Park and Nature Reserve, Warner Lake, Mississippi River and Kraemer Lake-Wildwood. Ski patrol volunteers must be at least at an intermediate skier level, should be familiar with the park they patrol, may register at any of the four parks, must sign up for two-hour shifts, and must ski the trails and observe conditions, lighting and visitors and submit a report to the park office. For more information, visit co.stearns.mn.us/Recreation/ SkiPatrol.

Volunteer to help with free tax prep program

Tri-CAP’s Volunteer Income-Tax -Assistance Program offers free tax preparation and e-filing services to low- and moderate-income people (individuals < $35,000, families < $55,000 per year) who need assistance in completing their tax returns. Volunteers receive free IRS certification training to prepare basic tax returns in our local communities. The Tri-CAP VITA sites are located in St. Cloud, Elk River and Cold Spring. We are looking for Tax Preparers and Return Reviewers (whom we will assist in completing the IRS certification), and Tax Site Assistants and Financial Stability Assistants who provide customer service at the sites (they do not prepare taxes). For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Nov. 10 criers.

15 years later, still no trace of Guimond

by Dennis Dalman editorl@thenewsleaders.com

At long last, Jacob Wetterling was found 27 years after he disappeared, but Joshua Guimond’s parents and loved ones are still waiting and wondering in daily anguish what happened to their son and friend who “disappeared” 15 years ago. The Wetterling case had a tragic outcome – the discovery of the 11-year-old’s body buried near Paynesville. The man who confessed to abducting and killing him is now in prison. The parents of Guimond desperately want to know an outcome, too, even if it proves to be a tragic one. Brian Keith Guimond, Joshua’s father, told the St. Joseph Newsleader many years ago he is convinced his son met a bad end at the hands of someone else. Now, 15 years after Guimond’s vanishing, Stearns County investigators, not to

Postal Patron

Kennedy celebrates veterans

mention his loved ones, are hoping someone’s memory is jogged, that someone might connect dots that can lead to tips or clues in the baffling case. The night of Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 was the last time Guimond was ever seen. A junior at St. John’s University, Guimond had walked from his on-campus dorm residence at Maur House to play cards with friends at a party in Metten Court, another dorm residence building just three minutes walking distance from his residence. He left the party at about midnight. Later that night, his roommate and friend was alarmed when Guimond did not return home. He notified authorities.

In the days that followed Guimond’s disappearance, a massive search began on and near the SJU campus. Guimond • page 2

contributed photo

Surrounded by other students, Kennedy first-graders (left to right) Brynn Hiltner and Aliyah Kuseske hold a “thank you” poster for veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 veterans celebration. For entire story, see page 5.

Christmas magic on display in St. Joseph home by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com

As the classic carol exclaims “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” With a dusting of snow on the ground, the temperatures dipping and holiday music slowly making its long-awaited return to the radio airwaves, central Minnesotans are slowly embracing

the fact the holiday season is just around the corner. And for members of the Zonta Club of St. Cloud, the start of the holiday season would be incomplete without decking the halls in the home of a complete stranger. The 28th annual Zonta Christmas House is slated to make its appearance just outside of St. Joseph Nov. 17 and

18. Kirsten Freeman, co-chair of the Zonta Christmas House, expects about 1,400 people from around the area to walk through a private home located at 10896 North Ridge Lane in Avon. “I think the best part of the Christmas House is you don’t know what you’re going to find when you step inside the

home,” Freeman said. The Zonta Christmas House is a traveling Christmas homedecorating display. The process of selecting the home starts in the spring and early summer. Homes that are usually featured are more luxurious homes in the area. “We meet with homeownMagic • page 8

Millstream Park shelter grand opening Nov. 27 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

People who are curious about the new park shelter in Millstream Park will get a chance to tour it at a grand opening at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27. The St. Joseph Lions Club will present a $40,000 donation to the City of St. Joseph at the event. Matt Killam, who is a member of the St. Joseph City Council and the St. Joseph Lions’ Club, said construction on the shelter began June 12 and and final inspections and a certificate of occupancy was issued in October.

The total project cost is $534,351. “I am very happy to see the building completed,” Killam said. “It will be a great spot for events and makes Millstream Park a shining star in St. Joseph’s park system.” Millstream Park, a 35-acre park, is located on the northwestern edge of the city limits and includes a wooded walking trail along the Watab River and a dog park. The shelter, which is available for year-round use, can be rented for $107.38/day and a required refundable damage deposit of $200/day. For additional information, contact the city offices at 320-363-7201.

photo by Cori Hilsgen

The new Millstream Park shelter building is available for year-round use. Fees include a rental fee of $107.38/day and a required refundable damage deposit of $200/day.

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Guimond

would be for him just to walk or drive off into the unknown. When Guimond walked to the party that night, he had left his jacket, car keys and credit card in his dorm room.

from front page Fearing that he might have drowned in Stumpf Lake, trained divers searched the lake. No trace was found. More than 100 National Guard members and many hundreds of volunteers scoured the hilly woodland on the campus. Nothing turned up. A State Patrol helicopter did an air search. No results. Residents in the St. Joseph area were again stunned and worried by yet another mysterious disappearance, one that happened not too many miles from where Jacob Wetterling was abducted on an autumn night in 1989. Investigators had no reason to believe Guimond’s disappearance was the result of foul play, although they kept all options open. They have since had no tips about anything that might have gone awry the night he didn’t come home. That is why they are hoping someone somewhere can shed

Vigil

contributed photo

This is a billboard near St. Joseph that was installed some years after Joshua Guimond’s disappearance. some light on the darkness of the unexplained.

Excellent student

Joshua Guimond was born and raised in Maple Lake, the only child of Brian and Lisa (Cheney) Guimond, who divorced before Joshua’s disappearance. Guimond was an excellent student and an avid outdoorsman. He loved to go deer-hunting with his father. In fact, the time of his disappearance was the opening weekend of rifle deer-hunting, but he decided not to hunt with his father because he had homework to

do. And when it came to homework, Guimond was disciplined. In high school, he had been an honor student and president of his class, voted by his peers the “most likely to succeed.” As an SJU student, he worked hard and excelled at the Mock-Trial program and planned to become a lawyer. His roommate, Nick Hyducovich, also excelled in law and is now an attorney in Washington, D.C. To this day, he is utterly dumbfounded as to how Guimond could just “disappear” because Hyducovich has said many times how disciplined he was and how out of character it

On the 15th year of his disappearance, parents and friends of Guimond held a vigil/prayer service the evening of Nov. 9, 2017 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Maple Lake. His mother said she wants everyone to remember her son is missing, not to forget him. “Someone’s got to know something,” she said. Guimond’s father has set up a GoFundMe account in an effort to raise enough money to hire a private investigator to find his son. The contributors on that site left comments: From Betty Hyducovich, the mother of Nick Hyducovich, Guimond’s college roommate: “Our hearts will ache for Josh’s family and friends. He was our son’s closest friend at St. John’s. We pray there are answers someday.”

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

Other comments:

“Josh is never forgotten. May everyone who was on campus that night cooperate with the family and the investigators to bring some answers.” “I have always felt enough was not done and your family suffered added grievances because of your dogged perseverance to find Joshua.“ “Dear Brian and Lisa. Since moving to Hawaii in 1996 I’ve been pretty out of touch with Minnesota news. I am deeply, deeply sorry for what has happened to your son. It hits home for me because my sister, Pamela, disappeared from the southwest part of the country in 1976 and was never seen or heard from again.”

Please call

Anyone with any information concerning Guimond’s disappearance should call the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department at 320-259-3700 or the Criminal Action Tip Line at 1-877-9966222. For more about Guimond and his disappearance, go to www.findjoshua.com.

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Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 320-363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.

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Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

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Kennedy students celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

Does creating towers from spaghetti and marshmallows or sticky structures from gum drops and toothpicks sound like school work to you? It was for students at Kennedy Community School. They had a chance to study and learn about new science, technology, engineering, art and math innovations and recently had a chance to explore more options in these fields of study during National STEM/ STEAM Day Nov. 8. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade focused on the engineering part of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by being taught gradelevel-specific engineering-design challenges by sixth-grade scientists. The sixth-grade scientists are students in Kennedy grades sixththrough eighth-grade science teacher Alissa Keil’s classroom who have been studying, learning and practicing the scientific method. These students have been doing several engineering-design challenges, such as exploring the frozen wonders of snow and learning about its properties and much more in science classes. “Working with the students in kindergarten was really fun because it showed me kindergarteners can be engineers too,” said sixth-grader Elise Hausmann. “It showed me how creative they can be.” Keil, who is also the Team Kennedy VEX Robotics coach, said they want all students to get excited about science, technology, engineering and math. “Learning collaboratively with hands-on experiments they design motivates students to want to know more,” Keil said. “It’s also a great way to get kids talking about STEM and just how darn cool it really is.” Sixth-, seventh- and eighthgrade students listened Nov. 8 to STEM guest speakers from the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The speakers from around the country included an aerospace engineer, anthropologist, civil engineer, computer engineer, doctor, food scientist, mechanical engineer, robotics engineer and systems engineer. “Something I liked about the STEM speakers we had was they inspired me to try something new,” said sixth-grader Ethan Duncan. “We heard from a wind-tunnel engineer. I never knew a wind-tunnel test would take one day or sometimes one month. She said she used math every day. It was cool.” “I loved the STEM speaker we had in math,” said sixth-grader Lilli Midy. “Not because we didn’t do our math, but because we actu-

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Call the St. Joseph Newsleader at 320-363-7741

if you would like your business included. Check out the online Business Directory at thenewsleaders.com which hyperlinks to each business’ website. contributed photos

Above: Kennedy Community School third-graders work on an engineering design challenge given to them by sixth-grade scientists to create a structure using tiny glasses during National STEM/STEAM day. At left: Kennedy fifth-graders work on an engineering design challenge to create a working catapult that would launch candy corn the farthest.

ally got to talk to an engineer and find out what they do.” The speakers virtually visited classrooms to talk to students about their current career, where they attended college/university and what subjects and hobbies they enjoyed when they were in middle school. They offered advice to students who want to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math. “We want to motivate middleschool students because they will be the people who are inventing new ways to clean water, take the first steps on Mars and find a cure for cancer,” Keil said. “Let’s get them thinking now about exploring a career in STEM and finding ways to help our world.” National STEM/STEAM Day is meant to inspire kids to explore and pursue their interest in these fields. Advocates of the program say some of the fastest-growing occupations include STEM/STEAM careers, so early interest in these careers can lead to future success in a global world. To help close the gender gap that exists in these career fields, they maintain, it will become especially important to encourage girls to develop an interest in these fields.

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Blotter

If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. This information is submitted by the St. Joseph Police Department.

Oct. 11 3:11 p.m. Speed. 1350 Minnesota St. W. While working traffic on the west side of Minnesota Street, an officer was operating a speed radar while other officer stopped vehicles. Upon approach, an officer clocked a vehicle going 47 mph in a 30-mph zone. The driver stated he was “just speeding up as he left town.” The officer issued a citation for 40/30 and explained where the speed limit changed. 11:18 p.m. Vandalism. 19 Minnesota St. W. While on bike patrol with a reserve officer, two officers observed four people who appeared to be drawing something on the side of a garage just north of the Local Blend. As officers headed toward the garage, the four people noticed and started walking away. Upon approach, the officers noticed a big penis was drawn and the word “dictation” was spelled out on the cement blocks using blue chalk. Officers stopped the four

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individuals and spoke with one of the individuals who had blue chalk on their right hand. All four individuals denied involvement. Officers could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt who vandalized the garage. All individuals were released. Oct. 12 4:25 p.m. Bus stop-arm violation. 110 Second Ave. S.E. Officers received a school bus stop-arm violation from Trobec’s Bus Service. While stopped at a bus stop with eight-way lights flashing and stop-arm extended, the suspect passed the bus on the left to enter his driveway 40 ft. ahead of the bus. The officer made contact with the driver who admitted he did not stop when the school bus arm was extended but stated he did not realize the bus had its lights on until he had past. A citation was issued for school bus stop-arm violation. Oct. 13 1:56 a.m. Intoxicated person. 109 Minnesota St. W. While on routine patrol, an officer spotted a male passed out outside of Sal’s bar. The male suspect was extremely intoxicated and stated he was waiting for a ride from the bartender. The employees of the bar did not realize there was a man waiting outside for them. The officer recorded the suspects breathalyzer test at .21. Detox was full so the officer eventually released the suspect to a friend.

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Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

Council approves Field Street assessments, building-plan changes by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com

With the minimum quorum of three, the St. Joseph City Council approved changes Oct. 24 in the Southview Heights Concept Plan, approved changes in the Bayou Alley Flats building plans and held a special hearing on the final assessments for Field Street.

Field Street

The council held a public hearing on the final assessments for the Field Street project. The project is complex in that it abuts several properties that are located in the township. Because of that, assessment costs for work done on the street must be deferred until that property is annexed into the city. Added to that complexity is the fact some property owners object to amounts and the way in which the city is going about the task of assessing the properties. In his slide show presentation to the council, City Engineer Randy Sabart took the council through the cost projections, which initially were $2.9 million but final projected costs have been cut substantially to $2.1 million. The city also receives some compensation from the state, about $1.6 million, but the compensation needs to be used for several street projects throughout the city. As it is, about 59 percent of the $1.6 million will be used for Field Street. The rest of the costs are covered by bonds issued by the city. Included in the final assessment costs are blacktopping of streets, storm sewer, trunk-and-lateral water mains and sanitary sewer, and various soft costs such as consultant fees, and engineering and legal fees. The city, as required by law, is meeting with property owners in the township to lay the groundwork for a time when the annexation into the city occurs. At that time the city will be able to be compensated for the work performed. Until that time, the assessments are deferred. The aim of meeting with the property owners is to have written agreements with regard to the assessments before the process gets too far removed from the present. The council passed the Field Street Final Assessment resolution unanimously.

Southview Heights

The St. Joseph Planning Commission had recommended the council approve changes in the Planned-Unit Development of the Southview Heights building project located at 20th Avenue SE on the site of the old Del-Win Ballroom. The area is zoned R-3. Originally the plan called for the development of a 56-unit apartment complex, but KJ Development, after consulting with project designers, opted to develop the site in a different way. Units on site would be primarily rental in nature. The changes will allow for 14 duplexes and four six-plex buildings on the six-acre site. It would be a mixture of two- and three-bedroom homes with two-car garages, as well as 25-foot driveways, some additional parking and rain gardens. Internal driveways and utilities for the units would be private and maintained separately by the owners. The changes will decrease the overall unit density. The plans would necessitate some modification to existing zoning requirements. For example, rear setbacks for units would be reduced from 50 feet to 30 feet. Side-yard setbacks would be reduced from 50 to 30 feet and high-water level setbacks would be reduced from 70 to 50 feet. Council member Troy Goracke expressed his concerns about safety issues related to access by emergency vehicles. Ted Schmidt from Lumber One represented the owners of the development and explained it would be a series of duplexes and six-plexes that would be private and maintained by the owners of the property to include the streets and internal roadways. The council approved the requested changes in plans.

Bayou Alley Flats

John Petters, a developer involved with the Bayou Alley Flats project, requested a change to the proposed PUD to allow for three residential units (a total of 2,300-square feet) to be built on the street level of the building. The original PUD for the project called for a three-story mixed-use building with 100-percent commercial development at the street level. Residential and office suites would occupy the second floor and the third floor would be all residential.

Parking and garages would be in the rear of the building. Petters is requesting the change because there has been an increased interest in residential rental and only moderate interest in development of more commercial space. The council received two emails commenting on the proposed changes. Neither objected to the changes proposed, but both warned because La Playette bar was in close proximity, there would be a good deal of noise and loud music, so it would not be ideal for some types of residents. “I state this because in the past there have been some occupants and a letter from him (Petters) in regards to noise coming from the bar in the past,” wrote Peg Zimmer, the owner. “My late husband, myself, and the new owners (Shawn and Ann Reisner) experience unneeded frustrations from residential occupants and (Petters) from his Millstreams Shops and Lofts development.” Petters addressed the council and further clarified the changes in the project. The council approved the amendment to the original PUD, then went on to approve changes to the tax-increment-financing resolution originally approved in 2014.

Other business

The council received a short briefing from City Administrator Judy Weyrens on the proposed new zoning ordinance Stearns County is looking to enact. The new zoning would allow for the building of industrial projects and commercial projects to be built in townships without the infrastructure the city is required to provide. Weyrens urged the council to take a stance on the proposal. The proposal would allow townships to establish industrial parks in the middle of what is a rural area. The concern was especially related to how such a zoning proposal would impact small cities such as St. Joseph that are required to provide infrastructure. Townships would be exempt from that requirement giving them a price advantage in development. A request has already been received to establish a site at CR 6 near Jeff’s Auto Body. The county held a public hearing Nov. 14 to gather input from the public. (The meeting results were not available at press time.)

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

‘MinnesotaCare Buy-In’ hopes to improve state healthcare by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

Hoping to improve Minnesotans’ access to healthcare, state officials Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper held a town hall meeting Nov. 6 at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College to discuss the “MinnesotaCare Buy-In” proposal. A panel of speakers included Smith, Piper, State Rep. Clark Johnson, Senior Policy Advisor Lauren Gilchrist, Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish, St. Cloud State University Director of Student Health Services Corie Beckerman and Ralonda Mason from Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. “Minnesotans are concerned about the rising cost of health insurance for their families,” said Smith in a press release. “This proposal can help. For 25 years, MinnesotaCare has offered a more affordable choice for 100,000 Minnesotans. Gov. Dayton and I strongly believe all Minnesotans should be able to purchase this high-quality health insurance. I thank St. Cloud area residents for sharing their stories and input with me ahead of the 2018 legislative session.” Smith and Dayton proposed the buy-in last year, hoping to lower prices and improve access for about 100,000 state residents. The buy-in is not free health care but a health-insurance policy similar to those offered by commercial health plans. MinnesotaCare offers broader access to physicians and care providers, and people would have more options to choose their care providers, its advocates maintain. Currently, only certain Minnesotans at a certain income level are eligible for MinnesotaCare. The proposal would give those who purchase their health insurance on the individual market the choice to buy into MinnesotaCare.

People who choose the buy-in would pay their own way and the cost of their premiums would pay for their coverage. Piper said MinnesotaCare has been a source of quality, affordable coverage for decades, and it’s now time to give all residents in the state the option to purchase the coverage. By maximizing the state’s competitive bidding process, officials believe they could get a better bargain for those who buy individual insurance coverage and could offer lower health-insurance costs with little to no ongoing costs to state taxpayers. After a one-time start-up cost, the buy-in is expected to be funded by the premiums of those who purchase the insurance coverage. Last session, the estimated start-up cost for the buy-in was about $12 million. In the panel discussion, Wertish spoke about the decisions farmers are being forced to make regarding their expenses and the rising cost of health insurance. Even if they raise a good crop, they are not always able to pay their expenses. Beckerman talked about how many people assume all college students are covered under their parents’ plans, but students also include parents, veterans and others. Many are forced to choose between the cost of insurance and paying their rent. Without health-insurance coverage, many people don’t do the preventive measures that often help them stay healthy. She said many mental-health issues surface for students during the college years. Other things such as pregnancies or illnesses such as a cancer diagnosis can also occur. Beckerman also discussed low-cost options with the college’s student-health plan. Area physicians Dr. Kimberly Tjaden and Dr. Patrick Buy-in • page 9

Kennedy celebrates veterans by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

Wanting to thank veterans for their service, Kennedy Community School students, faculty and staff celebrated local veterans and their families Nov. 10 during an all-school assembly to honor Veterans Day. School Principal Laurie Putnam said almost 50 veterans attended the event. They shared memories of their service time, which included those who served in the 1950s to those currently serving. Music teacher Kristen Bauer directed students in second, fourth and fifth grades in singing patriotic songs to the veterans. Assistant Principal Anna Willhite welcomed families to the event. She also shared her own personal connections to military service as the wife of a veteran. Veterans and their families were invited to celebrate with warm cinnamon rolls, lemon-poppy-seed bread, bananas, juice and coffee. All school families, even those not connected to the military, were invited to the event. More than 100 people attended the celebration.

It is our honor to celebrate our community’s veterans and their families for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms. Kennedy Community School extends our sincere thanks to all who have and currently are serving in the armed forces. – Laurie Putnam, principal

contributed photo

Surrounded by other students with additional “thank you” cards, Kennedy Community School first-graders Samuel Cotton and Lacey Kipka hold a “thank you” poster for veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 veterans celebration.

contributed photo

Kennedy Community School third-grader Owen Ritten (back) and second-grader Jemma Voigt give “thank you” notes to veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 celebration.

contributed photo

Veteran Kevin Funk shares his service experience Nov. 10 at the Kennedy Community School veterans celebration. Funk’s son, Justin, is an eighth-grader at the school and his wife, Pam, works as a paraprofessional at the school.

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Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | COMMUNITY IMPACT

Why Shopping Local Matters I t’s easy to forget that shopping local helps your community and state in many, many ways. From tax dollars to supporting mom-andpop businesses, the benefits are myriad. SPEND LOCAL AND MORE STAYS LOCAL Numerous studies have analyzed the way money recirculates, and most agree that

money spent locally has a much higher chance of staying in the community. A study commissioned by the British Columbia division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees found that for every $1 million in sales, independent retail stores generate $450,000 in local economic activity, compared to just $170,000 for chains. Among restaurants, the figures are $650,000 for independents and $300,000 for chains. Across both sectors, this translates into about 2.6 times as many local jobs created when spending is directed to independent businesses

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instead of chains. The study concludes that a shift of just 10 percent of the market from chains to independents would produce 31,000 jobs paying $940 million in annual wages to workers.

rate of small employers, compared with the previous year. In every other recession and recovery period in the study’s sample, large firms took years to recover relative to small firms.

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Economists at Yale University and the University of Bristol found that in times of high unemployment, small businesses both retain and create more jobs than large firms. During the recession of March 2008 to March 2009, the employment growth rate of large employers fell 1.65 percent more than the growth

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A study by a professor at Baylor University found strong positive relationships between local ownership, firm size and employee loyalty, which they refer to as organizational commitment. Using data from a nationally representative public opinion survey, the study found that

57.2 percent of small firm workers scored in the highest commitment category, compared to 40.5 percent of large firm workers. They found a similar relationship for ownership, with 56 percent of workers at locally owned firms having high commitment scores, compared with just 38.7 percent of workers at non-locally owned firms. When the researchers plotted the scores on a 16-point commitment scale, the authors found that, together, the two civic measures accounted for as much as a 1.7 point increase in organizational commitment, effects.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

SHOP LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS | GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Connect Locally

t might seem like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting, but hitting downtown to do some shopping really can help put you in the Christmas spirit and provide a deeper connection with your local surroundings.

Most towns decorate the downtown streets, and many shops do holiday-themed window displays to attract shoppers. Yes, you should spend some money while you’re out (it helps the local economy, after all), but just hitting the streets to do some window shopping is a great way to bond with your family and friends during Christmas.

HIT THE STREETS When you’re ramping up your Christmas shopping strategy, set aside a Saturday, or afternoon, to park (or walk, if you’re close enough) into your closest shopping district and start exploring. You might find a store you’ve never seen, or at least make an effort to visit a store you don’t frequent very often. It’s a great chance to look for unique gifts, while also getting to know your own town a little bit better.

MAKE IT A FAMILY BONDING EXPERIENCE Even if you don’t actually pick up any gifts while the kids (or spouse) are with you, hitting the local stores to scout out gift options is a great way to just spend some time with your family. Tell your kids stories about unique finds in the antique store, or let them make a list of gift options while perusing the aisles at a downtown gen-

eral store. If you’re shopping for adults, it can also give you a chance to glance into local downtown boutiques.

IT JUST FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS Walking the streets in downtown, with a chill in the air in November or December,

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as the Christmas lights twinkle around the street lights and in the windows, just feels quintessentially Christmas. It evokes the visuals and emo-

tions from classic holiday films like Miracle on 34th Street, and is just a great tradition to add to the Christmas season.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Magic from front page ers of prospective Christmas House hosts a couple of times,” Freeman said. “We need to make sure the home has a proper flow to it. Typically, that means people can enter through the main door, travel upstairs and downstairs and then leave through the garage.” Once the home has been accepted, central Minnesota store owners and professional decorators can select which room they would like to decorate. “We have a few rules for them,” Freeman said. “They have to do a Christmas theme and cannot do any damage to the home.” Freeman said these rules force the designers to get creative. Often, the designers use the existing furniture as part of the display. “We don’t disrupt the homeowners’ property too much,” Freeman said. “We still want their dining room to look like a dining room and their bedrooms to look like bedrooms.” About 20 decorators throughout the area have agreed to take on a portion of the home. Each decorator

donates their time and products. Every room, including the bathrooms, gets a Christmas makeover. “(For the decorators) this has to be really well planned out,” Freeman said. “And each room is so vastly different and so creative.” In addition to the Christmas festivities on the inside of the home, Freeman said the outside of the home gets some of that Christmas cheer. Emerald Cos. and HeimKins Rescued Treasures will decorate the exterior with lights and lawn décor. “It’s a fun activity for Zonta to do,” said Laurie Oppel, a Zonta Club of St. Cloud member. “And on a community level, all of the money generated from ticket sales for the Christmas House goes back into the community.” The Zonta Club of St. Cloud is a chapter of Zonta International, an organization with a mission to help empower women through service and advocacy. Proceeds from the local women’s chapter are donated to Anna Marie’s Alliance, a shelter for women escaping situations of domestic violence; and Journey Home, a housing provider that helps women overcome addiction while still maintaining custody of their children.

contributed photo Zonta Club of St. Cloud

The Zonta Christmas House tasks about 20 local business owners and professional decorators with decorating rooms of a new private home each year. Each room must have a Christmas theme. Decorations like these photos from the 2016 Christmas House can be expected at the 2017 Zonta Christmas House just outside of St. Joseph. Zonta Club of St. Cloud also uses a portion of the funding raised to sponsor scholarships for women. “Our reach goes far beyond the Christmas House,” Freeman said. The Zonta Club of St. Cloud is hoping to raise $15,000 during its 24-hour event. About half will be raised through ticket sales and the rest is

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Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

made up from the Christmas House’s 42 sponsors. “The Zonta Christmas House really does kick off the Christmas season,” Freeman said. “And we do hope to see a lot of people.” The Zonta Club of St. Cloud advises its Christmas homes are not handicap-accessible. Young children are discouraged from attending.

The Zonta Christmas House will be open from 3-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Reduced tickets may be purchased at select Coborn’s stores, both the Waite Park and St. Cloud Cash Wise Foods locations, Craft’s Direct and Westside Liquor in Waite Park.

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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

photo by Cori Hilsgen

Human Services Commissioner Emily Piper (third from left) speaks during a panel discussion town hall meeting held Nov. 6 at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College to discuss the “MinnesotaCare Buy-In” proposal. The panel included (left to right) St. Cloud State University Director of Student Health Services Corie Beckerman, Ralonda Mason from Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Commissioner Piper, Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish, State Rep. Clark Johnson and Senior Policy Advisor Lauren Gilchrist.

Buy-in from Page 5 Zook were also part of the panel discussion. Tjaden discussed wanting all people to have access to health care but also wanting to keep clinics open. Zook discussed the breaking point of primary care. If phy-

sicians and practitioners are squeezed too hard, they will hit a breaking point, and he believes many in the area are at that point. Smith discussed how the costs of patients who are unable to pay their bills after receiving treatment can create issues. Piper said Minnesota’s uninsured rate is now the second-lowest in the nation and

has a $40-million reduction in uncompensated care. Johnson gave an example of how physicians and practitioners can budget for rates but they can’t budget for the unanticipated expenses. Mason discussed how access to providers can change when people switch insurances, and that often causes disruptions and setbacks in service for patients.

The State Legislature will have a chance to consider the proposal again in 2018. If approved, MinnesotaCare Buy-In coverage is expected to cost less than commercial healthinsurance plans. Last year’s proposal projected the buy-in would have cost about $469 per person per month for 2018 coverage. That was 13 percent less than the average projected commercial

9 health plans. Those who purchase from the buy-in coverage would still be eligible for federal tax credits through MNsure. More than 70 percent of MNsure enrollees are receiving tax credits this year. If the legislature enacts the proposal by March 1, 2018, people in Minnesota could purchase the buy-in coverage by the 2019 open-enrollment period. Creating the buy-in would require approval from the federal government. The state would also need a federal waiver to avoid any negative impact on federal basic health-plan funding and to be sure the buy-in option complies with federal law. Republican Gov. Arne Carlson and a bipartisan coalition of legislators created MinnesotaCare in 1992. About 100,000 eligible Minnesotans currently have this coverage. St Cloud Technical and Community College Foundation Director Arlene M. Williams said the meeting was held at the college at the request of the governor’s office. She said the college is a natural location choice as it has many health-related careers and adequate space and parking. Currently, there are 99 students from the St. Joseph area and 338 students from the Sartell, St. Stephen and Rice areas enrolled at the college.

Abandoned Florida dogs now happy in Minnesota by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com

After clinging to survival in drenched misery in Florida, Goliath, Lola, Peanut and Romeo are now safe, loved and happy in their new dry-andwarm homes in Minnesota. All four are dogs adopted out by the Tri-County Humane Society. They were among a shipment of 10 abandoned dogs rescued and brought to the TCHS in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which devastated the entire state of Florida in mid-September. TCHS in east St. Cloud, like humane societies elsewhere in the nation, agreed to accept some dogs from Florida because that’s state’s animal shelters were completely filled with rescued dogs – and other pets. Most Floridians went to great lengths to make sure their pets were protected from the storm’s windy, wet rage. Unfortunately, some pet owners simply abandoned them to fate, and some dogs were even left chained in yards, at the mercy of the storm. Many died. The good news is animal-rescue volunteers and others searched all through Florida to find abandoned

dogs after the storm. TCHS learned about the dogs through the Redland Rock Pit Abandoned Dogs Project, a non-profit organization for an area south of Miami, Fla. that had become notorious as a dumping ground for unwanted pets. TCHS agreed to take 10 dogs, and they were then transported by van to the TCHS shelter. One of the rescued abandoned dogs TCHS dubbed Goliath, was nothing but skin and bones; she could barely walk and suffered from gashes on her body. The staff at TCHS is almost certain Goliath, a pit-bull mix, had been used cruelly as a “bait dog” for organized dog fights in the Miami area. To Goliath’s rescue came a family to the TCHS shelter that took a liking to the dog and decided to adopt it. Goliath, once rescued, had to undergo lots of medical attention for his injuries and pitiful condition. And now, although Goliath still needs some work, including more socialization with people, his new owners are patient, working wonders with TLC and constant attention. Goliath loves to fetch ten-

nis balls and enjoys playing the clown, getting people to laugh at her antics, like jumping up and down when she wants to go outside or dragging every object in sight into her crate. The other three Floridian dogs adopted out so far are Lola and two same-litter puppies named Peanut and Romeo, both the offspring of Juliette. Juliette has been placed in local volunteer foster care because she just might be pregnant again. The puppies are chihuahua-terrier mix. Juliette and her two puppies were also found in the Redland area of Miami, having been abandoned and wandering helplessly. Lola, also a pit-bull mix like Goliath, was found wandering in a neighborhood of Homestead, Fla, not far from Miami. The other dogs, not yet adopted, are Addison, Christopher, Colby, Juliette (mentioned above), Michelle and Obama. For more information about the Floridian dogs and other adoptable pets, go to the TCHS website at tricountyhumanesociety.org or call 320252-0896.

photo Tri-County Humane Society

Lola, abandoned after Hurricane Irma in Florida, now has a new home in central Minnesota, thanks to efforts by the TriCounty Humane Society.

photo Tri-County Humane Society

Michelle is a pal to Obama. Both former pets were abandoned – twice – in the Miami, Fla. area and were rescued after Hurricane Irma swept through the state, wreaking its destruction. Both Michelle and Obama are up for adoption at the Tri-County Humane Society in east St. Cloud.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Opinion

Our View

Why should we shop local? Let us count the ways It cannot be over-stated that shopping locally is one of the best ways to preserve and enrich cities, towns and rural areas. According to one study, for every $100 spent at locally owned businesses, $73 will stay in the local area whereas shopping at national chain stores results in only $43 staying local. There are many other reasons: Thriving local businesses, with the help of dedicated local customers, create jobs – and often higher-paying jobs. As the local economy stays strong, it helps support jobs for teachers, firefighters, police officers and countless other professions. Shopping locally, rather than online, ensures sales taxes are reinvested where they belong – right back home. Local business people and local customers get to know one another very well over a period of time. That means local stores can locate, display and sell specialized items that customers want. Local businesses and local charming shops often offer items that are unique to a particular city. Good examples are arts-and-crafts shops and farmers’ markets. Such local endeavors not only promote socialization among neighbors and newcomers but lend a unique and colorful identity to cities. Buying locally is environmentally friendly – less infrastructure, less fuel used for transportation, less packaging. Local businesses supported by local customers tend to donate generously to so many local causes – more than twice that of corporate chain stores on average. Shopping locally is a spur to local creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation, all because of imaginative business starters being aware of local needs and wants. Local business people and customers most always work together to resolve any issues about product quality and customer satisfaction. Unlike commonly held assumptions, prices at locally owned businesses are sometimes less expensive than those at big-box stores. In an increasingly mobile, electronic and often “faceless” society, many people are craving to become more sociable in public places. Anyone who doubts that should visit the next local farmers’ market where conversation, sociability and fun predominate, often among total strangers. Local businesses constantly promote, directly or indirectly, that sense of downhome “belonging.” People who think and shop locally strengthen the social bonds within cities and parts of cities. Doing so greatly enhances identity, cohesion, safety and all the great services and agencies that make for strong, dynamic cities. We have all driven through those terribly sad-sack towns that withered and then died or are on some kind of life-support because of lack of local patronizing of businesses: stores shuttered, buildings rotting, desolate places that resemble ghost towns. Sad sites, indeed. We can continue to thrive but only if we think local, act local and – yes – shop local. The best way to do that is to visit local businesses, see what they have to offer, chat with the owners and buy merchandise from them. Most shoppers, we are convinced, would be astonished by the benefits of shopping locally, for them and for everyone else who cares about living in a thriving, exciting city.

The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

If, if, if the judge did it . . . If is the biggest little word in the English language. It’s a useful word, but it can also be a slippery eel, squirming away from truths. If former Alabama Judge Roy Moore molested a 14-year-old girl, he should stop his run for U.S. senator. That’s what a lot of Alabamans and American senators are saying: If. To their credit, several Republican senators did not resort to the if word. They have withdrawn their endorsement of Moore for the U.S Senate seat. The if word kept popping up last week after the Washington Post published a story that claims Moore, when he was in his early 30s, molested a 14-year-old girl and had dalliances with three other teenagers. All four, now women in their 50s, went on record with their names. Their charges were corroborated in the news story by 30 independent sources. Why the accusations now, 40 years after the alleged behaviors? Long-time rumors of Moore’s hankering for teenage girls are what spawned the news story. If that story appeared in the Washington Post, it’s obviously yet another example of “fake news.” That’s what many Moore supporters want to believe. In an interview with Sean Hannity, Moore denied the incident with the 14-year-old girl, Leigh Corfman. But then, he went down a meandering verbal path that led to a confusing thicket of contradictory statements and memory gaps that were more like indirect admissions than convincing denials. He said back then he did “not generally” date teenagers and that he does not “remember dating any girl without the permission of her mother.” Many have said the news story is far

Dennis Dalman Editor more credible than Moore’s equivocations. At this point, it’s “they said vs. he said.” Those who say, “If Moore did it . . . “ know perfectly well the accusations will likely never be proven one way or another and certainly not before the Dec. 12 election. So Moore supporters are eager to give him the benefit of the doubt, and that is their right. However, if we set aside the if word for awhile, the contortions of logic, good sense and morality used to defend Moore extend to the disgusting. The Alabama state auditor, for example, resorted to the following twisted justification: “Take Joseph and Mary,” he said. “Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents. There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a bit unusual.” Other Moore defenders are howling like werewolves against the usual scapegoats: the swamp creatures of Washington, D.C.; the crusty Republican Establishment; fake-news; and, of course, they trotted out the ol’ Obama-Clinton Machine (as Moore wrote in a tweet, adding he is now fighting a “spiritual battle”). Many Alabama evangelicals say they will vote for Moore, even if his past is sullied, because that’s better, they say, than voting for a Democrat. Some evangelicals, however, condemned using the Bible as any sort of defense in cases like Moore’s. This eruptive controversy just goes to

show how many moral-ethical-legal lines are now frequently blurred and crossed due to political expediency – an alarming trend these days. Moore, the pistol-packin’ Dixie cowboy, has long been fond of conspiracy theories, including the Obama “birther” lie. The self-styled juggernaut has crossed many a line in his long career. He has had flirtations with neo-Confederate and white-nationalist groups. He was the recipient of undisclosed payments for perks from the Foundation of Moral Law, founded by him. He was twice appointed to the Alabama Supreme Court and twice removed – once for violating a court order to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the Supreme Court building, the other time for encouraging judges to disregard the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage. For those stands, the fightin’ judge was lionized by some, villainized by others. Moore has suggested the 2001 terrorist attacks and the Sandy Hook school massacre of 28 people (including 20 children) were punishments by God because of “declining religiosity.” The Republican Party, the family-values party, should insist this ex-judge, this violator of the Rule of Law, so unfit to serve as senator, should drop from the race. Steve Schmidt, Republican campaign strategist, gave a blistering critique of wink-and-nod Republicans. All of them, he said, must “repudiate the moral rot, the stench, the cancer” that threatens to infect the party by Moore and other reprobates and hypocrites like him. If they do not, Schmidt warned, they will consign their beloved party to a shameful but justified oblivion.

Let’s keep Veteran’s Day special This last week, I was able to participate in my high school’s annual Veterans Day celebration. Our entire student body comes together every year in the gym to honor service members past and present, as well as to recognize those students who are enlisting in the military. For me, it’s always a touching event and one that continues to increase my appreciation for those who have made such large sacrifices for our country. The reverence was felt throughout the room as the flags were carried in by the local VFW. You could hear a pin drop as they were placed on their stands and the band and choir performed the national anthem and several other patriotic songs. I would also like to compliment the speech made by Jim Hovda, who gave us students a great run-through of being in the military and what you should do to respect our nation’s men and women in uniform. I feel like sometimes we’re losing our national connection and appreciation of those who have fought for us. It’s too easy to forget that we in the United States enjoy freedoms many in the world can only dream of. We take almost for granted that we can state our opinions openly, criticize our leaders and vote for who we want in office. It may sometimes seem like our voice isn’t being heard, but in contrast with dictatorships, we have the right to a voice. Military funding is often under threat

Connor Kockler Guest Writer from our political squabbles, and programs that are supposed to be helping veterans, such as the Veterans Administration, have been exposed as being dysfunctional in some cases. This should be a top priority for legislators across the country to fix. The military and those who served have done their part so it’s only fair that we do ours. I also see the way some people are angry at problems in our country, and so they protest the flag or other national symbols. The flag is a symbol of the country as a whole and what we stand for. It’s not something that should be used politically or for attention-seeking. Those who have a gripe should know our veterans fought for that flag every day. They fought for the freedoms people have to even make complaints in the first place. Our country was won through the efforts of brave men and women who decided they were willing to risk their lives to throw off the yoke of a tyrannical monarchy and establish democracy. Soldiers of the United States have fought in many battles against high odds to protect what

the very first Americans started, and for that reason I am forever grateful to those who ensure this country and everyone in it can live to their fullest potential. It takes a special kind of stuff to make a commitment to serve your country and dedicate yourself to protecting it. Our veterans, and their families, go through so much every day in the service of millions of people they don’t even know. They are often sent around the world, risking their lives and comfort in all sorts of conditions. So we should all strive to make sure we’re aware of how lucky we are to live in this great country of ours. We have public schools so all children can get an education. We have the freedom of religion, press and assembly. We have the right to bear arms and the right to a fair trial. That freedom came at a price, and that freedom continues to be defended by our veterans night and day. I know thank you can be a little repetitive, as our service members hear it a lot, but I just want any veterans or military families out there to know just how much I appreciate their sacrifices for everyone in this nation. You are the reason America stays free. All of us here should remember that fact. Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 LEGAL NOTICE STEARNS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION

“A Resolution to Set Public Hearings on a Proposal to Make the Stearns County Recorder Position Appointed” WHEREAS, Laws of 2017, Chapter 92, Article 3, Section 4 authorizes Stearns County to appoint a County Recorder after conducting two public hearings; and WHEREAS, the Stearns County Board of Commissioners, acting under the authority granted in Laws of 2017, Chapter 92, Article 3, sec. 4, hereby proposes a Resolution to make the position of County Recorder appointed and no longer elected; and WHEREAS, pursuant to said Law, the incumbent County Recorder shall serve in that capacity, performing all duties required by statute, until completion of the term of the elected office or, until a vacancy occurs in the office, whichever occurs earlier; and WHEREAS, the Stearns County Board of Commissioners believes

the appointment of a County Recorder will help to ensure longterm professional management of the Recorder function and will create opportunities for beneficial organizational changes. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Stearns County Board of Commissioners hereby schedules public hearings on the proposal to make the County Recorder positon appointed as follows: Date: Nov. 28, 2017 Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud Date: Dec. 12, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud Publish: Nov. 17 and 24, 2017

In Business

Local psychologist receives SCSU honor

Licensed psychologist Dennis Anderson, who resides in Sartell, was recently awarded the 2016/2017 Alumni Service Award by the SCSU Alumni Association. This reflects both service at the university where he has been an adjunct instructor for many years as well as service to the community. Andersen’s community involvement includes being a charter member of St. Cloud Granite Rotary and designated a Paul Harris fellow; board chair of Wacosa; board chair of Big Brothers and Big

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Sisters; treasurer for five years and president for four years of Minnesota Psychological Association having been recognized as a distinguished elder; board member and secretary for St. Cloud Freedom Flight/Honor Flight for 26 years; and board member for Friends of Lindbergh Heritage in Little Falls. Andersen practices at Central Minnesota Counseling Center which he founded in 1977 and is currently located at 103 Doctors Park in St. Cloud.

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Community Calendar Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, Nov. 17 Holiday Open House, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Central Minnesota Credit Union, 1300 Elm St. E., St. Joseph and 14284 Fruit Farm Road, Collegeville. 888330-8482. Craft and bake sale, sponsored by Foley Area Community Action Respecting Elders, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Frandsen Bank, 341 Fourth Ave. N., Foley. 320-968-7848. St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-267-7717. St. Joseph Area Historical Society, open 4-7 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave NW. stjosephhistoricalmn. org St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320-3394533. stcloudsingles.net

For additional stories...

Due to space constraints, the Newsleader cannot always print all of the news in a given week. Additional stories can always be found on our website, www. thenewsleaders.com, by clicking on the header for St. Joseph and scrolling through the stories. We also post stories to our Facebook page, so be sure to like us for additional online content!

Saturday, Nov. 18 Holiday Craft Sale, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., 24+ vendors, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. lwallin@gmail.com. A Nation of Nations, 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m., Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, Minn. Registration recommended. http://www.mnhs.org/ event/3782 Sabre Dance Team annual showcase, 2 and 6 p.m., Sartell High School, 748 Seventh St. N., Sartell. Fee. Sunday, Nov. 19 Free Community Thanksgiving Meal, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Heritage Hall, Church of St. Joseph, 12 W. Minnesota St. 320-249-5718. Bach to Broadway by the Legacy Chorale, 4 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. 218270-8212. legacychorale.org Fee. Monday, Nov. 20 Lunch and cards, sponsored by Helping Hands Outreach, noon-3 p.m., Rusty Nail, 4 CR 2 S., St. Stephen.

St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. St. Joseph City Council, 6 p.m., council chambers, St. Joseph City Hall, 75 Callaway St. E. 320-3637201. cityofstjoseph.com St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Tuesday, Nov. 21 Community Lunch and Entertainment, sponsored by Helping Hands Outreach, noon-2 p.m., St. Stephen Parish Hall, 103 CR 2 S. 320746-9960. St. Cloud Area Genealogists, 7 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org Thursday, Nov. 23 Sauk Rapids Chamber of Commerce, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-251-2940. St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph.

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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Nov. 17, 2017

Rifle deer season means busy St. Joseph Meat Market by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleader.com

Many hunters have already started packing up their blaze-orange gear after a successful (or not so successful) deer-hunting season. But for staff at the St. Joseph Meat Market, the conclusion of rifle season equals the kick-off to the busiest time of the year. “Usually we really start getting busy in November with the first few weeks spent doing venison processing,” said Wendy Theisen, whose father, Harvey Pfannenstein, owns the market. “And then it turns into the holiday rush.” Venison processing has only recently returned to the St. Joseph Meat Market after a several-year hiatus. “Harvey had quit venison processing all together,” Theisen said. “But he started doing it as a side thing at the shop at his house for his friends and family.” But after tons of requests from customers, Theisen said the meat market returned to the venison-processing business about eight years ago. “Our customers were thrilled,” she said. Much of the venison processing done at St. Joseph Meat Market is from hunters who live in central Minnesota. Each person’s deer is processed individually. “We feel if you take the time to take good care of your deer, that’s what you should get back,” Theisen said. The St. Joseph Meat Market allows customers to bring in the deer how they see fit. Leaving it whole, boneless or in quarters, Theisen said staff

will help the customer get the exact products they want to fill their freezers. The St. Joseph Meat Market accepts deer drop-offs at its retail store Monday through Friday during normal business hours – 6:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 6:15 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. By far, the most requested item is the meat market’s venison brats. “Our regular, country-style seasoning (brats) are our best seller,” she said. “Followed by wieners and snack sticks. Our sausage kitchen can work some magic. But those snack sticks are becoming more and more popular.” Staff have also been known to do other special requests with venison like roasts, chops and bacon. On average, Theisen said it can take between seven and 10 days for the meat market to process a deer. And that can fluctuate depending on the demand. “It’s going to be busy,” Theisen said. “But we’re pretty fast. We have a great venison meat-cutting crew. We just ask the customers to be patient.” The St. Joseph Meat Market has been in the Pfannenstein family since 1968. Its current owner, Harvey Pfannenstein, is a second-generation Pfannenstein owner. The meat market has won a multitude of state awards for its products, including snack sticks, ring bologna, smoked turkey and bacon. The St. Joseph-based company has also claimed national titles for its maple breakfast links, braunschweiger and fresh pork sausage. The meat market employs about 30 people.

The St. Joseph Meat Market had spent the final week of October preparing for rifle deer-season opener. Meat market employee Wendy Theisen said the opening of rifle deer season is the kick-off to the business’s busy season.

Hundreds of brats are stacked neatly inside a cooler at the St. Joseph Meat Market. Brats are the most commonly requested product customers ask for when getting their deer processed at the meat market.

photos by Vicki Ikeogu

At left: St. Joseph Meat Market employee Scott Shaloch of Cold Spring prepares an order of cheddar brats for a customer. Shaloch has been with the meat market for two years. Below: Freshly cut meat products sit on display at the St. Joseph Meat Market.