St. Joseph Newsleader - Feb. 17, 2017

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Four Kennedy students Town Crier place in spelling bee Friday, Feb. 17, 2017 Volume 29, Issue 7 Est. 1989

Swing Dance set Feb. 20 at SHS

The Sartell High School Swing Dance, a first-time event, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20 at Sartell High School. Three performance groups will play in the SHS Commons: the High School Jazz Band, the Middle School Jazz Band, as well as special guest, West Metro Big Band. Before the main event, swing-dance lessons will be provided fro 6-7 p.m by StudioJeff of St. Cloud. These lessons require no payment. Free-will donations are encouraged. All donations benefit the Sartell High School Band Activity Fund, which covers the Jazz Band, Pep Band and Marching Band.

FUMC to host Muslim presentation

“The Faith and Experience of Our Muslim Neighbors,” a Sharing our Sacred Stories presentation held in cooperation with the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning, will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26 in First United Methodist Church of the St. Cloud region, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. Abdirizak Jama, a St. John’s University junior premed and chemistry major, will present on his personal experience and those within our community. Born in Somalia, his family fled the country due to the civil war and settled in a refugee camp in Kenya for six years before resettling in the United States in 2010. Jama attended St. Cloud Technical High School where he won the Partners in Education Award. At SJU, he also won the Caritas Man of Extraordinary Service Award. A Somali dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. RSVPs may be emailed to fumc@fumcscr.org. For more information, call 320-251-0804.

Become a hospice volunteer

Kind people like you are needed to provide companionship to hospice patients in Central Minnesota.

St. Croix Hospice companions visit patients and families and offer emotional support as a part of their hospice team. Visiting may involve talking with patients and families, reading to patients or participating in activities with them. Visiting times are flexible and are individualized to volunteers’ schedules. Training is provided as well as ongoing support from the dedicated hospice team.

For information on this and other United Way volunteer opportunities, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Feb. 17 Criers.

See inside for our Abduction Awareness special section honoring Jacob Wetterling

by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com

You can tell what time of year it is without even looking at the calendar. Just ask what’s happening at the local schools.

Winter Snow Festival? Valentine’s Day Dance? Spelling Bee? Yes indeed. If it’s February, it’s spelling-bee time. And this year St. Joseph’s Kennedy School sponsored a team. While the emphasis on spelling is not what it used to be, and spell check helps many of us through much of the tedium of proofing our writing, a good speller can save time just by knowing how to spell a word without using the spell-check crutch.

Students from Kennedy who participated this year were fifth-grader Lilli Midy, sixthgrader Morgan Bissett and eighth-graders Jared Hennigs

and Paige Cox. Cox would have gone on to participate in the regional spelling bee, sponsored

by Resource Training and Solutions on Feb. 8, but she got sick the day of the competition and missed her last chance at competition at that level.

The Newsleader had a chance to talk with the students about what it was like to participate and how they prepared for the event.

Many of the older participants had competed in previous spelling bees. A few had success and moved from the initial in-school bee to the regional bee. Hennigs said he had competed previously, but he hadn’t moved on to the next level. The secret for him was his love of reading. It exposes him to many new and unusual words.

Bee • page 6

St. Joseph residents place first in Newsleaders’ Love Selfie contest

contributed photo

Candice Larson and daughter Sierra Jones of St. Joseph took first place; Mike Myers-Schleif and his daughter Kylie, both of Sauk Rapids, won second place; and Cindy and Brandon Reichel, both of Sartell, won third place. Thank you to all who entered the Newsleaders’ Love Selfie Valentine’s contest.

Watch the Newsleaders for our next contest due out in March.

To view all submissions, visit www.thenewsleaders.com.

He was driving fine, then he was sinking

by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com

Duane Scepaniak of St. Joseph was driving his new red GMC Sierra across the ice on Big Swan Lake near Grey Ea- Scepaniak gle in Todd County.

“I was driving along just fine,” he said, “but then all of sudden I wasn’t driving anymore. I was sinking. There was

a thin spot on that ice and obviously I found it.”

Scepaniak, a retired smallgrain farmer in his mid-60s, relived the experience in a Feb. 12 interview with the St. Joseph Newsleader.

On the early afternoon of Jan. 27, Scepaniak and his neighbor and friend, David Walz, decided to go ice-fishing. So they drove to Big Swan Lake, with Scepaniak behind the wheel of the Sierra he’d just purchased, having paid its first payment just the month before.

It was the first time Scep-

aniak said he had ever fished that lake, although Walz had – once before.

“We were going for the big crappies,” he said. “But we only caught two perch.”

They decided to drive back to shore and then head out to Big Birch Lake to try their luck with sunnies.

Without warning, so suddenly, the truck came to a stop as the men saw ice flying past the truck’s windows.

“Breaking rough ice!” Scepaniak yelled. “We gotta get out!”

Scepaniak had always heard

before people die they see their lives flash by in seconds.

“Well, I didn’t have time,” Scepaniak said. “It happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to start reliving anything. I couldn’t believe it was happening, but it was.”

In a split second, he did remember how people have always told him the door of a vehicle won’t open if it’s deep in water.

“I decided to try opening the door,” he said. “Nope. They were right. Wouldn’t open.

Sinking • page 3

Daddy Daughter Date Night set Feb. 25 forges good bonds

by Mollie Rushmeyer news@thenewsleaders.com

contributed photo

The fifth annual Daddy Daughter Date Night, which will be held starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph is a great way for fathers and father figures to spend time with their daughters.

Dancing, dinner and prizes await attendees.

www.thenewsleaders.com

Christian Medford, event director for Leighton Broadcasting, set out five years ago to create what he calls his passion project, Daddy Daughter Date Night, to show his daughters not only how much they mean to him but how they should be treated in the future.

The fifth annual Daddy Daughter Date Night for fathers and father figures, and their daughters will be held at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Gorecki Center on the College of St. Benedict campus in St. Joseph.

Experts have long said there is a correlation between the strength of the bond a father and daughter have and her self-esteem, health of her relationships as she grows up and even how well she does in school.

For Medford, a St. Cloud resident, and husband and dad of two girls, ages 9 and 6 (with another on the way), it beNight • page 9

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

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Ask a Trooper

People Ten St. Joseph students were recently named to the fall president’s list at St. Cloud Technical and Community College.

They are the following: Anna Emerson, Haley Huls, Kaylee Lodermeier, Mitch-

ell Lowell, Blayne Murphy, Barbara Schloemer, Michael Schroden, Daniel Walz, Austin Williams and Amy Anderson.

Students must attain a 4.0 minimum grade-point average to qualify for this honor.

Thrivent Financial inducted into CMHFH Hall of Fame, announces 25th home construction partnership After an exciting and eventful 2016, Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity kicked off the new year by thanking and recognizing its many donors, volunteers and business partners at the annual Dream Builders Reception at the Kelly Inn. Each year CMHFH recognizes a local business that has been donating cash or in-kind services and materials to its organization. They also demonstrate a consistent, long-time, active interest in helping CMHFH reach its goals. The partner businesses also demonstrate a passion for the mission of Habitat for Humanity that is at the heart of their donations. This year’s inductee is Thrivent Financial.

“One of Habitat for Humanity’s strongest partners locally, nationally and internationally is Thrivent Financial,” said Bruce Johnson, executive director of CMHFH. “Through our partnership, we will have built and sold 25 homes to local, low-income families in Central Minnesota by the end of this year.”

During the past 10 years, Thrivent Financial has awarded more than $2 million in grants to Central Minnesota, helping 24 families attain safe, affordable housing. CMHFH will once again be partnering with Thrivent to build the 25th Thrivent Builds home for the Jama-Aynab family in 2017. The $66,000 grant from Thrivent will be used to build a home on a reclaimed lot in the Se-

berger neighborhood in St. Cloud.

Construction is set to start this summer.

The grant, a part of the Thrivent Builds program, provides half of the financial support needed to build a home. The rest of the support is raised from local businesses, churches and members of the community. The homes are built by volunteers from sponsoring businesses, churches the partner family and the general public.

“The Thrivent/Habitat partnership is a great fit because it engages the whole community and gives them the opportunity to live out the values of connecting finances with faith and living generously,” said Steve Reetz, a Thrivent Financial representative in St. Cloud and CMHFH board member.

“It’s inspiring to see Thrivent members and others continuously give of their time and talents to help families in local communities and around the world have safe, affordable housing,” said Brad Hewitt, president and CEO of Thrivent.

The Jama-Aynab family of six is excited for the construction to start on their Habitat house.

Khadra and Saleban and their four children are most looking forward to being able to settle into a permanent home where their family can thrive. Through homeownership, the couple plans to teach their children how to be responsible and take care of a house.

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

How should I report people who snow blow their snow into the street?

Q: What should I do about my neighbor who snow blows the snow from his driveway into the street? I do not know who to report this to. This morning I nearly had an accident sliding down our street.

A: There is a law that covers this issue. The state statute says it’s unlawful to obstruct any highway or deposit snow or ice on the road. This prohibits the plowing, blowing, shoveling or otherwise placing of snow onto public roads. This

includes the ditch and right-ofway area along the roads. There may be local ordinances against it as well.

Violations are considered misdemeanors, but civil liability also applies if the placement of snow creates a hazard, such as a slippery area, frozen rut or bump that contributes to a motor vehicle or pedestrian crash.

The civil liability can extend to both the property owner and the person who placed the snow. Report this type of

violation to your local police or sheriff’s departments.

A portion of state statutes was used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Hwy. 10 W., Detroit Lakes, Minn. 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @ MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).

People Three St. Joseph students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at St. Cloud Technical and Community College.

They are the following: Betty Grell, Michael Pfannenstein and Aniza Shukri.

Students must attain a 3.5 minimum grade-point average to qualify for this honor.

Two St. Joseph students recently graduated from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth.

They, their majors and any honors achieved are as follows: Kimberly Walz, bachelor’s in nursing; and Jacob Zetah, master’s in teaching.

Katrina Johnson of St. Joseph was recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul.

Students must attain a minimum 3.5 grade-point average to qualify for this honor.

Gaslight Creative, a full-service, boutique-style advertising agency in St. Cloud, took home 15 awards at the 2017 American Advertising Awards Show held

Feb. 11 at 912 Regency Plaza in downtown St. Cloud. The annual awards competition was hosted by the American Advertising Federation of Central Minnesota and celebrates excellence in advertising. Gaslight’s innovative body of work impressed the out-of-market judges, including work created for local and regional clients Eel River Brewing, Vertex International, Rail~volution and Third Street Brewhouse.

Among the 15 awards, Gaslight Creative received two coveted Judge’s Choice Awards. Gaslight’s 10-member team, comprised of graphic designers, web developers, copywriters, account managers and marketing strategists, is led by co-founders Kelly Zaske and Jodie Pundsack. Since its inception in June 2009, the agency has worked with a wide range of local, regional and national clients and has garnered 80 American AdvertisingAwards, including 2013 Best of Show. The agency is headquartered in downtown St. Cloud.

Two local food establishments with ties to St. Joseph were recently recognized for their efforts in food safety by the Stearns

County Board of Commissioners at their Feb. 7 meeting. Taco John’s and the District 742 Area Learning Center, both in Waite Park, demonstrated outstanding performance in the area of food safety during 2016. Every year, since 2003, Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department has issued Food Safety Awards to one school and one restaurant within the county. The awards are presented to those establishments that do an excellent job promoting food safety in their business year after year. Commissioners recognized both Taco John’s and the Waite Park Area Learning Center with a plaque for their outstanding achievement. Aaron Holthaus, owner of the Waite Park and St. Joseph Taco John’s with Waite Park Taco John’s manager Miranda Nesgoda, accepted their award. Barb Gillitzer, Kristi Scott, Michelle Hodel and Heather Linn, cooks at the Area Learning Center, accepted the award on behalf of the school.

Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department is responsible for inspections of restaurants located within the county. Stearns County licenses approximately 400 food establishments.

ARLINGTON PLACE ASSISTED LIVING in St. Joseph POSITIONS AVAILABLE

HOME HEALTH AIDE

A.M. & P.M. positions available 3-4 days/week

including every other weekend/holiday

Duties include: daily personal care, grooming, dressing, light meal prep, medication administration and light to moderate housekeeping.

If interested please stop by for an application or call Charles Huyink at (320) 363-1313.

21 16th Ave. SE St. Joseph, MN 56374

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The Newsleaders

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

Sinking from front page Trust me, I tried it.”

The men did manage to roll down their windows, and both escaped, crawling onto the back of the truck and then onto the ice. Walz helped pull his buddy out the window because Scepaniak was a little creaky, having recently undergone knee-replacement surgery.

“Yup, I have two new hips and one new knee that was put in four weeks ago,” he said, sighing. “It’s a hard-knock life.”

Luckily, the truck’s wheels came to rest on a sandbar about four feet beneath the surface.

“We were like a couple of squirrels trying to get out of there,” he said. “But we did, and we didn’t get wet. To say going through ice was a surprise? Well, that doesn’t quite sum up the situation! Oh no!

We were looking death in the eyes. We thought that, anyway.

We were sinking really fast. I was thinking how I’d get the shock of the cold water, then gasping for air, then trying to

If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320255-1301, 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 a crime.

Dec. 7 1:48 a.m. Found property. 25 College Ave N. A woman brought in a female’s wallet she said was left at Bello Cucina a week or so ago. She stated the wallet did not have an ID in it but did have some cards. The officer contacted the female and she stated she would stop by the police station to pick it up. The wallet was entered into property.

5:34 a.m. Alarm. 600 15th Ave

crawl out of the hole. Surprise?

Oh, no. It was traumatizing.

That’s what it was.”

Walking to shore, careful to avoid any possible holes in the ice, the men used a cell phone to call for help.

“My wife didn’t believe it,” Scepaniak said. “Then Dave had to yell into the phone at her that we’re not kidding! Then she believed it, and then she thanked God she wasn’t with us.”

The two men managed to retrieve their fishing gear from the sunken truck.

“Even the bait,” he said.

Scepaniak has been driving on ice for decades and never once fell through.

“Ice is not safe anywhere,” he said. “This year, there’s no hard freezes.”

It took a towing company many tries before getting the truck out of its stuck place.

It took seven hours and three guys. The truck was a total loss.

“Thank God I had insurance,” he said. “Now, I have a new truck just like the other one.”

During a visit to the junk yard to see his Sierra, Scepaniak

Blotter

NE. An officer was dispatched to an alarm. The driver in the back of the building said he probably hit the wrong code. Other workers were on scene. No issues.

Dec. 9 8:55 p.m. Third-degree DWI. Minnesota Street E/12th Ave. NE. An officer was dispatched to a driving complaint coming into St. Joseph from CR 133. Dispatch advised the vehicle was described as a red SUV with Minnesota plates.

Complainant advised the vehicle was weaving all over the road. The officer located the vehicle at CR 133/CR 75. The vehicle continued south across CR 75 onto 12th Avenue SE. The officer got behind the vehicle on 12th Avenue S.E. The vehicle turned onto Minnesota Street E. Dispatch advised there was a named complainant willing

grabbed into the glove compartment to retrieve car-insurance documents, a plat book, maps and other papers.

“Yup, they were there alright,” he said with a deadpan chuckle. “There they were, frozen inside a block of ice about 8 by 8.”

Ever since his close call, Scepaniak has been having flashbacks.

“It’s just nuts!” he said. “I swear I need counseling after that. A trauma. I can see it when I close my eyes.”

Back home that day, he was surrounded by hugs and happiness.

“They were so happy I didn’t come home in a black bag,” he said. “So was I. I’m absolutely happy to be alive.”

He and his wife, Jane, have three children and seven grandchildren.

“I have the most loving family you can imagine,” he said.

Scepaniak is happy to be driving his brand-new GMC Sierra.

Will he take it ice-fishing?

“No!” he said, without a pause. “I’ll go ice-fishing. Sure.

With a three-wheeler.”

to give a statement. The officer activated their lights to stop the vehicle. Vehicle slowed to stop, hit mailbox and drove up on the curb.

The officer made contact with the driver who had blood-shot and watery eyes, slurred speech and strong odor of alcohol. The driver denied drinking but eventually admitted to two Busch Light pounders.

9:02 p.m. Domestic. 30-½ Date St. W. An officer was dispatched to a domestic at 30-1/2 Date St W. The officer met with the female suspect who was crying and emotional. The officer obtained a statement from the victim who said a man threatened to jab her eye out while holding a piece of glass on Wednesday. The victim also advised the male threatened her with a hammer earlier in the day. The officer located the man and arrested him. The man denied the threats.

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People

contributed photo

Adam Hansen, founder of A-Cab Custom Woodworking, is pictured in front of the company’s new product line soon to be announced following the change in name of the company to Hansen & Co. Woodworks. After 13 years of success in the custom woodworking industry, A-Cab Custom Woodworking of St. Joseph, a local manufacturer of cabinets, caseworks, millworks, countertops and other finishes, recently announced a new name and new brand. After reflecting on its presence in the market, how it has grown and changed, and those who’ve made the company successful, the company decided to move forward with the name Hansen & Co. Woodworks Inc.

Tools for Schools seeks donations, connections How do you define a tool? Of course it’s a hammer – it could also be a calculator, a computer program, knowledge, experience.

A tool is anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose.

Such as education is a tool for success. The Central Minnesota Builders Association Tools For Schools Committee wishes to renovate the term “tools.”

Tools For Schools, an initiative of the CMBA, has been diligently supporting High School Industrial Arts programs in the Central Minnesota area since 2004. In 2016,

$12,000 in funds were donated to purchase supplies; upgrade tools and finance skill-building contests to support the next generation of construction-trade professionals.

Through connection, communication and promotion, the members of the CMBA Tools For Schools and Presidents’ Fund and Initiative are hoping to create an even stronger bridge for the future workers to walk across. To learn more, go to www.cmbaonline.org/careers-education/tools-schools. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on Feb. 10 People.

ST. JOSEPH ROD AND GUN CLUB 24th ANNUAL

ice fishing contest 3rd SATURDAY

Saturday, Feb. 18

If cancelled because of poor ice/weather, NO RESCHEDULE. Refunds upon request.

NOON-2:30 P.M. • KRAEMER LAKE

Tickets: $15 Advanced (Until 6 p.m., Feb. 17) $20 At The Lake $10 Kids (15 & under) Advanced & at the Lake PRIZES:

Over $3,000 In Prizes

Two Categories: Game and Pan Fish

$200 FOR LARGEST FISH $150 FOR 2nd LARGEST $100 FOR 3rd LARGEST

D E L L E ANC ice/weather.

5 GRAND PRIZES:

r C o poo t e u d

An overnight fish house rental for 4 people on Upper Red Lake!

Donated by JR’s Corner Access. Sign up at the lake. Must be present to win.

Donated by the St. Joseph Rod & Gun Club:

(1) Clam Fish Trap Scout Ice House (2) HT Polar Fire XT Power Ice Auger

. urchase ce of p la p t a 1 All Other Registered Fish Qualify For h Of 20 – $20 Cash Drawings! arcOne efore M THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST bAWARDED MANY DOOR PRIZES ued(MUST s is s BE PRESENT TO WIN) d Refun (1) Clam Big Foot XL Ice House

First 200 Kids (15 & Under) Receive Free Ice Fishing Gear With Valid Ticket!

LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS Restrooms & Warming House Available Tickets Available at Stop Light Bait, St. Cloud; Shell Gas & Bait, Cold Spring; American Legion, St. Joseph; St. Joseph Liquor Shoppe, St. Joseph; SuperAmerica, St. Joseph or online at www.stjoerodandgunclub.org

FOR INFORMATION CALL 320-363-8803 or 320-251-2881 ALL STATE LAWS APPLY

Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc.

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Local Blend St. Joseph Meat Market St. Joseph Newsleader Office SuperAmerica

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Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon

Editor Dennis Dalman

Operations Assistant Rajahna Schneekloth

Operations Director Tara Wiese

Assignment Editor Frank Lee

Delivery Bruce Probach

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.

P.O. Box 324 • 32 1st Ave. N.W. • St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 Phone: (320) 363-7741 • Fax: (320) 363-4195 • E-mail: news@thenewsleaders.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ST. JOSEPH NEWSLEADER, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374.

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Our View Support immigrants after ban’s ugly shadow

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Opinion

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

Replace Obamacare? Look to Minnesota As hungry hounds get ready to rip apart Obamacare, all Americans should start looking to Minnesota for answers on how to replace it.

In 1992, Republican Gov. Arne Carlson and bipartisan legislators created what’s called MinnesotaCare, a state-operated health-insurance program. Thanks to that program, close to 110,000 Minnesotans now have affordable health coverage, based on income levels. And, as Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton recently noted, the program runs with less than 3 percent in annual overhead costs, which is vastly more efficient than other kinds of plans.

Dayton and DFL’ers Sen. Tony Lourey and Rep. Clark Johnson recently wrote a column recommending all Minnesotans should be allowed to buy health insurance through MinnesotaCare. Their premiums would cover the full costs of their policies so there would be no need for state subsidies, say Dayton and the two legislators.

They call it the MinnesotaCare Buy-in Option. On the national scene, leaders like Bernie Sanders have long called for a similar national plan called the Medicare Buy-in Option. What these options would amount to, more or less, is a one-payer health-care system, although people could still buy their own insurance plans in the marketplace – those who could afford it, that is.

All other civilized countries on this planet have one-payer, universal-coverage health systems, and contrary to longentrenched propaganda, their health-care outcomes are not substandard, not trainwrecks, not dealers of death. In fact, they rate highly year after year, according to studies by the World Health Organization and other watchdog agencies.

To be sure, Obamacare has its prob-

The framers of the “travel ban,” signed

by President Donald Trump, keep insisting it’s not a “ban on Muslims.”

However, imagine how it feels to be a hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying Somali man, woman or child right here in our area – many of whom have become by now full-fledged American citizens.

Imagine how they felt when Trump, as a candidate, promised a ban on the entry of Muslims into this country. And imagine how they now feel? We are told the ban is not a blanket exclusion of Muslims, and yet – remembering Trump’s campaign promise – how can we and especially the Muslims among us be reassured of the intentions behind that ban?

And, now, imagine how our ancestors – German, Scandinavian, Irish, Slovenian – would have felt if our government back then suddenly one day placed a blanket ban on travel from those areas of the world. Fears, suspicions and insecurities would have surfaced quickly. Immigrants to this country have often been faced with hostilities, with tensions and prejudices one against another because of ethnicity, religion or color. There was often a fear of the “other,” a fear of “differences,” with too many people bemoaning with a sigh, Letter to the editor: “Why can’t they all be like us?”

When a president of the United States and his inner-office advisors initiate blanket bans almost literally overnight, with no Tom Ellenbecker, St. Joseph wise planning and with no rational explatoo, have concerns about the new nations, who can blame anyone for being cityI, sign as a previous letter-to-editor angry or distraught? writer (“Needless city sign distracts drivNo one is faulting the Trump Admin- ers,” Newsleader, Feb 10). After touring the government facility during Monday’s istration for trying to beef up security by new open house, I voiced apprehensions to St. meticulously reconsidering methods to vet Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein.

Placing a message board between two any newcomer to this country. Vetting proof the most dangerous crosswalks in the cedures are already lengthy and involved, but if they can be improved, they should be. Border security is important, and it “Why are you fishing in the minnow should be strengthened, absolutely. bucket? You need to put your line in the However, this blanket ban is not the ice hole to catch a big one.” That was the way to do it. It is like trying to swat a fly (a response from my daughter’s father when potential terrorist) with a giant fly swatter I sent him a picture of the palm-sized I caught two weekends ago on Julia that is comprised of only a frame with no perch Lake near Clear Lake. It was the only fish swatting surface.

I caught after two full days of ice fishing. I Apparently, the framers of the travel ban should have kept it as a friend to my eightinch goldfish at home. are rewriting it, hopefully this time with I hadn’t been ice fishing in years until common sense and constitutional guar- my dad and brother asked if I’d like to go antees uppermost in mind. In the mean- with them to a few local lakes. I love to fish, but I don’t get very many opportutime, we who have long lived in America, nities to go, so I jump at every chance I thanks to our immigrant ancestors, should get. But, much as I love ice fishing, I am make sure the newer immigrants in our often haunted and deeply saddened by two tragedies, both related to ice fishing, that midst are safe, welcomed and protected. occurred in my past. I will revisit those Signing an order for a blanket ban is tragedies toward the end of this column.

The recent warm weather has also been certainly not the way to do that.

Dennis Dalman Editor lems, as does health-care insurance in general (in many cases, escalating premiums and/or high deductibles). Those could be remedied if all factions would come together to improve it. But those who have hated it lock, stock, barrel since its inception are committed to killing it off – never mind 20 million Americans are covered because of it. And never mind the historic firsts it introduced, such as no denial because of pre-existing conditions, to name just one.

It’s always mordantly amusing when pollsters ask people if they approve of the Affordable Care Act, and many answer “Yes.” When those same people are asked if they approve of Obamacare, they answer an outraged “No!” In fact, they are different names for the same thing. And those knee-jerk responses are proof positive those who most disfavor Obamacare with a kind of blind hatred have not done their homework; they’ve been listening to the noisy propagandists.

The Republicans are promising to replace the ACA with a system that will be far more affordable, more cost-efficient and one that will cover every American.

Well, I for one, say, “Bring it on!” If they can manage that miracle, they’ll get my vote for sure in the next election. Even former President Barack Obama said such a Republican-devised system, if it delivers such sunshine promises, would be worthy of universal support.

However, let’s not count chickens before they hatch, especially not when the chickens are now in the embryonic stages of health-savings accounts and increased market competition, both notoriously ineffective when it comes to the health-care industry, although of course competition is part of the solution. There is intense competition, for example, in a one-payer system.

The following is an excerpt from the Dayton-Lourey-Johnson column: “Republicans, Democrats and all Minnesotans agree we need more affordable health insurance. We also agree there needs to be more competition to give consumers better choices while purchasing the coverage they need at prices they can afford . . . We ought to take our lesson from a program – MinnesotaCare – that has worked successfully for decades, and now give more Minnesotans the choice to purchase this high-quality insurance at lower prices.”

One of the Republican replacement ideas is to let states come up with their own solutions. Trouble is, states have been doing that forever – states like Mississippi and Texas where so many residents have no health insurance at all (coverage they cannot afford) and where some people are literally dying because they could not get preventive services that might have saved them.

This is America; we are all Americans; and we should demand all Americans have affordable access to health care across the board, in all 50 states, not just some. Minnesota has long been a leader for that goal, and that is why these Obamacare-replacement planners should start paying closer attention to how health care is handled here in the “Star of the North.”

Needless city sign distracts drivers city is, at best, a bad idea. Cars coming from the south are driving between 35 and 45 mph and, despite all the signs, are paying little attention to the crosswalks and pedestrians. The cars from the north approach the first crosswalk at a curve and, now, their attention is drawn even further to the left. They may not even notice someone who has entered the crosswalk from their right.

The irony of the message “Drive Safely

– do not text and drive” should read “Drive Safely – do not read this message and drive.”

I hope this additional distraction does not add to the number of close calls I (and others) have had in these crosswalks. Or, God forbid, someone gets hit because of it. The city should seek legal advice for their possible liability and either remove the sign and/or put up flashing crosswalk lights.

So-happy ice fishing can turn tragic

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.

a factor as to how often we can go. At first, I thought how nice it was, that I wouldn’t have to freeze. But as soon as we got out to the lake and ready to drive out, we realized there was three inches of water on top of the ice. The temperature was about 37 degrees. I was a little skeptical, but once on the ice we were able to see there were many other trucks, trailers and houses that had already beaten us to the good spots.

And we determined the ice was 16 inches thick.

After trudging through the water, setting up the fish house, auguring the holes and putting the lines down, we were finally settled and ready to catch the big one. All

Tara Wiese Guest Writer the hustle and bustle to sit and sit and sit.

My line went down and I tried to set the line.

Just as soon as I could no longer see the bobber, the line came back up to the top.

The big one got away. Or did it? I wanted to make sure it didn’t take the bait and up came my little perch buddy. We laughed and laughed. I had to get a picture of me holding my “enormous” catch. A short time later, my brother caught its close relative. What a great day of fishing. Although we didn’t catch the big one, I still had a great day out with my dad and brother.

It’s times like these I cherish so much.

Years from now, I’ll be able to look back and remember all the water on the ice and how difficult it was for us to catch our little friend.

We had planned on heading out again the following weekend, but the weather was in the 30s all week. I hoped for a few cold days so the ice would have a chance to refreeze. In recent weeks, there had been a truck that went through the ice on Horseshoe Lake in Richmond, a truck went through the ice with two St. Joseph residents just north of Grey Eagle, a snowmo-

bile and an ATV went through the ice near Cold Spring, and on Feb. 12 a car went through the ice on Pearl Lake. Fortunately, nobody died in any of those incidents.

If you think you are invincible, that it can’t happen to you, think again. Thirty years ago this March, my grandfather and his friend were ice-fishing and both of them were walking to shore when they fell through the ice at a place where there was an unmarked spear-fishing hole.

They were not able to make it to safety.

They drowned. Twenty-three years ago, my daughter’s grandfather and uncle on her dad’s side had their truck go through the ice. Her uncle was able to make it to safety but unfortunately her grandfather did not make it.

Please, please understand that ice is never completely safe under any conditions. Here are the ice-thickness guidelines, according to the Minnesota DNR’s website.

2” or less – stay off 4” - ice fishing or other activities on foot 5” - snowmobile or ATV 8-12” - car or small pickup 12-15” - medium truck Cars, pickups or SUVs should be parked at least 50 feet apart and moved every two hours to prevent sinking.

If you plan on driving out on ice with a car or truck, make sure to have your windows open, your seatbelt off and discuss an emergency plan with your passengers.

For more information about fishing guidelines, regulations or safety, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

5

Defunders, defenders rally at Planned Parenthood

by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com

To defend or to defund? That question hung in the nippy air when nearly 150 people carrying signs stood in front of the Planned Parenthood Clinic in east St. Cloud last Saturday morning.

The demonstration lasted from 10 a.m. until noon.

Some showed up to support national and state efforts to defund Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the nation, claiming it is an anti-life organization that promotes and performs abortions. Those efforts to defund the organization have gathered congressional momentum after the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency.

Other demonstrators, most of them holding bright-pink placards, stood streetside to proclaim their strong support for Planned Parenthood and its commitment to women’s health issues. Many noted the St. Cloud clinic does not perform abortions, contrary to what some opponents claim.

Pro-choice proponents, like pro-life factions, have both been energized since Trump became the nation’s president.

Similar demonstrations, proand-con Planned Parenthood, occurred Saturday in many cities in Minnesota and elsewhere in the nation.

As demonstrators hoisted their hand-made signs along East St. Germain Street in St.

Cloud, many vehicles sped past, some of the drivers loudly blaring their horns, but it was not evident if they were honking with agreement or disagreement – or in support of or against the two factions of demonstrators.

The Planned Parenthood Clinic at 451 E. St. Germain has for many years been the site of peaceful demonstrations by anti-abortion groups. The Feb. 11 demonstration, too, was peaceful and civil, with some of the people in the differing camps exchanging respectful – if opposing – words.

Those who attended were motivated by a number of organizations or budding movements, two of the main ones being “40 Days for Life,” “Protest PP Coalition,” “Defend Planned Parenthood” and “Expect Resistance.”

Karen Knafla of Sartell said she was happy to be at the demonstration to rally for the pro-life cause. Standing on the sidewalk with her sign, she said she had demonstrated many times in front of the Planned Parenthood St. Cloud clinic and intends to keep doing so in the future.

Brianna Garrison of St. Cloud, standing just 10 yards from Knafla, said she organized via Facebook to rally demonstrators for Defend Planned Parenthood. Garrison works for a company that raises funds for non-profit entities.

“On Facebook, it started with inviting people to attend

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this event, and it just grew and grew,” Garrison said. “On our RSVP Facebook page, at first 50 people signed up (to participate in the demonstration).

And about 200 more people said they were interested in it.

These people here show the amount of solidarity we have in St. Cloud.”

The St. Cloud Women’s Center at St. Cloud State University also encouraged many people to attend the demonstration in support of Planned Parenthood.

Betsy Murphy of St. Joseph carried her sign with a message that read “I am Pro-Choice and Pro-Life.” Murphy helped organize the pro-Planned Parenthood organizers who hailed from St. Joseph, Avon, Albany and elsewhere.

Murphy handed the Newsleader a written statement outlining the goals of the defenders for funding.

“It’s all about what we can do today and every day to support people who are feeling frightened and discriminated against,” her note read. “We train in non-violent resistance – how to listen and interact without letting anger and emotions flare up. And we learn how to become more culturally aware and proficient. Awareness. Kindness. Action.”

Other participants, both prochoice and pro-life, were from a variety of area cities, including St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, Little Falls and Cold Spring.

photo by Dennis Dalman

Patsy Murphy of St. Joseph (center), one of the organizers of a Defend Planned Parenthood faction, demonstrates Feb. 11 in St. Cloud. At left is Laurie Leitch of St. Cloud and at right is Joanie Robinson of St. Cloud.

During the demonstration, the people in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood tended to gather in groups assembled to the east and west of a long line of people there to defend the organization. Most “defenders” were highly visible because of the bright-pink signs they carried, scrawled with messages: Real Men Defend PP, Protect Women’s Health, Resister (heart) hood (a pun on Sisterhood), 77 Percent of Anti-Abortion Leaders are Men; 100 Percent of Those Men Will Never Become Pregnant.

Proponents of defunding also carried signs with large messages: Defund Planned Parenthood, I Regret My Abortion, Choose Life, Thou Shalt Not

Kill, Planned Parenthood Lies to You. At times, the sounds of chanting and prayers mingled in the air.

“My body, my choice! My body, my choice!”

“Jesus, protect and save the unborn . . . Our Father who art in heaven . . . Hail Mary full of grace . . . “ The people in the sidewalks included children and even a couple of pet dogs.

Heidi Shub of Sauk Rapids held a sign she drew showing fallopian tubes with one of the tubes “flipping the bird,” so to speak. She and her husband, Dan, were there to defend Planned Parenthood. In one Rally • page 11

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

8

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

Cathedral works toward $16.5-million goal

by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

The board of directors, national volunteer chairs Bob and Kathy Lahr, president Mike Mullen and many others involved with the success for Cathedral High School hope to finish raising $16.5 million in the months ahead as part of its Campaign for Cathedral Master Plan 2018.

Student enrollment at Cathedral for 2016 is 661 students who attend grades seven to 12. That enrollment includes 67 students from the St. Joseph area and 61 students from the Sartell area.

In 2010 and looking toward 2018, 11 goals were established as the school’s Master Plan working towards “greater strength, stability and value for stakeholders.” The plan was formally adopted on Nov. 17, 2011.

The plan included goals of “new capital held as cash or converted to facilities will be not less than $18 million,” and “at least one new facility addition or major renovation will add dramatic function and form to programs determined most in need.”

Currently, about $10 million of that $16.5 million has been raised, with $6.5 million still remaining.

The Campaign for Cathedral is expected to generate capital

for students, faculty, facilities and the future of the school.

The funds are to go toward keeping the school thriving; offering more design elements to improve educational experiences; updating science labs, music areas and physical education areas; improving communication; and more.

Once the goal is met, building improvements to the school would include new science labs, high-quality technology, 21stcentury learning spaces, art, music and better incorporation of the Mississippi River into the campus design.

The school hopes to have the improvements in place before the end of 2018.

“If we are able to complete the fundraising phase, we will begin to draw up final plans almost immediately and then begin to build,” Mullin said. “But we still have lots of work to do and need to engage thousands more donors if we’re going to reach our goal. That’s what all of our effort is directed toward right now.”

Cathedral High School is governed by the bishop, 13 pastors, a board of directors and a board of trustees.

“In recent years, we have also added a significant number of international students to our enrollment mix,” Mullin said.

“These students, from a dozen or more countries, enrich us

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This design shows a back view of a proposed new building addition to Cathedral High School, once the goal of $16.5 million is raised. culturally while giving our local students a glimpse into the greater global society.”

The staff-to-student ratio at Cathedral is 5:4, teacher-to-student ratio is 15:1 and typical class sizes are about 25.

The school has a per-pupil operational cost of $10,851, with 90 percent of students receiving some type of scholarship. Tuition per pupil for 2017 is $8,995 and $6,995 for seventh- and eighth-graders respectively, with a maximum of $19,000 for a family with three or more children enrolled concurrently.

Cathedral was founded in 1884 by then-Bishop Rupert Seidenbush, OSB, as The Holy Guardian Angels Cathedral School.

The mission of Cathedral is to “educate people while inspiring them to virtuous lives.”

Many changes have occurred during the 132-year history of the school. A timeline of some of them include the following: • Ground breaking for a school expansion took place in 1914.

• A cornerstone was laid for a new building south of the 1914 building in 1938. This three-structure building included 15 classrooms, science laboratories, a library, cafeteria, gymnasium and music rooms.

• A new building, south of the 1938 building, was added in 1957. This building included

a new cafeteria, kitchen, library, two large-group rooms, a home-economics department, office space and 18 classrooms.

• The north gym was built in 1967 and included a modern gym floor, locker rooms, bathrooms, coaches’ offices, a small classroom and seating capacity of 3,500.

• Enrollment at the school was at a high of 1,621 students, serving grades nine to 12, in 1964. During that time, students in grades seven and eight were assigned to neighboring Catholic schools • Enrollment decreased greatly during 1969-1971 and grades seven and eight were returned to the Cathedral campus.

• The Cathedral High School Education Foundation was established in 1978. The first gift was $10. The original fundraising goal was $1 million and about $800,000 was raised.

• The school established its first development, alumni and admissions’ office in 1981.

Rockin’ Round the Clock, a fundraiser musician Bobby Vee and his family played a large role in developing, began that year and continued for 25 years.

• The Holy Angels Church was renovated into Holy Angels Performing and Fine Arts Center with a large stage, small lobby, an elevator, two large music classrooms, faculty offices, private music practice

rooms and theater seating for 400 in 1993.

• In 2005, the “Investing in Our Future” campaign generated $4.6 million new capital dollars for building improvements and Foundation growth.

The money was used to add a passenger elevator to the 1957 building, do major renovations and add air conditioning to the kitchen and cafeteria, install new bleachers in the 1965 gym and purchase the former foodshelf building located at the corner of Second Street and Seventh Avenue.

• Staffing and strengthening the school’s development function and office took place in 2009.

• The names John XXIII and Sts. Peter, Paul and Michael were retired in 2011 as the school returned to its roots to serve seventh- to 12th-grade students for all parishes in central Minnesota metro and outlying areas.

• The Education Foundation had net assets of $10 million in 2013.

• A Laptop for Learners improvement, providing Apple laptop computers to all students and teachers, took place in 2014.

• The Campaign for Cathedral was launched in 2015.

• The Cathedral High School campus covers five-plus city blocks, with 500 feet adjacent to the Mississippi River.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

9

Kuebelbeck offers new menu at Sliced staff is also looking forward to the ‘Fish, Love and Rock and Roll’ first annual fish fry with La Playette Bar in the spring. It’s going to be one heck of a party.”

Sliced will offer $2 pizza by the slice after 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for a night-life happy hour.

“I believe downtown St. (Joseph) has a lot to offer and it can be a fun night out for any crew, with regular live music, a brewery, art on display, unique shops and just fun people everywhere,” she said. “Sliced provides delicious food to the local pubs with free delivery.”

Kuebelbeck has worked with food for 15 years. She was previously the regional manager of Bello Cucina and before that worked at Red Robin in St. Cloud.

At Red Robin, Kuebelbeck was a proud member of the Woman of Excellence program, a leadership group dedicated to growth of women’s leadership skills in the food industry, and she was involved with helping to open the restaurant. She also worked at Old Chicago, O’Hara Brothers, Custom Catering and LaCasita Restaurant in St. Cloud.

Kuebelbeck studied business at both St. Cloud Technical College and at the Minnesota School of Business.

She is married to Nathan Kuebelbeck, who works in information technology at ColdSpring, a

by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

If you notice a few changes to the menu at Sliced in downtown St. Joseph, it’s because new owner Mary Kuebelbeck and her team have been busy preparing new options.

Kuebelbeck, a St. Joseph resident, recently purchased the business.

“I love developing unique dishes and never let the opportunity to try something new pass me up,” she said.

Kuebelbeck said she and her team will continue to offer a majority of the previous menu items, but they will add to it their char-broiled burger, appetizer menu, homemade soups and salads.

“Our grinders, or oven-baked sandwiches, are now called Heros to grow on the theme this is New York-style pizza with an urban design,” Kuebelbeck said.

Another change to the menu is the business will team up with Bad Habit Brewery on some upcoming events.

Kuebelbeck encourages customers to try their Bad Habit Druncurds which are India Pale Ale beer-battered fair-style cheese curds served with the business’s signature pizza sauce.

“A great sophisticated cheese pairing for all of the amazing beers on draft,” she said. “Sliced

Night from front page came his mission to help bring dads and daughters together for a night of food, dancing and fun as a way to celebrate and strengthen the special bond between them.

“I love to show that they’re very special to me,” Medford said. “To see how excited they get is so worth it.”

When Medford began his position three years ago as Leighton Broadcasting’s event director, he was pleased to discover Bob Leighton, owner of Leighton Broadcasting, felt just as strongly about promoting the father/daughter relationship and wanted radio station Wild

Country 99 to back the event.

Not only did Medford get to work on something he felt passionate about, but he also was able to count it as part of a job he enjoys, he said.

And just because moms aren’t on the invitation for this dads-only event, Medford said moms are still an important part of the process. He said the idea has always been for the moms to help their daughters get ready, pick out what to wear, maybe shop for that special outfit, fix their hair and take pictures before they leave for the dance.

Johnny Taco, part of the Wild Country 99’s on-air talent, will emcee the dance, playing music and keeping the energy and humor going throughout the evening.

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granite company in Cold Spring.

They have two daughters who attend Kennedy Community School.

“As a local, I am dedicated to this community and look forward to becoming more involved in the next year with local businesses and the people of St. Joseph,” Kuebelbeck said. “I am very proud to be a small-business owner and have been working toward this opportunity for many years in my career as a manager and mentor to many.

Make sure to stop in and chat me up.”

Sliced on College Avenue is open from 11 a.m-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m.11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

Orders can be placed online at www.slicedoncollegeave.com or call 320-557-0500. The business offers delivery, catering, takeout and accepts reservations for large parties.

“It’s really cute,” Medford said. “The girls know who Johnny Taco is, and they get so excited when he comes out.”

Medford said the “squealing” level gets pretty intense when Johnny Taco plays some games and draws for prizes.

A professional photographer will capture those special memories at the dance, and the photos will be available for purchase.

One thing Medford said he finds is a great way for the dads and daughters to have meaningful conversation during the

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“He (a father) must, first and foremost, treat his daughter with respect and love,” Michael Austin said. (Austin is associate professor of philosophy at Eastern Kentucky University and editor of Fatherhood - philosophy for everyone: The Dao of Daddy.) “Daughters will see what their dads believe about women by how they value and respect women, or by how they fail to do so.”

Contact Medford with any questions at 320-203-4846 or cmedford@leightonbroadcasting.com.

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dinner portion of the evening is to fill out cards they are given to write down why the other person is special. Those that can’t write yet can draw a picture. But Medford said it’s a neat way for them to deepen that connection with each other and say things they maybe don’t usually get to say.

Tickets for the event are $35 for adults, $20 for the daughters who have a more “kidfriendly” food choice. They can be purchased at the following website: www.daddydaughterdate.net.

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Top left: St. Joseph resident Mary Kuebelbeck recently purchased Sliced in downtown St. Joseph. She is adding some new options to the menu, including pairing with Bad Habit Brewery to offer some choices with craft beers, oven-baked sandwiches, char-broiled burgers, homemade soups, salads and more. Above: Mary Kuebelbeck deglazes onions and thyme with Bad Habit Brewery’s Dark Beer for a new Sliced menu item, Bad Habit Stout onion and andouille pizza.

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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

10

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

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, Feb. 17 Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320267-7717.

St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO BODY REPAIR Auto Body 2000

(behind Coborn’s in the Industrial Park)

St. Joseph • 320-363-1116

BEAUTY Mary Kay Cosmetics Joyce Barnes St. Joseph • 320-251-8989 CHIROPRACTOR Dr. Jerry Wetterling College Ave. • 320-363-4573 jlwchiro.com CHURCHES Gateway Church - St. Joseph Saturday 6 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m.

Northland Plaza Bldg. • 708 Elm St. E. 320-282-2262 • gatewaystjoseph.org Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA

Sunday Worship 8:15 & 10:30 a.m.

WoW! (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 p.m.

610 N. CR 2, St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjoe.org St. Joseph Catholic Church Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m.

Saturday 5 p.m.

Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.

St. Joseph • 320-363-7505 www.churchstjoseph.org YOUR INDUSTRY Your Business Address City • Phone • Website

DENTISTRY Drs. Styles, Cotton & Milbert 1514 E. Minnesota St. St. Joseph • 320-363-7729 Laser Dentistry 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-4468 ELECTRICAL HI-TEC Electric • St. Joseph Residential • Commercial Remodeling • General Services 320-363-8808 • 320-980-0514 EYECARE Russell Eyecare & Associates 15 E. Minnesota St., Ste. 107 St. Joseph • 320-433-4326 PUBLISHING Von Meyer Publishing 32 1st Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-7741 TECHNOLOGY Computer Repair Unlimited 24 W. Birch St. St. Joseph • 320-492-2814 www.computerrepairunlimited.com TRUCKING Brenny Transportation, Inc. Global Transportation Service St. Joseph • 320-363-6999 www.brennytransportation.com

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.

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Church fellowship hall, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph.

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. 320-339-4533. stcloudsingles.net.

Saturday, Feb. 18 Gardening Knowledge, a free event hosted by UMN Extension Master Gardeners of St. Cloud, 8-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud.

55+ Driving Improvement Program (four-hour refresher course), 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Miller Auto Plaza, 2930 Second St. S., St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. mnsafetycenter.org.

Winter Dance with Jazz Combo, 7-9:45 p.m., Heritage Hall, Church of St. Joseph.

HymnFest: One, presented by St. John’s Boys’ Choir, 8 p.m., St. John’s Abbey Church, Collegeville. www.sjbchoir.org.

Sunday, Feb. 19 Build-your-own-omelette Breakfast, American Legion Auxiliary, 8 a.m.-noon, 17 Second Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-251-5498.

Monday, Feb. 20 St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, between Minnesota and Cedar Street on First Avenue NW, St. Joseph.

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Ilicil Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-5299000.

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Sartell High School & Middle School Jazz Night, featuring swing dance lessons and guest performers, 7 p.m., Sartell High School.

St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph.

Tuesday, Feb. 21 55+ Driving Improvement Program (four-hour refresher course), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Life Assembly of God, 2409 Clearwater Road, St. Cloud. 1-888-2341294. mnsafetycenter.org.

55+ Driving Improvement Program (eight-hour first time course), 5-9 p.m., Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. mnsafetycenter.org.

Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Wednesday, Feb. 22 55+ Driving Improvement Program (eight-hour first time course), 5-9 p.m., Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave. N., St. Cloud.

Bishop Donald Kettler Listening sessions (1 of 11), 6 p.m., St. Joseph Parish, 12 W Minnesota St. Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Thursday, Feb. 23 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell.

St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, between Minnesota and Cedar Street on First Avenue NW, St. Joseph.

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Sauk Rapids Chamber Meeting, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-251-2940.

Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Friday, Feb. 24 Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320267-7717.

Music & Visual Arts Come Together in Performance, presented by Peter Happel Christian, 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Ruth Gant Recital Hall, St. Cloud State University.

Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Saturday, Feb. 25 Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Sunday, Feb. 26 Salome, Oscar Wilde’s Biblical tragedy performed by St. Cloud State University students, 2 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, SCSU. scsutickets.com.

Hold Out Your Light; a Tribute to MLK, 3 p.m., Paramount Theater, 913 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. www.minnesotacenterchorale.org. 320-428-0622.

The Faith and Experience of Our Muslim Neighbors, 5 p.m. presentation, 6:30 p.m. dinner, First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell.

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Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

11

photos by Dennis Dalman

At left: A pro-life contingent shows its signs for passing motorists in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic in east St. Cloud Feb. 11. Second from left is one of the pro-life organizers of the event, Brody Hagemeier, a student at St. Cloud State University. Middle: The Dan and Heidi Shub family of Sauk Rapids demonstrate in favor of Planned Parenthood at a rally Feb. 11 in front of the clinic in east St.

Rally from page 5 hand Heidi held her sign, in the other she held her 5-month old daughter, Clementine. Son Hawken, 3, held up a small sign he had scribbled himself while his mother was creating her sign the night before.

Brody Hagemeier of St. Cloud spoke on behalf of many of the defunding group.

“It’s time to show our strength,” he said in an interview with the Newsleader.

“There is so much opposition to life. That’s why it’s very, very important for us to show our message of the sanctity of life.”

Hagemeier is a senior student at SCSU and president of SCSU College Students for Life.

Background

Nationwide, Feb. 11 was planned by anti-abortion activists as a day to “Rally to Defund Planned Parenthood,” and rallies took place in scores of cities throughout the nation.

Talk of defunding Planned Parenthood by the Republican majority in Congress gave impetus to the movement. However, ironically, that same effort at defunding also galvanized Planned Parenthood defenders, at some rallies greatly out-

numbering the anti-abortion groups that showed up. That occurred in St. Cloud where defenders appeared to outnumber defunders by 2-1; and in St. Paul where defenders numbered several thousand and defunders totaled a couple hundred.

Many defenders at the rallies noted they were demonstrating not just for Planned Parenthood but against current efforts to repeal Obamacare.

Even though at some rallies defunders and defenders were separated by barriers, there were no reports of nasty or violent behavior and the competing sections got along amicably for the most part, according to news reports.

Planned Parenthood

The St. Cloud Planned Parenthood clinic does not perform abortions. However, it can refer clients to other clinics that do offer abortions, such as one in St. Paul.

The federal and state funds allocated for Planned Parenthood are not allowed to be used to pay for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger because of the pregnancy. However, anti-abortion activists have long argued the ban is disingenuous at best because when clinics receive state and federal funds for non -abortion services, that money

Cloud. Mother Heidi Shub is holding her sign and her baby, Clementine.

At right is son Hawken, 3, who holds the sign he created the night before.

At right: Even though there were passionate differences of opinions, many demonstrators held amiable conversations with one another at a gathering in front of Planned Parenthood Feb. 11 in east St. Cloud.

frees up other funds to be used for abortions.

Abortion has been a passionately contentious topic throughout American history, especially contentious ever since the Supreme Court in 1973 legalized a woman’s right to an abortion in the case known as Roe vs. Wade, although the high court did leave open the option for regulations or laws regarding the third trimester (last three months of a pregnancy).

The forerunner of Planned Parenthood began 100 years ago this year when Margaret Sanger opened a birth-control clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y. That became the American Birth Control League and in 1942, its name was changed to Planned Parenthood.

There are about 650 Planned Parenthood clinics in the nation that serve an estimated 2.5-million clients per year.

The clinics provide a wide range of services that include contraception methods, sex education, cancer screenings, diagnosis and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases, vasectomies for men, sterilizations for women, pregnancy tests and – at some clinics – abortions. Four of five of Planned Parenthood clients are at or below the federal poverty level. Many foundations help fund the organization, as well as some federal funding, which

was made possible when President Richard Nixon signed into law the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act in 1970.

According to a Planned Parenthood report released in 2014, Planned Parenthood performed 323,999 abortions that year.

The organization claims only 3 percent of its total services are abortion-related. Opponents, however, claim it’s 94 percent of their services. Fact-checking organizations claim both percentages are inaccurate, with the actual figure of abortions being closer to 12 percent of all Planned Parenthood services.

Abortion opponents noted Planned Parenthood is the largest provider of abortion in the nation. The organization and its defenders, however, claim

it’s the largest “abortion preventer” because it provides contraception services, vasectomies sterilizations to those who request such services.

Opposition to the organization has at times turned violent, with many clinics vandalized, firebombed or attacked by gunmen, in some cases killing Planned Parenthood employees and wounding others.

The deep divisiveness concerning Planned Parenthood was expressed by Trump when he was campaigning for his successful run for the presidency. The organization, he said, does “very good work for millions of women,” but he added that federal funding should be discontinued if Planned Parenthood continues to offer abortion services.

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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

12

Friday, Feb. 17, 2017

Safe house for victims of sex-trafficking to open

by Mollie Rushmeyer news@thenewsleaders.com

With an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 people sexually exploited each day in Minnestoa, according to service organization Breaking Free, CeCe Terloux, a long-time advocate of forced-prostitution victims, felt the timing was right to open a shelter and transitional home called Terebinth Refuge, to benefit not only the greater St. Cloud area but much of the state.

“I’ve always had a heart for women and girls – and this issue,” said Terloux, the executive director of Terebinth Refuge.

Terebinth Refuge is a 501 c(3) non-profit. The safe house is tentatively scheduled to open in early spring 2017 with the motto, “Shelter. Healing. Rest.

Growth.” These will be accomplished through short-term shelter beds where sexually exploited women over the age of 18 can stay anywhere from a few days to 90 days, long-term transitional housing, healing care (both physical and emotional), a restful environment, and growth in education, life skills and jobseeking skills.

For 24 years, Terloux worked for the Heartland Girl’s Ranch in Benson. While there, she served young girls under the age of 18 who were escaping a life of sex trafficking. Through her work, she saw the issue as not only a “big-city problem” but its prevalence and devastation in every small town across Minnesota and in particular the rural areas surrounding St. Cloud.

“St. Cloud is a training ground for the women,” Terloux shared.

“There aren’t many resources here for them (the victims), so pimps feel safer than in a bigger city like Minneapolis. The crowd here is less rough, and they use that to break in the women and girls before shipping them to other areas.”

Waite Park Chief of Police Dave Bentrud, a 25-year law-enforcement veteran, and also a

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Collegeville At St. John’s Parish Center just west of St. John’s University Campus on Fruit Farm Road

Fridays, March 3 & 10 4-7 p.m.

Terebinth Refuge board member, added, “For a long time, the traffickers flew under the radar in this area.”

It wasn’t until five years ago, when the BCA found a missing female juvenile involved in forced prostitution at a Waite Park motel that Bentrud said eyes were opened to just what a significant problem trafficking had become in this area.

“I took it personal(ly),” Bentrud said, adding his first thought was, “Not in my city.”

Since then, task forces in the area have made stings on potential “johns” (people attempting to hire a prostitute) as seen in a recent four-man arrest on Nov. 3 last year. Typically the men come from a 50- to 60-mile radius around St. Cloud.

Both Terloux and Bentrud have seen a true need for the over-18 age group. Places like the Heartland Girl’s Ranch and Safe Harbor shelters are unable to house anyone over the age of 18. And while there are a couple of programs in the Twin Cities, they are not always available in an emergency and because they are in the metro area, tend to fill fast.

“Often the regular shelters don’t want them (the sex -trafficking victims),” Terloux said, saying the shelters aren’t equipped to handle the high level of trauma the women have been through, and they don’t want them recruiting other women to bring back to the pimps. Many times, this leaves the women with nowhere to go but back to the traffickers who have abused them.

“This is a significant problem,” Bentrud said. “We’re looking at getting more investigator time to work on this full time.

We need more education for the public and for law enforcement on how to deal with this. We also need to build up victim support, like the Terebinth Refuge. This area really needs safe places for the victims to go.”

With all of that in mind, Terloux says she prayerfully went forward with plans to create a safe house for exploited women over 18, with short- and longterm housing and the inclusive approach she always envisioned.

“It’s so important,” Terloux said, “that we know all aspects as to how to work with this population. We want to be holistic, address all the issues that go with this.”

She said her past foster daughter, who is a survivor of human trafficking, will be on staff to assist when the police call with a woman who has been taken out of a trafficking situation, and she will also be at the house, available to talk with the residents while they stay at Terebinth Refuge.

“It’s crucial to have survivors on staff,” she said. “They can see it through a victim’s eyes the way no one else can.”

Many of the women have had little to no schooling or job experience and have a criminal background because they were coerced into taking the blame for the pimps’ crimes. Add in the brainwashing from the traffickers to ensure the women feel as though they are incapable of doing anything other than prostitution, and Terloux says, it’s near impossible for the women to start fresh and leave this life for good.

That’s why she will make connections with area businesses to provide the residents with internships while they stay in long-term transitional housing. It would not take place right away, but when they’re ready.

New

n selectio décor, n g law n i r p s of uses & bird ho eders bird fe ly! g week n i v i r r a

contributed photo

CeCe Terloux, executive director for Terebinth Refuge, a sextrafficking safe house set to open in the St. Cloud area in the spring, participates in a panel discussion at the award-winning trafficking film, Road to Hope, along with other organizations working to end modern-day slavery.

Grants will pay the business and then also pay the women for their work. Terloux hopes to see businesses pull together to give the women a chance and help them learn skills to better themselves.

While for safety and privacy reasons, the exact location cannot be disclosed, a property has been found that would suit the needs for Terebinth Refuge, though the plans have not been finalized.

As for the name, Terloux says it’s from the Old Testament Terebinth trees, and means strong roots. The trees were places of

significance and resting places of shelter, of which the new property has many.

To make the much-needed safe house a reality, the Terebinth Refuge board and Terloux are asking the area churches, individuals and businesses to consider charitable donations.

To donate, call CeCe Terloux at 320-204-4881 or send a check made payable to “Terebinth Refuge” to P.O. Box 5035, St. Cloud, Minn. 56302.

For more information, visit www.terebinthrefuge.org or email CeCe Terloux at cece@terebinthrefuge.org.

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Tickets at the door: Adults: $10, Children (ages 5-10): $5 Children under 5: FREE 320-363-2569 Menu: Fried fish, macaroni & cheese, baked potatoes, beans, coleslaw, bread, dessert buffet and beverages

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