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Light candle for Earth Hour
Friday, March 27, 2015 Volume 26, Issue 13 Est. 1989
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Lights during Earth Hour are extinguished at city halls, city-owned facilities, historical landmarks such as the Great Pyramids and the Roman Colosseum and many residences worldwide.
As a boy, Wayne Birkholz used to love the magical wonder of star-gazing nights, when from his bedroom window in Maple Grove, he could watch a zillion stars above him and now and then thrill to a shooting star streaking down the sky. Birkholz, a St. Joseph resident, is one of many people urging others to shut off their lights for “Earth Hour” between 8:309:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. In the years since his boyhood days, Birkholz began to notice how difficult it was to see stars because of “light pollution,” the haze above cities that blocks out views of the night sky as surely as thick cloud covers do. To see the same star-studded skies of his youth, Birkholz said it’s necessary to travel far into
the countryside, as far north as the boundary waters to revisit the awesome once-upon-a-time night-sky visions. Recently, Birkholz requested the St. Joseph City Council turn off its city water-tower lights for Earth Hour. The council voted to agree, keeping the tower’s lights off all night long instead of for just one hour. The reason for the extended lights-out is because a worker would have to come to the tower to turn the lights on again at 9:30 p.m. This way, someone can turn them back on the next day during regular work hours. Birkholz said he was happy with the council’s decision. “The ultimate goal would be to have them do it (keep the lights off) permanently,” he said in an interview with the St. Joseph Newsleader. Earth • page 8
L a u r i e Putnam, assistant principal at South Junior High School since 2009, has accepted the principal po- Putnam sition at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph. The current principal, Dr. Judy Nagel,
ways hold a special place in my heart,” Putnam said. Putnam will hold the position for the 2015-16 school year, according to her statement. Nagel’s resignation was announced last week through an emailed statement to the media. The statement noted Nagel told St. Cloud District Superintendent Willie Jett about her
decision in February. Putnam attended Dartmouth College where she received a bachelor’s degree in history. She obtained her master’s in education at the University of Maine in Orono with an emphasis in counselor education. Putnam then attended Hamline University in St. Paul where she received her administrative licensure.
Town Crier
Dollars for Scholars apps now online
2015 scholarship applications are available online at: StJosephArea.DollarsForScholars.org. Once there, click on the “Students and Parents” tab, then follow the instructions to register. If you need assistance, call 320-363-7721 and speak with Doug Danielson at Sentry Bank. The application deadline is Monday, April 12.
Place of Hope presents Empty Bowls
Place of Hope Ministries will host Empty Bowls, a soup feed benefit and silent auction, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 29 at Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. There will be three stages of live music and entertainment, and tasty soup from area restaurants, along with the silent auction, featuring unique pottery, wooden bowls and more. Head to their website, placeofhopeministries.org, or call 320-2037881 for more information.
Burning restrictions take effect this week
The Department of Natural Resources is restricting debris burning in many central, northwestern and southern Minnesota counties this week, and in other parts of the state beginning in April. Burning restrictions mean the state will not allow the open burning of brush or yard waste. Debris burning is especially dangerous during April and May when most wildfires occur in Minnesota. Spring burning restrictions coincide with increasing fire potential throughout much of the state due to the early snow melt and dry fuels like grass and leaves. With the snow gone, exposed dead grass and brush can light easily and fires can spread quickly. Restrictions last until sufficient green vegetation forms, normally from four to six weeks. In addition, many local counties and municipalities have specific burning regulations or restrictions. Check with local authorities to obtain proper permits before burning. The burning restrictions do not apply to campfires; they are still allowed. Clear an area around the campfire, watch it continuously and make sure it is out and cold to the touch before leaving.
See inside for your chance to win a plush bunny!
INSERT:
Culligan
contributed photo
South’s Putnam accepts Kennedy principal position recently announced she will resign effective June 30 of this year. In a statement to South families, Putnam assured them she will remain committed to South students through June and feels bittersweet about the new opportunity. “I am immensely grateful for the experiences I’ve had... the South community will al-
‘Welcome to St. Joseph’ sign heads into storage by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleaders.com
One of three signs welcoming visitors to St. Joseph has bitten the dust. Monday, crews finished the tear-down of the above-ground portion of the sign between CR 75 and Old Hwy 52, on property belonging to Mike Deutz. The sign has been on Deutz’s property since 1996, according to city documents. In an email Dec. 17, 2014, Deutz’s attorney gave the city 30 days to remove the sign and return the land to its original state. The city council eventually asked Deutz for an extension, which was granted. The demolition began on March 19 when Artistic Stone and Design in St. Joseph began dismantling the topper and the sign itself. The sign was placed into storage by the city. “We’re trying to salvage as much as possible,” St. Joseph City Administrator Judy Weyrens said in regards to the demolition. Crews had to wait to remove the pillars until Monday when gas and electrical lines could be found and marked to ensure safe working conditions. Sign • page 4
photo courtesy of the city of St. Joseph
Above: Employees of Artistic Stone and Concrete dismantled the “Welcome to St. Joseph” sign between Old Hwy 52 and Hwy 75 on March 19. The sign was put into storage by the city. photos by Logan Gruber
Right photos: The final demolition of the sign had to wait until Monday, after power and gas lines in the ground were found and marked.
www.thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
2 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. March 8 1:22 a.m. DWI. CR 2/I-94. An officer observed a vehicle with its radar traveling at 69 mph. The officer stopped the driver, a 28-yearold male from Paynesville, and observed bloodshot and watery eyes, and an odor of alcohol. The driver admitted to having one drink. The driver failed roadside tests, and was eventually determined to have a blood-alcohol level of .08. He was transported to jail. 6:51 p.m. Property damage. 1st Avenue NW. A vehicle, driven by a 21-year-old female from Somerset, Wis., while backing out of a parking spot and into the alley hit a metal protective pole for a utility box. The vehicle was damaged, and the pole was scratched. 7:39 p.m. Property damage. College Avenue N. A local man reported two of his windows were broken out the previous night of a building he owns. The man wished for police to record the incident, but plans to contact the suspect himself to give them a chance to take care of the damage. March 9 1:27 p.m. Drill. Elm Street E. Police assisted a local business with a drill they performed to prepare for an active shooter. March 10 4:47 p.m. Agency assist. Old Hwy 52. Anoka County asked for local police to help them arrest a suspect with a felony warrant who
Blotter
they believed was in St. Joseph. Police arrived at the address and found the suspect’s fiancee there. The fiancee was cooperative, and allowed police to search the home. The suspect was not home. The fiancee said she would inform the suspect of the warrant when he arrives home. March 11 12:46 a.m. Traffic stop. Able Street E./9th Avenue S. Police ran the plate of a vehicle, and found a warrant for the registered owner, a 22-year-old male from Osakis. The driver was not the Osakis man, but a 28-year-old male from Sauk Centre. The driver did not have a driver’s license on him, and was nervous with blood shot eyes and slurred speech. Another officer noticed drug paraphernalia in the car. After a search, a substantial amount of a crystal-like substance, which tested positive as methamphetamine, was discovered. The driver was arrested on fifth-degree controlled substance, a felony, and fourth-degree DWI, a misdemeanor. March 12 9:59 a.m. Medical. College Avenue S. An 87-year-old woman was confused and showing signs of a possible stroke. Police administered oxygen until the St. Joseph Fire Department and Gold Cross arrived. March 13 3:15 a.m. Intoxicated person. College Avenue N. An officer observed a female running. She appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and upset. The officer made sure the female was not hurt, then tested and found she had a blood alcohol level of .20. The female was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital. March 14 12:34 a.m. Bar check. Minnesota Street W. Officers checked
bars for violations. None were found. 12:47 a.m. Disorderly conduct. Minnesota Street W. An officer was flagged down by a bouncer at a bar. The bouncer had confiscated a fake ID from a female, and her boyfriend, a 22-year-old male from Eagan, started pushing the bouncer. The bouncer detained the man, and asked police to remove him from the premises. 2:26 a.m. Traffic stop. College Avenue S. An officer observed a vehicle traveling 71 mph in a 60mph zone. The car was stopped, and the driver was identified as a 21-year-old male from Collegeville. The driver only had an instructional driving permit, and the two passengers did not have driver’s licenses. A citation was issued for the instructional permit violation. The occupants called another friend for a ride. 3:04 p.m. Drug paraphernalia. Birch Street W. A person found a meth pipe in a backyard. They weren’t sure who it belonged to. Police broke the pipe into pieces and disposed of it. 5:55 p.m. Minor consumption. 2nd Avenue NW/Ash Street W. A 20-year-old male from Blaine and one other male were walking in the street with open beer containers. Both admitted to police they were under age and the containers had beer and were open. They were issued citations for minor consumption, and given warnings for the open containers. 6:32 p.m. Minor consumption. College Avenue N/Date Street W. An 18-year-old male from Shorewood was observed walking in public and drinking from a branded beer container. The male admitted to drinking and having an open container, and was issued a citation for minor consumption and a warning for the minor possession of alcohol and the open container in public.
Friday, March 27, 2015
People
contributed photo
Coborn’s Inc. recently donated $1,000 to Catholic Charities Food Shelf. Pictured here are (front row, left to right) Jamie Pfuhl, Minnesota Grocers Association; Rebecca Kurowski, Coborn’s Inc.; Kathryn Stolpman, Catholic Charities Food Shelf, and Mike Paulsrud, Coborn’s Inc.; (back row) Brandon Anderson, Andy Knoblauch, Jim Maus, and Ann Richards, all of Coborn’s Inc. Coborn’s Inc. is one of six companies statewide to be recognized for its exceptional efforts to end hunger in its community. Coborn’s participated in the October 2014 “Minnesota’s Own” campaign to end hunger. “Minnesota’s Own” raised food and monetary donations to provide more than 8.7 million meals to Minnesota families in need. It was coordinated by the Minnesota Grocers Association and included 241 MGA retail members, 14 vendor partners, and community food banks and food shelves across the state. Participating stores and vendor locations offered multiple opportunities for consumers to contribute to the campaign. Many retailers encouraged customers to donate grocery items in-store or round up their purchase totals at the register, contributing the price difference to feed local families. Others prominently displayed the names of customers who donated money on grocery list icons. All food and monetary contributions collected were distributed to a variety of local
food shelves, banks and support organizations across the state. Coborn’s received the Silver Plate Award for Best Overall Program Support – Retail in the “Minnesota’s Own” display contest, which offers a chance for campaign participants to get creative with in-store advertising while engaging consumers to end hunger. Statewide, 255 stores and vendors participated in this year’s display contest. In addition to the award, Coborn’s presented a $1,000 donation to the food charity of their choice, Catholic Charities Food Shelf, on behalf of the “Minnesota’s Own” program. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to put together a promotion that makes such an impact on our local communities,” said Chris Coborn, president and CEO of Coborn’s Inc. “Thanks to our generous guests, employees and vendors, we have been able to provide a lot of food to many people in need. When we can use our business to help eliminate hunger, we all are affected in a very positive way.”
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE -ANNUAL MEETING REVIEW STORM-WATERPOLLUTION-PREVENTION PROGRAM The City of St. Joseph will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 6, 2015 to review its Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) for 2014. The Public Meeting will comply with the City’s Phase II Storm Water Permit (#MN R040000) and be held at the city hall in conjunction with the regular city council meet-
ing. City staff will make a short presentation on the past year’s accomplishments. Interested persons may review the SWPPP at the city hall and make oral or submit written comments during or following the public meeting. Publish: March 27, 2015
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon Editor Dennis Dalman
Newstands Casey’s General Store Coborn’s
Holiday Gas Station Kay’s Kitchen
The Local Blend St. Joseph Meat Market St. Joseph Newsleader Office SuperAmerica
www.thenewsleaders.com
Operations Manager Logan Gruber Contributing Writers Cori Hilsgen Steven Wright
Production Manager Tara Wiese Delivery Glen Lauer Greg Hartung
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 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.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 27, 2015
3
A historical perspective from 25 years ago – March 16, 1990
Congrats on 100 years St. Joseph – let’s celebrate! by Steve Dehler Centennial Committee, Chair news@thenewsleaders.com
the July Fourth parade. • to promote an Education Day or week so our youth, both adult and adolescent, can learn about their heritage and about their city’s growth – maybe a college, high school and grade school combined effort. • to design a time capsule filled and dedicated to our posterity – maybe to be added to every 25 years. • to set up and display old photos and artifacts for July, August and September somewhere in the city. This is a large project, but a fun one – Heritage Center people might even help. • to help the Knights of Columbus with a Mass with the Bishop planned for Aug. 26 – maybe they need help. Just ask. • to help the Lions and the Recreation Association plan a parade and street dance for Aug. 18 and 19 – lots of room here for some exciting programs. • to set up a Photo of Yesteryear booth so people can dress up and have their pictures taken. • to set up some handson learning projects such as making apple cider, churning butter, grinding flour, spinning yarn, making moonshine, milking a cow, sawing logs and more. • to help the Lions plan a kiddie parade that same evening. • to present a Machinery Hill Show right here in St.
Dear community leaders, Congratulations, St. Joseph! You made it! 100 years old and you still look like a spring chicken! Some people thought it wouldn’t work, but look at us now! Somehow it seems strange to congratulate yourselves for something you really had nothing to do with. You weren’t there when they voted to incorporate. Some weren’t there 50 years later when the creek was wide and there was no water, sewer or paved roads. Some maybe only just moved here recently. Why should you celebrate? Here’s why. You are a part of the St. Joseph community. Everyone who has ever lived here has left his or her mark and you are celebrating that. If not for the people like you, who took pride in their community and left their mark by being involved and promoting their humble abode, St. Joseph would be a ghost town today. 1990 is here, we are here, and together we can celebrate. The past year was one of planting seeds of interest, enthusiasm and desire. This year is harvest time. Looking back at the notes from last year’s meetings, I see many areas that need cultivating, probably a little fertilizing also. Help is needed: • to develop a theme for
Joseph – this would be a great 4-H project. • to plant trees, individually in your yard or in groups for a civic project, and put red-, white-and-blue ribbons around them during this centennial year. Maybe an old-fashioned turnout at a St. Joseph-Cold Spring baseball game could be presented. When was the last time you went to a Sunday afternoon baseball game here in St. Joseph with your family and friends? Maybe a donkeyball basketball game at St. Benedict’s would be fitting. This would be unique. Maybe a real, honest-togoodness talent show at the BAC or one of the elementary schools could be arranged. There must be a lot of hidden talent – singers, piano (or other instrument) players, actors and actresses to put on a skit or maybe a little pas de deux. Maybe some person or group could put together an air show or balloon rides, or, or, or... The ideas are endless, the opportunities to celebrate are great. Please don’t wait to be asked, just pick or decide something and do it. Any interested groups or individuals with plans are invited to our next Centennial Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22 (1990) in City Hall. Join the celebration, St. Joseph! Congratulations!
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The Department of Custodial Maintenance at the College of Saint Benedict is seeking energetic and dedicated individuals to fill two part-time, benefit-eligible Custodian positions. This is a great opportunity for individuals seeking evening shifts, extra income or after-college hours. This position provides a unique schedule in order to maintain a high level of cleanliness in the College’s Gorecki Center. For more information and to apply online, visit http://employment.csbsju.edu Women, individuals of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The College of Saint Benedict is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Shaggy is a neutered, 11-year-old Lab and German Shorthaired Pointer mix. He’s been around all ages of kids and did terrific with them. If a mellow and laid-back personality is what you’re looking for, then Shaggy is the dog for you. He enjoys lounging around and snuggling up on the couch with his people. One of the things that gets him excited though, are tennis balls. We know there are people out there who have a soft spot for older dogs. We’re hoping one of you also has a spot on your couch for Shaggy!
Dogs - 13 Kittens - 5
Cats - 25
Rabbit - 1
Tri-County Humane Society 735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701 St. Cloud, MN 56302
252-0896
www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
ARLINGTON PLACE ASSISTED LIVING in St. Joseph POSITION AVAILABLE
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“Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!”
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Al’s
Mike Klein’s Meat Market opened in 1909. It was located on the north side of Minnesota Street, west of College Avenue. Ownership has passed on over the years. In 1989 a fire erupted and destroyed a large portion of the original building. It was rebuilt as the meat processing building.
{a WHOLE new
STEEL BUILDINGS FOR SALE
320-363-0200
photo courtesy of St. Joseph Area Historical Society
If interested please stop by for an application or call Karen Hennessy at (320) 363-1313. 21 16th Ave. SE St. Joseph, MN 56374
Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
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Part-time direct-care openings available! St. Cloud locations: St. Joseph location: - Care for individuals with various - 100% personal care independence levels. - Work 6-9 a.m. Monday, - Work every other Wednesday, Friday Saturday & Sunday - Work every other from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. or 2-10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday - Cross-train for additional hours. from noon-8 p.m.,7 a.m.-2 p.m. or 3-10 p.m. Personal, family oriented business Offering $200 Hiring bonus • $200 referral bonus Valid driver’s license with clean driving record needed.
Call Kim: 320-230-7275 qcsinc@qualitycareservices.org
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
4
Sign from front page Deutz said the footings would be removed later in the week. Though Deutz was reached, he preferred not to comment further at this time. Mayor Rick Schultz mentioned in the past the city may choose to revamp and relocate all of the welcome signs in the city rather than just removing
one sign. When asked, Weyrens said adding new signs could be part of the discussion, but it is by no means a certainty or even in the planning stages. City council members originally worked with multiple groups, including the Lions, to erect signs near the edges of town welcoming visitors. According to public documents, the Lions paid for the sign while the city agreed to maintain the landscaping around it and provide electricity.
Friday, March 27, 2015
CMCU gets finance approval by Logan Gruber operations@thenewsleaders.com
On March 16, the St. Joseph city council approved $125,300 in tax-increment financing – a way to subsidize redevelopment, infrastructure and other communityimprovement projects with public financing – for Central Minnesota Credit Union. The council approved the money to be used during the next five years or less. The vote was unanimous. CMCU plans to build a onestory, 14,000 square-foot memberservices call center at 1140 Elm St. E., kitty-corner from the current CMCU location at 1300 Elm St. E. and across Elm from McDonald’s. In a recent Newsleader interview, Rick Odenthal, CMCU’s
CEO, said about 12 member services’ staff housed in the current location will be moved to the new building, and 30 new jobs will be created to fill the new building within the next two years. Some IT staff and other departments from their Melrose administrative center will also move to the new building in St. Joseph, he said. In the request filed with the city council, CMCU estimated wages for the jobs in the new building to be between $19.35$43.30 per hour. The document also states a total of 40-68 fulltime positions will be added during the next five years, and the building is designed to hold a maximum of 80 employees. The project will also see an increase in property taxes the city
can collect from the building site. The current value of the property is $8,962, but the estimated value when the building is finished would be seven times greater, at $64,623. “It will probably take 30-60 days to finalize design plans, obtain permits and for weight restrictions to be taken off of roads so heavy equipment can be moved in,” Odenthal said. The initial cost estimate for the building totals $4.2 million, and Odenthal said it should be completed sometime in late 2015 or early 2016. “The city of St. Joseph has been so supportive,” Odenthal said. “We really appreciate all of the hard work they’ve put into this.”
ARLINGTON PLACE ASSISTED LIVING in St. Joseph POSITIONS AVAILABLE
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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 Karen Hennessy at (320) 363-1313. 21 16th Ave. SE St. Joseph, MN 56374
Join us for Easter Worship! Maundy Thursday, April 2 6:30 p.m.
Good Friday, April 3 6:30 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 5 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m.
Easter Breakfast served 8:30-11 a.m.
Celebration of Easter, April 8 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
Resurrection Lutheran Church 610 N. Co. Rd. 2 • St. Joseph • 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjoe.com
News Tips?
Call the Newsleader at 363-7741
Friday, March 27, 2015
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
from city council
contributed image
Above: This is a digital rendering of the $4.2 million, 14,000square-foot member-services call center Central Minnesota Credit Union plans to build on Elm Street E., across from McDonald's.
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Bounce on in to these businesses and register to win a plush bunny. One entry per visit please. Deadline for registering is Thursday, April 2. Winners will be notified before Easter and announced in the April 10th edition.
photo by Logan Gruber
Below: The current CMCU office, shown here, is located on Elm, near Coborn’s. Across the street, in the background, would be the location of a new call center building, which received TIF approval by the council March 16.
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Our View Let’s all speak up on behalf of our good neighbors It is sad and disturbing to hear about racialcultural conflicts at Tech High School in St. Cloud. Sad but not surprising. On March 18, about 100 Somali students and some of their parents staged a protest on the grounds outside of Tech. They were trying to bring attention to the injustices the students say they have experienced, including unfair and unequal disciplinary actions against them, incidents of bullying and name-calling, and lack of inclusiveness. What apparently sparked the protest was a vicious posting on social media of a Somali student, who was made to appear as if she is in a wheelchair, along with words that implied she is somehow a part of an Islamic terrorist group. School officials have been meeting with the protesters to hear more specifically about their grievances. We are glad to hear that, but we hope some genuine steps are taken toward conflict resolution instead of just “conversations.” The surest way toward that goal – conflict resolution – is to open the lines of communication and to encourage all students to express their grievances before those feelings erupt into unhealthy outlets. It’s also important to educate all students about the importance of tolerance and respect for cultural differences. The history of America is rife with instances of prejudice, cruelty and even violence to immigrants of different colors and cultural backgrounds. It happened when Irish immigrants arrived in the mid-1800s, when the Chinese arrived to help build our railroads and – most obviously – against Afro-Americans. Right here in the Tri-County area, prejudice, mutual suspicions and acts of meanness occurred between Catholics and Protestants in the 19th Century and even into the 20th Century. It takes a lot of effort to overcome these prejudices, which can eat at the edges of an otherwise thriving society. And make no mistake: prejudice against Somalis occurs in the greater St. Cloud area. It ranges from distrust and sneering comments to irrational fears and baseless attitudes that they are all aligned with Islamic terrorists groups. There are also multiple acts of vandalism against their places of worship in St. Cloud. If that kind of hostility is afoot in our streets, it’s bound to be in our schools, too. We believe the overwhelming number of people in this area are not mean-spirited or prejudiced. Our school district is trying its best to defuse conflicts and to try to make every student feel comfortable and secure. The district also has a good anti-bullying policy. Nevertheless, these student grievances must be thoroughly considered, and actions must be taken, including disciplinary actions against the bullies, not the bullied. In the meantime, all of us who live here must speak up to challenge hurtful comments and ludicrous stereotypes against our good neighbors, the Somalis, as well as others who may be targets of bigotry. The poison of prejudice runs most deep when it goes unchallenged, and our collective silence is an accessory to the crime.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 27, 2015
Opinion Netanyahu undermines peace efforts Who says a leopard can’t change its spots? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does it all the time, although he more resembles a belligerent jackass than a sleek leopard. On March 16, the night before his electoral success and then on the day of the election, he announced he would, as prime minister, do all in his power to resist a two-state solution as part of a peace process – that is, an Israeli state and a Palestinian state. He would, he said, never allow a Palestinian state. Two days after the election, he told news reporter Andrea Mitchell he is in favor of a two-state solution but that “conditions” aren’t right. He didn’t mention, of course, one of those “conditions” is him, along with his intransigent Likud party. There are newfangled euphemisms for Netanyahu’s rapid-fire about-face, his endless flip-flops: “walking it back” or “backtracking.” There’s another, more accurate name for it: “lying.” The winding trail of Netanyahu’s political career is littered with more lies than Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. This is the man House Speaker John Boehner and House right-wingers invited to speak to the U.S. Congress recently in an effort to shame our president and his diplomatic efforts with Iran. Such a pathetic stunt is going to backfire sooner or later. Netanyahu began his speech before the U.S. Congress as a virtual valentine to President Barack Obama, praising him as being such a good friend to Israel. Then, in the next breath, he proceeded to trash Obama and his diplomatic efforts with Iran, claiming any agreement would bring almost certain ruin to Israel and the world. The sky will fall! Apparently, Netanyahu’s solution to peace is for the United States to just go and nuke Iran.
Dennis Dalman Editor Netanyahu has never been a man of peace. Through his three terms as prime minister, he has been a peace pretender most of the time. Anyone who has followed Middle-East peace processes for years, at least as regards Israel and the Palestinians, knows a two-state solution is critical if any peace can be achieved and then kept. Without that foundation, that understanding, no peace is possible. Time and again, bowing to world pressures, Netanyahu pretended to accede to the two-state solution, but every time he and his right-wing cronies dragged their feet, erected hurdles, antagonized Palestinians, used oppressive measures against their neighbors in the name of security and – again and again – kept building Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Such settlements, more than any other factor, caused rage among Israel’s neighbors because the settlement constructions were obviously provocative. Those construction projects were and are a major roadblock to peace as several American presidents have known so well. In fact, it was settlementbuilding that caused the hostile rift between Obama and Netanyahu years ago. Netanyahu is a masterful politician and, like many politicians, he has learned to dissemble, to speak out of both sides of his mouth, to make promises and then renege on those promises and – yes – to tell bold-faced lies.
To his credit, he can be very passionate and eloquent about the right of the Jewish people to be secure in their country. Like all Jews, Netanyahu is painfully aware of what happened during the Holocaust and how anti-Semitism has left such a terrible legacy of murders throughout history. And he is also right to be keenly suspicious of many of his Arab neighbors, especially when some extremists have vowed nothing less than the complete destruction of Israel. It’s too bad, though, his peace initiatives, such as they are, do not match his admirable passions. However, his peace initiatives are hard to find. Anyone who has followed the seemingly endless negotiations for so many decades knows many times Israeli extremists like Netanyahu have undermined that process by their provocative, belligerent actions, such as building more and more settlements and in bulldozing Palestinian homes. Netanyahu has never believed in a two-state solution; he has pretended to do so, largely because he has to play along with American presidents since Israel is the recipient of billions of dollars in American aid and military resources. He and other extremists pretended to go along with steps to a peace process, like the Oslo accords, but then later they balked and reneged on those agreements. The United States, rightfully so, is a firm friend and defender of Israel, our stalwart ally in the Middle East. It’s a crying shame America and other countries have to deal, yet again, with Netanyahu and the majority Likud party. With them in charge, peace between Israel and the Palestinians will be undermined and sabotaged repeatedly. That’s because there is a big roadblock to peace in the Middle East. Its name is Benjamin Netanyahu.
Why are ‘birthers’ suddenly so silent? Larry Leighton, Alexandria Is the Republican Party now about to show the epitome of hypocrisy? Just over six years ago they raised a hue and cry about President Obama's citizenship. Even today the "birthers" make their wild claim he was born in Kenya.
Never mind he could have been born on Jupiter and still be a natural-born U.S. citizen because he had an Americanborn mother regardless of who his father was. Never mind he was born in Honolulu, NOT Kenya, as birthers would have us believe. Never mind, even if he had been born in Kenya, his mother was still
a citizen! Ah, but now comes Sen. Ted Cruz, born in Canada to a U.S.-born mother and a Cuban-born father, and suddenly it's all right! His mother is a U.S. citizen, so it's OK. This writer agrees it's OK. But, where are the suddenly silent birthers?
To be lean-forgetful or fat with memory?
So here I was sound asleep in my comfortable bed when suddenly I was shattered awake by these two words: Hoyt Axton. That’s all, just Hoyt Axton. I had just dozed off. I’m sure this happens to you. My wife and I were discussing a song earlier that evening we had heard and were trying to come up with the name of the singer. This happens now and then. Our minds just seem to turn off. We try but just cannot remember things. Then, usually much later and for no apparent reason, the answer comes out of the blue. Immediately on hearing the name, I remembered both the song and the singer. My wife and I are and have been big fans of Hoyt, but this has nothing to do with him; it has more to do with our brains. Make that our aging brains. Oh, and getting shattered awake. Most of the time it’s the simplest things that cause us to stumble. I think I have discovered the cause. I call it brain clutter. When we are young we spend most of our time taking in knowledge. We are learning the whys and hows of life. We are students. We retain that information for when it might come in handy. The problem is as we grow older, we continue to take in information and retain it. Our brains begin to look like an overstuffed suitcase. The older we get the more cluttered our
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer brains become. I just received a forward which dealt with this. It was a group of cheerleaders yelling, “What do we want? Better memory. When do we want it? Want what?” Now I am not making fun of memory loss or the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. I know from personal experience the tragedy of those problems. My own father was an Alzheimer’s patient. What I am talking about is just the natural aging process and how our minds are sometimes affected. And sometimes it’s funny. Like being awakened in the middle of the night with an answer to a question I had already forgotten. Both my wife and I will sometimes walk into a room and for a moment wonder why we are there. We both have our routines. Like when she is fixing breakfast, you never want to interrupt her with questions about, for example, dinner. That could throw her off completely and she has to start over.
One of my big issues is the garage door. I will often take my car out of the garage, back out into the street, drive away, then wonder as I get down the road if I closed the garage door. Sometimes I will even have to drive back by to see if it’s closed. Life becomes quite automatic. I have read quite a bit about this aging process and our ability to keep our brains strong and active. I work crossword puzzles and my wife does the Sudoku puzzles. It’s supposed to keep us sharp. I write these columns every week and she proofs them. Those are very good exercises as well. Somebody once told me walnuts are good brain food. But they make you fat. Which is better? To be lean and forgetting everything or fat with a memory of everything, especially the foods that made you fat? So then I am left with this question: Which is a better choice, a cluttered mind that sometimes forgets stuff, or just to be empty-headed? I think I will go with the clutter. Scarbro is retired and spends most of his free time with his grandchildren having moved from Sartell to St. Simons Island, Ga.. Writing and commenting on the news of the day is a pastime. Visit his weekly blog at ronscarbro.blogspot.com for more commentary.
Friday, March 27, 2015 Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 363-4195; or, e-mail it to operations@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, March 27 Fish Fry, 4-8 p.m., All Saints Academy school cafeteria, 32 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph, or, St. Joseph Catholic Church Heritage Hall, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Saturday, March 28 Hope for Recovery Workshop, free workshop providing information on mental illness, coping strategies, registration required, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall, 219 2nd St. N., Sartell. namihelps.org. 651645-2948. Garage Sale and Craft-Vendor Sale, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Bernick’s Pepsi Arena, 1109 1st St. S., Sartell. Creative writing workshop, 10:30-11:45 a.m., St. Cloud Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org. St. Stephen Easter egg hunt, 11 a.m., Smoley Fields upper field, St. Stephen. Maple Syrup Tours, 1-4 p.m., Kramer Lake/Wildwood Park, 29709 Kipper Rd., St. Joseph. 320-363-7784. Maple Syrup Festival, 1-4 p.m., Sugar Shack near St. John’s Preparatory School, St. John’s University, Collegeville. 320-363-3163. csbsju.edu/ outdooru. Homework help, for grades K-8, 2:30-4:45 p.m., St. Cloud Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org. Earth Hour, turn lights off for 1 hour to raise awareness about climate change, 8:30 p.m., earthhour.org.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Community Calendar
Sunday, March 29 Empty Bowls, silent auction featuring unique pottery, wooden bowls and more, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. placeofhopeminisries. org. 320-203-7881. Monday, March 30 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., CD135 volunteer services, St. Cloud Veterans Hospital, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. redcrossblood.org. Tuesday, March 31 55+ Driver Improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Life Assembly of God, 2409 Clearwater Road, St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. Blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Atonement Lutheran Church, 1144 29th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. redcrossblood.org. Wednesday, April 1 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Wendelin Church, 22714 Hwy 15, St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. redcrossblood.org. Thursday, April 2 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 1st St. NE, Sartell. Traveling Health and Screening Fair for people 50+, 9 a.m.-noon, Waite Park City Hall, 19 13th Ave. N. Great River Regional Coin Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Miller Auto Marine Sports Plaza, 2930 2nd St. S., St. Cloud. Four Humors Lolita: A ThreeMan Show, stage play based on the 2.5-hour movie by Stanley Kubrik,
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Center Stage, Performing Arts Center, St. Cloud State University, 620 3rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-308-3093. St. Joseph Planning Commission, 6 p.m., City Hall, 25 College Ave. N., St. Joseph. 363-7201. cityofstjoseph. com.
Friday, April 3 St. Joseph Area Historical Society open, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 1st Ave. NW. stjosephhistoricalmn.org. Fish Fry, Bake Sale and Meat Raffle, 5-8 p.m., El Paso Sports Bar
7 and Grill, 200 NW 2nd Ave., St Joseph. Saturday, April 4 Homework help, for grades K-8, 2:30-4:45 p.m., St. Cloud Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org.
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 103 N. College Ave. St. Joseph • 320-363-4573 CHURCHES Gateway Church
Worship: Sunday 10 a.m. & Saturday 7 p.m.
320-282-2262 • gatewayofstjoseph.org Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA
Sunday Worship 8:30 & 11 a.m. WoW! (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 p.m.
610 N. CR 2, St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjo.org St. Joseph Catholic Church Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. Saturday 5 p.m. Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.
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DENTISTRY Drs. Styles, Cotton & Milbert 1514 E. Minnesota St. St. Joseph • 320-363-7729
EYECARE Russell Eyecare & Associates 15 E. Minnesota St., Ste. 107 St. Joseph • 320-433-4326
Laser Dentistry 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-4468
MASSAGE Alexander Method Massage Coin Laundromat Complex, Ste. 3 St. Joseph • 320-249-2531
ELECTRICAL HI-TEC Electric • St. Joseph Residential • Commercial Remodeling • General Services 320-363-8808 • 320-980-0514 YOUR INDUSTRY Your Business Address City • Phone • Website
Call the St. Joseph Newsleader at 320-363-7741 if you would like to be in the Business Directory.
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Justina Massage Young Living Distributor 33 W. Minnesota St., Ste. 102 St. Joseph • 320-492-6035 PUBLISHING Von Meyer Publishing 32 1st Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-7741 REAL ESTATE Wendy Loso Century 21 First Realty Inc. 320-980-5920 TECHNOLOGY Computer Repair Unlimited 24 W. Birch St. St. Joseph • 320-492-2814 www.computerrepairunlimited.com
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
8
Councils approve Earth legislative priorities
from front page
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
All six area cities, including St. Joseph, have adopted three legislative priorities they would like the Minnesota Legislature to act upon – or at least to consider – in the 2015 legislative session. Each council of the five cities came to a consensus to support the priorities during their council meetings. The cities are St. Joseph, Sartell, St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park. The priorities are these three: • Appropriate funds to provide minimum-revenue guarantees for airlines via an economic-development fund to re-establish local air service at the St. Cloud Regional Airport. • Exempt public purchases from the sales tax. Support legislation that would clarify the local government sales-tax exemption to define exemption for all purchases made by local units of government, whether by a private business on behalf of a local government (public capital projects) or by the municipality itself. • Appropriate funds and create a program to encourage regional collaboration efforts that are locally initiated by local government jurisdictions.
Policy statements
The resolution approved by
the six city councils also lists “general policy statements” that are generally supported in one form or another by the councils. The following are some of the major ones: • Legislation to assist cities with disproportionately high amounts of government and/ or nonprofit business properties such as colleges, universities and hospitals. • Legislation that would give municipalities the authority to establish street-improvement districts to collect fees from property owners within a district to fund municipal street maintenance, construction, reconstruction and facility upgrades. • Support extension of the North Star Commuter Rail service north to the St. Cloud area. • Reduce pressure on the property-tax system and equalize property-tax bases by reviewing local-government-aid appropriations. Also, consider increasing local-government assistance levels commensurate with the inflation rate. • Support local accountability by allowing local authorities to formulate and adopt budgets without state restrictions. • Support legislation that would reduce or eliminate unfunded state mandates. • Support retention of local control of private water-well installations.
Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia and since then has spread internationally as an annual event on the last Saturday of March. Lights during that hour are extinguished at city halls, city-owned facilities (water towers, for instance), historical landmarks such as the Great Pyramids and the Roman Colosseum and many residences worldwide. More than 7,000 cities now take part in Earth Hour. Some of those cities noticed huge drops in energy demand during that hour. Skeptics, however, have belittled Earth Hour as a “feel-good” effort that doesn’t really do much good at all, ultimately. Birkholz disagrees. Turning off lights, even for one hour, he
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Friday, March 27, 2015
said, is a start to get people out of the habit of keeping lights on for no reason whatsoever. He said a walk or drive-around in St. Joseph – to name just one city – will show just how many lights are on foolishly – in homes, businesses and just about anywhere anyone looks. As a nine-year resident of St. Joseph, Birkholz said he has noticed wasteful lights-on behavior more and more. It’s, in a word, inefficient, he said. What’s more, it does add to needless energy use and, thus, one form or another of pollution, including star-blocking light pollution, he added. He urges everyone to view a satellite image of North America at night so they can see the sheer extent of the wasteful burning of lights. “Turing out lights for an hour may seem frivolous, like a drop in the bucket,” Birkholz said. “But it does add up.”
He and his wife, Christine Carlysle, have an at-home textiles creation business and sell their products, such as pillow covers and table runners, online. They have two children, ages 10 and 9. His children definitely enter into Birkholz’s concerns about wasteful energy usage, even though he cared deeply about that issue long before he had children. “I want a good future for my children,” he said. “We need to find a way to change our behavior long-term. We’ve got to learn to be mindful of how we use our finite resources.” One way, he said, is to shut lights out from 8:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28 to celebrate Earth Hour. What should people do in the dark? “Light a candle,” Birkholz suggested. “Then have a conversation.”
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