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‘Find Jacob’ Town Crier billboard campaign begins Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 Volume 25, Issue 41 Est. 1989
Trick or Treat Oct. 25 at PineCone Marketplace
Trick or Treat Day at PineCone Marketplace will be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Show off those Halloween costumes and stop by each business for a treat. See next week’s Newsleader for an insert with more details.
Thank you St. Joseph
The St. Joseph Fire department would like to thank the community for all of its support, and the sponsors of the 2014 Fire Safety Fair held Oct. 10.
6th District candidates to debate Oct. 21
The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Cloud Rotary Club are co-hosting a debate for 6th District Congressional candidates John Denney (IP), Tom Emmer (R) and Joe Perske (DFL). The debate is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21 at the Le St. Germain Suite Hotel, 404 W St Germain St., St. Cloud. The focus of the debate will be on issues of concern to business. Questions may be taken from the audience if time allows. Seating is limited. Attendees must register by Friday, Oct. 17. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders. com and click on Oct. 17 Criers.
History museum hosts Halloween Historia Oct. 25
The Stearns History Museum presents Halloween Historia, a non-scary, peanut-free Halloween family event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Stearns History Museum, 235 S. 33rd Ave., St. Cloud. Wear your costumes and be prepared to have fun. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Oct. 17 Criers.
SCSU kicks off Super Fridays series
St. Cloud State University’s new Super Fridays series gives mom and dad a peaceful night out and area youth a fun unique experience. The Campus Recreation program engages children and helps them develop skills and build confidence. The program runs from 6-9 p.m. on select Fridays in the Halenbeck Fieldhouse for youth ages 5 to 11. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders. com and click on Oct. 17 Criers.
Newsleader deadline
Deadline for news copy is 10 days prior to the Friday publication date. Deadline for ad copy is 3 p.m. Mondays for Friday’s issue. For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
INSERT:
Bee Line Service Center
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Twenty-five years is a very long time for an 11-year-old boy to remain missing, but the parents of Jacob Wetterling are not giving up on finding him, and neither is law enforcement. Jacob’s mother said she hugs him when he comes back home to her in her dreams. A “Find Jacob” billboard campaign was announced at a press conference Oct. 14 at the St. Cloud Law Enforcement Center. Six “Still Missing” billboards were placed along busy roadways in the general area of Wetterling’s abduction, which happened Oct. 22, 1989. One was recently put up along CR 75 near St. Joseph, not far from the former convenience store Wetterling, his brother and a friend had visited on bikes shortly before Jacob’s abduction by a masked gunman on their way back home. Billboards have also been placed in Paynesville, Cold Spring, several on Hwy. 23 and a digital billboard near the intersection of Division Street and 33rd Street in St.
Cloud. The billboard features a bright-red band on top with words in white saying “STILL MISSING.” Under that is a black band with the words “Jacob Wetterling. Call with any information” and large numbers-words that say “1-800-THE-LOST.” On the left of the billboard is a photo of Jacob in 1989. On the billboard’s right is a computergenerated portrait of how Wetterling might look today, at the age of 36. 1-800-THE LOST is the tollfree phone number of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, based in Alexandria, Va. Any calls to the center will be instantly forwarded to the proper lawenforcement authorities. John Ryan, one of the speakers at the press conference, is president and CEO of NCMEC. “We’ll never stop searching, and we’ll never give up hope,” Ryan said about Wetterling. The parents of Jacob, Patty and Jerry Wetterling, also spoke. Jacob • page 7
photos by Tara Wiese
Above: Once just a seedling, this stately tree was planted 25 years ago next to what was then Kennedy Elementary School in honor of Jacob Wetterling after his Oct. 22, 1989 abduction. This “Tree of Hope” reflects the hope that has been kept alive for so many years by those who long for the day when Jacob comes home. Jacob, who would be 36 years old now, was a student at Kennedy. Inset: This commemoration stone is embedded at the foot of “Jacob’s Tree of Hope” next to the former Kennedy Elementary School, at which 11-year-old Jacob was a student.
Mayor Schultz explains sales-tax ballot question by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The City of St. Joseph currently gets back $1.42 for every dollar residents pay into the regional half-cent sales tax, according to St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz. Schultz conducted a meeting
Oct. 10 at the Wobegon Trail center. Only three residents – two men and one woman – attended the public meeting. Schultz told the Newsleader he has presented information about the sales tax to many area organizations in recent weeks, trying to inform people about the basics on the sales
tax, which will be on the Nov. 4 ballot. Voters will have a chance to vote yes or no to a request for an extension of the half-cent sales tax for 20 years – from 2018 through 2038. The current authorization for the tax will expire in three years unless voters approve the extension,
which has been authorized by the state legislature. This will be the third time the sales tax was extended, if voters give approval. If the tax is approved by St. Joseph voters, it’s estimated it could bring up to $11 million to St. Joseph through the 20-year Sales tax • page 3
Families attend fire safety fair by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Hundreds of people attended the Safety Fair Oct. 10 at St. Joseph Community Fire Hall. Many of them brought their families. The event was popular with many area children. It included free hot dogs, popcorn, cookies, beverages and many other items for children. Children played on an inflatable slide; checked out the inside of fire photo by Cori Hilsgen trucks, a police car, an ambulance; Rick and Melanie Klisch’s two-year-old twin sons, got fingerprinted and more. Gavin and Grant, enjoy checking out the inside of the Patricia Rueckert brought her “old” fire truck.
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daughters Dominique, 4, and Michaylah, 1. Because there were so many attendees, they decided to eat outside until it was less busy inside. Dominique and Michaylah were eating hot dogs and cookies. “It’s great for kids,” Rueckert said. “We’re looking forward to getting back inside to enjoy some of the activities.” Firefighter Sharon Rennie was busy distributing fire hats, beacon lights, batteries, coloring books, stickers, bracelets and more. Rennie has been with the department for three years. Fair • page 6
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Task force to examine city’s facilities needs by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A facilitiesneeds task force will soon start meeting for five times between now through December to try to determine Barnes what, if anything, St. Joseph should have for new amenities. Community center? New or refurbished city hall? Separate police station? Splash pad? About 50 people attended an organizing facilities-needs meeting Oct. 13 at the St. Joseph Fire
Hall. The meeting was led by Phil Barnes, a professional facilitator hired by the St. Joseph City Council at a cost of up to $6,000. Barnes is manager of WSB and Associates, Minneapolis. Also at the meeting, taking notes, was Kelsey Johnson, a municipal planner for WSB. City council members and Mayor Rick Schultz were among the audience but did not take part in leading the meeting. After a controversy last year about a city project, the city council decided to hire a facilitator to help ensure any future process dealing with proposed city facilities would be open, transparent, fair and objective.
Last year, when the council proposed building a new city hall/ police station with a community meeting room, many residents rose up in protest, claiming the council was not representing the wishes of the citizens, even though the council’s process had allowed for plenty of citizen input. At several public meetings and via a petition signed by 900-plus residents, the public expressed its displeasure with the council’s proposal. Finally, the council decided to shelve its proposal and go back, this time with a professional facilitator, to the drawing board. Thus, the Oct. 13 meeting, which is the beginning of the new process. Barnes assured the audience several times he is on board simply to facilitate the upcoming task-force meetings and he has Task force • page 11 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. Sept. 10 8:01 a.m. Theft from vehicle. Baker Street E. Sometime overnight, an unlocked vehicle was gone through. Small amount of change was taken. Nothing else missing. Advised owner to keep doors locked and pass word to neighbors. Sept. 11 11:59 a.m. Suspicious item. CR 133 and CR 75. A round cylinder-type case with a black wire hanging out of it was found. Police officer took photo and sent it to Minneapolis bomb squad who responded. Item was taken out to a field along the frontage road and detonated. All clear was given. Nothing left of item. 11:19 p.m. Driving complaint. 1100 block of Division Street. Twenty-year-old St. Cloud female called in a license plate which could not be matched with the truck description she gave police. Officer checked area from CR 75 in Waite Park to College Avenue N. 11:59 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Ash Street W. While on pa-
People
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
contributed photo
Apollo High School Homecoming Royalty (from left to right) are seniors Ben Alvord, son of Ann and Mike Alvord; Emily Boysen, daughter of Terri and Gene Boysen; Nicole Bloch, daughter of Tami and Marv Bolch; and Josh Gohmann, son of Vanita Besel and Rod Gohmann. All are from St. Joseph and all are former Kennedy School graduates. Apollo’s Homecoming coronation was held Oct. 1 and 301 students had the chance to nominate the royalty.
Blotter
trol, an officer located a vehicle parked in a parking lot with its dome light on. Officer checked vehicle. All secure and nothing appeared to be disturbed. Sept. 12 3:20 a.m. Intoxicated person. Birch Street W/Old Highway 52. Report of an intoxicated male walking around the construction area near Old Highway 52 and Birch Street W. Officer arrived on scene and found a 21-yearold male walking eastbound on Birch Street W. Officer stopped male who showed signs of obvious intoxication and blew a .220 on the breathalyzer. Male did not have anyone to care for him so officer transported him to St. Cloud detox without incident. 11:37 p.m. Juvenile problem. 400 block of Minnesota Street W. Construction cones were tipped over by college-age kids per complainant. No one in the area upon officer’s arrival. Officer placed cones upright. 11:46 p.m. Pedestrian/vehicle accident. CR 75/College Avenue N. Officer was dispatched to accident involving car and two pedestrians. Two males, a 20-yearold and a 21-year-old, both from Rochester, Minn. were hit by a 23-year-old male driver from Waite Park. Victims were transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital. Sept. 13 12:12 a.m. Loud music. 12th Avenue SE and Baker Street E. Police checked the area and did
not hear any loud music. 12:55 a.m. Suspicious person. Old Highway 52. Complainant said someone was shaking a sign on Old Highway 52 then walking toward ball field. Officers were unable to locate suspect. 1:39 a.m. Minor consumption. College Avenue S. College of St. Benedict security had contact with a 19-year-old male from San José, Calif., who showed signs of intoxication. Suspect blew a .202 on the breathalyzer who also presented a driver’s license of his brother’s. When questioned, suspect turned over his own driver’s license as well. A citation was issued. CSB security took care of him until a sober person could come get him. 11:22 p.m. Unwanted person. Old Highway 52. Officers arrived on scene to help resident who was having issues getting people complainant did not know to leave his backyard. Most people were leaving as officers arrived. The rest left as officers walked to the back of the residence. Sept. 14 1:54 a.m. Vandalism. Old Highway 52. On routine patrol, officer observed a section of mailboxes knocked off the post lying curbside near the fence of Centennial Park. One mailbox was completely removed from the section and lying apart from the rest. Nobody was around. Photos were taken of damage and mailboxes moved back by post.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
Sales tax from front page term of the tax. Any city that does not vote for the sales tax will not receive any of the revenue from the pooled funds. When the half-cent sales tax went into effect 10 years ago, St. Joseph voters declined to be a part of it. Two years later, the city’s voters did approve it, along with the other area cities that had jumped aboard two years earlier: St. Cloud, Sartell, St. Augusta, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park. Since then, St. Joseph has received an average of $280,000 per year from half-cent salestax revenue. That money has been used for various city projects, and some has been set aside for future projects. Here is how the sales tax works: All business transactions in each of the six cities charge an extra half cent
in sales tax on products sold. The money collected then goes into a fund. The first $900,000 of the revenue, each year, is used for jointly funded regional projects. Past examples include the library in St. Cloud and improvements at the St. Cloud Airport. On the upcoming ballot, jointly funded regional uses include regional trail connections, an aquatics center and airport improvements. After that jointly funded regional projects money is disbursed, the rest of the revenue each year is divided among all of the cities, based on their population and other factors. Cities can use the revenue only for projects that have some regional aspect – that is, subject to use by all people in the six-city area. Such projects could include major roadways, public parks, trails or city facilities such as recreation centers that could attract people other than just that city’s residents. Half-cent sales-tax revenue cannot be used for maintenance.
On the Nov. 4 ballot, voters will be asked to approve the tax under one question, yes or no, which involves the following provisions: Jointly funded regional projects: Regional trails and interconnection of the regional trail systems, not to exceed $500,000 annually; regional aquatics center, not to exceed $200,000 annually; regional airport, not to exceed $200,000 annually. Regional transportation improvements and related infrastructure: Not to exceed $10 million of the tax revenue received by St. Joseph. Examples can include, but are not limited to, streets, roads, related infrastructure and mass-transit projects. Regional community facilities: An amount not to exceed $8 million of the revenue received by St. Joseph. Examples could include, but are not limited to, community center, senior center, historical center and branch library. Regional parks, trails, open
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photo by Dennis Dalman
St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz discusses the half-cent salestax ballot question with Sartell resident Mike McDonald. Only three people showed up for the informational meeting Oct. 10 at the Wobegon Trailhead Center. space and related facilities: Not to exceed $4 million of revenue received by St. Joseph. Examples could include, but are not limited to, public bathroom facilities, water amenities, expanding shelters and development of Sauk River Park.
The ballot question, in relation to the above, states: “Shall the City of St. Joseph be authorized to continue the collection of a half-cent percent sales-anduse tax through the year 2038 to pay for all or part of the above listed projects?”
Ask a trooper
What is the rule for cyclists when not ‘tripping’ a signal light? Q: What is the rule for drivers of motorcycles for making left or right turns at intersections? Sometimes they are not heavy enough to trip the signal lights. Someone told me they could make a left or right turn at a red light if it’s safe to do so, after the signal light has cycled once. Please advise, thanks! A: Minnesota law addresses when motorcycles, bicycles and mopeds are not detected by control systems at traffic lights, and a signal change does not occur. The law gives motor-
cyclists, bicyclists and moped riders the option to proceed through the intersection after a reasonable amount of time, and provides an affirmative legal defense to this action. These five conditions must be met to proceed: • The motorcycle, bicycle or moped has been brought to a complete stop. • The traffic-control signal continues to show a red light for an unreasonable time. • The traffic-control signal is apparently malfunctioning or, if pro-
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grammed to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to detect the motorcycle, bicycle or moped. • No vehicle or person is approaching on the roadway to be crossed or entered, or • Approaching vehicles or persons are so far away they do not constitute an immediate hazard. The affirmative defense applies only to an alleged violation for entering or crossing an intersection
controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red light. It does not provide a defense to any other civil or criminal action. Preliminary numbers show a drop in motorcycle crash fatalities this year in Minnesota – a 29 percent decrease as of the end of September. Motorcyclists – keep the positive trend going and stay alive with safe riding strategies as the season comes to a close, including: • Assume you’re invisible to drivers
• Use both brakes • Don’t give up control by “laying it down” A portion of state statutes were 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 Highway 10 W., Detroit Lakes, MN 565012205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse. grabow@state.mn.us).
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Our View
Prize-winners deserve praise for working for children’s rights
It’s a good positive sign of our times when the two who just won the Nobel Peace Prize are recognized for working so hard for children’s rights. Any society that cannot protect its children should never dare to call itself civilized. Malala Yousafezi, 17, of Pakistan; and Kailash Satyarthi, 60, of India were both honored – Yousafezi for advocating for girls’ rights to an education and Satyarthi for fighting against the vicious exploitation of children in India and elsewhere. Yousafezi was riding a bus three years ago when a Taliban thug stepped on the bus, asked, “Which one is Malala?,” then stepped up to her and shot her in the head. Fortunately, she recovered in a Birmingham, England hospital. She has developed into an extraordinarily articulate, poised, confident and passionate spokesperson for children’s rights, especially the rights of girls to read books and get an education. She has spoken in person with world leaders, including President Barack Obama, and she addressed the United Nations with a powerful speech. Ban Ki-moon, the U.N. secretary general, summed it up nicely when he said of Yousafezi: “With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most – a girl with a book.” That is exactly right. Terrorists and other religious extremists cannot bear the light of free enquiry or scrutiny because their ideologies are based on power games, fear, ignorance and superstition – not to mention the cruel suppression of girls and women. Satyarthi has fought child exploitation (in particular, child slavery) for 30 years, and his efforts are attributed with saving 70,000 children in India from horrific bondage at sweat shops. His organization, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (translated as Save the Children Mission) has made strides in exposing the exploiters of children and in getting people to boycott companies that use child slave labor. It’s estimated there are about 28 million children, ages 6-14, working under oppressive conditions in India and many more elsewhere in the world. In some cases, the children, when not working, are forced to live in airless rooms or mine shafts. They are often beaten, burned with cigarettes or tied down and hit with stones if they disobey or try to run away. The same unthinkable evil is directed at girls and boys kidnapped, sold and forced to work in the despicable sex trade. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember this is the 21st Century, not the Dark Ages of Cruelty. It’s interesting Yousafezi is a Muslim who said a book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a big early influence on her thinking. Satyarthi, a Hindu, said he was very much inspired by the writings of India independence leader Mohandas Ghandi. King said he learned the philosophy of non-violence mainly from Ghandi. And like those two great men, Satyarthi and Yousafezi are both advocates of non-violence, believing enlightenment, knowledge, good works and human decency are the lights we need to lead us out of the darkness that surrounds it. If only others in the world, embarked on their murderous madness, would listen and learn those bright lessons.
Fairness and ethics
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.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
Opinion Let’s try to avoid contagion of fear In a college biology course, professor Dr. Ralph Gunderson told us students that someday an epidemic could wipe out many millions of people. I remember raising my hand to question his statement, foolishly saying with all the vaccines we have now, such an epidemic would be quickly stopped. Gunderson raised his bushy red eyebrows and said, “But Dennis, there are no known vaccines for some communicable diseases, and it can take a long time to develop and manufacture a vaccine.” His words have haunted me ever since, especially in recent days with this ebola outbreak. The first known example of ebola infection contracted in the United States happened last week at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. A female nurse apparently caught the disease from a patient she was helping treat – Thomas Eric Duncan, a man from Liberia who died of the dreaded disease Oct. 8, the first person to die of ebola in America. The nurse is now undergoing treatment in the same hospital. This case raises dreaded questions: Is ebola easier to catch than we’ve been told? Are these hospital isolation units really so safe and foolproof? How many more people in the United States have ebola? Or will soon have it? Let us hope the epidemiologists quickly provide answers to those troubling questions. Epidemics, with good reason, are always frightening. During the Middle Ages, waves of bubonic plague, caused by fleas from rats, wiped out as many as a third of the population in major cities. Those plagues were horrifying because people then did not know what caused them or how to prevent them. Many assumed they were caused by God’s wrath,
Dennis Dalman Editor a means of punishing people for their sinful behavior. During plagues, fears – genuine and irrational – spread as fast as the bacteria or viruses themselves. What results is a contagion of fear that can lead to witch hunts, desperate means to find scapegoats who caused the misery. Such irrational fears and behaviors are by no means confined to the Dark Ages of ignorance and superstition. As recently as the 1980s, when AIDS infections began to multiply, the disease was dismissed at first as a gay disease. Then, some began to believe it was God’s way of punishing or killing gays for sinful behavior. Others spouted the idea it was started by gays to infect heterosexuals. Still others claimed the disease was invented in a lab somewhere and then unleashed among gays as a way of wiping out the gay population. The sheer variety of misinformation and fearful conspiracy theories abounded. It’s not surprising. When people are forced to live with the unknown, fears proliferate and can erode the innate decency and healthy social bonds within a society. Two masterful books that explore that theme are The Plague (published in 1947) by French author Albert Camus and A Journal of the Plague Year (published in 1722) by Daniel Defoe. In the latter novel, which reads like a non-fiction account complete with lists of statistics, Defoe gives morbidly fascinating accounts
of how the plague brings into being quack doctors, phony fortunetellers, sellers of hokey remedies and astrologers who claim to have all the answers. The scenes of suffering and terror in that realistic novel are among the most harrowing pages in all of literature. Closer to our own time, there was the horror of the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed nearly 100 million people worldwide, including about 675,000 in the United States. It started, by some accounts, in a World War I staging troop area near Etaples, France. A precursor virus started in birds, then spread to the pigs that were kept near the war front. So goes that theory. Other theories claim it started in China, then mutated in Boston, then spread to France with troop ships. Still others insist the flu started in Haskell County, Kansas before spreading worldwide. The vicious virus caused an attack on one’s immune system, causing death by pneumonia or other opportunistic infections, as well as by massive bleeding. As in other epidemics, fears, superstitions and quackery ran rampant worldwide when that flu bug caused so much suffering and death. To this day, there are more questions than answers about the Spanish influenza epidemic, which ravaged the world in two waves the year World War I ended. The best way to deal with this ebola scare is for all of us to remain cool, calm and rational. The worst thing we can do is to panic, play blame games or indulge in fear-mongering, rumors and misinformation. Sadly, that has begun to happen. The contagion of baseless fears can be, in its way, as bad – or worse – than the virus that causes an epidemic.
Adrian Peterson’s case is going from bad to worse Minnesota Vikings’ superstar, Adrian Peterson, is in trouble. If you follow sports at all you doubtless know Peterson was arrested for what prosecutors identified as child abuse. That abuse was caused by Peterson punishing his son by whipping him with a switch. Some have reported he beat his 4-year-old child with a tree limb or a wooden stick. How it was reported probably depends on the reporter’s opinion of corporal punishment. As an aside, when I was a youngster I was also punished by the infamous switch. I was even required by my mother to go out back and cut my own switch and it had to be from a peach tree because they had little knobs on them that were particularly painful. I remember well the marks on my legs from the whippings. I don’t, however, remember ever having open skin, just little marks that quickly went away. In school the principal had a big wooden paddle which we called the “board of education” and he used it regularly. Corporal punishment was common in all the schools back then. I never doubted my mother loved me. I’m sure as I sit here today this
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer is what she knew and this is probably how she was punished as a child herself. She was a young country girl who had three children by the time she was 22 years old. In other words, she didn’t know any better. I chose, as a young father, not to use corporal punishment on my children. I felt then, as I do today, other forms of punishment were just as effective and my theory has proven correct as both of my children have become good citizens and great adults. It’s been reported Adrian Peterson was himself punished as a child by use of the switch. I am sure he never intended to abuse his little 4-year-old, but I have seen the pictures of the legs of this child. They show clearly open wounds from an obvious beating. To me this is appalling. You make your own decision as the courts will also. I reported earlier Peterson was in
trouble; well it doesn’t end with this allegation. No, it seems he also failed a court-mandated drug test just last week. He showed up for his drug test stoned and admitted to having used a little “weed.” As of this writing, prosecutors have applied to have him rearrested and have his bail rescinded. This is going from bad to worse. Personally, I have long admired Peterson’s ability to run the football, but apparently running the football and making millions of dollars doing so doesn’t make you smart. And I wonder as I look at this situation, does he truly think the rules don’t apply to him? Has he, in reading his press clippings, come to believe he is somehow above the law? Well he’s about to learn that he isn’t. Finally, I believe there is a vast difference between loving punishment of a misbehaving child and overt child abuse. Children have to learn right from wrong. The only way they are going to know is if they are shown and sometimes shown vividly. If love is a part of that experience, then the results will be positive.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Four candidates vie for two city council seats Four St. Joseph residents are vying for two open city council seats this coming election on Tuesday, Nov. 4. They are the following: incumbents Stephen Frank and Dale Wick and newcomers Matt Killam and Steve Olson. Look for additional election race information in upcoming St. Joseph Newsleaders and also on our website at www.thenewsleaders.com.
Stephen Frank
Fa m i l y : Married to Barbara for 47 years. She retired as coordinator of housing at St. John’s University. One son, Thomas, graduated from St. John’s Prep School and SJU. Resided in St. Joseph since 1989. Biographical background: Occupation: Teacher for about 50 years. Now in phased retirement. Political-science professor at St. Cloud State University since 1978. Was an occasional guest lecturer in University of Minnesota, Duluth, masters of Advocacy and Leadership Program. Founder and co-director of the SCSU Survey. In the early 1960s, I was a Ford Foundation high-school teacher at three Michigan high schools and received tenure at Clarkson (Mich.) High School. Received a master’s degree and taught at a Michigan community college for two years and then began a doctorate program. Education: Doctorate in political science from Washington State University. Heavy emphasis on state and local government. Post-doctorate work at the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center. Postdoctorate National Endowment for the Humanities award to study the Framers and the Constitution at the University of Texas (summer 1977). Some professional activities: Past president of the Minnesota Political Science
Association. Frequent consultant to state and local governments; participated on local boards, commissions; and am frequently asked to share my views with government agencies, nonprofits and the media. Past elected president of the SCSU faculty. Department chair (twice). Author or co-author of articles and book publications. Minnesota Political Science First Distinguished Professor of Political Science. Served on and worked with many local, regional and state agencies. Was an original member of the St. Cloud Zoning Board of Appeals and served on its Charter Commission. On a leave, I worked with the State Planning Office and Minnesota Lottery and did extensive work with county and local governments. Through work on the SCSU Survey, I have come to know the views of Minnesotans on a variety of issues. Featured speaker at League of Minnesota convention and board meetings. Early and strong supporter of the St. Cloud Human Rights Commission and am a board member. Serve on St. Joseph’s Economic Development Board. Recently served with one other council person negotiating contracts with our two unions. We negotiated an equitable contract for our employees while keeping the total wage package under our goal of 3 percent. Negotiated some important contract changes. We avoided arbitration or a strike. I have served or still serve on other city positions. I am a strong advocacy of openness and transparency. Favor St Joseph becoming a Green-Step City. Why are you qualified to serve on the city council? I work hard at studying the issues and am not afraid to ask questions. With my email newsletter and other formats, I constantly seek to inform and listen. I am not afraid to change my mind.
There has been much disagreement about the council’s one-time plan to build a new city hall that would include a community room. How can the council proceed without any more confusion about that issue? Why were there so many misunderstandings that led to that controversy? I believe I was a key person for the council hiring a true neutral facilitator who will help us identify the issues, identify citizen preferences and work for an outcome that will meet our needs and resources. I believe we lacked clear priorities as to what we were trying to accomplish. What are the biggest challenges as St. Joseph continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Our challenges include keeping the “essence” of St Joseph while the inevitable growth occurs. This against the background of a city that has moderate incomes and a significant amount of land that is exempt from some taxes. Some believe more revenues will come from more houses. I’m not opposed to more houses, but studies show housing doesn’t contribute much to the city coffers. Business and industry are a better source of revenues. How would you rate the relationships between the city, its residents and the two local colleges and college students? How could those relationships be strengthened? Uneven. I applaud our mayor for reaching out. However, it must be a two-way street. We have had representatives to the council from the schools that soon stop attending. I am very familiar with the institutions through my wife’s and son’s involvement with the schools. I have taught a class at SJU; and I have tried to interact by serving on CSB committees and other activities. About two years ago the council was
asked to participate in a Politics and a Pint forum regarding our new social host and keg laws. Only the mayor, the police chief and I attended. I played a lead role in developing a new paid internship. Which city services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? I believe our city staff is fairly “lean.” As per good budget practice, we have about a five-month operating reserve. Two things I took away from my public budgeting classes: A city has three basic functions (the three S’s) streets, sewer (water) and safety. I would add fun, for example parks and recreation. Second, across-theboard cuts sound fair but are bad public policy. Some functions may need to be increased. If times are really bad, perhaps we will need more police. We need to explore more shared or merged services.
Matt Killam
Fa m i l y : Wife – Michelle; Children: Mason, 7; Jake, 5; and Devon, 3. Biographical background: Employment: Coborn’s Inc. – Loss-control analyst Education: Minnesota State Mankato – bachelor’s degree in marketing; Minnesota School of Business – master’s in business administration Other activities: City of St Joseph – Planning Commission chair; St. Joseph Lions – membership chair; and St. Joseph Splash Pad Coalition president Why are you qualified to serve on the city council? The voters of St. Joseph will decide who will best represent them on the council. I know I Council • page 8
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St. John’s Parish Center
Fruit Farm Road • Collegeville
German Buffet and Silent Auction Fundraiser Live ! c i s Friday, Oct. 24 from 4-8 p.m. Mu German Buffet including: country-style ribs and kraut, St. Joseph Meat Market sausage & hot dogs, German potato salad, corn, dinner roll, pickled beets, dessert, coffee and water.
Pre-Sale Tickets Adults: $9, Children (ages 5-10): $4 Tickets will be sold at the door Adults: $10, Children (ages 5-10): $5
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Clockwise from top left: photo by Cori Hilsgen
Captain Dave Salzer shows his son Jack, 6, where the helicopter is expected to land. photo by Dennis Dalman
Isabelle Neisen gets to sit in a police car at the St. Joseph Fire Department Open House Oct. 10. Neisen, 3, is the daughter of Kelly and Tim Neisen of St. Joseph. photo by Tara Wiese
Left to right: Isla Bruns, 4, of St. Joseph, Kayla Wiese, 4, daughter of Tara Wiese, Newsleader employee, and Grace Boatz, 4, of St. Joseph appear as a blur from jumping so fast in the inflatables at the St. Joseph Fire Department open house on Oct. 10. photo by Cori Hilsgen
A crowd gathered around the helicopter from North Memorial when it arrived.
Fair from front page “It’s a great family night for kids to get out,” Rennie said. “It’s nice to see we have this much support from the community for what we do. It’s always a fun day.” She said between 300-400 people were expected to attend the event. Rennie said many people were asking about the helicopter that was scheduled to arrive at the fair. She said they had recently done a training drill with North Memorial Hospital. Jennifer Schmitz attended the fair with her children Jakob, 8, and Jorden, 1. Jennifer’s father, Dave Theisen, is a former St. Joseph fire chief. Jakob said he enjoyed going on the inflatable slide and was excited to see the “old” fire truck and the “big” fire truck that were on display. He also got fingerprinted for safety. “It’s a good family fun event to teach the kids about fire prevention and safety,” Jennifer Schmitz said.
St. Joseph Police Reserve Officer Kris Haugen showed Dave and Grace Lemke’s children – Wyatt Lemke, 7, and Emmett Lemke, 2 – the inside of a police car. “Its fun; the kids like it,” Haugen said. St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein teased Jory Stenman, 1, about a cookie he was eating. “It’s a wonderful community event that engages the community with all aspects of public safety,” Klein said. Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner visited with attendees at the event. “This is wonderful for kids and a great opportunity for parents to learn all about the fire department,” Sanner said. “The kids are having a blast.” Rick and Melanie Klisch’s 2-year-old twin sons Gavin and Grant enjoyed checking out the inside of the “old” fire truck by climbing on the seat and turning the steering wheel. Captain Dave Salzer, who has been with the department for nine years, was busy helping at the event. “It’s great for the public to come and see everything we do,” Salzer said.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
Julie Theis and Micale Gillson from Gold Cross Ambulance were busy showing children the inside of an ambulance. Theis said 20 children had climbed in the ambulance during the first 15 minutes they were at the event. “We’re happy to be included and to see what a nice turnout it is coming to an event like this,” Gillson said. Kelli Gauthier and her sister, Traci Pollreis, brought Lauren Schelske, 9, Leah Schelske, 5, and Logan Schelske, 2, to the fair. Gauthier said it was the first time they had attended the event. “It’s been great,” Gauthier said. “The kids are having a blast. They loved climbing in all the equipment.” At about 5 p.m. people began asking about the helicopter that was scheduled to arrive. Rumors began circulating it was 15 minutes away, then 30 minutes away, then 45 minutes away. The helicopter from North Memorial arrived in front of the garage doors at 6 p.m. and many attendees crowded around it.
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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photos by Dennis Dalman
Above: This is a scaled-down version of the “Find Jacob” billboards that have been placed up in St. Joseph, St. Cloud, Cold Spring and Paynesville. Right: Patty Wetterling addresses the media and law-enforcement officials during a press conference Oct. 14 at the St. Cloud Law Enforcement Center. At right is her husband, Dr. Jerry Wetterling. The purpose of the conference was to announce a “Find Jacob” billboard campaign on the 25th year of the 11-year-old St. Joseph boy’s abduction.
Jacob from front page “Where are you, Jacob?” asked Patty. “We love you, and we’ll always hold you in our hearts.” She said there is no evidence to show Jacob is not alive and not coming home. “I still maintain the hope,” she said, adding that she has had dreams, while sleeping, of holding a grown-up Jacob during a joyous homecoming. It is not farfetched, Ryan said, to believe that long-lost children can be located alive. In the past five years, the NCMEC has helped locate 160 children who had been missing for anywhere from 11 to 20 years and 40 children who had been missing for more than 20 years, Ryan noted. Patty Wetterling also noted
in the past, about 25 years ago, the NCMEC helped locate only about 64 percent of missing children. In recent years, that has increased to 97 percent, she added. Billboards have been used many times in seeking children who went missing or who were abducted. Ryan said the most recent use of a billboard by the NCMEC was in Virginia about a month ago when University of Virginia student Hannah Graham went missing, which is a suspected abduction. Patty Wetterling echoed Ryan’s optimism in finding Jacob and/or other missing people. In 25 years, she said, there have been enormous changes in society, including increasing awareness through the media, schools rearranging parking lots near playgrounds where molesters might lurk, school call-back
policies whereby officials check if students are absent unexpectedly, the management and registration of paroled offenders and advances in technology. When Jacob was abducted, not all police and sheriff’s departments even had fax machines. At the press conference, Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner noted his department did not even have a data computer back then. In the days, weeks and months following Wetterling’s abduction, Sanner said law-enforcement agencies local, state and federal checked out more than 50,000 tips. To this day, he said, every tip is traced. “When we get a tip, we treat it (the Wetterling case) as if it happened yesterday,” rather than 25 years ago. Recently, a TV documentary about Wetterling (John
Walsh’s The Hunt) generated more than 100 potential tips or concerns from people nationwide. Jerry Wetterling also spoke at the conference, urging people to listen, to keep their ears open to overhear bits of conversation in public, such as at cafes. Many cases are solved, he said, because somebody overheard something that didn’t seem quite right or that raised concerns enough to report it to law enforcement. “Somebody out there knows,” Patty said. The Wetterlings thanked people who have been supportive for so many years and who have succeeded in making children safe, including law enforcement, the media, schools, teachers, caregivers, moms and dads, aunts and uncles, and courageous victims of abuse who have spoken up and shared their
stories. “You have all made a difference, and I am so grateful and humbled by your support.” Other speakers at the conference were Chris Golomb of the FBI (Minneapolis Division); Wade Setter, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; Mark Devore, general manager of the Lamar Advertising Co. in St. Cloud (which donated the billboards); Kelvin Miller, corporate president of communication for Lifetouch Photography (which also donated its services for the billboard campaign); and Alison Feigh of the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. Other contributors to the billboard campaign are the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and Circle Graphics.
Baking for the Occasions in Your Life! contributed photo
Jacob’s photo is shown age-progressed to 35 years. Jacob is a white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen at 9 p.m. Oct. 22, 1989. He was with his brother and another friend when they were threatened at gunpoint by an unknown individual. Jacob has a mole on his left cheek, a mole on this neck and a scar on his knee.
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Council from page 5 am dedicated to serving our community. I have worked vigorously with the council and organizations, and I will continue to do so, no matter the outcome of the election. Serving on the council is how I can have the most impact in continuing the work I’ve already begun. I believe I am the best candidate to expand our recreational infrastructure, and work with the broad coalition
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of citizens and organizations who make this city great. I’m driven and determined to make a great city better. Through various city organizations, I serve this community to ensure a better tomorrow. I plan to work with the community to come up with ways to improve the city. I feel I am easily accessible and willing to listen to community members to come up with ideas the community can agree upon. My family has roots in this city, my children attend the local schools and participate in various recreational programs offered. I choose to support
local businesses and this city has become my passion. I am committed to keeping this town a strong community. There has been much disagreement about the council’s one-time plan to build a new city hall that would include a community room. How can the council proceed without any more confusion about that issue? Why were there so many misunderstandings that led to that controversy? The council has begun to go down the right path by hiring a third party in evaluating needs and involving the citizens in the city hall project. The citizens were shocked with the large dollar amount as well as how the city wanted to incorporate the community room in the project. The citizens did not feel their voice was heard and they felt the city was moving in the wrong direction. Some citizens felt a new city hall was not needed and could be renovated rather than replaced. Going forward it’s a necessity the city works with an unbiased third party that can give the city several options and the city and the community can make the decision together. To be successful the project has to be transparent, open-minded and have multiple options for all parties involved. What are the biggest challenges as St. Joseph continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Sustainable growth is the biggest challenge the city will face in the future. Establishing economic prosperity and maintaining the city’s small-town appeal can be accomplished with compromises on both sides. St. Joseph is a great city to raise a family – it has great parks, local businesses and a friendly atmosphere. These are great pillars to the city’s suc-
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cess. The St. Joseph recreation program is thriving and a water amenity as well as little libraries would be welcomed additions to the community. They would help citizens interact with their neighbors and promote social well-being. How would you rate the relationships between the city, its residents and the two local colleges and college students? How could those relationships be strengthened? The relationship with the college is strong and the students play a huge role in the community. The city should continue to work with the colleges on topics that effect both parties. Approachability and transparency play a huge role in maintaining a strong relationship. Utilizing several media platforms could be a great bridge to the partnership. By offering fun places to eat and recreational activities to the students, they will want to spend more time in St. Joseph rather than other cities. My goal is to have more graduates live in St. Joseph after graduation, by showing them how great a place it is to raise a family. Which city services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? First we have to evaluate the situation. Is it a short-term problem or is it a long-term problem? Then we have to see what possible solutions there are. Can we work with other cities for help or can we balance the budget in different ways? I would prefer to trim services if it had to come to it. Depending on the problem, restrictions could be enforced or freezes could be enforced, until further plans can be made to solve the issue. The citizens of St. Joseph are understanding and I would make sure every
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 decision was made with community involvement.
Steve Olson
Fa m i l y : I have been married 27 years to my wife, Tana. We have one d a u g h t e r, Kylee, who is a freshman in college. Biographical background: I grew up in Thief River Falls, Minn., and graduated from Williston (N.D.) High School. I attended college at the North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D. My family and I moved here in 2004 from Atlanta. Why are you qualified to serve on the city council? During my career, I have held supervisor, managerial and sales positions. In these positions, I learned to manage people, collect and analyze data, and make decisions. All of these skills are essential to the duties of a city council member. There has been much disagreement about the council’s one-time plan to build a new city hall that would include a community room. How can the council proceed without any more confusion about that issue? Why were there so many misunderstandings that led to that controversy? I would say the current council members are the best people to answer the question about the confusion. My personal opinion is the residents of St Joseph were not fully engaged in the process of deciding what we need. I also believe the residents knew there was talk of a new government center, but didn’t realize it was to the point of construction. In my current position as the pre-construction manager and sales person for a large supplier to the construction industry, I work with design teams, contractors and owners on building design. Our cur-
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Sugar is 9 years old and has been waiting for a home longer than most of the cats. She came in because she has a low tolerance for children. Sugar loves to be where you are and will casually follow you around the house. After you settle down in a chair she will settle right in with you and cuddle as close as she can. Sugar is more subdued than some cats, but when she’s ready to play she hunts down a furry toy mouse. Sugar qualifies for the NameYour-Own-Price promotion and would be free to a senior citizen or veteran. Sugar is available for viewing and adoption at Petco.
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The Newsleaders seeks freelance writers and photographers to cover town-specific events/meetings/personalities. Freelancers are paid per story/photo. If interested, please email a resume and a few writing/photo samples to janellev@thenewsleaders.com.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 rent council members spent roughly $400,000 on a project we aren’t building. If a new building was indeed the direction to go, the architect could have done schematic design documents with 3D renderings for a fraction of the cost and those could have been used for community meetings and feedback sessions. I believe the current direction with a new task force is a positive step forward in arriving at a community decision. I signed up to be a member of the task force, and I am running for council to work with the residents on the correct solution. What are the biggest challenges as St. Joseph continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? St Joseph is fortunate to have land and space. I know we are mostly known as a bedroom community, but we have ample space for commercial businesses as well. We need to listen to developers and business owners to offer the services they need to grow our community. How would you rate the relationships between the city, its residents and the two local colleges and college students? How could those relationships be strengthened? I do not feel there are issues here. The colleges have been the financial backbone of this community long before I was here and will continue long after I am gone. Which city services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? Providing services is the basic function of any government entity. I would challenge department heads to operate as efficiently as they can. All government entities need to learn to operate in the same fashion as you would run a business or
your personal finances – don’t spend what you don’t have and you shouldn’t end up in a crisis.
Dale Wick
Family: wife Barb and three children. Biographical background: I am originally from Madison, Minn., but I have lived in St. Joseph for 20 years now. I am the senior digital marketing manager and lead web architect for Wolters Kluwer Financial and Compliance Services working out of the St. Cloud office. I have worked there since 1991. My undergraduate degree is electrical and electronics engineering from North Dakota State University, and I hold a master’s of business administration from the University of Phoenix. Why are you qualified to serve on the city council? I feel my ability to ask the right questions and my capacity to work with others has served the city well during the last 12 years. Because of the number of years I have served on the council, I have been fortunate to be a member or officer on a number of city and regional committees. Being a manager for a global company has taught me how to facilitate very diverse groups of people with different end-goals in mind. Using different project management techniques, I’ve been able to successfully meet very tight timelines and budgets on a regular basis while providing excellent customer service and meeting the needs of our internal clients. I feel my engineering background has taught me how to break down diverse subjects, to find the root cause of situations and successfully evaluate the different options presented and even determine other possible solutions.
There has been much disagreement about the council’s one-time plan to build a new city hall that would include a community room. How can the council proceed without any more confusion about that issue? Why were there so many misunderstandings that led to that controversy? With longer projects, there is always a risk of misunderstanding what the overall goals of those projects are. This project actually started in 2008 with a Space-Needs Study. From there the council decided to start a facilities committee to look at plans for potential new buildings or renovation of our current facilities. I think there may have been some indecision among members of the council, so I’m not surprised there was confusion among residents. In May of 2013, after a couple of town hall meetings, the council decided to focus the facilities committee on a new Government Center and to start a Community Center Task Force to look at that facility separately. The misunderstanding with the Government Center may have come from the split to two projects with residents thinking the council was only looking at a community room and not the amenities a community center would bring. Communication is the key. The council talked about and made decisions on the Government Center project at no less than 27 council meetings, during two years, and two or three town-hall-type meetings along with various newspaper articles and radio reports. Yet, there was still confusion at the last minute. We are all busy with our day-today lives and there may always be confusion about some of the details of a project, but to help in this situation, the council has retained the services of WSB to facilitate a resident focus group to assist with the requirements of these two projects.
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What are the biggest challenges as St. Joseph continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? I think the biggest challenge is to keep building our city’s commercial and industrial base. It’s a challenge because of the rising costs of infrastructure today. We need to continue the EDA’s programs for demolition of older non-productive buildings as well as the businessfacade grant program, and our commitment to tax-increment financing when appropriate. I also proposed to the council a potential need for the city to invest in a new business park. The city has very few “shovel-ready” lots available for new business and so the inclination for new commercial developers to come into the city and purchase large tracks of land is not favorable. The city is seeing that even on the residential side with smaller developers buying already platted lots in small quantities to avoid potential financial issues. The greatest strength related to investing in our growth will come from increased commercial tax revenue to offset the tax burden on the residential side. How would you rate the relationships between the city, its residents and the two local
colleges and college students? How could those relationships be strengthened? I think the relationship with colleges and the college students has come a long way since I was first on the council. In order to continue to strengthen that relationship we need to keep the lines of communication open. It’s great to see student-council representation at the meetings, and I hope we can get a council representative selected to reciprocate at their meetings. Which city services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? It would be irresponsible to choose a particular service the city provides without knowing the entire situation. I would approach a budget crisis like I would a normal business decision by evaluating the potential shortfall as well as the different options that would be presented to the council and then make the best decision I could with the information provided. I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to once again serve you on the council. Your vote and support on Nov. 4 is greatly appreciated. Find out more at http://www.dalewick. com.
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Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
Book explores worldwide marvel – Abbey Church
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Flash back to 60 years ago: “A church constructed of reinforced concrete? You gotta be kidding.” At first, that idea was preposterous and even shocking to many people who had come to know churches as medievallooking structures designed in brick, carved stone, lots of old-time fancy filigree and pointy steeples visible for miles around. In central Minnesota, Catholic churches especially were constructed using models from the “old country” – mainly those in Germany. The two major architectural styles, created centuries ago, were Romanesque and Gothic – magnificent structures that, in some cases, took more than 100 years to build and that still have the power to invoke jaw-dropping awe in tourists who visit Europe. Reinforced concrete just did not fit into that old, triedand-true sacred tradition, even though the large dome of one of the world’s greatest buildings, the Pantheon, was made of concrete in ancient Rome. More than 60 years ago, internationally renowned architect Marcel Breuer was commissioned to design a new church and other buildings on the St. John’s University campus. It was an ambitious, intricate labor of love involving
photo from St. John’s Abbey website
Above: This is a partial view of the enormous stained-glass window wall of St. John’s Abbey Church. The window was designed by Bronislaw Bak, a St. John’s University faculty member. Breuer and his close collaboration with the clergy leaders and monks who were visionary in their embracing of architectural modernity to create a sacred space. That is the story told by Victoria M. Young in her new book, Saint John’s Abbey Church: Marcel Breuer and the Creation of a Modern Sacred Space. (See related story.) Young’s book is a kind of architectural adventure story which predates another astonishing adventure many years later at St. John’s – the creation of the hand-written Saint John’s Bible. Both projects stunned the sacred and secular worlds because of their bold, daring, visionary approaches to renewals of faith.
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EOE
The plans
In early 1950, the old church on the St. John’s campus, built in 1879, proved to be inadequate because it could not accommodate a growing population among the monastery, the seminary, the university and the precontributed photo paratory school. A new church was needed, This is the front cover of Victoria M. Young’s justand Abbot Baldwin Dworschak, published book about the architectural projects on the OSB, took charge, determined St. John’s University campus more than 50 years ago. the new church would be built in a modern style that would taught. At that time, Breuer de- weren’t sure if they liked it or look forward to another century signed mainly homes, but by the not. But after the shock of the late 1940s, he’d begun to create new receded a bit, more and of faith in the modern world. One influence on the concept institutional buildings. His 1952 more people came to admire the for a modernistic design was UNESCO headquarters building structure for its bold, innovative an encyclical released by Pope in Paris was – and still is – con- beauty. It had become an object Pius XII. Part of the encyclical sidered an architectural marvel. of worldwide fame and admiBy 1954, Breuer and the ration. It also set a universal emphasized the need to forge a oneness between Catholic cler- monks agreed to architectural standard for modern, pragmatic gy and participants in worship plans for an addition to the church architecture in which other than the centuries-old hi- monastic quarters on campus, form and function were blisserarchical structure with clergy with the church construction fully wedded. The St. John’s Abbey Church to follow. The building projabove and worshippers below. The encyclical, translated as ect began May 19, 1958 and design was a perfect blend of “On the Sacred Liturgy,” opened was completed Aug. 24, 1961. the functional with the aesthetic the doors to modernism and It involved the use mostly of and spiritual. For example, the gave architects the rationale and local workers, especially for the interior was built so all parfreedom to design churches to cast-concrete forms that com- ticipants in the Catholic Mass express that non-hierarchical prise the church’s skeletal struc- would be equal participants ture. It was such an innovative in worship, with all sitting as oneness. In his specifications for a new way of building a church that closely as possible to the altar. church, Abbot Dworschak said it some skeptics said it couldn’t be The trapezoidal space is vast should be “an architectural mon- done, that it wouldn’t work, that and open, with no pillars, statuument to the service of God. The it might end up in a crumbled ary or other structures to block sight lines. Benedictine tradition at is best heap. The exterior of the church But the workers had faith, challenges us to think boldly and to cast our ideas in forms much like the builders of the is also a marvel of modernity which will be valid for centuries great cathedrals in the Me- and technology with its dazzling dieval Era in Europe. Such use of cast, steel-reinforced conto come.” builders, sculptors and stone- crete. Visitors to the church walk masons worked lovingly on toward and then under a masIn the beginning Dworschack contacted a those churches, even though sive but soaringly graceful bell dozen eminent world-class ar- most workers did not live long banner, 112 feet high. On its narchitects and requested them to enough to see the crowning row “legs” the parabolic-shaped submit blueprints for a church. achievement of the finished structure seems almost as if it is After many agonizing but ex- buildings. The church construc- about to ascend skyward from citing meetings, the monastic tion of centuries ago, in some its mooring – thin arched “legs.” leaders selected Marcel Breuer cases, involved three and four The stunning structure is both solid and heavy, yet lyrical and to do the job. Breuer, born in generations of workers. graceful. Within the banner are 1902 in Germany, was trained and taught at Bauhaus, an archi- The church triumphant five bells that ring for worship. When the St. John’s Abbey Above the bells is an open space tectural school in Germany that was hugely influential through- Church was completed, people in which hangs a large cross. Beyond the bell banner is out the world for its strikingly from throughout the area far the north-side entrance of the modern designs in architecture, and wide came to marvel at it, church with its vast wall of rows artwork and even furniture. Lat- never having seen anything reof hexagonal stained-glass winer, Breuer moved to the United motely resembling such a moddows, like a giant honeycomb States where he joined great ern church. filled with shimmering colors Some raved about the style; architect Walter Gropius at HarAbbey • page 12 vard University, where both men some did not like it; others
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
Task force from page 2
no stake in whatever the people will decide. At the Oct. 13 meeting, those present fired off many questions, and the tone of some of the questions reflected the skepticism and disagreements that had sprung up last year between vocal residents and the council. But, for the most part, all of the questions helped facilitator Barnes define and shape the form of future meetings.
The task force will comprise up to 20 – perhaps more – people that would include two council members, the mayor and 17 or so residents or stakeholders, such as business people who operate in St. Joseph but who may not live in the city. Many people at the meeting signed up to be on the task force. A list of the members will be published once all who have expressed initial interest can commit to attending all five meetings. The meetings (venue not decided yet) will be public meetings, and audience mem-
LEgal notICES CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ELECTION NOTICE The City of St. Joseph will conduct a test of the electronic vote tabulators at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2014 in the St. Joseph City Offices. If the equipment fails, a second test of the equipment will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2014 at the St. Joseph City Offices. Interested persons are encouraged to witness the testing. Judy Weyrens Administrator Publish: Oct. 17, 2014 CERTIFICATE OF ASSUMED NAME STATE OF MINNESOTA Pursuant to Chapter 333, Minnesota Statutes, the undersigned, who is or will be conducting or transacting a commercial business in the State of Minnesota under an assumed name, hereby certifies: 1. The assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted is: 2nd Avenue Cuts 2. The stated address of the principal place of business is or will be: 17 2nd Ave. NW, St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 USA. 3. The name and street address of all persons conducting business under the above assumed name including any corporations that may be conducting this business: Serina Marie Stockoski, 322 Jefferson Lane, St. Joseph, Minn. 56374. 4. I certify I am authorized to sign this certificate and I further certify I understand by signing this certificate, I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Minnesota Statutes section 609.48 as if I had signed this certificate under oath. Filed: Sept. 8, 2014 /s/ Serina Marie Stockoski Publish: Oct. 10 and 17, 2014
Drive Carefully! School is in Session
STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF STEARNS
bers will be allowed to express their opinions or ask questions during the last 15 minutes of each two-hour meeting. Notes will be taken during the meetings and then emailed or sent via postal mail to anyone who wants them. Barnes outlined the processes for the meetings, as well as the qualities that make for good decision-making through collaboration: open-mindedness, ability
Friday, Oct. 17 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 1st Ave NW. Saturday, Oct. 18
NOTICE OF AND ORDER FOR HEARING ON PETITION FOR FORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS It is Ordered and Notice is given that at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2014 a hearing will be held in this Court at the Stearns County Courthouse, 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minn., on a petition for the formal probate of an instrument purporting to be the decedent’s Will dated Aug. 10, 2011, and for the appointment of Sara Jennifer Riesgraf, whose address is 1998 Laquey Ave. NE, St. Michael, Minn. 55376 as personal representative of the decedent’s estate in an unsupervised administration. Any objections to the Petition must be raised at the hearing or filed with the Court prior to the hearing. If the Petition is proper and no objections are filed or raised, the personal representative will be appointed with the full power to administer the decedent’s estate, including the power to collect all assets; pay all legal debts, claims, taxes and expenses; sell real and personal property; and do all necessary acts for the decedent’s estate. Notice is further given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the decedent’s estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court within four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred. BY THE COURT Dated: 10-3-14 /s/ Honorable Kris Davick-Halfen Judge of District Court Dated: 10-3-1
/s/ Timothy Robert Court Administrator
Publish: Oct. 10 & 17, 2014
truly hear rather than just listen. Barnes also asked the audience for any information that should be considered at upcoming facilities-needs meetings. Some of the responses were the exact nature of the 23 variations the city council and committees had come up with when they last considered facilities, the specific needs of department heads, what money and moneyTask force • page 12
Community Calendar
DISTRICT COURT Burger and brat sale, sponsored SEVENTH JUDICIAL DIS- by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-4 TRICT p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 1st Court File No. 73-PR-14-8399 Ave NW. In Re Estate of: Thomas Joseph Klein, Decedent.
to listen closely, defining goals and strategies, assessing risks and attacking problems – not people. Barnes invited audience members to share their ideas about what makes for a good partnership. As they shouted out their answers, Barnes wrote them down: Openness and transparency, trust, patience, knowledge, expertise, respect, integrity, not being one-sided, a willingness to
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Annual Evening for Life Banquet, sponsored by MCCL, 5 p.m. Mass, 6 p.m. social hour 6:30 p.m. chicken dinner, Richmond Parish Center. 320-597-2228. Monday, Oct. 20 Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road
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N. www.marketmonday.org. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph.
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sored by the League of Women Voters, 7-8:30 p.m., St. Joseph Community Fire Hall, 323 4th Ave. NE. Friday, Oct. 24 Blood drive, 9-3 p.m., Minnesota Department of Transportation training center, 3725 12th St. N., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Fish Fry, all-you-can eat, 4-9 p.m., Holy Cross Parish, 10651 CR 8, Kimball (Marty/Pearl Lake). Saturday, Oct. 25 31st Annual All Saints Academy Workathon, staff, students, and parents will volunteer their time to assist the elderly and disabled residents of the St. Joseph, by raking leaves and other jobs. 363-7505, ext. 150.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
12
Young to give talk on Breuer, Benedictines by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Author Victoria M. Young will give a talk entitled “Marcel Breuer and the Benedictines: A Modern Collaboration” in the St. John’s Abbey Chapter House at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 on the campus of St. John’s University. Young is the author of Saint John’s Abbey Church: Marcel Breuer and the Creation of Modern Sacred Space, a book about the planning and building of the famed Abbey Church. (See related story.) On Oct. 24, there will first be an evening prayer in the Abbey Church, followed by Young’s talk. After her presentation, there will be a book signing and reception.
Abbey from page 10
Task force
of stylized, abstract cut-glass pieces.
from page 11
The book
In her book, Young explores in compelling details, photos and drawings what a massive, innovative undertaking the campus building projects were, with most attention focused on the building project’s glorious centerpiece – the abbey church. Young also provides a detailed background of what led to modernism in church design, including the visionary artists of the early part of the 20th Century, such as Picasso, Matisse, Georges Rouault and Georges Braque. Many artists, Matisse especially, did many liturgical works of art, including the strikingly modernistic, spare, minimal design for a chapel in Vence, a city in southern France. Young ends her book with a tribute to the innovative pioneers – monks, architects and workers – who created St. Johns Abbey Church: “The power of this place, its church and the people who built it will endure for generations. The liturgical concerns evaluated and presented in the church’s design facilitated an emphasis on unity that became the cornerstone of religious architecture after the Second Vatican Council, when modern building methods and materials were added to the traditional lexicon of church design. The Benedictines used Breuer’s creative, engineered concrete forms to uphold the prestige and forwardthinking architectural nature of their order, just as their Gothic counterparts had done centuries before. But the work of Breuer and his associates went beyond just a reaffirmation of monasticism: it was also the cornerstone of a liturgically reformed American and international Catholic architecture.”
Friday, Oct. 17, 2014
photos by archdaily.com
Top: The soaring bell banner rises majestically in front of St. John’s Abbey Church. Above: World-renowned architect Marcel Breuer stands in front of his masterpiece, the St. John’s Abbey Church shortly after its completion in 1961.
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constraints will the city have to deal with, a priority list of capital needs, citizen-defined needs based on the past, documentation of needs versus wants, upto-date population projections and a study of demographics as the city grows into the future, the need to keep taxes the same or lower, a need to guard against special-interest groups taking over the process, and checking into possible alternatives for delivering city services. Each of the upcoming task-
At 10 a.m. S a t u r d a y, Oct. 25, the public can take tours of the Abbey led by Young. From 11:15 a.m.-noon, Young there will be a book signing in the St. John’s University bookstore. Born and raised in Comfrey, Minn., Young is a professor and the chair of the art-history department at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Young is a specialist in modern American and European architecture. She is currently researching the creation, design and construction of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. force meetings will have specific agendas. First, members will come up with a Vision of Success, then they’ll sketch broad options for potential facilities, next those ideas will be specified and narrowed down. Risks will be discussed and finally strategies developed. After the five-meeting process, the task force will be expected to make recommendations to the city council sometime in early January. In pondering the future for facilities needs, Barnes suggested the task-force members keep in mind a time frame of the next 10 years in the city.