St. Joseph Newsleader - Oct. 21, 2016 by The Newsleaders

Reaching EVERYbody!

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid St. Joseph Newsleader St. Joseph, MN 56374 Permit No. 21 ECRWSS Postal Customer

Newsleader St. Joseph

Postal Patron

Pumpkin patch SJFD open house Town Crier primed for picking packs in the people Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 Volume 28, Issue 41 Est. 1989

Fire Department says thank you St. Joseph

The St. Joseph Fire department would like to thank the community and the sponsors for all of their support of the 2016 Fire Safety Fair held Oct. 14.

All Saints sets October workathon

The 33rd annual All Saints Academy Workathon will be held Saturday, Oct. 29. Staff, students and parents will volunteer their time to assist the elderly and disabled residents of the St. Joseph community. Volunteers will rake leaves, clear gardens, sweep sidewalks and other jobs for those who need help. If you have a job you would like done by these volunteers, or if you would like to make a donation, please contact the school office at 363-7505, ext. 150.

Newsleaders’ to publish Halloween photo contest

Snap a photo of your familyfriendly costume, and post it to our Facebook page! If you don’t have access to Facebook, please feel free to email pictures to advertising@thenewsleaders.com. Include your first and last name, home town and age of each person in the photo. Feel free to send in your photos anytime up to Friday, Oct. 28. Winners will be placed in the paper and receive a treat basket. All other photos will be posted on our website.

Anna Marie’s seeks part-time volunteers

Anna Marie’s Alliance is seeking volunteers to help organize donations from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays. The mission of Anna Marie’s is to provide a safe place for victims of domestic abuse and to achieve systems change that reduces violence. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Oct. 21 Criers.

by Frank Lee operations@thenewsleaders.com

One could not have picked a better fall day to go pumpkin-picking, which is why many made the trip to Collegeville Orchards in St. Joseph with about a week left before Halloween. Kim Gerads of Sartell heard about the child-friendly event through word of mouth and brought her two children – Owen, 4, and Ava, 7 – to the orchards Oct. 16. “They insist on pulling the wagons themselves. That’s a big fun part of it,” she said of her son and daughter, who hauled pumpkins they picked from the orchards’ pumpkin patch on wagons. Besides Minnesota-grown apples, Collegeville Orchards

in St. Joseph sells pumpkins, squash, gourds, grapes and a wide variety of garden produce. But it was also the petting zoo, wagon rides and more that also attracted people to the event, which takes place every weekend in October from noon-4 p.m. at 15517 Fruit Farm Road. “They liked it a lot, especially with stuff to climb on over there,” said Gerads, as she pointed to the popular hay bales that many used as props in their photography or to take “selfies.” “We were just out pumpkinpatch-searching,” said Brittany Stang, a St. Augusta resident who was at Collegeville Orchards for the first time during the colorful fall day. She had a photograph taken Patch • back page

INSERT:

Friends of Fischbach/ Howe for House

St. Joseph firefighter Sharon Rennie hands a bag of goodies and a firefighter helmet to 6-year-old Kayla Mcintyre of St. Joseph during the department’s open house Oct. 14 at the St. Joseph Fire Hall. For additional photos, see page 4

Police grant for ninth officer not approved by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleader.com

St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein said a recent application for an Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant to hire a ninth officer for the department was denied.It was hoped the grant would cover about 75 percent of the new officer’s salary for about three years. Klein said they will not be hiring in 2017, but he will make a request to hire in 2018. “I’m guessing the grant failed because there are other cities out there that need it more than we do because of the crime rate,”

Klein said. “It doesn’t help our odds of getting someone additional when last year we were (named) the safest city to live in and this year we are No. 2.” Klein was referring to a report released this year by Alarm System Review in which St. Joseph was named Minnesota’s second-safest city to live in. Last year, a home security company report named St. Joseph the safest city to live in. The Alarm System Review report lists the 15 safest cities in Minnesota. It limited its search to areas with at least 2,500 or more residents and compared them to each other through

Girl Scouts requests group facilitators

Guide girls in grades K-5 in a six-week after-school leadership program providing homework help, fun activities and a healthy snack (groups meet one day per week for two hours). Using pre-planned curriculum and supplies, a group of volunteers at each site will help girls participate in age-appropriate activities focused on helping girls explore their community and their world. Girl Scouts provides training for all adult volunteers for this program; each volunteer is paired with at least one other facilitator or group helper for each site. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on Oct. 21 Criers.

photo by Mindy Peterson

crime statistics. The report used a rating system based on a standard of crimes per 1,000 residents, including both violent and property crimes. The St. Joseph Police Department currently has eight fulltime officers, two part-time officers, a records specialist and six reserve officers. Klein had hoped to add additional staff because of increasing population growth in the city. The population of the city is expected to increase with new senior housing, including Country Manor and Fortitude Senior Living of St. Joseph. The Alarm System Review es-

‘Saints in Service’ workathon set Oct. 29 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

contributed photo

At the 2015 St. Joseph All Saints Academy Saints in Service (Workathon) day, “Leaf Man” (aka principal Karl Terhaar) visited local job sites to encourage volunteers. Pictured are (front row) Easton Frieler; (middle row, left to right) Hosanna Hinton-Williams, Samantha Roseboom, Glenn Werner and Bree Muske; and (back row) Troy Frieler, Robert Williams, Tim Muske, Shelly Muske and Terhaar.

timates the city’s population to be 6,678, violent crime rates are 0.0 (per 1,000) and property crime rates are 3.0 (per 1,000). It names Plainview as the safest place to live this year with Winona, Deephaven and Glenwood ranking third through fifth respectively. The St. Joseph Police Department will move into the new city-government building, which is expected to be completed in February. To review the Alarm System Review report, visit alarmsyst e m rev i ews. c o m / 1 5 - s a f e s t places-live-minnesota-2016.

The St. Joseph All Saints Academy’s 33rd annual “Saints in Service” workathon day will take place Saturday, Oct. 29. For many years, ASA-St. Joseph students have participated in the event to offer services such as raking leaves, clearing gardens, clearing brush, moving wood and more to assist elderly and disabled residents of the St. Joseph area, as well as raise money for their school. Because other St. Cloud area Cath-

www.thenewsleaders.com

olic schools also participate in workathons on the same day, last year they began emphasizing the service they are doing for others and renamed the day “Saints in Service.” Other schools also planning to volunteer service hours include the ASA St. Cloud campus, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Francis Xavier and St. Katharine Drexel. After volunteers are finished working at their various jobs, they are invited to Cathedral High School for lunch and activities organized by Cathedral School students. Saints • page 2

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

People The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University recently received high marks from the Princeton Review in the following areas: great campus food; a student newspaper that’s strong; and, an active student government. Since 1992, the Princeton Review has produced a ranking of colleges and universities. “The Best 381 Colleges: 2017 Edition” came out earlier this year, with CSB and SJU being jointly listed (the list appears in alphabetical order, with “featured” client schools listed first). Within that publication are 62 ranking lists. Each list identifies the top 20 colleges in

a specific category. Only schools listed in “The Best 381 Colleges” appear in these lists, based on survey results from students who attended those schools. CSB and SJU were jointly listed in the following lists: Best College Newspaper CSB and SJU were listed No. 14. Most Active Student Government - CSB and SJU were listed No. 15. Best Campus Food - CSB and SJU were listed No. 18. In addition, CSB and SJU were listed among the “Best Midwestern Schools,” “Colleges that Pay You Back” and “Green Colleges.”

Have any Achievements? Grad. from HS/College, Military Honors, Awards Submit to news@thenewsleaders.com For contact purposes only, please include first/last name and phone.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO BODY REPAIR Auto Body 2000

(behind Coborn’s in the Industrial Park)

St. Joseph • 320-363-1116

BEAUTY Mary Kay Cosmetics Joyce Barnes St. Joseph • 320-251-8989 CHIROPRACTOR Dr. Jerry Wetterling College Ave. • 320-363-4573 jlwchiro.com CHURCHES Gateway Church - St. Joseph Saturday 6 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. Northland Plaza Bldg. • 708 Elm St. E. 320-282-2262 • gatewaystjoseph.org Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA

Sunday Worship 8:15 & 10:30 a.m. WoW! (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 p.m.

610 N. CR 2, St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjoe.org St. Joseph Catholic Church Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. Saturday 5 p.m. Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.

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

DENTISTRY Drs. Styles, Cotton & Milbert 1514 E. Minnesota St. St. Joseph • 320-363-7729 Laser Dentistry 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-4468 ELECTRICAL HI-TEC Electric • St. Joseph Residential • Commercial Remodeling • General Services 320-363-8808 • 320-980-0514 EYECARE Russell Eyecare & Associates 15 E. Minnesota St., Ste. 107 St. Joseph • 320-433-4326

Saints

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

haar has volunteered to let students be his arms to sample various foods, similar to what is done on the comedy show “Whose Line is it, Anyway?” Terhaar will not use his arms, and a student will stand behind him, trying to be unseen, and pretend the student’s arms are his. This year’s theme for the event is “We are called to be superheroes,” emphasizing when you help someone else, you are a hero to that person. At the ASA-St. Joseph Saints in Service kick-off event Sept. 29, classroom teachers dressed as superheroes who were at a superhero-awards ceremony. Terhaar (aka “Leaf Man”) was given an award for Superhero of the Year. Donations are not required by those who have work proj-

ects, and people who want to donate money to the cause do not need to have jobs to be completed. The service day is one of ASA-St. Joseph’s largest service projects with a fundraising goal. The school currently has 113 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through sixth grade and 36 preschool students. Funds raised from the event go toward ASA-St. Joseph’s general budget. Terhaar said that allows the school to be able to have programs and more they normally might not be able to offer – things such as Spanish and art specialists, one-onone reading tutors, one-to-one computer devices, an engineering curriculum and more. To donate or for more information, contact ASA at 320-3637505, ext. 150.

If you have a tip concerning a crime, 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 crime.

cated. 1:31 p.m. Medical. Dale Street E. Authorities responded to a female with breathing and mobility issues. Upon arrival, police were met by the woman’s husband. She was conscious but confused and appeared to be shaking. Gold Cross Ambulance transported the woman to St. Cloud Hospital for further evaluation.

Aug. 20 2:20 a.m. Noise complaint. 11th Avenue S.E. Police were dispatched to a fireworks complaint. The complainant stated they sounded as if they were being set off right behind her residence. The area was searched, but no individuals could be lo-

Aug. 21 1:24 a.m. Alarm. Birch Street W. Police responded to an alarm at a local business. Upon arrival, officers checked the perimeter of the building and cleared the area. The key-holder was advised to reset the alarm. No further action was taken.

11:33 a.m. Vandalism. Ash Street E. Authorities responded to a complainant whose lawn had been vandalized. According to the complainant, a party had been held next door the night before. Individuals from the party had walked through her newlyseeded lawn, broke a branch off her apple tree and tipped the port-a-potty over into her yard. Reports and pictures were filed. 10:38 p.m. Gunshot. Birch Street E. Police were dispatched to a gunshot complaint. The anonymous complainant stated he clearly heard five gunshots in the area. The grounds were searched, but authorities were unable to locate anything out of the ordinary.

from front page Last year about 200 people, including 30 alumni, volunteered for the St. Joseph event, which raised at least $26,000. “I think the success of the workathon stems from the fact we are not just doing a fundraiser but also doing community service,” ASA Principal Karl Terhaar said. “This is why other Catholic schools have decided to also do their own workathons.” This year’s ASA-St. Joseph campus goal is to raise $23,000. If students are able to do so, they will be able to celebrate with a Halloween carnival. If ASA-St. Joseph students are able to raise $25,000, Ter-

Blotter

PUBLISHING Von Meyer Publishing 32 1st Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-7741 TECHNOLOGY Computer Repair Unlimited 24 W. Birch St. St. Joseph • 320-492-2814 www.computerrepairunlimited.com TRUCKING Brenny Transportation, Inc. Global Transportation Service St. Joseph • 320-363-6999 www.brennytransportation.com

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

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

Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc.

Newsstands Casey’s General Store Coborn’s

Holiday Kay’s Kitchen

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

www.thenewsleaders.com

Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon

Editor Dennis Dalman

Operations Director Tara Wiese

Assignment Editor Frank Lee

Operations Assistants Cady Sehnert Rajahna Schneekloth Delivery Bruce Probach

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

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

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

Bromenschenkel, Perske vie for Stearns County Commissioner Sartell residents Mark Bromenschenkel and Joe Perske will vie for the Stearns County Commissioner District 2 position this November. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Mark Bromenschenkel

Name: Mark Bromenschenkel. My wife Denise and I have been married for more than 32 years. We have two children and seven grandchildren. This makes seven consecutive generations of our family in Stearns County’s District 2. Please give a brief biographical background: I was born and raised on a dairy farm in LeSauk Township. I have lived in Stearns County’s District 2 for most of my life. Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: I worked as a peace officer for 23 years. I also worked 15 years as an EMT for our local ambulance service. I’m employed by St Cloud State University as an instructor at the Minnesota Highway Safety and Research Center. Why are you qualified to serve as District 2 Stearns County Commissioner? I know the people, values, issues and concerns of the residents of Stearns County. As your county commissioner, I’ve learned a lot about how county government works and about how it doesn’t work. I’ve been able to make many changes. These changes have saved the taxpayers of Stearns County a great deal of money. The tax rate has fallen 7 percent, and the debt service has gone down by $600,000 since you’ve elected me to serve as your commissioner. I served as a LeSauk Township Supervisor for nine years. With my experience and service history, I am very qualified. I have shown I listen and advocate for the

residents of Stearns County. I have resolved many issues for my constituents. I’ve served as Stearns County’s District 2 Commissioner for the past six years. I also serve on the following boards and committees: • Area Planning Organization Board • Area Planning Organization Executive Board • Association of Minnesota Counties Delegate • Central Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplaincy Board (president) • Central Minnesota Emergency Services Chaplaincy Executive Board (president) • Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (alternate) • Stearns County Extension Committee • Family Services Collaborative Joint Powers Board (alternate) • Great River Regional Library Board of Trustees (board member and past president) • Great River Regional Library Finance Committee • Great River Regional Library Assessment Committee • Highway 15 Coalition Partnership (alternate) • Stearns County Human Services Board • Northstar Corridor Development Authority (alternate) • Noxious Weeds Appeal Committee • Stearns County Parks Board • Parkland Dedication Fee Committee • Stearns County Planning Commission • St Joseph Township/City of Waite Park Joint Planning Board ª Tri-County Solid Waste Management Commission What are the biggest challenges this county faces as it continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Controlled growth, expansion, controlled spending, budget and levy. I have been very

successful in helping to keep the levy at or very close to zero for increases throughout my elected career in LeSauk Township and Stearns County while still providing excellent service to our residents. This has been achieved by looking at each budget item line by line and deciding if it’s a necessity, benefit or need for our residents. Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? Non-mandated services we currently offer but are not necessity. Are there new, creative ways to share costs and services with cities and townships that would be mutually beneficial and more efficient? I believe there are always opportunities for townships, cities and the county to share costs. I look for those all the time. Whenever practical and the other entity is in agreement that it makes sense, we make that partnership work. What are Stearns County’s greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? I believe our greatest strength is the hard-working people in Stearns County. Greatest weakness is by far the non-funded mandates put onto us by the state and federal governments. They are constantly transferring the costs of their mandated services onto the county, making the county pick up the tab. I’d improve the strengths by continuing to resolve issues/concerns for my constituents. I’m always accessible, answer questions and I make it a priority to return phone calls and emails. I don’t believe we’ll ever be able to eliminate all the weaknesses I’ve described. The best-case scenario is the state sets sunsets on all the mandates placed onto the county and re-evaluates them every

Bromenschenkel three to five years. Are county taxes too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? I think taxes are too high. Taxes are obviously a necessity in order for the county to operate. Since I’ve served on the county board, I’ve been working hard to trim the fat from the county’s budget wherever possible. I believe you always have to be looking for ways to save taxpayers’ money. I always keep in mind the residents of Stearns County are very hard-working and honest people. Some are living paycheck to paycheck. I try to put myself in their shoes whenever I’m voting on spending county dollars. I ask myself is this the right thing to do? I’ve worked very hard finding ways to save tax dollars and have been successful in assisting with bringing in more money to offset the burden of dollars levied from residents. Are there ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the county as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? Yes. There are many things that could be done and hopefully someday will be done. With that in mind, again, we must be fiscally responsible and good stewards of our taxpayers’ money. Should the Northstar Commuter Line be extended to St. Cloud? I don’t agree with the way Northstar was created and

Perske set up. However, I do believe if it were to be extended to St Cloud, more people would take advantage of this transportation. It would depend on the cost and if BNSF is going to assure us the Northstar trains would be allowed to stay on time. Oil and freight trains have taken priority and Northstar trains are arriving hours late. People aren’t going to use this transportation if they’re arriving late to work or events. Feel free to add any other ideas you may have. I’ve found there’s a lot of waste. Some are programs that are not needed, not functioning and/or just not worth the amount it costs us as taxpayers. I’m very thankful for the opportunity you’ve given me to personally represent you and all of Stearns County. I take this responsibility very seriously. I understand you may not be able to, or even want to go to a county board meeting. This is why I host my “Coffee with Commissioner Bromenschenkel” meetings throughout the Second District. This has been a great opportunity for me to get personal input from you as constituents. I’ll continue to work very hard at representing you. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve you.

Joe Perske

Name (and family information, if you wish): Joe PerCounty • page 7

Country Manor Campus

SIGN-ON BONUS AVAILABLE! LPNs/RNs

Great Northern Theatre Company Proudly Presents:

- The RN Case Manager is responsible for the coordination of care and supervision of staff on his/her designated unit in our Care Center.

Drinking Habits

FT and PT positions Must be a licensed nurse in MN

by Tom Smith

- The LPN provides direct resident care under the direction of an RN.

Benefits

Cedar Street Salon & Spa

Shift differential, vacation, sick, insurance (if eligible), competitive wages.

Free Brow Wax

Apply online, in person, or call Country Manor Campus: 520 First St. NE, Sartell, MN 56377

w/haircut purchase Expires: Oct. 31, 2016

320-363-0200

Business Hours: Monday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

235 E. Cedar St. • St. Joseph • www.cedarstreetsalonandspa.com

Thursday, Friday, Saturday Nov. 10, 11 & 12 (evening) Sunday, Nov. 13 (matinee) Thursday, Friday & Saturday Nov. 17, 18 & 19 (evening)

Show times: Social Hour 5:30 p.m., Dinner 6:30 p.m., Show 7:30 p.m. Matinee: Social hour at noon, Dinner 1 p.m, Show 2 p.m.

Held at The Great Blue Heron, Cold Spring www.countrymanorcampus.org 320-258-8987 AA/EOE

Meal choices: Pork Medallions or Chicken Boursin. Gluten free and vegetarian available upon request.

Ticket Price $38. Call 320 241-GNTC (4682) for tickets. Visit www.gntc1.com for more information.

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

SJFD open house packs in the people

photos by Mindy Peterson

Clockwise from top left: Eric Schwegel of St. Joseph extends his right hand to his 3-year-old son, Cameron, to help the boy down from a Gold Cross ambulance during the department’s open house Oct. 14 at the St. Joseph Fire Hall; Nolan Evenson, 3, of St. Cloud, enjoys the view from behind the wheel of a St. Joseph Fire Department engine during the open house; Kristy Yurczyk of Avon takes a photo of her 2-year-old daughter Greta. She is the granddaughter of Gary and Debby Heltemes of St. Joseph. See front page for an additonal photo.

‘Celebrate Young Adult Day’ set for Oct. 29 at CSB by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com

The second annual “Celebrate Young Adult Day” will be held from 12:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the College of St. Benedict’s Haehn Center in St. Joseph. Kent Schmitz, Diocese of St. Cloud Consultant for Adolescent Catechesis and Youth Ministry, said the goal of the event is to reach out to young adults ages 18-27 and bring

them together for a day of fun, fellowship, prayer and faith sharing. “We recognize young adults have very diverse gifts and needs,” Schmitz said. “It’s believed our diocesan and local church becomes richer when we connect as a community of faith. We celebrate the blessing all young adults contribute to our faith communities.” The event includes keynote speaker Mike Patin, musician Luke Spehar and Mass cel-

ebrant St. Cloud Diocesan Bishop Donald J. Kettler. Patin has worked in a variety of ministry settings since 1984, was a high school teacher/coach, and worked with diocesan youth ministry in New Orleans. He has a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans. Patin has self-published two books, A Standing Invitation and This Was Not in the Brochure: Lessons from Work, Life

and Ministry, and received the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award in 2006. Patin uses energy, humor and stories when speaking to his audiences and has addressed audiences in more than 130 dioceses in the United States and Canada. Spehar grew up in Minnesota. He began writing songs at the age of 16 and composed all of the music on his debut album and continued to write songs throughout his college

years. In 2012, Spehar opened for Grammy-award-winning musician Ben Harper on tour in both the United States and Canada, and released his third album in 2014. His goal when leading worship is to perform, instruct and invite audiences to join him. A 4:30 p.m. Catholic Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Kettler in the Sacred Heart Chapel. An evening meal of chicken Kiev, roast beef, baby red potatoes, green beans, salad, dessert and beverages will be served in the Church of St. Joseph Heritage Hall after Mass. About 100 people participated in last year’s event. The registration fee for the event is $20. The fee includes refreshments and the evening meal. For more information, visit stcdio.org/beliefmatters.

Special Education Paraprofessional Starting wage $12.73 plus benefits. No evenings or weekends.

Contact Cindy at BentonStearns Education District #6383- Voyagers Program 320-253-8940.

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Vietnam veteran writes novel, donates proceeds by Frank Lee operations@thenewsleaders.com

Michael P. Maurer lives in Sartell, but for the veteran-turned-writer-and-poet who recently gave a presentation about his wartime experience, it’s almost as if he had never left Vietnam. Perfume River Nights is a novel he struggled nine years to write because of the emotional toll the war took on his mind, body and soul, and because he wanted to do right by his comrades-in-arms, especially those who didn’t get to return home to the United States like he did. “More than a war story, Perfume River Nights is the tale of tragic events and the heroic quest to know ourselves and find our way,” according to Maurer, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. On Oct. 12, Maurer gave a talk about his life and his book to an audience at the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud. “Three hundred thousand of us were wounded,” he told the jam-packed audience. “That loss rippled through the communities and our families, created scars and grief that persist today.” The compelling presentation he gave at the history museum’s Breakfast Club was his account of his Vietnam experience as both a soldier during the war and as an in-country resident some 30 years later. To put the loss of life into context, Maurer quoted Robert Kennedy during his presentation to the museum’s club members, who sat mesmerized and silent as Maurer talked about the war’s death toll. “Robert Kennedy, when he was running for president in 1968, said something that helps us see the meaning of those figures,” Maurer said. “What he said was this: ‘Our brave young men are dying in the swamps of Southeast Asia. Which of them might have written a poem, which of them might have cured cancer . . . which of them might have taught a child to read? It is our responsibility to let those men live.’”

Maurer said almost 17,000 Americans died in the Vietnam War in 1968, and that it was seven more years and 30,000 more American lives lost before the last U.S. soldier was killed in Vietnam. “I know those young men Robert Kennedy spoke of. I’m one of them,” Maurer told the audience, an older group of people, most of whom certainly lived through those tumultuous years and times of the Vietnam War. Maurer served in Vietnam as an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division in the late 1960s. So many years later, in 2003, the University of Minnesota graduate moved to Vietnam before settling in Sartell. “Perfume River Nights is a story about those young men – how they experienced combat and are changed by it,” Maurer said. “It is the culmination of my 50-year effort to save those guys . . . guys who long ago were dead. . . . I’m still trying to save them.” America’s involvement in Vietnam escalated throughout the 1960s. Maurer and his fellow comrades faced difficult combat conditions. Emotions were pulled in various directions, from compassion, fear and aggression, according to Stearns History Museum officials. “Perfume River Nights is for the men who died beside me,” Maurer said. “This book is for the 60,000 who died before their dreams or potential were realized. This book is for the friends and family who continue to mourn. “We fought in that river, in and around it, and its tributaries. We drank its water. We bathed in it. We killed in it. And we died in it. The river holds our stories.” According to Stearns History Museum officials: “As a decorated veteran himself, (Maurer) knows firsthand what soldiers went through in Vietnam. His words, both spoken and those penned in poetry, offer hope, healing and understanding.” “As an 18-year-old, it was my responsibility to decide when to shoot and when not

to shoot,” Maurer said. “I had to make split-second decisions whether to shoot or not to shoot – there was no one beside me – decisions that would determine who would live and who would die.” President Richard Nixon informed the world in a televised address March 29, 1973, that the last American troops had left Vietnam. “I have laid on the ground and in holes with dead men and dying men. I’ve had men beg me to save them, and I’ve had men beg me to kill them,” Maurer said in his presentation, which included admissions of being grief-stricken and confessions of survivor’s guilt. “And I’ve killed men. . . . I’ve killed men . . . and it took me a long time before I could admit that to myself, much less stand in front of anybody and admit that to them, but I’m telling you this morning because it’s part of who I am.” According to a Public Broadcasting System account of the Vietnam War: “As the deaths mounted and Americans continued to leave for Southeast Asia, protests erupted on college campuses and in major cities at first, but by 1968 every corner of the country seemed to have felt the war’s impact.” Maurer is still sickened by how many people died. “Nearly 17,000 of us were killed in 1968 in Vietnam, nearly 90,000 of us were wounded. On average in 1968, 2,000 of us were being killed or wounded every week – every week,” Maurer shouted full-throttle. “How did we endure that? How did we allow that to happen?” Proceeds from the novel’s sales benefit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. That memorial (aka “The Wall”) is “a symbol of America’s honor and recognition” of those “who

VOTED BEST SOUP IN TOWN!

Holiday Craft Saturday, Nov. 5 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Great Hall • St. John’s University

Above: Michael P. Maurer, a Sartell resident, gives a presentation Oct. 12 entitled “Vietnam and Its Aftermath” at the Stearns History Museum’s Breakfast Club. The presentation is an account of his Vietnam experience as both a soldier during the war and as an in-country resident some 30 years later. contributed photo

At right: Perfume River Nights, a novel written by Michael P. Maurer. served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War,” according to the VVMF. Inscribed on the black granite walls of the memorial in Washington, D.C., which was dedicated on Nov. 13, 1982, are the names of more than 58,000 men and women “who gave their lives or remain missing.” “It was important to me to write honestly, no matter how painful it would be,” Maurer said. “And there were many days during the 13 years of writing the novel that I sat at

the computer and cried. How does a soldier survive doing the things that infantrymen have to do and hold onto some sense of self-good?” Maurer asked the audience rhetorically. “I wanted to write about love, hate, loyalty and friendship – the things that pulled us together and the things that tore us apart.” For more information about Sartell resident and Vietnam veteran Michael P. Maurer, or his Perfume River Nights, visit www.michaelpmaurer.com.

Baking for the Occasions in Your Life!

VOTED BEST SANDWICH IN TOWN!

VOTED BEST QUICK LUNCH IN TOWN!

and

Bake Sale

photo by Frank Lee

SUBS • POCKETS • GYROS • SCHWARMA

SINCE 1981!

Oldest Sandwich Shop in Area Over 8 Million Served Multi-Winner ‘Best Sandwich’ Weekly Folk Music Concerts Cribbage Capital of Minnesota

50% OFF Any Sandwich

With purchase of sandwich of equal or greater value Expires 11/17/16

Downtown St. Joseph • 25th Ave So, St. Cloud

308 Main St. • Cold Spring

320-685-8681

103 2nd St. S • Waite Park

320-253-1423 www.coldspringbakery.com

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Our View

First Lady Obama delivers a speech of great inspiration A truly great speech transcends its time and place, and that is what a great speech given by First Lady Michelle Obama did last week in New Hampshire. It transcended its time, its place and it even transcended this nasty campaign season. In her speech, Obama blasted comments made by Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, the obscene remarks aimed at women he made on a bus in a Hollywood parking lot in 2005. Her speech was also a rousing endorsement of Democrat Hillary Clinton and a rallying cry for every American to cast a vote. However, beyond Obama’s sharp critique of Trump, beyond the Clinton endorsement, Obama’s riveting speech will likely stand on its own merits long after the Obamas are out of the White House and long after Trump is just a sour memory. Obama, the mother of two intelligent daughters, was speaking from deep within her heart when she delivered her eloquent, passionate lesson about the despicable disrespect and violence against women in this nation, in this world. Men degrading women is not mere “locker-room talk,” as Trump has argued, Obama said, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and conviction. Obscene, demeaning remarks against women are not “politics as usual,” and it is not “normal,” she added. “This is disgraceful; it is intolerable, and it doesn’t matter what party you belong to . . . None of us deserves this kind of abuse . . . The truth is, it hurts. It hurts.” The children are listening, she reminded us. “This is about basic human decency,” she told the audience members, who responded with rapturous applause. “We cannot expose our children to this any longer. Now is the time for all of us to stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough!’” Trump’s dismissal of his vile remarks against women as “locker-room talk” is an insult to the millions of “husbands, brothers, sons” who don’t demean women, Obama said. We are often told as children this dumb adage: “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you.” But words can break hearts, especially little hearts. As Obama put it in her speech: “The truth is, it hurts. It hurts.” Leaders must lead by setting high standards, Obama emphasized. Degrading remarks against women should never be dismissed as minor, she said, because “ . . . then we are sending a clear message to our kids that everything they’re seeing and hearing is perfectly OK. We are validating it. We are endorsing it. We’re telling our sons it’s OK to humiliate women. We’re telling our daughters that is how they deserve to be treated. We’re telling all our kids bigotry and bullying are perfectly acceptable in the leader of their country. Is that what we want for our children?” There are so many memorable lines in Obama’s speech that they are likely at some time, some place, to be engraved on stone monuments. Abraham Lincoln’s unforgettable Gettysburg Address was a tribute to the soldiers who died at the Gettysburg battlefield, but it was also more than that, much more. It was a profound call for national solidarity, for a common purpose, for the healing of wounds and for a striving for human freedom and equality. In her great speech, Obama sounded those same notes: dignity, solidarity, freedom and equality for boys and girls, for men and women. It is the kind of speech that will inspire for a long time. Dare we hope this extraordinary woman, Michelle Obama, will run for president in 2020?

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

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

Opinion Dylan’s genius honored with Nobel Prize We, Minnesotans, have another reason to be proud: Our very own local-kid-makesgood, Robert Allen Zimmerman, has just won the Nobel Prize for literature. That kid, now 75, is singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. He is the second Minnesotan to win the Nobel for literature, the first being that other major writer/eagle-eyed social observer – Sauk Centre-born novelist Sinclair Lewis. Why Dylan? The prize is usually given to novelists or poets, not singer-songwriters. Dylan is a new and perfect choice for the prize: a poet who happens to sing his visions. His more than 500 songs have astonished us for decades. That “spokesman of his generation” is the most oft-quoted poet-songwriter of the past 50 years. “You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.” (from Subterranean Homesick Blues – 1965). I have long argued Dylan is the Shakespeare of our time. Both of those wordsmiths forged a new language, mixing together streetcorner vernacular with traditional forms of oral and written language, combining low and high cultural forms – hipster slang meets the Bible, for example: “God said to Abraham, ‘Kill me a son.’ Abe said, ‘Man, you must be puttin’ me on.’ God said, ‘No,’ Abe said ‘What?’ God said, ‘You can do what you want, Abe, But the next time you see me comin’, you better run.’ “ (From the song Highway 61 Revisited – 1965) Shakespeare and Dylan helped us see anew; they fine-tuned our vision. In shaping language to both reflect and to create realities, they influenced the way we see the world, the way we think, the way we react. They brought a sharp focus to what the rest of us

Dennis Dalman Editor could only see blurry in this world of sometimes bewildering realities. In the 1960s, we would listen to Dylan songs and ask ourselves: “How did he know that? How come we didn’t notice that?” Like Sinclair Lewis, Dylan was not only an eagle-eyed observer; he was clairvoyant, time and again seeing changes ahead of his time, our time. There is a vivid clarity, like a feverish dream, to everything he wrote. Dylan’s songs brought a breathtaking breadth and depth to music, inviting us to explore and question all life experiences: political, social, cultural, economic, spiritual, interpersonal. Why is he so important? To fully appreciate the range of his great gifts, it helps to be older – like over 60. His magic is partly a “had-to-be-there” kind of thing. We who are now duffers grew up on radio-pop songs – fun but mostly trite teen-angst love ditties. Then, one day in the fall of 1965, I put on my Decca record player an album called Highway 61 Revisited. I was rendered speechless as I stuttered, yelling for my younger brother, Michael, to quick run upstairs to hear this new stuff. We were stunned when we heard these opening lines from a song called Desolation Row. “They’re selling postcards of the hanging, they’re painting the passports brown. The beauty parlor’s filled with sailors, the circus is in town. Here comes the blind commissioner, they’ve got him in a trance.

One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker, the other is in his pants. And the riot squad they’re restless, they need somewhere to go As Lady and I look out tonight from Desolation Row.” When I heard those strangely beautiful lyrics, I knew instantly I was listening to a brand-new force in music. He was giving us a refocused vision of our complicated world. In the case of Desolation Row, Dylan was painting in words a hallucinatory picture of a disturbing and grotesquely comic society off its rails, far from Eden. It took my breath away – still does. That same year, in mid-November, I sawheard Dylan perform in Minneapolis Auditorium. The first half of the show was acoustic, his early folk songs, those lightning flashes illuminating injustices. After intermission, the second half was “electric” as Dylan and his band exploded into his folk-rock songs and let loose those cascading phrases of astonishing images. Half of the audience, the “folk purists so-called,” walked out in protest; they didn’t like his going electric, his rock ‘n’ roll “sellout.” Oh, what “purist” fools they were; oh, what they missed! For those of us who have listened to Dylan from the beginning with intense fascination and endless pleasure, we are happy he has been honored with the Nobel. It’s a longoverdue recognition this scruffy kid from Minnesota with the “voice like a dog caught in a barbed-wire fence” is one of the towering geniuses and pervasive cultural influences of our time, of all time. And, by the way, naysayers, make no mistake – this Nobel laureate wouldn’t make the Sunday choir, but he is not only a great writer, he is a great singer, too – that is, if you’re lucky enough to have a sensibility and ears attuned to his expressive brilliance.

Mock election gives students a voice With election day fast approaching, it’s easy to be discouraged. Many people I have talked to express concern over this election and whether we are voting for a lesser of two evils. There is also worry about whether later elections will continue this trend. As I have mentioned in previous columns, we as a society have access to more information than people could have imagined even a few decades ago. However, it seems the power of the Internet hasn’t helped us very much, considering the polarized state of our country right now. There is some hope, however, for the future. The next generation of voters, high school students, are being influenced by and educated even more about the electoral process. High schools across the area offer courses in U.S. history, government and civics. I have had many lively political discussions on a range of issues in these classes, with good points for either side. These classes foster critical thinking and research, which is essential to an informed electorate. Too often though, young people are dismissed purely on the basis of age. There are many serious issues we have opinions on, ranging from the environment, the national debt, education and so forth. Many bring great arguments and facts to back these up as well. There should be more encouragement, not less, for youth involvement in politics so we can make informed decisions right from the start. A major problem with this, however, is young people are less likely to vote. With life changes and busy schedules after graduating high school, it can be hard to settle down and figure out where and when you are supposed to vote. This is especially true for out-of-state college students. It’s important to have high participation, especially when younger votes are so critical to the outcome of the election. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement,

Connor Kockler Guest Writer

immediately before or after school, or during lunch and passing time. This is a great simulation of the self-initiative needed to go out to vote in the real world. It also allows for debate within the school about the policies of the candidates and allows us to compare our results to that of the voting-age public. Students Vote results will be published Tuesday, Nov. 1, a week before the elections, with voting ending on Tuesday, Oct. 25. This gives students a chance to talk to their parents about who they voted for and why, further spreading information gained from the process. Most importantly, it gets future voters into the habit, which may serve to push up turnout in future elections. A strong democracy needs an informed and educated populace. It’s my hope programs such as Students Vote across the country help a new generation of Americans learn the ropes of our age-old democratic process. By learning about the issues and being able to express our views via a statewide vote, we can also signal some of our priorities for the years ahead. More young voters are ready to express their voices. Let’s get them off to a good start.

only 49 percent of Americans ages 18-29 voted in the last presidential election. According to their statistics, if more or less young people turn out to vote, it can significantly impact the results of the entire election. Part of why young people are less likely to vote is also routine. For many, this election will be the first time they are eligible to vote, so it is a completely new experience. Older voters have been participating in elections for many years, and so it becomes a habit. The only way to start a habit is to begin an activity and continue doing it over a period of time. The only way to be a regular voter is to start voting, and that is why I am excited about the Minnesota Students Vote program for 2016. This initiative, overseen by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, will include hundreds of high schools across the state, including many in the local area. Interested students Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High must first register to vote and then show up School student. He enjoys writing, politics and on the designated date to cast their ballots. news, among other interests. This vote will be purely for U.S. President, but it covers many of the issues I have addressed above. Getting oriented There is a limit of 250 words to political-endorsewith a registration process is great practice for ment letters to the editor. Those longer than that will voting in the future, and be edited to fit the limit. as voting is during the In addition, each letter must be signed by the writer, school day and not giv- with city of residence and phone number. en special time, students The last date on which political letters may be pubwill have to find their lished is Friday, Oct. 28, deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 25. own time to vote, be it

Adhere to word limit for political letters

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016

County from page 3 ske, 60, Sartell resident. Recently retired teacher with 37 years of classroom experience. Married to Jan Perske for 37 years. Three adult daughters – Michaela, Jenna, Greta, all married. Please give a brief biographical background: Born in St. Cloud. Grew up in Sauk Rapids, moved to St. Cloud in ninth grade and graduated from Apollo High School in 1974. Completed bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and psychology at St. John’s University 1979; master’s degree in physical education, St. Cloud State University, 1995. Coached Sartell Varsity girls’ soccer 10 years. Completed more than 100 marathons, including U.S. Olympic Trials 1980 and 1988. Please give highlights of your education, jobs you’ve held, memberships, honors received, special skills and knowledge: First taught in Onamia, 1979-81. Taught for Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Augsburg, Germany 1981-88. Taught Avon Elementary 1981-90. Taught in Sartell School District 19902016. Served on the Sartell City Council 2005-10 and as Sartell mayor 2011-14. In 2014 was a U.S. Congressional candidate in the Sixth District. Served on the Area Planning Organization, Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., St. Cloud Area Human Rights Board. Why are you qualified to serve as District 2 Stearns County Commissioner? I grew WANTED TO BUY: Basswood and Birchwood by truckload delivered to Dodgeville, WI. Bark intact, harvested in dormancy, delivered FRESH cut. Pre-arranged purchases only. Call Al Ladd at 608-935-2341 ext.333 (MCN) A U TO M O B I L E S / M O TO R C Y C L E S WANTED MOTORCYCLES: TOP CASH PAID! For Old Motorcycles! 1900-1979. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) PETS/PET SUPPLIES AKC LAB PUPS: SILVER, CHARCOAL WHITE & CHOCOLATE dews/1st Shots/ Worming. Info 715-582-4076 harborlabradors.com (MCN) ADOPTION PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 855-390-6047 (MCN) ANNOUNCEMENTS MACHINERY CONSIGNMENT SALE, MON., NOVEMBER 14, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. Consign early by Oct. 28, 2016 for complete advertising. No Small Items, Tires or Pallet Items Accepted After Friday, Nov. 4. Next Machinery Consignment Sale is Jan. 16, 2017. Gilbert’s Sale Yard, LLC, 641-3982218. 2 Mi. N. of Floyd, IA On Hwy. 218. Tractor House Internet Bidding Available. www.gilbertsaleyard.com (MCN) AUTOMOBILES DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of.

up in the area. In my years of teaching, coaching and public service, area residents have gotten to know me well. Serving on the city council and as mayor for 10 years, I have demonstrated my leadership skills. I have learned to work government through both bad and good economic times in those years. I served as mayor during the terrible fire and closure of the paper mill in Sartell and helped our community work through recovery after that tragic loss. I have advocated in Washington, D.C. and St. Paul for transportation and other local issues like the Wobegon Trail. Should the Northstar Commuter Line be extended to St. Cloud? Yes. Having worked with the Area Planning Organization and the Greater St. Cloud Development Corp., we know the tremendous benefit Northstar would be to this area. Going to the Twin Cities Metro, passengers would have commuter access to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Airport, professional and college sports, VA and University hospitals, work, shopping, entertainment and many more opportunities. Coming to the St. Cloud area, commuters would have similar

access for employment, education, recreation and family. I understand there is a tremendous cost to the project, but there are tremendous costs to expanding roads, bridges and parking space. I believe we can work together with state and federal resources to accomplish getting Northstar here over time and in a fiscally responsible manner. While Northstar might not be feasible to be done immediately, we need to keep the vision and conversation open. Are their ways to further enhance the Mississippi River at the eastern edge of the county as a recreational and aesthetic shoreline resource for both residents and visitors? The Mississippi River is a blessing and a treasure. I have worked with and support the efforts of the group “Mayors on the Mississippi River.” About 20 million Americans use the water for daily consumption. The river also provides for agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, recreation, hunting and fishing. Having grown up in the area around the Mississippi and Sauk rivers, I have seen many changes in the landscape and water quality throughout the years. County • back page

Community Calendar

Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, Oct. 21 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. St. Joseph Area Historical Society open, 4-7 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave NW. stjosephhistoricalmn. org. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320-3394533. stcloudsingles.net. Saturday, Oct. 22 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. Monday, Oct. 24 St. Joseph Park Board, 6 p.m., St. Joseph City Hall, 25 College Ave. N. 363-7201. cityofstjoseph.com. Thursday, Oct. 27 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell. Sauk Rapids Chamber Meeting,

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-251-2940. Friday, Oct. 28 Trick or Treat on Main Street, 3-5 p.m., Main Street, Rice. Sultans of String Performance, 7:30 p.m., Stephen B Humphrey Theater, St. John’s University, 2840 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville. 320-3635777. csbsju.edu/wow. Saturday, Oct. 29 Craft and Bake Sale, sponsored by Sartell Area Churches, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m., St. Francis Xavier School, 308 Second St. N, Sartell. Life Banquet, sponsored by MCCL Chapters of Rockville area, Cold Spring-St. Nick and Richmond, 4 p.m. social, 5:30 p.m. dinner, music and speaker Brody Hagemeier, Rockville Parish Center. 320-597-2228. Sunday, Oct. 30 A Choral Community, a fall concert celebrating the breadth and diversity of choral music in Central Minnesota, featuring the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota, Cantabile Girls’ Choir, the St. John’s Boys’ Choir and the St. Cloud Area Singing Saints Barbershop Chorus, 7 p.m. Ritsche Auditorium, St. Cloud State University. tickets.yccm.org.

LEGAL NOTICE

CITY OF ST. JOSEPH ELECTION NOTICE The City of St. Joseph will be conducting a test of the electronic vote tabulators at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016.

City Offices. Interested persons are encouraged to witness the testing.

in the St. Joseph City Offices. If the equipment fails, a second test of the equipment will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 at the St. Joseph

Judy Weyrens Administrator

1-800-283-0205 (MCN)

(MCN)

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855752-6680 (MCN)

FOR SALE Trailer Sale! 12 Different styles of DUMP trailers $2,799.00 and up! 2017 6X12 V-nose ramp door $2,750.00; 7’X16’ V-nose ramp door $4,169.00; 150 trailers in-stock, Trailer Repairs & parts, 515-972-4554 Prices & Inventory: www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com (MCN)

EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED PAID IN ADVANCE! MAKE $1000 Weekly!! Mailing Brochures From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. No Experience Required. Start Immediately! www.centralmailing.net (VOID IN SD, WI) (MCN) MAKE $1,000 WEEKLY! Paid in advance! Mailing Brochures at Home! Easy pleasant work. Begin Immediately! Age unimportant! www.homemoney77.com (MCN) McFarland Truck Lines drivers were averaging over $.50/mile and are now getting a new bonus for high miles! Drive the newest trucks, be home when needed. WWW.MCFGTL.COM Call now 507-437-9905 (MCN) Over the Road carrier seeking experienced drivers. Midwest and west coast, no east coast. Drivers average 3,000+ miles per week, loaded and empty miles paid. Call recruiting 1-800-645-3748www.gfltruck.com (MCN) FINANCIAL Are you in BIG trouble with the IRS? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-606-6673 (MCN) STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS got you down? We can help reduce payments and get finances under control, call: 866-871-1626

Post: Oct. 18, 2016 Publish: Oct. 21, 2016

HEALTH & MEDICAL Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-604-2613 (MCN) LIVING WITH KNEE OR BACK PAIN? Medicare recipients may qualify to receive a pain relieving brace at little or no cost. Call now! 844-668-4578 (MCN) Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy,compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 1-800-263-4059 Promo Code CDC201625 (MCN) Viagra!! 52 Pills for Only $99.00! Your #1 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-888-4037751 (MCN) MISCELLANEOUS ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1-800-640-8195 (MCN) A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest

senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-800-442-5148 (MCN) 19.99/mo. for DIRECTV - HD Channels+ Genie HD DVR + 3 months FREE HBO, SHOW, MAX & STARZ + FREE NFL Sunday Ticket! Call Now 1-888-552-7314 (MCN)

(MCN) Exede High Speed Internet. Plans from $39/mo. Blazing Fast Broadband in areas cable can’t reach. Great for business or home. We Install Fast. 1-888-800-8236 (MCN) Free Pills! Viagra!! Call today to find out how to get your free Pills! Price too low to Mention! Call today 1-877-560-0997 (MCN)

ADT Security protects your home & family from “what if” scenarios. Fire, flood, burglary or carbon monoxide, ADT provides 24/7 security. Don’t wait! Call Now! 1-888607-9294 (MCN)

CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-389-0695. www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com (MCN)

GET HELP NOW! One Button Senior Medical Alert. Falls, Fires & Emergencies happen. 24/7 Protection. Only $14.99/mo. Call NOW 1-888-840-7541 (MCN)

DIRECTV. NFL Sunday Ticket (FREE!) w/Choice All-Included Package. $60/mo for 24 months. No upfront costs or equipment to buy. Ask about next day installation! 1-800203-4378 (MCN)

Life Alert. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t reach a phone! FREE Brochure. CALL 800-306-1404 (MCN) DISH Network -NEW FLEX PACK- Select the Channels You Want. FREE Installation. FREE Streaming. $39.99/24 months. ADD Internet for $14.95 a month. CALL 1-800390-3140 (MCN) SAVE on internet and TV bundles! Order the best exclusive cable and satellite deals in your area! If eligible, get up to $300 in Visa Gift Cards. CALL NOW! 1-800-925-0146 (MCN) FAST Internet! HughesNet Satellite Internet. High-Speed. Avail Anywhere. Speeds to 15 mbps. Starting at $59.99/mo. Call for Limited Time Price - 1-800-715-1644

PERSONALS MEET SINGLES RIGHT NOW! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now: 800-357-4970 (MCN) VACATION/TRAVEL Are you getting TIRED of the COLD WINTERS where you are? Why don’t you get in your RV Camper and come to J-5 in Mission TX. We are located in the Rio Grande Valley. Average winter temps are 70 degrees daytime and 50 nighttime. We are a small park in a country setting but have stores and restaurants near by. We have specials for first time visitors.Call us at 956-682-7495 or email info@j5rvparktexas.com, www. j5rvparktexas.com,Tom and Donna Tuttle, Managers (MCN)

St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Patch from front page

photo by Frank Lee

Owen Gerads, 4, and his 7-year-old sister, Ava, pull wagons loaded with pumpkins as their mother, Kim Gerads of Sartell, leads the way to the cashier Oct. 16 at the children-friendly St. Joseph event at Collegeville Orchards, which features a pick-your-own pumpkin patch.

County from page 7 In the 60s and 70s, some of the practices of dumping waste and raw sewage into the rivers was nothing short of hideous. Today, with water-impact awareness and better management practices, we have seen the Mississippi “comeback” and should continue those efforts. We can enjoy and use the waterway with reasonable practices that allow us to do so with little scenic and water-quality impact. Are county taxes too high, too low or just about right? If you think taxes are too high, how could they be reduced? People who know Joe Perske, know how frugal I can be. In the school, city, county or state, I have little tolerance for wasted tax dollars. The people of Stearns County want to be safe, travel efficiently to work and home, take care of the well-being of their residents and enjoy life. All that costs money. At the present time, I think there is a good balance of county services and what folks are paying for to receive those services. Again,

I am always welcome to hear suggestions on the wants and needs of the community and how we pay for it. What are Stearns County’s greatest strengths? What are its weaknesses? How would you improve the strengths and eliminate the weaknesses? One of Stearns County’s greatest strengths is its diversity of landscape, business and population from the Mississippi to the western farmlands. The St. Cloud area provides many metro amenities folks desire, while the west end supports smaller towns, wildlife habitat and agriculture. Our diverse business economy is not centralized around any one particular sector, which allows it to remain relatively stable. We have quality schools here, as well as many college and technical opportunities. A growing population is often followed by an increase in criminal activity, and Stearns County is not an exception. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department must continue to be adequately funded and work cooperatively with local police departments so we have a safe and secure community.

of her and her sister from St. Cloud, McKinzie, who pretended to be a scarecrow by peering through a cutout that just showed her head with a scarecrow’s body. “I haven’t yet found the perfect pumpkin,” McKinzie Stang said with some dismay in her voice. “We will probably carve it but leave making the pumpkin pies to my grandma.” But Janet Delre of St. Cloud came to the orchards with her 11-year-old daughter, Ashlee, who attends St. John’s Prep School in St. Joseph, because of the “beautiful fall colors.” “We did a wagon ride, we bought some apples and some mittens,” Delre said as she took a selfie with her daughter while they stood in the orchards’ pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. Collegeville Orchards sells its own honey, local maple syrup, jams or jellies, mixes and fall decorations, according to the St. Joseph-based retailer’s website. “Fall is my favorite season because of the colors, and the colors are just incredible – like over there,” said Delre, Are there new, creative ways to share costs and services with cities and townships that would be mutually beneficial and more efficient? We should always be looking for these cooperative ways to reduce and share costs. Our mutual-aid agreements with neighboring cities and the sheriff’s department, as well as fire and rescue, are good examples. Likewise with other expensive pieces of public-works equipment, an agreement can be made for mutual benefit. Which programs and services, if any, would you trim or eliminate entirely if a severe budget crisis should happen? We experienced a severe economic downturn around 2008 in the area and we worked through it. Government should not react wildly but be prepared for those situations. Using county department heads and staff input to make budget cutbacks can help reduce costs with less service impact. Extending turnover in vehicles and equipment can help, as well as delaying replacement and new hires when it’s applicable. All nonessentials would need to be looked at

Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 who gestured to the trees surrounding the orchards. Lydia Erickson of Annandale works at St. Cloud Hospital and was on call on Oct. 16. She decided to swing by the nearby orchards with her mother, her niece and nephew. “We’ve seen a lot of the animals, and the little kids loved that,” Erickson said. “They liked to feed them. We have been into the animals for the most part.” The petting zoo was free to orchards’ guests and is open the same hours as the store. Feed is available for the public, for a quarter, to feed the goats, sheep and alpacas in the petting zoo. Other animals in the petting zoo at Collegeville Orchards include a miniature horse and donkey, rabbits and chicks and ducklings when available, according to the orchards’ website. Maddie Larson of Dassel also works at St. Cloud Hospital, and she went to the orchards for the same reasons as Erickson. It was, for Larson, also her first at Collegeville Orchards. “We just kind of like the fall and the colors and being outside and that sort of thing,” Larson said. “St. Joseph is nice, it’s beautiful . . . And the trees are right at their peak right now.”

and prioritized. What are the biggest challenges this county faces as it continues to grow? And what are the greatest strengths related to that growth? Stearns County, like many local governments, is continually challenged by rising costs, increased unfunded state and federal mandates and growing needs that require tax dollars to meet those needs. We must continue to work hard using our tax dollars wisely without putting unbearable stress on individuals, families and businesses. The recent increased immigrant population has presented challenges for our cities and schools at levels we have not seen before. These cultural differences and economic demands need to be cooperatively discussed openly at all levels of government to meet the needs of all residents, new and old. Feel free to add any other ideas you may have. Having recently retired from teaching, I am excited to serve local residents as their county commissioner. People know me as hard-working, civic-minded, personable, honest and a fiscally responsible individual. My experiences from years

of teaching, coaching, politics and running has connected me to many local folks, and I have earned their trust and respect.

Visit Saint John’s Prep for

Discovery Day Monday, Nov. 7 Students in grades 5-11 are invited to visit Prep! Call 320-363-3315 to RSVP and reserve your space.