Reaching EVERYbody!
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Newsleader St. Joseph
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 Volume 29, Issue 46 Est. 1989
Town Crier Boy Scouts to sell Christmas wreaths
The annual Christmas wreath sale for Boy Scouts of America Troop 84 will be held from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 25 in the parking lot of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph and from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at Coborn's, 1500 Elm St. E., St. Joseph. All sales go to troop camping and programs.
Winterwalk set Dec. 1
St. Joseph's Winterwalk will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 starting with the tree lighting on the outdoor patio of Bello Cucina, 15 E. Minnesota St., followed by visits with Santa, Mrs. Claus, refreshments, treats and craft-making at Heritage Hall, 12 W. Minnesota St.
Postal Patron
Holiday Art Crawl tradition continues in St. Joseph
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com
When all is said and done, Mary C. Bruno estimates she will have put in about 100 volunteer hours coordinating the annual holiday art crawl. But for her it is a labor of love. “There are definitely testof-strength moments,” Bruno said. “But I do enjoy, on some level, organizing stuff like this.” For the sixth consecutive year, Bruno of local print shop Bruno Press has overseen putting together the annual Holiday Art Crawl. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, hundreds of people from all around Central Minnesota will gather along Minnesota Street to explore local businesses, hear local musicians and peruse the shops
for gift items from artists. “I’ve been to a lot of art crawls and art shows where I’ve seen tons of similar artists selling the same things,” Bruno said. “And with that, things become way too oversaturated. So for this, I only invite artists I like and artists who I will barter or buy from. I have high standards.” The 2017 Holiday Art Crawl will have five stops this year: Minnesota Street Market, The Local Blend, Bad Habit Brewing Co., Bruno Press and newcomer Rockhouse Productions. “We love to support all kinds of art,” said Jeff Vee, Rockhouse Productions president. “And we love to support this cool little town.” Vee said he has been wanting Rockhouse Productions, 23 W Minnesota St., to have Art • page 5
PlowingVets is back for year number two! We will be out again this winter, plowing snow FREE for veterans, cops, firefighters and first-responders in the St Cloud area. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on Nov. 24 Criers.
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Mentor as a family
Ring bells for SA
Volunteers are needed to ring the Salvation Army bells during the Christmas season. There are several locations within St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud and Waite Park. It can be cold outside, so volunteers must be able and willing to stand outside for at least two hours at a time. This is a great opportunity to volunteer as a family or in a group. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Nov. 24 Criers.
Mary C. Bruno poses with some of her Small Business Saturday bags inside her St. Joseph shop. Bruno, a local artist, has been organizing the annual Holiday Art Crawl for the past six years. Her work, along with several other artists’ creations, will be on display at five locations during the 2017 art crawl on Saturday, Nov. 25.
Annual diabetes fundraiser set for Dec. 2
PlowingVets offers snow removal
A Big Family involves an entire family meeting with a Little. This is an opportunity for a family to volunteer together. The Family would be matched with a Little in a community-based program. The family would provide friendship, emotional support and hope to the young person with whom they are matched. For more information, visit the newsleaders.com and click on Nov. 24 Criers.
photo by Vicki Ikeogu
contributed photo
Burnsville residents Mitch Lund and Allie Lund, husband and wife, visit with Devon and Jake Killam at last year’s Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation fundraiser. Allie is a sister to Matt Killam, who is hosting the event, and Devon and Jake are his sons.
The second annual Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation event will take place from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Bad Habit Brewery in downtown St. Joseph. St. Joseph City Council member Matt Killam will host the event, which is sponsored by the Bad Habit Brewing Co., Sliced, Scherer Trucking and the St. Joseph Lions Club. The event will include a 4:30 p.m. meat raffle with products from the St. Joseph Meat Mar-
ket. Pizza from Sliced will be served starting at 5 p.m, and a silent auction will also take place. Last year’s event raised $1,200. The funds raised go toward cure and treatment research, outreach resources and awareness for juvenile diabetes. “This event is very important to me,” Killam said. “I have been a diabetic for 24 years and understand how hard it can be for a child with diabetes.” He said it has been a long road of being diabetic, but several advancements, including Fundraiser • page 3
Ringstrom coordinates local Toys for Tots by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
U.S. Marine veteran Bob Ringstrom, a St. Joseph resident, is the new coordinator for the St. Cloud Area Toys for Tots. Ringstrom, who was the Sartell police chief before retiring in 2004, has been working with Toys for Tots for almost 20 years. During those years, he was a Sartell route volunteer for Steve Titus of the
Valhalla detachment of the Marine Corps League. Titus coordinated the Toys for Tots program for 20 years. Ringstrom and his volunteers are busy collecting donated toys and gearing up for the annual Toys for Tots distribution. They also count on cash donations to purchase additional toys to ensure there are enough to meet area needs. “We’re always looking for local Marines to help with Toys • page 2
contributed photo
Santa certifies Bob Ringstrom as the new St. Cloud Marine Corps Toys For Tots Coordinator in September at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Va.
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Toys from front page
contributed photo
Greg Danzl and Steve Titus (right), of the Valhalla detachment of the Marine Corps League, volunteer with the U.S. Marine Corps Toys For Tots in St. Cloud. Titus was the coordinator of the program for 20 years and Danzl was the assistant coordinator. Bob Ringstrom who volunteered with the program for many years is the new coordinator for the program.
the routes,” Ringstrom said. Adding they count on Marines from the area to help service the drop-box sites. Ringstrom attended a three-day certification training program in September at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, Va. to be certified as a coordinator. He said the Toys for Tots program is part of the Marine Corp Reserve’s mission, which is responsible for continuing the success of the program. Since there isn’t a Marine Reserve program in the St. Cloud area, the duties fall on Marines who are no longer serving to volunteer with the program. Currently, there are 250 drop-box locations to collect toys in the surrounding St. Cloud area, including St. Joseph, Sartell, Rice, Cold Spring, St. Augusta
and more. About 12 Marines are currently serving these sites. According to Ringstrom, the St. Cloud Area Tots for Tots serves more than 3,000 children each year. The need, he said, is definitely there. Catholic Charities Emergency Services and the Salvation Army are the distribution centers for toys that are collected or purchased through the program. Toys for Tots connects and partners with Catholic Charities to distribute the toys. Families can register with Catholic Charities to find toys for their children. The campaign kicked off the week of Nov. 6. The Marine volunteers will complete the toy collections Dec. 8 for this year’s distribution. Some drop-off locations volunteer to keep their boxes out after Dec. 8. Those toys collected during the rest of December will be stored for next year’s distribution. This year’s distribution dates for families to “shop” for toys are Dec. 14, 19 and 22. Catholic Charities welcomes volunteers to assist as needed for each distribution shift. “The idea is to reach as many children as possible,” Ringstrom said. “Toys for Tots is narrowly conceived as a mission to bring light into the lives of children who are not so fortunate as so many of us during the season of giving. It can help them understand they don’t necessarily have to go without in a world that has so much. It’s also an important way for parents and family to be warmed by seeing the joy their children can also be a part of. It can be a strong influence on young lives that everything isn’t a disappointment.” The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program started in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to children in need. Hendricks’ wife, Diane, came up with the idea after sewing a Raggedy Ann doll
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 and wanting her husband to deliver the doll to an organization that would give it to a child who needed it. After learning that no agency existed, she asked Bill to start one and he did. Because the 1947 campaign was so successful, the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a national campaign the Marines have been conducting ever since. The initial objective “to bring the joy of Christmas to America’s needy children” still continues today. Hendricks, a Marine Reservist on weekends, was the director of public relations for Warner Brothers Studio. He influenced a variety of celebrities to support Toys for Tots. In 1948, Walt Disney designed the Toys for Tots logo which is still used today. Disney also designed the first organization poster used to promote the nationwide program. Many celebrities helped support the program, including Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone, Bob Hope, John Wayne, Doris Day, Lorrie Morgan, Tim Allen, Kenny Rogers and Billy Ray Cyrus. Toys for Tots is a 501(c)3 foundation, located in Virginia, and 96.8 percent of funds raised are applied to the program. The program has distributed more than 313 million toys to 151 million children. Ringstrom served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968-1974 and was in Vietnam from 1969-70. For additional information visit the toysfortots. org website or the St. Cloud Area Toys for Tots Facebook page at facebook.com/StCloudMarineToys4Tots/. Organizations interested in hosting a drop-site location for collecting toys should visit the Facebook page. Donations can be made out to “St. Cloud Toys for Tots” and mailed to St. Cloud Toys for Tots, c/o Bob Ringstrom, coordinator, P.O. Box 803, St. Joseph, Minn. 56374. To volunteer with Catholic Charities call 320-2294560.
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Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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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 Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA Sunday Worship 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Worship 6:30 p.m.
610 N. CR 2, St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjoe.org
Fundraiser from front page an insulin pump, have helped control his disease. “I think one of the hardest things of being diabetic is having good control,” Killam said. “There are several factors that can change your blood sugar and it’s hard at times to keep good control. It’s also hard at times when people with limited knowledge of the disease make incorrect statements or claims to you about what you are eating or what magical item you can take to cure the disease.” According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, diabetes is described as a disease in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Two major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which a person’s body still produces
insulin but is not able to use it effectively. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes both children and adults suddenly. It has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle. There is nothing you can do to prevent it. And, at present, there is no cure. In Type 1 diabetes, a process our bodies do naturally and automatically now requires daily attention and manual intervention. With Type 1 diabetes, a person must constantly monitor his or her blood-sugar level, inject or infuse insulin through a pump and carefully balance these insulin doses with proper eating and activity throughout the day and night. Insulin is not a cure for diabetes. Even with closely watched disease management, much of the diabetic’s day can be spent with either high or low blood-sugar levels. These fluctuations put people with Type 1 diabetes at risk for life-threatening hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes, as well as long-term complications such as kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness and amputation.
Some warning signs of Type 1 diabetes include drowsiness or lethargy, extreme thirst, frequent urination, fruity odor on the breath, increased appetite, heavy or labored breathing, sudden weight loss, sudden vision changes, sugar in the urine and stupor or unconsciousness. An equal number of children and adults are diagnosed every day with type 1 diabetes – about 110 people per day. Almost 85 percent of people living with the disease are over age 18. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Statistics Report, 30.3 million people have diabetes and 84.1 million adults aged 18 years or older, and 23.1 million adults aged 65 or older have pre-diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes research. The foundation’s mission is to discover, develop and deliver advances that cure, better treat and prevent type 1 diabetes. For additional information, visit the jdrf.org website.
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
Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. Saturday 5 p.m. Sunday 8 & 10 a.m.
YOUR INDUSTRY Your Business Address City • Phone • Website
TRUCKING Brenny Transportation, Inc. Global Transportation Service St. Joseph • 320-363-6999 www.brennytransportation.com
St. Joseph • 320-363-7505 www.churchstjoseph.org
St. Joseph Lions Club mascot “Leo the Lion” (Matt Killam) visits with his son, Devon Killam, at last year’s Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation fundraiser. The second such annual event will be held from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Bad Habit Brewery in downtown St. Joseph.
Laser Dentistry 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-4468
PUBLISHING Von Meyer Publishing, Inc. 32 1st Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-7741
St. Joseph Catholic Church
contributed photo
DENTISTRY Drs. Styles, Cotton & Milbert 1514 E. Minnesota St. St. Joseph • 320-363-7729
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.
Neighbor to Neighbor Companions • Friendly visits and assistance with transportation for older adults • An opportunity for meaningful friendship, increased independence and a link to the community • Service provided by a local, trained volunteer companion • An affordable service available in your area! For more information on receiving this service or becoming a companion, contact Katie Potvin, program coordinator, at 651-310-9425 or katie.potvin@lssmn.org.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE | THE GIFT OF SOUND
M
Music Lovers
usic can soothe the soul and put us in our happy places. It is universal in its appeal and inspires many great gift ideas. Musical tastes vary by person. That is why there are considerable amounts of variety and genres from which to choose. When considering a musical gift, be aware of an individual’s musical style, as well any music they already own.
FOR THE LISTENER A newly released CD of their favorite singer is absolutely a great gift for music lovers. Bands also put out limited-edition albums that your friend or family member may not know about. Search your local music shop for these gems, which can make for thoughtful gifts this holiday season. Giving the gift of a musical experience is always a great idea. Surprise them with tickets to a much-anticipated upcoming live music performance. Digital music players are coveted gifts, especially for the young music lover in your life. Load up a prepaid card for music downloads or give a gift card to your local music retailer. © FOTOLIA
FOR THE ROCKER Some music lovers are actually gifted musically themselves. The young ones might love a gift of piano or guitar lessons or even singing lessons. A spectacular gift would be a new musical instrument. Your downtown music establishment is full of gifts for the rocker in all of us. Drumsticks, guitar picks or a
new microphone would make for great stocking-stuffers, while a new acoustic guitar or electric keyboard would look great wrapped and under the tree.
FOR THE MUSIC HISTORY BUFF With the expanse of great artists and bands that have graced the musical
charts over the years, there are many museums and institutions devoted to celebrating our country’s musical milestones. A trip to a museum or hall of fame may be in order. Do some research and coordinate all of the details. You can even visit your local music store to buy CDs or digital
downloads for music related to the museum you are visiting to make it a themed road trip. For example, if you’re visiting Dollywood or the Grand Old Opry, stop by your local music shop for some country-themed CDs to make your road trip all the more memorable.
Yuletide in theAmericas
Great River Chorale Cantabile Girls’ Concert Choir & Choristers Br. Paul-Vincent Niebauer, OSB, narrator Charles Echols, organist Brass & Percussion
Friday, December 1, 2017 | 7:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, MN Sunday, December 3, 2017* | 4 p.m. Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN
*This concert will have an ASL interpreter.
Tickets at greatriverchorale.org and at the door.
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
Art from front page a stop on the annual crawl for years. This year, everything seemed to fall into place. On Saturday, Vee said, Rockhouse Productions will host artists American Craftsmen Woodworking and Burly Babe Woodworking along with musician Carrie Schneider, who will perform from 1:30-3 p.m. “For us, any opportunity to support artists is a win,” Vee said. “The Holiday Art Crawl gives us a chance to show off our business so people can see what we do here. And, honestly, we are just thrilled to be a part of it all.” Pia Lopez, board president of Minnesota Street Market, said this is the third year the co-op has been a part of the Holiday Art Crawl. “We’ve been a food-and-art cooperative since the beginning,” Lopez said. “The art crawl is a really fun and social thing for people to do.” Lopez said Minnesota Street Market, 27 W. Minnesota St., will be the first stop on the crawl. The co-op will host Desi Murphy Pottery, Nita’s Knots and Longshadow Woodworks. Live music from Aksel Krafnick will entertain visitors from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com Bad Habit Brewing Co. is also in its third year of hosting the annual art crawl. Owner Aaron Rieland expects this year to be even busier than years past. “Mary (Bruno) has been doing a lot more promotion for the event,” Rieland said. “I love Mary and I love what she’s doing. It’s great for the City of St. (Joseph) and it brings awareness to the downtown area.” Bad Habit Brewing Co., 15 E. Minnesota St. Suite 108, will host Katie Ballantine Pottery and Janelle Carlson Candles. Other artists on the art crawl include Angela Ness Art hosted by the Local Blend and Kim Tschida Petters Paintings and Textiles hosted by Bruno Press. Bruno’s work will also be on display in her shop, 154 Fifth Ave. SE. The Local Blend, 19 W. Minnesota St., will also have live music from Chris Laumb from 3:30-5 p.m. To help offset some of the costs associated with the event, Bruno has opened the Holiday Art Crawl for sponsorships. “A good number of small businesses are supporting us,” Bruno said. “Because they realize when people come for the day they eat, drink and shop here. We feel this is a great way to strengthen our
local economy.” The art crawl has received two silver-level sponsors: Daisy A Day Floral & Gift and Milk & Honey Ciders. In addition, Bruno has secured a shuttle service for the art crawl. Starting at 10:30 a.m., a shuttle will pick people up from the church parking lot on the corner of College Avenue and Minnesota Street and drive them to all five locations. The shuttle service will run every 20 minutes. The shuttle will also make stops at Milk & Honey Ciders and Daisy A Day once an hour starting at 1 p.m. To help entice people to visit all five art-crawl locations, Bruno has developed a postcard-style “passport.” Customers can get this passport punched at every location. If visitors make it to all five stops they can place their completed postcard – with their name, email and phone number – into a drawing to win five gift baskets worth up to $250. Even though Bruno said putting on the art crawl, especially around the holidays, is a lot of work, she hopes her efforts will help put St. Joseph on the map. “My hope is people will spend their money here,” she said. “My goal is to have St. (Joseph) become a destination stop for people.”
photo by Vicki Ikeogu
Art by Nita’s Knots sits on display inside Minnesota Street Market. This artist, along with Desi Murphy Pottery and Longshadow Woodworks, will take up temporary residence at the St. Joseph Co-Op during the 2017 Holiday Art Crawl Saturday, Nov. 25.
In Business CSB, SJU ranked among top study-abroad schools Sometimes, 13 is considered to be an unlucky number. But not for the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University, when it comes to study abroad. For the 13th consecutive year, CSB and SJU are ranked among the top baccalaureate schools nationally for the total number of students who studied abroad. That was one of the findings of Open Doors 2017, the annual report on international education published by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The 2017 report, which was released Monday, Nov. 13, found: • CSB and SJU are ranked No. 4 among baccalaureate schools with a total of 553 students who studied abroad during the 2015-16 school year, the most recent data measured by the IIE. CSB and SJU have been
ranked among the top six schools nationally in this category for the past 13 years. Only one Minnesota private college was ranked higher in this category – St. Olaf College at No. 1 (633 students). • CSB and SJU are ranked No. 2 among baccalaureate schools with 355 students who studied abroad in mid-length study-abroad programs during 2015-16. The IIE defines midlength study-abroad programs as lasting one semester or one or two quarters (CSB and SJU operate under the semester system). Only one college ranked higher in this category – Colgate University (382 students). Before graduating, 64 percent of all CSB and SJU students will participate in a study-abroad program. CSB and SJU annually offer students 19 semester-long programs, 15 of which are faculty-led. CSB and SJU also
conduct more than 15 short-term study-abroad programs. “CSB/SJU’s rankings in the Open Doors report confirm our commitment to study abroad as an integral component of an undergraduate education,” said Barb May, academic dean and interim director of the Center for Global Education at CSB and SJU. “We strive to help our students develop a culturally diverse and global perspective that is so important in today’s world.” May pointed out that students from CSB and SJU visit diverse parts of the world, including India, China, Japan, Australia and Figi, Guatemala, Chile, Ecuador, Sweden, Ireland, Greece and Italy. “Not only do students participate in coursework while abroad, but internships, service learning, and other experiential opportunities exist
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in many of our programs,” May said. “Study abroad provides unforgettable experiences that can transform a student’s perspective and learning.” The 2017 Open Doors report found 325,339 Americans studied abroad for academic credit from their colleges and universities in 2015-16. That represented an increase of 3.8 percent over 2014-15. The leading destinations for U.S. students are (in order) the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. International students studying at U.S. colleges and universities was a record 1,078,822 students in 2016-17 (an increase of 3.4 percent), topping the 1 million mark for the second consecutive academic year. The top origin countries for students coming to the United States were (in order) China, India and South Korea.
TRUCK FOR SALE Date and Time of Sale: 9:05 am Thursday Dec. 14 2017 Location of Sale: Freightliner of St. Cloud 25200 Augusta Dr. St. Cloud, MN 56301 Description of Vehicle: 2008 Freightliner M2106 Serial # 1FVACWDJ18DY88753 White in Color 26,000 GVW 270 Wheelbase with Lift gate. Reason for sale and amount due: Owner has not responded to repeated calls or billing letters for payment of repair invoice #135466 in the amount of $4,747.74.
FREIGHTLINER OF ST. CLOUD
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Opinion
Our View
Donate to Toys for Tots as early as possible Right now is the best time to donate toys or money for toys to the Toys for Tots program. The many good people and organizations that help make that a seasonal success need to know, as early as possible, how many toys they can expect to fill the needs of children. Toys for Tots is a great program that typifies the Spirit of Christmas. It tries to ensure all children will have some merry cheer on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day by receiving gifts. A feature story by Newsleader writer Cori Hilsgen in today’s Newsleaders gives an interesting background of Toys for Tots. Her story also announces the new coordinator for the program – St. Joseph resident Bob Ringstrom, a consultant business owner and former police chief of Sartell. Ringstrom, with his heart of gold and his jolly disposition, is a perfect choice for coordinator. A U.S. Marine veteran, Ringstrom coordinates the program, which includes 250 drop-box sites in the greater St. Cloud area and other central Minnesota cities. The St. Cloud Area Toys for Tots provides toys for more than 3,000 children whose parents or parent are in tight economic straits. It works in conjunction with Catholic Charities and the St. Cloud Salvation Army. The current Toys for Tots campaign began Nov. 6, and Marine volunteers will keep collecting toys up until Dec. 8, although some drop-off locations will keep their toy boxes available after that date. Any toys collected after Dec. 8 will be used for next year’s distribution. The Toys for Tots program started in 1947 when Marine Major Bill Hendricks, with the help of Marine veterans, collected more than 5,000 toys for children in the Los Angeles area. The idea occurred to Hendricks’ wife, Diane, one day when she was sewing a Raggedy Ann doll. The program is now based in Leesburg, Va. We like this quote from Bob Ringstrom: “The idea is to reach as many children as possible. Toys for Tots is narrowly conceived to bring light into the lives of children who are not so fortunate as many of us during the season of giving. It (Toys for Tots) can help them understand they don’t necessarily have to go without in a world that has so much. It’s also an important way for parents and family to be warmed by seeing the joy their children can also be part of. It can be a strong influence on young lives that everything isn’t a disappointment.” Thanks, Mr. Ringstrom, for such touching words of wisdom. Those who want to donate toys or money to Toys for Tots can visit the following website: toysfortots.org or its Facebook page at facebook.com/StCloudMarine Toys4Tots. Catholic Charities accepts the names of the children needing toys and then the families can “shop” for the free toys at Catholic Charities’ headquarters in St. Cloud. Catholic Charities is always seeking volunteers to help with the toys and distribution. To volunteer, call that organization at 320-229-4560. It’s so easy to make a kid happy on Christmas. All it takes is a toy or two, so please give generously to Toys for Tots during the next two weeks, before Dec. 8.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
Can elephants be saved by killing them? Killing elephants to save them? What an appalling oxymoron. Big-game hunters pay thousands of dollars for the “privilege” of shooting elephants or other exotic animals – many of them threatened with extinction. The money, we’re told, goes into conservation funds that help the elephants survive on protected territories where they are guarded against vicious poachers who kill and butcher the gentle giants for their ivory tusks and other body parts, most of it sold on the black market. Cecil the lion was supposedly protected on one of those animal reserves – that is, until Walter Palmer, a big-game hunter from the Twin Cities went and killed him in Zimbabwe. He first shot Cecil with an arrow from a bow. Then he tracked the lion down for many hours and shot the poor creature to death. Two weeks ago, the ban on trophies was proposed to be lifted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a ban that was imposed during the Obama Administration. The ban would be lifted for trophies from dead animals in the African countries of Zimbabwe and Zambia. “Trophies” is a respectablesounding euphemism for animal heads, animal horns, animal hides and even elephant feet. President Donald Trump, to his credit, said he will put the decision about trophies on hold until he can review conservation facts in consultation with U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who, by the way, is himself an avid big-game hunter, as are Eric and Donald Trump Jr. In one year alone, 2014, before the
Dennis Dalman Editor ban on trophy imports, more than 3,000 exotic animals were killed by U.S. trophy hunters, their body parts shipped back to the United States to “adorn” walls and floors. They included 671 elephants, 741 lions, 311 leopards, 1,412 water buffalo and 32 rhinos. All of those animals are dwindling, drifting toward extinction. The elephant population declined by 30 percent in just a seven-year period, from 2007-2014, according to the “Great Elephant Census,” a project started by Paul G. Allen, founder of Microsoft. An estimated 30,000 African elephants are shot and butchered every year by poachers mainly but also by big-game hunters. Some claim legal hunting by permit and the funds that result for conservation efforts really does help in the fight against poachers, but the evidence is sketchy at best. What is needed is an international fund to create and maintain animal reserves and – most importantly – a total worldwide ban on trophies and “products” from such animals. What in the world makes certain men and women want to go to Africa or anywhere else for that matter to kill exotic and/or endangered animals? That hankering to kill such magnificent creatures is so hard to fathom. There are few sadder sights than to see a once-wonderful elephant sprawled on the ground, dead,
its tusks hacked off by machetes of poachers or trophy hunters. Elephants are intelligent animals with strong family bonds that pass knowledge down generation to generation. When the elder members of an elephant clan are killed, it creates terrible havoc among other clan members and their bonds. Animals are known to mourn their dead in heartbreaking ritual behaviors. The proposal to end the band has brought outrage from people on the left, on the right and everywhere in between. Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham of Fox News, visibly disgusted, said lifting the ban would probably increase—not decrease – “the gruesome poaching of elephants.” TV personality Ellen DeGeneres has begun an online site to raise money for conservation efforts for elephants. The hashtag is #BeKindToElephants. Check it out. Meantime, Safari Club International’s president Paul Babaz said this: “The fight for the freedom to hunt is far from over. We will be more proactive and not back down.” Freedom to hunt? Some freedom! What about the freedom of endangered animals to live free from butchery? Let’s all call President Trump to thank him for delaying the ban-waiver and to urge him to keep the trophy ban in place. The White House phone number for comments is 202-4561111. Or email by going to www. whitehouse.gov. Or you can write a letter and address it to President Donald Trump, White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20500.
Is it too early for Christmas? Maybe a little It comes the time of year again for the holidays. Talk concerning Thanksgiving, Christmas and the approaching new year swirls around. It’s a time for celebration and family gatherings, for sharing gifts and giving thanks for what we have. As I’ve gotten older, it’s seems like the days keep going faster and faster every year up until this point. It still feels like school just started again, and here it’s Thanksgiving! What is coming up sooner every year, though, is the start of the “Happy Holidays” season. We all know how this works. All of a sudden, things around town and on television switch from fall-season orientations to including snow, winter and Christmas. This year, I’m sure I even saw this come up before Halloween. The other day, I heard holiday music for the first time on the radio this month, in the middle of November. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy Christmas as much as anyone else, and maybe I’m oldfashioned, but would it hurt anything to hold off with it until after the turkey is finished? It always starts a debate in my family, with some members being fans of the holidays in general and happy to be able to sing their favorite songs and set up decorations without it being “out of season.” For me, though, November just seems a little too early. It’s cold outside, and we usually do get some snow before Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t
Connor Kockler Guest Writer necessarily imply Christmas to me, just that we are moving toward winter. We have our different holidays for a reason, and the idea I was always taught behind Thanksgiving was that it’s to celebrate what we have and to share in that joy with our family and friends by coming together. It is also an important part of history, whether you believe the entirety of the romanticized tale of the “First Thanksgiving,” it’s an important event for some of the early European settlers of this country and how they survived in their new environment. Such a significant day would probably endure as a prominent holiday in its own right were it not in close proximity to an even bigger one, Christmas, a day that has even more history and meaning for millions throughout the country, whether it be religious or just for family get-togethers. And with Christmas’s emphasis on gift-giving, it demands a lot of attention. At least the shopping deals wait until after Thanksgiving, or do they? There are now Black Friday sales starting on
Thursday night, when you think many would be sitting down to enjoy their family meal and catch up with relatives. People line up outside stores for hours hoping for the chance to run in and snatch a good deal on some doorbusters. What’s the point at which we say enough is enough and just enjoy the month we’re in right now? Thus the situation that we are presently in. If we continue down our current path, perhaps we’ll have to start putting Christmas decorations up in October. It seems like we’re so ready to move on to Christmas that we’re forgetting the holiday that really puts it all into context. Thanksgiving is a good stop brake telling us to stop and think about what really matters in the holiday season before we get into the Christmas frenzy. But that’s just my opinion. I really enjoy all of the holidays we have this time of year, and the special significance and memories each one of them brings and creates. I’m just thinking though, we should try to celebrate each one in their own glory without letting that specter of the holiday season hover over us all. After all, if we’ve gotten here this fast, Christmas will be here before we know it. Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 LEGAL NOTICES STEARNS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION
“A Resolution to Set Public Hearings on a Proposal to Make the Stearns County Recorder Position Appointed”
WHEREAS, Laws of 2017, Chapter 92, Article 3, Section 4 authorizes Stearns County to appoint a County Recorder after conducting two public hearings; and WHEREAS, the Stearns County Board of Commissioners, acting under the authority granted in Laws of 2017, Chapter 92, Article 3, sec. 4, hereby proposes a Resolution to make the position of County Recorder appointed and no longer elected; and WHEREAS, pursuant to said Law, the incumbent County Recorder shall serve in that capacity, performing all duties required by statute, until completion of the term of the elected office or, until a vacancy occurs in the office, whichever occurs earlier; and WHEREAS, the Stearns County Board of Commissioners believes the appoint-
ment of a County Recorder will help to ensure long-term professional management of the Recorder function and will create opportunities for beneficial organizational changes. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Stearns County Board of Commissioners hereby schedules public hearings on the proposal to make the County Recorder positon appointed as follows: Date: Nov. 28, 2017 Time: 5:30 p.m. Location: County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud Date: Dec. 12, 2017 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud Publish: Nov. 17 and 24, 2017
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Council will meet at 6:15 p.m. or shortly thereafter on Dec. 4, 2017 in the City Hall Council Chambers to consider, and possibly adopt, the proposed 2018 Fee Schedule.
All persons wishing to speak will be heard and oral testimony will be limited to five minutes. Written testimony should be mailed to City Administrator, 75 Callaway St. E., St. Joseph, Minn. 56374.
The proposed 2018 Fee Schedule is on file for public inspection at the City Offices, 75 Callaway St. E. and on the city website: www. cityofstjoseph.com.
Judy Weyrens Administrator
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Publish: Nov. 24, 2017
Community Calendar
Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, Nov. 24 Benton County Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org
Saturday, Nov. 25 Christmas Wreath Sale, sponsored by Troop 84 Boy Scouts of America, 9 a.m.noon, parking lot of Church of St. Joseph, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Monday, Nov. 27 Benton County Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org
If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. This information is submitted by the St. Joseph Police Department. Oct. 14 8:48 p.m. Domestic dispute. 1110 10th Ave. SE. Male victim called the St. Joseph Police Department saying his girlfriend was in the apartment destroying things. When officers arrived on scene, they met with the male victim who was advising officers of what transpired and the damage that was left in
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Lunch and cards, sponsored by Helping Hands Outreach, noon-3 p.m., Rusty Nail, 4 CR 2 S., St. Stephen. Sartell City Council, 6 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. 320-253-2171. Tuesday, Nov. 28 National Alliance on Mental Health, 7-8:30 p.m., Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. 320259-7101.
Thursday, Nov. 30 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group featuring Mark Sakry, executive director of Boys & Girls Club of Central Minnesota, 9 a.m., Sartell Community Center, 850 19th St. S., Sartell. Great River Regional Coin Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Miller Auto Marine Sports Plaza, 2930 Second St. S., St. Cloud. 320241-9229.
Blotter
the apartment. The officer went in and found a broken coffee table, a kitchen cabinet door partially removed and a broken picture frame. While assessing the apartment, the officer noticed mail addressed to the female suspect for the apartment and advised the male victim the suspect thus had the right to be in the apartment and damage property. Officers advised the male victim to contact the landlord about the situation and possibly the courts about obtaining a restraining and harassment order. Cleared. Oct. 16 10:48 p.m. Suspicious person. 1300 Jade Road. An officer was dispatched to Kennedy Elementary School where the principle had been notified of a suspicious vehicle that had been parked in the entrance
Friday, Dec. 1 Benton County Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org Arts and Crafts Sale, including a bake sale, food and refreshments, 4-8 p.m., Heritage Hall, Church of St. Joseph, 12 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph. 320-363-7505. Saturday, Dec. 2 Christmas Wreath Sale, sponsored by Troop 84 Boy Scouts of America, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Coborn’s, 1500 Elm St. E., St. Joseph. Sunday, Dec. 3 “The Spirituality of John Denver,” presented by Dennis Warner and Friends, 10 a.m., Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N., Sartell. http://unityspiritualcentercm.org/events/
of Jade Road. The male driver was looking at the school with binoculars. No license plate or description of the driver was provided by Trobec’s Bus who called the school. The St. Joseph Police Department provided extra patrol the next several days watching for a red SUV. Oct. 18 12:33 p.m. Car crash. 30879 CR 133. Officers were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, the officer learned vehicle one pulled out of her driveway and did a u-turn. While doing so, she did not see another vehicle coming from the south. The second vehicle tried to move around the first vehicle by going on the left side but was struck in the passenger side.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Nov. 24, 2017
St. Joseph business owners share importance of shopping locally by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com
Seven years ago, credit-card company American Express started a movement to counteract the holiday push of big-box retailers on Black Friday. It was a movement that put more of an emphasis on the corner markets and local boutiques than the mega shopping malls and doorbuster deals. That movement has since sparked an increase of money being spent within cities. In fact, in 2015, about 95 million U.S. consumers chose to spend part of their holiday shopping cash with mom-and-pop shops – an increase of about 8 percent from the previous year. That movement is known as Small Business Saturday. And this year, the annual event will take place Saturday, Nov. 25. “There are a lot of little guys out there in little towns like St. (Joseph),” said Pat Kaeter, co-owner of Heim-Kins Rescued Treasures. “And a day like Small Business Saturday draws attention to small communities and especially for specialty shops like ours.” Kaeter has been running Heim-Kins for the past seven-and-a-half years. While she said a majority of her business is done during the summer months with seasonal travelers, Small Business Saturday is still an important day for her business and other small businesses throughout St. Joseph. “You can go into big-box stores and there is one aisle
that has gift cards in it, one aisle that has toys in it. It’s so repetitious,” Kaeter said. “They really don’t do anything super unique. But for small businesses like ours, we can have our shop filled with unique items and specialty gifts.” Mary C. Bruno of St. Joseph print shop Bruno Press said Small Business Saturday is a good reminder for consumers to be mindful of where their money is being spent. “People do forget a lot about why it’s important to shop local(ly),” Bruno said. “But it’s so interesting how that money spent at an independent business gets cycled back into the community.” Bruno is a Neighborhood Champion for St. Joseph’s Small Business Saturday movement. On average $68 out of every $100 spent at a small business remains within that business’ city. With larger companies, that number drops to $43. “And a well-supported community continues to produce and grow,” Bruno said. While Small Business Saturday does have a more retail focus in mind, Bad Habit Brewing Co. owner Aaron Rieland said its mission has benefits for all locally-owned companies. “We’re becoming more and more of an online shopping society,” Rieland said. “These little stores, these small businesses in small towns like St. (Joseph) make a town function.” Rieland said Small Business
Saturday is just one way to make people aware of the little shops and specialty companies throughout a town. “These small businesses need your support so it’s important,” he said. “They give back, they pay taxes. Support them as much as you can.” For Minnesota Street Market Board President Pia Lopez, that includes supporting area growers. “To me, shopping small means supporting local, small farmers,” Lopez said. “We are trying to support the people living and working in our community. And as one of our members said, ‘food tastes better when you know the person who grew it.’” Bruno said the key to supporting local businesses is to change the behavior of consumers. “On a global scale, people are not wanting to outsource this and that,” she said. “So, it comes down to the fact of where you are spending your money. When given the chance, I like to think I would choose local.” According to entrepreneur-focused website Grasshopper.com, consumers are slowly putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting local shops. About 72 percent of consumers are aware of Small Business Saturday with 112 million shoppers participating in Small Business Saturday in 2016. Last year, approximately $15.4 billion was spent during the one-
Thanks for the three-peat!
2017
Best Physical Therapy 2015, 2016, 2017
We’re humbled by the win, but thrilled by the consistency—which just so happens to be a key player in the top orthopedic care we provide. Thank you for choosing St. Cloud Orthopedics and entrusting us with you and your family’s orthopedic care and physical/occupational therapy needs. Together, we make a great team. #LiveBetter
StCloudOrthopedics.com
320.259.4100
photo by Vicki Ikeogu
St. Joseph resident Katie Tschakert stocks produce inside food and art co-op Minnesota Street Market. Minnesota Street Market Board President Pia Lopez said events like Small Business Saturday help bring attention to area businesses including local farmers. Small Business Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 25. day event across the country. That number is down from 2015’s $16.2 billion spent at small businesses nationwide. Kaeter said there will always be a need for big-box retailers and large corporations. After all, she said, a small business will not be able to provide everything you need. But at
the end of the day, Kaeter said contributing to the success of a small business is well worth it. “Even though I have 33 years of retail experience, it was always a dream of mine to have my own shop,” Kaeter said. “Supporting a local business is helping someone like me fulfill their dreams.”