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Newsleader Sauk Rapids-Rice
Friday, April 15, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 15 Est. 2015
Town Crier Compost site to open April 16
The Sauk Rapids compost site will open Saturday, April 16. It’s located 1.25 miles north of Golden Spike Road on CR 57. Business hours will be from 8 a.m.-4:30 Saturdays; 3-7 p.m. Mondays and noon-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Compost stickers, required on vehicles to use the site, can be purchased at the government center or at the site. Clean Sweep Week will be held April 27-30.
Bethlehem hosts choir, orchestra concert
Join the Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17 for “Masters, Musicals and Movies.” It will feature music by Mozart, Handel, Irving Berlin, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein, John Williams and more. The free-will offering benefits Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf.
Brain games set April 20
Join other Boomers and Zoomers (ages 55 and over) from 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 for an afternoon of fun and games. There will be cranium crunches, concentration puzzles, brainteaser mining and number games. All materials will be provided. Please RSVP for the free event at Shepherd Oaks Apartments at 310 13th St. N. in Sauk Rapids by calling Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education at 320-258-1577.
Benton snowmobile club donates ResQ discs
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Something as simple as a fancy Frisbee can save lives, and that is why local law enforcement are grateful to have ResQ Discs, one for each patrol car. Last week, the Benton County Snowmobile Club presented several law-enforcement agencies with the discs during a presentation inside the snowmobile-grooming equipment shed in Gilman. The club, whose members were well aware of the discs’ lifesaving potential, decided to buy 25 discs. There in Gilman to accept the discs were Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck, Sartell Police Deputy Dale Struffert, Sauk Rapids Police Chief Berry Beise and Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann. Those who presented the discs were Del Rothstein, Benton County Snowmobile Club president, and the club’s vice presiClub • page 2
photos courtesy of Benton County Snomobile Club and www.frisbuoy.com
At right: This amazing photo of the ice rescue of David Hanson, who fell through the ice on Sweeney Lake in Golden Valley, Minn., was taken on Dec. 1, 2002 by his wife Mim through their living-room window. The Benton County Snowmobile Club (some members pictured above) recently purchased 25 of the Frisbuoy ResQ discs (used to rescue Hanson) and donated them to the Sauk Rapids, Rice, Sartell and Benton County law-enforcement agencies for future water/ice rescues.
Delays expected on parts of Hwy. 15 by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Starting Monday, April 18 many motorists will notice Hwy. 15 has become a single-lane roadway during the
evening and night hours between Hwy. 23/Division Street in St. Cloud and the Hwy. 15/ Benton Drive interchange in Sauk Rapids. Motorists should expect slow-downs and delays.
Car-seat event offers free checks
Have car seats checked for proper installation from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 20 at the Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 Seventh St. N, St. Cloud. The goal of the car-seat check is to demonstrate how to install your car seat properly every time and check to make sure you can install the car seat correctly yourself. A car-seat check is encouraged for those with children ages 12 and younger, including those in booster seats. All appointments are free. Call 320-656-7021 to make an appointment. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on April 15 Criers.
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
Postal Patron
photos by Dave DeMars
Top: Emily Schrader (Queen Aggravain) remonstrates with her wizard played by Justin Glen. Above: A deserted stage awaits the SRRHS players who will bring the magical story Once Upon a Mattress to life at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23 and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24.
Closures will occur from 7:30 p.m.-6:30 a.m. up to seven days a week. No closures are planned from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Sundays. Work crews will be resurfacing Hwy. 15, as well as improv-
ing the Hwyy. 15/12th Street N. intersection and the Hwy. 15/ CR 1 intersection. The work is expected to result in a smoother ride for motorists and improved safety for pedestrians.
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
reason she reached the bridal altar posthaste? Or that, in fact, it wasn’t the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of wonderful songs – by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic – this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are you’ll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again. Christenson chose the play because she had prior experience with it and maybe because it’s spring and there is a kind of blossoming of love in spring. “I directed this play in 2012 for Two Rivers Community Theatre,” she said. And then there is the simple idea the play is lots of fun to do and she thought Sauk Rapids-Rice High School students Play • back page
SRRHS to present ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ If it’s springtime, then it must be time for a play. Just ask Julie Christenson, drama director at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. This year, she will be directing Once Upon a Mattress, a story based on an old folk tale about a princess who had a hard time sleeping because of a pea – sort of. The play will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23 and also at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24. “If you thought you knew the story of The Princess and the Pea, you may be in for a walloping surprise!” Christenson said. Did you know, for instance, Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that Lady Larken’s love for Sir Harry provided a rather compelling
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Club from front page dent, Scott Jerve. ResQ Discs were invented years ago by a man named Dr. Tom Sytko of the nationally famous Save A Life website. Since then, there have been stirring testimonials Coast to Coast about how the discs have saved lives.
How they work
contributed photo
The Benton County Snowmobile Club recently donated 25 ResQ discs to various area law-enforcement agencies at the club’s snowmobile-trail equipment shed in Gilman. From left to right are Del Rothstein, club president; Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck; Sartell Police Deputy Dale Struffert; Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise; Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann; and Scott Jerve, vice president of the snowmobile club.
People
contributed photo
Non-profit organization Tri-CAP received a Best Practices Award for educating in financial literacy. Shown here are the following: (from left to right) Tikki Brown of the Office of Economic Opportunity; Arnie Anderson of MinnCAP; Lori Schultz, Janel Heinen and Lisa Drew, all of Tri-CAP; and Hubert Reinarz of Wells Fargo.
Event recognizes Tri-CAP helping to end poverty The Tri-County Action Program, or “Tri-CAP,” received a Best Practices Award for its Tax Program financial literacy initiative, “Save It, Fix It, Spend It.” The awards go to local Community Action programs that have achieved outstanding and measurable impacts in helping low-income households achieve greater economic self-sufficiency and building partnerships across social service, government and
business sectors to better meet the needs of local communities. Tri-CAP is a private, non-profit Community Action Agency that provides services and programs that assist individuals and families in achieving and maintaining economic self-sufficiency. TriCAP provides these services in Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties. Community Action changes lives every day, one person at a time.
Each ResQ disc is a round blaze orange hard-plastic ring that resembles in shape and function a large yoyo combined with a Frisbee. There is 100 feet of very strong but light nylon rope coiled within the disc. The user quickly unwraps about 20 feet of the rope, then throws the disc to a victim in danger of drowning. The person in peril grabs the disc, which is buoyant, and then the rescuer pulls the victim to safety. Inventor Tom Sytko donated one of the discs to the Benton County Snowmobile Club because they have often been used to help snowmobilers who have fallen through thin ice. The members of the club were so impressed by the way the disc works they decided to buy some as gifts for local law enforcement. Club members used to carry old sealed milk cartons and nylon rope just in case of a through-the-
If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sauk Rapids Police Department at 320-251-9451 or TriCounty Crime Stoppers at 320-2551301 or access its tip site at www. tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. March 20 Animal complaint. Strawberry Court. Anonymous tip alerted authorities to a dog that had been left outside for 24 hours and was making noise. Officers determined
ice rescue. The ResQ discs are infinitely better, said Rothstein, the club president. And the law-enforcement officials who accepted them as gifts gave great big thankyous to the club who gave them as gifts.
The club
The Benton County Snowmobile Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1984 and now has nearly 70 family memberships. Annual dues are $35 per family, and the club meets for social hour at 6 p.m. with the business meeting starting at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday at Rumors Bar & Grill south of Rice for nine months of the year, other than the summer months (June, July and August). The club is responsible for maintaining and grooming 101 miles of snowmobile trails in Benton County. It’s the club’s biggest job. They also clear the rails of overhanging branches and other debris, build and maintain bridges and gates as needed, maintain warming houses on the trail, work with landowners regarding trail location and trail use, and work very closely with the Department of Natural Resources Trails and Waterway Division. Once tasks are completed, the paperwork covering all tasks and expenses is submitted to a grantin-aid program through which a
Blotter
the homeowners were on vacation and the dog had a caretaker during the day. 9:23 a.m. Civil problem. 13th Street Circle. Police intervened in relation to a child-custody issue. The parties involved were advised to go to family court and get a custody agreement signed by a judge. March 21 9:07 a.m. Theft. Second Avenue N. Police received a complaint of theft of fuel. Video evidence showed a driver leaving a local business without paying for gas. There is no further information at this time re-
Friday, April 15, 2016 lion’s share of the cost is reimbursed. Grant-in-aid trail funding comes from various sources, including registration fees people pay for their snowmobiles, trail-pass fees paid by Minnesota snowmobilers and a gasoline tax on gas when filling one’s sled. Twenty-five percent of the snowmobile gas tax is dedicated to snowmobile trails. The tax and its results pays off, according to snowmobile enthusiasts who say snowmobiling generates up to $200 million in tourism dollars in Minnesota whereas the total budget for the state’s trail systems is only about $15 million. The grant-in-aid funds cover the work done by members of the snowmobile club, including equipment purchases and rentals, fuel, culverts, bridges, signage, trail maps and insurance. However, club members also work hard to raise funds to enhance other trail amenities. The Benton County Snowmobile Club teaches a Youth Safety Snowmobile Training Course, hosts hot dog/brat cookouts on the trails and sponsors a Landowners Appreciation Dinner on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Members also organize a special annual snowmobile trip to somewhere else. Anyone is welcome to join the Benton club. Just show up at the monthly meetings as mentioned above. garding suspects. March 22 4:54 a.m. Gunshot. Oak Crest Court. Authorities responded to reports of the sound of gunshots. Upon surveillance of the area, nothing was found. March 23 5:30 p.m. Public assist. Benton Drive N./Second Street N. Police were dispatched after a report of a demolition ball that had fallen off a flat bed. Authorities directed traffic until a front-end loader was able to remove it.
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Friday, April 15, 2016
photos by Dennis Dalman
Far left: Ayla Kitzmann of Sauk Rapids, daughter of Sara and Josh Kitzmann, smiles shyly as she maneuvers her bright-pink car up and down a hallway at Hillside School in Sauk Rapids. Behind her in his white car is Aiden Peterson of Sartell. Left: Five spanking new kiddie cars are all lined up ready for little drivers to take a joy ride with them.
Kids take cruises in snazzy cars by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
His face beaming with unbounded joy, Aiden Peterson crawled into a snazzy white minicar and then took off for a joy ride that had him giggling, waving and speechless with delight. Aiden, a young boy from Sartell, is just one of many students – all dealing with mobility limitations – who had a chance to drive the little cars on the afternoon of April 7 at Hillside Early Childhood Center in Sauk Rapids. The children were thrilled as
they drove around the big room and a long hallway of Hillside, at times having gentle collisions and near misses with their vehicles. At the event, children and parents could choose among five specially equipped mini-cars: a pink one, a blue one, a black one and two white ones. Each one was unique because each was equipped with controls suitable for each child’s mobility limitations. The battery-powered cars were equipped with switches especially made by students in the biomedical engineering program at the St. Cloud Technical and
Community College. The “Spring Cruise” bash, as it was dubbed, was a collaboration among the Benton-Stearns Education District and its executive director Diane Moeller; area school districts, the technical college students and the St. Cloud Metro Lions, who donated funds to make it possible. A room at Hillside was packed with visitors who wanted to watch the children have a blast with the mini-cars. Guests included parents, physical therapists, school board members, Lions members and technical-school students.
Knoblach’s bill would extend Northstar to St. Cloud by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A bill introduced in the Minnesota Legislature by Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud) just might re- Knoblach sult in bringing Northstar Commuter Train service to St. Cloud, a plan that was proposed from the start but then allowed to languish in a transportation limbo. The Northstar line was originally expected to run between the Twin Cities and as far
northwest as Rice. The service runs back and forth now between the Twin Cities and Big Lake, which is 27 miles southeast of St. Cloud, and there is St. Cloud Metro Bus service that can bring passengers from St. Cloud to the rail stop in Big Lake. For years, groups have been pushing for an extension of the rail service to St. Cloud, especially ISAIAH/GRIP, an interfaith partnership that lobbies on behalf of social justice issues. Recently, 11 of its leaders from nine congregations presented House Speaker Kurt Daudt with a petition signed by 5,000 people in favor of the
extension. Knoblach’s bill was approved by the Transportation Committee and is now under consideration in the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill has generated bipartisan support, as well as some bipartisan opposition. “Greater Minnesota has transportation needs, and an investment of this kind will connect the resources of Metro and Greater Minnesota to benefit all,” according to the petition. Knoblach said his plan – much of it yet to be worked out – would not cost any extra money to put into place.
Here are the particulars of his bill, a balancing act among “ifs” and “whens,” as the following shows: • Northstar and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad would have to come to an agreement about using the existing BNSF tracks from Big Lake to St. Cloud. • Ridership on the line is not what had been anticipated when the service was planned, and Knoblach thinks extending it to St. Cloud might increase ridership and revenue from fares. (About 14,000 people in the St. Cloud area commute more than 50 miles to work, most of them to the Twin Cit-
ies area, Knoblach noted.) • The train depot for St. Cloud would be the current one in East St. Cloud that is almost 100 years old. • Extending the service would use the same train engines and cars as it does now. Knoblach’s plan would drop one of the daily round trips to Big Lake in order to add two trips daily between St. Cloud and Minneapolis, and would result in a revenue-neutral outcome and might even increase Northstar’s income, Knoblach said. • The Northstar line is the “biggest loser of all MinnesoNorthstar • back page
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Local girls get ‘Tech Savvy’ at SCSU by Tracy Lee Karner news@thenewsleaders.com
About 70 girls in sixth through ninth grade imagined themselves as future scientists, engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists April 9 at the “Tech Savvy” event at St. Cloud State University. The American Association of University Women partnered with the university to present interactive workshops facilitated by professional women working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics – or STEM for short. For example, some of the girls at the event designed a web page and worked with 3D printers and scanners, used Microsoft Excel to analyze data, built solar-energy projects, located their latitude by examining the night sky in a planetarium and analyzed forensic evidence to solve a crime. Avanthi Wijetung is a sixthgrader at St. John’s Prep in Collegeville. She lives in Sartell and enjoyed the 3D printing workshop the most. “There were visual reality glasses you could try out,” she said. “That was pretty cool. I’m kind of looking forward to a career in science. I’m a little more interested now.” Before attending the workshops, Wijetung was thinking about a career in photography. “At home, we prepare them
for math and science,” said Gayathri Wijetung, the girl’s mother. “But I never thought about once they become that career [woman]. I didn’t realize the differences in salaries for different genders.” Jane Olsen is the founding director of the Women’s Center at SCSU. In the workshop “$tart $mart,” she told participants that in 2016, the pay gap between men and women is 22 percent. This means that each of the girls attending “Tech Savvy” could potentially earn about $500,000 less than a man doing the same work in a lifetime. “Now I can prepare them to be stronger and to present themselves,” Gayathri Wijetunga said about her daughters. Introducing them to STEM career opportunities and role models is very important to her. When she arrived in the morning and discovered the event was not quite filled to capacity, she persuaded the organizers to allow her to drive back to Sartell for her fourth-grader, Nivanthi. Nivanthi said she really liked the workshops. And she, too, is now definitely more interested in a STEM career. St. Cloud State’s AAUW “Tech Savvy” event was one of 22 being held throughout the United States this year. It’s the only one held in Minnesota. Student volunteers from SCSU STEM organization and
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STEM majors from the St. Joseph-based College of St. Benedict introduced speakers and acted as guides throughout the day. To conclude the event, Jennifer Duffy, who grew up in Sauk Rapids, gave the keynote address. She holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Harding University in Searcy, Ark. She encouraged girls to have the confidence to break stereotypes and follow their interests. “Girls generally want to do something creative and help people,” Duffy said, explaining many STEM careers offer those opportunities. She is employed by Blattner Energy in Avon, where she helps design and support construction of solar-power arrays. “If you’re afraid you’ll be the only girl in a STEM class, get your friend to sign up for the class,” Duffy said in her address. “And when you can’t make up your mind which major to declare, go for the most challenging one first.” Katie Bensen sat on the panel that answered adults’ questions about how to help their girls prepare for and get into STEM careers. She is a project manager at Parallel Technologies in Eden Prairie and agrees the education is rigorous. “Typically half of the students who enroll in STEM majors drop out,” Bensen said. AAUW research reports that
photo by Tracy Lee Karner
Jennifer Duffy, who grew up in Sauk Rapids, presents the keynote address at “Tech Savvy,” an April 9 event at St. Cloud State University designed to introduce sixth- through eighth-grade female students to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. in less than 10 years, this country will need 1.7 million more engineers and computer scientists. In the United States, women make up only 12 percent of engineers and 26 percent of computing professionals. To fill all the jobs predicted to open up, young women need to prepare for these challenging
and rewarding positions. “These girls are the perfect age,” said Linda MacLoud, an AAUW member. “By the time they’re older, it’s often too late to interest them in STEM careers. And these parents are learning how to prepare their daughters to succeed in college.”
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Our View Northstar promise should be implemented
Rep. Jim Knoblach (R-St. Cloud) deserves kudos for authoring a bill that would extend the Northstar Commuter Line rail service to St. Cloud. Many people – rightly so – view a Northstar extension as a long-deferred promise perhaps soon to be fulfilled. Still, don’t go popping those champagne corks just yet. The extension plan is far from certain at this point. There are many things yet to be worked out, including negotiations with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway for use of the existing tracks between St. Cloud and Big Lake, the line’s current northern-most stop. Basically, Knoblach’s suggestion in his bill is that Northstar Line service drop some round trips between Big Lake and Minneapolis and add stops at St. Cloud – at least one in the morning and one in late afternoon, so commuters between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities area could take the line to and from jobs. It certainly sounds doable. But there are several pre-conditions that must be met before Knoblach’s suggestion can become a reality. One pre-condition is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway would have to give permission for Northstar to use its rails for the 27-mile stretch from Big Lake to St. Cloud. Knoblach said BNSF is amenable to negotiations for track-usage rights. Another concern is the East St. Cloud train depot, which would become the Northstar St. Cloud stop, would have to be repurposed and updated, including more parking places. Knoblach said he thinks extending the line to St. Cloud would not cost any extra money because it will just be a rearranged scheduling of what now exists (a couple fewer Big Lake stops, with St. Cloud stops to take their place). But even Knoblach has said he couldn’t guarantee there would not be some added costs. Yet another possible hurdle, however, is the Northstar Line has been a bit of a disappointment, especially in ridership rates and disruptive delays some years back during a rough winter. Thus, some people are completely against the line or an extension of it. The good news is Knoblach’s bill has had some healthy bipartisan support in the Capitol, which is half the battle in these contentious political times. It’s very possible ridership on Northstar will increase, once more and more workers, students, retirees and others learn how convenient it is – especially with an extension to St. Cloud. We’d like to say to the plans’ opponents to drop their objections and get “All Aboard!” with the plan. In the meantime, thank you, Rep. Knoblach and thank the members of the interdenominational faith group, ISAIAH/GRIP, for putting this long-deferred promise back on the tracks.
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, April 15, 2016
Opinion Drivers, admit guilt, change our ways What senseless deaths! • A New Prague school-bus driver walking to get his morning newspaper was killed by a woman allegedly responding to a text message. • A driver sending Facebook messages ran a red light, killing a father and his young daughter in Sherburne County. • A 20-year-old suspected of being distracted lost control of his vehicle in Washington County, hit an embankment, went airborne and smashed into a car, killing a 22-year-old mother. As Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said, “News headlines about people losing their lives to distracted driving are becoming all too common in Minnesota.” Or, as Minnesota State Patrol Chief Matt Langer put it: Deaths caused by distracted drivers have become “a neverending nightmare.” What is most disturbing is distracted driving is one of those bad behaviors we are so quick to criticize others for doing when, in fact, if most of us were utterly honest, we would admit we have done it, too. I plead guilty. Too many times, after stopping to get my mail on the way to the St. Cloud area, I would pick up the items of mail, one by one, from the pile of bills and letters on the passenger seat, to see what they were. I would do that while I was driving south on Hwy. 10, which I’ve dubbed the Speedway from Hell. It was a very stupid thing to do, but I did it all too often. I didn’t open the envelopes to read the mail, but just picking them up to glance at them for a few seconds each was a bad-enough distraction. I have stopped doing that. Now, after I pick up the mail, I stay parked at the mailbox and peruse the
Dennis Dalman Editor items briefly, parked, before proceeding onto Hell’s Highway. Just the other day, a friend emailed me about distracted driving. This is what she wrote: “A co-worker and I were just talking and we both admit to texting and driving at some point. Which, I know, is totally stupid. We also chatted about our reasons as to why. Mostly because we have the mindset we are invincible and we could never hurt anybody and nothing bad would happen. We know that is not true, but still, we admit to sometimes texting while driving. Reading statistics (about deaths caused by distracted driving) made me cry. I hope and pray I won’t need to actually have something bad happen before I realize how stupid I really am.” Well, good friend, you’re not alone. Join the club. When it comes to foolish, dangerous distracted driving, we are all stupid – all guilty. As Sheriff Heck reminds us, how many times have you . . . • Texted while driving? • Fiddled with radio knobs while driving? • Adjusted your GPS while driving? • Turned around to talk with backseat passengers while driving? • Ate sloppy foods while driving? • Spilled hot coffee on your lap while driving?
• Engaged in hot-headed arguments while driving? • Lost emotional control while driving when yelling and gesturing rudely at other motorists? • Attempted sex while driving? (Oh, yes, such acrobatic desperation does happen – in some cases with lethal results.) Since April 11, there have been overtime patrols on Minnesota roads in an effort to catch distracted drivers. That’s good. However, nabbing culprits is only part of the solution. A change in human behavior is the major answer. And that change will occur only when each and every driver moves out of denial mode, stops blaming everyone else, and admits stupidity and guilt. That’s the first step; the second step is to stop it. In a five-year period (2010-14), 328 people died and 1,138 suffered injuries in distracted-driving crashes. One in four crashes is caused by distracted driving. In 2015, there was an 80-percent increase in texting-while-driving noted by law enforcement in Minnesota. Like the efforts for seatbelt use and against drunken driving, it will take more time (and, sadly, more deaths and injuries) for all people to wake up. Please, let’s all ponder those awful statistics and wake up now. Sheriff Heck said it well: “We can no longer remain silent when drivers are distracted by their phones or take their eyes off the road to change their music, talk to their friends in the backseat or answer that text. Enough is enough. Let’s all speak up and do our part by ending distracted driving before it’s too late for you or someone you love.” Amen.
VA health care is not charity but a promise The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can’t seem to go a week without being in the news. And usually it’s for bad news. The latest is denial of services to suicide-prone patients seeking help from the Phoenix facility. Very recently another VA facility made the news because its elaborate phone system constantly drops calls or loses them. I personally would rather call the Social Security Administration or the IRS than to try to call the VA. Its phone system is a joke. So, why is this? Why, with all the attention being paid to their misdeeds lately, can they not fix their messes? I have heard a lot of excuses, but I have developed my own theories for the causes of such problems. First and foremost, the VA is a government-run entity. It is staffed by unionprotected civil service workers who are employed for a lifetime with little chance of being fired. It doesn’t matter if they are competent – it doesn’t matter if they are even functional – they still keep their jobs. Such job security takes away the incentive to improve. I am enrolled in the VA health-care system and have been for years. Throughout those years, I have been seen and treated by seven different VA health-care facilities. Some were marvelous; some were
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer absolutely terrible. It all comes down to what is called the “culture” of the facility. That culture is both created and nurtured by management, or lack of it. The good ones see patients as true heroes who deserve the best their country can give them; they are proud to do their jobs. The bad ones see themselves as charity wards who deign to take care of what they seem to see as indigent people off the streets. They don’t answer the phone or see to the needs of the patients because they just don’t care. VA health care is not charity anymore than Social Security is. It’s a promise made by this country to her champions and defenders. It’s a payment for the sacrifice some have made for their country. As we all have heard, freedom is not free. It takes sacrifice and that’s exactly what our military does – sacrifice. The very least we can do is keep that promise. To those who say the VA health-care system is too expensive, how much is your freedom worth?
The current VA mess can be fixed very easily. It’s as simple as veterans being given a choice of where to get their health care. Every veteran has in his possession an identification card. He should be able to go to any doctor, hospital or pharmacy that accepts Medicare patients for care and treatment, just like a Medicare patient. Such a fix would improve the care veterans receive as well as relieve the back load on the VA. The reason they won’t do this, I believe, is because of the union that protects VA workers. This union would rather protect their members than serve the veterans of this country. The union is further protected by the Democrats who, by their actions, are deserting veterans in favor of unions and their political support. If some Democrats, like Hillary Clinton, believe illegal immigrants should be covered by Obamacare, how can they justify this treatment of veterans? This is a shameful situation and should be fixed immediately. Scarbro is retired and spends most of his free time with his grandchildren having moved from Sartell to St. Simons Island, Ga. Writing and commenting on the news of the day is a pastime. Visit his weekly blog at ronscarbro.blogspot.com for more commentary.
The Newsleaders P.O. Box 324 St. Joseph, MN 56374
Email: news@thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, April 15, 2016 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. Saturday, April 16 State Project Bowl, 8:30 a.m., Sauk Rapids Middle School, 901 First St. S. Craft Vendor Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., VFW 428, 9 18th Ave. N., St. Cloud. Wood Expo, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Benton County Fairgrounds (Sports East), 1410 Third Ave., Sauk Rapids. Remember W.W. Holes Hall, a tour of the storied tunnels beneath SCSU’s Holes and its sister student residence, Stearns Hall, prior to their demolition this summer, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S. Hmong Night, 6 p.m., St. Cloud State University (Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom), 720 Fourth Ave. S. Sunday, April 17 B u i l d - y o u r- o w n - o m e l e t t e breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon, Waite Park American Legion, 17 Second Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-251-5498. Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra, 4 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137, St. Cloud. Monday, April 18 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory. org. Parkinson’s Disease Support EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED TEAM DRIVER WANTED: Dedicated run from St. Paul, Minnesota to Oakwood, Illinois. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Competitive Wage. CDL required. Call 563-580-6648 (MCN) AU TO M O B I L E S / M OTO RC Y C L E S WANTED MOTORCYCLES: TOP CASH PAID! For Old Motorcycles! 1900-1980. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) ANNOUNCEMENTS RV, SPORT, REC & GUN CONSIGNMENT SALE, SAT., MAY 7, 2016 at 9:00 A.M. Please get gun permits to buy, prior to sale. Consign early by April 22, 2016 for complete advertising. Next Machinery Consignment Sale is June 6, 2016. Gilbert’s Sale Yard, LLC, 641-398-2218. 2 Mi. N. of Floyd, IA On Hwy. 218. www. gilbertsaleyard.com (MCN) FOR SALE TRAILER SALE: 14,000 lb. skidloader trailers 18’ to 28’ $3,699.00; Fuel tank trailers; Scissor lift trailers; 11 choices of DUMP trailers; 6’x12’ V-nose ramp door $2,789.00; 7’x16’ V-nose ramp door $4,093.00; 2012 John Deere 3032E compact tractor & loader; Full line of trailer parts in-stock; 515-972-4554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com for prices & inventory & pictures. (MCN) *SALE* Self Storage Buildings *SALE* No Better Time To Add On To Your Existing Facility. Or To Start Up Your New Facility. All Buildings On Sale Now For Limited Time. Order Now For Early Delivery! ABCO-America Inc. Call 844636-5335 (M-F 8am-6pm Eastern) (MCN) WANT TO BUY Buying and Selling Gold & Silver, collector coins, diamonds, gold jewelry, silver dollars, pocket watches, antiques, rare currency,200+gold coins for sale, any gold or silver items, 34 years same retail location. Fairmont, MN, Kuehl’s
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Community Calendar
Group, 1-2:30 p.m., St. Cloud Library, 1300 W. St. Germain Street. 320-529-9000. Advanced health-care directive program, 5:30-7 p.m., CentraCare Health Plaza (Windfeldt Room), 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-259-9375. 55+ Driver-improvement program (eight-hour first-time course), 5:30-9:30 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. The Geography of Old Growth Forests, a Minnesota natural history lecture by Kyle Rauch from Outdoor U, 6:30 p.m., St. John’s University (New Science Center, Room 146), 2850 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville. Tinville Lions Club, 7 p.m., Rollie’s Rednecks and Longnecks Bar, 940 35th Ave. N.E., Sauk Rapids. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Tuesday, April 19 55+ Driver-improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 1-5 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 2163 Mayhew Lake Road N.E., Sauk Rapids. 320-252-3670. ICAN Prevent Diabetes, 3:154:15 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 2875 10th Ave. N.E., Sauk Rapids. 320-650-3082. 55+ Driver-improvement program (eight-hour first-time course), 5-9 p.m. today and April 20, Sartell-St. Stephen Middle School, 627 Third Ave. N. 1-888Coins, 507-235-3886 (MCN)
CAPITAL CLASSIC CARS Buying All European & Classic Cars. ANY Condition. ANY Location. Porsche, Mercedes, Jaguar & More! Top Dollar PAID. CapitalClassicCars.com Steve Nicholas 571-282-5153 (MCN) EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED OWNER OPERATORS wanted. Paid all miles. No touch freight. Many operating discounts. Family run business for 75 years. Many bonuses and good home time. Direct deposit paid weekly. Call 800-533-0564 ext.205. (MCN) CLASS A CDL Driver. Good home time. Stay in the Midwest. Great pay and benefits. Matching 401k. Bonuses and tax free money. Experience needed. Call Scott 507-437-9905. Apply on-line http://www.mcfgtl.com (MCN) US Postal Service Now Hiring 1-800255-4134 $21/hr avg. w/ Federal Benefits included to start. FT/PT. Not affiliated w/USPS (MCN) MAKE $1,000 WEEKLY! Paid in advance! Mailing Brochures at Home! Easy pleasant work. Begin Immediately! Age unimportant! www.MyHomeIncomeNow55.com (MCN) 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) ADOPTION *ADOPTION:* Happily Married, Successful Executive & Stay-Home-Mom yearn for baby to devote our lives to. Expenses paid 1-800-933-1975 *Susan & Gavin* (MCN) A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, LET US
234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. St. Cloud Area Genealogists meeting, 7 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org. Hair, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-308-2104.
Wednesday, April 20 Rice Chamber of Commerce, noon, Rice City Hall, 205 Main St. E. Free car-seat checks, 3-6 p.m., Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 Seventh St. N., St. Cloud.
320-656-7021. Family-to-family, 6:30-9 p.m., Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N., Sartell. 320-290-7713. 320-249-2560. Hair, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-308-2104. Thursday, April 21 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. N.E., Sartell. Sleep Apnea Support Group, 5-6 p.m., St. Cloud Hospital Sleep Center, 1586 CR 134. 320-251-
2700. Hair, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-308-2104. Rice Lions Club, 8 p.m., Lions Building, Westside Park, 101 4th St. NW. Friday, April 22 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory. org. Hair, 7:30 p.m., SCSU Performing Arts Center, 720 Fourth Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-308-2104.
HELP WANTED
Twin Spruce Farm, a progressive dairy and Triple A Pumping, a custom manure-applicating business near Richmond Minn. is in search of a few people who would like to join our team. We are searching for an individual to work in the shop (small engines, tractors, diesel mechanic, welder), an all-around-the-farm type of person and someone to work on the custom manure-applicating crew. Multi-state Permit-to-Carry Class in Sauk Rapids Saturday, April 30 • 10 a.m.
$ 95 class fee includes training for any two permits as well as range fee. Beginners welcome. Handgun rentals available if needed.
Call Ryan at 320-247-2877 to reserve your spot.
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Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Northstar from page 4 ta’s rail lines,” Knoblach said. That is why, he added, it makes sense to try something new to re-energize the service. He also said the state cannot shut down the line without paying back more than $100 million in federal funds used to create the service.
contributed photo
The Northstar Commuter Rail passenger cars are painted a signature color combination of blue, yellow and white with red highlights.
Play from front page would enjoy performing it. Like any spring production in a high school, it has been a test of perseverance. She has 20 students on stage and four back stage supporting the cast. “The schedule for spring play is always a challenge. Many of the students are involved in music as well as drama, and the choir and band competitions fall during the time of the spring play,” Christenson said. Just this past weekend, the
entire set had to be struck because of the recent Minnesota Association of Student Councils convention in Sauk Rapids. There are so many events that are using the Performing Arts Center during spring play time. “We have built our entire set on wheels, as we have had to take it down and put it back up again several times during the run of the spring play,” she said. In spite of all the challenges, Christenson said rehearsals are progressing very well. Lines are now memorized, and students are “off-book.” And this week, students ran their first dress in costume – a splash of springtime romantic color.
Background
Planning for the Northstar Line began in 1997 with the formation of the Northstar
Corridor Development Authority. The “Northstar Line” passenger service began Nov. 16, 2009, using existing BNSF Railway tracks on a 40-mile stretch between Big Lake and Target Field in Minneapolis, with non-Northstar connecting rail service throughout the Twin Cities, all start-and-end stops at Target Field. There are five stops along the line at cities along the way: Elk River, Ramsey, Anoka, Coon Rapids and Fridley. The cost of the project was about $320 million, with about one-third of that amount going to BNSF Railway for track-
Friday, April 15, 2016 usage rights. Funding came from the federal government, the state of Minnesota, the counties of Anoka, Hennepin and Sherburne, the Twin Cities Met Council and the Minnesota Twins. Northstar involves the use of 18 passenger cars and six locomotives. It takes 49 minutes to ride the 40-mile route. The train’s top speed is 79 mph. Ridership in 2014 was a yearly total of 721,214 people, and the line had a net income in 2014 of nearly $1.2 million according to the Northstar Line’s website.
photos by Dave DeMars
Top left: Heading the stage crew for this production of Once Upon a Mattress is Cidavia Marchand (left) and Jennifer Lage. All the props, scenery and fly-aways will be handled by these two veteran student stage directors. Dress rehearsal is as much for the stage crew as for the actors on stage. Above: Ladies in waiting are meant to wait. And so to pass the time, it helps to have a minstrel around. From left to right are Alyssa Luukkonen, Jennifer Nguyen, Stephanie Wright, Bailey Hennes and Alyssa Brenhoffer.
SR council OKs amendment to liquor statutes by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
With little fanfare and only one question, the Sauk Rapids City Council at its April 11 meeting approved an amendment to the liquor licensing code that would allow “brew pub” and
“taproom” liquor licenses for on-sale, off-sale and Sunday sale of malt liquor beverages. Administrator Ross Olson explained the present statute did not conform to state law and so it was necessary to make some changes. The statute was also amended to conform to legal
language dealing with Sunday on-sale hours. Mayor Brad Gunderson raised the only question of the evening asking what a “growler” is. It is a large bottle holding 64 ounces of beer. Many are refillable and can be used multiple times.
staff, a foster family and veterinarians. Despite the traumas he had been through, he was extremely affectionate and fond of people. On April 7, Remy began having unexplained seizures. He was taken to a local emergency clinic and sedated so the seizures would stop. But when the sedative wore off, the seizures would start all over again. He was seen by three veterinarians locally and then he was brought to the neurology
department of the University of Minnesota Medical Clinic. However, he died shortly after arrival at the clinic. An autopsy is being done to try to determine the exact cause of death. A statement on the humane society’s website on April 11 read: “It breaks our hearts to let you know Remy took a turn for the worst and sadly died today . . . Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated for all of those whose lives Remy touched. This is a sad day at the shelter.”
Covering local news, events and people across the greater St. Cloud metro every week.
Sadness descends on news of Remy’s passing by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewleaders.com
Sadness descended upon the staff of the Tri-County Humane Society when it learned Remy, the remarkable survivor, died April 11. Remy, short for “Remington,” was the yellow Lab found in Avon Township weeks ago that had been shot six times with a pellet gun at close range. Remy had been recovering nicely under the tender-loving care of the humane society
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