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Mayor Gunderson Hugs, tears abound Town Crier throws hat in the ring at deployment ceremony Friday, July 15, 2016 Volume 2, Issue 27 Est. 2015
Farmers’ Markets provide variety of great food
Items currently available at both Sartell Farmers’ Market sites include: meat, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, berries, breads and much more. Come meet your local farmers and find the great food available to you in Central Minnesota. Open from 3-6:30 p.m. every Monday, Market Monday is located at Riverside Plaza, 101 Seventh St. N., in front of Hardware Hank, and from 3-6 p.m. every Thursday at Centracare Plaza, 1900 Centracare Circle, St Cloud.
Red Cross issues emergency call
The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for blood and platelets, urging all eligible donors to replenish an extremely low summer blood supply. Blood donations have fallen short of hospital needs for the past few months, resulting in about 39,000 fewer donations than what is needed. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on July 15 criers.
Guided tours available for new Metro Bus routes
Metro Bus is hosting guided tours of new bus routes to help the public prepare for route changes scheduled to be implemented Aug. 21. Tours are scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 19-Aug. 11 and Saturdays on July 16 and 23 and Aug. 13. Participants can choose to tour all the routes or just the ones that interest them. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on July 15 criers.
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
The Newsleader sat with Sauk Rapids Mayor Brad Gunderson in the family room of his home on June 26 and talked with him Gunderson about the upcoming election in August, his record in office and what he foresees for the coming years. “I’m prepared to answer whatever questions you have,” Gunderson said. He said he has always been interested in helping and serving the city. He started small, serving first on an adult education committee and when a school board position came open, he applied for it. The school board chose another
applicant, but his interest in public service had been whetted. When two city council seats became available, and the incumbents indicated they did not want to run again, it seemed like a perfect opportunity. “I was sitting at the computer, and my wife said to me, ‘What are you doing?’ And I said, “I think I’m going to run for city council,” Gunderson said. His wife, a life-long resident of Sauk Rapids, could hardly believe it, but with a little encouragement from friends, Gunderson took the plunge. With six other applicants running, Gunderson was a little surprised at his win. He admits he didn’t really know what he had gotten himself into, but he wanted to try to make a difference in Sauk Rapids. That first try for office was some 10 years ago, and now he’s Mayor • back page
Jen Werness of Burnsville gives a farewell hug to her brother, Spencer Werness, who will soon be serving a nine-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. A deployment ceremony was held for Werness and 19 other troops in his unit at the Minnesota Army National Guard hangar near the St. Cloud Airport July 7. For the complete story and more photos, see page 4.
Tornadic storms pummel area with wind, rain by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A wave of thunderstorms, tornadoes and drenching rains that swept through Central Minnesota on Monday was nerve-wracking, to be sure, but the good news is there were no reported fatalities – or even serious injuries.
The storms came from the southwest into central and north central Minnesota, then moved east into Wisconsin. According to the National Weather Service, at least four tornadoes were verified in Central Minnesota. North Central Minnesota was also struck, mainly with torrential
rains that caused road shutdowns. In the greater St. Cloud area, there were flash-flooding occurrences in some areas of Waite Park, West St. Cloud and a stretch of Pinecone Road in Sartell. Area cities received up to four inches and even more in a drenching rain that lasted
off and on for hours. Further north, rainfall totals were even higher, with 11 inches reported at Sturgeon Lake and 7.3 inches in Little Falls. Hail also fell in some places, including Rice, where the hail came in two waves, the first pea-sized hail, the second one-half-hour Storms • page 2
Real estate office in Sauk Rapids now open
Inclement weather may result in delays
by Tracy Lee Karner news@thenewsleaders.com
Dangerous thunderstorm alert and severe thunderstorm warnings in the St. Cloud area may result in Metro Bus route delays. Customers may want to alter travel schedules until the storms pass. Metro Bus advises customers to be safe and find appropriate shelter as necessary.
Apollo High School to host packaging event
Join with your neighbors and community in an effort to feed those who are hungry in the Central Minnesota area. Meals will be packaged and distributed to local charities and food shelves. Food packaging will take place on Thursday, July 28 at Apollo High School. There are a variety of shift times available to fit your schedule. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on July 15 criers.
photo by Dennis Dalman
photo by Tracy Lee Karner
Jesse Godzala, Jonathan Brenny and Sam Lieser (left to right) meet in the 1946 building they recently renovated to house their real-estate office in Sauk Rapids. The view from the front window inspired the industrial interior design concept.
The Godzala Brenny Team of Edina Realty celebrated its well-attended grand opening on June 30. The seven-member team recently moved its Waite Park offices to 22 N. Benton Drive in downtown Sauk Rapids. Recent census records report Benton County has a population of roughly 39,000, and yet there had been only one small real-estate office within its boundaries. Mike LuConic, a realtor with Century-21 New Horizons Realty of Little Falls, said while their main office is in Morrison County, they do have a satellite office in Rice, managed by broker Tom Sherwin.
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When Godzala Brenny officially opened its doors in downtown Sauk Rapids, hundreds of residents showed up to welcome and support them. “I posted on Facebook and told everybody at Shopko where I come to work,” said Jenny Svihel, who is a cousin of one of the team members, Jonathan Brenny. “They’re a good group.” Three members of the team — Jesse Godzala, Jonathan Brenny, Sam Lieser — combined resources to invest in the historic building that now houses their Sauk Rapids office. They might have chosen to build new, Godzala said, but they felt preserving part of Sauk Rapids’ history would be important for the city. Estate • page 3
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People Three Sauk Rapids students were recently named to the spring dean’s list at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. They are the following: Jonah Heinen, Brady Lain and Megan Lovitz. Students must maintain a minimum 3.66 gradepoint average to qualify for this honor. Daniel Williams, Sauk Rap-
ids, recently earned an associate’s degree in arts and liberal education from Normandale Community College, Bloomington. Nicole Haehnel, Sauk Rapids, recently earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Storms from front page later of quarter-sized hail. Ominous signs of coming storms began to filter in the early afternoon at about 5 p.m. when tornado watches were announced. The first signs of actual tornadoes in the air were reported near
If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sauk Rapids Police Department at 320-251-9451 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.
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12:30 p.m. Pedal Tractor Pull Competition 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. River Breeze Band Noon-5 p.m.
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June 20 12:02 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. 18th Street NW. While on patrol, police observed a vehicle behind the water treatment plant with two males standing outside. They stated they were looking at storm clouds and listening to music. Authorities advised them to leave, which they did.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Litchfield and Watkins where touchdowns caused downed trees and property damage, including severe damage to Kramer Electric in Watkins. Debris from the two-story steel structure was tossed by the high winds into nearby St. Anthony Cemetery. Kramer Electric, an electrical contracting company, employs four people and has an annual revenue of from $500,000 to
$1 million, according to its website. In Litchfield, some mobile homes were damaged, with a couple being total losses. In Watkins, 50 residents of an assisted-living center were evacuated because of weather fears. Funnel clouds were also spotted near Luxemburg, and rotational clouds were seen in the St. Joseph area.
She said the bike was unlocked and parked next to her residence. She provided a description of the bicycle to authorities. No evidence was found at the scene.
way into a roundabout. The driver stated she did not have roundabouts where she lived and therefore was confused.
Blotter
June 23 11:20 a.m. Medical. Third Avenue S. Police responded to a male who was having trouble breathing. Gold Cross Ambulance arrived and administered oxygen. The patient was transported to St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment. 2:12 p.m. Theft. Benton Drive S. A female complainant stated her bike had been stolen. She had left it by the dumpster on the west side of a local business. A surveillance video was reviewed, and a suspect was identified. The complainant gave authorities the bike’s serial number. The bicycle has not yet been located.
June 21 11:59 p.m. Alarm. 35th Street N.E. Police were dispatched to a June 24 8:20 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. local business after an alarm had been activated. Upon arrival, the Fourth Avenue N. An anonymous building appeared to be secure, caller stated he had observed a and Benton County dispatch re- male driver on the street who ceived a cancel from the alarm smokes a cigarette, brushes his teeth andOpenings then leaves the area. company. No further action was Immediate No license plate number was obrequired. Part-Time Sales tained. When authorities arrived, June 22 the vehicle was gone. Available evenings 3:26 a.m. Theft. North Ben10:16 p.m. Verbal warning. CR & weekends ton Drive. A female complainant 120/Epic Drive. Police stopped a reported a theft of her bicycle.Competitive driver who wages had turned the wrong
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June 25 4:20 p.m. Medical. River Avenue N. Police responded to a male who was having considerable chest pain and a difficult time breathing. Gold Cross Ambulance arrived and transported the patient to St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment. 9:33 p.m. Suspicious activity. Police responded to an anonymous complaint of a group of males who were checking out cars in a parking lot. Upon arrival, authorities were unable to locate anyone. June 26 7:50 p.m. Medical. Summit Avenue N. Authorities assisted a male patient who was struggling with severe back pain. Upon arrival, Gold Cross Ambulance advised a second ambulance unit was en route. No further assistance was required. 11:14 p.m. Verbal warning. Fifth Street S./Summit Avenue. Police gave a verbal warning to a driver who had failed to illuminate his license plate. He was issued a citation for failure to provide proof of insurance.
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Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 320-363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.
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Friday, July 15, 2016
Estate from front page Godzala said they purchased a 1946 building and preserved as much of the original structure as they could. They had to order custom windows to maintain the character of the building. They also exposed as much of the original brick and wood as they could. Lieser said the building began as Hermy’s bar, according to information passed on to the team by Hermy’s daughter. Around 1962, the building was sold to Hart’s shoe store. Sometime in the 1990s, it became a floral shop. Now, it’s the home of the first bricks-and-mortar real-estate office in Sauk Rapids. “We are choosing Sauk Rapids for the family-esque atmosphere,” Brenny said, “and because the people of Benton County are loyal. They care about supporting their businesses.” Melissa Brenny is the current Mrs. Minnesota and attended the open house. She also owns Refresh Nutrition in Sauk Rapids. Her husband, Michael Brenny, is a distant cousin of Jonathan’s. Lieser said many local business owners, as well as the mayor and city-council members, came to the open house to show their support. “We’re moving to where our business already is,” Godzala said. “To be closer to our custom-
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com ers is a benefit. Benton County is our hub and our niche. But we also like the idea money we earn from this community will go back into the community.” But supporting this city “wasn’t a business strategy,” he said. “It wasn’t by design that we’ve always been involved in (the Sauk Rapids and Benton County) community. It’s who we are.” Jonathan Brenny grew up in Foley and serves on the Benton County Economic Development Board. His parents, Mark and Barb, own Brenny Oil Co., which was started by Mark’s grandfather. Godzala was Brenny’s tennis coach and his high-school history teacher in Foley before Godzala left teaching to become a realtor/broker. The two became an Edina Real Estate team after Brenny’s 2009 graduation from St. Cloud State University. Lieser joined them in 2011. Four more have since joined the team: Marc VanHerr, Mike Haehn, Brian Kron and Clovis Gray. When the realtors found themselves unable to keep up with the demands of running a busy office while also managing their renovation project, they called in Brenny’s mother, Barbara. She has a background in interior design. Brenny explained the view out the front window of the train tracks and bridge inspired an industrial-interior design. Tones are neutral, surfaces in-
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photo by Tracy Lee Karner
Members of the Godzala Brenny Team of Edina Realty enjoy their well-attended open house with Mrs. Minnesota. Pictured from left to right are: (clockwise from left forefront) Mike Hahn, Brian Kron, Jesse Godzala, Jonathan Brenny, Marc VanHerr and Mrs. Minnesota Melissa Brenny. clude wood and metal, ceiling pipes and ducts are exposed. The concept is open, which fits the way the team collaborates. She would have liked to include a basketball hoop, but that was beyond the budget. At the center of the room, however, is a pool table. “Sauk Rapids’ community renewal has been beautiful,” she said, referring to the redevelopment and revitalization of the downtown area. The Godzala Brenny team
wants to build on that momentum. “We want to participate in making Benton County a great place to live and do business for present and future generations,” Godzala said. The Godzala Brenny team has also worked to support Sauk Rapids and Benton County businesses. For example, they bought their office television from Minnesota Electronics on Benton Drive and hired Alliance Building Corp. to renovate their
new offices. Henry’s catering from Foley provided the openhouse food, including chips and roasted red hummus, turkey and ham roll-ups, and Cuban sandwiches. “Long-standing relationships and people who give back make communities like Foley and Sauk Rapids special,” Barbara Brenny said. “Giving back is something you can do even without a lot of money. You can give back time and talent.”
East Central Energy seeks balanced energy portfolio by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Alternative energy sources like sun and wind cannot begin to meet the needs of electricity customers – at least not yet, said Steve Shurts, president and CEO of the Braham-based East Central Energy Electric Co-Op. Shurts recently gave a talk to members of the Rice Area
Chamber of Commerce at one of their luncheon-meetings. Shurts gave an overview of the role of non- Shurts fossil fuels, the challenges of providing electricity to rural areas and
glimpses of what the future might bring to the electricity industry. ECE is a member-owned electricity service that distributes power to a 14-county area in central and eastern Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin. That service area includes Rice and the surrounding area. At this point, solar-generated electricity comprises a tiny
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fraction of ECE’s power, Shurts noted. Some power is also derived from wind and biomass sources via Great River Energy, which sells the co-op electricity, along with other companies. About 17 percent of the total electricity to customers is derived from renewable sources. By 2025, that amount will be required by state law to be 25 percent of electricity.
Shurts said he is entirely in favor of renewable sources and wishes all power could be “green.” However, at this point, that’s virtually impossible for a number of reasons. For example, even the most advanced solar connectors produce little or no electricity on a rainy or overcast day and none at night. For a company to rely solely on Energy • page 5
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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. Having a CDL or being able to obtain one is a bonus. Duties are diverse, and you must be able to work as a team player. Some overnight travel may be required. Individuals will be trained, but experience in the above areas is helpful. If you are interested, please contact us at 320-453-7322, or call Arnie at 320-493-9703. 17565 C.R. 43, Richmond
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Friday, July 15, 2016
photos by Dennis Dalman
At left: Family members had a chance to tour the inside of the massive Chinook helicopters during a troop-deployment ceremony for their loved ones July 7 at the Minnesota Army National Guard hangar near the St. Cloud Airport. At right: Cody Gallmeier of Oak Park (right) helps his sister, Kassie Koecher of North Branch hoist her sons up on the side of a Chinook helicopter July 7. At left is Logan; at right is Isaac. Gallmeier is one of 20 troops who will be serving nine months of duty in Afghanistan.
Hugs, tears abound at deployment ceremony by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
There were speeches, handshakes, hugs, little kids waving little flags and more than a few tears when families gathered to say goodbye to loved ones – soldiers on their way to a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The deployment ceremony took place the morning of July 7 at the National Guard Facility next to the St. Cloud Regional Municipal Airport. After the ceremony, 20 men of the St. Cloud-based Guard left for Fort Hood, Texas, their last stop before heading for their nine-month deployment half
a world away. At Fort Hood, they’ll undergo yet more training, about 40 days worth. They had already completed weeks of training at Camp Ripley near Little Falls. The 20 men are members of B Company, Second General Support Aviation Battalion. Their mission will be to provide support for combat and combat-service operations, air assaults and the aerial movement of troops, equipment and supplies. The average age of the 20 deployed troops is 29 – the youngest 20, the oldest 36. It is the unit’s third deployment to Afghanistan. The pre-
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vious tours of duty were in 2006 and in 2001. Because of the heavy reliance on night-flying in CH-47 Chinook helicopters and the soldiers use of night-vision goggles, the soldiers dubbed their support service the “All Night Long” unit. The 20-member unit is highly trained and very experienced. Of the 20 men, only four will be doing their first tour of duty overseas; seven of them will be doing their second deployment; eight will be on their third deployment and one man will be serving his fourth deployment. Thirteen of the soldiers have at least one dependent family member. They hail from many Minnesota cities in the St. Cloud National Guard region, as far north as Bemidji, as far south as the Twin Cities area.
Werness
Right after the speeches by visiting dignitaries at the July 7 deployment, each of the 20 troops was surrounded by circles of love and pride comprised of spouses, children, girlfriends, family members, relatives and well-wishers. Some of the Chinook helicopters in the giant National Guard hangar, where the ceremony took place, were opened for the public to enter for a look-see. Private First Class Spencer Werness of Burnsville is a door gunner/mechanic. His loved ones and well-wishers surrounded him, and a flurry of picture-taking began next to a helicopter. Those who attended the deployment ceremony included his parents, Spencer Sr. and Dixie of Burnsville, his
sister, an aunt and an uncle, a grandmother, his girlfriend and numerous others. “He’s so admirable,” said his cousin, Marcus Oistad of Sartell. “We are proud of him that he is serving our country.” For weeks, during his training at Camp Ripley, Werness stayed with his aunt Lorrie Oistad, who is his father’s sister. Lorrie and her husband, Jeff, are Sartell residents, the parents of Marcus, who is a Sartell High School social studies teacher and head boys’ basketball coach. Werness will be named “Soldier of the Year” by the fourthgraders at St. Cloud Christian School. The students will pray for him through the next school year, write him letters and stay in touch through social me-
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, July 15, 2016
Energy from page 3
photo by Dennis Dalman
Twenty troops about to serve in Afghanistan receive official deployment orders from their captain during a deployment ceremony July 7 in St. Cloud. dia. Aunt Lorrie Oistad and her daughter, Meredith Oistad, are both teachers at the Christian School – Lorrie a math teacher and Meredith the teacher of the fourth-grade class that will honor and pray for Werness during his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Praises
A group of military personnel and political leaders delivered speeches praising the 20 deployed troops and their families who attended the ceremony and listened from the audience. A couple of the speakers choked back tears while talking. Among the military speakers were the company’s commander, Capt. Nolan Kohlrusch; and brigade commander, Col. Shawn Manke. Political speakers were State Rep. Tim O’Driscoll, Sartell; State Rep. Jim Knoblach, St. Cloud; and State Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer, Big Lake. O’Driscoll told the 20 troops they are fortunate because 16 of its members have served previously overseas and thus have a wealth of experience and know-how in dangerous territory. “Gentlemen, I wish you well and know that, among others, our central Minnesota Warrior to Citizen Group, which I am proud to be a founding member of, will be supporting your family,” O’Driscoll said. “Thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. I’m al-
ways honored when I’m asked to speak at deployment ceremonies like this one. For the record, I really like speaking at returning ceremonies even better. So, until we meet again, may God bless you, may God bless your families and may God bless the United States of America.” Kohlrusch said he is constantly amazed by the troops’ professionalism and dedication. “Your hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed,” he said. “I have witnessed with sheer amazement your professionalism, your (work) ethic, your dedication and your sacrifice. Your unwavering commitment has made this unit truly great . . . These 20 soldiers are the embodiment of a team. We hold each other up when times are uncertain; we pick each other up when we are down; we always stay together.” To the troops’ families, Kohlrusch said this: “I’d ask you to find pride in knowing that your soldier is fighting for liberty, freedom and our national security. They are embarking on a year-long journey that will take them halfway around the world so your freedom and safety will never, ever be in question. We do this to ensure our children, our childrens’ children and generations to come have the same freedom we now have and even greater opportunity and prosperity in the future.”
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solar, wind or hydro sources, the company and its customers would be at the constant mercy of nature – sun or the lack of it, wind or the lack of it – on any given day or week. Shurts said he believes the future, technological innovations such as advanced photovoltaic batteries will develop ways to store solar or wind power, but at the present time it’s not feasible. In the meantime, ECE and other power companies rely on a mixed portfolio of energy sources: coal, nuclear, gas and a mixture of renewables. This year, Shurts said, ECE plans to explore the possibility of installing a solar garden, maybe with other co-ops, to increase the amount of solar generation in the customer area. ECE has already been studying solar-energy issues, based partly on a solar-generating facility right next to its headquarters in Braham.
There are about 40 residents living in the ECE service area who produce their own electricity with solar or wind devices at their homes, Shurts noted.
Rock, hard place
In some ways, ECE finds itself at times between a rock and a hard place. That’s because since 2007, a peak year for energy delivery, usage has declined and remained more or less flat. That, Shurts said, is a good thing and a bad thing – good because energy-efficient appliances and conservation are benefits but bad because ECE still must pay retail prices for the energy it delivers, prices which are up, and with less usage it’s more difficult to pay the costs. Electricity sales this year are expected to be about 3 percent below the peak year of 2007, Shurts noted. Since that peak year, the company had to cut its employees from 180 to 158. In addition, the company implemented many cost-savings programs and reduced discretionary spending. A big help
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5 are “data centers,” which use a lot of electricity, so much so that power companies dub a data center as a “pot of gold.” ECE is working to identify ideal sites at which to recommend placing data centers.
Background
Shurts has had a long association with the power industry. Years ago he worked as a nuclear engineer at Monticello and Madison, Wis. Later, he worked for Xcel Energy, for a city-owned utility in Owatonna and for Great River Energy CoOp until his job as president/ CEO of ECE.
ECE
There is a staggering number of miles of power lines in the ECE rural service area – 8,307 to be exact, with an average of 7.08 customers living along one mile of line. That statistic dramatically shows why ECE is constantly concerned about ways to save costs. Something as common as storm damage to lines can cause all kinds of added costs.
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Our View
Do a good local deed; help with meal-packaging
It’s often said charity begins at home. That’s easy to forget with all the pressing needs throughout this all-too-tragic world these days. A good reminder of that adage is the upcoming “Feeding Our Communities,” a facet of the “Better Together” program of the Central Minnesota Community Coalition. From noon-8 p.m. Thursday, July 28 at Apollo High School, hundreds of volunteers will get together to package more than 100,000 meals that will be distributed to area charities and food shelves. It costs 25 cents to package a meal of macaroni-and-cheese or beans-and-rice. The formula used in the food packages, a formula provided by Outreach Inc., is very nutritious. The “Better Together” program is based on the goal of all people, including people of all backgrounds and races, working together locally and globally to bring peace and kindness to the world. The mission statement puts it eloquently: “As leaders, we believe we have a responsibility to the well-being of our entire community. Where differences create tension among us, we will work to develop relationships, create peace, bridge gaps and bring people together. When the leaders work together, so then can the people of our community work together. All of us are ‘Better Together.’ “We see here walls of cultural tension that continue to stand through a lack of cross-cultural relationships. This community cannot thrive while there are walls of misconception, suspicion, indifference toward each other’s needs, and many more – each wall rooted in fear. Our coalition aims to break down these walls by bringing people together in the service of each other.” Organizations that are part of Better Together, as well as the food-packaging event, are Catholic Charities, Humanity Central Minnesota Community Services, Orange Oak Media, Thrivent Financial, GRIP/Isaiah, Habitat for Humanity, the Southwest Minnesota Synod – ELCAL Lutheran Social Services, United Way of Central Minnesota and www.UniteCloud. Packaging meals, as is often done for hungry people overseas, is such a good thing to do in the central Minnesota area. Packaging meals for local people is also important. It not only helps people in need, but it also brings people together in a spirit of solidarity, all working for a good cause and lowering the “walls” mentioned in the “Better Together” mission statement. Volunteers and donations are still needed. Registration for volunteers began June 20 and will be open right up until the event takes place. To sign up to volunteer, go to: Unitedwayhelps.org To make a donation, go to: classy.org/ feedingourcommunities. Or send a check to United Way of Central Minnesota, 101 Seventh Ave. S. #100, St. Cloud, Minn. 56301.
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, July 15, 2016
Opinion Juno a tad late to Jupiter – 1 second! It’s been 10 days and I’m still in a state of astonishment, trying to wrap my little Earth-bound brain around the stupendous fact that Juno was only one second late for its rendezvous with Jupiter. One second! After a 1.7-billion-mile journey to Jupiter that took about five years, it was only late by a flickering blink of an eye. This is even more mind-bending when you consider there are 31,536,000 seconds in one year’s time, or 187,748,400 seconds in a five-year period (counting a leap year’s extra day). At one point, Juno was moving at a mind-boggling 165,000 miles per hour until National Aeronautic and Space Administration scientists on Earth “told” it to fire its reverse rockets to slow down so it could enter into an orbit around the gaseous giant, Jupiter. Juno is so far away it takes 48 minutes for signals from Earth to reach it, and vice versa. At the time Juno received and acted upon the time-for-orbit signal, that was the exact time and place where the spacecraft was one second late. Isn’t it stunning to think a team of brainy people, using phenomenal technology, can achieve a feat of such precision when most people can’t even get a microphone system to work in a local meeting hall? When I first heard the news about Juno’s triumph, I was elated. I desperately needed some good news, a reminder of humankind’s goodness right after hearing about the butchery in Baghdad where more than 200 people
Dennis Dalman Editor were ripped to pieces from bomb shrapnel after which many (including women and children) were incinerated beyond recognition in the flames that followed. That horror was compounded later by news of the killings of the two drivers (in Baton Rouge and St. Paul) and then the savage ambush of Dallas police officers. With such a barrage of atrocities, we all need daily reminders of goodness. This world seems to have become such a sad, mournful place when murderous barbarism can run so rampant on the same spinning planet on which so many noble and life-enhancing achievements have taken place throughout the centuries: the growth of some enlightened civilizations, democracy, justice, arts and culture, technological innovations, cures for diseases, decency, kindness, compassion and, yes, the kind of dazzling technical teamwork that can send a spacecraft 1.7 billion miles to a planet where it arrives only one second late. There was another bit of news that stuck in my craw for the past 10 days. It was also good news – well, mainly anyway. A cab driver in Boston picked up a customer and dropped him off at a designated place. A bit later, the driver no-
ticed the man had left in the back seat a backpack. He decided to check the bag for maybe an ID card with a phone number or address. After opening the bag, he found a huge packed wad of $50 and $100 bills – $187,000-worth, to be exact. The driver was flabbergasted, to say the least, especially as he remembered the man had told him, en route, that he had been living in a homeless shelter for the past six months. When the honest cab driver took the bag of money to the police, officers discovered a document with the money showing it was a disbursement amount from an inheritance. Later, the man, missing the backpack, called the police to see if the bundle had been found and turned over. After proving his identity, the man was able to retrieve his windfall. That story made me wonder: How could a longtime homeless man, suddenly coming into a vast inheritance, be so absentminded as to leave his cash treasure in the back of a cab? What I ponder even more, though, is how could that man be such a cheapskate as to “reward” the cab driver with a tip of $100? Yes, that is what the miser gave the Good Samaritan: 100 bucks, hardly enough to pay, say, a monthly electricity bill. That amounts to 1,870th percent of the tightwad’s inheritance. The good, kind taxi driver didn’t complain, but in my opinion, I would call it as close as you can get to no good deed going unpunished. As they say on this sad, crazy, spinning planet: “Takes all types.”
I enjoy a good parade – unless ... For those of you who are too young to remember it, there is a movie about a gentleman named George M. Cohen. One of the songs from it is “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the Fourth of July.” I can relate to that song because my natal day was Memorial Day. Back then, Memorial Day was not an obligatory commission to the closest Monday. It was, by official command, May 30. Well, I will confess that my mother started the delivery process on May 30 but did not present me to the world until 3 a.m. May 31. But she was insistent I was a Memorial Day baby. And so, in my world, Memorial Day was especially superior. You see, back then, in my hometown in western New York, the biggest parade of the year was the Memorial Day parade. I would be seated (by my parents), just across from the reviewing stand. And then, what a day! Tanks, bands, soldiers and sailors, drum corps, jeeps and veterans of the big one – WWII – dressed in their very best. Oh yes, and they (my parents) were doing this all for me on my (almost) birthday. Hey, I was almost 8 years of age before I figured out the truth. I don’t know if I have yet forgiven mom and dad for that game. What the heck, after the parade, even though they really didn’t have to spend a lot of cash on presents, I always got a birthday cake. If the truth be told, I ended up marching in that parade a few years later after I joined a drum-and-bugle corps. But, that’s another story for a later date. The fact is parades have
Paul Ritzenthaler Guest Writer always been a special event for me. Since moving to this region, I have spent a lot of parade days watching them. My favorite parade activities are the bands and the floats. But, no matter what, I love a parade. Now, I must admit after watching parade venues in St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and St. Joseph, I find the St. Joseph July 4 parade is somewhat lacking in bands. But, on July 4, it’s the only ballgame in town, and I (along with 10,000 others) wouldn’t miss it for the world. It is, of course, a follow up to the wonderful July 3 party, complete with great fireworks. For years, as you may or may not know, it featured rock ‘n’ roller Bobby Vee. However, now he’s retired, the show goes on with his children and grandchildren making it every bit as special. This year the Vees are doing a salute to Neil Diamond – one of my favorite artists. Yes, I can hear it now. Somewhere out there some young pup is saying “Neil who?” But let us return to the parade. I love the St. Joseph Parade. It’s candystrewn floats with waving princesses from some near-by town. And, it’s an endless procession of trucks, tractors, towing vehicles. And I enjoy every minute of it.
Nevertheless, this is the year I hate the parade. Why? Because, it’s an election year. Every election year, the parade is vexed with people (whatever political party) who are so stupid they think their parade presence is what 10,000 viewers want to see. And they skip, march, wave and pass out their political propaganda. In the process, they extend the parade time by about 30 minutes. In many cases, the candidate they are supporting isn’t even in the parade. He or she is smart enough to be spending July 4 at their summer residence on Lake Mishmuschi. OK, for the sake of argument, l might be wrong. So, here’s what I propose. I recommend during an election year, every parade setting have a political section. We will call it Section 4. It would be the final section of the procession. Now, all of the parade watchers who want to support those political beliefs can stick around and wait for Section 4 to skip, march, wave and pass out their political propaganda. Hey, Section 4, you better have some real good candy because by the time you get a block past the reviewing stand, everyone will be folding up their chairs and getting in line for some hamburgers. Paul Ritzenthaler has spent most of his life working in broadcasting before retiring but still keeps himself busy by announcing baseball games at the Municipal Athletic Center in St. Cloud, golfing and trying to keep up with his two dogs Dani, a Sheltie, and Tucker, a Shi-Tzu, at his home in Sauk Rapids.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Sauk Rapids-Rice Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
7
Man to recite Book of Revelations by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
contributed photo
Tom Meyer
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, July 15 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320339-4533. stcloudsingles.net. Saturday, July 16 Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. Community Meal, 11:30 a.m.12:45 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., Sartell. Monday, July 18 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320AU TO M O B I L E S / M OTO RC Y C L E S WANTED MOTORCYCLES: TOP CASH PAID! For Old Motorcycles! 1900-1979. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) ADOPTION PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 855-390-6047 (MCN) AUTOMOBILES DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 1-800-283-0205 (MCN) DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855-752-6680 (MCN) EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED PAID IN ADVANCE! MAKE $1000 Weekly!! Mailing Brochures From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. No Experience Required. Start Immediately! www.centralmailing.net (VOID IN SD, WI) (MCN) HELP WANTED: OTR DRIVERS. Ewy Trucking seeking Owner/Operators & Company Drivers. Valid Class A CDL.
A man who memorized the entire Book of Revelation from the Bible will recite it at the Rice branch of Two Rivers Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 17 in the Old Village Hall on Rice’s Main Street. Tom Meyer, a member of Wordsower Ministry of Salem, Ore., is a pub-
lished author who gives workshops on techniques for memorizing the Bible. He has two master’s degrees from Jerusalem University College. The Book of Revelations is the last book in the Bible’s New Testament and was written by “John of Patmos.” The book is an eerie, at times disturbing, evocation of the last days of the Earth as seen through apocalyptic
Community Calendar
253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., St. Cloud Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St.. 320-529-9000. Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday. org. St. Joseph Fare for All, 3:305:30 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. 800582-4291. fareforall.org. Tinville Lions Club, 7 p.m., Rollie’s Rednecks and Longnecks Bar, 940 35th Ave. NE, Sauk Rapids. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Tuesday, July 19 Mental Health Summit, 8 a.m.12:30 p.m., Holiday Inn, 75 S. 37th Ave., St. Cloud. St. Cloud Area Genealogists meeting, 7 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org. Thursday, July 21 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell. Family Farmers’ Market, 2-6 p.m., River East parking lot, CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-252-2422.
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Sleep Apnea Support Group, 5-6 p.m., St. Cloud Hospital Sleep Center, 1586 CR 134. 320-2512700. Rice Lions Club, 8 p.m., Lions Building, Westside Park, 101 Fourth St. NW. Friday, July 22 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2 St. Stephen Car Show, 3-8 p.m., St. Stephen Church Parking Lot.
visions written down by John of the island of Patmos. The Book of Revelations contains images of gruesome destruction but also of angels sounding trumpets and God’s presence on Earth promising the coming again of Christ. For more about Two Rivers Baptist Church, visit its website: www. tworiversbaptistchurch. org.
320-654-9511. Saturday, July 23 Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. 55+ Driver-improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Miller Auto Plaza, 2930 Second St. S., St. Cloud. 888234-1294. mnsafetycenter.org. Sunday, July 24 Annual Pet Blessing, 10 a.m., outdoor service, Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N., Sartell. 320-255-9253.
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Mayor from front page running for his second term as mayor. Signs urging people to vote for him are few and infrequent as Gunderson is a shoe-leather campaigner.
Personal problems
In 2013, Gunderson was arrested and found guilty of a driving-while-intoxicated charge. While some in the community called for his resignation, Gunderson held firm to his vow not to resign. It was a trying time for Gunderson, he said, but if it’s an issue in this race, that’s fine with Gunderson. He admits he made a mistake, but he is equally proud of the fact he faced up to the problem and got help, despite losing his job as a bus driver. “I was able to straighten it out,” he said. “I was lucky enough to go back to school, start a new career, and now I’m lucky enough to be out at the VA (as a nursing assistant) because of all that happening, and working with vets. I’d still be driving a bus if that hadn’t happened, and now I’m lucky enough to serve my country.” He admits he has made mistakes in his life. “It wasn’t the greatest thing that happened to me, but I was able to turn it
around, and now I am thankful for the fact I was able to move on,” he said. “And it’s something I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise.”
Accomplishments
Having held office for 10 years, Gunderson is amazed at the changes that have taken place in Sauk Rapids. He lists several of the things he has personally had a hand in: completion of the bridge, renewal of the downtown area, parks and park buildings, and building a new government center. He’s especially proud of the new government center. The city sold a property worth $180,000 for $4 million and built the new government center with a community room while not incurring any tax debt, he said. While some might take issue with that, Gunderson said the old government center was in rough shape and was really too small for a growing city. Since Gunderson has been mayor, Sauk Rapids has been named as the most affordable city to live in Minnesota. That designation and others are at least in part due to actions taken to reduce city costs such as the single-hauler garbage pick-up, and the all-city streetlight fee, which spread the cost of street lights over all parcels rather than just the tax-paying residents. Gunderson also points to the Summit
Avenue extension as part of his legacy. Four previous mayors had tried to do that, but he was able to get the project accomplished. “I can walk up and down the street on Benton Drive, and I’m just shocked at the way it’s changed,” he said, “and I voted on that stuff. I got called a lot of names because of the way I voted, but I voted for it and now it really is something.”
Unfinished business
Gunderson said the reason he’s running again is because there are some things he wants to see through to the end, such as the “Up the Hill-Golden Spike Road Project.” He explained few people are aware this is a shared project with Benton County. The county is doing the construction along the route at a cost of some $12 million, but the city was responsible for buying up the 19 homes along the route. Had there been no cooperative agreement, the project would not have moved forward. There are also some beautification projects he would like to see get done, especially with the new roundabouts being put in. There is also a lighting project that is ongoing along Benton Drive and out near the old Perkins restaurant, he said.
Friday, July 15, 2016
New needs
One of the newer projects is a field house Gunderson refers to as the Storm House. He said he believes it’s a needed facility and would be a boon to Sauk Rapids, so he’s working hard trying to find ways to get the project built and running. Gunderson says he knows what it’s like for kids to have practices at 9 p.m. because there are not enough facilities. “We have a half-cent sales tax, and I think the city must use the money wisely, and spend it on projects that are important. I think this is an important project for the good of the community,” Gunderson said. The entire area would benefit in Gunderson’s eyes since the school district would run it, but the city would derive benefit from people coming into the city and spending money, and Sauk Rapids would receive tax money from the half-cent sales tax. There are some things that are simply wish-list items, such as a large-box store or industrial company in the Industrial Park. Gunderson would also like to see a bigger media presence in the city. He talked of a television presence similar to that of Duluth in the area. One of the non-development concerns revolves around the size
of the police force. Some members on the council believe more police are needed. Gunderson said perhaps one or two might be needed with a police reserve officer or a community service officer. Safety for our officers is a concern, but the hiring of too many officers will raise the tax rate. That’s something Gunderson said he would prefer to avoid if possible. He does not see crime as a big problem in the city except for outside influences that infiltrate from other areas. “We have crime-free housing in Sauk Rapids,” Gunderson said. “You can’t get an apartment in Sauk Rapids if you have a felony on your record.”
Why me?
With two other candidates vying for the mayoral spot, the question of what Gunderson felt he could contribute to the city’s political climate needed to be answered, and it boiled down to simply watching the pocket book. “I think there are enough ties down in city hall,” he said. “I’m a blue-collar worker; I’ve always been a blue collar. We don’t need a banker or the CEO of a company as a mayor. They see things differently, and I don’t think they think with their pocketbooks like I do.”
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