Reaching EVERYbody!
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid St. Joseph Newsleader St. Joseph, MN 56374 Permit No. 21 ECRWSS Postal Customer
Newsleader Sartell
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 Volume 19, Issue 5 Est. 1995
Town Crier
Senior Connection hosts community meet, greet
Sartell Senior Connection invites residents to a Community Meet and Greet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at the Sartell District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N. If you are interested in meeting others with same interests to attend local events, please come and enjoy an evening of getting to know each other and looking over what’s happening from free events, theater, choirs, movies and much more. All ages are welcome.
Public forums set for super. candidates
Sartell residents are encouraged to attend open forums for interviews of the final three candidates for superintendent of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. The forums are scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Sartell High School Media Center on three days: Monday, Feb. 3; Wednesday, Feb. 5; and Thursday, Feb. 6. Each day, a different candidate will spend the entire day at get-acquainted sessions at the schools. On each of those three days, the public is invited to meet the candidate for a questionand-answer session at 5 p.m. in the Sartell High School Media Center. At 7:45 p.m. on each evening, the board will interview a candidate. The final discussion during which school-board members will discuss all the candidates will take place at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, and the public is invited to sit in on that meeting at the Media Center. All three forums will be open to staff, students and Sartell residents. (For more about the superintendent search, see related story in today’s paper.)
Nominate your daycare 2013 Provider of the Year
Is your daycare provider outstanding? If you would like to nominate your licensed family child-care provider to be considered for the 2013 Provider of the Year, please download and complete a form at www.SBCCAofMN.com by April 15 and send it to Stearns Benton Child Care Association, P.O. Box 7721, St. Cloud, MN 56302 or email to SBCCAofMN@gmail.com. Each May, daycare providers are honored by the two-county child care association during its banquet on Provider Appreciation Day which is Friday, May 9. If you have any questions about this form, please contact Stearns Benton Child Care Association President Karen Davis at 320-240-0281.
Postal Patron
GRRL, Sartell move closer to plan for library Throughout the past 12 years, several citywide surveys in Sartell have shown “library” to be at the top or very near the top of a majority of responses from residents. A
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Cloud-based Great River Regional Library System has agreed to consider a conceptual plan for a Sartell branch library, which will be presented to the library board in March. City officials and the GRRL Board met Jan. 21 and came to an agreement about the city submitting a plan. The plan would include some kind of firm commitment by Sartell to provide a suitable structure to house a branch library. It’s likely a branch library would be included on the premises of a communityresource center, but other sites (new or retrofitted) have not been ruled out, said Sartell Administrator Mary Degiovanni. If all goes well, Sartell could begin building a library (and community-resource center) this year, and the library could open in 2015. An assessment plan drawn up by the GRRL Board stated a Sartell branch library would likely have a circulation of 150,000 items per year and
should, ideally, be open 40 hours a week. It would cost GRRL about $150,000 for staffing. GRRL would be responsible for all staffing, materials and programming. Sartell would pay for ongoing building maintenance and utilities. (For more about how a branch library operates, see related story about the Waite Park Library in this issue.) “We’ve indicated to the (GRRL) board we’re ready to move forward,” said Degiovanni, who attended the Jan. 21 joint meeting, along with Sartell Mayor Joe Perske and several other individuals. Perske reiterated to the board that Sartell residents have long wanted a branch library, that the city is committed to paying for it with revenue from the regional half-cent sales tax and that the city is long overdue for a library, considering its rapid growth of population in recent years.
majority of city council members throughout the years has also expressed enthusiasm for a branch library. Degiovanni noted all of the Library • page 2
Local students rock with science at SCSU
contributed photo
St. Francis Xavier students (left to right) Jacob Stozenberg, Ricki Emslander and Faith Van Erp work with an animal heart during the “Science Rocks” event. Science • page 4
Seven compete for superintendent position by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Seven candidates are now vying for the position of superintendent of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District, and the one selected by the board might be announced as soon as the end of the first week of February. The search is on for someone to replace Dr. Joe Hill, former Sartell-St. Stephen superinten-
dent who resigned last year. At a special school-board meeting Jan. 27, board members chose the seven candidates from an application pool of 38 on-line submissions. Those candidates are now being interviewed. As of press time, four of them were slated to be interviewed Jan. 28 and three of them Jan. 29. The board will then choose three finalists from the seven,
Weather closes schools again
For the fourth time this winter, schools in Sartell were closed because of bitterly cold, snowy and windy weather. School was canceled for two consecutive days, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 27 and 28, when wind-chill temperatures dipped
to 40-below zero and even lower at times. Schools were also closed Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 6 and 7 for the same weather-related reasons. Friday, Jan. 17 was a makeup day for students. The school board has also designated Monday, April 21 as a make-up day. Throughout the months of December and January, two of the coldest months in Minnesota history, there were frequent closings and cancellations not only of schools but also of events, meetings and activities throughout central Minnesota and elsewhere.
and they will be interviewed the first week of February. The seven finalists – six of them from Minnesota, one from Iowa – are the following, listed in the order in which they will be interviewed: John Engelkind, superintendent at Proctor; Jenny Bushman, director of curriculum instruction and assessment in the Winona School District; Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent for North Scott Community Schools in Eldridge, Iowa; Diane Moeller, assistant superintendent for St. Cloud District 742 and former principal of Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph; Ron Wilkie, superintendent at La Crescent; Paul Neubauer, director of curriculum and instruction at St. Francis; and Debra Lechner, director of teaching and learning for the Brainerd School District. Lechner had worked in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District years ago as teaching and learning director until taking the Brainerd job 12 years ago. In addition, her late husband, Leon Lechner, was activities director for Sartell schools.
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“The board will be faced with tough choices,” consultant Dr. Greg Vandal told the Sartell Newsleader right after the Jan. 27 meeting. “Sartell-St. Stephen has a great reputation, and lot of people are interested in being part of the school system.” Vandal, former superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, is a member of the consulting firm of “School Exec Connect,” which was chosen last year by the school board to help in the search for a new superintendent. Vandal has worked side by side with another School Exec Connect consultant, Dr. Ken Dragseth, director of administrative licensure at the University of Minnesota’s School of Education and retired superintendent of the Edina School District. From those finalists, the next round would happen Monday, Feb. 3, Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Thursday, Feb. 6 as each of the three finalists will be interviewed during public open forums on those evenings, one candidate on each evening, each starting at 7:45 p.m. in Super • page 2
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
2
Precinct caucuses to be held Feb. 4
People
Along with the rest of the state, local precinct-level caucuses will convene in central Minnesota at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4. Caucus locations for Sartell Precincts 1-7, St. Stephen, and Brockway and Le Sauk townships will be held as follows: Democratic Farmer/Labor Party will meet at the Sartell High School, 748 7th St. N. Republican Party will meet at the Sartell Middle School, 627 3rd Ave. N. contributed photo District 13 encompasses 47 WACOSA’s Steve Howard (third from left), executive director city and rural precincts in westrecently accepted a $20,000 grant from Otto Bremer Foundation ern Benton and eastern Stearns member (left to right) Kurt Hunstiger, Curt Gainsforth, Howard Counties, including Sartell, St. and Tom Rickers to support a vocational skills training program for adults with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, who are otherwise unemployed. “The Otto Bremer Foundation has been a longtime supporter of adults with disabilities in our community,” Howard said. “We appreciate the commitment from front page they have made to all of the communities they serve. With help from this grant we will be able to provide job opportunities that six counties that belong to the GRRL system pay taxes so the we would not otherwise be able to fund.” system can operate. “With our rate of growth, a Lucas Reitz, son of Heidi and Five Sartell students were reSartell library could take some cently named to the fall dean’s list Alan Reitz of Sartell, was recently at the College of St. Scholastica, named to the fall dean’s list at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa. He Duluth, Minn. They are the following: Megan is a senior. Students must earn a Bachman, Mark Loscheider, minimum 3.5 grade-point average Jeffrey Magera, Elysia Peterson to receive the honor. from front page and Lindsey Tollefson. Grant Wintheiser, son of Ma- the Sartell High School Media Megan Carter of Sartell was ria and Robb Wintheiser of Sartell, Center. The public is invited recently named to the fall dean’s was recently named to the fall to meet the candidates for a honor roll at Oklahoma City Uni- dean’s list at St. Olaf College, question-and-answer session versity. Students must maintain a Northfield, Minn. He is a biology starting at 5 p.m. on each of grade-point average of 3.5 or bet- major. Students must attain a 3.75 those days in the Sartell High or higher grade-point average to Shool Media Center. All three ter to earn the honor. forums will be open to staff, earn the honor. students and Sartell residents. James Frank of Sartell was recently named to the fall dean’s list Austin Timm, son of Patty and The public-input sessions will at Iowa State University, Ames. Bryan Timm, Rice, was recently culminate with a final interHe is majoring in chemical en- named to the fall dean’s list at St. view of each candidate by the gineering. Student must attain a Cloud State University. He is a school board on each of those minimum 3.5 grade-point average Sartell High School graduate ma- evenings at 7:45 p.m., also at the Media Center. to earn the honor. joring in business. The final discussion during
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Joseph and Avon cities, and surrounding rural Stearns County townships. Party caucuses are held in February each election year and represent the kick-off of the political campaign season for both major Minnesota political parties. Caucuses are the occasion for choosing local party leaders; discussion and voting on resolutions for possible inclusion in state platforms; and election of delegates to district conventions. Two DFL candidates have announced their intentions for the 6th Congressional District
House seat, now occupied by Rep. Michele Bachmann (RStillwater), who announced she will not seek a fifth term. The two candidates who are seeking the DFL endorsement for that seat are Sartell mayor Joe Perske and St. John’s University professor Jim Read, a resident of Avon. Four Republican candidates – Tom Emmer, Rhonda Sivarajah; Phil Krinkie; and Allan Levene – are vying for the Republican endorsement for that 6th District Congressional seat. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders.com.
Library
demand off of the other libraries in the system,” Degiovanni said. Degiovanni’s statement was verified by Karen Pundsack, associate director of patron services for GRRL. Some of the registered borrowers who visit the Waite Park Library, she said, hail from Sartell, as well
as some from St. Joseph and St. Cloud. The next step toward the possibility of Sartell getting a library is for city staff, the city’s community-resources committee and the city council to agree on the details of a conceptual plan to present to GRRL.
Super
which school-board members will discuss the candidates will take place at 8:45 p.m., and the public is invited to sit in on that meeting at the Media Center. The final discussion during which school-board members will discuss all the candidates will take place at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, and the public is invited to sit in on that meeting at the Media Center. As of press time Wednesday, the plan was to interview six or seven candidates Jan. 28 and Jan. 29. The board was then expected to narrow the field to two or three finalists. “We are excited to move forward with the search process and finding a superintendent
that will support our district’s vision and mission,” said Sartell-St. Stephen School Board Chair Michelle Meyer. “I hope the community will take the time to be part of the process by being at the sessions, asking questions of the candidates and providing feedback to the board.” From the very beginning, the school board took pains to assure the superintendent search would be an open process, with public involvement at every step. Residents were invited to fill out surveys and several public-input meetings were held, including during the regularly scheduled school-board meetings.
night, gas was siphoned from a vehicle parked outside a residence. 3:28 p.m. Theft. River Oaks Lane. Sometime during the overnight, gas was siphoned from a vehicle parked outside a residence. Jan. 16 9:55 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 51 mph in a posted 40mph zone. The driver stated he was not aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 10:43 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. After checking a vehicle’s registration, it was found the driver had a suspended license. The driver stated he was aware of the status and was not able to provide proof of insurance. He was issued
a citation for both violations and released to a valid driver. 11:38 p.m. Stalled vehicle. Hwy. 15. While on patrol, an officer came across a stalled vehicle. The driver was given a ride to a local residence to retrieve gas.
If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the Sartell Police Department at 320-2518186 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. Jan. 15 9:44 a.m. Vehicle in ditch. CR 120. An unattended vehicle was stuck in a snow bank. Officers attempted to locate the owner and were unable to make contact. The vehicle was towed that evening. 10:55 a.m. Theft. River Oaks Lane. Sometime during the over-
Blotter
Jan. 17 6:38 a.m. Stalled vehicle. Hwy. 15. A vehicle was stalled on the side of the road. An officer transported the driver and two children to their local residence. 4:35 p.m. Domestic. 2nd Street N. A complaint was made regarding a male and female arguing. Upon officer’s arrival, the female had left the residence. The officers did find
Blotter • page 5
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Newstands Country Store and Pharmacy Holiday on Riverside Drive Holiday on 7th Street N House of Pizza JM Speedstop
Little Dukes on Pinecone Sartell City Hall Sartell-St. Stephen School District Offices Walgreens
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Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon
Contributing Writer Cori Hilsgen
Editor Dennis Dalman
Design/Layout Tara Wiese
Advertising Sales Assistant Kathryn Bjorke Delivery Glen Lauer
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com LEGAL NOTICE
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
3
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 748 DEC. 16, 2013 DISTRICT CENTER BOARD ROOM The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chair Michelle Meyer. Members present: Meyer, chair; Mary McCabe, vice chair; Jason Nies, clerk; Krista Durrwachter, director; Pam Raden, director; Dan Riordan, director; and Michael M. Spanier, interim superintendent. Members absent: None. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Riordan to approve the agenda. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to approve consent items a-d as presented below: a. Minutes of the meeting held on Nov. 18, 2013 b. Checks in the amount of $1,801,534.33 as presented: General 1,280,193.24 Food Service 84,438.68 Transportation 133,739.58 Community Service 43,148.24 Capital Expenditure 153,009.64 Building Fund 105,052.31 Summer Rec Agency 1,952.64 Check numbers 154251to 154553. Receipts in the amount of $1,722,980.07 as presented: General Fund 1,191,930.91 Food Service Fund 156,656.43 Transportation Fund 11,592.12 Community Service Fund 67,339.69 Capital Expenditure Fund 14,070.43 Building Fund 3.71 Debt Service Fund 281,386.78 Receipts 39187-39301 Wire transfers in the amount of $3,840.42 as presented: General Fund 388.48 Food Service Fund 3,451.94 Wire transfers 201300033-201300036 c. Accept the following donations: Name
To
Donation
Oak Ridge Elementary PTC
Sartell-St. Stephen $2,368.20 School District #748
Sartell Fastpitch Sartell-St. Stephen $2,000.00 Softball Association School District #748
Purpose Ukuleles Batting Cage
d. Accept the resignation of Deb Gallus, ORE, student supervisor, effective 12-09-13; Brian Johnson, DSC, supervisor of buildings and grounds, effective 11-22-13 and the retirement of Mary Jo Vigeron, SMS teacher, effective 02-13-14.
than, Elaine Lo and Adrienne Gefre. • ORE and PME held their Geography Bees with winners Charlie Magnuson at PME and Matthew Bolton at ORE who will now take the state qualifying test. SMS will hold its final on Jan. 6. • Kindergarten Round-Up and registration will be held in the buildings in late January. The district works to inform the community about ‘Round Up’ over the next month. • On Dec. 5, more than 40 families were at Holiday Dazzle for cookie decorating, crafts, gym time and more. • On Dec. 7, the ECPTO, along with several SHS Honor Society students, hosted a Drop and Shop event, for parents to have children participate in several activities, while parents could have some ‘free’ time. • On Dec. 11, families had the opportunity to participate in the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie event at the District Service Center with themed crafts and activities from the popular story book. • Preschool is currently working on scheduling for next year to have their offerings out in late January with a Preschool Registration Night to be held in early February. School Board Committees Negotiations Committee • The committee continues to work with the multi-unit 284 group. Benton Stearns Education District (BSED) • The Benton Stearns Board approved the BSED financial audit. • BSED held a paperwork night for Special Education Staff where staff could be focused and supported on completing special education-related paperwork. • BSED will continue to provide Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training Board Goals • The Board established goals during a work session that will guide them through June 30, 2014. • The School board will hire a superintendent who meets the needs of our district in February 2014. • Improve student achievement at all levels by providing outstanding instruction in caring, safe and supportive environment. • The district will increase the use of technology as a learning tool to enhance innovative methods of instruction at all levels and meet the needs of our students for the 21st century. Kyle Breitkreutz, director of technology, presented a technology update. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by McCabe to APPROVE THE PERSONNEL OMNIBUS RESOLUTION. New Employees or Changes: Name
Bldg.
1.
Christopher Campbell
Athletic Asst. Boys Swim $3,174/BS1
2.
Julie Dockendorf
ORE
Paraprofessional
$14.99/6.25 hrs. day, RIV, S1
3.
Lynda Hallerman
Trans.
Bus Monitor
$14.42/4 hrs. per day
New position added
4.
Breanna Hubbard
Trans.
Bus Monitor
$14.42/5.5 hrs. per day
New position added
5.
Kayla Johnson
ORE
LTS teacher
$184.81/ BA,S1
LTS for Teresa Heck
6.
Noel Meyer
SHS
Winter strength coach
$1,1148/ BS2
New position *outside funded
SHS
Asst. Knowledge $1,503/BS1 Bowl
SMS
Cashier
$14.91/ 2.25 per day Increasing daily hours R1, S3 from 2 hrs. per day
ORE
LTS teacher
$184.81/BA, S1
LTS for Sarah Gill
ORE
LTS teacher
$184.81/BA, S1
LTS for Kelsey Keller
Student Representative Report: Mary Lindell, senior at Sartell High School 7. Erica Nelson • The SHS Sounds of the Season Winter Choir Concert was held on Monday, Dec. 16. • The SHS Winter Winds Band concert had more than 300 people in 8. Sharon Schnapp attendance. • Winter sports are in full swing with practice and games. 9. Sandy Warzecka • National Honor Society will ring bells at Coborn’s this week. 10. Rachel Westrup • Student Council held the voting for Winter Wonderland royalty. • PME and ORE have had very successful winter donation drives that will continue through the week including gathering hats, mittens, Leave of Absence: food and toys for community organizations. Name • Sartell Middle School is gearing up for the7th- and 8th-grade musi11. Kelsey Keller cal, Seussical the Musical, held in late February. Superintendent Report: Mike Spanier, interim superintendent • Student Council has raised more than $1,400 to be used for gift baskets for Sartell families this holiday season. • The Target Club collected more than 250 hats and mittens that were donated to Catholic Charities. • The SHS SPED department has partnered with WACOSA to recycle holiday cards. The program provides real job skills for our students. These will be collected until second quarter ends the third week in January. • The SHS Girls Swimming and Diving team participated in the State Tournament with a third-place victory. • At SMS, the Stock Market Game team of Sarah Owens, Zachary Ittel, Austin Haus, Tyler Anderson and Hannah Congdon placed first in the region out of 55 teams. The team placed 71st out of 1,154 teams nationwide. Students who participate in the Stock Market Game are given a virtual $100,000 to invest over a period of 14 weeks. Under the direction of volunteer, John Elliott, students research various stocks and make choices to buy and sell. • In early December, 322 Sartell Middle School 7th-graders had the opportunity to volunteer and provide community service through Kids Connecting to Community. Through this program, students had the opportunity to volunteer at a variety of locations including programs and buildings throughout the district, Catholic Charities, Sartell Senior Connection, St. Cloud Hospital, Whitney Senior Center, Country Manor, St. Cloud Public Library and the Salvation Army. Students were engaged learners and able to learn about the location or program they helped to support while giving back to the community. 8th-graders will have the opportunity to participate in similar activities on Feb. 27 and 28. • Congratulations to our two U.S. Academic Triathlon teams for taking first and second place at Kennedy Community School. The firstplace team: Jaden Nguyen, Mallory Daniels, Ella Krauel and Amber Pietrowski. The second-place team: Brad Kalla, Janagan Ramana-
Position
Compensation
Change Replacing Jason Anderson per New position added
New position added
Bldg.
Position
Action
Expected Duration
ORE
Teacher
Maternity Leave
Jan. 25-March 21, 2014
A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to HAVE SECOND READING AND APPROVE REVISED POLICY 614. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Raden to HAVE THIRD READING AND APPROVE NEW POLICY 523. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Riordan to APPROVE THE SENIORITY LISTS. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Riordan to APPROVE 2013 PAYABLE 2014 PROPERTY TAX LEVY IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNTS: General Fund $2,630,113.42 Community Service 183,591.71 Debt Service 4,473,068.43 Final Certified Levy $7,286,973.56 All in favor. Motion carried. Schedule Work Session and Committee Meetings Dec. 17 at 4:15 p.m. – Finance and Operations, District Service Center Dec. 19 at 7:30 a.m. – Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction Committee, District Service Center Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. – Organizational Meeting, District Service Center The board completed official reviews of Policies 410 and 415. The board had first readings of revisions of 616 and 618. The board had the second of three readings of proposed new Policy 711. Discuss Reading Interventions for ORE and PME: The district will continue to move forward with securing a reading interventionist at each building for the remainder of the school year to provide service in both grades 3 and 4. Board • page 7
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A Sartell library could be by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The Waite Park Public Library is one of the busiest branch libraries in the St. Cloud-based 32-member Great River Regional Library System. As Sartell explores the real possibility of obtaining a branch library, city officials and library enthusiasts in the city have been exploring how other branch libraries function. The Waite Park Library is an example of just how a Sartell branch library might be developed and how it will function. Also known as the “Al Ringsmuth Library” (named after a former mayor), the Waite Park facility had 3,139 registered borrowers as of Jan. 1, 2013. The majority of those borrowers live in Waite Park, with a good share of them coming from St. Cloud, Sartell and St. Joseph, according to GRRL Patron Services Associ-
Science from front page by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Local fifth- and sixth-grade students were among the more than 720 students from 30 area school districts who attended the eighth annual “Science Rocks” day at St. Cloud State University in the beginning of January. The event offered students a chance to choose from attending several of 29 sessions related to
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ate Director Karen Pundsack. The library is open 30 hours per week, including three hours on Saturdays and evening hours until 8 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The Waite Park library was retrofitted into the city’s old fire station, a one-story red-brick building constructed in 1963 at 253 N. 5th Ave. Waite Park was one of 14 cities that was part of the original founders of the GRRL system in 1969. Before that time, there was only the St. Cloud Public Library in the area. For many decades it was in a Dale Carnegie-funded building on 5th Avenue S. in St. Cloud. In the early 1970s, a new library was constructed on a site just three blocks northeast of the 5th Avenue site. Still later, in 2008, the current St. Cloud Library opened along W. St. Germain Street near downtown St. Cloud. It was built with revenue from the regional half-cent sales tax. science and nature. Sessions were 60-minutes long and were taught by professionals such as nurses, college professors, dairy experts, veterinarians, engineers, naturalists and others. The day was coordinated by Resource Training and Solutions, whose Director of Educational Programs Sandra Cordie, said the day was about introducing the students to a variety of science and nature concepts they may otherwise never have seen. Sartell Academic Extensions Coordinator Lori Dornburg said 15 Sartell Middle School students and teachers Jen Olson and herself attended the event
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Waite Park statistics
In 2013, there was a circulation at the Waite Park Library of 138,573 borrowing transactions. The library contains 17,390 items, not counting those that can be borrowed from the Interlibrary Loan System from libraries elsewhere. The GRRL system provides 3.1 full-time-equivalent staff members at Waite Park. All told, there are nine staff members, all part-time, Pundsack noted. They include one library-services coordinator, four library assistants and four library aides. All materials, the staff and their wages are paid for by the GRRL. The City of Waite Park pays the costs for maintaining the building and utilities, which was a total of $14,832 in 2012, according to Waite Park city records. As far as overall funding goes, all the six counties in the GRRL system contribute, through county taxes, the costs
from 9 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. Students attended four sessions of their choice. Some of the sessions offered included: “Milk: From Cow to You,” “Furs, Fangs and Femurs,” “High Energy,” “Batty about Bats,” “Buzzed and Drugged by Water Pollution” and others. She said the keynote speech of the day was “Spectacles of Physics – A MiniCircus,” which was presented by Jack Netland and Hank Ryan from the University of Minnesota. “Their show was a combination of interesting, sometimes spectacular demonstrations of physics concepts combined with humor and some slapstick come-
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
similar to Waite Park’s Services
photo from Waite Park Library website
The Waite Park Libary, also known as the Al Ringsmuth Library, was created within a brick building that had once served as the Waite Park Fire Department. of operating all 32 of the branch libraries. Other funds for GRRL come through private donations, individual and business contributions and some federal aid made possible through the Library Services and Technology Act. There are 125,000 registered borrowers in the GRRL system, which serves people in a 5,000 square-mile area. dy to help students understand and appreciate some physics concepts,” Dornburg said. SMS students Jordan Wenshaw and Brandon Kempenich said they thought Science Rocks was a good experience. “Science Rocks was really fun,” Wenshaw said. “I enjoyed the physics session the best. The demonstrations were really cool.” “Science Rocks was fun because there were a lot of things about science I didn’t know could happen,” Kempenich said. “It was a great experience.” St. Francis Xavier School Principal Kathy Kockler said 21 students participated in the event. “For many of our students, this was the first time they were on a college campus experiencing learning and how fun it can be for them,” Kockler said. “They were intrigued by the wonders of science and loved the ‘Fun with Physics’ session. The beauty of science is it is all around us and real-world applicable. What a great way to teach them how to think and solve problems.” Several SFX students commented about the day. “Science fills you with a new type of energy of excellence and learning,” Tim Haas said. “(I am) much more interested in science after seeing all I can do,” Faith Van Erp said. “They make it fun like my teacher Mrs. Winters does.” “(I) discovered new fields in science I never knew existed and that excites me,” Tricia Castro said. Cordie said the event requires many hours and many people, but she said she feels it’s very worthwhile when she reads the evaluations she receives.
The GRRL pays for and implements all of the staffing, programs and services at all of its 32 branch libraries. The Waite Park library alone, thanks to GRRL, offers a staggering variety of programs, services and activities. They include digital books, e-books, audio books, large-print books, videos, CDs, art exhibits, computer stations, basic computer and internet help, book clubs, Writers’ Group, Evening Book Club, Teen Mystery Night, Teen Battle of the Books, Story Hour for younger children, meeting rooms, copy machines, summer reading programs, and special presentations. For example, an upcoming special program, slated for Feb. 12, is “Stan Tekiela Presents Intriguing Owls.”
Trustees
The GRRL is governed by its Board of Trustees, which is comprised of one county commis-
sioner from each of the six member counties: Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison, Todd and Wright. The commissioners on the board who represent the City of Sartell are Spencer Buerkle (Benton) and Mark Bromenschenkel (Stearns). There are also nine citizen members who serve on the board from various counties.
Blotter from page 2 there was an active arrest warrant for the male. He was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. Jan. 18 11:00 a.m. Vehicle in ditch. Riverside Avenue. While on patrol, an officer saw a vehicle stuck in
5 a ditch. The officer and neighbors dug the vehicle out and were able to get it back on the road. 1:05 p.m. Domestic. 15th Street S. An adult female and an adult male were in a verbal argument. Officers arrived and were able to calm the situation. The male agreed to leave the residence to calm down for the evening. 5:39 p.m. Vehicle in ditch. Riverside Avenue. While on patrol, an officer saw a vehicle stuck in the ditch. The officer provided safety lights until it was towed out.
Branch libraries
The 32 branch libraries of the GRRL system are located in the following cities: Albany, Annandale, Becker, Belgrade, Big Lake, Buffalo, Clearwater, Cokato, Cold Spring, Delano, Eagle Bend, Elk River, Foley, Grey Eagle, Howard Lake, Kimball, Little Falls, Long Prairie, Melrose, Monticello, Paynesville, Pierz, Richmond, Rockford, Royalton, St. Cloud, St. Michael, Sauk Centre, Staples, Swanville, Upsala and Waite Park.
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First 200 Kids (13 & Under) Receive A Free Piece of Fishing Equipment With Valid Ticket!
LUNCH AND REFRESHMENTS Restrooms & Warming House Available Tickets Available at Stop Light Bait, St. Cloud; Super America, Cold Spring; American Legion, St. Joseph; St. Joseph Liquor Shoppe, St. Joseph; JM Speedstop, St. Joseph or online at www.stjoerodandgunclub.org
FOR INFORMATION CALL 363-8803 or 251-2881 ALL STATE LAWS APPLY
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6
Our View Long-deferred library dream seems soon to become true A Sartell library is, at long last, again the topic of excited conversation. For at least 10 years, a branch library was comparable to a wishful mirage that would appear and disappear in the minds of so many Sartell residents. More than 10 years ago, some dedicated Sartell citizens formed a group called “Friends of the Library,” a group that still exists. Its members worked hard, contacting city staff and officials, as well as making contacts with the St. Cloudbased Great River Regional Library. That group’s goal was to determine exactly what would be required to build and open a branch library in Sartell. The basic facts are the GRRL would provide all the materials and staff, but Sartell would have to provide an adequate facility and do ongoing maintenance of the building. In several Sartell citywide surveys throughout the past decade, a “library” has consistently ranked near the top of survey-respondents’ wishlists. The construction of a branch library (either new or retrofitted into some other facility) would be paid for mainly if not entirely by revenue from the regional half-cent sales tax. The GRRL has said years ago it’s eager and ready to set up a branch library in Sartell, but it just did not have enough funds to do it, and – besides – Sartell was not ready with a library-site facility. Last week a meeting between the GRRL Board and Sartell city staff, including the mayor, proved to be promising. All present agreed to work together on a conceptual plan that would be considered by the GRRL Board this March. GRRL officials suggest a Sartell branch library would have an estimated circulation of 150,000 items per year, and it should ideally be open 40 hours per week. The staffing costs, full-time, would amount to about $150,000 per year. Meantime, the Sartell City Council is determined to build a library, most likely as part of a community-resources center, sometime this year. If so, a branch library could open its door as early as the beginning of 2015. The GRRL system has 32 branch libraries in its five-county service area of Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Todd and Wright. Even some very small towns like Royalton, Eagle Bend, Kimball and St. Michael have branch libraries. As Sartell Mayor Joe Perske correctly pointed out in the meeting with the GRRL Board, Sartell’s population has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 20 years. It’s a crying shame a city the size of Sartell does not have a branch library. Today’s libraries, including branch ones, are informational, recreational and social centers that offer more than books. With today’s startling forms of technology, branch libraries now offer computer stations; videos; DVDs; music CDs; reference and research assistance; e-books, audio books; large-print books; community presentations; vision-impaired services; art and history exhibits; study rooms; copy machines; reading programs for adults, teens and children; and much more. And thanks to the Interlibrary Loan program, any branch can get for library patrons any materials the branch doesn’t happen to have. We think a critical mass has been reached – a nearly unanimous consensus it’s Sartell’s time to get a quality branch library. Stearns County Commissioner Mark Bromenschenkel, who represents Stearns County on the GRRL Board, has spoken up on behalf of Sartell’s library needs. So has Mayor Perske and many council members throughout the years. The current council is very progressive and library-friendly. It appears, thankfully, a long-deferred dream is about to come true. Since ancient times, libraries have been a solid foundation of civilization. It’s time Sartell becomes the 33rd library branch of the regional library system.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
Opinion
Old duffers earned bragging rights You know you’ve turned into an old-duffer Minnesotan when you find yourself sitting at the kitchen table on a snowy day, discussing the nasty winters of yore. The conversation, windy with bragging rights, goes something like this: “Oh, this winter’s nothing! Winter of 1965. Now that was a bad one.” “Yeah, these kids nowadays are spoiled. Closing schools just because it’s cold. How ridiculous. They don’t know what a cold winter is. We had to walk to school when we were kids.” OK, I plead guilty. I’m an old Minnesotan, but I’ve earned my bragging rights, having endured some of the worst winters in history. And, trust me, 1965 was really as bad as we duffers claim. I was a junior at St. Cloud Tech High School. During that raging, brutal winter, I walked 10 blocks to and from school, an acutely painful trek. On the way, other students would join in at various intersections and walk along: Mark, Paul, Billy, twins Judy-Janey, Kay, Delores. The gals’ bare legs were covered only by their nylons. That sight made the howling winter mornings seem even colder. We did have a sweet respite, however – our “short cut.” We would walk, slowly like frozen zombies, through the main hall of our old grade school, Washington Elementary, which gave us a chance to warm up a wee bit before once again braving the Arctic blast that hit us full-force when we opened the school’s west doors. On those frigid mornings, it took
Dennis Dalman Editor me two hours to thaw out once inside the school. My toes and ears felt as if a swarm of bees had stung them. There was a stabbing pain in the middle of my forehead worse than a raging headache. Fortunately, my soft-hearted parents would let us kids stay home when it was really, really cold – like 40-below zero with 30-mph winds. Of the winter of 1965, my most vivid memories are of shoveling snow and more snow, doing homework late nights in my chilly bedroom while hearing winds shrieking at the frosty windows, of rushing downstairs in the morning to huddle around the toasty kerosene-burning stove. That winter, one of many blizzards literally covered our garage with a giant dune of windwhipped snow. I remember that winter with pain and pleasure – pleasure because the extreme cold and relentless snow drew so many friends and neighbors together in homes for happy sessions of board games, cards, jigsaw puzzles and rollicking conversations. The worst winters happened always at mid-decade: 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995. An exception was 2005, which I recall as bearable.
In 1975, I woke up one morning to a front door that could not be opened because of a massive snow build-up on the other side of it. In 1985, I was one of only two of 30 employees who made it to work at the Alexandria news office. I lived in a downtown apartment a block from work, but it took me 20 minutes to body-plow through snow up to my waist to get there. The downtown cityscape looked eerily like a lost civilization, with parts of some buildings peeking out of polar snowdrifts. In the viciously cold winter of 1995, I had to rent a delivery box at the post office because, without access to a snowplow, there was no room left to hand-shovel the mountains of snow by my buried roadway mailbox and thus the carrier would not deliver there. I will probably remember this miserable winter for having to roof-rake tons of snow off of my house, an exhausting job. Thank goodness for Richard the kind neighbor who came to the rescue and finished the job by getting on top of the roof, his snow shovel in hand. He’s an old-duffer, too, but he has the true grit of a Minnesota whippersnapper. It would be fun someday, years hence, to sit around the table on some blizzard day and hear what today’s young-uns have to say about the longago winter of 2014. By then, they will have become dyed-in-the-wool oldduffer Minnesotans; they will have earned their bragging rights.
Letter to editor
Reader urges all residents to attend area caucuses Feb. 4 Jim Graeve, St. Joseph Democrats from the Sartell area are invited to come to Sartell High School at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Feb. 4. It’s an opportunity to pick the delegates who will go to the Senate District 13 gathering March 15 at Kennedy Community School. These folks help form the party platform. There is no charge or fee to partici-
pate in the process of our democracy. This meeting is called a caucus, which is a neighborhood meeting. This Feb. 4 meeting is as “grassroots” as it gets. Anyone who is 18 or older can be a delegate. High school students are encouraged to come. Sartell is eligible to send more than 50 delegates to the District 13 meeting on the Democratic side. Republicans will meet at Sartell Middle School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.
We need good participation at the local level to offset the influence of “Big Money” on our democracy. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision stating corporations have the same voting rights as individuals puts our democracy in jeopardy. We can stop this by getting out next Tuesday, Democrats and Republicans alike, and make our voices heard.
My father has been visiting lately My father has been gone for several years now. Both he and my mother lived long and happy lives. They were married as very young kids and stayed together for more than 60 years, parting only by their deaths. I bring this up because I have become aware of recent visits from my father. In fact, he seems to show up almost every time I look in the mirror. When I shave, he seems to be looking back at me. When I get out of the shower, I can’t seem to hide from his prying eyes. When I was a young man, I never thought I resembled my dad very much. It’s only as I have gotten older and my hair – what is left of it – has grayed that I have seen this uncanny resemblance. The bags that have appeared under my eyes are the same bags that were under my father’s eyes. The skin on my cheeks that used to be tight and taut has recently sagged in the same way my father’s skin sagged. Muscles which once helped me in my hard labor as a young man have softened. My chest which once stood tall in its place has slipped to become a stomach. And a rather substantial one at that.
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer When I was a young man I never thought much about the changes I noted in my father as he aged. I just felt it was a normal progression. It never occurred to me that same change was to be my heritage. Now, I am not saying aging is bad. It certainly beats the alternative. So many of my friends and relatives never had the opportunity. It’s just that age seems to creep up on us. It seems I sleep better in my recliner in the afternoon than in my comfortable bed at night. I have aches and pains in places where I never even knew I had places. Bette Davis once said getting old was not for sissies. I can attest to that. My father lived into his 90s, and insurance actuarial tables suggest I will probably do the same. The last two years of my father’s life were difficult for the family because he only visited
our world on occasion. I hope I can pass peacefully into that gentle sleep and not be a bother to anyone. Lately my wife and I have been examining our lives. We have been together for more than 51 years so I think we can say we will probably stay together for what’s left of our tour on this earth. Like so many, we have tried to plan our finances around taking care of ourselves until the last days. We have planned for the future but have decided recently we might as well try to enjoy the present more. We are going to treat ourselves better. There are restaurants we haven’t visited. There are places we haven’t seen. This kind of crazy thinking would never have occurred to my father’s generation. I don’t know if they would have approved. This is my plan. The next time I look into the mirror and have yet another visit from my dad, I will look to see if there is a disapproving stare. Who knows, that mirror might be on a wall of a resort on a beautiful beach, or in the home of an old friend I haven’t seen in too long a time. I think he will approve. Maybe he will even smile. I know I will.
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7
ORGANIZATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 748 JAN. 7, 2014 DISTRICT CENTER BOARD ROOM
The organizational school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Chair Michelle Meyer. Members present: Meyer; Mary McCabe, vice chair; Jason Nies, clerk; Krista Durrwachter, director; Pam Raden, director; Dan Riordan, director; and Michael M. Spanier, interim superintendent. Members absent: None. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Durrwachter to approve the agenda with the following additions – action item for approval of New Instructional Calendar to account for school cancellation on Jan. 7, 2014. All in favor. Motion carried. Acting Chair Meyer opened nominations for the position of chair. Raden nominated Meyer for chair. McCabe seconded the nomination. No other nominations were received. Meyer was elected as chair. Chair Meyer continued presiding over the meeting. McCabe nominated Durrwachter for vice chair. Raden seconded the nomination. No other nominations were received.Durrwachter was elected as vice chair. Durrwachter nominated Nies for clerk/treasurer. Raden seconded the nomination. No other nominations were received. Nies was elected as clerk/treasurer. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to designate Sentry Bank, US Bank, Minnesota School Districts Liquid Assets Fund, and PMA Financial Network as depositories for 2014. All in favor.Motion carried. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Raden to authorize a signature facsimile for payment of board-authorized expenditures bearing the signature of the chair and clerk/ treasurer. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by McCabe to authorize use of current facsimile for payment of boardauthorized expenditures until new one is received.All in favor. Motion carried.
Meyer appointed the following to board committees:
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Riordan to set 12 regular board meetings for 2014 to be held at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month (unless a national holiday). Proposed time to continue at 7 p.m. – except during the summer months of June, July and August which would begin at 4:30 p.m. Board meeting dates were set as follows: Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 17, April 28, May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. All in favor. Motion carried.
Committee Appointments Negotiations: Durrwachter Benton-Stearns Education District: Riordan Legislative Network and SEE: Raden and Riordan Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Committee: Raden, Meyer and Durrwachter Technology: Nies, Raden and Meyer Community Outreach: Raden, Meyer and Durrwachter Facilities: McCabe, Nies and Meyer
A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Durrwachter to set the salary of board members for chair and treasurer at $3,200 annually, and directors at $2,800 annually. Stipend for special and other designated meetings will be $50 for meetings from one to two hours, $100 for meetings from two to four hours, $150 for meetings from four to six hours, $400 for meetings longer than six. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to identify the official newspaper for publication as Sartell Newsleader. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to adopt the following resolution allowing the payment of claims prior to board approval in certain circumstances presently in effect:
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Nies to have Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 as a regular school day for the loss of the instructional day of Tuesday, Jan.7, 2014. Also recommend, for moving Friday, Jan. 17, 2014 In-service /Workshop to Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. The closing was due to inclement weather and road conditions. All in favor. Motion carried.
Steve Wruck, director of business services, be authorized to make payment prior to board approval of claims that cannot be deferred until the next board meeting without loss to the district of discount privileges and Wruck is authorized to initiate and transact electronic fund transfers for the purpose of investment of excess monies and for payment of bond principal and interest. Said authority is delegated pursuant to M.S.1996, Section 123B.02, Subd. 18. All in favor. Motion carried.
School Board Committees Policy: McCabe and Riordan Finance and Operations: Nies, Meyer and McCabe
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Nies to identify Ratwood, Roszak and Maloney, and Kennedy and Graven as the district’s legal representatives. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by McCabe to adjourn the meeting at 5:04 p.m. Motion carried. Jason Nies, clerk/treasurer Publish: Jan. 31, 2014
PROPERTY TAX HEARING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 748 DEC. 16, 2013 DISTRICT CENTER BOARD ROOM The public hearing for the proposed 2013 payable 2014 levy was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Michelle Meyer. Members present: Meyer, chair; Mary McCabe, vice chair; Jason Nies, clerk;
Krista Durrwachter, director; Pam Raden, director; Dan Riordan, director; and Michael M. Spanier, interim superintendent. Members absent:None.
Business Manager Steve Wruck reviewed the 2013 payable 2014 levy materials including the 20132014 budget, types of levies, and property tax calculations.
Board
to best meet the needs of the child.
The board discussed an email received from a staff member who is the parent of a middle school student. The staff member expressed concerns about safety and access to the middle school building.
from page 3 Discuss All-Day Everyday Kindergarten 2014-15: The district will offer all-day, everyday kindergarten next year at no cost to families due to new state funding. Should families choose to have their child in half day; the assigned school will work with the family
Discuss School District Calendar: The board discussed the process the district will follow in creating and proposing the calendar. The director of learning services will lead a committee with a similar process and make-up as the committee that proposed the 2013-14 calendar which consisted of district administration, staff and parent/community input.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. was made by Riordan and seconded by Nies. All in favor. Motion carried. Jason Nies, clerk
8
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Community Calendar
Friday, Jan. 31 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. SJU student Noah Speeter performs, 8 p.m., Local Blend, downtown St. Joseph.
Saturday, Feb. 1 Intervention workshop, 9 a.m.noon, alcohol- or drug-addiction intervention workshop facilitated by trained specialists. Free. No registration required. Recovery Plus, 713 Anderson Ave., St. Cloud, 1-800-742-4357 or visit centracare.com. Monday, Feb. 3 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Sartell Lions Club, 7 p.m., upstairs of Blue Line Sports Bar andGrill, 1101 2nd St. S., Sartell. 248-3240. Tuesday, Feb. 4 55+ Driver Improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Life Assembly of God, 2409 Clearwater Road, St. Cloud, 1-888-234-1294. Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Atonement Lutheran Church, 1144 29th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Wednesday, Feb. 5 St. Stephen City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall. 320-251-0964. Thursday, Feb. 6 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain
St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. 55+ Driver Improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 5-9 p.m., Gilleland Chevrolet-Geo Inc., 3019 Division St., St. Cloud, 1-888-234-1294. Great River Regional Coin Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Miller Auto Marine Sports Plaza, 2930 2nd St. S., St. Cloud. Saturday, Feb. 8 Sartell Farmers’ Winter Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. Sunday, Feb. 9 Project ASTRIDE benefit breakfast and silent auction, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (auction to 12:30 p.m.) Moose Family Center, 1300 3rd Street N., Waite Park. www.astride.org.
Friday, Jan. 31, 2014
NOW HIRING
Centennial Photo Book
in St. Cloud
Help us celebrate St. Stephen’s Centennial on July 19, 2014 with a commemorative book.
EVENT SPECIALIST Conduct in-store demonstrations to generate excitement and brand awareness through events and promotions. Weekends. Email: linda.vue@asmnet.com Phone: 952-829-3304
Submit photos
(digital or hard copy) All photos will be returned.
Contact Anita or Verdell via St. Stephen City Hall at 320-251-0964.