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Friday, March 28, 2014 Volume 19, Issue 13 Est. 1995
Town Crier Maple syrup operation tours set at Kraemer Lake County Park
The public is invited to tour the maple syrup operation from 1-4 p.m. the last weekend in March and first two weekends of April at Stearns County’s Kraemer Lake – Wildwood County Park, southwest of St. Joseph off CR 51 at 29709 Kipper Road. Tours are free. Look for signage. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
Tillemans to be featured on ‘On the Road’ March 30, 31
Sartell resident Larry Tillemans will be featured in a three-minute interview about the Nuremberg War Crime Trials by TV journalist Jason Davis on KSTP Channel 5 at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, March 30 and at 11 a.m. and noon Monday, March 31 in Davis’ “On the Road Again” segment and also on his website.
Read to children for Llama Llama Read-A-Rama
Llama Llama Read-A-Rama is a St. Cloud Area community initiative to encourage reading with children, starting at birth. Volunteers can read to children and assist with projects in preschools, Head Start Reach Up Inc. and Boys and Girls Clubs on April 10-11. All readers are encouraged to talk about their work/daily life as part of their volunteer experience so children hear about the importance of reading in everyday activities. For more information on this and other United Way volunteer opportunities, visit www. thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
Training set April 5 for therapeutic horseback riding
Volunteer training for Project ASTRIDE will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at Avon Hills Paints and Quarter Horses in Avon. This is a 100-percent volunteer organization providing therapeutic horseback activities to individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. Contact the program at info@astride.org or visit www.astride.org.
Hot off the press
If you’d like to receive the Newsleader hot off the press, send us your email address and we’ll notify you with a link when our website is updated, which is typically by noon a day in advance of the print edition. Send your email to news@thenewsleaders. com and you should start receiving your reminder at that address within a week. Notify us otherwise.
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
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Public Works report reveals lots of fun facts by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell has 96 miles of public streets, 27 miles of bituminous trails, 40 parks, 1,112 fire hydrants and three water-pumping plants. Those are just some of the interesting fun facts within the 2013 annual report of the Sartell Public Works Department presented to the city council at its March 24 meeting. The report gives an outline of all of the factors – often taken for granted or out-ofsight –that keep the city up and running. The Public Works Department is headed by Brad Borders; the assistant director is John Kothenbeutel, with 12 other employees. The following are some of the statistics from that report.
Streets
There are five full-time workers and three seasonal street workers for the city (two in the summer, one in the winter). Works • page 4
photo by Dennis Dalman
Sartell Public Works utility operators Aaron Hauser (left) and Jeff Bemboom discuss the giant pumps that pump treated water to an outdoor, underground holding tank, ready for use by city residents. The pumps are located in one of the city’s water plants, the western one.
O’Driscoll hopes to boost de-escalation training by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
A bill authored by State Rep. Tim O’Driscoll ( R- S a r t e l l ) would increase training funds for O’Driscoll police who could find themselves in de-escalation crises with returned military veterans. O’Driscoll’s bill calls for increasing the amount of deescalation training funds from $50,000 to $100,000. It would cover training costs at three police-officer schools in Alexandria, Fond du Lac and Hibbing. Last year at the Minnesota Legislature, a woman testified before the House Finance Committee, of which O’Driscoll is a member, about the time her husband, a war veteran, was under extreme duress, leading to a call to the police. When the police came, the woman said, they handled the crisis situation so professionally with such calmness, they succeeded in defusing a potentially dangerous situation. It was that woman’s testimony that con-
vinced O’Driscoll the de-escalation training funds should be increased. O’Driscoll, who serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has been widely honored for his legislative and personal work on behalf of military veterans. The bill he proposed is currently making its way through committees. Recently, on a unanimous vote, it was approved by the State Finance and Veterans Affairs Committee. It’s now due to go before the Public Safety Committee. The Minnesota Senate is also working on a similar bill. If the House and Senate can agree on a bill, it
will go before the Legislature for a vote in both chambers. Previously, for two consecutive years, $50,000 was given for de-escalation training. O’Driscoll, in an interview with the Sartell Newsleader, said he is hoping the amount can be doubled. He met personally with police chiefs from throughout Stearns County, and they are all in favor of the increased training amount. O’Driscoll said there is an immediate need for it because an increasing number of veterans are returning home after serving overseas in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of those veterans, he said,
have trouble adjusting back into civilian life. The mounting stresses of some, O’Driscoll said, can lead to emotional crises that require understanding and calm expertise from professionals, including police officers, who can help veterans in crisis situations. “Veterans need a voice to be represented in St. Paul,” O’Driscoll said. A good development, he added, is many more returning veterans are becoming aware of the many kinds of help available for them, and the old stigmas against asking for that help have been diminishing.
Council denies Legends’ expansion request by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
On a 3-2 vote, the Sartell City Council nixed a variance request by “Legends of Heritage Place” because of concerns about intrusion in a wetlands area. The decision happened at the March 10 council meeting. Members Steve Hennes and Sarah Jane Nicoll voted for the variance; members Amy Braig-
Lindstrom, David Peterson and Mayor Joe Perske voted against it. “Legends” had requested a variance from the city’s wetlands ordinance in order to construct a building that would join the two buildings currently there. The new building would include 24 more residential units and new amenities. It would also be a connection for the two buildings that are now separated.
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“Legends” is a residential complex that includes units for people suffering from memory loss. It includes a memory-care unit, an assisted-living unit and an independent-living unit – two home-like buildings located at 673 Brianna Drive. Sartell City Planner Anita Rasmussen noted the request had been unanimously approved for recommendation to the council by the city’s planLegends • page 5
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, March 28, 2014
People
contribute photo
contributed photo
This past weekend the 16 Blue Team of the Sartell Impact Junior Olympic Volleyball Club took first place in the Gold Division at the Sartell Impact Winter Classic 2014 Tournament. Team members include the following: (front row, left to right) Hanna Brennan and Addy Demaine; (middle row) Miah Gessell, Sydney Dille, Maddie Schnettler; and (back row) Mikenzie Gessell, Megan Knutson, Katelyn Weide and Lexi Winter. The group is coached by Sue Neller.
The Sartell PeeWee A team took 3rd place at the State Tournament in Crookston, Minn. the weekend of March 14-16. The team of only 11 skaters, 1 goalie and 1 back-up goalie was able to take down Spring Lake Park in the first round of the tournament 2-1. The Sabres suffered a tough loss on Saturday to Highland Central (who later won the tournament) but battled back to beat ArmstrongCooper 1-0 on Sunday to bring home the third-place trophy. After the tournament, Head Coach Brent Boerger said, “I’ve coached for 20 years and I’ve never seen a group of PeeWees work as hard as these kids have. They are a special group and will continue to do great things.” Team members are (front row, left to right) Talon Sigurdson, Maddux Hagy, Jack Hennemann and Devin Peterson; (second row) Cameron Cromwell, Austin Adelman, Nicholas Buicea-Arama, Luke Schmidt, Michael Webster and Nick Ramberg; (third row) Luke Jones, Brock Boerger, Nick Plautz and Mason LaPlane (Crookston PeeWee). Coaches are Brent Boerger, Anthony Reynolds, Jason Jones and Paul Schmidt.
Patti Gartland, a Sartell resident, was recently appointed as commissioner to the Metropolitan Airports Commission effective March 26. Her term expires Jan. 1, 2018. She replaces Mike Landy. Ashley Sylte, St. Stephen, was recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. She is a senior majoring in accounting. Students must achieve a minimum gradepoint average of 3.5 to receive this honor.
contributed photo
Three investment and insurance representatives from Jacobs Financial in St. Cloud, (left to right) David Jacobs, Sartell, James Jacobs and Andrew Jacobs, have once again qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table. This is an international association that distinguishes financial professionals who have demonstrated exceptional professional knowledge, client service and ethical conduct. They join the ranks of the most successful sales professionals in the life insurance-based financial services business.
Blotter
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.
March 9 12:31 a.m. Willow Lane. Loud
music. A complaint was made regarding loud music and a male yelling outside of a residence. Officers arrived and could not hear any music or locate anyone outside. March 10 11:22 a.m. Riverside Avenue. Traffic stop. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 50 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver stated she was not aware of her speed. She was issued a citation and released.
Blotter • page 3
Jacquelyn Schneider, formerly of Sartell, recently graduated from law school at William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul. She is the daughter of Denise Schneider. A Sartell student has recently achieved academic ranking in the top 2 percent of students in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University, Ames. He is James Frank, a sophomore. Eleven Sartell students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. They and their majors are as follows: Tara Haakonson, sophomore, cell and molecular biology; Phillip Hoelscher, freshman, theatre; Tucker Isaacson, sophomore, undeclared; Michael Kampa, senior, athletic training; Kyle Mareck, senior, economics; Taylor Mareck, freshman, pre-business; Mattie Nieters, senior, cell and molecular biology; Allison Rengel, junior, pre-business; Kayla Sattler, senior, accounting; Andrew Spoden, junior, computer science; and Abigail Whitney, ju-
contributed photo
The Sartell Impact JO Volleyball 17’s took first place in Gold Division at Eagan ‘Sota Slam Tournament recently. This team also placed first in their bracket for the President’s Day Tournament in February. Team members include the following: (front row, left to right) Erin Eickmeier and Tiana Wood; (middle row) Hailey Winter, Andrea Ramler and Tayler Quaal; and (back row) Kia Grindland, Mikayla Gessell, Amelia Barkley and Coach Sheila Wheeler.
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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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P.O. Box 324 • 32 1st Ave. N.W. • St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 Phone (320) 363-7741 • Fax (320) 363-4195 • E-mail address: news@thenewsleaders.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ST. JOSEPH NEWSLEADER, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Blotter from page 2
7:20 p.m. 2nd Street S. Driving complaint. A report was made regarding a vehicle driving erratically and with its hazards on. An officer arrived and found the driver was having vehicle problems and could not get the vehicle started again. The vehicle was towed and the driver was released. March 12 1:30 a.m. 24th Street N. Suspicious vehicle. A report was made regarding an unknown vehicle sitting outside a residence. An officer arrived and found the vehicle was stuck in the snow. A tow was called to remove the vehicle. 10:42 a.m. 8th Street N. Welfare check. A report was made regarding a home with frozen water pipes and a small child living in the residence. An officer spoke with the family and found they did have jugs of fresh water and were able to go to a relative’s home for showering. 7:27 p.m. Troop Drive. Intoxicated person. A report was made regarding an adult female sleeping in her car and possibly intoxicated. Officers arrived and were unable to locate the female. March 13 10:23 a.m. Riverside Avenue. Traffic stop. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 45 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver stated he was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com and released. 9:07 p.m. 15th Street S. Domestic. An emergency call was placed stating an intoxicated adult female was threatening to commit suicide and cutting the furniture. Officers arrived and were able to transport her to the St Cloud Hospital without further incident. March 14 2:56 a.m. Lowell Lane. Domestic. An emergency call was placed stating an adult male was physically attacking an adult female. Officers arrived and found evidence of a physical fight and the adult male was placed under arrest without incident. 11:48 p.m. County Road 120. Vehicle vandalism. A report was made regarding a vehicle’s window being broken sometime during the evening. No items were taken from the vehicle. March 15 1:10 p.m. Riverside Avenue. Traffic stop. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 49 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver stated she was not aware of her speed. She was issued a citation and
released. March 16 6:08 p.m. Pinecone Road. Theft. A report was made of a stolen license plate off a vehicle. 7:52 p.m. Suicidal female. A report was made regarding a juvenile female possibly attempting suicide. Officers arrived and were able to speak with the mother and the juvenile female. She was transported to the hospital without incident. March 17 10:14 p.m. 10th Street S. Verbal. An emergency call was placed stating an adult female and male were verbally arguing. Officers arrived and were able to diffuse the situation. The male did leave for the evening without further incident. March 18 11:52 a.m. Fieldcrest Court. Welfare check. A welfare check was requested for an adult male. Officers were not able to locate him at his residence but found he was at an appointment.
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Works from front page The total mileage of city streets is 96, with 5.6 miles of private streets. Alleys total 4 miles. Storm-sewer pipes total 67 miles. There are 98 storm-water ponds (four added in 2013), and there are 85 rain gardens.
Plowing photo by Dennis Dalman
Utility operator Aaron Hauser (right) pours a bucket of sodium permanganate into one of the treatment tanks at Sartell’s western water plant. The solution helps regenerate the sand-filter cells that remove iron and manganese from well water before it’s pumped to the city’s water supply. With Hauser are two other utility operators – Jeff Bemboom (left) and Ryan Jendro.
The average time it took to plough city streets in 2013 was 6-8 hours for a 4-inch snowfall and 8-10 hours for an 8-inch snowfall. The cost for plowing 6 inches of snow (8 hours) was $8,718 on weekdays and $9,663 on weekends. That cost includes salt, fuel and labor. During the winter of 2013-14, the city contracted with a company to help with plowing due to the massive amounts of snow. The contracted company plowed the lots by the police department and fire station, as well as lots at city hall and by the outdoor ice rink at Pinecone Regional Park.
Seal-coating
There were 110,084 square yards of pavement seal-coated in 2013. Last year was the third year of a joint-powers agreement to share seal-coating work with
Sauk Rapids, Waite Park and St. Augusta. The seal-coating is done by the ASTECH Corp. with public-work crews completing all crack-filling duties.
Composting
In 2013, Sartell’s compost site opened April 27 and closed Nov. 6. There were 1,795 compostsite permits sold by city hall in 2013, including 179 to nonresidents and 34 to township residents. During the Christmas season, 290 trees were dropped off by people who brought a total of 748 pounds of food for local food shelves.
Parks
Sartell’s 40 parks are maintained by two full-time and three seasonal summer workers, plus volunteer gardeners. Many do not know that parks are often rented per day by groups such as community education, the Police Activities Leauge, Bible camps and athletic leagues. During 2013, there were 132 park rentals at Val Smith Park, 52 at Watab Park, 14 at Pinecone Regional Park, seven at Northside Park and two at Lions Community Park.
Community gardens
There are 106 community vegetable gardens in the city, 96 on the west side, 10 on the east side.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Trails
In Sartell, there are 27 miles of bituminous trails for hiking/ biking and 22 miles of sidewalks. In the winter, 16 miles of bituminous trails and sidewalks are maintained. Cross-country skiing trails were added to Pinecone Central Park in 2013.
Water
Four full-time employees and one seasonal summer employee take care of Sartell’s water needs. The city has 10 wells at its west, east and southwest water plants. There are three water towers with a total capacity for 1.3-million gallons and three inground clear wells with a capacity for 1.7-million gallons. On a brutally hot day, Aug. 27, 2013, the city used a record amount of water – 5.8-million gallons. There are 1,260 residentialcity water connections in Sartell and 232 commercial/industrial connections. There are 1,112 fire hydrants in the city. There are 104 miles of watermains in the city and 82 miles of sewer lines. In 2013, there were 13 miles of sewer lines cleaned. The League of Minnesota Cities recommends clay-line sewers be cleaned every three years and PVC sewer lines be cleaned every five years. There are 10 lift stations for wastewater located throughout Sartell.
Students honored for ‘Live United’ essays by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
***Win a 4-pack of Globetrotter Tickets!*** Send news@thenewsleaders.com an email by noon, Friday, April 4 with your first and last name, town you reside in and phone number and you will be entered to win. Contest winners will be notified by phone by 1 p.m. Friday, April 4. Good luck!
Collecting items for food shelves, helping at the humane society, lending a hand to neighbors in need – those are just three ways everyone can “Live United,” which is the theme of an awardwinning essay by Sartell Middle School student Rachel Lindmeier. The daughter of Mary Kay and John Lindmeier of Sartell, Rachel
is a fifth-grade student in teacher Jen Olson’s class. The essay contest was sponsored by United Way of Central Minnesota. She was one of four students who were presented “Live United” awards by United Way personnel Feb. 24 at Sartell Middle School. They were among 13 SMS students who wrote essays for the contest. One student decided to enter a “Live United” video
instead of an essay, and she too was given an award. All of the essay writers were honored for their work with a pizza luncheon at the awards ceremony, hosted by Lori Dornburg, SMS academic extension coordinator. The students then took turns reading their essays and watching the “Live United” video. All students were given a certificate of appreciation and a
Essays • page 8
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 28, 2014
Legends from front page ning commission. The “Legends” variance request was asking for a building setback of 20 feet with a buffer zone of four feet. What is normally required under city regulations is a setback of 20 feet with a buffer of 10 feet, Rasmussen noted. She told the council the wetlands at that location had expanded in recent years. The request, Rasmussen said, is unique to that property, and the dilemma was not caused by the owners, she added. A unique problem is grounds for granting a variance. Rasmussen said city staff and the planning commission recommend granting the variance with several spelled-out conditions. She also noted the city had met with the applicants and a hydrologist and every effort was made to resolve
the problem. The variance, she added, is the only way the proposed project could be realized. But, after Rasmussen’s presentation, it soon became apparent three council members had serious reservations about the request. All three said they are not at all opposed to “Legends” wanting to improve the facility, but they cannot disregard the wetlands issue. Braig-Lindstrom said construction of the two current buildings must surely have been a cause for the wetlands expanding in that area. Peterson said he couldn’t find anything “unique” about the property that would necessarily warrant a variance. Perske said there ought to be some kind of wetlands mitigation for the project, that there is a large amount of impervious surface in that area and that this might be a case of putting “too many pounds of potatoes in a smaller package.” Perske also said he is worried granting a variance in this case could set a bad prec-
edent. The council, he added, has talked for so long about wetlands, green spaces and preservations of areas that why should the council now want to abandon those standards? Rasmussen said the request will not increase or decrease the size of the wetland there. City Engineer Mike Nielson told the council the buffer solution proposed would suffice, above and beyond, most requirements as called for in the city’s wetlands ordinance. City Administrator Mary Degiovanni said a lot of detailed work had gone into the city staff working out a variance solution with “Legends” and the council should consider taking all of the detailed work into consideration. Hennes and Nicoll strongly disagreed with their three fellow council members. Nicoll challenged Braig-Lindstrom’s contention that building on that site was the cause of the increased size of the wetlands. There is no proof of that, she said. Nicoll also said the staff
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presented the request with a lot of good reasons for granting it, the planning commission voted 4-0 to recommend council approval and “Legends’” suggestion to add 650 square feet of additional buffer zone on another part of the property (by taking out one parking lot) is also more than adequate. “I’m comfortable with it,” Nicoll said. Hennes called the plan a “great addition to a wonderful complex.” It’s needed, he
said, adding “and not just for this community. It’s a good plan, and it’s good for Sartell.” Hennes also said it would be “a small change for a major expansion” for a facility the city is fortunate to have here. Braig-Lindstrom said “Legends” could find a way to accomplish their proposed project without the particular plan presented to the council. After the long, involved discussion, the council voted to deny the request.
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 28, 2014
Opinion
Our View State, country make progress in workplace discriminations
There’s good news for Minnesota in the latest annual report on workplace harassment and discrimination from the U.S. Economic Employment Opportunities Commission. The report clearly shows a steady decline in charges against employers since 2009. Last year, in Minnesota, there were 982 charges of harassment and/or discrimination reported to the EEOC. That’s a decrease of 12 percent since 2012 and 81 fewer cases than in 2009. Moreover, there has been a steady decline in such cases in every category of issues handled by the EEOC. For 2013, here is a break-down of the number of cases reported in those issue categories: race 349, sex 245, national origin 114, religion 37, color 29, retaliation by employers 554, age 260, disability 358 and pay issues 17. Those numbers add up to more than the 982 total because in some cases, individuals filed charges in more than one category. Nationally, too, there has been progress. In 2013, there were 93,727 charges nationwide, a 5.7 percent decrease from the 99,412 charges received in 2012. Among all charges, alleged retaliations by employers against employees was the most common charge (38,539, or 41 percent of all charges). Such retaliation can include firings of employees because they reported the employers did something illegal or unethical; or for other things employers might have said or done that angered employees. The next most-common charges were in the categories of race discrimination, sex discrimination (including sexual harassment and pregnancy) and discrimination due to disabilities. Of course, we should remember not all charges reported are necessarily true. However, we can safely assume the steady decline in charges filed against employers indicates an improved, more enlightened and healthier work climate by and large. It’s obvious that widespread educational efforts, a growing respect for others and a rejection of all types of discrimination and harassment is taking hold and paying off in the workplace. Like all good changes, such as seatbelt use, the fight against workplace injustices has taken time. There is still progress to be made, but it’s heartening to know Minnesota and the nation are heading in a good direction. Local, state and federal agencies deserve much credit for this. By wielding enforcement powers, they have reminded people, through lawsuits and fines, that discriminatory actions are not only illegal but unwise. Those kinds of reminders filter down, slowly but surely, and they help to change, for the better, healthy, productive and mutually respectful workplace relationships among employers and employees. In 2013, the EEOC resolved 209 lawsuits, resulting in $39 million in monetary benefits to victims of illegal discrimination, plus wide-ranging injunctive relief against the offenders. Lawsuits filed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 were the most common (78) followed by lawsuits filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act (51). Some sweet day, we can hope, that after more enforcement efforts and more personal enlightenment, there will be virtually discrimination-free workplaces far and wide for one and all. And just maybe, who knows?, a discrimination-free society, period.
Fairness and ethics
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 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.
Iditarod champs have local ties Few people know the famed Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race has connections to St. Joseph and St. Cloud. One of the most arduous, dangerous races in the world, the Iditarod is a 1,200-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome. Dallas Seavey, 26, won the race in record time March 11, his second win in three years. Last year, Dallas’s father, Mitch, won the Iditarod – his second win, too. And Mitch is the son of Dan Seavey, originally from St. Cloud, who helped establish the great race in 1973. Dan completed the race four times but never came in first. In 1963, Dan and wife Shirley moved from St. Cloud to Seward, where Dan took a high school teaching job. He’d always been intrigued by sled-dog racing so Alaska was the ideal destination. Seavey’s love of the race has become generational. Grandson Dallas was the youngest musher to win the race, age 25, in 2012; son Mitch was the oldest person to win it, 53, in 2013. Dan is now 74. The first woman to win the Iditarod was Libby Riddles in 1985, with a time of 18 days, 10 minutes and 17 seconds. Her extraordinary achievement was the subject of jubilant international news. Riddles, during her late teen years, lived in St. Joseph – from 1970 through 1973 before moving to Alaska. Her father was a teacher at St. Cloud State University. I was fortunate enough to have known Libby during the summer of 1973. I’d met her through a mutual St. Cloud friend, Jim, and the three of us and others hung out together quite a few times at social gatherings
Dennis Dalman Editor and parties that summer. Libby was intelligent, with a quick sense of humor. She was a tall willowy blonde, eerily beautiful because of her pale, delicate, almost ghost-like skin and white-blonde long hair. After the summer of 1973, Libby just disappeared, and all I knew is that I’d heard she’d moved to Alaska. Flash forward to March 1985: Jim, the mutual friend, called me longdistance one day, his voice filled with flabbergasted amazement. He had some really good news to share. “You remember Libby Riddles?” he asked. “Well, of course I do,” I said. “She just won the Iditarod!” I was speechless; I just couldn’t grasp it. I would never have dreamed that Libby, so pale and delicate, would ever become a hardy musher. A case of true grit if ever I heard one. Flash forward to 2007: One day, Jim’s mother in north St. Cloud was cleaning out stuff stored in her basement when she came across an olive-drab backpack. She later showed it to Jim to ask whose it could be. What a blast from the past! It belonged to Libby Riddles. It had been tucked away in that basement for 34 years. Jim couldn’t wait to show me what he called “a hippy artifact uncovered from the past.” It did look “hippy-esque” because of the
colorful yarn sewn long ago onto its surface by Libby in the shapes of stylized birds and a turtle. Jim and I sat and marveled at that “artifact” returned magically from the distant past. Then Jim told me to keep it. Flash forward to January 2014: While digging through one of my memory trunks, I saw that old backpack. I decided I’ve just got to get it back to Libby. I googled her name and found her snail-mail address. I put the backpack in a box with a letter and mailed it. Then I sat back and imagined, with a grin on my face, her surprise when she’d open it. Two weeks later, a package from Libby arrived. It contained a very nice letter that began: “Hi Denny! Wow, I get a lot of things in the mail, but this was special. A blast from the past is RIGHT!” The package also contained an autographed copy of Race Across Alaska, a book written by Libby and co-author Tim Jones about her historic 1985 win. I started it and couldn’t put it down. What a pageturner! “Race” is a vividly detailed, almost hour-by-hour personal account of that harrowing but exciting trek across some of the coldest but most beautiful territory on the planet. It was a courageous, dangerous journey led by Libby’s trusty sled dogs. Her love for those wonderful dogs and her uncanny understanding of the unique needs and personalities of each of them shines through on every page. I haven’t read a book that interesting in a long, long time. I highly recommend it. A signed book and more about Libby’s fascinating life can be had on her website: www. libbyriddles.com.
Letter to editor
Then, what is the answer, Mr. Scarbro? Dave DeMars, Sauk Rapids True to form your guest columnist, Ron Scarbro takes up the Republican/ Tea Party drum beat to denounce the efforts by the Obama administration to do something about our messy health care system. “. . . this whole deal is an unmitigated disaster,” according to Scarboro. Maybe – maybe not. I trust Scarboro would not defend the status quo of five years ago as an ideal health care system. Granted we have some of the premier hospitals and researchers in the world – and some of the most excellent care found anywhere on earth – but a poor man can’t access it because, as Woody Guthrie put it in 1930, “You ain’t got the do re mi, boys.” Should we regress to 1984 when hospitals played “poor-patient dumping roulette?” Oh, I’m sorry I forgot the landmark legislation the sainted Ronald Reagan signed – the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which contained the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, passed in 1986. The law requires hospitals to treat patients in need of emergency care regardless of their ability to pay, citizenship or even legal status. In 2013, the Democrats in Congress went further and passed the Affordable Health Care Act and the presi-
dent signed it. It isn’t what everyone wanted, especially the Republicans. True to code, not one Republican voted for the Affordable Health Care Act, and 34 Democrats even joined them, but it wasn’t enough. The AHCA became the law of the land. Challenged all the way to the Supreme Court, the court upheld the AHCA by a 5-4 margin. Since its passage, the House Republicans in Congress have tried on 50 different occasions to repeal the AHCA, nicknamed Obamacare. Just imagine if they had worked with the president and tried to fix some of the problems. But no – modern day Republicans are so filled with enmity and hatred of President Obama they dare not bring themselves to support a health-care act which they themselves proposed as far back as 1974. Just do a Google search on “Nixon’s Plan For Health Reform, In His Own Words.” See if his proposal doesn’t largely provide an outline for the AHCA. Or check on the success of Romneycare in Massachusetts. “You won’t hear many Republicans say it, but Mitt Romney’s health-care insurance program in Massachusetts, seen as a model for the Affordable Care Act, has been largely successful and popular,” wrote Brad Knickerbocker in the Sept. 29, 2013 issue of Christian Science Monitor. Scarboro writes, “Granted, the medical industry in this country needs
reform. Obamacare isn’t the answer.” OK, Scarboro. Obamacare may not be the answer, but going back as far as 1974, Republicans have had their thumb in their bum and done nothing and still continue to do nothing. It’s time the Republicans stood for something other than simply being the “nattering nabobs of negativism.” (thank you, Spiro Agnew). “It’s not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt “Citizenship in a Republic,” speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910) Roosevelt was still a Republican then, but by 1912 he saw the need to be progressive and be more than a member in the Party of NO!
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 28, 2014
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Community Calendar
Friday, March 28 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-7332767. Fish Fry, 4:30-7:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish, Collegeville. 320-363-2569. Fish Fry, 5-8 p.m., Stride Academy fundraiser, El Paso Sports Bar & Grill, St. Joseph.
Saturday, March 29 History Day, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 6thto 12th-graders from schools in central Minnesota present exhibits and performances, Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University. 320-308-2104 St. John’s Maple Syrup Festival, 1-4 p.m., St. John’s Outdoor University, www.csbsju.edu/OutdoorU.htm. St. Cloud Freedom Flight fundraiser, 4-10 p.m., steak fry, silent and live auction. VFW Post 428, 9 18th Ave. N, St. Cloud. Sunday, March 30 Spring Coin Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Great River Regional Coin Club, Kelly Inn, 100 4th Ave. S., St. Cloud.
AUTO
DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-day vacation. Tax deductible. Free towing. All paperwork taken care of. 1-800-423-0656. (MFPA)
HEALTH
Medical Alert for Seniors – 24/7 monitoring. FREE equipment. FREE shipping. Nationwide service. $29.95/ month. Call Medical Guardian today. 1-888-721-6758. (MFPA)
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GENERAL HELP WANTED
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Monday, March 31 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Tuesday, April 1 Blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Atonement Lutheran Church, 1144 29th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Wednesday, April 2 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Wendelin Church, 22714 Hwy 15, St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Thursday, April 3 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. Great River Regional Coin Club, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Miller Auto Marine Sports Plaza, 2930 2nd St. S., St. Cloud. Friday, April 4 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Amer-
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LEgal notICE
ican Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Fish Fry, 5-8 p.m., St. Joe Baseball fundraiser, El Paso Sports Bar & Grill, St. Joseph. Luther College Cathedral Choir, 7 p.m., freewill offering at the concert, Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pine Cone Road N., Sartell, Free-Will offering. 320-255-0488. Saturday, April 5 St. John’s Maple Syrup Festival, 1-4 p.m., St. John’s Outdoor University, Collegeville. www.csbsju.edu/ OutdoorU.htm Messiah in the Passover Banquet, 5 p.m., Seder meal, Park Fellowship Church, 32932 Veterans Drive, Sartell. Free-will offering. 320281-3201.
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HEALTH SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB: Alert for Seniors: bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic jets. Less than 4” Step-In. Wide door. Antislip floors. American made. Installation included. Call 888743-6845 for $750 off. (MFPA)
HEALTH
Canada Drug Center is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail-order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 75% on all your medication needs. Call today. 1-800-406-9568 for $10 off your first prescription and free shipping. (MFPA)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the city of Sartell will be hold a public hearing at 7 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, Monday, April 14, 2014 at the Sartell City Hall, for the purpose of amending the city code of ordinances as it relates to the Fire and Emergency Management Departments, refuse and safety-related nuisances. Copy of the proposed changes to
Weekly Lenten Fish fry serving:
CASH FOR CARS. All cars/ trucks wanted. Running or not! Top dollar paid. We come to you! Any make/model. Call for instant offer. 1-800-8719134. (MFPA)
TOP DOLLAR PAID for wrecked, damaged, junk, running and non-running cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Call now! 888-366-3353 Fast pick up! (MFPA)
CITY OF SARTELL PUBLIC HEARING CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES
Family Owned and Operated Hearing Center
• Free Hearing Screenings • Hearing Aid Sales & Service • Clean & Check All Hearing Aid Brands
320-258-4494 or 1-888-407-4327 161 19th St. S. • Ste. 111 • Sartell www.accuratehearingservices.com
• deep fried fish • baked potato • coleslaw • baked beans • dinner rolls • coffee & milk • slice of pizza & beverage $1.50
the ordinances are available for review at the city clerk’s office. All interested persons are invited to attend to voice their opinion. Written comments will be accepted until the date of the hearing. Mary Degiovanni City Administrator Publish: March 28, 2014
Fish Fry
Them ed B Raffl asket e!
March 28 • April 4 & 11 5-7:30 p.m. Adults: $9 12 & under: $5 • Under 4: free Call 320-393-3560 from 4:30-7 p.m. for take-outs.
Immaculate Conception Church 145 2nd Ave. NE • Rice • 320-393-2725 All proceeds go toward our debt reduction.
NOW HIRING ** Direct Support Staff ** A nationwide provider with over 30 years experience serving people with disabilities is hiring quality, dedicated caregivers to empower and assist individuals in realizing their own potential! Possible hours are: every other weekend and asleep overnights located in St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids and Foley. Experience is preferred but not required. Minimum requirements: 18+, valid driver’s license and good driving record and high school diploma/GED. Excellent pay and benefits, 401k & PTO! Responsibilities: provide direct care, medical administration, transportation to activities, light housekeeping and cooking. Apply online to Requisition #13-0373 at: www.dungarvin.com
Love What You Do! EEO/AA
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Colatrella
Ufearo
Essays
Lindmeier
Ava Hommerding for their essays, and Sarah Ufearo for her video. They were each given a $10 gift card. Grand-prize winner Lindfrom page 4 meier was given a $20 gift card. All of the essay writers are SMS “Live United” bracelet. The top winners, other than fifth-graders, except for Ufearo Lindmeier, are Alice Colatrella and (a sixth-grader). They were challenged to write essays about “Live
United,” explaining how acts of kindness and volunteering affect them and the people around them. It was the first time the United Way of Central Minnesota has initiated the essay contest, and SMS is the only school where it has been done. The other SMS essayists who were honored with certificates are
Friday, March 28, 2014
Natalie Betts, Brooke Eibensteiner, Mitchell Grahek, Alexandra Joseph, Lauryn Kramer, Maliah Nemeth-Grabinski, Abbie Owens, Trina Schwinn, Sophia Speckhard and Deborah Ufearo. The ceremony at SMS included Jessica Johnson, United Way marketing and communications director; Betty Schnettler, United Way
community impact coordinator; Kelsi Woods, a St. Cloud State University social-work intern student with United Way; SMS fifthgrade teacher Katie Bachmann, SMS Principal Julie Tripp; and Mary Kay Lindmeier, the mother of Rachel. To read the winning essay, visit www.thenewsleaders.com.
Residents’ input needed for comprehensive plan Input from Sartell residents will be crucial if the city is to formulate a successful 10-year Comprehensive Plan. City staff is urging residents to attend one of four public meetings and/or to give suggestions via the website.
The next scheduled meeting will take place form 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1 at Westside Learning Center at the intersection of 2nd Street S. and Pinecone Road. Those who cannot attend meetings are encouraged to email ques-
tions and suggestions to Sartell City Planner and Developer Anita Rasmussen at anita@sartell.com. Or visit the city’s website at: www. sartellmn.com. To read the story in its entirety, see the April 4 edition of the Sartell Newsleader.
Visit Saint John’s Prep for
Discovery Day Friday, April 11 Students in grades 5-11 are invited to experience Prep! Call 320-363-3315, option 3 to RSVP and reserve your space.
***Great Opportunity*** COMPETITIVE WAGES & BENEFITS!
We are a progressive, state-of-the-art steel fabrication shop.
2nd SHIFT OPENINGS! WELDERS:
Three-years experience and/or Technical College required! We need experienced welders with a production welding background.
Preferred Skills: previous manufacturing experience, strong math skills and ability to read prints.
1131 W. Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378
www.sjprep.net
320-352-6525
Or apply online at: www.std-iron.com EOE