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Police chief bestows Families build birdhouses in St. Stephen Town Crier awards for lifesaving Friday, April 8, 2016 Volume 21, Issue 14 Est. 1995
Travel to Italy without leaving home
Join the Sartell Senior Connection for Second Tuesday for Seniors at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Sartell District Service Center when retired teacher Pat McNeal will regale the public with his latest travel adventure to Italy. The free presentation is open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Mattress fundraiser set April 9 at SRR Middle School
Sauk Rapids-Rice High School band and choir will host its second annual mattress fundraiser from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School to raise funds for band equipment, instruments and student fees. This one-of-akind fundraiser allows parents and community members to support music and athletic programs by purchasing new, name-brand mattresses, with each purchase benefiting the program. CFS offers delivery, free lay-away and many of the same beds available at stores. Beds also include factory warranties, all at retail sale prices or below. Faculty, staff and civil servants may obtain a referral coupon available from any member of the band.
Training set April 16 for horseback riding
Volunteer training for Project ASTRIDE will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16 at the Rock Creek Coffeehouse in Sauk Rapids. The volunteer organization provides therapeutic horseback activities to individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. Contact Marti at martiastride@ yahoo.org or visit www.astride. org for more information.
SCSU presents Japan Night
“Matsuri Festival” is the theme of Japan Night at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9 in the Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom at St. Cloud State University. The event features a dinner with authentic Japanese food including Yakisoba (Japanese stir-fried noodles), Gyu-don (beef bowl), chocolate banana and miso soup. Carnival games, a photo booth and other activities are planned throughout the night. The event is open to the public. More than 1,000 students from 90-plus nations attend SCSU, and cultural festivals give them an opportunity to share elements of their culture with the campus community.
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes had high praise for three police officers and two residents in an awards ceremony at the March 28 city council meeting. Fred Skuza and friend Bonnie Witz were given a Police Commendation Award for helping save the life of a neighbor in an apartment complex. A neighbor, Gary Theis, was eating a late supper on Feb. 15 when a piece of food became lodged in his throat. Unable to breathe properly, he hurried to his neighbors’ place, where Skuza and Witz were at home. Witz called 911 as Skuza applied the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the piece of food. When the police arrived,
they quickly saw Witz and Skuza had everything under control. An ambulance was called, just in case. “It’s not only the first responders (who help save lives), but those in the community who step forward,” Hughes said. The council and the audience applauded Skuza and Witz as they were presented commendations. “I will never forget that night,” Theis said. “And I will always remember Bonnie and Fred for doing the Heimlich maneuver on me.”
Lifesaving officers
Three Sartell police officers received Police Department Lifesaving Awards for their teamwork in saving a man’s Police • page 7
photo by Dennis Dalman
Morgan Crusoe of Sartell (left) is assisted in building her birdhouse by Bev Supan, a member of the St. Stephen Sportsmen’s Club. Behind Morgan is her mother, Sara Crusoe. For the full story and more photos, please see page 6.
Department reports reveal upbeat news by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
According to the various government departments of Sartell, all is well with the city, and some excellent advances and achievements were set in 2015. As always in recent years, challenges in all departments were mainly due to yet more growing pains, with more people moving to Sartell, more businesses, the need for new and or improved roads, extended safety protections and other growth factors. At the March 28 city council meeting, the directors of five departments presented year-end reports to the council: fire department, police department, public works department, planning department and engineer-
Borders
Hughes
ing department. The only two members of the council present for the March 28 meeting were Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll and member Pat Lynch. Absent were members Amy Braig-Lindstrom, Steve Hennes and David Peterson. The following are summaries of the department reports. More detailed reports can be found on the city’s website: www.sartellmn.com.
Nielson
Rasmussen
Fire
The Sartell-LeSauk Fire Department had a “record year” in many respects, said new Fire Chief Jim Sattler, who was named chief to replace former long-time chief Ken Heim. There were 163 fire calls in 2015 – 47 more than the year before. Two firefighters retired in 2015, with another set to retire this year. Currently, there are
Sattler
29 members on the department, with one still in training. Each year, each firefighter goes through an average of 58 hours of training, for a total of 1,764 training hours. Training periods are set for the third Tuesday of every month in the evenings, but this month Sattler is going to add a morning session for firefighters who work night jobs. Reports • page 8
‘Mathlete’ Zhang to compete nationally by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
David Zhang, a Sartell Middle School student, is now on the four-member Minnesota MATCHCOUNTS team that will compete for the national championship May 7-10 in Washington, D.C. The Sartell Middle School team, of which Zhang is a member, recently earned fifth place in a grueling statewide compe-
tition among 26 teams in Plymouth. About 100 “mathletes” competed in the event. The other m e m b e r s Zhang of the Sartell MATHCOUNTS team, besides Zhang, are Janagan Ramanathan, Luc Westling and Jacob Wieland. On the Minnesota team
with Zhang will be Timothy Alexander, who is being homeschooled in Rochester; Jason Wang of Eden Prairie Middle School and Alex Zhu of Rochester’s Kellogg Middle School. The team that took first place at the Plymouth tournament was St. Paul’s Capitol Hill Magnet School, second was Wayzata West Middle School, third was Wayzata Central Middle School and fourth was Eden Prairie Middle School.
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MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide program that heightens student interest in math by challenging them to excel while they are in grades 6-8. Teachers and volunteers use 300 problems and activities to coach students as part of in-class instruction or in extracurricular math clubs. After several months of coaching, schools select students to compete individually or as part of a team in written and oral competitions.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, April 8, 2016
Activities, programs offered at library
contributed photo
The St. Cloud Public Library
People contributed photo
Briella Kiley of Sartell, pictured with Chris Schlichting, Coborn’s Sartell-Pinecone store director, helped her mom Jeni win the $500 grand prize at the Coborn’s/Fiora Easter Egg Hunt. Kiley diligently searched the Coborn’s website each day looking for the egg and her hard work paid off. She said she is going to buy a ball and peppermint ice cream with her winnings. C h r i s s y Henry, longtime team member of PineCone Vision Center, has recently been promoted as business Henry office manager. “This role will help keep our business services running smoothly,” said PineCone Vision Center Clinical Director Dr. Stacy Hinkemeyer. “Chrissy’s experience and education make her a great fit.” Henry holds a paraoptometric coding certification from the American Optometric Association. She also attended Rasmussen College for health information technology. In her new role, Henry will oversee the business office operations of PineCone Vision Center, analyze changes and trends of the health and vision insurance industry, as well as serve as an advocate for our patients in all billing related matters. Nathaniel Burge, son of Paula and Don Burge and a 2012 graduate of Sartell High School, will graduate from the University of Minnesota on May 14, 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. Burge will attend Ohio State University beginning in August
2016. He will be a graduate assistant pursuing his doctorate in biochemistry. Six Sartell students were among 1,778 students grades 7-12 from 43 schools in the state who recently competed in the 49th annual statewide math contest held March 31 at St. Cloud State University. They are the following: David Zhang placed first for grade seven; Henry Chen ranked in the top 5 percent for grade seven; Adrienne Gefre ranked in the top 10 percent for grade seven; Cindy Zhang took third place for grade nine; Tina Chen ranked in the top 5 percent for grade nine; and Rory Spanier ranked in the top 5 percent for grade 11. David Zhang is from Sartell Middle School; Cindy Zhang and Spanier are from Sartell High School; and Henry and Tina Chen and Gefre are from St. John’s Prep School. Students from across Central Minnesota who participate in the contest are in the top 15 percent in their grade level. From the group of the top students in each school district, the contest then recognizes those performing in the top 20, 10 and 5 percent of those competing at each grade level.
Educational activities and fun arts-and-crafts for all ages will take place April 9 at the St. Cloud Public Library. Great River Regional Library provides library services at 32 public libraries in Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Morrison, Todd and Wright counties. It provides Central Minnesota residents with nearly one million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, programming and information services. For more information about library programs at the St. Cloud Public Library or any of its many branch libraries, call 320-650-2500. Information is
also available at its website: www.griver.org. The following is a list of the activities:
Teen Book Club
The library’s Teen Book Club will meet from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Enjoy snacks and conversation, and explore the growing field of young adult literature. For ages 13 to 18.
Author Katie Pierson
Katie Pierson, Minnesota author of the young-adult novel 89 Walls, will give a talk
from 1-2 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Her novel, set in the year the Berlin Wall came down, has been praised for its mix of teen romance, family dynamics and political awareness. Pierson will speak about books and writing.
Teen Advisory Board
If you are a teen and would like to make a difference at the St. Cloud Public Library, join the Teen Advisory Board meeting from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Join a group of motivated teens and have your voice heard.
Blotter If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320255-1301 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 crime. March 15 12:19 a.m. Suspicious person. Second Street S. A complaint was made regarding an intoxicated male with a knife, causing concern in a business. Officers arrived and found the male was lost and unable to care for himself. He was transported to detox without incident. 3:42 p.m. Welfare check. Scout Drive. A report was made regarding a male lying face down in a grassy area. Officers arrived and found a male reading and listening to music. He stated he did not need assistance. March 16 10:23 a.m. Medical. Kruchten Court. Officers were dispatched to an elderly female with high blood pressure. The female was transported to the hospital by Gold Cross. 3:27 p.m. Alarm. Seventh Avenue N. Officers were dispatched to a residential motion alarm. The residence was secure. No further action was taken. March 17 5:58 a.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue N. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 48 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver stated she was aware of the posted
speed limit. She was issued a citation and released. 9:11 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. While on patrol, an officer located a vehicle with no license plate light. The officer detected the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle and located multiple items of drug paraphernalia and pills. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. March 18 5:11 p.m. Public assist. Pinecone Road. A vehicle was located that was stalled on the side of the roadway. The driver stated he had already contacted a tow company. An officer stood by with safety lights until the vehicle was removed. 5:31 p.m. Theft. Walmart. An adult male was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The male admitted to the theft. It was found he had an outstanding warrant. He was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. 11:11 p.m. Noise complaint. Fifth Avenue E. A complaint was made regarding loud music coming from a residence. Officers arrived to find two juvenile males playing video games. They stated they would turn down the volume. March 19 10:35 a.m. Traffic stop. Fifth Avenue N. While on patrol, an officer located a vehicle with impounded plates and a revoked license. The driver stated she was unaware of the status. She was issued a citation, the plates were re-
moved and the vehicle was parked. 11:02 p.m. Welfare check. Troop Drive. A report was made regarding a small child crying at a residence. An officer checked the home and found the child was crying from getting her hair caught. No assistance was needed. 11:55 p.m. Traffic stop. Highway 15. While on patrol, an officer witnessed a vehicle fail to move to another lane while another officer was performing a traffic stop. The driver was not able to provide proof of insurance. He was issued a citation for both violations and released. March 20 2:40 a.m. Domestic. Corrine Creek. A report was made regarding a male and female arguing and possibly becoming physical. Officers arrived and spoke with both parties, who refused to give any information. Both stated the argument was only verbal and they needed no assistance. An officer transported the female to her residence in a neighboring town for the evening. 3:55 a.m. Suspicious person. Fourth Street N.E. A complaint was made regarding an unwanted female at a residence. Officers arrived and found the two females had been arguing but it was only verbal. One female was found to have an outstanding warrant. She was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. 10:51 p.m. Theft. Lowell Lane. A report was made possibly regarding an unknown person inside a residence due to lights on inside. Blotter • page 5
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Friday, April 8, 2016
3
Blue Line to raise money for Pockets of Hope by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A Pockets of Hope fundraiser to brighten up the transition for foster children is set for 4-7 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Blue Line Bar & Grill in Sartell. Pockets of Hope is a program that fills backpacks with fun-and-comfort items for children who are suddenly placed in foster care, often because of an immediate crisis
or danger to the children. Lisa Schroers, a daycare operator in Sartell, and Jennifer Bruzek and Briana Sjudin, who have children who attend Schroers’ daycare, started Pockets about a year ago. In just the first year, the women filled 150 backpacks, which were given to social workers who in turn distributed them to the agencies where they were needed. The “Pockets of Hope,” as they’re
dubbed, go to foster children in Stearns County primarily, with some going also to Todd and Wright counties. “We’ve had a great reaction,” Schroers told the Sartell Newsleader. “In one case, a recipient was so happy to get a pair of pajamas. Another boy was excited to get deodorant as he’d never had his own before.” Foster parents are also pleased about the Pockets of Hope because in some cases a
child or children are brought to them without warning and so sometimes the parents don’t have things they might immediately need, such as diapers. Those who attend the Blue Line fundraiser can also bring donations. At the event, there will be raffle items and a silent auction. A portion of sales of food and drink will also go to Pockets of Hope.
The DeZurik Co. in Sartell is also helping out. Each year, the company does a 5K run and chooses a charity to which to donate money raised. This year, it will go to Pockets of Hope. The race will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 30. People can register for the race by going to www.pocketsofhope. org. Donations can also be made on the website.
Man nabbed in Sartell after shooting by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A St. Cloud man was arrested in Sartell on the evening of March 31 and is expected to be Smith charged with first-degree assault and second-degree attempted murder in a shooting incident that happened the day before in St. Cloud. Nathaniel Leon Smith, 18,
is accused of shooting Antoine Dajuan Fair, 21, multiple times in the head and neck at a residence in the 100 block of 18th Ave. N. in St. Cloud. Fair remains in the hospital in serious condition. According to the law-enforcement report, Smith admitted to shooting Fair. An investigation into the shooting is underway by the St. Cloud Police Department assisted by the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force and the St. Cloud Police Department’s Patrol Unit. The SCPD said the shooting
was not random and the public was not in danger. Anyone with information about the shooting or those involved should call the SCPD at 320-251-1200 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers, where tips can be left anonymously, at 320-255-1301 or online at: www.tricountycrimestoppers. org. Crime tips can also be texted to that website. To do so, enter 274637 into the destination box under “Crimes.” Then to start text with TRITIP, enter a space, then type in the tip information.
EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT ...
Memory-loss sessions scheduled by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Two sessions about memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease will be given free for the public Wednesday, April 13 in Sartell at the District Service Center, 212 Third Ave. N. People can choose which of the two sessions they would like to attend – one at 11 a.m. or one at 1:30 p.m. The sessions will be led by Angela Lunde, MA, the cognitive health and wellness
director at the Mayo Clinic. Those who want to attend should call Erica Frey at 320492-8905 or email actsartellcommunity@gmail.com. At the sessions, Lunde will share current research about specific things people can do to maintain and/or improve memory. People will have a chance to share thoughts, concerns and ideas. Lunde will also outline the differences between normal age-related memory loss and the warning signs of demen-
tia. She will also share ways that cities can become “dementia-friendly” and how people can improve the lives of those who suffer severe memory loss. The sessions are sponsored by ACT Sartell, a group of Sartell residents and business professionals who work together to help create safe and informed communities for everyone touched by memory loss and other cognitive issues.
Join our team! Von Meyer Publishing seeks a full-time, experienced advertising sales representative for three local, weekly newspapers and one website serving the greater St. Cloud region. A successful candidate will be: a self-starter, highly motivated and excited to be on the bleeding edge of print and digital advertising. Qualifications include: 3-5 years in advertising sales, extensive experience in the greater St. Cloud region and previous experience selling digital advertising. Resumes and cover letters can be addressed to Logan Gruber, operations manager, at operations@thenewsleaders.com. For any questions, call 320-363-7741.
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Our View
Jobs numbers good ... mostly There is good news and bad news – but mostly good news – on the jobs front. Nationwide, 215,000 jobs were added in March, according to the U.S. Labor Department. The unemployment rate ticked up from 4.9 percent to 5 percent, but that was due to more Americans re-entering the labor force and employees who are seeking other kinds of jobs, such as full-time ones. A good share of the 215,000 jobs were in retail, construction and health care. Average hourly wages were also up, by 2.3 percent during the past year. That is good news after the wage stagnation for so many years. In a way, the good news is too much of a good thing. That’s because as the labor market has improved slowly but steadily, more people are rejoining the market, such as retirees looking for a bit of supplemental income, as well as workers once so discouraged they had quit seeking jobs that seemingly did not exist. The Labor Department said brisk consumer spending and the housing recovery helped the surge in job creation. What’s still problematic, however, is so many foreign economies are unstable currently, including China’s. In a globally entwined money system, that means the U.S. economy, too, could become shaky once again. Some of the bad news is the manufacturing industry cut 29,000 jobs. And the worst part of the good news is it’s not so good for African-Americans and Hispanics whose unemployment rates hover at about 9 percent. Still, overall, the job rate bodes well for the time being, and if it steadily improves it should boost job openings for more Americans, including minorities living in economically depressed areas. During President Obama’s tenure, there have been more than 50 consecutive months of job gains. Of total job gains over time, however, Obama comes in fourth of the past six presidencies, with President Bill Clinton’s two terms having the highest job growth. Job increases under Obama, however, are better than job-growth numbers under both Bush presidents combined. And, not to forget, Obama started his presidency just as the nation was teetering on a disastrous financial collapse caused mainly by criminally reckless Wall Street manipulators. So, in light of that, the economic turn-around, slow and herky-jerky as it has been, is very good news, indeed. Let us hope, by the time summer begins, the economy kicks in like gangbusters and more Americans succeed in finding decent-paying jobs that will allow them to move, at long last, into some semblance of a middle-class life. That dream, deferred for so many, has been slipping drastically in the past few decades because of a lopsided economy that favors the 1 percent, as presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is always quick to remind us. Perhaps that trend – rich getting richer, poor getting poorer – is now reversing itself somewhat. Let’s hope so, because the hope and glory of America has always been dependent upon its promise that hard work and decent wages will allow all citizens to improve their lives.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Opinion Adios, El Trumpo. Hasta la vista, baby
Remember Mitt Romney? He’s that presidential wannabe who suggested “self-deportation” for undocumented Hispanic workers. Gee, what a good idea. It’s one Donald Trump should heed. Even though Trump is not an undocumented worker, self-deportation would be good for him. He won’t be president in the United States; maybe he can be president in Mexico. He might be much happier in Mexico because it’s a country ripe for exploitation and large enough to hold his ego. In time, he could practically own the whole country. He could rename it “Trumpico.” “The Donald” has always said how much he loves Mexico; he really loves Mexico; and he loves Mexicans; some of his best workers are Mexicans. He loves them. He really does. Trump has an excellent brain. His health is excellent (the healthiest man in the world, his doctor said). He’s an excellent tycoon. His beautiful wife and wonderful children are all excellent. His steaks, his wine, his magazines – oh, how excellent! Living in Mexico among the comforts of his high-walled hacienda, Trump will be revered as “His Excellency” by his legions of maids, butlers, chauffeurs and pool cleaners. Business cronies will salute him as El Trumpo or (behind his back) “That Crazy Gringo.” Those hoping for a handout will act like toadies and call him “El Presidente.” Just imagine all the fun El Donaldo
Letter to the editor
Dennis Dalman Editor could have South of the Border. He could take over most or all of the seaside resorts: Adios, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta. Bienvenidos, Villa Donaldo and Puerto Trumpo. He could build many more resorts, casinos, skyscrapers, relying upon the labor of displaced peasants working for his company for 15 cents an hour – you know, those Mexican workers he loves so much. (Really, he does, honest.) In Mexico, he can fire anybody he wants, to his heart’s content. When Trump’s not wheeling-and-dealing seaside, he could get busy with his other projects, such as constructing jails for women who are to be punished for having had abortions. If he gets a bit bored by getting richer and even richer, he could start building more walls, all the walls he wants. He’d pay for them. There’s only one little problem. Peasant revolts – revolutions – have been known to rock Mexico from time to time. Oh well. Trump’s walls should keep him safe from any riff-raff upstarts. But if things get really hairy, no problemo, hombre. Trump and La Senora and the kids can just pack up and high-tail it to a Caribbean island,
the one he’ll buy. There, he can kick back, playing the role of “President for Life,” the way Papa Doc Duvalier and son Baby Doc played Divine Rulers of Haiti for decades – that is, until those pesky, unpleasant uprisings toppled them. From his island paradise, The Donald will still be able to rule the world. He can jet to New York City now and then to hobnob with all the celebrities and crooks he used to know and love. He’s smart. He really is. That’s why he’s so rich. Anybody as smart as him is bound to be rich, with excellent bank accounts and beautiful wives. Such fame and fortune were fated, meant to be. Pesos galore. Gorgeous women who give birth to children with excellent brains. If Trump’s ego gets too big for Mexico, what the heck, he can start buying one or two Central American countries, maybe a couple more islands, with plenty of room to off-shore his parties. His Excellency, El Presidente del Mundo, will have many fine siestas in his Excellent New World. But it won’t be all fun and games. No siree! Much of the time, Donald “El Comandante” Trump will be busy recruiting Mexican soldiers of fortune, who, with Trumpo, sabre drawn and leading the charge, will attack ISIS in Syria and kick the (stuffing) out of them. Senor Trump, please pack your ego in a jumbo jet and fly away south. We’ll be there at the airport, all waving goodbye and shouting adios for The Donald. Or as The Arnold used to say, “Hasta la vista, baby.”
Thanks for the prayers and support for Ellie The Czeck Family, Sartell
A couple weeks ago Dennis Dalman wrote a nice article in the Sartell Newsleader about our daughter’s battle with cancer and benefit that was put together for us.
The Ellie Czeck Benefit was an amazing day for our family. It was a humbling experience to see so many people supporting us. We are blessed with wonderful friends, family and the community we live in. Thank you to everyone who at-
tended, made donations and to those who are praying for us. We are amazed by the support we have received from family, friends, acquaintances and even those of you we hardly know. Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes.
God bless America: only when America decides to be blessed “We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men.” It has been many, many years since George Orwell uttered that phrase. In the decades hence, we have sunk to even lower depths and at present seem to be sinking fast. After all, his were the days when running in the hallway and chewing gum in class were the most grievous of school-day offenses. Faith, hope and charity. Indeed, a virtuous triumvirate. I am a faith-filled being with a developing sense of charity. However, my three-legged stool keeps throwing me to the ground for lack of hope. We are now mercifully nearing the end of our three-year and 363-day campaign for the office of president of the United States. Thanks to the insatiable ratings lust of cable television, the 2016 race began two days after Mitt Romney phoned President Obama with his not-heartfelt congratulations. At first, it was months of either hand-wringing or euphoria over the just-completed marathon. Then, one by one (by one, by one, by one) the would-be new combatants began to position themselves. Sometimes coyly, for example stating “I am absolutely not running.” Sometimes with the stealth of a yeti walking a bed of nails, for example by resigning from their cable-affiliated television program. One by one they arrived at that heralded moment when they would present themselves to a breathless nation as desiring consideration for the position of leader of the free world. Perhaps you experienced “the same electric thrill I once enjoyed when Santorum, Gilmore, Pataki
Scott Sehnert Guest Writer and O’Malley all came to town on the very same historic day!” (My apologies here to Meredith Wilson and anyone who has ever watched or participated in The Music Man.) But, alas, despite the bravado of their entrance, nearly all have now slunk from the stage. How we will miss their well-thought-out solutions, insightful direction and creative vision. Or, are we just saddened by the fact that now to watch adults fight like spoiled adolescents it will only be available to us on pay-per-view. There are so many sadly amusing aspects of this whole process. A couple of my personal favorites are as follows. It’s interesting to see how many love to tie their dinghy to the Reagan luxury liner. Yes, they were there fighting shoulder to shoulder with Ron throughout the glorious 80s. I wouldn’t be surprised to find their names included in the roll of credits following the end of Bedtime for Bonzo. Another is the fact they were also all there with Gingrich and the Gang during the glorious 90s when the budget was “balanced.” It’s kind of like the 100,000 that claim they were there the night Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points in a game. Problem is the arena only held a fraction of that number. Don’t worry folks, the budget was never balanced anyway. That myth is
the creation of some of the greatest book-cooking ever undertaken – and all that while the economy was indeed roaring like a freight train. Anyway, what does balancing the budget mean? We didn’t go any further into debt for a year or two. Consider that currently the national debt is placed at around $19 trillion (we won’t mention unfunded mandates because nobody really knows what that means). Here is a mind-boggling set of numbers: 1,000 seconds equals 16.5 minutes/1 million seconds equals 11.5 days/1 billion seconds equals 31 years/1 trillion seconds equals 31,000 years! You think any of the current crop of candidates or anyone else is ever going to have a chance to solve our little debt problem? Not while we deal with this almost inescapable equation – money plus power plus human nature equal corruption. It’s worldwide. In the meantime, we are going to build a fence, defeat every foe, prevent every massacre, all while giving free health care and free education to all. At the conclusion of his first day in what would become known as the White House, President John Adams sat at his candlelit desk and penned these words as a benediction of a letter to his wife Abigail: “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” As the pot of candidates boils down to the final two, it looks like the second half of Mr. Adams’ wish will go unfulfilled. On the one side we have one of the most disingenuous and dishonest human beings to
Blessed • back page
Friday, April 8, 2016
Blotter from page 2 Officers cleared the residence and found the home was secure. March 21 1:13 a.m. Suspicious vehicle. Two-and-a-half Street. A complaint was made regarding an occupied vehicle parked in the area. Officers located the vehicle and saw drug paraphernalia in plain sight. The vehicle was searched and a small amount of marijuana and a stun gun were located. The items were confiscated and a citation was issued for the paraphernalia and small amount of drugs. 1:25 p.m. Domestic. Ninth Avenue N. A report was made regarding an adult male and an adult female arguing. An officer arrived and spoke to both parties, who stated the argument was only verbal. The female left the area until the adult male was sober. No further action was taken. March 22 12:25 p.m. Gunshot. Seventh Street N. A report was made regarding a teacher hearing two students talk about a gun inside another student’s vehicle. The vehicle was searched and it was found they were toy guns. No further police action was needed. March 23 1:24 p.m. Intoxicated person. 10th Street N. A complaint was made regarding an intoxicated person walking through yards and knocking on doors. An officer located an adult female who stated she was upset and checking the mail but not walking through anyone else’s yard. No further action was taken. 6:19 p.m. Personal assist. 11th Avenue E. A complaint was made regarding yelling coming from a residence. An officer arrived and found two females were locked out of a residence and needed to retrieve personal items. A landlord was able to unlock the door and let them in. No further assistance was needed. March 24 2:43 p.m. Domestic. Troop Drive. A complaint was made regarding a group of males honking a horn and pushing a vehicle around. An officer arrived and found the males were attempting to repair the truck and pushed it into the parking stall. They were notified of the complaint. 9:49 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Fourth Avenue S. While on patrol, an officer located an occupied vehicle parked at the end of a roadway. The parties stated they were talking but agreed to leave the area. 11:13 p.m. Suspicious ac-
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com tivity. Killdeer Avenue. A complaint was made regarding unknown males ringing a doorbell and yelling from outside. An officer located one of the juveniles. His mother was contacted and came to pick him up. No further action was taken. March 25 12:41 p.m. Theft. Seventh Street S. Burglary. A report was made regarding items taken from a garage sometime during the early morning hours. 2:44 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Ninth Street N. A complaint was made regarding a vehicle driving slowly through a neighborhood. The driver refused to give the complainant any information. An officer located the vehicle and found the driver was starting a new paper route. No further action was needed.
March 26 1:44 a.m. Suspicious person. Grizzly Lane. A complaint was made regarding four juveniles running around the area. Officers checked the area with thermal scan and were unable to locate. 3:21 a.m. Unwanted person. Scott Drive. A complaint was made regarding an intoxicated male at a residence. The male agreed to leave the residence and no further action was needed. 5:12 p.m. Suspicious person. Oak Pond Drive. A complaint was made regarding two unknown juvenile males building a fort and starting fires on private property. The males had left the area prior to police arrival. March 27 1:48 a.m. Verbal dispute. 21st Avenue N. A report was made regarding several people arguing
in a nearby residence. Officers arrived and all parties stated the argument was only verbal and they had settled it. No assistance was needed. 2:26 p.m. Noise complaint. 11th Avenue E. A complaint was made regarding a car alarm sounding. An officer drove through the area and heard no alarm. A juvenile female playing outside stated she had heard it but no one else was in the area. The officer remained in the area but did not hear the alarm again. March 28 3:21 a.m. Suspicious person. Two-and-a-half Street. A report was made regarding two unknown males on a resident’s deck. The resident stated they left the area when he said he was going to call the police. Officers checked the area on foot with the
5 thermal camera and were unable to locate them. 8:49 a.m. Welfare check. Highway 15. A report was made regarding an elderly male walking through the area who seemed confused. The officer recognized the male as a known retiree who walks through the area. 7 p.m. Welfare check. CR 120. A report was made regarding an adult female lying in a ditch. Officers arrived and found the female was huffing from a spray can. She was transported to the St Cloud Hospital without incident. March 29 3:09 p.m. Motorist assist. Pinecone Road. An adult female accidentally locked herself out of her vehicle. An officer was able to unlock the passenger door without incident.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
6
Friday, April 8, 2016
photos by Dennis Dalman
Left: The long St. Stephen City Council dais found a new use April 3 as dozens of children use it as a surface on which to assemble birdhouses. The annul birdhouse-building event, sponsored by the St. Stephen Sportsmen’s Club, was a big success. Right: St. Stephen City Hall was a flurry of commotion and sawdust when families got together to build birdhouses April 3, an annual activity sponsored by the St. Stephen Sportsmen’s Club.
Families build bluebird houses in St. Stephen by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleasders.com
Dozen of children (and some adults) enjoyed making bluebird houses April 3 at St. Stephen City Hall. It was the annual St. Stephen Sportsmen’s Club’s birdhouse-building day to which
anybody and everybody was invited to build, for free, birdhouses and then take them home to put up anywhere they like. The event proved to be so popular at one point there was a long line of parents with children waiting in line in the city -hall lobby, eager to get into the council chambers room where
the construction of the houses was taking place. All of the pre-cut wood pieces were donated. Mike Legatt, member of the Sportsmen’s Club, worked in high-speed motion stacking the various sizes of wood pieces in tall stacks on a table, ready for children and parents to take the wood pieces to
their work stations on the long tables and even at the council members’ long dais. Many other Sportsmen’s Club members helped the children, along with parents, assemble the wood pieces into birdhouses, using electric screwdrivers that were also provided by the club. Donation jars, set up at the
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construction areas, gradually filled with green bills. Jodi Ireland-Dingman of Rice and her children, all proudly carrying birdhouses, emerged from the city hall on their way home. “We’re going to put them up at our cabin on Red Lake,” she said.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Below: A family of birdhouse builders leaves St. Stephen City Hall with their finished products. The mother is Jodi Ireland-Dingman of Rice with her children (left to right) Keara Dingman, Jacob Dingman, Dylan Dingman and Riley Ireland. At right is Jodi’s brother, Tyler Ireland. The family will put the birdhouses near their cabin by Red Lake.
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Above: Marshall Rowley of Bowlus, with help from his father Shawn, builds a birdhouse April 3 in St. Stephen City Hall. The event brought a long line of waiting parents and children.
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Friday, April 8, 2016
7
contributed photo
Left: Three Sartell police officers received Lifesaving Awards for helping save a man in a burning mobile home. From left to right are Tim Broda, Jarod Cooper and Shelby Lane. Right: This is the new police badge now worn by Sartell officers. Below: Fred Skuza and Bonnie Witz (left and right) received Sartell Polce Department Commendation Awards for saving the life of Gary Theis (center), a neighbor who was choking.
Police from front page life when a fire broke out in the Hi-View Mobile Home Park on Jan. 21. A morning fire started at a residence and quickly spread throughout the interior. Officer Tim Broda was at the police department just west of the mobile home park when he looked out the window and saw smoke. He immediately spread the news, contacting the fire department. Officer Shelby Lane was the first to arrive at the scene, followed by Officer Jarod Cooper. They learned an occu-
pant could not get out of the house because of the smoke. Cooper helped the man who was blinded by smoke out of the house through a window high up on the house. The man was rushed to the hospital via ambulance and was listed in critical condition due to smoke inhalation but survived. “That could have been fatal,” Hughes said while praising the officers’ professionalism in a crisis. The council and audience applauded. “On behalf of the community, thank you,” Sartell Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll said. “You make our community very proud.”
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
8
Reports
LEGAL NOTICE DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Sartell-St. Stephen School District is proposing a bond referendum on May 24, 2016. The single ballot question would authorize $105.8 million in bonding authority to finance the construction of a new 9th- through 12th-grade high school, renovations to the existing middle and high schools and HVAC improvements at the elementary schools. The largest project component is a 289,000-square-foot high school designed to house 1,350 students. It would be built on 93 acres of district-owned land adjacent to Oak Ridge Elementary. The existing high school would be renovated to accommodate grades 6-8 and the existing middle school renovated to accommodate grades 3-5. Lastly, the district is proposing the purchase of $1 million in furniture and equipment upgrades for students in grades K-8. The projects would be scheduled for completion in the 2017-2019 calendar years. Site specific and districtwide cost estimates are as follows: New High School
$89,500,000
Existing High School HVAC Upgrades
$413,000
Deferred Maintenance
$1,109,000
Renovations
$8,279,000
Site Improvements
$354,000
Security Upgrades
$145,000 $10,300,000
Existing Middle School Renovations
$1,800,000
Electrical Upgrades
$300,000
Security Upgrades
$200,000 $2,300,000
Pine Meadow Elementary Security Upgrades
$980,000
HVAC Improvements
$470,000 $1,450,000
Oak Ridge Elementary Gym Blinds HVAC Improvements
$30,000 $370,000 $400,000
Districtwide Grades K-8 FF&E Bond Issuance Costs
$1,000,000 $800,000 $1,800,000
If the bond referendum is successful and bonds are sold, the debt service on the bonds will be eligible for debt- service equalization under Minn. Stat. § 123B.53, subd. 3, if the bond schedule is approved. The amount of debt- service-equalization aid, if any, the district receives is determined annually and is dependent upon property wealth, student population and other statutory requirements. The school board believes the proposed projects are in the best interest of the district. REVIEW AND COMMENT STATEMENT Based upon the department’s analysis of the school district’s required documentation and other pertinent information from sources of the Minnesota Department of Education, the Commissioner of Education provides a positive review and comment. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE Persons desiring additional information regarding this proposal should contact the school district superintendent’s office. /s/ Dr. Brenda Cassellius Commissioner March 8, 2016 Publish: April 8, 2016
from front page Good improvements last year, Sattler noted – the updating of the department’s air van, which was 30 years old; and the purchase of another rescue boat that can carry up to six firefighters, functions well in rough water and has a 40-horsepower motor. Sattler and the department members are also very happy with a “washer extractor” they were able to buy with a grant. Fighting fires often bring firefighters’ protective clothing and other gear into contact with chemicals and even carcinogens. Previously, firefighters would have to take the time to bring their clothing to dry cleaners in St. Cloud. Sattler then shared with the council some upcoming challenges and goals. The current fire station was built in 1982 when the population of Sartell was less than 2,000, and there were 30 or fewer calls per year. With more people, more buildings and taller buildings, and multiple-unit living places, firefighters have to go higher and reach farther. Thus, a new platform truck will eventually be required with an extension bucket that can reach up to 100 feet. More firefighters are also needed, mainly ones who can be on call in the daytime, and efforts will be made to recruit some. Sattler said members of the fire department deserve thanks for their service and dedication, including the retired firefighters’ association, which does so many good works, including installing batteries in smoke detectors for people unable to do so. Sattler also thanked the city council for its continued support. Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll thanked Sattler for his report and praised firefighters for all the hours they put in and all the work they do for very little pay.
Police
The Sartell Police Department now has 17 full-time officers, two part-time clerical workers (one of them a dispatcher as well), a part-time data entry employee and 10 volunteer reserve officers. A new officer started April 2, and it’s anticipated another offi-
cer will be added in May. The department also developed a new mission statement and a new officers’ badge in 2015. Incidents of offenses were up a bit in 2015 but not by much, although crimes that need to be reported to the state (dubbed “reportable crimes”) were up by 5.6 percent. Those that showed increases were assaults, 53; burglaries, 44, drug-related arrests, 112; and theft-related calls, 500. Also high in number were alarms, 228; driving complaints, 245; juvenile complaints, 111; medical calls, 582; extra patrol requests, 309; suicide threats and attempts, 77; suspicious incident calls, 648; and welfare checks, 304. The volunteer reserve officers contributed 2,743 hours of tasks, for the dollar equivalent of $68,000. It was, Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes told the council, a tremendous amount of work for the community: transporting prisoners, helping to secure crime scenes, running evidence, winter parking, house watches and many other things that must be done and that help free up patrol officers’ time. The department received $17,763 in donations in 2015 for all kinds of needs, from helping purchase bicycle helmets to buying needed items for the DARE program. The police department has nine community-outreach programs, including Police and Seniors Working Together (SALT) and the Police Activities League (PAL) for youth in the summer. Training, Hughes said, is a “huge” part of the department, with a total of 1,500 hours completed by police personnel last year.
Public Works
There are 14 employees on the Public Works Department, Director Brad Borders told the council. The council just recently approved two more, for parks and for utilities, so by the end of the summer there will be 16 employees. There are 102 miles of streets and 101 culs-de-sac that must be maintained and plowed by the street workers. In 2015, thanks to some new equipment, the workers shaved about an hour off the time it takes to plow streets. It used to take them seven or eight hours, depending on how much snow fell, but now they get the job done in six
Friday, April 8, 2016 or seven hours, Borders noted. He thanked the council for the addition of snow plows. Costs, however, keep going up, including the price of salt to put on roads. Fortunately, with less snow in the winter of 2015, salt costs and other costs have leveled off. Workers did 92,000 square yards of seal coating in 2015, and the city is now coming to the end of its goal of seal coating every city street at least once, Borders added. The city compost site continues to generate more usage, with 2,140 permits sold, 233 of them purchased at a slightly higher cost by people who live outside of the city. Those kinds of permits also increased last year. There is enough space at the compost site for many years to come. Borders told the council the new dog park in Pinecone Central Park has received a lot of use. The city has 50 miles of trails, and 16.5 miles of them are maintained during the winter time. Aug. 4 was the 2015 date with the heaviest water usage, with 3.8 million gallons used, down a bit from the year before when the all-time record usage was 5.8 million gallons used on just one very hot day. The average water use year-round is about 1.28 million gallons per day. There are 5.5 miles of sewer lines cleaned by workers last year, less than the department’s goal, but Borders said the department hopes to clean much more of them this summer.
Engineering
Several major road projects were done last year, said Mike Nielson, Sartell’s engineer. They included Pinecone Road Phase I, which included the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Second Street and Pinecone Road and the concrete road from that intersection north almost to Seventh Street N. The Pinecone Road Phase II project was also started and is just about completed, with the two roundabouts constructed on the south stretch of Pinecone. Major collector roadways, like Heritage Drive and Roberts Road, were seal coated, and fog sealing was done over the seal coating to reduce the incidents of flying chips.
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Friday, April 8, 2016 Property was acquired for rights-of-way for the 50th Avenue and Fourth Avenue projects set to begin in 2017. Federal funding was obtained to purchase the rights-of-way. The Safe Routes to School sidewalk project was delayed a bit, but it will be rebid and started sometime between late April and mid-May, Nielson noted. Improvements will be completed this spring to two singlefamily properties, Avalon 8 and Providence. Improvements were also started or completed at Fifth Street from Victory Avenue to 500 feet east of the Grandview III Apartments and at the Chateau Waters senior-living facility in south Sartell by Lake Francis. The SolarStone solar garden project should get underway as soon as the company, SolarStone, is about to do soil borings at the property in central Sartell, a place where solar panels will be constructed so energy produced can be sold to a utility company and purchased by consumers who wish to have electricity generated by solar power. Nielson noted in 2018, Benton County plans to do improvements on CR 33 and CR 29 on the east side of the bridge. Nielson said in 2015, his office took many calls and answered many questions from prospective developers interested in Sartell, as well as many requests for traffic-control issues.
Planning/ Development
Sartell City Planner and Development Director Anita Rasmussen said single-family housing growth got a new lease on life in Sartell last year after the fallow years following the national housing bubble. The developments of Providence and Arbor Trails now have 143 single-family lots in them. The 54 single-family final plats were the most approved in the past five years. There has been 220 vacant family lots in the city, and the 54 new ones really help reduce that number. The average price of a single-family home in Sartell is $223,000. Last year, there was a total of building-permit valuations of $46 million and 4,600 building inspections of all kinds completed. Rasmussen’s department has been busy updating the city’s long-term comprehensive plan and doing ordinance updates. The department also passed its audit “with flying colors,” she noted. After the presentations, council member Pat Lynch thanked the department heads for such thorough year-end updates.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
9
Plan proceeds for Bernick’s Arena parking lot by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A parking lot that could cost the city in the range of $800,000 will likely be constructed in Pinecone Regional Park just to the east of the Bernick’s Ice Arena. At a recent meeting, the Sartell City Council approved a conditional-use permit for the placement of 15,000 cubic yards of dirt fill on that parcel of property. The purpose of the fill is to raise the level there by three feet because it's subject to water build-up in the warmer months. That lot is part of the Watab
River watershed. Sartell City Engineer Mike Nielson said the parking-lot project would create 280 parking places. Currently, there are only about 90 in that area. Before the project, Nielson and his staff studied the soil-and-water conditions at the site, as well as consulting a 100-year flood-plain map done by the state. The project might require some wetlands mitigation, which would affect the total cost. Putting fill at the site would have virtually no effect to cause water build-up or flooding elsewhere in that area, Nielson said. There
will be a newly constructed pond at the site. The council voted unanimously for the parking-lot fill plan. Council member David Peterson called the ice-arena parking lot an “immediate need” because he noted all of the city residents and non-city residents who go to the arena need parking spaces, not just for hockey tournaments but for other general events such as big concerts. A letter addressed to the council from Sartell-St. Stephen School District Activities Director John Ross also urged the city to ap-
prove a parking lot for that area. Parking near the arena has always been a struggle,” Ross stated in his letter. Another letter to the council from a resident in that area expressed concern that construction of a parking lot would cause flooding elsewhere in that immediate vicinity, but both Nielson and council member Amy Braig-Lindstrom said that would not happen, with Braig-Lindstrom further noting the lot would not be a paved one. Constructing a parking lot near the Bernick’s Arena has long been a concern and priority for the Sartell City Council.
Watershed meeting set for April 27 in Rice by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleasders.com
A public open house about the comprehensive watershed project starting this spring will take place from 4-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the Rice Lions Club Building, 101 Fourth Ave. NW in the city of Rice. At the open house there will be maps, printed information and a question-answer session and time for comments. A short overview of the watershed project will be given at 6:30 p.m. People from the Rice and Sartell area are encouraged to attend, especially those who live at or near Little Rock Lake or the Mississippi River. What will get underway this spring is known as the Intensive Watershed Monitoring project, which will analyze the entire watershed and its water quality and other factors, data that will be used to draw up a long-range water quality plan. The study and its recommendations will have a direct influence on people who live in this area. The study will be done by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency starting sometime next month. The work is funded by the Clean Water Fund, part of a constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2008. The biological monitoring of streams will be done by the MPCA’s Brainerd Regional Office, led by Tony Dingmann, a water-control specialist and Sartell resident. The Mississippi River-Sartell Watershed covers a large area
southwest of Albany to northeast of Pierz across portions of Benton, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Stearns and Todd counties. The watershed includes 879 river miles and 232 lakes. About 60 monitoring stations will be scattered throughout the watershed on waterways that include Spunk Creek, Watab Creek, Little Rock Creek, Platte River and the Two Rivers system, among many others. The monitoring is designed to measure and evaluate the condition of rivers, streams and ditches by studying the biology, which includes fish, aquatic invertebrates as well as habitat, flow and water chemistry. Examples of aquatic invertebrates include insect larvae, crayfish, snails, small clams, worms and leeches. Water-chemistry sampling will provide information about the quality of the water in which these fish and invertebrates live and the recreational suitability of the water. In addition, MPCA lake-monitoring crews will sample all lakes greater than 500 acres in size, and as many lakes more than 100 acres as possible. The lake-monitoring teams will focus on water clarity, nutrient concentrations and other water-chemistry parameters to assess the lakes for their ability to support recreational uses, such as swimming. The MPCA partners with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the collection of fish and plant data to help determine the support of aquatic life use (i.e. the health of the community in
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the lake). The MPCA has standards for what the biology and water chemistry should look like at a given sampling location. If a specific sample does not meet those expectations, the sampling location could be considered impaired, and restoration activities will follow. For lakes and
streams that are meeting standards, protection strategies may be warranted. The MPCA relies on a large contingent of volunteers and local partners to collect water-quality data on lakes and streams as well as assist in the overall planning of the monitoring.
Beautification volunteers needed by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleasders.com Sartell is seeking volunteers to maintain some of the city’s prime beautification areas, spaces of plantings in the city. The city has available a map and list of gardens people may adopt right on the city’s website: www.sartellmn.com. The volunteer commitment
would involve spending some time this spring to clean up a planted area, then checking it throughout the summer to make sure it is weed-free and thriving. Volunteers will get a sign installed recognizing their adopted specific beautification areas. If anyone is interested, call Mary at Sartell City Hall, 320258-7309.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
10
Friday, April 8, 2016
Tickets are still available for humane-society event There are still tickets available for the 15th annual “Wine, Kibbles and Bids,” one of the two most important annual fundraisers for the TriCounty Humane Society. The deadline to buy tickets is Tuesday, April 19. The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 22 at the Gorecki Center on the campus of the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. There will be wine-tasting, beer-tasting, a
gourmet-style dinner, a silent auction and music performed by Kelly Cordes. Tickets can be purchased online via www.tricountyhumanesociety.net. Go to “Events,” then pull down to “Wine, Kibble, Bids.” The guest of honor at the event will be “Remy,” short for Remington, the yellow Labrador who miraculously survived being shot at close range six times a cou-
Red Cross asks for blood donations The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors to donate blood this spring to ensure a sufficient supply for patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals across the country. Donated blood is perishable and must constantly be replenished to keep up with hospital patient need. Red blood cells are the blood component most frequently transfused by hospitals and must be used within 42 days
of donation. Donors with all blood types are needed, especially those with types O, A negative and B negative. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, up to six times a year, and double red cells may be donated every 112 days, up to three times per year. To make an appointment to give blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
ple months ago by someone wielding a pellet gun in Avon Township. The dog suffered severe facial wounds and traumatic jaw-bone damage but managed to survive after surgery, thanks to prompt help by the humane society and veterinarians. Remy is still recovering but is doing fine. For more information, call the Tri-County Humane Society at 320-252-0896.
contributed photo
The boys, Artie and Remy, beg for treats at the Tri-County Humane Society.
Two council seats to be up for election by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
There will be two open atlarge seats on the Sartell City Council to be determined at the Nov. 8 general election. Those two seats are now served by Amy Braig-Lindstrom and Steve Hennes. Anyone interested in filing can do so starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 17 at Sartell City Hall. The filing period will close at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 31. The filing fee is $5. To file for a Sartell City Council seat, a candidate must be
21 years old on the day of assuming office and must reside in the City of Sartell at least 30 days prior to the gener- Hennes al-election date. If more than four candidates file for the two positions, there will be a primary election held Aug. 9, 2016, and the names of the four top voter-getters from that election will be placed on the Nov. 8 election ballot. Both council members to
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be elected, whether incumbents or newcomers, will be expected to serve fouryear terms Lindstrom starting at the first city council meeting in January 2017 and ending at the first council meeting in January 2021. Council meetings are typically held at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of every month, with occasional exceptions of time and date.
Call the Newsleader at 363-7741
Friday, April 8, 2016 Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@ thenewsleaders.com. Friday, April 8 Brat and hotdog sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. N.W. Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Saturday, April 9 Brat and hotdog sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NE. Winter Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. www.marketmonday.org. Mattress Fundraiser, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sauk Rapids Middle School, 901 First Street S. Central Minnesota Chapter of the Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, 12:30 p.m., American Legion, 17 Second Ave. N., Waite Park. Matsuri Festival, 5:30 p.m., Atwood Memorial Center Ballroom, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S. 320-308-4027. Monday, April 11 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Conference on Social Conditions of Minnesota Immigrant Workers, 11 a.m., St. Cloud EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED TEAM DRIVER WANTED: Dedicated run from St. Paul, Minnesota to Oakwood, Illinois. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Competitive Wage. CDL required. Call 563-580-6648 (MCN) A U TO M O B I L E S / M O TO R C Y C L E S WANTED MOTORCYCLES: TOP CASH PAID! For Old Motorcycles! 1900-1980. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) ADOPTION *ADOPTION:* Happily Married, Successful Executive & Stay-Home-Mom yearn for baby to devote our lives to. Expenses paid 1-800-933-1975 *Susan & Gavin* (MCN) A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, LET US HELP! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation and More. Giving the Gift of Life? You Deserve the Best. 1-888-637-8200. 24HR Hotline. (VOID IN IL) (MCN) FOR SALE TRAILER SALE: 14,000 lb. skidloader trailers 18’ to 28’ $3,699.00; Fuel tank trailers; Scissor lift trailers; 11 choices of DUMP trailers; 6’x12’ V-nose ramp door $2,789.00; 7’x16’ V-nose ramp door $4,093.00; 2012 John Deere 3032E compact tractor & loader; Full line of trailer parts in-stock; 515-9724554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com for prices & inventory & pictures. (MCN) *SALE* Self Storage Buildings *SALE* No Better Time To Add On To Your Existing Facility. Or To Start Up Your New Facility. All Buildings On Sale Now For Limited Time. Order Now For Early Delivery! ABCO-America Inc. Call 844-636-5335 (M-F 8am-6pm Eastern) (MCN)
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Community Calendar
State University (Atwood Memorial Center), 720 Fourth Ave. S. 320-308-3151. 320-308-5367. St. Joseph Fare for All, 3:305:30 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. 800-582-4291. fareforall.org. Sartell City Council, 6 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. 320-253-2171. Ladies’ golf league meeting, 6 p.m., Pine Ridge Golf Course, 801 Pinecone Road, Sartell. 320259-0551. St. Joseph Township Board, 8 p.m., St. Joseph Township Hall, 935 College Ave. S. Tuesday, April 12 Facilities Plan and Bond Referendum, 8:30 a.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. sartell.k12.mn.us/bond-2016. 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. Conference on Social Conditions of Minnesota Immigrant Workers, 9:30 a.m., Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S. 320-308-3151. 320-308-5367. Sartell Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m., Waters Church, 1227 Pinecone Road. 320-258.6061. info@sartellchamber.com. Sartell Senior Connection hosts international traveler/educator Pat McNeal, 2 p.m., Sartell District Service Center, 212 Third Ave. N. 320-253-4036 option 4. ICAN Prevent Diabetes, 3:15-4:15 p.m., Sacred Heart Church, 2875 10th Ave. N.E., Sauk Rapids. 320-650-3082. 55+ Driver-improvement
FARM RELATED Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a Free Base Camp Leasing info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507 www. BaseCampLeasing.com (MCN) EMPLOYMENT/HELP WANTED CLASS A CDL Driver. Good home time. Stay in the Midwest. Great pay and benefits. Matching 401k. Bonuses and tax free money. Experience needed. Call Scott 507437-9905. Apply on-line http://www.mcfgtl. com (MCN)
program (eight-hour first-time course), 5-9 p.m. today and April 13, Apollo High School, 1000 44th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. Medicare Workshop, 6:307:30 p.m., St. Cloud Federal Credit Union (lower-level community room), 3030 First St. S., St. Cloud. 320-258-2179. Holistic Moms Network, 7-8:30 p.m., Good Earth Co-op, 2010 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320-252-2489. Wednesday, April 13 St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m., St. Joseph Community Fire Hall, 323 Fourth Ave. NE. stjosephchamber.com. Voices of Youth, a Women’s Center lecture series, noon, Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University, 720 Fourth Ave. S. Family-to-family, 6:30-9 p.m., Unity Spiritual Center, 931 Fifth Ave. N., Sartell. 320-2907713. 320-249-2560. Thursday, April 14 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell. Sartell-Sauk Rapids Moms’ Club, 9-10:30 a.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N., Sartell. St. Cloud Area Mothers of Multiples, 7 p.m., VFW Granite Post 428, 9 18th Ave. N., St. Cloud. Friday, April 15 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 trusted provider for 10 years. Insured and Guaranteed Delivery. Call today 1-888-4037751 (MCN) VIAGRA 100mg, CIALIS 20mg. 60 tabs $99 includes FREE SHIPPING. 1-888-8360780 or Metromeds.online (MCN) AS SEEN ON TV: Burn fat quickly & effectively with Garcinia Cambogia. Blocks fat. Suppresses your appetite. Safe - 100% natural. Satisfaction Guaranteed! Free bottle with select packages! 844-587-6487 (MCN)
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a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. Friends, Fun and Food, sponsored by the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, 6:30-8:30 p.m., St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1111 Cooper Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320251-7272. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320-339-4533. stcloudsingles.net. Saturday, April 16 State Project Bowl, 8:30 a.m., Sauk Rapids Middle School, 901 First St. S. Sunday, April 17 B u i l d - y o u r- o w n - o m l e t t e breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon, Waite Park American Legion, 17 Second Ave. N., Waite Park. 320251-5498.
CRAFT-VENDOR SALES Saturday, April 16 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. VFW 428 9-18th Ave. N., St. Cloud Bring a donation for Anna Marie’s Alliance and get your name in a drawing.
Apartments IN SARTELL. Two-bedroom apartment. Spacious. Many newly remodeled! Pets Welcome. Heat paid, fireplace, d/w, balconies. Quiet, residential area. $669-729. Garage included!
Call 320-281-5101.
Chopper is a neutered, 12-½-year-old cat. Chopper is at the shelter because the other pets in the home didn’t care for him. He lived with children and was friendly with older kids but was a little unsure about babies. He’s not much for playing with toys and would rather focus his attention on his people. He appreciates any kind of treat and loves catnip. Chopper is used to having access to a scratching post and a cat tower and used both in his previous home. Putting his tower by a window would be like giving him kitty television with all of his favorite channels. Chopper’s adoption fee would be waived for a senior citizen or veteran. “Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!” Dogs - 11 Guinea pigs - 3
Cats - 14 Rabbits - 2
Kittens - 2
Tri-County Humane Society 735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701 St. Cloud, MN 56302
252-0896
www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Blessed from page 4 ever draw a breath and on the other side we have the clown, and a nasty clown at that. Honest and wise? Not this time around. So what about the first half of his wish – pray, heaven and blessings. This country achieved greatness when it had the foundational faith of our Founding Fathers. Oh, there were plenty of faithless, even egregious, folks along for the ride but primarily we were a nation devoted to God. Today the most likely result of marriage is divorce. What used to be the most likely result of marriage, children, is now conceived mostly outside of the bounds of marriage. Heck, 2nd Annual
Transportation Summer Camp
June 13-17, 2016 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. St. Cloud Technical & Community College - 1540 Northway Drive
This camp is for kids interested in rc cars & trucks, building, painting, testing & driving. For kids entering grades 6-9 in the fall (12 year age minimum)
Call: 320-290-8946 Email: designedtokeep@reagan.com Space limited to 16. CALL TODAY!
we are not even sure how to define marriage. The entertainment airwaves either handheld or beaming from the wall of your living room are filled with mindless drivel that will never nourish great minds. As a result we rank near the bottom in every worldwide scholastic measurement. Pornography is a plague. Don’t underestimate this catastrophe. It’s eating away at our moral character faster than Miss Pacman eats dots. Our houses of worship fill on Christmas, Easter and for several weeks after large skyscrapers are destroyed by terrorists. Other than that, there are plenty of seats available. The list of what is wrong with the country is lengthy. The idea that one group or another of elected officials can bring
the needed healing is preposterous. Yes, we need leaders or there would be worse chaos. So please, vote. Vote your conscience, vote your heart, vote your mind. But in the end, if you would be part of raising the country from the lower depths, elect to work hard, be a peacemaker, be honest, be caring, be patient, be loving, be long-suffering, be friendly, be tolerant, and be sorry and try to improve when you aren’t so. Indeed, look in the mirror and “choose ye this day whom you will serve.” Most running for office or currently serving will often close their comments with “God bless America.” I believe God will bless America when America puts itself in a position to be blessed. In my view, this is restating the obvious.
Friday, April 8, 2016
You are cordially invited to the
Sartell Sabre All-Sport Booster Club Spring Social and Silent Auction Friday, April 15 • 8-11 p.m. Blackberry Ridge Golf Club
Join your friends and other athletes’ parents for a night of fun and relaxation!
*** Great Opportunity***
COMPETITIVE WAGES & BENEFITS!
We are a progressive, state-of-the-art steel fabrication shop.
WELDERS & MACHINE OPERATORS NEEDED!! Openings on 2nd and Weekend Shifts!
SAINT JOHN’S PREP Summer Program
Preferred Skills: Previous manufacturing experience, strong math skills and ability to read prints
Day and Residential Camps
Sauk Centre currently has openings for: Mig Welders and Press Brake Operators
• Leadership • German • Science • Art and Nature www.sjprep.net/camps
Got a comment?
Post it on our website at www.thenewsleaders.com.
Experience running CNC Machines, Press Brake Welders: Minimum one-year experience and/or Technical College preferred
Please send resume to: 1131 W. Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378
320-352-6525
Or apply online at: www.std-iron.com EOE