Reaching Everybody!
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Newsleader Sartell
Friday, April 10, 2015 Volume 20, Issue 15 Est. 1995
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Sartell baseball season opens April 18 by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Town Crier
Play ball! That happy call is a sure sign of spring, as sure as a robin’s chirp. Yes, spring has arrived, and a busy baseball season is about to begin in Sartell. The Sartell Baseball Association figures it will have 35 teams playing through the spring-and-summer baseball season, with more than 400 players this year – children in second-grade through ninth-grade and, in some cases, adult amateur teams. The Sartell baseball season will officially open with a game featuring the Sartell Sabres at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at Champion Field. The following are some of the programs and activities local baseball fans should be aware of as the season gets underway.
Winter Market brings spring to Sartell
Sartell’s Winter Market will celebrate spring from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 11 inside City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road. Start your spring off right by shopping locally and eating healthy. New vendors will be on hand – as well as many of your favorites – with a wide array of products. Learn more online at marketmonday. org.
Birdhouse building project set April 12
A youth birdhouse building project is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at St. Stephen City Hall, 2 6th Ave. SE. The project is sponsored by the St. Stephen Sportsmen’s Club and the City of St. Stephen.
Senior Connection to host Stearns Sheriff Capt. Jensen
The Sartell Senior Connection will host Captain Pam Jensen of the Stearns County Sheriff’s Patrol Division, who will explain the process of how crimes are solved at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave N., Sartell. There will also be a question-and-answer period.
St. Stephen Youth Athletics registration now open
Registration runs now through April 20 for St. Stephen Athletic Club Youth Programs. Registration forms are available at Schmidtys in St. Stephen or online at cityofststephen.com and on Facebook by searching “City of St. Stephen, MN.” For more information, contact Cindy Vanderweyst at 320529-8498.
Sartell bunny winners announced
The winners for the Newsleaders’ Easter bunny giveaway are as follows: Avon State Bank, Travis Gertken, Avon; Central Minnesota Credit Union, Janet Huls, St. Joseph; Local Blend, Debbie Emery, St. Joseph; McDonald’s St. Joseph, Catelyn Smith, Avon; Once Upon a Child, Kate Peterson, Waite Park; St. Joseph Meat Market, Edna Johnson, Milton; and Wenner Cos., Landon Kraemer, Richmond.
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Sponsorships
photo by Dennis Dalman
A visiting team practices before a tournament at Pinecone Central Park in Sartell. The SBA is seeking sponsorships that – This photo was taken during the grand opening of the park in 2014. The park among other things – help children in families will be used often for tournaments hosted this spring and summer by the Sartell struggling financially be able to play ball by Baseball Association and its many teams. Baseball • page 9
Public-input meeting set for community center by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Public input about a Sartell Community Center will be welcome at a public hearing set for 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 20 at Sartell City Hall. Numerous interest groups will be at the meeting to present suggestions about what they would like to see as part of a community center. Groups include those interested in sports, activities for senior citizens and such topics as the arts and local history. All Sartell residents are invited to attend to offer ideas.
Those who cannot make the April 20 meeting can watch it broadcast live on local cable Channel 181. The video of the meeting will also be available for viewing on the city’s website at www.sartellmn.com. Residents can also
give suggestions or other comments concerning a community center on that website. To give input, go to that website, then under the photos in the middle, look for “Upcoming City Projects” and under that click on “Submit community
ideas or comments to: mary@ sartellmn.com. Another way to submit input is to write ideas down and bring them to Sartell City Hall, attention City Administrator Mary Degiovanni. Center • page 2
‘Education Done Differently’ showcase slated Education has come a long way since the days of books and blackboards. Sartell residents will have a chance to see first-hand how the powers of technology are transforming the educational process at “Education Done Dif-
ferently.” The special event, to which all are invited, is set for 6:308:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16 at Sartell Middle School. Visitors will get surprising glimpses into how education is changing in the 21st
Century. During the evening, student projects will be showcased and visitors will hear from teachers about how they have re-defined the typical “classroom” by adapting integrated forms of technology as teaching tools.
‘Pockets of Hope’ comforts foster children with gifts by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Sometimes a simple gift given from the heart is all hurting foster children need to feel loved, safe and secure. That’s the concept behind Pockets of Hope, an organization started recently by three Sartell women. The three are collecting all kinds of comfort items that are placed into backpacks and given to children going through the fostering process in Stearns County. A fundraiser for Pockets of Hope will take place from 5-8
p.m. Sunday, April 19 at the Blue Line Bar and Grill in Sartell. Twenty percent of all sales during that time will be given to Pockets to purchase backpacks and items that go into them. Those who bring items to donate will receive free tickets for the raffles and drawings that will take place during the event. Right now, the most-needed items are pajamas, toys, socks, underwear and large backpacks for children of all ages. For a full list of items, age by age, as well as other ways to donate, see the Pockets of Hope Pockets • page 12
contributed photo
Three Sartell women started a program called Pockets of Hope that gives comfort to children going through the sometimes traumatic experience of being placed in foster care. From left to right are Briana Sjodin, treasurer; Lisa Schroers, president; and Jennifer Bruzek, secretary.
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Center from front page The April 20 public-input meeting will be hosted by the city’s community-center consultant team. First, there will be an outline of the city’s planning process. Second, there will be time for participant introductions who will answer two questions: • What is a community center to you? • What facilities, indoor or outdoor, does the group you represent want in Sartell? Finally, there’ll be time for public participation from the audience, with each speaker allowed two to three minutes to give opinions. The Sartell City Council, with input from city staff, approved a preliminary project schedule for a center late last year. So far, the first two steps (selecting an architect and construction manager) have been completed. April 20 will be the first of many publicinput meetings through June 2015. Construction is expected to proceed sometime in 2016. The architect hired is HMA Architects, and the construction manager is Strack Construction. Both companies are based in St. Cloud. So far, no location has been chosen for a center. That is because planners first must
know what residents want a center to include. They will then have an idea where a center will best “fit” in the city. Once input is complete, planners will scout out several potential locations for the city council to consider for approval. Up to this point, the city council has allocated $1.6 million of revenue from the halfcent regional sales-tax revenue to be used for the center. Since area voters, including those in Sartell, authorized last year an extension of the regional sales tax, future revenues from that source can be used for the center, including possible options such as gym space and a pool. The sales-tax extension will begin in 2019 and last for a 20-year period. A Sartell Community Center has been a long time coming. Ten years ago and more, residents expressed a desire for such a center. Some of the amenities they said they’d like to see in a center are a branch library, a senior center, meeting spaces and a pool. While the half-cent sales tax could cover the construction of a community center, the operational costs will not be known until it’s decided specifically which amenities such a center will include. And that is why the city is encouraging all members of the public to take an active interest in the center by submitting their ideas, questions and comments.
Engagement
Pace-Fish
Bob and Jean Pace of Sartell, announce the engagement of their daughter, Christina, to Bryan Fish, son of Joel and Annette Fish of Overland Park, Kan. Pace is a 2006 graduate of Sartell High School. She graduated from St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minn., with a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and a minor in business. She is currently employed as a sourcing specialist with Target Corporation, Minneapolis. Fish graduated from Wichita (Kan.) State University, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in entrepreneurship and minor in sports administration and management. He is currently employed as the assistant general manager with CSM Corp. at Residence Inn by Marriott, Eden Prairie, Minn. A May 9, 2015 wedding is planned in Sartell.
Friday, April 10, 2015
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 25 9:09 a.m. Dog. 3rd Street N. A report was made regarding two dogs escaping from a fenced-in yard. Officers arrived and located one dog still in the fenced-in area and the other outside. The homeowner arrived and was able to kennel the dogs. 9:50 a.m. Agency assist. 2 ½ Street. Officers assisted in a search warrant executed at a residence. Two adult males were placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. March 26 9:35 p.m. Suspicious activity. 5th Street N. A report was made regarding a vehicle driving by juveniles and shooting bottle rockets toward them, numerous times. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the vehicle. March 27 3:07 p.m. Road rage. CR 120. A complaint was made regarding a vehicle’s driver honking their horn and making inappropriate gestures to another driver. Officers checked the area and were unable to locate the vehicle.
11:06 p.m. 3rd Avenue N. Dog. A complaint was made regarding dogs continuously barking inside of a residence. After several attempts, an officer was able to make contact with the homeowner. She was issued a citation. March 28 2:26 p.m. Domestic. Oriole Avenue. A report was made regarding an adult male and an adult female arguing and it has become physical. Officers arrived and were able to eventually make contact with the male. Both the male and female were placed under arrest without further incident. 7:01 p.m. Theft. Walmart. An adult male was witnessed leaving the store with unpaid merchandise. The male admitted to the theft. He also had a warrant for his arrest. He was placed under arrest without incident and issued a citation for the theft. March 29 8:40 a.m. Agency assist. 30th Avenue N. Officers assisted the county in searching for a 4-yearold child who left a residence. Officers located the child in a nearby field, with his dog. The child was in good condition and returned to his family. 9:09 p.m. Noise. Heritage Drive. A complaint was made regarding the noise coming from a residence due to a party. Officers arrived and spoke to the occupants, who stated they were leaving for the evening. March 30 3:16 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Walmart. A report was made regarding a vehicle that was parked in the lot for a longer period of time. Officers made contact with both passengers, who were unable to keep their attention focused and seemed disoriented. Both were transported to the hospital and left in their care.
LEgal notICE
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 2015 BITUMINOUS CHIP SEAL The City of Sartell will solicit bids for the 2015 Bituminous Chip Seal project at the office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road, Sartell, Minn., until 11 a.m. CST, Monday, April 20, 2015, at which time all bids will be publicly opened in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, and all bids read aloud. Please see the City of Sartell website at www.sartellmn.com for bid information. Publish: April 10, 2015
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon Editor Dennis Dalman
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Friday, April 10, 2015
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Intersecting lives help save sex-trafficking victims by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
When first meeting Edwina Gateley and Brenda MyersPowell, people might think they have been parent and child forever or at the very least friends for a long time. That was not always the case. Gateley and Myers-Powell met after their lives took very different paths and intersected in 1997. Gateley helped create Genesis House, a house at which hospitality and nurturing is offered for women involved with prostitution. Myers-Powell came to Genesis House to save herself from years of mental, physical and sexual abuse. She spent a year-anda-half at the house and then rebuilt her life. Myers-Powell co-founded The Dreamcatcher Foundation in 2008. The foundation works to prevent sexual exploitation of at-risk youth and offers them confidence and reassurance to help them get back out into the world. Both women are working to educate people and to save people from sex trafficking. They recently riveted listeners with their stories during Sex Trafficking Awareness Week at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict. Gateley was born in Lancaster, England and moved to Chicago as an adult. She earned a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic Theological Union. After liv-
ing in solitude for nine months in a trailer in Illinois, she said she found her calling to work with prostitutes and/or victims of sex trafficking and has done so for 30 years. Gateley spent more than a year walking the streets and talking to homeless women and women who were involved with prostitution. She said she was not very well accepted in the beginning, but after she continued to spend time with the women, they started to trust her. Thirty years ago, when she first started working with victims, the issue was not often discussed and prostitutes were not seen as victims. Gateley came to learn 95 percent of these women experienced some type of childhood sexual and emotional abuse. Many of the “johns” who solicited their business were white, middleclass professional men. The average prostitute dies of murder, overdose or suicide by the time they are 34 years old. “There was a denial of the violence against women,” Gateley said. She said it’s important to decriminalize women in prostitution and to criminalize the traffickers instead. Gateley said sex trafficking is the fastest-growing industry in the world. It’s important to educate the public, police and social services to help stop this industry. She gave an example where an area in Sweden was able to reduce its prostitution by
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two-thirds, and many brothels have disappeared. Many young sex-trafficking victims are picked up as runaways in Greyhound bus stations by wily pimps. These pimps know how to psychologically and physically manipulate the young victims. “One of the hardest things to do is to break a woman from her pimp,” Gateley said. Gateley also started to understand how many of the women were victims not of their own choosing at a time when they were not understood or very well supported by other people. She said it’s important to hear these women’s stories. Myers-Powell spent 25 years as a prostitute, beginning at the age of 14. She currently is the subject of the Emmynominated documentary film Dreamcatcher. Myers-Powell promotes awareness to help other victims of sex trafficking break free. She shared her story with listeners, of her 15-year-old mother dying shortly after she was born and being raised by an alcoholic grandmother with a third-grade education. Her grandmother cleaned houses and Myers-Powell was left alone to watch out the window, often watching the women in the street who wore shiny dresses and clothing. She dreamed of being able to shine like those women. As an alcoholic, her grandmother often brought men
photo by Cori Hilsgen
Brenda Myers-Powell (left) and Edwina Gateley spoke recently at the College of St. Benedict about their intersecting lives and their journey to help sex-trafficking victims. Myers-Powell was a prostitute for 25 years before coming to Genesis House, started by Gateley. home because they brought the booze. These men began abusing Myers-Powell at a very young age. As the only child in a houseful of adults, she was threatened by the men not to talk about the abuse. By the time she was 14, Myers-Powell had given birth to two children. She said she just wanted to be loved and sought that need for love in the neighborhood. Her grandmother encouraged her to get paid for having sex and accepted her money for doing so and thus became her first pimp. At 14, in a tight, green suit she had paid $3.99 for, Myers-Powell became a prostitute and earned
$400 her first night. She gave all of the money to her grandmother, who suddenly treated her much better. Shortly after starting prostitution, two neighborhood pimps found out about her, pistol-whipped, kidnapped, raped and beat her for days. Hanging on to the hope that somebody had reported her missing and would be looking for her, she survived and was able to escape, hitching a ride home with a truck driver. He couldn’t understand why a young girl like her was all alone on the streets at night. Myers-Powell returned to her grandmother’s apartment, Trafficking • page 5
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Our View
Let’s not squash the egg before it hatches It’s interesting how many people are slamming the Obama Administration’s diplomatic efforts with Iran before the deal is even signed. So far, the intense negotiations are at the tentative “agreement” stage. A final pact, if one is even arrived at, won’t be signed until June. In the meantime, members of the U.S. Congress – on both sides of the aisle – are carping about the initiative, which is backed – as some people conveniently like to forget – by several other nations. This is not to suggest any sort of agreement should not be scrutinized. It certainly should, and it certainly will be – by Congress and others. In the meantime, these naysayers so eager to pounce on the pact, including Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, should hold their fire to find out more details about what such an agreement might entail. So far, according to these nonstop spoilsports, the deal would be a big giveaway to untrustworthy, devious, terrorist-trending Iran. All that country wants, they claim, is for economic sanctions to be lifted so the Iranians can pretend to stop trying to make nuclear bombs while their economy comes back up to snuff. Advocates of the deal claim it’s better to open communications with Iran while the United States and other countries attest to a verification process, including on-site inspections, to be assured Iran has ceased preliminary processes in making nuclear weapons. If that promise is broken, economic sanctions could once again be applied. Both sides of this issue have raised plenty of good questions. However, when all is said and done, it all comes down to this: Should the United States and the rest of the world continue to give cold-shoulder hostility and threats to Iran, or should the world at least open up lines of communication – if not an olive branch – to that country? Some who are opposed to any sort of treaty with Iran apparently think there is only one solution possible: a military attack against nuclear-development sites in Iran. That seems to be the intransigent stance of Netanyahu. Treaty defenders maintain diplomatic efforts hold open the possibility of positive progress, which is much better than a hostile stand-off bound to lead to inevitable war. That latter argument, a “give peace a chance” approach, seems to make sense. Many people do not know in Iran today, the vast majority of its citizens are young people, well under the age of 30. Most of them are fond of Western ways and basically pro-American, no matter what the religious extremists tell them. Hope for the future resides with those young people. One reason the Soviet Union dissolved is because the young people in that country were fed up or just plain bored by hearing outdated, dreary, stupid communist propaganda. A treaty with Iran will give that nation’s young people hope they can communicate openly with the rest of the world, that extremists in Iran will have to compromise with the secular geo-political realities around them. The forces of democracy are definitely brewing under the surface in Iran. There will come a time when the old mullahs and their medieval mindsets will have to give way to an Iran that is more modern, more open, more democratic. In fact, that conflict between neo-medieval extremist rigidities and secular, open-minded modernity is what is causing so much cruelty and suffering in the Middle East today. This diplomatic initiative, whether it is ratified or not, could be a force for nurturing the forces of democratization, perhaps as bold and historic as was President Nixon’s historic 1972 trip to China. In any case, time will tell. Why squash the egg before it has a chance to hatch?
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Opinion ‘All aboard!’ for ObamaCare Now that ObamaCare is five years old, wouldn’t it be nice – on its birthday – to think if Sen. Ted Cruz signs up for it, it most definitely cannot be all that bad – not a train wreck, not an unmitigated disaster, not “the worst thing since slavery,” as Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson put it. After all, it is Cruz – the arch-enemy of ObamaCare – who repeatedly called the Affordable Care Act a “train wreck” and who vows to keep trying to repeal “every word” of that law. Don’t faint dead away, folks, but sure enough, bully-boy Cruz is signing up. We learned recently he is about to choose an insurance plan through ObamaCare. It’s because his wife, Heidi, is taking a leave of absence from her job at Goldman Sachs so she can accompany her husband on the presidential-campaign trail. Thus, Cruz will no longer be covered on his wife’s health-insurance plan during her leave of absence. He’s got to get his own, like so many millions of Americans who could not get their own, who couldn’t afford it, before ObamaCare went into effect. Cruz was quick to note he has no choice but to seek insurance through an ObamaCare exchange because one of the provisions of the law is that members of the U.S. Congress must use the exchange. Cruz will not get a government subsidy to help him pay for his monthly insurance premium. He makes too much money to qualify for one. However, we’re told his employer, the U.S. Congress, will pay for almost all of it. In other words, we the taxpayers will pay for his health-care premium. Now, if that isn’t a subsidy – a total subsidy – what is? It’s so ironic Cruz is signing up via an ObamaCare market exchange, but
Dennis Dalman Editor let’s not celebrate just yet, folks. He assures us he hasn’t had a change of heart about the law. He continues to hate it with his usual passionate irrationality. Cruz said this: “I believe in 2017 a new president, a Republican president, will sign legislation repealing every word of it. There are a fair number of Republicans in Washington and elsewhere who have quietly and privately given up on that fight and I have not.” Spoken like a true entrenched demagogue. Among the “fair number of Republicans” who have given up on the fight are those who have realized, after all their squawking, that the law is, in fact, working quite well, far better than expected and infinitely better than the end-of-the-world, death-panel, trainwreck disaster gleefully predicted by Obama-haters. An estimated 16 million people now have health insurance directly or indirectly because of the Affordable Care Act, with more coming on board all the time. Who can argue with that wonderful fact? Yes, there have been problems with ObamaCare, not the least of which was its disastrous, inexcusable, bungled Internet roll-out fiasco. There have also been ongoing problems with the Minnesota exchange system – delays and other glitches. Like any major new program (like its predecessors Social Security and Medicare), problems are bound to happen and adjustments will
need to be made. No, ObamaCare is not perfect, but it is infinitely better than what existed before it – a hopeless situation under which millions of people were unable to afford or to access insurance coverage, sometimes because of pre-existing conditions; sick people in pain going to emergency rooms and causing others to pick up the tab for treatment; people dying who could have been saved if their problems would have been diagnosed earlier – that is, if they could have had ready and affordable access to clinics, which they didn’t have. Those who are so rabidly opposed to the Affordable Care Act, politicians like Ted Cruz and so many others who heed the shrill opponents, have yet to come up with any alternative for affordable health care. The Republican-dominated U.S. House and Senate have not proposed any serious workable health-care reform other than their spiteful, childish attempts to vote down ObamaCare. Fifty-plus times they have pulled off that stupid stunt. ObamaCare is working; millions are enrolled; more and more are getting the health care they need; medical costs are at long last on the decline; premiums are moderating compared to the pre-ACA years; private insurance industries are thriving; people are healthier and happier. Call that a train wreck? On the contrary, it sounds like a train on the tracks to a better future for all Americans. Maybe it’s time the gloom-anddoomers stop their squawking and step on up at the next whistle stop. Many already have jumped aboard because they know that by the 2016 presidential election, the ACA will be a political plus, not a curse. “All aboard!”
Isn’t that what choice is all about? We all have choices. That is one of the great privileges of being an American. We have the right to live the life we choose. As long as we don’t abuse our neighbor, we can travel whatever silly road we want. I point this out because of an event I wanted to share with you. A friend of mine recently announced he had decided to become a vegan. I said you mean like a character from Star Wars? “No,” he said. “I have decided to become a committed vegetarian. From now on I refuse to eat meat or any animal product and will only eat vegetables.” OK. Whatever you think. But you do realize as a human you are an omnivore? That means you are designed to thrive and prosper eating a diet complete with both vegetables and meat. If you just eat vegetables, you will have to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals that just don’t exist on a vegetarian diet. He assured me he had this all under control so I decided to drop the subject. But no. My friend wouldn’t just drop the subject. He went on to tell me what my requirements would be with his new diet choice. For example, when he is at my house I would have to dispose of any and all foods containing any animal parts. If he decided to eat at my
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer house, I would be required to prepare only accepted foods and drinks. Then he went on to tell me he will be visiting local restaurants, requiring them to change their menus to exclude any meats or animal products. After all, he would be offended by just looking at a menu with meat on it, not to mention the smells he would have to encounter. He had decided to live the “lifestyle” of the vegan. That would mean no leather shoes or leather belts. No leather sofas or clothing. After all, that would amount to cruelty to animals. He went on to tell me he is sure he was born this way and it was not a matter of choice. So I asked my friend why would he think his vegan decision, whether by birth or by choice, should be the responsibility of anyone else? Because, he said, vegetables are better for you and eating meat is just wrong. I intend everyone will be vegans. I intend to protest all meat-packing plants and
butcher shops. I will petition Congress to make eating meat illegal. Soon the whole world will be a paradise for all the animals and we will all be rewarded by eating all the vegetables we want. Now I like some vegetables. In fact potato chips and popcorn are among my favorites. But I also like to sink my teeth into a big juicy steak, or a cheeseburger, or ham and eggs. While I don’t think I was frightened at an early age by a stalk of celery or a piece of spinach, I prefer the steak. So, is this a choice I have made or was I born that way? This point is clear to me. Whether my lifestyle is by choice or by birth, it’s my lifestyle. It doesn’t involve anyone else nor should anyone else’s lifestyle involve me. I don’t require my friend to alter his life to suit me and he should not make any such requirement of me. Our friendship is probably on shaky ground right now but really, isn’t that what choice is all about? Scarbro is retired and spends most of his free time with his grandchildren having moved from Sartell to St. Simons Island, Ga.. Writing and commenting on the news of the day is a pastime. Visit his weekly blog at ronscarbro.blogspot.com for more commentary.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Trafficking from page 3 all the while thinking for sure her grandmother had filed a police report and people had been searching for her. When she returned home, she learned nobody had even reported her missing. She was devastated. Her grandmother thought she had run away and never took the time to listen to what had happened to her. Her grandmother said, “You #&*$%, you left. You ain’t nothing.” Myers-Powell left her grandmother’s apartment. A pimp soon found her and promised her he would help her gain stardom as a singer. Since she wanted to sing and wanted to shine, she stayed with him.
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com At first, Myers-Powell didn’t touch drugs or alcohol while working as a prostitute. Eventually, one night after being slapped, strangled and beaten up, and knowing she had to do it all over again, she ordered an alcoholic drink to numb the pain. She moved on to acid, crack and other drugs. MyersPowell said you have to be on drugs to endure the life. She said she was trying to find love in all the wrong places and never found it. Myers-Powell said many prostitutes often have sex with about five or more different people each day, 365 days each year for a total of 1,825 or more people each year. After a while, she said she just wanted to be dead. When Myers-Powell was 39, a nicely dressed man in a new Mercedes picked her up in daylight hours. She was sure
he was safe. He ended up beating her in the middle of the day where everyone could see. When she tried to get out of the car and escape, her clothes caught on his car and she was dragged six blocks. She ended up in an emergency room, very battered and injured. A policeman recognized her as a “whore” from the streets and told the staff not to be too concerned about her. She decided to pray. “God hears a sinner’s prayers,” Meyers-Powell said. “I started to pray I was going to stop making decisions and I was going to let him take over.” A woman doctor saved her and her eye which she thought she was going to lose. MyersPowell ended up at Genesis House, where she healed. “I wanted to have my face back and I wanted to be a
lady,” Myers-Powell said. “Today, I stand in front of you a lady with a face.” At Genesis House, she wrote journals, healed and had a funeral and buried “Breezy” (her street name). She once again became Brenda Jean. Myers-Powell said she wasn’t able to be a good mother to her daughters Peaches and Prune, but they have forgiven her and are proud of who she has become.
5 “I am a golden grandmother,” she said. In a beautiful sounding voice, Myers-Powell sang I’ll Be Loving You Always, to listeners at the Gorecki Center. The documentary Dreamcatcher can be seen on Showtime. According to FBI statistics, there are an estimated 300,000 child prostitutes in the United States, a number that is growing at an alarming rate.
Bag of Books Sale held at St. Cloud Library The St. Cloud Friends of the Library spring Bag of Books Sale will be held April 16-18 in the Mississippi Room of the St. Cloud Public Library. Books-by-the-bag pricing will include fiction, nonfiction, romance, mystery, paperbacks, chil-
dren’s and VHS. The sale will also feature vintage, collectibles and records with special sale pricing, as well as a silent auction that will run the duration of the sale. Head to stcloudfriends.org or find them on Facebook for more information.
6
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
Pine Groove to offer crafts, music, theater by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
A virtual kaleidoscope of arts, crafts and music will dazzle visitors when the Sartell Music Association hosts its second annual Pine Groove Arts Festival from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at Sartell Middle School. All proceeds will go to the SMA for musical-education programs for Sartell schools. The event is free and open to one and all. A second part of Pine Groove will take place that evening, from 6:30-10 p.m. It will be a music-anddance concert at Grands at Mulligan’s event center in Sartell, featuring Andrew Walesch and His Big Band. Walesch played last year at the Pine Groove celebration, to resounding acclaim from the dancers and listeners. For tickets to the dance, go to www.sartellmusic.org. At the arts-and-crafts fair, visitors will have a chance to peruse nearly 40 vendors offering such hand-crafted items as fused-glass designs, wooden bowls, oilcloth bags, jewelry, clothing, handmade soaps, log furni-
ture and more. The day will be filled with music, including performances by the Cantabile Girls Choir, Bethlehem Orchestra, the Suzuki Orchestra, Paul Imholte, the Central Minnesota Youth Chorale, the Sartell Music Faculty Rock ‘n’ Roll Band, the Sartell Municipal Band, choirs from Sartell’s high school and middle school and three jazz bands from the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Theater characters will also make appearances at Pine Groove, including cast members from St. Cloud GREAT Theater’s productions of Tarzan, the Addam’s Family, 9 to 5 and The Grizzlies. Other cast members will also make appearances from the upcoming Sartell Middle School production of Into the Woods. At 2 p.m., the Jah People will perform, a Twin Citiesbased band that delivers an upbeat blend of reggae, funk and hip-hop. “Like last year, we want to bring arts to the community and show support for our Sartell schools’ music Groove • page 8
photo by Dennis Dalman
Above: A vendor from Hanover (right) sells some of her handmade Easter eggs to a Sartell family during the 2014 Pine Groove Arts Festival at Sartell Middle School. contributed photo
At right: The Jah People band will perform April 25 at the Pine Groove Arts Festival at Sartell Middle School. The band plays a blend of reggae, funk and hip-hop.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
7
City departments present annual reports by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Last year, Sartell police officers and support staff had to work harder and go the extra mile because of a lack of three officers – one who died after a medical operation, one who retired and one who transferred to another department. Sartell Police Chief noted that situation in the annual policedepartment report submitted to the city council at its March 23 meeting. Other department reports were also submitted to the council. The following are brief highlights of the 2014 reports by the police and fire departments and by the public-works department. (Please note that highlights from other city departments were presented by Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll during her recent “State of the City” address, as reported in the March 27 Sartell Newsleader.)
Police department
During 2014, there were 14 full-time officers working for the police department, a shortage of three, as mentioned above. There were nine Reserve Program officers also working. Hughes called it a “difficult year” because of the lack of the three officers. The difficulty was compounded by the fact the city continues to grow in every way. The annual report, however, shows police-department employees were able to make up for the slack, pull together and do an enormous amount of not only hands-on police work but also extensive communityoutreach efforts. The following are some notable items in the police report for 2014: • Initial-complaint reports (calls police dealt with and made reports on) decreased slightly last year, from 11,618 in 2013 to 11,478 in 2014. • Some of the more serious crimes reported in 2014 were
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37 assaults (60 in 2013), 33 burglaries (28 in 2013), 60 drug offenses (54 in 2013), 36 DWIs (33 in 2013), 13 cases of alleged criminal sexual conduct (17 in 2013), one kidnapping (a woman who claimed she was kidnapped when her car was hijacked by a man in the McDonald’s parking lot, an alleged crime still unsolved) and one homicide (a man shot to death during a drug deal at PineCone Marketplace in south Sartell). • There were 450 medical calls in 2014 (in large part attributable to the growing number of senior-citizen living units in the city). • Reserve officers, all volunteers, donated a total of 2,968 hours of service in 2014, which is the equivalent of $72,000 in wage value. (“I am very in debt to them,” Chief Hughes told the city council.) • Police officers participated in 1,333 hours of extra training in 2014, including sessions concerning tasers, rifles, handguns, defensive tactics and field-sobriety testing. • Once again the police department reached out to the city and its residents through a huge variety of programming, including the following: Metro Citizens Police Academy, Neighborhood Watch, Shop with a Cop, Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, Coffee and Conversation, Child Restraint Inspections, Bike Rodeo, Cookout with Cops, Police Activities League, Welcome Packets, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (also known as DARE), Gang Resistance Education and Training, Family Group Counseling, School Liaison (two full-time officers to that program), the Police Department website and its Facebook (some of its information attracted 174,000 viewings). Since the police department only has one official crime investigator, others must step in to help when investigative work
Fire department
Sartell Fire Chief Ken Heim had good news for the city council in his report, with a fairly low dollar-estimate damage because of fires and no injuries or deaths. Fire and emergency calls to the department were 116, down by 28 calls from the year before. The total fire calls for within the Sartell city limits were 104, a decrease of 22 from 2013. The total estimated dollar loss from city fires was $50,0702, which was $3,248 less than the year before. The Sartell department received and answered four requests for mutual aid from neighboring cities – two from St. Cloud, one from St. Joseph and one from Sauk Rapids. Sartell requested and received mutualaid assistance from three other departments for a fire at the abandoned paper mill – one each from St. Stephen, Rice and St. Cloud.
Borders Heim The average response time from when a call came in and when firefighters were at the scene was 6.13 minutes per call. The busiest time of day for calls to the department was 5 p.m. The second and third busiest times were 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. LeSauk Township fire and emergency calls were eight, down from 18 the previous year. That estimated dollar loss was $1,000. The fire department added two new firefighters to its crew in 2014. “I want to thank the firefighters for everything they did in 2014,” Sartell Fire Chief Ken Heim said in his report. “Their efforts of time and commitment have shown they are highly trained and true professionals. They are very dedicated to the community and the people and property they protect.”
Public works
The Sartell Public Works Department, led by Brad Borders, maintains most of the city’s 41
Hughes parks, as well as 50 miles of trails, 16 of which are maintained and kept open in winter. In 2014, the department’s workers seal-coated 22,000-square yards of roadways, an ongoing process, year after year. The compost site is thriving, with 200 non-residents having purchased permits to use the site, 34 of them from LeSauk Township, the rest from surrounding cities. That, Borders said, was a “nice increase,” and there is still room at the site for more people to use, both residents and non-residents, as long as they get permits from the city. There were two water-main breaks in the city, the last one on the city’s east side, another reminder, Borders said, the east side is overdue for infrastructure improvements. To plow after a 6-inch snowfall it takes the city crew about eight hours for a cost of $8,700. On weekends that cost goes up to $9,600, mainly due to overtime wages.
Family event to celebrate County Government Month Residents are invited to come out and play, and learn, at an open house from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 11 at the Stearns County Highway Department, 455 28th Ave. S., Waite Park (down the road from Mill’s Fleet Farm). Seeing the Highway Department’s massive equipment and climbing inside those vehicles is part of Stearns County’s celebration of National County Government Month. Kids and adults alike will enjoy getting a good look at the variety of road
repair and maintenance equipment used by our Highway Department – bulldozers, loaders, bucket trucks, tractors, backhoes, stripers, sign truck, tractor with mower and boom cutter, pavers, rollers, snowplows, crack-sealing equipment, skid steers, patching equipment and more. Attendees will also be able to take home a free load of sand for the children’s sandbox. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on April 10 criers.
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becomes too much. Hughes told the council the department could definitely use one more officer. Council member David Peterson said he is a firm believer in strong community policing in which officers mingle with the public. Hughes said in addition to the many public-outreach programs, he would like to do even more with some officers perhaps doing bike patrols to visit with business owners and pedestrians gathered here and there. “You’re doing a great job,” Peterson told Hughes. “If you need more officers, please bring that (request) forward.” Other council members also praised the department. “Thank you for all the efforts you folks make to be part of our community,” said Amy BraigLindstrom. “Community engagement does have a positive effect on the community. I am in support of your additional needs.” “Thanks, chief,” said Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll. “You guys do a great job. Your department is certainly something to be proud of.”
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
Ask a Trooper
Can a new driver with a permit start a vehicle without supervision? Q: Can a new driver with a permit start a vehicle without supervision? Or is this act considered operating a vehicle? A: In almost 18 years of Law Enforcement, 17 of those with the Minnesota State Patrol, that is the first time I’ve been asked that question. Researching the laws in the Minnesota State Statutes (M.S.S.), here is what I found: M.S.S. defines “driver” as “every person, who drives or is in actual physical control of contributed photo
Andrew Walesch, singer and pianist extraordinaire, will perform with his band at a concert-dance April 25 during the Pine Groove Arts Festival. Walesh was a smash hit at last year’s festival in Sartell.
Groove from page 6 programs,” said Maureen Putnam, president of the Sartell Music Association. The Sartell-St. Stephen School District, she added, has been strong in its unwavering support for music in the schools, unlike some school districts that cut music funding because of tight budgets. In just the past two years, AUTOMOBILES/MOTORCYCLES WANTED CASH FOR CARS: All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top Dollar Paid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-871-9134 (MCN) FOR SALE TRAILER SALE! Dump trailers from $3,341.00 and up. Close-out on Gooseneck trailers 28’,30’ & 32’. 6x12 V-nose cargo, ramp door $2,750.00. 7’x10’ trike hauler cargo v-nose $2,990.00. 515-972-4554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com (MCN) FARM RELATED HUNTING LAND WANTED! Earn thousands on your land by leasing the hunting rights. Free evaluation & info packet. Liability coverage included. The experts at Base Camp Leasing have been bringing landowners & hunters together since 1999. Email: info@ basecampleasing.com Call: 866-309-1507 BaseCampLeasing.com (MCN) AG EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTATION. Need your large equipment transported? Give us a call. Dealer transfers, auction purchases, tractors, combines, hay/straw, oversize/overweight, etc. Fully insured PARKER SPECIALIZED, Long Prairie, MN Jason/Josh 320-8158484 (MCN) ANNOUNCEMENTS RV, SPORT, REC & GUN CONSIGNMENT SALE. SAT., MAY 2, 2015 at 9:00 A.M. Please get gun permits to buy, prior to sale. Consign early by Apr. 17, 2015 for complete advertising. Gilbert’s Sale Yard, LLC, 641-398-2218. 2 Mi. N. of Floyd, IA on Hwy. 218. Tractor House Internet Bidding Available. www.gilbertsaleyard. com (MCN) GUN SHOW. April 17th, 18th and 19th. Event Center, Mason City Iowa. Over 200 Tables! Friday 4pm-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm. Sunday 9am-3pm. Information: 563-608-4401 (MCN) HOTELS FOR HEROS - To Find Out More About How You Can Help Our Service Members, Veterans and Their Families in Their Time of Need, Visit the Fisher House Website at www.fisherhouse.org (MCN) WANT TO BUY CASH for sealed, unexpired DIABETIC
a motor vehicle.” Obviously in Minnesota, a driver’s license is required to operate the type of vehicle your license class applies to. Due to incidents where people have been arrested for “driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs” there is case law talking about “driving, operating and physical control.” Physical control is defined as: “Being in a position to exercise dominion or control over the vehicle. Thus a person is in
physical control of a vehicle if they have the means to initiate any movement of that vehicle and they are in close proximity to the operating controls of the vehicle…” Based on that, a person with an instruction permit would not legally be able to start a vehicle, unless under the supervision of a parent, guardian or other licensed driver 21 or older occupying the front passenger seat.
Can a person with a handicapped-parking permit park at a meter without having to pay? Q: Can a person with a handicapped-parking permit park at a meter without having to pay? A: If there’s a physically disabled person in the vehicle, a vehicle can be parked in a metered space without payment if certain requirements are met, according to Minnesota State Statute (M.S.S.) 169.345 “Privilege for the physically disabled.”
A vehicle that “prominently displays the certificate authorized by this section or that bears the disability plate or plates may be parked by or solely for the benefit of a physically disabled person in a… metered parking space without obligation to pay the meter fee and without time restrictions unless time restrictions are separately posted on official signs.”
“A person may park the vehicle for a physically disabled person in a parking space only when actually transporting the physically disabled person for the sole benefit of that person and when the parking space is within a reasonable distance from the drop-off point.” Note, the vehicle must display the required certificate or license plate.
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
Baseball from front page defraying their registration and other costs. Sponsorships also help fund uniforms, equipment, coaches’ and players’ clinics, tournament fees, league fees, insurance costs, field improvements and field maintenance. There are levels of sponsorship dubbed “Single,” “Double,” “Triple” and “Home Run,” ranging from $100 for “Single” to $1,000 for “Home Run.” Sponsors will have their names placed on T-shirts and, depending on the level of sponsorship, a Sartell baseball blanket, a banner advertise-
Season registration is open
until May 15 for players in first and second grades. More players are also needed for the third- and fourthgrade teams. Players will continue to be accepted via registration until those teams are filled up. Registration for grades five and higher are closed at this time. All families of registrants are requested to volunteer at least four hours during the season for a variety of duties, such as serving at weekend tournaments, being part of a ground crew, helping with the scoreboard, park cleanup, coaching a team or other tasks. Already, there are seven tournaments slated for the fields at Pinecone Central Park
Greater St. Cloud Community Priority of Supporting Successful Aging in Place. The fair first traveled to St. Joseph and Sauk Rapids last September. St. Cloud Aging Services Director Laura Hood said the group decided initially to focus on health, wellness and fitness of older adults because many adults older than 55 have seven to 10 times higher out-of-pocket health expenses than younger people in their 30s and 40s. This can be very significant since many older adults live on fixed incomes. Many suffer from chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and more. Having resources to help
manage health risks can help adults remain independent longer. Free health education available at the fair can help encourage older adults to maintain their independence in their homes longer to avoid more expensive living arrangements such as assisted living or nursing homes. The fair will also be held from 8 a.m to noon Friday, April 10 at Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Area agencies involved with the health fair include Central Minnesota Council on Aging, Whitney Senior Center, City of St. Cloud and the SCSU College of Health and Human Services, along with expertise and con-
ment for one year at Champion Field, links to the sponsoring business on the SBA website, a sponsor brick as a permanent part of Champion Field. People, businesses or organizations can either choose sponsorships or donate whatever amount they want. Checks should be written out to Sartell Baseball Association and sent to SBA, P.O. Box. 268, Sartell MN 56377-0268. Donations and sponsorships can also be made on the SBA website at www.sartellbaseball.com. For more information about sponsorship options, call Brent Weber at 320-267-0094.
Registration
9
and so volunteers are encouraged to sign up to help. For more information about registration, visit the SBA website at www.sartellbaseball. com or call Mike Connolly at 320-309-9747.
overall skills. The Twins will provide all instruction equipment.
Board meetings
A free Minnesota Twins Coaching Clinic will take place from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at Celebration Lutheran Church. The clinic is ideal for beginner coaches, and even experienced coaches will be able to learn some new concepts and techniques. The clinic is divided into two 1.5-hour sessions. The first session will cover defensive techniques; the second will cover offensive techniques and tips to improve
SBA Board meetings take place monthly at Celebration Lutheran Church in Sartell, and all baseball families are welcome to attend them. The next two are slated for 7 p.m. Saturday, April 18 and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 17. SBA Board members are Brent Weber, president; directors Tony Ahrndt, Pete Johnson, Lesa Kramer, Dave Schlangen; and treasurer Jed Meyer. For more about SBA, including information about upcoming skills clinics and baseball camps, see its website at www.sartellbaseball.com.
tributions from SPOT Rehab and Home Care, CentraCare, Ridgeview-Tealwood, St. Cloud Metropolitan Transit Commis-
sion, Parish Nurse Ministry programs, Benton County Public Health, Catholic Charities and more.
Coaches’ clinic
Traveling health fair to visit Sartell April 30 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
A free traveling health and screening fair, open to people 50 and older, will stop from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 30 at St. Francis Xavier Church at 308 2nd St. N. in Sartell. The fair will include free tests for blood pressure, balance, memory, diabetes, hearing, nutrition and more. It will also include free health education about driving, vision, hearing, home design, health-care directives, vaccinations, dental health, mental health, exercise and more. The fair is a major collaboration between more than 14 organizations working on the
You are cordially invited to the
Sartell Sabre All-Sport Booster Club Spring Social and Silent Auction
Friday, April 17 • 8-11 p.m. Blackberry Ridge Golf Club
Join your friends and other athletes’ parents for a night of fun and relaxation!
Clip and Save !
James Kramer III of Kramer Financial Recognized as a Top Financial Advisor by LPL Financial James Kramer III, an independent financial advisor affiliated with LPL Financial at Kramer Financial in St. Cloud, MN, was recently recognized as a top advisor and named to the LPL Chairman’s Club. This premier honor is awarded to less than 6% of the firm’s approximately 14,000 advisors nationwide, and is based on the advisor’s annual production ranked among all registered advisors supported by LPL. “We congratulate James Kramer III on this achievement, which exemplifies excellence in the financial services industry. This award reflects James’ commitment to his clients in delivering objective financial advice and strategies to help them pursue their life’s financial goals,” said William Morrissey, managing director, LPL Independent Advisor Services. “Chairman’s Club advisors represent the highest level of service that a financial advisor can provide to his clients and their communities.” James Kramer III is affiliated with LPL and provides access to independent financial-planning services, investment advice and asset-management services to clients in the central Minnesota community.
James Kramer III, MBA, CFP®
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Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA/SIPC.
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SARTELL LIONS Cleanup! Sartell Lot SartellMiddle MiddleSchool School Parking Parking Lot Saturday, a.m. - 12- Noon Noon Saturday,April April24 25• 8• 8 a.m. Pickup/Trailer or Equivalent $95/ea. Office/Business Furniture $20/ea. Air Conditioners & Home Appliances $20/ea. Couches/Stuffed Chairs $20/ea. Mattresses/Box Springs $20/ea. Commercial Appliances $20/ea. Fluorescent Bulbs $3/ea. Car Batteries $3/ea. Tires $10-$15/ea. Computers/TVs/Electronics 30¢/lb. Tube-type TVs & Monitors 65¢/lb. For more information go to www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/sartell
IF YOU NEED ITEMS
IFPICKED YOU NEED ITEMS UP, CALL PICKED UP,320-290-2173 CALL JACK JAVIER AT PRIOR OR JACKTO AT SATURDAY 320-250-6697 ATTO 250-6697 PRIOR SATURDAY $7 fee fee for $10 for single singleitem item picked up and $20 feefee forfor pickup/trailer $30 pickup/ load picked trailer loadup
NO PAINTS, SOLVENTS, OILS OR CHEMICALS! NO GAS-OPERATED REFRIGERATORS!
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
Plumber glad to be home, with his own business by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
contributed photo
Plumber Adam Abfalter fixes a water pipe. Abfalter recently started his own at-home-based business that he named Sartell Plumbing.
After spending days and nights in 40-below North Dakota weather, Adam Abfalter is glad to be back in Sartell with his wife, his stepdaughter and his very own plumbing business. In January, Abfalter decided to open his at-home business, which he calls Sartell Plumbing. After 10 years in the business, as well as a two-year stint in the North Dakota oil fields, Abfalter knew he had plenty enough experience to go it alone. The 2002 graduate of Sartell High School tried St. Cloud Technical College for a time, post high school, but he decided it just wasn’t his thing. So he moved to the Twin Cities where he became a plumber’s assistant and then a plumber’s apprentice and member of St. Paul Union Local 34. For four years, he worked in townhouses in the metro area. Later, he did a wide variety of plumbing work in residential, commercial and remodeling projects, much of the service work involving fixing faucets and water heaters. It was rigorous on-the-job training and mighty hard work – averaging 65 to 70 hours per week. Although Abfalter is a Mr. Fix-It in every aspect of plumbing, his specialty in his own
business is service work, especially for remodeling jobs in kitchens and bathrooms. Plumbing, he explained, is more complex than it was in the old days, when fixing a leak or unplugging a clog were common tasks. Plumbing nowadays is often determined by high-tech kitchens, bathrooms and other housing designs that require putting plumbing fixtures in out-of-the-way, sometimes unusual places such as lowering drains and unhooking things and hooking them up again in unusual combinations in different places. That is especially true of remodeling work. “Nowadays a lot of people go for luxury, for looks and beauty in their homes, and so a lot of different kinds of plumbing goes into that,” he said. “It’s not just the oldfashioned plain old faucet and plain old toilet. Now it’s hightech stuff.” One example of high-tech, he noted, is his task of installing water pipes behind a clothes dryer. Some of the newfangled dryers now use steam for one of the drying cycles. “Plumbing is a constant learning process,” he said. Abfalter, of course, is also adept at the usual, old-fashioned plumbing problems – breaks, leaks, clogs. Abfalter enjoys his job. Most
customers, he said, are very nice, but there are some that turn into meanies. “A few act like I’m the one who broke their stuff,” he said. “They take it out on me.” But he takes it with a grain of salt, knowing most customers are very kind and grateful. Abfalter’s wife, Oriana, and his stepdaughter, Jordan, are patient and supportive. They have to be, since Sartell Plumbing is open for calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Abfalter doesn’t mind the odd hours, however, not after his two years in the North Dakota oil fields. “It was kind of fun working out there, but not in the winter months,” he said. “The year before this last winter, it was so cold and there was so much snow there. I was doing roustabout work, setting up equipment and also transferring frack water to transport trucks. I lived in an ice-castle fish house and watched a lot of movies when I had time off. Working outside in that weather wasn’t fun when it was 40-below so often. It pretty much broke me down.” After his cold ordeal, Abfalter is so happy to be back home, safe and warm and cozy, waiting for service calls from kind – and even crabby – customers. Sartell Plumbing’s phone number is 320-249-4947.
Apartments Daisy is a 7-year-old Rat Terrier who is spayed and house-trained. She will paw at the door or come get you when she needs to go outside. Daisy’s very active and always looked forward to her daily walks. She can be a little shy when meeting new people, but usually warms up very quickly. Small children, however, worry her. Daisy thinks toys and treats are great no matter what the size, shape or flavor. If you are looking to get out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather, Daisy will be more than happy to join you. “Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!” Dogs - 11 Rats - 2
Cats - 17 Macaws - 2
Rabbit - 1
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.
IN SARTELL. Two-bedroom apartment. Spacious. Many newly remodeled! Pets Welcome. Heat paid, fireplace, d/w, balconies. Quiet, residential area. $649-$719. Garage included!
Call 320-281-5101.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
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Community Calendar Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to operations@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, April 10 Traveling Health and Screening Fair for people 50+, 8 a.m.noon, Whitney Center Gym, 1529 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Immigrants and Dispelling the Myths in the Media, 3-5 p.m., Cascade Room, Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University, 651 1st Ave. S., St. Cloud. SCSU’s Chamber Orchestra and Collective Chamber Ensemble performance, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Gant Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, St. Cloud State University, 620 3rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. Saturday, April 11 Craft-vendor sale, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., VFW 428, 9 18th Ave. N., St. Cloud. County Government Month Family Fun Day, 9 a.m.-noon, Stearns County Highway Department, 455 28th Ave. S., Waite Park. First Steps Baby Expo, 9 a.m.2 p.m., River’s Edge Convention Center, 10 4th Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-420-4842. firststepbabyexpo. com. St. Joseph Community Showcase, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Kennedy Community School gym, 1300 Jade Road, St. Joseph. stjosephchamber. com. Winter Market, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. marketmonday.org. Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, annual meeting, 10 a.m., American Legion, 17 2nd Ave. N., Waite Park. Central Minnesota Chapter of the Federation of the Blind of
Minnesota, 12:30 p.m., American Legion, 17 2nd Ave. N., Waite Park. Young Adult Revolution, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Room 259, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver. org. Coder Dojo, learn coding from mentors, 1-4 p.m., Room 208, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org. Maple Syrup Festival, 1-4 p.m., Sugar Shack near St. John’s Preparatory School, St. John’s University, Collegeville. 320-3633163. csbsju.edu/outdooru. Homework help, for grades K-8, 2:30-4:45 p.m., Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org. Still I Rise, a fund-raising concert for Anna Marie’s Alliance, 3:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. csbsju.edu/music. Sunday, April 12 Hands Across the World: The Journey Continues, 1-3 p.m., Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. stearns-museum.org/ event. Women’s Choir Concert, 2 p.m., Sacred Heart Chapel, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. csbsju.edu/music. Goldberg variations performance project, 4 p.m., Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, St. John’s University, 2850 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville. csbsju.edu/music. Monday, April 13 Twenty Years in Clay, pottery show by Joe Singewald, now through May 10, Gorecki Gallery, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. 320-363-5777. csbsju.
edu/fine-arts/visual-arts. Wander, senior art majors exhibition, now through May 10, Alice R. Rogers Gallery and Target Gallery, St. John’s Art Center, St. John’s University, 2850 Abbey Plaza, Collegeville. 320-363-2701. csbsju.edu/fine-arts/visual-arts. Weight loss informational seminar, 2:30 p.m., 2nd Floor Conference Room A/B, River Campus, CentraCare Clinic, 1200 6th Ave. N., St. Cloud. Fare For All, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2, St. Joseph. www.fareforall.org. 1-800-582-4291. Sartell City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. 320-253-2171. Percussion ensemble concert, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. csbsju.edu/ music. Tuesday, April 14 Sartell Chamber of Commerce, 11:30 a.m., City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. 320-253-2171. Blood drive, 1:30-7:30 p.m., St. Mary Help of Christians Parish, 24588 CR 7, St. Cloud. 1-800-7332767. redcrossblood.org. How crimes are solved, Stearns County Sheriff Capt. Pam Jensen, 2 p.m., District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. sartellseniorconnection.com. Survival basics class, fourweek class, ages 8 and up, 6:307:30 p.m., Bremer Room, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver. org. Free all-ages movie showing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Mississippi Community Room, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. griver.org.
On-site Job Fair PouchTec Industries, a local food-packaging facility located in Foley, is looking to fill many full-time production positions. With our company growth opportunities, we need good employees who have the right attitude and work ethic to succeed!
PouchTec is hosting several On-site Job Fairs: 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 Thursday, April 16 Immediate Interviews Available!
Hiring Day and Night Shift!
• Mixers/Batchmakers • Machine Operators/Line Staff • Warehouse/Utility • Production Supervisor We offer competitive wages and excellent benefits including bonuses, vacation and holiday pay. All job offers are contingent upon applicants passing a pre-employment drug screen and background check.
347 Glen St., Foley, MN 56329 • 320-968-4868
www.pouchtec.com
Holistic Moms Network, 7-8:30 p.m., Good Earth Co-op, 2010 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320-2522489. Music in the Round, 7:30 p.m., Ritsche Auditorium, Stewart Hall, St. Cloud State University, 702 1st Ave. S., St. Cloud. Wednesday, April 15 Speaker on the Armenian Genocide of 1915-23, 7 p.m., Ritsche Auditorium, St. Cloud State University, 702 1st Ave. S., St. Cloud. scsu.mn/1IEXg05. Jazz ensemble and jazz combos concerts, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. csbsju.edu/music. The Electro-Acoustic Piano, pianist Keith Kirchoff of St. Cloud, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Gant Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, St. Cloud State University, 620 3rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. keithkirchoff.com. Thursday, April 16 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, 520 1st St. NE, Sartell. 55+ Driver Improvement program (eight-hour first-time course, tonight and April 17), 11:30 a.m.3:30 p.m., Waite Park City Hall, 19 13th Ave. N. 1-888-234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. Weight loss informational seminar, 3 p.m., 2nd Floor Conference Room A/B, River Campus, CentraCare Clinic, 1200 6th Ave. N., St. Cloud. Twenty Years in Clay, pottery show reception by Joe Singlewald,
4-7 p.m., Gorecki Gallery, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. 320-363-2701. csbsju.edu/ fine-arts/visual-arts. Bag of Books Sale, sponsored by the St. Cloud Friends of the Library, 4-8 p.m., Mississippi Room, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. stcloudfriends.org. 55+ Driver Improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 5-9 p.m., Gilleland Chevrolet, 3019 Division St., St. Cloud. 1-888-2341294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. Casa Guadalupe Multicultural Night, 6-8 p.m., St. Boniface Parish Center, 501 Main St., Cold Spring. Friday, April 17 Discovery Day, St. John’s Preparatory School, St. John’s University, Collegeville. 320-363-3315 option 3 to RSVP. sjprep.net. Bag of Books Sale, sponsored by St. Cloud Friends of the Library, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mississippi Room, Public Library, 1300 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud. 320-650-2500. stcloudfriends.org. Journey to Heal Art Show, part of St. Cloud State University’s Sexual Assault Awareness month series, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Atwood Memorial Center, SCSU, 651 1st Ave. S., St. Cloud. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 610 CR 2. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 2nd Ave. S., Waite Park. 320339-4533. stcloudsingles.net.
Breakfast
Sunday, April 12
Serving from 8:30 a.m. to noon
Menu:
Adults: $8 Children (ages 6-12): $4 Under 5: Free
Locally sourced pancakes, fried hash browns, St. Joseph Meat Market & Pep’s Pork sausage Heritage Hall at the Church of St. Joseph links, fresh scrambled eggs, apple sauce, 12 W. Minnesota St. • St. Joseph caramel rolls, juice, coffee and milk
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
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, April 10, 2015
contributed photos
At left: Pockets of Hope set up a table at Sartell’s Red Carpet, held in February at the Sartell Middle School. Above: Backpacks filled with fun comfort items are the foundation of the Pockets of Hope program.
Pockets from front page website at www.pocketsofhope. org. There were about 400 children placed in foster homes in Stearns County last year. In just the first three months of 2015, 250 children were placed in care, said Lisa Schroers, co-founder and president of Pockets of Hope. Schroers is the owner/operator of a daycare business in Sartell dubbed Mud Pies and Dandelions. She earned a bachelor’s degree in child psychology and opened her daycare seven years ago. The mothers of two of Schroers’ daycare children have joined her to form the Pockets organization. Jennifer Bruzek of Sartell is
a social worker who has served in the cause of child welfare for seven years, at times helping place children into foster care. She’s the one who knows how to locate foster children who receive the Pockets of Hope backpacks. Briana Sjodin, who also lives in Sartell and has a degree in finance, has worked for the past 10 years in the financial field. All three women share a passionate love and concern for children, and all three have special skills that make Pockets a smooth and successful nonprofit organization. Schroers describes herself as the “dreamer.” Bruzek understands foster-care issues and has the necessary contacts, and Sjodin is the practical one with financial acumen. Every year, Schroers – with help from her daycare parents –
has done an annual fundraiser for children or families in need. Last year, Schroers found out about a Twin Cities program that gave backpacks filled with comfort and fun items to foster children undergoing the trauma of separation. Schroers was impressed and sought out a similar organization in Stearns County but could find nothing like it. Bruzek, familiar with foster-children issues, also could find nothing similar. After the women brainstormed, they worked out specific details, then had to go through a waiting period to get the nonprofit status for their new organization. Their mission is simple: “To give kids hope for a brighter future.” Their website states this: “Every day children are rescued
from abuse, neglect and abandonment. These children are confused, scared and desperate for security and comfort after being separated from family, home and possessions. Children frequently enter foster care with nothing.
Pockets of Hope provides these children with new backpacks filled with personal-care items they can call their own.” People can donate to Pockets of Hope via PayPal on its website. Go to www.pocketsofhope.org.