Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader - Sept. 1, 2017 by The Newsleaders

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Newsleader Sartell-St. Stephen

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 Volume 22, Issue 34 Est. 1995

Town Crier Market Monday open Labor Day

Market Monday and Thursday will be open Labor Day from 3-6:30 at 101 Seventh St. N. in the Hardware Hank Parking lot, across from the middle school. Come out and pick up your Labor Day barbecue items. Some things available will be meat, eggs, baked goods, sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes, breads and much more. Come early and pick up the unique items you can only find at the farmers’ market.

Volunteers sought for Day of Caring

United Way of Central Minnesota will host Day of Caring on Thursday, Sept. 21. Day of Caring is designed to bring people together to volunteer on community projects. This is a great opportunity to volunteer with co-workers, friends, family and service groups for your community. Projects include painting, packaging food, fall clean-up, children’s activities, and crafts. Project sign-up will be available on our website until Sept. 8. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Sept. 1 Criers.

World War 1 exhibit extended until Nov. 11

The popular “World War 1 America” exhibit and the Minnesota History Center has been extended until Veteran’s Day on Nov. 11. On Saturday, Sept. 9 starting at 10 a.m., the Minnesota History Center will hold “American Legion & Red Cross” upon which Phil Hansen of the Minnesota Red Cross and Al Zdon of the Minnesota American Legion will discuss the local and national relief efforts during and after World War 1. www.mnhs.org/calendar.

Benton-Stearns Education District readies for new school year by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com

You have probably driven past the large, square building at 517 Second St. S., without paying it much mind. In an odd moment you may have mused about what goes on there, or thought that since it had the title Education District in the sign on the side of the building, it was somehow an extension of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Like the men in the poem The Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe, you would be partly right – and yet you would be wrong. That large square building houses the Benton-Stearns Education District. It’s a special school district with its own special number, 6383, and its own board of directors (commonly called a school board), which is drawn from six member schools: Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Foley, Holdingford, Rocori and

Kimball. Alicia Jepsen is the executive director of the district. She is what would commonly be referred to as the superintendent. It has no football program or basketball court or even any buses, and yet it is a school district in its own right. “At MDE (Minnesota Department of Education) anything that we do with our paper work, our data submissions – all are aligned with that 6383,” Jepsen explained.

BSED took shape during the 1980s when the State of Minnesota paid some special attention to the needs of kids with special challenges. Article XIII, sect. 1 of the state constitution states, “The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it is the duty of the legislature to establish a general and uniform

City of St. Stephen St. Joseph Farmers’ Market

public-school system. But even more important is Article I, sec. School • page 2

Sartellians dine with cops, K9

photo by Carolyn Bertsch

Sartell police officer Adam Vande Vrede laughs with Jake Bonfield, 6, of Sartell as they enjoy lunch during Cookout with the Cops Aug. 24 at St. Francis Xavier Church. Sartell officers served a picnic lunch and mingled with residents during the event.

Board chooses Snoberger, approves contracts by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com

The Sartell-St. Stephen School Board held a special meeting Aug. 29 to accomplish three things: to interview three candidates contending for the open seat on the board; then choose one of the candidates

to fill that seat; and also to consider bids and contracts related to the new high school being built. The board tackled the interviewing of three candidates for the vacated seat on the board. The candidates were Amanda Byrd, Taryn Gentile and Jeremy Snoberger. The

board proceeded with a series of 10 questions put to each candidate in an effort to gauge which candidate would be the best fit for the board. Previously the board had received written applications with several other questions and descriptions of the applicants’ background.

After three calls for nominations, the School Board approved a resolution appointing Snoberger to fill the vacancy created when Michelle Meyer moved out of the District and resigned. Snoberger currently serves on the New Sartell High School Steering Committee; he Board • back page

‘Colitis Warrior’ Heathcote keeps fighting for a cure by Dennis Dalman editorial@thenewsleaders.com

Feel good, do good and look good this September by donating blood or platelets with the American Red Cross and get a free haircut coupon. Blood and platelet donors of all blood types, especially type O negative and O positive, are urgently needed to replenish the blood supply following a critical summer blood shortage. Donors are urged to make an appointment to donate using the free Blood Donor App, online at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767).

INSERTS:

system of public schools.” That article directs the State of Minnesota to establish a

A bit of history

Red Cross seeks donations

See inside for our back-to-school salute!

Postal Patron

contributed photo

Tiffany Heathcote’s family support is one of the biggest defenses against the disease she copes with – ulcerative colitis. She and her husband, Adam, have two children – Sophie and Jack.

Second-grade teacher Tiffany Heathcote of Sartell is one of the “Colitis Warriors” determined to fight – and to win – the battle against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The Colitis Warriors is just one team of many who will participate in the “Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk” Sunday, Sept. 17 at Lake George just south of downtown St. Cloud. Everyone is welcome, and anyone can join any of the teams as guest walkers. The check-in and preliminary festivities will begin at 2 p.m. The actual walk will start at 3 p.m. The “Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk” is presented by the CentraCare Digestive Center. Raised in Sartell (nee Tiffany Nies), Heathcote has been battling ulcerative colitis since she was 15 years old, from the moment when doctors first diagnosed her as having the debilitating disease. Thanks to medications, she managed to stay in remission for a

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few years. However, at age 18, she had to be hospitalized because the colitis had gone into what’s known as a “flare” stage. After several weeks at the St. Cloud Hospital, she was transferred to the Mayo Clinic to try another regimen of medications. It was crushing news when, at the Mayo Clinic, a medical team determined she would have to have her entire colon removed. That drastic remedy is often the only “cure” for ulcerative colitis since there is no other surefire cure available. What doctors had to do was to take part of her small intestine and make what’s called a “j-pouch” out of the length and attach that onto the rest of her small intestine, the j-pouch serving as a makeshift large intestine. “That was an extremely dark and difficult time in my life,” Heathcote recalled. Despite the emotional and physical pains and the gnawing anxieties, she managed to graduate from college in four years. The j-pouch surgery had gone fine, but the worry was that such a pouch can still Cure • page 9

School from front page 2, which states that “No member of this state shall be disfranchised or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof . . .” For years, kids who were challenged in unique ways such as sight, hearing, motor skills, intellectual capacity and other ways were “deprived of the rights and privileges” ordinary kids who were not challenged were given as a matter of right. It was a slow process, but eventually state government came around to understanding its responsibilities for all its citizens, not just those who had no special needs. During the 1980s, the state looked for ways to serve its citizens better. The real challenge for the state was to ensure small cities such as Sartell, Foley and Kimball were accommodated in their effort to carry out the education mandate delineated in the constitution. To that end, special-education districts and cooperatives such as BSED were established and funded. To be sure, the federal government also acknowledged its responsibility to its challenged children, and to that end, it created all kinds of laws and directives that were handed down to the state and then filtered down to the local school districts about how challenged kids were to be educated and treated. In 1975, Congress passed the “Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.” According to Clare McCann’s

Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com 2014 study entitled Federal Funding for Students with Disabilities: The Evolution of Special Education Finance in the United States, “Congress agreed that as much as 40 percent of that excess cost could be covered by the federal government. (To date, Congress has never “fully funded” the complete cost of special education.)” “Funding is definitely very complicated from a special-ed perspective,” Jepsen said. “It’s a challenge – the funding is definitely a challenge. Special ed is mandated from a federal perspective, but the federal government has never provided the federal funding they have always promised.”

BSED benefits

Every school district in the state of Minnesota is directed by law to have a special-education director to oversee education of challenged students. That cost can be prohibitive in small districts, so the state allowed the establishment of cooperatives, collaboratives and education districts such as BSED. In effect, the six districts achieved an economy of scale and are better able to provide for the education of all children. Even under these circumstances, funding is still a challenge. “What we can do is to help our six districts with the special-ed directors’ fees,” Jepsen said, “and also a bunch of the different kind of staff that are very hard to secure are our staff.” Staff such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, hearing-impaired therapists, teachers of the visually im-

paired, therapists that work with autistic children – these are a few of the service areas BSED provides. The work is done primarily within the six districts. The therapists and teachers go directly to the schools and districts and work with the students in that setting rather than busing children to the building in Sartell. BSED has a staff of 54 different therapists and teachers who provide services to member districts as those services are needed. Member districts then reimburse BSED for the services provided. Jepsen explained there were two levels of service: those of low incidence and those of high incidence. What it refers to is the frequency of a particular type of challenged student occurring in a district. Visually impaired or blind students are a low-incidence occurrence. It occurs infrequently. Students with emotional and behavioral issues are high incidence because they occur quite frequently. For certain, BSED is driven by large amounts of data. Data helps determine how services will be apportioned, where the need is greatest and how costs will be apportioned within the six districts. “We look at the percentage of kids in a school district who are in special ed,” Jepsen said. “The state average is around 14 to 15 percent. If you’re around the state average, you’re probably hitting your mark. A higher level of kids in the district with disabilities would mean the costs would be higher.” BSED provides services in the following areas: assistive technology, coordination ser-

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

photo by Dave DeMars

Above: Benton-Stearns Education District Director Alicia Jepsen responds to a call from a staff member. It’s summer, but the task of preparing for the coming fall continues. Surprises and challenges keep the job exciting for Jepsen. Right: It’s summertime and that means custodian Dave Bozych has time to work on the floors in the BentonStearns Education District building in Sartell. Bozych also takes care of the BSED building in Sauk Rapids. It’s a busy time and there is always something, Bozych said. vices, deaf and hard of hearing, early childhood screenings, school psychology, physical impairments, physical therapy, occupational therapy and visual impairment. BSED’s “Help Me Grow” is a specialized program addressing development needs of children from infancy to age three. It provides evaluation, and a plan of development to address your child’s strengths and needs. A second program is the Voyager Program which is housed in Sauk Rapids at the converted Sacred Heart school site on Third Avenue South. The program has three separate components. One component deals with students with autism, a second component deals with students having learning difficulty related to emotions and behavior in a regular classroom, and the third component deals with 18- to 21-year-old students to help them transition to adult

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life, and students often work in the community. Transportation to and from the sites is primarily the responsibility of the home district.

Staff challenges

Jepsen said getting their name out so parents are more familiar with what they do is one of the big challenges. Sometimes parents don’t even know Benton-Stearns exists on a day-to-day basis. “Usually parents find their way to me when there are concerns,” Jepsen said. “They work their way up the hierarchy through their coordinator, their principal, and maybe they even call MDE or PACER Center (a group that advocates on behalf of children with disabilities).” When they express their frustration, that is when they get told about us and how to contact their special-education director at BSED. That’s when they find their way here, she said. “We have had random people stop in, but they are usually lost,” she said with a chuckle. Then Jepsen stopped and thought for a moment. “The biggest challenge for

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Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 BSED on a daily basis is the stresses students face every day when coming to school,” she said. “There are so many things that have an impact on a student. It could be something at school, or it could be something at home. Trying to understand the issue from the point of view of the student so we can teach them how to deal with the problem and give them a tool to work through the problem, that’s a real challenge for the school . . . For Benton-Stearns it is how do you stay ahead of the game when you are trying to support kids and their families,” she said. “Students don’t walk in and out of the building every day and then go home and there aren’t any difficulties.” And the problems can start as early as birth. “That’s why the home visitors (with the Help Me Grow program) are out in those homes supporting the families, dealing with their daily stressors,” Jepsen said.

There is no such thing as a typical day, Jepsen said. While there are many people who carry the title of therapist, each staff person’s day is unique. Every day brings something new and while that is exciting, it’s also taxing on the staff members. Each covers issues in six different districts and each district deals with things a bit differently.

Successes

The biggest success in the BSED cluster of programs is really not big at all. Rather it’s the way the staff goes out each day and cares for the caregivers and the child with a disability every day. It’s little things that are achieved that when added together make a larger success. That’s a pretty amazing thing, Jepsen said. There are so many relationships that are built through that process. “It’s pretty amazing when a child ages out of a program

In Business

and they (the staff member) will receive a letter from the family thanking them,” Jepsen said, “or they’ll receive a donation. Last summer we received several donations from families for materials. Those kinds of amazing things happen all the time.” She tells the story of how one of the physical therapists hooked up with St. Cloud Community and Technical College two years ago. Students at the Tech College adapted several battery-operated cars so students with various physical challenges can ride in the cars and drive them just like other kids. In the second stanza of her poem, We Never Know How High We Are, Emily Dickinson wrote; “The heroism we recite Would be a daily thing Did not ourselves the cubits warp For fear to be a king.” “Those kinds of things happen all the time,” Jepsen said.

U.S. Bank ATMs now accepting donations for American Red Cross disaster relief U.S. Bank ATMs now accepting donations for American Red Cross disaster relief U.S. Bank customers can now make donations to the American Red Cross at all U.S. Bank ATMs to support the humanitarian organization’s disaster relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. U.S. Bank ATMs will accept contributions

through Sept. 30. All the funds will go directly to the Red Cross. “Texas has experienced unprecedented flooding due to Hurricane Harvey and we want to make it seamless for our customers to support our neighbors by activating our ATMs to support the American Red Cross,” said Andy Cecere, president and CEO, U.S. Bank. “The Red Cross

If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 or TriCounty Crime Stoppers at 320-2551301, 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 a crime. This information is submitted by the Sartell Police Department.

all testing and was placed under arrest for third-degree DWI. 7:38 p.m. Medical. 23rd Avenue N. Officers were dispatched for a report of a 9-month-old female having a seizure. Upon arrival, officers met with the child and her mother. The child was awake and breathing. Officers assessed the child and provided oxygen. Officers also monitored her condition until Gold Cross Ambulance arrived on scene.

July 29 12:53 a.m. DWI. 15 Street S./ Mockingbird Loop. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a vehicle traveling in the area of Mockingbird Loop with a tail light out. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle for the violation. Upon speaking with the driver, the officer observed signs of impairment. The officer conducted field sobriety testing on the driver. The driver failed

July 30 8:01 a.m. Intoxicated person. 21 CR 120. Officers were dispatched to a report of an intoxicated male at Walmart. A store employee was reporting a male on a motorized cart swearing at customers and harassing them. Upon officer arrival, the male was located lying in the entryway of the home and living area. He was face down and unresponsive. The male was breathing and mum-

Blotter

is consistently on the ground during natural disasters to support communities in a time of need. We encourage everyone to consider making a contribution to the Red Cross to help out our neighbors during these challenging times.” For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Sept. 1 People.

bling incoherently. An ambulance was called due to the possibility the male was experiencing a medical emergency. Officers observed a strong smell of Listerine Mouth Wash coming from him. Walmart staff were able to quickly review the store cameras and determine he had been in the store and was pushing a cart before the incident. Gold Cross arrived on scene and transported the male to the St. Cloud Hospital. 4:09 pm. Behavioral health. 520 First St. NE. Officers were dispatched to Country Manor Health Care Center for a report of a 75-year-old male having a mental breakdown, causing him to be uncooperative with staff. Officers arrived on scene and assisted Gold Cross paramedics. Due to the patient being uncooperative and combative, officers held the male’s arms while paramedics strapped him into the Blotter • page 9

In Business

Central Minnesota Boy Scouts to sell popcorn In the up-coming weeks Scouts will once again be selling popcorn to raise funds in an effort to keep Scouting possible for themselves and their fellow Scouts in their packs and troops. “Popcorn sales are a great way for our Scouts to raise money for their camp experience and to keep Scouting possible,” said Kenneth Toole, district executive. Troops and packs use a portion of the money raised through the sale to pay for recognition items such as patches, belt loops and pins, and camping supplies as well as leadership materials

like merit badge books and handbooks. For many Scouts, the popcorn sale makes it possible for them to go summer camp. If you want to purchase popcorn and support the Boy Scouts of your community and do not have a Scout stop at your house, you can always contact the local council office by calling – 320251-3930 and someone will put you in contact with your local troop. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Sept. 1 People.

Boys, Girls Club receives funding to support Youth Arts Initiative Programming The Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota received a $15,000 grant from Mardag Foundation to sustain and grow the Youth Arts Initiative through May 31, 2018. Funding from Mardag Foundation will be used to serve a minimum of 300 youth ages 10 and up in the areas of visual arts, digital arts, dance and fashion design. The organization plans to use the 10 success principles to explore how the arts can provide healing for our young people and our community with activities inspiring and encouraging cultural harmony and peace. The Youth Arts Initiative is uniquely poised to use the arts to build bridges of understanding among all young people in our community. Some examples of programming include: • The Fashion Design and visual arts programs plan to partner with the Somali Museum of Minnesota to explore Somali textile arts. Final projects will be on display at the River’s Edge Convention Center and throughout St. Cloud. Fashion designers will then spend time celebrating each of their respective cultures through fashion. • The digital arts program is partnering with the Paramount Center for the Arts to increase understanding of the Muslim culture

through music. Somali artists have worked with Club youth to help them write lyrical performances for peace in their neighborhoods. This year, the artist mentor plans to guide the youth in the further development of lyricism for hope and peace. • The dance program will partner with CSB/SJU Fine Arts Programming to expose youth to all forms of dance, highlighting African, Latin and other cultures. The youth and the artists will use these influences to inform their choreography. • The visual arts program plans to continue to explore visual arts for healing and cultural understanding through projects like the “We Are One” exhibit currently on display at River’s Edge Convention Center, which features statements about unity written by the youth along with pictorial representations of their writing. All art forms host respective culminating events throughout the year to showcase the youth’s hard work. The art forms will come together for the Youth Arts Initiative’s holiday showcase at the Eastside Boys and Girls Club in December and the spring showcase next May at the Paramount Center for the Arts. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Sept. 1 People.

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Our View Hurricane Harvey has lessons for us all When it comes to weather catastrophes, we who live in Minnesota are lucky. Yes, we sometimes face life-threatening tornadoes and blizzards and even some very minor earthquakes – faint rumbles, cracked windows. However, we don’t experience the raging, outof-control fires so common in the Southwest and in California or the rare but horrific quakes in that state. And, thank goodness, we never have to endure the cataclysmic hurricanes like the seemingly never-ending, stalled one along the Gulf Coast of Texas. This is not to say we cannot learn from such disasters; we can. They should teach us when local authorities give warnings about threatening weather, we should heed them. In Minnesota, such warnings tend to be “Take cover” or “Stay put.” Many do not heed such warnings, and some foolhardy souls die. In south Texas, the warning was something like: “Leave your homes, travel or take public transportation to hurricane shelters far from the coast.” Many people ignored the advice; they stayed put when they shouldn’t have; and they are now suffering because of their decisions – many of them stranded in upper floors of none-too-solid homes or even hunkering down on rooftops awaiting rescue. The same thing happened when Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans – people in homes drowning or awaiting rescue as 911 switchboards went haywire. Granted, it would be a very tough decision to abandon one’s home or pets for days or even weeks. However, it’s not so hard a decision to make when one realizes it can mean the difference between life and death. So many drenched survivors of Hurricane Harvey are telling reporters, “I didn’t think it would be this bad!” Well, in fact, they were warned again and again. The satellite photos showed a truly monstrous storm heading right their way. And now, in the long aftermath, with constant rain falling day after day, dedicated law-enforcement personnel, emergency workers and volunteers are working overtime, often risking their lives, to save the stranded and transport them to safe shelters. The good news is that, as of Aug. 28, only two hurricane-related deaths have been reported, an astoundingly low number, thank goodness. But there are bound to be more. Another dose of good news is the extraordinary efforts made by people dropping everything they’re doing to help and to comfort one another, no questions asked. Yet more good news is that, unlike the Katrina aftermath, the Federal Emergency Management Administration seems to have its act together this time around. The rains continue; the real work is yet to begin. It will, we’re told, take more than a year to rebuild up from the soggy ruins. The best way to help victims of the storm now is to donate to the American Red Cross and/or The Salvation Army. They have been at the scene from the get-go with their arms-wide-open help. To donate, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to givesalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-725-2769.

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Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

Opinion We won’t surrender confederate flag There is a prized possession – a “Southern Cross” confederate flag – stored in the Minnesota Historical Society. Why should a symbol of the old slave-owning South be a “prized possession?” It is because it was captured 154 years ago by a Minnesota soldier during the battle of Gettysburg. The three-day bloodbath near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. was a turning point in the Civil War, giving the edge to Union forces, forcing Gen. Robert E. Lee and his troops to retreat back into Virginia. Most historians credit the Minnesota regiment for turning the tide of that crucial battle. Here is what happened: In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln put out a call for Union troops. Some of the first to enlist were those who formed the First Minnesota Voluntary Infantry Regiment at Fort Snelling. Those soldiers fought in several major battles, suffering heavy casualties. On July 1, 1863, the battle of Gettysburg began, on the “hallowed ground” on which Lincoln later delivered his magnificent Gettysburg Address. On the second day of battle, the outnumbered Minnesota regiment attacked a brigade of enemy soldiers. Of the 262 men in the regiment, only 47 survived, alive or unwounded. Despite the awful casualty rate, the ferocious charge bought time for reinforcements, allowing the Union to keep its all-important defensive position on a hill known as Missionary Ridge. On the third and final day of the battle, the Minnesota survivors participated in another bloody melee,

Dennis Dalman Editor and 17 of them were killed or wounded. It was during that chaotic combat that Private Marshall Sherman of the Minnesota Regiment captured the flag of the 28th Virginia Infantry. It was stored for years in the basement of the St. Paul Capitol, but now it is periodically displayed in the Minnesota Historical Society in tribute to the Minnesota Regiment’s heroic sacrifices to keep the United States united. And that artifact is an example of how some wounds from the Civil War never quite heal. For more than a century, some groups in Virginia requested Minnesota to loan the flag to Virginia or to relinquish it altogether. After one such request, Gov. Mark Dayton said no, just as previous governors had refused to return the flag. “It (the flag) was taken in a battle with the cost of the blood of all these Minnesotans,” Dayton said. “It would be a sacrilege to return it to (Virginia).” When I was 15, I spent the summer of 1963 at Redstone Arsenal near Huntsville, Alabama. My oldest brother, Jimmy, was stationed there in the Army, living on-post with his wife and baby daughter. Jimmy often remarked to me that Southerners are still fighting the Civil War – that is, still arguing about every aspect of it. Some, he said, insist

they actually won that war, at least in spirit and in what they regarded as the righteousness of their cause. One weekend, on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, we visited Chattanooga, Tennessee and toured the Civil War battlefields of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. There were abundant confederate statues and marble monuments all around. At the time, I thought so many Southerners died (even if for a dastardly cause) that they have a right to memorialize their dead. All these years later, I still regard such memorials as part of history, like it or not. However, they should probably not be exhibited in public places but in museums because they are such painful, offensive reminders to so many people, including AfroAmericans whose ancestors were so brutalized by the vicious institution of slavery. The other day, in the parking lot of Walmart, I happened to see a parked white pickup sporting two huge flags that were fluttering in the breeze – one an American flag, the other a confederate flag. The driver, I suppose, was exercising a form of freedom of speech, and that is his right. But was he also sporting an in-yourface attitude, like “flipping the bird?” Well, that’s his right, too, I suppose. When I saw that confederate flag, I felt not so much offended as sad. Sad that someone – that driver in this case – might actually think such a mobile display of the “Stars and Bars” is a “cool” thing to do. It’s not. It’s about as “cool” as wearing a Nazi swastika T-shirt.

Letters to the editor

Sartell should give variances for charitable events Bob Barrett, Sartell On Aug. 19, EAA Chapter 551 St. Cloud, of the Experimental Aircraft Association, sponsored a Young Eagles event at the St. Cloud Airport. Young Eagles provides free airplane rides to children ages 8-17. This program started in 1992 and since then has given more than two million children free airplane rides. We placed a trailer at the Winner’s Sports Bar & Grill in Sartell advertising our “Young Eagles” event at the

St. Cloud Airport. We were notified the City of Sartell has an ordinance prohibiting billboards on trailers. We were also informed there would be a $35 fee to put a billboard on the grounds. EAA Chapter 551 is a registered non-profit corporation and has difficulty raising funds to provide free Young Eagles airplane rides to children. Our pilots volunteer their time and airplane for this purpose. Aviation gas was selling for $5/gallon, and most pilots burn about eight gallons of aviation gas per hour.

Some pilots come from Staples, Little Falls and St. Cloud. We gave 144 children airplane rides June 17 and 68 children airplane rides Aug. 19. We have difficulty getting information to children and their parents about this free program. EAA Chapter 551 cannot afford to pay for billboards or other methods of advertising. As a former member of the Sartell City Council and a resident of Sartell, I feel strongly the City of Sartell should make variances in its ordinances for charitable events.

Thank you, Newsleader, for the story ‘Westra’s key to happy long life...’ Mary Lou Westra, Sartell Thank you for your nice Newsleader story about me. (“Westra’s key to happy long life? Work, connect,

don’t mope,” in the Aug. 18 Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader.) The picture of the boys with me is so precious. They are such very good young men. One of the (Coborn store’s) cashiers was

reading the article when I came in to shop, and she asked, “You are 88?!” Oh yes, I am 88. Plus three months. Thanks again.

Reader asks, ‘What about the good in our community?’ Stan Severson, Sartell 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.

I am a fairly new resident of Sartell and enjoy reading the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. However, it’s disgusting to read about the constant hate shown by the editor toward our president. I don’t know if he has a family or not, but

hate begets hate. Such a constant show of hate is not only despicable, but sad. Perhaps the editor is unable or unwilling to write about the good in our community. (Editor’s note: There are scores of “good” stories written by this editor

about “our community” in the SartellSt. Stephen Newsleader. Check out this issue and all of the past ones. One could argue – and many Newsleader readers have – that sharp criticism of the president is a moral imperative – that is, a “good” thing.)

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

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Guide

THIS BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE INCLUDES: • Recipe for Success: Nutrition and Academics • After School: The Value of Extracurriculars • Academics: Healthy Study Habits

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Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE | AFTER SCHOOL

The Value of Extracurriculars A

s the school year nears, you might be struggling with how much to load on your child’s plate when it comes to sports, scholarly activities and community engagement. Encouraging your child to participate in extra-curricular activities is a wise choice. They can develop meaningful relationships, people skills,

responsibility and commitment. Here is a closer look at these benefits: 1. Helps develop diversified interests. Kids should explore new things. This is how they discover what they like and what they don’t. And who knows, they might stumble on something that will parlay into a career path later on. 2. Teaches time management and responsibility. As adults, we are used to juggling commitments and prioritizing our time, but we didn’t get here overnight. Kids need practice at this if they are going to be successful at man-

aging their time later in life. Being active also helps them understand they’ve made a commitment and must see it through. 3. Raises self-esteem. Being part of a group can be very motivating and uplifting. There are people counting on you, and it always feels good to be needed. Trying out different activities encourages children to find what they excel at, allowing them to really shine. 4. Cultivates people skills. Joining any group or activity encourages kids and teens to work on their communication skills. These situations teach

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kids how to behave in social settings — not to mention it’s a great way to make new friends. 5. Jump-starts a “personal resume.” Extra-curricular activities also look great on college applications. Even if your child isn’t in high-school yet, it’s never too early to build a solid foundation. Colleges want to see students who not only excel in school but can enjoy other aspects of life. They want to see clear hobbies and interests. And don’t forget, they also know extra-curricular activities indicate strong people skills, responsibility and work ethic.

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE | RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Nutrition and Academics W

hat we eat — and when we eat — has a big impact on a person’s ability to learn and retain information. That’s why eating healthy is critical for students of every age. However, healthy eating habits can be difficult to maintain. Utilize the following outlined strategies to help you and your children develop a more balanced approach to nutrition.

KEEP A REGULAR MEAL SCHEDULE Stick to a schedule as best you can. Maintaining a consistent eating schedule can help prevent kids from getting too hungry, which could lead to cravings for foods high in fat and sugar. This approach also helps kids sleep better at night.

DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST Low energy, decreased motivation and impaired problem-solving abilities are all associated with skipping breakfast. It actually is the most important meal of the day.

PLAN AHEAD Have snacks ready for your kids when you pick them up from school, so they can eat on the ride home. If they ride the bus or car pool, pack an extra

snack in their lunch box to be eaten later in the afternoon. While small and frequent meals are an eating style recommended for everyone, kids especially need the constant fuel provided by eating on a regular basis.

AIM FOR VARIETY Plan different fruits and vegetables for different days. This ensures a balance of nutrients and brightens up any plate.

LIMIT THE JUNK FOOD Most junk foods and fast

foods are high in fats and sugars. These are filler calories that can have a negative impact on your child’s mood.

DRINKS MATTER, TOO Water is the body’s best friend. Your children should

drink water often, as well as milk and natural juices. Limit the amount of soda children drink, as well as coffee for teens. Stimulants can produce a temporary “high” followed by a drop in energy, and can cause heart problems.

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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE | ACADEMICS

Healthy Study Habits S

tudying “smarter” can actually help make you smarter. The right routine and environment improve your ability to retain information.

Many factors — such as location, routine, and attitude — contribute to developing healthy study habits. Take a closer look at these elements, and see how you can improve the way you study and start achieving your goals:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Where you study is important. Where are you productive? Some people need a lot of natural light and a quiet space, while others views windows as portals of distraction and prefer small spaces, such as a study room in the back corner of a library. Try out a few spaces before deciding what’s best for you.

REMOVE DISTRACTIONS Make sure you have what you need and eliminate the things you don’t. If you don’t need a computer, don’t bring one. Email, games and social media are all powerful distractions because they might be more fun than the task at hand. Don’t help yourself

break your own focus.

FIND YOUR STUDY SNACKS Try small, dry foods, such as salted nuts, granola or pretzels. You’re looking for healthy and easy-to-eat options that you can pop in your mouth

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without utensils. Sometimes keeping your mouth busy helps keep your mind focused.

ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE Have a plan for when you will study and follow through. It is much better to study a little every day than it is to cram

the night before a big exam. Plus, if you stick to a routine, you will slowly rewire your brain to understand that “This is study time,” which will make it easier over time.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE The way you approach

studying matters in a big way. Think positively and treat studying as an opportunity to understand something better. Negative thoughts and comparing yourself to peers will be counterproductive and have no place in your study space.

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

Cure from front page become inflamed by colitis, causing what’s known as pouchitis. The disease’s ravages, almost beyond endurance, threatened Heathcote’s life, but she fought it bravely up to and into her marriage. After the birth of her second child, the colitis returned with a vengeance, and she had to be hospitalized once again. During a routine check of the j-pouch in 2010, it was discovered the pouch was perforated, causing Heathcote’s entire system to turn septic. She was airlifted to the Mayo Clinic where they were able to repair the hole in the pouch, a life-saving procedure, although the pouch has never been the same since. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease cause far more issues than just having to go to the bathroom more often. They can cause extreme fatigue. The body cannot process nutrients the same as people who are free of the diseases. Inflammation can occur throughout one’s entire body and cause severe pain in the joints. “It’s a mental struggle because there isn’t a day that goes by when I am not reminded I have this disease,” Heathcote said. “My immune system is weak so it’s harder to fight off things like the flu or a cold.”

What is IBD?

IBD stands for Irritable Bowel Disease, and there are two main types: Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. More than 1.6 million Americans suffer from IBD, and the fastest-growing patient population is children under the age of 18. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 35. Crohn’s disease can attack the digestive tract – any part of it or all of it – from the mouth all the way down. Ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon) and the rectum. Symptoms of the so-far incurable diseases can include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, debilitating fatigue and extreme weight loss. Up to half of people suffering from colitis will eventually require surgery to alleviate it to some degree, and up to 75 percent of Crohn’s sufferers will need surgical intervention. Researchers do not yet know what causes IBD, but they now surmise it’s probably a combination of factors: genetics, the immune system or something in

Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com the persons’ environment. Foreign substance (antigens) in the environment may be the direct cause of the inflammation or they might stimulate the body’s defenses to produce an inflammation that continues on its own and does not “turn off” when it should. The persistent inflammation eventually damages the intestines. Regulating the patient’s immune system is extremely important in fighting the disease. That is why Heathcote has become hyper-aware of her own body and its responses. She knows exactly which foods are good and which will cause pain. Many foods she completely avoids. Many people have no idea what Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are, even if they have heard of the names. “They aren’t diseases that are talked about a lot because not many people enjoy talking (or hearing) about digestion,” she said. “But they are very serious diseases. And we need to shine more light on them. We need to find a cure because they impact so many lives.” That is why Heathcote and other members of the “Colitis Warriors” team are hoping for a good turnout and generous contributions during the Sept. 17 “Take Steps for Crohn’s and Colitis Walk” at Lake George. Those who cannot be present at the event can still contribute by visiting the following “Take Steps” website: online.ccfa.org/ site/TR?team_id=200948&fr_id=7093&pg=team. There is also good information and a way to donate on the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation website. Just google that name. Then click on “Donate Today.”

‘I am blessed’

Tiffany and her husband, Adam, who is also a Sartell highschool graduate, have been married for 12 years. They have two children – Jack, 12; and Sophie, 9. “I am blessed,” Heathcote said, “to have an amazing support system of family, friends and coworkers. They truly help to make this disease more manageable.” On Aug. 22, there was a fundraiser at Sartell’s Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill during which 20 percent of proceeds from sales were given to help in the fight against Crohn’s and colitis. Heathcote and others are grateful for such fundraisers because not only do they raise money for research but they also raise awareness of IBD.

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Blotter from page 3 cot. The male was then transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for an evaluation. July 31 4:52 a.m. Medical. Pinecone Road N. Officers were dispatched for a report of an elderly male party who had fallen and hit his head. Upon arrival, officers found the male sitting upright in his bed. He stated he fell out of bed trying to get a glass of water. He had a laceration on his right eyebrow, which had stopped bleeding. He also had a laceration on his right elbow. An officer applied pressure to the patient’s elbow in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Officers observed a scratch on the patient’s rib cage. The male was conscious and breathing but stated it hurt when he took a deep breath. Gold Cross arrived and took over care. The male was transported to the hospital. 2:22 p.m. Medical. First Street S. Officers were dispatched for a report of a 7-year-old male who had fallen off his bike. Upon arrival, officers observed the patient to have a right forearm break. Officers provided an ice pack and monitored the child’s condition until Gold Cross arrived on scene. Officers then assisted paramedics as necessary.

Aug. 1 10:30 a.m. Burglary. Sartell Street W. Officers were dispatched to take a report of a residential burglary. Upon arrival, officers met with the male complainant who stated he came home early from work and found a male party on his property. The male claimed to be getting property for a previous renter. The complainant contacted the previous renter after the male left and verified this was not true. He then found his garage broken into and a chainsaw missing. Officers learned the identity of the male suspect and attempted to locate him. The next day, a Sartell officer heard over Benton Dispatch that a Sauk Rapids officer was out with the male party at Coborn’s. The Sauk Rapids officer was advised he had probable cause to arrest the male for the burglary. Sauk Rapids officers detained the suspect until a Sartell officer arrived on scene. The male wouldn’t give a statement to officers and became disorderly to the point he had to be hobbled. The man was transported to the Stearns County Jail by a Sartell officer. 7:09 p.m. Traffic stop. Oak Pond Drive/11th Avenue NE. An officer stopped a vehicle for having a cracked windshield. It was discovered the male driver had a suspended license, and no insurance coverage for the vehicle. The officer also recognized the male from a previous incident where he was a suspect in a domestic assault. The officer located

a no-contact order in place preventing the male from coming within three blocks of the residence where the assault occurred. The officer had also observed the male drive past the residence prior to the stop. The male was arrested for this violation. The officer also issued the male a citation for driving after suspension and no insurance. Aug. 2 7:22 p.m. Suspicious person. 1091 Second St. S. Officers were dispatched to check on a male party sitting behind a city business. Upon arrival, officers located the male behind Liberty Bank. An officer recognized the male from a previous contact he had with him. The male appeared intoxicated. Officers administered a preliminary breath test which registered 0.16. Officers assisted the male with phoning a ride. 10:58 p.m. Intoxicated person. First Street S. Officers were dispatched for a medical of a male down. Upon arrival, the complainant advised the male was probably drunk and was in the weeds by the pond. Officers located the male and he came out of the weeds for them. The male party was alert and orientated to date and time. He was not having issues communicating or walking. He stated to officers he moved to the pond to get out of the sun and enjoy the day. Officers advised the male if they encountered him again, he would be getting a ride to detox.

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10 LEGAL NOTICES

CITY OF SARTELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON VACATION OF CERTAIN INTERNAL DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS FERCHE SOUTHWEST 35 PLAT 2 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN upon motion of the city council of Sartell, Minnesota, a public hearing will be held before the city council of Sartell, Minnesota, at 6 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the 31st day of August, in the council chambers at the Sartell City Hall,

to hear all persons present upon the proposed vacation of certain internal drainage and utility easements. Mary Degiovanni City Administrator Publish: Sept. 1, 2017

CITY OF SARTELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON VACATION OF CERTAIN INTERNAL DRAINAGE AND UTILITY EASEMENTS KNOTTINGHAM VILLAGE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN upon motion of the city council of Sartell, Minnesota, a public hearing will be held before the city council of Sartell, Minnesota, at 6 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, on the 31st day of August, in the council chambers at the Sartell City Hall,

to hear all persons present upon the proposed vacation of certain internal drainage and utility easements. Mary Degiovanni City Administrator Publish: Sept. 1, 2017

CITY OF SARTELL NOTICE OF HEARING ON IMPROVEMENT To Whom It May Concern: area proposed to be assessed for such improvement is parcels abutNOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN ting and benefiting from the prothat the city council of Sartell will posed street, sanitary sewer, water meet in the council chambers of main and storm sewer improvethe city hall at 6 p.m., or shortly ments. The estimated cost of the thereafter, on Sept. 11, 2017, to improvement is $3,038,473.02. A consider the making of improve- reasonable estimate of the impact ments to the sanitary sewer and of the assessment will be available water main, an improvement un- at the hearing. Such persons as deder County Road 29, crossing the sire to be heard with reference to Mississippi River, as well as im- the proposed improvement will be provements to Third Avenue East heard at this meeting. and Second Street NE by reconstruction of the street , drainage Mary Degiovanni system, sanitary sewer, water and City Administrator sewer services, pursuant to Minn. Stat. §§ 429.011 to 429.111. The Publish: Sept. 1 and 8, 2017 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! 1900-1979. DEAD OR ALIVE! 920-371-0494 (MCN) ADOPTION PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call us first. Living expenses, housing, medical, and continued support afterwards. Choose adoptive family of your choice. Call 24/7. 855-390-6047 (Void in IL & IN) (MCN) AUTOMOBILES DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not! All conditions accepted. Free pickup. Call for details. 855752-6680 (MCN) DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 1-800-283-0205 (MCN) CABLE/INTERNET Spectrum Triple Play: TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99 ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or commitment. We buy your existing contract up to $500! 1-800-919-3588 (MCN) Exede satellite internet.Affordable, high speed broadband satellite internet anywhere in the U.S. Order now and save $100. Plans start at $39.99/month. Call 1-800-712-9365 (MCN)

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Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

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 news@thenewsleaders.com.

Friday, Sept. 1 Benton County Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320267-7717. “Granite City Rocks” showcases the work of the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters now through Sept. 30, Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320253-8424. stearns-museum.org. Saturday. Sept. 2 Families on the Homefront Tour, Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 10-4 p.m. mnhs.org/ event/2401. Monday, Sept. 4 Lunch and cards, sponsored by Helping Hands Outreach, noon-2 p.m., Trobec’s Bar & Grill, 1 Central Ave. S, St. Stephen. Quilt auction, 2 p.m., St. Stephen Parish Festival Grounds, 103 Central Ave. S., St. Stephen. 320251-5062. To view the quilts, visit greatrivercatholic.org. Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday.org. Sartell Lions Club, 6:30 p.m., upstairs of Blue Line Sports Bar andGrill, 1101 Second St. S., Sar$1,000’s Processing Mail! Details: Rush SASE: LISTS/IA, Springhouse, PA 194770396 (MCN) FINANCIAL Are you in BIG trouble with the IRS? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-606-6673 (MCN) STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS got you down? We can help reduce payments and get finances under control, call: 866-871-1626 (MCN) Reduce your total credit card payments by up to 30% to 50%! Call Consolidated Credit NOW! 844-764-1891 (MCN) Buying a home and need a mortgage?Or, have a home and want to lower your monthly fees and refinance? Getting a mortgage is quicker and easier than ever. Call now! 855715-4721 (MCN) Owe the IRS? You May qualify for Relief today! Stop Bank Levy’s & Wage Garnishments.Mon-Thurs 8-8pm, Fri 8-6pm and Saturdays 9-5pm CST Español Available, Free consultation. NT Valid in MN, WV & ND Call NOW 1-800-511-2181 (MCN) FOR SALE Trailer SALE! 2017 V-nose, Ramp door, Radials (6’x12’ $2,775.00) (7’X16’ $4,399.00); 4-place Snowmobile trailers: 6 styles of DUMP trailers: Scissor Lift trailers: Steel & Aluminum utility trailers! Spring Assist rampgate kits $199.00; 15” Spares $65.00; 100’s of trailer parts in-stock, 515972-4554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com (MCN) HEALTH & MEDICAL LIVING WITH KNEE OR BACK PAIN? Medicare recipients may qualify to receive a pain relieving brace at little or no cost. Call now! 844-668-4578 (MCN) Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian

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Tuesday, Sept. 5 Red Cross blood drive, 1-7 p.m., Atonement Lutheran Church, 114-29th Ave. N, St. Cloud. redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-7332767 to make an appointment. Central Minnesota Market, 3-5:30 p.m., VA Hospital, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320251-2498. Wednesday, Sept. 6 St. Stephen City Council, 6:30 p.m., St. Stephen City Hall, 2 Sixth Ave. SE. Thursday, Sept. 7 Urban Hope Farmers’ Market, sponsored by Place of Hope Ministries, 2-6 p.m., 511 Ninth Ave. N., St. Cloud. http://placeofhopeministries.org/events/urban-hope-farmers-market-2017/. Family Farmers’ Market, 2-6 p.m., River East parking lot, CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-2522422. Market Thursday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday.org. Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 4-6:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 2163 Mayhew Lake Road NE, Sauk Rapids. Friday, Sept. 8 Bake sale, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary of Unit 328, 8:30 a.m.-sold out, Sentry Bank, 400 Fourth Ave. NE, St. Joseph. Proceeds fund veterans’ projects. Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions Club, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. St Joseph Meat Market, 26 and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 888-438-6461 Promo Code CDC201625 (MCN) OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 844-852-7448 (MCN) Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-604-2613 (MCN) CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-389-0695. www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com (MCN) EXPOSED: How To Increase Your Size Naturally Without Surgery, Pills, Suction Devices Or Crazy Contraptions Instantly a http://www.enhanceyoursize.com/ HOME IMPROVEMENT ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1-800-640-8195 (MCN) Save money with solar! Custom Designed Systems, Free Maintenance, Free Quote & Design. No Out of Pocket Costs. Call now! 866-944-4754 (MCN) Get the perfect yard without lifting a finger! Everything you need from lawn care, soil analysis, weed control, pest control, and more! Call Now 855-675-5704 (MCN) Water Damage in your Home? Call now for a free, fast quote. Insurance approved. Help restore your piece of mind! 866-8651875 (MCN) Leaky Faucet? Broken toilet? Call NOW

First Ave. NW. Benton County Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320-253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N. Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320267-7717. “Granite City Rocks” showcases the work of the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters now through Sept. 30, Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320253-8424. stearns-museum.org.

Saturday, Sept. 9 Caramel Apple Ride, Lake Wobegon Trail starting in Sauk Centre, 8 a.m., 100 Park Road, Sauk Centre. lakewobegontrail. com/events. Lake Wobegon Regional Trail Ride, benefiting day services at Catholic Charities St. Cloud Children’s Home, 8:30 a.m. check-in, St. Joseph trail head. 952-4754156. Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions Club, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. St Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW. Bowhunting Range Day, 10 a.m. at Mississippi River County Park, 41300 CR 1, Rice. 320-2517800. Art at Water’s Edge, 11 a.m.4 p.m., indoor art event with five area artists, 980 Waters Edge Circle, Avon, 320-493-8883. Central Minnesota Chapter of the Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, 12:30 p.m., American Legion, 17 Second Ave. N., Waite Park. and get the best deals with your local plumbers. No hassle appointment setup. Call NOW! 866-865-1875 (MCN) Got Mold- or think you might have it? Mold can be hazardous to you and your family’s health! Get rid of it now! Call our experts and get a quote today! 855-398-7133(MCN) LEGAL Diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Asbestos Lung Cancer? If so, you and your family may be entitled to a substantial financial award. We can help you get cash quick! Call 24/7: 866-924-0504 (MCN) MISCELLANEOUS A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today! Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-800-442-5148 (MCN) Paying too much for car insurance?Not sure? Want better coverage? Call now for a free quote and learn more today! 855-4177382 (MCN) Moving out of state? Best Interstate Moving and Storage offers a FREE Quote and A Price Plus Promise. Call 855-428-6241 Now! (MCN) PERSONALS MEET SINGLES RIGHT NOW! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now: 800-357-4970 (MCN) Wanna flirt and have some fun?Livelinks in the best chatline for meeting real singles who know how to have a good time! Call Livelinks and make a real connection. (MCN) WANTED TO BUY Want to purchase minerals and other oil/ gas interests. Send details to: P.O. Box 13557, Denver CO 80201(MCN)

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Construction moves at nice clip in Sartell by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com

Construction is moving along at a good pace in Sartell, with total value of permits issued during the first seven months of this year totaling $21,273,493. That total was $29,784,812 for the first seven months of last year, and for the same period in the previous years it was $35,782,966 in 2015, $13,324,385 in 2014 and $12,905,734 in 2013.

There were 90 construction-related permits issued by Sartell in July and 646 issued in the first seven months of 2017. As for single-family residential construction, there were three permits issued in July and 35 in the first seven months of the year, for a total permit valuation of $8,404,150, down about $1 million from 2016 but pretty much on par with other recent years and well above the totals for 2013 and 2014. The value of new permits for commercial construction was

$895,000 in January through July, and the total number of remodeling commercial permits during that same time frame was $5,469,090. Multi-family new construction was – in permit valuation – $3,620,000 in the first seven months of the year, while it was $12,565,000 during that period the year before. All permits include those mentioned above, as well as permits issued for projects that involved plumbing, mechanical work, fire safety and zoning.

Man charged for alleged assault of Sartell woman by Dennis Dalman editorial@thenewsleaders.com

An alleged punch at a Sartell residence that left a woman partially paralyzed has resulted in f i rs t - d e g re e Reinert assault charges against a St. Joseph man. The man charged – Nicholas John Reinert, 36 – is scheduled for a first court

appearance Monday, Sept. 11. According to the complaint report, Reinert visited a woman in her Sartell residence on Jan. 22, 2016. When he saw the woman talking to a man in her kitchen, he allegedly became jealous and punched the woman, which caused her head to slam into a cupboard cabinet. The woman, the complaint states, then lost consciousness and woke up later feeling dizzy. She called a friend to take her to the St. Cloud Hospital. Two months later, in

March, police interviewed the friend of the woman, who told them the woman’s legs would not work properly after she arrived at the hospital Jan. 22, 2016, the day of the alleged assault. The woman was diagnosed with spinal-cord problems, and she had to remain at the hospital for inpatient therapy for about two months. The alleged victim told the police she now must rely upon an in-home care attendant, and that she must use a cane for mobility.

Council approves $8.5-million bond sale by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com

The Sartell City Council has authorized a bond sale of $8.52 million to pay for a variety of ongoing city projects, including those having to do with street reconstruction, park improvements and the community center. The general-obligation bond sale was facilitated by Ehlers & Associates Inc. of Roseville with an interest rate of 2.2 percent, thanks to the City of Sartell’s AA rating given by the financial rating agency of Standard and Poore. The AA rating for Sartell is just two notches from the highest possible financial rating.

Six entities bid on the bond, and Piper Jaffrey of Minneapolis was the low bidder and will sell the bonds. The council approved the bond sale unanimously. It has a repayment period of 10 years and will be repaid primarily with sales-tax revenue, money

budgeted for the street fund each year and from assessments charged for improvements. The bond sale will have no negative impact on the city’s 2018 budget, according to a memo given to council members.

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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com

Board from front page

photo by Dave DeMars

Jeremy Snoberger listens and carefully considers the answer to one of the questions posed by the board during the interview and selection process to fill the vacant seat on the Sartell-St. Stephen school board. Ultimately, he was chosen to fill the seat.

is the president of the Sartell All-Sports Booster Club and served as the chairperson for the 2016 Bond Referendum “Vote Yes for Success” committee. Snoberger shared why he was interested in serving on the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board saying, “I have fallen in love with the work I have done with the new facilities and the vision of the district as a whole. I am a big-picture guy and I see the larger scope of things well, so I look forward to being a part of guiding, supporting and leading the way as our district grows and de-

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velops.” Snoberger will be able to assume the seat after 30 days has elapsed. According to a Minnesota School Board Association spokesperson, during that 30 days, district residents may file a petition to overturn the school board’s selection. That would necessitate the board selecting a different candidate or holding a special election to fill the seat. The school board also looked at a recommendation from Winkelman Building Co., the managing contractor for the new high-school building, for a package of 15 contract bids. The contracts would be awarded with 11 alternate requirements or modifications to the bids. Alternates are like change orders in the contract.

Modifications included such things as providing concession buildings and storage buildings to some sites, providing better masonry dugouts, LED lighting in the pool, providing complete culinary lab equipment and so on. The approval by the board does not lock them into actually including the alternates. If there is time before contractors place the order and the board decides they would rather not have some of the alternates, the board could cancel the order and get full credit on the canceled orders. The reason to accept the bids on alternates now is because waiting another six months almost always comes with an increase in the price tag, School District Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert

Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 explained. So it’s better to accept the bids now and cancel later for the full credit. “We think we are in a good position to accept all the alternates that are here,” Schwiebert said. Some additional discussions and research in conjunction with the steering committee will help to decide what direction to go. There were also 20 contracts which were held back. A special board meeting and further study will need to be done before the contracts would be approved. Those contracts will need to be approved by the next regular board meeting in September. After some additional questions and considerations, the contract package was approved as presented.