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Newsleader Sartell-St. Stephen
‘Locker’ proponents, opponents address GRRL
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Volume 21, Issue 37 Est. 1995
Town Crier
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Millstream Arts this weekend
Millstream Arts Festival will offer free, supervised bike-corral services by St. John’s Preparatory National Honor Society students for those who wish to cycle to the festival. The corral will be located near the information booth. The event will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 and includes juried art, music, food and activities for all. Food-shelf donations welcome at the info booth. For more information, visit millstreamartsfestival.org.
Living Waters hosts annual fall festival
Living Waters Lutheran Church of Sauk Rapids at 1911 Fourth Ave. N. is holding its annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24. A HUGE rummage sale, silent auction, bake sale including lefse, live music, a money raffle, a classic car show and fun games for kids are among the events. Events run from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. with a 5K run/walk at 10 a.m. Details at www.lwlcmn.org.
Stearns County provides Sartell construction updates
Stearns County drivers and City of Sartell residents and businesses are advised they will encounter gravel driving surfaces and lane shifts between Hwy. 15 and LeSauk Drive beginning Sept. 20 for approximately one week. Heritage Drive will remain closed at CR 1. LeSauk Drive will remain open but will be subject to lane closures and flaggers. Drivers should use caution while traveling through the work zone. For more information, visit thenewsleaders. com and click on Sept. 23 Criers.
CentraCare seeks volunteers to transport patients
CentraCare Health is looking for volunteers to assist therapists in transporting patients and making patients feel comfortable during their therapy sessions. Volunteers will help to improve the attention provided to patients during total joint gym sessions. Volunteers are a valuable part of CentraCare’s health-care team who shares a common objective of providing Care Above All for our patients, clients and their families. Volunteering is the perfect way to make a difference in people’s lives, put your talents to use, develop new skills and even explore careers. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Sept. 23 Criers.
For additional criers, visit www. thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
Postal Patron
photo by Dennis Dalman
Many pros and cons were heard Sept. 20 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud when the Great River Regional Library Board met. It heard brief testimony from people in favor of and people opposed to a library item delivery/locker service proposed for the yet-to-be-built Sartell Community Center in south Sartell.
Despite requests to table or otherwise delay a decision, the St. Cloud-based Great River Regional Library Board voted 13-1 on Sept. 20 to move forward with the process to possibly provide to Sartell a “Local Material Delivery/Return Service.” Voting against the resolution to move forward with the process was Benton County Commissioner Spencer Buerkle, who serves on the GRRL Board. A Stearns County commissioner, Mark Bromenschenkel of Sartell, also on the GRRL Board, voted with the majority. The proposal will be revisited at the December GRRL Board meeting. The meeting took place in the Heritage Room of the St.
Cloud Holiday Inn and Suites. Attending the meeting were about two dozen people from Sartell, including those in favor of the delivery/return service and those opposed as to how it was approved by the Sartell City Council with virtually no public input. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the council voted 3-2 to approve a resolution calling for the delivery/return system that would, with the blessing of the GRRL system, be set up in the yetto-be-built Sartell Community Center in south Sartell. Voting in favor of that resolution were council members Steve Hennes, Pat Lynch and Sartell Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll. Voting against it were Amy Braig-Lindstrom and David Peterson, both objecting to the lack of pubGRRL • page 8
LeSauk Lions donate $5,000 to Innovation Center by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
The LeSauk Township Lions Club donated a check for $5,000 to the City of Sartell to use however it wishes for one
or more amenities in the Innovation Center, which will be a part of the Sartell Community Center. The Innovation Center is a space in the community center that will be reserved for
learning and study via books, computers and other methods. The community center will be constructed in south Sartell in the “Town Square” area near Lake Francis, which is a large holding pond.
At the Sept. 12 Sartell City Council meeting, Mayor Sarah Jane Nicoll accepted the check from LeSauk Lions members, with gratitude, on behalf of the city. Lions • page 2
Stabbing attack still under investigation by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Waves of shock, horror, fear and disbelief swept through Central Minnesota and rippled worldwide last weekend after a knife-wielding man went on a sudden rampage and stabbed 10 shoppers in Crossroads Center in St. Cloud. The attacker, 22-year-old Dahir Adan of St. Cloud, was shot to death by an off-duty, part-time Avon police officer who just happened to be in the mall that night. Fortunately, all the victims survived with injuries not considered life-threatening. Injured were eight men, a woman and a 15-year-old girl, all from the Central Minnesota area. Most of the injured were treated and released from the hospital, although several were kept in the
hospital for a time. The attack is under investigation as a “possible” terrorist-motivated attack. A radical Islamic “news” agency posted a bulletin calling Adan “a soldier” for its cause, but there is no evidence whatsoever at this point that there is a connection between Adan’s attack and international terrorist groups or that he was taking orders from anybody else. Adan had no previous criminal record. The bloody melee began at about 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 when witnesses said Adan went from person to person in various places in the mall, slashing and stabbing at people, apparently at random. Some claimed he was shouting something about “Allah,” and someone else said he had asked a victim if he was a Muslim before slashing at him with a
photo courtesy of Rebecca David, WJON News
Onlookers stand outside the Food Court of the Crossroads Mall after being evacuated following the Sept. 17 attack. knife. During the attack, Adan was wearing a security-guard uniform. He had worked for a private security-guard company and had been, until recent months, a student at St. Cloud State University studying information systems. A member of the Somali-American community in St. Cloud, Adan was born in East Africa but moved to St. Cloud with his family
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when he was a boy and later became an American citizen. He was highly praised as an honor student at Apollo High School. He lived with his parents in an apartment building in St. Cloud. Jason Falconer is the parttime Avon police officer who confronted Adan at the mall that night. He told Adan to get down on the ground, and he Attack • page 5
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People
Lions from front page In addition to the $5,000 donation, the LeSauk Lions have also started a book collection for children and teenagers so quality new and used books can also be placed in the Innovation
Center. “The Lions like to keep things local, and our focus is on children,” Lions member and past Lions president Amanda Schreiner told the Newsleader. Schreiner is the one who spearheaded the project. There are close to 50 members in the LeSauk Township Lions Club.
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 Schreiner noted the Lions’ project has nothing to do with plans by the city council to put a locker library-items delivery service at the community center. Anyone who wants to donate books suitable for children of any age and teenagers should call Schreiner at 320-230-2937 or email her at schreinerappraisal@charter.net.
Blotter contributed photo
Ryan (right) and Cindy Fitzthum (not pictured) of Sartell were awarded the Optimist Clubs ‘Respect for Law Award’. They were nominated for their work in getting police and firefighters paired up to do bell ringing together in 2014 for the Salvation Army. In 2015, they were also the responsible persons behind “Operation Blue Christmas” in which officers handed out Walmart gift cards to those in need while on calls for service and traffic stops. Their generosity to the community has been tremendous and our nomination was the least we could do for them. Here Ryan stands with Chief Hughes (left). Thank you, Ryan and Cindy. Cole Fibranz, a sophomore from Sartell High School, recently earned the title of All American taking eighth place at the ASICS Cadet Freestyle National Championships in Fargo, N.D. Fibranz took fourth at Northern Plains Regional Freestyle Championships to qualify for nationals. He also took first at Cadet Greco-Roman state, second at Freestyle state and first at MN/ USA Folkstyle state. In order to wrestle at the National tourna-
ment, wrestlers must complete a week-long training camp and must qualify at a regional tournament or be selected for the Minnesota Storm team. Fibranz is the fifth Sartell wrestler to achieve the All-American title along with the following: Dustin Coffin, eighth cadet greco 2000; Daniel Vitale, sixth cadet freestyle 2011 and fifth cadet freestyle 2012; Josh Halicke, fourth junior greco 2012; and Rylee Molitor, sixth cadet greco 2014.
If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 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 crime. Sept. 6 11:02 a.m. Accident. Benton Drive/First Street N.E. Officers were dispatched to a two-car crash. No witnesses were reported. Upon observation of the accident scene, it appeared that one of the vehicles was stopped at the four-way intersection on northbound Benton Drive N. The other vehicle claimed she was distracted by her radio and wasn’t able to stop in time. There was minor damage to both vehicles. Officers filled out an accident exchange form and issued it to both drivers. 6:28 p.m. Medical. First Street N.E. Officers were dispatched in reference to an 85-year-old female with chest pains. Officers arrived on scene the same time as Gold Cross ambulance. Officers stood by and assisted as needed. The female was transported to St. Cloud Hospital. Sept. 7 12:57 a.m. Fire. Hi Vue Drive. Officers were dispatched to a possible fire in a trailer park. Upon arrival, officers were unable to locate any signs of a fire. Police spoke with the complainant who stated he had witnessed a fireball that went high into the air. He also stated he observed a motorcycle leave the area at a high rate of speed soon after. Officers located a melted plastic jug outside the trailer in question. The jug had a strong odor of gasoline coming from it. The incident was believed to be a threat of at-
tempted arson. The incident is under investigation. Sept. 8 1:30 a.m. Open door. Clubhouse Road. While conducting routine door checks of businesses, a reserve officer observed the front door of the Blackberry Ridge Clubhouse to be unlocked. The reserve officer notified officers. Authorities arrived on scene and cleared the building of any persons. Upon completing this task, the key holder had arrived on scene. The key holder was able to secure the door. 9:19 a.m. Traffic stop. Benton Drive/First Street N.E. While running stationary radar, an officer observed a vehicle approach from the rear at a high rate of speed. The officer took rear radar of the vehicle and locked it in at 45 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver stated she didn’t know the speed limit. The driver was advised the speed limit on the bridge was 30 mph. The driver provided a valid driver’s license and had valid proof of insurance. She was issued a citation for the violation and released. Sept. 9 1:07 p.m. Verbal. Hi Vue Drive. Officers were dispatched for a verbal disagreement between a landlord and tenant. Officers arrived on scene and spoke with the tenant. The tenant stated he was upset because the landlord changed the locks at his trailer and informed him he had been evicted. Officers then spoke with the landlord. She stated the tenant had previously agreed to leave on this day. Officers discovered that the tenant had another court date on Sept. 16 regarding his final eviction. The landlord agreed to give the tenant the keys to the new locks and
let him live there pending the outcome of court. 4:28 p.m. Public assist. Sartell Middle School. While an officer was getting fuel at the middle school, a male approached the officer and asked if she could unlock his vehicle in the parking lot. The officer agreed and was able to unlock his vehicle for him. Sept. 10 7:10 p.m. Traffic stop. Connecticut Avenue. While on routine patrol, an officer observed a vehicle southbound on Riverside South travel through the construction zone that is signed “No through traffic.” The officer also ran the plate on the vehicle, and the plate came back expired as of May 2016. The vehicle was stopped as it pulled into Perkins parking lot. Upon speaking with the drive,r it was discovered that he also had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. Dispatch confirmed that the warrant was valid. The officer arrested the male and transported him to the Stearns County Jail. The man was also cited for driving without a valid license Sept. 11 1:22 a.m. Medical. Second Street S. Officers were dispatched for a male that had fallen and was now in pain. The man was face down in his bedroom and was complaining of shoulder pain. Gold Cross ambulance arrived, and officers assisted as necessary to get him out of the home. 8:17 a.m. Medical. Hi Vue Drive. Officers were dispatched in reference to a 36-year-old female that was seizing. Upon officer arrival on scene, the female was not seizing but was not conscious. Officers administered oxygen and monitored the woman’s condition until Gold Cross ambulance arrived on scene.
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Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
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Community service planned for Jacob Wetterling by Frank Lee operations@thenewsleaders.com
There will be a community memorial service for Jacob Wetterling, the St. Joseph boy who was abducted in 1989 and whose remains were recently located on a Paynesville farm after almost three decades after he went missing. The College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph will host the community memorial service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25. The service is open to the public, and
the community is welcome to join the Wetterling family for “an ecumenical prayer service of remembrance, hope and healing.” (Doors will open at 9 a.m. that day, according to officials.) Because of limited seating for the memorial service, the College of St. Benedict is asking attendees sign the guest book online at www. csbsju.edu/wetterling-memorial/guestbook to indicate their plans to attend the memorial service. (Parking and location
information will then be sent via email to those planning to attend the service.) The Sept. 25 service will also reportedly be streamed live on the above website, where people can also leave an optional private message to the Wetterling family of St. Joseph. “Memorials are preferred to the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children or your favorite children’s organization which focuses on building a better and safer
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world for children,” according to the St. Ben’s webpage devoted to the community memorial service. If you have any questions, contact the staff at the College of St. Benedict at 320-363-5198 or jwmemorial@csbsju.edu. Danny Heinrich, 53, of Annandale, had been a person of interest in the Wetterling disappearance just weeks after the kidnapping of the boy, who was 11 years old at the time. Heinrich was arrested last summer for possessing child
pornography. As part of a plea agreement, he led investigators to Jacob’s remains earlier this month. About the time of Wetterling’s disappearance, a man in the Paynesville area had groped and molested several boys during a period of years, but it was only recently Heinrich confessed to kidnapping and fatally shooting Wetterling as he pleaded guilty to child-pornography charges in a federal court in Minneapolis on Sept. 6.
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Our View Don’t let knife attack fuel climate of suspicion
Trump lies twice in 20 seconds
Let cooler heads (and kinder hearts) prevail. That is what we must try to remember after the knife attack Saturday, Sept. 17 at St. Cloud’s Crossroads Center mall. It was an unsettling experience to tune into CNN TV national news last Sunday and see St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis and St. Cloud Police Chief William Blair Anderson talking at a press conference about a multiple stabbing attack in St. Cloud. It was a stark reminder that attacks by terrorists and/or lone-wolf individuals can happen anywhere, including right her in our midst. In a grim irony, a pressure-cooker bomb exploded in New York City on the same day, as well as an explosion also that day at a Marine Corps charity run in New Jersey. Fortunately, nobody was gravely injured or killed (except for the St. Cloud perpetrator) in any of the three attacks. We can only imagine the terror endured by the victims. Our sympathy goes out to them and their loved ones. The St. Cloud stabbing spree is still under investigation. What is known is that a St. Cloud State University student named Dahir Ahmed Adan is the perpetrator of the attacks and was killed by an off-duty Avon police officer who was shopping at Macy’s at Crossroads Center for a birthday gift for his son. The officer, identified as Jason Falconer, who happened to be at Crossroads, likely prevented further mayhem. The Somali-American community released a statement expressing sympathy for the 10 victims and their families, as well as for Adan’s St. Cloud family. Adan was described as an excellent student who attended Apollo High School. He was a junior at St. Cloud State University and worked part time as a private security guard (not for Crossroads, however). Somali-American leaders said they have no idea why Adan would commit such an act of violence. There were reports from people in the mall that Adan had shouted something about “Allah” and had asked at least one person if that person is a Muslim. Investigators are trying to determine if the attack was triggered via some kind of allegiance to ISIS terrorists. On the ISIS “news agency” Sunday, a propaganda bulletin claimed Adan was “a soldier of the Islamic State,” but such claims are typical of ISIS, even in cases of violence where there is no connection whatsoever to international terrorism. Somali-American leaders in the St. Cloud area are expressing fears of retaliation against Somali immigrants of Adan’s violent actions. Such fears are not unfounded because there have been socialcultural tensions in recent years between some Caucasians and some Somali-Americans. That is why we must not leap to conclusions about the perpetrator’s motives or lack of them. If it’s determined there was a sinister motive of terrorism behind his attacks, we must remind ourselves it was only one man committing such senseless violence. The very last thing the greater St. Cloud area needs is emotional overreactions of fear, hostility and distrust. Such a climate fuels gossip, meanspirited speculations, inaccurate conclusions and more fear-mongering. Violence easily rears its ugly heads in such a volatile climate. Hatred begets hatred. Instead, we should reach out to one another across social-cultural-ethnic differences and forge healthy bonds, not dangerous divisionism.
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.
Opinion
It took Donald Trump, the Father of the Birthers, five years to admit President Barack Obama was born in the United States, and – leave it to Trump – when he did admit it, he told two bold-faced lies in the space of 20 seconds. Two of his all-time worst lies. At a Sept. 16 so-called press conference, he proclaimed this: “Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it. You know what I mean.” (Yes, Trump, we know what you mean; you mean for us to believe those two outrageous whoppers – Hillary started it, you finished it.) Then, as if brushing a pesky fly from his Pinocchio nose, he added this: “President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period. Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again.” Trump is incapable of a sincere retraction or apology. Instead, he spews out a few remarks curdled with sarcasm, remarks that might be mistaken – by poor listeners – for a retraction, the way he almost spitefully acknowledged Sen. John McCain is, after all, a war hero. He delivers his retractions/apologies with the sneering pout of a bully schoolboy forced to fess up to a vicious prank. And then comes the “pivot” so many have long wanted from Trump, that breathless moment when the leopard changes its spots. But the pivot is a miserable disappointment. It usually consists in Trump turning the focus of attention quickly back upon himself so he can bask in his self-reflected glory. In the case of the birther acknowledgement, he instantly pivoted to put the blame on Hillary and then, with a breathtaking leap of arrogance, he pivoted to himself, bestowing credit upon himself for putting a stop to the birther baloney. (Our hero!) He takes credit for
Dennis Dalman Editor forcing Obama to produce his birth certificate. This, after five years of peddling birtherism crap for his own advantage. The narcissistic arrogance of Trump’s lies is mind-boggling. The facts are these: In 2011, Trump, in one of his “presidential” moods, loudly raised the question of Obama’s birth, trying to de-legitimize him and his right to serve as president. He crowed he had dispatched investigators to Hawaii to check into Obama’s birth background, and then, resorting to a teasing suspense (as he often does) he promised people they’d be shocked by what the detectives had discovered. That was as big a lie as the one he told about thousands on the Jersey shore cheering when the Twin Towers fell. According to Politifact.com researchers, there is absolutely no evidence Hillary Clinton ever doubted Obama’s U.S. birth. For the past five years, Trump has cynically courted at a kind of chummy arm’s length Obama-haters, Tea-Party types. There is no doubt whatsoever a dog-whistle racism was part of the equation, whether Trump meant it or not. Many birthers then – and now – post despicable racist caricatures of Obama on websites, depicting him, for example, as a savage with a bone through his nose born in Kenya. Many of those racist supremacists are exactly the kind of “deplorables” Hillary Clinton had in mind. Besides being the Big Daddy of Birthers, Trump started a smear campaign against Obama
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
worthy of the commie-baiting Sen. Joe McCarthy of Yore. The smears included despicable innuendos about Obama’s credentials for admission to law school, his grade transcripts, his acquaintanceship with left-wing professors and an eyebrow-raising question: What if he is a secret Muslim? That’s Trump’s modus operandi: constant damaging innuendos he can later deny or brush off blithely when pressed for the truth. If Trump is not a racist, then why does he sometimes talk like one, condoning with a winkand-a-nod some of the fringe hate groups who hail The Donald as Hero? Time and again, he has refused to repudiate the crackpot haters who fawn over him. For the past year, Trump declined to repudiate his long-time birther nastiness for two reasons: 1. He won’t admit he ever lies. 2. He didn’t want to alienate his base supporters, many of whom are Obama-haters. Trump’s poll numbers are up. His staff is still trying to change the leopard’s spots, trying to convince him to keep his big reckless mouth shut, trying to make him stick to the teleprompter. The leopard, however, has been leaping from its cage. Meantime, Hillary’s credibility and trust issues are taking wind from her sails, leaving her drifting in the doldrums. There are six weeks left until Election Day. If Trump’s self-serving birther “retraction” lies are any indication, his spot-changing staff will have a lot of work to do to restrain the barnstorming bluster. As a serial liar, Trump beats Hillary by a mile, and then some. Hillary, warts and all, is qualified to be president of the United States. Donald Trump, blustering charlatan, is not. Donald Duck would make a far better president. Trouble is, the Duck ain’t runnin.’
Letter to the editor:
Stay informed and make a difference – go to www.mn.gov Michael Willemsen, Sauk Rapids When I made the decision to run for Minnesota State Senate, I was excited to make a difference for our community. This is a time of wealth inequity, rampant discrimination and hatred, poorly-funded schools and an immediate need to avert climate catastrophe. These are problems that touch me deeply, and I am determined to work on setting things right. A recent column by Connor Kockler in the Newsleader discussed our current inability to discover the truth about politics because we often only listen to sources that we agree with. Instead, the time has come for us to
look beyond our partisan differences and discover what we have in common rather than what divides us. As a local candidate, I plan to focus on issues that affect us directly in our area of Central Minnesota. Our local issues affect us on a daily basis, and yet many people are more concerned with the presidential election than the state and local elections. As I talk with more and more people, I have come to realize many of us don’t know our state senator, city mayor or city council members. These “down ticket” races are just as important. Here’s the math: Minnesota has 67 senators and 134 representatives, or 201 state legislators. Each senator represents about 80,000 people, while each representative
has a district of about 40,000. Legislators make laws that affect the daily lives of Minnesotans. Every two years, our representatives run for election, which means we could have a fresh start in our federal and state houses every two years. This means we must stay informed on a daily basis, so we know how we want to vote in every cycle. Staying informed takes a lot of effort on the part of every voter, and for that reason it’s important we study a variety of sources for information. Please get informed on a local level, and vote based on issues you care about most; www.mn.gov is an excellent source of information for the issues affecting our state.
Please respect our nation’s flag During the last few weeks, there has been an odd trend creeping into our nation’s sports. Starting with the actions of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, it has now become fashionable for athletes to sit or take a knee during our national anthem before the game. While everyone has freedom of speech, we are also not immune to backlash resulting from our actions. With the issue of the national anthem and the flag in the spotlight, it’s been interesting to see who comes out on either side of the issue. Some argue criticism of the nation and its flag is the highest form of free speech. Others like myself take offense to the fact the flag, the very symbol of our country and what it stands for, has been appropriated for political purposes. No matter our differences, the flag of the United States of America is a common symbol. It represents our history, our values and why we are who we are. Fifty stars, one for every state of the union, and 13 stripes for the original 13 colonies who set us off on our journey. Regardless of our politics and how we see the world today, the flag stands above, reminding us of the great idealism and sacrifices that have gotten us to where we are now – even if we don’t always live up to it. To protest the flag is to protest the very idea of America itself, the belief everyone can get ahead if they work hard enough, with equality for all. That is the essential American dream. I find it hypocritical those who are the most vocal advocates for these protests are also those who have benefited most from the opportunities this great nation provides. The main protesters are professional athletes, individuals who are paid money
Connor Kockler Guest Writer to play a sport for a living. I would say these are some of the luckiest people in the world. They don’t have to file reports, or teach children or manage a business. They get to do something for a living most of us had to give up after high school, and they get paid millions for it as well. This is a huge disconnect from the lives of ordinary Americans, many of whom cannot afford to live while working their tails off. People of all ages should remember how lucky we are to live in a country that even allows this kind of behavior. The United States is only about 5 percent of the world’s population. In a large percentage of that other 95 percent, criticizing the government or the leaders, not to mention their flag, will end you up in jail or worse. Every country has room to improve, but to paint such a broad brush over America as a whole is simply insensitive. Kaepernick and his allies have some warranted concerns about the United States. They have every right to hold their beliefs under our Constitution, so why would they criticize the very object that stands for their stated aims? Their goals would be better suited, in my opinion, if they were to contact their representatives
in Congress, attend a city council meeting and/or run for office. Highlighting problems is one thing, solving them is another matter. Everything and everyone has flaws. The United States has some dark times in its history. But the important thing is we are improving. The vast majority of Americans don’t care about your race, your gender or who you love. All of this controversy and protest only serves to keep those divisions in place. People only care about if you are a good, trustworthy and hardworking person. It’s sad we must always come back to infighting and dividing each other rather than seeking out what unites us. Football and the flag are both no place for politics. They are part of the common heritage of America. They are two of the only things that can make us forget about our everyday concerns and feel proud to be Americans. If even the sports broadcasts are no longer free of partisanship, we are truly lost. The United States of America is a nation unique among others, founded on the principle that all people are created equal and everyone should have the opportunity to succeed. Many have given their lives in service to that ideal. When there are problems or discrimination against people, those issues should be resolved. But in the end, protests and words do nothing. Action does. Connor Kockler is a Sauk Rapids-Rice High School student. He enjoys writing, politics and news, among other interests.
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
Attack from front page complied. But then he leaped back up and ran toward Falconer, who fired his handgun at him. Again, Adan fell but got up again and lunged at Falconer, who shot him again, causing him to collapse, dead. That confrontation was recorded on video, according to St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis, who spoke at a press conference later that night, along with St. Cloud Police Chief William Blair Anderson. Leaders from throughout the world, including President Barack Obama and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, expressed concern and sympathy for the victims of the attack. Obama said it appeared the St. Cloud attack was unrelated to the homemade pipe and pressure-cooker bombs that exploded the same day in New Jersey and in New York, injuring 29 people in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. The perpetrator of those bomb blasts, an Afghanistan-born American, was arrested after a gunfight between him and police. He wounded the two police officers, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The bomber suffered gunshot wounds to an arm and a leg. All who knew Adan in St. Cloud said they are baffled as to why he would commit such an irrational, violent act because he never seemed to be an angry, disaffected individual.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com Throughout St. Cloud, central Minnesota and beyond, there were calls for unity among all people, including advisories that people should not let anger or fears goad them into any forms of retaliatory actions. Somali-American leaders, along with other faith leaders, called for peace, understanding, solidarity and brotherhood. Adan’s parents also expressed sorrow and sympathy for the victims.
At a Sept. 19 press conference called by faith leaders at St. Cloud City Hall, a statement from Adan’s family, written by their attorney on their behalf, was read aloud: “We are devastated by the incomprehensible, tragic event of last Saturday evening. As we mourn the death of our son, Dahir Adan, who was very dear to us, we are in deep shock as everyone else is in the state of Minnesota. We express our
deepest sympathy and condolences to all those injured and others who were impacted as a result of the incident at the Crossroads Mall. We pray for their families and (the victims’) speedy recovery. As a family, we are committed to fully cooperating within the limits of the law with all the relevant law-enforcement agencies as they conduct their investigation. Our family loves St. Cloud and this great state of Minne-
5 sota. We are an integral part of the fabric of this society. Therefore, we urge citizens of St. Cloud and of this state to stay united and let the law-enforcement agencies gather the facts and do their work. Finally, we urge all not to rush to judgment or conclusions. We ask everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time. We will make further statements as more facts about the incident become available.”
Apartments IN SARTELL. Two-bedroom apartment. Spacious. Many newly remodeled! Pets Welcome. Heat paid, fireplace, d/w, balconies. Quiet, residential area. $689-750. Garage included!
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
6
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
photo courtesy of Steve Diamond
The annual Millstream Arts Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 in downtown St. Joseph. Last year’s event was one of the best-attended in its history.
photo courtesy of Steve Diamond
A young spectator enjoys entertainment at last year’s Millstream Arts Festival.
Millstream Arts Festival to be held Sept. 25 in St. Joseph by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
The annual Millstream Arts Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 in downtown St. Joseph. The event is an outdoor juried art show that draws many people to the area and includes a variety of music, dancing, vi-
t i p e e K
sual arts, literature and poetry, foods, children’s activities and more. The chairman of the festival board, Alicia Peters, has been busy preparing for the event. “Millstream is a labor of love,” Peters said. “Everyone (who is) a part of the festival loves the festival.” Festival music coordinator
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and board member Jeff Engholm said the event is a good balance of the arts. “I think the Millstream Arts Festival has consistently been an extremely well-run and a fun festival to attend,” Engholm said. “It’s a perfect balance of art, music, dance, food and people, and the setting of downtown St Joseph frames it all so beautifully.” This year’s scheduled entertainment includes from 11 a.m.-noon the CSB/SJU Jazz Ensemble, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Random Road, 1:30-2:20 p.m. Greg Herriges, 2:30-3:40 p.m. Lehto and Wright, and 3:45-5 p.m. the Stearns County Pachanga Society. Street performances scheduled include from noon-2 p.m. the Granite City Cloggers, 1-3 p.m. Carnivale Revolver, and performing throughout the day are Chris Gustafson and Paul Imholte. New and returning food options include burgers, authentic West African cuisine, artisan
breads, Greek gyros, roasted nuts, fresh and local pork, soul food with a healthy twist, handmade German brats, handcrafted Midwestern cuisine and kettle corn. Artists booths will include jewelry, ceramics, photography, mixed media, drawing, oil pastels, watercolors, acrylics, wood, metal, printmaking, glass, textiles and more. The Book End will feature various authors and poets. Attendees can also listen to or recite poetry in the “Poetry and a Pint” tent on the Bad Habit Brewery patio. “Providing a quality experience has always been at the core of our mission,” Peters said. “This is evident from the amazing artists to the talented musicians, the literary artists and the food.” Additional attractions include a children’s art area and history tours from noon-4 p.m. at the Art and Heritage Place at St. Benedict’s Monastery and from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the St.
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Joseph Historical Society, featuring Civil War memorabilia and vintage toys. A vintage auto and tractor show is also planned. Areas of the festival, including the children’s art area, will honor Jacob Wetterling whose memorial service is being held earlier on the same day on the College of St. Benedict campus. Last year’s event drew thousands of people and was one of the best-attended in its history. More than 50 tents lined both sides of the street for several blocks. “Each year, we work toward our goal of being waste-free and this year to continue (that) at the heart of sustainability we will be providing a bike corral,” Peters said. “Community members will be able to park their bike in a monitored area. We also express our love of the community through the collection of donations for the local food shelf.” For more information visit www.millstreamartsfestival.org.
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
7
Sartell artist displays her creations at arts, crafts fair
contributed photos
Musicians Aksel Krafnick (left) and Gregory Schulz (right).
Fundraiser set Sept. 24 for Fire Relief Association There will be a fundraiser for the Sartell Fire Relief Association starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at House of Pizza parking lot in Sartell’s Pine Cone Marketplace. The address of the venue is 1733 Pinecone Road S. The event will feature the country-western sounds of photo by Mindy Peterson
Pat Doeden of Sartell adjusts one of her acrylic or oil paintings on Sept. 11 at the 44th annual Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair in downtown Little Falls – her 30th year at the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event.
the Gregory James Band, a St. Cloud-based band that bills itself as “The Country Experience.” The band performs current and past country radio hits. Its members are Gregory Schulz (lead singer), Frank Jason Ayers, Aksel Krafnick and Steve Nelson.
WANTED:
SARTELL FIREFIGHTERS Are you looking to get involved in the community? Are you at least 18 years old? Would you like to learn more about becoming a firefighter? Requirements: • Wear a pager and respond 24/7 to fire alarm/rescue calls when you are in town • Weekend and daytime availability (or able to be released from your job to respond) • Live within 8 minutes of the Sartell Fire Station • Drive trucks
• Complete Firefighter 1 training within one year • Complete First Responder (medical) training within two years • Train on the third Tuesday evening of each month for 4 hours • Pass the physical agility test, drug test, medical exam & background investigation
Applications available at: Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. or online at: www.sartellmn.com. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Visit Saint John’s Prep for
Open House Saturday, Oct. 1 9:30-11:30 a.m. Students in grades 5-11 are invited to visit Prep! Call 320-363-3315 to RSVP and reserve your space.
www.sjprep.net
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
8
GRRL from front page lic input, especially from longtime library supporters who have long wanted a full-service branch library. On Sept. 18, eight library supporters met at Celebration Lutheran Church and decided to attend the GRRL meeting to let their displeasure be heard by the board. Tuesday night, at the Holiday Inn, several of them spoke into the microphone to
the 14-member GRRL Board, as did several Sartell residents highly in favor of the delivery/ locker system service. The system involves people ordering library materials online – items GRRL staff would deliver to lockers in the Sartell Community Center so those people, when notified their items are ready, could pick them up at the center. There will also be a drop box there for returned materials. In voting for that option, Sartell Council members said while it is not a full-service library solution, it does at least offer
some convenience for Sartell residents to connect with GRRL library items. Some long-term library supporters, however, expressed anger about the three-member council majority, with help from the city administrator, deciding on that option with virtually no public input or even much council discussion. They especially criticized Nicoll who proposed, along with two other council members, there should be a moratorium on any library discussions until the GRRL finished its long-term assessment
plan. Library supporters have rapped Nicoll, the two council members and the Sartell administrator for not holding any public input discussions, as they had promised, once the assessment was completed. Among those attending the GRRL Board meeting were Mayor Nicoll, Sartell Administator Mary Degiovanni and council members Steve Hennes, Pat Lynch and Amy Braig-Lindstrom. Council member David Peterson was not present. None of those, with the exception of Braig-Lindstrom,
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 spoke before the board. Seven speakers spoke, and each was limited to one minute. The following are brief summaries of what each speaker had to say to the board:
Braig-Lindstrom
She criticized the Sartell City Council majority for not seeking any input about the partial library-service option, calling the decision “nefarious at best.” Nobody was informed beforehand, and long-time library supporters (“Friends of the Library”) had
LEGAL NOTICE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AUG. 15, 2016 DISTRICT SERVICE CENTER BOARD ROOM The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 4:01 p.m. by Michelle Meyer, vice chair/clerk. Members present: Patrick Marushin, treasurer; Mary McCabe, director; Pam Raden, director; Jason Nies, director; Lesa Kramer, director; and Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent. A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Marushin to APPROVE THE AGENDA WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS: add to Resignations – Adam Thiel and Mary Wenker. All in favor. Motion carried. During the public comment opportunity, Jamie Waite, 813 Eighth St. N. Sartell, inquired about the district 504 plan and presented her view on why the district should go peanut- and tree nut-free. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS A-D AS PRESENTED BELOW. a. Minutes of the regular school board meeting held on July 18, 2016. b. Checks in the amount of $1,314,685.96 as presented: General Fund 1,100,182.51 Food Service Fund 8,798.40 Transportation Fund 51,835.92 Community Service Fund 22,728.42 Capital Expenditure Fund 119,486.14 Debt Service Fund 1,000.00 Summer Rec Agency Fund 10,654.57 Check numbers 164757 to 164969 Receipts in the amount of $108,365,298.07 as presented: General Fund 1,346,938.02 Food Service Fund 83,848.43 Transportation Fund 45.15 Community Service Fund 1 0,329.64 Building Fund 106,869,640.89 Debt Service Fund 47,642.94 Summer Rec Agency Fund 6,853.00 Receipts 42437 to 42485 Wire transfers in the amount of $111,119.39 as presented: General Fund 110,765.85 Summer Rec Agency Fund 353.54 Wire transfers 201600008-201600014 Building Fund Checks in the amount of $553,829.93 as presented: Building Fund 553,829.93 Check numbers 600000 to 600003 c. Accept the following donations: Name
To
Donation
Purpose
Sartell Fastpitch Softball Association
Sartell-St. Stephen $18,000 School District
Improvements to Softball Fields
Liberty Bank
Pine Meadow Elementary and Oak Ridge Elementary
$1,300
One District/ One Book
LeSauk Lions Club
Pine Meadow Elementary and Oak Ridge Elementary
$2,724.00 One District/ One Book
Pine Meadow Elementary Parent Teacher Organization
Pine Meadow Elementary
$1,029.66 School Supplies
d. Accept the resignations of Dianne Amundson, ORE, student supervisor, effective 8/9/16; Samantha Anderson, SHS, assistant girls soccer, effective 7/28/16; Shirley Emerson, Early Childhood, para, effective 8/2/16; Deb Gallus, Transportation, bus driver, effective 8/10/16; Tammi Hanson, ORE, student supervisor, effective 7/30/16; Kim Hess, PME, ITS, effective 7/13/16; Sarah Karolus, ORE, student supervisor, effective 8/8/16; DanLynn Kolstad, SHS, server, effective 8/5/16; Jennifer Nelson, PME, para, effective 7/30/16; Beau Penk, ORE, para, effective 8/3/16; Aubri Petron, ORE, student supervisor, effective 8/8/16; Adam Thiel, SMS, custodian, effective 9/2/16; Mary Wenker, Early Childhood, ECFE teacher, effective 8/24/16. Accept the retirement of Mary Jo Omann, ORE, para, effective 9/6/16. Superintendent Report: Jeff Schwiebert, superintendent • Superintendent Schwiebert reported on discussing the district’s 504 plan, conversations with the city involving the community center are continuing, his membership as a board member for the local United Way, updated the board on the timeline for the building projects, curriculum business partnerships, and class sizes.
ness Services, reported on the 2016A and 2016B series bond sales. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE #1-10: New Employees/Changes: Jennifer Ambrosier, SHS, accompanist, $16.65/hour, RV, S1, 1.25 hours/day, replacing Grant Strom, 9/7/2016; Samantha Deans, SHS, three-act play technical director, $1,225 (3.35 percent), BS 1 ($36,559), replacing Tracy Watkin, 8/22/2016; Kelly Hansen, ECFE, ECSE teacher, $34,622 (.70 percent), BA30, S7, ($49,460), increase in need from .5 to .7, 8/24/2016; Jake Hemmesch, SHS, assistant boys soccer, $3,473 (9.5 percent), BS1 ($36,559), replacing Nick Sieben, 8/15/2016; Lisa Kent, ORE/SMS, SPED teacher, $50,030, MA, S5, replacing Jenna Watson, 8/24/2016; Alaina Kne, SHS, assistant girls soccer, $3,473 (9.5 percent), BS1 ($36,559), replacing Joseph Yantambwe, 8/15/2016; Bridget Kuhl, SHS, language arts, $38,426, BA, S3, replacing Frances Pearson (declined offer), 8/24/2016; Katherine Laura Vinje Stark, PME, ITS, $50,030, MA, S5, replacing Kim Hess, 8/24/2016. New Employees: Contingent upon licensure from MDE Zachary Miller, SMS, LTS music teacher, $36,559, BA 1, replacing Amy Schmidtbauer (LOA), 8/24/2016.
School Board Committee Report: School Board Members will report on committee meetings that have taken place since the last Board meeting. Sartell Senior Connection • The Sartell Senior Connection has expressed concern with how the collaboration of the city community center and community education will look.
Leaves of Absence: Jeff Frank, ORE, fourth-grade teacher, LOA, 8/29/16 - 9/9/16.
Architect Report on Building Process • Architects David Leapaldt and Scott Krenner updated the board on the outcome of the technology workshops that were held in August, three potential diagrams for layout of the new high school and update on changes to the project.
A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Marushin to APPROVE THE LAND PURCHASE AGREEMENT. All in favor. Motion carried.
Bond Information Update • Steve Wruck, Director of Busi-
All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE THE DISTRICT HANDBOOK REVISIONS WITH THE ADDITION OF A TRANSPORTATION SUPPLEMENT. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Nies and seconded by McCabe to APPROVE THE ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY OFF-CAMPUS C O M M U N I T Y- S E RV I C E S AGREEMENT. All in favor. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Kramer and seconded by Marushin to APPROVE THE MILK AND BREAD BOARD RECOMMENDATION. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Nies and seconded by Raden to APPROVE THE CROSS COUNTRY FUNDRAISER. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Marushin and seconded by McCabe to APPROVE SUPERINTENDENT JEFF SCHWIEBERT ANNUAL APPRAISAL. All in favor. Motion carried. Schedule Work Session and Committee Meetings: • Aug. 25, 2016 at 7 p.m. Work Session, Sartell District Center • Aug. 30, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. Staff Breakfast, Sartell High School The Board took a five-minute recess at 5:24 p.m. The meeting resumed at 5:29 p.m. Meyer entertained a motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minnesota Statue Section 13D.05 Subd. 2(b) to consider concerns related to an employee. Motion made by Nies and seconded by Kramer TO CLOSE THE MEETING AT 5:30 p.m. A motion was made by Nies and seconded by McCabe to REOPEN THE MEETING AT 5:33 p.m. Board Member Nies introduced the resolution and moved its adoption to release Chad Claybaugh, an employee of Independent School District No. 748. The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Board Member Kramer, and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Meyer, Raden, Kramer, McCabe, Nies and Marushin and the following voted against the same: None Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. A motion to ADJOUN THE MEETING AT 5:35 p.m. was made by Marushin and seconded by Raden. All in favor. Motion carried. /s/ Michelle Meyer, clerk Publish: Sept. 23, 2016
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 no input whatsoever before the administration and council put together the resolution.
Whitney
Julie Whitney, a Sartell resident, said she is very happy about the material delivery/ return service for the Sartell Community Center. She said the council’s decision is a good, innovative way to get library services to Sartell residents within their own city.
Pettmann
Kim Pettman of Sauk Rapids, a former Sartell resident, called the city council’s decision “disgusting” because citizen input had not been solicited, heard or considered. Pettman said for 20 years Sartell residents have wanted a library branch. She urged the GRRL Board to “slow down” and not make a decision on partial library service to Sartell until public input can be added.
Anjum
Zurya Anjum, a long-time Sartell library-branch supporter, called the city council’s decision a “slap in the face to democracy. What’s needed is open input in a democratic process because many Sartell residents still favor a full-service GRRL branch library.” She urged the Board to consider the fact Sartell residents voted twice for the halfcent sales-tax referenda with the understanding the revenue would fund a branch library.
Wijetunga
Gayathri Wijetunga, a Sartell resident, said she is against a delivery/locker system because Sartell residents deserve fuller library service. A quality library, centrally located, is what’s needed, she said, not just a delivery/locker system.
Nordmann
Sonia Nordmann of Sartell said she is “ecstatic” about the
delivery/locker system and is glad the council favors it and hopes the GRRL Board will approve it, as well.
Perske
Long-time library supporter and former Sartell Mayor Joe Perske called the council’s decision for the delivery/locker system a “travesty” after so many requests for participation in decision-making by library supporters who had signed 500 names to a petition. He said the people of Sartell deserve a voice in what they’ve wanted for decades – namely, a branch library.
Smorynski
Henry Smorynski of Sartell, a long-term library-branch advocate who is often sharply critical of the city council’s handling of library issues, offered written testimony to the GRRL Board, urging it to delay any action on the Sartell Council’s request until March at the earliest. Smorynski’s statement reads in part: “The current city council continues in its behavior of marginalizing the Friends of the Library, not honoring past votes in favor of a library branch through the half-cent sales tax, ignoring young children coming before it as well as many citizens during open (microphone), and most recently (breaking) its promise of engaging GRRL and the community in honest and thorough discussions on a library. “Instead it put forward the lockers proposal without engaging the two council members (Braig-Lindstrom and Peterson) supportive of the library, known library advocates or having any form of public hearing. This is disgraceful behavior and should not be supported by the (GRRL) Board, as it does not reflect transparency, democratic outreach or listening to constituents.”
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Absentee ballots now available by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
For the first time in Minnesota history, voters can now vote via absentee ballot without having some kind of excuse. Previously, voters could request absentee ballots if they knew they would be out of the district – say, on vacation – during Election Day. Now, they can vote by absentee ballot for any reason or no reason at all. It’s just another voting option open to one and all. People can vote by absentee
News Tips?
ballot in person at county or local elections offices, or they can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them. (Ballots are available in a number of languages.) To request an absentee ballot be mailed, go to mnvotes.org. Then, download a “2016 Minnesota Absentee Ballot Application,” fill it out and return it to one’s county election office via email, fax or postal mail. Absentee ballots can be requested even by people who are not yet registered to vote since a voter registration application will be provided when
the ballot is sent. Voters must remember a ballot must be mailed back on or before Tuesday, Nov. 8, which is this year’s date for the general presidential election. If received later than that, the ballots will not be counted. People can vote in person at election offices up to Monday, Nov. 7, the day before the general election. For nine elections in a row, Minnesota was No. 1 in the nation for number of people who voted in a general election. That ranking fell to No. 6, however, in 2014.
Call the Newsleader at 363-7741
10
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
Traffic study authorized for new Sartell school site by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Authorization for a road study by the yet-to-be-built Sartell High School was approved unanimously by the Sartell City Council at its Sept. 12 meeting. The new high school, approved by voters last August, will be constructed near the Oak Ridge Elementary School west of Pinecone Road N. be-
tween 27th and 35th streets. The high school building will accommodate up to 1,350 students and 150 staff members. Parking will be adequate for about 800 vehicles. The school will also include an 800seat performing arts center, a gymnasium big enough for up to 2,000 people and a swimming pool. With all of the anticipated
busy uses, it’s not surprising the city council and other Sartell residents have been concerned about the road configurations near the two schools. What the WSB & Associates Inc. study will examine are the effects of traffic and parking on area traffic operations; site-traffic circulation; and pedestrian safety and pedestrian circulation.
The study is expected to recommend egress and ingress of traffic at the new school site, including road improvements or changes to facilitate busy traffic patterns, especially at the start and end of the school day. The study will also take into careful consideration school-bus traffic at the two school sites. The study will take into account a myriad of factors: traf-
fic counts, traffic patterns, busy activity times at the schools, key intersections, signage, pedestrian and bicyclist safe accesses to the schools, width of roads, turn lanes and much more. The comprehensive study will cost about $11,000. The report will be presented Nov. 4 of this year.
Little Rock drawdown shows support but hurdles remain by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
The proposed Little Rock Lake drawdown is far from a done deal, even though a majority of people who filled out survey postcards support the drawdown. Potential hurdles that remain for the proposed project include regulatory permission and cooperation from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and a go-ahead from the electric dam operator at the Sartell hydroelectric dam. A drawdown would lower the level of Little Rock Lake
near Rice and the Mississippi River between the lake and Sartell in order to help restore the environmental integrity of those waterways. The remedies would include prevention of shore and bank erosion, and an increase in water clarity and a decrease in nutrients that cause algae growth. With enough support, the Department of Natural Resources would like to do the drawdown for an eight-week period in late summer 2017. The drawdown would be accomplished by letting more water over the dam in Sartell. Residents along the lake and river were sent survey post-
cards earlier this summer by the Department of Natural Resources. Results of the postcard survey, as well as the online survey, were released Aug. 29 by the DNR. The following are key elements of the survey background and survey results: A total of 819 postcard surveys were sent to residents with shoreline access on the Mississippi River (between the Sartell dam and Two Rivers Campground) and to residents along Little Rock Lake (including those near Harris Channel). • A total of 378 filled-out postcards were returned, a return rate of 46.2 percent, which
is considered a “very valid” return rate as most survey responses tend to be less than 25 percent. • The online survey was available for almost three weeks and drew responses from 133 respondents. • Of all the surveys completed, via postcards and online, 195 of them were from people who identified themselves as residents of Little Rock Lake or Harris Channel, 262 from residents along the Mississippi River and 53 from
people who stated they were not residents of those areas. • Of all respondents, 331 showed support for a potential drawdown of Little Rock Lake and part of the river; 113 indicated they do not support a drawdown; and 66 noted they were undecided at this point. Those responses translate into 64.9-percent support, 22.2-percent non-support and 12.9-percent undecided. The DNR will release more detailed results soon about the other questions on the survey.
Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
11
United Cerebral Palsy fundraiser to be held Sept. 30 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
The United Cerebral Palsy of Central Minnesota Oktoberfest Renaissance Festival benefiting people with disabilities will take place from 5:30-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Molitor’s Quarry located at 425 35th St. NE, Sauk Rapids. The event will include food sampling by Applebees, Christine’s Sweet Confections, John
Dough’s Pizza, Manea’s Meats, Molitor’s Quarry, Mongo’s Grill, Sixth Avenue Bistro, Texas Roadhouse and The Third Floor; as well as beer sampling from Beaver Island Brewing, C&L Distributing, Third Street Brewhouse and Viking Beverages. Carl Newbanks, director of programs and communications, said this is their largest fundraiser of the year. Last year, about 300 people attended the event, and UCP of Central Min-
nesota raised about $20,000. “Oktoberfest is a great event because you can win prizes whether you spend money at the event or not,” he said. “Each admission includes prize tickets which can be used for chances in several raffle drawings. The fun begins when you take your chances in the games to win even more prize tickets to increase your chances of winning a raffle item.” UCP of Central Minnesota
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. 23 55+ Driver-improvement program (four-hour refresher course), 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. Optional online courses: mnsafetycenter.org. Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Discovery Day, St. John’s Preparatory School, 2280 Water Tower Road, Collegeville. 320-363-3339. Brat sale, sponsored by St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Proceeds benefit Chad’s Wing at the Place of Hope. Saturday, Sept. 24 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Lake George, 1101 Seventh St. S., St. Cloud. Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. Sneakers and Wheels, 9 a.m., CentraCare Health Plaza, 1406 Sixth
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Ave. N., St. Cloud. 320-251-2700. centracare.com. Brat sale, sponsored by St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Proceeds benefit Chad’s Wing at the Place of Hope.
Sunday, Sept. 25 Jacob Wetterling Memorial Service, 10 a.m., College of St. Benedict, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. Monday, Sept. 26 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday. org. Sartell City Council, 6 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pinecone Road N. 320-253-2171.
try Manor, 520 First St. NE, Sartell. Family Farmers’ Market, 2-6 p.m., River East parking lot, CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-252-2422. Friday, Sept. 30 Benton County Historical Society, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 218 First St. N., Sauk Rapids. 320253-9614. mnbentonhistory.org. Brat sale, sponsored by St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Proceeds benefit St. Joseph Food Shelf.
works with all disabilities to provide services and resources for clients of all ages, needs and abilities. For more information, visit ucpcentralmn.org. Newbanks said the organization provides services such as home modifications, assistive technology, care coordination, adaptive equipment demo/ loans, grants and scholarships, adaptive bikes and activities for families/children with disabilities such as bowling leagues, holiday parties, arts programs and more. Cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders which appears in infancy or early childhood that affects body movement and muscle coordination. The majority of those with cerebral palsy are born with it, but it often is not detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually show up before a child reaches age 3. Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but treatments often
Thursday, Sept. 29 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Coun-
Saturday, Oct. 1 Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 8 a.m.-noon, First Street and Second Avenue next to Manea’s Meats, downtown Sauk Rapids. Craft fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. John’s Catholic Church, 22 First St., Swanville. 320-573-4271. Paul Berglund Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, 6-8 p.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N, Sartell. 320-247-7831. Open house, St. John’s Preparatory School, 2280 Water Tower Road, Collegeville. 320-363-3339. Brat sale, sponsored by St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Proceeds benefit St. Joseph Food Shelf.
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Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 23, 2016
People network to save colony of cats (Editor’s note: This story, written in the first person by St. Joseph resident Kari Cedergren, came to the attention of the Newsleader via the Tri-County Humane Society. The Newsleader decided to publish it because it points to a serious animal-welfare problem, and it’s a heartwarming example of how people, working together, can help save suffering animals.) In May 2016, my realtor and friend, Rebecca from Cartwright Realty, contacted me about a property her clients wanted to buy. But there was an issue. The clients would not close on the property unless the community of accumulated cats was removed. The selling realtor was supposed to “take care” of the animals but had not. With only weeks left until closing, Rebecca took matters into her own hands. She estimated there were 50 cats in this colony that needed homes – and fast. As an animal lover, volunteer and sustaining patron of the Tri-County Humane Society and Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition, I wanted to help my friend, Rebecca, and save some feline lives. A saintly soul, Susan, the property’s owner, loved her outdoor cats. She built shelters for them in old sheds and filled them with mattresses, blankets and straw. She housed and fed
her furry friends, and they were fruitful and multiplied. Susan never considered what might happen when she was no longer able to care for them herself. When she had to be moved into a nursing home, her beloved colony of cats had to fend for themselves. Not surprisingly, the situation went from bad to worse for the poor cats. Rebecca caught most of them and placed them with various humane agencies. Of the 50 cats, 45 or so were saved; some who were dying had to be “put down.” Thankfully, there are local organizations to help concerned citizens do what is best for unwanted animals. Tri-County Humane Society does incredible work in the St. Cloud area. Its building is small, but the staff and many volunteers help the same number of animals as in institutions twice the size. Through a few phone calls and some coordination, TCHS helped with the majority of Susan’s cats. The kittens and a few more of the friendlier cats were adopted out as house cats, and a large number were placed through TCHS’ Barn Cat program. The Barn Cat program places cats that are unfit to live indoors for various reasons. These cats are spayed or neutered by the humane society. They go on to live fruitful lives but do not multiply.
Obviously, there are costs to spay and neuter animals. I wanted to find a way to help cover some of TCHS’ costs for fixing Susan’s cats. Feline Rescue in St. Paul is a nonprofit that has three programs: Adoption, Foster, Outreach. The focus of the Outreach Program is to help concerned citizens cover some of the costs associated with trapping, neutering and returning outdoor cats back into the community. The Outreach Program of Feline Rescue is supported by donations, grants and volunteer hours. Grant money the Outreach Program received from Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies was used to help cover a portion of the cost of spaying/ neutering Susan’s cats. Twenty-five years ago, cats and kittens like Susan’s would have been destroyed. Thanks to the dedication of the Tri-County Humane Society and the willingness of the Outreach Program at Feline Rescue to share their grant money from Chuck & Don’s Pet Food & Supplies, Susan’s cats are now enjoying life in their new locations. Those 50 cats, however, point to a much bigger problem in the State of Minnesota. There are many, many more cat colonies that are being fed by concerned citizens like Susan, and the task of trapping, neutering and returning them – or better
contributed photo
A severely undernourished and exhausted kitten sprawls as her kittens try to get milk from her. These were just some of the 50 cats left abandoned at a “cat colony” when personal circumstances caused the residence’s owner to leave the premises. yet, finding them indoor homes – is a large one. If you’d like to take action by adopting, donating, volunteering or fostering an animal in transition to a new home, please contact the Tri-County Humane Society by visiting its website www.tricountyhumanesociety.org or by calling 320-252-0896. If you would like to donate to the Trap Neu-
ter Return program for colony cats through Feline Rescue’s Outreach Program, please visit its website at www.felinerescue.org or call 651-642-5900. Please designate your donation to “Outreach Program.” Through awareness, concerned citizens now have more humane options for handling outdoor cats. We help animals and so can you.