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Newsleader Sartell
Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 Volume 18, Issue 45 Est. 1995
Town Crier
Love of Christ celebrates 20th anniversary Nov. 24
Love of Christ Lutheran Church will celebrate its 20th anniversary starting at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 24. A luncheon and program will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Members of the congregation shared the following: “God has done so much in peoples’ lives during the course of the past 20 years. You may be one of the thousands touched by a worship experience at Love of Christ, or engaged with us through one of the church’s community ministries. Whatever your relationship with the Love of Christ Family has been, we would be so blessed to have you celebrate with us.”
Proposed City Center meeting set Nov. 18
Persons interested in supporting a City Center are invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. Discussion will focus on creative ideas to facilitate the building of the City Center as well as structural suggestions. Refreshments will be served. Call 320-253-4036 for more information.
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Veterans, students enjoy lunch together by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
A good time – and a good lunch – was had by all when Sartell Middle School sponsored its annual “Lunch with a Veteran” last Monday, Veterans Day. At some of the tables in the large lunch room, veterans sat with students. The veterans were related to one or more students as parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins or siblings. At both lunch shifts, the American Legion Honor Guard of Sartell welcomed guests as they arrived. The food staff decorated the kitchen, serving areas and tables for the event. At one table veteran Steve Kelly sat with his daughter, Kaitlyn, 13, a seventh-grader. Kelly served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Yosemite in 1989. His wife, Jennifer, is a student Lunch • page 2
photo by Dennis Dalman
Holly Cofer of Sartell, a U.S. Army National Guard member, stands in the Sartell Middle School lunch line with her brother, Kovey, who is an eighth-grader at the school.
Veteran urges students to do the best they can by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Car seat clinic offers free checks
A free car seat clinic will be held from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 7th St. N., St. Cloud. This is a free service. To schedule an appointment, call 320-656-7021. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders. com and click on Criers.
What are you thankful for?
Kids Fighting Hunger, a Sauk Rapids-based humanitarian hunger-relief organization is hosting a “We Are Thankful” foodpackaging event before Thanksgiving. Volunteers are needed to help assemble food packages for shipment to children who are in desperate need of food. “We Are Thankful” will take place on Saturday Nov. 23; 180 volunteers are needed to participate in twohour sessions to package “hunger packs.” The packaging sessions are from 9-11 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and 1-3 p.m. at the Kids Fighting Hunger warehouse in Sauk Rapids. The goal is to package approximately 30,000 meals that day. For more information, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
photo by Dennis Dalman
Major David Peterson (right) chats with Snuffy Putnam, a member of the American Legion of Sartell, at Sartell Middle School’s “Salute to Veterans” events on Veterans Day. Peterson, a member of the Sartell City Council, is a 16-year member of the Minnesota Army National Guard who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also an attorney and humanresources supervisor for the St. Cloud VA Medical Center.
Thank-you cards sent to veterans
There were many pleased veterans at the VA Medical Center on Veterans Day, thanks to the students at Sartell Middle School. In early November, all middle-school students had the chance to make thank-you
cards to veterans through their home rooms and through the Student Advisory Council. More than 500 cards were created. They were then delivered to the VA Nov. 8 and delivered to veterans on Veterans Day.
Years ago when he was in law school, it never once crossed David Peterson’s mind he would someday be using his legal expertise in a faraway country in the midst of war. But that, in fact, is what happened. Not once. But twice. Monday, at a Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by Sartell Middle School, Peterson shared some of his experiences as a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Peterson worked as an attorney for many years with the Dan Eller Law Office in Waite Park, but more recently he took a job as human-resources specialist for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Cloud. As a 16-year member of the Minnesota Army National Guard, Major Peterson still does some legal work for the military. He’s also a member of the Sartell City Council. For a year, starting in 2009 and ending in 2010, he served in Iraq as a legal advisor for “ruleof-law” issues. Then, a year later, he served for six months in Afghanistan helping police, judges and courts in a countercorruption program. In two talks for two ceremonies in the Sartell Middle
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School gymnasium, Peterson addressed jam-packed audiences of students in the bleachers. He shared projected slides of his experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, but before that, Peterson opened his presentation with a pep talk to the students. He told the students to do their very best at whatever they pursue – whether extracurricular activities or studies. “Practice hard,” he advised, “and learn from your mistakes. If people apply themselves, good things will happen, especially if they keep forging ahead even under trying times when people find it hard to believe in themselves, Peterson told the students. Being called to active duty in two warring countries, he said, was a “curve ball” Peterson did not expect, but life, he noted, is full of “curve balls.” That’s why students must work hard, apply themselves, do their best and forge ahead. If they do, they are certain to succeed, Peterson promised. Peterson’s slide-show consisted of snapshot glimpses of him and his colleagues in a rather alien terrain of desert-like dusty and rocky landscapes. His jobs there required many long hours of travel, sometimes to remote villages where he would Veteran • page 2
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Lunch from front page
sacrifices made by so many men and women who served their country.” After the lunches were all served and eaten, everyone gathered in the middle school’s gymnasium for two back-toback ceremonies to honor veterans. (For more details, see story and editorial about the middle-school events in this paper). For more photos, visit www. thenewsleaders.com.
Veteran from front page
meet with police, judges, attorneys in police centers and in courtrooms. Peterson showed several photos of his transportation – helicopters and armored vehicles. He had to be prepared and ready for anything because his travels could take him in no time at all from sweltering places of 120 degrees to frigid temperatures in the snowy, higher elevations of mountains. Peterson also showed slides of city streets, vendors’ shops, a typical child asking soldiers for treats and a glimpse of the occasional relaxation and fun he and his colleagues enjoyed – softball games that were perfect for breaking up any monotony. Petersons said he feels honored to have served with so many dedicated, hard-working people from different branches of the military. But he reserved his highest praise for ones who also “served” back home. There are, of course, dangers in wartorn lands, he said, but what’s truly terrifying, he added, is contributed photo Six local gymnasts (from left to right) Morgan Weber and Lau- when loved ones back home ren Jaenisch, both of Sartell; Liberty Kosloski of Sauk Rapids; Leighton Stebbins of Sartell; and Ava Schmidt of St. Cloud reIf any readers have tips concerncently qualified for the Level 4 State Compulsory Gymnastics ing crimes, they should call the meet to be held Dec. 14-15. They are members of Northcrest Sartell Police Department at 251Gymnastics in Sauk Rapids. Gymnasts need to earn a 32.0 or 8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers higher all-around score in a qualifying meet to qualify for the at 255-1301 or access its tip site state meet. Not pictured is Selah Christiansen of Sauk Rapids. at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. supervisor at Oak Ridge Elementary and so could not attend the luncheon with her husband and daughter. “I think this ‘Lunch with a Veteran’ idea is fantastic,” said Steve, as his daughter nodded in agreement. “It helps keeps veterans in the front of everyone’s minds. And the younger generation can learn about the
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don’t receive a phone call they expected from a soldier. Just one missed call can provoke terrible anxieties and dreadful uncertainties in the minds of folks back home. “They are the unsung heroes,” Peterson said, singling out his wife, Kristina, whom he asked to stand and be recognized as the audience applauded. The Petersons have two children, Lauren and Devon, who are both students at Sartell Middle School. Peterson encouraged everyone to help out the families of the men and women serving far from home. Even simple activities like raking and shoveling can be a huge help and a comfort, he noted. It will show them people do care and that they, too, are greatly appreciated, along with their loved ones serving their country.
Other activities
The Veterans Day ceremony at the middle school began with the presenting of the colors by a contingent of the American Legion Post 277 of Sartell. After the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance,
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Friday, Nov. 15, 2013 led by State Rep. Tim O’Driscoll of Sartell, the student band and choir performed a series of patriotic songs, such as “America,” “Of Thee I Sing” and “God Bless America.” The show was emceed by Sartell Middle School Student Council co-president Courtney Halvorson and the council’s secretary-treasurer Thomas Connolly. Also present were many teachers, staff, Sartell Middle School Principal Julie Tripp and Sartell-St. Stephen School District Interim Superintendent Mike Spanier. Sartell Mayor Joe Perske gave a welcome speech and then explained the origins of Veterans Day. It began in 1918, at the end of World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – the exact time and date when the armistice was signed by the warring parties in Europe. For years, the celebration on Nov. 11 was known as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of the big war that was to be – in the hopeful minds of many – the war to end all wars. In 1954, Perske noted, Armistice Day was re-named Veterans Day.
was placed stating an argument had become physical between an adult female and an adult male. The male was placed under arrest and taken to Stearns County Jail without incident. 1:56 p.m. Gas no-pay. Riverside Avenue. A report was made that an adult male filled his vehicle with gas and did not pay. Officers contacted the male and found he had forgotten to pay. The male returned to pay for the gas. Oct. 31 3:13 p.m. Juvenile runaway. Seventh Street N. A report was made regarding a juvenile female who had run away from home. The female was on house arrest and removed her bracelet. She was located and placed under arrest without incident. 11:18 p.m. Welfare check. Frontier Avenue. A report was made regarding a female yelling “Please don’t.” Officers arrived and found there was an adult female and juvenile female talking. The juvenile female was in trouble for breaking curfew. Nov. 1 8:10 a.m. Traffic stop. CR 4. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 73 mph in a posted 55-mph zone. The driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 4:55 p.m. Theft. First Avenue N. A juvenile male was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. He admitted to the theft. His father was contacted and a citation was issued.
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Local groups work to de-stigmatize mental illness by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Mike Stringer knows all too well the tragedies that can happen when mental illness goes untreated. One of his grandfathers, an uncle and a cousin all committed suicide. More than 90 percent of those who take their own lives suffer from untreated mental illnesses, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The suicides in the Stringer family were the impetus for Stringer to take a 12-week course entitled “Family-toFamily,” taught by Steve and Wendy Hennes of Sartell at Unity Spiritual Center, also in Sartell. After taking that course, Stringer helped form the St. Cloud Family Support Group, which is for family members, friends and caregivers who live or deal with people who have mental-health issues. The group is not religiously affiliated. Anyone from anyplace is welcome to attend the group. Some come from as far away as Little Falls. The group meets from 7-8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month at Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. There was also a family support group at the Unity Spiritual Center, but that recently relocated to Albany. Those are just two support groups sponsored by NAMI throughout the nation and in the greater St. Cloud area by way of NAMI, St. Cloud. NAMI’s “Connections” groups, as
they’re called, can be specialized to meet specific needs. For example, there is one just for the parents of children suffering from mental illness. Another group is meant for social workers and school personnel to help them identify and get help for school students who may be experiencing some form of mental-health disorder. The purpose of NAMI nationally, statewide and locally is to improve the lives of children and adults with mental illnesses, along with their families. A big part of that effort is to raise awareness and educate the general public so the stigmas often associated with mental illness can be laid at the wayside,
making it more likely people and their families will seek help when it’s needed. That is the reason Stringer became involved. He is not only a support-group coordinator, but he also serves on the NAMI St. Cloud Board. “Mental illness can be an isolating experience,” Stringer said. “For many caregivers, the NAMI Family Support Group is their first opportunity to learn there are other caregivers who are experiencing similar challenges and frustrations. Our groups provide a social-support network that is a vital part of recovery for families and their loved ones.” The group, Stringer noted,
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Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
Sabres to host big dance show
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contributed photo
In their brand-new high-kick uniforms, some of the Sartell Sabre Dance Team members practice for the 12th annual dance show this Saturday. From left to right are (barely visible at left) Amanda Yackley, Sarah Erickson, Taylor Pasell, Avalon Schlect, Hannah Carey, Amanda Burge, Jenna Klein and Lauren Lauermann. by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The Sartell Sabre Dance Team will host its 12th annual gala fundraising show in two performances at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 at Sartell High School. Tickets for the show are $5 for students K-12, $7 for adults and free for children 4 and under. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Dawn Scott-Yackley of St. Stephen, a member of the Sabre Dancers’ Booster Club. The show is also important because it’s the first time all area high schools will perform, in one place, the competitive routines they will perfect throughout the upcoming competitive season, which starts next week. There are 500 dancers in the show, including 31 on the Sabre competitive team. Head coach Kelly McCarney has coached the Sabre team for 12 years. She started coaching it when she was 19 years old. The show will showcase the talents of dancers from several schools and dance studios. They include the St. Cloud Tech Tigerettes, the St. Cloud Apollo Astronettes, the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaderettes, the Sauk RapidsRice Storm, the Cold Spring Rocori Rockettes, the University of Minnesota Dance Team (Rochester), Just for Kix, Ms. Melinda’s Dance Team, St. Cloud Northcrest Dance and the St. Cloud School of Dance and Gymnastics and – last but certainly not least – the Sabre Dance Team. The show will also present, once again, the perennially popular guy-gal dance. There will be concessions, T-shirts and flowers to purchase during the show, which typically draws a standingroom-only audience. Scott-Yackley said that
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Nov. 16 without volunteer help from parents, the annual dance shows would not be possible. All of the behind-the-scenes work is done by volunteers, as well as the support work during the show and the take-downs after the show. The booster club is also a big help, she added. “The club helps with anything that needs to be done,” Scott-Yackley said. “The members help organize, publicize, help the coaches and get parent volunteers together. They sell tickets, do decorations, work at concessions. Parents take part in all of that. That’s true of all the schools that have dance programs. Scott-Yackley and her husband, John, have two daughters on the Sabre Dance Team – Amanda, a senior; and Hannah, a sophomore. “The dance team helps girls grow into young ladies,” she said. “It helps them become much better people, and they learn how to become good students and to juggle (the demands of) life. They work as a team and they bond and make friendships. It’s just incredible to watch that process. My daughters just love being a part of that team.”
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Sabres’ bid for state stopped by St. Michael-Albertville The Sartell Sabre football team’s valiant efforts to advance to competition in the Twin Cities Metrodome came to an end Nov. 7 when the St. Michael-Albertville Knights beat the Sabres, 52-28, at Husky Stadium in St. Cloud. It’s the second time since 2009 the Sabres were in competition for the Class A state championship. The Sabres’ loss came in the quarterfinals competitive stage. The Sabres were on a remarkable winning streak when they
won seven games in a row after losing three earlier in the season. The Sabres’ last win was over the Moorhead Spuds Oct. 31, also at Husky Stadium, when they scored 24-16, making them the winners of the Section 8, 5A title. The St. Michael-Albertville Knights now go on to compete Nov. 15 at the Metrodome. The winners of that face-off will then go on to determine the state championship Nov. 30, also in the Metrodome.
to all of the 2013 Toast to Autumn Sponsors! $5,000 Central Lakes Oral Surgery Leighton Broadcasting Kim Tjaden and Joe Nguyen $2,500 C.H. Robinson Centrasota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons - Dr. Ryan Morris The Johnson Group Marketing Riverside Dental PA - Dr. Ellen Morris The Tillemans Family Fund Times Media Trinity Logistics $1,000 BankVista Robert and Tammi Congdon Doug and Tammy Ferns The Grands at Mulligans Liberty Savings Andrea and Chris McGrew The Meyer Family Fund Persona Dental $500 Trevor and Tiffany Akervik Auto Value Parts Stores Bremer Bank Central Minnesota Pediatric Dentists Coborn’s Liquor Country Manor Campus Adam and Tiffany Heathcote
Holiday Inn - St. Cloud Holland & Frank KDV Jonathan Lanners Steve Leen Mahowald Insurance Agency, LLC Marco Business Products, Inc Kay and Bruce Miles Plaza Park Bank Pam and Scott Raden Marty and Kelly Radi Robert’s Fine Jewelry Greg and Teresa Rueter Schneider Orthodontics Tim and Amy Schuchard Todd V. Peterson, P. A. Jennifer Thienes Julie Tripp Matt and Amy Trombley Mike and Kathy Spanier US Bank Williams/INTEGRACARE Clinic Wiman/RTP Corp. Yapel Orthodontics
Pat and AnnElise Edeburn GLT Architects Gold n Plump Great River Bowl Jean and Kevin Harthan Heartland Glass Co. Inc. Don Helgeson and Sue Shepard Joe and Amy Hellie Ken and Lisa Hill Chad and Kelsi Holien House of Pizza Huse Orthodontics Randy and Barb Husmann Dr. Jeffrey and Peggy Hyytinen Greg and Keri Johnson Lesa and Dan Kramer Ledge Wealth Management John and Sarah Liveringhouse Market Monday Toni and Rowan McDonnell McDowall Co. Miller Auto Plaza Aaron & Cynthia Miller Tonya and Jim Miller Troy and Kim Molitor Michael and Madge Murphy $250 Nemeth Orthodontics Adult & Pediatric Urology North Central Bus & Equipment Kyle and Rachel Breitkreutz Central Minnesota Community Foundation PineCone Vision Center Wendi and Paul Clark Jon and Brett Pinkerton D.J. Bitzan Jewelers Glen Tautges and Jennifer Richason DeZURIK Jim and Bonnie Rodness Mark and Kim Doman St. Cloud Floral
Sartell Education Association Schlucter Investment Advisors State Farm Insurance - Dan Anderson State Farm Insurance - Kristin Stebbins Brenda and Tom Steve Tandem Orthotics and Prosthetics David and Janet Tilstra Tri-County Abstract Ryan and Melissa Weber Winkelman Building Corp. David and Diane Zoeller Kristofer and Julie Zupfer Anderson Honorable Mention Barb and Carl Caspers Jeff and Sue Flemming Judy Grannes Great River Federal Credit Union Steve and Wendy Hennes Lawson Family Dental Yang Lo and Rachel Schuneman Jason & Kim Nies Rambow Inc. St. Cloud Federal Credit Union Kurt Stumpf Dr. Kay and Dr. Roger Worner Visit us at www.ssef.net to learn more about the Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation!
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Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
Opinion Our View
Don’t let Black Friday lead to the January blues
Americans can be generous – to a fault – and that character trait is never more evident than during the holiday shopping season. At this time of year, millions of people put their financial common sense on the shelf, tucking it away into a winter hibernation of sorts, thereby making it much easier to take part in the once-per-year phenomenon known as Black Friday, the mother of all shopping days. The problem with this practice is financial reality is just around the corner, never failing to emerge in January as a mailbox full of credit-card statements. Here are just some of the ramifications of overspending: • Adding new debt on top of old is never a good idea, yet many people will enter the 2013 holiday shopping season still paying for 2012 purchases. When debt is carried over from month-to-month, cardholders lose the benefit of a grace period, the time during which a person can pay the monthly credit-card bill before interest begins to accrue. When debt is revolved, new purchases begin to incur interest immediately. • Paying interest on the interest occurs when debt is carried over from month-to-month. When a debt is not paid in full by the due date, interest is added to the balance. This amount adds up over time, creating an impediment to becoming debt free. • Late fees and over-limit fees can cause balances to grow to an unmanageable level. Issuers may charge a late fee of $25 with the first late payment, and with 45 days notice, increase the Annual Percentage Rate to a higher interest rate on new purchases. However, consumers who make late payments more than once in a six-month period may be assessed a higher late fee with the penalty APR also applied to existing balances. • An inability to pay as agreed could result in negative notations on a person’s credit report, with late or missed payments remaining on the report for seven years. Furthermore, the all-important credit scores are based on information in the credit report. Along with other factors and depending on the extent of the delinquency, the drop could be by as much as 100 points. • Less credit will be available on existing cards. Credit cards have a spending limit beyond which the user cannot charge without penalty. Since no one knows what tomorrow holds, over-utilizing open lines of credit can leave a person without a credit safety net for future purchases, unplanned expenses or emergencies. Other adverse consequences of overspending may include diminished access to new or additional credit; diminished funds for saving or investing; serious consequences including collection efforts, lawsuits, judgments and wage garnishment; and desperate choices such as bankruptcy or debt settlement. In addition, other life decisions may be adversely affected by a person’s inability to manage debt making a long-term negative impact on future borrowing power. For a quick and easy snapshot of your current financial picture, use the free online financial selfassessment tool at www.MyHolidayCheckUp.org. Doing so in advance of holiday shopping positions you to make wise spending decisions, a gift that will last long beyond the holidays. For help constructing a workable holiday budget, or to discover how to pay off existing debt, visit with an NFCC-certified financial professional at www.HelpWithMoney.org or 1-800-450-4019.
Fairness and ethics
Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.
FDA should definitely ban trans fats The federal Food and Drug Administration plans soon to outlaw trans fats in our food supply. Good. It’s about time. It has long been established that trans fats raise levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), according to the Mayo Clinic website. Trans fats lead to clogged arteries and heart attacks. Trans fats are created by bubbling hydrogen gas through vegetable oil, which through the “wonders” of chemistry, makes the oil remain fairly solid at room temperature. Such fats, we are told, can prolong shelf life of products and produce a less-greasy feel to the palate. Culprits include many kinds of cookies, cakes, canned frostings, French fries, pie crusts, shortening, microwave popcorn, powdered coffee creamers, potato chips and other processed foods. To their credit, some fast-food chains (McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, to name just three) have eliminated trans fats from their foods. Like many people, I do not like the idea of “food police” determining what we can and cannot consume. However, trans fats should be banned. There is apparently no good excuse for using such fats, other than prolonging shelf life of products. It’s doubtful if trans fats add much in the way of taste. For example, McDonald’s French fries are every bit as good without trans fats as they used to be with them. In an ideal world, we should all
Dennis Dalman Editor make healthy food choices based on a knowledge of nutrition and knowing how to read food-product labels. I’m grateful for the law mandating nutrition labels, which I consult quite often. However, I’ve found through the years reading food labels can often be a frustrating game of hide-and-seek. For instance, the tub margarine I’ve been using for years on my toast every morning claims to contain “0 trans fat.” Just the other day, I learned the FDA allows manufacturers to claim “0 trans fat” as long as the trans fat does not exceed 0.5 grams per serving. A serving is one tablespoon of that particular margarine. A total trans-fat ban, let us hope, removes such “loopholes.” Sodium, in my opinion, is another ingredient the FDA should ban – or at least limit in our foods. Most people, I would bet, have no clue as to how our food products are sodium-saturated. I didn’t know until doctors recommended I start a low-sodium diet. The average person should consume no more than 2,000 milligrams of salt each day. Who, you might ask, would eat THAT much salt? OK, here’s a little homework project: Open your kitchen cupboards and check the sodium amounts on the labels of each
of the food products. You’ll soon see how easy it is to consume far more than 2,000 milligrams daily. The average person’s salt intake is 3,400 milligrams daily, according to the Mayo Clinic website. One day, to start my low-salt diet, I spent hours in a grocery store scrutinizing labels on favorite products I often use in cooking. I was stunned. Here are just a few of the results: 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 38 percent of daily value (recommended daily amount); one-half cup of canned cream of mushroom soup, 35 percent, two teaspoons (dry) of chicken-broth powder, 37 percent; one-half cup of jar spaghetti sauce, 17 percent. Beware of “low” or “reduced” sodium advertising claims, not to mention the same claims for fats. In many cases, those claims amount to nothing. A small amount of sodium is vital for life (some fat too). Sodium occurs naturally in foods, even in vegetables. The problem arises when manufacturers pour so much of the stuff into their products. I don’t have enough space in this column to address the sugar epidemic. Suffice to say that trans fats, sodium, sugar and other ingredients added to processed foods constitute a publichealth hazard. We should all try to become more nutritionally educated. Eat more fresh products; consume a variety; cook from scratch; avoid convenience foods; exercise. Yes, we should do those things. In the meantime, the FDA should help us out by banning or limiting harmful additives.
Letter to editor
Let light shine on mental-illness issues Wendy and Steve Hennes, Sartell Recently, we hosted a house party in response to a request by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to meet with elected officials to discuss mental-health issues. We found our elected officials do indeed care about people who live with mental illness. The officials who attended were Sen. Michelle Fischbach; Reps. Tim O’Driscoll and Jeff Howe; and Stearns County Commissioner Mark Bromenschenkel. Those elected officials came, they listened and they heard. We were a small, yet powerful, group of people who learned a lot from one another about mental-health issues during our two-hour meeting. Some of our Sartell neighbors who
have family members living with mental illness told their stories. Family support-group coordinator Mike Stringer told of concerns shared by family members. Nick Johnston and Joyce Gelle, both of NAMI-St. Cloud Area, spoke about the history of services and the needs today. Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes talked about the challenges law-enforcement personnel encounter when trying to get help for people in crisis situations who need mental-health assistance. Matt Burdick, NAMI-MN, facilitated the discussion and kept us all focused on how to move our concerns to the front lines so legislatively and socially people who live with a mental illness can get help and lead good lives. That evening we let a light shine
on a subject that affects each of us. We helped the light break through the clouds of stigma that surround mental health/mental illness. We took a step to let the light shine on treatment, housing, employment and making lives better for those who live with mental illness. Maybe, as a result of that recent evening, the light will shine on mental-health issues at a legislative session or at a county-board meeting because of the talking, listening and learning we all did about mentalhealth issues and because of the human connection that happened. Our sincere thanks to our elected officials for their support of mentalhealth issues.
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The Newsleaders P.O. Box 324 St. Joseph, MN 56374 Email: news@thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Community Calendar
Friday, Nov. 15 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” 7:30 p.m., presented by CSB/SJU Theater Department, Gorecki Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. Tickets call 363-5777.
Saturday, Nov. 16 Ladies Day Out Expo and Craft Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., El Paso Sports Bar and Grill, St. Joseph. Nuremburg War Crime Trials PBS documentary, featuring Nuremburg War Trial typist Larry Tillemans, Nazi hunter Eli Rosenbaum, Jewish Community Relations Councilor Steve Hunegs and Captain of the Guard at the War Trials Gerry Boe, noon, Country Manor, 520 1st St. NE, Sartell. The Arpeggione Duo, a cellist and guitarist, 7:30 p.m. concert, Stephen B. Humphrey Auditorium, St. John’s University, Collegeville. “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” 7:30 p.m., presented by CSB/SJU Theater Department, Gorecki Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. Tickets call 363-5777. Sunday, Nov. 17 Turkey Bingo, 1 p.m., St. Francis Xavier, 219 2nd St. N., Sartell. A portion of proceeds goes to the Project for the People of Paraguay. “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” 2 p.m., presented by CSB/SJU Theater Department, Gorecki Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. Tickets call 363-5777. Sunday at the Abbey, 7 p.m. St. John’s Abbey Chapter House, Collegeville. Dr. Jennifer Beste, “The Integration of Spirituality and Sexuality on Today’s College Campus.”
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Monday, Nov. 18 Men’s Health Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., blood pressure, HIV and many more health-related checks at no cost. Atwood Memorial Center, St. Cloud State University. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. “Night Gliders: Nocturnal Denizens,” a Minnesota Natural History lecture by Kristina Timmerman, CSB/SJU biology, 6:30-8 p.m., St. John’s Arboretum, St. John’s University, 2346 Science Drive, Collegeville, 320-363-3163. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion in St. Joseph.
Paradox, 4:30-6 p.m., gallery opening, 235 Quadrangle Building, St. John’s University, Collegeville. Exhibit runs through Dec. 17. www.collegevilleinstitute.org. “Stop Kiss,” a play written by American playwright Diana Son and produced off-Broadway in 1998, 7:30 p.m., Arena Stage, Performing Arts Center, St. Cloud State University.
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Wednesday, Nov. 20 Car seat clinic, 3-6 p.m., free service, Gold Cross Ambulance Garage, 2800 7th St. N., St. Cloud. Certified technicians check the safety and fit of your car seat in your car. 320-6567021. The Deep South: Beauty, Brutality and the Mystery of the Great
Friday, Nov. 22 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2 N., St. Joseph. Zonta Christmas House, 3-9 p.m., fundraiser to support women and childrens’ programs, 2607 Regal Road, St. Cloud. “The Good Woman of Setzuan,” 7:30 p.m., presented by CSB/SJU Theater Department, Gorecki Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph. Tickets call 363-5777. “Stop Kiss,” a play written by American playwright Diana Son and produced off-Broadway in 1998, 7:30 p.m, Arena Stage, Performing Arts Center, St. Cloud State University.
Sartell to become involved in NAMI. Steve Hennes’s father committed suicide many years ago after suffering from a lifetime of untreated mental-health issues, including severe depression. The Henneses decided to teach the Family-to-Family course in Sartell, a way to train facilitators who can then go on to teach the course themselves and/or to coordinate various kinds of support groups. Recently, Steve and Wendy Hennes hosted a brainstorming session at their home. They invited legislators, who participated in a discussion on things the legislature might do to help in the fight against mental illness. Stringer is one who attended that meeting, along with Sen. Michelle Fischbach, Reps. Tim O’Driscoll and Jeff Howe; and Stearns County Commissioner Mark Bromenschenkel. Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes discussed the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with people suffering from mental-health issues and how to best get them the help they may need. Other participants included some Sartell residents who talked about the challenges of family members who have mental illnesses. Matt Burdick of NAMI Minnesota facilitated the discussion at the Hennes home. “That evening we let a light shine on a subject that affects each of us,” Wendy Hennes
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7 later wrote in a letter to editor (see Opinion page today). “We helped the light break through the clouds of stigma that surround mental health/mental illness. We took a step to let the light shine on treatment, housing, employment and making lives better for those who live with mental illness.” Stringer and those involved with the NAMI groups are determined to spread the good word – that mental illness is treatable, that help is widely available and that there is a slow but gradual decrease in the stigmas associated with mental illness. Every month or so, Stringer and others distribute small folded cards to hospitals, clinics, law-enforcement centers and counseling services centers. The cards contain resource and information numbers to call, including crisis-hotline numbers. Those key numbers are these: To reach a four-county (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright) crisis-response team, call 1-800-635-8008 or 320-2535555. To reach NAMI St. Cloud, call 320-654-1259 or visit its website: www.namistcloud. com. A good website for learning how to help de-stigmatize mental illness is www.Makeitok. org. For the national Suicide Prevention Hotline, call 1-800-2731259. The NAMI information card Illness • page 8
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also gives 14 tips for de-escalating situations in which loved ones or even strangers are dealing with people undergoing mental-illness crises. Here are the tips: 1. Start low-key. 2. Put assertive tendencies aside at the beginning. 3. Do not disagree with psychotic thinking. Instead, offer your support. 4. Don’t try to reason with a person in psychosis. 5. Speak and act slowly and clearly, using simple sentences. 6. Avoid quick movements. 7. Keep the stimulation level low. 8. Ask casual observers to leave. 9. Give the person space; avoid touching. 10. Do not shout. 11. Avoid continuous eye contact. 12. Sit to the side of a person who is paranoid. 13. If handcuffing is policy, explain the policy. 14. If suicide is a concern, ask! To read a personal account of someone experiencing mental illness challenges, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Heidi’s story.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Holiday donation needs for Catholic Charities Catholic Charities is in need of donations for the holiday season. Needs include sponsors for the Share the Spirit program, personal care items, new toys, children’s coats, boots,
food donations, new socks/underwear (all sizes), gift cards for teens, extra large coats for men and women. Contact Kathryn, Catholic Charities Emergency Services, at 320-229-4560.
Bursch Travel is Celebrating their
57th Anniversary!!
Bursch Travel
PARENT/PLAYER MEETING 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17
Upcoming tryout dates are Nov. 23 & 24 Sartell High School Auditorium
J.O. Volleyball is for young women ages 11 (or currently in 5th grade) through 18. If you have questions, please contact Diane Winter, Club Director, at 224-2464 or sdwinter1991@gmail.com.
Save up to $300:
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SARTELL IMPACT JUNIOR OLYMPIC VOLLEYBALL
For information regarding team formations, practices and club news, visit our website at www.sartelljovolleyball.com
Nov. 15-25, 2013
• With Delta Vacations on many
Friday, Nov. 15, 2013
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325 19th St. S., #102 • Sartell (Near the Orthopedic Center)