Reaching EVERYbody!
Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid St. Joseph Newsleader St. Joseph, MN 56374 Permit No. 21 ECRWSS Postal Customer
Newsleader Sartell
Postal Patron
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
SFX Kindergartener collects food Town Crier for hungry – forgets to tell mom Volume 17, Issue 45 Est. 1995
Jingle Bell 5K set Nov. 17
Get your bells on and support Toys for Tots. St. Cloud Orthopedics will host the 15th annual Jingle Bell 5K, which supports the local Toys for Tots, on Saturday, Nov. 17. Check in starts at 8 a.m. inside Orthopedic Sports Center, 1901 Connecticut Ave. S. in Sartell. Walkers start at 9 a.m. and runners start at 9:45 a.m. Unwrapped new toy or gift donations will be collected along with reduced registration fees, which include a long-sleeved T-shirt and Jingle Bells for your shoes. Early registration information and forms can be found at www. stcloudorthopedics.com to avoid race-day congestion. Come support the local Toys for Tots. See you at the race!
Slip Twister performs Nov. 17
Slip Twister, sometimes called “Minnesota’s favorite party band,” will perform a concert from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17 at St. Francis Elementary School. The concert is a fundraiser for SFX School. Doors will open at 6 p.m. There will be appetizers and beer available. Tickets are available at SFX or online at www.stfrancissartell.org. For 20 years, Slip Twister has played danceable rock ‘n’ roll throughout Minnesota and the upper Midwest. The band, a trio, is comprised of Jay O’Donnell (drums, vocals), Mike Zeleny (bass, vocals) and Paul Dietheim (guitar, vocals).
PBS to air ‘Dust Bowl’ documentary
The documentary chronicles the frenzied wheat boom of the “Great Plow-Up,” followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s, which nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation. Vivid interviews, dramatic photographs and seldom-seen movie footage, bring to life stories of incredible human suffering and equally incredible human perseverance. Learn more about conservation projects that work to protect soil health by contacting the Stearns County SWCD at (320) 251-7800, ext. 3 or by visiting the SWCD website at www.stearnscountyswcd.net. For more information about the documentary, visit www. pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl.
John Anderson (pictured at right) is a sweet boy with a good heart, and a solid rebellious streak. In October, John participated in a prayer service about World Hunger Day. It was prepared by the students at St. Francis Xavier School in Sartell, where he is a kindergartener. John was inspired to help the hungry. He was so inspired and determined to ask his neighbors to help, he forgot to ask his mom if he could go outside. “I was frantic, looking all over for him,” said Sarah Anderson, John’s mom. Then, she noticed the white bags on her front porch. “He asked neighbors if they knew there are people who are starving and have no food,” Sarah said. “Then he told them they needed to give the starving people food.” John collected three grocery bags full of food to be donated to area food shelves.
Verso gets settlement by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The Verso Paper Corp. in Sartell has received a $40 million insurance settlement relating to damage and costs from the May 28 explosion and fire that killed one worker and ultimately forced the permanent
closure of the paper mill. The news was announced during a conference call with investors. Verso distributed about $19 million of the settlement funds in severance pay and benefits to workers who lost their jobs permanently after the plant cloVerso • page 5
St. Stephen incumbents easily re-elected by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The Nov. 6 election in St. Stephen is proof that “every vote counts.” In the race for St. Stephen City Council member, incumbents Jeff D. Blenkush and Thomas Vouk, both running unopposed, were re-elected. If those candidates had been running against each other, Blenkush would have won by a single vote. Blenkush’s total was 325 while Vouk received 324 votes. In addition, there were 14 write-in votes in the council member category. Incumbent Mayor Cynthia Vanderweyst was handily reelected, garnering 317 votes while challenger James J. Dahl received 128 votes. There were 12 write-in votes for that race. This is Venderweyst’s second four-year term as mayor. The other members of the St. Stephen City Council are Rusty Paggen and Danita Traut. The council meets at 7 p.m. the first
Wednesday of every month. Vanderweyst told the Newsleader she was happy with the election results. “I think it’s an honor to serve the city again,” she said. “We will now go back to working together and moving foward, doing what’s best for the city as a whole. I enjoy being a member of this community.” Vanderweyst is the owneroperator of an in-home daycare center. She and her husband Mark, who works for Rice Building Systems, have four children ages 22 to 8. For the new year, Vanderweyst said she doesn’t have any new plans, but she said she and the council members will do a review and re-examine all of the city issues and needs in the first council meeting in January. In non-municipal races, St. Stephen voters helped elect four of the five ultimate winners: U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, St. Stephen • page 3
contributed photo
John Anderson sits on his bike with the food he collected for local food shelves.
Hennes hosts annual veterans’ tradition
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Veterans Day, for Steve Hennes of Sartell, is the “most meaningful holiday of the year.”
It’s a time to gather with other veterans and to honor all those who served their country, including those who died and those who were wounded. Hennes • page 5
Roy’s police work was ‘a really good ride’ by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The best thing about Alexis Roy’s 20 years of service as a Sartell police officer was the town and its people. “It’s a good town,” she said. “A really good town with really good citizens.” The most frustrating aspect of police work, she said, was dealing with “people who don’t want help but need it.” The first woman hired by the department, Roy has just retired. There are now four women on the force. When she first started her job on Nov. 1, 1992, Roy had no idea she would spend two decades as one of Sartell’s finest. “I never, ever thought I was going to stay this long,” she
www.thenewsleaders.com
said. “It was a good ride, and I had a really, really good time. I worked with incredible people, here and within other agencies.” When former Sartell Police Chief Bob Ringstrom and the city council hired her, she was one of only five officers in the department. Now, there are 17 full-time officers, eight reserve officers and a dispatcher. Even before she was hired, Roy worked for a time at the police station as a volunteer to help computerize its records system. Since then, Roy has clocked untold thousands of miles in her patrol car, dealing with virtually every duty an officer encounters: helping people in crises, arresting drunken drivers, helping at the scenes of fires and accidents, assisting Roy • page 4
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
2
If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the Sartell Police Department at 251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. Oct. 28 9:32 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. A vehicle was witnessed failing to make a complete stop at a stop sign. The driver was aware of his violation, he was issued a citation and released. Oct. 29 2:05 p.m. Traffic stop. Twin Rivers Court. A vehicle was witnessed being driven by a male with a revoked license. The driver was also found to have an arrest warrant from another county and was unable to provide proof of insurance. Two citations were issued and
................
the male was transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. Oct. 30 9:20 a.m. Theft. County Road 120. A wallet was taken from a gym’s unlocked locker. 3:50 p.m. Animal found. Country Court. A short-haired brown-grey cat was found. It was taken to the Humane Society. Nov. 7 8:54 a.m. Warrant arrest. Perimeter Drive. An arrest warrant was issued and the party was taken into custody without incident. 3:43 p.m. Traffic stop. Benton Drive N. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 55 mph in a posted 30 mph zone. The driver was not aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 4:18 p.m. Theft. Walmart. A male was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The male admit-
320-253-0400 • 1-800-777-0422 305 4th Ave. S., Ste. 3 • Sartell www.utopiatours.com
Blotter
ted to the theft. He was issued a citation and released. Nov. 8 1:41 p.m. Dumping. Huntington Park. A complaint was made regarding leaves being dumped in the city park, along with other unwanted items. All items and leaves were removed and residents were notified. 4:18 p.m. Traffic stop. Lowell Lane. A complaint was made regarding an unlicensed and uninsured driver currently driving. The driver was found to have an expired license and no proof of insurance. A citation was issued for both violations. Nov. 9 9:24 a.m. Traffic stop. Heritage Drive. A vehicle was witnessed showing an expired registration. The driver was unaware of the expired status. A citation was issued. 11:33 a.m. Traffic stop. Pine Cone Road. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 45 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. The
320-763-8687 • 1-800-872-8445
Alex Travel
3015 Hwy 29 S., Ste. 4038 • Alexandria, MN 56308 Utopia Tours www.utopiatours.com
s! TRAVEL SHOW: Monday, Nov. 19 • 6:30 p.m. • Holiday Inn, St. Cloud Join u Receive travel and tour brochures for 2013 plus talk on Alaska, refreshments, coupons and prizes! DAY TRIPS
Spring Tours
MOTORCOACH TOURS
Chanhassen “A Hometown Christmas”, $83 pp..........Wednesday, Dec. 12 Minneapolis Christmas Special, $30 pp...Thursday, Dec. 13 Gulf Coast and New Orleans....................................................March 14-25 Spring East Coast - D.C. Tour....................................................March 18-26 Macy’s Christmas 8th floor and Holidazzel Parade, etc. Plymouth Playhouse “Christmas on the Ranch” , $71 pp................. Washington, D.C. & New York City..............................................April 2-12 Friday, Dec. 14 & Thursday, Jan. 10 Spring Carolinas & Georgia........................................................April 17-28 Old Log Theatre “A Perfect Wedding”, $70 pp...... Thursday, Jan. 17 Nashville, Memphis & Branson...........................................April 25-May 2 Mall of America or Mystic Lake Casino.....Mondays, Jan. 14 & Feb. 18 Pella Tulip Festival................................................................................May 1-3 $35 pp........Spend a day at the Mall of America or get $15 Mystic Cash at Mystic Lake 2013 Winter Motorcoach Tours Receive $100 discount on the following three winter tours with sign-up by Nov. 20!
Florida Shores & Keys Tour......Feb. 8-23 • Texas & New Orleans Tour......Feb. 14-March 1 • Best of the Southwest Tour......Feb. 27-March 16
driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 2:15 p.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue S. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 48 mph in a posted 30 mph zone. The driver was unaware of her speed. A citation was issued and she was released. 2:37 p.m. Traffic stop. Pine Point Road. While on patrol an officer checking a license plate returned with the owner having an arrest warrant. The driver was unaware of his warrant. He was placed under arrest and taken to Stearns County Jail without incident. 8:24 p.m. Theft. Walmart. Two male juveniles were witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The juveniles admitted to the theft and were issued citations and released to their parents. Nov. 10 3:14 p.m. Vehicle Theft. 3rd Street N. A vehicle was left unlocked and parked in an attached garage. The garage door was left open between 7 p.m. and midnight, during this time a wallet was taken from the vehicle. 4:21 p.m. Traffic stop. County Road 120. While on patrol, an officer checked a plate and found the driver was driving with a revoked license. The driver was aware of his status. A citation was issued and the vehicle was driven home by the passenger. 7:22 p.m. Theft. Walmart. A male was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. After being questioned, the male admitted to the theft. He was issued a citation and released.
$$$ Cash Daily $$$ Yellow Cab is looking for part-time and fulltime Taxi Drivers. This is a great recession-proof career! Our drivers are making money, are you? Take home cash daily. Call 320-251-5050 or stop in to apply at: Yellow Cab 2600 7th St. N. St. Cloud, MN 56303
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Nov. 11 4:09 a.m. Domestic assault. A 911 call was made complaining a male was out of control. Officer arrived and found the male had physically assaulted another female in the residence. He was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail. 3:27 p.m. Domestic assault. A 911 call was made regarding two males physically fighting inside a home. Upon arrival, officers found one male holding down another. It was found that one male was intoxicated and attempted to hit his wife and the female’s father held him until officers arrived. The wife was able to leave and someone came to sit with the intoxicated male to ensure his safety. Nov. 12 2:13 a.m. Suspicious persons. Hi-Vue Drive. A complaint was made regarding two males walking down the road being unnecessarily loud. The two males admitted to officers they were returning from the bar and were probably too loud. They then went home without incident. 6:09 p.m. Traffic stop. Central Park Blvd. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 41 mph in a posted 30 mph zone. The driver was unaware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. Nov. 13 3:54 p.m. Home alarm. Liberty Circle. The alarm was set off after the children arrived from school and they were unaware of how to turn off the alarm. The parents were contacted and the alarm was turned off.
Apartments IN SARTELL. Two-bedroom apartment. Spacious. Many newly remodeled! Pets Welcome. Heat paid, fireplace, d/w, balconies. Quiet, residential area. Free cable! $619-$669. Garage included!
Call 320-281-5101.
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon Editor Dennis Dalman
Newstands Country Store and Pharmacy Holiday on Riverside Drive Holiday on 7th Street N House of Pizza JM Speedstop
Little Dukes on Pinecone Sartell City Hall Sartell-St. Stephen School District Offices Walgreens
Design/Layout Tara Wiese
Contributing Writers TaLeiza Calloway Cori Hilsgen Amber Roerick Advertising Sales Assistant Kathryn Bjorke
Administrative/Layout Assistant Christian Gilman Delivery Glen Lauer
P.O. Box 324 • 32 1st Ave. N.W. • St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 Phone (320) 363-7741 • Fax (320) 363-4195 • E-mail address: news@thenewsleaders.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ST. JOSEPH NEWSLEADER, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
3
Newly elected council members share visions for future by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
A newcomer and an incumbent both said they are honored to have been elected, and both are happy to represent the people of the city on the Sartell City Council. On Nov. 6, incumbent Steve Hennes was elected, as well as political novice Amy BraigLindstrom. They were elected from a slate of four candidates that included incumbent council member Sandra Cordie and Mike “Spike” Piotrowski. New member Braig-Lindstrom will take her seat at the
St. Stephen from front page State Sen. Michelle Fischbach and State Rep. Tim O’Driscoll. The Mitt Romney-Paul Ryan ticket was the choice of most St. Stephen voters.
first council meeting of the new year, Jan. 14. Braig-Lindstrom has lived in Sartell for several years. She has also lived in Iowa, the American Southwest and upstate New York. “I feel honored to have earned the support of the community by being elected to the city council,” said Braig-Lindstrom, who is a ceramic potter and the developer of the farmers’ market, “Market Monday,” in Sartell. “I am excited to get started, and I’m a little nervous because I haven’t had a new job in a long time.” One of Braig-Lindstrom’s highest priorities is to find sim-
ple, inexpensive ways to make Sartell safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers. Braig-Lindstrom’s current thoughts are a combination of practical and visionary concepts. Though some of them may take a long time to realize because of funding strictures, she believes such concepts from her wish list should still be explored so the city could embrace them once their time does come. Braig-Lindstrom submitted her wish list to the Sartell Newsleader. The following are brief summaries of what she would like to see someday in the city:
St. Stephen voters also voted to approve the two proposed constitutional amendments – to require photo IDs for voters and to legally define marriage as between a man and woman. The following are the vote totals for those five races, as well as the totals for the two
amendments: Romney-Ryan 326, Obama-Biden 128; Klobuchar 230, Kurt Bills 179; Bachmann 285, Jim Graves 172; Fischbach 329, Peggy Boeck 114; O’Driscoll 302, Shannon Schroeder 140; Marriage Amendment Yes: 299, No: 163; ID Amendment Yes 310, No 154.
‘Guess who’s coming to dinner?’
At least 15 people – youth and adults – from Celebration Lutheran Church are planning a trip to Uganda to help build a pre-school in that African country. They have several fundraisers planned. The first is called “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?,” which is a surprise dinner date that will take place
starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Participants will meet at Celebration Lutheran Church at 5:45 p.m. that day. Each will then be given directions to a home at which they will enjoy dinner. There will be 10 homes whose owners will prepare gourmet-style dinners, and there is room for 10 diners at each dinner. The cost to
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
County commissioners elected in Districts 1, 3 and 4. Running unopposed for District 1, incumbent DeWayne Marcek won with 10,341 votes (175 write-ins for other names). In District 3, incumbent Jeffery H. Mergen, with 7,748 votes, won over challenger Chad Middendorf, with 6,327 votes. There were 67 write-in votes in that race. In District 4, incumbent Leigh Lenzmeier won with 8,617 votes compared to 3,291 votes for Darell Bruestle. There were 103 write-in votes in that race. There are five commissioner districts in Stearns County. District 5, which covers most of western Stearns County, is represented by Don Otto. That district was not up for election this year.
Bromenschenkel elected again Mark Bromenschenkel of Sartell, who ran unopposed for Stearns County Commissioner, easily won re-election Nov. 6, with 12,808 votes and only 153 write-in votes for other people’s names. Bromenschenkel, a former police officer, was first elected to the commissioner position in District 2 two years ago. District 2 includes five of Sartell’s six precincts (all of Sartell west of the Mississippi River), Precinct 2 of Collegeville, LeSauk Township, St. Joseph, St. Wendel Township, the City of St. Joseph and precincts 1, 2 and 3 of Waite Park. There were also Stearns
Sartell area Youth BaSketBall aSSociation SAYBA Inhouse Basketball
Boys and Girls Grades K-4
Saturdays, Dec. 1 & 8 Jan. 5, 12 & 26 Feb. 2 & 9
Sartell Middle School
$40 online by Nov. 27 $45 at door on first day Find times for each grade level and online registration at www.saybabball.org
participate is $20 per person. People must register well ahead of time so cooks will know how much food to prepare. All proceeds will go to cover costs of the Uganda trip. Tickets can be purchased at Celebration Lutheran Church. For more information, call Maggie Brosait at 253-1044 or Bob Ringstrom at 255-9893.
• Stay in close contact with the Verso Paper Co. in hopes of setting some goals or timelines for moving forward with the mill and its property. • Assist private interests with the round barn by helping connect people who are interested in it with one another, and then research what grants are available for historic preservation in hopes of forming another successful publicprivate partnership and see a piece of Sartell history brought back to life.
• Build upon the success of the Rotary Park fishing pier, and find more ways to highlight and use the area cities’ greatest natural resources – the three rivers. • Continue the great partnerships with our schools. I believe our youth are an untapped resource and that together, with the schools, we can encourage a level of civic engagement which will enable them to become more involved in their town and in turn, more Council • page 8
Family Owned and Operated Hearing Center
• Free Hearing Screenings • Hearing Aid Sales & Service • Clean & Check All Hearing Aid Brands
320-258-4494 or 1-888-407-4327 161 19th St. S. • Ste. 111 • Sartell www.accuratehearingservices.com
Central Appliance and Electronic Recyclers
320-252-3221 www.centralappliance.net
Affordable Appliance Repair Used and New Appliance and Electronic Parts Refurbished Appliances
Your Local Refurbished Televisions, Appliance and Electronic Computers, Laptops, Recyclers Since 1990 and more!
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
4
Roy from front page at countless medical emergencies, helping educate the public about safety issues and even – in at least two cases – saving lives. She was honored twice with the department’s Lifesaving Award for saving the lives of two individuals who were on the point of flinging themselves off of bridges to their deaths. Although Roy retired from police work, she won’t be idle for long. She has taken a parttime job for Northern Pines Mental Health Clinic, based in Brainerd and Little Falls. She will work as part of a team that will help mentally ill adults through the rehabilitation and adaptive process. She is looking forward to her new work,
confident she can put to good use many of the networking and people skills she’s acquired through police work in her new endeavors. Born in Orlando, Fla., Roy is the daughter of a man who worked for the U.S. Defense Department. Because of that, she and her family lived in many places throughout the nation, having to move where her father’s job took him. Later, Roy joined the U.S. Army and was stationed at the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, where she was a tractor trailer driver. She lived in Michigan and California where she married a man named Rick Stanbaugh, whom she met while working for the Veterans’ Administration Hospital system. Stanbaugh, originally from Minnesota, eventually became the chief pharmacist for the VA in
St. Cloud in 1988, and that is how Roy moved to this area. The couple, divorced, has twin daughters. One of them, Morgan Miller, lives in Chaska, with her husband, Mike, who is a police officer in Hopkins. The other daughter, Lindsay Stanbaugh, is a dispatcher for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department, and she is currently dating a jailor for the Dakota County Sheriff’s Department. Roy earned a bachelor’s degree in elective studies (data processing) and then a master’s degree in criminal justice studies from St. Cloud State University. She also completed a skills course at Alexandria Technical College just before serving with the Sartell Police Department. Roy and her husband, Tom Roy, live in Sauk Rapids, right by the Sartell city borderline. Roy is a sergeant on the Sauk
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Rapids Police Department. He has two sons, Duncan, who is a chef at G. Allen’s in Sartell; and Wesley, who works at an optical-lens plant in St. Cloud. The Roys are now “empty nesters,” but they are by no means housebound. They love to travel in the United States and Canada, often on their motorcycles. They enjoy their two boxer dogs, and they have four “grandpuppies” as Alexis’s twin daughters have two dogs each – Boston terriers and chocolate labs. Roy’s safety advice to Sartell residents is “to watch out for each other” and “if you have locks, use them, as locks tend to keep people honest.” For more about Roy, see her guest column on the Opinion Page in today’s paper.
photo by Michelle Shefveland
Alexis Roy stands in the Sartell Police Department uniform she has worn proudly for 20 years. She recently retired from the department. Her husband, Tom, (background) is a sergeant on the Sauk Rapids Police Department.
Sartell Area Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service Wednesday, Nov. 21 • 7 p.m. at Celebration Lutheran Church 1500 Pinecone Rd. N. • Sartell • 255-0488
Celebration Lutheran Church Abounding Joy Lutheran Church First United Methodist Church Love of Christ Lutheran Church Riverside Church St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church The Waters Church
Lower Your Heating Costs While Improving Your Air Quality
Family Owned and Operated
$
1550/mo.
Water Softener Rental Expires: 12/31/12 Expires: November 29, 2012
685-8762 | 252-1358 | www.erkenswater.com
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Hennes from front page Every year, on Veterans Day, Hennes has breakfast with fellow veterans – usually about a dozen of them. Though the names and faces sometimes change year to year, the tradition remains the same – a good-hearted fellowship over breakfast at local restaurants. Hennes himself is a veteran, having served in Vietnam in 1972-73 as a U.S. Army fireman. This year, Hennes’ breakfast companions included three Vietnamese veterans who moved to the St. Cloud area years ago – Henry Le,
former major Diem Vo and former lieutenant Hoa Nguyen, who escaped Vietnam on a boat after serving 10 years in prison after the North Vietnamese took over South Vietnam. Hennes’ other guests were former St. Cloud Mayor Al Loehr, a World War II veteran; Tom Holthaus of Sauk Rapids, former director of the Veterans Administration Hospital and U.S. Army veteran; Phil Ringstrom of Sartell, who just recently retired from the U.S. Navy; Johnny McCray of St. Cloud, former physical therapist at the VA Hospital; Les Henson of Waite Park, a U.S. Navy veteran; Jim Berg of St. Cloud, a U.S. Army veteran; and Fred Shermock of St. Cloud, a veterans’ advo-
Member of American Association of Orthodontists & Board Certified Orthodontist
Alan F Schneider DDS SchneiderOrtho.com (320)251-0455 (855)251-0455
• Quality care for children and adults • Free initial exams • Appointments available Monday-Friday
325 19th St. S., #102 • Sartell (Near the Orthopedic Center)
Have
FAVORITE make your
PIES! Call 557-0030 We have a variety of 30+ pies to choose from!
Order ahead and pick up by Wednesday, Nov. 21 Restaurant will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.
303 College Ave. • St. Joseph (Corner of Hwy. 75 and College Avenue)
HOURS: Monday-Thursday 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
cate whose brother served in Vietnam. Those veterans gathered at Perkins for breakfast. It was the 12th year of Hennes’ “Veterans Breakfast.” The tradition began years ago when Hennes decided to take his late father-in-law, Cotton Tholen, to breakfast in Tholen’s and Hennes’ home town of Little Falls. Cotton’s wife, Florence, always told Hennes how much Cotton appreciated that special kindness of Hennes taking him for breakfast on Veterans Day. That is when Hennes chose to make it a tradition. “We had a good time at Perkins,” Hennes said. “We shared a few laughs and introduced ourselves. Each year, there’s usually one or two new veterans.” Hennes and the other veterans also attended the annual Veterans Parade at the VA. “It’s good to see veterans honored, like the way they did at the Vikings game recently,” Hennes said. “Thank you, veterans.”
Verso from front page sure was announced. At that time, there were about 250 people working there. More money will be given to former workers in the second insurance-settlement round. Company officials said they expect a second insurance settlement of about that same amount ($40 million) because of losses incurred by the company in the third quarter of this year – losses totaling at least $100 million. Shutting down and cleanup on the site will continue at least through next year. In the meantime, company officials are analyzing ideas submitted as to how that site can be sold and adapted for possible future uses. Despite the tragedy that occurred at the Sartell site, however, company officials expressed confidence about the financial outlook for Verso’s other three paper mills in the nation. During the conference call, Verso Chief Executive
5 Officer Dave Paterson said Verso is staying in close contact with its Sartell connections. “We continue to stay in touch with the affected (worker) families,” he said. “It’s been a very difficult thing for us, but I want to compliment everyone up there for working through it with us.” Robert Mundy, Verso’s vice president and chief financial officer, estimated it will cost anywhere from $30 million to $40 million for the rest of severance costs and shut-down costs. In giving answers to investors, Paterson noted the company has been doing some product shifting, noting at one point “Newsweek” magazine, which uses the shiny-coated paper Verso produces, decided recently to become an online-only weekly news magazine. To learn more about the Verso conference call, view the transcript at www.SeekingAlpha.com, the source for the information above.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
6
Our View
Election assumptions backfired bigtime The election of Nov. 6, 2012 might well become known someday as the “Backfire Election,” as many post-election autopsies are discovering. In Minnesota and throughout the nation, many Republican strategies and assumptions backfired, rebounding to the favor of Democrats. Here in Minnesota, the two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot seem to have been a major factor in changing control of the Minnesota Legislature from Republican to Democratic. What an irony! When Republicans in the legislature voted to put those two amendments on the ballot, their action was partly a strategy to attract more Republicans to the polls. Their assumption was correct – that such issues (voter ID and marriage definition) have strong conservative appeal. But what the Republican legislators forgot was in this presidential general election, especially in Minnesota, there would be a massive turn-out by people voting for Obama, liberal-leaning people who would more than likely reject the two proposed amendments. The amendments were a strong incentive for more Democrats to go vote. Once at the polls, those Democrats, naturally, tended to vote also for Democratic candidates, thus ruining Republicans’ continued control of both houses of the state legislature. In other words, strategies and assumptions backfired. To add to that outcome, national Republican strategies and assumptions also backfired, which had a direct effect on the voting results in Minnesota. Polls showed the enthusiasm for Obama had faded considerably since 2008. Republicans assumed almost any Republican candidate – even Romney – could win by stressing the ailing economy under Obama. In one stumble after another, Romney began to sink in the polls. After Obama’s abysmal first-debate performance, Romney gained political steam. That is when Republican overconfidence set in. Democrats, even those not so eager to vote, were quickly energized by many factors, including Romney’s flip-flopping policy statements, his denigration of 47 percent of the American people and his refusal to separate himself from despicable statements made by vitriolic loud-mouths like Rush Limbaugh and Tea Party extremists spouting such nonsense as rape being part of God’s plan. As if those things weren’t bad enough, there were blatant voter suppression efforts put forth by Republican functionaries in battleground states. Attack ads against Obama, many funded anonymously by billionaires, also seemed to have backfired. The dumb and cynical assumption was voters would buy into that ludicrous cartoon of Obama as an alien socialist destroyer. As a result, all of those sour things raised the ire of Democrats and plenty of “undecideds” and no doubt fired them up to vote. The increased turn-out trumped the strategies and assumptions of overconfident Republicans. There are many factors and interrelated issues that cause people to vote this way or that. But there can be no doubt the “backfire” syndrome played a very big role in the Nov. 6 election, much to the chagrin of Republicans and to the delight of Democrats.
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.
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Opinion Voter suppression damages democracy Voter-suppression attempts backfired – bigtime. The heroes of Election 2012 were the long lines of people who stood patiently in long lines to exercise their right to vote. Many were old; some were handicapped; others were tired and hungry. But they stood there – many of them for as long as nine hours – to cast their ballots. We all know what happened. Irony of ironies, this voter suppression – aimed against the president – helped elect him. Many of the weary-footed voters told interviewers they would stand and wait, no matter how long, because they knew all about efforts to frustrate them from voting. It’s no accidentso many of these determined voters were ethnic minorities, the elderly and students – or a combination thereof. The very groups that tend – in most places – to vote for Democrats. Voter-suppression attempts are too numerous to mention. Some of them included shortening early voting times, purges of names on voter registration lists, unreasonable ID requirements, robocalls that informed people to be sure to vote – on Nov. 7 (a day after the election), misleading billboards designed to instill confusion in voters. There was an especially blatant effort in Florida to prevent the “Souls to Polls” event, during which African-Americans vote after church on Sundays. Is it an accident most of these tactics occurred in the nine or so battleground states? Of course not. Can there be any doubt these convoluted
Dennis Dalman Editor voting restrictions, complications and confusions were intentional attempts at voter suppression? Well, at least one man was honest – the Pennsylvania legislator who rapped his gavel right after a voting-restriction law was passed and then lauded his colleagues for just delivering the election to Mitt Romney. All of these hoops, hurdles and knots were devised by officials whose feeble excuses included variations on “voting integrity” or “cost efficiency.” Fortunately, in many cases, thanks to fierce legal challenges, the courts struck down those despicable barriers to voting. In addition to suppression, there were also glitches in some polling places, including break-downs of voting machines or not enough ballots available. Those glitches may have been inadvertent, but they were all avoidable and all inexcusable. The television scenes of long voting lines ought to make us Americans outraged and proud at the same time. Outraged because the long waits should not have happened. Proud because so many fellow Americans were determined to cast their votes, no matter what obstacles were placed in their way. One could see
a defiant, determined, patriotic pride on the faces of the people in those lines. Many of the elderly black line-waiters no doubt remembered all too well the American South in the many decades before the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. In those dark days, a systemic racist system used all forms of fear and intimidation to keep blacks from voting, including poll taxes, literacy tests and unspeakably worse. These recent tactics are a throw-back to those dark days, a vicious slap to the face of voters, not to mention an undermining of the very foundation of democracy – the right to vote. Such dirty tricks are abhorrent; they are dangerous; they are shameful; and they are un-American. And, not to forget, they occurred in 33 states, all of them Republican-controlled. The good news is so many people – including Republicans – have deplored these tactics and are now vowing to work on legislation to forbid them in the future. The main law should forbid partisan control over election processes at every level. We also need a comprehensive review followed by improvements to all voting procedures at all polls so that every eligible American can vote freely and conveniently – without barriers, hassles, fear or intimidation. Let’s not let legislators forget. Democracy, which is based on trust in our voting system, is in jeopardy unless voting suppression is stopped, once and for all.
I cherish our years together (Editor’s note: Alexis Roy of Sauk Rapids has just retired after 20 years as an officer for the Sartell Police Department. She submitted the following as a letter to editor, but the Newsleader editor decided to publish it as a guest column. For more about Roy, see a feature story about her in today’s paper.)
Alexis Roy Guest Writer
It pleases me to have this opportunity to say to you what has so often been said to me: Thank you. It has been a gift to me that I was hired by your city council in 1992. I cherish our years together that have been a true partnership between you the citizens and those of us who chose to serve you. Please know that my family and I enjoyed our time schooling, working, playing and at times living within this city. I take special pleasure in knowing you will still be in the devoted and faithful hands of the remaining officers and staff. To the wonderful children of this city I ask you honor your parents, respect your elders and find a way to serve the community. It’s true through giving to others you will always find the greatest pleasures in life. The lessons learned in kindergarten will help you through-
out your life so remember them as you become good citizens for Sartell. Treat each other with kindness even when you don’t want to. Learn the rules and then, of course, play by them. If you don’t agree with the rules, find out how to get them changed. Learn about Sartell from those who came here and built it. Listen for the stories. Some are happy, some are sad, but all are for remembering. Watch out for one another. It’s a beautiful community, but know there are predators here. These people in your midst will continually try to erode the fabric of the community either overtly or covertly. Last night I patrolled these streets one final time and offered sincere prayers of peace and safety for all of you. Twenty years ago I put on my badge for you as a licensed peace officer for this city. I never imagined the many years I would stay. I’ve arrested some of you, ticketed others. I’ve been there when some have died, and I even helped
The Sartell Newsleader invites readers to comment on the newspaper’s content via its reader-friendly website: www.thenewsleaders.com. The site, on average, receives more than 18,000 “hits” monthly. To comment on stories, columns, editorials or any of the other content, here’s what
you do. Click on Sartell Newsleader, then click on whichever category you wish to read (Stories, Opinion, Records or more). Click on the bar of your choice. Under “News,” for example, readers can choose to view “Latest Sartell News” or “View All Sartell News.” On either, readers can click to open any story, then scroll down to the bottom where it says
one baby boy enter this world. You are strong people, and you are resilient in the face of darkness. Pray for each other and continue to support one another in your aspirations for a meaningful community. You are Sartell. You have taught me what it means to be part of a caring and growing community. As you continue to develop and expand, encourage diversity. Have faith and have courageous conversations in order to support your relationships. If someone is violent, tell them to stop. If someone is a victim, offer sincere support. Introduce yourself. Say please and thank you. Say excuse me. Say I’m sorry and mean it. Use manners. Your taxes pay for much of the property around town. Help to maintain it by reporting damage and destruction. Local employees are here to serve but can’t be everywhere at once. Lastly, remember never to forget police are but a part of the society we serve. Stay compassionate, educated and pursue reasonable happiness. It has been my pleasure to serve the citizens of Sartell for these last 20 years. I pray you continue to support your local police always.
Got a comment? Visit www.thenewsleaders.com
“Add a New Comment.” Type in your full name, e-mail address (optional) and comment, enter the code shown and then hit “Submit Your Comment.” In submitting comments, it’s best to let other readers know the story to which your comments refer. Comments will be screened for appropriateness.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012
Gift gallery volunteers needed Volunteers are being sought to help run the Gift Gallery in a friendly and positive manner. Volunteers must be able to feel comfortable approaching cus-
tomers, running the cash register and dealing with sales while providing excellent customer service. They need people for their Gift Gallery either at St.
Cloud Hospital, CentraCare Health Plaza or St. Benedict’s Senior Community. Contact the St. Cloud Hospital Volunteer Office at 320-255-5638.
Volunteer to ring the Salvation Army bells during the Christmas season. There are 22 locations within St. Cloud,
Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park. It can be cold outside, so volunteers must be able and willing to stand outside for at
least two hours at a time. Contact the Salvation Army at 320-252-4552.
AUTO
PIE AUCTION
REAL ESTATE
CASH FOR CARS. All cars/ trucks wanted. Running or not! Top dollar paid. We come to you! Any make/model. Call for instant offer. 1-800-8719134. (MFPA)
THANKSGIVING PIE AUCTION. Tuesday, Nov. 20. 6:30 p.m. St. Luke’s Catholic Church. Clearwater, MN. All proceeds go to Pregnancy Resource Center. 320-253-5333 or got to www.Auctionzip. com and enter Auctioneer ID# 1278. 45-1x-p.
WORK EXCLUSIVELY WITH BUYERS. Buy contract for deed. You pick the home. I’ll buy and finance for you. Down payment required. It’s easier than you think. call Taylor. 320-469-0831 RES Realty. 45-1x-p.
Bell ringers sought
AUTO DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT! Heritage for the Blind. Free 3-day vacation. Tax deductible. Free towing. All paperwork taken care of. 888-472-9219. (MFPA)
TELEVISION DISH Network. Starting at $19.99/month PLUS 30 premium movie channels FREE for 3 months! SAVE! & ask about SAME DAY installation! Call - 888-379-7065. (MFPA)
MISCELLANEOUS GOLD AND SILVER CAN PROTECT YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS. Learn how by calling Freedom Gold Group for your free educational guide. 877-371-2354. (MFPA)
MISCELLANEOUS EVER CONSIDER a reverse mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & effective! Call now for your FREE dvd! Call now 888-5624751 (MFPA)
CLASSES MUSIC LESSONS FOR ALL AGES! Find a music teacher! TakeLessons offers affordable, safe, guaranteed music lessons with teachers in your area. Our pre-screened teachers specialize in singing, guitar, piano, drums, violin and more. Call 1- 888-687-0047! (MFPA)
GENERAL HELP WANTED HELP WANTED! Make up to $1,000 a week mailing brochures from home! Free supplies! Helping Home-Workers since 2001. Genuine opportunity. No experience required. Start immediately. www.themailing-usa.com. (VOID IN SD) (MFPA)
HEALTH CANADA DRUG CENTER is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail-order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90% on all your medication needs. Call today. 888-485-1568 for $25 off your first prescription and free shipping. (MFPA)
ADVERTISING TO INVESTIGATE OTHER ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES Call PaperChain at 931922-0484 or e-mail info@ paperchain.com. (MFPA)
REAL ESTATE PLAT BOOKS with 911 addresses, legal descriptions. Stearns County. Other counties available by order. Available at the Newsleaders, 32 1st Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Regular price $40; $30 spiral bound. NO REFUNDS. tfn-f
HEALTH ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get FREE CPAP replacement supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all; prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888859-7796. (MFPA)
HEALTH ATTENTION DIABETICS with Medicare. Get a FREE talking meter and diabetic testing supplies at no cost, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking! Call 888-4412313. (MFPA)
MISCELLANEOUS WRAP UP YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING with 100 percent guaranteed delivered-to-thedoor Omaha steaks! SAVE 68 percent plus two FREE gifts - 26 Gourmet Favorites ONLY $49.99. ORDER Today 1-877356-2704 use code 45069SQM or www.OmahaSteaks.com/ fvc70 (MFPA) REACH NEARLY 1 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS! Do you have a product, service, or business that would be helped by reaching nearly 1 million households throughout Minnesota? The Minnesota Classified Network will allow you to reach these potential customers quickly and inexpensively. For more information concerning a creative classified ad call this publication or Minnesota Classified Network at 800-866-0668. (MFPA)
MISCELLANEOUS Highspeed Internet EVERYWHERE by Satellite! Speeds up to 12 mbps! (200x faster than dial-up.) Starting at $49.95/mo. CALL NOW & GO FAST! 1-866-796-2843 (MFPA)
7
Community Calendar
Friday, Nov. 16 St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, Fellowhip Hall, 610 N. County Road 2, St. Joseph. www. stjosephfarmersmarket.com Art Crawl, 5-9 p.m., Downtown St. Cloud. www.artcrawlstcloud.com. Saturday, Nov. 17 Holiday Boutique, a fundraiser for Celebration Mothers of
Preschoolers, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road, Sartell.
Monday, Nov. 19 Sartell-St. Stephen school board meeting, 6:30 p.m., District Offices, Sartell.
Thursday, Nov. 22 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell.
LEGAL NOTICE
CITY OF SARTELL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A LAND-USE-AMENDMENT APPLICATION 40 County Road 120 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: (commercial and residential) as That the City Council will hold a initiated by G & M Dehler Trust, public hearing for the land-use- applicant and fee owner for the amendment request in the coun- property located at 40 County cil chambers of the Sartell City Road 120. Hall at 7 p.m. or as soon there after as the matter may be heard, Patti Gartland on Monday, November 26, to City Administrator consider the requested land-useamendment change from Medium Publish: Nov. 16 , 2012 Density Residential to Mixed Use
ADOPTION PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? A childless, successful, 40-yr-old single woman seeks to adopt. Financial security. Will be hands-on mom. Expenses paid. Wendy. 1-888-990-0282 (MFPA)
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY START YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS INDUSTRY using your computer. 5-15 hrs/ wkly. Free training on mini office outlets. Going to this site could drastically change your life. www.wrightdevelopment.org (MFPA)
Mattress Outlet Twin Sets from $99 Full Pillowtop Sets from $160 Queen Pillowtop Sets from $195 King Pillowtop Sets from $350
Sofa and Sectional Sets at Unbeatable Prices!
320-348-9003
$$$ $$$ $$$ Dollars for Driving Better than volunteering. Mature drivers earn up to $400+ per week driving passengers to medical appointments in our minivans. Call our confidential info line 24/7 at 800-437-2094 or apply in person at: Care Cab 2600 7th St. N. St. Cloud, MN 56303
Peaches was surrendered with 14 of her feathered friends due to her previous owner having too many birds and wanting them to find good homes for all of them. Peaches is less than a year old and is bright yellow. Her seven sisters and seven brothers are an array of colors, ranging from yellow to green and bright blue to lavender. All of these parakeets are very well socialized and will “step up” on your finger. Their antics and singing will brighten up any room in your home. Because Parakeets are known to bond with one another to form a flock, we recommend Peaches go home with one of her feathered friends. “Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!” Dogs - 11 Puppies - 4 Mice - 9
Cats - 32 Kittens - 10
Parakeets - 15 Dove - 1
Tri-County Humane Society 735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701 St. Cloud, MN 56302
252-0896
www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
Bursch Travel is Celebrating their Nov. 12-21, 2012
56th 55th Anniversary!!
And giving the gifts to YOU!
Save up to: • $300 on any Delta Vacation Destination in the World! Bursch Travel
220 Division St. • Waite Park • 251-3180 or 800-645-2331 For complete details visit www.burschtravel.com. some restrictions apply
So don’t wait to your 20 book 13 contact vacation... us today!
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
8
Council from page 3 invested. Thus, making it more likely they will choose Sartell as the place they want to make their home or where they want to bring their future businesses. • Finally flesh out what we need in a community center (resource facility) and move forward to find an affordable, sustainable solution and see it to fruition. “I hope to find ways to better utilize our existing park amenities,” Braig-Lindstrom said. “Examples are: 1.) the outdoor rink at Bernick’s Arena during the three seasons it doesn’t have ice, 2.) the sand volleyball court at the The Wilds park, 3.) our several basketball hoops/courts and 4.) our tennis courts. I would love to have an outdoor, in-ground public pool with a zero entry area, a 4-6 foot area, lap lanes, slides and Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Windows • Metal Roofs HAAG™ Certified Roof Inspectors for hail/wind
Lic. #20594693
320-257-0100
CALL FOR A FREE HOME INSPECTION OR ESTIMATE
www.jnsbuilders.com Check us out on facebook!
We install hail impact-resitant shingles.
a concession stand. Of course, I want to maintain the city’s infrastructure by staying up on road maintenance.” Braig-Lindstrom said she also wants to attract businesses and industry to Sartell in a way that builds on the already successful pockets of commerce in town – the River Road, the Pinecone/2nd Street area, Pinecone Marketplace and right off Hwy. 15: the medical complexes and Epic Center. “I would like to see the following: paths connected to one another and to regional trail systems,” she said. “More trees planted in neighborhood parks; kiddie pools/splash pads open into the month of September; a place for the public to get water for themselves and their dogs in a place centrally located on the trail system, possibly at Lions Community Park; adult workout equipment added to a section of the trail systems; a dog park and skate park. “Those are some of the
things that popped into my mind. Some will be more easily addressed or accomplished than others, obviously. I think it will be important to encourage and enlist the help of our residents by making it easier for folks to contribute their thoughts and ideas. We also need to be more hospitable to and considerate of the residents by allowing them to speak at council meetings without preregistering.” Like Braig-Lindstrom, Hennes was pleased to know Sartell residents have confidence in his leadership abilities. Many of his ideas for the council stem back from ideas he has worked on for many years. Hennes was first appointed to the council to fill out a term vacated by Mary Lewandowski when she and her family moved from Sartell. He was then re-elected to serve his second term starting in 2007. Come January, Hennes will begin serving his third term as
council member. Hennes retired last year from his long-time job as director of the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud. “I want to thank the voters,” Hennes said. “I appreciate all the support I’ve had. I’d like to thank the city voters who have faith in me for four more years. I’ll do the best I can. I’ll use common sense, and I’ll listen to the people.” Many of Hennes’ ideas for the city stem back from ideas he has worked on for many years. One of those ideas is the concept of a Sartell Community Center. Hennes has advocated such a center for 14 years and,
Friday, Nov. 16, 2012 like other council members and the mayor, he thinks it’s time to move ahead with a center. A task committee is now working on just that. Another of Hennes’ longtime dreams is to realize a regional park along the Sauk River in south Sartell, an area that abuts the Whitney Center recreational property in north St. Cloud. Hennes said he can clearly envision someday a park there with trails and all sorts of waterside amenities. For the rest of the story and more election coverage please visit www.thenewsleaders.com.