Reaching EVERYbody!
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 Volume 29, Issue 32 Est. 1989
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Reaching EVERYbody!
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid St. Joseph Newsleader St. Joseph, MN 56374 Permit No. 21 ECRWSS Postal Customer
Newsleader St. Joseph
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 Volume 29, Issue 32 Est. 1989
Town Crier Heroes Appreciation Cookout set Aug. 22 in Millstream Park
The St. Joseph’s Y2K Lions Club is hosting its second annual Heroes Appreciation Cookout from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at Millstream Park, 725 CR 75 W. in St. Joseph. Enjoy a FREE dinner with our local heroes!
Day of Caring set Sept. 21; registration is underway
United Way’s Day of Caring is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21. Day of Caring brings people together to volunteer on community projects throughout Central Minnesota. Registration is underway. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Aug. 4 Criers.
Urgent call for blood donation
The American Red Cross urges blood donors to give in the final weeks of summer to help overcome a chronic summer blood shortage. As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross now through Aug. 31 will be emailed a gift card. Appointments can be scheduled by downloading the free Red Cross blood donor app, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass. St. Cloud Area Blood Donation Center is located at 1301 W. St. Germain St.
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Why is the front page blank today? Friends, food, festivities by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
Hey, what gives? Why is the front page of this newspaper blank? Good question; we have a good answer. It’s Minnesota Newspaper Week (Aug. 13-19), and so we at the Newsleaders want to remind people of the importance of newspapers in everyone’s daily life and of newspapers as a foundation for an informed electorate in grassroots democracy. More than 200 of Minnesota’s nearly 350 newspapers (dailies and non-dailies) have published blank front pages this week. The stark blank pages are meant to remind readers what it would be like if hometown newspapers no longer existed. This flurry of blank pages is called the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s “Whiteout Campaign,” which is part of the MNA’s 150th birthday celebration this year. The MNA is a volun-
tary trade association of general-interest newspapers in Minnesota. It works on behalf of newspapers and a free press with the legislature and in courts; it manages local/regional/national newspaper advertising placement; it operates a press-release service; and it works to enhance the quality of the state’s newspapers. Two years ago, the White Bear (Lake) Press published a blank front page, which caused quite a stir and lots of good comments from readers about the importance of newspapers in their lives. Earlier this year, in March, the Warroad Pioneer decided to do a blank front page, too. Its publisher, Rebecca Colden, said her staff wanted Blank • page 9
For additional criers, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
See the back page for why people like to read local newspapers!
Tatum Price, 12, of St. Joseph, is awed by a balloon that was twisted into a flower and given to her at the summer lunch-program celebration and carnival Aug. 10 at Klinefelter Park in St. Joseph. See page 5 for additional photos.
Joes move on to state tournament by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
Despite two losses, the St. Joseph Joes will be going to the first round of the state tournament playing Maple Lake at Hamburg on Friday, Aug. 18. In the regional playoff game at Hinckley, the Joes picked up a couple of injuries and
that didn’t help their cause. Left-fielder Hunter Blommer pulled up lame with a pulled hamstring, and third baseman Brandon Bloch hurt his throwing shoulder. With injuries to two players, the Joes got more bad news because center fielder Peter Nelson will be going to Bemidji State for orientation, and with the start of the col-
lege football program at St. John’s, catcher Ben Alvord is not playing baseball anymore, but rather chucking pigskins. The Joes were able to draft two pitchers, Terry Caden from Nowthen, and Cameron Jurek from Foley, and so Schneider expects to have all regular-position players on the field. Maple Lake is a former Class B team according to Schneider,
so they are a pretty solid ball club with good pitching. “It’s all about playing defense and small ball,” Schneider said. “Score first and play solid defense. We’ve got the pitching to get through this if we can stay a little healthier and recover from our losses. But anything can happen. You never know.” See page 7 for related photo.
Second appreciation picnic for local heroes set Aug. 22 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Mrs. Stearns County search starts now
Applications are being accepted for the title of Mrs. Stearns County, who will have the honor of representing her county at the Mrs. Minnesota pageant, which will be held April 28, 2018 at “Wellstone Center,” in St. Paul, Minn. For more information, visit thenewsleaders.com and click on Aug. 18 Crier.
photo by Carolyn Bertsch
photos by Cori Hilsgen
Above: St. Joseph Y2K Lions members Jan and Ralph Boeckers (left to right) visit with former Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner and his wife Julie Sanner while Mayor Rick Schultz, Justin Honor from the St. Joseph Fire Department and others visit behind them, at last year’s Heroes Appreciation Picnic held at Millstream Park in St. Joseph. At left: St. Joseph Y2K Lions member Becky Staneart welcomes St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein to last year’s picnic.
People who appreciate all the things local heroes – from the police and fire departments, and first-responders to the sheriff’s departments – do in the St. Joseph area will have a chance to say “thank you” at the second annual Heroes Appreciation Picnic. The public is invited to the event from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22 at Millstream Park in St. Joseph. It will include a free meal of brats, chips, a bottle of water and a cookie. The event started last year when St. Joseph Y2K Lions members wanted to do something to show appreciation for the local police because of neg-
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ative comments many police officers around the country were receiving. They invited the St. Joseph Lions Club and St. Joseph Jaycees to join them in hosting the event. This year’s Y2K Lions organizers of the event include Becky Staneart, Kay Lemke, Derek Villnow, Kathi Schmidt, Ginger Meier, Joyce Stenger-Oldeen, and husband and wife Jan and Ralph Boeckers. “Last year was a big success,” Staneart said. “Everyone was so appreciative to have the community come and celebrate and support our local heroes. I loved all the ‘thank you’s.’ I’m looking forward to our second annual appreciation cookout.” St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Heroes • page 9
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Opinion
Our View Thanks to all for keeping Newsleaders going strong Nearly 30 years ago, Janelle Von Pinnon, who lived in Sauk Centre at the time, started a fledgling newspaper she dubbed the St. Joseph Newsleader. Just months after the paper’s debut, the entire area was stunned by fear and horror when 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling was abducted in St. Joseph. Needless to say, Von Pinnon and her staff were busy round-the-clock covering the Wetterling story and its non-stop developments. In the many years since, the Newsleader covered that local story right up to its tragic conclusion last year when the body of Jacob was discovered and his abductor-killer confessed. The ongoing Wetterling stories were not only local news but state, national and international news as well. The heartbreaking Wetterling case was – and is – a good example of why hometown papers and the presentation of local news are so important. Almost 30 years later, the staff of the St. Joseph Newsleader and the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader are proud to say the newspapers are still going strong, week after week. Von Pinnon and her employees are still dedicated to gathering and delivering local news, free in the mail, each week to all city residents and businesses. That complicated task can only be accomplished thanks to the support of long-time loyal and new advertisers. Without advertisements there would be no newspapers because ad revenue pays for the cost of the entire newspaper operation. Many readers throughout the decades have expressed their appreciation of the Newsleaders for providing local news and other information. Every reader has her or his favorite things to read. Some like best the coverage of city councils, school boards and other official meetings. Others tend to favor reading the human-interest features. Still others are glad the papers include one or more of the following: the community calendar; the stories about upcoming meetings or events; coverage of accidents, fires and other tragedies; the social section; the obituaries; the police blotters; the coupons and advertisements; the classifieds; the business directory; the opinion page; the wide variety of photos that show snapshot glimpses of the daily goings-on in the area. This week, which is Minnesota Newspaper Week, the Newsleader staff decided it would be OK to toot our own horn a bit. We hope the blank page of today’s newspaper reminds our readers – and ourselves, again – of the importance of newspapers in our daily lives. This week, as in all weeks, we want to underline our thanks and our ongoing appreciation to our advertisers throughout the years and to the loyal readers who have kept the Newsleaders going for nearly three decades, week after week. Without those good people, there would be no newspapers, period. Rather, there would be just blanks where local news should be.
The ideas expressed in the letters to the editor and of the guest columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Newsleaders. Letters to the editor may be sent to news@thenewsleaders. com or P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374. Deadline is noon Monday. Please include your full name for publication (and address and phone number for verification only.) Letters must be 350 words or less. We reserve the right to edit for space.
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Ah, the sweet smell of newsprint, ink One of the happy sounds of my young life was the thud-bang of a rolled-up newspaper hitting our front aluminum door when the paper boy, like an ace pitcher, lobbed it there every weekday afternoon. I’d rush to the door to pick up the St. Cloud Daily Times and then sprawl back in a plush chair to read it. In summers especially, the Times had the hot sweet smell of newsprint and ink – still to me a most wonderful smell. I can remember so often a neighborhood friend or another knocking at the door. “Where’s Denny?” “Where do you think?” I’d often hear mom say with mock sarcasm. “He’s sitting in the living room with his nose buried in the newspaper. Where else would he be?” During my earliest newspaper-reading years (mid- to late 1950s, early 1960s), the page I usually opened to first was the movie page, with posters of movies playing at or about to open at St. Cloud’s three theaters – Paramount, Hays, Eastman. A movie fanatic, I’d spend lots of time soaking up every detail of those ads: showtimes, who’s in it, who directed it, who produced it, blurbs from critics. After perusing that page, I would turn to the news, some of which interested me. I remember reading quite a bit about President Dwight Eisenhower (he golfed a lot), about Sen. Joe McCarthy and his Un-American Activities Committee sniffing out communists, and about all trouble spots across the planet – Algerian resistance against the French, civil wars in African countries, conflicts over the Berlin Wall, the Hungarian uprising against Soviet oppression. What I remember most vividly, however, is the shock of headlines and sto-
Dennis Dalman Editor ries about singer Buddy Holly dying in a plane crash, actor James Dean’s car-crash death, Ernest Hemingway’s suicide, movie goddess Marilyn Monroe being found dead in her bed and – most of all – the big black mournful headlines about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In those days, newspapers were our window to the world – our only window. I would help my brother deliver the Minneapolis Star and Tribune early mornings door-to-door in the neighborhood, and I would read that paper as avidly as I read the Times. Another paper I relished was the Weekly Reader we’d get in grade school. We relied upon those papers for news, information, entertainment because my family (and quite a few others) did not have TV for many of those years, though we often watched it at the neighbors’ homes. When we did get a TV set, we’d tune in to the Today Show morning news sometimes and almost
always the Walter Cronkite Evening News and then at 10 p.m. the Twin Cities news. Fast-forward to the here-and-now: TV cable news 24 hours a day, an explosion of Internet information that includes genuine news, gossip, pseudo-news, trivial nonsense and fake news; social media that constantly blurs the lines between fact and fiction; newspapers, magazines and whatnot available online. For the most part, I like the high-tech proliferation and sprawl. I like the options for 24-7 access to news, opinions, information and entertainment. However, I do think much has been lost, news-wise, in the frantic scramble to digitize everything under the sun. Too often, it feels as if we are being buried in an avalanche of the just “too much.” Too much stuff, too much information, too much of this and too much of that. Audio-visual noise and commotion. After awhile, one can feel overcome and paralyzed by too many choices, too much everything. I often tell people I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Internet Age. I’ve adapted – somewhat – and, yes, I do read a lot of news and opinions online. Still, I’m always happiest when I’m in my recliner with my nose buried in a newspaper, an honest-to-goodness old-fashioned newspaper, the kind that smells like happiness, like newsprint and ink.
Letter to the editor
Splash pad wanted Adam Novak, St. Joseph I think there should be a splash pad in St. Joseph because a lot of kids will like it and I know will like it. Also, I know there was a group of people put together to think about a splash pad but it never happened. I don’t know where to put it but I hope it’s close enough.
Free press makes state, nation stronger
In Minnesota, we understand the importance of a free press. It’s hard to forget in our state that we Minnesotans are among the most engaged citizens in the country. Last year, we again ranked first in the nation in voter turnout. Minnesotans volunteer at the second-highest rate in the country. And we usually look to our local newspapers as the first stop for the information we need. In my house growing up, it was impossible to forget the importance of a free press. My dad was a journalist. As a reporter and a columnist, my dad, Jim Klobuchar, covered it all. On the night of the presidential election in 1960, as a young stringer for the Associated Press, he was among the first in the country – if not the first – to call the race for President John F. Kennedy. He was fearless, whether it was reporting from Moscow with a Soviet Intourist guide assigned to him at all times or taking tear gas while covering protests outside of a political convention. Digging for the truth was his job. Finding the truth made it all worth it. From children with cancer to Minnesota veterans, he covered the stories of everyday heroes, too. He believed all
Amy Klobuchar U.S. Senator stories needed to be told and that by sharing those stories, we deepen our understanding of one another and become more united as a country. So from a very young age, I understood the important role the press has played in our democracy. And today, I understand a free press is as important as ever. Minnesota reporters have been on the frontlines of major stories since the founding of our first newspaper in 1849. They’ve covered good times and bad. From enlisting with the Union in the Civil War, as Hastings Democrat publisher Charles P. Adams did in 1861, to tireless investigating and reporting on the abduction of Jacob Wetterling, Minnesota journalists have always been committed to telling our stories. During the past few months, we have heard about “alternative facts.” We have
heard a Trump Administration official suggest the press should “keep its mouth shut.” And we have even seen efforts to limit journalists’ access to elected officials. None of this is acceptable. Our founders enshrined freedom of the press in our Constitution for a reason. Thomas Jefferson said our first objective as a nation should be to leave open “all avenues to truth” and that the most effective way of doing that is through “the freedom of the press.” Today, Minnesota reporters continue their dogged pursuit of the truth day after day, story after story. That reporting is on display all across Minnesota, and the Minnesota Newspaper Association has played a big part in supporting Minnesota reporters for 150 years now. From Deborah Howell, who oversaw the Pioneer Press’s first Pulitzer Prize, to Mark Kellogg, the first Associated Press reporter to die in the line of duty, reporters all across our state are carrying forward a remarkable legacy. I’m determined to protect journalists and defend freedom of the press. My dad expects me to. The oath I took to “support and defend the Constitution” demands I do.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
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Scott Simon, maintenance manager at Brenny Transportation in St. Joseph, was presented the Maintenance Professional of the Year Award at the annual conference of the Minnesota Trucking Association on Aug. 2. “Scott is a self-taught maintenance technician who, (throughout) the years, has developed a passion for safety that has had a major and positive impact on Brenny’s Compliance, Safety and Accountability scores,” said MTA President John Hausladen. “This, plus his hard work and humility, make
him very deserving of this award.” Brenny Transportation was founded in 1996 by Joyce and Todd Brenny, who wanted to create a company that treated people with integrity and respect, a company which honored champion character and empowered creativity. The MTA Maintenance Professional of the Year Award recognizes an individual who manages the maintenance activities of their
company, and has contributed, through personal efforts, to the advancement of highway safety and/or to reducing their company’s environmental impact.
MTA presents Supan with Outstanding Service Award Bonnie Supan, general manager of Brenny Transportation in St. Joseph, was presented the Outstanding Service Award at the annual conference of the Minnesota Trucking Association on Aug. 2. “Bonnie Supan has been active with the MTA since 1996, and currently serves as the chair of the annual Conference Committee,” said MTA President John Hausladen. “She has shared her many skills in a variety of capacities (during) the last two decades, and her efforts make the MTA a better and stron-
ger organization. Bonnie is driven to serve, and is ready to help whenever she’s asked.” Brenny was founded in 1996 by Joyce and Todd Brenny, who wanted to create a company that treated people with integrity and respect, a company which honored champion character and empowered creativity. Supan was hired at that time as the company’s operations manager. The MTA
Blotter
If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the St. Joseph Police Department at 320-363-8250 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. This information is submitted by the St. Joseph Police Department.
9:37 p.m. Underage drinking. College Aveneu S. While working the Joe Town Rocks festival, officers spotted a female who appeared to be hiding a can of beer from the officers. The officers approached the female and asked for her ID which she said she did not have on her. She was escorted to a squad where she was identified and blew a .104 breathalyzer. A citation was issued via mail to the suspect.
July 3 8:49 p.m. Underage drinking. First Avenue NW/Birch Street W. While on routine patrol, an officer spotted a female leaning against a tree who appeared to be passed out. Upon approach, the officer observed her to be visibly intoxicated and slurring her words. The female told the officer she was OK and her mom was coming to pick her up. She also admitted to being under 21 years of age; she blew a .165 on the breathalyzer. The officer issued a citation and provided a diversion card. The officer waited for the female’s mother to arrive and explained the situation.
July 4 12:03 a.m. Public intoxication and urination. Minnesota Street E. While on routine patrol, officers observed a male urinating on a car tire. The officer stopped the suspect and detained him. The male suspect was highly intoxicated and was issued a citation for public urination. He was released to a sober party upon clearance. 1:22 a.m. Public urination. Minnesota Street W./Chapel Lane. While sitting in a squad car, officers observed the above male urinate in a bush on Chapel Lane. The male was identified by his Minnesota driver’s license and cited for public urina-
Outstanding Service Award was created to recognize an individual who has significantly contributed to the programs and mission of the Minnesota Trucking Association.
tion. 1:32 a.m. Driving while intoxicated. CR 133/Elm Street E. While on routine patrol, an officer was traveling westbound on CR 75 when he observed a suspect approach the intersection of CR 75/CR 133 move into the right turn lane while the stop light was solid red. The driver slowed but did not stop for the light. The officer stopped the car and noticed the driver had watery eyes and smelled like alcohol while speaking with the driver. He admitted to drinking three beers before driving. The suspect blew a .115 breathalyzer and was transported to jail. 2:06 a.m. Unwanted males on premises. College Avenue N. Officers were dispatched to the Holiday station where staff reported several males were verbal in the parking lot. Upon arrival, three males were still in the parking lot sitting on the ice machine outside. All three males were identified, issued minor consumptions and told to leave the property. 2:31 a.m. Gun complaint. Officers were dispatched to a gun complaint on Northland Drive. Upon
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Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon
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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 320-363-7741. 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.
P.O. Box 324 • 32 1st Ave. N.W. • St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 Phone: (320) 363-7741 • Fax: (320) 363-4195 • E-mail: news@thenewsleaders.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ST. JOSEPH NEWSLEADER, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374.
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 arrival, the victim reported a male suspect had pulled a gun on her. Officers arrested the male suspect for domestic assault and transported him to jail. 10:38 p.m. Verbal complaint. 10th Avenue SE. An officer was dispatched to a verbal where a male reported he wanted to leave his house so things wouldn’t escalate between him and his wife. He told officers his wife locked his vehicle and will not give him the keys. The officer spoke with both individuals. The victim reported her husband told her he was going to kill her. The officer arrested the male suspect for domestic assault-fear and he was transported to the Stearns County Jail.
Friends, food, festivities
July 5 9:30 a.m. Underage drinking. College Avenue S. While on foot patrol at Joe Town Rocks, an officer noticed a male with a beer in his hand who appeared to be under 21 and intoxicated. Upon approach, the male suspect did have a wrist band but could not provide the officer with an ID. The suspect admitted to the officer he was not 21. The officer took the suspect to his squad car to verify the name of the suspect. When he returned the suspect was not there. Officers attempted to locate him but failed. A diversion card was issued via mail. July 6 1:35 a.m. Speed violation. College Avenue N. While on patrol traveling westbound on CR 75, an officer spotted a vehicle traveling in front of him going at a high rate of speed. Radar indicated a speed rate of 63 mph in a 45-mph zone. The vehicle was pulled over and the male driver was identified. The driver asked to see the radar that was used to indicate his speed but the officer advised him it had been cleared but he could challenge it at the court house. A citation was issued for speed. The radar was checked prior to shift and after the stop and the officer found it to be working properly. 4:13 p.m. Fire. Fifth Avenue NW. An officer was dispatched to a possible stove fire with smoke coming out of the house. Upon arrival, the officer found a smoldering pizza box in the oven. The fire chief took the box out and cleared the scene. The house was ventilated by the owner.
photos by Carolyn Bertsch
Top: Mercedes Romsdahl of St. Joseph sets up a duck-pond game at the summer lunch-program celebration and carnival Aug. 10 at Klinefelter Park in St. Joseph. Above: Jan-rose Davis, 14, and Jailynn Romsdahl, 6, both of St. Joseph, enjoy lunch Aug. 10 at the summer lunch program.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
contributed photo
Above: Vacation Bible School coordinator Laura Gorder welcomes participants to Hero Central activities held July 30-Aug. 3 at Resurrection Lutheran Church. photo by Cori Hilsgen
At right: Children, volunteers and St. Joseph police officers Eric Brutger and Celeste Walz join Pastor Bruce Tessen (front, right) during a Bible Story.
Children participate in VBS ‘Hero Central’ by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Who are your heroes? Children from the area recently learned about heroes in their lives. More than 100 children from the St. Joseph area gathered for a week of Vacation Bible School from July 30-Aug. 3 at Resurrection Lutheran Church. They spent the week studying about God’s heroes in the church. Children, ages 4 years old through sixth grade, learned about faith through this year’s theme of “Hero Central – Discover your strength in God.” Vacation Bible School participants learned about how God’s heroes have heart, cour-
age, wisdom, hope and power to do good deeds and seek peace in the world. The participants learned by daily rotating activity-stations during the five days. The main hero verse was “Do good! Seek peace and go after it” (Psalm 34:14b). Vacation Bible School activities included Bible stories, music, snacks, games, crafts and science experiments relating to the theme. Organizers Marian Bach and Laura Gorder from the Church of St. Joseph catholic church, Rachel Kuebelbeck from Resurrection Lutheran Church, and the Rev. Bruce and Joy Tessen, husband and wife from Gateway Church, coordinated the event with
many area volunteers. Bach said participants discovered the meaning of the attributes of heroes and how they can make a difference in the church and world. For her, Vacation Bible School is always an exciting time with children and volunteers gathering from the three churches. “It truly is an ecumenical endeavor that illustrates the joy of working together,” Bach said. “What a great opportunity to reach so many children with good news of the Gospel,” said the Rev. Bruce Tessen. “Each (year) seems to get better and better. It was truly an honor to be the Bible Story teacher again.”
Each day, participants called the supersonic shuttle crew – a video with Captain Shield (Bach) and Flame the puppet (volunteer Susan Curtis) where the two reiterated the message of the day. The group’s service project included donating to local heroes, such as personnel in the police and fire departments, first-responders and the Stearns County Sheriff’s department. Families and participants were encouraged to bring in items to help create appreciation packages. Participants filled more than 100 packages with a few treats, other items and a blessing. A spirit meter monitored how much participants donated each day. During the last closing celebration, participants prayed over the packages – a prayer of thankfulness and safety for all those who serve the area. Kuebelbeck said the children really collected a lot for the heroes and they were very excited about doing so.
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“It’s wonderful to have the heroes have a presence here at Vacation Bible School,” Kuebelbeck said. “The spirit meter was a fun illustration of how when we come together with God at the center, we can do amazing things.” Several area heroes, including members of the St. Joseph Police Department and the St. Joseph Fire Department, attended events of the week to represent their presence in the area to the children. “The students asked thoughtful questions which the officers answered with sincere honesty and tact,” Kuebelbeck said. This year, organizers created a preschool room for students who were 4 or 5 years old. This group did not rotate to the various stations, but spent the majority of their time in their own classroom. They did participate with the other students for each day’s opening and closing events. “We were excited to offer this because younger students
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
7
Joes move on to state tournament
contributed photo
Local firefighters Andy Loso, Shirlie Brill and John Prom (front, left to right) speak to children while Vacation Bible School coordinator Marian Bach (right) and others listen. need more/less time to do tasks than their older peers,” Kuebelbeck said. “It was very well received by students, parents and volunteers.” The preschool students received much of the same content at a more appropriate pace. Joy Tessen organized this group of participants. Several children commented about their experience at Vacation Bible School. “I know the people at Vacation Bible School work very hard to do this for us kids (to help teach us) to believe in God and build God’s Kingdom,” Gabby Gorder said. “We get to play and collect things for our local heroes, the firefighters and policemen and -women,” Dawson Sieben said. “I like the Vacation Bible School songs with actions and the different fun stations,” Jasmine Sieben said. “I like story time the best because I learn the Bible stories,” Lauren Peters said. “I like the Vacation Bible School mottos like ‘do good,’ ‘seek peace’ and ‘go after it.’” At the end of the week, participants received a hero’s activity book with a group photo on it. About 60 volunteers helped with the event. One volunteer, Joan Thralow, has been volunteering since Vacation Bible
School first got started. She said in the beginning, when Resurrection Lutheran Church did not yet have a church, they held meetings at Colt’s Academy School, and Vacation Bible School was held under tents in Millstream Park in St. Joseph. Thralow was a storyteller during the first years of Vacation Bible School. She first started volunteering because she brought her children and now she brings her grandchildren to the event. Thralow, who lives in a patio home in St. Joseph, invites her grandchildren to come for cousin week during the day and then they all attend Vacation Bible School at night. During one of the first years of Vacation Bible School, Thralow invited her neighbor, Darlene Bechtold, to also volunteer at the event. Bechtold has been volunteering almost as many years as Thralow. Thralow said that as a Lutheran family, nobody had warned them what a Catholic-dominant area St. Joseph was when they first moved to town. Fortunately, they were made to feel very welcome by Bechtold, her husband, Herb, and their family, and by many other people. This is the 34th year area churches have coordinated the Vacation Bible School event.
Associated Montessori Schools, Inc. www.MontessoriMN.com
contributed photo
Last year the St. Joseph Joes made it to the Class C State Baseball tournament but were eliminated in the first round. This year the team agrees there is no reason why they shouldn’t go back and do better. Many of last year’s team members are members of this year’s team: (kneeling left to right) Joey Stock, Brock Cheely, Alex Kendall, Greg Anderson, Eric Vigil, Ethan Carlson and Willie Willats; and (standing) Brandon Bloch, Pat Schneider, Nathan Mohs, Ben Bierschied, Mike Ashwill, Jack Atkinson, Hunter Blommer, Tyler Mueller, Justin Barg, Zack Overboe and Ben Alvord.
City council wrestles with capital-projects budget by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com
In a meandering discussion, the St. Joseph City Council took up the issue of prioritizing capital improvements and how the budget was allocated at its Aug. 7 meeting. The Public Works Department has a list of capital improvement projects the city needs to consider and has added several new projects to the list. Public Works and Engineering have prioritized the projects in order of importance and sought further guidance and direction from the council.
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City Administrator Judy Weyrens explained one of the top priorities for the city in 2018 was the Industrial-Park expansion. Council member Bob Loso said he did not see any mention of the second phase of the alley-improvement project in the downtown area. Loso said completing that project would seem to be a top priority. Council member Dale Wick wondered why there were some projects that weren’t shown as priority but were shown as funded in 2018. City Engineer Randy Sabart explained some of the projects were planned as add-ons to other ongoing projects. Wick was also
concerned about the large fluctuation in the various budget years. “Is there any way to take the bumps and valleys out of the budget?” Wick asked. “I mean $4.5 million in 2018 and $400,000 in 2019, and $17 million in 2020, and then $119,000 in 2021, and then $6 million in 2022.” Sabart explained it was basically the result of planning for the size of some projects. Things have been pushed back from one year to the next, and that causes some uneven bulges in the budget process. “As the council has started to Council • page 11
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
U.S. history rife with power vs. press skirmishes photo from Internet
This is the front page of the Boston News -Letter, first published in 1704. Its publication continued under various ownerships for 72 years. But the paper was far from an example of “free press.” Note the bold “Published by Authority” on its page, a reminder that the powers-that-be in London supervised its contents. photo from Internet
This ad from a New York newspaper early in the 20th Century offers help for people with beautiful faces but ugly noses. The wearing of a nose mask was supposed to reshape lumpy noses into objects of beauty.
photo from Internet
This front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, 1945, announces the horrifying news of the dropping of an atom bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com
It’s no accident the Founding Fathers saw fit to enshrine Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Those revolutionary makers of a new country knew all too well how tyrannical rulers in the “Old World” squelched free speech and free press to retain their power over others. In order for democracy to endure, a free press and free speech would be essential. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or a newspaper without a government, I should not hesitate to prefer the latter.” Like the young American nation in its growing pains, the American Press was just as wild, rambunctious and bursting at the seams as the expanding nation itself. Many people, including plenty of presidents, battled the press, and charges of “fake news” were hurled then as now. Thus, there has always been a tug of war between the Powers-that-be and the Press in the United States. And that tension, that abrasive coexistence, those skirmishes between Power and Press are exactly what the Founding Fathers had in mind as part of the checks-and-balances system that helps keep tyranny in check and democracy alive. The following are some of the highlights of the Press in American history:
1690
In Boston, the first newspaper in America is published, which is called Publick Occurrences, Both Foreign and Domestick. The four-page paper, however, ceases publication af-
ter only one issue because of sharp rebukes from the colonial government.
1704
The Boston News-Letter is published, the first continuously published newspaper in colonial America. It also contained the first newspaper advertisement – one seeking a buyer for property on Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. The paper also published what just might have been the first sensationalist coverage of “breaking news” – the death in hand-to-hand combat on a ship of the notorious and feared pirate, Blackbeard. The News -Letter was hardly an example of “free press,” however. On its front page, it proclaimed boldly “Published by Authority,” meaning royal powers in London supervised its contents.
1729
Benjamin Franklin begins to champion the start-up of newspapers and encourages the reporting of local, colonial news. In the coming decades, American newspapers have enormous influence to convince readers to support the colonial struggles against England.
1735
John Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, is tried in court for publishing stories using sarcasm to ridicule the New York governor. Zenger, represented by Alexander Hamilton, is found not guilty of seditious libel. The Zenger case was a huge blow against censorship attempts, a forerunner of landmark press freedoms and an inspiration for the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution.
1769
Isaac Doolittle in Connecticut builds the first-ever printing press on American soil.
1791
The Founding Fathers approve the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, forbidding the Congress from making any law “abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.”
1827
The first black American newspaper, Freedom’s Journal, is published in New York City.
1833
The New York Sun makes its debut and is a huge success because it’s the first “penny” newspaper, making it affordable to nearly all and concentrating on mainly local news for New York residents.
1844
America’s first telegraph line connects Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, making it feasible for newspapers to offer more timely reporting of events from far away.
1897
The first color Sunday funny papers are published and become an instant hit with loyal newspaper readers.
1904
Press titan William Randolph Hearst extends his newspaper empire coast to coast, with 28 papers in major cities.
1920
Radio rapidly starts becoming a new medium for news.
1941
Commercial TV broadcasting begins.
1966
Congress passes the Freedom of Information Act, making it easier for all citizens, including
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017 news reporters, to gain access to government records.
1971
The New York Times publishes the first installment of the “Pentagon Papers,” purloined classified documents detailing the secretive machinations that led to the Vietnam War. President Richard Nixon gets an injunction to stop further publication of the Pentagon Papers, but in June 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court rules the injunction an example of illegal, unconstitutional “prior restraint,” and the publications continue.
1971
Two Washington Post reporters, Robert Woodward and Carl Bernstein, begin to connect the dots from clues at a burglary of the office of the Democratic National Committee located in the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. Their investigative stories eventually lead to Nixon’s resignation after being accused of a cover-up of the dirty-tricks campaign.
1988
The Internet, originally a project of the U.S. military, is opened for commercial uses. In the coming years, news and informa-
tion sources begin to multiply exponentially online. Newspapers begin to offer online versions of their papers.
Blank
1989 to Present
to create a positive message to show the value of the city’s newspaper and city newspapers everywhere. Reader comments were overwhelmingly positive. Then, the MNA decided to launch its Whiteout Campaign for Minnesota Newspaper Week. Owners and staffs of more than 200 newspapers, including the Newsleaders, willingly agreed to
Newspapers, facing financial challenges, increasingly offer digital options for dissemination of news, information, entertainment and advertisements. Many major-city newspapers either close down or merge with others. While the challenges to paper-ink news remain, there is still a strong preference for hard-copy newspapers among many loyal readers, especially for smallertown newspapers.
2017
President Donald Trump, under fire on many fronts, lashes out repeatedly in speeches and tweets, blaming the “Fake Press” for his administration’s problems. His verbal attacks lead to lively widespread discussions of the roles and responsibilities of media in modern society and about how many “news” stories, like those placed on social media by propagandists, including some by devious Russian meddlers, are indeed “fake.”
from page 2
Heroes from page 2 Klein attended last year’s appreciation picnic. He said last year’s event went really well and it was great to see everyone who attended. “I think it’s wonderful our community has come together in what seems to be unstable times to show support for the people who are here for them,” Klein said. “We are very fortunate for the members of both the St. Joseph Fire Department and the St. Joseph Police Department. These two departments work great together and it’s awesome
9
publish blank pages. Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed Aug. 13-19 Minnesota Newspaper Week. “Minnesota Newspaper Week is an initiative that reminds us of the importance of a free press,” Dayton stated in his proclamation. “Freedom of the press promotes a well-informed constituency, improves public policy, increases responsiveness and accountability, and enhances public confidence in governmental institutions.” In this week’s newspaper,
related to the Whiteout Campaign, readers will find lots of readers’ comments, an editorial, two columns, a cartoon and a historical-background story – all pointing to the importance of newspapers in the long, exciting development of American democracy. We, the management and staff of the St. Joseph and Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleaders, sincerely hope the blank front pages this week will stimulate discussion and comments from our readers – positive and/or critical.
to have support of the community. We are honored the wonderful organizations we have in St. Joseph have come together to do this for us and their community.” Last year, volunteers received donations from at least 24 local businesses, including cash donations, food donations and discounted prices on food items to host the event. So far this year, 19 area business have donated at least $1,530, as well as given discounted prices and more for the event. “It’s great to have this event to build relationships and get to know one another better,” Klein said.
About 250 people attended the event last year and organizers are hoping to double that attendance this year. This year’s event is open to the public and is again being hosted by the St. Joseph Y2K Lions, St. Joseph Lions and St. Joseph Jaycees. Organizers are hoping people will come celebrate and support local police and fire departments, first-responders and the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department. Because of the construction taking place at Millstream Park, attendees may park by the baseball fields. A golf cart will be available to transport people who need assistance walking.
Minnesota Street Market receives ‘Why Co-ops?’ innovation-funding grant The Minnesota Street Market (St. Joseph Food and Art Cooperative) and five other food cooperatives in Central Minnesota have received a $49,600 Innovation Funding grant from the National Joint Powers Alliance of Staples. The six cooperatives will use the grant to work together as a team on a “Why Co-ops?” campaign to educate the public about the value of food cooperatives in the Central Minnesota region. At a time when many smalltown and rural grocery stores are closing, many communities have come together to build on Minnesota’s long cooperative tradition to help small towns and rural communities thrive. Minnesota leads the nation, with more than 1,000 cooperatives in a variety of sectors – utilities, banking, agriculture, health care, senior housing and groceries. The six small co-ops – Minnesota Street Market in St. Joseph, Crow Wing Food Co-op in Brainerd, the Purple Carrot Market in Little Falls, Everybody’s Mar-
ket in Long Prairie, Ideal Green Market Co-op in Ideal Township near Pequot Lakes and Down Home Foods Co-op in Wadena – banded together in November 2016 to form a Food Co-op Coalition to improve and grow their co-ops. The Food Co-op Coalition will use the NJPA Innovation Funding to launch an educational campaign, emphasizing the value of food co-op membership/ownership and purchasing. Supported by six food cooperatives and communities from the region, the proposal allows for the food co-ops to work together on a campaign that relays the economic value of purchasing from local food retailers, who in turn purchase from local growers and providers – creating and retaining our regional wealth. The campaign will also focus on the personal benefits of purchasing healthy foods and further advise how neighbors and coworkers can help each other become food co-op members/ owners. The overall goal of a cooper-
ative is to create organizations that serve the needs of the people who use them. They are member-owned, member-governed businesses that operate for the benefit of their members,. When you join a co-op, you own it! Co-ops provide goods and services in a way that keeps local resources in the community. Members pool resources to bring about economic results that are unobtainable by one person alone. It is from this foundation that the six co-ops joined to form the Food Co-op Coalition with facilitation assistance from the Region Five Development Commission (http://www.regionfive. org) to support one another and work collaboratively for the benefit of all. We have all seen headlines like these: “Small towns struggle to keep, attract grocery stores.” “Another small-town Minnesota grocery store calls it quits.” “As local groceries close, more rural areas in Minnesota may become ‘food deserts.’” “Minnesota’s small-town grocery stores face
uncertain future.” “In St. Joseph,” Minnesota Street Market board president Pia Lopez said, “we were one of those headlines in 2010.” The Minnesota Street Market came about after Loso’ s Grocery Store, owned and operated by the Loso family since 1899 and located on St. Joseph’s historic main street, closed in 2010. The
community came together and re-opened the store in July 2011 as a cooperative, with area residents putting up $100 each to become member-owners. Lopez continued: “At the Minnesota Street Market, we represent an old-fashioned style of grocery shopping — buying less and more often, as AmeriCo-op • page 11
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
Community Calendar Is your event listed? Send your information to: Newsleader Calendar, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374; fax it to 320-363-4195; or, e-mail it to news@thenewsleaders.com. Friday, Aug. 18 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 10 a.m.-5
p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW. Member Appreciation Day, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Central Minnesota Credit Union, 1300 Elm St. E., St. Joseph St. Joseph Area Historical Society, open 4-7 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave NW. stjosephhistoricalmn.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market,
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BEAUTY Mary Kay Cosmetics Joyce Barnes St. Joseph • 320-251-8989 CHIROPRACTOR Dr. Jerry Wetterling College Ave. • 320-363-4573 jlwchiro.com CHURCHES Resurrection Lutheran, ELCA
DENTISTRY Drs. Styles, Cotton & Milbert 1514 E. Minnesota St. St. Joseph • 320-363-7729 Laser Dentistry 26 2nd Ave. NW St. Joseph • 320-363-4468 ELECTRICAL HI-TEC Electric • St. Joseph Residential • Commercial Remodeling • General Services 320-363-8808 • 320-980-0514
EYECARE Russell Eyecare & Associates Sunday Worship 9 a.m. WoW! (Worship on Wednesday) 6:30 p.m. 15 E. Minnesota St., Ste. 107 St. Joseph • 320-433-4326 610 N. CR 2, St. Joseph 320-363-4232 www.rlcstjoe.org PUBLISHING St. Joseph Catholic Church Von Meyer Publishing Masses: Tuesday-Friday 8 a.m. 32 1st Ave. NW Saturday 5 p.m. St. Joseph • 320-363-7741 Sunday 8 & 10 a.m. St. Joseph • 320-363-7505 TRUCKING www.churchstjoseph.org Brenny Transportation, Inc. YOUR INDUSTRY Global Transportation Service Your Business St. Joseph • 320-363-6999 Address City • Phone • Website www.brennytransportation.com
Call the St. Joseph Newsleader at 320-363-7741
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3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-267-7717. Community Outpost grand opening, sponsored by St. Cloud Police, Rotary and Public Safety Foundation to encourage community engagement with the neighborhood, 3 p.m. program, 4-7 p.m. kids’ carnival, 600 13th St. S., St. Cloud. 320-345-4413. St. Cloud Singles Club Dance, 8 p.m.-midnight, American Legion, 17 Second Ave. S., Waite Park. 320-3394533. stcloudsingles.net. “Granite City Rocks” showcases the work of the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters now through Sept. 30, Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-253-8424. stearns-museum. org. Saturday, Aug. 19 Burger and brat sale, sponsored by Knights of Columbus, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW. Families on the Homefront Tour, 10-4 p.m., Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1615 Lindbergh Drive. S., Little Falls. mnhs.org/event/2401. World War 1 Centennial Weekend, 10-5 p.m., Fort Snelling, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St Paul. historicfortsnelling.org/events-programs/signature-events/world-war-i-weekend. Sunday, Aug. 20 Upper Post walking Tour: World War 1, 9-11 a.m., Fort Snelling, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St Paul. Advanced tickets required, mnhs.org/event/3046 World War 1 Centennial Weekend, Fort Snelling, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St Paul. historicfortsnelling. org/events-programs/signature-events/ world-war-i-weekend. Monday, Aug. 21 Lunch and cards, sponsored by Helping Hands Outreach and The FAST. Call 888-606-6673 (MCN) STUDENT LOAN PAYMENTS got you down? We can help reduce payments and get finances under control, call: 866-8711626 (MCN) Reduce your total credit card payments by up to 30% to 50%! Call Consolidated Credit NOW! 844-764-1891 (MCN) Buying a home and need a mortgage?Or, have a home and want to lower your monthly fees and refinance? Getting a mortgage is quicker and easier than ever. Call now! 855715-4721 (MCN) Owe the IRS? You May qualify for Relief today! Stop Bank Levy’s & Wage Garnishments. Mon-Thurs 8-8pm, Fri 8-6pm and Saturdays 9-5pm CST Español Available, Free consultation. NT Valid in MN, WV & ND Call NOW 1-800-511-2181 (MCN) FOR SALE Trailer Sale: 4-place snowmobile trailers 20’ & 24’: Scissor lift trailers; 2017 7’X16’ V-nose ramp door $4,442.00; 2017 6’X12’ V-nose ramp door $2,775.00; 2017 18’ 7k Car hauler MX speedloader $2,799.00; 515972-4554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld. com for inventory & prices! (MCN) HEALTH & MEDICAL LIVING WITH KNEE OR BACK PAIN? Medicare recipients may qualify to receive a pain relieving brace at little or no cost. Call now! 844-668-4578 (MCN) Stop OVERPAYING for your prescriptions! SAVE! Call our licensed Canadian and International pharmacy, compare prices and get $25.00 OFF your first prescription! CALL 888-438-6461 Promo Code CDC201625 (MCN) OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen
Rusty Nail, noon-2 p.m., Trobec’s Bar & Grill, 1 Central Ave S, St. Stephen. St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Ilicil Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-529-9000. Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday.org. St. Joseph City Council, 6 p.m., council chambers, St. Joseph City Hall, 75 Callaway St. E. 363-7201. cityofstjoseph.com. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, 7 p.m., American Legion, 101 W Minnesota St., St. Joseph. Tuesday, Aug. 22 American Red Cross Blood Drive, 12:30-6:30 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2405 Walden Way, St. Cloud. redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-7332767. Central Minnesota Market, 3-5:30 p.m., VA Hospital, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320-251-2498. Hero’s Appreciation Cookout, 5-7 p.m., Millstream Park, 725 CR 75 W., St. Joseph. National Alliance on Mental Health, 7-8:30 p.m., Calvary Community Church, 1200 Roosevelt Road, St. Cloud. 320-259-7101. Wednesday, Aug. 23 Free Trolley Night, 5-9:25 p.m., Metro Bus Transit Center, 510 First St. S., St. Cloud, and Lake George, St. Cloud. ridemetrobus.com and summertimebygeorge.com. Thursday, Aug. 24 Sauk Rapids Chamber, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Sauk Rapids Government Center, 250 Summit Ave. N. 320-2512940. Urban Hope Farmers’ Market, sponsored by Place of Hope Ministries, 2-6 p.m., 511 Ninth Ave. N., One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 844-852-7448 (MCN) Got Knee Pain? Back Pain? Shoulder Pain? Get a pain-relieving brace at little or NO cost to you. Medicare Patients Call Health Hotline Now! 1- 800-604-2613 (MCN) OXYGEN - Anytime. Anywhere. No tanks to refill. No deliveries. The All-New Inogen One G4 is only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: 855-995-5653 (MCN) Diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Asbestos Lung Cancer? If so, you and your family may be entitled to a substantial financial award. We can help you get cash quick! Call 24/7: 866-924-0504 (MCN) CASH PAID for unexpired, sealed DIABETIC TEST STRIPS! 1 DAY PAYMENT & PREPAID shipping. HIGHEST PRICES! Call 1-888-389-0695. www.cash4diabeticsupplies.com (MCN) HOME IMPROVEMENT ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1-800-640-8195 (MCN) Save money with solar! Custom Designed Systems, Free Maintenance, Free Quote & Design. No Out of Pocket Costs. Call now! 866-944-4754 (MCN) Get the perfect yard without lifting a finger! Everything you need from lawn care, soil analysis, weed control, pest control, and more! Call Now 855-675-5704 (MCN) Water Damage in your Home? Call now for a free, fast quote. Insurance approved. Help restore your piece of mind! 866-8651875 (MCN)
St. Cloud. http://placeofhopeministries. org/events/urban-hope-farmers-market-2017/. St. Joseph Food Shelf, open 1-3 p.m., Old City Hall, 25 First Ave. NW, St. Joseph. Family Farmers’ Market, 2-6 p.m., River East parking lot, CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320-252-2422. Market Thursday, 3-6:30 p.m., parking lot of Hardware Hank, Seventh St. N., Sartell. marketmonday.org. Sauk Rapids Farmers’ Market, 4-6:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 2163 Mayhew Lake Road NE, Sauk Rapids. Friday, Aug. 25 American Red Cross Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Cloud Hospital, 1406 Sixth Ave. N. redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Brat sale, sponsored by the Y2K Lions 9 a.m.-5 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW. Proceeds to benefit Chad’s Wing at Place of Hope. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Tae Guk Kwon Do, 3-4 p.m., Independent Lifestyles, 215 N Benton Drive, Sauk Rapids. 320-267-7717. “Granite City Rocks” showcases the work of the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters now through Sept. 30, Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. 320-253-8424. stearns-museum. org. Saturday, Aug. 26 Brat sale, sponsored by the Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Joseph Meat Market, 26 First Ave. NW. Proceeds to benefit Chad’s Wing at Place of Hope. Sunday, Aug. 27 Joe Town Table, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., American Legion, 101 W. Minnesota St., St. Joseph.. centralmncw@gmail. com.
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Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
Council from page 7 notice, some of the big ones (projects) we keep moving back,” Sabart said, “back to the point of some of them being listed as to-bedetermined instead of an actual cost because they do keep slipping. The big ones are tied to development area and expansion.” Wick also noted it would be nice to have the cost numbers broken out by type of funding such as how much of a project might be funded from grants and how much from actual tax dollars. Loso said $3.5 million of the $4.5 million was Parkway grant money. “It’s still a million dollars, but it’s relatively small,” said Loso, referring to the tax dollars the city would owe after the grant money was used for the project. Mayor Rick Schultz added another concern when he asked about money set aside for Minnesota Street landscaping improvements. Schultz also questioned the cost of a new sign welcoming people to St. Joseph. Public Works Director Terry Thene said what was really needed was for the council to give direction as to the type of sign they wanted. Loso said he favored a nice digital sign. There was also some question as to where to site the sign to establish the boundaries of the city. Schultz said he thought the sign should be farther out. “Do you mean out by Cold Spring or what?” Loso quipped. “Should we call Cold Spring and tell them we’re taking over?” The remark drew a hearty laugh, but Schultz continued and said the siting on CR 2 and Hwy. 75 were of concern to him. The question was where the boundaries of the city were established and where might they be in 20 or 30 years. Loso suggested the signs be placed at some prestigious location that would indicate the city boundaries. Weyrens posed the question to the council. “Do you agree the Industrial Park is a priority?” The council seemed to generally agree the industrial park would be a good idea and they should try to move ahead, but
Co-op from page 9 cans used to do before the advent of the big-box chain store – supporting regional farmers and small-batch producers, supporting healthy foods produced without synthetic chemicals, antibiotics and hormones, and keeping a store on a small-town, historic main street. Our community- owned, independent store is a place where shoppers know each other by name and know the suppliers and farms of origin.” The six-cooperative Food Co-
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com Loso was still concerned with the alley-improvement project. He was afraid it might get pushed out and take 10 years to complete. Wick also reminded them there are a number of things that need to get done and the council should probably not get too hung up with simply expanding the city. Sabart said if things like the alley-improvement project were something that needed to get done, then it was possible to add it on to the capital-improvement plan checklist and get those things done next year. He suggested it might be possible to go right into the feasibility-report stage. “I’m going back to what’s important right away,” Wick said. “Let’s just build on what we can. If we have things that need fixing or such, it should be on the capital-improvement plan rather than just coming up with it and start spending money on feasibility right away.” Sabart said the alley improvement may have been missed because there are multiple gravel alleyways in the city. “But stuff on the CIP should be important stuff, not that the alleys aren’t, but if it hasn’t been on the radar prior to tonight, I don’t want to go right into a feasibility study and then take off some other important project,” Wick said. Schultz shifted the focus asking whether the Americans with Disabilities Act transition plan is mandatory. Sabart explained it was an unfunded mandate and the reason it hasn’t been on the radar screen in the past is the city had been able to qualify for federal funding in the past, but MnDOT changed some requirements indicating an ADA transition plan would be needed for work done after 2019 or in process. The ADA was passed in 1990. Wick questioned how that would affect the CIP checklist since funding dollars are involved. Sabart said it would affect federal dollars for street improvement. At that point, Loso opined to him it was more important to get streets and roadways taken care of rather than being concerned about the sign and its placement. Finally, no action was taken at the council. It will take up the issue again later to decide what items are of most importance to
them.
op Coalition educational campaign, “Why Co-ops?”, is the first of what is hoped to be many projects together. Project coordinator, Barb Mann, of Ideal Green Market Co-op, is excited to aid in implementing the vision of this marketing campaign. Mann said, “It’s hoped with a cohesive message and branding of food cooperatives in our region, that it aids in growing the local food economy in our region. As people travel through the region, residents and visitors alike can patronize co-ops wherever they travel, impacting economic growth locally and regionally on multiple levels. Everybody wins!”
The National Joint Powers Alliance is a service cooperative in Minnesota, with a board made up of county commissioners, city council members, mayors and school-board members. The purpose of Innovation Funding is to support initiatives aimed at creating collaboration and improving the region. The Food Coop Coalition Innovation Funding Award of $49,600 was one of six NJPA Innovation Funding awards in 2017, worth $503,600. For more information about NJPA and Innovation Funding, contact: Chelsea Ornelas, public relations and social-media specialist at chelsea.ornelas@njpacoop.org or call 218-895-4164.
Tax-forfeited lots
After moving the issue of taxforfeited lots to be reassessed from the consent agenda to the regular agenda, the council briefly discussed the need for allowing the cost for reassessment on taxforfeited lot sales to be at a term of 0 percent for up to five years for payment. City Administrator Judy Weyrens explained the number of tax-forfeited lots in the city was only 10 and it was thought that passing this action would help to stimulate interest and help to sell the properties. There have been some interested buyers who’ve asked about the cost to be reassessed once the properties are sold. The council approved the measure.
Bonds
Monte Eastvold of Northland Securities informed the council about two bond issues: the 2017A General Obligation Capital Improvement Plan bonds in the amount of $337,000, and 2017B General Obligation (GO) bonds for $697,000. The CIP bonds are used to cover government-center construction costs associated with the old city hall. The GO Bonds have two parts: CBD Alley improvement costs and rehabilitation costs for water-filtration plant one. The funding sources for the projects include debt levy, water revenues and special assessments. Eastvold explained because of the small size of the two bond issues, a bond rating was not requested. Northland marketed the bonds to 18 local financial institutions and was able to secure Granite Community Bank in Cold Spring as a buyer. Interest cost on the CIP bonds is 2.75 percent, and the 2017B GO bonds carry an interest rate of 2.57 percent. The council approved the bond sales.
Pedestrian crossings
Craig Vaughn of the SRF Consulting Group presented a final report on pedestrian crossings in St. Joseph. The crossings studied were College Avenue (CR 2), Fourth Avenue (Northland Drive), 12th Avenue (CR 133), 20th Avenue (CR 134 ). What the study found was
there was a lack of grade-separated crossings meaning pedestrians crossed the road directly on foot rather than using a bridge or a tunnel to access the opposite side of the road. The study also found cars travel at high speeds on Hwy. 75, making it unsafe to cross, that there is a lack of gaps in the sidewalk connectivity and bike lanes (in the city in general) and the pedestrian walk time to cross Hwy. 75 at the 12th Avenue/CR 133 intersection is not long enough to cross both directions of travel in one cycle. One final finding was the proximity of the Cedar Street/Frontage Road north to the Hwy. 75 and Fourth Avenue/Northland Drive intersection causes an unsafe situation. One of the major recommendations for improvement was to create an underpass west of Fourth Avenue/Northland Drive. It was thought this alternative would encourage trail users to use that crossing and would potentially provide connections to both the neighborhood and Fourth Avenue. It would also be compatible with snowmobile traffic and maintain a connection to Cedar Street and the Boulder Ridge Apartments from the Wobegon Trail. The estimated costs range from $2.5 million to $3 million. After hearing the presentation, the council accepted the study.
Alcohol matrix
In another item, the council
11 took a look at revising the alcohol matrix which had not been revised or updated in 10 years. Weyrens provided information from other cities as to how they handle liquor violations. St. Joseph fines, which are only $150, are quite a bit less than most other cities. Weyrens also pointed out no other city has as complex a matrix as St. Joseph. “I would like us to go to a simpler matrix,” Weyrens said. “It really comes down to the time period and how long you want violations to remain with the property and the dollar amount.” It appears there are a number of repeat violators. None of the other cities has quite the same make-up of bar patrons as St. Joseph. Many of the patrons are college students and tagging bars for underage drinkers could easily close them down if the council followed the matrix of other cities. The question becomes whether the goal is to put bars out of business or get them to be more vigilant about whom they serve. St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein agreed other cities did not have quite the same problems as St. Joseph. The city of Northfield is the closest in its make-up of bar patrons. In the end, the council decided it needed more information and a bit more time to gather how the matrices were working in other locales.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
12
Friday, Aug. 18, 2017
Why do you read a local newspaper?
Andy Rose, St. Joseph “To keep up on current events in the city and what’s happening here.”
Eric Brutger, St. Joseph police officer “Just to keep up to date with what’s going on in town. I’m the midnight car so I don’t get to talk to many people.”
Lita Lawler, St. Joseph “I read the newspapers because I want to stay informed. I am interested in worldwide and local events and politics, local entertainment and things happening in the area. I read the Newsleaders and enjoy Denny Dalman’s editorials and to see what’s happening in the area. I like the Bo Diddley’s coupons. If you read the newspaper daily you gain knowledge on a variety of subjects.”
Laura Precourt, St. Joseph “I really enjoy the newspaper because it isn’t a source of technology so because of that the news is held to a higher standard and it’s typically more accurate.” “(I read a local newspaper because) I like learning about local people and happenings. It really helps to build a sense of community.” ~ Sister Karen Rose, OSB
“I read my local newspaper because it has stories about people and events taking place in our local community that I cannot find elsewhere. As I turn the pages, I like the serendipity of discovering things I was not looking for, but that I find interesting and valuable. I especially like that newspapers are devoted to gathering timely, accurate, interesting information in one place.” ~ Pia Lopez, Minnesota Street Market
“I love the newspaper! My dad still lives in St. Joseph and saves the copies of the Newsleader for when he visits me. I can keep up on hometown news that doesn’t get reported in bigger news publications. I love to see what’s happening in my elementary school, what the latest kerfuffle is in the police blotter, what big events and changes are going on around town, and which traditions continue. I even like to check out the ads to see which businesses are still going strong and which are new to town. I love the Newsleader is just long enough for me to read over breakfast and linger a little longer. If it was a bigger newspaper, I could only get through a section, but being able to read all of it means I can catch up on my four or five issues from my dad’s latest visit that much quicker. Sure, I could read it online, but I love the feel of the paper folded out on my table or across my lap. It’s nice to have something tangible to hold. Thanks, Newsleader, for keeping me up to date with the local news!” ~ Danielle Kelm, former St. Joseph resident Bob Ringstrom, former Sartell police chief and current St. Joseph resident “The Newsleaders of St. Joseph and Sartell is the most efficient medium to reach our communities with a personable, yet relevant reflection of what is locally important. We are flooded with e-news and world concerns – it’s not as if we’d be missing out! If I couldn’t pick up a copy of the Newsleader and get a little ink-smudge on my fingertips, it wouldn’t be ‘my news.’” photo polls were taken by
Carolyn Bertsch, Dennis Dalman, Dave DeMars, Darren Diekmann and Cori Hilsgen
St. Joseph Mayor Rick Schultz “Well, I’m one of those old souls who has been reading the (print) newspaper since I was quite young. “I still do and it probably makes me a minority. I recall delivering papers as a young boy. “In this community, the local paper begins community discourse, by allowing everyone to understand and read about the most recent information from around the area. Curious minds like to know what is happening in their community. “As I grow older, I think reading helps with emotional and mental stimulation; it helps my brain and body. “For many years as an avid athlete, I turned exclusively to the sports section. I wanted to know how my favorite teams and players performed the prior day. “Today, I enjoy the blotter, reading about the days or week’s list of crime and unusual activity in the area. “Our support of news organizations gives them the ability to report on stories they find relevant. Even where there may be no physical newspaper distribution, it will still matter that the paper is worth reading.” “I like reading the St. Joseph Newsleader because there is so much bad news that is reported and I like to read all of the good news about local people and how they are serving others.” ~ St. Joseph Post Office staff
Laurie Putnam, Kennedy Community School principal “One of the things I love best about newspapers is that it brings back memories from my childhood at my grandparents’ home. They would read the paper each morning over breakfast and give me the cartoon section. I felt so special to be included in what seemed like a tradition for grown ups. The smell and feel of newspapers brings me back to those special memories. “Our communities would be less informed, less connected (if we didn’t have newspapers). “Newspapers provide information for me each day. I like reading local and national news though still have a fondness for the comics section.”
“I really enjoy reading the Newsleader because it makes me aware of people in our local community who are doing good and interesting things.” Dr. Jerry Wetterling, St. Joseph resident and owner of St. Joseph Family Chiropractic St. Joseph Police Chief Joel Klein “I read the local newspaper to keep in touch with what’s going on in the community because newspapers are a good resource for that. And it doesn’t pay to read the New York Times because I don’t care what’s happening in New York.
“(The best thing about newspapers is) the ability to work together to communicate what needs to be communicated and that we help each other. It’s very important for us to have that open relationship because we do help each other. “(A world without newspapers) would be probably a whole lot of different communities that wouldn’t know what else is going on out there. Each would be living in a bubble. “I always look at the newspaper to see what’s happening and to see what we need to prepare for and things we need to support, and speak up for and against, to try to get the whole story. One newspaper may have it one way, one the other so it keeps me on top of things. “My favorite sections of the newspaper are headlines and local, local stuff where good things are happening to good people. In light of things that go on in the world, good news is nice to see once in awhile. “I read a mix (of online and paper). It depends on where I’m at. It’s nice to put my phone down to read a paper; sometimes we all need to slow down and be patient and take some time to actually read. Everything is so audio based. We’re losing the art of being able to read and write. I like technology and hate it at the same time.” “Thank you for your continued support in documenting Stearns County history. The human stories, news accounts and features you publish make a difference in telling our story now and for future generations. Well done!” ~ Stearns History Museum
Why publish the Newsleaders? Nearly 30 years ago, I had the opportunity as a young whipper-snapper straight out of journalism school to develop and build a community newspaper for St. Joseph. I was scared stiff and had no business acumen whatsoever, but with hard work, blood, sweat and tears and a lot of passion for the written word and to tell people’s stories, the St. Joseph Newsleader was born. Five years later, I added the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. As a free-distribution newspaper that’s delivered to every address in each of our communities, we would not be here without the generous support of our advertisers and the loyal readers who patronize those businesses. I also commend my awesome staff who has stuck with me through thick and thin. It’s been my pleasure to see the Newsleaders grow throughout the past 30 years; I hope to see them flourish even more in the next 30 years. Est. 1989
~ Janelle Von Pinnon, publisher
Est. 1995