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Newsleader Sartell
Friday, March 14, 2014 Volume 19, Issue 11 Est. 1995
Town Crier Community Ed offers retirement class
“When Should You Begin Receiving Social Security Retirement Benefits?” a class by Marcus Anderson of Thrivent Financial, will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, March 20 at the District Service Center, 212 3rd Ave. N., Sartell. Anderson will discuss the following: What your full retirement age is and how your benefit is determined; how retiring earlier than, or later than, your full retirement will affect your Social Security benefit; why it’s important to plan together with your spouse, and strategies to boost your retirement and survivor’s benefits; and how working after you begin receiving Social Security could affect how much you receive. To register, call 320-253-4036 or visit sartellststephencommunityed.com.
DFL candidates seek March 15 endorsement
On Saturday, March 15, 140 DFLers from Senate District 13, which includes Sartell and St. Joseph, will gather at 9:30 a.m. at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph. They will hear from congressional candidates, including Joe Perske of Sartell and Jim Read of Avon, seeking to replace Rep. Michele Bachmann, who is not seeking re-election for the 6th Congressional District seat. They also will select 14 delegates and 14 alternates to go to the May 3 congressional district endorsing convention in Monticello, which will endorse a DFL candidate for the open congressional seat.
Sexual assault center seeks volunteer advocates
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Walesch, local talent to perform at ‘Pine Groove’
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
One of the hottest bands in the Midwest, the Andrew Walesch Big Band, will perform at the Pine Groove Arts and Crafts Festival at Saturday, April 5 in Sartell. The two-part event is the annual fundraiser for the Sartell Music Association. Walesch, a graduate of St. John’s University, is a big-band leader, singer, composer and arranger who has garnered rave reviews for his renditions of bigband-era music, including his tributes to the likes of Frank Sinatra and George Gershwin. He is also skilled in just about every other genre of music and has recorded two CDs. Walesch has performed in cities throughout the Midwest, including prestigious venues in Nashville, Chicago and at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis. Walesch and his band will perform at 7 p.m. April 5 at Mulligan’s Event Center in Sartell. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Mulligan’s (320-656-9000) or on the Sartell Music Association’s website www.sartellmusic.org. Mulligan’s is partnering for the event with the SMA so much of the proceeds will be donated to the SMA, which uses Walesch • page 5
Multi-talented musician and singer Andrew Walesch is wowing listeners throughout the Midwest with his piano-playing, singing, original songs and his big-band arrangements for shows that pay tribute to the greats of the big-band era, such as Frank Sinatra and George Gershwin. Walesch is a graduate of St. John’s University.
Seven SMA students honored at science fair by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Seven Sartell Middle School students returned home Feb. 22 with awards from the 68th annual Central Minnesota Regional Science Fair at St. Cloud State University. The winners premium awards are Peter Amundson, Peyton Braun, Kobey Cofer, Elizabeth Ruder and Madeline Thieschafer. Ruder and Thie-
schafer also won the Broadcam Master’s Award. Zachary Christopherson won the Water Award, and Rory Spanier won the runner-up honor for the Minnesota Alpha Theta Mathematic’s Award. At the Science Fair, about 250 students from area schools presented their science projects, explained them to a panel of judges and answered judges’ questions. “The kids really enjoyed
The Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center in St. Cloud is looking for individuals who would like to learn how to work with crisis calls, serve as sexual-assault advocates to victims at the hospital, and provide services to victims dealing with the criminal justice system. A 40-hour training is required and will be offered on Monday evenings starting March 17 for seven Mondays and two Saturdays. Call Renae to sign up at 320-2514357 or go online to www.cmsac. org for more information.
it,” said Angela McSorley, who teaches eighth-grade science at Sartell Middle School. “They loved to explain to the judges how they set up their projects, what they learned from projects and how they came up with new ideas from doing those projects. They also enjoyed meeting other kids involved in science.” McSorley was at the fair, along with fellow SMS science instructor Gina Anderson, who
contributed photo
Luke Payne of Sartell plays radio disc jockey Vince Fontaine in the St. John’s Prep School musical, Grease, which will be performed at the Paramount Theater March 21-23.
teaches seventh-graders. This was the third year SMS participated in the event at SCSU. The premium awardwinners can, if they choose, compete at the state science fair at the end of March. Three examples of the projects presented by the SMS students are the following: “To Build a Fire” by Peter Amundson. Through lots of experimentation, Amundson tried Science • page 4
Payne plays DJ in musical Grease
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
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photo by Heidi Ross, Andrew Walesch website
Luke Payne of Sartell has a minor but plum role in the popular musical Grease, which will be performed by St. John’s Prep School students March 22-23 at the Paramount Theater in downtown St. Cloud. Payne is one of five SJP students from Sartell who has roles in the play. The others are Kyra Hulsebus, Sydney Lo, Evan Morrison and Cormac Smith. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 23. Tickets are available at www.paramountarts.org. Payne, the son of Sandy and Tom Payne, plays Vince Fontaine, a local radio disc jockey, who’s putting on a show for the teenagers in the play. “Vince is a kind of one-dimensional cardboard cutout character,” said Payne, who is 17. “He’s often heard in the play but not seen. He does appear in the dance contest scene because he’s the judge of it.”
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As Vince, Payne wears a loud blue-plaid suit, a kind of goofy-garish 1950s style. That suit and the other costumes in Grease were designed by Payne’s mother, Sandy, with help from other seamstresses and Sandy’s mother, Margaret Melcher. “I don’t sing any songs solo, but I do get to sing in the chorus,” Payne said. “The show is incredibly fun to be in. We really enjoy all the dancing, and it gets our energies up.” Payne has participated in theater productions since he was in seventh grade. He’s played roles in Peter Pan, Our Town, Damn Yankees, Beauty and the Beast and enjoyed the choice role of the Lion in The Wizard of Oz. In 1971, Grease debuted on Broadway and became a hit movie later, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The 1950s-style rock ‘n’ roll musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey has been an international favorite, and many of its songs have become classics. Grease • page 8
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Friday, March 14, 2014
People
contributed photo contributed photo
The Sartell Youth Hockey Squirt B team played and won the championship game in the District 5 Year End Tournament on March 1 and 2 at the St. Michael-Albertville Arena. The championship game, which was against St. Michael-Albertville, went into overtime with a 3-3 score with Sartell then winning in a shoot-out. Team members include the following: (front row, left to right) Jay Thayer, Brandon Bonach, Billy Vogt, Carter Johnson and Erika Johnson; (middle row) Joe Folsom, Cobi Kiffmeyer and Ben Cihlar; and (back row) Logan Theisen, Ella Boerger, Casey Hansen, Nathanael Fimrite and Morgan Cromwell. Coaches are Brian Johnson (head coach), Jereme Fimrite, Corey Hansen, Brian Bonach and Brent Boerger.
Panache of Sartell was recently named a 2014 Vendor of Distinction by the Central Minnesota Wedding Association for its Schneider exceptional service to their guests in 2013. The award was presented to Tressie Schneider, owner of Panache Salon and Spa. Eighteen Sartell students recently graduated from St. Cloud State University. They and their majors are as follows: Sarah Anderson, bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders; Ivan Cholopray, bachelor’s in biomedical sciences; Nicole Couch, bachelor’s in community psychology, cum laude; Benja-
If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the Sartell Police Department at 320-2518186 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. Feb. 23 1:21 a.m. Walmart. Intoxicated male. A report was made regarding an intoxicated adult male sleeping in the bathroom. Officers arrived and located the male, who stated he had nowhere to go. He was transported to detox without incident.
min DeMorett, bachelor’s in nursing, cum laude; Derek Ehlert, bachelor’s in mass communications, cum laude; Nicholas Garland, bachelor’s in political science; Michelle Heimbach, bachelor’s in management; Molley Kroska-Stock, bachelor’s in finance; Tyler Monson, bachelor’s in marketing, cum laude; Lancer Naber, bachelor’s in elementary/K-6 education, cum laude; Kayla Ohman, bachelor’s in accounting, cum laude; Melissa Schmidt, bachelor’s in nursing, summa cum laude; Tyler Schroeder, bachelor’s in political science, summa cum laude; Benjamin Tauer, bachelor’s in biology; Ryan Unger, bachelor’s in studio art; Sean Vold, bachelor’s in public administration; Brittany Waldvogel, bachelor’s in nursing, summa cum laude; and Kelsey Yasgar, bachelor’s in nursing, magna cum laude.
12:36 p.m. 13th Street N. Property damage. A report was made regarding a mailbox that had been damaged sometime overnight. 8:11 p.m. 15th Street N. Suspicious activity. A report was made regarding a brake light illuminated on a vehicle at an empty residence. Officers arrived and cleared the home and found faulty wiring on the vehicle. Feb. 24 1:53 p.m. 17th Street N. Welfare check. A report was made regarding an elderly male standing at the end of a driveway for a long period of time. An officer arrived and the male was not located.
Sartell gymnasts Claire Boschee (left), a freshman, and Anna Neeser, a junior, competed Feb. 22 at the State High School Gymnastics Individual Championships. Of 32 competitors, Boschee finished third on the uneven parallel bars (9.6), 16th on beam (9.1625) and 10th in the all around (36.7875). Neeser finished 13th on vault (9.375).
Amber Zapzalka of St. Stephen, recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in special education academic and behavioral strategist. Two Sartell students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at Bemidji (Minn.) State University. They are Tera Altermatt and Erin Deters. Brianna Pilarski of St. Stephen was recently named to the fall dean’s list at Bemidji (Minn.) State University. Three Sartell students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at Bethel University, St. Paul. They and their parents are as follows: Morgan Boe, daughter of Lisa and Mark Boe, a senior; Alexis Eickhoff, is the daughter of Amy and William and Amy Eickhoff, a junior; and Adam
Blotter
4:43 p.m. 27th Street N. Welfare check. A report was made regarding a juvenile male walking down the road, not dressed appropriately for the weather. An officer was able to locate the male who said he thought it was warmer out. The officer did transport the male to his destination. 11:02 p.m. 17th Street S. Suspicious activity. A report was made regarding an unknown person ringing the resident’s doorbell and then running away. An officer was not able to locate anyone in the area. Feb. 25 12:27 p.m. Pinecone Road. Theft. A report was made regarding a former female employee eating
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The Sartell sixth-grade boys basketball team finished first in the St. Cloud Quarry Classic Basketball Tournament by defeating the Princeton Tigers for the championship. This was the final tournament of the season. Team members include the following: (front row, left to right) Dominic Hagy, Thomas Ellis and Matt Sieben; (back row) Coach John Ellis, Cody Lantis, Brady Schmidt, Brian Amundson, Logan Carlson, Coach Brad Carlson and Coach Mike Sieben. Wagner, son of Lori and Paul Wagner, a senior. Students must attain a minimum grade-point average of 3.6 to qualify for this honor. Tera Altermatt, of Sartell, recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bemidji (Minn.) State University. Three Sartell students recently earned the fall Chancellor’s Award at the University of Stout, Menomonie, Wis. They and their majors are as follows: Rachel Granzow, bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant and tourism; Cassandra Samson, bachelor’s degree in graphic communications management; and Heather Yelle, bachelor’s degree in environmental science. Students must attain a minimum
items that were never paid for. The female admitted to the theft. She was issued a citation. Feb. 26 7:05 p.m. Pinecone Road. Vehicle in ditch. A report was made regarding two vehicles stuck in the ditch. When an officer arrived, a passerby was pulling the vehicle out. The officer provided safety lights until the vehicle was removed. 9:31 p.m. CR 120. Welfare check. A report was made regarding an adult female who had some mental health issues and needed assistance. Officers arrived and were able to calm her down. An officer transported the female to the hospital and after her evaluation, brought
grade-point average of 3.5 to qualify for this honor. Ten Sartell students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. They and their majors are as follows: Ashley Bartlett, sophomore, biological sciences; Nathaniel Burge, sophomore, biological sciences; Molly Hurd, sophomore, design; Joseph Lawson, junior, science and engineering; Matthew Nahan, senior, biological sciences; Ryan Nahan, senior, biological sciences; David Rose, junior, science and engineering; Ryan Scharf, freshman, science and engineering; Alexander Stroh, junior, science and engineering; and Logan Strom, senior, liberal arts. Students must attain a minimum 3.66 grade-point average.
her back to her vehicle. Feb. 27 3:50 p.m. Connecticut Avenue. Verbal. A report was made regarding a mentally ill adult male yelling at employees. Officers arrived and were able to calm the male down. He was released to a family member without further incident. Feb. 28 8:54 a.m. 14th Avenue E. Arrest warrant. An arrest warrant was issued for two adult males. They were both located and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. Blotter • page 3
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Friday, March 14, 2014
Blotter from page 2 3:06 p.m. Benton Drive N. Traffic stop. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 47 mph in a posted 30mph zone. The driver stated she was unaware of the speed limit. She was issued a citation and released. March 1 4:52 p.m. Benton Drive N. DWI. A vehicle was witnessed driving at a high rate of speed. The officer detected the odor of alcoholic beverages and the driver was unable to complete field sobriety. He was placed under arrest and transported to Benton County Jail without incident. 8:21 p.m. 6th Avenue N. Agency
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HELP WANTED Website and Admin. Coordinator St. Joseph, MN
Overstock Management Group, LLC is seeking a website and admin. coordinator. Computer skills required. Graphics, programming or marketing experience a plus, not required. Possible full-time opportunity. Send resume and wage requirements to: jobs@overstockmanagement.com
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com assist. Officers assisted Sauk Rapids Police Department with a physical domestic. Officers arrived and assisted in restraining a hysterical adult female. Officers helped in dressing the female and getting her transported to receive medical care. March 2 1:42 a.m. 19th Avenue N. DWI. A report was made regarding a vehicle that had gone off the road and hit a tree. An officer arrived and found the adult female had been consuming alcohol and was unable to complete field sobriety testing. She was placed under arrest and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. March 3 10:15 a.m. Walmart. Theft. An adult male was witnessed leaving the store with unpaid merchandise. The male was issued a citation.
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Schools alive with sound of music by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell schools are alive with the sound of music. Concerts for the public are scheduled right through to the very end of May. Residents may want to clip this article to remind themselves of the musical delights that await them. Monday, March 17: 7:30 p.m. in highschool auditorium. High School and Elementary Honors Choir. Monday, May 5: 7:30 p.m. in high-school auditorium. High School Spring Jazz/Pop Concert. Thursday, May 8: 7 p.m. in middle-school north gymnasium. Middle School Spring Choir by fifth- and sixth-graders. 8 p.m. in north gymnasium. Middle School Spring Choir by seventh- and eighth-graders.
Monday, May 12: 7:30 p.m. in high-school auditorium. High School Bands’ Spring Concert. Thursday, May 15: 7 p.m. in middleschool north gymnasium. Middle School Spring Band Concert by fifth- and sixthgraders. 8 p.m. in north gymnasium. Middle School Spring Band Concert by seventh- and eighth-graders. Monday, May 19: 7:30 p.m. in high-school auditorium. High School Spring Choir. Thursday, May 22: 7 p.m. middle-school multi-purpose room. Middle School Spring Orchestra Concert. Thursday, May 29: 7 p.m. in middleschool multi-purpose room. Middle School Honors musicians concert by seventh- and eighth-graders. Throughout those months, there will also be many daytime “Music in Our Schools” programs in Sartell’s two elementary schools.
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Friday, March 14, 2014
Family Owned and Operated Hearing Center
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The Sartell Middle School participants in the St. Cloud State University Central Minnesota Science Fair are the following: (front row, left to right) Paige Harmon, Samuel Fernholz, Ashley Bieniek, Libby Crandall, Katelyn Goodwin, Peter Amundson and Jack Engle; (middle row) Lydia Anderson, Hayden Roelofs, Tina Chen, Abigail Veitch, Caity Elwell, Cindy Zhang, Elizabeth Ruder, Jacob Miller and Tyree Thompson; (back row) David Anderson, Nick Juntunen, Aidan Speckhard, Rebekah Kucala, Blayne Gardner, Anna Lehto, Kylie Zochert, Jack Hackenmueller, Sean Kurvers, Montgomery Belmont, Madeline Thieschafer, Alexis Koltes, Peyton Braun and Kobey Cofer. Not pictured: Zachary Christopherson and Maia Kurvers.
HELP WANTED Part-time Warehouse St. Joseph, MN
Overstock Bait is looking for an energetic individual part-time in our warehouse. Shipping experience and/ or computer skills will be a plus. Individual must be able to be on their feet all day. Send resume to: jobs@overstockbait.com
Science from front page
to perfect the best way to build a campfire by various placements of logs and other factors. He then kept track of how hot the fire became, its duration and other calibrations. “Supersolubility” by Kobey Cofer and Peyton Braun. They experimented on the times it took to dissolve certain over-thecounter medications to test them against advertisement claims for those products. “Feathers and Vanes: Flight Through Wind” by Elizabeth Ruder. The effectiveness of various fletches (plastic feathers) on
archery arrows were tested for efficiency in a wind tunnel she designed. Other project examples were the testing of how various types of music affect heart rates and the relative effectiveness of some antibiotics on bacteria. “It was such a good experience to communicate the projects in a professional manner,” McSorley said. “They’ll get more and more experience every year. We want to build on this program and see more students go to the fair in the coming years. These students are so excited to learn.” A grant from the Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation covered the costs of the registration fees for the Science Fair for all the students who participated.
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Friday, March 14, 2014
Walesch from front page funds to give scholarships and to purchase needed supplies, including instruments, for the Sartell music programs. The SMA is a non-profit group of parents, students and other residents. Its mission is to enhance the music curriculum in the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. Part I of the Pine Groove Arts and Crafts Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., also April 5, at Sartell Middle School. It’s a free event for all. There will be lots of arts and crafts vendors at the event, along with many live musical performances by Sartell music faculty, students and by GREAT Theatre performers, including some that were in the recent epic production of Les Misérables. Also performing will be David Lumley, Sartell music teacher; the St. John’s Boys Choir; the Sartell High School Jazz Band; a Sartell faculty rock band; and the Sartell Com-
munity Band. Arts-and-crafts vendors are still being accepted. They should contact www.sartellmusic.org. People may also donate to the SMA on that website. Another performer that day will be Maureen Putnam, SMA board president who is widely known in the area for her musical talents. She was a member of the Les Misérables cast. Putnam is a former music director in Sartell and long-time piano teacher who is now liturgy director of Christ Our Light Parish of PrincetonZimmerman. Putnam also taught piano to Andrew Walesch, the star of the April 5 event at Mulligan’s. Walesch, she said, was an excellent student whose musical talents rapidly bloomed into his current success. “There are two purposes for the Pine Groove Arts and Crafts Festival,” Putnam said. “We want to bring the experience of music and art to Sartell and other communities and we want to help support music in the Sartell school district.”
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Like other SMA board members and supporters, Putnam has a passion for music. Indeed, music is a very strong bond in her family. Husband Tom Speckhard, a teacher at SJU, is a singer and member of the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. Their children – Aidan, 14, and Sophia, 10 – are also musically talented. Both play piano and sing. Aidan plays drums and Sophia plays violin.
Putnam is excited about the new energies of the current SMA board. Its members are Julie Barkley, an instructional leader at Discovery School in Waite Park; Patrick Moen, local attorney and violinist; Carol Mossey, a registered nurse and rehabilitation consultant; Royce Nies, a financial adviser; Pete Olson, a retired band director and principal for the Foley school system; and Melanie Ze-
5 nzen, a nurse anesthetist at the St. Cloud Hospital. Zenzen has a daughter, Emma, who is a ninth-grader at Sartell High School and who plays acoustic guitar and sings in the highschool choir. “I like to support the arts and music in schools,” Zenzen said. “I’ve supported sports, too, and now I’m supporting arts and music as well.”
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, March 14, 2014
Opinion
Our View Raise wage for the young, and for all struggling workers Since when did a consensus develop that young people, when it comes to wages, are second-class citizens? In so many recent debates about raising the minimum wage, opponents are quick to point out those who work minimum-wage jobs are mainly young people, in their teens or early 20s, and since they are not primary wage-earners, they don’t need a higher-than-minimum wage. What contorted reasoning. It’s even downright mean-spirited. First of all, shouldn’t we honor young working people by paying them wages that will make them proud to be part of the work force, members on their way to achieving the American Dream? Second, why would it matter if young people are living at home and are not primary wageearners. Not to forget, many of their parents may be minimum-wage earners, too, or struggling to pay bills and provide for their children. Doesn’t it make sense to pay young people a decent wage to help their parents make ends meet. And whether they live at home or not, isn’t it the right thing to do to pay them enough so they could save some money to help pay for college or training to improve their lot in life? There’s another good reason for boosting the minimum wage for young people. In starting out fresh in life, they have a lot of extra expenses, such as buying and maintaining a used vehicle, car insurance, high gas prices, rent, utilities and escalating grocery prices. Even established adults working for minimum wage cannot afford all of those necessities. There is yet another good reason to up the minimum wage, even if one believes young people do not need a wage boost. Many minimumwage workers are not young people; a good many of them, as anyone ought to know, are ages 30 and up, many even in their 60s. Just stop at a fastfood restaurant and see how many older people are handing you burgers and fries. There are an estimated 360,000 people in Minnesota making $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum wage) or below that amount. The Minnesota minimum wage is $6.15. It is cruelty worthy of Ebenezer Scrooge to expect any human being to squeak through on that paltry pay. In buying power, adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage is worth one-third of what it was in 1974, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor. Obstructionist Republicans and some Democrats in the U.S. Congress have been balking about raising the minimum wage, even though up to 80 percent of people, including vast numbers of Republican voters, agree it should be raised. Many states have boosted their minimum wages this past year to more than $10 an hour. In the Minnesota Legislature, there is an effort to raise it to $9.50 by 2015. It should be done. To do anything less is inexcusable, a slap in the face to young people and to all others struggling to make a living in this unfairly lopsided economy.
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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 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.
How can olive oil be ‘extra virgin?’ What the heck is “Extra Virgin Olive Oil?” I’ve often wondered that. Every time a TV cook used that phrase, I would chuckle. How can any oil (or person, for that matter) be an “extra” virgin? Last I checked, you’re either a virgin or you’re not. Anybody who claims they’re extra-virgin must be a saint in shining armor. The other day, curiosity led me to my computer where I spent some time researching the subject of olive oil. I learned a lot of interesting facts I’d like to share with readers. I even learned what extra-virgin olive oil is – or is supposed to be. I say “supposed to be” because fully 70 percent of olive oils sold in the United States and in many other countries as “extra virgin” are anything but. So, as they say, caveat emptor – let the buyer beware. Genuine extra-virgin olive oil is derived from the first cold pressing of fresh olives right off the trees. It must contain no more than 0.8 percent acidity and must past the taste test, with no “sensory defects,” which are described as the oil tasting musty, fusty, winey (vinegary) or with muddy sediments. A “first cold press” means the olives were crushed just one time using no high heat or chemicals. Only about 10 percent of all olive oils sold are genuine extra-virgin. Just plain old “virgin olive oil,” if it’s the real thing, can have acidity levels of up to 1.5 percent and must be deemed to taste “good.” Then there are lower grades of olive oil, which are OK, but they are derived from many processes usually resulting in inferior grades of olive oil, blended before bottling, from many sources in many countries. I used to think if a bottle was stamped with “Product of
Dennis Dalman Editor Italy,” it must be the real thing. Not necessarily so. I learned oil may be bottled in Italy, but its contents are often a mongrel melange of inferior oils from far and wide. In 2008, 400 Italian police raided 85 farms and arrested 23 people in what was known as “Operation Golden Oil.” These so-called olive-oil producers had been adding chlorophyll to sunflower oil and soybean oil and passing it off as “extra-virgin olive oil.” Years ago in Spain, an estimated 700 people may have died after consuming an extravirgin olive oil that was, in fact, rapeseed oil adulterated with aniline (an industrial lubricant). Another example of olive-oil fraud is Swedish turnip oil, flavored and colored, posing as the real thing. I don’t mean to alarm people. I’m sure all olive oils, including inferior ones on market shelves in the United States, are likely safe. I’ve purchased almost all brands of oil available at local markets and found most to be at least decent-tasting. But then again, I’ve probably never tasted the genuine article – the extra-virgin. Sales of olive oil amount to about $1.5 billion in the United States, because in recent years, heart-healthy olive oil, like fine wines, has gained a wider consumer base. So it comes as a disappointment to learn we’ve been paying inflated prices for inferior oils labeled as “extra-virgin.”
According to olive-oil experts, known as oleologists, there are ways to read bottle labels that can give strong indications if extra-virgin is, in fact, extra-virgin. 1. Look for a harvest date. Highquality olive oils should be used within 60 days of that date. 2. The region of a country the oil is from. 3. The “cultivar” (type of olive used). Fake olive oils don’t have this on their labels. If a bottle does not have that information, it’s probably not extra-virgin or even virgin. Like good wines, the best oils impart unique tastes due to climate and soils. The tastes can have hints of green-apple skin, fresh-cut grass aroma, banana, pine nut, almonds or other, depending on where they’re from. They can also have peppery or floral “finish.” But unlike wines, olive oils do not age well. Not at all. The fresher the olive oil the better. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place. According to experts, here are the brands to avoid if you are seeking the finest oils: Bertolli, Carapelli, Colavita, Pompeiian, Newman’s Own. Those are, unfortunately, the most common brands in local markets. Here are some of the finest, whose prices range from very reasonable to costly: Omaggio, Ottavio, Corto Olive, Trader Joes, Oleostepa, Lucini, Kirkland Organic, Cobram Estate, Lucero, McEvoy Ranch Organic, California Olive Ranch. Today, I ordered two bottles of the latter from amazon.com. It cost $11.39 for a 25.4 fluid-ounce bottle. Not a bad price. Shipping was $4.95. I’m eager to try a genuine extra-virgin olive oil, probably for the first time in my life.
Public defenders essential for justice for all With all of the law-enforcement-related television dramas out there, most people are familiar with the Miranda warning. You know how it goes: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you.” Or something to that effect. But have you ever thought about what those words mean, that “if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you?” Minnesota has a state public-defender system. Public defenders are lawyers employed by the state who are appointed to represent individuals charged with a crime who qualify financially. They are also appointed to represent juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent offense if the juvenile and the family qualify. Criminal charges carry with them the potential of jail time and in the case of delinquent offenses the potential for out-of home placement of the juvenile offender. These are both threats to an individual’s liberty and as such the right to a court-appointed attorney attaches if they qualify financially. An individual qualifies financially if they receive some type of means-tested (financial-based) public assistance through the state or federal government. This may include medical assistance, food stamps, cash benefits or Supplemental Security Income through the Social Security Administration, to name a few. An individual may also qualify financially if the judge finds they do not have sufficient assets or income to pay the costs charged by private attorneys in their area. This standard gives latitude
Michelle Lawson District Judge to the court in determining eligibility. Household income is considered when determining eligibility. That means if a defendant has a spouse or live-in girlfriend/boyfriend who is part of the household, that adult’s income is considered as well. Unless an individual receives some type of public assistance, he or she will likely be required to make a $75 public defender copayment to help defray the costs of the public-defender’s office. In the event a defendant’s eligibility is marginal or close, a public defender may still be appointed to represent an individual, but they would likely be required to further reimburse the state to help defray public defender costs. The amount of reimbursement is set by the judge. The public defender copayment and further reimbursement are generally waived when an individual receives public assistance and has little to no income. There are limited instances when an individual may qualify for appointment of an attorney at public expense in non-criminal cases. Those instances include guardianships/conservatorships, commitments, child-protection matters, paternity and contempt proceedings. A guardianship/conservatorship case is one where one individual seeks control over the decision-making authority over another individual’s person and/or prop-
erty when the subject of the petition is unable to make those decisions for themselves due to a lack of decision-making capacity. A commitment proceeding involves a mentally ill or chemically dependent individual being confined to a treatment facility as they pose a serious risk of harm to themselves or others if left untreated. Child-protection proceedings may involve the removal of a child from their parent or guardians due to abuse or neglect. A paternity proceeding determines the parent-child relationship between a father and child. The right to court-appointed counsel in a paternity action extends to both the mother and father and applies only to the issue of paternity and not related issues of custody and child support. Finally, a contempt proceeding is one involving an allegation that an individual has failed to comply with the terms of a court order and jail time is sought in order to induce compliance, most often involving cases on nonpayment of child support. Each of these instances involves the potential restriction of an individual’s liberty or a right deemed so important in the law that the right to an attorney is necessary for justice to be served. The costs for attorneys appointed in these non-criminal matters are paid by the county and usually involves attorneys under contract with the court to provide representation in these instances. Public defenders are essential to upholding the constitutional protections afforded to every U.S. citizen under the law. Michelle W. Lawson, based in Moorhead, is a district court judge for the Seventh Judicial District.
Friday, March 14, 2014 Friday, March 14 Discovery Day, students in grades 5-11 are invited to tour. To RSVP call 320-363-3315, option 3. St. John’s Prep. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 CR 2 N., St. Joseph. Nun Banquet, 4:30-7 p.m., meatless soups/chili, bread and cookies, St. Benedict’s Monastery dining room, St. Joseph. Benefits Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. Fish Fry, 5-8 p.m., Stride Academy fundraier, El Paso Sports Bar & Grill, St. Joseph. Saturday, March 15 Women’s Health 101, free health screenings, speakers, educational booths, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., CentraCare Health Plaza, 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud, 320-229-4980. Community Tapping Day, 2-5 p.m., inaugural maple syrup tapping day for 2014, St. John’s Outdoor University, Collegeville. www.csbsju.edu/
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Community Calendar
OutdoorU.htm Fish Fry, 5-7:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 145 2nd Ave. NE, Rice. 320-393-2725
Sunday, March 16 Sunday at the Abbey, 7 p.m. St. John’s Abbey Chapter House, Collegeville. Sister Ephrem Hollermann, OSB, “Whatever Happened to Sunday? The Rule of Benedict and Sabbath Rest.” Monday, March 17 Swanning Around St. John’s, 6:30-8 p.m., natural history lecture series, New Science Center, St. John’s University, Collegeville. www.csbsju. edu St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion in St. Joseph. Tuesday, March 18 Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767.
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Wednesday, March 19 Car Seat Clinic, 3-6 p.m, certified technicians check the safety and fit of your car seat in your car. Free service. Gold Cross Ambulance garage, 2800 7th St. N., St. Cloud. 320-656-7021.
Thursday, March 20 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell. Friday, March 21 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Fish Fry, 5-8 p.m., St. Joe Baseball fundraiser, El Paso Sports Bar & Grill, St. Joseph. Saturday, March 22 Fish Fry, 5-7:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 145 2nd Ave. NE, Rice. 320-393-2725
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Grease from front page Originally, the Broadway version of Grease was considered
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
bold and raucous, riddled with vulgarities. But subsequent productions were toned down to more family-friendly versions, including the current production by St. John’s Prep School. SJP’s Grease features students
who hail from five countries. The musical examines the love woes of 10 teens from working-class families at Rydell Senior High School. The show’s two main characters are Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski, who go through the ups and downs of young love. Among the others in the play are members of a clique called the “Pink Ladies” and the “Burger Palace Boys.” The play includes lots of dancing, chorus showstoppers and 14 songs. The SJP version also contains a few tweaked surprises for those familiar with the mov-
ie version. The tweaked lines have to do with the importance of affirming one’s own true identity, even under peer pressure. There are 65 SJP students in Grease, which include 27 actors, work crew and backstage helpers. It is directed by Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer, with musical direction by Jeff Engholm. In his long career at SJP, Niebauer has directed 35 plays and 20 musicals, as well as an opera workshop and theater productions in St. Cloud. Niebauer said audiences will
Friday, March 14, 2014 likely be wowed by the stage set, which took three huge trucks to move to the Paramount stage. The scenery rolls on and off the stage during the production, and there is even a garage where the musical’s famed car, “Greased Lightnin’” is parked. The orchestra-band is perched at the very top, on the highest level of the stage setting. “I’ve always enjoyed music and dancing,” said Niebauer, who is 62. He is confident audiences will greatly enjoy the energetic dancing and singing in Grease.