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Friday, Sept. 13, 2013 Volume 24, Issue 36 Est. 1989
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Reiland organized regional trail ride after Sept. 11 by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Town Crier Pottery on the Deck this Saturday
Pottery on the Deck will be held from 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 on the outdoor deck recently built between the laundromat and the Minnesota Street Food and Art Co-op in downtown St. Joseph. The event will feature the art opening at the co-op; food, coffee and wine samples from Local Blend; local massage therapists Sue Alexander Method Massage and Joseph’s Salon and Spa; and live music by Dave Cofell.
Sept. 16 talk focuses on faith, bereavement
“Dark Night of the Soul: Tragedy and Suffering in the Life of Faith,” will be presented at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16 in Quadrangle 264 at St. John’s University. Two speakers, Jenell Paris, a Collegeville Institute resident scholar and professor of anthropology at Messiah College, Pennsylvania, and Janel Kragt Bakker, an associate director of the Collegeville Institute, will consider the religious dimensions of loss following stillbirth and neonatal death. Parents’ narratives about the interplay between faith and bereavement segue into a broader discussion about the role of tragedy in the life of faith.
First turkey, deer hunt for disabled at Rockville Park, Nature Preserve
Applications now available The application deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 1 for the first turkey and deer hunt for people with disabilities in Stearns County’s newest park – Rockville Park and Nature Preserve. Midwest Outdoors Unlimited will select three hunters for each of the hunts (turkey/deer) and supervise the hunts. The mission of the group is to provide outdoor recreational activities for Disabled American Veterans, disabled individuals and disabled youth in Minnesota. Each disabled hunter will be accompanied by at least one able-bodied person while in the park. The park will be closed to the general public during each of the five-day hunts. The turkey hunt is scheduled for Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 23-27; the deer hunt for Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 13-17. For more information or to apply, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
INSERT: A&W
photo by Cori Hilsgen
Kathy (left) and Mike Lehn of St. Joseph get ready to ride their tandem bike on the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail Ride.
More than 130 people biked the Wobegon Trail on Sept. 7 to raise funds for children. Riders started in St. Joseph, Avon and Melrose, and ended in Sauk Centre. The eighth annual Lake Wobegon Regional Trail Ride is a family-fun event that benefits the Catholic Charities St. Cloud Children’s Home, a residential treatment home for youth atrisk, ages 8-18. It’s not a race. The St. Cloud Children’s Home helps at-risk children turn their lives around. The program offers individual and family counseling, teaches coping skills during critical adolescent years, and offers additional resources. Many of the children who are served have experienced failures in the family, school and other areas. Funds raised for the event are undesignated and desigReiland • page 5
‘Day of Caring’ abounds in volunteer options Kennedy Kidstop Reading Bud- out the area, such as at the Boys include a wide variety of projdies program that same day. and Girls Club, Kids Fighting ects that involve painting, sealOther volunteer options in- Against Hunger, the Anna Marie ing and staining, organizing and There are still plenty of vol- clude those involving schools, Shelter, the St. Cloud Public Li- filing, marking storm drains, unteer tasks for anyone who charities and agencies through- brary and much more. Activities Caring • page 2 wants to be part of the annual Sept. 26 “Day of Caring” in the greater St. Cloud area. To be exact, about 200 volunteers are still needed. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, Sept. 19. To volunteer and to find out more, see the list of volunteer options on the Day of Caring website: www.unitedwayhelps. org/pages/DayofCaring. The United Way of Central Minnesota Day of Caring is an annual event that rallies volunteers to do community projects throughout the area. It’s jointly sponsored and funded, in addition to United Way, by the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, Coborn’s Inc., Times Media and Rock On Trucks. In St. Joseph, there are two volunteer options. The St. Benedict Monastery needs two volunteers to help in the museum, measuring patterns and recordcontributed photo ing data. The tasks would take St. Joseph resident Mike McDonald (pictured with wife Mary McCarney and children Scott place from 9 a.m.-noon and McDonald and Mariah Bautch) was honored as a Vietnam veteran Sept. 9 by the Minnesota from 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. Twins at Target Field. The Twins are recognizing Vietnam vets by selecting one to raise a cer26, the Day of Caring. Another emonial flag before every home game. The following brief bio was read during the ceremony: St. Joseph-based task is for a McDonald • page 2 participant to help with the
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Twins honor Vietnam vets; McDonald takes part
www.thenewsleaders.com
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
2
Caring from front page cleaning, weeding, pruning, mulching, and working with children and senior citizens. People who volunteer can meet on the Day of Caring, Sept. 26, for a kick-off breakfast from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud. A boxed breakfast will be provided, as well as a free volunteer T-shirt. “There is still a need for 221 volunteers,” said United Way Volunteer Coordinator Mary Krippner during a Sept. 9 interview with the Newsleader. 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. Aug. 9 2:17 p.m. Ordinance violation. Fourth Avenue SE. White Chevy S10 was parked at the 300 block of 4th Avenue SE since the tires were chalked on Aug. 2. Parking citations were issued on Aug. 7, 8 and 9. Vehicle was towed from location. 10:55 p.m. Noise. Cedar Street E. Report of 5- to 6-year-old kids
“We expect about 500 volunteers on the Day of Caring. That number was higher years ago because we used to have what was called ‘Week of Caring.’ As many as 800 volunteers would become involved with that.” This year, there are about 65 volunteer projects in central Minnesota, mostly in the greater St. Cloud area, Krippner noted. “Day of Caring,” she said, “is a great way to help the community while getting to know other people and making friends. It’s good to get involved with family, friends, co-workers and churches.”
outside playing, screaming. Unknown if parents were with them. Officer checked area for kids and located none. 11:48 p.m. Suspicious vehicle. Klinefelter Park. Vehicle parked in Klinefelter Park after hours. Officer identified both occupants and sent them on their way. Aug. 10 7:25 p.m. Open door. First Avenue NE. Officer found open door at Sunset Manufacturing. Spoke with an individual who was doing personal work at the business. No issues. 10:15 p.m. DWI. CR 75/Holiday. A driving complaint came in from the St. Joseph area while officer was in Waite Park working a TZD shift. Officer met up with the suspect by Mill’s Fleet
McDonald from front page “Mike joined the Navy with some expectation of avoiding being stationed onland in Vietnam. That did not quite work out. His first set of permanent orders found him serving at three different in-country sites in Vietnam (Danang, Phu Bai and Chu Lai) including a Patrol River Boat base floating in a river very near Hue. “His next set of orders took
Blotter
Farm and observed poor driving conduct. Officer stopped the vehicle and subsequently the driver tested a .15 and was arrested for DWI. Aug. 11 3:37 a.m. Welfare check. Tenth Avenue SE. Mother called and stated son was in the bathroom with a razor blade cutting himself regarding girlfriend issues. Officer made contact with him and got him out of the bathroom. Observed some minor cuts on one of his legs. Gold Cross arrived and transported him to St. Cloud Hospital. Aug. 13 5:18 p.m. Suspicious activity. Third Avenue NE. Complainant called to report someone had
him onboard a Destroyer Escort (USS Hepburn DE 1055) that spent another seven months on and off the coast of Vietnam providing Naval Gunfire Support. Mike served four years active duty plus an additional 17 years in the Naval Reserves before retiring. Mike is proud of his Naval career and even more proud of the men and women currently devoting part of their lives protecting and serving our country in the military.” “It was a great experience to be able to hear the crowd of thousands applaud
drilled out the lock on her garage door and put a lock box on the house with a different lock. She stated she bought the house in May via a short sale. She contacted the bank and realtors and nothing has gone wrong with the sale. Her neighbors said three people were outside with a truck. Neighbor got a photo of the truck. The complainant’s fiancé was home when this happened about 11-11:30 a.m. He was in the shower and heard someone try to get in. When he got to the door the lock was drilled out and a truck was driving away. Complainant already called locksmith and mortgage companies involved in sale who stated they did not drill out the lock. She will change the lock and put a sign on the door for people to leave a
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013 after the completion of the ceremony,” McDonald said, “with the realization they were applauding ALL Vietnam veterans who missed that show of appreciation so many years ago.”
People
Danica Smith of St. Joseph, was recently accepted and began her 2013-14 academic year at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. She is a Cathedral High School graduate and entered the College of Arts and Sciences there.
business card for any work done. Officers will do extra patrol and neighbors are also aware. Aug. 14 12:31 a.m. Fire alarm. First Avenue NW. Fire alarm sounding at City Hall. No answer on either number inside or on any keyholder. Fire department checked the building. No fire, false alarm. 12:03 a.m. Harassment. Tenth Avenue SE. Complainant stated he was fired from his job the previous day and was receiving harassing phone calls and text messages from two of his former coworkers. Complainant was advised to send a copy of the text messages in question to officer’s email and to call the St. Joseph police if the contacts continue. Complainant stated he would advise the individuals to stop if they call again and would contact the police.
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P.O. Box 324 • 32 1st Ave. N.W. • St. Joseph, Minn. 56374 Phone (320) 363-7741 • Fax (320) 363-4195 • E-mail address: news@thenewsleaders.com POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ST. JOSEPH NEWSLEADER, P.O. Box 324, St. Joseph, MN 56374.
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
3
New boutique store offers ‘Retail Therapy’ by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
something for everyone,” WelzSchultzetenberg said. She said she and her family have always enjoyed shopping in little shops that have their own character. “My customers will notice I have used antique furniture for the displays,” she said. “I believe it adds character to the store.” The furniture used in the store mostly comes from friends and family. Some of it has been handed down five generations in her family. Welz-Schultzetenberg said she is getting a lot of support from her family for her new business venture. Her husband, Paul Schulzetenberg, and her parents, Deb and Jim Welz, have invested a lot of time and energy. They have helped with the construction and painting of the store. They have also helped unpack items and organize; they will also help staff the boutique during major events. Paul, a human resources manager at Artic Cold Storage in St. Cloud, is often at the boutique on evenings and weekends. The Welzes have some of their crafts such as wooden pumpkins, scarves and other items for sale. Both enjoy crafts but also work other careers. Jim is a line superintendent at Stearns Electric Association and Deb is an operations manager at Heartland
A new boutique store located at the corner of Main Street and College Avenue is offering customers a little “Retail Therapy.” In fact, the name of the store is “Retail Therapy Boutique.” Owner Kayla Welz-Schultzetenberg is excited to meet and get to know new customers. The boutique is the result of Welz-Schultzetenberg’s dream to own her own business. During her college years she sold purses and wallets as a homebased consultant. She said she enjoyed helping customers find accessories to showcase their personalities. Growing up, she also often worked with her parents at their craft fair booths. Welz-Schultzetenberg said the boutique is a place of fun and shopping. It offers a relaxing shopping environment with a store full of jewelry, handbags, scarves, home décor, gourmet foods, gifts, baby and children’s items, a man cave area and more. Many items are unique and different from what you may find at other stores. Some of the items sold at the boutique are made locally. Everything in the store is priced $60 and under to keep it affordable for all shoppers. “We have a very large variety of items to try to offer
PORK CHOP DINNER Fundraiser Friday, Sept. 13
Take-out available
Menu: Grilled pork chops (from the St. Joseph Meat Market), roasted red potatoes, salad, green beans, dinner roll, apple crisp with ice cream, coffee and water.
St. John the Baptist Parish
Serving: 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Adults: $9, Children (ages 5-10): $4
14241 Fruit Farm Rd. • Collegeville 320-363-2569
Charlie is a neutered Border Collie and Siberian Husky mix who is just under 2 years old. A little bit of the Husky side of Charlie is visable with his one blue eye, while the other eye is brown. Charlie lived with cats in the past but they were too fun to chase so it would be best if Charlie’s new home didn’t have cats. Have children? Charlie loves to play with kids and has done well with children in the past. Charlie is a very energetic pooch and enjoyed playing with the other dogs in his previous home. Charlie would be a good match for someone very active who likes to include their dog in whatever they are doing. He loves going for car rides and playing in the water.
“Helping one animal won’t change the world … but it will change the world for that one animal!” Dogs - 20 Cats - 19 Puppy - 1 Kittens - 21 Bearded Dragon - 1
Mouse - 1 Snake - 1
Tri-County Humane Society 735 8th St. NE • PO Box 701 St. Cloud, MN 56302
252-0896
www.tricountyhumanesociety.org
Hours: Monday-Thursday Noon-6 p.m., Friday Noon-8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday Noon-5 p.m.
Security Services. Customers will also see some of Welz-Schultzetenberg’s photographs and children photoshoot accessories displayed in the boutique.
Welz-Schultzetenberg plans to be at the store daily when she is not at the market shopping for items. “I hope to get to know my customers so when I go to the
market I will have their wants and needs in mind as I shop for items for the boutique,” she said. Welz-Schultzetenberg grew Boutique • page 4
Dangerous intersection to get roundabout by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Yet another roundabout will be constructed along the northwestern end of the St. Cloud area – this one at the intersection of CR 133 and 19th Avenue in west Sartell, midway between the intersection of CR 133 and CR 4 and Pinecone Road. The project is likely to be started in 2014. The intersection in question is a very dangerous intersection. In recent years there have been some serious in-
juries, but fortunately no deaths there, due to crashes. Because that intersection is dangerous, that fact convinced the federal government to give $400,000 in safety-grant money for the project. Although the speed limit for traffic coming from the west toward Sartell is 50 mph, many vehicles travel well in excess of the posted speed. It’s also hazardous for the many bicyclists who travel in that area. The roundabout will be a four-legged configuration, with
CR 133 going west and east of the roundabout and 19th Avenue going north and south. A roundabout there would certainly slow down traffic and enhance safety. The cost of building the roundabout would be split. The grant would pay for $400,000, the lion’s share. Sartell and Stearns County would split the remaining costs on a three-fourth (city) and one-fourth (county) percentage. Sartell’s share of the cost would be between $60,000 and $70,000, depending on how the bids come in.
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
photos by Cori Hilsgen
“Retail Therapy Boutique” owner Kayla WelzSchulzetenberg (left) organizes the “Make your own necklace” display. The boutique, which is located on the corner of Main Street and College Avenue, recently opened. The boutique includes a children’s section (above) and is furnished with some old pieces of furniture which Welz-Schultzetenberg is using for displays. At right: this pie safe was donated by Kayla’s paternal grandmother. It’s been passed on for five generations and was originally used to store pies for cooling.
Boutique from page 3 up in the Melrose area. She has an older brother and sister. Paul grew up in the Spring Hill area. He is an identical twin and has three brothers and one sister. The couple lives in St.
Joseph. Welz-Schultzetenberg said one of the things she enjoyed most about growing up in Melrose was she could walk into almost any of the local businesses and they knew her by name. She said they have found St. Joseph to be similar and have found it to be very
welcoming. “St. Joseph feels similar to me. It’s small enough that it’s easy to meet new people and be a part of the community,” she said. Welz-Schultzetenberg is a licensed therapist. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at St. Cloud State Uni-
versity and her master’s degree in counseling psychology at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. Before opening the store, she was a mentalhealth therapist and provided in-home therapy for families in five different counties and also at an intensive day-treatment program. She said it was a hard decision to change her career path, but said the timing was right and things seemed to fall into place for her to pursue her other passion which is shopping. “I went into the business because I love working with people and have always wanted to own my own retail business,” Welz-Schultzetenberg said. “It was the right time in my life to take this big risk because of the community we moved in to, the support from my husband and family, and the eagerness the city had for us to bring our business to the community.” She said choosing the name
Retail Therapy evolved from combining her passion of working with people and shopping. The women in her family have used the term “retail therapy” for years. “When the stress becomes too much,” she said, “we call for a day of retail therapy and we know just what that means.” She said the City of St. Joseph was very supportive in helping find a location that was available and continues to support her in networking locally for services for the business. Store hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday. Welz-Schultzetenberg plans to have the store open during the Millstream Arts Festival and will extend hours for the holidays. She is also planning an open-house weekend in October. The store phone number is 320-557-0177.
Cruise Night! Thursday, Sept. 19
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St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
Rieland from front page nated. Undesignated funds go directly to the Children’s Home. Designated funds give trail riders a chance to name a local participating faith community which will receive up to 50 percent of the donated funds, with the rest going to the Children’s Home. Organizer Chuck Rieland has been planning the trail ride for eight years. He’s the founder and director of the ride. Reiland said he has a goal to raise $1 million and they have raised $600,000 in the past eight years. The event began after the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Reiland is a vice president and financial advisor for Morgan Stanley. During, the attack, Morgan Stanley had employees officed on 45 floors between the twin towers. Rieland said they were fortunate the first plane did not hit their floors. They were located on floors 1,500-3,500. He said their security people, all of whom lost their lives, ordered everyone out of the south tower at the same time. They had 18 minutes to evacuate, which gave them enough time to get people to the lower levels of the tower. When the second plane hit the south tower, their training center and their employees had all evacuated. “The attacks on that day had a profound effect upon me,” Rieland said. “We were doing some work for Catholic Charities Children’s Home over in St. Paul, part of the Minneapolis-St.
Paul Diocese, and I was looking for a positive result because of what had happened. I asked for some guidance and low and behold during the middle of the night, this idea about the trail in Stearns County came to my head. I didn’t know there was a Children’s Home in St. Cloud, but I woke up one morning and I knew all of that for some reason.” Rieland said Morgan Stanley is the biggest financial firm on Wall Street today and includes 19,000 brokers. He said the event has gone on very nicely and many people have made contributions. He said the Morgan Stanley foundation and employees have been very helpful during the past eight years. “In my mind, this (the trail ride) is me, it’s part of my DNA today,” Rieland said. “What I do for the Children’s Home is part of me – this is only the beginning.” Rieland said his goal initially was to raise $1 million and he expects to meet his goal with the help of all of the people who have attended the event. The event is growing every year. He said they hit $80,000 last year and will hit $100,000 this year. Rieland said this year the main cottage, number three, at the Children’s Home needs to be replaced; it’s nine years old and is no longer useable because of monitoring capabilities. “The Wobegon ride has made a commitment to the building fund for $150,000 over the next three years,” Rieland said. “We need that first $60,000 to take care of the scholar-
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photos by Cori Hilsgen
Participants gathered in St. Joseph before the Lake Wobegon Regional Trail Ride on Sept. 7 to raise funds for at-risk children. ship programs that are in place today through the Children’s Home. After that, we’ll raise the money to get the additional $150,000 over the next three years. That’s a very important part of this.” Rieland said he is still affected by replays of the Sept. 11 attack. Because the Morgan Stanley home-base office was located at the World Trade Center, he attended his six-week training their 29 years ago and returned as a speaker for the graduating class on two different occasions. “I told people these were the two most important buildings in the world and that proved to be true,” Rieland said. “On the day of the attacks, 239 countries had people in the center. It was truly the World Trade Center of the world and the terrorists figured that out.” Rieland said he has been fortunate. “For me, I have had great health all of my life,” Rieland
said. “I have great background, parents, school and all of that stuff. Now I have some ability to help pay back and that’s most important to me. The ride is not about me, I just happen to be leader of the pack, nothing more than that. The following has been great.” Reiland has been married to Lucy for 42 years and has worked at Morgan Stanley for 29 years. They have one daughter and two sons. Their daughter, Dr. Brenda Larson, is married to Max and is a hematologist/oncologist. Son Greg is married to Sara and is Chuck’s business partner at Morgan Stanley. Their other son Mark is an electrician. They also have three grandchildren, Carly, 9, Matthew, 6, and Joseph, 3. Rieland’s entire family is involved in the trail ride event. Greg and Mark are the transportation and logistics people and all have helped financially support the event.
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Lucy (left), Carly, and Chuck Rieland attended the eighth annual Lake Wobegon Regional Trail Ride. Chuck Rieland began organizing the event after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
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Our View
Russia’s offer may be a ruse, but it’s a good development A recent offer by Russia may be a ray of sunshine, but then again it may be nothing but a cynical ruse. On Monday, Russia announced it would be willing to help Syria gather up and dismantle its stockpiles of nerve gas, the same kind of gas the Assad regime used to slaughter more than 1,400 people, including 400 children. People throughout the world, including those in the Obama Administration, have greeted Russia’s offer with extreme skepticism. It’s Russia, after all, that has been a virtual accomplice in Syria’s use of nerve gas. From the get-go, Russia’s Vladimir Putin claimed it wasn’t done by Assad’s military, that it was perpetrated by rebel factions. Go figure. What else can you expect from the Russian government, which has long been a flagrant abuser of human rights? Syria quickly agreed to the Russian offer. What a breathless switcheroo. Just the week before, the Assad regime was denying it even has stores of nerve gas. It would be nice to think both Russia and Syria have had a change of heart and that they are suddenly responsible and accountable. Dare we hope they have developed a conscience or deep regret about the heinous crime that was committed? Well, don’t hold your breath, folks. As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, “Nothing concentrates the mind like the prospect of a hanging.” There can be no doubt it’s the threat of missile strikes that caused Russia and Syria to “concentrate their minds.” We can only hope, at this writing, the U.S. Congress authorizes President Obama to use strikes against Syria, with a limited time frame and strict provisions. The Russia-Syria offer is a good development, however, for the following reasons. If those countries are merely bluffing to buy time or forestall an attack, their ruse will backfire on them. More and more countries are slowly but surely getting the point – that chemical attacks cannot be tolerated anywhere in the world and that all countries must unite, with punitive actions, against such monstrous perpetrators. Let’s remember virtually every country, including Russia, signed an international agreement long ago forbidding and condemning any use of weapons of mass destruction, including nerve gas. The Russia-Syria offer might give a new impetus for the United Nations to take actions against Syria, especially if the offer proves to be a timedelaying tactic. One reason Obama is so stuck between a rock and a hard place with his lonely decision is because of the failure of so many countries and the United Nations to immediately rally together and to condemn the nerve-gas attack, to live up to the agreement signed years ago. Obama is the only one who had the guts to roundly condemn the attack and to vow to punish the Syrian regime for doing it. Let’s hope the Russia-Syria offer finally unites the world and all the forces of diplomacy (and retaliatory force if necessary) against Syria’s barbarism. It may take time, but the Syrian regime is not going to get away with its nerve-gas crimes. Make no mistake, sooner or later, one way or another, it’s going to pay – and pay deeply – for what it’s done.
Fairness and ethics
Newsleader staff members have the responsibility to report news fairly and accurately and are accountable to the public. Readers who feel we’ve fallen short of these standards are urged to call the Newsleader office at 363-7741. If matters cannot be resolved locally, readers are encouraged to take complaints to the Minnesota News Council, an independent agency designed to improve relationships between the public and the media and resolve conflicts. The council office may be reached at 612-341-9357.
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
Opinion Texting turns people into pecking pigeons At first, out of the corner of my vision, I thought the woman sitting to my right was praying, her head bowed solemnly as she sat at the big round breakfast table. It was during a large gathering at the St. Cloud Holiday Inn – a recent kick-off breakfast for the ongoing fight against breast cancer. The master of ceremonies introduced speakers, who gave uplifting, inspirational messages about battling the dreaded disease. For at least 10 minutes, the woman to my right kept her head bowed. For awhile, I thought she might be praying for a loved one with breast cancer or maybe she was hanging her head in sadness. Finally, perplexed, I turned my head and realized at a glance she was texting. She had her cell phone out of sight under the table and was busily texting like a pecking pigeon, oblivious to what the speakers were saying. I noticed some of the speakers were looking her way, probably figuring out by her head-bowed attitude that she was texting, not paying attention to anything or anybody. “Talk about rude,” I was thinking. “That’s just about the ultimate rudeness.” But then I quickly thought, “Maybe there is an emergency or something urgent the woman must cope with.” However, a couple glances her way made me almost certain there was no urgency at all about the woman’s
Dennis Dalman Editor demeanor. She had obviously come to the breakfast and decided her texting was more important than paying attention to what was going on around her. She should’ve stayed home. And that is exactly the way I feel about some of my guests. They should stay home and text to their hearts’ content. The same incredible rudeness has happened at my place, with people sitting around the big oak kitchen table as if there’s a prayer meeting in session, their heads bowed, their hands and fingers clutching cell phones “hidden” beneath the edge of the table. And, in fact, they do remind me of pigeons – those pecking pigeons made famous by behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner, who did experiments with pigeons peck-peck-pecking to get seeds for good behavior. These “pigeons” in my kitchen I’d like to slap up with black-and-blue stars for bad behavior. Just recently, an old friend whom I hadn’t seen in a few years popped in for a visit. As I cooked up a meal of cheese enchiladas, he was playing table pigeon, with an occasional remark or question for me. During dinner,
his cell phone kept ringing, and he would text and text some more. The text messages, he said, were from his grown daughter, who felt compelled to tell him about the sights she was seeing as her husband drove through a couple two-horse central Minnesota towns. She was on her way to pick up her dad at my house. “Well, what did she see?” I asked. “Nothing much,” he said. “Pretty boring stuff. They had to stop and get something on the car fixed. They just stopped for burgers.” I squelched the urge to laugh out loud. So that’s what people text about nowadays? Boring sights in boring towns? To tell loved ones nothing’s happening? To share news of minor car problems? To inform us about the fast food they just ate? Do these texters have any idea how rude they are? Not to mention how dangerous they are texting like mad while driving on our roadways? With every technological advance there is always a drawback. The drawback to cell phones is a big bad habit – idle texting as a sorry substitute for genuine in-person communication. Texting has turned too many otherwise good people into pecking pigeons. I don’t want pigeons for company; I want real human beings. And I’m going to start telling these rude birds: “Stay home or go peck somewhere else!”
Brenny owner lauds Truck Driver Appreciation Week
Joyce Sauer Brenny, president Brenny Transportation Inc., St. Joseph
Truck Driver Appreciation Week is Sept. 15-21, which is the perfect time to recognize a friend, a hero and a true legend of the trucking industry. Our community should be so proud that Eddie Supan, a lifelong resident of St. Joseph, lived within our midst. To say the least, Eddie was a trucking hero. Eddie delivered America’s goods and served the trucking industry for more than 50 years. He drove his last mile on earth Sept. 12, 2012. Remembering Eddie should remind each of us to appreciate the sacrifice truck drivers make for our communities every day. Like many overthe-road truck drivers, Eddie left his adoring wife, Joan, and three beautiful daughters for weeks on end to deliver America’s freight. Eddie never looked for a pat on the back or any special recognition for the amazing job he did. Most professional truck drivers hold the same humble quality as Eddie did. Truck drivers are far too humble to proclaim, “Without truck drivers, America stops!” And it’s true because more than 90 percent of America’s goods are hauled by truck, not by train as many would have you believe. Very few individuals know how it feels to live the life of a trucking family. Can you imagine how heart-breaking it would be to hold your children as you watch your loved one drive away in his or her semi truck? Trucking families rarely know how long it will be until they see their loved one again. Truck drivers’ families never get recognition or even concern from others for what they endure. Can you picture yourself raising children and dealing with car and home repairs all by yourself? Try to imagine the pain of
Joyce Sauer Brenny Guest Writer having your children seldom see their daddy’s smiling face in the audience at the school play. And God knows no one will ever say “I am sorry” to trucking families when their loved one is injured or dies because a motorist caused a crash. Truck drivers are the safest drivers on the roads. Do you know more than 80 percent of all accidents in which semi trucks are involved are caused by motorists? More laws and rules are aimed at truck drivers than any other professionals in our country. Once you obtain a commercial driver’s license, even your personal time must be accounted for. Can you imagine your life under such scrutiny, lack of privacy, all while facing an extreme lack of respect? Professional truck drivers endure more than the American public will ever know. It’s amazing professional truck drivers keep on trucking in spite of such treatment. There really is a human being behind the iron and steel of that truck, a human with thoughts, feelings and a family who loves them. During Truck Driver Appreciation Week, I challenge each of you to extend a thank you and some gratitude to this country’s professional truck drivers. I doubly challenge shippers and receivers to treat professional truck drivers with respect and to value their time. Maybe a warm “good morning,” some coffee and clean restrooms would be a start. Our country is dealing with an issue right now that few know about,
which is a serious shortage of professional truck drivers. It’s estimated we will need at least 250,000 truck drivers once the economy fully recovers. It will be impossible to recover from this truck-driver shortage if we continue to undervalue these amazing people. You have an opportunity to do something about this truck-driver shortage. If you work at a business that uses semi trucks, walk out to your docks and see how your people treat the truck drivers. I hope your company cares and will work to improve the respect and treatment of professional truck drivers. We should show them how much they are needed. After all, many of these truck drivers and their families are your company’s customers, and like Eddie, they also live and shop in your communities. Too many people fail to realize professional truck drivers are also consumers. They buy your products; please treat them like a customer. And for God’s sake, please drive safely around semi trucks, for your life and for the life of the professional truck driver. Eddie Supan was very proud to be a truck driver, and his family was proud to be a trucking family. Brenny Transportation is proud to serve the trucking industry, and we are very proud Eddie chose Brenny to finish his truck-driving career. Eddie loved working with Brenny because he was shown the respect he deserved. We look forward to a time when everyone shows professional truck drivers how much they are respected and needed. Truck Diver Appreciation Week is the perfect time to remember Eddie, as well as all professional truck drivers in our country, because the reality is – (and I am not afraid to loudly proclaim!), “Without truck drivers, America really does stop.”
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Sept. 13, 2013 Friday, Sept. 13 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. St. Joseph Meat Market. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Grilled Pork Chop Dinner, 4:307:30 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish, 14241 Fruit Farm Road, St. Joseph, west of the St. John’s University campus. Dennis Warner in concert, 7 p.m., Unity Spiritual Center, 931 5th Ave. N., Sartell. 320-255-9253. Saturday, Sept. 14 Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Joseph Meat Market. Pottery on the Deck, 4-9 p.m., Minnesota Street (between the Laundromat and Minnesota Street Market), downtown St. Joseph. Sunday, Sept. 15 Camp Ripley Open House, 10
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a.m.-3 p.m., featuring Heroes of the Homefront Ceremony at 1 p.m., and the following: classic car show, inflatable obstacle course, rock climbing wall, state patrol display, environmental display, military museum, HMMV, tank and helicopter display, food and beverages, Camp Ripley. 320-616-2714. Quilt bingo, 1 p.m., St. Francis Xavier Parish, 219 N. 2nd St., Sartell. Monday, Sept. 16 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Market Monday, 3-6:30 p.m., Sartell City Hall, 125 Pine Cone Road N., Sartell. www.marketmonday.org. “Minnesota Lakes: Past, Present and Future,” a Minnesota Natural History lecture by Dr. Bill Lamberts, CSB/ SJU biology, 6:30-8 p.m., St. John’s Arboretum, St. John’s University, 2346 Science Drive, Collegeville, 320-3633163. St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion in St. Joseph. “Dark Night of the Soul: Tragedy and Suffering in the Life of Faith,”
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Raise the Dough to support the Friday, Sept. 20 completion of the Huntington Park Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Amerifitness trail sponsored by Girl Scout can Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain Troop 783. Eat at the House of Pizza St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. between 5:30-8:30 p.m. and part of the “Aging in Place,” 10-11 a.m., Whitproceeds benefits this worthy cause. ney Senior Center, 1527 Northway
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sponsored by Collegeville Institute, Wednesday, Sept. 18 Jenell Paris and Janel Bakker present Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Love of research about parents’ lives of faith Christ Church, 1971 Pine Cone Road, following stillbirth and neonatal death, St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. 8 p.m., Quadrangle 264, St. John’s Thursday, Sept. 19 University. Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Tuesday, Sept. 17 “Making of the U.S. Constitu- Manor, Sartell. Foreign film “Amour,” 9:30-11:30 tion – Our First Grand Bargain,” 9:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Cen- a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 ter, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Northway Drive, St. Cloud. 320-2557245. 320-255-7245. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., AmeriBlood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Amercan Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain ican Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. FAST class to recognize the first Jazz Panorama, 1-2:15 p.m., Whitsigns of stroke, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Windney Senior Center, 1527 Northway feldt Room, CentraCare Health Plaza, Drive, St. Cloud. 320-255-7245. Open house and ice cream so- 1900 CentraCare Circle, St. Cloud. 320cial, 4-7 p.m., First United Method- 656-7021. St. Joseph City Council, 7 p.m., ist Church, 1107 Pinecone Road S., City Hall. 320-363-7201. Sartell.
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7 Drive, St. Cloud. 320-255-7245. “The Genious of Michelangelo,” art history, 1-2 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. 320-255-7245. Burger and brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. St. Joseph Meat Market. Saturday, Sept. 21 Gardening Knowledge for Free, sponsored by the Stearns County Master Gardeners, 8:15-11:45 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Aglow gathering, SCSU Students Against Trafficking presentation, 9:30 a.m., Michael’s Restaurant, 510 Hwy. 10, St. Cloud. 320-253-5351. 55+ driver improvement course (four-hour refresher), 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Miller Auto Plaza, 2930 2nd St. S., St. Cloud. 1-888-234-1294. Burger and brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Joseph Meat Market.
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
St. Joseph Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
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Friday, Sept. 13, 2013
‘Woofstock’ event exceeds goal of $50,000 by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
It looked like a gathering of the tribes – what with colorful banners, tie-dyed costumes and music drifting in the air. And it was, in fact, a “tribal” meeting – “Woofstock,” the annual fundraiser of the Tri-County Humane Society in St. Cloud’s Wilson Park. The Sept. 7 event attracted at least 485 registered walkers for the 5k trek, as well as 280 pets, mostly dogs gussied up in hippy-type T-shirts or bandannas, like many of their owners. Many walkers showed up after the walk had begun and so organizers estimate the total number exceeded 500, which was a record set last year. Saturday’s event was the 25th annual “Companion Walk” of the local humane society. As of Tuesday, the initial funds raised tallied about $47,000. However, that amount is certain to top $50,000 once all the pledges are counted, said Marit Ortega, the humane society’s manager of fund development. This year’s fundraising goal was $50,000. Last year, that same goal was also raised. Woofstock is the organization’s biggest annual fundraiser, and money is
On a hot Saturday morning, thirsty pooches lap up some water just before setting out on a 5k walk from Wilson Park in St. Cloud. More than 500 people and nearly 300 pets took part in “Woofstock,” the annual humane-society fundraiser.
photos by Dennis Dalman
The ‘Woofstock” walk began with a hike up the steep road leading from Wilson Park to Riverside Drive. The event raised more than $50,000 for the Tri-County Humane Society. used for a variety of daily needs at the animal shelter. Ortega said she and others were concerned that brutally humid heat last Saturday might decrease the turnout, but she was happy when so many people and animals began showing up at Wilson Park. Pools and buckets of water throughout the park and along the route helped keep the animals cool. Some of them took running leaps into kiddie pools in the park and plopped down in the cool water, next to other dogs big and small. People, too, drank plenty of water throughout the
weeks ago resulted in the adoptions of 36 kittens, 22 adult cats, eight dogs, two puppies and two day as they strolled among the guinea pigs. “Those sales helped imtwo dozen exhibitors’ booths or mensely,” Ortega noted. “We’ve sat and listened to music. “It was hugely successful,” Or- been able to keep up with adoptega said. “There were so many tions.” The sales were necessary bedonations of food, silent-auction items and donations by sponsors cause the shelter had become above and beyond pledges for overwhelmed with cats and kittens, at one time with 50-100 the walkers.” Ortega said the success of cats or kittens coming in during Woofstock was a good way to a few weeks. During the sale, all top a good summer at the hu- adult cats were free, and kittens mane society. Two cat sales in were $50 each, one-third of the the summer months were suc- usual $150-per-kitten adoption cessful beyond the wildest hopes fee. of shelter staff and volunteers. “People have been coming The latest three-day sale just two from far and wide to help us,”
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Ortega said, “because they’d become aware of how many cats and kittens we had.” Another big plus, she added, is all of the people who adopted cats appear to be very good, dedicated animal-lovers. The staff interviews prospective adopters, who fill out questionnaires. “Not one time did a red flag go up about the people adopting,” Ortega said. “We tend to watch for that, and there wasn’t one single red flag.” The money raised by Woofstock, Ortega said, will greatly help the humane society maintain successful services, like adoption sales, throughout the next year.
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103 n. College Ave St. Joseph