Reaching Everybody!
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Newsleader Sartell
Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 Volume 18, Issue 4 Est. 1995
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Sabre swimmers sink Tech, 106-80 by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Town Crier Parenting class set Feb. 2
“Becoming a Love and Logic Parent” will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at Resource Training and Solutions, 4150 2nd St. S., Ste. 550, St. Cloud. This class will help parents learn simple low-stress communication techniques that are effective with children from toddlers to teens. Topics covered include avoiding power struggles, guiding children to solve their own problems, modeling and teaching responsibility, and raising children without raising your voice or the roof. For more information, call 320255-3236 or toll-free 1-888447-7032.
Wreath removal, flag disposal set Feb. 2
Removal of the 3,200 wreaths placed Dec. 15 on gravesites to honor our country’s fallen veterans as well as a flag disposal ceremony will take place starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Minnesota State Veterans’ Cemetery in Little Falls. For more information, visit www. thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
Educate, inspire students
Junior Achievement’s mission is to educate and inspire students in order to prepare for the global economy. Junior Achievement is dedicated to educating young people about business, economics and workforce readiness skills. Volunteer to have the opportunity to go into a classroom five times for 30 to 45 minutes each session using curriculum provided by Junior Achievement. Curriculum is fun, grade appropriate, easy to use and enjoyed by the students. Make a difference in the lives of children by volunteering for JA. For more information on this and other United Way volunteer opportunities, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
photo by Jack Hellie
Sartell Sabres swimmer Conner Hollingsworth finishes first in the 100-yard butterfly event, which helped the Sartell team capsize St. Cloud Tech by a score of 106-80 at last week’s Central Lakes Conference meet between the two teams.
The boys Sartell Sabre Swim Team tallied an impressive 106-80 victory over St. Cloud Tech last week in a Central Lakes Conference meet. In 12 categories, both individual and team medleys, the Sabres, led by coach Jason Anderson, took eight first-place honors. Midway through the swimming season, the Sabres now have a 6-1 record. So far, the top winning teams in the CLC are Sartell and the Brainerd Warriors with a 6-0 record as of press time Jan. 22. At the meet with Tech, the Sabres outswam their rivals in a number of categories, taking first place in the following: 100-yard butterfly (Connor Hollingsworth); 100-yard freestyle (Jack Hellie); 100-yard breaststroke (Ian Lawson); 50yard freestyle (Hellie); 200-yard individual medley (Lawson); 200-yard freestyle relay (Lawson, Ben Maurer, Jack Nieters and Chad Peichel); 200-yard medley Swim • page 3
Hughes gives tips to guard against workplace violence by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
The “fight or flight” response becomes instantly necessary if a shooter enters a workplace and starts firing, said Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes. Hughes recently gave his first informational meeting about workplace violence to employees of the Sartell and St. Joseph Newsleader office in St. Joseph. If someone enters a workplace and goes berserk shooting a gun, employees should immediately leave. However, if it’s possible to subdue or distract the shooter – for instance – by throwing heavy objects at him or spraying pepper spray, that should be done to protect others who might be trapped. Hughes said employee responses should depend on the situation. For example, if a frontdesk receptionist should happen to see through a front window an individual approaching with a gun, that is obviously a sign of imminent danger. The receptionist should lock the front door immediately, then yell or use an intercom system to warn everyone in the building to exit the building or to lock themselves
in their offices. It’s a good idea for front-desk personnel to have something near them that could be used as a deterrent – scissors, pepper spray, a very heavy paperweight or heavy object of art. Hughes said he does not mean to alarm employees or to cause undue fears. After all, he said, workplace killings are very rare. Still, they can happen anywhere. In the past 20 years, 95 Minnesotans died in incidents involving workplace violence. Sixty-eight of those deaths were the result of shootings, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Labor and Industry. Such shootings most often occur in small- and medium-sized businesses. In the past five years, workplace shootings have averaged about 500 per year nationwide. On Sept. 27 at a signage company in Minneapolis, a former employee walked into the office, firing a gun. He killed five people, including a UPS driver making a delivery, and wounded three others, before killing himself. That shocking incident is what caused Hughes and others to encourage workplaces to do in-house training sessions. The man in Minneapolis was Albert Engeldinger, 36, who had
photo by Dennis Dalman
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes leads an informational meeting about workplace violence during his visit Oct. 19 to the St. Joseph-based office of the St. Joseph and Sartell Newsleader newspapers. worked at the small signage company for nearly 20 years. Engeldinger’s parents said he had become increasingly mentally ill in the past two years, and they had begged him to get treatment. At work, he had become belligerent, unproductive and difficult to deal with until the point he was fired. Engeldinger is an example of the embittered, angry employee or ex-employee who turns homicidal. They are the most typical types who perpetrate workplace shootings or other violence.
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However, as Hughes noted, in some cases throughout the nation, workplace shooters have been men who were boyfriends or ex-husbands of a woman in the workplace. In their rejection and bitterness, they can lash out in the workplace, trying to kill that targeted person and, in some cases, anyone else who happens to be there. On Oct. 21, a man in a Milwaukee suburb killed four people at a spa business in a mall and wounded three others before Hughes • page 4
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Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
People Three Sartell students were recently named to the fall semester dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Morris. They are Ryan Deroeck, Kathryn Dullinger and Scott Steffes. Students on the list achieved a grade-point average of 3.66 or higher while taking 12 or more credits. Erin Mensinger, St. Stephen, was recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. She is a freshman majoring in pre-business. Students on the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Eight Sartell students were recently named to the fall dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. They and their majors are as follows: Alicia Hayes, sophomore, Spanish; Andrew Ley, senior, teaching social studies; Kirsty Moir, sophomore, undeclared; Kelly Orndorff, sophomore, health education; Hanna Pasell, senior, biochem/molecular biology; Seth Peterson, If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the Sartell Police Department at 251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 255-1301 or access its tip site at www.tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for crimes. Jan. 9 2:02 a.m. Parking violation. Utah Road. Winter-parking citation issued. 2:15 a.m. Parking violation. Mockingbird Loop. Winterparking citation issued. 8:33 a.m. Traffic stop. 7th Street N. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 38 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver was aware of her speed. She was issued a citation and released. 8:50 a.m. Traffic stop. Pinecone Road. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 53 mph in a posted 40-mph zone. The driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. Jan. 10 3:55 p.m. Found property. A wallet was found. A call has been made to the owner and it is being held at the Sartell Police Department.
freshman, pre-business; Kayla Sattler, junior, accounting; and Abigail Whitney, sophomore, biology. Curtis Klever, Sartell, recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology from University of Wisconsin, Menomonie. Adam Kourajian, son of Peggy and Kevin Kourajian of Sartell, was recently named to the fall semester dean’s list at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, South Bend, Ind. Students must be in the top 30 percent of students in their college to achieve this honor. He is a 2011 graduate of Sartell High School. Three Sartell students were recently named to the fall semester high honors list at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. They are the following: Callie Frank, Joshua Hughes and Codie Lane. To receive this honor, students must have a 3.8-4.0
Blotter
Jan. 11 2:06 p.m. Warrant arrest. 8th Street N. A warrant was ordered for a female failing to follow probation guidelines. She was placed under arrest without incident and taken to the Stearns County Jail. 3:15 p.m. Warrant arrest. Park Meadows Drive. A warrant was ordered for a male. He was placed under arrest without incident and transported to Stearns County Jail. 7:58 p.m. Theft. Walmart. Two females attempted to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The females admitted to the theft. They were issued citations and released. Jan. 12 12:45 a.m. Loud music. 2nd Street N. A complaint was made regarding loud music and possible yelling. Officers made contact with the owners and found it was the TV and they agreed to turn it down. 1:15 a.m.-1:48 a.m. Seven total parking violations on 7th Street N., 14th Street N., 8th Street N., 1st Ave. N., 7th Ave. N. and 3rd Street N. Winterparking citations issued. 2:54 p.m. Traffic stop. CR 120. A driver was witnessed driving without a seatbelt on. Officers found the driver also
average. Nicholas Miller, Sartell, was recently named to the fall semester honors list at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall. To attain this honor, he had to have a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.79. Christopher Sebas, Sartell, was recently named to the fall dean’s list at Beloit (Wis.) College. Sebas is a junior. To be eligible, a student must carry a semester grade-point average of 3.4 or higher and take a minimum of three letter-graded units for the term.
Janagan Ramanathan, (left) a fifth-grader at Sartell Middle School, recently won the school-wide geography bee held Jan. 8. Ramanathan will now have the opportunity to take the qualifying test for the chance to advance to the state competition to be held April 5. State winners advance to the National Geography Bee in Washington, D.C. and a chance to win a $25,000 college scholarship. Eighth-graders Josh Maricle-Roberts (right in photo above) and Two Sartell students were Dean Amundson came in second and third respectively. Sartell recently named to the fall dean’s Middle School Principal Julie Tripp is pictured in center above. list at University of WisconsinMadison. They are the following: Meghan Carey, with honors, and Kiley Sullivan. To be eligible, students must complete a minimum of 12 graded degree credits in that semester.
did not have a license. The vehicle was parked and the driver was given a citation and released. Jan. 13 1:23 a.m. Parking violations. 23rd Avenue N. Winter-parking citation issued. 1:28 a.m. Parking violation. 23rd Avenue N. Winter-parking citation issued. 2:39 a.m. Parking violation. 19th Avenue N. Winter-parking citation issued. 4:29 p.m. Parking violation. Mockingbird Drive. A complaint was made regarding an unmarked squad parked illegally. Officers arrived and found it was the vehicle that was sold some time ago. A parking citation was issued. Jan. 14 2:02 a.m. Parking violation. Killdeer Avenue. Winter-parking citation issued. 10:16 a.m. Warrant arrest. Lowell Lane. An arrest warrant was ordered for a male. Officers made contact with the male and took him into custody without incident and transported him to the Stearns County Jail. 12:45 p.m. Warrant arrest. 11th Street N. An arrest warrant was issued for a male. Officers made contact with the male and
SAYBA 7th-grade girls travel basketball team took first place at the St. Cloud Shoot-out held at SCSU on Jan. 6. They are (front row, left to right) Lexie Lamont, Courtney Deters, Molly Fossen, Ally Koopman and Addy Demaine; (back row) Emma Larson, Curtsey Rengel, Megan Sieben, Maddie Schnettler and Lexie Winter. Not pictured: Coaches Diane Winter, Bob Schnettler and Amanda DeMaine. took him into custody without incident and transported him to the Stearns County Jail. 3:02 p.m. Traffic stop. Pinecone Road. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 38 mph in a posted 20-mph zone. The driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 3:51 p.m. Traffic stop. 2nd Street S. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 58 mph in a posted 40-mph zone. The driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 4:49 p.m. Theft. Walmart. A female was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. After some time, the female admitted to the theft. She was issued a citation and released. 10:40 p.m. Assault. 2nd Street S. A complaint was made regarding an assault that had taken place. When officers ar-
rived, both parties had calmed down and the aggressor admitted to losing his temper. A citation was issued and both were released. Jan. 15 1:54 a.m. Parking violation. Morning Star Court. Winterparking citation issued. 3:09 a.m. Parking violation. Brianna Drive. Winter-parking citation issued. 8:43 a.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 48 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver was aware of his speed. He was issued a citation and released. 11:08 a.m. Traffic stop. Riverside Avenue S. A vehicle was witnessed traveling 46 mph in a posted 30-mph zone. The driver was not aware of her speed. She was issued a citation and released.
Published each Friday by Von Meyer Publishing Inc. Publisher/Owner Janelle Von Pinnon
Newstands Country Store and Pharmacy Holiday on Riverside Drive Holiday on 7th Street N House of Pizza JM Speedstop
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Editor Dennis Dalman
Contributing Writers TaLeiza Calloway Cori Hilsgen Mark Lauer Design/Layout Tara Wiese
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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.
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Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
Auditions set Jan. 31 for ‘Beach Ball’ party by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
A big, upcoming musical event called “Beach Ball” is seeking more local-student talent to round out the show, which is slated for 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Pine Meadow Elementary School gymnasium. The dance-and-musical event is a fundraiser for the SartellSt. Stephen Music Association, which raises money to help out music programs throughout the school district. There will be auditions starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 in the choral room of Sartell High School. Organizers are seeking either singers or instrumentalists (or both together) for the “Beach Ball” show. Those who want to audition should show up at the choral room with their songs, ready to sing, or their instruments, ready to play. All types of music are welcome, from classical to pop. Reservations are not needed; just show up. The musical event Feb. 9 is called “Beach Ball” because it will feature the band “Hi-Fi,” which is a local Beach Boys tribute band, led by David Lumley, the new band director for the Sartell-St. Stephen School District. People who attend the event are requested to wear fun beach attire, if possible. Anyone in grades K-12 may audition Jan. 31.
Swim from front page relay (Hellie, Lawson, Nieters and Drew Reitz); and 400-yard freestyle relay (Hellie, Nieters, Trevor Nordlund and Reitz). The Sabres are well on their way to the state CLC championship meet Feb. 7-8 in Alexandria. As of press time Jan. 23, the CLC teams’ standings are as follows: Brainerd 6-0, Sartell 6-1, St. Cloud Tech, 4-2, Fergus Falls 2-3, Alexandria 2-3, Willmar 2-3, Rocori 1-4, Sauk Rapids-Rice 1-4 and St. Cloud Apollo 0-6. So far, the Sabres have lost only once – to Brainerd. They won over Sauk Rapids-Rice, Fergus Falls, St. Cloud Apollo, Alexandria, Willmar and St. Cloud Tech.
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ST. JOSEPH ROD AND GUN CLUB 20th ANNUAL
ice fishing contest Saturday, Feb. 2
If cancelled because of poor ice/weather, NO RESCHEDULE. Refunds upon request.
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Tickets: $10 Advanced (Until Feb. 1, 2013) $12 At The Lake PRIZES: Two Categories: Game and Pan Fish
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All Other Registered Fish Qualify For One Of 20 – $20 Cash Drawings!
MANY DOOR PRIZES AWARDED THROUGHOUT THE CONTEST (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN)
First 200 Kids (15 & Under) Receive A Free Piece of Fishing Equipment With Valid Ticket!
Lunch and RefReshments Restrooms & Warming House Available Tickets Available at Ace Hardware, St. Joseph; American Legion, St. Joseph; Stop Light Bait, St. Cloud; JM Speedstop, St. Joseph; Super America, Cold Spring; Central Minnesota Credit Union, St. Joseph
FOR INFORMATION CALL 363-8803 or 251-2881 ALL STATE LAWS APPLY
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
Hughes from front page killing himself. One of the women killed had been a girlfriend of the shooter. Some shooters choose specific victims and don’t attack others, Hughes said. In other cases, a shooter takes his revenge and anger out on anybody who happens to be in his range of fire. Hughes said there are some very basic things that can be done in any workplace to help guard against workplace violence.
Numbering doors
A workplace should place sticker numbers on all of its doors, on the outside and the inside, so every employee is fa-
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Friday, Jan. 25, 2013 miliar with the number on every door. That method, Hughes said, can be very helpful for both employees and emergency responders, including police and deputies. An employee can quickly tell the police which numbered door the shooter entered. That will give the responders an instant idea of where they would probably make their entry. In an emergency, with panic rampant, Hughes said it can be most confusing to try to explain where a specific door is located (for example, the door on the west, east, south or north). Being familiar with the number of every door in the workplace can alleviate that confusion, Hughes said.
Preparing a plan
Preparations for workplace violence should be practiced just as employees and families practice fire drills, Hughes said. Management and employees should familiarize themselves with all exits; they should agree upon a place to meet once they are out of the building. Once survivors have met in the agreed-upon place, they should try to avoid talking about the situation they have just been through. Such conversation, in that moment of panic, can cause confusion about what actually did happen and can distort accurate perceptions of what an individual actually did or did not see. There should also be a lockdown plan and – ideally – a means to alert everyone instantly that a shooter or another intrusive danger is approaching or inside the building. The company might want to use a one-word code word for such a situation so when
all employees hear that word via the intercom or by someone yelling it, they know at once to exit the building or take cover. If people do not have time to exit the building or to subdue the intruder, they could either hide or as a last resort fall to the floor and “play dead,” Hughes said. If hiding, do not make the slightest noise and be sure to turn your cell phone ringer off. Also, if possible, lock the door of the place you are hiding in or barricade the door with heavy objects. Do not stand behind the door as the shooter may shoot right through it. Once a year, employees should practice an evacuation at the company.
Calling the police
Whoever calls the police in
a shooting incident, either from the company or from a nearby place after an escape, should try to give very specific details to the dispatcher. A good physical description of the shooter (or shooters) is vital. Another important fact the police want to know is what kind of weapon the person is wielding. A handgun? A rifle? Several guns at once? A knife? The police response will be adapted according to the kinds of weapons they will be facing. Also, if known, report the number of actual and potential victims. The one reporting the crisis should also tell the police the numbered door the shooter entered, his approximate location in the building at the moment
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and the numbers of any other doors or rooms where the gunman may be. If employees dial 911, they should leave their cell phones on and leave them somewhere even after they have fled so dispatchers can hear, via the open phone line, anything that may be going on.
Exiting the building
When exiting, it is very important to take nothing with – not even a cell phone or a purse, Hughes cautioned. For one thing, time should not be wasted on a scramble of personal objects. And for another thing, exiting employees should always remember to keep both of their arms above their heads as they
walk rapidly or run from a building. That, Hughes said, is because law enforcement responding to the scene want to know at a glance if someone outside is a fleeing employee or perhaps a berserk gunman. It’s also a good idea for employees still in the building to keep their hands up when they see police approaching.
Police response
Survivors of a shooting might think the police are crude and callous as they rush past survivors – even wounded and bleeding ones – in search of the shooter or shooters.
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Our View Obama’s gun-related proposals deserve full, vigorous support Three cheers for President Barack Obama and for Vice President Joe Biden. Biden and his task force on gun violence deserve kudos for coming up with a list of comprehensive methods that will decrease violent deaths and horrible injuries due to guns in the hands of deranged people. Obama has earned our thanks for adopting Biden’s suggestions. He also deserves our full support. In fact, these recommendations – all of them – should have been initiated a long, long time ago. Who can deny assault rifles are nothing more than people-killing devices. They have absolutely nothing to do with hunting, and those who claim they are vital for home defense are truly clutching at straws. The arrogant attitudes from the NRA’s upper echelons must be countered vigorously by the use of common sense, rationality and facts. And the most appalling fact is assault weapons have been used all too often by unstable people who try to solve their problems or vent their anger by slaughtering other people. One important thing Obama should have stressed but did not is the importance of strengthening anti-bullying programs in all schools. Those who defend any and all rights to possess any gun persist in a feeble argument that guns don’t kill people and that nothing can stop unbalanced people set upon a path of destruction. Yes, it’s quite true we cannot stop all violence, but banning assault weapons and starting a buy-back program, like Australia did with great success, would be a huge step in the right direction. Other Biden-Obama recommendations are equally as important, and all of them dovetail into one another: strict, universal background checks (no exceptions for gun shows), limitations to high-capacity ammunition clips, increased penalties for those who buy a gun for someone else while pretending it’s for them, a $4 billion proposal to keep 15,000 police officers on the streets, more training for first responders and school officials, and hugely beefing up mentalhealth help in schools and elsewhere. Those will require legislative approval. However, Obama can issue at least two dozen executive orders that deal with everything from increasing penalties for gun violations to improving ways to share state-to-state information about background checks, from starting national gunsafety training programs to a variety of ways to extend and strengthen mental-health programs and access to them for those in desperate need. It will be an uphill battle to pass any laws, especially the one banning assault rifles. Instead of bucking those proposals, the NRA leadership should welcome them. Those people who insist the Second Amendment is an anything-goes, absolute right are not only wrong, they suffer from a willful form of blindness. How many more massacres with assault weapons will have to happen until the NRA wakes up to the light of decency and enlightenment? We the people can defeat gun extremists, but to that we must pressure our legislators strongly to approve Obama’s recommendations.
Opinion How many diplomas come courtesy of SparkNotes? How many students actually read the novels they are assigned to read? Not as many as should, I would guess. It seems we’re galloping headlong into some kind of Post-Literate Age in which words – pitifully butchered words – are used for texting, mainly. The Age of Post-Literacy will be one in which images (photos, movies, graphics) reign supreme in people’s lazy minds while classic literature falls by the wayside. From my high school years I vividly recall some students scrambling to get copies of CliffsNotes just before English exams, hoping they could bluff their way through the tests by getting some rough idea of the plots of the novels and their characters – great novels such as “The Red Badge of Courage” and “The Scarlet Letter.” I happened to love literature so I never resorted to CliffsNotes, even though they can be helpful for learning about the books’ backgrounds. Just recently, for example, I was re-reading “The Scarlet Letter” for the fourth or fifth time in my life. To refresh my mind about its historical background, I googled the novel’s name and up came “SparkNotes,” which is like CliffsNotes. There, I found an intriguing summary of Puritan New England, just what I was seeking. I also found some nearly illiterate comments from SparkNotes website users. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I just had to laugh. Here is what
Dennis Dalman Editor one student wrote: “SparkNotes is the best! The Scarlet Letter has the most confusing Olde English I think I’ve ever had to muddle through. Thankfully, SparkNotes broke it down for me and explained what’s going on when, ‘cause you just can’t understand with all the beating around the bush! The SparkNote was amazingly easy to understand, I just wish someone would rewrite the book with modern English. But anyway, the SparkNote quizzes are SUPER (Let me stress that super) helpful. Since the chapter summaries are so well written, I was actually able to come to class prepared, and not sounding stupid! Thanks a million, SparkNotes!! We students really appreciate you and the hard work you put in so that school actually can make sense, especially Literature!” It sounds like that young gal might have to push a wheelbarrow full of SparksNotes around with her for the rest of her confusing life so she can figure stuff out. She believes “The Scarlet Letter” was written in “Olde English.” And then she says she’s had to “muddle through” Olde English before. Appar-
ently, anything written in English she doesn’t understand must be “Olde English.” I got a real hoot from the way she added the “e” to “Old,” giving the word the antique flavor of genuine old English (mid-4th Century to mid-12th Century). I imagine that student’s touching wish for a “modern English” version would sound something like this in the book’s famous, eerie scaffold scene: Mr. Dimmesdale stood on the wooden scaffold on a spooky night. He acted, like, really scared. He’s that minister dude that had sex with Hester and that’s how come she has to go around wearing that scarlet letter all the time right over her boobs. Just then, at the platform, Hester and her weird kid Pearl showed up. “Hester, is that you?” Dimmesdale asked. “Yup, me and Pearl,” she said. “Why don’t you both come up and stand here with me?” “OK, why not? Cool! Be right up.” When that poor gal graduates from high school – if she ever does – there should be embroidered on her graduation gown in bright red, as blazing and bold as Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter, the following words: “Diploma courtesy of SparkNotes.” How many others are cheating their way through high school these days? It’s so sad they don’t realize it’s really themselves they are cheating.
We a r e t h e p r o d u c t o f o u r c h o i c e s
Can someone please tell me how and why the exploitation of dysfunctional families and groups on TV shows is entertaining? First, to call these shows “reality” is disingenuous. Maybe just watching ignorant people involved in ridiculous situations somehow makes us feel superior? Answer this for me. How could anyone be entertained by a music producer berating and brutalizing a young singer on national television? Look at the movie industry and the video gaming business. Have you seen what passes as entertainment today? The movies are blood curdling, vampire butchery and chainsaw massacres of the worst order. The video games all seem to be blood and guts. You score by killing and beheading. How is this entertainment? Today both of these industries are under scrutiny by groups trying to figure out if this is one of the reasons nutcases are arming themselves and killing large numbers of people. The question is do these violent movies and games contribute to their craziness? There seems to be a creeping coarseness occurring in this country. Manners are disappearing. Rudeness prevails. Cheating has become rampant. Respect for authority has all but vanished. What we used to call sass is now normal conFairness and ethics Newsleader staff members have the responsi- versation. Disrespect for parents seems bility 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, Jan. 25, 2013
Ron Scarbro Guest Writer to be a part of every TV show. Profanity can often be heard in public. Apparently the phrase “mixed company” no longer is allowable. How and when did all this happen? Is it possible political correctness might be the genesis of this phenomenon? The PC police don’t allow you to judge. They deny you the right to decide right from wrong. There no longer is black and white, only gray. Nuance is the norm. What used to be normal child punishment is now child abuse. First-graders playing cowboys and Indians are now expelled. Identification of people somehow now has become a bias or a prejudice. And the worst of it is we have buried our collective heads in the sand refusing to acknowledge any of this. Well, as I tell my grandchildren almost daily, we are the product of our choices. If we choose to watch these violent movies and TV shows, buy and play these video games, allow the PC police almost unlimited authority to determine right from wrong, then we deserve the
outcome. We have stopped punishing lawbreakers. Most arrestees are multiple offenders with numerous convictions but are out on the street. What used to be shameful is no longer even noticed, let alone publicly ridiculed. There are no heroes anymore. What today passes as movie stars and sports stars are some of the most dysfunctional people on earth and their dysfunction is celebrated instead of scorned. The question is, can all of this be turned around? Can we return to the more genteel America of the past? If we are to, it must start in the home. Sir and Ma’am must return to our lexicon. Parental respect must be insisted upon. Respect for law and law officers must be brought back. We have to cull the lawbreakers and scum from our midst. We have to hold our politicians, our movie stars and our sports stars to a higher standard. When they mess up, they must be publicly ridiculed, not rewarded. Athletes who cheat to win must be scorned and removed from the public consciousness. How about these words from my youth: “Winners never cheat and cheaters never win.” Today we have to insist on better from our politicians and our stars. Adoration should be given where adoration is earned. Remember, it’s up to us. We are indeed the product of our choices.
Send your opinions to: The Newsleaders • P.O. Box 324 • St. Joseph, MN 56374 or email us at news@thenewsleaders.com
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
Community Calendar
Friday, Jan. 25 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Gorecki Conference Center, 37 S. College Ave., St. Joseph. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 610 North County Road 2, St. Joseph. www. stjosephfarmersmarket.com. Saturday, Jan. 26 Stuck in Motion, United Cerebral Palsy of Central Minnesota’s annual stationary bike race, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Whitney Recreation Center, St. Cloud. 320-253-0765. www.ucpcentralmn. org.
Sunday, Jan. 27 Kindergarten/Preschool open house, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. www.
SFXschools.org.
Monday, Jan. 28 Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Sartell City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall. 253-2171. Tuesday, Jan. 29 Registration deadline for “Living in the Avon Hills” seminar set Feb. 2, St. John’s University. www.csbsju. edu/arboretum or 320-363-3163. Wednesday, Jan. 30 Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Weyer Family fundraiser burger night and meat raffle, 4:30-8 p.m., VFW Post 6992, Sauk Rapids. The Weyers lost their home in Rice of 39 years in a Christmas night fire,
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Thursday, Jan. 31 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Recipes for a healthy life: Brain food, 6:30-8:30 p.m., CentraCare Health Plaza-River Campus, 1200 6th Ave. N., St. Cloud. 320-229-5139. Friday, Feb. 1 Registration deadline for Evening at the Capitol, sponsored by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, 5-7 p.m., Best Western Kelly Inn, St. Paul. 320-656-3804 or 320656-3824. Blood drive, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Cloud Blood Donation Center, 1301 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud, Minn. 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.
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7 LEgal notICES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ISSUANCE OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES REVENUE REFUNDING OBLIGATIONS TO REFINANCE PROJECTS BY OPPORTUNITY MATTERS Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Sartell, Minn. (the “City”), will meet in the City Council Chambers at the City Hall located at 125 Pinecone Road N. in the City of Sartell, Minn. at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, to consider the proposal of Opportunity Matters, f/k/a Opportunity Manor Inc., a Minnesota nonprofit corporation (the “Borrower”) that the City refinance the projects hereinafter described, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152 to 469.1651, by the issuance of revenue obligations. The project consists of (a) refinancing the outstanding principal amount of the City of Sauk Rapids, Minn. $1,400,000 Health Care Facilities Revenue Note, Series 2001 (Opportunity Manor Project), the proceeds of which were used, in part, to refinance and renovate Borrower’s group housing facilities for disabled persons located at: (i) 13-12th Ave. SE, St. Joseph, Minn. (the “St. Joseph Facility”) and 1311-13th Ave. SE, 861-17th Ave. N., 930 Cory Lane, 926 Cory Lane, 902 Gloria Drive, and 17087th St. S.E., St. Cloud, Minn. (the “St. Cloud Facilities” and together with the St. Joseph Facility, the “2001 Facilities”), (b) refinancing the outstanding principal amount of a taxable obligation issued Jan. 24, 2003, to finance the construction of a group housing facility located at 808 NE 2nd Ave. in the City (the “Sartell FNMA Facility”), (c) refinance the outstanding principal amount of a taxable obligation issued March 1, 2004, to finance the construction of a group housing facility located at 1712 27th St. S.E, St. Cloud, Minn. (the “St. Cl.oud 1712 FNMA Facility”), (d) refinance the outstanding principal amount of a taxable obligation issued April 1, 2004, to finance the construction of group housing facility located at 2708 18th Ave. S.E., St. Cloud, Minn. (the “St. Cloud 2708 FNMA Facility,” and together with the St. Cloud 1712 FNMA Facility, the “St. Cloud FNMA Facilities”), and (e) refinance the
outstanding principal amount of a taxable obligation issued Oct. 16, 2006, to finance the construction of a group housing facility located at 601 Birch St., St. Joseph, Minn. (the “St. Joseph FNMA Facility”, and together with the Sartell FNMA Facility and the St. Cloud FNMA Facilities, the “FNMA Facilities”). The 2001 Facilities and the FNMA Facilities (collectively, the “Project”) are owned and operated by the Borrower.
The maximum aggregate estimated principal amount of the notes or other obligations to be issued, in one or more series, by the City to refinance the Project will be $1,250,000.
The notes or other obligations, as and when issued, will not constitute a charge, lien or encumbrance upon any property of the City, the City of St. Joseph, Minn., or the City of St. Cloud, Minn., except the Project and the revenues to be derived from the Project. Such note or obligations will not be a charge against the general credit or taxing powers of the City, the City of St. Joseph, Minn., or the City of St. Cloud, Minn., but will be payable from sums to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to a revenue agreement.
A draft copy of the proposed application to the Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, State of Minnesota, for approval of the project, together with all attachments and exhibits thereto, is available for public inspection during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, at the City Hall in the City.
At the time and place fixed for the public hearing, the city council of the city will give all persons who appear at the hearing an opportunity to express their views with respect to the financing of the project. Written comments will be considered if submitted to the city administrator on or before the date of the hearing. Publish: Jan. 25, 2013
CITY OF SARTELL PUBLIC HEARING CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES AMENDING TITLE 8, WATER & SEWER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the city of Sartell will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, Monday, Feb. 11 at the Sartell City Hall, for the purpose of amending Title 8, Water and Sewer. The City will consider a change to allow Polyethylene Pipe materials for water services lines from the curb stop to the water meter. A copy of the proposed chang-
es tothe ordinance is available for review at the city clerk’s office.
All interested persons are invited to attend to voice their opinion. Written comments will be accepted until the date of the hearing. Patti Gartland City Administrator Publish: Jan. 25, 2013
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Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, Jan. 25, 2013
Liberty Savings Bank to donate charitable grants to Sartell area contributed photo
Liberty Savings Banks recently opened a branch in Sartell and is located at the corner of Pine Cone Road and Second Street South. Instead of a Grand Opening event, the bank will be awarding a $1,000 Grand Opening Grant, to a deserving Sartell community organization, for each month in 2013. by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com
Liberty Savings Bank is cel-
ebrating the grand opening of its Sartell location in a unique way. Instead of a grand-opening event, a $1,000 Grand Opening Grant will be awarded to a deserving Sartell community organization for each month in 2013. President and chief executive officer Mark Bragelman said the first $1,000 will be donated to the Sartell Volunteer
Firefighters for the month of January. The Sartell bank, which opened Dec. 1, is the sixth branch opened by Liberty. Other locations include branches in downtown St. Cloud, south St. Cloud, Westwood St. Cloud, Waite Park and Monticello. Bragelman said Liberty is the oldest bank charter in St. Cloud. It was founded in 1939 in the downtown location as Liberty Loan and shared space with the Jack Frost Hatchery. Bragelman said the contributions and donations made to the community are what make Liberty stand out. He said two past owners of the bank are still involved in donating to the community and have been big supporters of the Paramount Theater, St. Cloud State University and many organizations. Many central Minnesota associations, charities and community festivals have benefited from the “hands-on� involvement of Liberty employees. This is also the 25th anniversary of the annual Liberty Block Party. Bragelman said during the past 25 years more than $1 million has been donated and more than 100,000 people have participated in the event. To read the article in its entirety, visit www.thenewsleaders. com.