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Perske, other mayors, vow to protect Mighty Miss.
Friday, July 26, 2013 Volume 18, Issue 29 Est. 1995
Town Crier
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Hazardous waste collection set Aug. 3 in St. Stephen
The Stearns County’s Household Hazardous Waste Truck will be at the St. Stephen City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Items accepted include the following: paints, ag pesticides, cleaners, poisons, ink/toner cartridges, roofing tar, fuels, automotive chemicals, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs and mercury. There is no charge. Items not accepted include the following: used motor oil, antifreeze, explosives, furniture, household garbage, tires, medical waste, appliances or any other unknown products. Also not accepted is business waste. For those who cannot make this collection time, the Tri-County Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 3601 5th St. S. in Waite Park, accepts products year-round. Visit www.co.stearns. mn.us for more info.
‘Jam the Stands’ promotes cleaner biofuels
Fans can enjoy a free evening of high octane stock-car racing and learn about cleaner-burning biofuels Sunday, July 28 at the Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids. Gates open at 2 p.m., racing begins at 5:30 p.m. The Biofuel Mobile Education Center will be at the Speedway giving folks the opportunity to learn more about ethanol fuels.
Waite Park Library offers two programs
The Waite Park Public Library is offering the following programs. “Sing, Play, Learn” for children 5 and younger will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 30. Early childhood music specialists will explore the magic of music and play through hands-on activities. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. The attendance limit is 20 children and advanced registration is required. “Soil Rocks! Can You Dig It?” for children 3-12 will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. The attendance limit is 25 and advanced registration is required. For more information, call the library at 320-253-9359.
For additional criers, visit www.thenewsleaders.com and click on Criers.
photo by TaLeiza Calloway
Tyler Rudderforth, 11, of St. Joseph, tries his hand at archery during last year’s “Take a Day Off on the Mississippi River” event. This year the event will be held Aug. 10
If people in the central Minnesota area foul up the Mississippi River, we have no one to blame but ourselves and Perske we cannot go pointing the finger of blame northwards, according to Sartell Mayor Joe Perske. “That’s because we are at the very top of the Mississippi watershed,” Perske noted. “If we take good care of the river, we can be good stewards and set examples for those further down along the river.” Perske was one of about 20 mayors from riverside cities who attended a three-day conference June 26-28 at the St. Cloud Riv-
er’s Edge Convention Center. It was the second annual gathering of mayors in the ongoing “Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative,” a way for mayors to connect, share research and brainstorm about ways to protect and to enhance the mighty river as a great natural resource and a lifeblood of economic prosperity. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also a partner in the Initiative, and the mayors and the Corps. signed an agreement called the “Memo of Common Purpose.” Although only about 20 mayors attended the conference, there are at least 55 mayors in river cities all along the river who are actively involved in the Initiative. Next year, the conference will be held in Natchez, Miss. The Initiative ties in well to the work of several local groups that have Perske • page 5
Take ‘Day off on Mississippi’ Aug. 10 by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
More than 40 free family-fun activities will be available Saturday, Aug. 10 when the fifth annual “Take a Day Off on the Mississippi River” takes place again. The perennially popular event will take place, rain or shine, at Stearns County Mississippi River Park at 41300 CR 1, which is seven
miles north of Sartell on the river road. Activities will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Many children will win prizes. Activities include fishing, river rides, archery, river education and much more. There will also be live, wild animals for visitors to enjoy. On-river fun will include canoes (such as a large voyageur-style canoe), kayaks, pontoon tours, pad-
dle boards and an electro-fishing demonstration. No experience is necessary for any of the activities and all needed equipment will be provided. Other things to do are kids’ games, birdhouse building, nature art, laser shooting, park tours, river tours and more. Animals from the Minnesota Zoo can be viewed starting at 1 p.m.
Special presentations will happen at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. “Take a Day Off on the Mississippi” is sponsored by the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Stearns County Parks Department, Benton County, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Cloud State University and many local businesses.
Marker questions ‘lies’ about his reunion expulsion by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com
Although Patrick Marker has received an apology from the headmaster of St. John’s Prep School, he is disgusted the apology did not contain any mention of the “lies” that were told to Marker and others about the day he was removed from a Prep School reunion. Marker, 48, is a 1983 graduate of the Prep School. In 1991, he claimed he had been sexually abused when he was a student by Fr. Dunstan Moorse. Those charges were denied, but in 1992 Marker and St. John’s Abbey reached a legal agreement. Since then, Marker has become a widely known victims’ advocate, especially as that relates to abuse by clergy. His website, entitled Beyond the Pine Curtain, details the history of abuse by clergy and
allegations against clergy, many of them current or former residents of St. John’s Abbey. Marker now lives in Mt. Vernon, Wash. He is a stay-at-home dad, the father of two children and works from home as an Internet consultant. On April 4, 2013, he received an invitation in the mail to attend the 30-year reunion of his St. John’s Prep School class. Marker flew to Minnesota to attend the event, eager to socialize with classmates he hadn’t seen in years. On Friday, June 28 he got together with some of his classmates at one of their homes in St. Paul. The next morning, they drove to the St. John’s Prep School and registered for the event at 10:40 a.m. He paid $20 for the lunch. While enjoying lunch under a large outdoor tent shortly after Marker • page 4
contributed photo
Patrick Marker (left) talks with a Stearns County deputy shortly before he is ordered to leave the St. John’s Prep School property during a school reunion June 29. Marker, who lives in Mt. Vernon, Wash., had received a mailed invitation to the reunion. A 1983 graduate of the prep school. Marker has become an active supporter of people who have been abused by clergy. He filed a lawsuit in 1991, alleging he had been sexually abused by a priest at the school. That lawsuit resulted in a settlement.
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People Three Sartell students were named to the dean’s list at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn. They are the following: Morgan Boe, senior, daughter of Lisa and Mark Boe; Alexis Eickhoff, junior, daughter of Amy and William Eickhoff; and Adam Wagner, senior, son of Lori and Paul Wagner. Elsa Schmid, Sartell, has recently become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc. Katie Hines, Sartell was recently named to the spring semester dean’s list at Winona (Minn.) State University. She earned a 4.0 grade-point average. Tyler Specht, St. Stephen, recently graduated with a master’s degree in architecture from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Grace McCabe, daughter of Caroline and Bill McCabe, Sartell, and a seventh-grader at Sartell Middle School, recently won the state championship in the 200-meter run at the Hershey Central Minnesota track meet held in June in St. Peter. The 12-year-old ran the distance in 30.6 seconds in the 11-
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and 12-year-old division. She as been competing in track meets since she was 6 years old. The following weekend, McCabe successfully competed in the Star of the North Games held in Bloomington, where she took first place in the long jump, first in the four-by-100 relay, second in the 200-meter dash, second in the shot put and discus, third in hurdles and fourth in high jump. Kimberly Noetzel, Sartell, was recently named senior manager of field communications for Charter Communications. Noetzel is responsible for media relations, external communications and community outreach for Charter’s Minnesota and Nebraska markets. She has been with Charter for four years, serving as a sales and marketing specialist for Charter Business and a public relations and communications manager for Charter’s Minnesota and Nebraska markets. Noetzel earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University. Five Sartell students were recently named to the dean’s list at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. They and their majors are as follows: Yazan Alkhatib, biological sciences; Dylan Benoit, liberal arts; Charles Harrison, education and human development; Matthew Nahan, biological sciences; and Ryan Nahan, biological sciences. Two Sartell students were recently named to the president’s list at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. They are the following: Kimberly Kaufman and Madison Thompson.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Blotter If any readers have tips concerning crimes, they should call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320255-1301 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. July 10 12:47 a.m. Burglary. 6th Avenue S. A complaint was made stating someone had entered a residence and was hiding in the home’s attic. Officers arrived and cleared the home without finding any evidence ≠someone was in the home. 5:41 p.m. Theft. Walmart. A male was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The male stated he forgot to pay for the items. He was issued a citation and transported to Stearns County Jail without incident. July 11 2:09 a.m. Suspicious activity. Connecticut Avenue S. While on patrol, an officer noticed a vehicle’s door had been left open. The officer contacted the owner who came outside to check the vehicle and lock the doors. 10:47 a.m. Found property. Pinecone Road. A bike was found next to a bike path. It’s being held at the Sartell Police Department. 10:24 p.m. Suspicious activity. 12th Avenue N. A complaint was made regarding two juvenile males who were ringing door bells and running; they were also seen carrying a carton of eggs. The officers checked the area and were unable to locate the males. They did see a vehicle parked in an odd location and contacted the owner who was found to be one of the boys’ mother. The boys did admit to ringing the doorbell and having the eggs but never to throwing any. July 12 Underage alcohol sale. Sartell po-
lice department conducted alcohol sales compliance checks with 13 out of 14 passing. 7:11 p.m. Animal complaint. Pinecone Road. A complaint was made regarding a dog left inside a vehicle. An officer arrived and found the windows were down and the dog did not seem in any distress. The owner arrived and was spoken to about animal safety and leaving an animal in a vehicle. July 13 12:14 a.m. Unwanted person. Evergreen Drive. A complaint was made regarding a male who was inside a business and refused to leave. An officer arrived and spoke with the manager who stated this male was not allowed in the establishment due to past conflicts. He was asked to leave and agreed not to return without incident. 9:30 a.m. Lost juvenile. 7th Street N. A report was made regarding a young child found crying in the hallway of an apartment building. Officers arrived and the child was able to tell them where he was supposed to be. The grandparents had fallen asleep and did not realize he had left the apartment. July 14 12:52 a.m. Vandalism. Country Court. A report was made regarding a vehicle that had been egged. 3:22 a.m. Welfare check. Benton Drive. A report was made regarding a young female who was lying next to the road. An officer arrived and found the female was not injured and was transported home. The officer did notify the girl’s mother. 4:57 p.m. Theft. Walmart. A female was witnessed attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise. The female was issued a citation and released. July 15 12:44 p.m. Suspicious person. 2nd Street S. A complaint was made regarding a male who was digging
through a business’s garbage for cigarette butts. The owner asked him to leave several times and he is now banned from the grounds. 6:17 p.m. Fireworks. The Wilds. A complaint was made regarding juvenile males shooting bottle rockets from a vehicle. Officers were unable to locate the vehicle but an officer contacted the registered owner of the vehicle, who was found to be the father of one of the boys. The father said he would take care of the situation. July 21 12:55 a.m. ATV accident. Deputies attempted to stop the driver of an ATV on CR 2 in St. Stephen for speeding (54 mph in a 30-mph zone), driving recklessly and driving an ATV on a county road. The driver of the ATV, who was later identified as Brian D. Klein, immediately pulled into his driveway and pulled around the side of a detached garage. When deputies checked the area, they found Klein had driven the ATV off a retaining wall which is approximately 5-feet high. Klein was found with obvious injuries, pinned by the ATV. Deputies requested assistance from other emergency personnel and began administering first aid. The St. Stephen Fire Department responded, provided further medical care and prepared the patient for transport. Upon arrival of Gold Cross Ambulance, Klein was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital emergency room. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in this accident. The accident remains under investigation.
Correction
Due to incorrect information provided, the color guard on page 2 of the July 19 Newsleader was incorrectly identified. Members of the American Legion Post 277 of Sartell were pictured in the photo.
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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.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com LEgal notICE
Friday, July 26, 2013
3
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 748 JUNE 17, 2013 DISTRICT CENTER BOARD ROOM The regular school board meeting of Independent School District 748 was called to order at 4 pm by Chair Michelle Meyer. Members present included the following: Meyer, chair; Mary McCabe, vice chair; Jason Nies, clerk/treasurer; Pam Raden, director; Krista Durrwachter, director; Dan Riordan, director; and Mary Lindell, student representative. Unable to attend: Joseph Hill, superintendent.
Preliminary 2013-2014 Budget
Projected Revenues
Projected Expenditures
General Fund
$28,926,600
30,152,530
Food Service
1,888,531
1,979,485
Transportation
1,182,995
1,207,262
977,448
1,027,371
Meyer thanked staff, guests and students for attending the board meeting.
Community Service
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Nies to amend the agenda and approve as follows: Remove Item D1 – Approve Interim Superintendent Contract for Mike Spanier Add Item C8 – Set Special Meeting to Discuss Interim Superintendent Contract All in favor. Motion carried.
Capital Outlay
1,203,386
1,285,055
Building Fund
-
305,727
129,000
134,800
24,000
24,000
5,059,029
5,003,301
39,390,989
41,119,531
A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Riorden to approve consent items a-d as presented below: a. Minutes of the meeting held on May 20, 2013. b. Checks in the amount of $1,814,348.40 as presented: General Fund 1,446,681.77 Food Service Fund 85,961.82 Transportation Fund 150,138.73 Community Service Fund 48,005.10 Capital Expenditure Fund 13,095.07 Building Fund 69,145.62 Debt Service Fund 375.00 Summer Rec Agency Fund 945.29 Check numbers 152066 to 152383 Receipts in the amount of $4,202241.86 as presented: General Fund 2,671865.40 Food Service Fund 164,310.17 Transportation Fund 14,934.25 Community Service Fund 61,617.57 Capital Expenditure Fund 7,000.00 Building Fund 68.16 Debt Service Fund 1,214,147.81 Scholarship Trust 4,500.00 Summer Rec Agency Fund 63,798.50 Receipts 38583 to 38713 Wire transfers in the amount of $6,437.96 as presented: General Fund 518.34 Food Service Fund 2,457.27 Summer Rec Agency Fund 3,462.35 Wire transfers 201200060 to 201200067 Accept the following donations: Name
To
Donation
Purpose
Anderson Trucking Services
Sartell-St. Stephen $240 Community Education
3 cases of 3 1/4” x 3 1/4” paper post notes
ORE PTC
Sartell-St. Stephen $90 School District
Track Shirts
Summer Recreation Scholarship Trust Debt Service TOTAL ALL FUNDS
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Raden to approve and authorize the execution of lease purchase agreement and the lease schedule with Apple Inc. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Riordan to approve the recommendation to have School Exec. Connect as the selected search firm for the superintendent position. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Riordan to approve the call for bids for milk and bread products. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Raden and seconded by Nies to approve the fundraiser requests. All in favor. Motion carried. SCHOOL
ORGANIZATION
FUNCTION
SHS
Cross Country
Purchase equipment (helmets), provide meals on busses during away games, and upgrade to coach busses for extended road games and pay a coach
SHS
Football
Additional coaches, uniforms, equipment, travel expenses
Sartell Early Childhood
PTO
Purchase Learning Library Furniture
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by McCabe to have second readings and approve the revised policies 705, 710, 712, AND 805. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Raden to have third readings and approve new policy 215 – student representative on the school board. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Raden to set a Special Meeting of the Sartell-St. Stephen School Board at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, 2013 to approve Interim Superintendent Contract. All in favor. Motion carried. A motion was made McCabe and seconded by Nies to approve the personnel omnibus resolution. All in favor. Motion carried. New Employees or Changes: Name
Bldg. Position
1.
Hsing-I Chan
SHS
Chinese teacher .1667 FTE
d. Accept the resignation of Garrett Lathe, SHS, effective 06-30-13; Ken Brady, softball coach, effective 05-31-2013. Accept the retirement of Evelyn Nothnagel, custodial, effective 5-31-13.
2.
Connie Connor
ORE
Licensed school BA, Step social worker $44,226
3.
Student Representative Report: The end of the year went well for students. When the 2013-14 calendar was voted on, there was a positive energy throughout the building
Nicole mann
4.
Bridget Hooley
SMS
Language arts teacher BA, 1,$33,158
5.
Deb Johnson
ORE
Administrative assis- RII, Step 2 $20.55/ Arbitration award tant 8 hr./day 222 days per hour per year
6.
Nicholas Koubsky SHS
Math teacher
BA, Step $36,566
7.
Erica Nelson
SHS
Social studies teacher
BA, 1,$33,158
Step Replacing Rochelle Arellano
8.
Erin Roe
SMS
Teacher 1.0 FTE
BS30, 8,$45,779
Step Replacing Gail McCarty
9.
Karl Scharnweber SHS
Health and phy. ed.
BA, S3, $34,862
Replacing Patti Lutz
Language arts
BA, S2, $34,013
Replacing Erin Roe (transfer to SMS)
School Board Committee Report: Board Policy Committee • The Policy Committee continues to review policies on a routine basis Negotiations Committee • The committee continues to work with the Sartell Education Association • The committee is currently meeting with the paraprofessional union to discuss the process moving forward Sartell Senior Connection • This group is working on the continued development of the lending library and continues to provide programs and outreach in the community District Food Service: Brenda Braulick, director of Food Services, shared an updated report about the district’s food service program and updates to the program. Benton Stearns Ed District: Duane Borgeson, director of Benton-Stearns Education District, and Marlene Grindland, assistant director of BSED and director of Special Education in ISD 748, presented information on the current state of and services provided through the Benton-Stearns Education District. A motion was made by McCabe and seconded by Nies to APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY 2013-14 BUDGET. All in favor. Motion carried.
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Compensation
Change
- BA, Step 3, $5,812 Rehire for Chinese program
Fuecht- PME Teacher – 1 FTE
14, New position
BS10, Step $39,636
6, Balance elementary class size Step Replacing Taylor Hamilton
5, Replacing Stanley Angell
10. Emily Schmit
SHS
11. Danna Sobania
PME Receptionist 7 hr./day RII, Step 1 Fro- Arbitration award 202 days per year zen, $19.18/per hr.
12. Katherine Stewart SMS
7th-grade science
MA, Step $45,447
5, Replacing Melissa Dummer
Contract renewal: Name 13. Angela Seutter
Bldg.
Position
Action
Expected Duration
PME
Teacher
Leave of Absence 07-01-13 to 06-30-14 Board • page 7
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Marker from front page noon, a school official stepped up to the table where Marker was having lunch and chatting happily with classmates. The man, a member of the school’s “Life Safety” security unit, asked Marker if he could step outside the tent
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for awhile so they could have a conversation. Marker told the man whatever he had to say could be said right there and then, in front of his classmates. Finally, the man said to Marker he is trespassing and will have to leave the campus. Marker told the man he’d received a bona-fide invitation and had paid for his lunch. The Life Safety man said he would call the sheriff’s department, which he did. Then Marker also called the sheriff’s department to request to talk to the sheriff about what was transpiring. A sheriff’s deputy arrived and told Marker he would have to leave the campus immediately. But first, the deputy wanted Marker to step over to the parking lot as campus officials wanted Marker to sign some kind of document. Marker said he would not sign anything. Then, a campus man walked over and told Marker there is an active restraining order against him from campus authorities. Marker told the man that was a blatant lie. Marker agreed to leave the campus, even though he felt a sense of outrageous injustice was being perpetrated against him. There was a problem, however. Marker had been driven to the reunion in a classmate’s car. He did not want to spoil the classmate’s lunch and fun, so he told the deputy he would walk from the campus. As he walked, the deputy followed him. At the county road, the deputy told Marker he would have to keep walking as the county road is considered campus property. So Marker continued walking toward the I-94 freeway. By then, some of his classmates drove to pick Marker up on the freeway. He found out seven of his classmates, the ones he’d been enjoying lunch with, decided to leave the reunion and never return to the school. They were disgusted by how Marker was treated, and they said they all experienced a sense of shame and embarrassment on their friend’s behalf. That night, many of the class-
Friday, July 26, 2013 mates decided to get together at a classmate’s home in Sartell. A day after Marker’s expulsion made the news, the SJU Prep School responded publicly with a terse two-sentence statement. “St. John’s Prep responded to a history of hostility in asking an alumnus (Marker) to leave our private event. We felt it was in the best interests of our guests to ask this person to leave so others could enjoy the reunion.” The charge of “hostility” is ludicrous, Marker told the Newsleader. He said not once did he bring up the subject of clergy abuse the night before the event or during the luncheon. Everyone, he said, was having a good time with no trace of hostility from him or any of the classmates. Any hostility, he said, came from the Life Safety official, not from the reunion revelers. “I had no intention of bringing up the subject of clergy abuse,” Marker said. “I went there to have a good time with classmates.” The actions by campus officials, he said, had one purpose and one purpose only, in his opinion. “They wanted to embarrass, humiliate and discredit me in the eyes of my classmates,” Marker said. “They knew I was coming. They knew they’d sent me an invitation. They planned beforehand to do that to me.” Marker wrote a letter and sent copies to SJU President Michael Hemesath and to St. John’s Abbey Abbot John Klassen. In the letter, Marker specifies which “lies” the campus should confess to and apologize for. Among the lies, Marker claims, are the active restraining order against him, the claim Marker had received a notice weeks before about not being allowed to come to the reunion and examples of the so-called “history of hostility.” In the letter, Marker also asks SJU officials to apologize to his classmates for ruining their reunion. For more about Marker and his expulsion from campus, including deputy dispatcher transcripts, see Marker’s website at www.behindthepinecurtain.com.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, July 26, 2013
Perske from front page
been meeting for years on ways to preserve river quality and to use the river wisely for recreational and economic development, such as hiking-biking trails, riverside parks, commercial projects and river excursions. Area mayors who attended the conference, besides Perske, included St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis, who hosted the event; and the mayors of Sauk Rapids, Little Falls, Baxter and Bemidji. Out-of-state mayors hailed from Prescott, Wis.; Clinton, Davenport, Dubuque (Iowa cities); Grafton, Ill.; Clarksville, Cape Girardeau, St. Louis (Missouri cities); Memphis, Tenn.; Hickman, Ken.; Natchez; and Vidalia, La. “I was moved at the number Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Windows • Metal Roofs HAAG™ Certified Roof Inspectors for hail/wind
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of mayors who came together to discuss topics of concern about this wonderful resource we have here,” Perske said. “Those topics included quality of water, recreation, transportation, development. The river is a vital part of commerce. For example, the amount of goods that can be transported by barge is just tremendous and very cost-effective.” As Perske and other Sartell residents well know, the Mississippi River was vital in the founding of the city. A paper mill on the edge of the river began a year before the city was even founded or named. That mill was one of the economic bedrocks of Sartell and the wider area for more than 100 years until last year when an explosion and fire caused the permanent closing of the mill. The river has always figured prominently into Sartell city business. One recent example is the
rain gardens planted in yards to absorb excess rain water before it reaches storm sewers and, ultimately, the river. Rain gardens and the city’s many man-made ponds are ways for water runoff and nutrients (such as herbicides and pesticides) to settle and drain
on pervious surfaces rather than into the river. One recent example of riverresource management, Perske noted, is the city’s work on a shoreland management ordinance that would help protect the river through various methods:
5 leaving riverside vegetation undisturbed, maintaining vegetative buffer zones along the edges of rivers and a score of other things residents can do to prevent toxic runoff from reaching the river. There are 10 states that borPerske • page 8
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6
Our View
Mighty river’s potential finally being realized
Our Mighty Mississippi is indeed a mighty river. It contributed mightily to this nation’s greatness – as a transportation corridor; as a nurturing water supply for so many cities, towns, villages and farms; as a limitless resource for recreation; as a power source for industries; and last but not least, as a mighty nurturer of fish and animals. It was good to see so many river-city mayors meet in St. Cloud recently for the “Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative.” The ongoing effort is a way for mayors and river experts to get together and brainstorm on ways to preserve and enhance that mighty resource, The River. There have been many group meetings about the river by various groups, including right here in central Minnesota. More and more people are realizing what a great asset that river is, how we must protect it and how untapped it is as a limitless recreational and economic resource. At least two cities along the river (Dubuque, Iowa and Memphis, Tenn.) gained remarkable new leases on life by wisely building environmentally sound recreational and cultural facilities right at the edge of the river. Local folks from this area, including Sartell city officials, took a tour of Dubuque a few years ago and came back with glowing reviews of what they’d seen and heard. Sartell Mayor Joe Perske was one of the mayors who participated in the “River Initiative.” He, too, was impressed by the brimming concerns and ideas the “down-river” mayors brought to the three-day conference in St. Cloud. Perske, who grew up in the St. Cloud area, is old enough to remember how the Mississippi River, right in this area, was polluted to such a foul extent. For many along the river, it had become a more or less open sewer into which individuals and industries dumped virtually anything. Thanks to laws and regulations throughout the years, the quality of the river has vastly improved and some species in it have even made a comeback. However, there is more work to do. There is no reason why “river folks” can’t get together and keep working on ways to keep pollutants (such as herbicides and pesticides) out of our Mighty River and other area waterways. In the meantime, there are is exciting potential for environmentally friendly development of commercial, recreational and cultural ventures along the river (as in Dubuque) that could boost local economies. For too long, people took the Mississippi River for granted. At long last, its ecological vulnerability and its mighty untapped potential are being recognized and developed by people who truly love the Mighty Miss. as the mighty resource that it is.
Fairness and ethics
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Friday, July 26, 2013
Opinion Republicans should put up or shut up The U.S. House Republicans are like a colony of termites, voraciously nibbling away at the foundations of ObamaCare. Their latest dirty little tactic is to try to delay the implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate. They are angry about ObamaCare becoming the law of the land, and they are doubly bitter ever since the U.S. Supreme Court, to their dunderheaded disappointment, upheld the Act’s key provision – the mandate. It’s time for Republicans to either put up or shut up. If they detest ObamaCare so much, it’s time for them to come up with solutions of their own. But of course that will never happen, because these smug legislators, whose health-care packages are part of their many perks paid by taxpayers, have the selfish notion the health-care system is not broken. Their smarmy attitude is if nearly 50 million people have no insurance, it’s their own fault. They are deadbeats and freeloaders who are not working hard enough. If they would get two or three minimumwage jobs, surely they could then afford insurance. And plenty of non-legislators have that same attitude – “I got mine, you get yours!” Some day, if those people lose their jobs, they or their loved ones might be highand-dry, without the means to buy insurance. They’ll be singing a different tune, maybe, when that sad day comes. Remember, there but for fortune go you and I. So many people have said to me
Dennis Dalman Editor in the past few years, “ObamaCare is a disaster.” “Why? What don’t you like about it?” I ask, genuinely open-minded as to their objections. “Well, um . . . well . . . “ they stammer. “It’s run by the government; it’s socialism. They’ll take my insurance policy away. I won’t be able to have my choice of doctors. It will be way too expensive. We’ll have to wait in long lines. There’s a death panel that will decide who gets treatment. Why should I pay for someone else’s health care?” It’s so obvious they are parroting buzz phrases they heard from extremists like Gasbag Rush Limbaugh. Here is how I verbally slap back: “Listen, until you can do some research and learn some facts about ObamaCare, would you please stop spouting those lies?” They don’t like to hear that. Tough. Obama himself was the first to say the Affordable Care Act will have to undergo plenty of tweaking in its first years. Every major program, such as Medicare, required adjustments. You would think Republicans would roll up their sleeves and brainstorm, along with Democrats, as to how to improve the law. But
think again. Their sole purpose is to savagely sabotage ObamaCare at all costs. And why? It’s very simple. It is Obama’s law, and anything to do with Obama that might prove to be a success must be trashed, tossed out like baby with bathwater. These Republicans are so deeply bitter about Obama’s re-election they would vote against a cancer cure if Obama came up with one. For five years these do-nothings have been naysaying, poo-poohing and rigidly obstructing any legislation that comes down the pike. And their rationale for their obstructionism is anything Obama proposes, they will oppose – no matter what it is. Compromise is not a word in their vocabularies. Sen. Mitch McConnell, one of the worst obstructionists, vowed two years ago his prime purpose as a senator was to do everything in his power to defeat Obama in a re-election bid. It was a nasty vendetta that backfired on him and other Obama-haters. And now, of course, they are more obstructionist than ever – utterly determined to sink the Affordable Care Act, which is Obama’s signature legislation and the most important health act since Medicare. We keep hearing, “Why doesn’t Obama spend more time explaining how ObamaCare will work?” He has. Many times. There have also been many excellent media explanations. But the trouble is too many people aren’t paying attention. The real question should be, “Why do so many people prefer lies over facts?”
I’m happier in a boat than on a golf course I always find it interesting the hobbies people embrace and the reasons behind that decision. For instance, I used to golf, not very well mind you, but I tried. For a number of years I went golfing with friends. They were all better than me. That didn’t really matter; I could accept my deficiency at the game. I grew up playing baseball and didn’t golf until I was in college. I might have golfed once or twice a year at that time. As I got older I made friends with guys who were avid golfers, and I tagged along with them. I’d do OK. I’d always have the high score, but occasionally I made a great shot, which gave me hope there might be more to my game. I even took a few lessons to get better, but somehow I think they hurt more than helped. I started worrying about my knees and hips and back and head and swing and follow-through. The more I thought, the worse my game got, it seemed. And then, the nightmare of all nightmares happened. I went golfing with a couple buddies, and one of them brought his brother along. His brother, it turned out, was a golf pro
Mike Nistler Reporter at a local course. This must have really messed me up because somewhere along the course I couldn’t hit the ball off the tee. I swung and missed. Tried again but whiffed again. I knew my friends and the golf pro were watching me. Let me tell you they were great about it. They didn’t say anything until I asked for help. The golf pro gave me a few friendly suggestions. I think I finally squirted the ball off the tee. That was good enough for me, but that’s the last time I picked up a club. I still have them in my storage shed. I’m not sure why. Maybe I think someday I’ll take up the sport again. Meanwhile, I now fish with my brothers on a regular basis during the summer. I find this much more enjoyable. Again, I’m not a professional angler, and I’ll probably never go fishing with one. But I have my share of success.
And if we don’t catch anything, at least we have the beauty of the lake to enjoy. When you do catch a fish that puts up a bit of a fight, it’s exhilarating landing it. Probably because you never know what you’re going to pull into the boat from the waters below. It’s sort of like that children’s game at carnivals — the wishing well. When they put that hook behind the curtain you never know how big a prize you’re going to reel in. Another distinct advantage I think fishing has over golf is when you go fishing you can eat the rewards from that day. You can’t eat a scorecard. Well, maybe you can, but I’m sure it tastes nowhere as wonderful as a bunch of pan-fried fresh fish. And while you can have a beer or two on the golf course, the more you drink while golfing, the harder it is to hit the ball where you want it to go. Having some beers while fishing, well, the fish don’t seem to mind one bit. This column may start a debate. I’m sure there are tons of folks who would prefer a day at a golf course over one in a boat on a lake. I’m just not one of them.
Sartell Newsleader • www.thenewsleaders.com
Friday, July 26, 2013
Community Calendar
Friday, July 26 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Pickleball, blend of badminton, tennis and pingpong, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 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. Saturday, July 27 Brat sale, sponsored by the St. Joseph Y2K Lions, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. St. Joseph Meat Market. A portion of profits goes to macular degeneration research. Carnival benefit for Riley Petron, 2-year-old diagnosed with stage 2 neuroblastoma, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, St. Joseph. Jenna Burns 320-248-6177 or teamriley2013@gmail.com. Monday, July 29 Pickleball, blend of badminton, tennis and pingpong, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Walking group, 9 a.m.-noon, Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. 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.
Tuesday, July 30 Blood drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Sing, Play, Learn for ages 5 and younger, MacPhail Center for Music, 1-2 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 5th Ave. N., Waite Park. 320-2599359. Wednesday, July 31 Pickleball, blend of badminton, tennis and pingpong, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Walking group, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. SummerTime by George, 5-9 p.m., Lake George, St. Cloud. Free live concert by Davina and the Vagabonds. Thursday, Aug. 1 Coffee and Conversation, a senior discussion group, 9 a.m., Country Manor, Sartell. Walking group (advanced), 9 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Blood drive, noon-6 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Soil Rocks! for ages 3-12, 2:303:30 p.m., Al Ringsmuth Public Library, 5th Ave. N., Waite Park. 320259-9359. Walking group (beginners), 4 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527
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Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Pickleball, blend of badminton, tennis and pingpong, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Friday, Aug. 2 Blood drive, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., American Red Cross, 1301 W. St.. Germain St., St. Cloud. 1-800-733-2767. Pickleball, blend of badminton, tennis and pingpong, 8:30-11:30 a.m., Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. St. Joseph Farmers’ Market, 3-6:30 p.m., near the Wobegon Trail Center, C.R. 2. Saturday, Aug. 3 Holstein Show, 10:30 a.m., Stearns County Fairgrounds, Sauk Centre. Exhibitors from Stearns, Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Kandiyohi and Crow Wing counties. Entry deadline is July 29. 320-354-4396. Veterans Rendezvous, an afternoon of music, fun and connection to fellow veterans, 1-4:30 p.m., St. Cloud VA Medical Center, 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud. 320-255-6353. Sunday, Aug. 4 LGBT couples marriage ceremony, 2 p.m., United Spiritual Center of Central Minnesota, Sartell. Registration required. Sartell professional baritone Jack Richter performs along with other area musicians. 320-255-9253.
SEAMSTRESS
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 748 JUNE 26, 2013 DISTRICT CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM The special school board meeting chael Spanier was presented of Independent School District and approved on a motion by 748 was called to order at 8:30 Durrwachter and seconded by a.m. by Vice Chair Mary McCabe. Nies. Motion carried. Members present included: McCabe; Jason Nies, clerk; Krista A motion was made by Nies and Durrwachter, director; and Pam seconded by Durrwachter to adRaden, director journ the meeting at 8:35 a.m. All in favor. Motion carried. The negotiated contract with new Interim Superintendent Mi- Jason Nies, clerk
Board
from page 3
Schedule Work Session and Committee Meetings: 1. Policy Committee – Tuesday, July 9, at 10:30 a.m. 2. Negotiations – a. Sartell Education Association – Thursday, June 20, at 9:30 a.m. b. Paraprofessionals – Wednesday, June 26, at 1:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 18, at 10 a.m.
Chair Meyer entertained a motion to close the meeting pursuant to Minnesota Statute Section 13D.03. Motion made by Durrwachter and seconded by Nies to close the meeting at 6:16 p.m. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Board completed official review of Policies 901 and 904.
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 p.m. was made by Riordan and seconded by Nies. All in favor. Motion carried.
The Board had first of two readings of revisions of Policies: 902, 903 and 907.
A motion was made by Durrwachter and seconded by Raden to reopen the meeting at 7:14 p.m.
––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Jason Nies, clerk/treasurer
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School district calendars available Sartell-St. Stephen School District calendars were delivered this week to households that have children attending schools within the district. Calendars also are available to community members at District buildings and throughout the cities of Sartell and St. Stephen, including both City
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Halls and Liquid Assets. The district calendar has been a primary source of school-based information to families. A printable version of the district calendar is also available on the district’s website.
Perske from page 5
der the Mississippi River from its source in Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota all the way down to the delta at New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. Perske noted there are 18 million
people in the Mississippi watershed who depend upon the river for drinking water, including St. Cloud, which is the first city on the river’s course to get its drinking water from the river. Sartell relies upon well water for its drinking water. According to Initiative statistics, the Mississippi River activity translates into $105-billion
Friday, July 26, 2013 worth of Gross Domestic Product, and it’s a means of transport for 64 percent of the nation’s agricultural products. It directly provides one million jobs and many more millions indirectly. “In Sartell, we have to work with the river, and a lot of our residents understand that,” Perske said. “It all starts right here in Minnesota.”