The News Leaders

The funeral for Rita J. Bruggman, 69, of Sartell will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 19 at The Waters Church, 1227 Pinecone Road N., Sartell. She died Wednesday, Nov. 14 at Quiet Oaks in St. Cloud. The Rev. Rachel Koubsky will officiate. Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Monday at the church in Sartell. Survivors include the following:

 by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com The crowded cafeteria at Sartell Middle School was a buzz and roar of conversation Nov. 9 as students and their military veteran relatives enjoyed lunch together. It was the annual SMS “Lunch with Veterans” event, in honor of veterans and Veterans Day, and this year the luncheon accommodated 75 veterans and their young loved ones and

by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com An Angel of Hope Vigil will be Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Angel of Hope statue by Lake Francis in Sartell. The event will begin with a small indoor program at 6:30 p.m. at the Sartell Community Center and a vigil will take place at the base of the Angel around 7 p.m. The Angel of

by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com The St. Joseph 2018 Winterwalk, which will be Friday, Nov. 30, will combine old traditions with new changes this year. The St. Joseph Y2K Lions will be taking over the annual event that was started by Margy Hughes and the St. Joseph Action Group and continues to grow each year. “The Y2K Lions were excited to

by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The St. Joseph City Council took up two budget items at its regular Nov. 5 meeting: The 2019 draft Enterprise Budget, and the proposed 2019 budget of the Park Board. Total proposed Park Board budget for 2019 is $309,460. In previous actions the Council had accepted the proposal for what is known as the East Park

by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Steve Soyka has gone from learning about the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office as a teenage Explorer three decades ago to his election as sheriff on Nov. 6. Soyka, 49, defeated Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud to become the county’s first new, elected sheriff in 16 years. He’ll assume his new duties on Jan. 7. In

by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Jeff Howe’s Nov. 6 special-election victory as senator for District 13 is a momentous tie-breaker for the Minnesota State Senate. Starting in January, Republicans will control the Senate by one vote – 34 to 33. Howe’s election is what made the difference. He will serve the last two years of the four-year term begun by Sen.