by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com The Sartell City Council unanimously approved at its May 14 meeting spending up to $13.12 million for a new public-safety building after getting a look at design plans. The new building will house the fire and police departments, combining all emergency operations in one building with space to grow. Both departments will share training and conference

by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com The Church of St. Joseph Catholic church quilters have been busy stitching for the annual July Fourth parish festival and have much to show for their hard work. For sporting enthusiasts, this year’s display of quilts will include a Minnesota Vikings football team quilt and a Minnesota Twins baseball team quilt. The array of quilts to

by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com It all started with a baby girl, 16 years ago. The last of Sue and Ron Wochnick’s four children was a teenager and soon they would be empty nesters. The Sartell residents had considered opening their home as a foster family but had never quite gotten around to it. Then when Fingerhut shut down and the

by Darren Diekmann news@thenewsleaders.com Maple-syrup season wrapped up just a few weeks ago in the area, and for some producers the unusually cold and snowy spring made for a poor season — with yields well below average. Others were at least partly saved by just one or two days of free-flowing sap in mid-April. That was true of Shelly and

by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com It’s Saturday morning of opening fishing and it’s 50 degrees with a light breeze from the north, which follows the Mississippi River down through Sartell. It’s pretty good weather for an opener. At least it isn’t snowing or raining like it has been some past years. Tanner Brugh and his buddy Dominic Castellano picked their way nonchalantly

by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Jennifer Thelen is looking for a few good families. Thelen of St. Joseph is a social worker with Stearns County Human Services. Although recruiting and licensing foster-care families is a year-round job, Thelen is trying to get the word out during May, Foster Care Appreciation Month, about the need for families to care for children. Currently,

by Darren Diekmann news@thenewsleaders.com Lenny Gillitzer’s farmyard and field was a hub of activity May 5, as dozens of members of the Northern Minnesota Draft Horse Association and their teams of horses gathered for their Spring Plow Day to work their horses, have fellowship, share experiences and to prepare Gillitzers’s field for planting. The Gillitzer field, east of St. Joseph