by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Once again, the lights around Lake Francis will sparkle and glimmer to delight young and old alike during the holiday season. The second annual Country Lights Festival will begin Saturday, Dec. 1, and continue throughout the rest of the month. About 75,000-100,000 lights, many more than were used last year, will be on every evening during
A life of opening doors
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Jerry Peterson’s life has been about opening doors. Those doors led to military service, world travel, multiple academic degrees and careers as a youth minister, hospital chaplain and landscaping business. Now his “doors” are the centerpiece of a self-published book, “99 Doors to High Level Wellness: How to Live to be 100.” The book features photographs
Place of Hope seeks help to bring Christmas joy
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleders.com Place of Hope Ministries, based in St. Cloud, is planning a wide range of holiday activities for people who are less fortunate financially or who are currently homeless. However, public help is being requested from all who live in the greater St. Cloud/Central Minnesota area. The first of the events/activities is an open house from 2-5
Measures needed to increase turnout, protect the vote
Minnesotans voted in record numbers on Nov. 6, again leading the nation with the highest voter turnout – almost 64 percent. Stearns County’s turnout reached 70 percent compared with the national average turnout of about 50 percent. That is the highest percentage of voter participation in Minnesota for a midterm election since 2002 and the raw turnout of 2,593,922 was
We should keep Thanksgiving special
Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Christmas holiday season is in full swing. However, something I see every year is that Thanksgiving, the traditional American holiday of being grateful and enjoying time with family and friends, is increasingly being absorbed into the Christmas season. Whether you are in favor of this trend or not, I believe it is
Howe thanks District 13 voters
Jeff Howe, Rockville I want to thank the residents of District 13 for the support and the privilege of serving as your next Minnesota Senator. I am humbled by the support I have received and do not take this responsibility lightly. I want to assure you I will represent all of District 13 and will continue to do my best
Nov. 30 St. Joseph people
Brenny Transportation Inc. of St. Joseph was named a “Top 50 Company for Women to Work For in Transportation” by Redefining the Road magazine, the official magazine of the Women In Trucking Association. According to Brian Everett, publisher of Redefining the Road, there are five key features that distinguish companies recognized on this list: corporate cultures that foster gender diversity; competitive
Nov. 30 Sartell-St. Stephen people
Fourth-grade students at Oak Ridge Elementary School and Pine Meadow Elementary School competed in Geography Bees at each school at the end of November. Oak Ridge students competed Nov. 20. Luke Rickbeil was this year’s Geography Bee champion. In second place was Daisy Campbell and Isaac Mancini placed third. The other top six finalists were Will Perius, Miles Simonsen and