Clarifications
An editorial in the March 11 Newsleader paid tribute to the recently deceased Bill Clemens, businessman and philanthropist who lived in E. St. Cloud. The editorial suggested a monument should be constructed in honor of Clemens and his late wife, Virginia, who both started the Virginia Clemens Gardens across the street from where they lived on Kilian Boulevard. The Newsleader has learned happily that a monument to them has, in fact, been constructed several years ago.
In an article entitled “Sauk Rapids VFW Post to host troop care packages fundraiser” in the March 18 edition of the Newsleader, the story about Becky Carlson should have read that the wife and mother retired from her work with special needs children in the St. Cloud school district and that Paulette Carlson would only be appearing at the troops care packages fundraiser on March 19 and not performing.
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Dan Wolgamott, a Sauk Rapids-Rice football coach, was unanimously endorsed March 19 at the local DFL-endorsing convention in St. Cloud as the St. John’s University alum makes a bid as a State Senate candidate for Senate District 14.
Wolgamott has raised more than $28,000 for his campaign at last report, and more than two dozen volunteers, including past elected officials from the area, were on hand in St. Cloud to answer questions and introduce Wolgamott to convention-goers.
Wolgamott will now face Republican Jerry Relph in the November election, for the open State Senate seat which is being vacated by Sen. John Pederson.
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Brady Lain of Sauk Rapids was recently named to the fall dean’s list at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
Students who earn a minimum 3.5 grade-point average qualify for this honor.
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Tom Schaefer, an American Family Insurance agent based in Sauk Rapids, recently earned the “American Star Excellence in Customer Experience” award.
The Thomas Schaefer Agency is now part of a select group of American Family Insurance agencies that has demonstrated the ability to “consistently deliver outstanding customer experiences.”
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The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District was honored on March 15 by Skyward, a kindergarten through 12th-grade school administrative software provider, at its 14th annual Skyward International Conference in St. Pete Beach, Fla.
The award recognizes K-12 districts and individual administrators using Skyward to “make a difference in education and inspire new technology initiatives.” The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District was among six school districts that were honored.
The three-day interactive event provided attendees with access to the latest news in product development from the leading K-12 software provider, as well as one-on-one interaction with district peers, industry experts and Skyward executives.
Attendees also learned more about transitioning from manual to digital processes, increasing transparency among staff to encourage teamwork, and facilitating goal-setting and decision-making through the effective use of data.
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Jason Miller of Sauk Rapids was awarded the prestigious Certified Residential Specialist Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
Those who receive the designation have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate. Only 37,000 realtors nationwide have earned the credential.
Miller is a realtor with Premier Real Estate Services, and a member of the St. Cloud Area Association of Realtors. He is also a member of the Professional Standards Committee for the Minnesota Association of Realtors and serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Cloud Area Chapter of the March of Dimes.
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Eight Stearns County organizations were recently awarded grants by the Central Minnesota Arts Board in Foley.
They are the following: St. Cloud Municipal Band, $4,307; St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, $10,000; Minnesota Center Chorale, $5,106; Minnesota Dance Ensemble, $1,762; Youth Chorale of Central MN, $10,000; Great Northern Theatre Company, $10,000; Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud, $10,000; and Visual Arts Minnesota, $2,701.
The Community Arts Support Grant program provides funds to nonprofit arts organizations whose members hail from Stearns, Sherburne, Benton or Wright counties based on “efficient management and programming of high artistic quality while enhancing arts opportunities within the communities they serve.”
The Central Minnesota Arts Board supports collaborative and innovative arts opportunities through partnerships and financial investments as one of 11 Regional Arts Councils designated by the Minnesota State Arts Board.
For more information, visit www.centralmnartsboard.org or call 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-345-7140.
