At the Newsleaders, we believe that if a person reads our paper they will know just about everything happening in our area.
Want to know what’s going on locally? We’ll dig into it – from construction to Christmas, from municipal meetings to farmers’ markets, from honor roll to rollovers. Like to know what to put on your wish list? We have it — from local boutiques to dinner and liquor specials, from the newest real estate finds to reasonable apartments, from a dining room suite to a sweet deal, and everything in between. Need to know what is happening with your neighbors? We cover their news from births to deaths. Want to share your ideas? Join us on our lively opinion page. We believe that a knowledgeable community is a great community, that educated people make good decisions and we are here to help.
The Newsleaders – covering Sartell-St. Stephen and St. Joseph – is a 12,500 circulation, weekly free community newspaper delivered across three zip codes in the greater St. Cloud, Minnesota area. It is privately and locally owned, dedicated to the vibrancy of area communities in the greater St. Cloud area.
MEET OUR STAFF
Janelle Von Pinnon
Owner & Publisher
Janelle Von Pinnon is the owner and operator of The Newsleaders Newspaper. She established the St. Joseph Newsleader in 1989, followed by the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader in 1995. Janelle is a graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead where she studied journalism.
Rajahna Schneekloth
Assistant Manager
Rajahna is a returning team member of The Newsleaders Newspaper. She has been a part of the business since she was a young girl learning from Janelle. Rajahna attended Illinois State University where she received her Master’s in music therapy.
Carolyn Bertsch
Assignment Editor
Carolyn joined The Newsleaders Newspaper in 2015 and serves as the Assignment Editor. She and her husband live in Sartell where they own a business and are raising a family. Bertsch’s interests include health and fitness, reading, and learning to play the ukulele.
Leanne Loy
Editor
Leanne Loy is currently studying for her master’s degree in English at Saint Cloud State University. She joined The Newsleaders Newspaper in June of 2021. Leanne and her husband have two children and two beagles. She is the founder of The Celia Mae Literary Center in Saint Cloud. Leanne spends her free time writing, reading and going on adventures with her family.
Isabella Pemberton
Graphic Designer
Isabella joined The Newsleaders Newspaper in 2021 and serves as the Graphic Designer. Isabella is a conscientious, enthusiastic and motivated person with a positive attitude towards life. She has a cheerful and friendly disposition and loves what she does. Graphic Design has been a passion of hers for over the past 10 years.
Heidi Everett
Reporter
Heidi joined The Newsleaders Newspaper in 2020 after being a fan for 15 years. When she is not sharing local news and stories, she is a professor at St. Cloud State University. Heidi attended Texas Tech University where she received her PhD in Rhetoric and Technical Communication.
Dennis Dalman
Reporter
Dalman was born and raised in South St. Cloud where he graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in English and mass communications. He studied in London, England for a year where he concentrated on British literature. Dalman has been a reporter and weekly columnist for more than 30 years.
Mike Knaak
Reporter
Mike graduated from Tech High School and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Cloud State University in 1975. He worked as a reporter, photographer and editor at the St. Cloud Times from 1975 to 2016. He joined The Newsleaders in 2018 and covers Sartell-St. Stephen schools.
Connor Kockler
Columnist
Kockler enjoys extensive reading, especially biographies and historical novels, and he has always had an almost inborn knack for writing well. He also enjoys following the political scene, nationally and internationally. In college, his favorite subjects are political science and economics.
Abigail Thomas
Columnist
Abbie Thomas is from St. Joseph. She is a student at University of Minnesota Duluth who will be graduating spring 2021 with a degree in social work.