by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Due to a decline in sixth-grade enrollment, St. Joseph Catholic School, a pre-kindergarten to sixth-grade school, will not be offering a sixth-grade option after the 2020-2021 school year. Karl Terhaar has been the principal at the school for 13 years. He said there has been an increase in the number of students who have chosen to
Joetown Rocks, parish festival, parade canceled
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com St. Joseph is known far and wide for its annual July 3 and 4 Joetown Rocks Parish Festival and annual parade sponsored by the St. Joseph Lions. Usually, during those two days each year, the streets of the city and the church grounds are filled with people who come to celebrate and visit with friends, relatives
Kennedy staff misses students during distance learning
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Kennedy Community School principal Anna Willhite said one of the hardest transitions for her and other Kennedy employees, during the Covid-19 pandemic and distance learning, has been the loss of social interactions and connections with Kennedy students. “Although we have been able to still find creative ways to connect via different platforms, it still isn’t the
Wiese and her family spread cheer with heart messages
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com St. Joseph resident Amber Weise and her three children Dominic, 16, Amara, 13, and Morgan, 9, recently decorated a trail near their home on Iris Lane NE to try to spread some cheer during the Covid-19 school/business closures. Wiese, a social worker, and single parent, said when Gov. Tim Walz issued the executive order for school
Country Manor husband, wife communicate with technology
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Residents and tenants at Country Manor and/Woodcrest of Country Manor in Sartell and St. Joseph have been busy decorating windows at both locations with hearts for the Facebook A World of Hearts movement. This movement, which began in Bismarck, North Dakota, was started to promote love and well-being by encouraging people to display hearts in windows
New policies at Woodcrest of Country Manor create changes
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Emily Frericks, the director of Marketing and Public Relations of Country Manor/Woodcrest of Country Manor, said they have had to make difficult decisions to implement new policies to help keep people in their buildings safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. While the stay-at-home order by Gov. Tim Walz is in place, management at Country Manor is strongly
St. Joseph Catholic School teachers using online options during school closure
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Due to the world-wide Covid-19 virus pandemic, Gov. Tim Walz announced on March 15 that schools would close March 18-27 for teachers and staff to develop and implement distance learning plans beginning March 30 and now extended to May 4. Many area schools have worked hard and excelled at meeting this challenge. When teachers at the
Lions donate to send Explorer to state competition
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com The Y2K Lions recently donated $400 to the Stearns County Explorer Post 250 to help fund expenses for an Explorer to attend the April 24-26 state competition in Rochester. St. Joseph resident Stearns County Deputy Sheriff Brian Theisen attended the March 11 Y2K Lions meeting to discuss the program and accept the donation. Theisen is one