by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com When Brian Lommel was setting up his video gear for a hockey game, a woman walked over to him with tears in her eyes and thanked him. She told Lommel that, thanks to him, her son’s grandmother, who lives in a Southern state, was finally able to watch her grandson play hockey – the first time
Sartell gets $513,000 rehab grant
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com A grant application applied for by the city of Sartell in February has been granted – $513,000 for home rehab projects given via the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. It is good news for Sartell because it is $53,000 more than the amount requested in the grant application. In its application in February, the
Walls keep rising at safety facilities’ site
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Walls keep rising practically overnight at the site of Sartell’s Public Safety Facilities campus along Pinecone Road N. and Heritage Drive. A ground-breaking ceremony took place at the site about a month ago and already the two buildings are visually definable. The site will be the new home for both the Sartell Police Department and the
Police specialist honored with two awards
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Kelly Hanson, communications specialist for the Sartell Police Department, was the recipient of not one – but two – awards for excellence at the July 8 City Council meeting. The honors were presented by Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes, who delivered bouquets of praise for Hanson’s longtime work for the department. One award, the “Circle of
Home-builder Reker’s death saddens council
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com A man who was very much a part of Sartell’s remarkable residential building boom for the past three decades died July 4, and his death brought sadness to the Sartell City Council at its July 8 meeting. Martin “Marty” A. Reker, 55, died at St. Cloud Hospital due to an undisclosed illness. City Council member Tim
Camp Invention brings commotion of creation
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Any visitor walking down the hallway of St. Francis Xavier Elementary School the week of June 17-21 might have thought the classrooms were filled with frantic elves bustling to get toys done in time for Santa. It was the joyous roar of the commotion of creation. There were the sounds of tap-tap-tapping, duct tape being unspooled,
Annual Bearson golf fundraiser set for July 20
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Nearly five years ago, on Sept. 20, 2014, Tom Bearson of Sartell, was murdered while he was a freshman at North Dakota State University. After being reported missing Sept. 21, his body was found abandoned in Moorhead by a recreational-vehicle sales-and-service business. The murder has still not been solved. The killing of Tom Bearson sent shock
Muskies win second tourney of season
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com For the second time this season, the Sartell Muskies baseball team won another tournament title – this time from last weekend’s Elite 8 tourney in Elrosa. The Elite 8 competitors are teams that participated in the State Amateur Baseball Tournament last year. The Muskies have competed in the state tournament each year for the past seven