How many deaths can we tolerate? Minnesota’s Covid-19 death toll will soon pass 2,000. Nationwide, we’ve tolerated 200,000 deaths and about 1,000 Americans continue to die each day. Imagine if a tornado wiped out one of the Minnesota cities with about 2,000 residents such as Nisswa, Hinckley or Aitkin. How would we react? Since the pandemic set in, an average
It’s never been about the pay
Why do people want these jobs? We’ll soon be voting for a long list of candidates, with the presidency at the top of the ballot. Our elected leaders have tough jobs – especially now with a raging pandemic, a sinking economy, renewed attention to systemic racism, the West Coast in flames and hurricanes threatening the Gulf Coast. The biggest threat
Sept. 18 Town Criers
Candidate forum set Sept. 30 for council The League of Women Voters, St. Cloud Area, will conduct a video-recorded forum on Sept. 30, featuring candidates for Sartell City Council. Due to pandemic constraints, there will not be an in-person audience. The forum will be recorded and uploaded for later public viewing. Sartell residents are invited to email questions to lwvstcloud@lwvmn.org
Lions cleanup scheduled for Sept. 19
Sartell Lions have rescheduled their annual spring cleanup for 8 a.m. – noon on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Riverview Intermediate School parking lot. The fundraiser was postponed last spring during the initial Covid-19 stay-at-home order. The following health precautions will be taken during the event: All customers remain in their vehicle; workers will be masked and gloved; no change given
Absentee voting begins Sept. 18
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Absentee voting begins Sept. 18 for the Nov. 3 general election. Because of the current pandemic, residents who wish to vote by absentee are encouraged to request an absentee ballot online at mnvotes.org, according to the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s Office. To vote absentee by mail: Voters apply for an absentee ballot online at mnvotes.org or contact
Haffner appointed city administrator
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Therese Haffner is St. Joseph’s new city administrator after the City Council approved her appointment at its Sept. 8 meeting. She replaces Kris Ambuehl who resigned to take a position in the private sector. Haffner has served as the city’s Community Development director for four-and-a-half years and she served as interim city administrator while a search
Property taxes could go down next year
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com The final numbers aren’t set yet, but St. Joseph residents could see a decrease in their property tax bills next year. Finance Director Lori Bartlett updated City Council members on preparations for the 2021 city budget at the Sept. 8 meeting. The council needs to set a preliminary levy by Sept. 30. Uncertainty over the impact
Sept. 9 Sartell police blotter
If you have a tip concerning a crime, call the Sartell Police Department at 320-251-8186 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 320-255-1301, or access its tip site at tricountycrimestoppers.org. Crime Stoppers offers rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for a crime. Sept. 1 1 p.m. Special detail. St. Cloud Hospital. A Sartell