by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
The Sartell Police Department received a nice big birthday present March 12 even though it wasn’t the department’s birthday.
The gift, a check for more than $10,000, was given by Sonia Nordmann of Sartell. When she was about to turn 40, she decided to organize a fundraising party not for herself but for the police department. And that is what she did with the help of so many generous sponsors and organizers – individuals, businesses and organizations.
The event at the Sartell Community Center was dubbed “Paint the Town Red for Our Blue” – “blue” short for the police.
At the March 12 Sartell City Council meeting, Nordmann presented the check to Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes – a check for $10,101.47, to be exact, with another $500 forthcoming.
Nordmann told the council what motivated her kind deed. She has been a proud Sartell resident for 20 years, she said, and one of the best things about living in the city is that it is so safe. And so, as her birthday approached, she decided to raise money for the police department to show its personnel how much she and others appreciate them.
In accepting the check, Hughes thanked her for her “outstanding” contribution and said the money would be used to purchase training equipment.
Then Hughes quipped: “On behalf of myself and the police department, I’d like to thank you, Sonia, for turning 40.”
On behalf of the council, acting mayor Pat Lynch also thanked Nordmann for her “absolutely fantastic” thoughtfulness.
