by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com In its first year at the Sartell Community Center, the Community Showcase drew a record crowd Saturday, Feb. 24. More than 1,800 attended this year’s event compared with an average of about 1,300 in past years when the showcase was staged at Sartell Middle School, according to Nikki Sweeter of the Sartell Chamber of Commerce. The
Event to help victims of sex trafficking
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com A memorial fundraiser dubbed Denim to Diamonds will raise money for Terebinth Refuge, an organization that is helping victims of sex trafficking in central Minnesota. The fundraiser will take place starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at Grands at Mulligans’ event center in Sartell. The event will include a chicken dinner, a special children’s meal,
Be on guard against tax-refund cyber-crooks
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com As tax season gets busier, cyber-criminals get busier, too, working their identity-theft scams to get people’s tax-refund money. Local law enforcement is warning people to be alert to the latest tax scam. The first sign something crooked is happening is when surprised taxpayers notice a tax-refund amount in their bank balances, usually one they didn’t even
Beware of tax refund cyber-crooks
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com As tax season gets busier, cyber-criminals get busier, too, working their identity-theft scams to get people’s tax-refund money. Local law enforcement is warning people to be alert to the latest tax scam. The first sign something crooked is happening is when surprised taxpayers notice a tax refund amount in their bank balances, usually one they didn’t
Man arrested after vehicle crashed through building
A St. Cloud man was arrested early Saturday, Feb. 24, after he drove his vehicle through a building at 109 Cedar St. E. in St. Joseph. The driver, identified by St. Joseph police as Jason Wiener, 53, fled the scene after the crash at CMS Auto Body. Officers found Wiener a short time after the 2:30 a.m. incident a few
Snow rouses neighborhoods out of hibernation
photos by Carolyn Bertsch Sartell neighbors Landon Schaffler, 6, and Colin McCann, 5, prove Feb. 25 that the massive snow is no match for their monster trucks. Addie Peterson, 9, and her sister Ronni, 6, both of Sartell, are all smiles Feb. 25 as they descend a popular Sartell sliding hill on Third Avenue N. Bob Trobec of Sartell digs
Pot ‘o’ Gold 5k run set for St. Pat’s Day
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleader.com There will be lots of people sporting leprechaun-green jogging gear when the third annual Pot ‘o’ Gold 5k run takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17, at Pine Meadow Elementary School in Sartell. The event, billed as affordable, healthy family fun, is one of the four annual events in the Bernick’s Family Fitness Series
Count illustrates current face of area homelessness
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com It is a necessary, but difficult part of the job for AG Hout. As program manager and continuum of care coordinator for the Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, Hout and her team spend one day every year tracking down and compiling information on those without a home. Known as the point-in-time count, trained staff spend one day,