by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Jennifer Thelen is looking for a few good families. Thelen of St. Joseph is a social worker with Stearns County Human Services. Although recruiting and licensing foster-care families is a year-round job, Thelen is trying to get the word out during May, Foster Care Appreciation Month, about the need for families to care for children. Currently,
Lions Park Bike-to-School event dodges raindrops
photo by Carolyn BertschAmyiah Davis, 9, of Sartell, enjoys a hotdog, chips and juice with Harper Bragelman, 2, and Harper's mother Andrea Honer-Bragelman, also of Sartell, at the May 9 Bike-to-School Event at Lions Park in Sartell. photo by Carolyn Bertsch Lochlan Bain, 2, of Sartell, cruises into the Lions Park parking lot May 9 on his little red Radio
Horses break ground on Spring Plow Day
by Darren Diekmann news@thenewsleaders.com Lenny Gillitzer’s farmyard and field was a hub of activity May 5, as dozens of members of the Northern Minnesota Draft Horse Association and their teams of horses gathered for their Spring Plow Day to work their horses, have fellowship, share experiences and to prepare Gillitzers’s field for planting. The Gillitzer field, east of St. Joseph
CR 29 road project begins; Pinecone Road next
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com The first of two major road construction projects planned for this summer has started in Sartell. On May 14, First Street NE./Benton CR 29 was reduced to one lane from Benton Drive to just west of Hwy. 15 and closed to westbound traffic. The one-lane closure is expected to last most of the summer. Access to
Sauer-Brenny shares insights of her life in trucking
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Even though it’s long been her driving passion, Joyce Sauer never set out to become a trucker. But while growing up on a farm in Collegeville, she became adept at driving all kinds of heavy farm equipment. During a recessionary period circa 1980, jobs were hard to come by, and Sauer decided to work as an
Ice is out just in time for fishing opener
by Darren Diekmann news@thenewsleaders.com Opening fishing for walleye, northern, bass and others opens Saturday, May 12, with anglers making plans to fish locally or go north to favorite destinations, while others will stay home because of obligations or to avoid the crowds altogether. One of the latest ice-out dates predicted for a number Minnesota lakes this year had many wondering if
Sartell Chamber sponsors annual leadership conference
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com Hundreds of area business professionals and aspiring leaders from around the Sartell area had the opportunity to hear from experts and known industry leaders at the annual Leadercast event hosted by the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce. “I really enjoy attending the Leadercast event,” said Jessica Houle, vice president of the board of directors for the
Kennedy students share activities with Woodcrest tenants
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com If you think you might be in the wrong location seeing seniors participating in activities at Kennedy Community School and students participating in activities at Woodcrest of Country Manor in St. Joseph, you aren’t. Students at Kennedy and Woodcrest are implementing a new intergenerational partnership. Laura Freese, Kennedy Community School’s academic coach, said the partnership is