by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com Sartell residents Ryan Holter, Lauren Lindmeier and Gayle Smoley, along with local businesses Blue Line Sports Bar & Grill and St. Cloud Orthopedics, have some new hardware to display on their walls. As of Nov. 16, the three individuals and two businesses have joined an elite club, having been recognized for their efforts to help improve
Holiday Art Crawl tradition continues in St. Joseph
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com When all is said and done, Mary C. Bruno estimates she will have put in about 100 volunteer hours coordinating the annual holiday art crawl. But for her it is a labor of love. “There are definitely test-of-strength moments,” Bruno said. “But I do enjoy, on some level, organizing stuff like this.” For the sixth consecutive
Fundraiser set for art students’ China trip
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com A family-fun “Drop and Shop” event will take place Saturday, Dec. 2 in Sartell to help raise funds for a trip to China by art students in June 2019. The fun fundraiser is set from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for all children pre-school and older at Sartell High School. During the four-hour event, there will be gym
Annual diabetes fundraiser set for Dec. 2
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com The second annual Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation event will take place from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Bad Habit Brewery in downtown St. Joseph. St. Joseph City Council member Matt Killam will host the event, which is sponsored by the Bad Habit Brewing Co., Sliced, Scherer Trucking and the St. Joseph Lions Club. The
Sartell High School Honor Society recognizes scholars
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com Nearly 300 Sartell High School students were recognized for their academic achievements during the past year at the annual Academic Breakfast Nov. 22. Advance placement psychology and leadership class teacher Karrie Fredrickson said the recognition of students has been happening at the school since before she started teaching more than 20 years ago. “I think a
Ringstrom coordinates Toys for Tots
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com U.S. Marine veteran Bob Ringstrom, a St. Joseph resident, is the new coordinator for the St. Cloud Area Toys for Tots. Ringstrom, who was the Sartell police chief before retiring in 2004, has been working with Toys for Tots for almost 20 years. During those years, he was a Sartell route volunteer for Steve Titus of
Help needed for homes for sexploited women
by Dennis Dalman editor@thenewsleaders.com Sex trafficking is one of those vile, disgusting crimes most people would prefer to think is not happening here – not in central Minnesota. But, in fact, central Minnesota is, after the Twin Cities, second in the state for the prevalence of sex trafficking, and it’s a virtual training ground for the vicious sexual exploitation of
St. Joseph business owners share importance of shopping locally
by Vicki Ikeogu news@thenewsleaders.com Seven years ago, credit-card company American Express started a movement to counteract the holiday push of big-box retailers on Black Friday. It was a movement that put more of an emphasis on the corner markets and local boutiques than the mega shopping malls and doorbuster deals. That movement has since sparked an increase of money being