by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com After Sartell City Council member Ryan Fitzthum learned late in the evening of Nov. 6 that he will soon be called officially Sartell Mayor Ryan Fitzthum, he didn’t celebrate; he couldn’t. He had to be up at 9 a.m. the next day to fly to Las Vegas for a business convention about heavy machinery. The week
School leaders asking why levy failed
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com The votes are in and tabulated and the leaders of the Sartell-St. Stephen School District are asking themselves what went awry with the attempt to pass an operations levy referendum in the district. The proposed levy, titled Levy for Learning, was defeated by more than 1,600 votes. What happened? “Well, I’m not sure,” said Superintendent Jeff
At SMS, veterans lunch with loved ones
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com The crowded cafeteria at Sartell Middle School was a buzz and roar of conversation Nov. 9 as students and their military veteran relatives enjoyed lunch together. It was the annual SMS “Lunch with Veterans” event, in honor of veterans and Veterans Day, and this year the luncheon accommodated 75 veterans and their young loved ones and
Angel of Hope Vigil to be Dec. 6
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com An Angel of Hope Vigil will be Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Angel of Hope statue by Lake Francis in Sartell. The event will begin with a small indoor program at 6:30 p.m. at the Sartell Community Center and a vigil will take place at the base of the Angel around 7 p.m. The Angel of
Honoring Veterans
photo by Carolyn BertschVeterans carry the American flag, POW MIA flag and American Legion flag at the annual Veterans Day parade Nov. 11. which took place at a new location, downtown St. Cloud. The date marked the 100th anniversary of both Armistice Day and the American Legion. photo by Carolyn BertschA young boy salutes while his mother, grandmother, sister and
Voters choose Elness, Kolb for city council
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Two candidates – Tim Elness and Jeff Kolb – were elected Nov. 6 to two seats on the Sartell City Council. They defeated two other candidates – Brady Andel and Barika Davis. Of the four, Elness received from voters in Sartell’s seven precincts the most votes – 3,571 (30.67 percent of the total votes cast). Kolb
Soyka is excited to get going as new Stearns County sheriff
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Steve Soyka has gone from learning about the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office as a teenage Explorer three decades ago to his election as sheriff on Nov. 6. Soyka, 49, defeated Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud to become the county’s first new, elected sheriff in 16 years. He’ll assume his new duties on Jan. 7. In
Sen. Howe has hopes, concerns for next session
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Jeff Howe’s Nov. 6 special-election victory as senator for District 13 is a momentous tie-breaker for the Minnesota State Senate. Starting in January, Republicans will control the Senate by one vote – 34 to 33. Howe’s election is what made the difference. He will serve the last two years of the four-year term begun by Sen.