VIDEO: Sartell mayoral candidates Ryan Fitzthum and David Peterson answered questions at a forum on Oct. 11 sponsored by the Sartell Senior Connection. Fitzthum and Peterson are both current City Council members. Following an introduction, each candidate had three minutes to answer questions from the moderator and the audience. by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com One of two current Sartell City Council members
CR 29 bridge to close Oct. 1
The CR 29 bridge over the Mississippi River will close for repairs starting Thursday, Oct. 18, according to the Benton County Highway Department. Benton County officials say as temperatures fall, potentially icy conditions on the bridge could create hazardous conditions for motorists and construction workers. Traffic will be detoured onto Benton Drive to the Hyw. 15 Bridge of Hope then
J. Sartell wants to preserve history of his forebears’ city
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com For Jeff Sartell, history is as much a part of him as his arms, his legs, the timbre of his voice, the color of his eyes. The great-great-grandson of Joseph B. Sartell, the founder of Sartell, Jeff Sartell has a vivid memory. He remembers exactly how it felt and sounded when, as a boy, he would
Bungled Wetterling investigation went ‘off the rails’ from the start, sheriff says
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com The investigation of Jacob Wetterling’s 1989 abduction and killing “went off the rails” from the beginning and the sheriff at the time, Charlie Grafft, lost control of his investigation to the FBI in the first few weeks. That’s the judgment of current Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson. Before releasing more than 47,000 documents on Thursday, Sept.
Dollars, cents and the operational levy
by Dave DeMars news@thenewsleaders.com “What we want is for people to get as informed as they can be, and then to make an informed decision,” said Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert when talking about the upcoming Levy for Learning. The Levy for Learning is basically another name for an operational levy to allow the district to keep buildings in operation. “Our position
Candidate Everett promises ‘Civility in Action’
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Heidi Everett of St. Wendel Township, a candidate for Minnesota House District 13B, intends to put her decades of communications skills to good use if elected Nov. 6. She is a professor of communications and journalism at Minnesota State University, Moorhead. Everett, a DFLer, is challenging incumbent Rep. Tim O’Driscoll (R-Sartell) for the legislative seat. District
If re-elected, O’Driscoll plans to build on successes
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Long-time Minnesota Rep. Tim O’Driscoll (R-Sartell) is hoping for another go-round for his fifth consecutive bid to represent the people in House District 13B in the state legislature. O’Driscoll, 54, was elected to that position four times, every two years, since his first try in 2010. O’Driscoll, a former real-estate agent, is a corporate trainer for
DeZURIK opens plant to public for 90th birthday
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com New York City would likely be a big, leaky, soggy mess of a city if it were not for the DeZURIK company in Sartell. That’s because DeZURIK manufactured to precise specifications all the valves that are used in the Big Apple’s water-distribution system. That is one of the intriguing fun facts visitors learned when DeZURIK opened