A three-to-three vote at a special Sartell-St. Stephen school board meeting April 8 means a plan to deal with a $1.3 million budget shortage failed to be approved. The administration had proposed a list of cuts to programs and staff, as well as revenue increases. The cuts are necessary after voters defeated last November an operating levy that would have
Finally, lake-river drawdown set to begin
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com After years of planning and a red-light delay of one year, it’s now a green-light go for a water-level drawdown at Little Rock Lake near Rice and the Mississippi River north of Sartell. The Department of Natural Resources announced this week that the drawdown will take place starting on Aug. 1 and end on Sept. 15.
Pine Point now has AED Save station
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com There are 48 neighbors who live in the Pine Point area of Sartell, and no one knows when or if one of them will have to use an automated external defibrillator stored at the neighborhood’s new “AED Save” station. Of course, everyone hopes they will never have to use it, but they are glad it’s there
Pickleball grows in popularity as fun exercise
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com On so many nights, when Ken Ramler of Sartell prepares to go to sleep, he thinks of playing pickleball first thing in the morning and the thought always energizes him with happiness. At age 69, he’s played pickleball for five years and loves the game because, as he put it, it’s not only good exercise but
Quick-thinking wife saves husband’s life
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com One day, Jerry Hess of St. Cloud gave his wife, Judy, a tiny jeweled angel for her charm bracelet. “This is for you because you are my guardian angel,” he told her. She was delighted, moved to the point of tears. Judy is not only Jerry’s guardian angel, she’s also his lifesaver. Thanks to her quick
Imagination Library funded by dinners
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Gourmet theme dinners will soon be served in Sartell, St. Joseph and St. Cloud to raise money for Imagination Library in Central Minnesota. The dinners cooked and served at the homes of volunteers will take place in St. Cloud April 6 (10 dinners) in Sartell April 13 (10 dinners) and in St. Joseph (five dinners), also
Flood-mitigation study to be done
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com The city of Sartell will pitch in for the cost of a flood-mitigation feasibility study for the west side of the Mississippi River. The council authorized the cost at its March 11 meeting. There is a particularly low level of land along Riverside Avenue, such as by the DeZurik manufacturing plant. That area – and other
Christmas trees had to be burned
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com This winter, the Christmas trees had to be burned at the Sartell compost site. At the March 11 Sartell City Council meeting, Public Works Director John Kothenbeutel explained. For the past 10 or so years, a crew from Benson would bring a giant grinder to the Sartell site and chip up the trees brought by residents