by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com Schools in Sartell, St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids districts and Catholic Community Schools will close for all students starting Monday, March 16, school leaders announced Sunday, March 15. Unlike public schools, the Catholic schools will use distance learning. Cathedral High School will start on Wednesday, March 18, and all but one elementary schools will start distance
School districts cancel events, ban visits after Covid-19 report
by Mike Knaak editor@thenewsleaders.com The three St. Cloud area school districts have banned visitors and canceled public events as a part of list of measures taken after a reported case of Covid-19 in Stearns County. Superintendents from Sartell-St. Stephen school district, St. Cloud school district and Sauk Rapids-Rice school district announced a list of protocols that will be in place
Covid-19 virus fears cause closings, cancellations
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com What started a couple of months ago as a trickle of concerns about the Covid-19 virus had become by the second week of March a wave of infections, illnesses, deaths, closings and cancellations nationwide and nationally, including preventive reactions right here in Central Minnesota. The virus, which was first known in China, has now shown up
Nelson’s creativity encourages students to read at Kennedy
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Holly Nelson, Kennedy Community School librarian/media specialist, once again enticed students to read during I Love to Read Month in February by decorating the school’s library/media center. She did this by turning the library/media center into a place that supported the ideas and dreams of the main character from this year’s One District One Book, “Cleo
New leadership for Joetown Rocks July 3 concert
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com When Rich Schwegel decided to step down as chairman of the Joetown Rocks July 3 concert after chairing it for more than 14 years, a trickle of questions and rumors began circulating in St. Joseph about whether or not there would be a concert this year. After two new volunteers, Dean Budde and Bruce Bechtold, stepped
911 system bridges response time to cardiac arrest
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Time is of the essence, and that is seldom truer than in the case of a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. That is why the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department and its sheriff, Steve Soyka, saw the need to quicken response times for those who collapse during SCA (sudden cardiac arrest). Throughout Central Minnesota – especially in
Six St. Joseph Catholic School students Speak Out
by Cori Hilsgen news@thenewsleaders.com Six students from St. Joseph Catholic School participated on Feb. 11 in the St. Cloud Morning Optimist Kids Speak Out speech event at the Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud. These students included sixth-graders Saima Velline, Catherine Colberg, Cecelia Weldon, and fifth-graders Scott Stephens, James Hanauska and Henry Dullinger. Fifth-and sixth-grade students are invited to this
Township elections, annual meetings set for March 10
Area townships have annual meetings and elections on Tuesday, March 10. Residents of Le Sauk Township do not have an election, but there is an annual meeting. Collegeville Township polling place: Collegeville Town Hall, 27724 CR 50. Hours: 1-8 p.m. Annual meeting 8:05 p.m. Voters will elect one supervisor for a three-year term and a clerk for a two-year term.