by Heidi L. Everett editor@thenewsleaders.com Some sense of normalcy will return to Minnesota this month as elementary children prepare to go back in the classroom, sports activities resume and COVID restrictions are loosened in hospitality and fitness. School children returned to class online this week, and elementary schools are prepared for in-person learning starting the week of Jan. 18. Youth
Superintendent search launches with survey, focus groups
by Mike Knaak news@thenewsleaders.com The search for a new Sartell-St. Stephen school district superintendent is off to a fast start. A survey should be online Friday, Jan. 8, and focus-group meetings will take place next week, according to a schedule the school board approved Jan. 4. The district hired consultants School Exec Connect to conduct the search after Superintendent Jeff
Fourth breakthrough on thin ice on area lakes
by Heidi L. Everett editor@thenewsleaders.com For the fourth time in two weeks, Stearns County sheriff deputies have been called to a breakthrough on thin ice. On Jan. 3, deputies were dispatched to Big Watab Lake in Collegeville Township for a fish house that went through the ice. When deputies arrived, they found the fish house was being removed from the
Funeral for Eric Sylvester ‘Sly’ Wochnick, 33, of Sartell
Eric Sylvester “Sly” Wochnick, 33 Sartell Nov. 11, 1987-Dec. 29, 2020 Eric Sylvester “Sly” Wochnick, 33, of Sartell died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 as a result of a pedestrian/motor vehicle accident. His funeral will be at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6. The Rev. Ronald Weyrens will officiate. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be held
Santa makes window visits
photo by Carolyn BertschRodney Austin, at Sartell’s Edgewood Senior Living, receives a surprise visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus Dec. 15. The gift of holiday cheer was arranged for by Express Employment Professionals, of St. Cloud, who sponsored trips to several local assisted living facilities. photo by Carolyn BertschKay Peterson, also at Edgewood, holds up a photo when Santa asks,
Newsleaders bound for posterity
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com Ten years of the Newsleaders newspapers have been bound between hard covers for posterity and are now being indexed at the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud. That’s about 1,000 newspapers – about 500 issues of the St. Joseph Newsleader and 500 of the Sartell-St. Stephen Newsleader. In addition, the museum archival collection contains microfilm versions
2020 Sartell-St. Stephen Year in Review
Jan. 10 edition Thanks to a donor who pledged up to $100,000 in matching funds, the Sartell-St. Stephen Education Foundation launched a campaign to fund cutting-edge equipment and materials for Riverview Intermediate School. The donor is longtime Sartell resident, foundation supporter and former City Council member Pat Lynch, Granite Logistics. After a one-week delay waiting for signs and barriers, the
Sartell approves 1-percent tax hike
by Dennis Dalman news@thenewsleaders.com A tax-rate increase of 1 percent was approved for 2021 by the Sartell City Council at its Truth in Taxation hearing Dec. 14. After a lengthy, spirited conversation, council members decided to compromise and approved the tax increase as part of next year’s budget and levy. It was approved on a 4-0 vote. Council member Brady