Fourth of July parade parking
There will be no parking allowed along Minnesota Street from CR 2 to Third Avenue/entrance to the College of St. Benedict starting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 4, until the parade concludes. In the past, spectators could park along this stretch of road, but this year will be an exception as the area is needed for parade staging.
•••••••••••••••••
Coffee with a Cop set June 30
Join other St. Joseph residents and police officers from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 30 for Coffee with a Cop. The event will take place at the St. Joseph McDonald’s located at 1180 Elm St. E.
•••••••••••••••••
Highway 15 in Sartell reduced to single lane
The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed one lane of northbound Highway 15 at County Road 1 in Sartell due to pavement buckling. The road will remain a single lane until further notice. Motorists may encounter delays and should consider alternate routes during peak traffic times. For real-time travel information, visit www.511mn.org.
•••••••••••••••••
County offers free opportunity to dispose of hazardous wastes
The Stearns County Environmental Services Department is offering a free opportunity for residents to dispose of all unsafe products laying around the house, including cleaners, ink cartridges, fuels, garden chemicals and fluorescent bulbs. Appointments can be made with the Household Hazardous Waste Facility in Waite Park.
This is a chance for residents to get rid of all those unsafe or nuisance products laying around the house – such as paints, ag pesticides, cleaners, poisons, ink/toner cartridges, roofing tar, fuels, automotive chemicals, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs and mercury.
Products can be disposed of at no charge. It’s a free service offered by Stearns County’s Environmental Services Department.
Items that cannot be accepted through the Household Hazardous Waste Program include: used motor oil, antifreeze, explosives, furniture, household garbage, tires, medical waste, appliances or any other unknown products. Also not accepted is business waste. These collections are designed to collect home, not commercial, products.
For those who cannot make this scheduled mobile-collection time, the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, located at 3601 Fifth St. S. in Waite Park, accepts products year-round. Hours of operation, other mobile-collection dates and times, and any additional questions can be answered by calling 320.255.6140 or 1.800.450.6140.
•••••••••••••••••
FSA seeks committee candidates
The Farm Service Agency is looking for candidates for the farmer-elected County Committee election this fall and is especially interested in identifying individuals who have not previously been active with FSA.
The 2016 Stearns County FSA election will be held in Local Administrative Area (LAA) #1, which includes the following townships: Brockway (east and west), St. Wendel, LeSauk, Collegeville, St. Joseph, St. Cloud and Waite Park, Wakefield, Rockville and Maine Prairie (north), St. Cloud and St. Augusta (west), St. Cloud and St. Augusta (east), Lynden (north), Luxemburg, Maine Prairie (central), Maine Prairie (east), Fair Haven, Lynden (south), and Maine Prairie (south).
This area is presently represented by Joe Krippner.
The County Committee is an important part of the delivery of USDA services to farmers, and FSA wants to include farmers in non-traditional operations and people whose livelihoods are made by farming. These people could include beginning farmers, specialty crop farmers, truck farmers, spouses or business partners – anyone who would be able to add some new or different experiences to the local County Committee, and is willing and able to serve.
The County Committee system needs everybody – from voters to active participants – as candidates for committee membership. With one-third of the nation-wide membership of county committee members up for election this fall, it’s time to begin planning on getting involved.
All eligible voters in LAA #1 may nominate candidates of their choice by completing a nomination petition (FSA-669A) and returning it to the Stearns County FSA Office by Aug. 1. Nominees must live in LAA #1, be eligible to vote in FSA elections, be willing to serve, and should be currently engaged in a farming enterprise.
For further information, contact the Stearns County FSA Office at 320-251-7800, ext. 2.
It’s easy, it’s important and it’s your FSA County Office Committee.
••••••••••••••••••
United Way volunteer opportunities
Male mentors needed for children
While ALL of Anna Marie’s Alliance volunteers are essential, it’s important men have a stronger representation in their work. In fact, men have a moral responsibility to be involved, since at least one third of all female homicide victims in the United States are killed by male intimate partners. Men can have an impact as a child/youth mentor at Anna Marie’s Shelter. The children benefit greatly from these positive and supportive relationships, and the mentor is changed for the better. The following is a quote from child/youth mentor Dennis Mendoza, “I certainly have personally gained plenty during my time as a child mentor – I feel I play better with my two boys and I feel I am a better spouse to my wife.” Contact Kim Salitros, Anna Marie’s Alliance manager of volunteer services, at 320-253-6900.
Help others enjoy summer
Opportunity Matters is looking for volunteers to help out to assist our individuals in getting the most out of summer. Volunteer opportunities include helping out on fun outings, barbecues and camp. Volunteer one time or as your schedule allows. Contact Brenda Eggerth, volunteer and communications manager, at 320-240-1900 ext. 205.
•••••••••••••••••
Free legal advice available to Minnesotans living in poverty
Minnesotans with low to moderate income who need some legal advice can get free help from Volunteer Lawyers Network. Volunteer lawyers provide free legal advice by phone on legal issues like bankruptcy, debtor/creditor issues, consumer issues, employment law, immigration law, criminal expungement and unemployment compensation. People interested in more information, including whether they would be eligible for the free services, can call customer service at 612-752-6677.
••••••••••••••••••••••
