Winning entries can be viewed online and are running on Charter Channel 19 in St. Cloud.
CMWEA is a joint effort of area city, county, educational and water quality organizations working together to promote simple ways to protect water quality. CMWEA welcomes inquiries from organizations interested in supporting the clean water effort. To learn more, visit www.mnwaterconnection.com.
Sartell residents, business honored by Scouts
Two Sartell residents and a Sartell business were recently recognized as key volunteers by the Scenic District of the Central Minnesota Council Boy Scouts. Annually each district and the council recognizes volunteers for their efforts. District Scouter of the Year was Dr. Troy Payne of Sartell. The charter partner of the year was Celebration Lutheran Church of Sartell. The district award of merit winners were Kevin Schatz of Sartell, Paula Gottwalt of St Cloud and Sue Lemke of Avon. The district award of merit is the highest honor a volunteer can earn in the district and is earned based on community and Scout unit involvement.
Payne is the advancement chair for troop 211 in Sartell as well as their unit commissioner. He is working on his Wood Badge training ticket items and has been instrumental in helping the council upgrade the merit badge counselor system. He has coordinated a council merit badge clinic offered to almost 200 Scouts and lined up counselors for sessions of 15 to 20 youth per session. Merit badge programs involve study in careers, hobbies and life skills and with more than 120 available, it takes coordination to find counselors. He has been an active member of his church The Waters in Sartell. He is the president of the Minnesota State Sleep Society. He is a doctor of clinical neurophysiology in St Cloud specializing in sleep medicine.
Steve Reetz, Celebration Lutheran council president, attended as a representative for the church. Celebration Lutheran is everything a charter partner could be for Troop 211 in Sartell and the Central Minnesota Council Boy Scouts of America. As a charter partner, they insure youth in their congregation and area have opportunities to be involved in their community and Scouting. They provide meeting space plus storage space for the troop trailer. They have hosted several four-state area BSA Order of the Arrow Council of Chiefs meetings. Adults from the church serve as merit-badge counselors for the troop. The church has benefited from Eagle Scout projects like landscaping and a fire ring plus a worship area for youth. The troop regularly does service for the church and soon will help construct a new garage for equipment storage for the increasing membership in the troop.
Schatz is currently Scoutmaster of Troop 211 in Sartell. He is an Eagle Scout and active in his church and community. He has been helpful with various district and council events to help out or find volunteers as needed. He and his son are involved with the troop in the robotics competition through a partnership with the St Cloud Technical and Community College Energy and Electronics program plus VEX Robotics. Recently they had their robot at Ripley Rendezvous, an annual council event at Camp Ripley. Schatz is a strong role model for the boys in his troop and his outgoing personality and smile are always a welcome site at meetings and events. He and his family give time and resources to better Scouting in our council. Their troop has installed bird houses for local seniors and does countless hours of service in Sartell throughout each year. Schatz fits all this in while running his own business in the Twin Cities.
Lemke is currently a committee member of Troop 31 in Avon. She has served for 19 years in Scouting as a pack den leader, pack and troop committee member and committee chair. She has served for 11 years with her church as a religious education instructor. She has served in her community for seven years with the schools in Avon and Albany, Women of Today, March of Dimes and Albany ECFE. Her three sons have gone through the Scouting program and Lemke continues to give after they have moved on with their lives. She is mentioned by her peers as a “can do” leader and catalyst for action and all the while having fun.
Guest speaker at the honors ceremony was Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes who updated volunteers on youth programs the department is involved with plus discussing traffic control in the area with the diamond exchange and other projects impacting travel flow. Hughes discussed the concerns his officers have with distracted drivers either shaving or putting on makeup or texting or reading the paper. He stressed the importance of leaving for appointments on time so you don’t need to speed or complete tasks in the car.
For more information on the Boy Scouts of America and all their programs for youth first grade through age 20, email bob@bsacmc.org or check out the website www.bsacmc.org today.
Kruzel named Big Sister of Year
BriAnna Kruzel, Sartell High School, was selected as the 2013 High School Big Sister of the Year for her contributions to the program, impact on her mentee and involvement in her community.
Kruzel began as a “Little Sister” in the program when her father was placed on active duty in Iraq. Years later, she decided to become a High School Big Sister as a way to give back. Kruzel was matched with a “Little Sister” whose father was deployed overseas, which helped them form an instant bond. In addition to providing guidance regarding the struggles of a family deployment, she has served as a friend and role model to her “Little Sister” as well as an excellent advocate for the program.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota has more than 200 high school volunteers that serve as mentors for children in the program. Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota awards two outstanding high school volunteers.
Traut Wells recognized for growth
Water Right, an international manufacturer of water treatment products, recently recognized Mark J. Traut Wells Inc. for their growth in the industry. Traut Cos. is Water Right’s second largest water treatment dealer based on market size and the fifth largest dealer in the nation.
The designation is based on the volume of water treatment products supplied in 2012.
“Owners Mark and Dave Traut have always been willing to innovate with an eye toward company growth,” said Jim Gruenke, water treatment division manager. “By doing so, we are now positioned as the ‘go to’ dealership for solving unique water-treatment challenges throughout our area.”
In addition to their water treatment and purification services for farm, home and business, Traut Cos. offers municipal and commercial well-drilling services and products, irrigation wells for farm and in-ground lawn irrigation, residential products and services, and features a water analysis laboratory. Learn more at www.trautwells.com.
Allison Hand of Sartell has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 delicious, easy-to-prepare foods.Katie Shafer of Sartell recently graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stout with a master’s degree in food and nutrition sciences.
Two former Sartell students have been named to the spring semester dean’s list at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. They are the following: Abigail Frericks is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences; and Matthew Peckskamp is pursuing a master’s degree in physician assistant studies.
Charmin Amundson of Sartell recently earned a doctor of pharmacy degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
