by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
(This is Part 2 of a multi-part series. Part 1 was published Jan. 8.)
May
Fifteen-month-old Layla Hawkins was the recipient of the one-millionth book from the United Way of Central Minnesota’s Imagination Library. Layla is the daughter of Chantal and Cole Hawkins. Imagination Library mails age-appropriate, high-quality books to the homes of children who sign-up for the free program every month. St. Joseph has had 1,100 children enrolled in the program since 2005. Children can be enrolled from birth to age five.
Due to community response, the city council set aside time to hear comments from residents on the water amenity issue. Residents overflowed from the council chambers into a neighboring conference room. The listening session lasted about two hours.
The city council voted in favor of approving a purchase agreement with school district 742 for Colts Academy. The school district board still needs to approve the sale. The price tag is estimated at $2.3 million; the city is interested in using the building for a community center.
Road work was approved for Clinton Village and the Northland neighborhood for the summer. The work should add approximately 10 years to the life cycle of the roads.
More tahn 200 people participated in a memorial fundraising motorcycle ride in honor of Cody Nuckolls, who was killed in a hit-and-run on April 13. The ride raised $4,767 for the family.
Dollars for Scholars scholarships of $250 each were awarded to 25 students for post-secondary education.
An environmental assessment worksheet for a possible 745,000-square-foot distribution center near CR 133 was made available for public viewing. The environmental assessment was explored by KDN Holdings, a food service supplier based in Massachusetts. The center could employ about 300 people.
Stearns Electric built a 20-kilowatt community solar array at the St. Joseph branch, which local homeowners can buy into, locking in the current electric rates for the next 20 years.
Memorial Day services were held at the St. Joseph, Collegeville and Yankee cemeteries on a rainy morning.
June
Work on Minnesota Street began and ended within three days. About two blocks of the street were chewed up, spit out and replaced by the Stearns County Highway Department.
Officer Eric Brutger was hired as a full-time police officer. He had previously been part-time, and before that a reserve officer.
The city OK’d the purchase of Colts Academy from the school district. Everything should be finalized by the end of July 2015, and the building should be turned over to the city in July 2017.
Local resident MaryBeth Munden began a search to see if there would be support for a dog park in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph Park Board identified land in a wooded area east of the St. Joseph Wobegon Trailhead and north of the trail itself which may be suitable for the dog park.
Maurice Palmershiem, 91, was named the grand marshal of the 2015 July 4 parade, organized by the St. Joseph Lions.
On June 18, a semi-truck caught fire on I-94 near St. Joseph. The driver was able to escape safely.
The Store Bergan Skolekorps school band from Norway will perform in this year’s July 4 parade. The band is 42 members strong.
July
The first of three ‘Movie in the Park’ nights was held June 24 in Millstream Park. Besides showing the movie The Boxtrolls, attendees were also encouraged to make cardboard boxcars. About 225 people turned out for the event. Prizes were awarded in two age groups.
At the annual JoeTown Rocks Festival, approximately 650 volunteer T-shirts were handed out to helpers over the weekend. The previous year saw more than 15,000 attendees at festivities during the weekend. A free concert and fireworks were held July 3, while a parade, quilt auction, raffle and other festivities were held July 4.
A polka Mass featuring the Singing Slovenes, based out of Duluth, took place July 18 at the Catholic Church in St. Stephen.
The city council voted against doing soil testing for a possible location for a water amenity at a cost of $8,000. The city is hoping $1.2 million can be raised through fundraising for the project, but so far only $20,000 has been raised. Council members thought the soil testing could be done later if fundraising picks up.
Sliced on College Avenue, a quick-service restaurant opened in the former JoeTown Pizza location offering pizza by the slice. Co-owner Tanya Finken has owned Kay’s Kitchen since 2008. Co-owner of Sliced, Jason Streit has worked at Kay’s for a number of years.
Footgolf, a sport combining the holes and rules of golf with a soccer ball, is planned for Northland Park. Angushire Golf Club in St. Cloud has a permanent 18-hole footgolf course; the course at Northland would be nine holes.
August
Abby Lyon, her friends and neighbors built and placed Little Free Libraries in five city parks – Cloverdale, Hollow, Klinefelter, Northland and the Wobegon Trailhead. Donations from the Lions and Jaycees and help from the city and Boy Scouts helped bring the libraries to life.
The St. Joseph Park Board held a discussion on the Prairie Restoration Project at Klinefelter Park. A few years will be needed before results from the project would be seen.
At least 100 children from the St. Joseph area participated in Vacation Bible School at the Church of St. Joseph’s Heritage Hall. VBS is an interfaith project.
Neighborhoods across the city celebrated National Night Out with police stopping in at certain locations where neighbors and friends gathered.
Carole Tamm and her family planned their farewell party for Aug. 22. Their business, the El Paso Sports Bar and Grille, had been in operation for 70 years, but has now closed.
Songwriters Dave Cofell and Adam Hammer hosted their Weekend of Songs for the fifth year at the Local Blend.
Bad Habit Brewery announced an opening date of October. The brewery is owned by Karen and Aaron Rieland of Avon and is located in the Millstream Shops and Lofts.
The Stearns County Engineering Department installed new stop signs at the intersection of CR 2 and CR 4 (Veterans Drive) north of St. Joseph. Traffic on CR 4 could previously travel through without stopping, but now all traffic must stop at the intersection.
Students arrived excited for another school year at the open house held at Kennedy Community School.
The Rev. Thomas Andert was replaced by Fr. Bradley Jenniges, OSB, as prior of St. John’s Abbey after an accusation of sexual misconduct with a student 30 years ago.
The Tamms’ anniversary and farewell party was a hit. El Paso Sports Bar and Grille will close at the end of September.
U.S. Postal Service delivery driver Todd Ruegemer (left), Cold Spring, had the honor of delivering the one-millionth book to 15-month-old Layla Hawkins. Ruegemer also delivered a book to Layla’s sister, Amyra Hawkins, at the same time. Parents Chantel and Cole Hawkins held the girls during the delivery.
Cody’s parents, Lorraine Hipp and Ryan Nuckolls of St. Joseph stand in front of 100+ motorcycles which were driven in support of Cody.
With only a few feet to the finish line, a tight race ensued between (left to right) athletes Maxx Grell of St. Joseph and Benjamin Rolfes of St. Cloud. Grell finished in first place in the 800-meter walk at the Special Olympics Track and Field Meet, held May 16 at the Sartell Middle School. Twenty-one teams, including the St. Cloud Area 7 Team which is comprised of athletes residing in St. Joseph, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, Waite Park, Clear Lake, Clearwater and Rockville, participated in field events, including long jump and Bocce, and track events including running, walking and relays.
Members of the American Legion Rifle Squad of St. Joseph fire their rifles during the Memorial Day services at the St. Joseph Cemetery.
Around 2 p.m. on June 18, a semi-truck caught fire on I-94 near St. Joseph. Quentin Donabauer captured these images from his nearby home. The driver is reportedly safe. County and State authorities had not released any information at the time. St. Joseph Fire and Rescue were involved.
The Senior Citizen Queen Kay Lemke and King Bill Wasner wave to the citizens of St. Joseph on Saturday.
Ron Eikmeier and The Wildwoods performed at the St. Joseph Fourth of July parade.
Abby Lyon helps her daughter, Nora, 4, choose a book from the Little Free Library in Klinefelter Park.
Dan Meyer of St. Joseph drives a tractor with a box attached through Jerome Salzer’s field on Aug. 28. In the other tractor, Harvey Roske and co-pilot Tyler Salzer were chopping the corn down and throwing it into the box. An excellent growing seasons reaped bountiful harvests this year.
St. Joseph potter Joel Cherrico arranges his pieces during the Millstream Arts Festival Sept. 27 in St. Joseph.
