by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
(This is Part 3 of a multi-part series. Part 1 was published Jan. 8, Part 2 was published Jan. 15.)
September
Twenty-seven students from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University’s Bonner Program helped clean the Kennedy Community School prairie. The service project was part of this year’s Bonner Program orientation.
A record corn crop was harvested this year in the area. Locals reported corn was around 14 feet high, whereas last year at this time it was about 2 feet high.
After coming out of a closed portion of a city council meeting, the council voted 4-1 to a finalized agreement with the school district to purchase Colts Academy for use as a community center.
Cloverdale Townhomes, home to 36 St. Joseph families, began renovation and changed names to Carlson Crossing. No renovations have been made to the buildings since they were originally erected in 1982.
Construction began on a new warming house at Memorial Park. The old warming house will be used to store baseball equipment.
A funeral was held Sept. 15 for John Seiler, 51, of Sartell, who was struck and killed by a vehicle on CR 2 north of St. Joseph on Sept. 8 while bicycling.
Babygirlz Boutique opened on the corner of Minnesota Street and College Avenue, selling women’s fashion apparel.
With the purchase agreement for the community center in place, the city council took the next step toward a government center, looking at placing the old blueprint next to Colts Academy and attaching the two buildings.
Jeremy Ulik, 32, of St. Joseph, plead guilty to the April hit-and-run of Cody Nuckolls, 5, of St. Joseph. Ulik was charged with two counts of failing to stop at a collision causing injury or death, and plead guilty to only one of those counts in exchange for receiving no more than 75 days in jail.
SportsCenter came to the campus of St. John’s University to air their pre-game show from Clemens Stadium. While the Johnnie-Tommie game wasn’t shown nationally, the rivalry was discussed during the show.
Kwik Trip plans to expand their gas station brand into St. Joseph. Shingobee Builders, based out of Loretto, purchased the El Paso land and building and is reselling the space to Kwik Trip.
Jason Leuthmers joined the St. Joseph Police Department as a full-time officer. Luethmers is taking over the 5 p.m.-3 a.m. shift after Officer Shane Vernier left the department.
October
Thousands strolled Minnesota Street during the annual Millstream Arts Festival. More than 50 white tents lined both sides of the street, filled with arts, crafts, clothing and food.
Family members of Roman Bovy, a St. Joseph man who died in World War II at the age of 23, gathered at the American Legion and the St. Joseph Historical Society to memorialize him and look at memorabilia from his time in the war.
The St. Joseph Jaycees donated 15 Chromebooks and a charging station to All Saints Academy fifth-graders. All fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students now have Chromebooks to use during the school day. The computers can be used to take tests or do online homework, among other functions.
More than 100 people participated in the first Fall Fest 5K and 1K Kids Run event hosted by the Jaycees at Colts Academy.
Pat Schneider, at 48 years into his baseball career, was inducted into the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame at the St. Cloud Civic Center. Schneider is the first person from St. Joseph to receive this honor.
St. Cloud School District Superintendent Willie Jett, along with several board members, administration members, a teacher from St. Cloud Tech High School and the student-council president from Tech served as the panel during a discussion surrounding the proposed bond referendum at St. Cloud City Hall. An audience of about 90 people gathered to ask questions and get answers.
More than 350 parents and children attended the Family Fun Night held at the early childhood center at Colts Academy. Families participated in face-painting, games and could even attend sessions on the upcoming referendum.
Jennifer and Greg Walker of Dale Street hosted their walk-through haunt for the 13th year in a row. Last year, about 250 people went through the Halloween attraction.
Resurrection Lutheran Church underwent a construction project which included an expanded fellowship hall, a commercial kitchen, dedicated space for youth ministry, classroom space and more.
Hundreds attended the open house for Rolling Ridge Wedding and Event Center. The center features a 120-year-old barn which had been moved, along with many other amenities.
November
Daniel James Heinrich, 52, of Annandale, was arrested Oct. 28 and charged with several counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. Heinrich remains a person of interest in the case of Jacob Wetterling, who went missing in St. Joseph on Oct. 22, 1989.
Voters rejected the school district’s $167 million referendum on Nov. 3.
Local man Bob Wahlstrom celebrated his 90th birthday in style, with an open house party at the American Legion. Nearly 200 people attended the party.
Gateway Church moved into its new home at the Northland Plaza building on Elm Street, in the former Movies Etc. location.
Local veterans from American Legion Post 328 particpated in the Veterans’ Day Parade in St. Cloud on Nov. 8.
The first open house at Colts Academy, the future site of the St. Joseph Community Center, was set for Nov. 14.
With a 2-3 vote, the city council rejected the park board’s recommendation that a dog park be placed near the Wobegon Trailhead. The park board must find another suitable location for a dog park and bring it back before the council.
Jeremy Ulik, 32, of St. Joseph, was sentenced to 60 days in jail for the April hit-and-run of Cody Nuckolls, 5, of St. Joseph. Besides the jail time, Ulik was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and to pay restitution to the family of $19,875.24.
In a 3-2 vote, the city council agreed to hire a full-time community development director in 2016. Including salary and benefits, the position will cost the city around $95,000 per year.
December
Snow caused a headache for commuters on the last night of November and first morning of December. About 5 inches of snow fell, bringing snow removal crews out in earnest across the region.
Patty and Jerry Wetterling organized a meeting in Paynesville to both help residents shocked by revelations about crimes committed there in the 1980s, as well as thank the community for speaking out about those attacks which have possibly been linked to the abduction of their son, Jacob.
Resurrection Lutheran Church hosted a free Christmas Meal for the community, sponsored by several area churches and organizations.
Two St. Joseph residents, Luke Plemel, 30 and Harley Weilage, 23, were arrested for selling methamphetamine out of a building southwest of St. Stephen.
Celeste Walz, Sauk Rapids, and Dan Pfannenstein, St. Joseph, were both sworn in as part-time police officers at the Dec. 7 city council meeting.
Pat Schneider stands to accept his induction into the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame on Sept. 19 at the St. Cloud Civic Center.
Jaycees member Joe Bye (left) congratulates his son Trevor Bye, 5, in the first Fall Fest 1K Kids Run event.
Large equipment, both public and private, could be seen rushing to take care of snow across the region the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 1. Plows, blowers and salt were needed to deal with the five inches of snow reported across the area.
