After two years of working mainly from home, what fun it was to attend Sartell SummerFest June 11. There, I enjoyed the long-overdue pleasure of mixing in person with flesh-and-blood people instead of doing my news work almost entirely via telephone.
At the Sartell Community Center, during the “Paper Mill Remembrance” event, it was one happy surprise after another as I “bumped into” people I’ve known for so long but haven’t seen in years.
They have all been favorite news sources for two decades, giving me interesting story ideas. Sandra Cordie, for instance. She is now retired from Resource Training & Solutions, but she is still brimming with tantalizing story tips.
Others I so enjoyed seeing again are Ron and Sandy Hurd, Bill and Judy Morgan, Joe Perske, Jeff Sartell, Ron Euteneuer, Glen Lauer and Ann Doyscher-Domres.
All of them have a deep understanding of Sartell and the forces that, over time, made it into such a vibrant river city. Many years ago, it was the Hurds who filled me in on some fascinating tidbits of early city history, as did Jeff Sartell, a descendent of city founder Joseph Sartell.
Bill Morgan, former college professor and author of many books and columns, is one of my favorite writers/historians. He has a knack for making history “live on the page.” Be sure to check out his just-published book, “Where Rivers Merge: Stories from the History of Sartell, Minnesota.” It’s a real treat.
Ann Doyscher-Domres has done wonders as the director of the school district’s community-education program – helping create, coordinate and market enrichment classes and activities. I have long enjoyed writing stories about them.
What a pleasure it was to chat again in person with Joe Perske and Glen Lauer. Never have I met two more socially connective people. Both have the gift of gab. Lauer, a retired farmer and now school-bus driver, used to deliver the Newsleader newspapers to all three post offices and area stores. We, the news staff, called him “the driving force” behind the papers. He, too, has been a good news tipster.
Glen asked how I fared during the pandemic. I told him I’d often felt like a prisoner in solitary confinement, waiting for a pardon from the governor. Glen laughed and nodded with empathy.
Joe Perske is a former teacher, soccer coach, city-council member, Sartell mayor and serves as a Stearns County commissioner. He hasn’t aged a day. I attributed his trim health to his hobby of long-distance running.
“I run too,” I told him.
“You do?” he asked, glancing down at the cane I was using.
“Yes, but not exactly long distance. I run to the fridge from my home office, then back to my office, then run back to the fridge. It’s not a hobby, though. It’s an occupational hazard called working from home.”
Perske did his inimitable giggle-laugh.
I have long admired Joe. He is a born leader – ever curious about people, life and living; kind; compassionate; socially connective; a good listener; great sense of humor; fearless; courageous; and always eager and ready to defend and speak up for the less fortunate and victims of injustice.
Some years back, I was bleakly disappointed when Perske lost the election to represent us in the U.S. Congress. He would have made a topnotch congressman. But, who knows?, he just might make it to Congress in the future. The word “quit” is not in his vocabulary. Meantime, we can be thankful he is a Stearns County commissioner.
Last but not least, it was fun to see and chat with Ron Euteneuer, whose long-time hobby is model trains, one of which he’d set up on a huge table in the community center. When I was a wee lad, I loved toy trains. Still do. So it’s always fun to “talk trains” with Ron.
At Sartell SummerFest, I realized with full force how so many people are so important in my life.
