Central Minnesota Multi-Housing Association - Promoting a crime free community in St. Cloud MN Several years ago we were informed about the Crime Free Multi-Housing training that was available to property managers, landlords and rental property owners in the St. Cloud area. The class was taught by the local St. Cloud Police department in conjunction with the Sauk Rapids Police with the assistance of local property management companies. After the Crime Free Multi-Housing training we had a stack of very useful information about doing criminal background checks, excellent resources for owners of rental properties and how to work with local law enforcement to keep your rental property crime free. This training is now mandatory in Saint Cloud in order to have and maintain a rental license on... 08/10/2010

Community leaders in St. Cloud MN are being put in jail and locked up for good. You will find many around St Cloud who participate in good works throughout this wonderful community of ours, and one of the fun ways this is being done is by throwing them in Jail. Well not throwing, but walking them in and not letting them out until they have reached their bail goal. Locked up for Good is being held again in St. Cloud MN to benefit the MDA, and the "bail" will go to help find a cure. Participants agree to be placed in "jail", St. Cloud fire station #2, on August 28, 2010. This fundraising event has had some wonderful success in our community before and will again this year too.    08/10/2010

Sizzling Summer Art Crawl Friday August 13th Downtown Saint Cloud Minnesota From 5:00 to 9:00 pm this Friday August 13th you will be able to take a very nice stroll in downtown St. Cloud and enjoy the works of some of this areas finest artists. This years Sizzling Summer Art Crawl has expanded locations and more artists. Arts Co-op and Gallery: Shirley Strom photographer, Fran & Dennis Nilsson Silversmiths, Dave Goretski oil painter, Sharon Nieters watercolor, Ken Ramler wood artist, Cheryl Salzer decorative painting, Terri Hess jewelry, Donna Gorrell author Art of the Button: Tim Zniewski paper collector Antiques Gallery; Harold Zosel author   Bachman Jewelers: Deb Jensen painter Bumbledee's & St. Cloud Floral: Maria Peters Bodette, Chad Jerzak ING: Joe Pulliam Jules' Bistro: Richard G... 08/09/2010

Pioneer Place on 5th downtown Saint Cloud In 1913, after 15 years of renting space, the St. Cloud fraternal lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks hired architect Rolland Buckley to design a building. The two story classical revival has four Tuscan columns facing the street and was finished in 1914. The building at 22 Fifth Avenue South in Downtown St. Cloud was faced with brown brick and trimmed with Sauk Rapids granite to complete Buckley's vision for the Elks Lodge. Incorporated into the design of the Pioneer Place building are 2 clocks, carved into the facad, always reading 11:00. This is the time the Elks hold a moment of silence to honor their fallen brothers. The number 11 for remembering our fallen heros has reached well beyond the order of the Elks. In 1918 on the... 08/08/2010

A wonderful way to spend the day! Grand Opening Celebration August 21 & 22 - Clear Waters Outfitting Company Clearwater MN The Saint Cloud area now has a great place to go for a daycation on the Mississippi River, Clear Waters Outfitting Company in Clearwater MN. Dan and Sandra Meer have just opened up the areas only canoe and kayak retail store and outfitter on the banks of the Mississippi River, and we think Clear Waters is a wonderful addition to our community. Clear Waters Outfitting Company will be holding it's Grand Opening Celebration on August 21 & 22 at the store and launch site at 100 Pine Street Clearwater Minnesota. Now through Clear Waters you can book a paddle trip daycation down the Mississippi, packages are very affordable and you do not need to drive for hours, they are... 08/07/2010

The 10th Annual Stroll for Epilepsy in St. Cloud MN Many people are affected by Epilepsy. On Thursday August 12 at the Lake George Municipal Complex in downtown Saint Cloud MN there will be a 2 mile walk to raise awareness and money to help those people. All of the monies raised at this event will stay in the community. The money will fund projects to educate, empower and connect people affected by seizures. Beginning at 5:15pm, for registration, people are invited to come to the Lake George Municipal Complex to participate in helping this great cause. Events planned include food, fun, festivities, kids games, a huge raffle and prizes at the awards ceremony immediately following the stroll. The St. Cloud Stroll for Epilepsy will begin at 6:30. If you would like to participate you are en... 08/06/2010

Mustangs & T-Birds & Vettes - OH MY! This is American muscle at it's finest, that's right, it's time for the Pantowners 35th Annual St. Cloud Antique Auto Club Car Show and Swap Meet. If you are a car enthusiast you do not want to miss this event! On Sunday August 15, 2010 at the Benton County Fairgrounds the Pantowners will hold their 35th Annual Car Show and Swap Meet, this is the largest one day show and swap in Minnesota. This show has something for everyone from modified street rods, factory muscle cars, Corvettes, T-Birds, Pony cars, and motorcycles. The indoor arena at the Pantowners show will feature classic American cars from the 1920's, 30's and the 40's. Even the classic Pan Auto, built by the Pandolpho Motor Company in St. Cloud from 1917 to 1921, will be on display. Beginni... 08/05/2010

Jane Grey Swisshelm -A Strong Woman with a voice in Saint Cloud MN Strong women are an asset, and the central Minnesota area is full of these assets. It always has been. Strength comes in many different forms, being strong in your convictions, being powerful in business, and of course strength of the heart. Jane Grey Swisshelm a journalist, abolitionist, women's rights advocate and Civil War Nurse had all of these strengths and used them. She started the Pittsburgh Saturday Visitor and was at the forefront of a movement that lead to the passage of a bill allowing women to own property. Her views on this subject became cemented when her mother died. As a woman Jane Swisshelm was unable to own the property she was to inherit due to the laws in Pennsylvania. Her husband aided greatly in he... 08/04/2010

In 1886 a brick structure was built by Dolson Bush Searle in downtown St Cloud Minnesota. That brick building still stands today in the form of D.B. Searles, a popular dining and entertainment venue on 5th Ave S. in historic downtown St Cloud. D.B. Searle was born in New York in 1840 and served in the Union Army in the Civil War and fought at the 2nd battle of Bull Run. A prominent businessman and attorney he served the area as the St. Cloud City attorney, the Stearns County Attorney and also as the U.S. District Attorney. D.B. Searle was also in attendance at the Ford's Theatre when President Lincoln was shot. From 1886-1897 the building was home to the German American Bank, and the safe still rests in the rear of the main floor bar area. D.B. Searle's office was in the building from ... 08/03/2010

In life if you look carefully you will be able to see what another persons true intentions are most of the time. If you are going to buy a home you need to find an agent you can trust, they have got to honor their fiduciary (protecting your interests, especially your money) duties to you. The way the real estate agent gets paid is actually a little counter-intuitive when it comes to this, we get paid a percentage of the purchase price of the home you are buying. We only get paid when a deal closes, so all of that running around is our investment in you. I look at it as an investment in my relationship with you and know that if I do a good job that you will let your friends and family know that I should be their Realtor, conversely if I do a bad job you will let them all know too and you... 08/03/2010

National Night Out Tuesday August 3 2010 marks the 27th annual National Night Out. National Night Out is an evening event where over 35 million people in more than 10,000 communities gather to promote community partnerships, crime prevention safe neighborhoods and neighborhood unity. Our neighborhood, in Saint Cloud, will be celebrating National Night Out again with the ice cream social at one of our neighbor's homes. Neighbors are asked to turn on their outside lights to demonstrate support for a safe community. In our neighborhood this evening is also part of one of the 2 meetings held a year by the Neighborhood Watch Program. This is a great way to meet your neighbors and to show our community support. National Night Out celebrations in conjunction with the Neighborhood Watch Program... 08/02/2010

Central Mn Vietnam War Memorial In Eastman Park at Lake George downtown St Cloud stands the Central Minnesota Vietnam War Memorial. Carved in granite, an American soldier and South Vietnamese soldier represent the 2 countries who fought side by side during the war, and above their heads flies their countries flags. You'll never be forgotten, carved in granite, at the feet of the the 2 soldiers. The memorial was created due to the efforts of Hoa K. Nguyen, a former South Vietnamese military officer, who wanted to honor all those who fought for South Vietnam's freedom. There were 17 men from St Cloud MN who died while serving their country in the hopes that South Vietnam would one day be free. It was Nguyen who pursued his goal to make sure that there was a fitting tribute to those men. ... 07/28/2010

What happens when 2 guys make the trip of a lifetime down the entire Mississippi River? From the headwaters at Lake Itasca in Clearwater County Minnesota all the way along the 2,320 mile long Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. In 2009, last summer, 2 men did just that, filming their adventures along the way. The River is Life is the documentary that was produced by 11 Visions and is now being shown in select venues. We will have the opportunity to see this film on Wednesday August 18, 2010 at 8:00pm in Wilson Park St Cloud MN. This has not been publicized yet but, I have it on very good authority from a contact at the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), that it soon will be. The community movie on Wednesday, August 18 starting at 8:00 p.m features the indep... 07/28/2010

No Joke! We did a little checking and this is correct. I do not care which side of the fence you are on this is not what we are about and not what should be going on! Take a deep calming breath, grab an airsickness bag and press play - Here is an article about the purchase of IndyMac from the New York Times. One West Bank finalized the purchase of IndyMac and something smells funny via The Mortgage Insider. Straight from the horses mouth - The FDIC http://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/IndyMac.html The bottom line via USA Today Via FDIC and written in 2008 on this one "The FDIC has estimated that the failure has cost the agency between $4 billion and $8 billion." Please keep in mind this was written in 2008 before they actually started to pay out. Wonder what the cost really is?  R... 07/24/2010

Over the last 30 days Liz and I have had quite an experience here on ActiveRain. Our adventure started out with a simple challenge to post 100 wonderful reasons in 100 days that we love about living in St Cloud which is centrally located in the great state of Minnesota. Our posts have caused us to reconnect with our community, our friends and make some new ones along the way. This all started off innocently enough with taking a good hard look at our blog and what was being sent out into the world and how appealing, or not, it would be to potential clients. We quickly realized that while showcasing my listings, providing local St Cloud and central Minnesota real estate market data, and linking to my real estate website was all well and good there was not any real reason for someone to ch... 07/22/2010

Electricity from Water is not a new concept here in St Cloud, did you know that the first Hydroelectric Dam in St Cloud was built in 1888? The current St Cloud Hydroelectric Facility Dam was built in and became operational 100 years later on the 1st of June 1988 fully harnessing the power of the mighty Mississippi River. The Hydroelectric Dam in St Cloud Minnesota, located next to St Cloud State University along the Mississippi River and 2.5 miles upstream from the Beaver Islands, can generate up to an astounding 9 megawatts. This is due to the 2 turbines and the fact that, on average, there is 6,450 cubic feet of water flowing per second. Designed to be more in harmony with the river the hydroelectric dam in St Cloud does not interrupt the river by stopping it's normal flow to create a... 07/21/2010

Good Question. How many box cars can you link together in one train? This is a question that I have asked and while I have been a passenger, have heard the driver ask, more than once here in St Cloud. Trains are a huge benefit to our community and are part of the reason businesses have thrived here and continue to do so.   The St Cloud Depot was built in 1898 by the Northern Pacific Railroad to accommodate the passengers who would be riding the train from St Cloud to St Paul Mn. The roof was originally a blue slate, which must have looked very sharp, on top of the Romanesque depot with its red granite base and the irregular gray quarry granite blocks for walls. Trains and railroad companies are a large part of our history here in St Cloud. How else would you easily move tons and tons of... 07/21/2010

The Great Northern Railroad founded by James J Hill plays a key roll in the history of St. Cloud MN. James J Hill faced great adversity and turned it into great success. Known as The Empire Builder, he was a Minnesota entrepreneur extraordinaire. The statue in his honor in St. Cloud stands 20 feet tall and is carved out of granite. Born in 1838, later blinded in the right eye by an accident with a bow and arrow, and forced to quite school due to the death of his father, he gained his knowledge from his work. In 1873 a severe international economic depression happened. Banks were failing, unemployment hit 14% and Britian was loosing its position as a world economic leader. After the Civil War the railroads were the largest employeer (with the exception of farming) as over 50,000 miles of... 07/20/2010

Lake George and Eastman Park Downtown St Cloud MN From paddle boats to free plays by GREAT Theatre there is always something going on at Lake George in Downtown St Cloud Mn. Laughter filled the air as children were running and playing in the splash pad, while the sound tech people were setting up for the play starting this Thursday evening at Eastman Park. A police officer waited for his next call in the parking lot and a guitarist sat in the shade of one of the many oaks strumming a tune from a seventies rock band. This is a quiet day in St Cloud at Lake George. On any given day you will find a multitude of people running, biking and jogging around the lake in downtown St Cloud. Lake George is a 7 acre man-made lake stocked with catfish. The lake was created when the original lake in i... 07/19/2010

SCUBA dive in St Cloud MN at Stearns County Quarry Park and Nature Preserve There is a place to SCUBA dive in St Cloud MN, and it is not a training pool. Quarry Park located just to the South of St Cloud has several old granite quarries, 1, 11, 13 and 18, that are open to SCUBA divers. There are many interesting formations to explore but before you go you must have a permit from the Stearns County park office, you must also be certified and accompanied by a buddy. The permit is free and good for one year. Vertical walls form the sides with generally small surface areas and visibility ranges between 10 and 20 feet. If you would like to see some underwater footage of the St Cloud area quarries I suggest watching the top video on underwater Minnesota. A Stearns County park entrance fee is ... 07/18/2010