ABOUT MIKE SCHOEMER
Email: mike.schoemer@patch.com
Phone: 763-218-0827
Hometown: Sioux Falls, S.D.
Current residence: Albertville, Minn.
Birthday: Jan. 5, 1974
Mike Schoemer is a 13-year veteran of community journalism, having worked in cities including West Fargo, N.D., Edina and most recently, Monticello, where he was managing editor of the Monticello Times. He has won multiple awards for his writing, including a first place award from the Suburban Newspapers of America for a team-edited piece on homelessness in the Twin Cities suburbs.
Schoemer and his wife, Jenn (a St. Michael native) live in Albertville with their three children, who are all under the age of 5.
An avid golfer, Schoemer has recently taken up fishing with his family on Knife Lake near Mora, Minn. He also enjoys basketball and skating in the winter months.
My Beliefs
At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.
A self-proclaimed political mind, Schoemer is a registered Democrat, but has tended to lean more conservative now in his "old age."
As a child in Sioux Falls, Schoemer was part of the first kindergaren class at St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School, and graduated from Sioux Falls O'Gorman Catholic High School. He is still a practicing Catholic, and his family attends St. Michael Catholic Church.
Schoemer feels some of the key issues confronting St. Michael and Albertville are sustaining commercial growth while waiting for the housing market to recover from the collapse of 2008; maintaining and increasing the quality of School District 885, which is one of the "newest" in terms of facilities in the state; the aging population of Wright County; and, of course, traffic issues in downtown St. Michael and Albertville near Interstate 94.
In what should be a definitive, historic day for the party in Wright County, the GOP will meet to hammer out possible candidates for the 2012 election.
Information on everything from chiropractic care to eye health for kids will be available to families Saturday morning at the St. Michael City Center.
The St. Michael City Council voted 3-2 to support a possible project pitched by Medici Homes, who is eyeing the Town Center North development. The catch? The city would have to front about $300,000 in improvements, and then wait for assessments.
The St. Michael-Albertville Knights fell in overtime to the Moorhead Spuds in the opening round of Section 8-4A boys' basketball action.
The Pee Wee A Squad knocked off Monticello in the West Region Final to earn a trip to Alexandria.
The liquor store in northeastern St. Michael has been closed since an incident in late February.
The following sentencings were handed down in Wright County District Court last week. Information is provided by Wright County Attorney Tom Kelly's office.
The boys pulled off a 20-win season, a Mississippi 8 Conference championship and a couple of scoring records this regular season. Starting tonight, none of that matters, as the Knights host Moorhead to open the Section 8-4A Tournament.
The Middle Level at St. Michael Catholic School has released its honor roll for the second quarter of the 2011-2012 school year.
Jason Gutzwiller, 30, of Albany, died Saturday after he sustained injuries in a snowmobile accident near Walker.
Told to wait its turn last year as the school district awaited the impending operations levy vote, the community’s fastest-growing sport is hoping for sanctioned status with the school district.
Last year, the Knights made a little splash at the State AA Swim Meet. This year, they nearly cracked the top 20.
Once a pioneer in the retail industry, Kmart is closing its exurban outpost in Monticello, one of two store closings in Minnesota.
The community has been very giving when it comes to getting Making a Difference International stocked with supplies. Now, donors are needed to aid with the delivery of clothes, shoes and more to those in need.
After claiming second as a team in Class 3A, the Knights put seven wrestlers on the medal stand, including state champion Tommy Thorn at 113 pounds.
A new documentary on National Geographic features sign cut by a local company. It's the latest national exposure for Jet Edge.
The Wright County Family Child Care Association is ready to pamper some local child care providers. All they need is you.
For the third straight year, St. Michael-Albertville found a way to win in the semifinals, and came home with a runner-up trophy.
Services have been set for another local boy who has lost his fight with cancer. Matthew A. Perrault was only 17.
A sweet little cat and a 2-year-old pup named Foley are this week's pick of the litter at the shelter.
