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.
A move by the Minnesota Legislature, including Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, allowed the district to save millions in bond payments on what is now St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West.
Car vs. deer accidents are on the rise as fall sets in, and a few active days in Otsego have also kept Wright County deputies on their toes.
The following court cases involving area arrests were handed down last week in Wright County Court. Information is provided by the Wright County Attorney's Office.
Albertville joined the many cities utilizing single-sort recycling carts for residents last year. Now, St. Michael is looking to get its program spread citywide.
Allina Clinics are teaming up with Free Bikes 4 Kids for one worth cause.
The football squad pulled to 5-2 and claimed second place in the Mississippi 8 with a 42-20 romp at Elk River.
The home team fell behind in both games, but the Knights couldn't turn back to the Tornadoes in their bids for a first-ever state tournament appearance.
In a rare double-header, the Anoka Tornadoes and the St. Michael-Albertville Knights square off in a pair of Section 8AA Championship soccer games tonight.
A group of friends and family will host the first-ever “Fire Up” Run, in memory of slain Middle School West teacher Timothy Larson. Proceeds will benefit his family.
The 413th Kwik Trip location in the Upper Midwest made its opening official last week, with a visit from CEO Don Zietlow and other dignitaries.
The National Merit Scholar program has commended three students for their efforts on the PSAT Entrance exam.
It's an event that's occurred for almost as long as there has been at Catholic school in St. Michael. The goal for this year's "Marathon" was to raise more than $75,000 for the school.
Duane Merton Auger was 81.
Chris Kleven had the play of the game, and junior quarterback Cole Krutzig made sure the senior class got a win in its last regular season home game.
Albertville Fire responded to a skid steer fire Wednesday, highlighting a pretty quiet week in St. Michael and Albertville.
A public servant and the "godmother" of the city of St. Michael's summer celebration as we now know it, Cindy Weston is leaving the community she helped change.
It might not be a holiday, as it is in South Dakota, but the Minnesota pheasant opener is growing in popularity. Here are some tips and ideas for the big weekend.
Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park is working to establish a trust fund for the wife and two sons left behind after the "senseless" murder of father and husband Tim Larson.
The girls' team can earn an unprecedented conference championship outright with a win today over Buffalo. The meet promises to have all the excitement of last week's upset over Monticello.
The League of Minnesota Cities and St. Mary's University in the Twin Cities have organized a study to examine the impact of technology in squad cars on the officers who drive them. Wright County is taking notice.
