To place an obituary, please email the following information to [email protected]. Please note that there is currently no option to submit obituaries through our website. If you have any questions, feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263.

**General Information Required:**
– Your full name
– Address (City, State, Zip Code)
– Phone number
– Alternate phone number (if any)

**Obituary Specifications:**
– Name of the deceased
– Obituary text
– A photo in JPEG or PDF format is preferred; TIF and other file types are also accepted. We will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
– Ad run dates.

There is a discount for running an obituary for multiple days, but this must be scheduled during the initial run date to apply. If a photo is included, it must accompany both days of publication to qualify for the discount. Please contact us for more information.

**Policies:**

*Verification of Death*
To publish an obituary, we require the name and phone number of the funeral home or cremation society handling the arrangements. We must contact them during business hours to verify the death. If the deceased’s body was donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program or a similar program, that program’s phone number is required for verification. Please allow sufficient time for contact, especially during limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for verification. Only one of these two verification methods is necessary.

*Guestbook and Outside Websites*
We are not permitted to reference guestbooks or obituaries located on other media sources when publishing in print and online. Instead, we may include a website for the funeral home or a family email address for contact. Please contact us with any questions about this policy.

**Obituary Process:**
Once your submission is complete, we will fax or email a proof for your review prior to publication. The proof will include the price and scheduled publication dates. Please review the proof carefully. Any errors or changes must be reported before the obituary appears in the Pioneer Press, adhering to daily deadlines. We are not responsible for errors after final proof approval.

Changes to an online obituary can be made by contacting the obituary desk.

**Payment Procedure:**
Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices before the publication deadline. After you receive and approve the proof, please call 651-228-5263 to provide your payment information.

– Credit card payments are accepted by phone only, due to Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations.
– Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments by phone are also accepted. Please provide your routing and account numbers.

**Rates:**
– Minimum charge: $162 for the first 12 lines.
– Each additional line beyond 12 lines costs $12.
– If the ad contains fewer than 12 lines, the minimum charge applies.
– Obituaries exceeding 40 lines receive a 7.5% discount per line.
– A 20% discount applies to both the first and second placement if run on two dates.
– When placing three obituaries, the third placement is free of charge.
– Each photo published is $125 per day. For example, publishing 2 photos on 2 days equals 4 photo charges, totaling $500.

**Deadlines:**
Please adhere to deadlines below to ensure your obituary publishes on your requested date. Deadlines are strict, with no exceptions.

*Hours:*
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed weekends and holidays)

**Memoriam (Non-Obituary) Requests:**
Unlike obituaries, memoriam submissions are remembrances of loved ones who have passed away. Rates for memoriam notices differ from obituary rates. For more information, please call 651-228-5280 or email [email protected].

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**Recent School District Case and Safety Protocols**

During a press conference, Ali urged school district officials and state lawmakers to establish strict policies governing staff use of personal cell phones and handling of images involving children in their care.

“We trust our schools to keep our kids safe, including from predators who misuse technology,” said Ali. “This case should be a wake-up call for every school district in Minnesota.”

Ali also noted that more parents are expected to join potential litigation against the school district, mentioning two additional sets of parents who contacted his office following the press conference.

**Strengthening Protocols**

Mike Funk, superintendent of Stillwater Area Public Schools, stated he could not comment on specific allegations related to Haslach due to ongoing litigation.

“The safety of our students is our top priority,” Funk said. “As a school community, we are deeply saddened that some of our students were among the victims in this case involving a former Adventure Club employee.”

He outlined the district’s strengthened protocols for school-age child care:
– Staff are prohibited from using cell phones anytime students are present.
– Staff may only take photos of students if pre-approved by a supervisor, and photos must be taken using district-owned devices.

The district also adopted what Funk described as “the most stringent personal-device policy in Minnesota,” banning student use of cellphones and other electronic devices during the school day from pre-K through 12th grade.

Additionally, a mandatory 90-minute training program on Sexual Exploitation Awareness and Response has been implemented for all district staff.

“We remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for every student in our care,” Funk said. “We will continue working closely with families, staff, and law enforcement partners to uphold the highest standards of safety.”

**Federal Charges**

According to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court, Haslach “received and possessed child pornography involving children that were abused by others; children that Haslach did not have access to personally.”

Investigators are currently determining whether Haslach distributed morphed or AI-generated photos he created to others, with strong indications that he did.

Law enforcement will continue to keep victims updated as the investigation progresses.

Haslach had originally been charged in Ramsey County District Court in January; however, those charges were dismissed following the federal indictment.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/11/12/stillwater-school-district-lawsuit-ai-porn/