The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office has compiled numbers for 2024 for calls-for-service and other items. The report will be available on the Sheriff’s website next week.
Sheriff Brian Cruze says calls-for-service for all agencies county-wide were down about 2% from the previous year, but for the sheriff’s office, calls-for-service were up 12%. He says crime was down in 2024, compared to 2023, but it’s a little misleading as the numbers for several crimes spiked in 2023.
Sheriff Cruze says the number of crashes increase in 2024 and traffic citations were up dramatically as speeding continues to increase, so they are working to try to get people to slow down. He says he’d like to thank his staff for stepping up during a period of time when there were staffing shortages, and he’d like to thank the public for their support of law enforcement.
Sheriff Cruze says his jail staff is only short by one person now and they are still short of one patrol deputy. He says the Law Enforcement Center is in the midst of a remodeling project right now, and the dispatch center will be moving into the Court House which will be known as the Justice Center and it will just have one secure entrance – at the rear of the building.
4H members from Meeker County excelled earlier this month in Project Bowl challenges. Meeker County 4H had six teams that competed at the Sauk Rapids Regional Project Bowl contest on March 1st.
Project Bowl challenges teams of 3-to-6 youth to test their knowledge on a variety of topics including dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, llama/alpaca, plant science, poultry and rabbit.
The senior horse team members from Meeker County included Audrey Frenchick and Claudia Frenchick form the Koronis Eager Beavers, and Raya Scott, Frances Geurts and Maisy Geurts from the Kimball Kruisers. They received first place in the regional contest and will compete in the state contest April 12th in Sauk Rapids. They’re coached by Tanya Scott and Dayle Geurts.
The junior horse team members included independent members Aliza VanDuinen and Willa VanDuinen, and Leland Kershner and Bridger Kershner of the Danielson Hustlers. They received first place in the regional contest and will compete in the state contest on April 12th in Sauk Rapids. They are coached by Cassidy Becker and Emily VanDuinen.
The senior poultry team members included Henry Lemke of the Valley Victors and Riley Joyer of the Forest City Livewires, and Laura Anderson of the Danielson Hustlers. They received fifth place in the regional contest. They are coached by Alison Radunz and Tracy Huhn.
The junior poultry team members included Hadley Huhn of the Litchfield Satellites, Morgan Sage and Victor Lee of the Danielson Hustlers, and Nora Magadenz of the Valley Victors. They received sixth place in the regional contest. They are coached by Tracy Huhn and Alison Radunz.
The senior rabbit team members included Brooks Dengerud of the Litchfield Satellites, and Alexis Blunt and Tattrie Ficker of the Forest City Livewires. They received 8th place in the regional contest. They are coached by Laura and Jordan Niece.
The Meeker/McLeod junior rabbit team included Jonathan Blunt of the Forest City Livewires and Aubree Mackedanz and Lily Mackedanz of McLeod County. They received 6th place at the regional contest. They are coached by Laura and Jordan Niece. For more information about getting involved in 4H, call the Meeker County Extension office at 693-5275.
On Tuesday at 12:01 p.m., the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a medical call at a business in the 64100 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Darwin Township. The initial information received was that a victim received a gunshot wound.
When deputies arrived, they located a man, identified as 48-year-old Joseph Bogatzki of rural Litchfield, with a gunshot wound in his arm. He was transported to Meeker Memorial Hospital by Mayo Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
The incident is under investigation; however, the initial investigation revealed this was an accidental discharge. The victim and his co-workers were dismantling a vehicle when they found a firearm inside the vehicle. While removing and handling the firearm, it discharged and hit the victim. Sheriff Brian Cruze reminds the public that all firearms should be treated as if they are loaded and due care needs to be a priority when handling firearms.
On Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m., a Meeker County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was patrolling on MN Highway 4 when he saw a structure fire in the 55000 block of 395th Street in Union Grove Township. Meeker County Deputies, Paynesville Fire Department, Eden Valley Fire Department, and Allina Ambulance responded to the scene. Upon arrival, the deputy saw a barn on the property that was fully engulfed in flames. The property is owned by Sheri and Kent Peterson. The barn was unoccupied at the time of the fire and is a complete loss. It’s believed that an electric heat lamp in the barn may have been the cause of the fire. No one was injured as a result of the fire.