Staffing shortages have been common in recent years in nearly every profession nationwide, but it’s been very problematic in law enforcement. Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says there has been a sharp decline in people getting into the profession following the George Floyd incident 4 years ago and it hasn’t recovered.
Sheriff Cruze says they are fully staffed now in dispatch and administration and just about fully staffed with deputies, but they are in need of staff members in the jail. He says you do not need post-secondary education for the jail positions and they pay well.
Sheriff Cruze says there can be unruly inmates on occasion, but there is back-up; and most of those in jail are good people who have made mistakes. He says you receive training and there is vacation time, holidays and sick time, and they are 12-hour shifts which means that you work 173-days a year versus 260-days for the 8-hour-a-day jobs.
Sheriff Cruze says you can come in to the jail for a tour and check it out or call the jail if you have any questions at 693-5415. He says the jail positions are posted on the Meeker County website.
The Historic Ness Church 150th Anniversary Fall Service will be on Saturday at 2 p.m. Soup, sandwiches and dessert will be served after the service for freewill donations.
Dave Lindberg says the church stopped having weekly services back in 1968, but committees were formed to preserve the church and maintain the cemetery. He says special programs are held at Ness Church occasionally and there are baptisms, weddings and funerals at the church.
Lindberg says the 150th anniversary service tomorrow will begin at 2 p.m. and will include a message from Pastor Mindy Czycalla, music by Alexandra Lundin and Heather Winkelman and a history of the church presented by Robyn Richardson. He says the service will be a good time to reminisce with others and it will help to raise funds for a roofing project at the church.
Sue Schrotberger says reroofing Ness Church will be an expensive project because it’s a historical building and they have to use cedar shakes. She says the lunch after the service will include soup, chili, sandwiches, dessert, hot apple cider and egg coffee. Ness Church is at 24040 580th Avenue – southwest of Litchfield.
The Litchfield Area Mentorship is continuing to seek mentors. The program also has more fundraisers coming up.
Board member Jo Carlson says they are in the midst of their porch planter fundraiser and there are order sheets at both of the Meeker Memorial Hospital Clinics, at Center Bank and at KLFD or you may contact Denise Olson at the Court House or Tammy Minton at the school. She says the deadline to order them is October 16th.
Carlson says the planters will be available for pick-up at Litchfield United Methodist Church on November 15th and deliveries can also be arranged. She says LAMP is also getting ready for Turkey Bingo on November 22nd at the Litchfield Eagles Club.
Judy Hulterstrum says the Litchfield Kiwanis Club has taken over the Turkey Bingo event as one of their projects and they will help LAMP put on the event on November 22nd. She says LAMP helps to provide a little extra support for certain children throughout Meeker County.
Hulterstrum says if anyone is willing to be a mentor or if anyone would like more information about LAMP, they may call her at 320-699-1616, email her at info@lampkinship.org, go to lampkinship.org or find their Facebook page.
Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze has announced the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2024. The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA) Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to eighteen $2,000 scholarships this year.
The MSA gives special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or one of the two or four year law enforcement degree programs around the state. Executive Director James Stuart says the MSA Board of Directors acknowledges the current challenges in recruiting and greatly appreciates the individuals that make the decision to serve others through a career in law enforcement. He says this is one way that they can support that honorable decision.
Sheriff Cruze says this remains a noble profession and offering these scholarships is another way they can promote the profession and support those who wish to serve and protect in our Communities. He says the applications are due by November 20th and will be announced by December 30th.
Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories:
In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org.