By Shelby Groath

Thank you so much for offering you time and strength helping Central Office clean up the appreciation BBQ area. Your help was greatly appreciated.

By Shelby Groath

Thank you so much for providing an amazing K9 demonstration for Central Office staff during the apprciation week BBQ! You brought wonderful insight to what our K9 program offers to our facilities!

By Crystle Kraft

Shout out to the Rush City Cook Coordinators and kitchen security staff working together to get the IPs breakfast out on time when the kitchen workers were unable to come to work due to power outages. #teamwork

By Dan Moe

MCF-Stillwater Captain WOOC – Captain Oetterer will be starting May 8, 2024 and be the WOOC Captain through September 24. On September 25th Captain Salas will start and go through March 26 of 2025.

Captain Oetterer brings over 23 years of experience with the department, having worked at multiple facilities of all classification levels. He has been an major part of the DOC SORT and SOG emergency response teams for the past decade, previously serving as the commander of ERT. Currently a Lieutenant at Rush City, his wealth of knowledge and experience will be a valuable addition to MCF-STW. Please join me in welcoming him as he assumes the WOOC role starting May 8th.

Captain Salas will begin her role on September 25th. She began her career at MCF-STW and has remained dedicated to our institution. Holding a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Concordia University, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position.

Captain Salas is committed to remaining an asset within the Department of Corrections (DOC) by utilizing her developed management skills and abilities accumulated throughout her career. With a passion for the corrections field, she focuses on leading within the department to contribute to a positive and safe environment for both incarcerated individuals and staff. She is also a strong advocate for women in corrections.

Please join us in welcoming Captain Salas as she takes on this new role.

By Dan Moe

Please join us in welcoming our newest staff member, Brandi Tellijohn, who comes to us with a wealth of qualifications and experience.

With over 23 years of administrative experience, including more than 11 years in the legal field, Brandi brings a deep understanding of processes and requirements.

Her excellent interpersonal and communication skills will be invaluable in our team environment. We are thrilled to have Brandi join us.

She will start in the new employee academy on May 8, 2024.

By Willie Swanson

Les Gruwell and I would like to recognize the Buffalo FS staff who have been short-staffed for significant period of time. The Buffalo agents and support staff have worked very hard during this time.

Thank you for your dedication and hard work! Several agents from around the Litchfield District have pitched in and taken on PSI's for the Buffalo office to help carry the load.

Thank you for the teamwork and effort!!!!

By Willie Swanson

Agent Christine Sangren received this message from a former client along with a picture of the client and her child (not included in this post). Christine makes a difference in her clients lives on a daily basis.

"Hey I just wanted to drop a line and let you know how things are going. I am 3 years sober now by the grace of God. I was actually in Litchfield on April 30th, I stopped in cuz I wanted to say hi and the lady at the front desk of probation told me you were working remote. Anyways just wanted to let you know that I'm doing really well. And I just wanted to thank you again for never giving up on me and pushing me, and seeing the potential in me!"

By Ashlee Berts

Brantley's love, appreciation, and respect for all Fire and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and EMS started at an early age and has continued to grow. He has honored our dedication to serving others, by treating us to some refreshments each summer!

He finds us to be among the bravest, strongest, and most courageous people and enjoys nothing more than to make us feel important and valued. For four years he's provided Brantley's Annual FREE Lemonade Stand to those working in these fields.

MCF- Rush City staff have attended this lemonade stand and brought many representations of our work to share with Brantley (challenge coins, K9 demonstration memorabilia, etc.). As a thank you for us posting his flyers around the facility for his lemonade stand, Brantley had a sign made for us and wrote us a sweet letter.

We wanted to proudly display this appreciation! Brantley also plans to visit MCF- Rush City this summer to provide staff with lemonade on the plaza near the staff entrance.

Thank you to Officer Joe Wittwer and Case Manager Kristin Wittwer for connecting Brantley's cause with the MCF- Rush City staff!

Officer Joe Wittwer and Case Manager Kristin Wittwer

By Jay S. Olson, Training Coordinator

Fourteen recruits graduated from the 40-hour SORT Academy that was held at Camp Ripley, April 29 - May 03, 2024. The new Team members are to be congratulated for their focus and hard work during the intensive week of training. According to Training Coordinator Jay S. Olson, “the Special Operations Cadre assigned to Academy do a phenomenal job."

Special recognition was given to Lieutenant Karl Krippner (SCL) during the graduation ceremony for his eight consecutive years as an Academy Coordinator. He will be retiring early next year. Captains Chad Oye (LL) and Chris Mitchell (FRB) expressed their appreciation and gratitude to the recruits, cadre, and Lt. Krippner for their contributions and commitment. Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Andrew Rudesill stated, “Karl's dedication to SORT is the glue that keeps this training event moving forward. No detail is missed or overlooked." In addition, SCL Warden Jesse Pugh, AW Dan Raden, and Captains Jamie Holm and Lori Korts provided congratulatory remarks.

Karl Krippner

By Lieutenant Cory Felda

On April 15th, a $10,000 donation was made to the University of MN Raptor Center in memory of Officer Joe Gomm EOW 7/18/18. The donation was the culmination of a year-long fundraiser through the sale of Joe Gomm Memorial Challenge Coins, clothing and tumblers, as well as private donations. The donation is being utilized directly for the medical care and treatment of an American Kestrel being housed at the Raptor Center, and a plaque has been attached to it's cage in tribute to Officer Gomm.

"In the days before his death, Joe Gomm delievered a pair of injured birds to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center after the chicks had fallen out of their nest on prison grounds. On the last day of his life, Joe emailed the Raptor Center to inquire the status of the two Americal kestrels, the smallest and most common type of falcon in North America. On July 25th (2018), the day before Gomm's memorial service, the two birds were released outside prison grounds as a living tribute to Joe's heroic legacy." (Officer Joseph Gomm Tribute, 2018)

Another donation will be made on 7/18/24 from continued sales of coins and tumblers. For questions about the fundraiser or making a donation, please contact Lt. Cory Felda at Cory.Felda@state.mn.us. Direct donations to the Raptor center are also accepted; any given in his honor will only be used for the care of his kestrel.

Officer Gomm's memorial on his kestrel's enclosure

Photo of the two kestrels Officer Gomm saved in 2018

Photos of the kestrel that has been saved in Officer Gomm's honor.