By Melissa Paquette

I'd like to give a huge Shout Out to the FRB maintenance staff that assisted with multiple issues recently.

As the OD, I was contacted with several facility concerns that required immediate resolution. Within a few hours, the facility had a living unit without A/C, lost hot water throughout the facility, and experienced a truckgate malfunction.

Scott Ewest (Power Plant Chief Engineer), Brett Grunklee (Plant Maintenance Engineer), Tim Conway (Stationary Engineer), Bob Steele (Stationary Engineer) and Chad Robertson (Electronic Systems Specialist) were all instrumental in ensuring these issues were resolved with little to no disruption to normal operations.

Thank you for your great work! You are greatly appreciated!

By Gordon Tate

MCF Willow River Challenge Incarceration Program assisted the MN DNR with constructing a shooting backstop for the DNR's Fire Arms Safety Program.

The MN DNR requested assistance from the MCF Willow River Challenge Incarceration Program to construct a shooting backstop for their Fire Arms Safety Training Program located at the General Andrews DNR site in Willow River, MN. This project will help to serve the community and assist the DNR for conducting Fire Arm Safety Training.

This project was completed by MCF Willow River staff Ofc. Scott Salzer and Ofc. Daryl Fleck who helped to organize, give direction, and supervise the construction of these shooting backstops with the help and assistance of the Challenge Incarceration Program Participants. These Officers worked with the local DNR Conservation Officer, General Andrews, and DNR Staff to get this completed in time for the first class which was held on June 14 of this year.

Thank you Ofc. Salzer and Ofc. Fleck for your hard work, dedication, and leadership for the Department, to the communities you serve, and for role modeling a positive attitude and positive life values to the incarcerated population at the Challenge Incarceration Program.

By Rachel Dotseth

We would like to give a Shout-Out to Jen. She has taken on a new role as a WOOC supervisor for the I&E Unit, and many other numerous tasks.

Jen has always led with respect, ethics, and high integrity. We're very proud to have you as a leader. Thank you for always guiding and helping the adult team out. Your dedication and effort do not go unnoticed.

By Stephanie Huppert

The Residents Encounter Christ (REC) Prison Ministry group came to Rush City to provide coffee, soda and snacks to the staff at Rush City to show thier support, appreciation, and gratitude for the noble work they do day in and day out. Their thank you note reads:

To the Correctional Staff at Rush City, thank you. We appreciate all you do.

"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."

Thank you for your sacrifice.

From the Residents Encounter Christ Prison Ministry.

By Joshua Roloff

I would like to thank the MHU staff at OPH for the amazing work they do everyday!

By Brad Scibak

Please welcome the latest and greatest members of the DOC, CIT team. They represent 8 different correctional facilitites. Thank you to all of them for spending a week with us at MCF-Stillwater from June 5-9 to learn many new and useful skills.

By Brady Hartman

Wanted to give a shout out to Central Transport, Lino lakes, and Red Wing.

In recent times Shakopee has had numerous Incarcerated Persons in hospitals within the metro. This became problematic because, like most others, we are short staffed. We reached out to the above mentioned and like the correctional family always does, they stepped up and helped us out.

I am confident a “thank you" was shared a time or two over the phone but I need to make sure everyone heard it. Shakopee is grateful and we thank you!

By Lt. Jessica Fergen

Officer Frank McGraw has accepted the WOOC Sgt. promotion in Complex 3, 3rd watch. Officer McGraw began his career with the DOC at Oak Park Heights in 2017. Officer McGraw is an FTO, SORT Team member, and K-9 Decoy. Officer McGraw also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from SCSU.

Center - WOOC Frank McGraw

OPH Associate Warden of Administration, Sherlinda Wheeler, sent in the below photo recognizing their newest CIT graduates.

Front line: Officers Madeline Olson and Gao Moua
Back line: TDS II Tina Payton, Officer Dustin Marcellus, AWA Sherlinda Wheeler and Officer Michael Vavere

By Sherlinda Wheeler

On Thursday, June 8, staff from MCF-OPH participated in the City of Oak Park Heights “Party in the Park." They used this opportunity for recruitment efforts and to build community relations.

Left to Right: OAS Senior Melissa Schwartz, Sgt. Matt Cash and AWA Sherlinda Wheeler