By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

Notes from the Farm…Twice in the last week I had some local gentlemen comment about the goings on at the farm. Both commented on the loss of the animals I wrote about. One is currently farming and the other grew up a farm boy so they understood where I was coming from. If you’ve been around cattle for any length of time, you will most certainly find one that tips over for no reason. Cattle can be suicidal geniuses and are always looking for new ways to die. Cows: 1,000 ways to die and they’re always inventing number 1,001. 

The number of ways that I have seen cattle die on the farm might not reach 1,000, but there have been many in the time I have been on the farm. One cow got her head stuck between the V in two trees. Another got wedged between the rows of round hay bales.  A wallop to the head of an unruly steer caused its untimely death. Laying down on a side hill can cause bloat. One time the water froze up, and some of the herd wandered onto the lake, several fell through ice and drowned. In a dry year, the cows were grazing in the swamp by the lake and a bull got stuck in the mud, could not get out and died.

Another bull did the same thing, but dad found him. We drove the tractor a quarter mile across the swamp and were able to pull him to solid ground. It took him a while to get his bearings on his wobbly legs, who knows how long he had been stuck. There was a beautiful first calf heifer that threw her uterus when she was calving and it tore two main arteries and she bled to death. I remember that time, dad got the knife to gut her out and the calf was suckling on the udder. Many times, a cow and calf have been lost during the calving process.  

Calves are a whole different ball of wax too. They can be affected by sickness and weather more than the cows and we have measures we take to ensure the calf has its best chance of survival. Not sure why I decided to write about this subject, but once I started, I kind of had to finish going down this rabbit hole. It gives those of you not as familiar with the farm some more insight on what happens behind the scenes.

Have a nice week.

Friday, Feb. 13

6:24 p.m. Traffic complaint with a semi that turned onto Endeavor Rd. and could not figure out how to get back to the highway. Officer assisted driver with language barrier to get him turned around.

7:35 p.m. Information from Koochiching County of a male with a warrant that may be in town.

Saturday, Feb. 14

6:07 p.m. Assist Hennepin County with a check on a family that lives in town. Information also sent to Becker County Human Services.

11:46 p.m. Assist with an employee closing a business as there was a male that made her uncomfortable earlier in the day.

Sunday, Feb. 15

11:55 a.m. Parent asking for a key to the warming house as the kids got locked out and belongings inside. Officer suggested a kitchen knife or credit card as there was not anyone on duty at the time. Mom replied back that the kids have mastered the break-in, now with great life skills!

6:31 p.m. Assist with a medical.

8:42 p.m. Warrant arrest of Marcus Washington, 43, International Falls MN.

Monday, Feb. 16

12:08 p.m. Stray hunting type dog reported. Officer transported to the Marshmallow Foundation.

1:30 p.m. Background check for a landlord.

3:52 p.m. Alarm going off at the lift station by the beach. Public works contacted.

7:53 p.m. Welfare check on an elderly male who was having breathing issues.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

12:23 p.m. Wife calling 911 because her husband was not home yet. Officer talked with the female about the proper use of 911.

2:18 p.m. Female came to the PD asking about information for a vehicle that she door dinged at Walmart. Officer contacted the other party and they were able to meet and figure things out.

8:02 p.m. Welfare check on an adult female requested by a clinic. Officer talked with the female and told her of the concern.

9:47 p.m. Traffic stop and warning for no headlights.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

4:06 p.m. Assist an elderly male who was stuck in the newly fallen snow. Officer was able to lock the front hubs in for the male and gave him a gentle push with the squad to get him unstuck.

4:17 p.m. Traffic stop with warning for snow piled on the windshield.

Thursday, Feb. 19

2:20 p.m. Elderly female came to the PD with a question about a computer scam. Female was the victim of a ransomware scam on her office computer and was asked to pay for the “help” she received with Apple Cards from the Dollar General. Store employees stopped her from buying the cards. Advised her to contact her bank, Arvig, and her IT support about the incident and also Otter Tail County as that is where she lives.

11:08 p.m. Report of a wrong way driver on US Hwy 10. Unable to locate.