By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

By the time you read this we will be knee deep in this nice cold stretch. Good thing we got the cows vaccinated with Scour Bos 9 last Wednesday. The weather was pleasant for working the cattle and the needles did not freeze up.  I kept the syringe in my coat under my coveralls so my belly fat provided just enough warmth to keep the vaccine flowing. 

Scour Bos 9 is a vaccine we give to the cows to ward off scours in the newborn calves. We have had very few sick calves once we got the cows on an annual vaccination program. The cows get a shot each year before calving and the first calf heifers will get a booster shot in a few weeks.  

The cold weather is providing some challenges for our farm, and others I’m sure.  Clean fresh water is very important for raising quality livestock.  The beef cows drink around 20-30 gallons per day with dairy (milking) cows drinking upwards of 50 gallons per day. With around 140 animals on the place water is very important element.  We have four waterers for the animals and two were frozen last week. Luckily, it was decent weather when we were working on them.  It was wonderful to find that the local lumber yard had tank heaters and heat tape on hand to keep the water flowing. The automatic waterers work great if you can keep them from freezing.  There is always a few kinks to work out each fall as the temps drop, but once they are working it is one less issue to worry about.  

As I am typing this the cold weather has set in and one of the waterers quit working again, so that will be the project for Friday morning. I tried to jimmy rig it with heat tape, but I think I need to make a trip to Perham for a Heat Snake, which is a heater type mechanism that goes inside the water line 6-8 feet into the ground, depending how deep the frost it.  I will first try to insulate the waterer better, as this may help the situation. 

One solution would be to use water tanks which we have done in the past.  The issue with that is they take time to fill and it is too easy to walk away and forget about them. The water will overflow making a skating rink for the cattle and those tank heaters for the bigger tanks draw way more electricity.  

I hope everyone is staying warm and your water is not frozen.

Friday, Jan. 29

10:34 p.m. Report of a care center resident not returning after an appointment.  Party was not in any danger.

Saturday, Jan. 30

8:21 p.m. Welfare check on N. Lake St.

Sunday, Jan. 31

11:23 p.m. Male called in looking for his car as he was told the police department towed his vehicle, which we did not. 

Officer talked to male, who explained that his car broke down in Perham and it was taken to a buddy’s house. That friend did not want it on the property anymore so another “friend” took the car and parked it in front of a house in Frazee. Vehicle received a parking warning several days prior, then was moved by who knows who. Original caller did not know the person’s name, only a nickname. Most likely a civil matter at this point, as no one knows where the car is.  The caller didn’t even own the vehicle, but was buying it from his cousin, so the cousin would have to come to Frazee to sign the vehicle stolen.  

Officer said we would look around town to see if we could locate the vehicle.  Officer, out of curiosity, looked up the court history of the caller and found two pending felony drug charges in Douglas County.  Well, what do you know…  One doper is getting hosed over by another doper and no one knows the other’s names. Sounds like a civil matter to me.  Officer also told the caller that 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night is not the time to call looking for your car.

Monday, Feb. 1

2:33 p.m. Disturbance on 2nd St SE with people trying to move out of a trailer and the landlord showed up with a tractor and was going to demolish the trailer.  

10:17 p.m. Traffic stop with citation for No MN Driver License to Darien Smith, 20, Frazee.

Tuesday, Feb. 2

10:32 a.m. Vehicle unlock on E. Main.

4:30 p.m. Traffic complaint with large item in lane of U.S. Hwy. 10.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

7:38 a.m. Several vehicles broken into and one vehicle stolen. Hallie Renner, 30 of Detroit Lakes found in possession of stolen vehicle and arrested.

9:05 a.m. Female calling business in Frazee harassing employees.

6:10 p.m. Male party reporting his vehicle was stolen. Officer talked with male and it turned out the male let his acquaintances take the vehicle to put gas in. Driver was arrested in DL on warrants and two females now have the vehicle.  Civil issue as owner voluntarily let the vehicle go with friends.

11:03 p.m. Assist with a medical.

Thursday, Feb. 4

8:02 a.m. Two vehicle crash on W. Main and 5th St NW with a power pole broken.

11:07 a.m. Report of loose dogs in the Cherry Ave area.  Unable to locate.

3:04 p.m. Property damage reported at Rivercrest Apartments. Robert Haugen, 50, Frazee cited for criminal damage to property.

11:24 p.m. Alarm at a business on W. Maple. Building was secure.

12:25 a.m. Disturbance reported at Rivercrest Apartments. Ongoing issues between neighbors.

1:35 a.m. Noise complaint at Rivercrest Apartments.  Officer heard loud music when entering the building and tenant agreed to turn it down.