By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

Notes from the Farm…Well, all the driving to South Dakota didn’t pay off. The pickup unit for the baler was about an inch off kilter. I used some spacers to get it attached to the baler, but there was a set of sprockets that were still an inch or more off.  

To get those to match up it would have taken all kinds of fabrication. Back to the good old boys at that red and yellow dealership in Detroit Lakes. They had a pickup unit that was on an older model baler and by gum, it matched up perfectly.  

We had to replace a few bands, and I fabricated part of the stuffer unit, but it seems that it will work. Second crop hay will be started by the time you read this so we will see how the baler works.

Another repair going on is the DA’s self-propelled haycutter. We picked up a new frame and I am transferring many of the parts from one to the other. The old frame is cracked and has many welds holding it together. We did invest in all new guards for the sickle so hopefully that helps the haybine run smoother than it was. Both projects are a learning experience for us.  

A few weeks ago, we were baling at the neighbors, and I had to replace/repair a chain that had come off. I used a ½” ratchet with a ¾” socket to loosen the chain tightener.  This ratchet has been around the farm for many years, and it stays on the baling tractor.  It could have been bought new or from a rummage sale, who knows. The ratchet works well except for the little switch mechanism to go from righty tighty to lefty loosey. The knob is gone so I have to use my pliers to make the adjustment.  

Dad was watching me make the repairs and saw how I had to use the pliers to go from right to left. His quote was, “The price of calves is at an all time high, and we have to use a ratchet like that?” I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t heard it with my own ears.  Well, the ratchet is still in the toolbox on the baling tractor where I’m sure it will stay for years to come.

Friday, July 11

1:15 a.m. Records request from the FBI.

8:34 a.m. Assist with a medical.

5:30 p.m. Records request from the FBI.

6:39 p.m. Lawn in need of attention. Letter hand delivered. Lawn was mowed.

6:41 p.m. Lawn in need of attention. Message sent to property owner.

7 p.m. Lawn in need of attention. Message sent to property owner.

7:25 p.m. Assist with a medical.

8:15 p.m. Juvenile girls reporting they found their bike in the river. Officer helped them get the bicycle up the bank under the bridge.

10:19 p.m. Assist with a wrong way driver on US Hwy 10. Unable to locate.

Saturday, July 12

5:06 p.m. Report of a fender bender in the high school parking lot.

6:16 p.m. A juvenile female that found her bicycle called asking if there was any news or video on a possible suspect. Unable to spot anything related on the city cameras.

9:21 p.m. Assist respite care giver with getting a boy to go with her as per his mother’s wishes. The boy had been staying with his dad but dad has no custody rights. The boy left with the guardian after dad had a talk with him. Dad was very cooperative.

Sunday, July 13

5:56 p.m. Assist with a vehicle that lost a tire and rim at Birch and 5th.

7:54 p.m. Report that the little turkey downtown was missing. Possibly taken by aliens.

Monday, July 14

12:06 p.m. Complaint of a possible impaired driver. Male party ran from the scene and hid in the Otter Tail River for almost 10 hours. Driver performed poorly on the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, the Walk and Turn, One Leg Stand and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus. Driver did perform very well in the run, swim and hide portion of the tests.  

10:55 p.m. Report of a loose dog. Dog was taken to the pound.

Tuesday, July 15

4:56 p.m. Report of a dad and his boys shooting bow and arrows toward a neighbors property. Officer checked the area and determined that they were shooting safely. They did agree to move the target so not to upset the neighbor.

9:01 p.m. Welfare check on a family where teenagers were watching the younger kids.  All was ok.

Wednesday, July 16

12:26 p.m. Background check for landlord.

1:22 p.m. Assist with a family disturbance on Co Hwy 54.

3:40 p.m. Landlord reporting receiving a strange message from a former tenant.  Information only at this point. 

7:22 p.m. Report of a dog at home and owner was in Texas. Officer talked with dog owner and owner agreed to let officer take the dog to the pound until he got back.

Thursday, July 17

11:51 a.m. Letter for lawn mowing sent to property owner as messaging did not work.

1:29 p.m. Officer talked with another property owner about getting things tidied up before Turkey Days. Property owner said he would take care of the issue. Building tenant is not keeping up with the yard maintenance.

5:32 p.m. Request from public works to keep an eye on the freshly poured concrete by the city beach.