By Tyler Trieglaff

Notes from the Chief

Notes on the Farm…Well the winter weather is playing tricks on us at the farm, as well as most farmers at one point or another. The only waterer that we have not had an issue with is the one that does not require electricity.  

That waterer is half a mile from the farm, and we have to chop ice most mornings which is normal. Some days it is open, sometimes a half inch of ice, other times it can get up to 2-3” of ice. The ground heat keeps the bowl and valve fixture warm, it’s just the top that freezes on occasion.  

The other waterers use small 250-watt heaters that are about the size of a small ice cream dish. One of the waterers had both heaters unplugged, and there was 3-4 inches of ice that had to be chopped out. This happened because we did not check the waterer one day due to it being pretty nice, but that one nipped us in the rear.  

As I was taking the top off the waterer, I noticed that the float was frozen to the pipe. I chipped the ice off and was going to get the garden hose to thaw the line going into the ground. As I was taking the cover off, I could hear a tiny drip which told me that the water was starting to flow. A few more chips of the ice and it started flowing full stream.

The other shed had one of the heaters come unplugged so we filled that tank with the garden hose and allowed most of the herd to drink while we stood by and watched.  Both waterers were frozen at the same time so that was a double whammy for us. Once the calves were done drinking, we filled up the tank and the warmth generated from the tank heaters eventually opened up the valve and it is flowing as well.

The other waterer in the barn was working as it should, but the heat in the milk room had gotten turned down when it was 40 degrees last week. It was 70 degrees in the milk room when keeping it at 50 is plenty warm. I turned the thermostat back to normal and with in a few hours, the water was flowing like normal. It seems that things need to freeze once or twice to fully figure out how many tank heaters you need at each waterer.  Hopefully we will stay on top of things and we won’t have any more issues.

Have a nice week!

Friday, Dec. 26

2:49 p.m. Business reporting a wallet left behind. Officer returned wallet to owner.

4:58 p.m. Questions from a resident about items left behind in her house after she moved out.

11:35 p.m. Domestic incident between male and female. Female was given a ride to a different male’s house in DL. Officer told her that she can get the rest of her things when she comes back in a few days.

Saturday, Dec. 27

3:17 p.m. Resident reporting getting suspicious packages in the mail. Packages are coming from a male with mental health issues.  

Sunday, Dec. 28

12:31 a.m. Assist with a medical.

Monday, Dec. 29

1:32 p.m. Background checks on company that wants to sell windows, siding and house repair door to door. Nothing in background to prevent them from operating in Frazee, but please be leery of high-pressure sales tactics.  

4:10 p.m. Report of a fire in a garage with the large garage door halfway open. Male was burning combustibles in an upside-down angel food cake pan. Male told officer that he built the fire to keep his hands warm whilst he was shoveling snow.

7:01 p.m. Resident in an apartment reporting a lewd note on her door from a male party claiming to want a romantic relationship. Male was smart enough to leave his phone number which officer was able to look up in our system. Under investigation.

Tuesday, Dec. 30

12:18 p.m. Officer handled two phone calls, one for a CPR class and one about purchasing a firearm.

2:45 p.m. Background check for new city employee.

4:22 p.m. Fire alarm at the school. Accidental trip.

9:57 p.m. 911 hang-up on Ash Ave W in town. Officer found the phone and kids at an address nearby. All ok.

Wednesday, Dec. 31

11:05 a.m. Assist with locating a patron who did not pay for gas.

3:43 p.m. Assist with a medical which was a cat bite from an indoor cat.

10:14 p.m. Officer located a vehicle off the roadway north of town on Co Hwy 29.  Vehicle was towed out the next day.

11:21 p.m. Assist with a domestic assault on 340th Ave north of town.

11:26 p.m. This was the time in 1973 that I was welcomed into the world. Apparently mom and dad were going to a party at Gary Ware’s house, but mom did not make it. I guess dad showed up to the Ware house after the festivities at the hospital. Probably a short night when it came to milk cows in the morning.

Thursday Jan. 1, 2026

12:36 a.m. Report of a domestic assault. James Damon, 39, Frazee arrested for domestic assault.

2:15 a.m. Report of an assault at an apartment building. Male cousins fighting. Under investigation.