By Teri Knight, News Director
By now the entire community should know that Northfield Police Chief Monte Nelson retires today. He has served our community for 24 years and his family, as he’s often pointed out, have sacrificed much for him to be able to do that. He talked with Jeff Johnson and I last week, that full interview is HERE. While he isn’t sure what work he might do next he said, “more importantly I need to spend time with my family, they’ve paid the price for 34 years of what I’ve done”, he added, “your family rides the wave with ya and that’s not always a positive thing”. He and his wife, Cindy, just recently turned 55 and they’ve been married for 35 years. Nelson talked about some of his
most memorable moments in Northfield and that he takes great pride in what he and his fellow officers have done, “and you’re able to bring some form of justice through our system to a victim, I take great pride in that and sometimes those cases can be complicated and sometimes you have to think outside the box”. He shared a story of a victim of sexual assault who, through new training he received about guiding the mind after a major trauma, was able to guide her to remember certain unique features of the perpetrator to the point that Nelson could make an arrest. He added that one of his proudest moments was when his co-worker and friend, former Deputy Chief Mark Dukatz received a Meritorious life-saving award 5 years ago for his effort in saving one of the Carleton College students involved in a horrific crash wherein three of them died. Nelson said that’s why they sign up for the job even though they carry the baggage of those memories too. There’s a celebration for him at Sechler Park from 2 to 4pm today.
Nfld Chief Elliott plans continued collaboration with agencies
The incoming Chief, Mark Elliott was on air this week. He sits on the Steering Committee for the Opioid Response Council in Rice County. One thing that has come from that is the Mobile Opioid Support Team, or MOST, Elliott said, “and through that collaboration with our healthcare providers, with HCI (Healthy Community Initiatives), with Social Services out of Rice County and through law enforcement trying to find ways that we can help those that are addicted to opioids”. In the year that it’s been active, they’ve added four medical assisted treatment providers, “so in other words, medical professionals that can subscribe suboxone to help people work their way off of opioids and get into recovery”. That’s a 400% expansion of what there was before. Elliott plans to continue those types of collaborations with local agencies. His full interview is HERE.
Farewell car parade for Ruth Hickey
In 2003 a group of women founded Ruth’s House, named after the Biblical Ruth. They started with $20,000 for emergency shelter. Since then they have expanded to add transitional housing and have served over 1700 women and children. Ruth Hickey, one of the founders, retired as Executive Director in February and at 11:30 this Sunday morning there will be a Farewell car parade in her honor. The parade line up will start at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault. Suzzanne Fox has taken over the position. She’s been employed at Ruth’s House for close to five years.
Photogs get your pics in to the City of Nfld
Northfield is in the process of updating the city website and they’re looking for new photos of community members enjoying events, activities, city parks, landscapes and cityscapes, culture and art, and nature and animals. Photographs must be original and taken in the last two years. Submit your photos by Thursday, August 6. Photographers will get photo credit on the city’s website. See requirements and submit at: ci.northfield.mn.us/photo
Questions? Contact:
Michelle Mahowald
Communications & Human Resources Director
507-645-3012
michelle.mahowald@ci.northfield.mn.us
