November 2026 Newsletter (Volume 12, Issue 11)

November 2026 Newsletter (Volume 12, Issue 11)

Headlines are provided below. Click to read each story in the newsletter.

Note from Sheriff Torgerson

We are hustling through fall as the leaves have changed and mostly fallen by now. Our high school fall sports and other activities are coming to an end with playoffs and final sectional area events being completed with competitors hoping to make that trip to State! Hopefully, everyone will be able to get out and cheer on your favorite team or athlete!  

In this newsletter we have a great article by Sentenced to Serve (STS) crew leader Jeremy Danielson. One of our primary responsibilities is to manage the detention center as directed by Minnesota State Statute. As an added responsibility and at the request of the Olmsted County District Court several decades ago was to establish the STS crews. These crews do amazing work, teach skills to folks who otherwise have not had hands on training before in a safe environment, and builds pride in their community like no other program. We've long been very proud of this program.

Enjoy the newsletter and be safe and well.

We are ringing the bell for the Salvation Army on Nov. 25 at Hy-Vee on West Circle Drive in Rochester. Swing by and see us!

Sentence to Service (STS) Update

Detention Deputy Jeremy Danielson

The Sentence to Service (STS) program is a valuable program funded through the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office to assist city, county, township, school districts, state, and nonprofit entities throughout Olmsted County. The STS program is an alternative sentencing option for the courts that allows carefully selected, nonviolent offenders, to work on community improvement projects. The program is supervised by STS crew leaders Detention Deputy Jeff Coe, Detention Deputy Jeremy Danielson, and Detention Deputy Kaitlin Bain.

Benefits

The STS program provides benefits to:

• Courts by creating an alternative sentencing option to jail.
• Corrections system by reducing expense, jail crowding and reserving space for dangerous offenders who require incarceration.
  Offenders by providing them with a positive way to repay the community for offenses and a day off their sentences for a full day's work.
• Taxpayers by improving public parks and other areas.
• Non-profit agencies receive thousands of hours of assistance with labor-intensive projects.

Where

STS operates throughout Olmsted County, and its projects vary widely depending on the season. In the summer months, projects include litter pickup at local township festivals, lawn care, and our biggest project each year, the Olmsted County Fair. Sixty percent of our projects come from the county parks. STS is the leading providers for campfire wood, trail maintenance and development, and various projects best suited for the quiet months at the parks.

Sentence to Service (STS) 2026 Highlights

In the early months of 2026, a large portion of our time was spent working with Pat Gerken, who oversaw building four rental cabins, wood storage shed, and several other building jobs on the new campground development at Oxbow Park. Detainees were given the opportunity to be a part of the new development, learning new skills and sharing their experiences with friends and family members. All four cabins needed to be completed by a strict deadline and could not have been made without the help of the STS program and its crew members over the course of six months.

Pat Gerken has been the primary builder for Olmsted County Parks for more than 25 years so it’s a privilege to be a part of one of his projects given his experience and mentorship to the work crews.

Prior to his passing, Chester Woods park manager, Tom Eckdahl, imagined a large welcome sign as patrons entered the park. Due to budget constraints, the project never got off the ground.  So, the STS crews decided to make it a reality and took on the task. Unfortunately, Tom passed prior to the sign being completed but it was an honor for the STS crew to make his vision a reality.

Monthly Snapshot: Estimated Savings through STS 

Dates of Interest

November 2
Rochester City Council Meeting
Pleasant Grove Township Meeting

November 3
Elmira Township Meeting
High Forest Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting

November 4
Salem Township Meeting

November 5
Dover City Council Meeting
Quincy Township Meeting
Rochester Township Meeting

November 9
Cascade Township Meeting
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Orion Township Meeting
Oronoco Township Meeting
Rock Dell Township Meeting

November 10
Byron City Council Meeting
Marion Township Meeting
New Haven Township Meeting
Stewartville City Council Meeting

November 11
Eyota City Council Meeting

November 12
Eyota Township Meeting

November 16
Kalmar Township Meeting
Rochester City Council Meeting

November 17
Farmington Township Meeting
Olmsted County Board Meeting
Oronoco City Council Meeting
Pine Island City Council Meeting

November 18
Haverhill Township Meeting
Olmsted County Township
Association Meeting

November 23
Chatfield City Council Meeting
Dover Township Meeting
Viola Township Meeting

November 24
Stewartville City Council Meeting

November 25
Eyota City Council Meeting

Senior Administration

Sheriff

Kevin Torgerson

Chief Deputy - LEC

James Schueller 

Captains

Jon Jacobson

Kelly Lee

Ryan Mangan

Tim Parkin

Chris Wallace

Director - ADC

Samantha Reps

Captains

David Adams

Andy Danielson

Luke Wrubel