Litchfield Independent Review - Forum topic - Comments

Anyone watch Palin's speech

Kristin Holtz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:33:12 -0500

Anyone watch Palin's speech last night? What did you think?

Sleuth, staff writer Kristin

Brent Schacherer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 08:45:52 -0500

Sleuth, staff writer Kristin Holtz saw an interesting take on how the county is handling its law enforcement needs. Even you must agree that the wide variety of backgrounds of these five part-time officers is an unusual story. Is this "good press" for the sheriff's office? Sure it is. But are we being used by the sheriff or anyone in his office? I don't think so. No one in the sheriff's office suggested this story to us. A staff writer saw what she thought would be an interesting news feature and decided to pursue it.
Brent Schacherer, editor

What's curious is how Hirman

LitchRes — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:15:40 -0500

What's curious is how Hirman managed to stay in power so long and keep "things" swept under the rug!

Lots of indictments going on across the Country for corruption by public/elected officials...hopefully justice will prevail and Hirman's name will be added to the list of indicted persons.

Curious article on the front

Sleuth — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:58:50 -0500

Curious article on the front page of the IR this week about the part-time officers with the sheriff's department. I see that these guys have been working for quite some time for the department, why now for doing the article? Absolutely nothing against these guys but why would the head guy at that department want this article now? Why not 1 1/2 years ago when the last of these guys was hired? Could it be he is trying to get some "good press" to deflect the bad press that is sure to come? (I hope these guys and the IR know the department big wigs are using them for their own personal gain) Of course we haven't heard anything from Anoka County in a while, which begs the question, did the head guy pull his "good ol boy club card" with Anoka county to make things go away? Hopefully justice will prevail but if not, the citizens of meeker county will have to take care of the situation at the next election, that guy doesn't deserve to be in office any longer. I wonder when they did this article if the IR asked the sheriff or any of the deputies what is happening with the investigation? Just wondering.

Lori...I dont want to get in

LitchRes — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:21:45 -0500

Lori...I dont want to get in a debate over the Co Atty's office, however I think you have the wrong impression of our current county attorney as far as her relationship with the sheriffs dept. I dont believe she will protect the sheriff any more than she is required to do as part of her job. As untimely as it may be on occasion, since she is the County Attorney, part of her job is to represent the county in legal matters.

It is obvious that there is

LoriM — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:58:06 -0500

It is obvious that there is a reason to keep the case open. Perhaps they are still collecting information. I hope Hirman doesn't think he is completely off the hook and goes right back to his dirty ways. For example..... about a year ago you peppered sprayed an inmate in the Meeker County jail, he was locked in his cell, then you refused to let him shower for 3 days.....remember him? Or, did that happen so often that you can't remember? Well, he will never forget it!! I know this young man very well and I have told him that he should speak to an attorney about another lawsuit!! What was done to him is illegal as well!!!
I hope the public and some of the ex-employees now realize how important it is for them to get their information to the FBI!!! Quit sitting on your butts and expecting everyone else to talk....it's time to make a change!!! As for Beckman, I think it's the first smart thing she has done for this county and I think she pretty much had too!!! If she can protect Hirman in any way, shape or form, I believe she will!!!

Just because the US

LitchRes — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:50:52 -0500

Just because the US Attorney's office declined to prosecute, does not mean that this issue is over with. Far from it. It is very commonplace for the Feds to decline prosecution and defer it to the state level for charging. The high Sheriff knows that. Meeker Co Atty Beckman is doing the right thing by transferring the case to Anoka Co. I also noted in the story that the Feds are still keeping this issue open for awhile....hmmm, wonder why they would want to keep it open if there was nothing to the story???

Hey Stan it looks like your

Sleuth — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:55:07 -0500

Hey Stan it looks like your mystery is going to be solved soon. KLFD is reporting that the attorney in Anoka is looking at the FBI case for criminal charges. I wonder who could be facing criminal charges? It's not a good day when the FBI comes in to investigate a certain department then they send the file to a prosecutor for charging purposes.

I am staying local. I have

gstang65@yahoo.com — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:16:16 -0500

I am staying local. I have a Dodge Ram that only gets 16 mpg... I'm not going anywhere. Wanted to see the Kansas Speedway. but that might be a pipe dream. Guess i'll just have to hang out at Grove Creek.... the new track looks great!

The sheriff seems to be

LitchRes — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:53:06 -0500

The sheriff seems to be staying out of sight the last few months, the old "duck and cover" manuever. Wonder why???? Maybe some truth to the fbi investigation?

You are correct, the troops

Brent Schacherer — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:54:06 -0500

You are correct, the troops returning home is big news, and we will have a story on their return in next week's print edition. I'm sure you noticed that the troops coming home was the lead story on the Web site Wednesday and Thursday.

Your assumption that our priorities are a little out of whack could not be further from the truth. The troops returned home Wednesday, at approximately 12:30 p.m. -- an hour after the print edition of the Independent Review had gone to press. It was not possible for us to have photos or a story about the homecoming in this week's newspaper. Rather, we published the short brief on Page 7A saying they were expected to return home Wednesday so people who had not heard about it would know. We also referred readers to our Web site for updates.

That's the challenge of being a weekly newspaper, we have a deadline at the press we have to meet, and sometimes that simply doesn't match up with real-world events.

However, within hours of troops return, we did have the story above and a few photos up on our Web site.
That's the beauty of the Internet. The Independent Review, a weekly newspaper, can be a daily newspaper on the World Wide Web. I assume you read the story, since you took the time to comment. And for those who read only the print edition, we will have that troops homecoming story in the May 8 edition.

Thanks for your input. I'm glad to see you're using both our print and online editions.

Brent Schacherer
editor

I think as a community we

LoriM — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:42:19 -0500

I think as a community we also need to pray that when the indictments come down on the Sheriff and his henchmen that our Meeker County Commissioners have enough sense to realize that NO ONE in the Meeker County Sheriff's Department should go into a top administration position. Just because someone misses the boat the first time, doesn't mean that it won't come back to pick them up!

Our Meeker County Commissioners next election results will most likely be affected by their choices or lack of choices involving all of this corruption!

Just something to think about!!!

Happy Easter..today is a day

EagleScout — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 12:28:01 -0500

Happy Easter..today is a day of rebirth. I think it is time for all to stop a minute and forgive ourselves and others here and let this day serve us to remember our soldiers who have and are now serving this country. Include them in your prayers as our family will pray for peace and forgiveness and saftey for all.

no it dosnt but untill

EagleScout — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:55:55 -0500

no it dosnt but untill proven otherwise "no" one should be trusted! "sunfish" is innocent too. Why is he in prison and child with drug addict mother who also was diagnosed with mod dangerous to self and others.suisidle found to be a perjurer by sharon dicke and sheriffs dept inregaurds to claiming herself to be victom to a kandiyohi judge after she pled guilty to the charges in meeker. also took up space in battered womens shelter.Sharon Dicke is the one who told me she was going to have her charged with perjury. now that child is in her mothers unstable hands. The depts that serve and protect dont do it one employee at a time they are a team as a whole when one member fails they all do because the "chain" has been weakened. so how is one to decifer the bad apple when all it takes is one to make the whole bushel stink?much like sunfish sits innocently in prison, county employees will have to as well..I understand your point about everyone .that is more than likly true.But you are not the victom, the victom cannot trust anyone, at least untill this matter is brought to light. Victoms can be very damaged emotionaly,dispare is not a good feeling not to mention lost funding and time. including many other things you do not know. How can anyone realy expect them to?but they themselves are entitaled to there voice here too!

Randay1 "sunfish" wasnt

EagleScout — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 23:26:46 -0500

Randay1 "sunfish" wasnt denied help from county he was approved. the judge made the decision to with hold. And Civil servant is not slamming the county. I know what meeker county has done to them and the FBI was here then too. and when it involves your family only then can you even begin to understand. Civil servant knows the law. its more like FEDERAL CIVIL SERVANT! for over 30yrs. remember you havnt got that important piece of paper yet .civil servant has.And served this country to give you the liberty's you have today .Civil servant was hand chosen by president Regan to hold there position within the federal gov to keep this country safe and for many lives to be kept safe within the position that they hold.Homeland security is connected to this position as well as Fed OSHA. You dont know the whole story. you are assumming a whole lot here. It will all come out from the FBI.Yes civil servant is on the same crusade that many others are .To stop the corruption.Civil servant isnt going to allow anymore injury's to there familyor anyone else's.you can complain about civil servant but I know they are head strong with taking actions not just posting to slam.Talk is cheap step up for your county. Civil servant is and you will be one of those who will reap the benefits. Civil servants family has already been damaged more then this single thing you read here. How is your slamming another poster any different. The pot calling the kettle black. you are not a lawyer you are a student. stay in school you are just as sarcastic as you claim of others. "sunfish" is a parent too! he was struggling too. He lost his home, employment,and child. It was all started by his meth using wife!She tried to murder him and his brother because he wanted a divorce because of meth use and infedelity on her part. Meeker county sheriffs dept didnt bother to even investigate.FBI knows this too. "sunfish's" wife has a 5th degree domestic assault charge from meeker on her ."sunfish" was also given a 2 yr OFPagainst her by the same judge who denied him of his rightfully obtained medical care. I was a foster parent for seven yrs. Soc. Serv. is nothing more than dazed and confused. the only thing I have seen them good at for at least 15yrs. is to insult and belittle those less fortunate. they are nothing more than in contempt of families . If you feel the need to come back and slam knock yourself out with this kind of attitude towards those you dont agree with does not make you right either. just overbearing and rude. I hope your attitude changes before you deal with any public security's seems you have a postal impulse here. Instead of rushing threw the post put your glass's on and reread again. I think you just skim thru get bit's and pieces before you truly decifer what is realy written.Are you in a hurry to try to prove something that you havnt spent all the time in school needed to learn all of the correct answers too .a student isnt a expert. civil servant is a professional and holds a security clearence that even you as a educated BA holder would never clear. Civil Servant is the good guy here. Not the bad administration running this county. Civil servants mission is to help clean up this county. And to salute all citizens and soldiers protecting this country.Civil Servants leval with in the federal gov is higher than that of a Brigadire General."sonfish" wasnt an addict either but was willing to do treatment to prove he was willing to do anything to keep his child safe.only to have soc. serv. place the child in care and to be returned 11 days later with a broken arm by foster parents. by the way soc. serv. investigated " sunfish" tried to claim "sunfish injured child" child was in my care 2wks before sunfishs mother requested a chips to help protect grandchild from mothers actions."sunfish" was set up by someone else to get out of the crime, Soc. Serv. never notified anyone of childs injury. a note was found inside diaperbag by grandmother,grandmother took child to private hospital that specialist in ortho. and had this documented by hospital staff......let us know what crow pie tastes like civil servant will be serving.......