White Birch in Winter

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:29 a.m. - Call from concerned wife.  She and her husband have been arguing all night.  He is intoxicated and set a chair on fire.  Upon officer arrival he observed a chair near the residence smoldering which he moved further away from house.  Extremely intoxicated male in question stated relationship issues made him upset.  He stated he poured rubbing alcohol on chair and started it on fire.  He didn't care if the house started on fire.  Female stated she got upset because male nearly tipped his drink over several times so she dumped it in the sink.  An argument occurred and the male flipped a coffee table over and set the chair on fire.  Male placed under arrest for criminal damage to property with domestic abuse enhancer.

6:54 a.m. - Female reporting male has been screaming at her and children.  Nothing physical.  Two officers responded.  Female started to scream at a child and two adults screamed at each other.  Parties were asked to separate for awhile.  Parties were warned further law enforcement action could be taken if they have to come back.

8:09 a.m. - Reporting party states daughter is refusing to go to school.  Deputy called the parent who complained her teenage daughter wouldn't get out of bed so she poured a pitcher of water onto the bed to get her out of it.  Child now yelling and being disrespectful.  The parent also said the child hit her in the stomach a few days ago.  DHHS had given parent some options that she would have to pay for.  Parent wasn't willing to pay for juvenile detention of some sort or respite care.  Deputy offered to go to the house and interview the child but parent said the child would just lie.  When deputy asked parent what she wants him to do she disconnected.  Deputy called parent back.  She said she doesn't want law enforcement anymore because he wasn't willing to help.  Deputy referred problem to DHHS.

9:24 a.m. - Caller requests deputy help with traffic control for a funeral procession.  The horse-drawn hearse to be flanked by individuals on horseback from Mud Lake to the Island Lake church.  Traffic blocked for about 15 minutes.

10:45 a.m. - Caller reporting a female wearing pajama pants and a sweatshirt walking on highway heading east.  Deputy in contact with female who was going to walk from her house to Kwik Trip (14 miles).  Juvenile said her mother knew she had left home but deputy was unable to speak with mother as she didn't answer phone.  DHHS contact.  They agreed that juvenile should either be taken home or to school.  Deputy escorted juvenile to main office of school.  Deputy at family's residence.  Mother believed juvenile left the house to go to school.  Mother wants police and DHHS to do her parenting job.  It was explained that this is her responsibility.  Mother kicked deputy out of her house.

2:24 p.m. - Caller states his neighbor contacted him about a male riding a snowmobile on caller's property.  Caller is out of country - did not give permission to anyone to be on his property and has several no trespassing signs around driveways.  Neighbor identified snowmobile driver who was contacted by law enforcement.  Told the land owner didn't give him permission which he understood.

3:41 p.m. - Traffic stop for wheels extending past the fender by more than two inches.  Driver exited vehicle and was hostile and argumentative.  Driver stated several times he was being harassed and hated police because they are only trying to make money off him.  He refused to provide proof of insurance and told deputy to just issue the citations because deputy was wasting his time.  Citations to be mailed to avoid further disruption at the business he pulled into after being signaled to stop.

5:03 p.m. - Call regarding child exchange matter.  Issue is related to parties having a no-contact order and figuring out who can drop off child.  Dispatch advised everyone they need to grow up and figure it out.  

6:55 p.m. - Caller requests to speak with city officer about tax fraud.  Reporting party stated her mother is claiming her children as a dependent on her taxes.  Likely a civil issue.  Officer recommended she submit a tip to the IRS for them to investigate.

8:23 p.m. - Vehicle parked in the lane of travel with no lights on.  Deputy detected smell of marijuana.  Probable cause search of vehicle revealed two glass smoking devices that smelled of marijuana, a glass jar with raw plant residue, and a prescription bottle with the incorrect medication inside.  All items were seized and destroyed.  Due to a more pressing call, the driver was released with warnings for illegal parking, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cleaning up under the bird feeders

Bopped down to the Town Hall this morning for the Public Test of the voting machine.  We need to test the machine to make sure the ballot is loaded correctly.  Then we mark up some ballots and throw them through the machine and check what the tally is to make sure it's registering correctly.    That test is open to the public if they want to watch but in all of the year's I've been here we've never had anyone come.  Sometimes people do show up for other reasons.  Treasurer Michelle walked in during the test.  It's the end of collecting property taxes and she has a lot of paperwork to do.  She still found time to fill out a ballot for us.  She filled in the second circle on the ballot because she liked the name.  She doesn't know the candidates nor does she live in their district.  Chief Inspector Andy took note and asked how people will know there even is an election.  He's the fourth person in the last 48 hours to ask me the same question.  There is only one county board seat on the ballot in a district covering parts of six towns.  A sample ballot and a notice of the Public Tests was in this week's newspaper.  I assume a short writeup of the three candidates along with a notice of polling place addresses plus the hours they will be open will be next week's newspaper.  Other than that I don't know how people will know to vote.   There will be some people who come in to vote just because they see the flag is out on the town hall.    The County only put the names of voters in the poll book that live in the contested district.  Our poll books this time have 6 double sided pages - some w/ just a name or two on a page.  We will know who can/can not vote in this election even if a voter isn't sure.  The County Clerk's new aide may have printed the poll books because the backside of each page is printed upside down.  I noticed this irregularity during the Public Test but Andy and I figured w/ such a small number of voters we wouldn't insist the County Clerk's office print new poll books for us.

Blitzen and Dunder

 I didn't get started early enough for my shift at the library.  It was already 20 minutes after 3 p.m. when I left the house.  Stopped at the gas station for a paper (wanted to see that the Public Test was at the correct date/time).  Then up the block to get a coffee that would keep me alert during my shift.  Owner Bob was standing out front on his phone.  As I went to pass him he stepped in front of me.  I figured he probably wants to talk w/ me so I stopped.  He ended his call and gave me an apologetic smile.  "Fifteen kids from the school just walked in there."  he said.  I knew that meant it would be an incredibly long delay as they ordered complicated specialty drinks w/ extra sprinkles, flirted w/ the person behind them in line, and checked their pockets to see if they had enough change to pay.  Bob quickly went on.  "If you will tell me what you want I'll make it and get it to you immediately."  Works for me.  I told him I wanted a large plain hot latte and he went to work.  I stood over to the side and watched the line of teens do exactly what I expected and smiled.  At that age I didn't even like coffee yet.  Plus I would have been on the bus ruding home.  These must be village kids or maybe old enough to drive.  Bob handed me the latte and I handed him a large bill.  "Give the extra to your workers." I said.  "They are earning it."  Bob glanced toward his young baristas and agreed.  I picked up my mail and walked into the library 15 minutes before my shift starts.  Gotta remember while school is in session to do these errands earlier in the day.

A Band of Color

It was already after noon when I got a call from the town clerk.  The company that maintains our vote tabulators had a team at the County Court House.  They were running logic checkups and other tests on all of the machines today.   Our tabulator was locked in at the town hall and the town clerk was in a training session for her job.  Could I take the machine over and get it serviced today?  Sure.  She was on lunch break so she swung by my house to give me her string of keys.  I had tried to comb my hair but it can be unruly in the winter.  I pulled a knit cap over it, flung on my winter coat. and bopped down to the town hall.  The machine was still atop the ballot bin and it's very heavy.  I managed to remove it, snug it into the carrying case, and was wondering how I'd lift it into the back of my car when the door opened and Town Treasurer Michelle walked in.  Thankfully she helped me heft the thing into the car and I was off.  Gravity gave me the assist I needed in removing the tabulator from the back of my car and bringing it to the County Clerk's office.  The guys checking out the machine were very polite and nerds.  Fortunately, I'm fluent in nerd and while they worked I got answers to some questions I had about the machine.   I also asked the clerk's aide if the County Clerk had put us down for a Saturday Public Test in the notice that should be in the paper this week.  The aide didn't know anything about the rules around elections or if there was a notice put in the paper.  Didn't fill me w/ confidence but she texted the County Clerk and I had answers by the time I left.  Best of all the aide was nice enough to hoist the tabulator into the back of my car.    At the Town Hall I managed to actually get the machine back atop the ballot box and plug it in.   I'd also picked up all of the ballots and other paperwork for the upcoming election at the County Clerk's office.   Before I left the Town Hall I went into the office and took the extra set of building keys.  Texted the Town Clerk that the tabulator was back at the town hall, I had the election paperwork and the extra set of keys, and she could pick up her keys from my house whenever she had the time.

Sunset Colors

As the news announced that Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night had died, their song 'Joy to the World' played in the background.  Brought back memories of my first year of college.  I went to Cedarville Baptist Bible College in Cedarville Ohio.  I liked College President Dr. James Jeremiah but the college had many, many rules governing student behavior.  I learned quickly from my roommates ways to bend/break rules which we felt were too restrictive.  The ban on rock music was often just ignored and 'Joy to the World' in particular could be heard on the quad or in the dorm corredors. I'm sure it was a fav because it starts w/ Negron belting out  "Jeremiah was a bullfrog..."

Jigsaw Puzzle

Had one of the best panini sandwich and latte that I've ever tasted this morning.  I picked them up at the Toad House and their food and coffee is really good.   Of course, the reason I was over in the County Seat was because I had a blood draw at the clinic so had been fasting for 16 hours.  Plus being told you can't eat kinda makes you all the more hungry - or is that just me?

Sunrise in a snowstorm

 

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

1:23 a.m. - Call from female who believes someone is sitting on one of her patio chairs outside and is not moving.  It was a garbage bag over a lawn chair with nothing inside but flowers.

1:54 a.m. - Caller reporting a truck turned around on his dead end road.  He believes they stole some barrels and a door from his neighbor.  Caller told his neighbor would have to report the theft.  Caller adamant but deputy told him there was nothing that could be done until there is confirmation that a crime occurred.  11:55 a.m. - Caller reports someone was on their property and took a door and two bait barrels.  They don't want to see a deputy.  Just want it documented as information.

3:34 a.m. - Call from Clinic ER reporting a patient left their facility agitated because they were not meeting his needs.  They would like a check welfare and possibly have patient brought back until a ride can be arranged for him.  Officer located male in question.  He was not dressed for winter and was far from home.  Officer gave him a ride to a motel.

6:33 a.m. - Semi tractor gelled up in the cold.  Driver was able to remove it from the intersection.  Verbal warning for expired registration.

7:21 a.m. - Complainant walked in to report her landlord illegally evicted her and is posting her personal belongings on Facebook to sell.  Deputy had given tenant an eviction notice on Jan. 2.  Basement room she rented can't legally be rented because it doesn't have two egress routes.  Tenant admits leaving the rented room but still has personal property there.  Tenant was also told that being told something she doesn't agree with isn't harassment.  She was advised it's in her best interest to remove her property ASAP.

7:22 a.m. - Traffic stop on county snow plow truck.  Initiated for a bright white light facing rearward.  Driver stated the light stays on in the morning when it's still dark or snowing so vehicles behind can see the slow moving truck.  Driver turned off rear light.  Deputy to refer concern to management.

11:41 a.m. - Request for welfare check.  Officer made entry into house.  Person of interest was on the floor not complaining of injury but EMS called.  Patient transported to clinic.

2:48 p.m. - Neighboring county requesting a look out for a semi driving eastbound on highway.  It struck a stop light.  3:11 p.m. - Semi tractor pulled over related to stop light hit and run.  Driver released.  Neighboring county's police chief contacted.

3:49 p.m. - Caller from Walmart reporting they have a male detained for shoplifting.  He was not scanning all the items in a self-checkout.

5:12 p.m. - Caller reporting a truck with a topper and no plates hanging around the area.  Caller stated person said they were just passing through when they were found in a church parking lot.  Caller states same vehicle is now parked at the town hall.  Deputy in contact with driver of truck.  He is waiting until he gets money from the Veterans Administration so he can finish his drive/move to Michigan.  He is sleeping in the truck.

5:34 p.m. - Caller reporting trash in the ditch.  Deputy spoke with someone whose name was on a letter in one of the trash bags.  Female admitted she and another individual threw the garbage out of the car window as the dump was closed.  Both will be cited for littering and will pick up their trash.

6:31 p.m. - Complainant requests officer notify her mother of a death in the family.  Complainant lives 100 miles away and it's too far to come herself.  Officer at mother's address found she does not live there.  Officer checked various addresses but could not located.  It was determined she no longer lives in area.  A voicemail to the cousin of the complainant asked them to call the daughter back.

7:53 p.m. - Caller requests welfare check on mother.  She hasn't heard from her since Jan. 10.  Caller unaware of apartment number but said apartment has a lot of flower pots on the outside of the apartment.  Officer knocked on doors of two apartments with flowers.  Both answered the door and weren't the person of interest.  Reporting party called back with new address.  Officer made entry into building and made contact with person of interest.  She states she was having phone issues.  Everything OK.

9:44 p.m. - Call from irritated neighbor reporting a couple outside yelling at each other while trying to move a camper.  Persons of interest stated everything is OK.  

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Friday I chatted w/ Enphase that monitors my solar array.  One of the panels isn't showing up on my on-line display.  Probably the panel is fine and producing electricity and it's microinverter isn't sending the data to me.   They are shipping off a new one.

I wrote up the minutes from the last Town Planning Committee meeting and posted them on-line w/ a bottom proviso note that they aren't official until accepted by the membership at the next meeting.   Has always bothered me that any one interested in what's going on (but not so interested to actually attend a meeting) has to wait a month to read the highlights.  I'm sure someone will tell me if I shouldn't do that.

Texted the Town Clerk about the election coming up.  She and her family are going on a cruise during the election time frame so I will need the keys to the town hall ahead of time.  She asked if I could send out any last minute requests for absentee ballots but so far none have come in.  There was some concern if Chief Inspector Andy and I could do the Public Test on Saturday but I think that is worked out too.  Then turned around and e-mailed the Town Clerk requesting some ordinances in Word so I can make the changes the Planning Committee wants to do.  I'm hoping she has a good rest on her cruise - the lady is busy w/ all of the things she does.

Last night before going to bed I looked out across the fields.  Even a modicum of moonshine is enough to light up the countryside's blanket of snow.  It feels like seeing a picture's negative - everything in tones of gray and the ground is white while the sky is black.  I saw a rabbit running flat out past the lilacs and headed for the deep woods.  Further behind came a small coyote - so small I thought at first it was a fox - but when it got to the lilacs it gave up the chase.  It might have realized it wasn't going to catch that rabbit or maybe the coyote was vexed by Whip's insistent barking    It turned around and went looking out into the field for other game.

Librarian Trevor send out an e-mail stating until the tax schedules and instructions arrived at the library to print out any tax documents people requested.   Had the chance on my library shift when a 20-something and her mother came in.  The 20-something asked if we had Schedule H for homesteading.  I looked on-line making sure I got a '.gov' site and that it was the 2025 version.  There were two: 'H' and "HZ".  She didn't know which one she'd used last year so I printed both out for her along w/ the instructions for both.  She asked if there was a fee.   Trevor's e-mail hadn't said anything about charges.   I said no and she seemed relieved.  I'd kept track of how many pages there were and if there would be a fee, I'd just pay it.   Trevor verified later there won't be a fee for tax forms..  Got me in the mood though so today downloaded a tax program, gathered together my documents, and began my taxes.

Icy Driveway

Picked up Friend Nancy and we had breakfast before I went grocery shopping.  Got home around noon and then it was a couple of hours of research.   On the Town Planning Committee meeting agenda for tonight was to consolidate permit fees and fines in one document that all of the ordinances would reference, make specific rules in another ordinance about water coming off driveways and flowing onto a town road, and updating the Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP) manual.  First I ran through all of the existing ordinances and permits highlighting anywhere dollar amounts were mentioned.  Second I checked within the state, other towns w/ specific mention in their driveway ordinances about damage caused by driveway runoff.  Found two and copied those off along w/ our existing driveway ordinance.  Printed off the EOP and started looking at what needed to be updated.  Thought it a strange document so I went to look at other town's EOP's and found they followed the same format.  Probably somewhere along the line my state's Town Association suggested every town should have an EOP and here was a good example.  We all took the example, plugged in our own information and it was done.  If that was the case there might be a state or legal mandate to have it in this format and best not to mess too much w/ it.  I went to the meeting loaded down w/ documents.  We ran through everything pretty quickly.  The board had mentioned to the Planning Chair that we might want to designate a helicopter landing spot for the town.  That we had an issue w/.  Helicopter's usually put down as close to a the patient as they can get.  Having a designated spot for them to land in a rural area didn't seem to make much sense. Member Dave who lives at the ski hill said a helicopter had landed in the parking lot there.  I saw a helicopter land nearby in a field.  Someone else in the hills said a helicopter had landed on the roadway. That discussion got tabled until the board can explain why we need to designate an official landing location.   Even w/ that little argument we finished in an hour.  The chairman said he'd like everything done by the March Town Board meeting so all changes could be OK'd at one time.  Should be able to get that done.

Jigsaw Puzzle

 

Church services were cancelled on Sunday so the car got a reprieve from going out in below -20 temps.  It's cold again this morning but will be the end of this particular cold snap.  No school closures today.  Appears students waiting in -19 degree weather for the school bus is OK but -20 is too cold.   (When I was a kid we had 'snow days' but never 'too cold days'.   My father didn't ride a bus but skied to school.  My grandfather liked to say he walked to school ten miles uphill - both ways.)  Anyway it will be above zero by the time the kids go home tonight.  My pantry was well stocked for these few cold days I stayed home.  Only ran out of salad fixin's.  Tomorrow should be relatively warmer.  Can do some shopping then.

Fluffed out against the cold

Excerpts from the Sheriff's Report:

9:58 a.m. - Caller reporting he found a tracker in his son's backpack.  Son is there for the weekend.  Deputy informed him it is not illegal for a parent to have a tracking device on their child.  He was advised to speak with the child's mother so they can be on the same page. 

11:39 a.m. - Caller reporting they have pictures of a vehicle on their property which is not open to the public and has no trespassing signs.  Tracks go through property to the lake.  Deputy contacted vehicle driver.  He was informed to use public access and he agreed to not go back to the residence.

11:40 a.m. - Complainant walk-in to Sheriff's Office to report a fraudulent phone call.  A voice mail was left stating "Sergeant Johnson from the county sheriff's office" was following up.  Complainant called the number and spoke with Sergeant Johnson who claimed caller was not in compliance with his offender registry and demanded $3,000 to remedy the situation.  Deputy called phone number and it goes straight to voice mail.

1:48 p.m. - Call from mother asking for a welfare check on her children.  They are not in school today.  She can't call the father due to court ordered no contact.  Deputy checked father's residence, then left voice mail for father.  Father spoke with deputy over the phone and children could be heard in background.  He stated children didn't make it to school because he was stuck in the ditch.  Children are doing well.  

3:29 p.m. - Caller requesting an officer.  She's hearing a loud humming noise coming from her basement and she can't figure out what it is.

3:32 p.m. - Caller reports their neighbor acting strange and making gestures at her husband when they are outside.  Caller was informed the neighbor does have mental health issues and law enforcement is aware of her behavior.  Caller wants this documented.

5:42 p.m. - Request for a welfare check.  Female resident was laying on the floor for 2.5 days.  Taken by ambulance to hospital.

9:45 p.m. - Call from grandmother stating her granddaughter is being defiant.   Juvenile had her phone taken away and became angry.  Juvenile took the TV remote and hid it.  The deputy spoke with juvenile at length.  She retrieved the remote.  Both individuals were directed to speak in the morning about household boundaries.

10:00 p.m. - Caller reporting a female won't leave.  Requests a deputy.  Deputy reports female is extremely intoxicated and incoherent.  She's sitting in her car trying to call someone to pick her up.  Deputy escorted female in question to use the restroom and she fell two times, once outside and again in the bathroom.  The second time she hit her head on the corner of cabinet.  EMS transport to clinic.

11:27 p.m. - Person left note looking for someone who once resided at address asking him to call.  Complainant worried because it's illegal to walk onto someone's yard to knock on door.  Complainant was told to put up no trespassing signs if he didn't want people to knock on his door.  

Fireplace

Instead of the forecast two degrees warmer, the day started out one degree colder from yesterday.  I was angry but, of course, after reaching twenty degrees below zero a few degrees one way or the other doesn't make much difference.  The house was cold when I got up.  I started a fire in the fireplace and for breakfast baked a puffed pancake which requires the oven to be on for 30 minutes.   By the time the sun was rising in a clear sky, the house was  toasty and I had a very tasty breakfast.  Passive solar heating would keep the house warm for the rest of the day.   Yesterday I'd had to go w/ Whip whenever she wanted to go outside.  Today the rabbits helped me.  They sit munching seeds under the bird feeders.  This gets Whip excited and all I have to do was open the back door and she's out the door bounding over the two foot drift on the deck.  The rabbits easily made it back under the deck each time.  Whip gets a little exercise and all I need to do was wait by the front door to let her back inside.  My snowplow guy texted me asking if my driveway needed a clean out.  Just open fields up here on the ridge so the driveway can easily drift shut if the wind is not out of the north  but it looks OK so far.  High winds are due tomorrow again.  I said I'd text him on Monday if I needed him to make a pass.  As Aristotle pointed out "To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold."  

(Yes, I know Aristotle didn't really say that and, except for seeing it on Mt. Olympus' peak,  I'm not sure he ever even saw snow but it is a neat saying attributed to him.)

Dunder sleeping on a book shelf

I learned of 'house burping' trending on the Internet.  It comes from an old German tradition called "luften" which means to air out your home.  The idea is to refresh the air in your home every morning by opening a window or door for 10 minutes - especially in winter.  This morning it was -25 degrees and I thought even an old German wouldn't open a window at these temps.  When I walked into the library last night to do my regular shift, the decision to close schools on Friday because of the cold had already been announced.  Librarian Trevor asked me to make a sign for the front door stating the library would be closed Friday and Saturday.  The village hall called Trevor.  They had also decided to not open on Friday.  Trevor asked me to also post a sign on their door.  By the time I closed up the library at 7 p.m. the shelf where books are kept on-hold for people was practically barren.  Everyone was planning to hunker down for the next few days - either w/ a book, a movie, or a jigsaw puzzle.  Personally, I am making it through this cold spell (high today was a -10) w/ the help of my trusty electric blanket and long silk underwear.  The underwear I bought back when I was milking cows and. though by now it's not looking it's best, it keeps me wonderfully warm under my clothes. I also close off the north half of the house and passive solar heat raises the air temp in the rest during the day.  I stand under a hot shower if I get too cold.   Have plenty of dry wood for fires in the fireplace.   I've lived all my life in the North so have built up a list of things to do when there is a cold snap.   Fairly certain 'house burping' won't be added to my cold weather repertoire.

Pre-dawn coyote saga

 

Truth is I should have been up and out of my nice warm bed 45 minutes earlier when the alarm had gone off.   Instead I'd turned over and was asleep again.  Whip's barking woke me.  It was more insistent than a there-is-a-rabbit bark so I went to see what was up.  Still that twilight before dawn but I could make out a coyote was on one of the paths.  It appeared to know that Whip couldn't reach it but cautious enough not to come closer.  Instead it chose to desecrate Whip's fiefdom by urinating on the path.   Whip was apoplectic.  The coyote then did a languorous stretch, kicking up the 'scented' snow, and trotting off into a field.  "Bitch."  I said.  (It was a female.)  Suddenly the coyote flops over on it's back w/ all of it's legs flailing in the air.  There was another coyote coming from the east across the field and they seemed happy to see each other.  "Must be a pair." I thought.   The greeting stops and they both point their noses back toward the east.  I look too and another coyote is standing at the edge of the field.  "Am I going to get the whole pack?"  I wondered.  Probably not from the same pack - the pair take off to the west and woods as fast as possible (the snow pack isn't strong and they sink in here and there)..   The interloper runs after them but slows when the pair are out of sight.  He turns to go south to Gorgeous Gorge.  After that excitement I'm awake.  I throw on some clothes and put Whip's light-up vest on her.  If there are coyotes still around they might be deterred by a glowing dog.  Fresh snow last night so I checked tracks by the bird feeders.   Tracks from a solitary rabbit.   Whip can't come close to catching these local rabbits but maybe a coyote could?  Ominously there were tinier tracks out by the feeder.  The field mouse I'd watched yesterday or something bigger?   If my backyard has become part of a coyote winter buffet line, they are welcome to the smorgasbord of mice, voles, and (ugh) rats.