General — (855) 969- 4636

Weather — (800) 566-9780

“The system will leave a message on an answering machine or voice mail,” said Milbrath. “Anyone who is having problems signing up or questions about the Code Red system should contact the Sheriff’s office for assistance.”

Take It To the Box

A growing concern is the abuse, by youth and others, of medications not prescribed to them. Safe disposal makes medicines less available. Also, evidence is increasing of damage to the environment due to unsafe disposal of medications. To combat the problem, the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office is sponsoring the Take It To The Box program. This free program allows the public to safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, both human and animal. Medicines should be left in their original container with labels intact. Persons should remove or cross out their names but leave the name of the medication. Syringes, needles or “sharps” should not go in The Box.

If someone has unneeded medicine for disposal, friends or family members can bring it in for disposal.

“People can call us if they are unable to drop it off for any reason,” said Milbrath. “We will send someone out to get it.”

The Box is located at the Waseca County Law Enforcement Center, 122 3rd Ave. N.W., in the lobby on the first floor. For more information, the Waseca County Health Staff can be reached at (507) 835-0685.

Short Term Offenders

Due to budget constraints, the Minnesota State Legislature may restore the Short Term Offender program with increased costs to Minnesota counties with no compensation. Short Term Offenders are individuals who have six months or less remaining on their sentences. They are released from state custody to the counties to serve the rest of their time.

“In 2009, it cost the county $55 per inmate, per day,” said Milbrath. “The county has to absorb the cost of medical care, transportation to and from medical care, and deputies’ time spent performing those duties.”