Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, of Minnesota held a statewide recognition awards event in Brooklyn Center on Oct. 19, during which three people from Otter Tail County won awards.
MADD presented the awards to, “honor and thank all of you for your dedicated services to Minnesota and your communities, and for your partnership with MADD's mission to end drunk driving and drugged driving," according to a press release from the county.
County employees Hallie Metcalf and Allen Mekash earned awards, along with Jenna Kavanagh, an Otter Tail County DWI Court graduate. Kavanagh was named Offender Speaker of the Year.
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Metcalf, a DWI Court Probation Officer, received the Judiciary Award: Probation Officer of the Year. She has served on the Specialty Treatment Court for 13 years. Earlier this month, the Otter Tail County DWI Court Team earned the 2021 ‘Excellence in Corrections Award’ by the Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers.
"I am humbled by this recognition from an organization with an honorable mission,” said Metcalf in the release. “This work is challenging, yet seeing clients begin to succeed and dramatically change their lives is rewarding and saves lives."
Michael Schommer, Otter Tail County probation director, remarked, "Agent Metcalf blends client support and accountability to effectively guide them through the behavior change process. She meets clients where they are at, focusing on increasing protective factors while addressing addiction. Countless lives have been transformed, and thus countless lives saved, through her compassionate approach. Agent Metcalf is well-deserving of this recognition. We are fortunate to have her working for all of us in creating a safer Otter Tail County."
Mekash, an Otter Tail County Sheriff's Deputy, won the Outstanding Service Award: Outstanding Service to Greater Minnesota. He also received a bronze pin as the recipient of a DUI Enforcer Award. Mekash is a three-time Minnesota Department of Public Safety DWI All-Star, honored for his work and dedication to impaired driving enforcement.
“Deputy Allen Mekash continues to make the roads of Otter Tail County safer due to his dedication to traffic enforcement and taking impaired drivers off the road,” said Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. “Thank you for your continued work protecting Otter Tail County and those on our roadways.”
