New director at Winnebago County Task Force

     The Winnebago County Task Force has a new director, as Conrad Osland started on the job April 24. Osland, a native of Frost, MN, recently returned to the area after spending two years as the coordinator for the Restorative Justice Department in Yellow Medicine County, MN.

     Osland says the Restorative Justice Department was a Drug Free Communities grant recipient just like the Winnebago County Task Force, which works to prevent substance use among youth. He says he was thinking of going back to school after leaving that job, but when the Task Force position opened up here, he jumped at the opportunity.

     Osland is a graduate of Blue Earth High School, and he received a Bachelor’s degree in Justice Administration from Southwest Minnesota State University. He says his focus with the Task Force will be working with youth groups and being a good role model. “The main thing is building relationships with everyone in the community,” said Osland. The Task Force is made up of a coalition of community members, and Osland says they’re the ones who determine the direction of the organization. He’ll be working with them to fulfill their goals.

     As the new director, Osland replaces Libby Myer, who is moving with her family to Sheldon. Her husband, Cory, will be the new superintendent of Sheldon Community Schools.