Governor Walz is not welcome at Deputy Owen's funeral

The Voice has confirmed that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is not welcome to attend the funeral on Saturday (April 22) for fallen Pope County Deputy Joshua Owen.

In a phone call, Deputy Owen's widow, Shannon, spoke directly to Walz and told him that he is not welcome to be at Minnewaska High School on Saturday.

Shannon Owen stated that the reason she does not want Walz to attend is due to his lack of support for law enforcement. She further stated that this would be the wish of her late husband.

Law enforcement personnel across the state have questioned Walz's office on their initial decision not to lower state flags to half-staff this week. It took until Wednesday before Walz relented and gave the order.

In Brooten, flags at the fire station were lowered to half staff on Sunday, the day after Deputy Owen was killed.

Shannon Owen and her husband's cousin, Josh Palmateer, were part of a news conference on Thursday, April 20 at the Pope County Courthouse. In a statement read by Palmateer, Shannon asked the public to pray for the safety of law enforcement officers in Minnesota and across the country.

"Losing Josh will never go away, ever," she said in the statement. "The cameras and media will pack up, and many people will go back to their daily lives, but for me and Rylan, this new reality will never end. There will forever be a hole in our family that Josh's presence and light filled.

"As in the days and weeks past, I ask you to please continue to lift us up in prayers as we go through the next few days, weeks and months and years. Pray for the safety of our deputies and police. Continue to share Josh's story with each other. Share his legacy. In this way, we can help his spirit last forever. Thank you."

Memorial Service is April 22: public asked to utilize transit to MAHS

The public memorial service honoring the life of Deputy Josh Owen will be held on Saturday, April 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Minnewaska Area high school gymnasium, 25122 State Highway 28, rural Glenwood.

Visitation for Deputy Owen will be held on Friday, April 21 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 9:30 a.m. until the service begins, also at the MAHS gymnasium.

Members of the public attending funeral services for Deputy Josh Owen are to use off-site parking and transit to the Minnewaska High School due to limitations on general parking on site.

The general public are to park at the Fast Global Solutions parking lot at 710 County Road 21 South in Glenwood, where buses will transport to the service site. The first bus Saturday morning will leave the lot at 9:15 a.m., and the last bus will leave the lot at 10:00 a.m., and will return after the service.

Bus transportation will be accessible and ADA compliant for those needing those accommodations.

The public is encouraged to show their support during a funeral procession after the service. The procession route is along Minnesota Ave. between the Pope County Fairgrounds entrance and Franklin Street. The procession will include hundreds of law enforcement and other public safety agencies.

Nine officers shot at in our region since January 23

Nine (9) peace officers have been shot at, and three peace officers (3) have died in our region since January 23.

• January 23 — two McLeod County deputies were shot after knocking and being allowed entrance into a Winsted residence to effect an arrest.

• January 24 — a White Bear Lake police officer was shot after knocking and being allowed entrance into a WBL apartment to effect an arrest.

• April 8 — two western Wisconsin police officers were shot and killed during a traffic stop in Barron County. Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel both died as a result of their injuries.

• April 10 — a Granite Falls police officer was shot during a knock and announce search warrant at a Granite Falls home.

• April 15 — two Pope County deputies and a Starbuck police officer were shot in an apartment in Cyrus, where they had responded on a report of domestic assault. Deputy Josh Owen died as a result of his injuries.

Update on Saturday, April 22: click on the following link to view the funeral procession for Deputy Owen as the entourage passed through downtown Glenwood: https://bit.ly/3AlXjjT.