[Vision2020] Belated Retirement Honor for Norm Van Ness

[Jennifer McFarland]

Media/Press Release
To: All media/press outlets
From: Jennifer L. McFarland
	Public Information Officer
CC: File
Date: 1/27/2005
RE: Retirement Presentation for Norm Van Ness

Latah County Sheriff Wayne Rausch was honored today to present Norman Van
Ness with his service weapon as a token of appreciation of twenty-five years
of dedicated service to the Latah County Sheriff’s Office.  Van Ness started
at Latah County in 1975 when he moved here from California to raise his
three young children with his wife Felicia.  Van Ness retired in 2001 but
was not presented with his weapon at that time.  Idaho Code §31-830 allows
Sheriffs to present deputies with their service weapon when they retire
under statutory requirements.  

Several Sheriff’s Office employees and Felicia Van Ness were on-hand for the
emotional event.  Norm Van Ness joined the Latah County Sheriff’s Office
under Sheriff Ed Pierson as a jail deputy.  In time, Van Ness earned Jail
Commander status, road deputy status, and retired as a Sergeant.  He served
under Sheriffs Pierson, Goetz, Odenborg, Buxton, Overstreet, and Crouch.
Many deputies still working at the Sheriff’s Office remember Van Ness most
fondly in his role as firearms instructor and for his annual bonfire hotdog
feeds.  Van Ness commented that the Latah County Sheriff’s Office was a
“second home” to him and that coming here to day for the celebration was
like visiting family.  From the response of the employees present, it was
clearly a welcome coming home.

Jennifer L. McFarland
Detective/Public Information Officer
Latah County Sheriff's Office
PO Box 8068
Moscow, Idaho 83843
(208) 882-2216

Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs.
***Ralph Waldo Emerson