Letter to the Editor

When the news broke that Ethan Haus & his dog were missing, the response from the Sherburne  County community was swift. More than 700 people, many who had never met Ethan’s family, showed up to help search for the 6-year-old & his dog, Remington. That massive show of support & willingness to pitch in highlights how much our community cares for its own.   

I know a lot of attention has been given to Steve Fines & the infra-red drone technology that first spotted Ethan. As a community, we are eternally grateful for his efforts. I also know Mr. Fine agrees with me when I say we may not have found Ethan when we did if not for the collective efforts of all involved. Area Law enforcement agencies, fire departments, K-9s, sheriff’s reserves, other drone operators, mounted patrol, State Patrol helicopters, ambulance services, MN BCA, FBI, Red Cross, Becker School District, MN DNR, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Clear Lake Lions & an incredible showing of more than 700 volunteers, who I now refer to as Ethan’s  “Miracle Workers,” systematically worked together to search & re-search areas that surrounded Ethan’s home. Their efforts put the community in the position to find Ethan at 1:50 a.m. that morning, in a cornfield 1½ miles from his home. 

The selflessness, dedication & professionalism displayed by those at the scene, & those working behind the scenes, was amazing. Many of them contributed in ways that the community never hears about, such as researching databases, coordinating resources & investigating leads. One of the 700 volunteers who searched through the woods in the dark & literally crawled through the thickest of brush (to make sure Ethan was not somehow missed) will be having another chemotherapy treatment this week after his second bout with cancer.

I know there are many more stories of sacrifice & acts of selflessness that evening that will never be known or told, but we are forever grateful to each & every one of you. Thank you to everyone who participated, in prayer or in person, in bringing Ethan & Remington home.  We needed everything that night; everyone’s efforts mattered. 

It reinforces what I already knew about our county  & our community: 

We care about each other.

We look out for each other.

We will do everything we can to keep each other safe.

Sheriff Joel Brott

Sherburne  County