Friendly Rider hits One Millionth Rider milestone: Wadena officials navigate funding uncertainty, staffing needs and 4-H facility planning

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 15. Commissioner Brian Winkels attended online.

Friendly Rider One

Millionth Rider

Friendly Rider started in 2003 with three buses and a staff of five under the Wadena County Human Services Department. Ridership was around 12,000 rides a year. They have their own facility under the Wadena County Highway Department. Friendly Rider currently has a staff of 16 and eight buses. Ridership is approximately 55,000 a year.

Randy Jahnke, director of the Friendly Rider, recognized their one millionth rider, Joe Ebner, who received a certificate for the occasion. Ebner has been using the Friendly Rider for 18 years and kept all his passes.

Child Welfare Changes Bring Cost Concerns

Jennifer Westrum and Kyra Ladd discussed significant challenges with new state legislation affecting child protection services.

Westrum outlined a worst-case scenario if federal funding for SNAP is reduced. If those cuts occur, counties will be left without a backup system, which could leave families without food or medical assistance. Additionally, counties may face a potential 33% cost shift for disability services. Westrum noted that they will not have more information until the end of the legislative session....

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