Sheriff's Office squashes boredom

RITZVILLE - As the fall season sets in, the Adams County Sheriff's Office gets into the Halloween spirit with a creative team-building activity: a pumpkin-decorating challenge.

Country Cousins donated pumpkins for all staff members, and employees from every department-administration, dispatch, corrections, and patrol deputies-are participating in the fun.

Each employee received a pumpkin and was encouraged to carve or paint it in their own unique style.

Some staff members have taken their pumpkins home to work on, while others have completed their designs right at the office.

According to Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner, the challenge's goal is simple: foster creativity, boost morale and have a bit of festive fun together.

"The deadline for submissions is the end of next week," he said.

Once all pumpkins have been decorated and submitted, the Sheriff's Office will showcase the designs on its Facebook.

The community will be invited to vote for their favorite pumpkins by liking or "hearting" their top picks.

The design with the most reactions will be crowned the winner.

Though there isn't a formal prize, the activity is all about office camaraderie and community engagement.

"We wanted to do something fun that gets everyone involved and lifts spirits," said Wagner. "This is a great opportunity to show the human side of law enforcement. We're not just here to fight crime-we're also regular people who enjoy creative and fun activities together."

Some decorated pumpkins are already displayed at the Sheriff's Office and posted online. Plans are in place to arrange a larger display for public viewing.

"We have some really creative staff members, and this challenge has highlighted how much we enjoy working together," Wagner added. "It's a great way to show the community that we're more than just people who 'bust the bad guys.' We work hard, but we also know how to have fun and share positive experiences as a team."

The Sheriff's Office expressed deep appreciation for Country Cousins' support in providing the pumpkins, which allowed the team to participate in this morale-boosting event.

As the pumpkins are displayed and the votes come in, it's clear this isn't just about pumpkins-it's about fostering a sense of community, both within the office and throughout Adams County.

Check the Sheriff's Office social media pages to view the final submissions and cast a vote for the most creative Jack-o'-lanterns.