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Curtis A. Felt Memorial Park Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Gat R Done: Hi HedgHg88

Unfortunately, there has been no response from owner. If you have any questions, please contact me via email (gatrdoneMN@gmail.com) and include the GC# of the cache you are asking about.

Please be advised that archiving is intended to be permanent. Help Center Article

If a cache is archived by a reviewer or staff for lack of maintenance, it will not be unarchived.

Gat R Done
Community Volunteer Reviewer

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Hidden : 10/12/2008
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

I want to thank Terminal Velocity 99 for making this cache and allowing me to adopt it.

Parking Nearby. Please don't park in the streets.


The cache can fall out of its hiding place, but it won't have far to fall. Other times you may need a ToTT to get it out.

HedgHg88 honoring his dads cousin by visiting and finding the cache.

WHAT IS THE PARK'S STORY:

The park was purchased in 1969 using the National Park Service Land & Water Conservation Fund. Long time residents will remember the automobile salvage yard that occupied the lower end of the property for many years. The local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Service Agency helped plan the initial renovation of the property.

In 1987 an improvement project, led by the Alexandria Jaycees and The Alexandria Eagles Club, provided new playground and picnic shelters for the park. Subsequent projects have improved the ballfields, landscape plantings, walkways, and parking lots.

On Memorial Day in 1999, the park was officially renamed Deputy Sheriff Curtis A Felt Memorial Park. Curt Felt was a young man from Alexandria who served as a peace officer in the Douglas County Sheriffs Department. He was killed while serving the Sheriff's Department on June 29, 1978. Dedicating the park to Curt's life serves as a reminder to us all of the risk that peace officers take every day on our behalf.

The park is a popular spot for casual volleyball and softball games as well as group gatherings. The shelter can accommodate groups of 75 to 100 people.

In Memory - Curt Felt Story:

 photo Curtis_zps5d19iibv.jpg
 photo 20160702_171115_zpscqhhzj2w_edit_1467558698280_zpskwzy6vka.jpg

Deputy Curtis A. Felt was a young man from Alexandria who served as a peace officer in the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. On Thursday afternoon, June 29, 1978, Douglas County Deputy Curtis (Curt) Felt was shot and killed. Curt was called in off road duty to transport a prisoner to the Fergus Falls jail. (Douglas County was in the process of building a new jail).

It all began when James Kroupa, 32 at the time was picked up by Alexandria police a year earlier and charged with “driving under the influence”. Found guilty of the charge, he was ordered to pay a fine. When he failed to do so, Kroupa was ordered to appear in court on Thursday, June 29.

In court, Kroupa was sentenced to 30 days in jail for refusing to pay his fine. The prisoner left the courtroom with four guns on him, two 9mm automatic pistols tucked in his belt, a .25 automatic in his boot and a .357 magnum in his coat. All guns were loaded. When Curt arrived to transport him, he started shooting before Curt realized Kroupa was armed. Kroupa then fled from the building. Curt was able to walk a few feet to the office of secretary Delores Schultz who helped him lay down as he was asking her to get help.

Alexandria Police Officer Steven Caye spotted the get away vehicle and the pursuit began. Kroupa shot at least five rounds of 9mm bullets at the police car. Police Officer Lamont Mounsdon joined the chase that ended along a dead end road. Kroupa stopped his pickup and ducked behind a tree. He continued to shoot. On the porch of a home nearby, were a mother and her daughter, so to protect them, Officer Mounsdon had to shoot Kroupa.

Deputy Felt age 23, died 3 ½ hours later in surgery at the Douglas County hospital. The man who shot and killed Deputy Felt died three days later at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis.

It was learned that Kroupa was a “loner”. In his pickup were ammunition clips and a pipe bomb (a 10 inch lead pipe loaded with explosives). They found in his trailer home more weapons and tear gas canisters.

Curt was born and raised in Alexandria. He was active in football, hockey, band, and an honor student in school. Following high school graduation, he attended the Alexandria Technical School, Law Enforcement program and BCA school graduating in 1975. He was active in his church and Boy Scouts.

For a short time, Curt worked for Ottertail County Sheriff’s Office and the rest of his career with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Curt’s funeral was attended by over 400 Law Enforcement Officers from Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Iowa. Also in attendance were hundreds of family, friends and relatives.

The Felt family was invited by Governor Rudy Perpich for dinner and presented with a plaque.

At the time of his death, Curt and Donna had only been married six months and his twin brothers were only 7 years old. They admired their older brother so much they followed in his footsteps. Steve is an Otter Tail County Deputy Sheriff and Mike is a Carver County Deputy Sheriff. Parents Herman and Darlene served on the LEMA board honorably for many years assisting other families who have been through the same nightmare they experienced.

The park located north of Alexandria on County Rd 42 across form the Alexandria golf course was dedicated to the memory of Deputy Felt. On Memorial Day in 1999, the park was officially renamed Deputy Sheriff Curtis A Felt Memorial Park.

Members of the Douglas County Deputy Sheriff’s Federation volunteer their time and efforts to enhance the park annually.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1. Lbh pna gnxr n erfg, ohg lbh jba'g svaq vg gung jnl. 2.Gurl pnzr va guerrf

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)