Veterans service officer hired Stearns County has a new Veterans Service Officer. During a recent board meeting, the commissioners picked their top two candidates for the position. Their first choice, Terry Ferdinandt, accepted the job. Ferdinandt has been the Veterans Service Officer in Brown County for the past five years. Ferdinandt also spent 20+ years on active duty in the U.S. Navy in the administrative field. Ferdinandt will fill the position formerly held by Terry McGee, who is retiring after 32 years. Ferdinandt will begin Monday, March 15, with a starting salary of $43,400. County receives $10,000 gift George W. Rooney made a $10,000 bequest from his estate in honor of his sister, Margaret Rooney of Richmond. Margaret became mentally handicapped after contracting spinal meningitis as a child. She was involved with programs through WACOSA, and George Rooney felt obliged to remember them with this gift. Mr. Rooney’s will requested the check be made to “Stearns County, for the use of its Department of Social Services”. The county will use these funds to support client services at the WACOSA center. Human Services currently has a contract with WACOSA for extended employment and day training services.
