WALKER— Board Chair Neal Gaalswyk presented the Award of Excellence to Probation Office Michelle Nistler during the Cass County Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Probation Director Jim Schneider informed the board the Probation department and Cass County Judges felt Nistler was an excellent candidate for this award due to her outstanding service and contributions to the County and its citizens. Schneider stated Nistler initially began her employment in the department as an office manager. She then went back to college and obtained a degree in criminal justice, where she then became a probation officer. In 2022, the probation office absorbed supervision of all gross misdemeanors that were previously shared with the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Nistler’s case load grew the most within the department. With the support of her family she put in extra work to manage the additional work. Schneider stated Nistler is a well-deserving candidate due to her passion, work ethic and kindness.