Hi everyone!! Just wanted to update y’all about a few things. Sam started a new job in May as a Brown County Deputy!! Whoo hoo, go Sam!! He’s been working towards this goal for a long time and we are excited to start this journey! Part of that journey is his rotating schedule and attending the law enforcement academy at the beginning of November. So because of that, a lot of wedding things have to be completed early as he won’t be readily available for the 3 months before the wedding. Our families and friends are helping to finish up the wedding prep. So because of all that, Invitations will be going out EARLY! They will be mailed out in two waves: first to family and those out of state in July (Due: 8/15) and second to those that live locally in September (Due: 10/1). If there is a “guest” or “child” where a name should be, you will be able to EDIT the name when RSVPing. Unfortunately, due to budget and space limitations, we simply can’t afford for all of our lovely guests to bring a guest of their own. Therefore, we regretfully ask our guests to please not bring a plus one, unless they are specifically named on the RSVP list. Thank you so much for understanding! If you or your family cannot join us for the meal, but would like to drop by to say hello, there is an option for that when you RSVP for the reception. If you RSVP "YES" to the Reception, there is a meal question and the second option is for those that would like to drop in. We will save you a chair if that option is selected but not add you to the supper meal count. We will have other snacks/desserts available during the reception. If you need help with the RSVP process, please contact Elise at 979-255-1347. Also please update or add your cell phone numbers or email on the Guest List if you are RSVPing “Yes”. You can find the link for the Guest List at the top of the web page. That way we have a way to contact you in case there are any changes due to weather or other factors. So please bear with us as we all prepare for the big day! All your love and support means the world to us!

In August of 2018, I (Elise) had been working at the Sherriff's' Office for 3 years at the Juvenile Detention Center and Samuel had been working over a year at the Jail. The two departments are in the same building, so there is a lot of cross over and helping between the two departments. Samuel and I did not have many interactions with each other beyond the necessary work place team work. We knew of each other, but did not socialize outside of work. Samuel worked the day shift (6am-4pm) and and I worked nights (12am-8am) so we had had very little interaction with each other unless we had overtime outside the 2 hour overlap. In August of 2018, Samuel had asked one of our coworkers to ask me to come hang out at Lager's (bar) with him and several other coworkers on a Thursday night that week. I wasn't that interested due to my hours but I said I would think about it. That Thursday rolls around and it is a torrential rainstorm outside. Samuel messaged me: S: Just wondering if you are coming out tonight E: I have to work but maybe next time S: You work at midnight, you can still come hang out E: Honestly I would rather be sleeping, rain makes good sleeping weather. We exchanged a few more messages but ultimately I gave him the brush off and stayed home until work at midnight. We really didn't have much to do with each other after that besides work until the Evidence Bag Incident in 2019.

*Please read with sass and disdain as Samuel and I had a very "love/hate" work relationship of Meathead Jailer and Brainy JDCer* Incident Report: On mm/dd/19 at about 0630: I, J# Elise Westfall, needed a large biohazard bag up in JDC for a juvenile that had soiled all their bedding linens and uniform as the department was out. I could not leave JDC as the juvenile in the shower was 10-50 status and there was only one other staff member in JDC at the time. I checked the cameras and saw that J# Samuel Hoppock was not busy at that time, so I called down to booking to speak to him. I asked him to bring me a LARGE biohazard bag as I needed to put a whole set of soiled linens and uniform in it, so I could get it down to the laundry. He said okay and I hung up the phone to finish up showers. At about 0700: J# Hoppock entered JDC. He reported that he could not find any biohazard bags so he brought two evidence bags. (For reference: biohazard bags are about as big as black garbage bags and the evidence bags are about gallon sized) I stared at J# Hoppock in bewilderment and disbelief. I told him that those 2 sized bags would not fit a quilt, sheet, pillow case and uniforms that are SOILED. He insisted that they would all fit with no problem. I told him then that he could shove his hands in the soiled mess but I was not going to, I would just use garbage bags instead. J# Hoppock then exited JDC as he had nothing else to contribute. I bagged the soiled linens in the garbage bag and took them to the laundry. I spoke to another coworker to ask where the biohazard bags were kept so that I could restock JDC. I restocked JDC with biohazard bags. I then called J# Hoppock to let him know where he could find the biohazard bags for his future needs and hung up the phone. End of Report Elise Westfall J# JDC Correctional Officer mm/dd/19 @ 0800 Supplemental Report: At the above date and time I J# Hoppock was sitting in booking when J# Westfall called asking for a biohazard bag to be brought up to JDC for some bedding. I informed her that I'd bring one up and began looking for the bags. I could not find any, so instead of leaving J# Westfall hanging I improvised and grabbed 2 large evidence bags (approx. 3 gal. Bags each.) I went to JDC where a very annoyed J# Westfall stood asking why I didn't bring the right bag. I told her I couldn't find it, but these would work the sheet and uniform would go in one, and the blanket in the other. She didn't like my answer and proceded to give me a argument about how it wouldn't work. I said I would put the bedding in ( gloves on) and show her. She denied the request and dismissed me. I received a call about 10 minutes later and she informed me of the bags location. END OF REPORT Correctional Officer Samuel Hoppock mm/dd/yyyy

In December of 2019: Samuel moved from the Jail to JDC as his father, Linn Kamin, became the new Jail Administrator and Sheriff's Office has a No Nepotism rule. There needed to be a degree of supervisory separation between Linn and Sam, and at the time, there was none. There were plans to create Sergeant ranks and when that came to be, then Samuel could go back to the Jail, where he really wanted to be. Samuel and I spent a lot of quality time working together at minimum 2 days a week from midnight - 0800. We bickered like an old married couple and most people assumed that we did not like each other. I shared as much JDC knowledge with Samuel as I could but we gave each other our space. We slowly started filling the nights between duties listening to classic country music and talking about our "likes and dislikes." We started talking about places we've been and places we'd like to go. One of the places that was brought up was Sammy's Omelet Shop. One day I told Samuel that I was going to Sammy's after work around 10am(after he was off shift) and did not want to eat alone. His response to me was "That's too bad you are alone, enjoy your food!" and left it at that. It finally took another coworker to tell Samuel that I wanted him to come with before he understood the hint. After that we started hanging out as friends outside of work. We watched a lot of movies and ate a lot of popcorn. We went to our favorite restaurants and I cooked meals to share at work. I think my cooking is what really won him over between the stuffed bell peppers, Texas tacos (no olives), Mexican layer breakfast and Man Catching Meatloaf. I introduced Sam to new foods and flavors like green chilis and salsa verde. He introduced me to the fine art of cheese curds and Culvers. Feelings started to develop but we decided to wait to date until Samuel moved back down to the Jail since we worked so close together. Samuel's date to go back to the jail kept getting pushed out with no real date in sight. We made it until October 2020 and we decided to risk the working relationship and went on our first date in Watertown, SD at the Terry Redlin Museum. It's been an adventure ever since!

On July 1, 22: My parents (Joan and Kyle) arrived in South Dakota for a vacation. On July 2,22: A joint family lunch was planned between Samuel's family and mine. On the way out the door to go to lunch, I tripped off the back of the back deck and ended up breaking my right leg. Lunch was cancelled and Samuel met us at the ER. Lunch was pushed back to a later date. My start date for my new job at Department of Social Services was also pushed back until the 12th. Thankfully no surgery and no cast, but I had a boot and crutches for the next 6-8 weeks. Lunch was rescheduled for Supper on 7/15/22. I was so exhausted after starting my job, I kept asking if I could just wear sweat pants/tshirt with my hair in a messy bun, but everyone kept telling me "NO" and that I had to dress nice. I kept insisting for a reason but no one would tell me. Then in the evening on 7/14/22: I was brought to the ER by ambulance due to severe abdominal pain and not being able to get up from my bed. Samuel again met us at the ER and stayed by my side for hours. I was diagnosed with kidney stones and possible kidney infection as a side effect to one of the medications I was taking for my leg. While they had me hopped up on the good pain drugs, I blurted out to Samuel that I thought he was going to propose tomorrow, but to please still do it if I ruined the surprise!! He tried to convince me that it was, in his words, "a conspiracy theory" and that the drugs were affecting my mind. I was finally released from the ER in the early hours of the morning and I slept most of the day. Supper plans were still a-go so every one met at Anchor's Away at Richmond Lake. We ordered our meals and began eating. Samuel kept pushing his food around his plate. Halfway through eating, I had to take a bathroom break and come back and start eating again. Samuel barely touched his food, which is so unlike him, to the point I asked if he was sick. He said no, he was just full (not believable), but I just continued to slowly eat my fries and was not in a hurry to finish my meal. (To note, at this point I don't really remember the conversation we had at the hospital.) I finally finished my meal, much to Samuel's relief. He was finally able to propose, down on one knee and I said YES!!!!