All the public knows for sure is long-time communications supervisor Carla Stoa no longer is employed by Mower County.

Monday, January 17, 2000

All the public knows for sure is long-time communications supervisor Carla Stoa no longer is employed by Mower County.

Otherwise, no one is talking on the record, including Stoa.

Stoa started a career with Mower County March 12, 1979, and is one of its honored employees with 20 or more years of public service recognized on a plaque on a wall in the lobby of the Austin-Mower County law enforcement center.

The last time she visited the LEC was Dec. 30, when she apparently was terminated.

Neither County Sheriff Barry J. Simonson, County Coordinator Craig Oscarson or any of the members of the Mower County Board of Commissioners are saying much more than that she no longer is employed by the county.

The Austin Daily Herald requested information from the county last week in an attempt to learn the reasons for Stoa’s apparent dismissal. However, the county declined to release that information, citing a law that prohibits the release of criminal investigative data while an investigation is active.

Stoa, who has not responded to the newspaper’s request for comment, is a 1975 graduate of Glenville High School and a 1977 graduate of then-Austin Vocational Technical School.

She was hired in March 1979 as a clerk/dispatcher at the LEC. On April 20, 1992, she was promoted to assistant communications supervisor.

On June 17, 1993, she was named interim communications supervisor and held that job title until her termination.

Stoa’s husband operated a racing parts business at Blooming Prairie and jointly owned and operated Chateau Speedway at Lansing until selling it.

No criminal charges have been filed against Stoa at this time, officials said.