Sheriff thanks young girl for her bravery and calmness

In the face of chaos, 8-year-old Zoey Thorne knows exactly what to do.
On July 27, Zoey was at her grandparents in rural Steele County when she found herself in the middle of an emergency requiring her to call 911 and provide pertinent information to dispatch about the emergency.
Sheriff Lon Thiele was less than two miles away when the call went out. Once he arrived at the residence, Zoey waved him on where to go.
The sheriff and one of his deputies, Caleb Buck and his K-9 partner, Willow, decided to pay Zoey a visit last Thursday morning at her aunt’s place in Owatonna as a way to thank her for showing bravery and calmness in calling 911.
“Having an 8 year old dialing 911 under that kind of stress, she did an amazing job,” Thiele said at the impromptu presentation where he gave her a Ty Beanie Baby. “She is one phenomenal kid.”
They also gave Zoey and her parents, Brittney and Shelby, and brother Koby, a personal K-9 demonstration as well as a tour of a squad car. Zoey even got to jump in the driver’s seat and blast the siren.
“I want to say thank you for what you did,” Thiele said to Zoey. “Teach your friends what you did the other day. That was very mature. You can say you are an expert.”
Zoey will be a third grader at Wilson Elementary School in Owatonna.
Her parents aren’t exactly sure where she picked up her 911 skills. “I guess in general just talking about it,” Brittney said.
As a result of the emergency, Zoey and her family unexpectedly lost a very important person, her “papa,” Jon Osmundson.
The family finds irony because earlier in the day, Jon had given Zoey a pendant with an angel. They plan to turn it into a necklace.
Just last year, the Osmundsons started a fun family tradition called the Oz County Fair. While fairs and festivals were shut down because of COVID-19, the Osmundsons put together their own fair for about 30 family members and friends. It featured a dunk tank, inflatables, hayride, water slide and fair foods like sno cones and popcorn.
The family takes comfort in the fact that they were able to celebrate the Oz County Fair again this year over the Fourth of July with Jon.
“It’s nice they got to spend time with grandpa,” said Kristy Osmundson, Zoey’s aunt. “It’s a national holiday… the Oz County Fair.”
Kristy said, “You’re not going to find a closer family.”
Added Brittney Thorne, “We are all so close he just meant the world to us.”