The Highway 29 overpass is now named the “Deputy Josh Owen Memorial Overpass.”  The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) placed two signs with the new name on the north and south side of the overpass last Friday.

The renaming of the overpass was made possible by state legislation championed by Rep. Paul Anderson in the House and Sen. Torrey Westrom in the Senate at the last legislative session.

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And the signs were paid for by long-time local law enforcement officer and former sheriff Mark Hedner and his wife, Rosie.   The Hedners donated the full cost of the signs, which came to just over $3,100, it was stated.  Hedner was in law enforcement from 1968-2000 and served from 1992-1998 as Pope County Sheriff.  

On one of the final days of the 2023 legislative session, the Minnesota Legislature approved a transportation budget agreement that includes language introduced by Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) and Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) to memorialize Pope County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Owen by renaming the Glenwood Highway 29 overpass in his honor. 

Deputy Josh Owen tragically lost his life on April 15, in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call in the town of Cyrus.

 “I continue to be impressed by the astounding community support for Deputy Josh Owen and his family,” Westrom said in a news release after the session.  “We brought this forward to the Senate and House after hearing from constituents who wished to ensure Deputy Owen’s contributions to Pope County, and as a deputy, would be remembered for a long time. Renaming the new Glenwood overpass in Deputy Owen’s honor is a meaningful way we can show just how much he meant to the community.”

“Honoring the memory of Deputy Owen with this overpass dedication is very fitting,” Anderson said in the same news release. “One of the main reasons for the overpass in the first place was to improve response time for law enforcement, EMS and firefighters in the area. It’s good that we are moving ahead with this memorial.”

Although the legislation allowed the renaming, it did not include funding for the signs.  Upon hearing that, Mark and Rosie Hedner immediate stepped forward and pledged to pay the total cost of the signs on both sides of the overpass.