craigdailypress.com

Mason Siedschlaw is retiring from his post at the end of the month, but the probation officer with the 14th Judicial District is moving only a couple of doors down -- down to Moffat County's Information Technology department, that is.

"There's certainly a lot of aspects of the job that I'll miss," he said. "But there's quite a lot that I won't miss."

Siedschlaw, who had been with the probation office since 1998, formerly worked for the 14th Judicial District Attorney's office, which also is located in the Moffat County Courthouse.

A longtime computer buff and owner of a dial-up Internet service Computers Plus, Siedschlaw said he is excited to start in his new role.

When Siedschlaw started with the probation department, his caseload was almost half of what it is today. It includes a total of 187 adult clients and juvenile sex offenders who have been put on probation by the courts.

Siedschlaw said he has enjoyed working in the position, but the job is frustrating when he witnesses clients not living up to their potential.

He also won't miss the too-close-for-comfort familiarity that goes along with being a law enforcement official in a small community. Too many times, he said, clients failed to make the distinction between his personal and work life.

But the job hasn't been without successes.

Siedschlaw said he's enjoyed getting calls from clients and hearing about their life's successes or their dedication to keeping drug-free.

"It's nice to get those calls but they don't happen very often," he said.

Siedschlaw's last day is Sept. 29 and he starts in the county's IT role a day later.

"It'll be a good change," he said.