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By BILL SHEA

Messenger staff writer

Opening the front door to find the sheriff standing there is an experience most people would rather not have.

Usually when a law enforcement officer is knocking at the door it means someone is in trouble, someone's been hurt or worse yet, killed.

But it's a whole different story when the sheriff brings Thanksgiving dinner.

A couple of Fort Dodge residents opened their doors late Thursday morning to find Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson and County Treasurer Jan Horton carrying bags full of turkey, pumpkin pie and other Thanksgiving delicacies.

Mickelson and some of his deputies began delivering meals prepared by The Salvation Army four years ago.

Horton began lending a hand to the effort last year.

The food goes to people who can't afford a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but can't get to The Salvation Army Building at 126 N. Seventh St.

Because there were five other volunteers taking food out to people, the sheriff made just two deliveries Thursday. Last year, Mickelson and Horton delivered about 20 meals.

Making the rounds to deliver the meals provides a powerful reminder that people ought to be thankful for what they have, according to Mickelson.

''People don't realize sometimes how lucky they are,'' he said.

''Your worries can start again tomorrow,'' he added. ''Today's a day you should give thanks.''

The two county officials were among 95 volunteers who served the meal.

Capt. Dani Shields, the local commander of The Salvation Army, said 314 people were fed.

Thanksgiving provided the first major test for the expanded kitchen in the The Salvation Army building.

During previous Thanksgiving dinners, only about six people could squeeze into the old kitchen to make the meal. But on Thursday morning about 30 people were able to work comfortably in the new facility.

The ability to handle the big holiday meal wasn't the sole reason the kitchen was expanded, however.

''We saw the need for our feeding program,'' Shields said.

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net