Hubbard County Attorney Don Dearstyne kept getting the e-mails, the calls, inviting him to a luncheon at the St. Paul Science Museum.
He was busy and ignored them.
When he finally sent his e-mailed RSVP at the eighth hour last Friday, declining the invitation, his phone rang.
"We hate to spill the beans but..." the voice on the other end of the line said.
Turns out Dearstyne was one of the guests of honor.
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Monday he was recognized in absentia by the Minnesota chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Bill Lemons from the Minnesota County Attorney's Association accepted on Dearstyne's behalf.
Dearstyne, still swamped, had to call Lemmons this week to find out exactly what it was all about.
"Each year, the MADD Chapter presents this award to one prosecutor from Greater Minnesota and one from the Metro Area," the press release read.
"Prosecutors are nominated for their dedication in working to save lives on Minnesota's roadways through their prosecution of drunk or impaired drivers and their willingness and effort to go above and beyond the normal requirements in their job."
Dearstyne successfully prosecuted the vehicular homicide case of a Park Rapids man involved in a head-on crash on Highway 34 in 2011. That crash took the life of a woman, injured her daughter and grandson.
A Hubbard County jury convicted Dean Roehler on all 11 charges in connection with the crime last summer.
Dearstyne thanked law enforcement officers for their work during the case.
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They may owe him lunch.
