On Friday morning at approximately 9:18 a.m., the Litchfield Police Department and the CEE-VI Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 300 block West Weisel Street in Litchfield. The warrant was in connection with an ongoing drug investigation conducted by the CEE-VI Drug Task Force and Litchfield Police Department. During the warrant, officers seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A 51-year-old man was arrested and is currently being held on Felony Charges of Third-Degree Possession of Methamphetamine and Fifth Degree Possession of Methamphetamine. The investigation continues and more arrests are expected.
Also on Friday morning at 11:55 a.m., the Litchfield Police Department and the CEE-VI Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 300 block South Donnelly Avenue in Litchfield. The warrant was in connection with an ongoing drug investigation conducted by the CEE-VI Drug Task Force and Litchfield Police Department. A 55-year-old man was arrested and is currently being held on an active Meeker County warrant for a previous charge of Fifth Degree Possession of Methamphetamine and also an active Mcleod County warrant for probation violation for felony Fifth Degree Possession of Drugs and misdemeanor violation of a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. The investigation continues and more arrests can be expected.
The Meeker County Board held a couple of public hearings this past month which garnered lots of public interest. A resolution for a local option sales tax was approved following one of the hearings, and a public hearing on the shotgun zone law drew a crowd of 70 people on Feb. 17th.
Administrator Andrew Letson says 24 people spoke during the February 17th hearing and he and the Commissioners had also received a lot of written comments and phone calls prior to the hearing. He says the Legislature repealed a law last year that had limited the types of firearms that could be used to hunt deer – basically in 55 counties south of I94, but each county may keep the old law in place if it so chooses. Letson says the Board approved of a motion to take no action on the matter, which means that both shotguns and rifles may be used in Meeker County for deer hunting this fall. He says a decision needed to be made by May 1st in order for the information to get in the DNR’s hunting pamphlets for 2026.
Letson says the Meeker County Commissioners held a public hearing earlier this month regarding a half-cent local option sales tax to help with transportation funding as the money the county gets from the state for county-state-aid roads is not keeping up with costs. He says Meeker County is one of the last counties in the state to adopt a sales tax or a wheelage tax.
Letson says in many cases, the county has been replacing, but not really improving highways with the funds it has. He says the state has to yet approve of the local option sales tax, but if they do, retailers will start applying the half-cent tax in Meeker County on July 1st of this year.
Minnesota’s 1,776 townships will hold their annual meetings on Tuesday, March 10th. The day is known as Township Day, and these meetings are held each year on the second Tuesday in March.
On Township Day, residents gather with their neighbors to discuss local issues and vote directly on matters such as the township’s annual tax levy – a unique example of direct democracy in action. Citizens attending annual meetings may also discuss and vote on other township business. In addition, many townships across the state will conduct township officer elections on Township Day.
Minnesota Association of Townships Executive Director Jeff Krueger says Township Day is one of the most visible examples of grassroots democracy anywhere in Minnesota. He says it’s an opportunity for residents to come together, share their perspectives, and make decisions that directly affect their community.
If you live in a township, you are encouraged to attend your annual meeting on Tuesday, March 10th. Meeting times and locations are published in local newspapers, posted on township websites, or can be obtained by contacting your township clerk. Townships serve more than 900,000 Minnesotans and represent a truly local form of government.
The Pioneerland Libraries in Meeker County have several events scheduled during the month of March. All 4 libraries – Litchfield, Dassel, Grove City and Cosmos – will be ending the Winter Reads program – a self-paced reading program for adults and teens – on March 14th.
For more details, call 693-2483. The events for each library in March are as follows:
Litchfield
Seed Library available all month
Wednesdays, 10:15-10:45: Baby/Toddler Storytime
Fridays, 10:15-11:15, Kids’ Storytime
Tues 3/10, 12-12:45: Adult Book Club: Tom Lake
Tues 3/10, 6:30-7:30 pm: LEGO Night. Ages 14 and under.
Wed 3/11, 2-2:45 pm: Homeschool Connections. Sign-up required.
Sat 3/14, 1:30-3:30 pm: Teen Program: Book folding art
Tues 3/17, 6:30-7:30 pm: Board Game Night. All ages.
Wed 3/18, 7 pm: Mystery Book Club: The Maid
Thurs 3/19, 12:30-1:30 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Sat 3/21, 10 am-2 pm: Friends of the Library book sale
Thurs 3/26, 6:30 pm: Adult Arts & Crafts: Decoupaged wooden bunny. Sign-up required.
Mon 3/30-Sat 4/4: Button maker available in children’s department during library hours all week
Dassel
Fri 3/6,10 am: Story Hour
Thurs 3/12, 4-5:30 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and older teens.
Fri 3/13, 10 am: Dot Day with Ms. Jenna. For children of all ages.
Fri 3/20, 10 am: Story Hour
Tues 3/24, 1 pm: Adult Book Club: Number the Stars
Fri 3/27: No Story Hour
Grove City
Thursdays 3-5 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults.
Tues 3/10, 2 pm: Story Time
Tues 3/17, 7 pm: ATGC Book Club at Atwater Library: The Maid
Wed 3/18, 4-5 pm: Board Games. All ages.
Thurs 3/19, 4-5 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Cosmos
Week of March 2: Dr. Seuss take-home craft kits available for children while supplies last
Tues 3/10: St. Patrick’s Day beaded bracelet kits available for children while supplies last
Thurs 3/19, 4-5:30 pm: Pokémon Trading Card Game. Ages 7-18.
Thurs 3/26, 4-5:30 pm: Pokémon Trading Card Game. Ages 7-18
Sat 3/28, 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Craft Circle. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and older teens.