Local News

On Wednesday afternoon at 2:47 p.m., the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire in the 800 block of 5th Street North in Dassel.  Meeker County Deputies, Dassel Fire Department, Cokato Fire Department, and Mayo Ambulance all responded to the scene.  Upon arriving, deputies saw heavy smoke and flames coming out of the house.  Deputies learned that Kathrine Christianson was outside in the backyard with three dogs when she noticed the fire.  Kathrine tried to go back inside to rescue her three cats, but the smoke was too much and she did not find the cats.  There were no injuries to any persons reported and the house received extensive damage.  The Red Cross was contacted to assist the occupants.  The cause of the fire is unknown and the investigation into the cause remains open.  The home is owned by Dylan Walker of Dassel.

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The Litchfield Area Mentorship Program has partnered with the members of the Litchfield Middle School FCCLA on a game night. The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America work on service projects that will improve family life and their community.

FCCLA volunteer advisor Julie Rick says they held a couple of family game nights at Litchfield Middle School that were well-attended. She says the 8th graders invited the 7th graders and their families with 40 attending the first night and 50 the second night, so they thought it would be a great event to offer to people involved in LAMP.

Rick says they will have the game night during spring break when the LAMP 4-H group meets.

FCCLA student Mila Bjorkmand says the game night is a great way for family members to spend time together.

Bjorkmand says the skills you can learn from playing games are endless like learning to be a good winner and loser. She says when you have game night, you should turn off other distractions such as the TV and cell phones. FCCLA student Brenna Block says game night helps children feel supported.

Block says games help you learn how to cooperate, and follow rules. She says if you are playing with young children, game time should be about one hour, but it can be a couple hours long if older children are involved. FCCLA student Olive Caron says games can help with math and reading skills.

Caron says game nights should be scheduled on your calendar so that every family member makes it a priority. LAMP coordinator Judy Hulterstrum says those involved in the LAMP 4H club are looking forward to game night at their next meeting. She says they did seed art at their February meeting. Hulterstrum says LAMP is always looking for more mentors, and they revamped the screening process.

Hulterstrum says you can get more information about LAMP by calling her at 320-699-1616. She says they will have Ham Bingo on April 11th at the Litchfield Eagles Club.

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The Grove City Area CARE “We Care About You” Health Expo will be held on March 19th from 9-to-11:30 a.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Grove City. There will be a free continental breakfast, door prizes, and lots of vendors with health-related information.

Rosie Dilley says there will be over 30 vendors with a wide variety of information from health, to the Let’s Go Fishing program, and the Sheriff with information about scams affecting seniors.

Dilley says there is a great group of volunteers and donors who will help to make the Health Expo possible, and they get attendees from all over the area. She says if anyone has questions, they may call 857-2274.

Meeker County Commissioner Steve Schmitt says many of the vendors who will be at the health expo are organizations and businesses that Grove City Area CARE interacts with throughout the year. He says the CARE program is a great program for keeping seniors living safely in their own homes and cutting down on health and human service costs.

Schmitt says the Grove City Area CARE program is not just for residents of South Grove, but for seniors all around the community. He encourages people to attend the We Care About You senior health expo next Wednesday – March 19th – from 9-to-11:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City.

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Litchfield Community Education is getting ramped up for spring activities. Registration for summer programming is also just around the corner.

Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says offerings for youth this spring will include track, flag football, mine craft, dance and softball. He says they are opening up registration for Dragons Kids Club for the summer at the end of this week.

Solem says there are some great trips planned for adults including “37 Postcards” on April 25th, a Green Lake boat cruise later in May, the Church Basement Ladies at the Plymouth Playhouse and then a couple of fall theater trips to the Twin Cities. He says tickets for “Annie Jr.” April 10th through the 13th are already on sale at Litchfield Community Education. For more details, call 693-2354.

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