The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department responded to a fire at the Holdingford Mill around 7:40 Sunday night. The Sheriff’s Department received several calls of a fire at the business at 130 Plymouth Street in Holdingford.
The callers said they could see flames and hear explosions coming from the feed mill. When deputies arrived, they confirmed that there was a fire and it was spreading to other areas of the feed mill. The Holdingford Fire Department responded and requested assistance from numerous other local agencies.
The fire was extinguished; however, the building is a total loss. The nearby grain bins are still standing. No one was at the mill when the fire started. At this time the cause of the fire is unknown, and the state fire marshal’s office will be investigating.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Avon Police Department and the Albany Police Department. The Holdingford Fire Department was assisted by the Avon Fire Department, Albany Fire Department, Bowlus Fire Department, Freeport Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department, Sartell Fire Department, St. Joseph Fire Department, St. Stephen Fire Department, Upsala Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance Service, and Giese Excavating.
Ecumen of Litchfield has a couple of apartments at Emmaus Place opening up soon. The organization offers independent living and also has services available to assist residents.
Nicole Larson says she can provide tours of the facilities for anyone who is interested. She says you can live as independently as you like, but if you need help with things like bathing, that can be provided.
Larson says they can also help residents with things like house-keeping and toileting. She says they will have a booth at the Grove City Area CARE Health Expo on March 18th from 9-to-11:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church so people can learn more about what Ecumen offers. Other events coming up include an Adult Day Education Hour at the Litchfield Public Library on March 12th from 2-to-3 p.m.; a Good Friday service on April 3rd at 10 a.m. in the Ecumen Chapel; and a blood drive on April 30th from 9-to-4 in the Chapel.
Care Consultant Jillian Miller says Ecumen Home Care and Hospice also offers services to help people live independently in their own homes as long as possible. She says she’s been involved in activities this winter with elderly residents to help cure the winter blues.
Miller says if anyone would like more information about Home Care or Hospice, they may call 877-311-7997. For more information about housing at Emmaus Place or Bethany, call Nicole at 320-373-6370.
The 16th annual Wintercade Ice Fishing Contest took place on Saturday on Lake Ripley in Litchfield. The grand prize winner of a Bobcat UTV was Jesse Anderson of Litchfield. The big cash prize winners included: $2,000 for Barry Anderson of Litchfield, $1,500 for Chris Guggemos of Litchfield, and $1,000 for Dorene Johnson of Watkins.
There were $100 prizes drawn for 11 people up through 15th place. If anyone wasn’t at the lake to claim the cash prizes, the checks will be mailed to you by the Wintercade Committee.
A public hearing regarding the “shotgun zone” law will be held in the Meeker County Government Center Board Room at 114 North Holcombe Avenue in Litchfield on Tuesday, February 17th at 6 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and share their views with the Meeker County Commissioners.
Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says the Legislature changed a law this past year which would allow both shotguns and rifles for hunting in Meeker County, but the County Board is allowed to keep it restricted if they choose. He says the law was originally put in place to increase the deer population, not for safety reasons, and he feels that it is not a safety issue.
Sheriff Cruze says people who feel strongly on either side of the issue should attend the public hearing and let the Board know how they feel. He says the Commissioners are expected to make a decision on the issue at one of their future meetings – prior to May 1st.
Listen to KLFD’s “LOVE SONG OF THE DAY” contest starting Monday, February 9th for your chance to win a daily prize and a grand prize on Friday, February 13th just in time for Valentine’s Day.
A special “Love Song of the Day” will be played throughout the day starting Monday, February 9th thru Friday, February 13th. The first person to call in when they hear that love song will be entered into a daily drawing and also for the grand prize drawing. A name will be drawn by Henry around 4 pm from that day’s entries for the daily prize. All names will be put into the grand prize drawing. Our daily winner and a grand prize name will be drawn on Friday, February 13th around 2 pm.
You must be 21 years of age and you can only enter once for this contest.
Sponsors include – Red Door Nutrition, Manannah Hilltop, Qwelle Balance Studio, Lucky’s Liquor, SJP Designs, The Red Goat Bar & Grill, Papa’s Sweet Tooth, American Legion, Paws Floral, Eagles Club, Honky’s Bar & Grill, Litchfield Liquors, DeAnns Country Village Shoppe