The Litchfield High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony for 2025 is coming up this Friday at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School Commons. This year’s inductees include Andrew Revering, Donald Schreifels, the late Mark Wood, and Debra Freitag Baker.
Debra Freitag Baker, daughter of Jerry & Judy Freitag, graduated from Litchfield High School in 1981 and says she has wonderful memories of growing up in Litchfield where she worked at Red Owl and was on the swim and track teams, among other high school activities. She says she went to Bemidji State after high school and got a degree in aquatic biology in 1985 and then decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy.
Freitag Baker says she traveled all over the world and lived in places such as Japan, Fresno and San Diego, California before retiring in 2018. She says it can be difficult – especially in a small town, to take that first step, but her advice to young people is to get away and see the world.
Freitag Baker says she now lives in Remer – in Northern Minnesota – and is involved in the VFW, the community garden where produce is raised for the food shelf, is on the Longville Area Food Shelf Board of Directors, and is in a quilting organization that provides quilts for the sheriff’s department, for children’s homes, the VA home in Bemidji and for various shelters. Debra says she’s very excited and honored to be in the Litchfield High School Hall of Fame and she will be in Litchfield on Friday for the Hall of Fame-related events at the High School.
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a one-vehicle crash on Saturday morning at 12:50 on Highway 22 at mile post 137 in Greenleaf Township in Meeker County. A 2024 GMC Sierra – driven by 55-year-old William Bernard Deadrick of Litchfield – entered the ditch and crashed.
The GMC was traveling southbound on Highway 22 at the time of the crash. Deadrick received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. Also responding were the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and Mayo Ambulance.
The Litchfield High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on November 7th with a reception at 6 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School Commons. One of this year’s inductees is the late Mark Wood from the class of 1971.
Mark’s wife, Lynn, says Mark was surrounded by women his whole life – growing up with 3 sisters and then having 3 daughters and they will all be at the ceremony with her on November 7th. She says Mark was dedicated to public service with his role as city attorney for Litchfield and memberships in numerous organizations over the years including the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce and that’s a trait he inherited from his parents.
Lynn says Mark was proud to move back and settle in Litchfield as he truly appreciated the community where he had grown up and attended school. She says he so enjoyed visiting with people in the community when they were out and about, and he was very excited about the Litchfield Area Community Foundation popcorn stand coming to Central Park, but didn’t get to see it as he passed away last year.
Mark’s daughter, Emily, who worked with him in his law practice for 5 years before he passed away and is now in the role he had as city attorney, says that Mark attended Willmar Junior College for 2 years – where he played baseball, and then transferred to Mankato State, and received his law degree at William Mitchell College of Law in the Twin Cities. She says one of his passions was history.
Emily says Mark was very involved in the Litchfield community and remembers him as a founding member of Litchfield Industries, but he was also involved in numerous other organizations and served on several boards of directors.
Meeker County has announced that the Justice and Government Centers will be illuminated green as part of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a nationwide effort by counties, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. From November 4th through the 11th, the Meeker County Justice and Government Centers will be illuminated green to show support for veterans and raise awareness around the resources available at the county, state, and federal levels to assist veterans and their families.
Now in its fifth year, Operation Green Light is expected to draw hundreds of counties to participate. The
county role in administering services for veterans includes County Veterans Service Officers helping
fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability and compensation benefits each year, as well as other services supporting the approximately 200,000 service members who transition into civilian communities annually.
In addition to lighting the Justice and Government Centers, residents, businesses and other
organizations are encouraged to participate by simply changing one light bulb in their home to a green
bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and passersby see, or an interior light that sparks a
conversation with friends. By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen,
appreciated, and supported.
The Meeker County Veterans Service Office is dedicated to advocating for the county’s Veterans and
their families by providing guidance and assistance in applying for benefits from the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. They provide information regarding
numerous programs and expert assistance in the development and follow-through of all claims for
entitlement. Residents who are veterans or who know veterans who have not connected with the
Meeker County Veterans Service Office are encouraged to do so and can schedule an appointment by
calling the office at 320-693-5445.