The Litchfield Rotary Club members have been taking orders for roses and fall bouquets for the past few weeks, and yesterday was the final day to place orders. The club usually orders a few extra flowers for those who forgot to get their order in by the deadline.
Litchfield Rotary Club member Andrew Letson says the rose and fall bouquet sale is their biggest fundraiser of the year and it helps to support the many projects coordinated by the Litchfield Rotary Club. He says the Beds for Kids project has been very successful with nearly 300 beds donated to homes around Meeker County, and they have an annual build day in which they construct beds for that project.
Letson says the Litchfield Rotary Club recently helped with the audio enhancement project at Lake Ripley Elementary School and they raised funds to help place outdoor AEDs at various locations around Litchfield. He says they award three $2,000 scholarships each year to Litchfield High School seniors and they make donations to other community organizations.
Letson says the Litchfield Rotary Club meets each Tuesday morning at 7 o’clock at the Litchfield Fire/Rescue Hall for breakfast and a speaker and new members are welcome to join. He says for those who ordered roses or fall bouquets, they will be available to be picked up at Davis Auto Body on East Highway 12 on October 30th and 31st from 11:30-to-1 or from 4-to-6 p.m. and on November 1st from 9 a.m. to noon, and if you keep your stub and hand it in when you pick up your flowers, it’s very helpful. For more information about the rose sale or about joining the organization, call any Litchfield Rotary Club member.
Three more area turkey operations have been hit by bird flu. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says on Tuesday they diagnosed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a flock of 30,430 commercial turkey breeder hens in Kandiyohi County, a flock of 92,021 commercial turkey meat birds in Meeker County, and a flock of 61,038 commercial turkey meat birds in Stearns County.
The virus is spread by migrating wild birds and began to show up again about one month ago. Dr. Shauna Voss at The Minnesota Poultry Testing Lab in Willmar says producers need to continue strictly abiding by biosecurity, keeping wild birds and visitors away from their operations. While there is a vaccine for bird flu, it is not approved for use by the USDA at this time because trading partners with the U.S. do not want to buy vaccinated birds.
Litchfield Community Education is transitioning from fall activities to winter, so some of the youth programs like the 5th and 6th grade volleyball and football are ending. Hockey, wrestling and basketball are beginning soon.
Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says Try Hockey Free day is this Saturday, open hockey begins November 9th, traveling basketball for boys is on October 20th and it’s October 27th for girls. He says Dribblin’ Dragons and youth wrestling will also start soon so kids should get signed up now.
Solem says they don’t send out booklets any more, but there are some copies available in their office for those who don’t like doing things digitally, and they send out a monthly newsletter for anyone who wants to sign up for that and a letter about activities is sent home with kids at school each month. He says they are coordinating some of their activities at the new Litchfield Area Recreation Center.
Solem says there are lots of pickle ball options for adults with open pickle ball on Sundays, intermediate on Monday evenings, advanced on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, and beginner on Wednesday evenings at the Wagner Education Building. He says there are adult trips coming up including “Phantom of the Opera” on December 4th, “White Christmas” on December 17th and “Guys and Dolls” on April 22nd. For more information, call 693-2354 or find the Litchfield Community Education link on the Litchfield School District website.