The Litchfield Area Recreation Center now has about 370 memberships. With many of those being family memberships, the total number of people represented is about 960.
LARC Director Owen Boerma says they recently became a part of the Silver Sneakers network so many seniors have been able to get involved at the LARC through their Medicare plan. He says the City Council approved a program in which people may use the walking track through the end of March for a one-time $50 fee which gives them an opportunity to try it out, and then hopefully, they’ll eventually purchase a membership. The walking track is nearly one-eighth of a mile, so 8 laps equals nearly one mile.
Boerma say the LARC also has a fitness center with weights and various machines like treadmills and they offer fitness classes. He says they also have two meeting rooms which can be rented for $30 per hour and they offer a party package in which you can use the rooms along with access to the field house.
Boerma says the field house includes four basketball courts and they are also being used for pickle ball. He says they’ve already hosted basketball and pickle ball tournaments at the LARC. He says they have gift certificates available if you want to give someone a one-day pass or perhaps a one-month membership so they can try out the facility, and they love giving people tours. For more information, call 320-221-8226 or go to litchfieldrecreationcenter.com.
The 2026 Litchfield Rescue Squad calendars are still available for sale. The sweepstakes drawing will be held on January 6th and then the winners are announced each week throughout the year.
Litchfield Rescue Squad Captain Chris Guggemos says the calendars are available for $20 each at Litchfield Building Center, KLFD, Miller Automotive, Ramsey Printing, Mid Country Bank, Sure Stay, Insurance Solutions and from any current Litchfield Rescue Squad member. He says the proceeds from this fundraiser help them purchase equipment beyond normal budget items that they would ask for from the Litchfield City Council.
Litchfield Rescue Squad Chief Blake Tangen says they’ve been able to purchase items like the LUCAS devices with proceeds from their calendar sales. He says the Rescue Squad mostly responds to medical and lift assists calls, and also accidents, search and rescue calls, sporting event stand-bys and more and they now have a full roster of 30 members, but people are still welcome to apply.
Tangen says applications are available at City Hall for potential Litchfield Rescue Squad members and also on their Facebook page. He says when you purchase a sweepstakes calendar, you have 246 chances of winning back your $20, twelve chances to win $100 and three chances to win $300 on April 15th, during Watercade and on September 11th.
A FOX-9 news story late last week reported that the Hastings American Legion Post #47 closed its doors abruptly on Christmas Eve, with officials there saying it would not be a permanent closure. Commander Paul Chadwick at the Litchfield American Legion Post #104 says they want to assure their patrons that that type of thing won’t happen in Litchfield.
Chadwick says the Litchfield American Legion is financially solid, and they just recently hired an assistant manager. He says the Litchfield Legion gave back $57,000 to the community in the last fiscal year – and most of that stays right in Litchfield.
Chadwick says one of the big issues for Legion Posts and other service clubs all over the nation is dwindling membership. He says 15 years ago they had 500 members and that’s now down to 262 as a lot of younger people are not joining clubs.
Chadwick says New Year’s Eve is always a big night for the Litchfield American Legion, and he says the club in downtown Litchfield will be open on New Year’s Day with a DJ from 1-to-4 p.m.