The Meeker Soil & Water Conservation District has its annual tree sale underway. Orders have been taken since the first of the year, and the trees will be distributed on April 25th and 26th at the Meeker County Fairgrounds.
Joe Norman says there are 34 different species of trees and they come in bundles of 25 for $50 and there are also potted evergreens. He says you can find order forms on their website or pick up an order form at their office on Johnson Drive in Litchfield and get your order in as soon as possible.
Norman says people plant trees for a variety of reasons including protection from the snow in the winter time, privacy, soil and wind erosion protection, and habitat for wildlife. He says they are also taking orders for grass and flower seeds for pollinator plots.
On Monday afternoon at 2:10, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center was notified of a pursuit initiated by the MN State Patrol. The suspect vehicle was northbound on MN Highway 22 just south of Litchfield. The MN State Patrol terminated the pursuit and the suspect was seen a short time later by Litchfield Police. Litchfield Police attempted to stop the suspect vehicle and another pursuit was initiated. A short time later Litchfield Police terminated the pursuit as well.
The suspect vehicle was spotted by a Meeker County Deputy who again initiated a pursuit when the driver took off. The vehicle left the city of Litchfield eastbound on 260th Street at a high rate of speed. A Pursuit Intervention Tactic (PIT) maneuver was initiated at the intersection of 260th Street and 650th Avenue. The vehicle went into the ditch but drove back out and continued south on 650th Avenue.
The driver made his way into the city of Darwin then went south on County Road 14 and eventually made his way to MN Highway 15. Deputies continued the pursuit as the driver fled north on MN Highway 15. As the vehicle entered Stearns County, a MN State Trooper was able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device. A Meeker County Deputy did another PIT maneuver to end the pursuit. The driver was taken into custody with no further incident.
The pursuit by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office reached speeds of 100 miles per hour and traveled just over 30 miles. At one point the driver swerved at a deputy as the deputy tried to initiate a second PIT maneuver. The driver was identified as 20-year-old Hunter Wisch of rural Hillman, MN. Wisch was arrested for the pursuit and suspicion of driving under the influence.
Wisch was booked in the Meeker County Jail and is awaiting his initial court appearance. Wisch has a revoked driver’s license and pending charges in McLeod County for fleeing on foot, along with several gun and drug charges from an incident in Hutchinson in November of 2024. In addition to the MN State Patrol, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the arrest.
The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau are recognizing 77 Minnesota farms as 2025 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more, and there are several in this part of the state.
Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and by the governor. Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.
Family farms are recognized as a Century Farm when three requirements are met. The farm must be at least 100 years old according to authentic land records; must be in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years; and must be at least 50 acres and currently be involved in agricultural production.
This year’s recipients include the Manz-Herding Farm of Paynesville in Kandiyohi County – established in 1895; Howe Holsteins of Hutchinson in McLeod County – established in 1919; the Thomas Koeberl Farm of Hector – established in 1923, the Donald & Edna Wertish Farm of Morton – established in 1918 and the Kurth Haven Farms of Stewart – established in 1906 – all in Renville County; and the Braun Family Farm of Belgrade – established in 1887, the Czech Farm of Holdingford – established in 1883, and the Zierden Farm of Melrose – established in 1896 – all in Stearns County.
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 3-vehicle crash on Monday morning at 6:30 on Highway 71 at Greencrest Road by Belgrade. A GMC Canyon and International Semi were travelling north bound on Highway 71, and a Chevrolet Equinox was travelling south bound on Highway 71 when the vehicles collided.
The 2022 GMC Canyon was driven by 51-year-old Theresa Lynn Sandvig of Belgrade. She was transported to the Paynesville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox was driven by 29-year-old Brian Joseph Rademacher of Belgrade. He was taken to the hospital in Sauk Centre with non-life-threatening injuries. The 2019 International tractor was driven by 65-year-old Ronald Lynn Robinson of Belgrade. He was not injured.
Also responding to the scene were Brooten Belgrade Police, Belgrade Fire and Rescue, CentraCare and Brooten Ambulance.
Each day a business will be featured as “Business of the Day” and every time their commercial is aired be the 7th caller and win a chance to receive KLFD Bucks to be spent at our “Business of the Day” locations.
Monday thru Friday, at 4 pm we will draw out a winner to be put into our final drawing to be held sometime later in April. Once your name has been drawn out daily and put into the final drawing, you are no longer qualified to call in. Otherwise, you can keep calling in once a day to qualify.
Our sponsors include: Litchfield Liquors, Central Counties Coop, Litchfield Chrysler, DC Diesel, Farm-Rite Equipment, Davis Motors, Air Pro Heating & A/C, Miller Automotive, El Chilero, Atwater Ford, Stockmen’s Greenhouse, Sassie’s Tavern, Simms Napa Auto Parts, Queen Bee’s Bar & Grill, Litchfield Building Center
