The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a fatal crash on Wednesday afternoon at 2:59 in Regal at the intersection of Highway 55 and Kandiyohi County Road 2. The crash involved an unbelted/unrestrained occupant in one of the vehicles.
A 2022 Ford Escape, driven by 88-year-old Duane Henry Lieser of Belgrade, was traveling northbound on county road 2, and a 2004 International semi, driven by 43-year-old Daniel Ray Goodall of Belgrade, was westbound on highway 55 and the vehicles collided. A passenger in the Escape – 85-year-old Rosella Marie Lieser of Belgrade – was not wearing a seatbelt. Both Duane and Rosella Lieser were killed in the accident. Goodall was not injured. Also responding to the scene were Paynesville Fire and Police Departments, Belgrade Police Dept., Centra Care ambulance and Kandiyohi Co. Sheriff’s Office and Kandiyohi First Responders, and Mn/DOT.
Meeker Energy will host its annual appreciation gathering for its members and for Vibrant Broadband subscribers on May 20th from 4:30-to-7:30 p.m. at its complex on East Highway 12 in Litchfield. The Meeker Energy annual meeting will be held at 4 p.m.
Energy Services Manager Steve Kosbab says they will be serving Wattenhofer pork chops on a stick, beans, chips and water. He says there will also be a petting zoo, bingo and several vendor booths.
Kosbab says Meeker Energy has been providing electrical service to people in Meeker County and beyond since 1935. He says Vibrant Broadband began in 2019 to provide internet services.
Marketing & Communications Specialist Shane Zeppelin says the name change from Meeker Cooperative to Meeker Energy is about a year old and their members have embraced the change and they are still a member-owned cooperative. He says Vibrant Broadband has been helping to get internet to areas that either had no internet or had poor service and they are continuing to expand.
Zeppelin says some of the areas where Vibrant is expanding include north of Litchfield, Grove City and Atwater; west of Paynesville; north of Hawick; south of Belgrade; and in Svea – south of Willmar. He says they will have another Dreaming of Streaming session on May 13th at 5:30 p.m. to help educate new Vibrant Broadband subscribers.
Sy Baune has been posthumously inducted into the Minnesota Knights of Columbus Hall of Fame. Sy, who passed away on February 21st of this year, was honored for his lifetime of service and dedication to the Knights of Columbus as well as for his service to his community and nation.
Sy was a member of the local 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus Council P.J. Casey #2029 and of the 4th Degree Shepherd of Souls Assembly #3604. He served as Grand Knight of the Litchfield P.J. Casey Council # 2029 on two separate occasions, and held additional offices.
Sy’s work in the 3rd Degree included work in the repair, remodeling and maintenance of the K of C Council home since the 1990’s, leading rosaries for deceased brother Knights since year 2000, assisting with the moving of the Council storage building, serving as a recruiter for both the 3rd & 4th Degrees throughout his long career and attending numerous state conventions on behalf of both the 3rd and 4th degrees.
In 2006, Sy Baune introduced, chaired, organized and ran the 1st Annual K of C Fish Fry and served an estimated 350 people on that first occasion. The Fish Fry now serves over 2200 people annually. Sy also put together a coalition of K of C Councils to purchase and maintain a fish fry trailer which moves amongst 4 Councils. The Fish Fry is the primary fundraiser for K of C Council #2029 and funds many of the Council Projects as well as providing support for a number of additional charitable causes.
Sy Baune was recognized as Knight of the Year twice – in 1989/1990 and again in 2001/2002. Sy & Barb were also recognized for the Family of the Year in program year 2005/2006 and again in 2011/2012. Sy was also involved in numerous community and church endeavors including delivering holiday meals to the less fortunate, and organizing the hamburger stand at the annual St. Philip’s Church Bazaar and at the Songs of Summer Festival. Sy served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967 and spearheaded efforts to install U.S. Flags at several area cemeteries.
Sy & Barb raised 3 children – Denise, Dawn and Nick. They have 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Sy spent his working career at 3M in Hutchinson. He passed away on February 21st at the age of 81.
While attending the Spring Exemplification of the Minnesota District of 4th Degree Knights of Columbus in St. Paul, Pat Becker accepted Sy’s Knights of Columbus Hall of Fame award the weekend of April 18 & 19.
On Wednesday morning at 11:25, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an accident in the 62700 block of 205th Street in Greenleaf Township. It was reported that a dump truck went into the ditch, landed on its side, and caught fire. Meeker County Deputies, Litchfield Rescue, Litchfield Fire, and Mayo Ambulance all responded to the scene.
When first responders arrived, they found the truck fully engulfed in flames. The driver, 69-year-old Rickie Harrier of Hutchinson, got out of the truck before it became fully engulfed. The driver received minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital. Meeker County Deputies learned the driver drifted onto the shoulder, then overcorrected, causing the truck to go into the ditch. The truck was a total loss.
