Litchfield Community Theatre is producing “Annie Jr.” and the shows are coming up on April 10th, 11th and 12th at 7 p.m. and April 13th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. Heidi Pennertz is directing the show.
Pennertz says there is an amazing cast of children who’ve been rehearsing since early February and they had their first run-through Monday evening. She says Annie is in an orphanage and the other orphans are like her family.
Four of the orphans were on KLFD’s “Newsmaker” program yesterday and took turns describing their characters – in order: Kimberly Wall, Kaisyn Miller, Brityn Miller and Willa VanDuinen.
Tickets for “Annie Jr.” are on sale at litchfieldcommunitytheatre.com, at Litchfield Community Education and they will also be sold at the door.
On Saturday March 29th, 18 members of the Litchfield Lions Club participated in their annual Meeker County Food Drive at Family Fare and Walmart stores in Litchfield. March is food shelf drive month where donations are matched proportionally by Minnesota Food Share.
With the cash donations, the Meeker Area Food Shelf is able to purchase $4 of food for every $1 donated. Along with cash donations, food is given from many places in our community and the Litchfield Lions Club food shelf drive is also a huge community service project that does well to enhance the food bounty for the many people that need help with food supplies.
The Litchfield Lions Club collected 2,506-pounds of food and collected cash donations totaling $8,818. Food Shelf Coordinator Jamie Revermann says the cash donated by the Lions will enable her to buy $35,272 worth of food for the Meeker Area Food Shelf. The Litchfield Lions gave a donation of $1,000 toward Saturday’s food drive and many of the 48 Lions members gave personal donations as well.
The Litchfield Lions Club would like to thank the many people who shopped on Saturday at Family Fare and Walmart, and the Lions would also like to thank Family Fare and Walmart for allowing them to collect the food each year at their businesses, and Davis Motors for supplying vehicles that help transport the food donations to the Food Shelf on North Sibley Avenue.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has approved of changing the title of the Meeker County Treasurer to Finance Director to better reflect the duties of the position. The job description change, which was evaluated by the Personnel Committee, comes as the retirement of long-time Treasurer Sharon Euerle approaches in August.
The Commissioners approved of the allocation of $140,000 in Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (SAHA), following a presentation by Economic Development Director Lisa Graphenteen. A commitment of $45,000 in the SAHA funding will go to Habitat for Humanity of West Central Minnesota as a 0% deferred loan for a 5-year term, and $95,000 will go for the Litchfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority as a grant.
The County Board approved of the final plat for the L’Esperance Addition in Section 24 of Dassel Township; approved of an interim use permit for Les Loff of Watkins for a concrete Ready-Mix plant in Section 9 of Forest City Township; and approved of the 2025 Safe Assurance services agreement for $11,372.67 which was in the 2025 Human Resources budget.
The Board also approved of an agreement with the Humane Society of Kandiyohi and Meeker Counties (HSKMC) for services related to stray animals. Meeker County will contribute $30,126.80 in 2025 and $30,897.97 in 2026 – increases of 2.5%. Meeker County will also compensate the HSKMC $50 for each animal that is picked up from the pound in Litchfield. The two counties have collaborated with the animal shelter since 2009.
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.