Local News

On Wednesday morning at 6:18, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a single vehicle crash at the intersection of County State Aid Highway 14 and 675th Avenue in Ellsworth Township. Meeker County Deputies, Dassel Fire Department, and Allina Ambulance of Hutchinson responded to the scene.  The vehicle was southbound on County Road 14 when it left the roadway.  The vehicle vaulted 675th Avenue and landed in a group of trees.  The lone occupant, 57-year-old Steven Graphenteen of Litchfield, was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital with significant but non-life-threatening injuries.

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The 4-H Outdoor Wilderness Leadership & Service program (OWLS, for short) is for youth in grades 6 and up who are interested in learning about the wilderness and building their leadership skills. Meeker County 4-H member Maisy Geurts recently completed her year in the OWLS program.

The one-year OWLS program includes online Zoom meetings, in-person weekend retreats and a Boundary Waters canoe trip. Throughout the year, participants gain important wilderness expertise, explore career opportunities, build leadership and public speaking skills and bond with other like-minded youth. Participants are also encouraged to complete a conservation project that will benefit their community regarding a nature-related topic of their choice.

Maisy Geurts’ conservation project was to organize and lead a 4-H day camp to educate kids about local pollinators and their importance to our environment. The 2024 Butterflies & Blossoms camp included hands-on activities for the participants like making seed bombs, flower crowns, a flower scavenger hunt and interactive group games. Participants planted their own take-home flower baskets with plants that support pollinators in the area.

At the 2024 Meeker County Fair, Maisy also hosted activities and crafts in the kids coop to reach more people with her community. She says she hopes to continue spreading awareness and growing her project. After completing her year in the program, she’s now a member of the OWLS Flock. Flock members are former OWLS participants who were selected to come back as youth leaders. Maisy looks forward to assisting with the program through 2025. For more information about 4-H or the OWLS program, go to extension.umn.edu or call 693-5275.

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The Litchfield City Council approved of a low bid Tuesday evening for the Civic Arena floor project. The bid came in below the engineer’s estimate.

Mayor Ron Dingmann says the estimate for the floor and dasher board project was $1.8-million, but Modern Mechanical Ice Systems of Burnsville will be doing the work this spring and summer for $1,346,625. He says the Council also approved of a project this summer to rehabilitate the Optimist Park tennis courts – near the Armory. Upper Midwest Athletic Construction of Andover will do the project for $69,600.

Mayor Dingmann says the Council approved of spending up to $10,000 for a security/fire alarm project at the G.A.R. Hall, but it’s preliminary as the Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Society must approve of the project. He says the Council also approved of the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve a site plan review and variance request at 101 South Swift Avenue for the continuation of the expansion project at 1st District Association.

Mayor Dingmann says the Litchfield City Council also approved of rates at the Golf Course for the 2025 season, and approved of spending $38,000 to purchase trees this summer for boulevards, parks and the golf course. He says they are trying to stay on top of the emerald ash borer infestation which is getting closer to Meeker County.

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The Meeker County American Dairy Association will have its annual Princess Banquet on Sunday in the Church of Our Lady Social Hall in Manannah. The social time begins at 1 p.m., followed by a soup & sandwich lunch at 1:30, and the coronation around 2 o’clock.

Heather Thyen says the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Eden Valley and Pierz is sponsoring the lunch. She says the princess candidates are interviewed on Sunday; have to give a 3-minute speech, and are also judged on an application that they submit.

Thyen says the princesses, junior princesses and ambassadors promote the dairy industry – mostly during the summer months – by reading to children in libraries, helping during Cheeseburger Days, riding in parades, serving milkshakes and ice cream in the malt booth at the Meeker County Fair and attending other events. She says the 3 princesses will be able to compete in the Princess Kay preliminary event in St. Cloud in May. For more information about the Meeker County ADA or Sunday’s banquet, check out their Facebook page or look for MeekerMNADA on Instagram.

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