A Blue Christmas service will be held at 1st Presbyterian Church in Litchfield on Saturday, Dec. 21st at 2 p.m. The church is at the corner of Holcombe Avenue and East 3rd Street.
Stephanie Rech says the service is especially for those who are experiencing some type of loss – perhaps the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship or job or some other life change such as an illness which is making them feel blue while others are celebrating the holidays. She says they are having their service a little earlier in the day this year compared to past years.
Rech says there will be Bible readings, songs and the lighting of candles, and the service will also be broadcast on Facebook live in case you can’t make it there in person. She says it’s good to get together with others who are experiencing the same types of losses.
A Worship for the Weary: Blue Christmas service of lament, healing and hope will also be held on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Beckville Lutheran Church at 20521 600th Avenue – south of Litchfield – led by Pastors Mindy Czycalla and Sarah Jones. Everyone is welcome.
The Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area has announced the winners for the Light up Litchfield contest. First place went to the Fieldgate Cheese Store; second place went to It’s Knot Hair, Radiant Glow Spa, Kristie Isakson Accounting; and third place went to Center Bank.
The ten $200 winners for Keep the Cheer promotion were Lois Konetzko (whose name was drawn twice), Jody Miller, Sheri Rogalla, Jennifter Verri, Dorothy Stenberg, Ginger Limanen, Kristi Quitney, Jenny McCormick and Diane Erickson.
The Litchfield City Council met Monday evening and rejected a recommendation from the Planning Commission regarding the locations of possible cannabis retail establishments. The Planning Commission had met on December 9th and recommended that the zoning ordinance include B2, B3 and B4 as potential sales areas for cannabis with no buffer zone for schools.
Mayor Ron Dingmann, who voted in favor of the Planning Commission’s recommendation along with Councilman John Carlson, says the City wanted sales to be restricted to only B4 districts with a 700-foot buffer zone around schools. He says the vote by the Council for the Planning Commission recommendation failed on a 2-to-3 vote and then a vote to stay with the City’s recommendation passed on a 3-to-2 vote.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council also had a presentation on Monday evening from Shane Zeppelin and Janaye Prieve of the Visitors Bureau with Zeppelin reviewing the Bureau’s 2024 promotions, and Prieve presenting the 2025 budget which the Council approved. He says Greg Langmo and Jim Ellingson also spoke to the Council on behalf of the Golden Fleece Lodge with their idea of constructing a timber-framed picnic shelter at South Park using local trees. The project will probably take place in 2026.
Mayor Dingmann says the Litchfield City Council accepted a low quote from Litchfield Building Center for installing a sloped roof on the old rescue hall for $36,908. He says the Council also approved of a 3-year lease for the 165-acres of farm land around the airport with Kurt Piepenburg.
The American Red Cross collected 53 units of blood from area residents on Monday at the Dassel Covenant Church. The goal had been set at 58 units.
Seven individuals received recognition for gallons donated to date including 1-gallon for Kendra Plaschko of Cokato, 3-gallons each for Laura Hansen, Mark Kivisto, and Rebecca Holmquist – all of Dassel, 4-gallons for Morgan Halonen of Dassel, 5-gallons for Stephen Resop of Dassel, and 12-gallons for Stan VonBank of Dassel. The next blood drive in Dassel will be on April 21st.