The Litchfield High School Marching Band had a successful, but soggy day, Sunday marching in Lake City. The Band took first place in Class-A and had the best drumline, best color guard and best drum major. The band also marched over the weekend in Sauk Rapids, Glencoe and Eden Valley, but those were exhibition parades-only. The band has its final Minnesota parade for this month tonight in Roseville.
The Meeker County Extension Master Gardeners have a Garden Tour scheduled for July 11th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. There are 5 locations this year and they are all in Litchfield.
Master Gardener Connie Johnson says most of the gardens are in the northeast corner of Litchfield – including Mimi & Gary Davis at 663 Cottonwood Avenue, Bev & Eric Mathwig at 931 Cottonwood Avenue, Deby Chapin & Lee Proudfoot at 721 Ames Avenue, and the Meeker County Extension Master Gardeners plot at the Community Garden. She says the Master Gardener plot was started in 2021 and the produce is donated to the Meeker Area Food Shelf.
Johnson says when you are in the Community Garden, they ask that you be respectful of other peoples’ gardens there. She says the Van Liere home is also on the Garden Tour at 709 South Chandler Avenue.
Johnson says the Litchfield Satellite 4H Club will have a $7 meal available the evening of July 11th from 5-to-7 in the Litchfield Civic Arena parking lot which includes a pork chop on a stick, chips, water and a cookie, and the restrooms will be open at the Civic Arena. She says proceeds from this year’s garden tour will go to the 1st Lutheran MST participants and to the Zion Youth.
Tickets are $10 each and they are available at the Meeker County Extension office, Stockmen’s Garden Center in Litchfield, KLFD Radio, First Lutheran Church, Zion Lutheran Church and at each garden the night of the event.
The presence of zebra mussels has been confirmed in another area lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says zebra mussels have now been found in Long Lake, near Hawick in Kandiyohi County.
DNR invasive species specialists, following up on a report of zebra mussels, found six adult zebra mussels, up to 1.5 inches long, attached to concrete planks at the public access boat ramp.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires that watercraft, trailers and equipment be cleaned to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species; drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport; dispose of unwanted bait in the trash; and never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
It’s also required to dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21-days before moving them from one water body to another. There are additional steps to help reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species: decontaminate watercraft and equipment; spray with high-pressure water or rinse with very hot water – 120-degrees for at least two minutes or 140-degrees for at least 10 seconds; and dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another water body. You can find more information at mndnr.gov/AIS.