A couple of banking failures earlier this spring made national headlines and brought jitters to the markets and to consumers. Al Liestman, President and CEO of Center National Bank in Litchfield, Plymouth and Chaska, says everything is safe and the local bank is doing well.
Liestman says the banks that failed this spring were affected by poor decision-making regarding investments and lending practices, and there could be more failures, but not likely in Minnesota. He says Center Bank has an outstanding owner, the bank is well-capitalized, liquidity is up, and the employees are very involved in the community.
Liestman says Federal Reserve officials have raised interest rates 10 times in the past year as a way to try to curb inflation as the rising interest rates discourage people from building, buying and borrowing money which should drive down prices, and so far inflation has dropped in the past year from 9% to 4%, but they probably should have started raising rates a couple years earlier instead of having so many increases all in one year. He says there could be a small recession, but the future looks bright. Center National Bank in Litchfield is getting ready for its annual brat feed on July 6th.
Ten lakes in Meeker County have been identified over the years as containing aquatic invasive species. The latest species is spiny water flea which resembles a jelly-like blob.
Meeker County Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Ariana Richardson says aquatic invasive species are non-native plants, animals or pathogens that pose a risk to human, environmental or economic health. She says once a lake is invaded, it’s not likely to permanently eradicate it from a lake, but the hope is to manage it and prevent it from spreading to other lakes.
Richardson says there are 8 stations at various lakes around Meeker County where boaters can clean off their boats with various tools – which are meant to stay at those stations, and sometimes there are people there to assist you. She says boaters and anglers need to remember to inspect their crafts and remove any plants, pull their plug, dump bait water, and do not dump bait in the lake.
On Wednesday afternoon at 1:31 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man who had sustained a head injury while working in a hog barn on 660th Avenue – about a mile northeast of Fairfax. Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered 57-year-old Douglas Pomplun of Burtrum on the floor of the barn with a head injury. Efforts to revive him failed.
Emergency responders provided lifesaving measures to Pomplun. He was transported from the scene to an awaiting Air Care helicopter. Despite resuscitation efforts by emergency crews, Pomplun was pronounced dead before he could be transported by the helicopter.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Pomplun was repairing panels in the hog barn when he sustained the injury to his head. Assisting on the scene were the Fairfax Ambulance Service, CentraCare Ambulance, North Air Care and the Fairfax Police Department. The incident remains under investigation by the Renville County Sheriff’s Office and the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
