This week is EMS Week and the Litchfield Rescue Squad will have on open house on Wednesday evening at the Rescue Hall – under the Litchfield Water Tower – from 5:30-to-7:30 p.m. There will be demonstrations of the various equipment used by the Litchfield Rescue Squad, refreshments, door prizes and some of the other related departments will be there.
Mike Massingham, who’s been on the Litchfield Rescue Squad for 29 years, says there will be representatives there from the Sheriff’s Office, Meeker Memorial Hospital and Public Health, and there may be a helicopter as well. He says emergency personnel include more than just rescue, fire and ambulance crews.
Massingham says the Litchfield Rescue Squad responds to medicals and car accidents, but also does storm-spotting and is present at high school sports events. He says they like to have 30 members so that there’s always a good bunch available to respond to each call. Massingham says there is a theme for each day of EMS week, and he’d especially like to remind people to wear helmets, seat belts, life jackets and sunscreen.
Litchfield Rescue Squad Chief Blake Tangen says he’s been on the Squad for 15 years and got involved because he had been a 911 dispatcher while he was in college in South Dakota and when he moved back to Litchfield, wanted to give back to the community. He says the Sheriff’s Office will demonstrate its drone equipment during Wednesday’s open house which can be very useful to the Rescue Squad in search and rescue situations.
Tangen says they are always looking for new members and applications are available at City Hall or on the City of Litchfield’s website. He says they can train you if you have no experience as they have lots of training sessions.
Brian Valdez joined the Litchfield Rescue Squad about a year and a half ago. He says a firefighter friend encouraged him to join the Squad.
Valdez says responding to calls for each member varies on their employers’ requirements and their work schedule. Valdez was one of 4 Litchfield Rescue Squad members honored recently for responding to 300 or more calls in 2024 along with Candace Bollman, Scott Steuck and Jenny Welte. Joanna Mackereth was named Litchfield Rescue Squad member of the year for 2024. The Litchfield Rescue Squad responded to 588 calls in 2024.
The Litchfield City Council heard an update last night from Golden Fleece Lodge #89 Charitable Foundation President Greg Langmo on the proposal for building a picnic shelter at South Park. The Lodge is hoping to build the structure with trees from the local area.
Langmo says they would also like the structure to have electricity and possibly a restroom. The Council directed the City staff to work with the Golden Fleece Lodge on the next steps in the process of developing the shelter.
The Council approved of a variance request for John & Leslie Mueller at 408 North Gorman Avenue to tear down a detached garage and to construct a new 2-stall, detached garage. The council approved of appointing Owen Boerma as the Litchfield Area Recreation Center Director.
A bid was approved for the siding project at the Litchfield Civic Arena with RAM Buildings, Inc. for $168,474. A bid was also approved for 8 additional basketball hoops at the LARC with H2I Group for $82,510 on a 4-to-2 vote with Darlene Kotelnicki and Bob Powers opposed. $20,000 has already been donated to the basketball hoop project by local basketball groups. The T hangar project bid at the municipal airport was approved from Everstrong Construction for $1,149,547. City Engineer Chuck DeWolf says the bid won’t be awarded until August to make sure that the 95% reimbursement from the federal government goes through.
A waiver of subdivision review for the pretreatment facility land purchase at the wastewater treatment plant for First District Association was approved. A public hearing was set for June 16th at 5:30 p.m. to consider that sale of public property.
Following a closed session at the May 4th Council meeting, a resolution was approved last night accepting an investigation regarding a complaint in the law enforcement department on a 5-to-1 vote with Kotelnicki opposed.
With the resignation of Sara Miller from the Litchfield City Council earlier this spring, some of the committee assignments were reassigned last night. Betty Allen will take Miller’s spot at the Chamber and on the Personnel Committee. The new Ward 5 Council Member Bob Powers will serve on the Finance & Infrastructure Committee. Also last night, the Litchfield City Council heard the annual audit report from Justin McGraw of Conway, Deuth & Schmiesing.
Auditions for “Guys & Dolls” will be held this Wednesday and Thursday from 6:30-to-8:30 p.m. at the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. There’s also an opportunity for youth to participate in the production and auditions for children up to age 14 will be held on Thursday at 4 p.m.
Director Tim Nelson says “Guys & Dolls” is the quintessential Broadway musical and it was also a film starring Frank Sinatra. He says the roles are for multi-generational adults, but he’s putting together a youth ensemble.
Nelson says they are looking for people who can sing and there’s a sign-up on the Litchfield Community Theatre website or just show up for auditions this Wednesday and Thursday. He says the show will be presented July 24th, 25th and 26th at 7 p.m. and July 27th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. Call Litchfield Community Education at 693-2354 for more details.
The Litchfield Visitors Bureau is promoting the music in Central Park for the summer season. Lots of musical acts have been booked by the Litchfield Downtown Council for Thursday evenings this summer.
Darlene Kotelnicki says the first concert will feature an Elvis impersonator who will perform during the Watercade Committee’s Brat Feed on June 5th. She says other performers this summer will include Terry Shaw and his daughter – Drea, the Everett Smithson Band, the Marshall Star Band, Litchfield Community Theatre performing songs from “Guys & Dolls,” Bob & the Beachcombers performing during Watercade, Steve Michaud, the Gig Noonan Band, the Palomino Brothers, the Rainbow Singers and Litchfield Area Male Chorus, Scott Kargas, and Tim Cook and Kristi Olson.
Kotelnicki says there are usually charitable groups selling food during the concerts, and the Thriving Thursdays will also include the Farmer’s Market every Thursday from 2-to-5:30 next to the Fielgate Cheese Store, stores open downtown, and the American Legion’s Car & Bike night. She says the Litchfield Downtown Council receives funds each year to make the concerts in Central Park possible.
Kotelnicki says they buy ads in the Litchfield Rail newspaper and on KLFD Radio and are considering ads in the Senior Perspective publication as well. She says Litchfield Blues Baseball is celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer too.
Deana Wheeler from the Chamber says the Litchfield Visitors Bureau is excited about the Cam Shaft Special which will be coming up on June 14th in the Litchfield Civic Arena parking lot. She says if anyone has an event that they want in the next quarterly table tent, they are welcome to submit it.
Wheeler says you can find more information about events in Litchfield at litchfieldmn.com or call the Chamber office at 693-8184.