Ecumen of Litchfield has a new Service Coordinator. Valerie Imholte is taking over that role from Michelle Schoolmeesters who recently retired. Imholte says she’s excited to get to know everyone at Ecumen. She says helping seniors at Ecumen find the services they need is something near and dear to her heart.
Imholte says she will be focused on the Gloria Dei facility. She says if anyone would like information about apartments there, they may call Hope at 373-6614. Nicole Larson oversees the housing at Emmaus Place and Bethany and she says they have several openings there right now. She says Emmaus Place offers assisted living and more skilled care is available at Bethany as the care required varies for every individual.
Larson says she’s had people on a waiting list, and if they’re not ready to make the move to assisted living yet, she just keeps them on her list. She says she is available to give tours of the assisted living facilities at Ecumen and people may call her at 373-6370. Adult Day services are also available at Ecumen and anyone in need of those services may call Dawn at 373-6627.
The “We Care About You” Senior Health Expo – sponsored by Grove City Area CARE – will be on Wednesday from 9-to-11:30 a.m. in the Trinity Lutheran Church fellowship hall in Grove City. There will be a free continental breakfast, several vendors and door prizes.
CARE Volunteer Coordinator Rosie Dilley says there will be more than 30 vendors with all kinds of health-related information for seniors. She says the event is open to seniors from all over the area and the vendors are not just from Meeker County, but from surrounding counties and as far away as Pope County.
Dilley says the CARE program is a block-nurse program that provides services to help seniors live safely in their own homes for as long as possible. She says they have volunteers who can help seniors in the Grove City area with various chores and errands, they offer programs such as foot care, and they have lots of social events throughout the year. For more information about this Wednesday’s senior health expo or about the Grove City Area CARE program, call 857-2274.
The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office has compiled numbers for 2024 for calls-for-service and other items. The report will be available on the Sheriff’s website next week.
Sheriff Brian Cruze says calls-for-service for all agencies county-wide were down about 2% from the previous year, but for the sheriff’s office, calls-for-service were up 12%. He says crime was down in 2024, compared to 2023, but it’s a little misleading as the numbers for several crimes spiked in 2023.
Sheriff Cruze says the number of crashes increase in 2024 and traffic citations were up dramatically as speeding continues to increase, so they are working to try to get people to slow down. He says he’d like to thank his staff for stepping up during a period of time when there were staffing shortages, and he’d like to thank the public for their support of law enforcement.
Sheriff Cruze says his jail staff is only short by one person now and they are still short of one patrol deputy. He says the Law Enforcement Center is in the midst of a remodeling project right now, and the dispatch center will be moving into the Court House which will be known as the Justice Center and it will just have one secure entrance – at the rear of the building.
4H members from Meeker County excelled earlier this month in Project Bowl challenges. Meeker County 4H had six teams that competed at the Sauk Rapids Regional Project Bowl contest on March 1st.
Project Bowl challenges teams of 3-to-6 youth to test their knowledge on a variety of topics including dairy, dog, general livestock, horse, llama/alpaca, plant science, poultry and rabbit.
The senior horse team members from Meeker County included Audrey Frenchick and Claudia Frenchick form the Koronis Eager Beavers, and Raya Scott, Frances Geurts and Maisy Geurts from the Kimball Kruisers. They received first place in the regional contest and will compete in the state contest April 12th in Sauk Rapids. They’re coached by Tanya Scott and Dayle Geurts.
The junior horse team members included independent members Aliza VanDuinen and Willa VanDuinen, and Leland Kershner and Bridger Kershner of the Danielson Hustlers. They received first place in the regional contest and will compete in the state contest on April 12th in Sauk Rapids. They are coached by Cassidy Becker and Emily VanDuinen.
The senior poultry team members included Henry Lemke of the Valley Victors and Riley Joyer of the Forest City Livewires, and Laura Anderson of the Danielson Hustlers. They received fifth place in the regional contest. They are coached by Alison Radunz and Tracy Huhn.
The junior poultry team members included Hadley Huhn of the Litchfield Satellites, Morgan Sage and Victor Lee of the Danielson Hustlers, and Nora Magadenz of the Valley Victors. They received sixth place in the regional contest. They are coached by Tracy Huhn and Alison Radunz.
The senior rabbit team members included Brooks Dengerud of the Litchfield Satellites, and Alexis Blunt and Tattrie Ficker of the Forest City Livewires. They received 8th place in the regional contest. They are coached by Laura and Jordan Niece.
The Meeker/McLeod junior rabbit team included Jonathan Blunt of the Forest City Livewires and Aubree Mackedanz and Lily Mackedanz of McLeod County. They received 6th place at the regional contest. They are coached by Laura and Jordan Niece. For more information about getting involved in 4H, call the Meeker County Extension office at 693-5275.