Local News

Meeker Cooperative is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2025. There will be a meal served to the co-op’s electric customers and to Vibrant Broadband subscribers on Wednesday from 12:30-to-6 p.m. at Meeker Cooperative on East Highway 12 in Litchfield.

Executive Coordinator Mary Alice Holm says they will be serving Wattenhofer pork chops, potato salad, chips, cookie and water. She says there will be lots of exhibits, demonstrations, door prizes and more.

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association CEO Luke Johnson says the co-op has evolved over the past 90 years and one of their latest additions was Vibrant Broadband which provides high-speed internet to many rural and under-served areas. He says they have about 8,000 electric customers and over 6,600 Vibrant subscribers.

The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 2-vehicle crash on Friday afternoon at 12:18 at the intersection of Minnesota Highways 55 and 4 in Union Grove Township in Meeker County. A 2014 Chrysler 200 was northbound on Highway 4 and a 2016 Ford Taurus was eastbound on Highway 55 when the vehicles collided at the intersection.

The Chrysler was driven by 19-year-old Vincente Gordon Vela of Litchfield. He was not injured. A passenger in his vehicle, 18-year-old Jacob Curtis Durham of Litchfield was not injured. The driver of the Taurus, 29-year-old Megan Renee Legler-Ferguson of Grove City, received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Paynesville Hospital. There were three passengers in her vehicle – infant Rose Maree Renne, 2-year-okd Rowan Wyatt Renne and 26-year-old Wyatt Ronald Renne – all of Grove City. Rowan and Wyatt also received non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the Paynesville Hospital. Rose was not injured. Also responding were the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, Paynesville Fire and Rescue, and Centra Care Ambulance.

Meeker County Dairy Princess Paige Frenchick has been named as one of the 10 finalists for Princess Kay of the Milky Way.  The announcement was made during a leadership conference this past weekend in the Twin Cities.  The 72^nd Princess Kay will be crowned on the eve of the Minnesota State Fair on August 20^th.  Rachel Visser of Hutchinson in McLeod County is the reigning Princess Kay of the Milky Way.