Local News

The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office responded to three motor vehicle crashes within a very short period of time on Saturday. Two of the crashes involved semis loaded with sugar beets that overturned, and the other involved a vehicle that failed to yield to a train.

At 11:03 Saturday morning, the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office responded to Kandiyohi County Road 8 and the Kandi-Renville Road in Lake Lillian Township for a semi truck that overturned with a load of sugar beets. The 23-year-old driver was ejected and was flown to North Memorial Hospital with what’s believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.

The second crash occurred at 11:35 Saturday morning – as another semi truck loaded with sugar beets overturned at 120th Avenue Southwest and 135th Street Southwest in Edwards Township. The 41-year-old driver was taken to Rice Hospital in Willmar with non-life-threatening injuries.

The third crash occurred around noon on Saturday at Highway 55 and 160th Street Northeast as a 39-year-old man failed to yield to an on-coming train at an uncontrolled crossing and his vehicle was struck. He was treated at the scene. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the 3 crashes by the Minnesota State Patrol, Lake Lillian Fire Dept., Lake Lillian Ambulance, CentraCare Ambulance, North Air Care, Kandiyohi County Rescue, HEAT Team, Raymond Fire Dept., Raymond Ambulance, New London Fire Dept., New London Ambulance, Paynesville Fire Dept. and Paynesville Ambulance.

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Ecumen of Litchfield has several events coming up over the next few weeks. November is Hospice month which usually creates some special observances.

Brittany Schutz says a grief support group has been meeting this fall and the next meeting is scheduled for November 6th in the Ecumen Chapel from 1:30-to-2:30 p.m.; and they are planning a remembrance program together with Johnson-Hagglund Funeral & Cremation Service on November 21st at 5 p.m. She says Ecumen will participate in the Community Trunk or Treat event in Litchfield on October 27th from 3-to-5 p.m., and there will be trick-or-treating in the Ecumen Chapel on October 31st from 3:30-to-4:30.

Schutz says if anyone would like to attend the remembrance service or if you have questions about Ecumen of Litchfield Home Care or Hospice, call 693-7367.

Hope Hagert says Ecumen has some exciting news about the Gloria Dei apartments. She says if you move in before November 30th, you can receive half off of your rent for the rest of this year.

Hagert says they have both market rate and income-based apartments available. She says you may call her for more information about Gloria Dei at 320-373-6614. Nicole Larson says Emmaus Place and Bethany Memory Care are both full right now. She says you may call her and schedule a tour of the facilities and get on a waiting list.

Larson says she can be reached at 320-373-6370.

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The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek has announced the state’s 10th round of the Office of Broadband Development Border-to-Border grants. The latest announcement was held at a Meeker Cooperative & Vibrant Broadband construction project site in French Lake Township funded by a previous Border-to-Border grant.

The event last week was also attended by DEED Office of Broadband Development Executive Director Bree Maki and Meeker Cooperative CEO and General Manager Luke Johnson. Several state and local government representatives and board members from Meeker Cooperative were also there.

Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association received $4-million in grant funding for several township-level projects, including those in Gennessee and Kandiyohi Townships in Kandiyohi County, Paynesville Township in Stearns County, and Cokato Township in Wright County totaling over 170-miles of new fiber. These projects will improve broadband speeds for over 400 locations, allowing residents to access better e-learning, telemedicine, digital services, and economic development expansion for rural businesses.

Luke Johnson says broadband access is more than an internet connection – it’s a lifeline for rural communities. He says the border-to-border grant funds are critical to bridging the gap where costs to build infrastructure in rural areas are simply too high. Johnson says this funding will allow Meeker Cooperative & Vibrant Broadband to extend affordable, reliable broadband services to their rural areas, facilitating essential connectivity for rural residents, businesses and farms.

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The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a one-vehicle crash on Saturday morning at 1:37 on Minnesota Highway 7 in Cedar Mills Township in Meeker County. A 2012 Ford F350 pickup was westbound on Highway 7 at mile marker 134 – driven by 33-year-old Cody Lee Rusch of Cosmos – left the roadway and crashed. Rusch received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Hutchinson Hospital. Also responding to the scene were the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and Allina Health Ambulance.

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