The G.A.R. Hall and Meeker County Museum will be hosting another Civil War Roundtable meeting next Thursday – October 10th. The meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m.
Museum Executive Director Danelle Erickson says the Civil War Roundtable has a membership, but visitors are welcome to attend for $3. She says Litchfield native Brian Pease will be speaking during the October 10th meeting about battle flags with the topic “Carrying the Colors with Courage, Pride and Honor.”
Erickson says a new group will begin meeting at the museum in Litchfield soon. She says the Genealogy Hour will be held on the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. and the first meeting will be coming up on November 7th.
Erickson says the museum has some materials that people are welcome to use as they explore their family history. She says the Meeker County Historical Society will have its annual meeting on December 5th. The Museum at 308 North Marshall Avenue is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10-to-4 and Saturdays from noon-to-4. For more information, go to meekercomuseum.org.
The Historic Ness Church 150th Anniversary Fall Service will be on Saturday, October 12th at 2 p.m. Soup, sandwiches and dessert will be served after the service for freewill donations.
Dave Lindberg says the church stopped having weekly services back in 1968, but committees were formed to preserve the church and maintain the cemetery. He says special programs are held at Ness Church occasionally and there are baptisms, weddings and funerals at the church.
Lindberg says the service will begin at 2 p.m. and will include a message from Pastor Mindy Czycalla, music by Alexandra Lundin and Heather Winkelman and a history of the church presented by Robyn Richardson. He says the service will be a good time to reminisce with others and it will help to raise funds for a roofing project at the church.
Sue Schrotberger says reroofing Ness Church will be an expensive project because it’s a historical building and they have to use cedar shakes. She says the lunch after the service will include soup, chili, sandwiches, dessert, hot apple cider and egg coffee. Ness Church is at 24040 580th Avenue – southwest of Litchfield. There will also be a lefse sale to raise funds on November 9th at the Litchfield Opera House from 9-to-2.
The two-year Highway 12 resurfacing and concrete repair project between Litchfield and Cokato is making significant progress. MnDOT announced Wednesday that Phase 2 of the project was set to be completed with plans to reopen the road from Darwin to Dassel yesterday afternoon.
Looking ahead, Phase 3, which includes Highway 12 from Dassel to Cokato, is scheduled for construction in 2025. This phase will involve concrete repairs and replacement of asphalt shoulders from east of Highway 15 in Dassel to the end of the concrete section in Cokato; upgrades to sidewalks and pedestrian ramps in Dassel to meet ADA standards; and improvements to ramps along the trail from Dassel to Cokato to ensure ADA compliance.
The project benefits and cost benefits of the project include a smoother road surface, improved drainage, and enhanced safety for people who walk and bike. Duininck, Inc. is the contractor and the project cost is approximately $11.3 million.
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 3-vehicle crash just after 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in Litchfield. The accident occurred on Highway 22 at Lake Ripley Drive at 3:02 p.m.
A 2023 Chevrolet Suburban, 2006 International Straight Truck Semi, and 2019 Freightliner Straight Truck semi were all traveling northbound on highway 22 when they collided with each other. The 2006 semi was driven by 26-year-old Tanner Raymond Fester of Atwater. He was not injured. The Suburban was driven by 39-year-old Leslie Anne Polzin of Darwin. She was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 2019 truck was driven by 25-year-old Cole Michael Sander of Bird Island. He was not injured. Also responding to the scene were Litchfield Police, Litchfield Fire Dept, and Mayo Ambulance.