Local News

On April 16th, 2025, at approximately 11:50 a.m. the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a motor vehicle crash with injuries near the intersection of 15th Street SE and 120th Avenue SE. Deputies arriving on the scene found a 2023 Jeep Wrangler in the northwest ditch. The driver, Michael Dolezal, age 70, of Willmar was ejected. Dolezal was transported by Life Link III for treatment of his injuries. A 2021 Ford F-250 was traveling north on 15th Street SE and failed to stop for the stop sign at 120th Avenue, striking the 2023 Jeep. The driver, Blake Fossen, age 31, of Kandiyohi and his passenger, Logan Redepenning, age 23, of Willmar were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

Assisting the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office were the Blomkest Fire Department, Blomkest First Responders, Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad, CentraCare Ambulance, Life Link III, and the Willmar Fire Department.

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The annual Golden Fleece Lodge #89 Vidalia onion sale is underway. The cost is $14 for a 10-pound bag. To place orders, call Jim Curry at 221-1925.

Curry says the onions will be delivered the second week of May. He says the Litchfield Masons began the Vidalia onion sale back in 2015.

Curry says proceeds will go towards scholarships for Litchfield High School seniors as they award three scholarships of $2,000 each every year. He says he’s ordered six tons of onions this year and in the past ten years, they’ve sold over 20,000 pounds. Again, to place orders, call Jim Curry at 221-1925 – or contact any other member of the Litchfield Masons.

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Litchfield Community Education is into spring activities and two of the youth programs are beginning this week. Flag football and track & field both begin tomorrow.

Litchfield Community Education Director Grant Solem says the summer program guides will be ready by April 25th and copies will be sent home with Kindergarten through 6th graders – with sign up approaching on May 1st. He says Dragons Kids Club has a few opening left for this summer and it’s open to children from Kindergarten through 5th grade who are in the Litchfield School District.

Solem says there’s a trip coming up this fall for adults to see “Grease” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, and another trip is in the works for a downtown Minneapolis Theater. He says he’s coordinating a trip on May 28th with Green Lake Cruises.

Solem says Tim Nelson will be back this summer directing the Litchfield Community Theatre production of “Guys & Dolls” and auditions will be held in late May. He says if anyone has questions about Litchfield Community Education, they may call 693-2354 or go to the Litchfield School District website or social media.

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Meeker County Public Works announces that Meeker County CSAH 3 will be having 7 centerline culverts replaced in advance of this summer’s pavement replacement project. The culvert replacements are scheduled to begin in early May and will likely take 2 – 3 weeks to complete with cooperative weather. Each crossing will be closed to all traffic for 1 – 2 days while the individual culverts are out. Please use caution traveling the area and be on the lookout for traffic control signing identifying closures once work begins.

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