Local News

The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a 2-vehicle crash on Monday night at 8:44 at the intersection of Highway 55 and County-State-Aid-Highway 34 in Forest Prairie Township.

A 2007 Mazda 6 sedan was travelling westbound on Highway 55 and a 2017 Ford Escape was travelling northbound on County Road 34 and the vehicles collided in the intersection resulting in a T-bone type of crash.

The Escape was driven by 49-year-old Ernesto Delgadovazquez of Cold Spring. He received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital. The Mazda was driven by 50-year-old Perry John Philippi of Eden Valley. He received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital. Also responding to the scene were the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office, Mayo Ambulance, Watkins Fire & Rescue and Custom Towing.

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A 67-year-old New London man, Randall Lipinski, was killed Sunday afternoon after being trapped by a skid steer loader in New London.  The incident was reported at 2:41 p.m.  Lipinski was pronounced dead at the scene.  The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota DNR, New London Ambulance, New London Fire Department, Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad, Lakes Area Rural Responders and Life Link III Air Ambulance.

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The Litchfield Visitors Bureau has a busy day scheduled in Litchfield this Saturday. The Light Up Litchfield Kick-off ceremony will be held in Central Park that day at 4:45 p.m.

Janaye Prieve says the afternoon festivities will get started with carriage rides from 2:30-to-4:30, Mr. & Mrs. Claus in the Santa House from 2:30-to-5:30, hot cocoa provided by the Litchfield Christian Church beginning at 3:30, carolers from 4:30-to-4:45 and St. Philip’s School collecting items for the Meeker Area Food Shelf. She says the Mayor will hit the switch at 4:45, and that will also trigger the beginning of the Light Up Litchfield contest.

Prieve says there are six businesses in the contest this year including Ecumen of Litchfield, It’s Not Hair/Radiant Glow Spa/Kristi Isaacson Accounting, The Chamber, Threads of Hope thrift store, Meeker Energy/Vibrant Broadband, and St. Philip’s School. She says you will have until December 14th to go around town and see the light displays at those businesses and then vote for your favorite.

Prieve says the winners will be announced at the Chamber office on December 17th at 10 a.m. She says you can find more information about this Saturday’s events or the Light Up Litchfield contest at litchfieldmn.com.

Deana Wheeler says November 29th is also Small Business Saturday. She says there are 14 businesses in the Litchfield area that will have special promotions this Saturday – Minnesota Reds, Whites & Brews at Three Sons Seltzer; Fieldgate Cheese Store; Ramsey Printing & Design; Threads of Hope thrift store; Sure Stay hotel; Stockmen’s Greenhouse & Garden Center; Meeker Memorial Hospital gift shop; Simply Good; Naturally Undefined Beauty; Litchfield Eagles Club; Again & Again thrift shop; Natural Food Co-op; Turck’s Trees; and Rise & Roam. She says you’ll want to visit the businesses in Litchfield for sure this Saturday.

Wheeler says you can find more details about the special deals at each business at litch.com or litchfieldmn.com. For any additional questions, call 320-693-8184 or stop at the Chamber office at 219 North Sibley Avenue in downtown Litchfield.

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Turck’s Trees of Litchfield, grower of the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Grand Champion Christmas Tree, is providing a 15-foot Balsam fir that will be displayed in the rotunda of the Minnesota State Capitol Building this holiday season. The tree will be delivered to the Capitol rotunda on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

An event for the media is scheduled as the tree arrives and the Turck family will be there. The event highlights Minnesota’s tradition of choosing locally grown trees for the holidays. The tree will be decorated on Monday, December 1st.

Family-owned and operated since 1987, Turck’s Trees has been a Minnesota Grown member for 35 years. The family is well-known for welcoming thousands of families to their tree farm each holiday season. This year’s champion tree is a Balsam fir – a North American species known for having a classic Christmas fragrance, rich green color, full shape, and soft needles. You can learn more at MinnesotaGrown.com.

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