Local News

The Meeker County Gardener’s Gala is coming up on Thursday, March 12th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. in the St. Philip’s Church Social Hall in Litchfield. Admission is $20.

Master Gardener Connie Johnson says there will be two speakers – Courtney Tchida from Wild Farm Alliance who will talk about edible native plants and herbs; and Quincy Sadowski from University of Minnesota Extension who will talk about non-native plants and their native alternatives. She says both speakers will provide great gardening information and maybe encourage you to try something new in your gardening endeavors.

Johnson says there will also be vendor and information booths at the Gardener’s Gala and door prizes. She says you can register at z.umn.edu/MeekerGardenGalaReg and you can also stop at the Extension office at the Meeker County Fairgrounds to get tickets in advance. Call 320-693-5275 for more details.

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The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a one-vehicle accident on Sunday morning at 8:09 on Minnesota Highway 4 at mile marker 119. A 2021 GMC Sierra, driven by 74-year-old Fredrick Boyd Weseman of Grove City was northbound on Highway 4, left the roadway and entered the west ditch.

Weseman received non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, 71-year-old Gary Lee Weseman of Grove City, also received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. Also responding to the scene were the Grove City Fire Dept. and Mayo Ambulance.

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The 16th annual Wintercade Ice Fishing Contest took place on Lake Ripley in Litchfield on a very mild February 14th. An estimated 800-to-900 people attended the event.

Daniel Lease says it was a beautiful day and the ice was still thick and in good condition – and the top prizes awarded include the Bobcat UTV to Jesse Anderson, $2,000 to Barry Anderson, $1,500 to Chris Guggemos – all of Litchfield and $1,000 to Dorene Johnson of Watkins. He says they also handed out cash prizes in four fishing categories.

Lease says 90 bluegill were caught, along with 11 crappies, 1 bass, 25 northerns and 6 perch. He says they handed out over $30,000 worth of door prizes and kid’s prizes during the event which helped raise $25,000 which will be given to veteran’s organizations and other non-profit groups.

Lease says they will distribute checks to those groups during a special ceremony on March 9th and details will be posted on the Wintercade Facebook page. He says he’d like to thank all of the sponsors, participants and volunteers who help to make this event possible each year.

Lease says the Wintercade Committee begins meeting each year in September and the meetings get more frequent as the event gets closer in February. He says in 16 years, Wintercade has helped to generate over $225,000 which is given back to organizations in the community.

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On Friday morning at approximately 9:18 a.m., the Litchfield Police Department and the CEE-VI Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 300 block West Weisel Street in Litchfield. The warrant was in connection with an ongoing drug investigation conducted by the CEE-VI Drug Task Force and Litchfield Police Department.  During the warrant, officers seized methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  A 51-year-old man was arrested and is currently being held on Felony Charges of Third-Degree Possession of Methamphetamine and Fifth Degree Possession of Methamphetamine.  The investigation continues and more arrests are expected.

Also on Friday morning at 11:55 a.m., the Litchfield Police Department and the CEE-VI Drug Task Force with the assistance of the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 300 block South Donnelly Avenue in Litchfield. The warrant was in connection with an ongoing drug investigation conducted by the CEE-VI Drug Task Force and Litchfield Police Department. A 55-year-old man was arrested and is currently being held on an active Meeker County warrant for a previous charge of Fifth Degree Possession of Methamphetamine and also an active Mcleod County warrant for probation violation for felony Fifth Degree Possession of Drugs and misdemeanor violation of a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order. The investigation continues and more arrests can be expected.

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