Local News

The grand reopening of the Current Trends Christian Gift Shop at Bethesda in Willmar is on Friday. The shop is under new management and is sporting a new name.

A special celebration is being held on Friday from 8-to-5 with the passing of a key ceremony and a blessing at 11 a.m. at the gift shop at 901 Willmar Avenue Northeast. Visitors to the shop can see the revitalized space with new items from local vendors, including unique Christian gifts, fresh flowers, homemade cards and more.

There will also be 10% off drinks at the Brother’s Bistro with proof of purchase from the gift shop on Friday. The Current Trends Christian Gift Shop plays an important role, with proceeds going directly to the Resident Life Fund through the Bethesda Foundation – enhancing the lives of the Bethesda residents.

Bethesda Foundation Board member and volunteer Karen Marcus says what started as an idea has grown into something so meaningful for the residents, team members and the community. She says it’s a passion of hers to bring joy and brighten the daily lives of those at Bethesda, and the gift shop is an important part of that. Marcus says the shop is currently raising funds to purchase Christmas gifts for all Bethesda residents across the campus

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The Meeker County Board of Commissioners has received an update from Xcel Energy officials about a 180-mile transmission line which will pass through Meeker County on its way from Lyon County to the Sherco plant in Becker. Notices for public hearings will be coming out in early October.

The public hearings will be held later in October and early November and then the recommended route will go to an administrative law judge and the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for approval by March of 2025. Negotiations with landowners for easements would take place in 2026 and the line would be operational by 2028.

The Meeker County Board has set the preliminary 2025 net levy at $17,415,859 – a 3.5% increase over 2024. The preliminary budget for 2025 is just over $51-million ($51,027,550).

The Meeker County Commissioners have moved to approve of the establishment of a Meeker County Adopt-a-Highway program for Meeker County’s State-Aid-Highway system. Public Works Director Phil Schmalz says businesses, non-profit groups, families and others may adopt 2-mile sections of the county roads for a minimum of two years and there will be more information about how to do so on the Meeker County website.

The Board has approved of a conditional use permit for property at 17887 670th Avenue of Hutchinson for a landscaping project for Rod Engel on Lake Erie in Ellsworth Township; approved of a conditional use permit for property at 22490 County-State-Aid-Highway 14 in Darwin Township at Lake Washington for a landscaping project for John Rogers; and approved of an interim use permit for Gregory & Nickie Jans for a gravel pit operation in Section 19 of Swede Grove Township.

The Commissioners approved of a proposal from Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors of Eden Prairie for the replacement of the Courthouse boiler for $58,090; and approved of Metlife as the County’s accident, critical illness and hospital care carrier for 2025-2028.

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The Litchfield City Council talked about a possible future cannabis ordinance last night. A work session will be held after the next meeting to discuss the issue.

City Engineer Chuck DeWolf gave the Council an update last night on the progress of the remodeling project at the Litchfield Public Library. He says the stucco work is getting done rapidly and should be done by next week and roofing work will also be taking place. DeWolf says some rotten material was discovered during the stucco project which will add to the cost.

A lengthy discussion took place last night on the topic of professional services, but no action was taken on that matter. The meeting was closed for the city administrator performance evaluation.

At the start of the meeting, Mayor Ron Dingmann paid tribute to former long-time city attorney Mark Wood who passed away a couple weeks ago. He says he appreciated Wood’s knowledge of city government and his passion to serve. Dingmann says Wood was on many boards that helped the community move forward. He says Wood helped people to feel valued and respected.

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The film “Screenagers – Growing up in the Digital Age” will be shown in the Litchfield High School Commons on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. It’s free and everyone is welcome – whether or not you have children in the Litchfield School District.

Lake Ripley Elementary social worker Anne Mahoney says the showing of the film is made possible with a grant from Meeker County Health & Human Services. She says she’s seen the film before which was put together by a physician named Delaney Ruston.

Mahoney says the average child spends six and a half hours a day looking at a screen and that does not include their school work or home work. She says it’s addictive as it taps in to a person’s pleasure zone. Mahoney says if you’re not able to make it to the showing of the film, you can find more information at screenagersmovie.com.

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