On Saturday morning at 6:55, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a man who had suffered significant burns. Meeker County Deputies, Dassel Fire & Rescue, Allina Ambulance and Lifelink III responded to the scene at a residence in the 70000 block of 178th Street in Collinwood Township.
Deputies learned that 46-year-old Jeffery Holmquist of Dassel was a victim of a gas explosion inside a fish house causing severe burns over a significant portion of his body. Holmquist was flown by LifeLink III from the scene to Hennepin County Medical Center where he was being treated for his burns. Holmquist later died from his injuries. The State Fire Marshall responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.
Ecumen of Litchfield observed Assisted Living Week this past week. For the 4th year in a row, Ecumen has been voted as best assisted living facility in Meeker County.
Senior Housing Consultant Nicole Larson says they had some special activities each day last week for their residents. She says this week is Adult Day Services Week, so people are welcome to stop in to visit with Dawn Doty and see what they have to offer.
Larson says Ecumen will have booths both at tomorrow’s health expo in the Atwater Community Center, and on Saturday in downtown Litchfield during the Fallin’ into Fun Festival. She says Center Bank is donating proceeds from their Burgers for a Cause this Thursday to Ecumen to help with the development of their new fitness room.
Larson says Burgers for a Cause is on Thursday at Center Bank from 11-to-1 and from 4:30-to-5:30. She says if anyone has questions about housing at Ecumen or wants to get on her waiting list, they should call her at 320-373-6370.
Ecumen Care Consultant Brittany Schutz says Home Care and Hospice services are available through Ecumen of Litchfield, and they have a grief support group meeting on October 2nd at 1:30 p.m. in the Ecumen Chapel. She says there is a Meeker-McLeod Provider Expo at the Fairgrounds in Hutchinson on October 8th from 9-to-2 with some speakers and entertainment.
Schutz says if you would like more information about Ecumen’s Home Care and Hospice services, call 693-7367.
A Meeker County jury has found a Shakopee woman guilty in the drug related-death of a Litchfield man. The trial for 27-year-old Jaimee Traylor was held last week in Litchfield, and on Thursday the jury returned guilty verdicts to the two charges against her, 3rd Degree Murder and 3rd Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance. Traylor will be sentenced January 3rd.
Traylor was arrested after the death of a 60-year-old Litchfield man on July 31st of 2023. The victim died from fentanyl, methamphetamine and xylazine and prosecutors believe Traylor sold him the drugs.
The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office has 3 drones which can be utilized for various situations. The community came forward generously last year to help with funding for the new technology.
Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says several businesses and individuals made donations as more than $31,000 was raised. He says there are restrictions on how the drones may be used.
Sheriff Cruze says the drones will not be used to invade peoples’ privacy. He says one of the main uses is for locating missing persons, and in the first week of having a drone, the Sheriff’s Office was able to use it to recover a stolen vehicle.
Deputy Ryan Schutz says search and rescue is the primary use for the drones and two of them have thermal capabilities. He says he used one of the drones last winter to find a suspect who had fled on foot, got stuck in a swamp and needed to be rescued. Deputy Schutz says there are three people at the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office who are licensed to use the drones and they go through training every 3 months.