The Litchfield High School Marching Band took GRAND CHAMPION and first place in Class AA last night at the Rose Fest Parade in Roseville. Next parade is Friday evening in Sauk Rapids.
The Meeker County Master Gardeners have their Garden Tour coming up on July 14th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. There are 5 gardens on this year’s tour and they are clustered in the Highway 15 area – south of Dassel.
Master Gardener Connie Johnson says the gardens include those of Bev & Dave Pearson, Andrea Patterson, Lori & Jeff Dahlberg, Butch Peterson and Tammy & Roger Field. She says signs will be posted that evening directing people to the gardens and you may learn something new or get ideas for your own garden.
Johnson says tickets are $10 and you can get them in advance at KLFD, Stockman’s Garden Center, the Extension Office or get them that evening at any of the gardens on the tour. She says for an additional $20, you can sign up to ride a bus that will be leaving from the Litchfield Civic Arena, but you need to sign up for that by July 3rd and there’s a limit of 23 people. Johnson says if you have any questions, call the Extension office at 320-693-5275.
The Litchfield School Board met last night. Business Manager Jesse Johnson presented the preliminary budget for 2026-27.
Superintendent Susan Burris says the Litchfield School Board and the administration has been contemplating over the past few months the need to go to voters in November with an operating referendum and/or a capital projects levy. She says a capital projects levy would address some of the building needs in the district facilities – especially at the Wagner Building, and without an operating referendum, the district will be looking at some pretty significant budget cuts.
Burris says specific ballot questions will be finalized at the July 13th Litchfield School Board meeting. She says, in the meantime, there will be information on the school district website and in the Litchfield Rail.
Also last night, the Litchfield School Board had a resolution to accept several donations including $459.50 from the VFW for Litchfield Middle School 8th grade English; $5,000 from Youth Baseball Association for Litchfield High School for the baseball program; $3,974.70 from the FFA Alumni Association for the FFA program for the state convention; $500 from Litchfield Golf & Community Partners for Lake Ripley Elementary for the Jumpstart program; $1,200 from Litchfield Golf & Community Partners for girls golf for hitting mats; and $1,200 from Litchfield Golf & Community Partners for boys golf for hitting mats.
The Litchfield Marching Band had a busy weekend. On Saturday they took first place in Class AA in Owatonna. They also got the awards for Best Winds and Best Color Guard.
From there they traveled to Waconia for the Lake Waconia Band Festival and received first place in Class AA and also was awarded Best Colorguard, Best Winds and Best Drumline.
They marched on Sunday in Hutchinson. No awards were awarded as this was an exhibition parade.
Tonight they will travel to Roseville to participate in the Rose Parade.