On Saturday, October 26, 2024, nine students from the 8th grade band at Litchfield middle school attended the annual Honor Band Festival at Benson High School. This festival brought together 75 students from 13 area schools. The event was capped with a public performance at the end of the day.
Middle School Band Director Dr. Kelly Taylor says this festival gives them a chance to highlight the Litchfield students. He says they get a chance to play with some outstanding musicians, learn from a guest conductor and put together an amazing concert in just a few short hours.
This year, representing Litchfield were Dani Krohse – Flute, Aili Fredrichs – Oboe, Mila Bjorkamn – Clarinet, Olive Caron – Alto Saxophone, Shaelyn Blake – French Horn, Claire Beckstrand – Trumpet, Rachel Morkrid – Baritone, Elijah Ostvig – Tuba and Evelyn Culbertson – Percussion.
The Litchfield High School Drama Department presents “Footloose” October 31st, and November 1st and 2nd at 7 p.m. and on November 3rd at 2 p.m. at the Bernie Aaker Auditorium. Tickets are on sale at the Litchfield High School office, online, and will be sold at the door.
William Pennertz says it’s a musical, so people may recognize some of the songs from the Kevin Bacon movie in the 1980s. He says he’s in the lead role of Ren McCormick who moves from Chicago to a small Midwestern town, and he loves to dance.
Pennertz says even though dancing is illegal in the small town where “Footloose” takes place, there is a lot of choreography in the production. Zariah Haynie says her character, Ariel Moore, is the daughter of the town’s preacher and she rebels against him. There are about two dozen cast members in “Footloose” along with several crew members.
A dinner was held yesterday at the Litchfield Opera House to benefit victims of the hurricanes and floods that devastated the southeastern United States earlier this month. The Thrivent Action Team event raised money for Samaritan’s Purse for direct aid.
Karen Urdahl says Samaritan’s Purse is headquartered in Boone, North Carolina which was kind of in the bullseye of the devastation. She says the organization is constantly helping disaster victims around the world and in other parts of the U.S.
Urdahl says Franklin Graham, the head of Samaritan’s Purse, is one of those with no electricity, water or heat in his home. To make a donation, go to samaritanspurse.org.
