On Sunday afternoon at 4:07, a Meeker County Deputy stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of 3rd Street South in Dassel. The driver who was later identified as 52-year-old Steven Oachs of Watertown, gave the deputy a false name. Oachs fled from the deputy on foot and into a corn field. Oachs came out of the corn field and was picked up by friend in a vehicle. Deputies stopped the vehicle, and Oachs fled on foot again into the corn field. Deputies set up a perimeter, used drones, and called the MN State Patrol helicopter to assist. Oachs was not located. Oachs has multiple drug-related warrants for his arrest. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Oachs is encouraged to call the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office. Also assisting at the scene were the Wright County Sheriff’s Office and Litchfield Police.
A special Halloween-themed concert is coming up at the Litchfield Opera House on Saturday, October 17th. The Hexenball will get started with a taco bar at 6 p.m. and music at 7 p.m.
Connie Lies says the concert is $10, and then it’s $10 extra if you want the tacos, beverage and dessert, and if you do plan to eat, she would appreciate a call at 320-221-6679 so that she can order enough food. She says the concert will feature Hannibal Alchemista, Waar Party, Blaq Justice and Moonshie Sax.
Lies says Hannibal is our acupuncturist in Litchfield and he was playing the piano one day at the Litchfield Opera House and she told him he should perform some time at the Opera House and they continued talking about other people he knew who played instruments and the idea came together to have a Halloween-themed concert. She says the proceeds will go toward the continuing preservation of the Litchfield Opera House as there is always something that needs updating.
Lies says the balcony is now open and they are saving money to eventually put on a new roof. She says the Opera House will also be hosting its annual Craft Fair on November 14th and they could use more vendors, so again, call 320-221-6679 for more details.
The G.A.R. Hall in Litchfield will be hosting another Civil War Roundtable meeting next Thursday – October 8th – at 1:30 p.m. Litchfield native Brian Pease will be speaking.
Museum Executive Director Danelle Erickson says Pease is the historian at the Minnesota State Capitol and conducts very interesting tours there in St. Paul. She says Pease will be speaking at the G.A.R. Hall on Thursday about regiments in Meeker County during the Civil War.
Erickson says the Meeker County Museum will have some scavenger hunts going on during the MEA break later this month if kids need something to do, and the museum is a great place to go if you are researching family history as they have old newspapers, microfilm and other sources. She says the museum at 308 North Marshall Avenue is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10-to-4 and Saturdays from noon-to-4. For more information, go to meekercomuseum.org.
The meat raffle is starting up again this Sunday at Prospects Restaurant at the Litchfield Golf Club at noon. There will be 8 rounds at one-dollar per ticket.
Carl Minton from Litchfield Golf & Community Partners says there will be chicken, pork and beef from Carlson Meat Market in Grove City and there will also be a $20 Prospects gift card. He says they use the proceeds from their meat raffle to help support many local causes which are usually youth-related such as Community Education summer golf.
Minton says Litchfield Golf & Community Partners also supports the Breakfast Bag and Jump Start programs at Lake Ripley Elementary School, the Songs of Summer Festival, Litchfield Community Theatre, the food shelf, after prom, and they give away two $1,000 scholarships each year. He says so far this year, they’ve donated over $15,000 to various organizations and in the past 5 years, they’ve donated over $100,000. Minton says we are fortunate to have such a nice golf course in Litchfield and they appreciate the support they receive from the public.