On this day in music, January 8, 2016, David Bowie released his 25th and final studio album, Blackstar. Recorded in secret with his longtime producer, Tony Visconti, the record – which coincided with Bowie’s 69th birthday – served as a final gift to fans, arriving just two days before his death from liver cancer. Drawing from a diverse array of influences, including electronic music, hip-hop, jazz, and art rock, Blackstar is considered a highlight in an already celebrated discography. The album was a critical and commercial success, topping charts around the globe, and becoming Bowie’s only No.1 in the US. It went on to win multiple Grammy Awards and a BRIT for British Album of the Year.
In 1991, 30-year-old Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark was found dead of an accidental overdose. The celebrated musician – who joined the band in 1978, not long after its formation – can be heard in many of Def Leppard’s biggest hits, including those from 1987’s Hysteria, which was the British group’s creative and commercial peak.
In 1966, The Beatles began a six-week run at the top of the Billboard 200 with Rubber Soul, which marked their seventh chart-topping album in the US. At the same time, their single “We Can Work It Out” sat atop the Billboard Hot 100 – their 11th song to reach the feat.
In 2006, The Strokes landed their first No.1 album in the UK with First Impressions of Earth, their third studio album.
In 1957, Bill Haley & His Comets embarked on Australia’s very first rock’n’roll tour.
In 1979, Rush was named Canada’s official Ambassadors of Music – proving that intricate mastery of prog-rock is the ultimate international language.
BORN ON JANUARY 8
1935: Elvis Presley
1937: Shirley Bassey
1946: Robby Krieger (The Doors)
1947: David Bowie
1958: Steve Garvey (Buzzcocks)
1973: Sean Paul
Meeker Memorial Hospital & Clinics will be combining all of its services into one facility with an addition to the hospital on South Sibley Avenue in Litchfield. Blueprints will be finalized in the coming months and ground breaking is expected to take place in June of this year.
MMH CEO Mary Ellen Wells says it will take at least two years to complete the 3-story ambulatory care addition to the building – mostly to the south of the current building – into Lockerbie Street, which is being vacated. She says the old part of the hospital will be demolished – with that area becoming green space and parking – with the entrance of the hospital facing east towards Sibley Avenue.
Wells says the hospital board and the Meeker County Board have both approved of the $50-million project. She says the hospital is still county-owned, and it’s important for Meeker County taxpayers to know that county funds are not being used for the project, but rather, the money will come from savings and from loans assumed by the hospital.
Wells says the addition will include a huge lobby where people may check in, and they are using the same architects from the 2009 hospital addition project. She says Meeker Memorial is still an independent hospital, but has an agreement with CentraCare, which is based in St. Cloud.
Dr. Deb Peterson says CentraCare owns the two clinics in Litchfield, so it will be up to them what they are going to do with them once the clinics move into the Meeker Memorial Hospital addition. She says it will be great for the doctors to have the clinics and hospital all in one facility.
Dr. Peterson says the new building will probably have kiosks where people may check in as the young people like that, but they will still have receptionists for those who prefer human contact. She says this has been a very active flu season so she encourages people to get a flu shot if they haven’t done so. Dr. Deb says it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get the flu, but if you do get it, it will be milder, with less complications. She says you should stay home if you’re not feeling well.
The Winter Reads reading program began on January 2nd at the libraries throughout Meeker County and will run through March 14th. It’s a self-paced program for adults and teens and you can sign up anytime.
The Pioneerland libraries in Meeker County will be closed on Monday, January 19th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Here are the activities for each library for the month of January, and if you have any questions, call 693-2483:
Litchfield
Wednesdays, 10:15-10:45 am: Baby/Toddler Story Time
Fridays, 10:15-11:15 am: Kids’ Story Time
Thurs 1/8, 6:30 pm: Bilingual Storytime
Sat 1/10, 1:30-3:30 pm: Teen Program: Glue Gun Animal Miniatures
Tues 1/13, 12 pm: Adult Book Club: The Maid
Tues 1/13, 6:30-7:30 pm: LEGO Night. Age 14 and under.
Wed 1/14, 2-2:45 pm: Homeschool Connections. Sign-up required.
Thurs 1/15, 12:30-1:30 pm: Knitting Club. All ages.
Tues 1/20, 6:30-7:30 pm: Board Games. All ages.
Wed 1/21, 7 pm: Mystery Book Club: The Never Game
Thurs 1/29, 6:30 pm: Adult Arts & Crafts: Wooden winter sign. Sign-up required.
Sat 1/31, 1:30-3:30 pm: Teen Program: Green screen videos
Dassel
Fridays, 10 am: Story Hour
Thurs 1/8, 4-5:30 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-you-own craft program for adults and older teens.
Tues 1/13, 6 pm: Dassel Friends of the Library meeting
Tues 1/27, 1 pm: Adult Book Club: Atmosphere
Grove City
Thursdays, 3-5 pm: Crafternoon. Bring-your-own craft program for adults.
Tues 1/13, 2 pm: Storytime
Thurs 1/15, 4-5 pm: Knitting Club
Tues 1/20, 7 pm: ATGC Book Club at Atwater Library: The Only Woman in the Room
Wed 1/21, 4-5 pm: Board Games. All ages.
Cosmos
Sat 1/24, 10:30 am-12:30 pm: Craft Circle. Bring-your-own craft program for adults and older teens.
Of all of Bob Hermann’s accomplishments, he is probably best recognized as the promoter of the Forest City Stockade. The long-time community leader passed away on Sunday.
Robert “Bob” Hermann grew up on a farm northeast of Litchfield, graduated from Litchfield High School in 1960, joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1963 – serving for 6 years, married Betty Rick in 1966, farmed in the Forest City area – raising polled Hereford cattle, and sold Pioneer seed corn.
Hermann was a lifetime member of Ostmark Lutheran Church in rural Watkins – serving on numerous committees with the church, served on the Litchfield School Board for 21-years, and became an active member of the Forest City Stockade Committee in the late 1970s. While promoting the Pioneer Christmas about a month ago on KLFD Radio, he spoke about getting involved in the building of the replica Stockade and cabin in 1976.
Bob and Betty Hermann gave tours to thousands of school-age children and adult visitors over the past half century. Bob was also a charter member of the Kingston Lion’s Club, served on the Meeker County Park Board for 20 years, served as a chairman of the Peanut Butter and Milk Festival Committee, and worked with the Compassionate Friends organization, supporting other parents who lost a child, following the death of their son, Todd.
In 2009, the Minneapolis Aquatennial awarded Bob as an Honorary Commodore Ambassador for his dedication to community service. Bob was inducted into the Litchfield High School Hall of Fame in 2022. Visitation for Bob Hermann will be on Friday from 2-to-7 p.m. at Ostmark Lutheran Church, and also on Saturday from 10-to-11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m.
The Peanut Butter & Milk Festival Committee is meeting every Tuesday evening this month – leading up to the annual Festival which is scheduled for the week of January 31st through February 7th. Plans are already firming up for the big event as 10 Hartford, Alabama residents will be traveling to Litchfield at the end of this month.
This year’s student delegates who will be arriving in Meeker County that week for the sister-city exchange trip between Litchfield and Hartford, Alabama will include Connor Childs, Hunter Brooks, Trenton Thompson, Vince Gervasoni, Ruthie Dawsey, and Addi Mae Habbard – who are all seniors, and Callie Cotton who is a junior. The adult delegates are Deni & Robby Cotton (Callie’s parents) and Leslie Habbard (Geneva County High School Principal & Addi Mae’s mother).
The group will go snowmobiling at the Roger & Janet Huhn farm by Lake Manuella on February 1st at 2 p.m. and then attend a chili & soup supper that evening at the Forest City Threshers building from 6-to-8 p.m. They’ll tour several Meeker County dairy facilities on February 2nd and then travel to the State Capitol and the Mall of America on February 3rd. On February 4th, they will tour the Litchfield School District and some businesses in Litchfield. They will go skiing and tubing at Powder Ridge on February 5th and then attend a potluck banquet that evening at St. Philip’s Church in Litchfield. Their week will wrap up on February 6th with tours of more Litchfield businesses, along with the G.A.R. Hall and the Forest City Stockade. The public is welcome to join them during the February 1st events and for the potluck banquet.
Everyone is welcome to get involved in the Committee. The next meeting will be on January 13th at 7 p.m. in the Litchfield High School ag room.
