The 29th annual Pioneer Christmas at the Forest City Stockade will be held on Saturday from 10-to-4. Admission is just $5 for adults and it’s free for children 12 and under.
Bob Hermann says they will have all of the usual fun activities such as wagon rides, pioneer crafts, Christmas music, a visit from Santa, and the trading post above the barn, and you’ll want to dress warmly. He says they have lost three of their members this past year – Chuck Litzau who ran the trading post; Ross Haggen whose family has provided music at Stockade events; and Willis Chase who has done several sketches of Stockade buildings and scenery – and his prints have been compiled in a booklet that is available for sale.
Hermann says two red oaks have been planted at the Stockade this year – one in memory of Mary Root and the other in memory of Don & Shirley Rick. He says there will be a lady from New York City at the Stockade on Saturday who is working on a documentary about Laura Ingalls Wilder so she will be filming at the Stockade to get some pioneer footage for her project.
Mike McGhee says they will have their usual food items at the Stockade this Saturday including fry bread, homemade ice cream, root beer and cream can stew.
McGhee says a winter encampment will be set up east of the Stockade and visitors are welcome to check out the tents and see how warm they are inside. Richard Dollerschell says all of the cabins at the Stockade will be heated with their wood-burning stoves. He says visitors will want to see his model railroad.
Dollerschell says the railroad never made it to Forest City – until he built his model railroad! He says the railroad went through Litchfield which is why it became the county seat rather than Forest City. He encourages people to attend the Pioneer Christmas on Saturday at the Forest City Stockade to experience what it was like for our ancestors as they celebrated Christmas.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners held the truth-in-taxation hearing on Tuesday evening in the Government Center. The Board will approve the final levy later this month. The property tax levy being considered would be $19,010,390 – an increase of 9.16% from the previous year. The budget that the Board is considering for 2026 is $46,448,540 – an 11.1% decrease from the 2025 budget. Drivers of the property tax levy include new State and Federal requirements, costs related to mental health services, reductions in aid and cost shifts from the State of Minnesota, and personnel costs.
County Administrator Andrew Letson says throughout the budget process, the Commissioners and staff worked diligently to evaluate existing costs and made several difficult decisions to remove priorities and projects to limit the impact of the levy on taxpayers. He says the intent of the 2026 budget is to position the County well for the anticipated new costs of Federal and State policy changes that will further affect the County in 2027 and 2028.
The Meeker County Board of Commissioners approved of a resolution authorizing execution of a local bridge replacement program grant. The Meeker County Public Works Department was successful in acquiring both federal and state bridge funds for the replacement of the County-State-Aid-Highway 34 Bridge over the North Fork of the Crow River.
The State funds require an agreement between MnDOT and Meeker County. The existing Bridge #7230 is a timber beam bridge that was constructed in 1963. Recent inspections of the structure have noted decay of various timber members prompting the department to begin planning for the bridge’s replacement for several years. Recently, the construction contract for the 2026 bridge replacement was awarded to Structural Specialties of Hutchinson. Public Works has acquired a $400,000 federal grant in addition to the $667,711.93 in state funds to assist in paying for the $1.85-million project. Remaining funds will be sourced through Meeker County’s CSAH Construction account.
Public Works Director Phil Schmalz also asked the County Board to approve of a sponsorship resolution for the City of Kingston for their Local Road Improvement Program grant application.
Land Use Records Director Greg Schultz presented a list of 6 water quality projects for Meeker County Lakes for 2026 totaling $31,900 for projects on Lake Jennie, Lake Washington, Lake Minnie Belle, Lake Stella and Belle Lake for approval.
Schultz also presented several items to the Board from the Planning Commission for approval including: a conditional use permit for a landscaping project at 53020 CSAH 20 of Paynesville in Section 4 of Union Grove Township in the Lake Koronis Shoreland District; a one-year extension of a conditional use permit for a 5-megawatt solar farm at CSAH 25 and 300th Street, north of Grove City in Section 27 of Swede Grove Township; an interim use permit for aggregate mining and washing in Section 4 of Forest City Township; and an interim use permit for Josh Plantenberg for a custom exempt butcher shop (Tri-County Meats) at 50609 CSAH 3, north of Grove City in Section 31 of Union Grove Township.
On this day in music, December 3, 1965, The Beatles released their landmark album, Rubber Soul. Many fans and journalists regard the band’s sixth LP as a turning point in their discography, as the Fab Four placed a new emphasis on overall cohesiveness, as opposed to just highlighting singles. John, Paul, George, and Ringo began the writing and recording process after their August 1965 North American tour, during which they met Bob Dylan and Elvis Presley. These encounters, paired with influences from the soul and folk-rock scenes, led the Beatles to begin experimenting with their sound and expand into new sonic territories, particularly with songs like “Norwegian Wood,” “Think For Yourself,” and “In My Life.”
In 1965, The Who’s debut, My Generation, arrived in the UK. While the band recorded the LP immediately after their first singles hit the British charts (and long brushed it off as a rush job), the album has since become a defining title in rock music – particularly when it came to the group’s harder, louder sound, which was unheard of at the time. The album arrived five months later in the US, where it was titled The Who Sings My Generation and featured a different cover and a slightly altered tracklist.
In 2015, Stone Temple Pilots frontman and co-founder, Scott Weiland, suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 48. Known for his unique, versatile vocals, Weiland could be heard on such hits as “Plush,” “Interstate Love Song,” and “Vasoline.” From 2003-2008, Weiland also served as the lead vocalist for Velvet Revolver, a supergroup featuring Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, plus Dave Kushner of Wasted Youth.
In 2014, Ed Sheeran was named the most-streamed artist in the world by Spotify. At the time, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter had racked up more than 860 million streams on Spotify – 430 million of which were earned through his album, X, released earlier that year.
In 1977, Paul McCartney and Wings began a nine-week run at the top of the UK pop chart with “Mull Of Kintyre.” Influenced by Scottish folk music, the tune became the first single in the UK to sell over two million copies.
In 1965, The Beatles launched what would be their final UK tour at Glasgow’s Odeon Cinema.
In 1994, Boyz II Men became the first act since The Beatles to knock themselves off the top of the US pop chart. The feat occurred when the ballad “On Bended Knee” replaced their earlier hit, “I’ll Make Love to You,” remaining there for six consecutive weeks.
In 1955, RCA Victor announced their record deal with Elvis Presley. Before the month’s end, the label would reissue many of the artist’s earlier tracks with Sun Records.
In 2007, Diana Ross and the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson were celebrated at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.
BORN ON DECEMBER 3
1928: Andy Williams
1948: Ozzy Osbourne
1949: Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship)
1952: Don Barnes (38 Special)
1968: Montell Jordan
Christmas at Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City will be held this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the church fellowship hall. Brunch is $13 for adults, $6 for children 10 and under, and $4 for a roll and coffee – with take-outs available.
Janelle Johnson says they are going to try having two lines this year so the brunch can be served quicker, and they will have pre-packaged decorative cookies, candy, ethnic goodies – including lefse, a bake sale, quilts, crafts, cards, napkins and more. She says they’ve been doing this for three decades and everyone pitches in, with many members using their special talents.
Johnson says Trinity Lutheran Church will also be hosting the Grove City Fire & Rescue Holiday Express on Saturday, December 13th from 4:30-to-7 p.m. She says there will be a pasta meal, bake sale, sleigh rides and a visit by Santa.
Johnson says a couple of new shops opened in downtown Grove City in time for the holiday season at 204 Atlantic Avenue with Monica Watry operating Redeemed Relics, and she and her daughter, Gabby Swisher, operating Hometown Style Boutique. Gabby says they had a well-attended soft opening last weekend for Hometown Style Boutique, which will be open this Saturday from 9-to-1, and on December 11th from 4-to-7 p.m.
Swisher says they are going to offer new women’s clothing the first of the year and she will be posting the days and hours of operation on her Facebook page.