The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a fatal crash on Friday afternoon at 3:03 on Minnesota Highway 55 in Manannah Township in Meeker County. A 1996 Kenworth semi truck was stationary – eastbound on Highway 55 – waiting to turn left into a driveway – driven by 73-year-old Thomas Joseph Haag of Eden Valley. A 2002 Kenworth semi truck was eastbound on Highway 55 – driven by 57-year-old David Allen Hofstadter of Burtrum. The vehicles collided east of Lakewood Road. Hofstadter died. Also responding to the scene were Stearns & Meeker County Sheriffs offices, Eden Valley Police, Fire & Rescue, and Centra Care Ambulance.
Meeker County Dairy Princess Paige Frenchick was named as one of the 10 finalists for Princess Kay of the Milky Way back in May and she is in the Twin Cities this week for events leading up to Wednesday night’s coronation. A busload of supporters from Meeker County will be leaving the Fieldgate Cheese Store Wednesday afternoon to get to the 72nd annual Princess Kay of the Milky Way pageant at the Minnesota State Fair.
The new Princess Kay will be crowned on the eve of the Minnesota State Fair on August 20th by Rachel Visser of Hutchinson who is the reigning Princess Kay of the Milky Way. Besides Paige, the other finalists include Natalie Clemenson of Zumbrota – representing Goodhue County; Monica Evers of Kellogg – representing Wabasha County; Nicole Hauschildt of Zumbro Falls – representing Wabasha County; Alexis Hoefs of New Prague – representing Le Sueur County; April Klaphake of Sauk Centre – representing Stearns County; Heidi Montag of Sauk Rapids – representing Benton County; Lauren Steffl of Sleepy Eye – representing Brown County; Malorie Thorson of Waverly – representing Wright County; and Haylie Wielenberg of Long Prairie –representing Todd County.
Paige Frenchick is the daughter of Melissa Tessmer and Josh Frenchick. She’s a Biology major at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Paige hopes to continue dairy farming and go into dairy reproductive services upon graduation. On campus, Paige is part of the Beta of Clovia Sorority, Gopher Dairy Club, the Agricultural Business Club, and the Agricultural Education, Communication, and Marketing Club. Outside of school, Paige enjoys cooking, running, hiking, and listening to music. She helps on her family’s 28-cow Jersey dairy farm, just outside of Manannah, and says milking cows is her favorite job on the farm.
After months of planning, preparation and promotion, the Songs of Summer Festival has arrived. It is being held at Memorial Park by Lake Ripley in Litchfield this evening. Gates open at 4 and the music will continue through 11 o’clock tonight.
Amanda Nelson says the musical acts include Michael Shynes, followed by South 40, and then the Fabulous Armadillos will perform from about 8:30-to-11. She says there will be non-profit vendors there selling food and drinks, and they will be collecting freewill donations for admission to the event so give whatever you are able to give – as everyone is welcome.
Sarah Jones says the Songs of Summer Festival helps to raise money each year that they grant to various youth-related organizations in the community and this year they are helping the Spitfire Special Olympics Team, the Meeker County 4H Dog Project and Boy Scout Troop 353. She says there are so many sponsors – on all levels – who help to make the Songs of Summer Festival possible.
Jones says there is a fantastic board that has been working all year to get tonight’s Songs of Summer Festival organized. She says they will be selling t-shirts and can koozies at their booth. Come hungry, bring your lawn chairs – and a freewill donation – and enjoy lots of great music tonight at Memorial Park in Litchfield.