On this day in music, May 20, 2016, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) announced that UK artists accounted for one in every six albums sold worldwide. The announcement followed the success of acts like Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Sam Smith, and Adele, whose third album, 25, sold 17.4 million copies in just six weeks and broke numerous records around the globe.
In 1998, a star-studded funeral was held for legendary singer Frank Sinatra in Beverly Hills. Among the attendees were Tony Bennett, Liza Minnelli, Sophia Loren, Jack Nicholson, and Sinatra’s former wife, Mia Farrow.
In 2007, Rihanna began a consecutive ten-week run at the top of the UK pop charts with “Umbrella” ft. Jay-Z. The song, which broke British records for the decade, propelled the Barbadian singer to international superstardom. Across the Atlantic, “Umbrella” held the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks.
In 2012, 62-year-old singer, songwriter, and Bee Gees co-founder, Robin Gibb, lost his battle with cancer. Along with his brothers, Gibb rose to fame in the late 60s with hits like “To Love Somebody” and “Massachusetts,” while the following decade, the Bee Gees helped to make disco music a global phenomenon with their Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
In 2013, classic rock fans mourned the death of 74-year-old keyboardist, Ray Manzarek. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer co-founded The Doors in 1965, alongside Jim Morrison, Robbie Krieger, and John Densmore. In addition to his work with the influential LA group, Manzarek co-founded Nite City and later formed Manzarek-Krieger with his former bandmate.
In 2007, with their heavy metal anthem, “Hallelujah,” Lordi became the first Finnish act to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
In 1967, Beatles fans in the UK were given a sneak preview of the band’s new album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, when Kenny Everet premiered nearly every track on his radio show, Where It’s At. The track “A Day in the Life” was banned by BBC Light due to its perceived promotion of drug use.
BORN ON MAY 20
1944: Joe Cocker
1946: Cher
1958: Jane Wieldin (The Go-Go’s)
1959: Israel “IZ” Ka‘ano‘i Kamakawiwo‘ole
1960: Sue Cowsill (The Cowsills)
1961: Nick Heyward (Haircut 100)
1961: Dan Wilson (Semisonic)
1972: Busta Rhymes
1981: Rachel Platten
On Tuesday night at 8:03 p.m., the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at the St. John’s Catholic Church cemetery in Darwin. A responding Deputy located the vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver. The driver fled from law enforcement and a pursuit was initiated.
The short pursuit ended when the driver parked the vehicle and fled on foot. The driver, 35-year-old Brady Lietzau of Darwin, was caught and arrested without further incident. Through a preliminary investigation, it was learned that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Wright County. Lietzau was booked into the Meeker County Jail pending a first court appearance. His charges include Fleeing a Peace Officer, Receiving Stolen Property and Reckless Driving.
The Litchfield City Council has approved of the specifications and advertising for bids for the campground road. The roadway from Highway 22 to the south end of the campground along Lake Ripley was last overlaid in 2007. Mayor Ron Dingmann says the road is in very poor condition and it’s hoped that this project will significantly extend the life of the road.
Mayor Dingmann says the estimated cost of the project is $275,000 and the date of construction has yet to be determined, but it will likely begin later in the summer and they will try to work around any events going on at Lake Ripley Beach. He says the Council also approved of a recommendation from the Planning Commission on Monday evening for a future land use amendment which will allow the 4Bz Event Center at 905 West 5th Street to be converted to a single family residence, and a first reading of an ordinance to rezone the property from B1 to R1 was approved.
Mayor Dingmann says Councilman Bob Powers also brought up a request Monday evening to amend the parking ordinance to ban parking on city streets in Litchfield from November 1st to April 1st from 2-to-7 a.m. and Council members will be seeking public input on this issue over the next couple of weeks. He says Powers also wanted the City to keep flying the old state flag instead of the new flag, but a resolution to do so failed as a majority of the Council wanted to get more public input on the issue.
On Monday afternoon at 3:21, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a crash involving a school bus on Jay Avenue, south of Highway 23 in Munson Township, in Stearns County. The preliminary investigation indicates a bus operated by Richmond Bus Service was traveling southbound on Jay Avenue when it left the roadway near a curve, entered the west ditch, struck a tree, and came to rest straddling a driveway.
The driver was identified as 72-year-old Thomas Gordon Hedburg of Sartell. Approximately 30 children of various ages were on board the bus at the time of the crash. Several occupants sustained minor injuries, primarily small cuts caused by broken glass from the front window after impact with the tree. The bus sustained heavy damage to the front end and passenger side.
Emergency personnel from Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Cold Spring/Richmond Police, and Mayo Ambulance responded to the scene and confirmed the injuries were minor. Parents were notified, and the children were released to their parents or guardians at the scene. The bus was removed from the scene by a local towing company. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Drugs or alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors in this crash.
Meeker Area Partners in Prevention is once again hosting a summer scavenger hunt. The 7th annual event officially begins on June 1st and will conclude on September 11th.
Participants are encouraged to enjoy various summer activities under the categories of Fun in the Sun, Get Active, Fun at the Fair, Feed Your Soul, and Be Kind. You can find more details and the official rules on the mapplitch Facebook page. The completed game cards can be turned in to the Meeker County Health & Human Services office at 114 North Holcombe Avenue in Litchfield. Winners will be drawn on September 15th and will be notified by phone.