March 6, 2026
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Litchfield City Council Meeting
KLFD March 3, 2026


The Litchfield City Council held a public hearing last night regarding the state historic building grant owner allocation. A couple of building owners spoke during the hearing.

One of the owners has the buildings at 19 and 21 Depot Street and wondered if funds allocated for one of the buildings could be applied towards the other building, and when the Council later approved of the preliminary distribution of funds, the request for the Depot Street owner was granted. Funds will be granted based on the square footage of the buildings in the program.

On a related note, the Council approved of BCI Construction as the construction manager for the historic building grant project. The Council also approved of hiring Jamie McCarney as the Office Lead last night, but will send the City Planner position back to the Personnel Committee for further review. City Administrator Dave Czoik says there were only four applicants for that position with one – or possibly 2 of them having the minimum qualifications.

The Council approved of golf course rates for 2026 last night on a 6-to-1 vote with Darlene Kotelnicki opposed. Czoik says most of the rates have increased about 6% from 2025. The Council also approved (on a 6-to-1 vote with Kotelnicki opposed) of a monthly rate of $10 for the walking track at the Litchfield Area Recreation Center, and to allow the senior groups who are playing cards and cribbage at the Center to continue doing so for no charge as they were grandfathered in from the former Civic Arena meeting room.

Also last night, Litchfield Fire Dept. Chief Kurt Beckstrand and Rescue Chief Blake Tangen presented their annual reports to the Litchfield City Council. The Council then approved of the fire and rescue contracts for 2026.


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Local News
Local News with Tim Bergstrom
KLFD March 2, 2026



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Local News  / Newsmaker Program
Newsmaker – Garden Gala
KLFD March 2, 2026



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Entertainment
This Day in Music
KLFD March 2, 2026


On this day in music, March 2, 1999, 59-year-old singer Dusty Springfield lost her battle with cancer. Born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O’Brien in London, the iconic artist – famed for her blonde beehive hairdo and soulful voice – rose to fame in the folk-pop trio The Springfields before going solo in 1963. Between then and 1995, she racked up 27 UK hits, among them the chart-topping “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” (a Top 5 hit in the US) and “Son of a Preacher Man,” a Top Ten favorite on both sides of the Atlantic. In 1999 she was awarded an OBE and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2003, American singer-songwriter Norah Jones began a month-long spell at the summit of the UK albums chart with her debut LP, Come Away With Me. Containing the hit single “Don’t Know Why,” the album topped the charts in thirteen other countries around the world, including the US, where it would eventually go on to sell over five million copies.

In 1963, The Four Seasons became the first group to score three consecutive No.1 hits in the US when “Walk Like A Man” began its three-week stint at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. The song’s recording session was interrupted by smoke and water seeping into the studio, resulting from a fire in the room above.

In 1991, French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack at the age of 62. Although he’s best remembered outside of France for “Je T’aime… Moi Non-Plus” – his steamy No.1 UK duet with then-girlfriend, Jane Birkin – he was a prolific songwriter and composer, with more than 550 songs and 40 soundtracks to his name.

In 1991, Madonna became the highest-debuting female artist in US pop history when “Rescue Me,” the second single from her first greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection, entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No.15. The record had previously been held by teenage singer Joy Layne, whose 1957 debut single, a cover of The Poni-Tails’ “Your Wild Heart,” debuted at No.30.

In 2008, a deluxe edition of Amy Winehouse’s second album, Back to Black, topped the UK album chart, three months after its original release. It contained a bonus disc of demos, outtakes, cover versions, and a slowed-down live rendition of “Valerie,” her Top 10 hit with producer Mark Ronson.

In 1955, rhythm and blues pioneer Bo Diddley began his first recording session for Chicago’s Chess Records, where he cut his debut single, “Bo Diddley.” The song spent two weeks at the top of the US R&B chart and nine years later became a Top 5 UK hit for Buddy Holly.

BORN ON MARCH 2

1938: Lawrence Payton (The Four Tops)
1942: Lou Reed
1948: Rory Gallagher
1950: Karen Carpenter (The Carpenters)
1962: Jon Bon Jovi
1977: Chris Martin (Coldplay)
1985: Luke Pritchard (The Kooks)


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Local News
Meeker County Gardener’s Gala
KLFD March 2, 2026


The Meeker County Gardener’s Gala is coming up on Thursday, March 12th from 5-to-8:30 p.m. in the St. Philip’s Church Social Hall in Litchfield. Admission is $20.

Master Gardener Connie Johnson says there will be two speakers – Courtney Tchida from Wild Farm Alliance who will talk about edible native plants and herbs; and Quincy Sadowski from University of Minnesota Extension who will talk about non-native plants and their native alternatives. She says both speakers will provide great gardening information and maybe encourage you to try something new in your gardening endeavors.

Johnson says there will also be vendor and information booths at the Gardener’s Gala and door prizes. She says you can register at z.umn.edu/MeekerGardenGalaReg and you can also stop at the Extension office at the Meeker County Fairgrounds to get tickets in advance. Call 320-693-5275 for more details.


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Local News
One-Vehicle Accident
KLFD March 2, 2026


The Minnesota State Patrol responded to a one-vehicle accident on Sunday morning at 8:09 on Minnesota Highway 4 at mile marker 119. A 2021 GMC Sierra, driven by 74-year-old Fredrick Boyd Weseman of Grove City was northbound on Highway 4, left the roadway and entered the west ditch.

Weseman received non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the vehicle, 71-year-old Gary Lee Weseman of Grove City, also received non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield. Also responding to the scene were the Grove City Fire Dept. and Mayo Ambulance.


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Local News
Wintercade Wrap Up
KLFD March 2, 2026


The 16th annual Wintercade Ice Fishing Contest took place on Lake Ripley in Litchfield on a very mild February 14th. An estimated 800-to-900 people attended the event.

Daniel Lease says it was a beautiful day and the ice was still thick and in good condition – and the top prizes awarded include the Bobcat UTV to Jesse Anderson, $2,000 to Barry Anderson, $1,500 to Chris Guggemos – all of Litchfield and $1,000 to Dorene Johnson of Watkins. He says they also handed out cash prizes in four fishing categories.

Lease says 90 bluegill were caught, along with 11 crappies, 1 bass, 25 northerns and 6 perch. He says they handed out over $30,000 worth of door prizes and kid’s prizes during the event which helped raise $25,000 which will be given to veteran’s organizations and other non-profit groups.

Lease says they will distribute checks to those groups during a special ceremony on March 9th and details will be posted on the Wintercade Facebook page. He says he’d like to thank all of the sponsors, participants and volunteers who help to make this event possible each year.

Lease says the Wintercade Committee begins meeting each year in September and the meetings get more frequent as the event gets closer in February. He says in 16 years, Wintercade has helped to generate over $225,000 which is given back to organizations in the community.


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