On this day in music, April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain’s body was discovered by an electrician at his Seattle home, several days after the Nirvana frontman took his own life. News broke at 9:40 AM on radio station KXRX and soon spread across the world, while local fans held vigil at the scene. Just one month earlier, the 27-year-old grunge icon had suffered a drug overdose while on tour in support of the band’s third album In Utero. The band cut the European run short, in hopes that Cobain would seek treatment.
In 1977, The Clash released their self-titled debut in the UK, which peaked at No.12 on the chart. Interestingly, the punk band’s label, CBS, initially refused to release the album in the US, deeming it “unfriendly” for radio play. The Clash quickly became one of America’s biggest-selling import records of all time, however, with 100,000 copies brought into the country. It eventually got an official US release in 1979, but with a different track listing.
In 1997, the pioneering American singer-songwriter Laura Nyro succumbed to ovarian cancer at the age of 49. Born in the Bronx, she signed her first record deal as a teenager and forged a unique style that fused soul, gospel, jazz, and Brill Building pop. The first of her nine studio first albums was 1967’s More Than A New Discovery, which contained two of her most famous songs, “Stoney End” (later recorded by Barbra Streisand) and “Wedding Bell Blues” (a No.1 US hit for The 5th Dimension). Among the many artists who covered her songs were Suzanne Vega, Roseanne Cash, and Frank Sinatra.
In 2001, ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton’s debut single “What Took You So Long” became her first and only solo No.1. The singer, dubbed “Baby Spice,” was the fourth member of the group to score a solo chart-topper.
In 2010, 64-year-old Malcolm McLaren, who rose to fame as the Sex Pistols’ manager, lost his battle with cancer. A former art school student, he opened a clothing store called Let It Rock in the early 70s with fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and played a key role in the birth of punk rock. He also established himself as a recording artist, releasing seven albums between 1983 and 2005 and scoring ten UK hit singles, including 1983’s “Double Dutch.”
In 1991, the influential UK trip-hop collective Massive Attack released their groundbreaking debut, Blue Lines, which included the UK hit single “Unfinished Sympathy.” The album was featured in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
In 1967, Sandie Shaw became the first British female artist to win the Eurovision Song Contest with “Puppet On A String.” It was also the singer’s third and final UK No.1.
BORN ON APRIL 8
1929: Jacques Brel
1942: Leon Huff (Producer, co-founder of Philadelphia International Records)
1947: Steve Howe (Yes)
1951: Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)
1962: Izzy Stradlin (Guns N’ Roses)
1963: Julian Lennon
1971: Darren Jessee (Ben Folds Five)
1984: Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend)
1989: Matthew Healy (The 1975)
The Litchfield City Council has approved of replacing the dissolved air flotation unit at the Wastewater plant. A quote of $61,820 from Minnesota Mechanical Solutions of Waite Park was approved by the City Council on Monday evening.
Mayor Ron Dingmann says the Council also hired Bryce Manning as the Golf Course Manager; approved of having the staff get a quote for a new community sign; will have a proposal put together for the next meeting regarding cemetery stone maintenance; and will have staff put a policy together for replacing trees along Swift Avenue. He says some trees have been removed and will need to be replaced, and the emerald ash borer issue will need to be addressed over the next few years.
Mayor Dingmann says the Council discussed a request for using the Litchfield Area Recreation Center for a gun show at the end of November, but since that’s a busy time at the LARC and as some Council members felt that the facility should be used only for recreational events, a resolution was approved to deny the gun show request and to put a one-year moratorium in place, as of April 15th, that the LARC should be used only for recreational or wellness events.
Mayor Dingmann says he voted against the resolution as he felt that a moratorium tied their hands. He says Owen Boerma also put a schedule of summer hours together for the LARC, but it was tabled.
Three juveniles have been arrested for making threats against the Willmar School District which led to classes being cancelled Tuesday. Willmar Police Chief Mike Holme says after the threats were reported to police on Monday afternoon, they worked with school district officials, and after the investigation and interviews with several people, three juveniles were arrested and taken to Prairie Lakes Youth Programs. Holme said there is no threat to school children, staff or the public and the investigation will continue.
Willmar Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Adams says the investigation was launched after a note containing a threatening message was discovered at the middle school Monday, referencing specific school sites and staff members. Due to a lack of immediate information regarding the credibility of the note, the district opted to close all buildings on Tuesday to allow law enforcement the necessary time to review video evidence and conduct interviews.
Adams says school counselors and mental health practitioners will be stationed at all district buildings to provide support for students and staff following this week’s events and said the actions carry severe consequences. Willmar Public Schools will strictly enforce district disciplinary policies to the maximum extent. He said “What may be intended as a joke can lead to serious, life-altering consequences. We urge parents to have conversations with their children about the gravity of these actions and the impact they have on our community.”
Willmar Public Schools extends its gratitude to district leadership, building security personnel, and the Willmar Police Department for their tireless work and collaborative response throughout the investigation
Each day a business will be featured as “Business of the Day” and every time their commercial is aired be the 7th caller and win a chance to receive KLFD Bucks to be spent at our “Business of the Day” locations.
Monday thru Friday, at 4 pm we will draw out a winner to be put into our final drawing to be held sometime later in April. Once your name has been drawn out daily and put into the final drawing, you are no longer qualified to call in. Otherwise, you can keep calling in once a day to qualify.
Our sponsors include: Miller Automotive, Litchfield Liquors, DC Diesel Tek, El Chilero, Parts City Auto Parts, Scott’s Auto, Litchfield Chrysler, Litchfield Licensing, Davis Motors, Mid Country Bank, Queen Bee’s Bar & Grill, A.M. Maus & Son, Litchfield Eagles Club, SJP Designs, Central Counties Cooperative, Edina Realty, Quality Autowerx
Meeker County Public Works Director Phil Schmalz presented a contract to the Meeker County Board for paving County-State-Aid-Highway 20. He says costs are included in the 2026 budget for the CSAH 20 paving contract and costs will be funded 100% by CSAH Construction Funds.
The Commissioners moved to award the CSAH 20 paving contract to Knife River of Sauk Rapids for an estimated total cost of $1,434,740.42. The Board also moved to award the 2026 County-Wide CSAH Pavement Marking Contract to Sir Lines-A-Lot of Edina for an estimated total cost of $99,825.48. The Commissioners also approved of a resolution establishing a bridge replacement priority list.
As part of the consent agenda, the Meeker County Commissioners moved to approve the purchase of a John Deere X738 with a 60-inch deck from Haug Implement Company at a cost of $16,130.27; approved of the 2026 Aquatic Invasive Species grants; and approved of the advanced correctional healthcare jail medical services contract.
The Meeker County Board also approved of the community response to opioids program guidelines as presented by Health & Human Services Director Tina Schenk; and received the annual Adult & Children’s Mental Health report from Supervisor Syndi Raiber.