Kenneth J. Scholtes, 77, of Litchfield died Wednesday, April 16, at St. Cloud Hospital. Funeral arrangements are pending with Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield.

Theodore William (Ruotsinoja) Root, 81, of Kingston, died April 8 at the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla.
A memorial service is planned at noon Saturday, April 19, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kingston with the Rev. Michael Nelson officiating.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has published its 2008 Directory of Minnesota Organic Farms.  The
directory lists more than 200 of Minnesota’s certified organic producers, organized both by county and by the type of organic crops, livestock, fruits, or vegetables produced.  No farm was listed without its permission.

Lance Ahlrich, 44, of Clearwater, died Sunday. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to services at the church.

Michael J. Maus, 46, of Duluth, formerly of Litchfield, died Thursday, April 10, at his home. A memorial service
will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at First Lutheran Church
in Litchfield, with the Rev. David Sorensen officiating. Visitation will one hour prior to the service at church Tuesday. Interment will be
in Ripley Cemetery, Litchfield.

Litchfield Municipal Airport is among 14 airports around the state that will receive improvement grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., announced April 10 that the airports in Greater Minnesota will receive the funds to be used for various airport improvement projects, including safety upgrades, runway expansions and hangar construction.
 

Esther Lindstrom, 93, of Litchfield, died April 3 at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. Funeral services were Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Litchfield.

Lance Bengtson, 51, of Spicer, died April 2 at his home. Funeral services were Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church in New London.

Jean Dalbec, 64, of Waverly, died Monday at the Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center. Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Church of St. Mary in Waverly. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday and will continue on Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m., all at the church.

Eden Valley and Litchfield had bloodmobile visits recently, with 193 units of blood collected.

Eden Valley collected 81 units, exceeding its goal of 70 units, with two deferrals and six first-time donors. Litchfield set a goal of 75 units for its “O” draw on March 27 and wound up with 60 units collected, five deferrals and two first-time donors. The March 28 regular draw in Litchfield saw 52 units collected, three deferrals and three first-time donors.

The bloodmobile will visit Dassel, Watkins and Litchfield from May 27-30.

Milbourne Leske, 75, of Hutchinson, Minn., died March 29 at the Lakeview Ranch in rural Darwin. Funeral services were Tuesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Acoma Township, McLeod County, Minn.

Samuel Prieve, 64, of Humansville, MO (formerly of Dassel and Hutchinson) died March 16 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, MO. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. May 22 at Lake Jennie Covenant Church in Dassel, MN.

After more than seven months of negotiations, the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board and the teachers’ union approved an agreement for the 2007-2009 school years.

The two-year contract gives teachers a 0.8 percent increase in salary the first year and a 1.2 percent salary increase in the second year.

“I think that shows the staff’s willingness to do what’s best for the district,” said Mike McNab, teacher and union negotiator.

The Greenleaf State Recreation Area citizens advisory committee will meet Monday, April  7, in the basement meeting room of Meeker County Courthouse.

The meeting, originally scheduled for Monday but postponed due to the late winter snowstorm that blew through the area, will run from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Eden Valley-Watkins High school graduate Ryan Rice will be featured in a special vocal concert, “Songs of Travel” at 7 p.m. April 5 at Ostmark Lutheran Church, rural Watkins.

Morris "Morrie" E. Evans, 90, of Litchfield died Thursday at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Litchfield. Funeral services were Sunday at Augustana Memorial Chapel in Litchfield.

Anna Brunberg, 93, died at Haven Homes in Maple Plain, Minn. on Friday. Funeral services will be Wednesday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Grove City.

Contract negotiations continue with Roger Rueckert to become the next
part-time, interim superintendent for the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City
School District. The School Board’s negotiating committee recently met
with Rueckert to discuss a contract for the 2008-09 school year with
options for two more years. The committee has a few things to clarify
and expects to have a contract proposal for the School Board to consider
at its April 28 meeting.

After more than seven months of negotiations, the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City School Board and the teachers’ union approved an agreement for the 2007-2009 school years. The two-year contract gives teachers a 0.8 percent increase in salary the first year and a 1.2 percent salary increase in the second year.

A proposed outdoor swimming pool and water park in Litchfield would cost about $2.5 million.

Now, supporters and City Council members just have to figure out if the city can afford it.

Litchfield Swimming Pool Steering Committee members and representatives of USAquatics Inc. presented their Aquatic Facility Feasibility Study to the City Council March 17.

The City Council did not act on the report, instead responding to it with questions — about cost, availability of lifeguards, and whether it should be an indoor or outdoor facility.