MONTEVIDEO

1 year after it began, BCA investigation into possible Minnesota ‘hit job’ set to wrap up

Trisha Taurinskas — Fri, 31 May 2024 11:31:00 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — One year after it began its investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is preparing to wrap up its review of the Montevideo Police Department's investigation into the suspicious death of 36-year-old Refugio Rodriguez, who was found dead on Sept. 20, 2020, along a popular walking path in Montevideo, Minnesota.

A representative of the BCA confirmed the impending closure of the review in an email Wednesday, May 29.

The BCA opened review of Rodriguez’s death in February 2023 after a Forum News Service investigation revealed errors in the Montevideo Police Department’s initial investigation, which promptly closed the case after labeling it a suicide without following potentially promising leads and processing what appeared to be crucial evidence.

Rodriguez’s family told Forum News Service this week it remains frustrated with critical errors committed during the initial investigation. They continue to believe his death was the result of foul play.

Investigative documents obtained by Forum News Service revealed four people provided the Montevideo Police Department with the same story in the days after his death: Rodriguez’s life had been threatened by one individual multiple times for his alleged role as a confidential informant for law enforcement.

The named individual had allegedly put a 'hit' out on Rodriguez.

The Montevideo Police Department made no attempt to contact the individual who allegedly threatened Rodriguez’s life. Alleged accomplices were not interviewed, either.

Discrepancies regarding the scene of the death were also discovered in the medical examiner’s final summary and the official police report, raising questions about the accuracy of information provided to the medical examiner’s office by deputies at the scene.

Expert insight provided to Forum News Service in 2022 also raised questions about errors in police procedure that compromised evidence collected from the death scene and failed to document critical details related to the hose found around Rodriguez’s neck.

As the Forum News Service investigative series continued, the Montevideo Police Department issued a terse statement.

“The Montevideo Police Department has asked the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to review Refugio Rodriguez’s death investigation to determine whether the cause of death was indeed suicide,” Montevideo Police Chief Ken Schule said in a emailed statement to Forum News Service on Feb. 27, 2023. “The BCA has agreed to review this investigation.”

Processing the death scene

Initial reports from the Montevideo Police Department indicated Rodriguez was found by a walker in the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2020 hanging from a tree in Chinhinta Park, alongside a paved walking path.

In Forum News Service's 2022 interview with Schule, the Montevideo police chief, he revealed that Rodriguez was found with his knees on the ground and a garden hose wrapped around his neck. The hose was connected to a tree, located alongside the walking path.

Officers at the scene cut the hose with a pocket knife, compromising what could have been evidence related to Rodriguez’s death. It is not clear whether officers wore gloves in the process to refrain from contaminating the death scene.

Sal Rastrelli, a retired crime scene investigator with more than 30 years of experience specializing in cases involving suicides and homicides, spoke with Forum News Service in 2022 after reviewing the police report, medical examiner’s report and available crime scene photos.

“In this particular case, apparently they don't have a crime scene unit. So what they should have a protocol for, especially in a serious case like this one, a very suspicious death, is to call the local larger agency that has a crime scene unit and ask for assistance,” Rastrelli said.

Although this was initially considered a suspicious death, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was not called to process the scene — a standard practice in Minnesota when homicide could be a possible cause of death.

Rastrelli also noted that responding officers failed to document critical details regarding the height at which the hose was wrapped around the tree. Considering there was no ladder found near Rodriguez’s body, that detail could be critical in determining how — if his death was a suicide — he was able to maneuver himself to that height.

Responding officers also did not collect hair and fiber from Rodriguez’s clothing and did not document whether there were foot impressions around his body, according to information gleaned from the police report. There was no information related to the origin of the hose.

Officers indicated in the police report that they reached inside Rodriguez’s pockets — a move that could have also compromised the scene.

“There's no reason at that point to remove anything,” Rastrelli said. “Don't look for an ID. Don't do anything. Leave the scene alone. Just secure it. That's the job of the first responding officer. Then, of course, once that's done, they can take a few photographs that show, ‘This is the way I found it and I left it alone.’ ”

Instead, Rodriguez’s body was promptly sent for an autopsy to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

A ‘hit’ out on his life

The Montevideo Police Department began investigating the case for potential foul play the day Rodriguez was found after receiving a call from the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

The medical examiner relayed concerns from the family that the death could possibly be a homicide, citing the hit out on Rodriguez’s life.

Hours after his body was taken away and the death scene was open to the public, officers collected cigarette butts near the scene of his death, which were placed into evidence, according to the police report.

Four individuals interviewed separately told officers the same story: Rodriguez had told them in the days before his death that there was a hit out on his life — and he believed he was going to be killed, according to the police report.

Three people provided law enforcement with the same name of the person who allegedly had the hit out on him. An additional person provided the same story, without a name.

More than one individual provided police with the names of two other people Refugio believed to be likely accomplices.

The Montevideo Police Department did not attempt to make contact with the individuals Refugio claimed had threatened his life, according to the police report.

Schule said in a 2022 interview with Forum News Service that he was not able to say why his department made that choice, stating that he wasn’t the lead investigator.

“I couldn’t answer that for you,” he said.

Schule said the Montevideo Police Department decided to close out the case one month later, after receiving the final summary from the medical examiner’s office.

The medical examiner’s summary

The medical examiner’s final summary takes into account the examination of the body and details from law enforcement related to the death scene and corresponding investigations.

Discrepancies discovered in the police report and medical examiner’s report called into question the accuracy of information provided by the police department to the medical examiner.

The police report filed by the first officer on the scene stated that he removed Rodriguez’s wallet and bag of crystalline substance from his shorts.

The medical examiner’s final summary states that Rodriguez’s wallet, “bag of meth,” cellphone and cigarettes were found nearby his body. That information was provided to the medical examiner by the Montevideo Police Department.

The medical examiner’s final summary also indicates that Refugio was found “partially suspended from a tree beside a walking path by means of a garden hose around his neck.”

There is no indication that Rodriguez was discovered on his knees.

Because of this statement in the medical examiner’s final summary, Rodriguez’s family believed he was found hanging from a tree. They learned during Forum News Service’s 2022 investigation that he had been found on his knees.

No time of death was indicated in the autopsy report.

“In consideration of the known circumstances surrounding his death and the examination of the body, the death is classified as suicide and ascribed to hanging,” the medical examiner’s final report stated.

The question at the center of the BCA investigation is whether the known circumstances were fully investigated — and properly communicated to the medical examiner's office — by the Montevideo Police Department.

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The Vault podcast series: Was Refugio Rodriguez murdered? Forum News Service investigates

Trisha Taurinskas — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 13:31:00 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Refugio Rodriguez was found dead on a Montevideo, Minnesota, walking path on Sept. 20, 2020. The initial incident report indicated Rodriguez was found hanging from a tree by a passerby.

His death was deemed a suicide, and the case was closed by the Montevideo Police Department.

But, what his death a suicide?

This 4-part podcast series from The Vault podcast, hosted by reporter Trisha Taurinskas, follows along as she investigates Rodriguez's death and uncovers new information that leads to a review of the case by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

The BCA review of Rodriguez's case is ongoing. This 4-part podcast series will be updated when the BCA's review is complete.

Discover the accompanying 4-part article series here:

Part 1: Police claim Refugio Rodriguez killed himself. His family fears it was a hitjob, with evidence ignored Part 2: Investigator into Refugio Rodriguez’s death had other case thrown out due to bad police work Part 3: Police deemed Refugio Rodriguez's death a suicide, not a murder. Now Minnesota BCA will review the case Part 4: National expert weighs in on Refugio Rodriguez’s death investigation as new image of body surfaces ]]>

Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, to host 2024 Governor's Pheasant Opener

West Central Tribune staff report — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 22:04:00 GMT

SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye will host the 2024 Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener, Gov. Tim Walz announced.

The 2024 event, scheduled for Oct. 11-12, will be the 12th annual Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener, according to a news release from Walz's office.

The Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors’ Bureau submitted an application on behalf of the community to host the 2024 event. Sleepy Eye was then selected through a process that considered available hunting land, travel, tourism opportunities and community support.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to host the 2024 Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener,” said Christina Andres, Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce executive director, in the news release. “Sleepy Eye, Brown County and its area sporting and wildlife organizations have a strong history of collaborating together, so we are confident this event will be another great opportunity to showcase our southern Minnesota hospitality, habitat and hunting.”

Sleepy Eye is located in Brown County on Sleepy Eye Lake. It has a population of 3,428 and is located at the junction of U.S. Highway 14 and Minnesota Highway 4.

Initiated by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2011, the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Opener has been hosted by eight different communities. Most recently, Owatonna held the opener Oct. 13-14, 2023.

Other host cities have included Montevideo (2011 and 2016), Marshall (2012 and 2017), Madelia (2013), Worthington (2014 and 2022), Mankato (2015), Luverne (2018), and Austin (2019).

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Police confirm identity of body found in downtown Montevideo

Staff reports — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 18:34:21 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Police officially identified Mitchell Bruce Twite, a local bartender, as the man whose body was found Monday morning in Montevideo.

According to a news release issued Thursday, Sept. 21, by the Montevideo Police Department, the 69-year-old Twite was found with a stab wound. The suspicious death is under investigation; however, the official cause remains undetermined.

Police stated there is no known threat to the public, and the department is actively investigating the case with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Twite was unofficially identified after Inn Like Flinn's, the bar where he worked, posted about the incident Monday morning on its Facebook page. A candlelight vigil was held in his honor by the local community Tuesday night.

According to an initial news release, Twite was found by a postal worker around 6:30 a.m. Monday in the grassy area next to the post office parking lot in the 300 block of First Street, across the street from the bar where he worked.

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'Flinn's family' comes together to remember bartender in Montevideo, Minnesota

Dale Morin — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 22:32:07 GMT

MONTEVIDEO — A crowd of around 150 people came to the “Flinn’s family funeral,” a term bartender Jamie Moore used to describe the Tuesday night vigil as she gave a eulogy for a man with whom she worked.

Mitch Twite, 69, of Montevideo, formerly of Dawson, was identified by Inn Like Flinn's bar as the man whose body was found near the post office in downtown Montevideo, just across the street from where he worked as a bartender.

Law enforcement has not officially identified the man, whose body was found with a stab wound around 6:30 a.m. Monday. Police said in a news release Monday there is no known threat to the public, and as of Wednesday afternoon had not provided any more information on the matter.

In her eulogy to Twite, Moore said, “his form of charm was telling you you’re the dumbest.” The crowd chuckled, “but he considered everyone family.”

After a shift ended, he was an easy man to find as he was often sitting at the corner of the bar in front of the First Street door with a shot of Jagermeister and a Busch Light.

“It’ll never be the same here without you,” Moore said.

She told the crowd to raise their glasses in a toast to Mitch before she said “see ya Tuesday,” a phrase Mitch was known for telling others whenever they would leave the bar.

“See ya Tuesday,” the crowd echoed before turning up their drink glasses. During the moment of silence for Twite, the lights went out. Those who did not have candles opted to use the flashlights on their phones.

Some vigil attendees recalled Twite as a man known for dishing out one-liners, or having a comeback to anyone willing to verbally joust with him.

He would talk to anyone who came in the bar. Given enough time, he was someone people confided in.

Sarcastic comments were Mitch’s method of connecting with people.

Carly Wilson, of Montevideo, a regular patron at Inn Like Flinn’s, said you could tell if what you said got to him. She explained Mitch would simply grin and his chest would puff up a little bit as he attempted to hide a faint smile that would eventually worm its way across his lips.

Twite was known as a "Wheel of Fortune" whiz, able to solve entire puzzles displayed on the TV game show with only two or three letters — a talent that annoyed or amazed others. He also was known to complete newspaper crossword puzzles in ink.

Cassie McKinley, also a bartender at Inn Like Flinn’s, said that Mitch didn’t own a car and would walk to work from his apartment in town.

As a result, she would often give him rides back home after a shift, or take him to buy groceries.

Stacy Ramberg, 39, of Montevideo, originally from Dawson, explained that the bar was her favorite place to go. She and Twite immediately bonded over the fact they were both from Dawson.

As it turned out, when the two kept talking, they found out Twite grew up as a neighbor to Ramberg's father.

“He told so many stories about my dad and my grandma,” Ramberg said, “He even graduated in the same class with my dad.”

Ramberg said for her, losing Twite was much like losing a family member. She said sometimes coming to the bar wasn’t about having a night out but finding solace in talking to Twite.

“Everytime I needed somewhere to go, I could always come here,” she said.

Dylan Donahue, 31, of Montevideo, was another regular who was known by staff and other patrons as a sort of son to Twite. As Donahue put it, he pretty much saw Twite from his 21st birthday onward.

Donahue would take to calling him "dad." It started as a joke, but later became an affectionate shorthand.

The two became close friends. Donahue said he was often the first person Twite would call whenever he needed something. “He did say he loved me a couple of times over the years,” Donahue said.

“Mitch was the man that made this bar,” Donahue said. He said he was devastated by the news Monday.

However, Tuesday night made for a better day simply because the bar was packed, busier than almost any other time it’s been open, according to Moore, all there to remember Mitch Twite, a man who had been their favorite bartender for 30 years.

Twite is survived by two sisters and a daughter.

“He was a local treasure who is now a local legend,” Wilson said.

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Montevideo woman sentenced to 7 years in overdose death

Dale Morin — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 18:48:50 GMT

OLIVIA, Minn. — A woman charged with third-degree murder for the 2021 overdose death of a 23-year-old Granite Falls woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in Renville County District Court.

Deja Denise Padilla, 21, of Montevideo, was sentenced to 84 months of prison.

Alexis Nicole Labatte died on Nov. 13, 2021, according to an emailed news release from Renville County Attorney Kelsie Kingstrom. She had been identified only by initials in court documents.

Judge Laurence Stratton privately reviewed a victim impact statement from Labatte's mother that “expressed the hurt the family is going through,” according to the news release.

According to court documents, Padilla and Labatte were related.

Kingstrom said Padilla did not give a statement during sentencing.

In the release, Kingstrom also expressed her sorrow for the family, and stated that she hoped that Padilla’s plea and sentencing bring some healing.

Judge Stratton gave Padilla credit for 210 days already served. A charge of third-degree controlled substance crime was dismissed.

Under Minnesota law, offenders are required to serve at least two-thirds of a sentence in custody and may be allowed to serve the remaining time on supervised release. According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Padilla's expected release date from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee is Oct. 18, 2027.

Padilla was arrested in July 2022 in connection to Labatte's overdose death. According to West Central Tribune files, Padilla had eight other active warrants against her in five other counties at the time.

According to the criminal complaint, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call reporting an overdose at a home southwest of Renville. The caller was later identified as Padilla, who reported an unconscious but still breathing female at the home. She also reported to law enforcement that she was no longer at the residence.

A deputy who spoke with the homeowner at the location was told there was no medical emergency.

Less than an hour later, another caller reported an unconscious female at the same residence. A different deputy arrived and found an unconscious woman in an upstairs bedroom. The deputy administered naloxone — an antidote to opioid overdose — and began CPR.

An ambulance arrived and assisted, but Labatte was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man at the home said he had forgotten Labatte was upstairs when he spoke to the first deputy. According to the complaint, he said that once he remembered, he and another male went upstairs and found her unconscious and called 911 before beginning CPR.

A preliminary autopsy summary from the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office said white powder wrapped in paper was found in her bra. That powder tested positive for fentanyl.

The final autopsy, released in January 2022, said the cause of death was the toxic effects of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Fentanyl, a DEA Schedule II synthetic morphine substitute, is 80 to 200 times as potent as morphine and is fast-acting, the toxicology report said.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned Padilla had allegedly been buying and selling methamphetamine.

It was also discovered that Padilla was linked to another reported overdose in Montevideo on Nov. 12, 2021. Montevideo Police Department officers successfully administered naloxone to a woman in that case, and she later stated she had purchased a gram of heroin from Padilla.

According to court records, another person interviewed by law enforcement stated they knew of five other overdoses allegedly tied to drugs sold by Padilla.

According to the complaint, witnesses at the scene of the Renville residence placed Padilla in the upstairs bedroom shortly before Labatte was found.

In an interview over the phone with law enforcement, Padilla said she noticed Labatte was "pretty messed up" and had begun slurring her words and "breathing weird." Padilla said Labatte was still breathing when she last saw her lying face down on the bed.

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Police, Minn. BCA investigating suspicious death in Montevideo

Staff reports — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 20:58:50 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Minn. — Police are investigating a suspicious death after a man's body was found Monday in downtown Montevideo.

According to a news release from the Montevideo Police Department, a postal worker found the body around 6:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in the grassy area next to the post office parking lot in the 300 block of First Street.

The man had a stab wound, the news release said. His name will be released once his identity has been confirmed and his family has been notified.

There is no known threat to the public, according to police.

The investigation is in the very early stages, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is assisting the Montevideo Police Department.

A West Central Tribune reporter at the scene Monday morning said law enforcement officers from the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office also were at the scene.

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Federal assistance OK'd for Minnesota recovery from April flooding

West Central Tribune staff report — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:26:07 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Minnesota communities affected by severe storms and flooding April 11-30 will now have access to federal disaster assistance in their recovery.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Thursday, July 20, that federal funding to repair or replace facilities damaged by the spring storms and floods will be available to the state, certain private nonprofit organizations, and eligible local and tribal governments.

The following counties will have access to the federal funds: Aitkin, Big Stone, Carlton, Chippewa, Clay, Grant, Houston, Kittson, Lac qui Parle, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Morrison, Norman, Pine, Pope, Renville, Roseau, St. Louis, Stevens, Swift, Traverse and Wilkin. The Prairie Island Indian Community will also be eligible.

According to the news release, Joseph P. Cirone has been named federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if warranted by the results of damage assessments.

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Marching bands to take over Benson, Montevideo and Litchfield next week

Shelby Lindrud — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:11:00 GMT

BENSON — Lovers of high school marching bands and their performances are in luck. Starting June 12, there will be three marching band parades over three days in three different west central Minnesota towns. Marching bands from across the state will be participating in the parades, to be judged on their performances while also sharing their skills and talents with the crowds lining the streets.

"I think it is really awesome to have these events. It gets the students together. They get to make music, put on a beautiful show that can be brought into the communities," said Bailey Benoit, co-director of the Litchfield Marching Dragons Band. "It is a really fun way to share this art that we make."

The marching will begin at 6 p.m. June 12 in Montevideo for the third annual Fiesta of Marching Bands. Litchfield will hold the fourth annual Parade of Bands at 6 p.m. June 13. The three days of marching band festivities concludes at 6:30 p.m. June 14 with the 36th Pioneerland Band Festival in Benson.

"That week is just packed with them," said Oliver Leafblad, director of the Montevideo High �� Marching Band. And for those who haven't had their fill of marching bands, one of the largest parades, the Vikingland Band Festival in Alexandria, is scheduled for June 25.

Bands travel across the state during the first weeks of summer to compete in marching band parades, where judges award points for the performances. Unlike most parades, where the bands play throughout the route, during judged marching band parades, the bands perform at three specific spots along the route and are judged at one of them. Judges are looking at both the musical quality of each band plus their movements while performing. Each band has 100 yards and just over four minutes to perform their shows.

"What you do in that four minutes and 30 seconds is totally up to you," said Brock Duncan, director of the Benson High �� Marching Band. While it can be a challenge to create a show that will work in various widths of streets, over the years directors and bands have risen to the challenge. "There is quite a bit of movement in the shows, trying to maximize as much of the 100 yards (of) space as you can."

Montevideo Fiesta of Bands

This year will mark the third year of both the Montevideo Fiesta of Bands and the newly reformed Montevideo Marching Band. In just three years, the band has doubled in size, from about 30 members at the start to 65 today.

"We'll be twice the size and (with) new uniforms this summer," Leafblad said.

The Fiesta of Bands itself, which is part of the city's overall Montevideo Feista Days celebration, will welcome four marching bands who will be competing this year: Dassel-Cokato, KMS, Fergus Falls and Lake City. Montevideo will march and perform, but won't be in the running for awards at the end, which is common for the host band.

The parade route starts at the intersection of South 12th Street and Mckinley Avenue, heading north to the intersection of South 12th Street and Sheridan Avenue, continuing to the intersection of Sheridan Avenue and South 17th Street, then south to Park Avenue. During the Montevideo parade, the bands are judged at the third performance space, just north of the Montevideo tennis courts on South 17th Street. The first performance stop is just past the intersection of South 12th Street and Park Avenue, while the second stop is on Sheridan Avenue, in front of the baseball fields.

This year, there will be two food trucks along the route to provide needed sustenance for paradegoers. Scotty Biggs BBQ will be stationed where the bands turn onto Sheridan, while Mi Mexico will be on hand at the parade's end.

"Come out, get your spots early, get some food and cheer the kids on," Leafblad said.

Litchfield Parade of Bands

Litchfield is marking its fourth annual Parade of Bands, with co-directors Benoit and Kelly Taylor taking over the Litchfield Dragons from longtime director David Ceasar for the first time in the competition season. The band itself has been around for over 60 years, but the parade is a newer event for not only the bands but the city as well.

"We wanted to really showcase the city of Litchfield," Taylor said. The parade is run by the Litchfield Visitors Bureau. "It's not only a time for the band to show off, but all the community to show off."

In addition to 120-member Litchfield band as the host, there are 11 bands competing in the Litchfield parade. The bands are from Lake City, Milaca, Montevideo, Foley, KMS, Benson, St. Peter, Sartell, Dassel-Cokato, St. Michael — Albertville and Champlin.

The route is the same as years past, starting on 10th Street and North Armstrong, turning onto Fifth Street, then back onto Gilman Ave. The three performance stages are by the Wagner building on Armstrong, one midway on Fifth Street, and the third in front of the judges on Gilman Ave, near the ball fields.

"It is a really cool visual, to see so many kids involved in something where everybody is a player, there is no bench. Everyone is a team player," Taylor said. "It is a really good time and a really good example of positive youth activities."

Benson's Pioneerland Band Festival

Benson has a long history of bringing high-quality marching to its streets. The Pioneerland Band Festival is celebrating its 36th year in 2023. It was started by a group of Benson band parents as a fundraiser for the marching band and has blossomed into what it is today. Organizers wanted to have the parade on a day that had special meeting and, since its first event, has always been held on Flag Day, June 14.

"The city comes out, everything is red, white and blue. It makes for a nice celebration," Duncan said.

There will be 11 bands competing in this year's parade: Sartell, Montevideo, Waconia, KMS, St. Anthony-Spring Lake Park, Alexandria, Litchfield, Fergus Falls, Bemidji, Dassel-Cokato and Champlin Park. Benson will march as the host band.

"It is a big deal and a lot of fun," said Duncan.

Most marching band parades just focus on the bands and have few, if any, other groups or floats take part. Benson does invite some local service groups such as the Girl Scouts and such to walk in the parade between the different bands, to help spread everything out. There is also a grand marshal each year and this year the honor goes to the Benson Lions Club.

"They've made popcorn for this parade for 36 years," Duncan said. "We are honoring them for the work they do in our community and it often goes unnoticed."

The route for the band festival starts on Minnesota Highway 12 near the Benson Runnings, marches to and then up Highway 12/ County Road 29/ 14th Street North and ends at Montana Avenue. The three performance spots are on Highway 12 near Sandy's Cafe; between Wisconsin and Kansas Avenues on Highway 12, where the bands will be judged; and then finally in front of the Roosevelt Park and the Swift County Courthouse.

"Come early and get a good spot," Turner said, adding people start putting up chairs to mark their spots a day or two before the parade. "It is one of the kick offs for the summer for us."

Celebrating the bands

At each of the three parades, all of the participating bands will gather at the high school football fields for an awards ceremony full of cheers, chants, fun and friendship.

"If you haven't been to an awards ceremony, they are something else," Leafblad said.

Each of the parades give awards for first, second and third place. They also usually give out awards for things such as best color guard, winds, brass and people's choice. Litchfield's People's Choice is decided by interviewing people in the crowd.

"Definitely my favorite award we give out at our parade," Benoit said.

The bands of Montevideo, Litchfield and Benson will all be participating at other parades across the state, including each others'. Benson will finish its summer marching season by traveling to Breckinridge, Colorado, for the community's Fourth of July Parade.

It can make for a very busy few weeks. But the bands and communities wouldn't do all the work if it wasn't well worth it.

For the communities, residents are able to get out and support their high school bands in a unique setting and cheer on all the hard work the students put into it. And for the bands, it gives them a similar experience to their fellow sports team, the ability to compete and have fun with their friends.

"We do it because it just fun," Benoit said. "The kids love it."

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Get ready to rendezvous for some old-fashioned fun in west central Minnesota

West Central Tribune staff report — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 14:22:00 GMT

Threshing shows and old machinery are featured at Heritage Hill, Hanley Falls, Atwater and Forest City, with a Summer Rendezvous also taking place at the Forest City Stockade during the Forest City Threshers show. Be sure and check websites or Facebook pages for current information closer to the events.

Heritage Hill

The Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power and Machinery Association will have its annual show June 16-17. The tractor feature is “military-related machinery and equipment.” The Fairbanks-Morse engine line will also be featured. The Heritage Hill show site is four miles east of Montevideo on the corner of Minnesota Highway 7 and Chippewa County Road 7. More information can be found online at www.heritagehill.us and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heritagehillshow

Hanley Falls

The Good Old Days & Pioneer Threshing Show will be Aug. 5-6 on the grounds of the Minnesota Machinery Museum in Hanley Falls. This year’s feature can be found on its Facebook page or its website at www.mnmachinerymuseum.com

Forest City

The Forest City Threshers show and Summer Rendezvous will be Aug. 19-20 at the Forest City Threshing grounds and the Forest City Stockade. The Summer Rendezvous is a reminder of how life was like back in 1862. You can tour historic buildings and enjoy different period-specific activities and food while checking out the goods offered by those participating in the rendezvous. The Forest City Threshers features old machinery as well as different historical buildings featuring the history of the community.

Admission to each of the events is $5 ages 12 and older. For more information, visit www.forestcitystockade.org and www.forestcitythresher.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Forest-City-Stockade and www.facebook.com/forestcitythreshers.

Atwater

Threshing Days will be Sept. 9-10 at the site on the east side of Atwater. Admission charged. Check the website at www.atwaterthreshingdays.com or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Atwater-Threshing-Days for this year’s features.

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