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PowerOn Midwest narrows routes

Nicole Ronchetti

August 12, 2026

PowerOn Midwest has narrowed its preferred route for a proposed high-voltage transmission project, and one of its choices would cut through Rock County within one mile of the Blue Mounds State Park.

At an open…

Murder suspect to have mental evaluation

Lori Sorenson

August 12, 2026

Accused murder suspect Melvin Frazier made his initial appearance in Rock County District Court Monday in a remote hearing before District Court Judge Kayla Johnson.

He is represented by public defender Michael Hanson who on Monday requested a Rule 20 evaluation of his client before the…

Main Street intersection to close Aug. 24

August 12, 2026

The second phase of construction on Highway 75 is set to begin on Aug. 24, with the closure of the Main Street intersection.

Traffic will be diverted to an alternate detour on South Freeman Avenue and West Hatting Street.

The detour to the school will be on West Warren Street to…

Voters participate in primary election

Jason Berghorst

August 12, 2026

Rock County voters participated in the state primary election Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Ballots included both major parties on one side and local, nonpartisan primary contests on the other side.

Voters had to choose only one party to vote for on the partisan side, or they could just…

Beaver Creek celebrates Beaver Days

Lori Sorenson

August 12, 2026

Beaver Creek community members and visitors celebrated tthe weekend with a full lineup of events and activities for all ages.

A Friday golf tournament and car show kicked off the festivities ahead of Saturday’s Beaver Days events that featured a parade with 53 entries.

Mild…

Sports

Redbirds catcher Braydon Ripka tags a Windom player attempting to slide home at Redbird Field in Game 2 of the three-game series Friday, Aug. 7. After winning the first game Luverne lost two games and the series 2-1 to the Windom Pirates.

Redbirds fall to Windom in Region 10C tournament

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

The Luverne Redbirds let a 1-0 series slip in Region 10C action to fall two games to one against Windom this past week. Luverne won Game 1 in the series 4-3 Aug. 5 in Windom. Windom came back and won Game 2 Aug. 7 in Luverne 15-0 and beat the Redbirds 9-3 in Windom Aug. 9. Windom won the series 2…

Three local youth baseball players get chance of a lifetime to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York with Southwest Minnesota Blaze team. Nolan Weber, left, Tyson Uithoven and Kyler Krzmarzick of Luverne reveled in the experience.

Three local sluggers get chance to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

Three Luverne youth baseball players got the chance of a lifetime to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in Milford, N.Y., this summer. Tyson Uithoven, Nolan Weber and Kyler Krzmarzick were chosen to be part of the Southwest Minnesota Blaze 12u team this season. The Southwest Minnesota Blaze is a…

Josie Benson, front center, kicks the ball toward the goal on Aug. 6 in preschool soccer action in Luverne.

Summer youth soccer kicks off on Luverne fields

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

The Luverne summer soccer program fills a scheduling gap in activities for kids from preschool through seventh grade toward the end of summer. That’s why many families sign up, according to Michele Raddle who coordinates the program. “By the middle to end of July, many summer activities have…

Local race results posted for Aug. 7-8

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

Rapid Speedway Rock Rapids, IA Aug. 7 Results Sportsmans #142 Eric Gaul, Luverne – placed 1st in the A Feature, finished second in Heat 1. #21 Larry Kracht, Magnolia – placed 7th in the A Feature, DNF in Heat 2. #17 Brandon Boeve, Beaver Creek – placed 11th in the A Feature, finished fifth…

Luverne Redbirds team members are (front, left) Will Serie, Maddux Domagala, Ethan Beyer, Alex Schlosser, Blake Sauer, Casey Sehr, Cade Wenninger, Riley Sneller, Elliot Domagala, (back) Layke Miller, Josh Hansen, Landon Ahrendt, Carter Sehr, Jake Haugen, Ben Serie, Isaac Bonner, Derek Lundgren, Braydon Ripka and Skyler Wenninger. Not pictured: Mark Sterrett and Jacob Stroh.

Redbirds fly past Buttermakers in Region 10c postseason play

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 05, 2026

The Redbirds recorded two grand slams and two solo home runs against Hadley over the past week to advance to the Region 10c Championship Tournament. Luverne took down the Hadley Buttermakers in the best of three games beating the Buttermakers 8-0 July 29 in Luverne and 13-1 Aug. 1 in Hadley. In…

Matthew Gangestad prepares to hit the ground after getting a wild donkey across the finish line July 29.

Fair time fun in the grandstands excite crowds

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 05, 2026

The 2026 Rock County Fair showcased several grandstand events and entertainment over the past week. On Wednesday, July 29, the Good Ol’ Plowboys featured several local and regional participants in a lawn mower pull. These were not your everyday off-the-shelf models. Rather, they were machines…

Columns

It never ends

Scott Rall, Outdoor Columnist

The summer is quickly fading into what looks to be a great fall hunting season. Even though it is several months away I still spend more time than I should wondering just how successful the pheasant hatch was.

In the meantime I continue my efforts to attack invasive trees in our public…

August 12, 2026

August is National Dog Month: 'Be the person your dog thinks you are'

Lori Sorenson

We said goodbye last month to our beloved Chance, who was such a good boy — the best of all good boys among dogs. And he made us better human beings after showing what true love, loyalty and devotion look like.

He lived to be nearly 15 years old, and we were lucky enough to become his…

August 12, 2026

Stopping for school buses: Reviewing recent changes to the law

Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol

Question: I saw your last article was about stopping. With school just around the corner, can you talk about stopping for the school bus?

Answer: I certainly can and with last year’s law change it’s a good reminder. Previously, the law required drivers…

August 12, 2026

'Life Skills' What do kids really need to know?

Brenda Winter, columnist

I’m going to teach the Life Skills class at E q u i p t Christian School in Luverne this fall so I’ve spent a lot of time lately pondering which life skills are most important to students in grades K-6.

Big Picture skills come to mind such as “how to maintain committed relationships” or…

August 05, 2026

Obituaries

Bonnie Kirchhofer

August 12, 2026

Bonnie M. Kirchhofer, age 88, of South Haven, died Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, at Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield.

M e m o r i a l services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Kimball United Methodist Church with visitation one hour prior to the service. Pastor Cyndy Spear will…

Jeffrey Heronimus

August 12, 2026

Jeffrey Allen Heronimus, age 67 of Tracy, Minn., passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at Prairie View Senior Living. A private burial will be held at a later date in the Bethel Cemetery in rural Garvin, Minn.

Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com.…

Brock Thielbar

August 12, 2026

Brock Raymond Theilbar, age 60, of Luverne, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, at his home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne; and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday at the…

Evelyn Reyne

August 05, 2026

Evelyn Reyne, age 90, of Luverne, Minn., went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, while at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Memorial service was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, with gathering of family and friends beginning at 9 a.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne.

…

Redbirds fall to Windom in Region 10C tournament

Three local sluggers get chance to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York

PowerOn Midwest narrows routes

Murder suspect to have mental evaluation

Main Street intersection to close Aug. 24

Beaver Creek celebrates Beaver Days

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