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Jasper man charged with possession of child porn

March 19, 2025

A Jasper resident was arrested last week following a March 11 search warrant executed at the residence 116 Spicer Avenue North, Jasper.

As a result of a search warrant and investigation by the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Marco Alejandro Ojeda was charged in Pipestone…

The Luverne Fire Department was dispatched to a hog barn fire Thursday morning southeast of Luverne.

Emergency crews respond to hog barn fire

Lori Sorenson

March 19, 2025

The Luverne Fire Department was dispatched to a hog barn fire Thursday morning southeast of Luverne.

The fire was reported at 11:18 a.m. March 13 at 1548 91st Street in a facility owned by Craig Stegenga.

According to Luverne Fire Chief David Van Batavia, everyone was out of the…

Charred ground turkey byproducts are piled across the street from Magnolia Milling LLC in Magnolia Friday morning, March 14. A fire ignited through “natural combustible elements” prompted a 10:09 p.m. fire call Thursday, March 13, to the Magnolia, Luverne and Adrian fire departments.

Fire started by ‘natural combustible elements’

Mavis Fodness, reporter

March 19, 2025

A March 13 fire at Magnolia Milling LLC at 107 N. Broadway Street in Magnolia was started by ‘natural combustible elements.’

According to Magnolia Fire Chief Scott Dohlmann, the Magnolia Fire Department responded to a fire in the steel-framed building located at the corner of Broadway…

District prepares for budget cuts

Mavis Fodness, reporter

March 19, 2025

In a March 13 work session, Luverne School Board members received their first look at proposed budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year.

Previous board discussions indicated cuts would range from $250,000 to $1 million.

The district is preparing budget cuts due to inflation and a…

The local Girl Scouts make their way through the parade.

Luverne celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

Lori Sorenson

March 19, 2025

Dozens of people joined Monday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Luverne on Main Street where crowds also wore green to enjoy the festive parade entries. Below, Chamber Director Kenzi Klein hands out gold dollar coins at the end of the parade route. Below right, Star Herald staff Rick Peterson (in…

Sports

Junior Micah Bush contorts his body to shoot around a 6-foot-7-inch Dawson Boyd player in the section championship game Thursday, March 13, in Marshall. After posting a 26-25 lead at the half, H-BC fell 59-52 to the Blackjacks in the game.

H-BC falls 59-52 to Dawson Boyd in Marshall

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 19, 2025

The Patriot boys’ basketball team traveled to Marshall Thursday, March 13, to take on Dawson Boyd for the Section 3 championship title. The No. 2-seed Patriots played the No. 1-seed Blackjacks tight in the first half of the game and took a 27-25 lead into the half. “I thought our boys came out…

Big South all-conference athletes announced for LHS boys’ hockey and boys’ and girls’ wrestling

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 19, 2025

The Big South Conference released its 2024-25 all-conference boys’ hockey and wrestling team selections. LHS boys’ hockey players named to the all-conference list are junior Maddux Domagala, junior Gavin Hoven, junior Jaxon Lais, junior Landyn Lais and sophomore Ben Hartquist. Senior Blaik Bork…

H-BC junior Micah Bush dunks the ball against Southwest Minnesota Christian March 6 in Worthington. Hills-Beaver Creek beat the Eagles 80-62 in the Section 3 quarterfinal game. The Patriots take on Dawson-Boyd March 13 in the section championship.

Patriots head to section basketball championship

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 12, 2025

The Patriot boys’ basketball team moves on to the section championship after beating Southwest Minnesota Christian 76-62 in the section quarterfinals Thursday, March 6, and taking down Murray County Central 60-44 Saturday, March 8, in the section semi-finals. The Patriots are scheduled to take on…

Cardinal junior Landyn Lais, No. 8, celebrates his state tournament goal against Northern Lakes Thursday, March 6, at the 3M Arena at Mariucci. Luverne fell 5-3 to the Lightning in the section consolation semifinal game.

Cardinal boys fall to No. 1 and No. 5 seeds in state hockey tournament

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 12, 2025

The Luverne boys’ hockey team finished the 2024-25 season falling twice in the state hockey tournament in St. Paul. The Cardinals lost a 7-0 game to the No. 1 seed Hibbing/Chisholm Bluejackets in the quarterfinals Wednesday, March 5, and fell 5-3 to the Northern Lakes Lightning in the consolation…

LHS senior Carter Sehr works the ball up court against Jackson County Central Saturday, March 8, in Marshall. Luverne fell to the Huskies 73-61 in the Section 3 semifinal game.

LHS boys’ basketball team falls to JCC in section championship

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 12, 2025

The Luverne boys’ basketball team finished their 2024-25 season falling to Jackson County Central 73-61 in the section championship Saturday, March 8, in Marshall. The Cardinals beat Redwood Valley 90-79 in Windom Thursday, March 6, in the section semifinals to advance to the championship game…

Lady Pates junior Izzy Wysong drives the ball under the hoop against MACCRAY Thursday, March 6, in Marshall. The Patriots fell 54-44 to the Wolverines in the Section 3 championship game.

Lady Pates fall to MACCRAY in section championship

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 12, 2025

The Patriot girls’ basketball team fell to MACCRAY 54-44 in the Section 3 championship Thursday, March 6, in Marshall. H-BC had a one-point lead at the half, 25-24, against the Wolverines. MACCRAY came back and collected 30 points in the second half to take the section championship. “Thursday…

Columns

The Northview

Brenda Winter, columnist

A “memories from nine years ago” photo showed up on my Facebook feed. It showed my friend Kim, my two sisters and me smiling in a hospital room in 2016, the day after my first cancer surgery.

The photo was all the more poignant because I’m still here, but Kim died of cancer in November…

March 19, 2025

Another winter sports season in the books

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

Another winter sports season is in the books, and what a season it was for Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek teams and athletes!

Between the two schools, athletes in three sports competed in state post-season action, four teams reached section championship games, and seven individuals set…

March 19, 2025

'Tired American journalist' fears a future with no community journalism

Lori Sorenson, editor

Former Rock County Star Herald Editor Al McIntosh penned his widely acclaimed “Tired American” commentary in 1965 at the height of anti-government protests and anti-American sentiment.

…

March 12, 2025

What's with all the dead geese?

Scott Rall, outdoors columnist

My phone has pretty much been ringing off the hook the past few months as people see dead geese decomposing on the ice of area lakes.

The bird flu is not a new thing, but a pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has…

March 12, 2025

Obituaries

Judy Fick

March 19, 2025

Judy Fick, age 83, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota.

Visitation will be Friday, March 28, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. A prayer service and memory sharing will…

Marcia Klecker

March 19, 2025

Marcia Tweed Klecker passed away on March 9, 2025, of complications from multiple sclerosis, a disease she lived with for 48 years.

Visitation will be held at George Boom Funeral Home on Friday, March 21, from 5-7 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at George Boom on Saturday, March…

Anthony Brandenburg

March 12, 2025

Anthony “Tony” James Brandenburg, 54, of Minneapolis, passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Born on Nov. 7, 1970, in Duluth, Minnesota, Anthony attended elementary school in Worthington,…

Charles Fodness

March 12, 2025

Charles "Chuck" J. Fodness was born Jan. 2, 1936, to Emmett and Tena (Buss) Fodness on a farm in rural Lennox, South Dakota. He moved with his parents to rural Kenneth, Minnesota, and went to a one-room country school until the eighth grade. Chuck graduated in…

Luverne celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

Church gets downtown storefront

Hills man seeks local support for cannabis business

Wind tax revenue exceeds $1 million in Rock County for 2025

New doctor joins eye clinic in Luverne

H-BC falls 59-52 to Dawson Boyd in Marshall

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