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Manufacturing firm coming to industrial park

Lori Sorenson

March 11, 2026

A 176,760-square-foot manufacturing facility is coming to a 15-acre site in Luverne’s industrial park and will require 125 full-time employees at a $9 million annual payroll.

That’s according to Don Jahnke, Luverne, who presented information about his company, Luv Modular LLC, to the…

Judge denies motions in local murder, homicide case

Lori Sorenson

March 11, 2026

District Court Judge Kayla Johnson has issued a written order addressing contested facts and evidence in the third-degree murder and vehicular homicide case against Jayson Delfs, Hardwick.

His charges stem from the March 27, 2025, fatal crash northwest of Beaver Creek that…

Intervening for success

Nicole Ronchetti

March 11, 2026

For some students, school is easy. For others, it’s the hardest thing they do each day.

Regardless, it’s Jon Schomacker’s job to help them succeed.

“Everybody comes to school with baggage,” Schomacker said. “They’re still great kids to their core; it’s just working through that…

County bracing for unfunded mandates in 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Nicole Ronchetti

March 11, 2026

Rock County and local governments nationwide could soon face increased costs as unfunded mandates in the federal HR1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” go into effect.

During their regular March 3 meeting, Rock County commissioners heard an annual report from Southwest…

Special election to fill vacant District 3 county commissioner seat

Lori Sorenson

March 11, 2026

Rock County Commissioners at their regular meeting Tuesday, March 3, approved a resolution spelling out the process for filling the seat left vacant by Greg Burger.

Burger, who served on the board for nine years, resigned from his District 3 seat on Feb. 17 effective Feb. 28…

Sports

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCBBB1 Hills-Beaver Creek Patriot senior Jamin Metzger looks to the rim covered by two Southwest Minnesota Christian players in Section 3A sub-section semifinal action Saturday, March 7, in Marshall. The Patriots beat the Eagles 69-48 in the contest to play for section championship.

Patriots head to Section 3A Championship

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

The Patriots head to the Section 3A Championship after taking down Edgerton Public 64-47 March 3 in Worthington and Southwest Minnesota Christian 69-48 March 7 in Marshall. H-BC, the No. 1 south seed, is scheduled to take on Central Minnesota Christian, the No. 1 north seed, Thursday, March 12, in…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/ACwrestlers The Rock sisters were named to the 2026 Big South Conference All-Conference. They are (top, left) senior Bernie Rock, (top, right) junior CeCe Rock, (bottom, left) freshman Ellie Rock and seventh-grader Mary Rock.

LHS wrestlers named to Big South All-Conference

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

The Luverne wrestling team had four wrestlers make the 2025-26 Big South Conference team. Honors went to senior Bernie Rock, junior CeCe Rock, freshman Ellie Rock and seventh-grader Mary Rock. Bernie finished her season with a fifth-place finish in the 118-pound weight class at the state…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/LHSBBB1 Luverne senior Jaydon Johnson moves the ball up the court followed by a Montevideo player in the Section 3AA sub-section semifinal contest Tuesday, March 3, in Windom. Luverne lost 74-61 Thunderhawks in the game to end their season.

LHS falls to Montevideo in Section 3AA run

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

The Luverne boys’ basketball team mounted a second half comeback against No. 1 north seed Montevideo only to fall by 13 at the final buzzer. The Cardinals fell 74-61 to the Thunderhawks in the Section 3 AA subsection semifinals in Windom March 3 to end their season. Montevideo built a 12-2 lead…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCGBB5 H-BC junior Olivia Deelstra breaks for the hoop against Central Minnesota Christian March 7 in the Section 3A Championship Game in Marshall. The Lady Pates fell 55-33 in the game.

Lady Pates fall to Central Minnesota Christian in Section 3A Championship game

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

The Lady Pates fell 55-33 to Central Minnesota Christian Thursday, March 5, in the Class 1A Section 3 Championship in Marshall. H-BC fell behind 38-14 in the first half after the Bluejays rallied several three-point shots and H-BC turned the ball over multiple times under the hoop. “We dug…

Former LHS track and field athletes participated in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Conference Championship Feb. 27-28. They are (left, to right) senior Tenley Nelson, junior Jadyn Hart and sophomore Jocelyn Hart, freshman Augusta Papk, junior Camden Janiszeski and freshman Owen Janiszeski along with senior Eli Radtke and sophomore Zachary Terrio.

Eight former Luverne athletes compete in NSIC Conference Championship

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

Eight former Luverne track and field athletes participated in the 2026 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Conference Championship Feb. 27-28 at Myers Field House in Mankato, Minnesota; hosted by Minnesota State University. “I think it is very rewarding to have so many athletes move on…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCBBB6 H-BC head coach Chad Rauk gives a thumbs up to his players after receiving the Section 3A South Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year award March 7 in Marshall. The Patriots beat SWMC 69-49 in the semifinal game.

Rauk named ‘Coach of the Year’

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

March 11, 2026

H-BC boys’ basketball head coach Chad Rauk was awarded the Section 3A Boys’ Basketball Coach of the Year after the game March 7 in Marshall. The award is voted on in late February each year by the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association. The award recognizes outstanding coaches across all four…

Columns

Gratitude, in sickness and in health

RIck Peterson, general manager

It’s been a while, but I am back at the keyboard hunting and pecking out my first column in over a month and a half.

Over the last six weeks I have had two emergency room visits, one at Sanford Luverne and two days later at Sanford Sioux Falls.

I have been through two surgeries…

March 11, 2026

Knocking on wood is no match for Influenza B

Lori Sorenson

According to Wikipedia, “knocking on wood” is a superstitious tradition to avoid “tempting fate after making a favorable prediction or boast, or a declaration concerning one’s own death or another unfavorable situation.”

I’m here to tell you, dear readers, knocking on wood did nothing…

March 11, 2026

Doggy smiles depend on human care

Scott Rall, Outdoor Columnist

I sure wish I could explain why one of my dog’s teeth are super white with no tartar or build-up and the other one’s teeth are kind of yellow and need veterinarian dental attention.

The very last thing a dog owner wants to spend a lot of time or money on is dog dental work. It truly is…

March 11, 2026

What’s next for deer farms? CWD complicates their futures

Scott Rall, outdoors columnist

It does not happen very often in my neck of the woods, but when you are making a trip of any distance you can see from time to time a batch of elk or deer behind some pretty tall fences. Deer farms are more common than elk farms but their futures in Minnesota have been dramatically changed over…

March 04, 2026

Obituaries

Betty Luethje

March 11, 2026

Betty Luethje, age 93, of Luverne, Minnesota, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026, while at her daughter’s home in Arizona.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. with gathering of family and friends beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the United…

Sandra Bird

March 11, 2026

Sandra “Sandi” Bird, age 79, of Kenneth, Minnesota, died on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Saturday,…

Lorna Lorenzen

March 11, 2026

Lorna Gail Lorenzen was born to Albin and Florence (Ford) Erickson on March 23, 1928, on the family farm near Hardwick, Minnesota.

She attended school in Hardwick through the eighth grade and then went on to Luverne High School in Luverne, Minnesota, graduating in 1946. She started…

Betty Luethje

March 04, 2026

Betty Luethje, age 93, of Luverne, Minnesota, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 14, 2026, while at her daughter’s home in Arizona.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. with gathering of family and friends beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the United…

Manufacturing firm coming to industrial park

Intervening for success

County bracing for unfunded mandates in 'Big Beautiful Bill'

Cowbells Quality Meats & Treats to open in former Fareway building

Patriots head to Section 3A Championship

Carson's Cause books, programming circulate in Luverne Elementary School

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