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The Laundry Room at 310 W. Main is among several projects receiving grant funding through the Luverne Economic Development Authority Facade Improvement Program. Lori Sorenson/Rock County Star Herald Photo

EDA approves funds to support local property improvement

Lori Sorenson

January 21, 2026

The Luverne Economic Development Authority approved nearly $30,000 worth of improvements in local property aesthetics during their Monday morning meeting.

Two of the investments were façade improvements to downtown properties and the other was a grant to help clean up blighted property…

Alliance may bring fiber to Luverne

Lori Sorenson

January 21, 2026

Alliance Communications is surveying Luverne residents for interest in fiber-to-the home internet service ahead of a potential expansion into city limits next year.

Alliance, headquartered in Garretson, South Dakota, has been serving Rural Rock County residents since 2016 and is now…

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was in Luverne Saturday night at Generations Events Center. She is seeking the DFL endorsement for U.S. Senate. Lori Sorenson/Rock County Star Herald Photo

Lieutenant Gov. brings 'Loud and Clear Voice Tour' to Luverne

Lori Sorenson

January 21, 2026

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan was in Luverne Saturday night sharing her vision for Minnesota seeking the DFL endorsement for U.S. Senate. (The seat is currently held by Sen. Tina Smith who is not seeking re-election this fall.)

Flanagan spoke to roughly 50 people gathered in the…

Hills Area Fire Department Chief Jared Rozeboom and his volunteer firefighters searched for two years for a replacement for the department’s previous almost 30-year-old fire rescue truck before arriving at a plan to refurbish and upgrade the truck to a 2024 model. Mavis Fodness/Rock County Star Herald Photo

New Hills Area Fire Department rescue truck now in service

Mavis Fodness

January 21, 2026

The Hills Area Fire Department’s new fire rescue truck is now operational in Clinton and Martin townships, which include the communities of Hills and Steen.

However, the new truck retained an important part from the previous ambulance — the box. “It’s basically the same box, just on a…

Makayla Oechsle (right) as Elizabeth is a shooting victim along with Rachel (Rebecca Hoogland) in the Luverne High School one act play “Life and Death in an Empty Hallway.” Mavis Fodness/Rock County Star Herald Photo

LHS takes one act stage Saturday

Mavis Fodness

January 21, 2026

Luverne High School one act play cast members are using a MacGuffin in their production of “Life and Death in an Empty Hallway,” by Christopher Evans in competition on Saturday, Jan. 24.

Students will perform at the Section 3A Subsection 10 Tournament at the Pipestone Area High School.…

Sports

Greg Hoogeveen photo/wrestling3 Freshman Ty Kopp takes his Wabasso opponent to the mat in the 133-pound match Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Luverne. Wabasso won the dual 36-27 against Luverne.

Luverne wrestlers take to mat in heavy week of competition

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The Luverne Cardinals wrestling team lost four duals at home hampered by forfeits and falls at key weights in the past week. “The team wrestled well,” LHS head coach Jordan Kopp said. “I think a couple matches could have potentially ended differently and we could have come away with a couple more…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCBBB3 H-BC senior Micah Bush switches hands mid-air for a basket against Westbrook Walnut Grove Thursday, Jan. 15, at home. The Patriots took down the Chargers 57-39 in the game.

Patriots jump to 11-0 record beating WWG 71-56

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The H-BC boys’ basketball team jumped to a big lead into the first half to beat the Chargers 71-56 at home Thursday, Jan. 15. H-BC scored 42 first-half points pressuring the Chargers into turning the ball over several times. WWG had troubles getting over the center court line clearing the ball…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/GHOC3 Junior Tenley Behr eyes a bouncing puck in front of the Albert Lea Tigers net. The Cardinals outplayed Albert Lea to a 7-4 win at home Tuesday, Jan. 13

Girls hockey team nets two big wins

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The Luverne girls’ hockey secured two team wins and improved to 13-7 with just five regular season games left before post season play. Luverne beat Albert Lea 7-4 at home Tuesday, Jan. 13, and obliterated South Central 20-0 on the road Saturday, Jan. 17. The Cardinals were scheduled to host…

Boys’ hockey hockey team falls 5-4 to Waseca in OT

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The Cardinal boys were handed their third hockey loss of the season Saturday, Jan. 17, when they fell 5-4 in overtime to Waseca on the road. The Cardinals and Bluejays played to a 4-4 tie after three periods of regulation play as they headed into an overtime period to determine the winner. In the…

LHS gymnasts split meets

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The Luverne gymnastics team split two meets in the past week, losing 134.225 to New Ulm at home Tuesday, Jan. 13, and beating Windom 127.200 to 110.500 on the road Monday, Jan. 19. The Cardinals have four meets before section competition on Feb. 14. Luverne travels to Pipestone Friday before…

Lady Pates basketball wins two games, now 13-1 for season

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 21, 2026

The H-BC girls’ basketball team added two more wins to their season record in the past week after two victories on the road. The Lady Pates beat Southwest Minnesota Christian 57-27 Tuesday, Jan. 13, and took down Adrian 74-51 Friday, Jan. 16. The Patriots, now 13-1 for the season, will host…

Columns

Life is short, even when it's long

Brenda Winter, Columnist

We are celebrating Dad's 88th birthday on Saturday.

Eighty-eight is not a "milestone" but, at 88, every birthday is worth celebrating.

So, we're going all out.

The Take 16 Event Center will feature yellow balloons and Dad's motorcycle — which he may or may not resume…

January 21, 2026

Midst football watching tune into Paper Boyz podcast

Rick Peterson, General Manager

Football, football and more football. If you like football, the past few weeks have been a football lover’s paradise. The NFL and NCAA have put on quite a show. From close games to a couple of blowouts, and some controversial calls by the officials, it has been entertaining.

On Monday…

January 21, 2026

Workplaces are like families ... until a family member leaves

Lori Sorenson, editor

Many workplaces are like families. And the lucky ones are happy families.

It makes sense if you think about it — we often spend more time with our co-workers than we do with our own family members.

But, unlike real families, we don’t expect we’ll be with our co-workers for a…

January 14, 2026

'Aging solo' is here in the Year of the Horse

Mavis Fodness, reporter

Twenty-one percent of U.S. adults ages 50 and older (about 24 million people) now live alone.

They are “aging alone because they live without a spouse or partner or anyone else under the same roof,” according to an AARP magazine article I read from beginning to end, because I’m now one…

January 07, 2026

Obituaries

Danielle Malwitz-White Mountain

January 21, 2026

Danielle Malwitz-White Mountain, age 51, passed away surrounded by loving family Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at Ava's Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A visitation will take place Friday, Jan. 23, at the Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne, Minnesota, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral…

Jana Wilson

January 21, 2026

Jana R. Wilson, age 79, of Luverne, died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at her home.

Visitation was from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne; and was also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Funeral was at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Bethany…

Robert Fick

January 21, 2026

Robert “Bob” Fick, age 88, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne. Visitation was Thursday, Jan. 15, from 4-7 p.m. at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, with…

Ardys Dirckx

January 21, 2026

Ardys Dirckx, age 92, of Madison, South Dakota, passed away suddenly on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, at her home.

Visitation will be 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton, Minnesota. …

EDA approves funds to support local property improvement

Lieutenant Gov. brings 'Loud and Clear Voice Tour' to Luverne

New Hills Area Fire Department rescue truck now in service

LHS takes one act stage Saturday

Luverne wrestlers take to mat in heavy week of competition

Patriots jump to 11-0 record beating WWG 71-56

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