Guilty plea entered in vehicular homicide case
Twenty-three-year-old Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, entered a guilty plea Monday morning in Rock County District Court to the charge of criminal vehicular homicide.
Murder case proceedings on hold
Legal proceedings for Luverne murder suspect Melvin Frazier are suspended following a Rule 20 motion that was granted in Rock County District Court Monday.
Administrator announces retirement
After 33 years on the job, Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre officially submitted his notice of retirement during the Aug. 18 county board meeting.
Oldre’s final day of service will be Feb. 28, 2027.
Charter amendment measure advances
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
Peterson wins election for county commissioner
Rick Peterson won the special election for Rock County’s District 3 and is set to join the county board of commissioners early next week.
PowerOn Midwest narrows routes
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
News
By Lori SorensonAugust 21, 2026The city of Luverne has been approved for a grant through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) totaling $830,820. The funds are awarded through DEED’s Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program, which helps communities build or expand infrastructure to “create jobs, grow the tax base and support local economic development.” In Luverne,…
By Lori SorensonAugust 21, 2026At their Monday meeting, members of the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved a Facade Improvement Program application for the Herb N’ Legend building on East Main Street. Business owners Terry Gray and Monty Hagedorn are planning a façade improvement for the storefront at 218 E. Main Street. Bids came in at $32,770 for the work, which includes a refresh of the exterior façade, with…
By Lori SorensonAugust 19, 2026Twenty-three-year-old Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, entered a guilty plea Monday morning in Rock County District Court to the charge of criminal vehicular homicide. He admitted in a crowded courtroom that on March 27, 2025, he took the life of 47-year-old Grant Crawford, rural Jasper, when he rear-ended Crawford’s pickup while driving intoxicated at 129 mph. According to the plea petition, Delfs…
By Lori SorensonAugust 19, 2026Legal proceedings for Luverne murder suspect Melvin Frazier are suspended following a Rule 20 motion that was granted in Rock County District Court Monday. A Rule 20 evaluation is conducted by a court-appointed examiner to assess a defendant’s ability to understand the proceedings and assist in their defense. Frazier, 61, is accused of killing 47-year-old Janelle Lea Carlson in their Luverne…
By Nicole RonchettiAugust 19, 2026After 33 years on the job, Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre officially submitted his notice of retirement during the Aug. 18 county board meeting. Oldre’s final day of service will be Feb. 28, 2027. “After 33 wonderful years, making the decision to step away is truly bittersweet,” Oldre told the board. “It has been a distinct privilege to serve the residents of Rock County for over three…
By Nicole RonchettiAugust 19, 2026A misunderstanding between Rock County and Lyon County led to a temporary budget shortfall for the local construction and demolition landfill. The two counties have been operating under an agreement in which Rock County hauls its municipal solid waste to Lyon County, and Lyon County sends its construction and demolition waste back to Rock County. “This agreement goes back probably 25, 30…
By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026Members of the Luverne High School marching band recently completed long hours of band camp in preparation for the 2026 fall marching season. “These kids have worked incredibly hard over 80 hours the last two weeks to learn this show,” band director James Jarvie said at the Aug. 13 preview show. “This is still very much a work in progress, but they’re off to a great start,” he said. Senior…
By Lori SorensonAugust 19, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter. If adopted by voters, it would change the structure and governance of Luverne’s municipal utilities, transferring powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” This five-member commission (three elected, two appointed…
August 19, 2026Naturalists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led a prairie wildflowers nature walk Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, at Touch the Sky Prairie where participants learned which wildflowers are in bloom and what to expect in the coming months. The waterfall trail hike, which involved more than 30 people, was part of Rock County’s America 250 Passport Series honoring the nation’s independence…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026With the Aug. 11 primary in the rearview mirror, attention has turned to the Nov. 3 general election, which presents several contested races for Rock County voters. Depending on where voters live, local ballots will include the following candidates this fall. County offices There three contested races for county officials on the fall ballot. All Rock County voters will have an…
By Nicole RonchettiAugust 19, 2026A new future is about to begin for Hardwick’s gas station, with Chandler Co-op stepping in as the new owner and operator. Chandler Co-op has officially purchased the station on First Street from the city of Hardwick with plans to have it operating by the end of August. “Chandler Co-op has built a strong reputation for serving communities throughout southwest Minnesota, and we are excited to…
By Lori SorensonAugust 19, 2026At their Aug. 12 meeting Beaver Creek City Council members accepted bids for demolition of the former elementary school building. Larson Construction, Montevideo, submitted the low bid of $77,000 for asbestos removal, and Fluit Farms Excavating submitted the low bid of $125,000 to demolish the building. The demolition contract includes: •tearing down the building, •taking out all concrete…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026Following the Aug. 11 Primary Election, the list of major-party candidates for local, state, and federal offices on the Nov. 3 ballot are set. Rock County voters will decide between the following Democratic- Farmer-Labor (DFL) and Republican party candidates in the fall election. Federal offices For the office of U.S. Senator from Minnesota, voters will choose between Democrat Peggy…
- By Jason BerghorstAugust 19, 2026Rock County residents joined voters from across Minnesota to cast ballots in the 2026 Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 11. In addition to voting in the partisan primaries, some voters had local races to decide on. In District 3 for the Rock County Board of Commissioners, voters elected Rick Peterson to fill the seat vacated by Greg Burger who moved from the county earlier this year. …
- August 19, 2026Families celebrating the Labor Day holiday with a cookout will find that prices at the grocery store closely reflect inflation increases over the last year. A summer cookout will cost $73.82 for 10 guests this year, according to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation annual market-basket survey. This is up $2.90 from last year, which is a 4% increase. The overall annual inflation rate in the…
By Nicole RonchettiAugust 19, 2026Rick Peterson won the special election for Rock County’s District 3 and joined the county board of commissioners earlier this week. Peterson, who retired last month as Star Herald general manager, garnered 259 votes compared to Deon Carriere’s 103. While he tried to follow results as they were coming in, Peterson said he and his wife were on a drive when he found out that he’d won the race…
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