Disaster declared in Rock County
Preliminary estimates are over $2 million in public infrastructure damage as a result of the June 21-22 flood event.
Some areas receive 12+ inches of rain
Multiple rounds of torrential rain in Rock County and the tri-state area created significant flooding over the past week, wreaking havoc on properties and public infrastructure.
Farmers tally losses of flood event; full impact on crops unknown until harvest
When floodwaters finally receded over the weekend, area farmers had a chance to assess the damages of crops under water and or washed away.
Service over self volunteers build, donate beds for 'Sweet Dreams' mission
This week, dozens of local teens involved with Rock the Edge are performing public service projects in and around Luverne for their annual “Service Over Self” local mission work.
Early voting for Luverne primary starts June 28
Early voting for the Aug. 13 primary election is from June 28-Aug. 12.
Introduction to fishing
Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources spent two hours Friday morning at The Lake in Luverne instructing youth about fishing, fishing r
News
- By Mavis FodnessJune 12, 2024As currently permitted, the local demolition landfill will be full in four years unless an agreement can be reached with state officials to expand the existing facility east of Luverne. Representatives from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and engineers spoke with Rock County Commissioners June 4. Discussion centered on a report by the St. Cloud engineering firm Short Elliot…
- By Lori SorensonJune 12, 2024U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar toured the child care center under construction in Luverne Monday morning along with local leaders and a delegation from the USDA, which provided grant funding for the renovation. The $7.2 million project will renovate the former Total Card Inc. office building (originally Tri-State Insurance) into the Kids Rock! Child Care Center set to open in 2025. Klobuchar’s visit…
- By Jason BerghorstJune 12, 2024Dozens of community events and activities are again planned at the Plaza on Main this summer. They’re organized by the Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT) Plaza Committee with the support of local businesses and organizations. The Plaza is located at the corner of Main Street and McKenzie Street in downtown Luverne. Events range from bingo and other games, concerts, story time for kids…
By Jason BerghorstJune 12, 2024Residents of Rock County gathered at the History Center in Luverne Thursday evening, June 6, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that began the liberation of France and turned the tide of World War II. The program, co-hosted by History Center director Wendel Buys and Chamber director Jane Lanphere, included a slide presentation, video clips, a time of remembrance and…- June 12, 2024In the story “Luverne School District ‘at-will’ staff get salary increases, industrial arts teacher Darrel Van Aartsen’s two-year contract increases his salary to $171.85 for four hours of industrial arts instruction. He will receive an increase to $62 per hour as the afternoon vocational class instructor. Van Aartsen’s contract is a combination of a salary rate for classroom duties and an…
June 12, 2024
By Lori SorensonJune 05, 2024As Mental Health Awareness Month ended last week, the staff at Rock Veterinary Clinic, Luverne, have a simple request: Be kind. Two of their five veterinary doctors recently left the clinic, and the remaining three are working overtime to meet the needs of farm clients and pet owners. “It’s been rough,” Dr. Erin deKoning said. “And it wouldn’t be so bad if people could be nice. … I just think…
By Mavis FodnessJune 05, 2024Instructions written 25 years ago by the Luverne Elementary School Time Capsule Committee were simple. “It is our wish from the Time Capsule Committee that this time capsule will help explain what life was like in the year 1998. “We hope it is a goal of the Luverne School District to include meaningful things depicting the life in 2024 added to the time capsule, and every 25 years thereafter…- By Mavis FodnessJune 05, 2024Family members of the late Al Top will lead the 2024 Hills Friendship Days parade Saturday morning. Al, former fire chief for the Hills Fire Department, died in March and is being honored posthumously as this year’s parade marshal. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8. Top was selected by the HBCS (Helping Build Communities Stronger) committee, who organizes Friendship Days. “He…
- By Lori SorensonJune 05, 2024Rock County corn and soybean producers have found themselves in a sweet spot of favorable growing conditions this spring, compared with nearby neighboring fields. Many areas of the Midwest received more than double the normal average precipitation in May, which has eliminated drought concerns that plagued the region over the past few years. However, it’s delaying corn and soybean planting and…
- By Jason BerghorstJune 05, 2024A detour may be in place on a busy area of Highway 75 later this year. According to action at the May 28 Luverne City Council meeting, the city will partner with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on a storm sewer project near Kwik Trip and Taco John’s. Plans are in place to construct a 30-inch storm sewer across Highway 75 at Gabrielson Road. The work will require a detour for part…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 05, 2024Six out of the seven “at-will” employees of Luverne Public Schools received raises May 23 at the Thursday evening school board meeting. The raises are effective July 1. At-will employees (or those not under union contract) met with Superintendent Craig Oftedahl for one-on-one evaluation and salary negotiation meetings. A meeting with transportation director Brad Goembel has not been scheduled…
By Mavis FodnessJune 05, 2024The residential streets in the east half of Hills were resurfaced, replacing the traditional seal coat process, over several days in late May. Dakota Seal of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, applied a slurry seal to all the residential streets east of Main Avenue. Cost to the city was $124,527. Ryan Folsom with Dakota Seal talked with city council members March 12 about the slurry seal versus the…- June 05, 2024U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) last week introduced the Rural Mail Delivery Improvement Act. This legislation would require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to implement all of the recommendations made by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) following their audit of the Bemidji Post Office, which uncovered operational problems at the facility. “Minnesotans…
- June 05, 2024Permanent absentee list Starting June 1 Minnesota voters can sign up once to be automatically sent an absentee ballot before every election. All eligible voters can choose to join the permanent absentee voter list by checking the box on the interactive voter registration application. The online and paper applications can be found at mnvotes.gov/register. An absentee ballot allows a voter to…
June 05, 2024The Rock County Historical Society presented its 12th annual “Tales from the Graves” and pie and ice cream social Sunday afternoon at the History Center. Local actors played the roles of featured “guests” who were prominent in Rock County history and helped to tell the story of the county’s past.
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