Hardwick celebrates annual Jubilee Days
Hardwick residents and visitors celebrated the town’s annual Jubilee Days Saturday and Sunday.
Rock County among 21 included in presidential disaster declaration
Rock County is among 21 counties included in a major disaster declaration approved Friday by President Biden.
Local Soil Health experts brainstorm for options as farmers consider next steps for flooded fields
As the realities of flood damage to crops come into focus, area producers are considering options for soil that was supposed to grow corn and soybeans.
Carson's Cause Truck Meet and Classic Car Cruise attracts over 120 and raises $27,000 Saturday
The second annual Carson’s Cause Car and Truck Meet at the Verne-Drive-In attracted more than 120 vehicles and raised $27,000 for local efforts to improve brain he
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.
News
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016The Luverne Music Boosters hosted big crowds at their annual Winter Carnival Saturday night in the Luverne High School Gymnasium. The night featured carnival-style games, bingo, a cakewalk, cotton candy, root beer floats, balloon art, face painting and more. The event is one of the Music Boosters’ biggest fundraisers of the year, bringing in thousands of dollars to support music programs of…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 22, 2016After 58 days, 5 hours and 6 minutes rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, Caitlin Miller’s first steps on land were a little wobbly on Feb. 16. “That first step we all felt we were swaying,” said Miller during a phone interview a day after the race. Miller is the daughter of Alex and Karen Miller of rural Hardwick. She and her partner, George Pagano, from Media, Pennsylvania, finished the Talisker…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016Rock County farmer Peter Bakken visited fourth-grade students at Harvey Dunn Elementary in Sioux Falls Friday, Feb. 19, to show them what “cow food” is made of. Bakken has been “adopted” by the students and has been sharing video messages with the class every month since school began last fall. In his monthly videos he shows the students what cows eat, where they live and how they are cared for…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016The Luverne Area Chamber hosted Sen. Bill Weber and Rep. Joe Schomacker for Contacts and Coffee Friday morning in the lower level of the Chamber office. Weber and Schomacker, both of Luverne, discussed items of interest from the 2016 legislative session and took questions from citizens and local leaders who attended the event. Schomacker said nursing home funding reform was one of the biggest…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016More than 100 people attended the Feb. 9 meeting about the Blue Mounds State Park lake that drained when floodwaters tore through the dam in 2014. Most showed up to voice their support for replacing the dam and beach, but they learned — and many came to understand — water quality was the broader issue. Even before flood damage, the lake was impaired by bacteria and sedimentation from the…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016Darrell Hoeck has served on the Springwater Township Board for 38 years. He started in 1978 as a clerk at the encouragement of his father, George Hoeck, who served Springwater Township for 25 years. So, it’s fair to say local government leadership is in the Hoeck family roots. “Dad always said we should all take our turn,” said the junior Hoeck, now 75. “And it’s time for new blood. There’s young…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016After nearly two months of non-stop rowing, Luverne High School graduate Caitlin Miller and her rowing partner, George Pagano, safely docked in Antigua Tuesday morning. Miller of Hardwick and Pagano of Media, Pennsylvania, competed in the “Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge,” a 90-day, 3,000-mile journey from the Island of LaGomera (one of Spain’s Canary Islands just off the coast of Africa) to…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016Gov. Mark Dayton introduced legislation last year to mandate vegetative buffer strips along waterways in an effort to clean up Minnesota’s notoriously impaired waters. Ever since those details have emerged, farm groups have pushed back vigorously, especially on the piece of legislation that requires producers to put buffers along private ditches on their land. Responding to these concerns, Dayton…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016A website made the purchase of two buses for Luverne Public Schools as easy as a few mouse clicks. For the first time, the district personnel used the state education department’s school bus purchasing program. Business Manager Marlene Mann said during the Feb. 4 school board meeting that the department’s website allows districts to click on various bus features and submit the information to…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016Like its larger predecessor conducted annually in Rock County, Luverne Elementary School’s Relay for Life event features pledges, luminaries and walking. On Friday, Feb. 5, the school’s event raised $5,656.40 for cancer research. “We had a very successful relay,” said Principal Stacy Gillette. Walking is not a new activity for the elementary school. The first Friday of every month, students,…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 09, 2016Area residents had just dug out from the record-breaking Groundhog Day Blizzard last week when Round 2 hit just as the Super Bowl game was ending Sunday night. Many game day travelers found it difficult or impossible to get home Sunday night, and white-out conditions through most of Monday again prompted officials to close roads in southwest Minnesota. For both blizzards, wind speeds of 35 to 45…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 09, 2016Longtime Luverne dentist David Paquette announced his retirement this week while also revealing plans to sell his space to the adjacent eye clinic. In a letter to patients, Paquette said his dental practice will close Feb. 25. “I have been deeply privileged to provide dental care for you and your families,” he wrote. “I have been grateful for the opportunity to talk with you and learn what is…
- By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 09, 2016Area residents have a unique learning opportunity currently being offered through Luverne Community Education. “Intro to Beginning Beekeeping” is a new two-class offering by local apiculturist Tim Olsen. Classes will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 25 and March 10 in the Community Education building. “I remember opening up a bee hive and was startled by what I saw,” Olsen said of his initial experience…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 08, 2016Thursday, Jan. 28, marked the 100th day students at Luverne Elementary have attended classes for the 2015-16 school year. “The 100th Day is a tradition at LES,” said Principal Stacy Gillette. “It coincides with our math curriculum and our 100s chart that we use with our students.” Classrooms in kindergarten through fifth grade use the 100s chart to practice a variety of skills, including counting…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 02, 2016Schools across the tri-state region closed classes for the day Tuesday, Feb. 2, ahead of the heavily forecast blizzard that started in Nebraska and Iowa and moved northward through southern Minnesota. Five to 8 inches of snow were predicted for Rock County and southwest Minnesota, and as the Star Herald went to press Tuesday, snow had begun to fall. Icy flakes sliced sideways through the air as…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 02, 2016The local construction industry has been steadily busy over the past several years, according to data from the Luverne building and zoning office. “Looking at current and past data, it appears for the most part consistent,” said Luverne Building Official Chad McClure about the city’s building permits. If it seems like there’s always something under construction in Luverne, that’s because there is…
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