From parched to drenched
Harvest is in full swing for much of Rock County this week, marking the final stretch of what’s arguably been a challenging growing season.
Highway 75 project proceeds (almost) on schedule
Contractors have been given a five-day extension on completion deadlines due to September’s frequent rainy weather.
H-BC School Board Candidates share priorities
There are five candidates seeking election to four open seats on the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board.
The Loft after-school program helps kids find community
Starting at 3:20 p.m. on the dot, the quiet halls of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne start to fill with the noise of children.
Luverne preliminary levy set to rise 7.12%
Luverne City Council members are proposing a 7.12% levy increase for taxes payable in 2027.
Adrian reporter to contribute to Star Herald
The Rock County Star Herald is expanding its coverage area east toward Adrian, and Deb Kroon will be the face of those stories for the Star Herald news team.
News
By Mavis FodnessMarch 27, 2024The Luverne High School speech team ended the 2024 regular season with two strong performances. The team finished second at the Big South Conference Championships on March 21 and fourth at the Pipestone Area Speech Invitational March 23. Luverne competed in the small school division at both events. Two speakers took Big South Conference honors. Jessika Tunnissen placed first in informative…
By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management AnalystMarch 27, 2024Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operators are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of their machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents. In addition, some land investors are choosing to…
March 20, 2024More than a dozen parade entries walked down Main Street Luverne Monday afternoon for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade organized by the Luverne Area Chamber. Plenty of green was seen along the street – and also stocking hats and mittens donned against the upper 30-degree temperatures. The parade was a culmination of a full weekend of St. Patrick's Day activities in Luverne.
By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024The Magnolia City Council shared a letter of support in a grant application Rock County submitted for the $25 million transload and rail yard facility proposed for the east edge of town. Now residents of Magnolia and Magnolia Township are criticizing city leaders for the letter, and they addressed Magnolia City Council and Rock County officials at the March 12 meeting in city hall. Rock County…
By Lori SorensonMarch 20, 2024Beaver Creek horticulturalist Sean McFarland has purchased the SpringBrooke events facility and surrounding six acres in Beaver Creek from Rick Gourley. According to the purchase agreement signed earlier this month, McFarland also has an option to buy the remainder of the property under contract. Gourley will keep a small parcel near the housing development. McFarland plans to continue…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024Commissioners approved a conditional use permit for Ellis & Eastern to operate a temporary storage and staging area near the Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad (BRRR) in western Rock County. They supported the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation to issue the permit after a Feb. 26 public hearing. Land Management Director Eric Hartman presented the commission’s recommendation…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024Minnesota author Mary Casanova visited Luverne Monday evening for a presentation called “My Doll, Me & Mary.” The author of 39 published books felt honored to be talking about the 11 books she’s written for the American Girl series. Five of her books have had dolls developed from her American Girl characters along with three movies. She’s currently talking about her books as she tours the…- By Lori SorensonMarch 20, 2024The city of Beaver Creek will connect to Rock County Rural Water for its municipal needs and to meet demands of the new Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School. At their March 13 meeting, Beaver Creek City Council members unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Rural Water Board indicating their intent to connect to Rock County Rural Water. The action follows a meeting earlier this month…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024Editor's Note: The top wage for the 2024-25 contract year clarifies a teacher's eligibility for the top wage to $90,774 with a master's degree, 30 credits and 16 years of teaching. A new two-year teacher contract was approved March 12 in a special meeting of the Luverne School Board. Approved by the Luverne Education Association (LEA) and the school board, the changes to the existing contract…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024The Luverne High School Business Professionals of America Chapter (BPA) earned a gold status for membership increase at the Spring Leadership Conference March 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis. “It was a great learning experience, and we had fun being up there representing Luverne,” said adviser Katie Kopp. “It was great to see Luverne’s students being recognized. They worked hard this…
- March 20, 2024If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have until March 31, 2024, to change your plan. People with Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage Plan can make a one-time plan change from January 1 through March 31. People new to Medicare and who choose to get their Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan can also access this enrollment period during the first three months after…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 20, 2024County commissioners approved expanding U of M Extension office support in order to grow the local 4-H program. The action at their March 5 meeting increases the current 32-hour office support position to 40 hours to assist the full-time so-to-be-hired 4-H youth development educator. This allows the Extension office to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the absence of an…
March 13, 2024This year’s unseasonable warmth began over the weekend and continued into Monday as temperatures rose into the mid-70s. “It’s just a nice day to be out,” said Schomacker, who enjoyed the outdoors after work. High temperature records were broken Monday in Sioux Falls (80 degrees; old record of 75 was set in 2016) and in Pipestone (73 degrees; old record of 73, also in 2016.) However the lamb-like…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 13, 2024Improvements at Main Street and Highway 75 in Luverne are delayed a year, due additional infrastructure work planned for the project. The estimated $4.4 million project to widen the intersection for truck traffic and resurface Highway 75 to Veterans Drive was on next year’s schedule. Instead, it will be done in 2026 at a cost now estimated at $9.3 million. “This was a result of changing the…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 13, 2024Fifty years after the last Minneapolis Moline tractor rolled off the assembly line, enthusiasts of the prairie gold-colored machines are still celebrating its existence. On March 21-23, the Minneapolis Moline Collectors Club winter show will be in Luverne at Big Top Tents and Events on Hatting Street. On Thursday the group can choose from nine tours with local businesses and/or collectors.…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 13, 2024In five years the Luverne High School robotics team is starting to make an impact. The 39-member LHS team earned the 2024 Impact Award March 2 at the Lake Superior Regionals in Duluth. They competed in the FIRST FRC (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competition). They are now qualified to compete at the FRC Worlds 2024 during the FIRST Championship in Houston…
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