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 Lori SorensonSeptember 30, 2026Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya stopped in Luverne on Tuesday, Sept. 22, as part of a campaign tour across southwest Minnesota. The visit at Take 16 Brewing Co. was among multiple stops last week that included Fulda, Slayton, Pipestone, Worthington, Windom and Madison Lake. Tafoya won the GOP primary to run for the open U.S. Senate seat currently…
September 30, 2026Star Herald graphic designer Heather Johnson and editor Lori Sorenson were honored at the National Newspaper Association convention in Detroit Sept. 17-18 when winners of the NNA Better Newspaper Contest were recognized. Johnson earned free registration to the event by designing the winning conference logo. She was able to accept her awards in person and also accepted Sorenson’s awards at the…
September 30, 2026Five candidates are seeking election to four seats on the Luverne School Board. They include three incumbents, Michael DeBates, Zach Nolz and David Wrigg, and two challengers, Sara Bolt and Anita Marden. Sara Bolt Tell us about your family. My husband, Chris, and I have two children who are currently in kindergarten and second grade. We also own and operate Bolts Turf Care here in Luverne. …
By Greg Hoogeveen, sports editorSeptember 30, 20262026 LHS Homecoming Queen Macie Edstron and King Coy Thone. 2025 Homecoming Queen Anna Banck and King Jaydon Johnson with ceremony Pages Bryson DenHoed and Nora DeBoer. Masters of Ceremonies Charlie Mostad and Kylie Kindt 2026 LHS Program Attendants Reinha John and Kelby Schonacker 2026 LHS Program Attendants Darius Dolo and Rylee Kurtz Freshman Class Samantha VanMaanen abd Andrew…
September 30, 2026Jerry Deuschle called law enforcement Saturday morning after he discovered political signs on his property north of Luverne had been vandalized overnight Friday night, Sept. 25. He said several signs advertising DFL candidates had been vandalized, with their poster boards ripped from their metal posts. Deuschle said there hadn’t been high winds or other weather that could have caused the damage,…
September 30, 2026Young equestrians in Rock County’s 4-H programs participated in the 2026 Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show Sept. 18-21 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Participating were Paige and Payton Blom from Hardwick, Allison and Andrea Honken from Ellsworth, Hayden Devine from Garretson, S.D., Caul Bonnett from Magnolia, and Blakley Fick from Luverne. Paige Blom received 10th place in…
September 30, 2026Over 40 members of Luverne’s 1976 graduating class gathered at The Lake in Luverne on Sept. 12 to celebrate their 50th reunion. They included (front, from left) Nancy (McGuire) VerSteeg, Penny Ohlen, Karen (Pedersen)Petersen, Paula Petersen-Giles, Connie (Mullvihill) Berseth, Deone (Perkins) Hemme, Joyce (Forsberg) Jacobson, Dale Hunter, (second row) Gracia (Shelton) Bryant-Ladd, Lois (…
September 30, 2026The Tri-State Band Festival in Luverne was canceled Saturday, Sept. 26, due to wet weather, however, Luverne marching band members competed in Brandon Saturday evening. The Luverne High School Marching Band captured a fifth-place finish in field competition at the Big Sioux Review in Brandon. According to school reports, just before taking the field the students had to run for cover inside the…
By Nicole RonchettiSeptember 25, 2026The Hills City Council adopted a resolution setting fees for public data requests during its Sept. 21 meeting – however, Minnesota Newspaper Association attorney Mark Anfinson has weighed in with concerns that the fees could be illegal. In approving the resolution, the Hills City Council adopted a 25-cent-per-page fee for physical copies of requests for public data that are 100 pages or fewer,…
September 24, 2026Watch the video below or use the links below to jump to specific sections of the video.
By Nicole RonchettiSeptember 23, 2026Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to their city’s government charter regarding public utilities. If adopted, it would transfer municipal utilities powers and responsibilities from the city council to a “Municipal Services Commission.” On Sept. 15 the Luverne Area Chamber hosted a public forum in a crowded Palace Theatre to address questions…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 23, 2026When Jason Lennox reached Rock County last week, it was a literal turning point in his 1,776-mile walk around the periphery of Minnesota. He posed for a photo at the tri-state marker southwest of Hills before trekking east along the Iowa border on his Recovery Road journey for youth mental health. His legs trembled Sept. 14 as he climbed atop the concrete marker after a 30-mile southbound hike…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 23, 2026The Luverne community along with student musicians and fans will celebrate the 75th annual Tri-State Band Festival Saturday in Luverne. Dubbed the “75th on 75,” the 2026 Band Festival Parade competition will march on the newly poured concrete of Highway 75, which has been under construction since this spring. Because construction traffic has been detoured through Luverne’s Main Street, the…- By Nicole RonchettiSeptember 23, 2026The school year has officially started for Rock County students, and both Hills-Beaver Creek and Luverne school districts have shared their enrollment numbers as they stand so far. H-BC enrollment H-BC has a total enrollment in kindergarten through 12th grade of 361 students so far in the 2026/27 school year. Of those, 151 are in the elementary grades and 210 are in high school. A more…
September 23, 2026Two candidates are on the ballot for Rock County sheriff — incumbent Matthew Sorenson and challenger Jeff Stratton. Matthew Sorenson Tell us about your family. My wife, Lori, and I live in Springwater Township where we have a small farming operation. Our children include Alexx Sorenson (and family in Edgerton), Jonathan Ehde (and family in Luverne) and the late Carson Ehde, whose loss in 2022…
September 23, 2026The Rock County Board of Commissioners’ second district has two candidates running: Keith Elbers and Dennis Hartman. Incumbent Stan Williamson has decided not to run for re-election. Keith Elbers Tell us about your family. My wife, Annette, and I live in Hills. We have one son and daughter-in-law, Tyler and Kala Bush, and three grandchildren. Micah is a freshman at SDSU. Malachi is a sophomore…
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