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 SorensonApril 21, 2020There are five MDH-confirmed cases of coronavirus in Rock County as of noon on Tuesday, but there are believed to be many more, considering recent developments in neighboring communities. The outbreak in Smithfield Foods, Sioux Falls, is one of the worst “hotspots” in the nation with more than 1,500 cases in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties just over the border in South Dakota. JBS Pork processing…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 21, 2020Small groups of people gathered along Peter Janiszeski’s running route Saturday as he substituted the Boston Marathon with his own 26.2-mile Luverne Marathon. Friends, co-workers and community members cheered Janiszeski as he ran along Dodge Street, Blue Mound Avenue, 131st Street and Highway 75. Many clapped, shouted words of encouragement and held up signs as he passed. Written messages…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 21, 2020A simple text on the morning of March 27 pulled Martha Nowatzki from her home in Luverne into a face-to-face battle with the coronavirus. The text from her stepsister was about her father, John Feight, 93, who had been taken by ambulance to the hospital after suffering various health issues for the past five years. A shelter-in-place order had just been issued by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 21, 2020A height variance was granted April 14 for Chandler Feed Company to build a new grain bin in Hardwick. The Hardwick City Council conducted the teleconference variance hearing with Derek Krosschell and Miles Brown with Chandler Feed Company participating. No face-to-face meeting took place amidst coronavirus concerns. Hardwick City Clerk Tammy Johnson said she sent 35 letters out to residents…
- By Lori SorensonApril 21, 2020Luverne city leaders are laying groundwork for another housing development adjacent to the recently purchased Lynn Lopau property on the west edge of town. Lowell and Kathleen Fick are transferring 4.13 acres to the Gary and Maxine Thies Mission Foundation, which supports the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Mission. Once the transaction is completed, the city will purchase it from the…
- By Lori SorensonApril 21, 2020In response to dozens of confirmed coronavirus cases among its workforce, JBS on Monday announced the indefinite closure of its Worthington plant. It employs more than 2,000 Nobles County workers and processes 20,000 hogs per day. “We don’t make this decision lightly,” said Bob Krebs, president of JBS USA Pork. “We recognize JBS Worthington is critical to local hog producers, the U.S. food supply…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 21, 2020Social distancing requirements have changed the format for annual Board of Appeal and Equalization meetings where people would normally ask questions about property values and classifications. Many Rock County communities have declared community health emergencies to voluntarily transfer the appeal process to Rock County. Mayor Keith Elbers read the resolution at the April 14 Hills City Council…
- April 21, 2020The Luverne Lions Club recently donated $750 to cover tuition for local student Emma Deutsch, 13, to attend Camp Gilbert this summer in Waubay, South Dakota. The camp, located at Camp Nesodak, is for children ages 8 to 18 living with Type 1 diabetes. “We are very grateful,” said Emma’s mom, Sarah Deutsch. Pictured with Emma on March 12 at the Rock County Library are Luverne Lions members Gordon…
- April 14, 2020Last week’s spring field work came to a halt Sunday when a spring blizzard left about a half-foot of snow in its wake as it passed through Rock County. With the county already under the state’s shelter-in-place order, the blizzard did not interrupt Easter Sunday services for area residents as almost all the county’s churches were able to worship online. The forecast the rest of the week calls for…
- By Lori SorensonApril 14, 2020Smithfield Foods closed its Sioux Falls pork processing plant over the weekend after more than 230 workers tested positive for coronavirus. The plant is one of the nation’s top pork processors, and it has many in the ag sector worried about food supply chains. “It is impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running,” said Smithfield President and CEO…
- By Lori SorensonApril 14, 2020The Luverne Economic Development Authority will provide relief for local businesses suffering economic hardship as a result of temporary closures for coronavirus prevention. Qualifying businesses — nearly 80 non-residential accounts — will see a credit on their May utility statements equal to half of three months worth of their average bills. Members of the LEDA, which met via conference call…
- By Lori SorensonApril 14, 2020Rock County learned of its first two confirmed cases of coronavirus this week as numbers continue to climb across the state and nation. As of Tuesday, there were no more additional local cases, and local emergency management officials continued to prepare for an anticipated “surge” of patients weeks from now. In addition to securing personal protective equipment for “front line” workers — medical…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 14, 2020As Rock County enters the third week of Minnesota’s stay-in-place mandate, area state legislators are reaching out to various groups to discuss legislative action amid the coronavirus pandemic. Sen. Bill Weber and Reps. Rod Hamilton and Joe Schomacker hosted several videoconferencing calls with school and county leaders last week, and they will talk with city administrators this week. “The role…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 14, 2020Sometimes pictures from the ground don’t tell the whole story. Luverne High School junior Cade Wenninger last week showcased aerial photographs he captured through his Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class. “I always thought the drone pictures on the Internet were really neat,” he said. Late last year Wenninger began business plans for Skygenix, an aerial photography company. He researched…
- April 14, 2020On April 8, a Star Herald reader notified the paper about inspirational chalk messages that appear intermittently on the Luverne Loop path northwest of the school ball diamonds. The Star Herald shared them on Facebook and later discovered the artists belong to Peyten Elbers day care. She’s pictured with them at their daycare April 8: Amelia Delowe, Breña Delowe, Kodac Rivas, Hunter Cook, Greyson…
- By Lori SorensonApril 14, 2020Beaver Creek City Council members accepted a bid of $175,000 from MC&R, Sioux Falls, for a splash pad at the city park on the southeast side of town. At their Wednesday, April 8, meeting via Zoom, council members discussed the cost of the splash pad with regard to the coronavirus-depressed economy. “I’m worried about public perception,” said councilman Jeff Dysthe, who voted against the…
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