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
- April 07, 2020Gas prices in Luverne continued to drop as the coronavirus pandemic lessened the demand for oil around the world. On Friday the price per gallon at the Sunshine gas station was $1.63. On Monday the price was $1.59, the lowest early April price in a decade. According to GasBuddy.com survey, gas prices in Minnesota fell 10.1 cents in the past week and the price is 58.3 cents lower than last month.…
- By Lori SorensonApril 07, 2020Sanford Luverne has tested 68 patients so far for coronavirus and so far none have been confirmed in Rock County. As of late Monday there were 986 cases in Minnesota, most of them in the Twin Cities, and a handful confirmed in neighboring southwest Minnesota counties. In nearby South Dakota, only 30 miles to the west, there are more than 160 confirmed illnesses in the Sioux Falls metro counties…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 07, 2020Chandler Feed Co. is seeking a height variance to add an additional grain bin at its First Street location in Hardwick. A public teleconference hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 14. No in-person hearing will be conducted in order toprevent the spread of the coronavirus. The proposed grain bin will be 107 feet tall with a grain leg reaching 114 feet.The new 600,000-bushel…
- By Lori SorensonApril 07, 2020Students nationwide are missing out on their spring sports events, and seniors are missing the final season of their high school careers. Luverne coaches and administration are coordinating with more than 170 districts across Minnesota to light up track infields, tennis courts and ball diamonds once a week. The movement, #BeTheLightMN, calls for schools to light up their facilities for 20 minutes…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 07, 2020Monday marked the final issue of the Jasper newspaper. The decision to cease publication ends the newspaper’s 131 years of service to the community. Pipestone Publishing Co. in Pipestone owned the newspaper. “The Jasper community, to no fault of anyone, has changed,” said publisher John Draper. “It’s very difficult to continue to print, mail and maintain all the resources necessary to continue…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 07, 2020Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek foreign exchange students’ experiences in the U.S. have been cut short as three return home and one stays with his host family to begin distance learning. “I feel bad for them,” said Alex Haan, a local coordinator for the exchange program. “They won’t experience prom or a graduation ceremony to the extent we do them here.” With all school extracurricular activities…
- April 07, 2020Windows around the community are turning into personal expressions of cheer and Easter greetings amid coronavirus shelter-in-place orders. Luverne Area Chamber staff built on this enthusiasm last week by encouraging more positive decorations and social media shares. “Decorate your garage door, the front door of your business or your home,” said Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere. “We are…
- April 07, 2020Brenda Latten donned an Easter Bunny costume Monday to raise money for the Rock County Emergency Food Shelf. Waiving at passersby from Casey’s convenience store on Highway 75, she attracted enough attention to raise more than $100 for the food shelf while also spreading cheer in the community.
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020Confirmed cases of coronavirus are showing up in communities closer and closer to Rock County, the latest in Lyon County Tuesday and increasing numbers (28) in Minnehaha County just 30 miles to the west. Testing capacity is limited, so numbers aren’t telling the whole story. That’s why public health officials tell communities to assume the virus is circulating and to continue social distancing.…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020While most local businesses are losing revenue due to coronavirus measures, Sunshine Foods and Blue Mound Liquor are struggling to keep up with demand. “It’s been busier than ever,” said liquor store cashier Christi Wilson. “I haven’t seen a madness like this since the holidays. People are just afraid the liquor store might close.” Liquor store manager Kenny Rolling compared sales receipts from…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Gevo Inc., which operates Agri-Energy in Luverne, announced Friday it will cease operations at the biofuel production plant. The close was effective Friday and terminates the employment of 27 workers. “We will resume production once the economy is up and running again,” said Gevo spokesperson Heather Manuel. “This virus is just detrimental to business.” Gevo officials are currently…
- March 31, 2020Firefighters and first responders from the Luverne Volunteer Fire Department and Rock County Ambulance formed an eight-vehicle “parade” Sunday afternoon as they drove through each neighborhood with sirens, lights and smiles during the 90-minute ride. The event was intended to brighten everyone’s day, according to fire chief Dave Van Batavia. Sunday marked Day 2 of Minnesota’s 14-day shelter-in-…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Patrons entering the Luverne Ace Hardware store often inquire about the business’ newest “worker,” a year-old black-and-white cat named Ace. In the month since Ace joined the 14 employees at the store, manager Kevin Mick has noticed customers — men, women and all the kids — ask a variation of the same question: Where’s Ace? “The best thing for a lot of us is … she’s a stress reliever,”…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Luverne Elementary second-grader Isley Smith celebrated her eighth birthday with an unusual party Wednesday, March 25, by receiving birthday wishes curbside at her home on West Dodge Street. Parents Andrea and Michael Smith originally planned to take Isley and her friends to a bowling alley for a birthday party. But these plans were canceled by shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of the…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020The coronavirus pandemic and its social distancing measures have made the grief process more painful for those who have lost loved ones, according to local funeral home directors. “It’s preventing friends and family from grieving properly because of the lack of fellowship and support from the community,” said Dan Dingmann. “It limits the effectiveness of the positive social benefit of a public…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Luverne’s seven school board members gathered via videoconference for their regular March 26 meeting using the Zoom application. Superintendent Craig Oftedahl and board chairperson Jody Bosch originated the meeting at the district office with the other six board members at remote locations. Nineteen staff members joined the online meeting. The district closed March 16 per state…
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