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.
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
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.
Luverne City Council members are anticipating a 9.41-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2019, according to action taken at their Tuesday night meeting.
The $2.1 million levy is about $180,300 more than the current levy and includes $32,334 in debt financing for the $14 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade.
Without that, the increase would have been 7.72 percent to cover the $1.9…
Rock County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve conditional use permits for the construction of two wind towers west of Luverne over the objections of neighboring property owners.
John and Cathy Jarchow live northwest from the proposed wind towers in Luverne Township.
They were represented at the county board meeting by attorney Carol Ann Overland of Red Wing.
According to her…
For those without the time or desire to do laundry, Rock County Opportunities (RCO) can help.
The RCO Laundry Service is a partnership with the Laundry Room, where owner Mike Jarchow has a large sign referring potential customers to the RCO drop-off and pick-up service.
The laundry work began about a year ago, according to RCO Executive Director Elizabeth Schear.
“The goal is twofold,” Schear…
A bridge replacement in Martin Township will get underway this fall, two years after the wooden structure was destroyed by fire.
Four bids were received Aug. 19, and county commissioners chose the low bid of $1.292 million submitted by Prahm Construction Inc. from Slayton.
“He wants to get the dirt work done this fall,” said County Engineer Mark Sehr.
Construction of the bridge on County Road 52…
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18, to establish two separate tax districts in the city of Hardwick.
The 7 p.m. hearing allows public input into the city’s phase-in plan to place 10 identified parcels now included in the city limits of Hardwick into a separate rural service district and an urban service district.
The move would lower property taxes on the parcels included in…
Luverne is welcoming 70 college students to town for the fall semester.
The students attending Minnesota West Community and Technical College — Luverne Center began classes Aug. 26.
Jill Arp, the resource specialist at the Luverne Center, organized a “Getting Connected” week that included a vendor fair, community scavenger hunt and more.
“Our goal is to help connect them to the community of…
Owners of new single-family homes or duplexes built after Sept. 1 are now eligible for tax abatements in Rock County.
Commissioners unanimously passed the “Rock County Home Initiative” at their Sept. 3 meeting.
The initiative is meant to encourage replacement of dilapidated housing structures in Rock County. The program is similar to initiatives in Pipestone and Nobles counties.
Approved…
Marie and Dan LaRock, founders of Rock Ranch west of Hills, attended the Sept. 3 Rock County Board meeting to discuss their planned expansion and indoor arena project.
Rock Ranch, which began as a non-profit organization in 2016, offers horsemanship classes to children ages 5 to 17 with various riding abilities.
“This year has received remarkable interest,” Dan told commissioners.
Participation…
Two Luverne residents died in a one-vehicle crash reported at 6:09 a.m. Wednesday morning, Sept. 4, to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
Myron Waddington, 39, and Jennifer Cattnach, 41, were riding eastbound in a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu on County Road 7 two-and-one-half miles west of Hardwick near 120th Avenue when the crash occurred.
According to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, the vehicle left the…
A Magnolia woman lost her life in a single vehicle rollover Tuesday morning, Sept. 3, near Kanaranzi.
According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, the report came in at 8:17 a.m. of a vehicle crash on 190th Ave. and 21st Street, which is near the curves south of Kanaranzi.
Ana Little, 31, had been driving south on 190th Avenue and was traveling through the curves at 21st Street…
A lot has happened in the past 72 years — from the moon landing to the fall of the Berlin Wall — and one couple, John and Dorothy Sikma, have been together through it all.
The couple celebrated a vow renewal ceremony at the Bernhard Tuff Chapel at the Tuff Memorial Home Tuesday, Sept. 3, with residents, staff and family.
Pastor Maggie Berndt-Dreyer, chaplain of the nursing home, officiated at the…
The Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Hills hosted a grades 9-12 youth group barbecue Sunday, Aug. 25, to kick off the school year youth group weekly meetings. The first group meeting was Sunday, Sept. 8.
“We had a great group of kids for our kick-off barbecue,” said organizer Brenda Plimpton, who invited all community youth to join the informal group meetings from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday nights.
“We…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical Society
September 10, 2019
The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on September 21, 1967.
1,100 Bushels of Sealed Corn Stolen
An inconspicuous theft has netted the biggest haul of corn in years here in Rock County.
Norman Thorson who farms three east and one and three fourths south of Luverne, reported to the Sheriff’s office and to the Rock County Agricultural Stabilization and Con-…
Fifty-one 4-H’ers represented Rock County at the recent Minnesota State Fair.
Hannah Kruse, a member of the Livewires 4-H Club was named a Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association and MN State Fair scholarship recipient during the annual event.
Thirty-one 4-H’ers exhibited livestock during the Aug. 23-25 encampment. More than 2,895 animals were exhibited.
Local results including the 4-H’er’s name…
Last fall Michelle DeKam drove out of state for her son Jayden, a first-grader, to play soccer with kids his own age.
On the drive from Luverne to Iowa, the young mom began thinking about a local soccer league.
“If Rock Rapids could have 90 kids playing soccer in one grade, why not in Luverne?” she asked.
This spring, with the help of Luverne Community Education and the Luverne Optimist Club,…