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.
Farmers tally losses of flood event; full impact on crops unknown until harvest
When floodwaters finally receded over the weekend, area farmers had a chance to assess the damages of crops under water and or washed away.
Service over self volunteers build, donate beds for 'Sweet Dreams' mission
This week, dozens of local teens involved with Rock the Edge are performing public service projects in and around Luverne for their annual “Service Over Self” local mission work.
Early voting for Luverne primary starts June 28
Early voting for the Aug. 13 primary election is from June 28-Aug. 12.
Introduction to fishing
Representatives from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources spent two hours Friday morning at The Lake in Luverne instructing youth about fishing, fishing r
News
- February 29, 2016The Luverne High School speech team secured the first-place team sweepstakes at the Adrian Speech Invitational Saturday. The win is the second one for the team after finishing first at the Redwood Falls tournament Feb. 13. About 230 students representing 16 teams competed Saturday in Adrian, including 33 from Luverne. Individual honors went to 16 Luverne members in 10 categories: Storytelling:…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorFebruary 26, 2016Saturday’s Get Hooked in Luverne Ice Fishing Derby attracted 103 adults and 59 children to the creamery pond for some friendly competition and plenty of prizes. Nearly 60-degree temperatures threatened the ice that day, but its 8 to 10-inch thickness was deemed safe for foot traffic. Participants, many of them families, said they were glad they decided to come out to the ice. “I’ve enjoyed…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorFebruary 25, 2016Luverne City Council members Tuesday approved a 10-year agreement with Luverne Street Music to lease the city-owned Carnegie Cultural Center. The non-profit music agency that pairs private music instructors with interested students will rent the Carnegie building on North Freeman Avenue starting March 1. The building has been closed since the first part of February while the previous tenants, the…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 22, 2016When the USDA released its annual crop production report last month, it confirmed Minnesota’s 2015 crop season as its best on record. On Thursday, Feb. 18, the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Minnesota Field Office released individual county results and confirmed 2015 was also a good production year for Rock County. The state upped its previous record corn yield set in 2010 by 11…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016The Luverne Music Boosters hosted big crowds at their annual Winter Carnival Saturday night in the Luverne High School Gymnasium. The night featured carnival-style games, bingo, a cakewalk, cotton candy, root beer floats, balloon art, face painting and more. The event is one of the Music Boosters’ biggest fundraisers of the year, bringing in thousands of dollars to support music programs of…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 22, 2016After 58 days, 5 hours and 6 minutes rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, Caitlin Miller’s first steps on land were a little wobbly on Feb. 16. “That first step we all felt we were swaying,” said Miller during a phone interview a day after the race. Miller is the daughter of Alex and Karen Miller of rural Hardwick. She and her partner, George Pagano, from Media, Pennsylvania, finished the Talisker…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016Rock County farmer Peter Bakken visited fourth-grade students at Harvey Dunn Elementary in Sioux Falls Friday, Feb. 19, to show them what “cow food” is made of. Bakken has been “adopted” by the students and has been sharing video messages with the class every month since school began last fall. In his monthly videos he shows the students what cows eat, where they live and how they are cared for…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 22, 2016The Luverne Area Chamber hosted Sen. Bill Weber and Rep. Joe Schomacker for Contacts and Coffee Friday morning in the lower level of the Chamber office. Weber and Schomacker, both of Luverne, discussed items of interest from the 2016 legislative session and took questions from citizens and local leaders who attended the event. Schomacker said nursing home funding reform was one of the biggest…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016More than 100 people attended the Feb. 9 meeting about the Blue Mounds State Park lake that drained when floodwaters tore through the dam in 2014. Most showed up to voice their support for replacing the dam and beach, but they learned — and many came to understand — water quality was the broader issue. Even before flood damage, the lake was impaired by bacteria and sedimentation from the…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016Darrell Hoeck has served on the Springwater Township Board for 38 years. He started in 1978 as a clerk at the encouragement of his father, George Hoeck, who served Springwater Township for 25 years. So, it’s fair to say local government leadership is in the Hoeck family roots. “Dad always said we should all take our turn,” said the junior Hoeck, now 75. “And it’s time for new blood. There’s young…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016After nearly two months of non-stop rowing, Luverne High School graduate Caitlin Miller and her rowing partner, George Pagano, safely docked in Antigua Tuesday morning. Miller of Hardwick and Pagano of Media, Pennsylvania, competed in the “Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge,” a 90-day, 3,000-mile journey from the Island of LaGomera (one of Spain’s Canary Islands just off the coast of Africa) to…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 15, 2016Gov. Mark Dayton introduced legislation last year to mandate vegetative buffer strips along waterways in an effort to clean up Minnesota’s notoriously impaired waters. Ever since those details have emerged, farm groups have pushed back vigorously, especially on the piece of legislation that requires producers to put buffers along private ditches on their land. Responding to these concerns, Dayton…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016A website made the purchase of two buses for Luverne Public Schools as easy as a few mouse clicks. For the first time, the district personnel used the state education department’s school bus purchasing program. Business Manager Marlene Mann said during the Feb. 4 school board meeting that the department’s website allows districts to click on various bus features and submit the information to…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 15, 2016Like its larger predecessor conducted annually in Rock County, Luverne Elementary School’s Relay for Life event features pledges, luminaries and walking. On Friday, Feb. 5, the school’s event raised $5,656.40 for cancer research. “We had a very successful relay,” said Principal Stacy Gillette. Walking is not a new activity for the elementary school. The first Friday of every month, students,…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 09, 2016Area residents had just dug out from the record-breaking Groundhog Day Blizzard last week when Round 2 hit just as the Super Bowl game was ending Sunday night. Many game day travelers found it difficult or impossible to get home Sunday night, and white-out conditions through most of Monday again prompted officials to close roads in southwest Minnesota. For both blizzards, wind speeds of 35 to 45…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 09, 2016Longtime Luverne dentist David Paquette announced his retirement this week while also revealing plans to sell his space to the adjacent eye clinic. In a letter to patients, Paquette said his dental practice will close Feb. 25. “I have been deeply privileged to provide dental care for you and your families,” he wrote. “I have been grateful for the opportunity to talk with you and learn what is…
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