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
- By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 09, 2016Area residents have a unique learning opportunity currently being offered through Luverne Community Education. “Intro to Beginning Beekeeping” is a new two-class offering by local apiculturist Tim Olsen. Classes will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 25 and March 10 in the Community Education building. “I remember opening up a bee hive and was startled by what I saw,” Olsen said of his initial experience…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 08, 2016Thursday, Jan. 28, marked the 100th day students at Luverne Elementary have attended classes for the 2015-16 school year. “The 100th Day is a tradition at LES,” said Principal Stacy Gillette. “It coincides with our math curriculum and our 100s chart that we use with our students.” Classrooms in kindergarten through fifth grade use the 100s chart to practice a variety of skills, including counting…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 02, 2016Schools across the tri-state region closed classes for the day Tuesday, Feb. 2, ahead of the heavily forecast blizzard that started in Nebraska and Iowa and moved northward through southern Minnesota. Five to 8 inches of snow were predicted for Rock County and southwest Minnesota, and as the Star Herald went to press Tuesday, snow had begun to fall. Icy flakes sliced sideways through the air as…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 02, 2016The local construction industry has been steadily busy over the past several years, according to data from the Luverne building and zoning office. “Looking at current and past data, it appears for the most part consistent,” said Luverne Building Official Chad McClure about the city’s building permits. If it seems like there’s always something under construction in Luverne, that’s because there is…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 02, 2016A Luverne High School senior wants every high school girl to have a chance to experience prom. Zoe Brown is coordinating a prom dress exchange with ATLAS of Rock County to make that happen. For the cost of dry cleaning, any area high schooler can borrow a glamorous dress for the special night. “I noticed that some people may not be able to attend prom because of the expenses and thought that this…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 02, 2016Area residents are invited to assist a University of Minnesota acting professor in writing a play during a three-day workshop next week in Luverne. The event is free and is open to anyone age 14 and older. Luverne Seifert (no relationship to the town of the same name) is a professor at the University of Minnesota Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Ideally, Seifert would like 10 to 15 persons…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 02, 2016Luverne High School’s Mock Trial team earned three wins since the 2016 season began late last month. The team most recently traveled to Redwood Falls Friday, Jan. 29, earning a win over Minneota, 230-215. The first round was earlier in January against Lakeview High School with Luverne winning 226 to 222. The LHS team has also earned a win over Hills-Beaver Creek 218-207 in the second round. The…
- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 02, 2016Luverne High School celebrates its first Snow Week coronation Wednesday, Jan. 27, naming seniors Hannah Hoogland and Derek Krueger as queen and king respectively. Last week featured special dress up days and a dance, organized by the student leaders in grades 9-12 and fun winter activities. Teachers selected eight students as Snow Week royalty based on academic success, leadership and involvement…
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 25, 2016The Minnesota State Patrol recorded 121 traffic incidents from snow-packed and icy road conditions in its Marshall district during the past week. From Jan. 18 through 25, there were 38 property damage crashes, 10 injury crashes and 73 vehicles reported off the road, according to the Troy Christianson of the State Patrol. The Marshall district includes 13 counties in southwest Minnesota. Locally,…
- By Lori SorensonJanuary 25, 2016The future of the Blue Mounds State Park water recreation hangs in the balance as park officials consider how to address the flood-ravaged dam that was destroyed in 2014. An open meeting next week will allow the public to provide input on alternatives to restoring the site and to learn about issues surrounding the Blue Mounds State Park dam. The meeting will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2,…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorJanuary 25, 2016Christmas is over, but a group of local volunteers is already planning next year’s holiday season in Luverne. The concept of “Luverne Nutcracker Village” is under consideration following Betty Mann’s donation of more than 2,400 nutcrackers to the Rock County Historical Society. “These are all sizes — from 6 feet tall to the size of your fingernail, and their little mouths open and close,” said…
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 25, 2016Second-year director Julie Fettes hopes this year’s one act play performance propels Luverne High School to the state contest. “Our goal is to advance this year,” she said. On Saturday Luverne will be one of four teams at the 3A subsection competition in Pipestone. The top two teams earn the right to perform at the Feb. 6 regionals for the chance to attend the one act play festival Feb. 11-12 at…
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 25, 2016For local contractor Okie Honken, measuring is a matter of using his head. On Friday Honken and assistant librarian Barb Verhey discussed repurposing a set of wooden bookshelves. With a hand to his forehead, Honken stood one board on end and declared where his hand rested was a six-foot height. “We are trying to reuse as much of the materials as possible,” Verhey said. Honken is equally cost-…
- By Glenda McGaffeeJanuary 25, 2016A carbon monoxide detector is credited for saving a Hills family late in December. Melissa Gehrke and her daughters were sleeping in their home on East Second Street at 4 a.m. and Pete Gehrke was at work in Sioux Falls when the family’s carbon monoxide detector sounded off. “When the first alarm sounded, I thought the battery was low so I grabbed the stepstool, took the top off and by that time…
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 25, 2016The soft clinks of plastic tiles and the speaking of a few Chinese words will soon expand to living rooms throughout Rock County, thanks to the efforts of four local women. Carol McDonald, Lona Klosterbuer, Rhonna Jarchow and Shirley Klosterbuer will share their knowledge in an upcoming Luverne Community Education Class, “Why Play Mahjong?” McDonald, a member of the Community Education Advisory…
- January 25, 2016NDSU issues fall semester dean’s list North Dakota State University, Fargo, has released the Fall 2015 dean’s list. To qualify, students must be enrolled in at least nine class credits and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a scale of 4.0. Named to the dean’s list from Luverne are Paige Adams, nursing; Michael Graff, finance; Savanna Thielbar, women and gender studies; and Sydney Thielbar, accounting…
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