2026
- By Lori SorensonJanuary 28, 2026Luverne City Council members are adjusting their public meeting schedule for 2026 following discussion at their Jan. 20 meeting. In the past several months, the council reduced its number of meetings from three per month to one, with an added monthly work session if needed. This was a change from the council’s decades-old tradition of two business meetings per month, plus a “Committee of the…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 28, 2026Luverne’s one act play cast took second place Saturday at the subsection meet in Pipestone and will move on to section competition. Five schools competed at the Section 3 Subsection 10 event, and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton took the subsection title. The top two schools move on to the Section 3 meet on Saturday, Jan. 31, at R-T-R High School in Tyler. Luverne’s second-place finish was a surprise,…- January 21, 2026January is National Blood Donor Month, and the American Red Cross and Blood Banks of America encourage everyone who can donate blood to do so, especially now during the month of January. It's the time of year when blood supplies are running low, due to recent holiday schedules, winter weather and cold and flu season keeping dedicated donors from giving. Over the last two decades, blood…
- January 21, 2026LSS meals at Generations Monday, Jan. 26: Baked pork chop with pork gravy, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetables, wheat bread, oatmeal raisin cookie. Half-Priced Day sponsored by Main St. Financial. Tuesday, Jan. 27: Chicken cordon bleu, sliced carrots, rice pilaf, applesauce cup, wheat dinner roll. Half-Priced Day sponsored by Cattnach Insurance. Wednesday, Jan. 28: Salisbury steak,…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 21, 2026More than 30 Luverne Middle School students joined roughly 300 students in 17 districts from across southwest Minnesota last week for the annual Young Writers Conference in Marshall. The event is organized through the Southwest West Central Service Cooperative (SWWC), and this was the 34th year. “I always enjoy taking students to the conference … Luverne Middle School has been attending for…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 14, 2026“I had originally said, in 2012, when I was elected, that I would serve eight to 10 years. This year will be my 14th,” he announced in a press release Tuesday. Along with term limits, Weber cited the patience of his family (wife, Barb, their two children and three grandchildren) as he steps away from 30 years of elected office. “While there remains much I would like to change and accomplish…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 14, 2026One way to measure a community’s growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction. The city of Luverne issued fewer building permits in 2025 than in the prior year, but the permitted projects still represented a respectable list. Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled a building report for 2025 that shows he issued 160 permits for projects, with…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 14, 2026Student interest in mock trial remains strong at Luverne High School as the sole representative of southwest Minnesota competing during the 2026 season. Luverne’s season opened Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Nobles County Courthouse in Worthington where the defense team took on Fairmont High School. Official results had not been released by Minnesota State Bar Association organizers as of Monday, but…- January 14, 2026The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for passionate and dedicated students interested in learning more about natural resource-related careers through paid summer internships. DNR summer interns gain valuable training, build meaningful experience, help serve Minnesotans and advance the DNR’s mission. The DNR has a variety of internship opportunities throughout the state,…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 07, 2026In an after-hours announcement Monday, Fareway corporate outreach staff dropped a press release and social media post that the Luverne store will soon close. “I want to share an important update regarding our Luverne Meat Market location,” communications vice president Elias Johnson wrote in an email with a press release attached. “After careful consideration and review, we have made the…- By Lori SorensonJanuary 07, 2026Luverne electric rates will increase in 2026 on the city’s rate schedule, but a scheduled rate increase in water and wastewater won’t occur, thanks to new commercial demand. Following a rate study in 2022, Luverne’s electric rates were set in 2023 to increase 6 percent every year for 2024, ’25 and ’26. Residential and commercial electric costs vary due to a number of factors, such as how much…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2025Commissioners approved pay increases for county employees at their last meeting of 2025 on Dec. 16. The increases take effect Jan. 1. Most of the increases follow the 3-percent cost of living increase approved for the Rock County Highway Department union employees. The recently negotiated three-year union contract for 2026-28 provides for increases of 3 percent, 4 percent and 5 percent…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2025City of Luverne union employees are negotiating a new contract that will be in effect for the next three years. Meanwhile, at their Dec. 18 meeting the City Council approved 2.25-percent step increases for eligible non-union, administrative and department heads. The following increases, effective, Jan. 1, include step and grade changes and account for additional duties where applicable. •City…
December 30, 2025Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary teachers and staff are settling into their new spaces at the new elementary school in Beaver Creek. They agreed to pose for a photograph just before the Christmas break on Pajama Day. Pictured are, front, from left, Kayla Kindt (Reading Corps), Danielle Johannsen (kindergarten teacher), Renee Edmundson (second-grade teacher), Easton Harnack (special education teacher…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 23, 2025Anticipated increases in human services costs prompted Rock County Commissioners to certify the 2026 levy at a 5-percent increase over the current levy for taxes payable in 2026. The levy will increase by $373,192 to $7.835 million, which is nearly half of the county’s overall budget of $16.1 million. In September, commissioners approved a preliminary levy increase of 5 percent hoping to…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 23, 2025At their Dec. 18 meeting, Luverne City Council members certified the levy at $3,789,392 for taxes payable in 2025. That represents a 6.25-percent increase over the current levy of $3,566,592 for an additional $222,800. The council hosted its 2025 truth in taxation hearing on Dec. 18 with City Administrator Jill Wolf presenting the city’s 2026 budget. In the General Fund, there is 6.4 million…
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