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 FodnessSeptember 20, 2023Homecoming activities at Hills-Beaver Creek High School will be Monday, Sept. 25, through Friday, Sept. 29, and students will participate in various activities throughout the week. Public events include coronation at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 25, in the high school gymnasium, and the homecoming parade at 2:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, down Main Street Hills. The homecoming football game is at 7 p.m.…
By Mavis FodnessSeptember 20, 2023Luverne High School varsity gymnastics coach Phoebe Flom, along with current and former high school gymnasts, opened a four-day fall gymnastics camp Monday through Luverne Community Education. Participants ranging in age from preschool through sixth grade were introduced to skills needed to do flips, cartwheels and jumps along with an introduction to the balance beam and uneven bars. The camp was…- September 20, 2023The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding farmers and commercial applicators that fall nitrogen fertilizer applications are restricted in some areas of the state. Under the MDA’s Groundwater Protection Rule, fall nitrogen fertilizer application is prohibited in vulnerable areas of Minnesota due to environmental concerns or risks. Areas with coarse-textured soils or areas above…
By Mavis FodnessSeptember 20, 2023Five Rock County 4-H’ers competed at the 2023 Minnesota State Horse Show Sept. 15-18 in St. Paul. Two of the exhibitors placed in the top ten in their respective grade levels. •Morgan Bonnett, grade 11, finished fourth in key race, eighth in poles and eighth in ranch pleasure. •Blakely Fick, grade 6, earned a third-place ribbon in western showmanship. Bonnett was also the county’s…- September 20, 2023USDA Rural Development has funding availabile for very low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair a home in a rural area. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very-low and low-income applicants that are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as one percent with a…
- September 20, 2023The Minnesota Housing Partnership 2023 County Profiles resource features data on different demographics of cost-burdened households paying at least 30 percent of their income for housing. It also highlights changes in rent and home prices, eviction filings compared to pre-pandemic rates, racial disparities in homeownership, a comparison of top in-demand wages compared to current housing costs…
- September 20, 2023Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register. DIY Floral Arranging at Harmony Gardens is Sept. 23. All materials are provided and you will get to take your arrangement home. Fee is $45. Students (grades 1-5) will follow along with the instructor for Paint & Snack class on Sept. 25. Fee is $35. Parents with children ages 0-5 will…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 20, 2023Hawkinson Park on Luverne’s west side is now connected to the Loop trail, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation. The park connection is an 8-foot-wide concrete trail that provides handicap access from Cottage Grove Avenue through Hawkinson Park and to the Luverne Loop Trail. The “Rural Leadership Boost Grant” is matched by $20,000 from the city to cover the project’s roughly $70…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 20, 2023Construction is underway on the Kwik Trip building on South Highway 75 in Luverne. The footprint will be 9,000 square feet located on 2.88 acres just south of the Econo Lodge Hotel near the intersection of Highway 75 and Gabrielson Road. The Luverne Kwik Trip will be open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, with 20 full-time employees. The newer “Gen 3” design will be similar to the Kwik Trip…- By Lori SorensonSeptember 20, 2023Keeping the Rock County Sheriff’s Office at full staff remains a struggle, according to Sheriff Evan Verbrugge. He shared his quarterly report with Luverne City Council members at their Tuesday, Sept. 12, meeting when he also reported difficulty keeping his department at full capacity. “We just hired a new individual who started yesterday, but in the meantime, we lost another deputy who went…
- By Lori SorensonSeptember 20, 2023Luverne City Council members took action at their Sept. 12 meeting to begin the process of paying for the Kids Rock! community child care center. At Tuesday’s meeting they approved a resolution that sets a public hearing on proposed property tax abatements. The city will notify the school and county that tax abatement bonds will be issued for the child care building renovation project. The…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 20, 2023Public use of cannabis is prohibited in Rock County beginning Nov. 1, according to an ordinance adopted by county commissioners Tuesday morning. No members of the public attended to speak or nor did they provide written public comment at Tuesday’s hearing. The ordinance prohibits cannabis or cannabis-derived product use in: •public parks, trails, streets or sidewalk. •any enclosed, indoor…
By Lori SorensonSeptember 20, 2023Nearly 400 people circled the Luverne City Park Saturday morning for the third annual Out of the Darkness Suicide Walk. “The walk was incredibly moving,” said Angela Nolz, who organized the event along with a team of volunteers and sponsors. The walk raises money for research to end and prevent suicide and to show community support for those who have lost loved ones to suicide or have struggled…
September 14, 2023The newspaper printed its first edition in 1873, more than 150 years ago, and it’s today a thriving operation — and Rock County’s oldest business. The Star Herald online presence saw a major upgrade in the past week with the rollout of a new website. The site features easier navigation, bigger photographs, more content and a better mobile-friendly version for cell phones and other devices. “…- By Lori SorensonSeptember 13, 2023It’s been several weeks since Rock County received significant rain, and a dry harvest has local fire officials on alert. Luverne Fire Chief Dave Van Batavia and Hills Fire Chief Jared Rozeboom are urging farmers to take measures to prevent field and equipment fires. “The No. 1 preventive method is to keep machinery clean,” Van Batavia said. “Crop residue and chaff can find their ways into…
By Mavis FodnessSeptember 13, 2023The soybean harvest in Rock County is starting ahead of the state average, as early-maturing varieties are becoming ready for the 2023 harvest season. Soybeans are turning color, with 67 percent of the state’s crop showing signs of maturity five days ahead of last year and two days ahead of the state average. The USDA Minnesota Field Office reported on Monday that 31 percent of the state’s…
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