Luverne celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Dozens of people joined Monday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Luverne on Main Street where crowds also wore green to enjoy the festive parade entries.
Church gets downtown storefront
The Blue Mounds Baptist Church will lease space in the former Dragonfly building on East Main Street starting April 1.
Hills man seeks local support for cannabis business
Hills cabinet shop owner Dennis Hartman and his son, Tim Hartman, want to operate a cannabis retail business in southwestern Rock County.
Wind tax revenue exceeds $1 million in Rock County for 2025
For the second year in a row, wind energy production taxes will exceed $1 million in Rock County.
The five wind production farms will pay $1.062 million in 2025, about a $1,000 less than last year.
Courthouse remodel continues
Remodeling at the Rock County Courthouse moved into new phases as work on previous floors has come to a standstill.
News
- March 19, 2025A Jasper resident was arrested last week following a March 11 search warrant executed at the residence 116 Spicer Avenue North, Jasper. As a result of a search warrant and investigation by the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Marco Alejandro Ojeda was charged in Pipestone County district court with possession of pornographic work involving minors under the age of 14 years. This…
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025The Luverne Fire Department was dispatched to a hog barn fire Thursday morning southeast of Luverne. The fire was reported at 11:18 a.m. March 13 at 1548 91st Street in a facility owned by Craig Stegenga. According to Luverne Fire Chief David Van Batavia, everyone was out of the building when the fire was reported. Firefighters battled the blaze by pulling down tin and removing burning…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025A March 13 fire at Magnolia Milling LLC at 107 N. Broadway Street in Magnolia was started by ‘natural combustible elements.’ According to Magnolia Fire Chief Scott Dohlmann, the Magnolia Fire Department responded to a fire in the steel-framed building located at the corner of Broadway and State streets at 10:09 p.m. Luverne and Adrian fire departments provided mutual aid. Dohlmann said heavy…- By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025In a March 13 work session, Luverne School Board members received their first look at proposed budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year. Previous board discussions indicated cuts would range from $250,000 to $1 million. The district is preparing budget cuts due to inflation and a projected enrollment drop of 35 students for the 2025-26 school year. The Thursday evening work session outlined…
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025Dozens of people joined Monday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Luverne on Main Street where crowds also wore green to enjoy the festive parade entries. Below, Chamber Director Kenzi Klein hands out gold dollar coins at the end of the parade route. Below right, Star Herald staff Rick Peterson (in Ranger), Greg Hoogeveen and Heather Johnson toss candy. Dianne Ossenfort and her friends wave at parade…
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025The Blue Mounds Baptist Church will lease space in the former Dragonfly building on East Main Street starting April 1. Pastor Jeremy Jacob, Luverne, is leading the new congregation as a “church plant” from East Side Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. “I prayed the Lord would give us a store front,” Jacob said. “That’s where the city is and that’s where the people are.” The church is leasing the…
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025Hills cabinet shop owner Dennis Hartman and his son, Tim Hartman, want to operate a cannabis retail business in southwestern Rock County. They approached the Rock County Board of Commissioners last summer before the county had established its ordinance. Since then, they’ve met with Hills and Beaver Creek city officials and township boards in Martin and Beaver Creek townships. Some of the local…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025For the second year in a row, wind energy production taxes will exceed $1 million in Rock County. The five wind production farms will pay $1.062 million in 2025, about a $1,000 less than last year. The 165 turbines operating in the county generated 901,300 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. Walleye Wind, operating 39 turbines near Beaver Creek, will pay the most tax at $569,096 followed by…- By Sen. Bill WeberMarch 19, 2025Sen. Bill Weber, Luverne, Minnesota Senate, District 21 Congratulations to the Luverne High School boys’ hockey team on making the state tournement last week. Even though it was a tough loss, it was a tremendous honor to see our boys out there. Here’s a look at some of the bills I have introduced so far this year: •SF-164: This bill requires colleges and universities to have opioid…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025Remodeling at the Rock County Courthouse moved into new phases as work on previous floors has come to a standstill. Workers are now on the second floor (court administration) as remodeling efforts on the first floor (land records office) wait for ordered materials to arrive. The 1888 courthouse in Luverne is undergoing remodeling and/or a refreshing of furnishings project in phases.…- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow will host a community gala Friday night, March 21, to share information about current local initiatives. Jane Lanphere of the Luverne Chamber is helping to coordinate the event for LIFT. “We’re putting together a program we think people will be interested in,” she said. The gala at Big Top Event Center will start at 5 p.m. with a social hour. A Bluestem catered…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025A staff shortage will reduce the number of days available to schedule driving exams in Rock County from four down to one beginning Monday, March 31. The once-a-month option will be in effect through June 30. In Rock County, examiners will be available only on the second Wednesday of each month in April, May and June. The same once-a-month reduction is also effective in Pipestone, Murray and…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025Demolition of the 100+-year-old former Hills-Beaver Creek High School began Tuesday morning. The 32,808-square-foot, three-story brick structure was last occupied by students in the fall of 2011, when the current secondary school opened for classes. DRC Inc. of Litchfield bid $448,000 for the demolition that began on the west side of the school. The attached Hug0 Goehle gym will be saved and…- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025A 2024 study lists Rock County as the second-best county to live in Minnesota, which is the No. 2 state in the nation for raising families. This is based on data about education, housing, recreation, affordability and other factors. According to the study by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, Rock County is the second-best county in Minnesota to raise a family, based on four criteria…
March 12, 2025Jen Wipf (center), owner of Rock River Apothecary, was awarded the first-ever Battle of the Beverages plaque and event hosted by the Luverne Area Chamber. Through the month of February, 16 businesses and organizations in Rock County offered a signature beverage for customers to try and vote as their favorite drink. Wipf’s featured drink was called the Electric Apple.- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025Mike and Cheryl Cox will receive more than $21,000 in city funds for a façade improvement project at their Main Street Financial Services Building at 212 E. Main Street in Luverne. At their Monday morning meeting, the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved an application by Mike & Cheryl Main Street Property LLC for funding to complete a facade improvement project. The total…
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