By Mavis Fodness
February 25, 2026
Hills-Beaver Creek School District’s newly formed National Honor Society (NHS) chapter will install its first members in March.
The number of inductees from the senior and junior classes is yet to be determined, and, according to principal Andrew Kellenberger, the number won’t be limited.
“We are fortunate to have numerous student leaders at H-BC, and we are excited to see them recognized for…
By Lori Sorenson
February 25, 2026
Luverne City Council members took action at their Feb. 17 meeting to award the sale of $2.18 million in general obligation utility revenue bonds.
The bonds will fund the replacement of the city’s aging water and sewer lines along Highway 75 during the road reconstruction project happening in Luverne this spring and summer.
Working with George Eilertson of Northland Securities, Minneapolis, the…
By Nicole Ronchetti
February 25, 2026
Gavin Ballard, a 10th grader at Luverne High School, is the first-place winner of VFW Post 2603’s annual Voice of Democracy essay contest.
The second-place winner was Natalie Berning, also from Luverne, and third place went to Taylor Anderson from Fulda High School.
This year’s topic for the essays was “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”
Local essay contest winners…
By Nicole Ronchetti
February 18, 2026
When she was a little girl, Carol Ceynowa remembers playing Robin Hood in her hometown of Columbia Heights.
“My sister and I played Robin Hood all the time growing up,” Carol said. “She played Robin, and I played all the other parts. We had our own merry band."
Now, 60 years later, she and her husband Tim have written, directed, and produced their very own play based on the classic story.…
By Lori Sorenson
February 18, 2026
Roughly 150 participants and dozens of volunteers at the annual Get Hooked Fishing Derby in Luverne enjoyed stellar weather Saturday with sunshine and temperatures reaching nearly 60 degrees.
After a week of mild weather, participants worried the event would be cancsecured a solid ice base and Saturday’s ice was still nearly 10 inches thick.
Amber Nath and her husband, Chris Nath, have been…
By Lori Sorenson
February 18, 2026
Council members are considering a development proposal for downtown Luverne that would put vacant lots back on the tax rolls and fill a need for local affordable housing.
Developer Don Jahnke of Impresa Modular presented the proposal during a council work session Tuesday, Feb. 10, in City Hall Council Chambers.
He called his project “affordable housing, but not cheap housing. … We’re trying to…
By Mavis Fodness
February 18, 2026
To prepare for a possible energy sale, the Elk Creek Solar Farm’s developer is updating a five-year-old service agreement.
At their meeting Feb. 3, Rock County commissioners unanimously approved the updated agreement with Commissioner Gary Overgaard abstaining, due to a conflict of interest.
In the original 2021 agreement, the Elk Creek Solar Farm would have been built in two 80-megawatt (MW)…
By Lori Sorenson
February 18, 2026
Nicole Ronchetti joins the Star Herald this week as the newest member of the local news team.
She replaces longtime reporter Mavis Fodness who retired earlier this month after 11 years in the position.
“I’m looking forward tcommunity is passionate about,” she said about joining the Star Herald and writing about communities in Rock County.
“What are the things people here care most about? What…
By Nicole Ronchetti
February 18, 2026
The 2026-27 school year may start before Labor Day for students in Hills- Beaver Creek, pending final approval by H-BC School Board members at their next meeting.
Superintendent Todd Holthaus brought forward the recommendation to start Sept. 1 at the board’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, and the idea was met favorably by the board’s members.
Minnesota law normally prohibits public schools from…
By Nicole Ronchetti
February 18, 2026
A white SUV was stolen from a farm in Rose Dell Township on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and while the vehicle has been recovered, the suspect has not been found.
Law enforcement received a phone call at 8:10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, after an individual was seen on a security camera walking around a farm site before entering and stealing a 2003 white GMC Envoy.
During the investigation, the Rock County…
By Mavis Fodness
February 18, 2026
For the first time in three years, the Luverne High School mock trial team resumed its bid Friday for a regional title after compiling a 3-1 season record.
The young team, led by second-year advisor Megan Klumper, was ranked No. 5 in the regional contest, and faced No. 3 Owatonna in Friday’s Zoom matchup.
Owatonna’s plaintiff team took the win 252-227, ending Luverne’s season with a 3-2…
By Lori Sorenson
February 11, 2026
Luverne’s Joe Schomacker announced Tuesday that he’s not seeking re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Schomacker has represented Rock County and southwest Minnesota for 16 years but will turn only 40 years old this summer.
“The people of southwest Minnesota were good to send an introverted young man to make decisions for them in the Capitol,” Schomacker said, reflecting on his…
By Lori Sorenson
February 11, 2026
Fifteen students ranging in age from kindergarten through fifth grade joined local professional baker Victoria Stearns last week for a special Valentine’s session of Kids in the Kitchen through Luverne Community Education. The students met Tuesday, Feb. 3, in the Luverne Middle School-High School Family and Consumer Sciences kitchen where they created several varieties of traditional Valentine’s…
By Mavis Fodness
February 11, 2026
County commissioners tabled a decision to improve water flow in Judicial Ditch No. 2 after downstream landowners questioned the impact during a Feb. 3 public hearing.
Commissioners will resume discussions at their Tuesday, March 3, meeting.
Six farmers addressed commissioners Feb. 3 during the 30-minute hearing.
Discussions centered on upgrading a 60-inch culvert under 221st Street in Rose…
By Lori Sorenson, editor
February 11, 2026
Mike Davis is among a small minority of local residents wishing for colder weather.
As one of the organizers of the annual Get Hooked Ice Fishing Derby, recent mild weather has taken a toll on the ice thickness at The Lake in Luverne.
“We’ll be down to 10 inches by the end of the week,” he said Monday, considering several more days of thawing weather in the forecast.
“It might be a little…
By Greg Hoogeveen
February 11, 2026
Luverne School Board members hosted an informational meeting Thursday, Feb. 5, to consider options for a new electronic scoreboard at the west end of the football field.
The existing 10-year-old scoreboard has been failing, and the board is considering sponsorship-funded options for a new scoreboard through Daktronics of Vermillion.
“The existing scoreboard went down twice last year after power…
