Manufacturing firm coming to industrial park
A 176,760-square-foot manufacturing facility is coming to a 15-acre site in Luverne’s industrial park and will require 125 full-time employees at a $9 million annual payroll.
Intervening for success
For some students, school is easy. For others, it’s the hardest thing they do each day.
Regardless, it’s Jon Schomacker’s job to help them succeed.
County bracing for unfunded mandates in 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Rock County and local governments nationwide could soon face increased costs as unfunded mandates in the federal HR1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” go into effect.
Cowbells Quality Meats & Treats to open in former Fareway building
Starting in June, Luverne will have a brand-new business catering to those who love salt and sweet alike.
Large trees to be cleared for ‘progress’ ahead of Highway 75 construction this summer in Luverne
The maple tree at the corner of Dodge Street and Highway 75 in Luverne is at least the age of the stately three-story home on the property — more than 100 years old.
Band button design contest for Tri-State Band Festival opens to the public for 75th anniversary event this year
For the first time in its 75-year history, Luverne’s Tri-State Band Festival will open its button design contest to the public.
News
- By Mavis FodnessNovember 12, 2025The number of retail cannabis businesses allowed under county ordinance will remain at one, after commissioners revisited plans by a Hills businessman. Dennis Hartman and his son, Tim, spoke with commissioners at their Nov. 4 meeting. Dennis Hartman said he is in the process of purchasing property in Beaver Creek Township near I-90 for a retail cannabis business (Integrity Farms Cannabis) and…
By Lori SorensonNovember 12, 2025Tipis will no longer be a camping option at the Blue Mounds State Park after officials opted not to improve or replace the current ones that need maintenance. According to park manager Chris Ingebretsen, the tipis are in poor condition, needing significant repairs and canvas replacements. “It was a good time to discontinue their use,” he said. “There’s no plan to re-use them at this time. In…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 12, 2025Dennis Boese is the newest member to the Hills City Council. He was sworn into office Monday night, where he was both excited and nervous about his new position. “I never did something like this before,” Boese said. Boese and his wife, Mona, moved to Hills from Pipestone in 2012. They worked at Grand Falls Casino until their recent retirement. “We wanted to move away to a warmer climate, but…- By Lori SorensonNovember 12, 2025An ATV rollover accident took the life of a Luverne man Saturday morning when he was deer hunting by Ash Creek. According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 68-year-old Charles “Chuck” Van Whye failed to reconnect with his family Friday after leaving home earlier in the morning to go deer hunting. He had driven his ATV from the roadway across a field to his hunting stand,…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 12, 2025Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary staff and students will be in their new elementary school Dec. 1, if the schedule goes as planned. Workers are still assembling and finishing various areas in the new 57,400-square-foot facility in Beaver Creek. Inspections will take place Wednesday, Nov. 12, and would need to be passed before the district can occupy the building, according to Superintendent Todd…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 12, 2025After an 18-year absence, Sue Stroh and Kiesli Smith are back together again. This time the two work together at the Kids Rock! Child Care Center in Luverne. Stroh cares for infants, and Smith works with school-aged children. The last time the two were together was when Smith was an infant in Stroh’s in-home day care in Luverne which Stroh operated for 53 years. For five of those years, she…
November 08, 2025Greg Hoogeveen celebrates 3 years at the Star Herald office on November 8. He answered a few questions about her time at the Star Herald. 1. How did your journey with the Star Herald start? I had known about the position for some time but hesitated to apply for several reason. I had been shooting sports events for several years on my own and finally realized I could get paid to do what I…
November 05, 2025Despite the cold and wet conditions, hundreds of trick-or-treaters turned out for Luverne's Annual Halloween Trunk ’n Treat event at the school parking lot Friday evening. Weather was cold, wet and blustery, but dozens of local businesses and organizations greeted costumed participants from creatively decorated trunks and displays to hand out thousands of pieces of candy.
By Mavis FodnessNovember 05, 2025Construction will begin next year for a running track at Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School in Hills. The running track, or half-track, will be built on a grassy area on the west side of the existing school. The H-BC School Board approved moving forward with construction Oct. 27, since funding for the project has now been secured. In October 2023, school board members approved $100,000 toward…- By Lori SorensonNovember 05, 2025Rock County residents who rely on government food assistance payments are in limbo this week after the government shut down affected SNAP benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is administered through the USDA, and the Trump administration has withheld half of SNAP payments from being processed as scheduled. This has some families wondering about future meals and local…
- By Lori SorensonNovember 05, 2025Luverne City Council members took action last month to assess $19,000 worth of unpaid utility bills to property owners in the form of taxes on the property. The council each year reviews unpaid utility bills at a public hearing where property owners can discuss their bills with the council. No one attended the 2025 public hearing during the Oct. 21 City Council meeting where council members…
By Lori SorensonNovember 05, 2025On the retail counter in Terry Gray’s “High Fidelity Cannabis” shop is a tidy row of display pods for customers to select their products. Each of the small jars features a magnifying glass and a vent, allowing shoppers to view the buds and get a whiff of their aroma, The setup is known in the dispensary world as a “bud bar,” and a “budtender” helps shoppers choose among the different strains…- November 05, 2025Fareway Stores Inc. has launched a monthlong initiative throughout November to support individuals and families facing food insecurity in the communities where it does business. “As part of our ongoing commitment to giving back, Fareway is making it easier than ever for customers to help nourish their neighbors,” said Fareway CEO Reynolds Cramer. He said customers can participate in three ways…
- By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management AnalystNovember 05, 2025After months of uncertainty and angst among farmers and grain traders, the new U.S. trade deal with China announced on Oct. 30 provided some stability and certainty to the soybean market. Soybean market prices had struggled for most of 2025 due to a lack of soybean export sales commitments to China and other countries, as well as a fairly large 2025 U.S. soybean crop being projected by USDA in…
- November 05, 2025Gov. Tim Walz last week announced $4 million in new funding for Minnesota food shelves. Funding will provide relief as 440,000 Minnesotans lost grocery benefits through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) beginning Nov. 1. Amid the federal government shutdown, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that it will not…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 05, 2025Choir has become the most popular elective class at Luverne Middle-High School. Participation has topped 49 percent as 306 students chose learning to sing over any other elective option during the 2025-26 school year. This fall marked a greater-than-normal influx of freshman students — 60 of them — for choir director Seana Graber, who has been teaching music for 36 years. In response, she…
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