By Lori Sorenson
June 12, 2024
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar toured the child care center under construction in Luverne Monday morning along with local leaders and a delegation from the USDA, which provided grant funding for the renovation.
The $7.2 million project will renovate the former Total Card Inc. office building (originally Tri-State Insurance) into the Kids Rock! Child Care Center set to open in 2025.
Klobuchar’s visit…
By Jason Berghorst
June 12, 2024
Dozens of community events and activities are again planned at the Plaza on Main this summer.
They’re organized by the Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT) Plaza Committee with the support of local businesses and organizations.
The Plaza is located at the corner of Main Street and McKenzie Street in downtown Luverne.
Events range from bingo and other games, concerts, story time for kids…
By Jason Berghorst
June 12, 2024
Residents of Rock County gathered at the History Center in Luverne Thursday evening, June 6, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion that began the liberation of France and turned the tide of World War II.
The program, co-hosted by History Center director Wendel Buys and Chamber director Jane Lanphere, included a slide presentation, video clips, a time of remembrance and…
June 12, 2024
In the story “Luverne School District ‘at-will’ staff get salary increases, industrial arts teacher Darrel Van Aartsen’s two-year contract increases his salary to $171.85 for four hours of industrial arts instruction.
He will receive an increase to $62 per hour as the afternoon vocational class instructor.
Van Aartsen’s contract is a combination of a salary rate for classroom duties and an…
June 12, 2024
By Lori Sorenson
June 05, 2024
As Mental Health Awareness Month ended last week, the staff at Rock Veterinary Clinic, Luverne, have a simple request: Be kind.
Two of their five veterinary doctors recently left the clinic, and the remaining three are working overtime to meet the needs of farm clients and pet owners.
“It’s been rough,” Dr. Erin deKoning said. “And it wouldn’t be so bad if people could be nice. … I just think…
By Mavis Fodness
June 05, 2024
Instructions written 25 years ago by the Luverne Elementary School Time Capsule Committee were simple.
“It is our wish from the Time Capsule Committee that this time capsule will help explain what life was like in the year 1998.
“We hope it is a goal of the Luverne School District to include meaningful things depicting the life in 2024 added to the time capsule, and every 25 years thereafter…
By Mavis Fodness
June 05, 2024
Family members of the late Al Top will lead the 2024 Hills Friendship Days parade Saturday morning.
Al, former fire chief for the Hills Fire Department, died in March and is being honored posthumously as this year’s parade marshal.
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 8.
Top was selected by the HBCS (Helping Build Communities Stronger) committee, who organizes Friendship Days.
“He…
By Lori Sorenson
June 05, 2024
Rock County corn and soybean producers have found themselves in a sweet spot of favorable growing conditions this spring, compared with nearby neighboring fields.
Many areas of the Midwest received more than double the normal average precipitation in May, which has eliminated drought concerns that plagued the region over the past few years.
However, it’s delaying corn and soybean planting and…
By Jason Berghorst
June 05, 2024
A detour may be in place on a busy area of Highway 75 later this year.
According to action at the May 28 Luverne City Council meeting, the city will partner with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on a storm sewer project near Kwik Trip and Taco John’s.
Plans are in place to construct a 30-inch storm sewer across Highway 75 at Gabrielson Road.
The work will require a detour for part…
By Mavis Fodness
June 05, 2024
Six out of the seven “at-will” employees of Luverne Public Schools received raises May 23 at the Thursday evening school board meeting.
The raises are effective July 1.
At-will employees (or those not under union contract) met with Superintendent Craig Oftedahl for one-on-one evaluation and salary negotiation meetings.
A meeting with transportation director Brad Goembel has not been scheduled…
By Mavis Fodness
June 05, 2024
The residential streets in the east half of Hills were resurfaced, replacing the traditional seal coat process, over several days in late May.
Dakota Seal of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, applied a slurry seal to all the residential streets east of Main Avenue.
Cost to the city was $124,527.
Ryan Folsom with Dakota Seal talked with city council members March 12 about the slurry seal versus the…
June 05, 2024
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) last week introduced the Rural Mail Delivery Improvement Act.
This legislation would require the United States Postal Service (USPS) to implement all of the recommendations made by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) following their audit of the Bemidji Post Office, which uncovered operational problems at the facility.
“Minnesotans…
June 05, 2024
Permanent absentee list
Starting June 1 Minnesota voters can sign up once to be automatically sent an absentee ballot before every election.
All eligible voters can choose to join the permanent absentee voter list by checking the box on the interactive voter registration application. The online and paper applications can be found at mnvotes.gov/register.
An absentee ballot allows a voter to…
June 05, 2024
The Rock County Historical Society presented its 12th annual “Tales from the Graves” and pie and ice cream social Sunday afternoon at the History Center. Local actors played the roles of featured “guests” who were prominent in Rock County history and helped to tell the story of the county’s past.
June 05, 2024
Sevent students from the Luverne High School Class of 2024 each signed a Future Teacher Letter of Intent May 17 in a ceremony hosted by the Luverne Education Association. The students were able to share their reasons for going into a career in education, while the seasoned teachers shared wisdom about the path ahead.
Brynn Rauk and Grace Anderson are the Class of 2024 Future Educators from the…