News

The city of Luverne tax levy proposed for 2024 is $3,232, 740, an increase of $466,180 over the current levy. Luverne City Council members reviewed budget plans for 2024 and discussed the impact of the levy on taxpayers. The budget calls for $2 million in the general fund, $692,900 for the Luverne Aquatics and Fitness Center, and $440,140 for principal and interest on existing debt. City…

Over the past several months the Rock County Star Herald staff and website hosts have been working on a new and improved Star Herald website presence. The site promises easier navigation, bigger photographs, more content and a better mobile-friendly version for cell phones and other devices. “We’re really excited to introduce the site’s new features to our online readers and advertisers,”…

National Direct Support Professionals Week is Sept. 10-16, and Rock County Opportunities will honor the professionals that serve its operation in Luverne. They include Kennedy Maschino, Connie Carda, Erika Camarillo, Cassondra Yonzon, Jenna Coffman, Janine Brands, Elizabeth Magnuson, Tessa Shuler, Krista Kurtz and Pam Tieszen. Direct support professionals (DSPs) assist people with intellectual…

Artists with Luverne’s Conspiracy Tattoo business took home seven awards, including Best of Show, during competition in the annual “Jackpot Junction Tattoo Function” Aug. 25-27. Conspiracy Tattoo operators Tony and Christina Perez attended the event in Morton where Tony won: •first and second place in the Cartoon/Super Hero category. •first and second place in the Gamer/Nerd/Pun category…

Students at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School were greeted for the first day of the 2023-24 school year Tuesday morning by several students and staff dressed as Mario and Luigi, brothers from the popular video game. In the school’s morning assembly in the gymnasium, each staff member was introduced to cheers from the students with Principal Todd Holthaus encouraging students to remember the…

Kindergarten through 12th-grade students were able to find their classrooms, greet teachers and deposit supplies into lockers and desks in preparation for the 2023-24 school year at Luverne Public Schools Wednesday, Aug. 30, during the district’s open house. Classes officially began on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The newly built, energy-efficient Lineage Logistics freezer warehouse in the Luverne Industrial Park earned a rebate check of $41,939.60 Saturday from Missouri River Energy Services. Wade Sands, field representative for Missouri River said Lineage earned the rebate check for choosing energy-efficient lighting, refrigeration and HVAC systems for the 234,000-square-foot facility that will employ 60…

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas on Saturday, Sept. 9. This “Free Park Day” is one of four days each year on which the Minnesota DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit at state parks and recreation areas. “September is such a great time to be outdoors as we look forward to the changing seasons,”…

Thirty-two 4-H’ers from Rock County traveled to St. Paul to compete in the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. Fourteen of those 4-H’ers competed at the livestock encampment on Aug. 23-27. Their animals were among the 2,562 brought to this year’s Great Minnesota Get-Together. Danette Leenderts of Hills took the champion ribbon for her British slick shorn steer. She was also a finalist in the beef…

City of Luverne finance director Robyn Wessels is on a leave of absence from her employment in city hall, according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “The City of Luverne wishes to briefly address certain inquiries and information related to finance director Robyn Wessels’ employment status with the city,” the statement read. “Robyn Wessels is employed by the city as finance director.…

The annual Fly-In or Drive-In at Luverne Municipal Airport drew visitors from the tri-state area Saturday morning when car and airplane enthusiasts shared their vehicles with the public. While clouds delayed the Young Eagles’ flights, the children and adults explored cars, trucks and planes in addition to an inflatable bouncy house.  

Retired Jasper welder Terry Rodman is hoping to find a home in Luverne for his vintage windmill collection. He approached Luverne City Council members Tuesday night, Aug. 22, with a request to use city property south of the fairgrounds as a park to display more than 40 windmills of assorted heights and sizes. “We’d have a building with 18 or 20 in the building that are smaller, and the bigger,…

Superintendent Craig Oftedahl encouraged teachers and staff returning to school next week to be “M.A.D.” Make a Difference. Oftedahl presented his annual message to staff Monday morning during the first of five in-service days in Luverne. He was inspired by South Dakota State University’s retired football coach John Stiegelmeier who spoke to the Luverne community last spring. “One of the…

A $1 million six-unit hangar and taxilane construction project is included in next year’s airport capital improvement plan. Luverne City Council members approved the project and CIP at their Tuesday, Aug. 22, regular meeting. “This has been in the long-term plan for years, and this just follows the CIP,” said Mayor Pat Baustian. Council member Kevin Aaker serves on the airport board and said…

LHS sophomore Jaxon Lais returned home from football practice Wednesday morning to find smoke coming from his house on North Cedar Street in Luverne. He called 911 and then called his parents, Mark and Kari Lais. When firefighters arrived moments later, they noticed a thin curl of smoke coming from a small vent on the back side of the home. But when fire chief David Van Batavia entered the…

Luverne School Board members adopted a new five-year agreement between the district and the Luverne Hockey Club to continue interscholastic ice hockey Under the new agreement approved Aug. 24, the district will allocate more financial support to the 25-year-old program for boys’ and girls’ teams at the middle and high school levels. “We took on a little more expense on the school side,” said…