Not guilty pleas entered in lcoal case of murder, homicide
Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, appeared in Rock County District Court Monday on charges of third-degree murder and vehicular homicide related to last year’s fatal crash northwest of Beaver Creek.
North Highway 75 now closed in Luverne
Highway 75 closed this week in Luverne between Main Street and Dodge Street for the highway reconstruction project set for April through October.
Smile - you're about to graduate!
Jim Juhl (far left) of Myhre Studio photographs the Luverne High School Class of 2026 on Main Street Tuesday morning under the marquee of the Historic Palace Theatre.
Flower Shop Dispensary now open
There’s a new kind of flower shop on Kniss Avenue in Luverne, but instead of roses customers can purchase a different kind of “bud.”
FFA hosts tractor parade for elementary students
Students in Luverne’s Future Farmers of America chapter organized a tractor parade for elementary students on Friday, April 10, in front of the Luverne Elementary School to celebrate “Drive Your Tractor to School Day”
Patriot Pals Child Care sees steady growth
Now entering its fifth month of operation, the Hills-Beaver Creek childcare program is steadily growing.
News
April 01, 2026Luverne’s first- and second-graders took to the stage for their spring programs on March 27 at the performing arts center. Both programs told heartwarming stories alongside the music. In the first-grade program, “Unity Tree,” audiences saw the barriers between cats and dogs break down and end in friendship. In the second-grade program, “Lemonade,” fairytale characters were able to resolve their…
By Nicole RonchettiApril 01, 2026The 2026-27 school year calendar is still up for debate among Luverne School Board members who voted at their March 26 meeting to table a decision. The board opted to delay the decision after receiving an additional calendar proposal backed by the Luverne Education Association. At the board’s March 12 work session, members had generally agreed on a calendar that would start the school year on…
By Lori SorensonApril 01, 2026Rock County deputy Jeff Stratton last week announced his intention to file for election as sheriff in the fall general election. Stratton has been with the Rock County Sheriff’s office for six years, the last four of which have been as school resource officer for Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school districts. He is a Luverne native from the LHS class of 1998 and moved back to Rock County…
By Nicole RonchettiApril 01, 2026Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl announced his retirement during the school board’s March 26 meeting but hopes to stay on in his position with the district. The retirement, which is effective June 30, comes with an opportunity for Oftedahl to be rehired. If he is, Oftedahl could begin drawing from his pension while retaining his role as superintendent. He would also likely transition…
April 01, 2026In cities across the country, millions took to the streets Saturday in protest against the policies of President Trump and his administration. The rallies are the third wave of demonstrations since Trump took office for a second term. Last year, millions attended protests in June and in October. At right, the group in Luverne greets traffic along Highway 75. Below a local band plays music…
By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management AnalystApril 01, 2026Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operations are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of their machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents. In addition, some land investors are choosing to…
By Lori SorensonApril 01, 2026More than 100 people attended last week’s Minnesota Department of Transportation open house to learn about the Highway 75 reconstruction project that starts April 15. The meeting at Generations Tuesday, March 24, was hosted by MnDOT officials and representatives from Henning Construction, Adrian, which is the contractor for the project. In the center of the room was a long poster-size aerial…
By Nicole RonchettiApril 01, 2026The Hills-Beaver Creek chapter of the National Honor Society inducted its first 15 student members during a ceremony on March 16. The brand-new chapter recognized the achievements in service, leadership, character and scholarship of the 15 juniors and seniors who submitted applications that required proof of volunteering and two recommendation letters. Families, teachers and supporters…
April 01, 2026For the eighth year in a row, the Minnesota Veterans Homes – Luverne, received the Customer Experience Award from Activated Insights in the Skilled Nursing Facility category. The Luverne Veterans Home is one of seven Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs-run skilled facilities receiving this recognition. The other locations include Fergus Falls, Minneapolis, Silver Bay, Bemidji, Montevideo…
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 31, 2026For Dennis Hartman, the best projects aren’t just blueprints, they’re a story. That’s why when Brian and Wendy Carlson approached him with a stack of ash wood and a vision, he didn’t hesitate. The wood wasn’t sourced from a lumber yard. Instead, it came from the Carlson’s own acreage northwest of Beaver Creek just into South Dakota. When they knew the ash trees on the property had to come down…
By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2026In the early 1990s, the arrival of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne marked the beginning of unrivaled economic development in Luverne. For one thing, more than 100 health care workers and their families would need housing, so as plans for the facility came together, the city planned its Veterans Addition housing development. The new neighborhood, with its streets and cul-de-sacs winding…
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 25, 2026In a celebration of the 70-degree weather and the official start of spring, over 50 people took to the trails for the Blue Mounds State Park’s Equinox Hike on Friday, March 20. Led by state park naturalist Tiffany Muellner, the highlight of the hike was the park’s rock alignment, a quarter-mile string of rocks that lines up perfectly with the sunset on the spring and fall equinoxes. Hikers…
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 25, 2026Local farmers are facing increased fertilizer prices as a result of the Iran war. The conflict has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a key trade route for as much as 30%of global fertilizer trade. This disruption has caused nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer prices to increase dramatically. “Prices have increased about 30% in the last two, three weeks,” said Tom Kellen, area manager…
By Lori SorensonMarch 25, 2026A public hearing is set for 7:10 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, to gather comments on plans for expanded gravel extraction northeast of Luverne near the Blue Mounds State Park. The proposed expansion would be on property in Mound Township currently zoned A-1, limited agriculture, which doesn’t allow gravel mining. Zoning amendment Northern Con-Agg currently mines the gravel pits south and west of…
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 25, 2026The Rock County Community Library saw significant growth in the past year in the number of visitors, programs and items in circulation. Library Director Calla Jarvie shared details of the accomplishments during the annual report to the County Board earlier this month. In 2025, the library saw 35,407 visits, up from 33,725 in 2024. It also hosted 146 programs, an increase from the 117 the year…
By Lori SorensonMarch 25, 2026Tree removal began this week on Highway 75 in Luverne ahead of road reconstruction work starting in April between Main Street and Veterans Drive. The contractor, Husky Con-struction, Eden Prairie, began removing marked trees (there are 31) and work will continue through this week, according to officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. MnDOT hosted another information meeting…
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