Guilty plea entered in vehicular homicide case
Twenty-three-year-old Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, entered a guilty plea Monday morning in Rock County District Court to the charge of criminal vehicular homicide.
Murder case proceedings on hold
Legal proceedings for Luverne murder suspect Melvin Frazier are suspended following a Rule 20 motion that was granted in Rock County District Court Monday.
Administrator announces retirement
After 33 years on the job, Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre officially submitted his notice of retirement during the Aug. 18 county board meeting.
Oldre’s final day of service will be Feb. 28, 2027.
Charter amendment measure advances
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
Peterson wins election for county commissioner
Rick Peterson won the special election for Rock County’s District 3 and is set to join the county board of commissioners early next week.
PowerOn Midwest narrows routes
PowerOn Midwest has narrowed its preferred route for a proposed high-voltage transmission project, and one of its choices would cut through Rock County within one mile of the Blue Mounds State
News
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020Andrew Kellenberger, a 1999 graduate of Hills-Beaver Creek High School, will return to the school July 1 as its principal. Kellenberger was one of 13 applicants for the position vacated by Molly Schilling, who was hired by the Adrian district last month as its superintendent. Kellenberger comes to Hills from Dakota Meadows Middle School, one of two middle schools in Mankato, where he has been…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020The Rock County Historical Society would like the county to increase its annual contribution from $10,00 to $35,000. Society president Betty Mann addressed commissioners at their June 2 meeting about continuing a $25,000-per-year contribution the county has been paying for six years as part of a capital improvement pledge. “As your $25,000/year building fund pledge sunsets in 2020, we humbly ask…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020In a special ceremony June 2 on the lawn of the Rock County Courthouse in Luverne, Rock County officials presented a Lifesaving Award to Briella John of rural Kenneth. “Heroes do not always wear capes, they can come in the form of a 9-year-old girl named Briella,” said Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge. John was joined by family members including her parents, Kenneth and Cerrisa Heath, and the…
- By Lori SorensonJune 09, 2020The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will host a public online forum at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 11, to provide information about changing standards for wastewater effluent in the Rock River. “It’s important to the city and its waste water treatment,” said Forrest Peterson of the MPCA Marshall office. Luverne’s wastewater plant operates on a five-year permit through the National Pollutant…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020The fairgrounds in Luverne will be prepared as usual this summer even though the 2020 Rock County Fair was canceled last week. The Rock County Ag Society Board of Directors met Tuesday, June 2, in a socially distanced, in-person meeting at the fairgrounds. Society president Adam Kinsinger said discussions focused on whether or not they could conduct the annual event and still meet each of the…
- By Lori SorensonJune 09, 2020When the filing period closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, four candidates had announced their candidacy for the District 22 Minnesota Senate. That position is currently held by Luverne Republican Bill Weber, who is seeking election to his third term in office. Shawna Marshall, rural Luverne, and Roger Elgersma, Pipestone, both filed for that Senate seat as DFL candidates and Brian Abrahamson,…
- By Lori SorensonJune 09, 2020After three months of pandemic-driven social distancing, Gov. Tim Walz last week announced another “turn of the dial” to allow business to resume almost as usual in Minnesota. As of Wednesday, indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues are cautiously reopening. “Thank you, Minnesotans, for the sacrifices you’ve made to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Gov. Walz said at a June 5 press conference. “…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020Rock County Commissioners on June 2 unanimously declined to forgive penalties and late fees assessed to the Econo Lodge and Super 8 by Wyndham hotels in Luverne. In an email to auditor-treasurer Ashley Kurtz, Ash Patel, an agent with SARP, LLC in Sioux Falls, asked for the $8,866 to be forgiven. Patel stated the reason for the non-payment was “due to the economy downturn in 2019-2020.” No tax…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 09, 2020On June 2 the Rock County sheriff’s office became the first in Minnesota to have its own phone app to communicate with the public. “Rock County Sheriff’s Office MN” is free through app stores. At their June 2 meeting, Rock County Commissioners approved an annual support fee of $2,995 with OCV, LLC of Auburn, Alabama. Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said the phone app is funded through the department’s…
- By Lori SorensonJune 02, 2020Luverne City Council members on Tuesday took action to streamline permitting processes for businesses to begin offering outdoor services on June 1. On May 20, Gov. Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-56 that allows for bars and restaurants to open on June 1 for outdoor service, as long as social distancing measures are maintained. To serve customers outdoors, restaurants will need permits to…
- By Lori SorensonJune 02, 2020For decades Luverne has kicked off the official start of summer with its community Buffalo Days celebration, with a Friday Night Cruise-In, Buffalo Days Parade and Arts in the Park with its signature vendor booths, carnival food and live entertainment. And it always involves crowds of people closely gathered to enjoy each other’s company. Since March, however, the coronavirus pandemic has changed…
- By Lori SorensonJune 02, 2020Elmer Bartels spent a good share of his final days gazing out the dining room window at Tonto Park across the street from his home in the northwest part of Luverne. Homebound for 18 months, he found joy in watching families and children play on the equipment and enjoy the outdoors, Eunice said about her late husband. “We watched little kids and especially day care providers,” she said. “That was…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 02, 2020A love of learning propelled Lisa Nath to the helm of Luverne Community Education, which views education as a lifelong activity. Nath is the third director to head the program that began in 1978 with Gregg Gropel, who laid the groundwork for the then new program. Karen Willers filled the position from 1999, when Gropel retired, until she decided to retire this spring. Nath embraces the scope that…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 02, 2020Overnight camping resumed Monday north of Luverne at Blue Mounds State Park, with officials following coronavirus guidelines outlined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “All of our (72 main campground spots) met space requirements … so we were able to open them all up,” said park manager Chris Ingebretsen. “Anyone with reservations on June 1 or later will be honored.” Signs around…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 02, 2020H-BC staff repeatedly used the words “above and beyond” to describe the 2020 Hills-Beaver Creek School District Teacher of the Year and Friend of Education. Teacher Megan Klumper and paraprofessional Lexi Moore were recently honored during Teacher Appreciation Day last month. They were recognized again May 22 at the H-BC outdoor commencement, which they did not attend, due to the pandemic social…
- By Mavis FodnessJune 02, 2020Area churches opened the doors to in-person services Sunday, with one church, St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, saying goodbye to its pastor. Pastor Gary Klatt delivered his last sermon May 31 to a socially spaced congregation of 75 people, about a quarter of normal church capacity. Klatt retires after 35 years serving in the ministry, 18 years in Luverne. Parishioners worked to develop a plan…
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