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  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 12, 2020
    For the past decade, Luverne’s Kim Vander Poel found strength among the runners and other cancer survivors participating in the Avera Race Against Cancer in Sioux Falls each May.  Since her successful fight against cancer in 2009, family members would form a team around Vander Poel and complete the 5K race. This year, however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions and to curb the spread of the virus,…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    May 12, 2020
    The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed 19 cases of coronavirus so far in Rock County as of Tuesday morning, up one from 18 a week ago. The numbers have leveled off somewhat in neighboring counties where outbreaks sickened hundreds in meat processing plants in Sioux Falls and Worthington.  Minnehaha County has 2,978 (up from 2,195 a week ago) and Nobles has 1,269 (up from 1,069 last week).…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    May 12, 2020
    The goal was $40,000, but by the weekend the “Share the Luv” campaign had raised nearly $45,000 for the gift card promotion.  “It looks like it’s going to be an outstanding promotion,” said Rick Peterson, general manager of the Rock County Star Herald, which is teaming up with the Chamber and KQAD-K101 for the upcoming radiothon to sell gift cards. Nearly 170 Rock County businesses (see the back…
  • May 12, 2020
    Southwestern Youth Services, Magnolia, will benefit from hand-me-down furniture and office equipment formerly used by the Luverne School District. The school is leasing storage space in the former Kawasaki building near downtown Luverne, and SYS stopped there Tuesday morning to load up some file cabinets, desks, tables and other equipment. Pictured are SYS education director Carol Naasz (left),…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 12, 2020
    Crop producers across the state are nearly a month ahead of schedule in corn planting, according to Monday’s crop progress and condition report. At 89 percent complete, corn planting is two weeks ahead of schedule, due to the continued mild weather conditions. Farmers had 4.8 days suitable for fieldwork for the week ending Sunday. During the previous week there were 5.2 suitable days. Last year…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 12, 2020
    When the coronavirus pandemic canceled this year’s NCAA Men’s March Madness Basketball Tournament, it also canceled Hills-Beaver Creek High School’s participation in the data analysis competition. Or that’s what H-BC secondary mathematics teacher Nora Wysong thought. But she learned the teams of Whitney Elbers and Sadie Fuerstenberg calling themselves the “Fluffy Hedgehog” and Joslyn Birger and…
  • May 12, 2020
    Due to Minnesota 4-H’s restriction not to conduct in-person events until July 1 to help slow the spread of COVID-19, organizers last week canceled all competitive Western Heritage events for 2020. “As we move forward, a team will be looking for potential ways to engage 4-H Western Heritage youth,” said Extension educator Renee Kostick. “We want to recognize all youth who have found mastery and…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    May 05, 2020
    It’s beginning to look like graduation season in downtown Luverne this week with 92 light pole banners honoring students in the Luverne High School Class of 2020. Brian Remme, city electric utility supervisor, began hanging the banners Tuesday morning. “They really look good,” he said. “I think it’s going to do something different for Main Street.” Jim Juhl of Myhre Studio photographed the…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    May 05, 2020
    Billy and Rachel Horsman, Luverne, are grateful their coronavirus symptoms weren’t as bad as those often associated with the deadly illness. He contracted it from co-workers at his Sioux Falls manufacturing job, and she got it from him, both of them reporting allergy-like symptoms with a headache and body aches, and only for a few days. Billy said he got tested because his symptoms were like…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 05, 2020
    Weekends typically bring crowds and welcome business to the Green Lantern Cafe and Bar in Hardwick. But on Saturday, only a handful of customers entered the business, picked up their take-out orders and went home.  Under state order, small business owners like Steve and Linda DeSplinter have removed the cafe’s traditional tables and chairs to keep people from lingering and they locked the…
  • May 05, 2020
    The first bison calves arrived last week at the Blue Mounds State Park north of Luverne, when three were born on Wednesday and Thursday. According to park manager Chris Ingebretsen, park staff anticipates at least one calf born each week from now through the end of June. The park remains closed to camping, due to the coronavirus pandemic but remains open for daytime visits. The bison and the…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 05, 2020
    Hills-Beaver Creek High School Principal Molly Schilling will be the new superintendent in the Adrian School District starting July 1. Schilling was selected last week from 12 applicants and was one of three finalists for the position to replace retiring superintendent Roger Graff. Graff announced his retirement in February after 17 years with the Adrian district. His last day is June 30. Adrian…
  • May 05, 2020
    Twenty staff members with Hills-Beaver Creek Public Schools spent Friday morning cleaning the ditches along Hwy 270 between Hills and Steen. Traditionally the senior class completes the fall and spring cleanup but due to the coronavirus and the issuance of distance learning, the students were unable to complete the spring event. Instead senior class advisor Dan Ellingson enlisted the help of…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    May 05, 2020
    For the first time in 36 years, Luverne will not host a Buffalo Days celebration this summer. The event typically brings together thousands of people for a whole weekend of events, including the Friday Night Cruise-In, Saturday parade and Saturday afternoon Arts in the Park. With social distancing required to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, it won’t be possible to safely gather for…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 05, 2020
    At Tuesday’s Rock County Commissioners meeting, County Administrator Kyle Oldre said the Land Management Office has developed a flow chart for producers to follow as they de-populate their swine herds and are in need of carcass disposal. The flow chart is a result of coronavirus pandemic conversations among federal, state and local officials. The Minnesota Department of Animal Health has recently…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    May 05, 2020
    When coronavirus outbreaks closed down two of the region’s largest pork processors, private consumers turned to local meat lockers to butcher free market hogs. The sudden demand for service overwhelmed small processors like Jim Susie and Brad Schoneman of S & S Locker Service in Hills. They’re now booked into September, too late to process a 250- to 300-pound market hog that’s ready for…
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