By Mavis Fodness
March 14, 2016
The State Fire Marshal last week wrapped up the investigation of a May 2015 swine building fire that took the lives of two local women.
The report, however, offers few specific answers.
“I have listed this fire as undetermined due to the extent of damage to artifacts located within the structure and that the artifacts collected have not been fully examined to date,” investigator Steve Kellen…
By Lori Sorenson
March 14, 2016
After 24 years of skating, Luverne's princess of the ice rink is retiring her skates.
A hobby turned competitive passion has filled a room with trophies and medals and provided a source of self-esteem for a woman born with Down syndrome.
"I just really love it," said Erika Egdorf when asked why she's kept it up for so many years.
Her mother, Signe Underwood, said skating has…
March 14, 2016
By Mavis Fodness
March 14, 2016
Jocelyn Hart was shocked when her name was called during the Flyover assembly Friday at the Luverne Elementary School.
All students and staff gathered in the gymnasium for the school’s monthly S.O.A.R.R. program, a celebration of positive student behavior. The assembly also provided the parent group an opportunity to honor one student and to announce its upcoming fundraising event.
Hart’s T-shirt…
By Lori Sorenson
March 14, 2016
When Greg Burger reflects on more than 40 years in his banking career, the memories are accented by both challenges and rewards.
For example, he vividly recalls the farming crisis of the 1980s, but he said the satisfaction of helping people is what colors his career.
“It’s been a wonderful career,” he said. “The most rewarding part of my career is when people came to me and said, ‘If it weren’t…
March 14, 2016
Senator Bill Weber announced his bid for a second term Monday to the Minnesota State Senate.
Weber, who was first elected to District 22 in 2012, announced his re-election in a press release.
“I believe that I have been a strong voice for common sense government and for protecting and advancing the interests of southwest Minnesota,” Weber wrote.
Since being elected senator, Weber has served…
March 08, 2016
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 13.
The new time officially goes into effect at 2 a.m. Sunday, so residents are reminded to set their clocks ahead one hour before retiring to bed at the end of the day Saturday, March 12.
Daylight Saving Time remains in effect until Nov. 6. At that time, clocks will “fall back.”
By Lori Sorenson
March 08, 2016
The popular children’s book characters, Frog and Toad, will come to life on the Palace Theatre stage this weekend with the Green Earth Players’ musical version of Arnold Lobel’s well-loved book.
The play opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 11, with another 7:30 p.m. performance Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. The schedule repeats next weekend, March 18-20.
The local community theater group…
By Lori Sorenson
March 08, 2016
Super Tuesday brought out super turnout in caucus meetings statewide, and that trend also held true in Rock County where caucus-goers turned out in record numbers.
“It was chaotic,” said Jane Wildung Lanphere, secretary-treasurer of the Rock County Republican Party, which registered 194 voters for preference ballots and accommodated 225 participants total.
“In all my life of caucusing that’s by…
By Mavis Fodness
March 08, 2016
The Rock County Community Library has been closed to patrons over the past month, and during that time the inside of the building received fresh paint, new carpeting and a whole new update.
The library will reopen to patrons Monday.
“We finally get to share all this work with the community,” said library director Serena Gutnik. “They have been really patient through all of this.”
Originally plans…
By Mavis Fodness
March 08, 2016
A book depicting the 100-year history of the Minnesota State High School League includes photographs of Luverne students and credits a former Luverne Public School’s official as the “Father of the State League.”
However, the photographs, besides those of Bell, do not list who is pictured in them.
David Stead, MSHSL executive director, said the League commissioned the design of the 157-page book…
March 08, 2016
Skits were among many special observances of Dr. Seuss’ birthday, including storytime with Superintendent Craig Oftedahl, reading with buddies, wearing “Cat in the Hat” red-and-white striped hats and eating green eggs and ham for lunch.
By Mavis Fodness
March 08, 2016
Luverne’s Mock Trial Team earned an eighth-place finish at the state Mock Trial competition March 3-4 at the Ramsey County Courthouse in St. Paul.
Twelve teams qualified for the two-day competition.
Deb Schandelmeier and attorney Jeff Haubrich coach the team.
“I’m proud of them,” Haubrich said. “It’s a big commitment and their results really show how much they put into it.”
This is the second…
February 29, 2016
As snowflakes gently fall Tuesday morning, Don Patton of Hardwick cleans the Main Street sidewalks of new snow that fell overnight. March came in like a lion, blanketing parts of Rock County with almost 5 inches of snow. According to Farmer’s Almanac, the saying “In like a lamb, out like a lion” and vice versa is more of a rhyme than a weather prediction, as it holds true as often as it doesn’t.…
By Lori Sorenson
February 29, 2016
A cloud of construction dust hangs in the air at the Carnegie Cultural Center as workers prepare the historic building for its new tenants.
Luverne City Council members approved a 10-year agreement with Luverne Street Music to lease the city-owned Carnegie Cultural Center.
The non-profit music agency that connects private music instructors with interested students took over the Carnegie building…
By Mavis Fodness
February 29, 2016
A new statewide water quality program will give 10 Rock County farmers up to $300 each if they become certified producers.
Successfully piloted since 2013 in three watersheds located in various parts of the state, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program is now expanding statewide. The voluntary program is meant to accelerate adoption of on-farm conservation practices that…