By Mavis Fodness
December 07, 2015
Rock County landowners saw their topsoil wash into ditches with recent flooding, and those who want their dirt back will have to pay to have it moved, according to discussion at the Rock County Board meeting Dec. 1.
That’s what commissioners told Henry Petersen of rural Hardwick after he addressed the board.
Heavy rains and subsequent flooding events in June 2014 and again this spring eroded an…
December 07, 2015
By Lori Sorenson
December 07, 2015
Overnight fog left a layer of hoar forst on trees, grasses, fencelines and property Thursday morning, Dec. 3, creating some spectacular scenery at sunrise.
By Mavis Fodness
December 07, 2015
More than 50 people participated in the Sanford Luverne Hospice 2015 Tree of Lights ceremony Thursday night, Dec. 3.
The ceremony at the corner of Highway 75 and Main Street was the first time in the event’s 20-year history that it was conducted at the city of Luverne’s new Flag Park.
“It was our largest group attending the lighting, and despite the chilly temps, there were many positive comments…
By Mavis Fodness
December 07, 2015
The decision to add up to two full-time deputies to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office was put on hold until next year.
At their Dec. 1 meeting, commissioners tabled any increases to the sheriff’s office budget for 2016. The topic will be addressed again during budget talks for 2017.
In October Sheriff Evan Verbrugge asked for a $30,000 increase in next year’s departmental budget.
The monies would…
By Mavis Fodness
December 07, 2015
Forty years ago this week, teachers in Luverne Public Schools went on strike as one of seven Minnesota school districts to do so in 1975.
Their action canceled classes from Dec. 12 to Dec. 19, giving students and non-union staff a long Christmas break. Classes resumed Jan. 5, 1976.
A four-inch thick, three-ring binder titled “A Time Remembered,” chronicles events before and after the first and…
By Lori Sorenson
December 07, 2015
Luverne's annual Winterfest celebration unfolded under mild weather and attached ample crowds to the dozens of Winterfest events and activities lined up for Dec. 4-7.
By Mavis Fodness
December 07, 2015
The AgStar Fund for Rural America recently awarded $3,000 to Magnolia Fire and Rescue to purchase safety vests and EMS gear bags.
“There is a great need for emergency response support, especially in rural communities. Budget restraints make it difficult for departments to purchase and update critical equipment,” said John Monson, chairman of the fund’s board of trustees.
“This program allows us…
By Lori Sorenson
December 07, 2015
One hundred finely decorated evergreen trees fill the Capitol rotunda in Pierre, South Dakota, and a Luverne woman can take credit for one of them.
Lorraine Stoel, a native of the Okaton, South Dakota, area, was invited to decorate a tree in a theme of her choosing.
Stoel’s Christmas tree theme is “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow — with Jack and Grace,” in honor of her parents, Jack and Grace…
December 01, 2015
Area residents ages 55 to 62 years of age, a class on Social Security benefits will be conducted Dec. 8. The class will sort through a wide variety of options available as the time for retirement nears.
Cost is $5.
Please contact Luverne Community Education, 283-4724, for more information or to register.
December 01, 2015
Ben Franklin Lodge, Minnesota Masonic Charities recently presented a check for $2,362.19 to Luverne Music Boosters in support of the Luverne Public Schools music programs. Pictured are (front, from left) Matthew Jelken, Madi Oye, Mitchell Graber, (back) Quinton Siebenahler, Nicole Kneip, Music Boosters President Jim Jelken, Lodge Master Bryce Stoltenberg, instrumental instructor Richard Owen and…
By Mavis Fodness
December 01, 2015
The last of Hardwick’s World War II veterans received a special visit last week and a personal thank you for his 59 years of continuous membership to the Arthur Moeller American Legion Post 478.
Bill Holling, at age 92 years and 8 months, has outlived his fellow soldiers, an accomplishment the former farmer downplays.
“It wasn’t necessary,” he said.
A man of few words, Holling briefly talked…
By Mavis Fodness
November 30, 2015
The Beaver Creek City Council is seeking to fill a vacancy on the council since Mayor Carolyn DeBoer died this fall of cancer.
At their regular monthly meeting Nov. 18, councilmen Pat Bender, Al Harnack and Josh Teune moved current councilman Jamie Dysthe from acting mayor to mayor when no one stepped forward to fill the mayor position.
DeBoer died in September, and the council is working on…
By Lori Sorenson
November 30, 2015
The 11 Minwind turbines in southwest Rock County will remain under local ownership after a bankruptcy sale last month.
According to the terms of the court agreement that closed Nov. 12, a group of community investors purchased four turbines for $622,000.
The buyers are current and former investors of Minwind I-IV who organized under Community Renewables LLC.
First Farmers and Merchants Bank,…
November 30, 2015
Paul Sundvold, Sioux Falls, is the first customer to buy Luverne’s Take 16 bottled beer at Blue Mound Liquor Wednesday, Nov. 25. He’s pictured with liquor store manager Kenny Rolling who said the first delivery of the locally brewed beer came in that morning — 10 cases of Country Mile Kolsch and 10 cases of Kick the Can IPA. So far only those two varieties are available in bottles; the others can…
By Lori Sorenson
November 30, 2015
Luverne City Council members took action at their Nov. 24 meeting to acquire the dilapidated property at Highway 75 and Lincoln Street.
According to the resolution that was approved unanimously, the old yellow house north of the Culligan office is a public nuisance and a hazardous building.
The resolution states, "the benefits of acquiring the real estate through eminent domain outweigh the…