September 29, 2015
Sept. 29 is the day the Good Samaritan Society was founded more than 90 years ago, and it’s the day the organization celebrates its mission: “To take care of the whole person, body and soul.” Locally several volunteers celebrated Founders Day by supporting 25 area seniors with free CO detectors and grabbers. Pictured here, Carrie Soto (left) of the Good Samaritan Society presents grabbers (which…
By Mavis Fodness
September 29, 2015
The eight-member Rock County delegation to the Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show earned champion herdsmanship honors during the Sept. 17-21 event.
Competing in the large county category, Rock County was one of 27 counties competing in the finals with a perfect 500 score, according to Tim Bonham, who coordinates the herdsmanship program.
To break ties for the perfect score, random inspections are…
By Mavis Fodness
September 29, 2015
Fifty-four Rock County 4-H’ers advanced to the 2015 Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul Aug. 24-Sept. 7.
Several 4-H’ers were singled out for outstanding projects in the livestock and non-livestock areas.
Earning a purple ribbon, the highest placing for the non-livestock projects at the state level, were Autumn Hamann, indoor gardening grades 9+; Ryleigh Beers, youth development grades 9+; Brianna…
By Lori Sorenson
September 29, 2015
The 2015 Rock Area Kids Against Hunger Food Packing Event will be Nov. 5 and 6 in the Luverne High School gym.
Students from Luverne, Southwest Christian High School, Edgerton Christian Elementary and Hills-Beaver Creek will pack food for the local food banks and for people around the world.
During last year’s Kids Against Hunger packing event in Luverne, over $16,000 was raised and more than 104…
By Mavis Fodness
September 29, 2015
Commissioners set the Rock County preliminary levy at 3.88 percent during action taken at their Sept. 22 meeting.
The increase means an additional $194,145 from taxpayers in 2016.
“We don’t have a choice in a lot of things,” said Commissioner Stan Williamson.
Two areas prompted the commissioners to increase the amount.
The first involved a request from Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS)…
By Lori Sorenson
September 29, 2015
Volunteers at the historic Hinkly House in Luverne have been playing dress-up with the wardrobes of the Hinkly family members.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, vintage clothing items from the 1800s and 1900s were dusted off and displayed at a “Style and Trunk Show.”
It was the second year for the event, which attracted dozens of people to the Victorian period home on North Freeman Avenue.
“The clothing…
By Mavis Fodness
September 29, 2015
Even though he has already completed the required 300 hours of community service and half his jail sentence, Chris Weber continues to tell the public about the consequences of distracted driving because he wants to.
Weber, who pled guilty to criminal vehicular homicide earlier this year, spent Tuesday, Sept. 22, in Sioux County, Iowa, talking with students and staff at four area high schools.
“I…
By Lori Sorenson
September 28, 2015
Gevo will increase isobutanol production at the Luverne plant to nearly 1 million gallons in 2016, nearly 10 times the rate of current production.
Corporate officials made the announcement last week on the heels of a patent lawsuit settlement with Butamax in August.
“The settlement with Butamax eliminated a significant cost and uncertainty in our business,” said Gevo CEP Patrick Gruber.
“We are…
By Lori Sorenson
September 28, 2015
Nationally known combat photographer Stacy Pearsall will be in Luverne Friday, Oct. 2, to share her story about what combat is like from behind the camera.
Pearsall has captured over 500,000 images across 41 different countries, and her work has appeared in Time, USA Today, CNN, BBC and the New York Times.
In three combat tours, she has earned some of the highest medals for heroism in battle,…
By Mavis Fodness
September 28, 2015
A new well at the Blue Mounds State Park remains contaminated, even after repeated chlorination, according to state officials.
“The drinking water situation at Blue Mounds State Park continues to be a challenge and we are committed to resolving it,” wrote DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr in a Sept. 17 letter.
One solution may be a connection to Rock County Rural Water for roughly $261,000. That’s…
By Mavis Fodness
September 28, 2015
In the fall of 1965, Barb Bot was a young mother and wife of local pharmacist Al Bot.
Multiple times a year, she would receive knocks at the door from individuals collecting for various local charities.
She thought Luverne residents would benefit from only one annual fundraising campaign organized by a committee to decide who should benefit from the local donations.
Fifty years ago, with just an…
By Mavis Fodness
September 28, 2015
Seventeen bison were sold Friday, Sept. 25, during the Blue Mounds State Park’s annual bison sale.
The 16 yearlings and one 2-year-old bull were auctioned to the highest bidders for commercial use or breeding. Prices averaged $1,500 for heifers and $2,200 for bulls.
Park manager Chris Ingebretsen said the number of bison offered for sale this year “was a little short.”
About two dozen young stock…
By Lori Sorenson
September 21, 2015
Touch the Sky Prairie is 1,000 acres of restored northern tallgrass prairie northwest of Luverne, where more than 120 species of native grasses and forbes have been identified.
The pristine land is one mile from where world-renowned nature photographer Jim Brandenburg was born, and two miles from where his ancestors broke sod.
The prairie was established as a partnership with Luverne’s…
By Lori Sorenson
September 21, 2015
Thursday, Sept. 17, was Constitution Day, and Jerry Benson’s Luverne Middle School history class celebrated in style.
Students put up a wall-sized poster of the U.S. Constitution and hung several smaller posters that illustrated each of the articles.
In addition, students designed their own posters, hung red, white and blue streamers in the Middle School hallway window and enjoyed pizza in class…
By Lori Sorenson
September 21, 2015
Luverne residents owe the city of Luverne nearly $8,000 in utilities and assessments for miscellaneous services.
At their Sept. 8 meeting, City Council members heard a report from Finance Director Barb Berghorst about the unpaid bills.
She said unpaid utility bills for 2015 so far total $5,806.03 and unpaid services for snow removal, mowing, tree trimming, etc. total $2,008.91.
If the bills aren’…
By Mavis Fodness
September 21, 2015
Eight Rock County horses competing at the Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show in St. Paul Sept. 18-21 are under quarantine as recommended by show officials.
The horses may have been exposed to a potentially deadly virus while attending the annual event along with more than 600 other horses.
On Friday, Sept. 18, a Clay County horse stabled in the cattle barn at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds was…