By Mavis Fodness
September 05, 2017
For years Rock County residents could count on the public transportation network for a ride.
For rides outside the network area, United Community Action Partnership would rely on a group of volunteer drivers.
However, a federal law has caused the volunteer drivers to quit in the past two months.
“We know rides are not happening,” said Shelly Pflaum, UCAP’s access coordinator. “The main reason we…
By Lori Sorenson
September 05, 2017
Community consultant Roger Brooks recognized the nutcracker collection at Luverne’s History Center as a tourism draw for the community.
“This is flat-out amazing,” he said in his June 9 assessment of the town. “This is worth getting off the interstate for.”
He showed an artist’s rendering of an I-90 billboard, “Luverne: Home of the largest nutcracker collection in the Midwest.”
It sounds far-…
By Mavis Fodness
September 05, 2017
Allison Eitreim’s passion for teaching is extending beyond the school’s walls.
As autism specialist at Worthington Public Schools, Eitreim started the Regional Autism Networking Group late last year and now the group regularly draws 30 or more people to its quarterly meetings.
“If we stop at our school doors, we are missing the boat,” the 1992 Luverne High School graduate said.
Autism Spectrum…
September 05, 2017
Firearms and muzzleloader hunters who want to harvest antlerless deer in a deer permit area designated as lottery this hunting season are reminded they must purchase their license by Thursday, Sept. 7.
Hunters who purchase their license before this date are automatically entered into the lottery for the deer permit area or special hunt area they declare.
This season, antlerless deer permits are…
September 05, 2017
Luverne High School students Jacinda Hustoft and Lindsey Roemeling attended a week of BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) this summer, thanks to sponsorship from the local K.A.H.R. Foundation.
MBV is a business and career skills camp held each summer in partnership with the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University and the Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship at St.…
September 05, 2017
Almost $5 million dollars is now available to support landowners in meeting the requirements of Minnesota’s buffer law.
Funds distributed to soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs) are to be used for cost-sharing contracts with landowners or their authorized agents to implement riparian buffers or alternative practices on public waters and public drainage ditches.
The 2017 legislation also…
September 05, 2017
On Sunday, Aug. 27, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, along with Luverne and Rock County officials, toured the construction underway on the 4-million-gallon reservoir being constructed southwest of Luverne. Pictured are (front from left) Red Arndt, Klobuchar, Rock County Commissioner Sherri Thompson, Lewis and Clark’s Troy Larson, (back) Luverne City Councilwoman Caroline Thorson and County Commissioners Stan…
September 05, 2017
Minnesota waterfowl season opens Saturday, Sept. 23.
“Habitat conditions look good in most areas, wild rice reports are good for hunters in the northern portions of the state and waterfowl numbers are favorable,” said Steve Cordts, waterfowl specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The waterfowl season will open with similar bag limits and season dates that were in place…
By Lori Sorenson
August 29, 2017
The newest addition to local law enforcement weighs 40 pounds, speaks Dutch, and loves his job.
King is a 1½-year-old German shorthair pointer who works with Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Austin Christensen, Luverne.
“When it’s time to work, he can’t wait to get in the squad,” Christensen said. “He thinks work is playtime; he loves to go to work.”
King and two other new State Patrol canines came…
By Lori Sorenson
August 29, 2017
Luverne’s tru Shrimp Bay Harbor is coming into focus as company officials work with engineers, attorneys, financiers and scientists.
Tru Shrimp CEO Michael Ziebell shared some details with Rock County Farm Bureau members at their annual meeting Monday night in Luverne.
For those who hadn’t heard the presentation before, he spoke about the global shrimp market and the fact that 80 percent of U.S.…
By Mavis Fodness
August 29, 2017
A familiar face will lead renewed efforts to offer vocational medical classes to high schools when the 2017-18 school year begins Sept. 5.
Sanford’s Tammy Loosbrock has been a leader in the medical field for more than 20 years, but she said classroom teaching is a new venture.
“I’ve dabbled in teaching,” she said of the mentoring she has done. “This will be the first time in the classroom.”…
By Mavis Fodness
August 29, 2017
Laughter was included in Monday’s message to almost 200 Luverne Public School staff as they kicked off the first of four in-service days to prepare for the 2017-18 school year.
Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl built on previous in-service messages by sharing a video of motivational speaker, comedian and author Steve Gilliland.
“He will make you laugh, he will make you cry — but most of all,…
By Mavis Fodness
August 29, 2017
Nineteen new teachers will be greeting students in the Star Herald coverage area when the 2017-18 school year gets underway Sept. 5.
Luverne welcomed nine new instructors, with Ellsworth welcoming two, and Adrian five teachers and one new administrator (see separate story) during this week’s in-service meetings.
Hills-Beaver Creek Public Schools has three new teachers. (See separate story.)
…
By Lori Sorenson
August 29, 2017
Chief Fire Control Technician Carl Schoneman will retire from the Navy on Aug. 31 after 20 years and six deployments at sea.
His message to young adults back home?
“Rock County may seem like the center of the universe, but it’s a big world out there,” he said.
“Keep an open mind. You never know where life is going to take you. … Sometimes you have to put your toe in the water; you might get swept…
By Lori Sorenson
August 29, 2017
After several hours of investigating a possible kidnapping, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office deemed there was no criminal activity at a local hotel on Aug. 18.
According to the dispatch records, deputies were requested at the Super 8 Motel on South Highway 75 to help locate a kidnapping suspect.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said hotel staff reported seeing a 20-year-old male leaving with a 14-year-old…
By Lori Sorenson
August 29, 2017
No one was injured Monday, Aug. 21, when a train collided with a pickup on the tracks near Beaver Creek.
According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, officials were notified at 6:30 p.m. of a train vs. pickup crash at 30th Avenue and 61st Street.
Upon arrival, members of the sheriff’s office located a 2001 Chevrolet pickup approximately 100 yards east of the road where the…
