By Mavis Fodness
June 16, 2015
Last year Father’s Day weekend celebrations were put on hold in Rock County as residents dealt with the aftereffects of severe flooding.
The persistent weather front helped the area recover from a yearlong drought, but it turned into too much of a good thing June 14-16, 2014, when more than 13 inches of rain caused the Rock River to swell to new record high levels.
No lives were lost, but Rock…
By Mavis Fodness
June 16, 2015
Relay for Life of Rock County surpassed this year’s goal of $35,000.
The 2015 event culminated Friday, June 12, with the local Relay for Life event and marked the 15th year the event has been conducted in Rock County.
With donations still coming in, the committee raised just over $36,000 in monetary and in-kind donations from corporate donations and the 13 fundraising teams.
“It went as well as…
By Mavis Fodness
June 16, 2015
Nate Golla (left) holds the squealing pig for Exchange State Bank Branch Manager and Vice President Ryan DeBates to kiss during Friday night's Relay for Life of Rock County. After the exchange of affection, the pig quieted, prompting aonther peck from DeBates as Ryan Wynia with First Farmers and Merchants Bank (far right) reacts. The event raised $2,571.07 with the one earning less "…
By Mavis Fodness
June 10, 2015
A Luverne woman is in jail after the vehicle she was driving struck a house.
Maren Jane Overgaard, 45, was driving a 2006 GMC Envoy, owned by Tollefson Publishing of Luverne, when she left the roadway and struck a porch at 504 W. Luverne St. at 9:54 p.m., Wednesday, June 10.
Homeowners Bill and Pauline Martin were not injured.
Overgaard was transported by Rock County Ambulance Services to Sanford…
June 09, 2015
May 31-June 6 weather:
High temperature for the week: 85
Low temperature for the week: 43
Average temperature for the week: 69
Rain amount for the week: 0.67
Moisture total for June…
June 09, 2015
Charlotte Steffen
Charlotte Steffen, 81, Hills, formerly of Marshall, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A private family service will take place at a later date.
Arrangements are by Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Luverne.
(0611 DN)
By Glenda McGaffee
June 09, 2015
During the Hills Friendship Days and 125th celebration, a descendant of the namesake of Hills will be among the residents and visitors attending activities and riding in the parade.
Gregory Newton Hills and his wife, Shirley, from Newark, Delaware, will be attending the festivities.
Hills is a great-grandson of Frederick Clark Hills, for whom Hills was named.
Frederick Clark Hills was born at…
By Glenda McGaffee
June 09, 2015
The town of Hills is one of the younger villages of Rock County.
It came into existence after and as a result of the building of the Sioux City and Northern railroad from Sioux City to Garretson.
Following is information gleaned from “An Illustrated History of the Counties of Rock and Pipestone Minnesota.”
The Illinois Central railroad was built through the neighborhood in the fall of 1887, and…
By Glenda McGaffee
June 09, 2015
Wendell Erickson, resident of Hills for 64 years, is the grand marshal of the 125th Hills Celebration Parade Saturday, June 13.
Participating in parades is nothing new for Erickson who has been in parades for 22 years.
He has the distinction of serving as state representative for Rock, Murray and the southern half of Nobles counties, including Worthington, for 22 years.
While serving in the…
By Mavis Fodness
June 08, 2015
Luverne’s United Methodist Church is using crayons and paper to convey an important message.
“We’re committed to bringing more life to the love of Jesus in the community,” said Pastor Dorie Hall.
Called “Flat Jesus,” the message Hall conveyed to audience members at Sunday’s ecumenical church service was to color and cut out the caricature likeness of Jesus.
The service was an event of Luverne’s…
By Mavis Fodness
June 08, 2015
By Mavis Fodness
June 08, 2015
Rain has played a factor in delaying the first phase of the Highway 75 reconstruction project.
Since the week of May 11, three workdays have been lost when more than 2 inches of rain fell on the project area. However, with the majority of the project complete a month later, the center lanes of the roadway will be open to local through traffic the week of June 15.
“They are being careful,” Luverne…
By Lori Sorenson
June 08, 2015
Merecie Domagala agreed to be the Rock County Relay for Life 2015 Honorary Chairwoman only if her mother, Rita Sterrett, and father-in-law, Del Domagala, could be honored with her.
“Mom and I kind of did this battle together,” Merecie said about Rita. “I have taken her to most of her appointments.”
Rita said this is typical of her daughter, whom she describes as a “nurturer.”
“She’s really been…
By Lori Sorenson
June 08, 2015
The town of Hills will likely grow to two or three times its normal population this weekend when the community celebrates its 125th anniversary.
The celebration is timed with the community’s annual Friendship Days weekend, so there will be the usual parades, games, food vendors and festivities.
A dedicated committee of volunteers called “Helping Build Communities Stronger” has formed in place of…
By Lori Sorenson
June 05, 2015
Summer officially began in Luverne over the weekend with the 31st annual Buffalo Days Celebration June 5-7.
Despite a dismal weekend forecast, fair weather prevailed for most of the Buffalo Days activities.
More than 250 cars, trucks, motorcycles and other automobiles and hundreds of auto enthusiasts enjoyed sunny skies and perfect summer night for Friday night’s Buffalo Days Cruise-in Event.…
June 03, 2015
May 24-30 weather:
High temperature for the week: 86
Low temperature for the week: 45
Average temperature for the week: 66
Rain amount for the week: 0.88
Moisture total for May…