Not guilty pleas entered in lcoal case of murder, homicide
Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, appeared in Rock County District Court Monday on charges of third-degree murder and vehicular homicide related to last year’s fatal crash northwest of Beaver Creek.
North Highway 75 now closed in Luverne
Highway 75 closed this week in Luverne between Main Street and Dodge Street for the highway reconstruction project set for April through October.
Smile - you're about to graduate!
Jim Juhl (far left) of Myhre Studio photographs the Luverne High School Class of 2026 on Main Street Tuesday morning under the marquee of the Historic Palace Theatre.
Flower Shop Dispensary now open
There’s a new kind of flower shop on Kniss Avenue in Luverne, but instead of roses customers can purchase a different kind of “bud.”
FFA hosts tractor parade for elementary students
Students in Luverne’s Future Farmers of America chapter organized a tractor parade for elementary students on Friday, April 10, in front of the Luverne Elementary School to celebrate “Drive Your Tractor to School Day”
Patriot Pals Child Care sees steady growth
Now entering its fifth month of operation, the Hills-Beaver Creek childcare program is steadily growing.
News
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 04, 2026The Luverne School Board members were presented with four different calendar options for the 2026-27 school year during their meeting Thursday night, Feb. 26, but no clear favorites rose to the surface. The options were divided into two categories, “construction calendars” and “traditional calendars.” The construction calendars follow the pattern of the last six school years and were first…
By Lori SorensonMarch 04, 2026Luverne City Council members approved a quote by Climate Systems of Sioux Falls to replace the rooftop dehumidification unit at the city pool and fitness center. Council members approved the quote for $374,750, which includes: •a 40-ton two-compressor dehumidifier with a horizontal 2-inch double wall, bottom supply and return, building automation and control net integration, R454B refrigeration…
March 04, 2026The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) has issued its 2027 Request for Proposals (RFP) for funding from Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Approximately $121 million from the lottery-generated fund is available for projects that aim to protect, conserve, preserve and enhance Minnesota’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife and other natural…
March 04, 2026On Monday, March 2, members of the Rock County DFL volunteered to fill backpacks for Luverne school students at the Rock County Food Shelf. Pictured are (from left) Carol Svingen, Barbara Veldhuizen, Carol Serie, Connie Connell, Deb Vander Kooi, Bill Stegemann, Jerry Deuschle, Lona Klosterbuer and Gayle Stegemann. (Not pictured are Carol Morgan and Rhonna Jarchow.) The local Democrats have signed…
By Lori SorensonMarch 04, 2026As part of February’s I Love to Read Month, Luverne Elementary School students and staff had fun with special dress up days. Friday, Feb. 27, was “Space Jammies and Popcorn Day,” and Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette popped popcorn for students and staff to enjoy while reading.
By Nicole Ronchetti, reporterMarch 04, 2026Haley Boltjes, an actor with the Green Earth Players community theater group, reads the children’s book, “Miss Nelson is missing!” to Luverne kindergarten students in the elementary school library on Monday afternoon. Boltjes, along with fellow Green Earth Player Denise Wethor, were special guests brought in to read to Luverne Elementary School students Monday as a part of National Read Across…
By Mavis FodnessFebruary 25, 2026Since founding Rock Ranch as a nonprofit organization in 2016, Marie LaRock is still building on the vision she saw for her grandparents’ farm located west of Hills. “I could see what we could do here, but I didn’t want to just serve people with disabilities,” she said. “I wanted to be able to serve all abilities, and I wanted to incorporate everybody together in a Christ-filled setting.”…
By Lori SorensonFebruary 25, 2026The Luverne Elementary School commons was transformed into a magical princess gala Monday afternoon with tea parties, cookie decorating, manicures, photo sessions, hair styling, games and more. The Luverne FCCLA chapter members hosted their annual Princess Party for 35 students ages four through second grade who had signed up for the festivities. According to FCCLA advisor Lori Oechsle, the…
By Lori SorensonFebruary 25, 2026The outdoor skating area at the Blue Mound Ice Arena will become an all-seasons recreation area if grants and private funding come through. At their Tuesday, Feb. 17 meeting, Luverne City Council members took action to designate the rink as a “city park” and then passed a resolution to apply for an outdoor recreation grant. The city already owns the arena building, but to qualify for the grant…
By Nicole RonchettiFebruary 25, 2026The night before Nicole Wiertzema attended her first group fitness class, she was so nervous she couldn’t sleep. What if she looked like she didn’t know what she was doing? What if other people judged her? Today, as owner of The Well Fitness Studio, Wiertzema and her team help newcomers overcome the same fears she once faced about group exercise. “I never thought I would instruct classes, and…
By Lori SorensonFebruary 25, 2026At their Tuesday, Feb. 17, meeting, Rock County commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to remain a shotgun-only deer hunting county. The ordinance was unanimously approved following a public hearing that morning when several local people weighed in on the issue. Trae Davis, for example, said he supported rifles over shotguns because hunters can be more precise with a rifle than a…
By Lori SorensonFebruary 25, 2026Rock County Commissioner Greg Burger has resigned from his seat on the County Board, effective Feb. 28. He made the announcement at the Tuesday, Feb. 17, regular board meeting when commissioners accepted his resignation “with regret.” In his official resignation letter to the board, Burger said it has been “an honor and privilege to serve the county citizens” during these past nine years. He…
February 25, 2026Luverne’s Heather Johnson was recently recognized by the National Newspaper Association Foundation for a graphic design she submitted in a recent contest. Johnson, graphic designer and production manager for the Rock County Star Herald, submitted the winning logo to represent the NNA fall Annual Convention & Trade Show. Johnson will receive a free registration to the Sept. 17-18 event,…- By Mavis FodnessFebruary 25, 2026Hills-Beaver Creek School District’s newly formed National Honor Society (NHS) chapter will install its first members in March. The number of inductees from the senior and junior classes is yet to be determined, and, according to principal Andrew Kellenberger, the number won’t be limited. “We are fortunate to have numerous student leaders at H-BC, and we are excited to see them recognized for…
- By Lori SorensonFebruary 25, 2026Luverne City Council members took action at their Feb. 17 meeting to award the sale of $2.18 million in general obligation utility revenue bonds. The bonds will fund the replacement of the city’s aging water and sewer lines along Highway 75 during the road reconstruction project happening in Luverne this spring and summer. Working with George Eilertson of Northland Securities, Minneapolis, the…
By Nicole RonchettiFebruary 25, 2026Gavin Ballard, a 10th grader at Luverne High School, is the first-place winner of VFW Post 2603’s annual Voice of Democracy essay contest. The second-place winner was Natalie Berning, also from Luverne, and third place went to Taylor Anderson from Fulda High School. This year’s topic for the essays was “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?” Local essay contest winners…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
