Rock County residents and businesses spent the weekend shoveling out from a 6- to 8-inch moisture-heavy snow that fell overnight and into Friday morning.
The sudden snow dump prompted local E-learning and school closures Friday and a full-throttle snow removal day for street workers and highway department employees.
The sunny weekend revealed Narnia-style snow scenes around the county, and overnight fog Saturday added a frosty finish on trees, patios and fence lines Sunday morning.
On Monday, however, clouds rolled in bringing freezing rain overnight into Tuesday when residents awoke to thick ice that weighed down tree branches prompting many to break and fall.
On Tuesday, schools called for another e-learning day to prevent dangerous travel for buses on slushy out-county roads.
Clouds were in the forecast the rest of the week, along with more rain and snow.

Except for two years of school in Alexandria and two years as a Pipestone County Deputy, Matt Sorenson lived his entire life in Rock County and spent his entire career in the Minnesota State Patrol.
At his Dec. 3 retirement party in Luverne, Sorenson reflected on 34 years in law enforcement, 32 of them with the State Patrol.
“It’s been good,” he said, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues.
“There were some tough times and tough situations, but the people have been … It’s been good.”
His short retirement speech wasn’t a surprise to those who know him.
“Matt is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he speaks volumes,” Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said afterward.
“He is calm in the eye of the storm, but when he needs to act, he will do so.”
Captain Casey Meagher of the State Patrol Marshall District offered similar praise when he nominated Sorenson for a Distinguished Service Award.
“Lt. Sorenson provides incredible support to the troopers in the Marshall State Patrol District, to our allied agency partners and to the general motoring public,” Meagher recently wrote in the nomination.
“He has a reputation of being fair, honest and respectful while having established strong working relationships across agency and rank boundaries.”
Sorenson said he’ll miss the people he’s come to know and the relationships he’s built over the years, with both law enforcement and the general public.
“I got to know so many really good people,” Sorenson said. “I’ll miss them and our friendly conversations, whether it’s the gas station attendant who knew my schedule or staff in the Marshall office and county law enforcement centers.”
Meagher said Sorenson had a way of bringing out the best in people, especially the troopers he worked with, treating each one with respect and professionalism.
“Lt. Sorenson is known for his logical and creative approach to problem solving,” Meagher said. “His positive attitude and approach to daily tasks is contagious to those who work alongside him.”
 
Changing rank, continued public service
This work ethic, along with training and experience, raised his rank from trooper to corporal and in 2014 to lieutenant, which put him and his partner lieutenant at the helm of 30 troopers in 13 southwest Minnesota counties of the Marshall District.
Sorenson frequently assisted the Governor’s Office with security details, and he was deployed with fellow State Patrol troopers to the George Floyd riots of 2020 and the Republican National Convention in 2008.
For most of his career he specialized in crash reconstructions to investigate fatal and serious injury crashes.
But generally, he assisted the motoring public, often in bad weather and with roadside emergencies.
“Working in blizzards were some the scariest things I won’t miss,” Sorenson said about icy roads and poor visibility.
“I can remember one time running in the median from a box truck that rolled and sank in the snow. The snow covered me as he rolled over. … He stopped probably 20 feet from me.”
For this reason, Lori Sorenson said she’ll be glad her husband is retired.
“I’m glad I won’t have to worry about him during those long winter shifts,” she said at the retirement party. “And we’re grateful for the troopers and younger officers who are still out there protecting and serving.”
Verbrugge, who’s been with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for 31 years, often worked with Sorenson and the State Patrol during blizzards and other incidents such as apprehending suspects.
“Matt didn’t complain; you could tell that he loved what he did as a Minnesota State Trooper,” Verbrugge said.
“In law enforcement, we see people in their most vulnerable state, and Matt always treated the people with respect and dignity and empathized with them.”
He said he appreciated Sorenson’s professionalism.
“After many years in law enforcement you can become hard to people’s feelings, but Matt always kept his professionalism and I think other officers have looked up to him for how to present themselves in the public.”
 
Retired trooper,
still a farmer
Sorenson grew up on a farm west of Hardwick, the son of Arden and Mary Ellen Sorenson. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1986 and from Alexandria Technical College Law Enforcement program in 1988.
After summer jobs with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and a two-year stint with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, Sorenson started in 1990 with the State Patrol.
The 10-hour shifts with several days off in between allowed him to continue raising corn and soybeans on the family farm and on the acreage west of Luverne where he and Lori live.
Their combined family includes his daughter, Alexx Sorenson, and grandson Colton, in Edgerton and Lori’s sons, Jonathan Ehde in Sioux Falls and the late Carson Ehde, who died this summer at 21.
In addition to farming in retirement, Sorenson will continue as treasurer of the Rock County Pheasants and recently accepted appointments to the Rock County Rural Water Board and the American Association of State Troopers.
 
Final 10-7 to dispatch
At the end of the day Friday, Dec. 2, Sorenson, known by his lietenant badge number as 2302, completed radio signoff for the last time.
“2302 will be 10-7,” he radioed the dispatcher as he had thousands of times before. “Have a good night.”
The dispatcher noted the time, and continued:
“On behalf of the citizens of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Patrol District 2300 and Minnesota State Patrol radio communications, we thank you for your 32 years of dedicated service. It’s been an honor working with you. Congratulations, and enjoy your retirement.”

The Luverne Area Community Foundation hosted its annual Friends of the Foundation Celebration of Philanthropy Monday night, Dec. 5, at Take 16 Brewing Company in Luverne.
The event recognizes and celebrates businesses, nonprofits and individuals who benefit from and support the foundation’s mission of strengthening the community.
In 2022 LACF provided grants totaling more than $68,500 to 23 local causes.
“This night is to celebrate you,” LACF director Emily Crabtree told the group.
 
Mike and Cheryl Cox receive Spirit of Philanthropy Award
 This award recognizes an outstanding individual or family with a proven record of exceptional financial generosity and volunteer leadership to one or more Rock County nonprofit organizations, who has “demonstrated extraordinary civic and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity inspires others to philanthropic action.”
Crabtree said Mike and Cheryl Cox received the award for their service in the community. “Both Mike and Cheryl are role models for what it takes to make a community thrive and lead by example for others to do their part in making this happen,” she said.
She mentioned SHARE, Hospice, Compassionate Friends, LACF, child and adult mentoring, church, education are just a few of the many areas these two have supported. “They believe that when you choose to donate your resources, time or talents, it not only benefits your but an entire community,” Crabtree said.
The Coxes shared their inspiration for giving in the community.
“We have taken special note how our previous generation has given with financial contributions as well as their time in worthy opportunities,” they said.
“We feel fortunate to be able to do some of this as well.  We along with our family have benefited from the many opportunities here from excellent schools to recreational activities, the arts and so much more.”
Crabtree said this is why they were recognized Monday night.
“Mike and Cheryl are two of the most generous people I know, and while an important part of that is in gifts, a bigger part of it is in action – the how can I help, what do you need, the smile, the hand hold, the you can do this,” she said.
“This action is not special for any one person or project but for all persons and meaningful community supports.”
Hartquist Funeral Home & Cremation Services named Outstanding Corporation or Business
This award recognizes a business that has “created a culture of philanthropy with their organization and has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to philanthropy” through financial support of nonprofit organizations, leadership involvement, and volunteer participation and commitment of its workforce in establishing a role model for the business community.
Hartquist Funeral Home & Cremation Services, owned by Jeff and Sara Hartquist, makes financial donations for families it serves to Hearts of Hope – a family grief camp.
The burial insurance company, Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, also partners with Hartquist Funeral home through a program called Helpers of People to match their donations to qualifying charitable organizations – doubling local impact.
Serving families through death care, the Hartquists said they have learned that relationships matter.
“All of us bring something unique to life and make this world better for it,” Jeff Hartquist said.
“As a company, we encourage charitable giving and lead by example, encouraging staff to bring a company check along with their personal donations to many local fundraisers.”
He said they encourage their staff to be involved in the community.
“Being blessed with talents and treasures not put into action results in wasted potential and opportunity,” Hartquist said.
He encourages involvement and works with staff to allow for extra activities whenever possible to help sustain and improve the communities they said they’re blessed to be part of.
“We are continuing to work towards becoming a true Kingdom Company, which operates under the philosophy that none of what’s been given to us is ours and should be used as a means to give back to others,” he said.
#Luv1LuvAll receives Nonprofit Spotlight Award 
The award recognizes an outstanding volunteer group that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community through direct involvement, financial support and leadership. 
“Leadership in their organization comes by identifying issues within the community that are either not currently being addressed, are hard to tackle or need greater public awareness,” Crabtree said.
“They strive to offer a hand up rather than a handout. … It’s not very often that a new organization forms whose focus has really steep issues and keeps its vision, leadership and commitment to stay the course.”
Born out of a 2017 Blandin leadership grant called Leaders Partnering to End Poverty, #Luv1LuvAll was formed with active focus teams that offer programs, education and activities. 
•The Brain Health group is comprised of local mental health professionals and advocates and others who have expressed a desire for mental health improvement in the community. Funds support brain health education in the community, online and in school.
•The Oral Health Task Force works to increase local access to oral health. Funds have been used to work with Children’s Dental Services out of Minneapolis to provide a monthly mobile dental clinic since 2019. Other activities include student dental screenings, oral hygiene education and more. 
Substance Free Coalition of Rock County uses a federal opioid grant for substance-free education and youth activities, NARCAN training and distribution, peer recovery training and more. The grant focus is on awareness, prevention, treatment and recovery.
Other #Luv1LuvAll focus groups work on resource guides, dementia awareness, safe and affordable housing and more.
The Luverne Area Community Foundation can be reached at 507-220-2424 or Emily@luvacf.org.

Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary fifth-graders used teamwork to complete a painting project for the city of Beaver Creek.
Each year public works supervisor Travis Helgeson gives the city’s two snowplow blades a coat of paint to help the snow slide off the curved surfaces.
This year he asked the H-BC fifth-graders and teacher Dylan Gehrke to do the painting for him.
However, the students needed to come up with a design.
H-BC art instructor Isabel Sylvanie assisted in the first-time project.
“This project has been done in many cities including Sioux Falls,” she said. “We are very excited to bring this idea into H-BC and turn it into a tradition.”
The students focused on the school’s yearlong theme of “Level Up,” a video game term that requires players to complete a series of obstacles before they “level up” to the next obstacle series.
The theme focuses on rewarding positive behaviors.
Students earn points that can be redeemed for fun items or activities.
The blade project focused on positive teamwork.
“There is so much sensitivity and empathy that each student has to apply to be successful in a team,” Sylvanie said.
Each student designed an idea and shared the design with classmates.
Because the school’s “Level Up” theme is often depicted as going through levels of a video game, the students chose Mario Brothers as a design.
Sylvanie spent Friday outlining the snow blade with the students’ chosen design. On Monday students took turns filling in the sketches with paint.
“We learned that when we have disagreements in a collaborative project like this, we need to listen, put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, understand there is no right answer, and morph our ideas to fit everyone, if possible,” she said.
Helgeson and his wife, Kenzie, painted the city’s second snow blade, also using Mario Brothers and “Level Up” as a theme.

The Hills-Beaver Creek boys’ basketball team hosted cross-county rival Luverne Tuesday, Dec. 6, in Hills, where the Cardinals came out on top 74-39
It was H-BC’s home opener and Luverne’s first away game of the season after dropping the home opener to Southwest Christian 75-46 on Dec. 1. 
Luverne’s head coach John Sichmeller said he was pleased with his team’s effort.
“I think our guys were nervous for their first game last week and it looked like they were more composed and ready to play vs. H-BC,” Sichmeller said.
For H-BC’s part, coach Kale Wiertzema said the Cardinals’ fast-paced tempo in the first half resulted in several turnovers and missed opportunities by his Patriots.
“After getting down early and getting rid of the nerves, I thought we did a great job battling back to get the score 26-24,” Wiertzema said.
Toward the end of the half, Luverne went on a stretch, hitting multiple threes and put an end to H-BC’s run.
The half ended in favor of Luverne 40-24.
In the second half the Cardinals kept up the momentum by pressing the Patriots in the back court.
“Our inexperience was evident,” Wiertzema said.  “We had 28 turnovers with 75 percent of those coming from being sped up and uncomfortable versus their pressure.”
Luverne outshot the Patriots in the second half 34-15 with a majority of the scoring coming at the foul line where the Cardinals shot 73 percent as a team.
H-BC senior Brock Harnack led the Patriots with 19 points, five rebounds and one blocked shot.
Defensively freshman Jamin Metzger grabbed 10 rebounds and sophomore Beau Bakken had seven rebounds.
For Luverne, sophomore Carter Sehr posted 22 points and senior Gannon Ahrendt had 21 points with seven rebounds and four blocked shots.
Luverne’s game with Jackson County Central Tuesday, Dec. 13, was postponed due to weather. The Cardinals will face Redwood Valley Friday, Dec. 16, at home.
The Patriots’ game with Red Rock Central was also postponed due to weather Tuesday, Dec. 13. They’ll host Alcester-Hudson Friday, Dec. 16.

All 40 turbines in Rock County’s Walleye Wind Farm are now spinning and sending “test” energy to NextEra’s collector substation, and on Dec. 22 the project will be officially online.
It marks the end of a nearly two-year process of acquiring land, clearing Minnesota regulations, and construction.
For developers, engineers, technicians and workers, it marks the end of another safe construction period for nearly 200 employees who made Rock County their temporary home.
“Rock County and its communities have been great partners,” said project director Mark Lennox of NextEra Energy, which built the wind farm.
He said Walleye Wind’s nameplate capacity of 109 MW will produce enough electricity to power roughly 1,000 homes per turbine per year, or 40,000 homes in a year considering 40 turbines.
What that means in terms of “green” energy is that Minnesota Municipal Power Agency will be able to offset fossil fuel among its total energy resources portfolio.
In terms of production tax credits for Rock County, the turbines will generate $400,000 to $600,000 in annual local tax revenues, nearly $18 million over 30 years.
Meanwhile, Rock County landowners with turbines on their ground will see lease payments of roughly $17,000 per turbine per year, adjusted for inflation, over the 30-year lifetime of the wind farm.
In addition, they and surrounding affected landowners benefit from wind rights leases.
“We’re really confident that this project, over its lifetime, will make a meaningful contribution to the community,” Lennox said.
Walleye Wind Farm comprises a 49-square-mile (31,000 acres) footprint that relies on an Automatic Detection Lighting System to alert aircraft of the 374-foot-tall towers (577 feet to the tip of the blade).
The technology perches atop a radar tower near the five-acre Walleye Wind operations yard where the full-time technicians are based.
As aircraft approach the windfarm’s warning buffer — three miles of the footprint border and roughly 1,500 feet high, the lights are activated.
Once an aircraft clears the boundary, the lights will automatically stop blinking.
However, as the turbines are still gearing up to go online, company officials explain that the lights have been blinking for extended periods after activation.
“It’s a self-learning system, and the radar is still in the process of understanding what’s a big bird and what’s an airplane,” said NextEra spokesperson Sara Cassidy.
“After a few months they’ll automatically go off when aircraft clear the boundaries.”
She said company officials have enjoyed working with Rock County leaders and landowners on the project.
“The ongoing support we’ve received from the community has been amazing,” Cassidy said.
“We’ve been very proud to be part of that community, and I have to say a big ‘thank you’ to all involved.”

Residents in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District support a new elementary school but do not support additions to the secondary school.
That’s according to a district-wide survey conducted by School Perceptions out of Slinger, Wisconsin, for the district.
H-BC School Board members reviewed the results at their Monday meeting and will present the information to the district’s stakeholder committee.
Board members will meet in a work session at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, to hear the stakeholder committee’s recommendation. They will also hear more information from the architect and construction manager hired to examine the district’s long-term facility needs.
“We heard loud and clear we are not to make any additions to the secondary school,” said superintendent Todd Holthaus.
“We also heard loud and clear not to add a track and field practice field or a competitive football field.”
However, the majority of H-BC residents supported building a new elementary school in Beaver Creek rather than updating the current facility.
District households were mailed a notice in mid-November directing them to participate in the online survey with their assigned I.D. number.
The survey had 348 respondents or a 30 percent response rate. The survey’s error of margin is 5.4 percent.
Results divided respondents into three groups: school staff, parents with children currently in the district, respondents without children in the district.
About a third of the respondents in each group supported keeping the elementary school in Beaver Creek.
Just over 20 percent of all respondents supported moving the elementary school to Hills.
In the question about whether or not to build a new elementary school, results indicated:
•49 percent of staff would support building a new elementary. Just 9 percent of staff supported only updating the current facility.
•36 percent of parents supported building a new elementary, with 10 percent of parents supporting only updating the current facility.
•18 percent of non-staff, non-parents supported building a new elementary, with 16 percent supporting updating the currently facility only.
Board members will make a formal decision about a possible building referendum at their Dec. 27 meeting, after another board work session and Wednesday’s stakeholders’ meeting.
“They don’t want to preclude what the stakeholders want,” Holthaus said.
If the board agrees to go forward with a referendum, exact project details will be presented at yet-to-be determined public information meetings.
Estimated cost of the new elementary school is $26.5 million.
A potential referendum vote to fund the project could take place in April.

Luverne School Board members extended a new three-year contract to Superintendent Craig Oftedahl through June 2026.
He will receive salary increases of 2.75 percent each year with the contract that begins on July 1, 2023. The board approved the contract at their Nov. 22 meeting.
With the increase, Oftedahl’s salary for the 2023-24 school year will be $152,517 followed by $156,711 for 2024-25 and $161,021 for 2025-26. Vacation days will also increase by five days from 25 to 30 days.
The contract extension comes a month after Oftedahl’s annual evaluation on six goals set by the seven-member board, administration and Oftedahl.
Oftedahl’s evaluation ratings ranged from a low of 3.0 to a high of 3.85 on 4-point scale with 4 being the highest. Oftedahl’s overall performance for the 2021-22 school year fell between 4 (distinguished) and 3 (accomplished) with an accumulative rating of 3.47.
Ratings according to district goals were as follows:
1.) Provide leadership for the school district for those prioritized projects identified by the school board, administration and facilities supervisor. Rating 3.57
2.) Provide leadership for the school district based on the political landscape to achieve adequate staffing as necessary in order to sustain the educational programs of the Luverne School District. Rating 3.57
3.) Provide leadership in the area of finances for the school district. There are lingering challenges post pandemic to the fund balance and to remain diligent in our quest to maintain our policy goal. Rating 3.71
4.) Continue to cultivate community partnerships to maximize resources and enhance student opportunities such as CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) and medical class. Rating 3.85
Each school year, Oftedahl has two professional goals that he’s rated on.
Ratings according to professional goals were:
1.) Strengthen communication on a consistent basis for the Board of Education and community. Rating 3.0
2.) Lead the process to improve the efficiency of the district in all areas with focus on bringing job descriptions brought current and up to date. Rating 3.14
Oftedahl started with the Luverne district in 2015.

Final New Life Celebration food distribution Dec. 15
New Life Celebration Church’s final monthly food giveaway is at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Atlas building at 101 W. Maple Street in Luverne.
Enter from Maple Street and stay along the west side of the building. Parking lot opens at 3 p.m. Do not block the Redeemed Remnants lot, intersection or alley.
Food will be loaded into vehicles, which exit via the alley going west. Call 507-283-8963 or 507-283-4366.
Note: This is the final food distribution through New Life Celebration Church, which has offered the ministry since 2005.
 
UMC community free meal Christmas Eve — December 24
The United Methodist Church will host a free Chirstmas Eve community meal at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. Please sign up at church or call the office. A pick-up option is available by calling 507-283-4529.
 
Annual Christmas meditation Dec. 23
The United Methodist Church annual Christmas Meditation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at the Luverne Palace Theater. Relax, reflect on the past year, remember the reason for the season, and take time away from shopping, baking and other holiday stressors.
Listen to peaceful piano music, and center into the Christmas season in the darkened theater, lightened only by Christmas lights and calming winter pictures on the movie screen.
It’s a free event and open to all who are welcome to stay as long as their heart needs. Christmas goodies and cider will be available in the lobby.
 
Community Ed
Community Education will offer the following classes in the next few weeks. Call 507-283-4724 to register.
 Students (grades 4-6) will follow along with the instructor step by step to create a painting at Paint & Snack class on Dec. 19.  Fee is $33.
ECFE Classes for Children ages 0-5 years and parents offers information and support to parents and provides activities for parents and children to explore together through classes that meet once a week throughout the school year. 
Defensive Driving 8-hour class provides a 10 percent premium discount on auto insurance to anyone 55 years of age or older. The 8-hour class needs to be taken once and the insurance discount is good for three years.  A 4-hour refresher class can be taken every three years to remain eligible for the insurance discount.
New Residents: Census Information Needed for Preschool Children. Call 507-283-4724 with information for children ages 0 to kindergarten. The school district uses the information for planning purposes, mailing out information on school events, including the state-mandated Preschool Screening for all 3-year-old children. If your child is 4 and has not been screened, call to complete the screening before kindergarten.
 
Library Happenings
For more information about library happenings, call 507-449-5040 or email rockcountystaff@gmail.com.
Trivia Night is at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Take 16 in Luverne. Team registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reminiscence Kits are available featuring various topics such as gardening, pets, baking, sewing, farming and hunting. The kits are designed to use with a loved one experiencing memory loss, encouraging the loved one to open up about activities they once loved in the past.
 
Food Shelf evening hours
The Rock County Food Shelf is now open for an additional evening shift from 5 to 6 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month. Call Mary at 507-227-5548 or Katie at 507-227-3531.
 
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets Tuesdays
CoffeeBreak Bible Study meets each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne. There will be StoryHour Bible stories and playtime for ages 3 to kindergarten, and a nursery is available. It’s free for all faiths and no prior Bible knowledge is necessary. Call Kristi Stroeh at 507-227-5102 or email atkristi.stroeh@hotmail.com
 
A.C.E. respite care available, volunteers needed
A.C.E. of SW Minnesota (A.C.E.) offers respite care services in Rock County for those needing a break from caring for a loved one.
The respite program offers short-term (1-3 hours), temporary care for families and caregivers by providing a brief period of reprieve from the daily cares they provide to their loved one.
Volunteers provide non-professional supportive services to caregivers to give them time for themselves, relieve their stress and help them remain healthy.
Respite care volunteers are also needed. Trained A.C.E. volunteers provide respite care to family caregivers of adults age 60 and older who are suffering from long-term health conditions.
Contact Linda Wenzel at 507-283-5064 or ace.rock@co.rock.mn.us.