Minnesota
By By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026Dozens of wiener dogs and their proud human companions gathered in Luverne Thursday night for the 23rd annual Wiener Dog Races and 18th annual Wiener Dog Beauty Contest. The event has become a staple highlight of Luverne’s legendary Hot Dog Night, last week marking the 64th year of the signature “customer appreciation” hosted by local merchants. To mark America’s 250th birthday, many of the…
By By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026Saturday will be a big day for Luverne residents, volunteers and local leaders who have long held a vision for nutcracker tourism in the community. The World’s Largest Nutcracker will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, with a ribbon-cutting celebration at the nutcracker’s base on South Highway 75 in Luverne. The 65-foot-tall, Uncle Sam-themed structure stands on an 8-foot-tall concrete…
By By Nicole RonchettiJuly 15, 2026Social services and public health programs in Rock County, may be looking at a $2.1 million dollar funding shortfall, due to federal and state cost shifts. The Rock County Board of Commissioners learned how these shifts will affect local budgets during their July 7 meeting with Southwest Health and Human Services. Agency director Stacey Timm outlined the numbers and requested additional funding…
By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026The Luverne Economic Development Authority on Monday reviewed plans for housing redevelopment on city-owned lots along Maple Street. In early February, Don Jahnke and Impressa Modular presented a proposal for modular housing on the half city block to the east of Sunshine Foods and south of the History Center. According to Jahnke’s plan, a duplex facing east would be next to the existing yellow…
By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026The Luverne Economic Development Authority is applying for a Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) grant through the state of Minnesota for infrastructure improvements in the city’s industrial park. The improvements will support Luv Modular LLC’s 176,760-square-foot manufacturing facility that builds modular housing. According to plans presented in March, the facility will be built…
By Lori SorensonMarch 04, 2026The maple tree at the corner of Dodge Street and Highway 75 in Luverne is at least the age of the stately three-story home on the property — more than 100 years old. Dave and Linda Iverson moved into their home 53 years ago, a year after Dave started as a veterinarian at Rock Vet Clinic. Their maple tree was large and mature at that time. The house was built around 1918 or 1920, and they…
By Nicole RonchettiMarch 04, 2026For the first time in its 75-year history, Luverne’s Tri-State Band Festival will open its button design contest to the public. Previously open only to students, the contest has been an annual event since 1976 when the first winner, Missy Weinman, received $10 in prize money. “This is the first year we’ve ever asked the public to come in with designs,” said Jane Wildung Lanphere, who has helped…
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.”…- February 25, 2026Feb. 11 •Complainant on Main Street reported a fire call. •Complainant on Evergreen Drive reported a scam. •Complainant on S. Summit Avenue in Hills reported fraud/forgery/counterfeit. •An outage was reported. •An outage was reported. •Complainant on US Highway 75 at mile marker 9 reported a pedestrian. •Rock County Sheriff’s Department assisted another department on 51st Street near…
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…- February 04, 2026Alverna Madison, age 86, of Wilmont, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at the Sibley Special Care in Sibley, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in Wilmont with a prayer service taking place at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at St. Kilian Catholic Church in Wilmont. Interment will be in…
February 04, 2026Ronald Leroy Boyenga, age 85, of rural Ellsworth, Minnesota, passed away peacefully at his home with family by his side, on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Memorial visitation was from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne, Minnesota. A graveside memorial service will be held at a later date at the Stateline Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Arrangements were under the care of…- February 04, 2026Leona Sandbulte, age 98, of Luverne, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Interment will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Luverne,…
January 28, 2026The Rock County DFL hosted a vigil on Highway 75 in Luverne at noon Friday in minus 10-degree weather to protest the presence of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in Minnesota communities and to stand with immigrant families. At the same time in Minneapolis where ICE officials have killed two residents and U.S. citizens, thousands of peaceful protesters were marching. “My heartfelt thanks…
January 28, 2026Colton Paul Arends was born on May 10, 1996, to Paul and Teresa (Menning) Arends at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was raised on the family farm east of Luverne, Minnesota. From a young age, his beaming spirit always found a way to light up the room. Colton was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne where he was baptized and confirmed his faith in the Lord. Growing…
January 28, 2026Stephen August Fagerness passed away Jan. 21, 2026, surrounded by family under the compassionate care of Hospice. Stephen August Fagerness was born on Oct. 16, 1953, in St. Paul, Minnesota. On Dec. 8, 1953, he was adopted by Harold and Mildred (Studt) Fagerness of rural Jasper, Minnesota, through Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. Stephen grew up in the Jasper area and graduated from Jasper…
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