rock county
By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2024The Star Herald in 2024 carried stories about contested elections, legalized cannabis, weather extremes and ongoing challenges of child care shortages. It also chronicled community growth, with a $30 million elementary school under construction in Beaver Creek, an $18 million feed mill expansion in Magnolia, and several other multi-million-dollar projects. These stories, as well as human…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2024The cost to house a prisoner in the Nobles County Jail increased from $60 to $75 per day, according to a new agreement accepted by Rock County Commissioners at their Dec. 17 meeting. For the past five years, the amount was $60 per day, and the $15 increase was anticipated over the past year, according to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, due to increased personnel and operating costs. From…
By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2024The honorable Terry Vajgrt retired Dec. 31 after nearly 13 years as district judge of the Fifth Judicial District. He said his career has been both challenging and rewarding. “From Day 1 I’ve thought about how fortunate I am to have been able to do this. I’ve enjoyed it,” Vajgrt said. “I’ve had an opportunity to make an impact. That could be through consequences, but it can also mean…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 24, 2024A year after the Rock County Commissioners adopted the first hemp-derived products ordinance, a second ordinance will be in effect Jan. 1. After a 55-minute public hearing Dec. 17, commissioners adopted the ordinance for the sale, growth and manufacturing of high-dose hemp products in Rock County. The ordinance is in response to the state legalizing recreational marijuana in 2023. While the…
- By Pastor Mark Eliason, Palisade Lutheran Church, Rock CountyDecember 11, 2024And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49 (NRSV) Imagine, if you can, the story of a young girl, around 14 years old, engaged to a man she barely knows…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 04, 2024A recently completed audit shows Rock County’s financial reserves exceeding the state’s recommended amount. The Minneapolis-based firm CLA LLP completed the annual audit showing Rock County with 6.32 months in financial reserves. The state recommends five months in reserves in order for a county to be in good financial health. County auditor-treasurer Ashley Kurtz talked with commissioners…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 04, 2024The state of Minnesota recently turned over 13 acres of land to Rock County and 2 acres to Springwater Township. Rock County Highway Engineer Mark Sehr said the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) land management supervisor notified him about the turn back acres. “Truthfully, I didn’t even know MnDOT owned those,” Sehr said at the Nov. 19 Rock County Board meeting. “We’ve been…- By Mavis FodnessNovember 26, 2024Public comment will be taken on the proposed cannabis ordinance at a public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the law enforcement center in Luverne. Commissioners will conduct the hearing before adopting an ordinance to regulate how and where cannabis businesses can operate in the county. The proposed ordinance is 16 pages in length and sets restrictions on the time, place and manner in…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 20, 2024A partnership between Luverne Community Education and Rock County 4-H is keeping a popular youth activity available locally. In the early 2010s, interest by youth ages 9 to 14 in LEGO robotics was strong, and youth had two options in which to participate. Luverne Middle School offered a LEGO Mindstorms class, with interest in First LEGO League competitions spilling over into 4-H. In 2014 Rock…- By Lori SorensonNovember 13, 2024With the general election in the rearview mirror, Rock County election official Ashley Kurtz shared insights on the 2024 process. “I thought Election Day went great,” she said last week. “All polling places were busy, and I thought the election judges did great at handling everything.” She said a few voter questions came up through the day, but they were easily addressed. “Polling places…
- November 06, 2024By the time our Star Herald subscribers read this, the 2024 general election will be in the books, and voters will be acclimating to results and their expected impact. As with every election, we can participate, but we can’t control outcomes. What we can control is how we respond to those outcomes. Will we trust our free and fair elections? Will we respect our local elections officials if the…
By Mavis FodnessNovember 06, 2024Rock County 4-H conducted the 2024 awards and recognition night Saturday, Nov. 2, at Grand Events in Luverne. The evening’s theme was “4-H: Something to Crow About” and was attended by 125 members, leaders, parents and program sponsors. Federation officers installed for 2024-25 Local Extension educator Fraya Webster installed the newly elected Federation officers. The 2024-25 officers are…
November 06, 2024Gertrude Steinberg, age 100, of Hills, Minnesota, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota. Visitation was Wednesday, October 30, 2024, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Hills, Minnesota. Private funeral for family and friends will be held Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Hills, Minnesota. Burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery near…
By Lori SorensonOctober 23, 2024The Rock County Historical Society received word on Friday that it would receive a $111,722 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society. “This is big news,” said Wendel Buys, director of the Rock County History Center. He said the grant funds will be used to purchase museum quality collection storage. Specifically, “mobile, high-density shelving” will be installed in the History Center’s new…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianOctober 23, 2024The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on March 8, 1945. (Elinor and Henry Gertz continue their life stories. Henry explains when he first began farming in Rock County, he traveled 200…
October 16, 2024The Rock County DFL completed its sixth year of the Adopt a Highway service project on Monday, Oct. 7. Participating this fall were (front, from left) Beryl Haugen, Shirley Klosterbuer, Carol Svingen, Suanne Ohme, Carol Morgan, Carol Serie, Dave Svingen, Rhonna Jarchow, Lona Klosterbuer, Connie Connell, Larry Nelson, Keith Erickson, Rich Morgan and Randy Creeger.
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