rock county
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 06, 2025Commissioners spent four hours Tuesday interviewing four candidates who applied for the job of Rock County sheriff. They interviewed retired Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Matt Sorenson and Rock County Sheriff deputies Troy Wenzel, Jeff Stratton and Chad Kempema. The Rock County sheriff is an elected position, but current sheriff Evan Verbrugge is retiring before his current term expires Dec…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025Rock County crops are in prime condition following a dry planting season and timely rain, according to Lucas Peters, president of the Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers Association. “The warm, dry spring allowed planting to start and progress at a fast pace,” he said. “Emergence was generally really good in our area as we avoided widespread heavy rain or any crusting issues.” He said the…- By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025Bids for a new Rural Water tower recently came in 30 to 50 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate, due to tariffs on imported steel. “The increase in steel prices enlarged the cost of the water tower significantly and caused a deficit between the grant award and the low bid,” Kyla Branick, an engineer with Banner Associates, wrote in a July 10 memo to the Rural Water Board. “This sharp…
By Lori SorensonJuly 23, 2025Workers direct one-lane traffic on County Road 4 west of Luverne Friday as the mill-off and overlay project continues between Luverne and County Road 11 (the Steen blacktop). Duininck Inc. is the contractor for the work that includes a mill-off and overlay of County 11 between County Road 4 and Highway 270 (the blacktop that enters the east side of Hills). The Blue Mound Trail is also being…- July 23, 2025July 9 •Complainant on 41st Street and 50th Avenue, Hills, reported an accident with property damage. •Rock County Sheriff’s Department assisted another department at Highway 75 and Veterans Home. •Complainant on S. Donaldson Street reported disturbing the peace. •Complainant on 164th Avenue, Edgerton, reported lost/found property. •Complainant on 161st Street reported suspicious activity.…
By Mavis FodnessJuly 09, 2025A Minnesota Department of Agriculture weather station south of Luverne will provide real-time climate information that will be available online to the public. Tower equipment will collect rainfall, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point temperatures, and wind speed and direction. Ground equipment will measure soil temperatures at 7.5 feet, soil moisture, and snow depth. Rock County…- By Mavis FodnessMay 14, 2025Representatives from Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS) met with commissioners April 22. The representatives outlined a positive fund balance and adequate financial reserves but cautioned possible reductions in state and federal funding may mean future budget cuts or shift to place more of the burden on counties for continued services. SWHHS representatives included director Beth Wilms…
May 07, 2025Volunteers from the Rock County DFL completed an Adopt-A-Highway service project along Interstate 90 on Monday, May 5.- By Mavis FodnessApril 30, 2025The county will soon accept credit or debit card payments online or in person. It’s uncertain, however, when the service will be available. “We are still waiting on the equipment to show up, and then we have to get it all hooked up and take training to get it going,” said auditor-treasurer Ashley Kurtz. Kurtz received approval from Rock County commissioners April 22 to contract with the Fort…
- April 30, 2025The replacement of traffic signs which are at the end of their service lives began on April 28 along several highways in south central and southwest Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Traffic signs located on various highways in the following counties are being replaced: Blue Earth, Jackson, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Nobles, Rock, Sibley and Waseca. MnDOT replaces…
- April 30, 2025Four Rock County 4-H’ers were recently selected to receive scholarships awarded annually by the county federation executive committee. The recipients, their 4-H club and their parents are the following: •Brianna Kinsinger, Magnolia Juniors, Shawn and Teresa Kinsinger, Luverne. •Andrea Luitjens, Magnolia Juniors, Dean and Laura Luitjens, Luverne. •Gracie Fagerness, Blue Ribbon, Chris and Mary…
- By Mavis FodnessApril 23, 2025Sheriff Evan Verbrugge announced his resignation to county commissioners Tuesday morning. His last day will be Sept. 30. “I have struggled with this decision, but I know in my heart that it is time for me to step away while things are in excellent condition,” he stated in a letter. Verbrugge was hired as deputy sheriff in 1991. He’s served 15 years on patrol and 19 years as elected sheriff.…
By Lori SorensonApril 16, 2025Fire departments from three different communities were on the scene of a grass fire north of Beaver Creek last week for over three hours last week. Multiple 911 calls came in around 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, reporting large flames getting close the house, buildings and grove at 575 121st Street, Beaver Creek. The acreage is home to Evan and Denae Meinerts, and initial reports were that the…
By Lori SorensonApril 16, 2025The Rock County Corn and Soybean Growers announced winners last week in their poster contest for local fourth- and fifth-graders. More than 100 students entered original artwork showcasing corn and soybeans in Rock County, and three were selected to be displayed along roadsides in Rock County for the next year. The winning pictures were drawn by Nick Bose, Greyson Mundt and Siena Barron, each…- By Mavis FodnessApril 16, 2025Severe thunderstorm warnings have been added as a reason severe weather sirens will sound in local communities. Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge recommended the change to the community alert system because of the similar dangerous conditions of hail, high winds and heavy rains. “We clearly get more property damage and the potential for personal injury during severe thunderstorm warnings,” he…
By By Evan Verbrugge, Rock County SheriffApril 16, 2025Recently I have received complaints about unusual activity by our deputies. When I investigated the complaint, I have come to discover that we have a couple of individuals driving around Luverne, Rock County, in decommissioned squad cars. These vehicles look exactly like our current fleet. The difference is that we have our shoulder patch on the driver and front passenger doors. According to…
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