2024

The Luverne High School speech team ended the 2024 regular season with two strong performances. The team finished second at the Big South Conference Championships on March 21 and fourth at the Pipestone Area Speech Invitational March 23. Luverne competed in the small school division at both events. Two speakers took Big South Conference honors. Jessika Tunnissen placed first in informative…

Due to the high cost of investment in farm machinery, an ever-increasing number of farm operators are hiring other farm operators to provide some or all of their machinery resources for their farm operation. This is especially true with new and younger farm operators, as well as with children that decide to start farming with their parents. In addition, some land investors are choosing to…

Luverne High School Student Council members hosted their 2024 March Mayhem tournament and fundraiser Tuesday, March 19, in the Cardinal Gym. The event involved five student basketball teams, each coached by a Cardinals basketball player, competing in a tournament. Junior and senior non-basketball players who wanted to participate in the tournament were able to  sign up ahead of the event and…

More than a dozen parade entries walked down Main Street Luverne Monday afternoon for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade organized by the Luverne Area Chamber. Plenty of green was seen along the street – and also stocking hats and mittens donned against the upper 30-degree temperatures. The parade was a culmination of a full weekend of St. Patrick's Day activities in Luverne.

Minnesota author Mary Casanova visited Luverne Monday evening for a presentation called “My Doll, Me & Mary.” The author of 39 published books felt honored to be talking about the 11 books she’s written for the American Girl series. Five of her books have had dolls developed from her American Girl characters along with three movies. She’s currently talking about her books as she tours the…

The Luverne High School Business Professionals of America Chapter (BPA) earned a gold status for membership increase at the Spring Leadership Conference March 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis. “It was a great learning experience, and we had fun being up there representing Luverne,” said adviser Katie Kopp. “It was great to see Luverne’s students being recognized. They worked hard this…

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you have until March 31, 2024, to change your plan. People with Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage Plan can make a one-time plan change from January 1 through March 31. People new to Medicare and who choose to get their Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan can also access this enrollment period during the first three months after…

County commissioners approved expanding U of M Extension office support in order to grow the local 4-H program. The action at their March 5 meeting increases the current 32-hour office support position to 40 hours to assist the full-time so-to-be-hired 4-H youth development educator. This allows the Extension office to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the absence of an…

  The Big South Conference released its 2023-24 All-Conference boys’ hockey team and girls’ basketball selections.   LHS boys’ hockey Luverne seniors Tyler Arends, Elliot Domagala, Patrick Kroski and Owen Sudenga were named to the boys’ hockey Big South All-Conference Team this season. Junior Blaik Bork and sophomore Landyn Lais received Honorable Mention. The Luverne boys’ hockey team took…

Improvements at Main Street and Highway 75 in Luverne are delayed a year, due additional infrastructure work planned for the project. The estimated $4.4 million project to widen the intersection for truck traffic and resurface Highway 75 to Veterans Drive was on next year’s schedule. Instead, it will be done in 2026 at a cost now estimated at $9.3 million. “This was a result of changing the…

As part of their budget process for 2024, Hills City Council members approved salaries and compensation for elected officials and staff. Mayor Keith Elbers draws an annual salary of $2,500 and City Council members receive $1,300. Council members include Cory Metzger, Vickie Busswitz, Ross Metzger and Alan Leenderts. City Public Works Supervisor Dustin Verhey is full-time and receives $26.30…

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar received the 2024 Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion for her leadership on a range of issues championed by the organization. She was honored for the following: •her work ensuring Department of Veterans Affairs benefits include comprehensive care for veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. •supporting the Afghan…

The Minnesota Pork Board (MPB) honored Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) Feb. 12 for his positive contributions to the state’s pork industry as the MPB 2024 Legislator of Distinction. MPB officials highlighted Weber’s support for expanding the agriculture homestead valuation limit from $2.7 million to $3.5 million. “Our family farms are integral to Minnesota’s economy,” Weber said. “And I will…

This week, March 10-16, is National Sunshine Week, which celebrates and brings awareness to free and open access to public information and an accountable government. And it sheds light on the importance of community journalists in keeping the public informed. Laws requiring open meetings and public data exist for everyone, but journalists are trained to navigate the sometimes complicated avenues…

Dispatch report March 2 •Complainant on S. Cedar Street reported theft/larceny. •Complainant at Beaver Creek cemetery reported found property. •Complainant on N. Spring Street reported a fire call. •Complainant on Bishop Street and Spring Street reported a road and drive law issue. •Complainant on 11th Street, Ellsworth, reported a fire call. •Complainant at 24-hour parking lot reported…

In the first six verses of Psalm 139, David talks about God’s omniscience, which basically means God sees and knows everything. David does not use the technical term omniscience, but he praises God for his thorough knowledge of him. In verse 1 David says, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!” David confesses that God knows everything about him. Then he goes on to use what we call as…