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As the Star Herald closes the books on 2019, it’s helpful to look back on the year’s top news in the ongoing quest to record county history.
Weather, business developments and growth dominated headlines in 2019, in addition to setbacks and losses that test resiliency and define community spirit.
Mother Nature has her way
Early in the year, two major snowstorms buried the region, closing roads and shutting down schools and businesses. Roughly 10 inches of snow piled up in Rock County Wednesday, Feb. 20, followed by 35 mph winds and several more inches over the weekend.
Hundreds of motorists were stranded across the state when visibility shrank to zero and truck-sized drifts began forming on roadways.
Most county and township roads were impassable by Sunday, and major thoroughfares like Highway 75 were reduced to one lane in many areas where monster snowdrifts had accumulated.
These February events followed an already snowy winter that prompted local districts to lengthen the school year to cover too many snow days.
It was the winter that seemed to never end. In March local buildings were collapsing under the weight of snow on rooftops, and a spring ice storm in April downed power lines and caused electrical outages that lingered nearly a week in some parts of northwestern Rock County.
These were the same neighborhoods that were later hit hard by flooding, especially in September when the Split Rock Creek submerged a farmhouse west of Hardwick, displacing Arden and Mary Ellen Sorenson, who had spent 63 years together on the acreage.
In other parts of Rock County, flooding damaged roads and bridges, tallying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of repair work.
Farmers hang on for better years
By the start of 2019, Rock County farmers had already weathered more than their share of bad news. The previous year’s wet growing season and soggy harvest, in addition to poor commodity prices, had created a general attitude of, “We’re due for better days.”
But they didn’t come in 2019.
A cold wet spring delayed planting, and many acres didn’t get planted at all. Seeds that found their way to fertile soil faced a multitude of obstacles, such as limited sunshine, high wind, hail and a relentless pattern of continued flooding.
Insurance adjusters were using terms like “prevent plant,” “green snap” and other descriptions that weren’t previously common.
Add to this the challenges of President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, a major buyer of U.S. ag products.
Generally speaking, tariffs on U.S. commodities shipped to China decreased from $20 billion in 2017 to $10 billion in 2019. It was salt in the wound for producers already reeling from too many years of little to no profits.
Median net farm income for Minnesota farmers in 2018 was only $26,055, which was the lowest in the past 23 years of analyzing farm business management records.
It was the fifth year in a row of sub-par net farm income levels in the state, which was the first time that this has occurred since the 1980s, and analysts say 2019 data will continue this trend.
A small but growing number of local producers are ceasing operation or filing bankruptcy.
Other terms becoming increasingly common are “farm crisis hotlines” and ag mental health resources.
Generations takes shape
Speaking of brain health, 2019 saw the rise of communitywide efforts to support people with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their caregivers. A local “Dementia Network” is in its infancy and is poised to launch in 2020.
It’s part of a broader effort to improve conditions and resources for local seniors.
With George Bonnema as the new president of Generations (formerly Rock County Senior Citizens), a major fundraising effort is underway to build a new $3 million Generations center to replace the current Lincoln House and Senior Dining facility.
The story that didn’t happen
One of the top stories of 2019 was a story that didn’t happen. Tru Shrimp delivered a staggering blow to city leaders shortly after Jan. 1 that it was no longer coming to Luverne.
The company canceled plans for its $100 million harbor, hatchery and accompanying water, electrical and gas distribution facilities on 60 acres along the north side of I-90.
The news was disappointing, and the immediate reaction was tally losses — not only for what wasn’t happening, but for what investments were made in the broken promises.
The city had transformed what had previously been a cornfield into a modern industrial park with $11 million worth of new infrastructure, including a 10-ton road, water, sewer and electricity.
These considerations immediately came to mind, but it didn’t take long for local leaders to realize the investments weren’t for tru Shrimp alone; they were an investment in future growth.
In some ways the community sensed a collective “whew” as the council and EDA took stock of growth and preparing for it.
Premium Iowa Pork remains shining star of development
On one hand, city officials already have their hands full gearing up for Premium Minnesota Pork, which comes online this spring.
The Hospers, Iowa, pork processor plans to slaughter up to 2,500 antibiotic-free hogs per day in the former Gold’n Plump facility.
The company is retrofitting the existing 78,000-square-foot facility and expanding it another 12,500 square feet for an estimated $30 million investment.
In addition, the company paid $6.76 million for necessary upgrades to Luverne’s wastewater facilities due to the plant’s sewage load into the city’s system.
The company plans to hire 250 production workers (at $13 to $20 per hour) in Luverne. That number could increase to more than 300 employees, depending on growth.
Where will everyone live?
A 2016 study of Luverne’s housing supply revealed severe shortages even without tru Shrimp or PMP workers.
An updated study in 2019 showed the need for 267 more housing units through 2030, mostly in senior living options.
It reaffirmed city efforts to create opportunities for development.
In addition to town homes already occupied on East Barck Street and on Roundwind Avenue east of the pool, a four-plex unit is nearly complete on East Barck Street and 15 lots are prepared for twin home and single family construction on the Uithoven Addition on the west side of Luverne.
Another three twin homes can go up on the Reisch Addition lots north of Rock County Opportunities, and the recent purchase of Lynn Lopau’s acreage will allow for additional twin homes and single-family houses to be constructed after 2021.
While the housing study shows a distinct need for mid-income starter-type homes in the $150,000 range, the hope is that this housing stock will open up as residents leave these homes to move into twin home options.
School construction project
One of the biggest construction stories of the decade continues in the Luverne High School and Middle School where contractors broke ground this spring on a $31 million remodel and rebuilding project.
Gil Haugen Construction, Sioux Falls, began the almost 21 months of construction in March by demolishing the Little Theater and constructing the new band and choir suites.
The suites were finished just in time for the Sept. 16 opening of the school year, in a state-approved late start.
Four full months of construction were carved out of the school year by ending the 2018-19 school year on May 10, 2019. Snow makeup days, however, extended dismissal to May 17.
A June 20 groundbreaking ceremony prompted removal of the two-story west wing to make way for the new commons and performing arts center. Construction continues through 2020.
School news
•In other Luverne school news, Jason Phelps was hired as middle school principal on July 1, a first for the district since 2005, when the position was combined with the high school principal.
•The Hills-Beaver Creek School District hired Molly Schilling to assume the reins at the middle-high school in Hills. She replaces Phelps, who took the principal position in Luverne.
•H-BC made national news when its elementary school was named a Blue Ribbon School for being an “exemplary high performing” school with third- through fifth-grade test performance.
In our rural communities
•The Ellsworth City Hall was destroyed by fire in January, and by Sept. 26 the community broke ground on a new replacement building.
•Hardwick implemented rural service districts to provide tax relief for ag property owners within city limits.
•The Beaver Creek golf course complex has a new lease on business life after Rick Gourley purchased the grounds and events center.
SpringBrooke Events celebrated a ribbon-cutting in September, and 2020 will see continued work on the lower level bar and grille and on the golf course greens.
In other business news …
Shopko announced in February that its Luverne pharmacy would close, and in March the company announced a Shopko Hometown closing altogether due to corporate Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The Luverne business, which moved to the south Highway 75 location in 1997, employed 23 full- and part-time employees.
Lewis Family Drug, Sioux Falls, purchased the Luverne Hometown Shopko pharmacy assets, and Bomgaars announced in September it would take over the Shopko building.
In other 2019 business news:
•NextEra Energy Resources of Juno Beach, Florida, purchased the proposed 100-megawatt Walleye Wind Farm earlier this year from Renewable Energy Systems. The seven existing wind turbines in Beaver Creek Township, 11 megawatts of power, will be decommissioned and incorporated into the proposed wind farm.
The proposed new Walleye Wind Farm is 111 megawatts in size, consisting of 36 turbines in Beaver Creek and Martin townships, as well as portions of Rose Dell, Springwater, Luverne and Mound townships.
•Speaking of wind, Gevo made repeated headlines with its green initiatives to power the Luverne plant on wind energy. After a series of legal hearings and permit processes, two wind turbines are now under construction west of Luverne.
See the related story reviewing business activity through the decade.