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  • By Lori Sorenson
    September 29, 2020
    Local officials are assessing damages at Luverne’s Municipal Airport after a Wednesday night fire broke out in the main building. Fire crews were called to the scene shortly after 10 p.m. on Sept. 23 and arrived to find an active fire along the north wall of the airport office and shop building. Fire damage was contained to the office area and adjoining wall to the shop, but insurance adjusters…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    September 29, 2020
    Rural Ellsworth native Tyson Wessels, 42, was arrested Friday night in Yankton, South Dakota, after two days on the run from law enforcement. According to information from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Wessels escaped custody Tuesday during transport with another inmate from a court appearance in Turner County to the Minnehaha County Jail. Authorities say Wessels assaulted a Turner County…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    September 29, 2020
    Luverne City Council members took action at their Sept. 22 meeting to go ahead with the planned expansion and remodel of the pool and fitness center. The $4.8 million project, which includes an outdoor splash pad on the south side of the pool, could be completed in May of 2022 if all goes as planned. In addition to the splash pad, improvements will include: •new locker rooms. •four family…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 29, 2020
    Rock County Commissioners are proposing a 2.15-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2021. The proposed 2021 increase garners an additional $127,000 for a total levy of $6.3 million, or about half the county’s annual budget. Included in the 2021 budget is $79,000 earmarked for reserves. The amount would be the seventh straight year commissioners added to the reserve fund. “You’ve done a…
  • September 29, 2020
    It was one for the history books. Luverne's iconic Tri-State Band Festival this year played out in the form of a marching band clinic to a small audience of family members in the bleachers at Cardinal Field Saturday afternoon. The Luverne band — the only one to play — performed its “Moving On” routine in full marching form, but the pandemic made its mark on the legendary event, which…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    September 29, 2020
    The U.S. Air Force has awarded Kenneth native Justin Rust the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for Spring 2020. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization Meritorious Service Medal, approved by the North Atlantic Council, is awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been commended for providing exceptional or remarkable service to NATO. Chief Master Sergeant Rust earned the recognition for…
  • September 29, 2020
    Vander Pol Excavating out of Orange City, Iowa, has been laying concrete over the past several days on the Luverne Loop Trail near the city park. Phase 3 of the trail crosses East Main Street on the west side of the Rock River Bridge and follows the Redbird Field driveway and through green space between the backfield and the river. It will continue south and cross the railroad tracks and follow…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 29, 2020
    For the first time in school history, Hills-Beaver Creek Public Schools will operate an English Language Learner (ELL) program. Board members approved the estimated $35,000 expenditure from the general fund at their Sept. 14 meeting. “We haven’t had any students up until this year,” said Superintendent Todd Holthaus. “It’s money well-spent by the district.” With the program’s start, H-BC will be…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 29, 2020
    Story updated to correct the spelling of Terry and Holly Metzler's last name.   The Rock County Commissioners approved a couple’s request to repurchase their tax-forfeited property in the city of Hills. Terry and Holly Metzler submitted a written request to Ashley Kurtz at the auditor-treasurer office to repurchase the home at 125 S. Main Street in Hills. Kurtz brought the proposal to the…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 29, 2020
    Members of the Luverne High School Student Council were busy planning a pandemic-style Homecoming celebration when the Minnesota State High School League announced that school can conduct a modified football and volleyball season. Last week the council organized the selection of Homecoming royalty by the ninth- through 12th-graders before the return of the modified season. Homecoming Week will…
  • By Brennen Rupp
    September 22, 2020
    There was a splash of good news for high school athletes on the fall prep sports scene in Minnesota this week. On Monday, Sept. 21, the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors approved a motion to return football and volleyball to fall activities this season. With all the states surrounding Minnesota playing prep sports, the MSHSL board responded to pressure to bring football and…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 22, 2020
    Much of the Luverne High School Marching Band performance schedule is canceled, including this weekend’s Tri-State Band Festival. However, festival organizers have developed a special educational clinic for the 52 local students who will take the field at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, only 250 spectators will be seated — and spaced apart — in the bleachers for the event.…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    September 22, 2020
    Two downtown Luverne buildings will be improved with help from the city’s Historic Facade Improvement Program. At their Sept. 14 meeting, members of the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved funds for John Bowron’s building on East Lincoln Street and for Luverne Counseling LLC on West Main Street.   306 E. Lincoln Street Bowron, doing business as Prairie Heights Bison, submitted an…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 22, 2020
    Hardwick resident Travis Schoolmeester will have a portion of a $1,000 fine reduced if he continues efforts to clean up his property at 203 East Main Street. Hardwick City Council members unanimously agreed at their Sept. 9 meeting to waive additional fines and forgive all but $600 of the fine issued in late July. They acknowledged that Schoolmeester made a significant effort to comply with the…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 22, 2020
    In a medical emergency where life-saving chest compressions are needed, local first responders now have help from an automated device. The Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS) straps around the chest of a cardiac arrest patient to deliver compressions. First responders with the volunteer fire departments in Luverne, Hills, Magnolia, Beaver Creek and Hardwick each received LUCAS…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    September 22, 2020
    After two weeks of instruction, Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek public schools will continue with their current safe learning models, even as coronavirus positive case numbers continue to rise in the county. The Minnesota Department of Health released the 14-day case rate per 10,000 residents on Sept. 17. The rate is at 18.06, up from the previous 14-day case rate of 17. Each school’s incident…
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