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  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 25, 2020
    Aug. 23 marked the end of a 10-year journey for Kevin Aaker and the start of a new path of serving people in a more spiritual way. “Deacon Kevin” and 10 others were ordained at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Winona in front of a smaller-than-usual group of friends and family members. Due to pandemic social distancing, church occupancy was limited to 250. Many parishioners and clergy, like…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 25, 2020
    Increasing coronavirus cases in Rock County are driving decisions for the fall learning setup in Luverne Schools for elementary and middle-high school students. Ninety-one percent of roughly 1,200 Luverne students indicated in a recent survey that they want to return to classes for in-person or hybrid learning, and school officials are considering these sentiments. Luverne Elementary will begin…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 25, 2020
    With the coronavirus still circulating within the community, Hills-Beaver Creek School District officials announced Monday school will open under a hybrid learning plan. It calls for in-person learning at the elementary and secondary schools with social distancing protocols implemented between staff and students. Face coverings on buses and in schools are required. H-BC school board members…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 25, 2020
    The water tower in Beaver Creek may be repainted next summer, and council members met Wednesday night with Chad Edwards of McGuire Iron to discuss details of the project. According to information he pitched to the council, the 50,000-gallon tank exterior would be repainted in 2021 at a cost of roughly $64,000. Included in that cost would be safety upgrades and replacing a navigation light at the…
  • August 25, 2020
    The Aug. 20 Star Herald story about candidates filing for election incorrectly stated that Doug Bos is stepping down from his position as Martin Township clerk. He does indeed intend to continue in his role as clerk, and the Star Herald regrets the error. Rock County Auditor Ashley Kurtz offers the following clarification for why the Secretary of State website listed the clerk’s position as open…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 25, 2020
    With 75 tractor “masks” in hand, organizers of the fifth annual Luverne Tractor Ride are ready for the Friday, Sept. 4 event. Special to the 2020 event is a white “facial” covering meant to be tied in front of tractors to recognize the coronavirus pandemic. Quality Printing, Luverne, came up with mask design that features a graphic of a tractor pulling a wagon and the words “Luverne 2020 Tractor…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 25, 2020
    Ellis & Eastern Railroad representatives thanked federal, state and local officials for public support during an Aug. 20 outdoor gathering in Magnolia. Many of the 50 in attendance were meeting each other face-to-face for the first time after working to secure a $14.4 million federal grant to improve 41 miles of the Buffalo Ridge Railroad. The BRRR runs through the southern third of Rock and…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 25, 2020
    Luverne Street Music reopened in June with some teachers and students, but this fall lessons will resume full time. Board president Janine Papik said Covid-19 processes are in place to allow instruction to safely take place in the pandemic. “Our board truly believes parents and students will be so ready to have some normalcy in their lives,” Papik said, “and these music lessons will be able to…
  • August 25, 2020
    The family of the late Henrietta Elbers recently presented a gift of $1,485 to Rock County Opportunities, Luverne. They presented the gift in memory of Henrietta, who they say loved working at RCO. “We are very appreciative of her recognition of RCO as a valuable part of the community,” RCO director Elizabeth Schear said. “On behalf of RCO board members, employees and all the people we serve, we…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 25, 2020
    The Rock County Relay for Life events and activities unfolded Thursday night in the Luverne City Park. Due to pandemic social distancing, it played out as a drive-through event where supporters could tune in on their car radios to hear speakers and music. As they circled the park in their vehicles, they could view the posters honoring survivors and in memory of those lost to cancer. Sunshine…
  • August 21, 2020
    The body of a missing woman from Marshall was found this morning in the Blue Mounds State Park, and authorities say it appears she took her own life. Sarah Hubler had been missing since Thursday morning when she failed to show up in Delavan to pick up her daughter. The Rock County Sheriff’s Department got involved last night in the search after Hubler’s cell phone pinged off the Magnolia tower…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 18, 2020
    Pandemic economic relief aid is helping businesses cover losses; however, Rock County Opportunities has been quietly bleeding revenue — over $200,000 with no government relief in sight. Until Friday. That’s when Gov. Tim Walz signed into law a bill that includes $30 million for disability service providers like RCO in Luverne. “The people most impacted by COVID-19 have been our most vulnerable…
  • By Jason Berghorst
    August 18, 2020
    “I came in quietly and I’m leaving quietly … just the way I like it.” That’s how Todd Mann described his retirement as lead custodian at Luverne Middle/High School. Mann is officially retiring this month after 35 years with the school district. He said his final year has been anything but typical, due to distance learning and the continuing construction project this summer. “It’s been different…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 18, 2020
    There’s a lot going on at Luverne’s Premium Minnesota Pork plant, which began processing hogs in the newly improved facility on the west edge of town. The first hogs showed up in June, and momentum slowly built to the current 1,400-head-per day production with 225 hourly employees. The target goal has been 2,500 hogs per day and 250 employees with a future goal of 4,500 per day and 450 employees…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    August 18, 2020
    The Hardwick city office and fire hall need structural improvements, and Denver Township has money to build one structure that could meet the needs of both entities. Denver Township and Hardwick City Council members met in special session Aug. 11 to consider building design and potential locations. “A multipurpose, energy-efficient building would benefit all of us,” said Hardwick City Clerk Tammy…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    August 18, 2020
    The Luverne Economic Development Authority unanimously approved a $100,000 gap financing loan to Grand Prairie Events in Luverne while the owners work with lenders to stay in business. If they don’t make it work, the LEDA will operate the facility as a publicly owned community facility. At Monday’s meeting, the LEDA director Holly Sammons discussed the circumstances surrounding Mike and Wanda…
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