Locals travel to path of totality to view 2024 eclipse
The highly anticipated 2024 total eclipse of the sun occurred Monday, April 8, across North America, and several groups of Rock County residents traveled to experience the once-in-a-lifetime ev
Students perform 'Legally Blonde The Musical'
When the LHS production of “Legally Blonde, the Musical” opens next week for six evening performances, audiences will be surprised at what they see.
Roeman retires from 38-plus years with county FSA
Stacey Roemen celebrated her retirement from 38 years with the Rock County Farm Service Agency Saturday night at Take 16, which was crowded with family, friends and well-wishers.
Thone wins spelling bee C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P
Twenty-three of the best spellers in southwest Minnesota participated Saturday morning in the 2024 SW MN Spelling Bee hosted at the Luverne Middle School.
History Center to host April 18 celebration
The Rock County History Center’s construction project is complete, and staff and volunteers are hosting a celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18.
Palisade Lutheran Church celebrates 150 years of worship
Palisade Lutheran Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary Sunday, April 14, at the corner of Minnesota Highway 23 and 121st Street (County Road 5).
News
- April 07, 2020Windows around the community are turning into personal expressions of cheer and Easter greetings amid coronavirus shelter-in-place orders. Luverne Area Chamber staff built on this enthusiasm last week by encouraging more positive decorations and social media shares. “Decorate your garage door, the front door of your business or your home,” said Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere. “We are…
- April 07, 2020Brenda Latten donned an Easter Bunny costume Monday to raise money for the Rock County Emergency Food Shelf. Waiving at passersby from Casey’s convenience store on Highway 75, she attracted enough attention to raise more than $100 for the food shelf while also spreading cheer in the community.
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020Confirmed cases of coronavirus are showing up in communities closer and closer to Rock County, the latest in Lyon County Tuesday and increasing numbers (28) in Minnehaha County just 30 miles to the west. Testing capacity is limited, so numbers aren’t telling the whole story. That’s why public health officials tell communities to assume the virus is circulating and to continue social distancing.…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020While most local businesses are losing revenue due to coronavirus measures, Sunshine Foods and Blue Mound Liquor are struggling to keep up with demand. “It’s been busier than ever,” said liquor store cashier Christi Wilson. “I haven’t seen a madness like this since the holidays. People are just afraid the liquor store might close.” Liquor store manager Kenny Rolling compared sales receipts from…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Gevo Inc., which operates Agri-Energy in Luverne, announced Friday it will cease operations at the biofuel production plant. The close was effective Friday and terminates the employment of 27 workers. “We will resume production once the economy is up and running again,” said Gevo spokesperson Heather Manuel. “This virus is just detrimental to business.” Gevo officials are currently…
- March 31, 2020Firefighters and first responders from the Luverne Volunteer Fire Department and Rock County Ambulance formed an eight-vehicle “parade” Sunday afternoon as they drove through each neighborhood with sirens, lights and smiles during the 90-minute ride. The event was intended to brighten everyone’s day, according to fire chief Dave Van Batavia. Sunday marked Day 2 of Minnesota’s 14-day shelter-in-…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Patrons entering the Luverne Ace Hardware store often inquire about the business’ newest “worker,” a year-old black-and-white cat named Ace. In the month since Ace joined the 14 employees at the store, manager Kevin Mick has noticed customers — men, women and all the kids — ask a variation of the same question: Where’s Ace? “The best thing for a lot of us is … she’s a stress reliever,”…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Luverne Elementary second-grader Isley Smith celebrated her eighth birthday with an unusual party Wednesday, March 25, by receiving birthday wishes curbside at her home on West Dodge Street. Parents Andrea and Michael Smith originally planned to take Isley and her friends to a bowling alley for a birthday party. But these plans were canceled by shelter-in-place orders to slow the spread of the…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020The coronavirus pandemic and its social distancing measures have made the grief process more painful for those who have lost loved ones, according to local funeral home directors. “It’s preventing friends and family from grieving properly because of the lack of fellowship and support from the community,” said Dan Dingmann. “It limits the effectiveness of the positive social benefit of a public…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Luverne’s seven school board members gathered via videoconference for their regular March 26 meeting using the Zoom application. Superintendent Craig Oftedahl and board chairperson Jody Bosch originated the meeting at the district office with the other six board members at remote locations. Nineteen staff members joined the online meeting. The district closed March 16 per state…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020Area residents are looking for ways to help friends and neighbors who are affected by coronavirus hardships, and the Luverne Area Community Foundation is matching dollars to causes. “COVID-19 will affect our community in more ways than we realize, and this will act as disaster relief funding to allow us to step in and fill a need,” said LACF director Emily Crabtree. Specifically, LACF set up a “…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Rock County employees are conducting their usual business in very unusual ways under the governor’s shelter-in-place directive that began at midnight Friday. No county layoffs are planned as each department provides “critical services” as defined by the state. Commissioners approved the plan Monday morning in special session via videoconference. Because each county department…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 31, 2020Monday marked the first day of distance learning for area school district students who are sheltering at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Students last attended classes in Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school districts on March 16. All Minnesota schools were closed by March 18, and since then teachers and staff have been working on the most effective methods to instruct students…
- By Lori SorensonMarch 31, 2020Local law enforcement was involved in a standoff with a Luverne resident for several hours Monday night before the ordeal ended without incident. The Rock County Sheriff's Office was called to 123 North Estey at about 5:20 for a welfare check on Douglas Randall Schmidt. Law Enforcement was advised that Schmidt was intoxicated and that weapons may be involved. When officers arrived, Schmidt…
- March 31, 2020Luverne school staff assembled 500 sack breakfasts and lunches for students who have been sheltering at home since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last week the “lunch ladies” posted a social media message to students reaching out to them with a greeting that read, “Hi, kids, from the Lunch Ladies.” Pictured from left are Cathy Mulder, Holly Barber, Laurie Hunter, Donna Vahey, Pat…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorMarch 30, 2020Local law enforcement was involved in a standoff with a Luverne resident for several hours Monday night before the ordeal ended without incident. The Rock County Sheriff's Office was called to 123 North Estey at about 5:20 for a welfare check on Douglas Randall Schmidt. Law Enforcement was advised that Schmidt was intoxicated and that weapons may be involved. When officers arrived, Schmidt…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.