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  • By Mavis Fodness
    December 22, 2019
    State officials approved a request by Luverne School officials to increase the local 2020 levy an additional $200,000. The 5.94 percent increase brings the total amount from local property owners payable in 2020 to $4.08 million, up from the preliminary levy of $3.8 million approved in October. Business manager Marlene Mann outlined the 2020 budget at the district’s Truth In Taxation hearing Dec…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    December 22, 2019
    Debt refinancing is saving property owners in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District more than $110,000 in 2020 prompting a 7.8 percent decrease in the levy. The district will collect $1.352 million from taxpayers next year, down from $1.462 in 2019. The savings is a result of the Sept. 30 bond-refinancing sale that lowered interest rates from 4 percent to 2.1 for the next 16 years. “The board…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    December 22, 2019
    The Minnesota Board on Aging recently awarded a $72,900 grant to A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota to support its ongoing efforts to educate the public about dementia in its seven county service area. Linda Wenzel coordinates Rock County aging and volunteer services for A.C.E. and said the money will support the recently launched Dementia Network in Rock County. “We need to work together as a…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    December 22, 2019
    Luverne artist Jerry Deuschle hosted an informal artist reception Friday night at his studio for three of his students to showcase their work from the semester. Genna Rolfs, Katlyn Petronek and Rylee Gee completed an independent study course through Minnesota West Community College as a post-secondary education option. Deuschle teaches art for Minnesota West at the Jackson campus, but since the…
  • December 22, 2019
    Luverne Elementary School fifth-graders and their parents celebrated a book reveal Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the school commons. The 80 students worked for a month on four books collaboratively with reading teachers Amy VonHoltum and Travis Bullerman. They chose a theme, wrote individual stories based on the theme, edited the writing and added illustrations to form a book.
  • December 22, 2019
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently opened sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). through Feb. 28, 2020, while sign-up for continuous CRP is ongoing. Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive a yearly rental payment for voluntarily establishing long-term, resource-conserving covers, such as approved grasses or trees. The practice helps to control soil erosion, improve…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    December 17, 2019
    Despite a recent flurry of housing development in Luverne, studies show demand continues to outpace supply. New data shows a need for 267 more housing units through 2030, and more senior options could prompt turnover in existing mid-range homes that are in high demand. Luverne city leaders requested an update to their 2016 study that showed a need for 360 new housing units over 10 years. That…
  • December 17, 2019
    Hardwick Community Club kicked off the usual Santa Day activities Saturday by having Brent “Zoo Man” Mielke entertain children and adults gathered in the community hall for 90 minutes of holiday fun. Mielke (above) from Sleepy Eye brought laughs and smiles to the more than 125 people by asking if anyone would like to hold “Miss Universe,” a Honduran milk snake. After the 30-minute show that also…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    December 17, 2019
    Since purchasing the lot next door to their current senior dining site, Generations Building Team members have been working with architects on how to best use the new spaces. They approved drawings Monday, just in time for the Dec. 22 “Marlene and Darlene Present the Nutcracker,” which will be a fundraiser at the Palace Theatre for the $3 million building project. Falls Studio Architect Jeff…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    December 17, 2019
    Rep. Joe Schomacker, Luverne, spent a day in the shoes of a direct support professional last week working with clients at Rock County Opportunities. It was a “boots on the ground” opportunity for the local lawmaker to learn more about the organization, the staff and the adults with disabilities they serve. “To see them in action for the day rather than for a brief visit was valuable,” Schomacker…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    December 17, 2019
    Rock County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) directors extended 20 approved projects for completion in 2020 at their meeting Monday morning. The projects were slotted for completion this year, but weather prevented $340,000 of flood relief work from being completed through the Land Management Office. Twenty-two projects were finished in 2019, with LMO staff currently working on an…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    December 17, 2019
    Instead of hanging her holiday stockings by the chimney, Joan Heeren’s Christmas stockings cover an entire wall of her home on Northview Drive. Each of the 33 stockings represents a family member (including one dog) and provides visitors a small snapshot into Heeren’s family tree. Each 18-inch stocking was carefully cut from white felt and hand-decorated with beads and sequins featuring a holiday…
  • December 17, 2019
    Esther Frakes toured town with her camera Tuesday morning to capture the beauty of the frosted landscape, sunshine and blue skies.
  • December 17, 2019
    About a dozen people gathered at Take 16 Brewing Company in Luverne Thursday night, Dec. 12, to rip pages out of books under the watchful eye of Rock County Library Director Calla Jarvie. “It’s a good way for us to repurpose our discarded books,” Jarvie said about the recent book page wreath class. Yellow-tinged pages from aged dictionaries and 1970 romance novels were rolled, crumpled, stapled,…
  • December 17, 2019
    Due to the prolonged and extensive impacts of weather events this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline from Dec. 13 to Dec. 20 for producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage program and the Market Facilitation. “2019 has challenged the country’s ag sector —prevented or late planting followed by a delayed harvest has been further complicated by wet and cold…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    December 17, 2019
    Almost a month after a property tax payment was mailed at the Luverne post office, the letter was delivered to the Rock County Auditor-Treasurer Office in Luverne. Robert Stegenga of Luverne mailed the $40,903 check Nov. 13, but it didn’t reach the courthouse in time to meet the Nov. 15 deadline. “It sounds like it made the rounds,” said County Administrator Kyle Oldre. Stegenga faced a late…
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