LHS competes in world robotics
The Luverne High School robotics team earned a Judges Choice Award at last week’s FIRST Robotic Competition World.
Sled hockey comes to Blue Mound Ice Arena
The Siouxland Sled Hockey Association brought on-ice practice to the Blue Mound Ice Arena in Luverne for the first time April 7 in honor of their newest member.
For the love of running: Locals excel in marathons
Blake Ziegler, a 2014 Luverne High School grad, ran the prestigious Boston Marathon on April 15, finishing in 2:43:47.
4-Her's try to pick up where volunteer George Bonnema left off
Members of the Magnolia Juniors 4-H Club spent time Thursday night, April 18, raking leaves, picking up branches and remembering community volunteer George Bonnema.
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.
News
- By Lori SorensonJanuary 01, 2020A good way to measure growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction. Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled numbers for 2019, when he issued 169 permits valued at $22.7 million. Of those, four were single-family home construction valued at $959,253. Major projects permitted in 2019 were the Premium Minnesota Pork remodel at $4.2 million (of the $31…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2019The Luverne Area Chamber tracks local business and commerce and shared the following account of business activity over the past decade. New businesses in 2010 •Pierce Financial Services •Elegant Events •HGS Gallery •Kids Zone (second-hand) Closed businesses in 2010 •Furniture House •Gabe’s Clothing & Shoes •Family Dollar •Brown Church Antiques Ownership changes 2010 •Joel and Maggie…
- December 30, 2019The city of Luverne recently negotiated a new three-year contract with labor unions, and as part of its year-end resolutions approved wage increases for 2020, 2021 and 2022. The pay plan, effective Jan. 1, will be adjusted to a 3.5 percent increase for 2020, a 3.25 percent increase for 2021, and a 3.25 percent increase for 2022. Non-union, administrative and department head salaries for 2020 will…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2019Luverne City Council members approved a 9.41-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2020, according to action taken at their Tuesday night meeting. The $2.1 million levy is about $180,300 more than the current levy and includes $32,334 in debt financing for the recent $14 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Without that, the increase would have been 7.72 percent to cover the $1.9…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2019Beaver Creek City Council members approved a $126,342 levy for taxes payable in 2020. This represents a $146 increase over the current levy, a move that prompted significant discussion at the council’s year-end meeting. The goal was to approve a budget that required no levy increase; however, council members were faced with more than $6,000 in expenses over revenues. Line by line, they looked for…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2019Luverne City Council members made their final payment in December for utility improvements on the former Sharkee’s and Mert’s Welding property. H&W Contracting, Sioux Falls, has been working on utility improvements at the intersection of Highway 75 and Hatting Street. This project installed water and sewer throughout the area between Highway 75 and Freeman Avenue to the east. The work is…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2019As Rock County puts another decade in the review mirror, it’s helpful to reflect on major events — accomplishments, tragedies and community efforts that affected local residents and shaped their behaviors and leadership policies going into the next decade. It’s cliché to talk about weather in Minnesota, but in the case of recent history, it’s fair to say extreme weather events had a major impact…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 29, 2019As 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…
- December 22, 2019Weather conditions were just right Thursday morning, Dec. 5, in rural Rock County for hoarfrost to form on trees and other vegetation, resulting in art-like scenery, as the Ellis & Eastern train makes its way to Luverne. Temperatures were mild during the past week with daytime temperatures in the 20s and 30s with lows in the upper teens and low 20s.
- By Lori SorensonDecember 22, 2019Several properties were demolished in recent weeks as part of Luverne’s continued effort to remove blight and encourage redevelopment. The city purchased three properties this summer — two on Maple Street and one on South Highway 75 — and they were razed in the past couple of weeks. Purchase prices of the three properties totaled $65,000 and demolition costs averaged $5,000 per structure. They…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 22, 2019Luverne Elementary’s 517 students are learning some obedience skills this month through a special instructor. Ally is a 7-year-old golden retriever/Labrador mix and is an approved therapy dog for the school. Her owner, elementary counselor Marie Atkinson-Smeins, spent months certifying her through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Ally officially joined the staff this…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 22, 2019Art Aadland, Valley Springs, South Dakota, travels the country building and repairing organs, and one of his projects this year has been to service and repair the Palace Theatre organ. The 1926 Smith-Geneva is the oldest working theater organ of its make and model in the United States, and Aadland is determined to improve its sound while protecting its historic integrity. The instrument’s system…
- By Lori SorensonDecember 22, 2019Brenda Winter and DJ Luethje took their popular “Marlene and Darlene” act to the Palace Theatre stage Sunday as a fundraiser for the Generations building project. The two comedy shows, one at 2 and one at 7, attracted a total of more than 450 people and donations are still coming in for the new Generations meeting space and dining center to be built west of the current facility. Winter and…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 22, 2019The last of six wind turbine blades were escorted through Luverne Dec. 23 on their way to the Rock County Wind Fuel project west of town. The blades, 180 feet in length, were transported by a semitrailer with special blade holding apparatus to the site 2 1/2 miles west of Luverne on County Road 4. The wind fuel project is a joint effort between Gevo Inc. and Juhl Energy Development of Chanhassen…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 22, 2019Kinley Leuthold wore a bright blue sweatshirt Thursday, Dec. 19, with the phrase “Winning is my Business” written across the front. Ironically it was her second-grade classmates who were “winning” when Leuthold shared Rauk’s pizza with her 26 classmates at Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary in Beaver Creek. In three months Leuthold accumulated 300 Patriot PRIDE points, which are awarded for positive…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 22, 2019State 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…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.