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State grant to help city prepare for Luv Modular

Lori Sorenson

August 21, 2026

The city of Luverne has been approved for a grant through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) totaling $830,820.

The funds are awarded through DEED’s Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) Grant Program, which helps communities build…

Herb N' Legend receives grant for façade improvement

Lori Sorenson

August 21, 2026

At their Monday meeting, members of the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved a Facade Improvement Program application for the Herb N’ Legend building on East Main Street.

Business owners Terry Gray and Monty Hagedorn are planning a façade improvement for the storefront…

Guilty plea entered in vehicular homicide case

Lori Sorenson

August 19, 2026

Twenty-three-year-old Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, entered a guilty plea Monday morning in Rock County District Court to the charge of criminal vehicular homicide.

He admitted in a crowded courtroom that on March 27, 2025, he took the life of 47-year-old Grant Crawford, rural Jasper, when he…

Murder case proceedings on hold

Lori Sorenson

August 19, 2026

Legal proceedings for Luverne murder suspect Melvin Frazier are suspended following a Rule 20 motion that was granted in Rock County District Court Monday.

A Rule 20 evaluation is conducted by a court-appointed examiner to assess a defendant’s ability to understand the proceedings and…

Administrator announces retirement

Nicole Ronchetti

August 19, 2026

After 33 years on the job, Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre officially submitted his notice of retirement during the Aug. 18 county board meeting.

Oldre’s final day of service will be Feb. 28, 2027.

“After 33 wonderful years, making the decision to step away is truly…

Sports

Greg Hoogeveen photos/Redbirds1 Redbirds players run onto the field to celebrate after beating Jackson 12-2 in final game of the third place series. Ethan Beyer, No. 24, drove in the final run to seal Luverne’s spot in the 2026 MBA State Tournament.

Luverne Redbirds to compete in state tournament

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 19, 2026

The Luverne Redbirds edged their way past Jackson beating the Bulls 2-1 to collect their ticket to the 2026 Minnesota Baseball Association Class C State Tournament. Jackson took Game 1 outscoring the Redbirds 5-3 Aug. 12 in Luverne. Luverne tied the series 1-1 beating the Bulls 5-4 Aug. 14 in…

Greg Hoogeveen photos/LCCtourney Pete Connell raises his arm after his final put in the men’s club tournament Aug. 15. Connell won the championship with a with a 36-hole score of 148 in the two-day event.

Luverne Country Club crowns club champions

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 19, 2026

Steve Smedsrud, Pete Connell and Mary Jo Graphenteen were recently named 2026 Luverne Country Club Tournament champions. Smedsrud took top honors in the senior tournament Aug. 8 with an 18-hole score of 71. Greg Carroll came in second with a 76 followed by Adam Hansen and Darwin Elbers who tied…

Darius Dolo wins 2026 Cardinal Pride competition

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 19, 2026

Luverne High School senior Darius Dolo won the 2026 Cardinal Pride competition on the opening day of football practice Monday, Aug. 17. The Cardinal Pride competition is an eight-event challenge staged on the first morning of practice every season to test the physical abilities of each senior high…

Local race results posted for Aug. 14-15

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 19, 2026

Local racing results for Aug. 14-15 include the following information for drivers with ties to Rock County. Rapid Speedway - Rock Rapids, IA Aug. 14 Rain out Sportsman Overall points leaders to date 7th - Brandon Boeve – 974 9th - Eric Gaul – 783 12th - Larry Kracht – 486 13th -…

Redbirds catcher Braydon Ripka tags a Windom player attempting to slide home at Redbird Field in Game 2 of the three-game series Friday, Aug. 7. After winning the first game Luverne lost two games and the series 2-1 to the Windom Pirates.

Redbirds fall to Windom in Region 10C tournament

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

The Luverne Redbirds let a 1-0 series slip in Region 10C action to fall two games to one against Windom this past week. Luverne won Game 1 in the series 4-3 Aug. 5 in Windom. Windom came back and won Game 2 Aug. 7 in Luverne 15-0 and beat the Redbirds 9-3 in Windom Aug. 9. Windom won the series 2…

Three local youth baseball players get chance of a lifetime to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York with Southwest Minnesota Blaze team. Nolan Weber, left, Tyson Uithoven and Kyler Krzmarzick of Luverne reveled in the experience.

Three local sluggers get chance to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

August 12, 2026

Three Luverne youth baseball players got the chance of a lifetime to play at Cooperstown Dreams Park in Milford, N.Y., this summer. Tyson Uithoven, Nolan Weber and Kyler Krzmarzick were chosen to be part of the Southwest Minnesota Blaze 12u team this season. The Southwest Minnesota Blaze is a…

Columns

A battle for the ages

Nicole Ronchetti

I have a confession to make: I own too many houseplants. Not by my estimations, of course, but maybe by others.

The greenery brings me peace, as does the careful care each week of checking their water levels, their leaves and their health.

That’s why when I moved to Luverne I…

August 19, 2026

It never ends

Scott Rall, Outdoor Columnist

The summer is quickly fading into what looks to be a great fall hunting season. Even though it is several months away I still spend more time than I should wondering just how successful the pheasant hatch was.

In the meantime I continue my efforts to attack invasive trees in our public…

August 12, 2026

August is National Dog Month: 'Be the person your dog thinks you are'

Lori Sorenson

We said goodbye last month to our beloved Chance, who was such a good boy — the best of all good boys among dogs. And he made us better human beings after showing what true love, loyalty and devotion look like.

He lived to be nearly 15 years old, and we were lucky enough to become his…

August 12, 2026

Stopping for school buses: Reviewing recent changes to the law

Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol

Question: I saw your last article was about stopping. With school just around the corner, can you talk about stopping for the school bus?

Answer: I certainly can and with last year’s law change it’s a good reminder. Previously, the law required drivers…

August 12, 2026

Obituaries

Teunis Van Grootheest

August 19, 2026

Teunis “Tony” Van Grootheest, age 84, of Luverne, Minn., died on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.

Visitation was from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Funeral service was at 1:30 p.m.…

Brock Thielbar

August 19, 2026

Brock Raymond Thielbar, age 60, of Luverne, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, at his home.

Brock was born on Aug. 17, 1965, in Coon Rapids, Minn., to Jennifer and Richard Thielbar. At eight years old, he moved to the Hardwick area where he lived with his mother, his father Arlyn (Skinny)…

Randy Landhuis

August 19, 2026

Randy John Landhuis, age 77, of Leota, died Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne.

Visitation was from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Leota Community Church North Campus. Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Leota Community Church…

Enore Boelman

August 19, 2026

Enore Joan Boelman, age 95, of Luverne, Minn., died peacefully on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minn.

Visitation will be Sunday, Aug. 23, at Hartquist Funeral Home in Luverne. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, with visitation one hour…

Guilty plea entered in vehicular homicide case

Murder case proceedings on hold

Administrator announces retirement

Charter amendment measure advances

Luverne Redbirds to compete in state tournament

Luverne Country Club crowns club champions

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