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Luverne firefighter Tyler Lebrun (in red) assists Tyson Facile and Joe Juhl in suiting up to retrieve a deceased dog from the ice so that the black dog would come ashore at the Veterans Home Pond Tuesday. Shared Image

Faithful to the end ... dog alerts rescuers

Lori Sorenson

January 14, 2026

The Luverne Fire Department was called to rescue a dog from the ice at the Veterans Home Pond Tuesday morning.

The caller reported that the dog was sitting on the ice and wouldn’t come to shore when called. He was apparently waiting for another dog that was trapped under the ice and…

Weber won't seek re-election to Minnesota Senate this fall

Mavis Fodness

January 14, 2026

“I had originally said, in 2012, when I was elected, that I would serve eight to 10 years. This year will be my 14th,” he announced in a press release Tuesday.

Along with term limits, Weber cited the patience of his family (wife, Barb, their two children and three grandchildren) as he…

Building permits show growth in Luverne

Lori Sorenson

January 14, 2026

One way to measure a community’s growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction.

The city of Luverne issued fewer building permits in 2025 than in the prior year, but the permitted projects still represented a respectable list.

Luverne…

Rock County opts to be shotgun only, hearing set for Feb. 17

Mavis Fodness

January 14, 2026

Rock County will not follow state law allowing rifles to be used during the November deer hunting season.

Only shotguns will be permitted if commissioners adopt an ordinance opting out of the state law that went into effect Jan. 1.

A public hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday…

LHS begins mock trial 2026 season

Mavis Fodness

January 14, 2026

Student interest in mock trial remains strong at Luverne High School as the sole representative of southwest Minnesota competing during the 2026 season.

Luverne’s season opened Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Nobles County Courthouse in Worthington where the defense team took on Fairmont High…

Sports

Thomas (right) and Sydney Becker reveal a display case dedicated to coach Dan Smeins and his efforts in bringing hockey to Luverne. The case was dedicated Saturday, Jan. 10, in memory of Craig Becker and is hanging in the Blue Mound Ice Arena.

Luverne honors hockey roots

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

Luverne’s hockey program started 47 years ago with humble roots and grew into a strong school-sanctioned sport, thanks to coach Dan Smeins and others who saw his vision. On Saturday, Jan. 10, former players, coaches, friends and families gathered to commemorate the foundation laid by Smeins and…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCBBB1 H-BC senior Jacob Wallin drives the lane against Heron Lake Jan. 6 at home. The Patriots beat the Coyotes 76-35 in the game.

Patriot boys’ basketball team wins two games, remains undefeated at 10-0

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

The H-BC boys’ basketball team netted three road wins in the past week to remain undefeated for the season. The Patriots beat Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 76-35 Tuesday, Jan. 6. They took down Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 65-40 Friday, Jan. 9, and they beat Murray County Central 81-60 Monday, Jan. 12. The…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/LHSBBB3 LHS junior Coy Thone switches hands in midair for a basket against St. James Jan. 9. Luverne beat the Saints 56-53.

LHS boys net 56-52 win against St. James

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

The Luverne boys’ basketball team hung on to a slim lead to claim a 56-52 win against the St. James Saints Friday, Jan. 9, at home. In a game of back-and-forth runs the Cardinals were able to hold off a late push by the Saints to win by four points. The Cardinals started the game on a 10-point…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/LHSBHOC1 LHS senior Jaxon Lais and a Minnesota River player rush the puck as it heads toward the boards. Luverne beat the Bulldogs 7-3 Saturday, Jan. 10, in Luverne.

Boys’ hockey record lifts to 15-2

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

The Luverne boys’ hockey team netted two wins in the past week, improving their season record to 15-2. The Cardinals skated past Minnesota River 7-3 at home Saturday, Jan. 10, and iced the Windom Eagles 9-1 on the road Monday, Jan. 12. Luverne travel to Waseca Saturday, Jan. 17, and Fairmont…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/LHSGBB1 LHS junior Hannah Cowell drives past a St. James player on her way to the hoop Friday, Jan. 9, in Luverne. Luverne fell 78-53 in the game.

Cards go 1-1, rise to 8-5 season

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

The Luverne girls’ basketball team collected one win and one loss this past week. LHS fell 78-53 to St. James at home Friday, Jan. 9, and beat United South Central 66-50 in Wells Saturday, Jan. 10. The Cardinals sit at 8-5 for the season and were scheduled to play Fairmont Tuesday, Jan. 13. LHS…

Greg Hoogeveen photo/HBCGBB2 H-BC junior Ava Steinhoff muscles her way to the hoop against RRC at home Jan. 8. The Lady Pates won the game 79-19.

Lady Pates win two, improve to 11-1

Greg Hoogeveen, sports editor

January 14, 2026

The Patriot girls collected two conference wins and improved to 11-1 for the season in basketball action this past week. H-BC beat Red Rock Central 79-19 at home Thursday, Jan. 8, and took down Russell-Tyler-Ruthton 64-31 the following night on the road. H-BC was scheduled to play Southwest…

Columns

Workplaces are like families ... until a family member leaves

Lori Sorenson, editor

Many workplaces are like families. And the lucky ones are happy families.

It makes sense if you think about it — we often spend more time with our co-workers than we do with our own family members.

But, unlike real families, we don’t expect we’ll be with our co-workers for a…

January 14, 2026

'Aging solo' is here in the Year of the Horse

Mavis Fodness, reporter

Twenty-one percent of U.S. adults ages 50 and older (about 24 million people) now live alone.

They are “aging alone because they live without a spouse or partner or anyone else under the same roof,” according to an AARP magazine article I read from beginning to end, because I’m now one…

January 07, 2026

Good movie trumps seat beside slurping, popcorn-munching neighbor

Rick Peterson, General Manager

Mary and I aren’t what you would call moviegoers.

From our first date in 1976 and currently closing in on nearly 49 years of marriage in 2026, we have seen maybe four movies, and No. 4 happened on New Year’s Day.

We both had seen trailers of the movie “Song Sung Blue” and…

January 07, 2026

Can you hear me now?

Scott Rall, Outdoors Columnist

To some folks these two words are pretty scary. These two words are “silencers” and “suppressors.” To others they are just the common names for a firearm accessory. Suppressors or silencers were heavily regulated starting in 1934. This intense regulation was to prevent criminal and others of…

January 07, 2026

Obituaries

Henry Zwaan

January 14, 2026

Henry Dale Zwaan, age 84, of Luverne, was called home by the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. He was born on Sept. 13, 1941, by Doon, Iowa, and was the son of Nick and Bertha Zwaan. Henry grew up on a farm east of Doon, where he spent his life nurturing the land, embodying the spirit of hard work…

John Hartog

January 14, 2026

Funeral services for John Hartog, 89, West Plains, Missouri, were at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in the Rose Chapel at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home in West Plains, Missouri.

Mr. Hartog passed away at 5:10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at Brooke Haven Healthcare.

He was…

James Dahlberg

January 07, 2026

James Poole Dahlberg, 75, of Morehead, Kentucky, died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease at the Life Care Center on Dec. 28.

He was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1950, the second child of Donna (Poole) and Ernie Dahlberg, and grew up in Luverne, Minnesota. As a teenager he…

Henry Zwaan

January 07, 2026

Henry Dale Zwaan, age 84, of Luverne, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2025, at the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Home in Luverne.

A time of fellowship will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. A celebration of his life will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday…

Luverne honors hockey roots

Faithful to the end ... dog alerts rescuers

Patriot boys’ basketball team wins two games, remains undefeated at 10-0

LHS begins mock trial 2026 season

Luverne eighth-grader brings personal interest to FCCLA project

Park visitors enjoy First Day Hike on New Year's Day

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