Public forum addresses city charter amendment question on Nov. 3 ballot
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
County proposed tax levy to increase 5% instead of 7.46%
After initially looking at a tax levy increase of 7.46% for 2027, the Rock County Board of Commissioners has reduced the proposed tax levy amount to increase 5%.
Merc to receive EDA grant for facade improvements
The Luverne Economic Development Authority approved a $15,904 façade improvement grant for Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT) for work on The Merc.
Generations celebrates 56 years, honors Neva Claussen
Generations celebrated its 56th anniversary on Sept. 12 with an open house, which included recognition for Neva Claussen who served the organization for 35 years.
Public forum to address city charter amendment
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
Meals on Wheels faces funding shortage
A recent funding reduction has forced southwest Minnesota’s local Meals on Wheels program to scale back its services, prioritizing those with the highest needs.
News
- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 22, 2025Hills City Council members certified the 2025 levy at their Dec. 10 meeting for taxes payable in 2025. The levy was set at $147,191, which is a 1.82-percent increase over the 2024 levy. The additional $2,630 in the 2025 budget will offset increased fees for the city assessor and auditor as well as the insurance on city-owned properties. No public comment was received during the Dec. 10 truth…
January 22, 2025After Mayor Pat Baustian (right) was sworn in for his new term, he in turn swore in the incoming council members Mert Kracht (left) and Dan Nath at the start of the Tuesday, Jan. 14, Luverne city council meeting. Kracht is new to the council, replacing Scott Viessman, who didn’t seek reelection to the South Ward seat. Nath represents Luverne’s North Ward. The Jan. 14 meeting was the first…
January 22, 2025The Luverne Fire Department was called to a hog barn fire at 8:11 a.m. Tuesday along County Road 9 about three miles east of Luverne in Magnolia Township. The firefighters spent the morning extinguishing the fire including the use of an excavator to tear open portions of the building to reach remote areas, fire chief Dave Van Batavia said.
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 22, 2025Two Luverne High School seniors are taking action to help their community. Madilyn Wenzel and Mallie Fick are members of the LHS Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter. They are organizing their first STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event as part of the FCCLA program. The two are organizing a “Hygiene Drive,” where they’ve set a goal of collecting 250…- January 22, 2025The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to announce its 2025 Scholarship Program, which will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to high school juniors. The Scholarship Program is designed to heighten awareness among young people about Minnesota’s grassroots township government. All students currently enrolled in 11th grade and attending a Minnesota public, private, or parochial…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 22, 2025Winners have been announced for the Fall Luverne Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau Landscape and Nature Photography Contest. “Special thanks to everyone who submitted photos for the contest,” said Chamber Director Kenzi Klein. “We have many talented photographers that submitted photos.” Winning photos include Deb Vis’s “Frosty Morning,” Ian Sandager’s “Sunset Haul,” Jayda Walgrave’s “…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 15, 2025Gabrielle (Luethje) Bullerman took a ride of a lifetime Tuesday morning when she was picked up at the Luverne airport by a Black Hawk helicopter. Bullerman, 29, is a staff sergeant with the Minnesota Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion based in Bloomington. She works out of the Luverne Readiness Center. The helicopter brought Bullerman to the Twin Cities where she was greeted…- By Lori SorensonJanuary 15, 2025A good way to measure growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction. The city of Luverne issued fewer building permits in 2024 than in the prior year, but the permitted projects had a higher total valuation than the 2023 list. Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled a building report for 2024 that shows he issued 162 permits for projects, with…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 15, 2025A familiar face will lead the Hills-Beaver Creek School District child care facility when it opens in September. H-BC School Board members hired Tedra Voss of Hills at Monday night’s meeting. She’s an H-BC graduate who has worked as a paraprofessional at the elementary school and was coordinator for the Patriot Enrichment Afterschool Care (PEAC) program. “When I applied for the after-school…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 15, 2025Premium Minnesota Pork is putting up solar panels for electrical generation next to its hog processing facility on the west edge of Luverne. According to the permit filed in city offices, the $2.4 million construction project will result in 5,400 solar panels connected to two meters. The 2-megawatt PMP solar array, once online, will supplement plant operations, according to plant engineer Scott…- By Lori SorensonJanuary 15, 2025Luverne utility rates will increase in 2025 on the city’s rate schedule, plus more to make up for a drop in commercial demand for water and wastewater. Following a rate study in 2022, Luverne’s electric rates were set in 2023 to increase 6 percent every year for 2024, ’25 and ’26. Residential and commercial electric costs vary due to a number of factors, such as how much electricity is used…
- By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management AnalystJanuary 15, 2025The January USDA World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is often known as being a “market mover,” and the WASDE report released Jan. 10 did not disappoint. The USDA made significant downward adjustments to final 2024 corn and soybean production numbers, based on lowering the final 2024 national average corn yield by 2.1 percent and the average soybean yield by 1.9 percent. The…
By Mavis FodnessJanuary 15, 2025Members of the Luverne High School mock trial team are preparing for a special season as the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) celebrates its 40th anniversary. The MSBA organizes the two-month mock trial season and selects cases the students will develop in court. This year it’s an unusual case, according to first-year LHS mock trial adviser Megan Klumper. “Right away when the case was…
January 15, 2025Three Rock County groups recently received a total of $5,500 in Sioux Valley Energy Operation Round Up grants. •The City of Beaver Creek received $2,500 to expand its splash pad at the city park. •Carson’s Cause received $2,000 to purchase elementary school books to assist in normalizing brain health dialogue. •Generations Inc. Quilters received $1,000 to purchase batting and sewing supplies…
By Lori SorensonJanuary 08, 2025More than 50 people spent the first day of their new year outdoors Wednesday, Jan. 1, at the Blue Mounds State Park for the Minnesota DNR’s “First Day Hike,” which occurred at state parks across Minnesota. “It was great seeing participants on the trails ringing in the new year at Blue Mounds State Park with a hike,” said Blue Mounds State Park naturalist Tiffany Muellner. The group completed a…- By Mavis FodnessJanuary 08, 2025Rock County Commissioners approved a 5.5-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2025. The levy is set at $7.46 million, which is $385,600 more than the current levy of $7.07 million. Commissioners adopted the final levy Dec. 17, two weeks after the public truth in taxation hearing in which two people asked questions but did not affect the commissioners’ decision. “There wasn’t a lot of…
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