Remember When

10 years ago (2015) •Mrs. Bergan’s second grade writers to Santa Dear Santa, I have been good this year by feeding Harly and Laisy. Please bring my mom a necklace because I love her. Love, Zander Fountain   Dear Santa, I have been good this year by feeding our guinea pig. Please bring Emery a play set because I think she will like it. Love, Jude Hoven   Dear Santa, I have been good…

10 years ago (2015) •Mrs. Rofshus’ second grade writers to Santa Dear Santa, This year I have been really good by being a nice girl. Please bring me an Anna dress (from “Frozen”) because I will look so pretty. Love, Kate Rolling   Dear Santa, I have been good this year by helping with my brother. Please bring my brother a new Lego set and a new skid loader because we want to help him.…

10 years ago (2015) •The Good Samaritan Society in Luverne opened its doors Thursday, Nov. 12, to the public and to the potential employees during a three-hour open house of its campus. Besides a closer look at the Society’s independent and assisted living facilities (The Oaks and Poplar Creek), visitors received a guided tour of the Mary Jane Brown Home’s newly renovated west wing. Cost of…

10 years ago (2015) •Ron McClure will be remembered in Rock County for his kind demeanor and compassion for humanity, especially during his years wearing a badge. McClure worked 33 years in law enforcement, 25 years in Rock County and 12 of those as sheriff in the county he grew up in. “I loved my job. I loved helping people,” McClure told the Star Herald in a Jan. 20, 2003, story about his…

10 years ago (2015) •Gary Papik has been named this year’s outstanding Chamber member. … “I was very surprised and it is really an honor,” Papik said about the Luverne Chamber award. With all the great people that have been awarded this honor before me, it’s great to be mentioned along with them.” The Outstanding Chamber Member recognizes individuals for business success and community…

10 years ago (2015) •The Luverne girls captured their first team title in school history at the Section 3A Cross Country Championships in Madison Thursday. The Cardinals turned in a 71-point effort to top a 20-team field. The Cardinals advance to the Minnesota State Class A Cross Country Championships at St. Olaf College in Northfield Saturday, where they compete for a state title at 1 p.m. Team…

10 years ago (2015) •Photographs from veterans and their families have been submitted from Luverne and throughout the United States to be displayed at the Carnegie Cultural Center during the month of October for the first-ever Veteran Photo Show. The show was developed to complement military photographer Stacy Pearsall’s Oct. 2 program, “Combat from Behind the Camera.” As part of her Veterans…

10 years ago (2015) •Before work begins on burying miles of fiber-optic cable, organizers want to know how many customers want the service in greater Rock County. For several weeks Alliance Communications Cooperative has been marketing the Internet, cable TV and/or telephone service by advertising in newspapers, on billboards and radio, through social media and by direct mail. Deadline to sign…

10 years ago (2015) •Motorists on Highway 75 in Luverne are adjusting to three lanes instead of four since the new system was striped last week. The new lanes, which are in effect for the full two-mile stretch through Luverne, accommodate one lane of traffic from each direction with a wide turn lane in the middle. Though it’s long been a subject of controversary among local residents and…

10 years ago (2015) •In the fall of 1965, Barb Bot was a young mother and wife of local pharmacist Al Bot. Multiple times a year, she would receive knocks at the door from individuals collecting for various local charities. She thought Luverne residents would benefit from only one annual fundraising campaign organized by a committee to decide who should benefit from the local donations, Fifty…

10 years ago (2015) •Just in time for Highway 75 construction to wrap up in Luverne, community leaders are making plans for a “four corners” facelift at the stoplights on Main and Highway 75. The plan calls for small trees and shrubs, grassy green spaces, colored concrete, Sioux quartzite boulders, lighted signage and the long-awaited flag park on the southeast corner. “The goal is to grab the…

10 years ago (2015) •Steps will be taken as soon as next week to stop bats from inhabiting the Rock County Courthouse. At their Sept. 8 meeting, Rock County Commissioners unanimously agreed to hire Prestige Services, Canby, to bat-proof the entire structure. Cost will be $34,500. The board’s action is in response to a Sept. 3 letter from Court Administrator Denise Brandel to County…

10 years ago (2015) •A Luverne manufacturing company has acquired recent business accolades for workplace satisfaction and sales records. According to Prairie Business Magazine, “Midwest Fire demonstrates a commitment to being great and understands employees are its greatest asset.” The magazine named the Luverne business to its list of 50 Best Places to Work, which is compiled through…

10 years ago (2015) •Rock County Broadband Alliance broke ground Tuesday on a $14 million project to bring high speed Internet service to rural Rock County residents. RCBA is a subsidiary of Alliance Communications Cooperative based in Garretson, South Dakota. The co-op received a $5 million state grant to expand its fiber-to-the-home service that served parts of western Rock County to the…

10 years ago (2015) •Lloyd and Gladys Hemme’s farm west of Hardwick was recently named Rock County’s 82nd Century Farm. The Century Farm Program honors Minnesota farm families that have owned the land at least 100 years. A Century Farm must be at least 50 acres in size and currently involved in agricultural production. Since the program began in 1976, nearly 10,000 farms in the state have been…

10 years ago (2015) •A small group of interested fishermen gathered around the Creamery Pond in Luverne Monday afternoon, Aug. 10, while two Minnesota Department of Natural Resource (DNR) officials crisscrossed in the former gravel pit looking for fish. “A lot of nice shiners,” shouted Ryan Doorenbos from the boat. Doorenbos is the area supervisor from the Windom area fisheries office. Along…