By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
Members of New Vision and Crystal Valley cooperatives voted against a proposed merger of the two companies.
Results of the vote were announced Oct. 2.
Exact voting numbers were not released.
New Vision needed two-thirds of its 2,200 members to approve the unification vote.
Crystal Valley needed a simple majority of its 2,700 members for the merger to go forward.
Both cooperatives will…
October 09, 2024
The Rock County Pheasants Forever chapter hosted its 40th annual banquet Thursday night at Big Top Tents and Events in Luverne. By many measures, local chapter members reported a record evening with over 250 in attendance and record receipts from fundraising and donations. Dan LaRock emceed the event which included live and silent auctions, games and kids’ raffles. According to information shared…
By Lori Sorenson
October 09, 2024
The Kid’s Rock Inc. nonprofit board has reopened the hiring process for an executive director after Dina Brown left Luverne for a family need in New York.
Board president Emily Crabtree said the turn of events was disappointing, but she said Brown had accomplished a great deal in the short amount of time she served as director.
“Dina has helped us administratively get many parts of our services…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
Three candidates are seeking election to two open seats on the Magnolia City Council in the Nov. 5 general election.
Robert Somnis filed for re-election to his seat on the council, and Mary Smook is not seeking re-election. Newcomers Justin DeGroot and Sam German Vasquez are also seeking election to the four-year seats on the council.
The Star Herald asked each candidate three questions,…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
Three candidates are seeking election to two open seats on the Hills City Council in the Nov. 5 general elections.
Both seats are four-year terms.
Current council member Ross Metzger is not seeking re-election.
Council member Alan Leenderts, who is filling the unexpired term of Stacen Burgers, is also not seeking election to the council.
Filing for the council positions are Joseph Streeter,…
By Lori Sorenson
October 09, 2024
Beaver Creek City Council members approved their preliminary 2025 budget and levy during their Sept. 10 meeting.
The proposed levy was set at $160,496 for taxes payable in 2025. That’s an 9.6-percent increase over the current levy of $146,342.
The amount will help bridge the gap between Beaver Creek’s revenues of $147,157 and its expenses of $307,653 in 2025.
A new fire truck is one of the…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
Hills-Beaver Creek School District’s levy will decrease .37 percent in 2025, according to action school board members took Sept. 23.
In the preliminary setting of the 2025 levy, the state-tabulated amount will total $4.010 million, down $15,080 from the prior year.
The state earmarks three areas — general fund, debt service and community service — for which the H-BC district can use the local…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office recently passed the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) audit, a compliance review that takes place every five years.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge praised his staff at the Sept. 17 County Board meeting, where a copy of the passed review notification was viewed.
“We have a pretty good crew that makes sure that the training is updated,” he…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
At Monday night’s Homecoming coronation ceremony at Hills-Beaver Creek, Emma Deelstra and Lukas Hubbard were selected to reign over Homecoming as queen and king.
Completing the Homecoming royalty court are seniors Gracie Fagerness, Bailey Spykerboer, Harli Rozeboom, Cameron Allen, Gate Lacey and Talon Steensma.
Class attendants include freshmen AnnMarie Wiersema and Garrett Blank, sophomores…
October 09, 2024
Adam Holmstrom, a University of South Dakota, Vermillion, physical therapy student, presented to local pickleball players Monday morning with Jobi Colwell, clinical instructor and physical therapist at Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
They visited local teams playing at the new National Guard Readiness Center in Luverne Monday morning to offer physical therapy tips.
Holmstrom said proper warmups…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
The Rock County Star Herald hosted a livestreamed and recorded candidate forum Wednesday, Sept. 25, from the new Star Media studio.
The forum featured candidates vying for election to mayor and city council — in both the north and south wards.
Isaac DeBoer is challenging incumbent Pat Baustian for election as mayor, and Josh Gangestad is challenging incumbent Dan Nath for election to the North…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
More than 70 Luverne residents attended Monday night’s “town hall meeting” in the Generations building to learn more about the mysterious yellow-brown substance that’s been staining their properties.
Mostly they were hoping to hear a source had been identified and action would be taken to stop the problem.
About halfway through the meeting, however, it became clear the investigation was still…
October 02, 2024
The first student council-organized “ABC” parade drew 53 Luverne High School students who drove “Anything But Cars” in the inaugural event Friday morning from the Luverne Ice Arena north on Donaldson Street to the school campus. Motorcycles were the most common ABC mode of transportation. Other modes included tractors, scooters, golf carts and even a race car, a bulldozer and a dump truck.
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Student council president Jackson Gacke was a sixth-grade student when Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School was named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School.
At a special morning assembly Thursday, Sept. 26, he helped his fellow students celebrate the secondary school’s recent distinction as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
“Here at H-BC we have amazing students who all have different talents,…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Commissioners approved a preliminary levy increase of 5.44 percent at their Sept. 17 meeting.
The increase would add $383,300 to the existing levy for a total of $7.46 million in local property taxes in 2025.
Commissioners will approve the final levy amount in December. By statute the amount could decrease, but it can’t be more than the preliminary amount.
The $382,300 increase would cover the…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
Students and staff at Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School wrapped up September’s Suicide Prevention Month and kicked off October’s Anti-Bullying Month with a special assembly and schoolwide activity led by the student council.
Students made new 988 signs (the crisis text number) and put together a paper chain created with messages about how to be part of creating positive changes in people…