From parched to drenched
Harvest is in full swing for much of Rock County this week, marking the final stretch of what’s arguably been a challenging growing season.
Highway 75 project proceeds (almost) on schedule
Contractors have been given a five-day extension on completion deadlines due to September’s frequent rainy weather.
H-BC School Board Candidates share priorities
There are five candidates seeking election to four open seats on the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board.
The Loft after-school program helps kids find community
Starting at 3:20 p.m. on the dot, the quiet halls of First Presbyterian Church in Luverne start to fill with the noise of children.
Luverne preliminary levy set to rise 7.12%
Luverne City Council members are proposing a 7.12% levy increase for taxes payable in 2027.
Adrian reporter to contribute to Star Herald
The Rock County Star Herald is expanding its coverage area east toward Adrian, and Deb Kroon will be the face of those stories for the Star Herald news team.
News
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 18, 2024Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members approved hiring a director for the planned day care inside the new elementary school currently under construction in Beaver Creek. The director will work with Superintendent Todd Holthaus to develop programming and oversee the hiring and training of staff for the facility’s planned opening in September 2025. “Large parts have to get planned out yet,”…
December 18, 2024Hardwick Community Club members hosted a memorable Santa Claus Day in the community hall Saturday afternoon with Mr. Twister (aka Bob Anderson of Sioux Falls). Participants enjoyed sugar cookies and a glass of milk, made crafts, and posed for free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The annual event brightened up a foggy day with temperatures around 32 degrees.- By Lori SorensonDecember 18, 2024Beaver Creek City Council members certified their 2025 budget and levy during their Dec. 10 meeting. The levy was set at $160,496 for taxes payable in 2025. That’s a 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 expenses affecting Beaver…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 18, 2024Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge was honored at the 2024 Minnesota Sheriff’s Association conference Dec. 10 in Alexandria. He received the MSA President’s Award, which is given to a person who has “given unselfishly themselves, their time, effort and experience, serving on many (MSA) committees and projects.” Outgoing MSA President and Renville County Sheriff Scott Hable said Verbrugge stood…
December 18, 2024The Beaver Creek Firemen’s Auxiliary hosted a Santa Claus event Saturday in the Beaver Creek City Building where Kyle Knobloch donned a red suit and played the role of Jolly Old St. Nick. Families were encouraged to join the event to let Santa know what they wanted for Christmas and to pose for photographs.
December 16, 2024EXCLUSIVE Star Media interview with Santa and Mrs. Claus just days ahead of Christmas! Santa and Mrs. Claus took a few minutes out of their busy schedule to visit with Rick Peterson. Tune in to hear some inside information about the North Pole! https://youtu.be/Gr9KhFDX23I?si=V-HR8xDVVfRItiKS
December 11, 2024Seventeen children from the Luverne Spotlight Dancers joined the 35-member Youth Dance Ensemble, based in the Twin Cities, for two performances of the “Nutcracker Story” Friday and Saturday in the performing arts center in Luverne. The story is about a girl named Clara who receives a nutcracker as a Christmas gift and dreams it comes to life and battles a Mouse King, who eventually takes her on a…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 11, 2024Rock County residents seeking mental health services will have one less option beginning Jan. 1. The Southwestern Mental Health Center (SWMH) office in Luverne will close to the public. “As of Jan. 1, 2025, we will no longer have an open clinic providing services located in Rock County,” said SWMH Executive Director Luke Comeau. “But we will continue to serve the counties of Cottonwood,…
By Lori SorensonDecember 11, 2024A new child care director started Nov. 25 at Luverne’s Kids Rock! Child Care Center that will open next spring. Sara Robinson comes to Luverne from Tea, South Dakota, where she was directing a child care center she opened several years ago. “I am so very excited to be a part of opening and running a phenomenal family-oriented learning environment/home away from home for the children and staff…- By Lori SorensonDecember 11, 2024The Walgrave family provided a construction update on the “world’s tallest nutcracker” Monday during the Luverne Area Chamber annual meeting. Groundbreaking was in the fall of 2023 and an 8-foot-tall concrete pedestal was built to anchor the 65-foot-tall nutcracker that will tower 73 feet in the air. In September, the boots — each one 14 feet tall and more than 1,300 pounds, were delivered and…
By Lori SorensonDecember 11, 2024Members of the Women’s Giving Circle in Luverne handed out more than $24,000 to local charity Monday night for their 2024 “Celebration of Grants” at the Take 16 Event Center. Treasurer Emily Crabtree of the Luverne Area Community Foundation emceed the event, which she described as a celebration of the group’s first year of presenting grants. “We’re going to put $24,000 into Rock County in the…
December 11, 2024Hundreds of people celebrated the annual Winterfest weekend in Luverne Friday through Sunday. Among other events over the weekend, the annual Winterfest Expo attracted dozens of vendors with unique items and foods for sale, and Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted families for photographs and to hear Christmas wish lists.
By Mavis FodnessDecember 11, 2024Nine years after it was purchased at a local car auction, the former Hardwick American Legion Post 478 limousine has found another home. Since its sale in June 2015, the 1938 Buick has been stored at the Okoboji Classic Cars warehouse in Iowa. Business owner Toby Shine purchased the converted former hearse for $4,000. At that time Shine intended to restore the car, but he never got around to…
December 11, 2024Lots of holiday excitement was generated Friday morning during the annual puppet show presented by Rock County Library staff as part of Winter Fest weekend in Luverne. “Mysterious Christmas” is another locally written production by former library staffers Glenda Bremer and Barb Verhey. The story featured returning puppet show favorites Mrs. Butler the Librarian, the three little pigs and Santa…
By Mavis FodnessDecember 11, 2024For their performance at the First Tech Challenge in Prior Lake, Minnesota, Nov. 23, members representing the Luverne High School robotics team earned the “motivate” award. Team members include Zander Carbonneau, Janica Oechsle, Elizabeth Mulder, Xavier McKenzie, Will Hoffman, Chase Matthiesen and Owen Stephenson. Overall, the team finished the playoffs as the fourth-team overall. The motivate…
December 11, 2024The Wilmont VFW and VFW Auxiliary recently announced Luverne High School winners of the VFW Scholarship contest “Voice of Democracy: Is America Today Our Forefathers’ Vision?” for grades nine through 12. Winners are Madison Schepel, Asher Barron and Autumn Bailey. Promoted and sponsored at the local Wilmont VFW and Auxiliary, all three students received certificates and cash prizes. First-…
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