World's largest nutcracker dedicated
The World’s Largest Nutcracker, “Verne,” was dedicated and named Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting celebration at the nutcracker’s base on South Highway 75 in Luverne.
'On Golden Pond' coming to Luverne's Palace Theater July 24
A classic play centered on the complex relationships of families, the realities of aging and finding acceptance and reconciliation is coming to the Palace Theater in Luverne.
What should we do about e-scooters?
Luverne recently launched a civic assembly group for residents to help shape local decisions about electric scooters.
Luverne's Bull Pen Sports Bar and Grill featured on America's Best Restaurants
The Bull Pen Sports Bar and Grill in Luverne will host national media and marketing company America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) for an on-site visit next month as part of an upcoming ABR Roadshow.
This young pro became a licensed operator at age 18
Ryker Johnson became one of Minnesota’s youngest wastewater operators when he earned his Class D license at age 18.
Wiener dogs highlight Luverne's Hot Dog Night
Dozens of wiener dogs and their proud human companions gathered in Luverne Thursday night for the 23rd annual Wiener Dog Races and 18th annual Wiener Dog Beauty Contest.
News
By Nicole RonchettiJuly 24, 2026Starting this fall, teachers and students in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District will have a new emergency response protocol, one that superintendent Todd Holthaus hopes will be simpler to understand and more versatile. For years, the school district has followed the ALICE model, which stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate. It’s primarily built for active shooter…
By Lori SorensonJuly 22, 2026The World’s Largest Nutcracker, “Verne,” was dedicated and named Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting celebration at the nutcracker’s base on South Highway 75 in Luverne. “Please welcome our newest Luverne resident, Verne the Patriot,” Katie Walgrave announced from atop the nutcracker’s 8-foot-tall pedestal next to Those Blasted Things, owned by the Walgrave family. “His name was a…
By Nicole RonchettiJuly 22, 2026A classic play centered on the complex relationships of families, the realities of aging and finding acceptance and reconciliation is coming to the Palace Theater in Luverne. The Green Earth Players community theater group will perform “On Golden Pond” starting Friday, July 24, with shows running for two weekends. The story follows Norman and Ethel Thayer, an elderly couple staying at their…
By Lori SorensonJuly 22, 2026Luverne recently launched a civic assembly group for residents to help shape local decisions about electric scooters. “The city has seen an uptick in the last few years of micronized vehicles, which would include e-scooters and electric bikes,” City Administrator Jill Wolf said at the July 14 council meeting. “There has been an issue with the speeds of these micronized vehicles, and there…
By Lori SorensonJuly 22, 2026The Bull Pen Sports Bar and Grill in Luverne will host national media and marketing company America’s Best Restaurants (ABR) for an on-site visit next month as part of an upcoming ABR Roadshow. America’s Best Restaurants spotlights independent, locally owned restaurants that make a positive impact on their communities. During the Aug. 17 visit, the ABR Roadshow team will highlight The…- July 22, 2026Once again, young people will be able to hunt deer with an adult in a number of state parks during several application-only special youth deer hunts. These hunts offer more individualized experiences in unique places, and often on different dates than the statewide youth deer season. Hunters need to know this year that lead-free ammunition will be required, without exception, in all special…
- July 22, 2026The Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) has announced four requests for proposals to serve older adults and caregivers. These awards are to assist those with the greatest economic need and those with the greatest social need within the Southwestern Minnesota 27-county planning and service area. MNRAAA, as the designated Area Agency on Aging for these counties, receives Federal…
July 22, 2026The Luverne Area Chamber announced the June winners for the Red, White and Blue decorating contest meant to honor America’s 250th anniversary. The business winner was the Rock County Star Herald, which features a red, white and blue birthday cake, hand crafted from lumber that was painted and embellished to look like a three-tiered cake. The Star Herald was recognized as the business winner of…
July 22, 2026Concrete pouring has continued in recent weeks on the Highway 75 reconstruction project in Luverne. The roadway has been closed since this spring from Main Street to James Street for work that includes underground infrastructure replacement for the city of Luverne. Workers are focused this summer on getting the road complete in front of the school campus before classes resume this fall. The…
July 22, 2026The community of Jasper hosted its annual Quartziter Days over the weekend with a parade, class reunions, family activities and a live band for a street dance.
By Ted J. Rulseh for Treatment Plant Operator Magazine, reprinted with permissionJuly 22, 2026Ryker Johnson became one of Minnesota’s youngest wastewater operators when he earned his Class D license at age 18. Working two summers at the clean-water plant in his hometown of Luverne inspired him to pursue the career. After high school, he headed off to college, but he came back when a full-time job opened up back home. “I already knew exactly what I wanted to do,” he says. “Those…
By By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026Dozens of wiener dogs and their proud human companions gathered in Luverne Thursday night for the 23rd annual Wiener Dog Races and 18th annual Wiener Dog Beauty Contest. The event has become a staple highlight of Luverne’s legendary Hot Dog Night, last week marking the 64th year of the signature “customer appreciation” hosted by local merchants. To mark America’s 250th birthday, many of the…
By By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026Luverne’s 64th annual Hot Dog Night unfolded in parking lots and side streets Thursday, July 9, due to the Highway 75 road construction detour on Main Street. Organizers said most of the 15,000 all-beef hotdogs were served up from the alternate locations, which included the city-owned lot south of Minnwest Bank. “Our business partners with storefronts on Main Street graciously agreed to group…
By By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026Saturday will be a big day for Luverne residents, volunteers and local leaders who have long held a vision for nutcracker tourism in the community. The World’s Largest Nutcracker will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 18, with a ribbon-cutting celebration at the nutcracker’s base on South Highway 75 in Luverne. The 65-foot-tall, Uncle Sam-themed structure stands on an 8-foot-tall concrete…
By By Nicole RonchettiJuly 15, 2026Social services and public health programs in Rock County, may be looking at a $2.1 million dollar funding shortfall, due to federal and state cost shifts. The Rock County Board of Commissioners learned how these shifts will affect local budgets during their July 7 meeting with Southwest Health and Human Services. Agency director Stacey Timm outlined the numbers and requested additional funding…
By Lori SorensonJuly 15, 2026The city of Beaver Creek is buying the former elementary school from the Hills-Beaver Creek School District for $1. And, according to the purchase agreement, the district is paying Beaver Creek $175,000 to offset demolition costs. Closing is set for July 29 and Aug. 3, at which point the city will disconnect water and electric utilities and barricade the doors ahead of demolition planned for…
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