Cowbells opens at Highway 75 and Main
Cowbells Quality Meats & Treats opened in Luverne this week at the corner of Main Street and Highway 75 in the building formerly occupied by Fareway Meat Market.
Renovation continues on 'The Merc' fundraising continues for nonprofit
Organizers and volunteers working to renovate the “Smith Mercantile” building downtown continue to raise money toward a goal of opening this year.
Luverne scales down to two principals
The Luverne School District will operate with two principals instead of three following the retirement of Elementary Principal Stacy Gillette on June 30.
'Hidden in Plain Sight' teaches parents, community how to spot drug use
Each item held up by Lt. Edison Dengler, a member of the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, looked like an everyday object – shaving cream, pens, hair brushes and more.
Luverne teachers, administration agree on new contract
Ten months after negotiations began, the Luverne School Board has reached an agreement with the teachers’ union, providing final approval during its meeting on May 28.
Buffalo Days set for this weekend in Luverne
One of the biggest events of the summer is coming to Luverne starting on June 4 as the community celebrates its annual Buffalo Days weekend.
News
By Nicole RonchettiMay 27, 2026Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members will conduct strategic planning this fall or early winter. At their May 11 meeting, they voted to bring in an expert from the Minnesota School Boards Association to guide the process. The fee for retaining MSBA’s strategic planning services is $6,950. During the board’s April 27 meeting, MSBA director of strategic planning Gail Gilman encouraged careful…
By Lori SorensonMay 27, 2026The scheduled demolition of the twin Jasper elevators shook homes and broke windows in nearby neighborhoods in town Wednesday, May 20. The explosion was heard as far away as Worthington and Sioux Falls, with reports of the loud boom and ground shaking up to 60 miles away. The explosive blasts were initially supposed to bring down both structures Wednesday morning around 8 a.m., but only one…
By Lori SorensonMay 27, 2026A rural Luverne family is displaced after a fire destroyed their home Friday night. The 911 call came in shortly after 8 p.m. of a house on fire at 1073 131st Street northwest of Luverne. The caller reported that smoke was visible coming out of the house which was unoccupied. The residents of the house, Jason and Shawna Brandt, are accepting donations via Venmo. “The amount of support is…
By Nicole RonchettiMay 27, 2026The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board voted against creating a wrestling team during its May 11 meeting, citing an expected deficit. H-BC currently has a wrestling club for elementary students, and there had been interest in extending that program to a junior varsity and eventually varsity team. However, after conducting a feasibility study that looked at participation and expected costs, the…
May 27, 2026The Hardwick American Legion Post 478 hosted Memorial Day services Monday morning at the Hardwick Veterans Memorial in Hardwick with guest speaker Ed Borchardt, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Hardwick. Boys Stater Charlie Mostad shared a patriotic reading and Madi Christensen sang a vocal solo.
May 27, 2026Stephanie Bass and Kristi Metzger have been recognized as the Hills- Beaver Creek Teacher of the Year and Friend of Education of the Year, respectively. Bass, who is an elementary school math teacher and student council advisor, was praised for her ability to balance high expectations of students and creating a supportive environment. “Clear routines and high expectations help students stay…
May 27, 2026Three Hills-Beaver Creek seniors are planning to pursue education as college degrees. Claire Knobloch, Mya Erickson and Hadley Spath received recognition for their career plans on Monday, May 11, at the H-BC secondary school. “Today we celebrate three incredible young women who have chosen a career that will truly make a difference in the world,” said H-BC teacher Stephanie Bass. “These girls…
May 27, 2026Seniors in Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek celebrated graduation last weekend, marking the start of a new chapter for the Class of 2026. Luverne held its graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 24, with 94 students receiving their diplomas. H-BC held its graduation ceremony on Friday, May 22, with 36 students receiving diplomas.
By Nicole RonchettiMay 22, 2026Since the start of 2026, use of Rock County GAP Fund has increased by over 200%, bringing affordable mental health care to county residents who otherwise might not be able to access it. Angela Nolz helped found the initiative in 2024 and updated Rock County Commissioners at their May 19 meeting about the project’s importance and its recent growth. “There are two reasons people don’t get…
May 22, 2026The City of Luverne has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability in 2025. The recognition comes from the American Public Power Association (APPA), a trade group that represents more than 2,000 non-for-profit, community-owned electric utiltiies. APPA helps electric utilities track power outage and restoration data through its subscription-based PowerTRX…
By Nicole RonchettiMay 22, 2026The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board voted against creating a wrestling team during its May 11 meeting, citing an expected deficit. H-BC currently has a wrestling club for its elementary students, and there had been intrerest in extending that program to a junior varsity and eventually varsity team. However, after conducting a feasibility study that looked at participation and expected costs,…
By Lori SorensonMay 20, 2026The historic chapel at Maplewood Cemetery is falling apart, and local fundraising is needed to save it. According to Maplewood Cemetery Board vice president Billy Cowell, an architect’s evaluation determined the chapel’s roof, foundation and siding need attention to the tune of roughly $700,000. “It all sounds kind of expensive, but it’s what you have to do for a historic building,” Cowell…
By Lori SorensonMay 20, 2026Rock County and southwest Minnesota received a welcome inch or more of rain Sunday, but some isolated areas also had storm damage. For example, the Verne Drive-In had major damage to heavy shipping containers that serve as rental storage and as the perimeter of the property south of Luverne on Highway 75. Drive-in owner Doug Rozeboom said the three of the shipping containers tipped over, and…
By Lori SorensonMay 20, 2026The city of Beaver Creek will observe the 250th anniversary of America’s independence with decorative banners that will be placed on light poles in the community. The banners were purchased through Main Street Designs, Champlin, for $55 each, and were offered to community members to sponsor in their families’ names. Beaver Creek has 24 “America 250” banners that will be placed downtown and…
May 20, 2026The Rock County Master Gardeners hosted their annual plant sale and “Spring Fling” block party Saturday morning in the Atlas and Redeemed Remnants parking lot. In addition to plant vendors and shoppers, the event included seed classes through the University of Minnesota Extension Office, Redeemed Remnants had special offers, a food and coffee truck and a Rock County Library plant book giveaway…
May 20, 2026Luverne enjoyed its first-ever entertainment wrestling event Saturday at The Lake in Luverne. “New Sound Wrestling, the Final Countdown to Summer Break,” was at the beach for free, thanks to sponsorship by Luverne businesses Herb ‘n Legend and High Fidelity Cannabis.
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