Hills-Beaver Creek grad is guest Veterans Day speaker in Hills
Hills-Beaver Creek High School alumnus Wade Blomgren addressed students, staff and members of the public Monday morning as the keynote speaker for the annual H-BC Veterans Day Program.
'Little Shop of Horrors' takes Palace stage Nov. 14-16, 20-23
Green Earth Players (GEP) cast members admit their upcoming “Little Shop of Horrors” might be rated PG-13 compared with the family-friendly productions they typically
Energy companies host 'PowerOn Midwest' open house in Luverne Nov. 5
An open house Friday night at Generations in Luverne offered information for the community about a major transmission line planned in the region.
Blue Mounds to discontinue tipis as camping option due to cultural sensitivities
Tipis will no longer be a camping option at the Blue Mounds State Park after officials opted not to improve or replace the current ones that need maintenance.
News
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A.E. Innovation, the company that is purchasing Luverne’s ethanol plant, will host an open house and project launch on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The event will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the facility on South Walnut Avenue in Luverne. A brief presentation will be at 2:30 p.m. Speakers include AgriEnergy Innovations founder David Kolsrud, CapCO2 Solutions CEO Jeff Bonar and Methylennium Energy founder…- By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025If county officials followed the proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), costs would total more than $31 million. At a public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Rock County Commissioners will consider specific projects and projected costs. The hearing is intended to solicit input from citizens and other government units. Changes to the county’s proposed CIP will be…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025Following a public hearing on Aug. 5, the Luverne Planning Commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow a cannabis microbusiness retail facility at 1551 South Kniss Ave. Donavan Hakim and Justin Dunaskiss, Edmond, Oklahoma, requested the permit on behalf of their business, Prairie Sky Enterprises LLC. The business owners plan to operate the facility on subdivided…- By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A Luverne man appeared in Rock County District Court last week on charges of domestic abuse by strangulation, domestic assault and DWI — refusing to submit to chemical testing. The charges stem from two July 27 incidents in which law enforcement officers were called to 106 E. 4th Street in Hardwick for assault-related reports. The first one was at 12:42 a.m. when deputies responded to a call at…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A Luverne man is facing several charges after intentionally driving his car into the Rock County Law Enforcement Center last week. According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Gregory Carroll drove his 2003 black Lexus into the employee entrance of the building around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6. Following an encounter with law enforcement earlier in the day, Carroll…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025The four-member team of Jacki Johnson, Gabrielle Ferrell, Erin Hamann and Amanda McDonald took the first Spelling Bee championship title on July 30. The team called themselves “Give ’em Spell.” Thirty words were used to declare a winner among the five teams that participated. Sponsored by the Rock County Library, the Adult Spelling Bee organizers selected words from the Scripps National…
By Lori SorensonAugust 06, 2025Beaver Creek residents and visitors celebrated the community’s third annual Beaver Days over the weekend with perfect weather and high attendance. “We were very thankful for the beautiful weather,” said Mandy Conger, one of the volunteers with Helping Build Communities Stronger (HBCS) that organizes events in Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen. She said the Friday afternoon fun run attracted 26…- By Mavis FodnessAugust 06, 2025Commissioners spent four hours Tuesday interviewing four candidates who applied for the job of Rock County sheriff. They interviewed retired Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Matt Sorenson and Rock County Sheriff deputies Troy Wenzel, Jeff Stratton and Chad Kempema. The Rock County sheriff is an elected position, but current sheriff Evan Verbrugge is retiring before his current term expires Dec…
- By Jason BerghorstAugust 06, 2025Parents of children enrolled in the FamilyU child care program at Luverne Elementary School were notified last week that the program will close Oct. 15. Luverne Community Education Director Lisa J. Nath told parents in a July 29 letter that Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) would be withdrawing its support of FamilyU. “Due to the loss of our fiscal host, this program will be ending…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 06, 2025A production of “Peter Pan: A Musical Adventure” opens at the Palace Theatre in Luverne later this week and marks a rare summer production for the local Green Earth Players (GEP). Performances will be Friday-Sunday, Aug. 8-10. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7 p.m. with Sunday’s matinee at 2 p.m. “We had so many requests for a children’s show,” said director Sue Sandbulte. “We…- By Lori SorensonAugust 06, 2025When classes start this fall, three grade levels in Luverne Elementary School will have three sections of students instead of four, due to falling enrollment. “The numbers are dictating that we can no longer financially — feasibly afford to stay in four sections,” Superintendent Craig Oftedahl said last week. Typical class sizes in Luverne have been 80 to 90 students, but so far this year…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 06, 2025Madi Bos of Hills started “Wild Wonders” day care this week as the third provider in 18 months to occupy the city-owned child care facility that opened in January 2024. Bos decided in April to follow in her grandmother, Judy Ripley’s, footsteps of caring for children. “My grandmother did day care for 30 years,” Bos said. “I grew up in her day care, and then she’s kind of inspired me.” For…
By Lori SorensonAugust 06, 2025A highlight of the Beaver Days celebration Saturday morning was the opening of a Hills-Beaver Creek time capsule. Items were enclosed in a large plastic cylinder and buried in 1997 when the elementary school opened its new addition. After Saturday’s Beaver Days Parade ended near the elementary school, a small crowd gathered on the west lawn and sidewalk of the school. Hills-Beaver Creek…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 06, 2025Hills Christian School hosted a schoolyard celebration Monday afternoon in celebration of the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1949. Among the fellowship, bounce houses, ice cream, live DJ, touch-a-trucks and school tours were Albert and Frances Haak. “Hills Christian is important to us,” Frances said. “We have a lot of memories here.” The two met as middle school students in 1949.…
August 06, 2025Luverne Christian Reformed Church members Kevin Ashby (left) and Darwin Timmer replace shingles Thursday, July 31, on the 62-year-old Blue Mound Wayside Chapel north of Luverne along Highway 75. The chapel, which is visited almost daily according to the signatures in the guest book, provides those traveling through the area, as well as those who live in the area, a place to pray and worship. It…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 30, 2025The Rock County Fair wrapped up over the weekend following four days of jam-packed activities that included everything from 4-H livestock to Open Class entries to popular grandstand attractions. According to Rock County Fair Board President Lee Sells, the 2025 event was a success. “This year we had higher attendance at all of our grandstand events,” he said. “With it being a free fair we don’t…
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