Hills 1921 time capsule contents revealed Saturday
Various handwritten documents and a half dozen newspapers were among the items extracted from the 1921 Hills High School time capsule Saturday morning.
Four fire departments compete in Hills Friendship Days Water Wars
The Hills Area Fire Department repeated as Water Wars champions Saturday afternoon, defeating five other volunteer firefighter teams for the title.
Students looked up to Hansen, who retires from teaching after 35 years
At 6 feet, 5 inches, Gordie Hansen was a center on the Luverne High School basketball team, an experience that brought the 1984 graduate back to his alma mater to teach for 35 years
Teaching provides purpose, support during Christensen's 25 years in classroom
Lots of tears were shed on the last day of the 2024-25 school year in third-grade teacher Pam Christensen’s classroom.
News
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025The Blue Mounds Baptist Church will lease space in the former Dragonfly building on East Main Street starting April 1. Pastor Jeremy Jacob, Luverne, is leading the new congregation as a “church plant” from East Side Baptist Church in Sioux Falls. “I prayed the Lord would give us a store front,” Jacob said. “That’s where the city is and that’s where the people are.” The church is leasing the…
By Lori SorensonMarch 19, 2025Hills cabinet shop owner Dennis Hartman and his son, Tim Hartman, want to operate a cannabis retail business in southwestern Rock County. They approached the Rock County Board of Commissioners last summer before the county had established its ordinance. Since then, they’ve met with Hills and Beaver Creek city officials and township boards in Martin and Beaver Creek townships. Some of the local…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025For the second year in a row, wind energy production taxes will exceed $1 million in Rock County. The five wind production farms will pay $1.062 million in 2025, about a $1,000 less than last year. The 165 turbines operating in the county generated 901,300 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. Walleye Wind, operating 39 turbines near Beaver Creek, will pay the most tax at $569,096 followed by…- By Sen. Bill WeberMarch 19, 2025Sen. Bill Weber, Luverne, Minnesota Senate, District 21 Congratulations to the Luverne High School boys’ hockey team on making the state tournement last week. Even though it was a tough loss, it was a tremendous honor to see our boys out there. Here’s a look at some of the bills I have introduced so far this year: •SF-164: This bill requires colleges and universities to have opioid…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025Remodeling at the Rock County Courthouse moved into new phases as work on previous floors has come to a standstill. Workers are now on the second floor (court administration) as remodeling efforts on the first floor (land records office) wait for ordered materials to arrive. The 1888 courthouse in Luverne is undergoing remodeling and/or a refreshing of furnishings project in phases.…- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow will host a community gala Friday night, March 21, to share information about current local initiatives. Jane Lanphere of the Luverne Chamber is helping to coordinate the event for LIFT. “We’re putting together a program we think people will be interested in,” she said. The gala at Big Top Event Center will start at 5 p.m. with a social hour. A Bluestem catered…
- By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025A staff shortage will reduce the number of days available to schedule driving exams in Rock County from four down to one beginning Monday, March 31. The once-a-month option will be in effect through June 30. In Rock County, examiners will be available only on the second Wednesday of each month in April, May and June. The same once-a-month reduction is also effective in Pipestone, Murray and…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025Demolition of the 100+-year-old former Hills-Beaver Creek High School began Tuesday morning. The 32,808-square-foot, three-story brick structure was last occupied by students in the fall of 2011, when the current secondary school opened for classes. DRC Inc. of Litchfield bid $448,000 for the demolition that began on the west side of the school. The attached Hug0 Goehle gym will be saved and…- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025A 2024 study lists Rock County as the second-best county to live in Minnesota, which is the No. 2 state in the nation for raising families. This is based on data about education, housing, recreation, affordability and other factors. According to the study by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, Rock County is the second-best county in Minnesota to raise a family, based on four criteria…
March 12, 2025Jen Wipf (center), owner of Rock River Apothecary, was awarded the first-ever Battle of the Beverages plaque and event hosted by the Luverne Area Chamber. Through the month of February, 16 businesses and organizations in Rock County offered a signature beverage for customers to try and vote as their favorite drink. Wipf’s featured drink was called the Electric Apple.- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025Mike and Cheryl Cox will receive more than $21,000 in city funds for a façade improvement project at their Main Street Financial Services Building at 212 E. Main Street in Luverne. At their Monday morning meeting, the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved an application by Mike & Cheryl Main Street Property LLC for funding to complete a facade improvement project. The total…
By Mavis FodnessMarch 12, 2025Ag lessons are a little more hands-on at Luverne Middle-High School, thanks to a donation by the Luverne American Legion Post 123 and the family of the late Al Willers. Legion member David Banck said the Willers family donated $500 toward a one-time scholarship. Instead of selecting one student as the recipient, Legion members decided to benefit an entire class. Ag teacher Travis Bullerman…
By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025Generations hosted 16 teams Saturday for its popular Puzzle Tournament, with three different categories and team configurations and two rounds of competition. Participants could enter 300-piece two-person teams, 500-piece three-person teams or 300-piece adult and youth teams. Winners were determined by who completed puzzles in the shortest amount of time. Austin and April Spronk won in the two…- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025A Luverne man is facing felony charges following a recent Rock County investigation into criminal sexual misconduct. Court documents state that 80-year-old R G Hensley, owner of the Cozy Rest Motel in Luverne, was charged with first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct for illegal acts that allegedly occurred repeatedly between 2007 and 2017. According to the complaint filed in Rock…
- March 12, 2025The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources State Climatology Office is seeking rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch diameter rain gauge. Participants submit their precipitation reports online. The data from backyard rain…
- March 12, 2025The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is now accepting applications for water storage grants to help make landscapes more resilient to severe weather events. Eligible applicants include soil and water conservation districts, watershed districts, municipalities, counties, tribal governments and joint powers organizations. The state is experiencing more frequent and intense…
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