By Lori Sorenson
October 09, 2024
Beaver Creek City Council members approved their preliminary 2025 budget and levy during their Sept. 10 meeting.
The proposed levy was set at $160,496 for taxes payable in 2025. That’s an 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…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
Hills-Beaver Creek School District’s levy will decrease .37 percent in 2025, according to action school board members took Sept. 23.
In the preliminary setting of the 2025 levy, the state-tabulated amount will total $4.010 million, down $15,080 from the prior year.
The state earmarks three areas — general fund, debt service and community service — for which the H-BC district can use the local…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office recently passed the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) audit, a compliance review that takes place every five years.
Sheriff Evan Verbrugge praised his staff at the Sept. 17 County Board meeting, where a copy of the passed review notification was viewed.
“We have a pretty good crew that makes sure that the training is updated,” he…
By Mavis Fodness
October 09, 2024
At Monday night’s Homecoming coronation ceremony at Hills-Beaver Creek, Emma Deelstra and Lukas Hubbard were selected to reign over Homecoming as queen and king.
Completing the Homecoming royalty court are seniors Gracie Fagerness, Bailey Spykerboer, Harli Rozeboom, Cameron Allen, Gate Lacey and Talon Steensma.
Class attendants include freshmen AnnMarie Wiersema and Garrett Blank, sophomores…
October 09, 2024
Adam Holmstrom, a University of South Dakota, Vermillion, physical therapy student, presented to local pickleball players Monday morning with Jobi Colwell, clinical instructor and physical therapist at Sanford Luverne Medical Center.
They visited local teams playing at the new National Guard Readiness Center in Luverne Monday morning to offer physical therapy tips.
Holmstrom said proper warmups…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
The Rock County Star Herald hosted a livestreamed and recorded candidate forum Wednesday, Sept. 25, from the new Star Media studio.
The forum featured candidates vying for election to mayor and city council — in both the north and south wards.
Isaac DeBoer is challenging incumbent Pat Baustian for election as mayor, and Josh Gangestad is challenging incumbent Dan Nath for election to the North…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
More than 70 Luverne residents attended Monday night’s “town hall meeting” in the Generations building to learn more about the mysterious yellow-brown substance that’s been staining their properties.
Mostly they were hoping to hear a source had been identified and action would be taken to stop the problem.
About halfway through the meeting, however, it became clear the investigation was still…
October 02, 2024
The first student council-organized “ABC” parade drew 53 Luverne High School students who drove “Anything But Cars” in the inaugural event Friday morning from the Luverne Ice Arena north on Donaldson Street to the school campus. Motorcycles were the most common ABC mode of transportation. Other modes included tractors, scooters, golf carts and even a race car, a bulldozer and a dump truck.
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Student council president Jackson Gacke was a sixth-grade student when Hills-Beaver Creek Elementary School was named a 2019 National Blue Ribbon School.
At a special morning assembly Thursday, Sept. 26, he helped his fellow students celebrate the secondary school’s recent distinction as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School.
“Here at H-BC we have amazing students who all have different talents,…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Commissioners approved a preliminary levy increase of 5.44 percent at their Sept. 17 meeting.
The increase would add $383,300 to the existing levy for a total of $7.46 million in local property taxes in 2025.
Commissioners will approve the final levy amount in December. By statute the amount could decrease, but it can’t be more than the preliminary amount.
The $382,300 increase would cover the…
By Lori Sorenson
October 02, 2024
Students and staff at Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School wrapped up September’s Suicide Prevention Month and kicked off October’s Anti-Bullying Month with a special assembly and schoolwide activity led by the student council.
Students made new 988 signs (the crisis text number) and put together a paper chain created with messages about how to be part of creating positive changes in people…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
One last community get-together occurred Saturday afternoon at Jacobson Park in Hills.
The Helping Build Communities Stronger (HBCS) community club members organized the event that included a Fall Festival with the fifth-annual Smoke Fest.
“We just wanted one more get-together before winter,” said HBCS president Joseph Streeter.
Eleven cooks entered the Chix ’n’ Chuck contest.
Derek Haak from…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Luverne School Board members approved the district’s preliminary levy for taxes payable in 2025 at their Sept. 26 meeting
The levy is set at $4.331 million, which is a $30,777 increase (.72 percent) over the current levy. This is the maximum amount allowed by the state formula.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl was pleased with the levy amount.
“We like to keep it plus or minus a percent or two so…
October 02, 2024
Correction
In the Sept. 26 Star Herald story, “Rock County ends contract with Southwestern Mental Health (again),” the proposed increased dollar amount for next year’s contract was incorrect.
The correct dollar amount should have been stated as $325,000 to $326,000 per year.
The amount translates to a possible $3,250 to $3,260 per person, based on the estimated 100 income eligible county…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Ten former students and educators of Luverne Public Schools were inducted into halls of fame Friday afternoon in a ceremony in the performing arts center.
Five former students are now the Luverne Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Inductees and their LHS graduating year are:
•Thomas Getman, 1959.
•Marvin “Whitey” Helling, 1941.
•Kevin Kessler, 1993.
•Gary Papik, 1969.
•Vonda Viland, 1984…
By Mavis Fodness
October 02, 2024
Hills-Beaver Creek Secondary School in Hills celebrates Oct. 7-11 as Homecoming Week.
“Home Sweet Homecoming” kicks off Monday with coronation at 7 p.m. in the school gym.
Queen candidates include Bailey Spykerboer, Emma Deelstra, Gracie Fagerness and Harli Rozeboom.
King candidates are Talon Steensma, Gate Lacey, Cameron Allen and Lukas Hubbard.
Seniors Gracie Wilhelmi and Beau Bakken are…