By Mavis Fodness
April 24, 2024
Commissioners approved a $200,000 allocation at their April 16 meeting to close out the $1.8 million received through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The final check was written to the city of Luverne.
The payment fulfilled the county’s pledge total of $450,000 toward the remodel of the former Total Card Inc. building on Roundwind Drive in Luverne.
In February commissioners…
April 24, 2024
Rock County Star Herald and Announcer production manager Heather Johnson earned a first-place award from the Midwest Free Community Papers Association for an advertisement she created to promote the Midwest Classified Network.
This year the contest called for designers to create an ad to promote their own publications using their own data and statistics while also incorporating the MFCP logo.…
April 24, 2024
Three teachers from the Luverne Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program attended the Minnesota Association for Family and Early Education conference April 10-12 in St. Cloud.
Angie Janiszeski, Amy Chapa and local ECFE director and parent educator Lisa Nath attended the conference, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of ECFE in Minnesota.
The Luverne ECFE program is celebrating 45…
April 17, 2024
The Minnesota Department of Transportation invites the public to attend an open house in Luverne on Tuesday, April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Trailhead, 601 E. Main Street, to learn about the Highway 75 project through Luverne, which is planned for 2026 construction.
There is no formal presentation planned, and attendees are welcome to arrive anytime. Staff from MnDOT will be available to share…
April 17, 2024
The highly anticipated 2024 total eclipse of the sun occurred Monday, April 8, across North America, and several groups of Rock County residents traveled to experience the once-in-a-lifetime event.
Among them were Luverne residents Jim and Heather Johnson and their family who traveled to Indiana, as did Luverne brothers Knute and Gunnar Oldre.
Lori Sorenson and her four sisters, originally from…
By Mavis Fodness
April 17, 2024
When the LHS production of “Legally Blonde, the Musical” opens next week for six evening performances, audiences will be surprised at what they see.
“Not to give too much away, but this show has pushed LHS theater to grow in all aspects of the stage — from set designs to music,” said director Shawn Kinsinger. “This show has broadened the capabilities of what these students can do. It’s been…
By Lori Sorenson
April 17, 2024
Stacey Roemen celebrated her retirement from 38 years with the Rock County Farm Service Agency Saturday night at Take 16, which was crowded with family, friends and well-wishers.
“I could not have asked for a better night,” she said Monday. “It has been a pleasure and honor to work for the best farmers in the county and to work with such awesome people. It doesn’t seem possible that it has been…
By Lori Sorenson
April 17, 2024
The criminal vehicular homicide case involving Lucas Strassburg of Kenneth is scheduled to go to trial this summer, according to documents filed in Rock County District Court.
Strassburg, who turned 37 on April 15, is accused of driving the pickup that struck and killed 76-year-old William Krotzer, Luverne.
Strassburg allegedly fled the scene after striking Krotzer, whose body was found around…
By Mavis Fodness
April 17, 2024
In Rock County, ag land and residential values either didn’t change or increased 4 to 12 percent for the 2025 proposed tax assessments.
That’s according to Rock County Land Records Director Rachel Jacobs who summarized her office’s findings at the April 2 County Board meeting.
Last week marked the first of 17 Board of Appeal and Equalization meetings, which allow property owners an official…
By Mavis Fodness
April 17, 2024
Rock County joins 26 other Minnesota counties with at least one known rabies diagnosis in the past year.
A pregnant cow tested positive for rabies on March 20 after a local veterinarian suspected the cow was infected with the virus, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
On March 14 a livestock farmer contacted the veterinarian after observing that one of his late-term pregnant cows…
By Lori Sorenson
April 17, 2024
At their April 9 meeting, Luverne City Council members approved emergency services contracts with the townships of Clinton, Kanaranzi, Luverne, Magnolia, Mound and Springwater.
The signed contracts have been received from the area townships that are included in the Emergency Services Contract with the Luverne Fire Department.
The new contract sets the fee for 2024 at $616.18 per section for a…
April 17, 2024
Prairie Rose Minnesota Community Fund grants and scholarships of more than $39,000 were awarded from 2024 disbursements from the Enel Co. $40,000 annual contribution.
The Community Fund board of directors met recently to conduct the annual disbursement of student scholarships and organization grants.
Five scholarships totaling $4,250 were awarded to area students. Recipients were Madison Purdin…
By Mavis Fodness
April 17, 2024
A weather-event damaged house was razed by the city of Hardwick after the home owner failed to comply with the city’s nuisance ordinance.
Homeowner Nicole Halverson was issued a raze order in October 2023 to made the necessary repairs at 207 First St. East within 45 days.
Six months after issuing the order, the single-story home was demolished Monday per the city’s order and the lot leveled.…
April 17, 2024
Seniors: Grace Anderson, Lanae Elbers, Sylvia Fick, Alexis Gardner Swenson, Madison Gaugler, Taylor Gehrke, Kyler Hartz, Aiden Kerkhove-Brandt, Sadie Kessler, Tahliya Kruger, Ty Leuthold, Joshua Lohr, Brynn Rauk, Justin Roelfs, Larissa Steinhoff, Avril Susie, Logan Susie, Riley Tatge, Joylynn Taubert.
Juniors: Beau Bakken, Gracie Fagerness, Jackson Gacke, Lukas Hubbard, Blake Leenderts, Michael…
April 17, 2024
Luverne A Honor Roll
3rd Quarter
Seniors: Morgan Ahrendt, Tyler Arends, Tucker Banck, Alexsis Berg, Kayla Bloemendaal, Hailey Boll, Abby Boltjes, Kai Buss, Cassandra Chesley, Jenna DeBates, Gavin DeBeer, Elliot Domagala, Kenedee Franken, Elle Halverson, Henry Hartquist, Roselynn Hartshorn, Uriel Hernandez, Julia Hoogland, Kira John, Patrick Kroski, Emma Lusty, Jacob Madison, Rayann Remme, Tyler…
By Mavis Fodness
April 17, 2024
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) hosted a “Pages by the Poolside” event last week in celebration of two milestones.
Luverne ECFE is celebrating its 45-year anniversary, having begun in 1979, and April 8-12 was Week of the Young Child.
This year is also the 50th anniversary for the Minnesota ECFE program.
“Pages by the Poolside” invited children ages 0-5 to listen to stories read by the…