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  • By Lori Sorenson
    January 29, 2019
    In general terms of mergers and acquisitions, the story of Exchange State Bank and Security Savings Bank is one-of-a-kind. For one thing, the name has changed — all locations are now known as Security Savings Bank. but the leadership has stayed the same. “We still have the Exchange State Bank leadership,” said Tim Plimpton, president and CEO of Security Savings Bank. “You still get to see Ryan (…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    Seniors Jadyn Anderson and Derek Lundgren were selected Monday as queen and king of the Luverne High School 2019 Snow Week. School counselor Amy Cook was mistress of ceremonies for the event that began in 2016. “One thing that makes Snow Week unique is that the royal court is selected by teachers,” she said. “Ten seniors were chosen as recognition for positive leadership in the classroom, in…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    A committee to study whether or not Rock County should form its own economic development authority is being formed. At their Jan. 22 meeting, commissioners approved the 11- to 15-member study committee which will have 90-days from its initial meeting to make recommendations. Goal of the county EDA is to attract more business and industry to lessen the burden on agriculture, said County…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    For the past six months, the seven-member Rock's Robotics team acted like a team of NASA scientists and engineers. They developed a virtual reality identity named SEBASTIAN, which stands for Space Entertainment Because Astronauts Should Talk In order to Avoid Neurosis. They constructed a robot called BURKE and programmed it to complete various tasks. It’s name stands for Broken Under Really…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    Area youth experienced the outdoors in the warmth of the classroom Thursday afternoon, Jan. 24, in the “Track Those Creatures” lesson offered through Luverne Community Education. Blue Mounds State Park Naturalist Amber Brooks brought the nature lesson indoors to life for the ten participants. Animal tracks were placed around the room for the students to identify the animal hoof or paw prints…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    Oaths and officer selections were the first items of business Thursday night, Jan. 24, for Luverne School Board’s first meeting of 2019. Board incumbents Katie Baustian, Eric Hartman and Jodi Bosch recited oaths of office administered by Superintendent Craig Oftedahl. They were re-elected to four-year terms last fall.  Reva Sehr was also re-elected to another term on the board. She was not at…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 29, 2019
    Hills-Beaver Creek Mock Trial teammates may soon be watching movies together in order to better present their case in court. The two H-BC Mock Trial teams competed against each other Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 23, in the Rock County Courthouse in Luverne. Presiding judge, Luverne attorney Ben Vander Kooi, suggested that the students watch one or both of the movies that were made from the cases.…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 15, 2019
    Nine fire departments battled a blaze Tuesday at the Ellsworth City Hall. Ray Palmer, who handles maintenance for the city, said he received a phone call around 6 a.m. from school bus driver Dan Huisman who said water was streaming out of city hall and down the street. Palmer said when he arrived he noticed flames inside the two-story brick structure. “I tried to get some stuff out,” Palmer said…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 15, 2019
    Willy Baker was sworn in as the new mayor of Hardwick Wednesday night, Jan. 9, in a ceremony that also returned a longtime Hardwick resident to the council. Gordon “Sam” Hansen served on the council twice before, almost 20 and 30 years ago respectively. He was elected to a new four-year term in November. “This city needs help,” he said after the meeting. “We now have a council to do it.” Hansen…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 15, 2019
    The Luverne High School production of the one-act play, “Golden Gone,” takes audience members on a journey between two states, inside a mental hospital and on a ride in a car. A free public performance is at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in the school auditorium. Sophomore Josie Golla leads the nine-member cast in the 35-minute performance. She portrays Aurelia, who was taken by her biological dad,…
  • January 15, 2019
    At the first Luverne City Council meeting of the year Jan. 8, Mayor Pat Baustian was sworn in for another two-year term, and Caroline Thorson and Kevin Aaker took the oaths of office for four more years on the City Council.
  • By Lori Sorenson
    January 15, 2019
    The Rock County Sheriff’s Office was involved in the arrest of a Brainerd woman who is allegedly connected with vehicle thefts in Hills and Adrian. According to information released Friday from Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, his office received a call around noon Thursday, Jan. 10, about a possible stolen vehicle from Hills.  Upon arrival, the deputy located a Buick Rendezvous that was stolen from Lyon…
  • January 15, 2019
    The Blue Mound Figure Skaters will host the Ice Crystal Classic 2019 Jan. 18-20 at the Blue Mound Ice Arena in Luverne. This is the local club’s largest competition to date with 105 skaters attending from nine different rinks (which includes local skaters) and 19 different coaches. Skating will begin with team events at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday skating begins at 8 a.m. and continues until 7:30…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    January 15, 2019
    More than 700 people trekked along candlelit trails in the Blue Mounds State Park Saturday night for the second annual Friends of the Blue Mounds State Park Candlelight Hike. The 2019 event drew more than double last year’s impressive count of 300-plus, and while parking was a challenge, park naturalist Amber Brooks said the crowds were welcomed. “Lots of extended families — grandma, grandpa,…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 15, 2019
    A Ruthton man died Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash that closed down State Highway 23 south of Jasper for several hours. According to information from the Minnesota State Patrol, Earl Dean Gruis, 67, was driving a 2014 Cadillac SRX southbound on Highway 23 just south of County Road 7 in Rock County when a 2013 Ford F250 driven by Kevin Jon Wheeler, 37, of Tea, South Dakota, crossed the…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    January 15, 2019
    For the past three decades, Rock County residents elected Don Klosterbuer as county attorney. For more than half of those years, Jeff Haubrich served as an assistant county attorney. On Monday, Jan. 7, the roles were reversed when District Judge Terry Vajgrt swore in Haubrich as the county’s first new county attorney in 32 years. “I don’t expect there to be much change,” Haubrich said. “I hope to…
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