Locals travel to path of totality to view 2024 eclipse
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 ev
Student perform 'Legally Blonde The Musical'
When the LHS production of “Legally Blonde, the Musical” opens next week for six evening performances, audiences will be surprised at what they see.
Roeman retires from 38-plus years with county FSA
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.
Thone wins spelling bee C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S-H-I-P
Twenty-three of the best spellers in southwest Minnesota participated Saturday morning in the 2024 SW MN Spelling Bee hosted at the Luverne Middle School.
History Center to host April 18 celebration
The Rock County History Center’s construction project is complete, and staff and volunteers are hosting a celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 18.
Palisade Lutheran Church celebrates 150 years of worship
Palisade Lutheran Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary Sunday, April 14, at the corner of Minnesota Highway 23 and 121st Street (County Road 5).
News
- By Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015Luverne High School marching band members performed a test run for their 2015 season at Saturday night's home football game. According to director Richard Owen, the performance was rough around the edges, considering about 20 band members were out with the football team and the group hadn't practiced in a week. "If people can come and see a competition when we have everyone…
- By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 24, 2015Tony Speltz, the only new teacher at Luverne Public Schools for the 2015-16 school year, knew before he graduated from Cotter High School in Winona that he was going to be a high school social studies teacher. Social studies, he explained, teaches students how to interact and collaborate with others, a life skill he wants to pass on to other students “By the time I was a senior, I wanted to pay…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015Casey Hoiland, who is starting second grade in Luverne Elementary, smiles for Lifetouch photographer Jessica Kodada Thursday evening, Aug. 20, in the elementary gym. His dad, Stuart Hoiland (left) observes as Donell Henckel helps to make him smile. Yearbook photographs were part of the district-wide open house for teachers, students and families to get acclimated to school and prepare for the…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 24, 2015Lloyd and Gladys Hemme’s farm west of Hardwick was recently named Rock County’s 82nd Century Farm. The Century Farm Program honors Minnesota farm families that have owned the land at least 100 years. A Century Farm must be at least 50 acres in size and currently involved in agricultural production. Since the program began in 1976, nearly 10,000 farms in the state have been recognized, with…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015Another property has been approved for the city of Luverne’s Residential Demolition Grant program. John Oksness applied for a grant through the program on behalf of the Edward Wehler Estate for the structures at 715 N. McKenzie. Oksness, who is administrator of the Wehler estate, told city officials the house and garage both show lack of repair and maintenance on the exterior, and the foundation…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 24, 2015Rock County Commissioners unanimously approved the conditional use permit for a retail semi-trailer sales dealership to build an office and operate a sales lot on South Highway 75. A July 27 public hearing drew property owners and residential neighbors near the site just south of I-90 on the east side of Highway 75. MSBD Partnership spokesperson Darv Habben from Albert Lea was unable to attend…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 24, 2015A company familiar with the county’s rock formations has been hired to bury 554 miles of fiber optic cable for the upcoming countywide broadband project. Three years ago Michel’s Corporation, headquartered in Brownsville, Wisconsin, buried the power cable and constructed the overhead electrical lines for the Prairie Rose Wind Farm in northwest Rock County. The project earned satisfactory reviews…
- By Mavis Fodness and Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015Not many private citizens know Angel Otero or have even heard of his name, but the public in general has benefited from his role in lining up workers for dozens of local public projects. On Friday Otero will be honored from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Prairie Justice Center in Worthington. He is retiring after 22 years as the community service supervisor with Nobles-Rock Community Corrections. Otero began…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 24, 2015The county’s library will officially undergo renovations after the Rock County Commissioners unanimously voted Aug. 18 to contribute $175,000 to the project. In May commissioners finalized $1.225 million in tax increment financing for the county’s share in the fiber optic project and earmarked funds for projects listed on their capital improvement plan. One of those projects was a library…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015Gevo Inc. and Butamax Advanced Biofuels have agreed to share patents and licensure on bio-based isobutanol, ending years of litigation between the two companies. The agreement, which creates a new development relationship between the two companies, means that isobutanol production will increase at the Luverne plant (formerly Agri-Energy Ethanol Plant). “We actually have been running IBA in…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 24, 2015The paving on Highway 75 in Luverne is wrapping up this week and the detour removed as the project nears completion. After a stretch of rainy days last week, however, road resurfacing did not get done in time to get the lanes restriped from four lanes to three before school started Monday. The lane project is part of an ongoing effort to improve pedestrian safety in front of the school campus.…
- August 17, 2015Lisa Fischer of Missouri River Energy presents a check for $43,712 to Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl (far left) and Luverne School Board Chair Dave Riphagen (far right) during the July 28 Luverne City Council meeting in Luverne City Hall. Also pictured is Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian (second from left). The school district recently replaced a 225-ton chiller with a 120-ton chiller and also…
- August 17, 2015An estimated 375 people attended Saturday’s annual Rock River Beer Fest in Luverne. The event, staged this year at the Blue Mound Ice Arena, attracted more than 30 vendors, including Luverne’s Take 16 Brewery, who shared more than 100 different profiles of craft beers. Beer Fest also featured live music, food from local restaurants and a winery, Round Lake Vineyards. The event was first staged…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 17, 2015Portions of the Luverne Middle/High School are a little brighter as a $494,000 summer renovation project is finished. School board members toured the progress Thursday night, Aug. 13, during their regular monthly meeting. Business manager Marlene Mann conducted the tour that included the media center, art rooms, auditorium, agricultural and industrial arts classrooms. Lighting was improved in…
- August 17, 2015The annual Cardinal Gold’n Bowl is set for Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Luverne Public School Football Field before the Luverne-vs.-Worthington football game. The Luverne Area Chamber will team up with Gold’n Plump and Glen’s Food Center to serve grilled chicken sandwiches with homemade toppings and chips. Meals cost $3. Serving begins at 5:30 p.m.; visit Cardinal Country for LHS clothing and gear.…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 17, 2015Brad Goembel is no stranger to city and rural residents in the Luverne School District. For 20 years Goembel was a driver at Ketterling Services Inc., Luverne, and through the years he grew familiar with local streets and addresses. On May 1 he put this route experience to use in his new position as Luverne School District’s transportation director. Now he is connecting faces to the residents he…
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