Public forum addresses city charter amendment question on Nov. 3 ballot
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
County proposed tax levy to increase 5% instead of 7.46%
After initially looking at a tax levy increase of 7.46% for 2027, the Rock County Board of Commissioners has reduced the proposed tax levy amount to increase 5%.
Merc to receive EDA grant for facade improvements
The Luverne Economic Development Authority approved a $15,904 façade improvement grant for Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT) for work on The Merc.
Generations celebrates 56 years, honors Neva Claussen
Generations celebrated its 56th anniversary on Sept. 12 with an open house, which included recognition for Neva Claussen who served the organization for 35 years.
Public forum to address city charter amendment
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
Meals on Wheels faces funding shortage
A recent funding reduction has forced southwest Minnesota’s local Meals on Wheels program to scale back its services, prioritizing those with the highest needs.
News
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 17, 2019Six Rock County 4-H’ers competed at the 2019 Minnesota State 4-H Horse Show Sept. 13-16 at the state fairgrounds in St. Paul in both individual and group events. Attending the four-day event were Ayden Bonnett, Lizzie Chapa, Kennedy Safar, Joni Vander Beek, Kallie Chapa and Gavin Johnson. As a group, Rock County achieved the ideal herdsmanship standards and was placed in a drawing for an…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 17, 2019Monday was a memorable first day of school for staff and students at Luverne Middle-High School. Some were challenged to find the correct classroom. Others were happy to have one. The school building is currently undergoing a $23 million renovation and won’t be finished until 2021. For the next year construction workers, students and educators will co-exist as the project progresses through the…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 17, 2019A change in the recycling market means more expense to taxpayers if they dispose of plastic bags in recycling bins. On Oct. 1 the county’s recycler, Millennium Recycling, will charge up to an additional $75 per ton if plastic bags are found among the other single-stream recyclable materials. Typically, recyclers place recyclable materials inside a plastic bag and toss the bag and the materials in…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 17, 2019A change in the recycling market means more expense to taxpayers if they dispose of plastic bags in recycling bins. On Oct. 1 the county’s recycler, Millennium Recycling, will charge up to an additional $75 per ton if plastic bags are found among the other single-stream recyclable materials. Typically, recyclers place recyclable materials inside a plastic bag and toss the bag and the materials in…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 17, 2019More than 30 architects, county officials, community leaders and military personnel spent four days in Luverne last week discussing the new Minnesota National Guard Readiness Center. The group wrapped up the predesign meetings Thursday morning, Sept. 12, with a finished concept. “Overall it went well,” said Paul Kempton, project manager with the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs. “We had…
- By Lori SorensonSeptember 17, 2019Severe thunderstorms caused wind and water damage last week in Rock County, uprooting trees and flooding roadways and properties. Travel was difficult Thursday morning after Wednesday’s 8-inch rainfall in Pipestone County sent floodwaters raging southward. The Rock River spilled into the city park, Redbird Field and nearby neighborhoods early Thursday morning. County Road 4 east of Luverne was…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 10, 2019After an eight-month delay to secure funding, a four-day design “charrette” began Monday for the new Luverne-Pipestone Minnesota National Guard Readiness Center. Construction on the $16.5 million facility in Luverne is now expected to begin in the fall of 2020 and take 18 months to complete. The predesign process began in mid-August and Monday’s meeting was the start of a four-day design…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 10, 2019A dozen new teachers will greet students Monday when Luverne Public Schools opens its doors for the 2019-20 school year. Canaan Petersen returns to Luverne Middle-High School as the new seventh-grade American history and 11th- and 12th-grade geography instructor. He is also the eighth-grade baseball coach. Petersen graduated from LHS in 2003 and went on to Augustana University in Sioux Falls,…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 10, 2019For more than a decade, one person filled the middle- and high-school principal position at Luverne Public Schools. When the district opens the doors Monday for the 2019-20 school year, the middle and high schools will each have a principal. Jason Phelps, a former teacher in the district, returned July 1 after a five-year absence to fill the role of middle school principal. He also assumes the…
- By Lori SorensonSeptember 10, 2019The Luverne Area Chamber Board of Directors honored Mike Cox as the 2018 Outstanding Chamber Member during an after-hours reception Monday in Sterling’s Café & Grille. The Chamber annually selects a local individual to honor with the award, which recognizes personal and professional contributions to the community. The award was developed in 2005 to honor retired persons who have modeled…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 10, 2019Linda Dummer was an avid supporter of the local arts, and one organization received a boost last week from the late Luverne resident. Dummer’s sister, Deb Harris, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, presented the Green Earth Players a check for $5,064 at the organization’s annual meeting Sept. 3. Harris’ husband, Terry, and their daughter, Emily, presented the certificate from the The Linda Dummer…
- By Mavis FodnessSeptember 10, 2019Darlene Dreessen said goodbye to 38 years of teaching last month, having never graduated past the kindergarten classroom. Her years in the classroom began to take shape long before she accepted her first job with Magnolia Public Schools. “I have always known I wanted to be a teacher,” Dreessen said. “As a young girl I played school with dolls.” Dreessen (nee Vos) grew up near Kenneth. Upon…
- September 10, 2019
- By Lori SorensonSeptember 10, 2019Luverne City Council members are anticipating a 9.41-percent levy increase for taxes payable in 2019, according to action taken at their Tuesday night meeting. The $2.1 million levy is about $180,300 more than the current levy and includes $32,334 in debt financing for the $14 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Without that, the increase would have been 7.72 percent to cover the $1.9…
- By Brenda WinterSeptember 10, 2019Rock County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve conditional use permits for the construction of two wind towers west of Luverne over the objections of neighboring property owners. John and Cathy Jarchow live northwest from the proposed wind towers in Luverne Township. They were represented at the county board meeting by attorney Carol Ann Overland of Red Wing. According to her…
- By Jason BerghorstSeptember 10, 2019For those without the time or desire to do laundry, Rock County Opportunities (RCO) can help. The RCO Laundry Service is a partnership with the Laundry Room, where owner Mike Jarchow has a large sign referring potential customers to the RCO drop-off and pick-up service. The laundry work began about a year ago, according to RCO Executive Director Elizabeth Schear. “The goal is twofold,” Schear…
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