Guilty plea entered in vehicular homicide case
Twenty-three-year-old Jayson Delfs, Hardwick, entered a guilty plea Monday morning in Rock County District Court to the charge of criminal vehicular homicide.
Murder case proceedings on hold
Legal proceedings for Luverne murder suspect Melvin Frazier are suspended following a Rule 20 motion that was granted in Rock County District Court Monday.
Administrator announces retirement
After 33 years on the job, Rock County Administrator Kyle Oldre officially submitted his notice of retirement during the Aug. 18 county board meeting.
Oldre’s final day of service will be Feb. 28, 2027.
Charter amendment measure advances
Luverne voters will be asked in the Nov. 3 general election if they support an amendment to change their city’s government charter.
Peterson wins election for county commissioner
Rick Peterson won the special election for Rock County’s District 3 and is set to join the county board of commissioners early next week.
PowerOn Midwest narrows routes
PowerOn Midwest has narrowed its preferred route for a proposed high-voltage transmission project, and one of its choices would cut through Rock County within one mile of the Blue Mounds State
News
- By Lori SorensonAugust 27, 2025Research shows that the odds of surviving a heart attack in a public place are 10 times greater in regions where thousands of ordinary citizens are trained in CPR. This form of bystander rescue is also applied in suicide prevention through QPR training — which teaches how to Question, Persuade and Refer to prevent a suicide. On Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 20, David Goehl-Manolis of the National…
- August 27, 2025SAIL classes in Beaver Creek SAIL classes are being offered every Monday and Thursday morning now until Oct. 23 at the First Presbyterian Church, 203 S. 3rd Street. Class leaders are A.C.E. Volunteers Nancy Lange and Pat Bender. There is no cost to attend these classes; however, donations will be accepted. For information or to register, contact Linda Wenzel, 507-283-5064. Blue Mounds…
August 27, 2025The city-owned parking lot at the corner of Main Street and Estey Street was milled off and resurfaced over the past two weeks, temporarily displacing dozens of motorists who use the lot daily. The contractor for the work was Duinink Inc. and the paving was done in conjunction with other local road projects. City crews completed striping last week.- By Lori SorensonAugust 27, 2025The Orthopedic Institute (OI) is opening an outreach clinic in Luverne through Freedom Family Clinic. “This expansion offers residents of Luverne and surrounding communities easier access to highly specialized orthopedic services without the need for long-distance travel,” a press release from OI announced Aug. 12. One year ago, certified nurse practitioner Jonathan Pap, a 20-year former…
By Lori SorensonAugust 27, 2025The Tuff Memorial Home in Hills recently achieved a rare five-star rating through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). A five-star rating signifies that the health care provider or facility has achieved the “highest level of quality and performance,” according to the CMS five-star quality rating system. And five-star ratings among nursing homes are relatively uncommon,…
August 27, 2025Traffic on South Highway 75 in Luverne was diverted this week for utility work at the railroad crossing near the carwash and Dollar General driveways. According to Ellis and Eastern manager Eric Berning, the work involved replacing the outdated crossing arms for improved visibility and technology. “The old system no longer had parts offered,” Berning said.
By Mavis FodnessAugust 27, 2025Two new teachers will join the Luverne Elementary School staff Tuesday when the district opens for the 2025-26 school year. Two resignations late last school year prompted district officials to replace existing staff after cutting five full-time teachers for the upcoming school year due to declining enrollment. While Hanna Walters and Ali Dinger are new to the Luverne district, they are not new…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 27, 2025Four new licensed staff will be in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District when the 2025-26 school year begins on Tuesday. Starting at H-BC in their first full-time positions as educators are Justine Sandbulte, Calvin Erickson, Taryn Rauk and Court Anderson. Justine Sandbulte is the school guidance counselor and school social worker. “I am eager for this new chapter,” she said. “I am looking…
August 27, 2025Roughly 650 people attended Saturday’s Ag Appreciation Night at Take 16 Brewing Company where they were treated to a free meal of burgers and pork and a free night of entertainment. The evening included inflatables for young families and music by Hills musician Allie LaRock (pictured on stage) as well as the Shirts and Skins, a five-piece variety pop/rock band out of Minneapolis. “We do this to…- By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management AnalystAugust 27, 2025August is typically the month of the year when we get the first producer survey yield estimates from USDA, as well as yield projections from major private forms. This yield data is gathered in different formats from producer survey and crop tours. There is not necessarily a method that has proven more accurate than any other, as all methods have some strengths as well as some limitations. As…
By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025A group of local leaders and donors have signed a purchase agreement on the historic downtown Power Fitness building with plans to renovate it for retail space. Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow (LIFT) is buying the 7,000-square-foot building from Brian and Ginger Beuning, Alexandria, who closed their business earlier this summer. It will reopen next spring as “Smith Mercantile,” a nod to the…
By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025The late Jim Brandenburg and his son, Anthony Brandenburg, were remembered Saturday during a community celebration of life in Luverne. The tribute started with an 8:30 a.m. walk on the waterfall trail at Touch the Sky Prairie and ended at the Palace Theatre where friends, family and colleagues reflected on the Brandenburgs’ lives. For the world-acclaimed nature photographer who captured images…- By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025Motorists in Luverne have encountered periodic delays from trains blocking intersections causing traffic backups. According to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, the trains are more of an inconvenience than a public safety concern. “They call us when they’re going to block intersections,” he said. “And we try to put it out (on social media) a little ahead of time.” He also said “perception…
- By Mavis FodnessAugust 20, 2025Magnolia is the second Rock County city to establish an urban-rural service district following an Aug. 15 public hearing. Magnolia City Council members unanimously supported the measure after a public hearing that no one from the public attended. Urban-rural service districts consider properties in city limits that are not benefiting from city services. In Magnolia, seven properties totaling…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025“Revel Kitchen and Cocktails” is one step closer to opening in the former Sterling’s building following the Aug. 12 Luverne City Council meeting. Restaurant owner Rick Thompson and restaurant manager Rich Rislov appeared in council chambers Tuesday night when the council approved the business’s liquor license. The liquor license takes effect Sept. 1 and expires Dec. 31, 2025. It will be…
By Jason BerghorstAugust 20, 2025Two young entrepreneurs have sold their local business to two even younger new owners. Marcus Vortherms and Adam Ask, both 2025 Luverne High School graduates, recently sold their Cardinal Moving business to incoming LHS juniors Coy Thone and Asher Barron. Cardinal Moving began in 2023 when Vortherms, Ask, Zach Overgaard and Marcos Diaz teamed up to begin the moving service as sophomores in…
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