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 Mavis FodnessAugust 20, 2025The Hills City Council will appoint a council member to replace Cory Metzger, who submitted his resignation last month. At their Aug. 12 meeting, council members Vicki Busswitz, Joseph Sweeter and Dusty Seachris passed a resolution to appoint someone to fill the unexpired term at their Sept. 9 meeting. Metzger submitted his resignation July 11 due to the fact that he’s moving from Hills. “It…
- By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025At their August meeting members of the Luverne Economic Development Authority approved a $5,000 loan for a remodeling project at Rock River Apothecary. Business owner Jennifer Wipf opened the wellness store in March 2023 on Cedar Street across from (to the east of) Wildflowers Coffee. She’s a licensed hemp-derived products retailer, offering natural remedies, herbal tinctures and CBD-infused…
By Lori SorensonAugust 20, 2025Members of the Luverne Fire Department trained for grain bin rescues Monday night in a CHS bin in Luverne. They simulated the rescue of a person trapped in grain using specialized equipment designed for relieving the pressure of downward flowing that can suffocate a victim. Using grain bin rescue tubes, firefighters assembled panels in a circle around a “victim,” pounded them into the grain and…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 20, 2025Zander Carbonneau will spend his senior year on the other side of the world in a language program exchange with Russia. As his classmates begin classes at Luverne High School in early September, Carbonneau will be flying to Kyrgyzstan in central Asia as part of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program. For nine months he and nine other students chosen for the U.S.…
August 20, 2025The courtyard at Tuff Memorial Nursing Home was turned into a splash party Friday afternoon when the activity organizers invited the public to join residents by splashing in kiddie pools, a water table, a sprinkler in the grass and fun with chalk games. Fifteen kids ages one through seven joined residents in the annual event that began in 2022. The weather cooperated with some clouds but lots of…
August 20, 2025Minnwest Bank in Luverne, along with a match through the Federal Home Loan Bank, has donated $10,000 to Sanford Luverne's Reach Out and Read program. The donation helps secure books for Sanford Luverne to purchase and distribute at well-child visits. Each child receives a book at their well-child visits from the age of six months to five years old. “We are thankful for the continued partnership…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025Luverne High School marching band debuted its 2025 field competition show Friday on the school’s football field. As a conclusion to the three-week band camp, the 50 students performed this year’s almost eight-minute field show called “Ascend!” First-year drum major senior Tyler Hodge stepped up into the leadership role with returning drum major and junior Paige Kubesh. “Last year went so well…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A cannabis grow facility is planned for Luverne’s industrial park following action at Monday’s meeting of the Luverne Economic Development Authority. The EDA hosted a public hearing at the start of the meeting to consider the sale of a $30,056 city-owned lot to Peter Dikun, Dell Rapids, South Dakota, who intends to build a marijuana grow facility on the property. He plans to construct a 70-by-…- By Jason BerghorstAugust 13, 2025“If we don’t get this generation connected and excited to lead, we’re in trouble.” That’s how Ron Honken summarizes his motivation to initiate the Rock County Future Leader Network. The new program, intended for young people ages 18-35, will have its kickoff event Aug. 25 at the Luverne Trailhead building. Honken, a 1983 LHS graduate, returned to the area five years ago after living in…
By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025Retired Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Matt Sorenson will serve as Rock County Sheriff for 15 months starting Oct. 1. Rock County commissioners unanimously approved the hire at their Aug. 5 meeting after interviewing Sorenson and Rock County deputies Troy Wenzel, Jeff Stratton and Chad Kempema. The sheriff is an elected position, but current sheriff Evan Verbrugge announced this spring he is…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A community celebration of life for the late Jim Brandenburg and his son, Anthony Brandenburg, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Palace Theatre in Luverne. Jim Brandenburg grew up in Luverne where he started his nature photography career that led to worldwide acclaim for his images captured around the globe. After a brief illness he died April 4 at the age of 79 only weeks after…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A.E. Innovation, the company that is purchasing Luverne’s ethanol plant, will host an open house and project launch on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The event will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the facility on South Walnut Avenue in Luverne. A brief presentation will be at 2:30 p.m. Speakers include AgriEnergy Innovations founder David Kolsrud, CapCO2 Solutions CEO Jeff Bonar and Methylennium Energy founder…- By Mavis FodnessAugust 13, 2025If county officials followed the proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), costs would total more than $31 million. At a public hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, the Rock County Commissioners will consider specific projects and projected costs. The hearing is intended to solicit input from citizens and other government units. Changes to the county’s proposed CIP will be…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025Following a public hearing on Aug. 5, the Luverne Planning Commission recommended approval of a conditional use permit to allow a cannabis microbusiness retail facility at 1551 South Kniss Ave. Donavan Hakim and Justin Dunaskiss, Edmond, Oklahoma, requested the permit on behalf of their business, Prairie Sky Enterprises LLC. The business owners plan to operate the facility on subdivided…- By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A Luverne man appeared in Rock County District Court last week on charges of domestic abuse by strangulation, domestic assault and DWI — refusing to submit to chemical testing. The charges stem from two July 27 incidents in which law enforcement officers were called to 106 E. 4th Street in Hardwick for assault-related reports. The first one was at 12:42 a.m. when deputies responded to a call at…
By Lori SorensonAugust 13, 2025A Luverne man is facing several charges after intentionally driving his car into the Rock County Law Enforcement Center last week. According to information from the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, 59-year-old Gregory Carroll drove his 2003 black Lexus into the employee entrance of the building around 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6. Following an encounter with law enforcement earlier in the day, Carroll…
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