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 Sorenson, editorJuly 30, 2025More than 660 people crowded into the grandstand Thursday night to be entertained by the fourth annual Donkey Races at the Rock County Fair. There were 10 five-person teams competing in the event in which Team Lorax emerged the winner. Lorax team members include Peyton Blom, Lanae Elbers, Adi Fink, Paige Moser and Cheyenne Schutz. The second-place winner was team Mario Bros comprised of Eli…
July 30, 2025The results reported for the Open Class competition at the 2025 Rock County Fair are as follows: Buckets of Flowers Best of Show: Judy Riple Reserve Best of Show: Jonna Dull Champion: Connie Wieneke Reserve Champions: Pat Reverts, Arlene Franchuk, Delores Halverson Baking Best of Show: Becky Sehr Reserve Best of show: Piper Meinerts Champion: Becky Sehr, Aryanna Gorter Reserve…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025Small posters recently appeared in the windows of the former Sterling’s building announcing plans for a new restaurant. “Coming soon October 2025,” the signs read. “Revel Kitchen and Cocktails.” The “casual family” restaurant lists “smash burgers, sandwiches, pasta, steak, flatbread pizza, entrée salads, fish tacos, signature cocktails and more,” among menu items for its dining experience. The…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025Power Fitness owners Brian and Ginger Beuning announced this week they are closing their Main Street gym after 14 years in operation. The Beunings opened their business in 2011 as a 24-hour fitness center with 1,000 square feet on each of three levels. It offered free weights, cardio equipment, weight circuits, and a multi-purpose exercise room with online projector video access. A lower level…- By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025Bids for a new Rural Water tower recently came in 30 to 50 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate, due to tariffs on imported steel. “The increase in steel prices enlarged the cost of the water tower significantly and caused a deficit between the grant award and the low bid,” Kyla Branick, an engineer with Banner Associates, wrote in a July 10 memo to the Rural Water Board. “This sharp…
By Lori SorensonJuly 23, 2025Workers direct one-lane traffic on County Road 4 west of Luverne Friday as the mill-off and overlay project continues between Luverne and County Road 11 (the Steen blacktop). Duininck Inc. is the contractor for the work that includes a mill-off and overlay of County 11 between County Road 4 and Highway 270 (the blacktop that enters the east side of Hills). The Blue Mound Trail is also being…
By By Jason BerghorstJuly 23, 2025The Rock County Fair is underway at the fairgrounds in Luverne. The annual event began Wednesday, July 23, and continues through Saturday. Admission to the fair and most activities are free, except for nightly grandstand events. As usual, the fair includes many traditional elements as well as a number of new additions to the event. “Every year we work on bringing in new events to the fair…
By Lori SorensonJuly 23, 2025The Rock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an accident at the intersection of Main Street and Highway 75 that resulted in a car breaking through the east wall of the Laundry Room in Luverne. According to the accident report, driver Douglas Scheerhorn, age 62, Beaver Creek, said his sandal got stuck in the accelerator causing the 2015 Volkswagen to crash into the building where it was…
By Jason BerghorstJuly 23, 2025Eliot Cauwels is excited to show his Valais Blacknose sheep at the Rock County Fair today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. Cauwels, an incoming seventh-grader at Luverne Middle School, is entering the unique breed in his first 4-H sheep showcase. Nichole Cauwels said she and her son became aware of the Valais Blacknose sheep from internet posts. “I actually discovered them on Instagram,” Nichole said. “…
By Lori SorensonJuly 23, 2025On Tuesday, July 15, Rock County Opportunities hosted a Summer Crafts with Watermelon event at the Plaza on Main. The organization invited families and children to participate in “puffy paint chalk,” bubbles, coloring sheets and other outdoor crafts while enjoying fresh watermelon under the shelter. According to organizers the event was well-attended despite the heat and they went through 2 ½…
By Mavis FodnessJuly 17, 2025In just over an hour, more than 15,000 hot dogs were consumed during the 63rd annual Hot Dog Night Thursday, July 10, in Luverne. Dozens of businesses cooked hot dogs and offered various toppings for the free hot dogs and buns to anyone who wanted one. Activities occurred throughout the day including youth 3-on-3 basketball games, Hinkly House tours, free inflatables, tae kwon do demonstrations…
By Lori SorensonJuly 16, 2025Katie Walgrave addressed a small crowd gathered at the base of the partially completed World’s Largest Nutcracker Saturday morning. The bad news, she said, was that the statue wasn’t completed in time for Luverne’s Nutcracker Fest. The good news, she joked, was that it’s on track to be finished before the Crazy Horse memorial is completed in South Dakota. “Look on the bright side,” Walgrave…- By Lori SorensonJuly 16, 2025The Luverne Planning and Zoning Commission approved another conditional use permit application for cannabis licensing following a public hearing Tuesday, July 8. However, given the proposed dispensary’s proximity to another planned dispensary across the street, it may not be feasible due to the Luverne cannabis ordinance that requires a 1,000-foot buffer between retail cannabis businesses.…
- By Lori SorensonJuly 16, 2025Four applications were turned in for the Rock County sheriff position, which will be vacant this fall. They include current Rock County deputies Chad Kempema, Jeff Stratton and Troy Wenzel and re-tired Minnesota State Patrol lieutenant Matthew Sorenson. The Rock County sheriff is an elected position, but current sheriff Evan Verbrugge is retiring before his current term expires Dec. 31, 2026.…
By Lori SorensonJuly 16, 2025Rock County Historian Betty Mann threw out the opening pitch ahead of Friday night’s game between the Luverne Redbirds and the Brandon Belugas. For the casual “Nutcracker Base Race” game during Luverne’s Nutcracker Fest weekend, the Redbirds became the “Luverne Nutcrackers,” donning special nutcracker-themed jerseys. Luverne ended up beating Brandon 5-2 at Redbird Field, but for a moment, 95-…- By Lori SorensonJuly 16, 2025The criminal case for Luverne’s R G Hensley is on hold, pending an examination to determine if the 81-year-old is able to understand the proceedings of his case. Hensley, Luverne, is facing felony charges of first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct for illegal acts that allegedly occurred repeatedly between 2007 and 2017. Hensley appeared in Rock County District Court Monday for…
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