Hills-Beaver Creek grad is guest Veterans Day speaker in Hills
Hills-Beaver Creek High School alumnus Wade Blomgren addressed students, staff and members of the public Monday morning as the keynote speaker for the annual H-BC Veterans Day Program.
'Little Shop of Horrors' takes Palace stage Nov. 14-16, 20-23
Green Earth Players (GEP) cast members admit their upcoming “Little Shop of Horrors” might be rated PG-13 compared with the family-friendly productions they typically
Energy companies host 'PowerOn Midwest' open house in Luverne Nov. 5
An open house Friday night at Generations in Luverne offered information for the community about a major transmission line planned in the region.
Blue Mounds to discontinue tipis as camping option due to cultural sensitivities
Tipis will no longer be a camping option at the Blue Mounds State Park after officials opted not to improve or replace the current ones that need maintenance.
News
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…- 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…
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