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  • By Lori Sorenson
    November 06, 2024
    There are roughly 100,000 lead pipes that bring water into Minnesota homes, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Now there is a statewide effort to replace every single one, and communities in Rock County are part of that initiative. It stems from the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent “Lead and Copper Rule Revision” to strengthen drinking water standards. Most cities across…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    November 06, 2024
    About 850 Rock County Rural Water customers received letters in October alerting them about the possibility of copper in their drinking water. The letter explained that the rural water system “found elevated levels of copper in drinking water in some homes and buildings,” and what it means for those residents. The letter was automatically generated by the Minnesota Department of Health, which…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    November 06, 2024
    More than 400 heavy land records books are temporarily relocated to the former armory building in Luverne to accommodate remodeling at the courthouse. After the new National Guard Readiness Center opened near I-90 in Luverne last year, the state transferred ownership of the former armory on Freeman Avenue to Rock County. Plans are underway to move the Rock County Land Management Office (…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    November 06, 2024
    The Star Herald went to press Tuesday afternoon as voters were still participating at the polls, but local election official Ashley Kurtz was keeping tabs on Election Day processes. “So far, all the polls have opened up with zero issues,” she said Tuesday morning. “All polling places, including the mail ballot precinct and the courthouse, have remained steady through the morning, and we expect…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    November 06, 2024
    The Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings is considering a complaint filed by Isaac DeBoer alleging Patrick Baustian violated Fair Campaign Practices law with his mayoral campaign. After a hearing by phone Monday afternoon, the administrative judge will determine if there is probable cause for the case to continue. If not, the case will be dismissed. DeBoer, a candidate for mayor, filed…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    November 06, 2024
    At almost three months into the 2024-25 school year, Hills-Beaver Creek School District seeks to hire an additional elementary teacher due to growing student enrollment. Board members agreed to the half-time position at a salary of $28,500 at their Oct. 28 meeting. The part-time additional position is intended to assist in the first-grade classroom. As the school year started in early…
  • November 06, 2024
    Luverne area businesses and organizations hosted the community’s annual Trunk ’N Treat in the elementary school bus lot Thursday afternoon to celebrate Halloween. The event featured dozens of creatively decorated trunks and roughly 2,500 costumed trick-or-treaters. This is the 12th annual Trunk ’N Treat in Luverne and the third year it’s been at the school after nine years on Main Street.
  • By Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst
    November 06, 2024
    Arriving at equitable land rental rates is always an ongoing challenge for farm operators and landlords alike, which will likely be an even bigger challenge for the 2025 growing season. Many times land rental rates for a coming crop year are based on the profitability in crop production in the previous year or two. In some cases this can present profitability challenges for farm operators, if…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    November 06, 2024
    Rock County 4-H conducted the 2024 awards and recognition night Saturday, Nov. 2, at Grand Events in Luverne. The evening’s theme was “4-H: Something to Crow About” and was attended by 125 members, leaders, parents and program sponsors.   Federation officers installed for 2024-25 Local Extension educator Fraya Webster installed the newly elected Federation officers. The 2024-25 officers are…
  • November 06, 2024
    The Livewires 4-H Club is a 2024 Fair Project Club winner, a contest sponsored by Bomgaars. The contest was open to all 180 Bomgaars locations including Luverne. According to club adviser Jamie Tiesler, each member submitted a fair photo and nominated their club. Winners received $1,000. The Livewires are one of 12 4-H clubs to receive a cash prize. “We are excited to use this money for our club…
  • November 06, 2024
    ock Ranch in Hills, Minnesota, is receiving $5,000 in funding for the construction of a horse shelter through Sioux Valley Energy's Operation Round Up® program. The award comes as Sioux Valley Energy and its members celebrate October as National Cooperative Month by making an impact in their local communities. During the most recent quarterly meeting of the Sioux Valley Energy Customers'…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    October 30, 2024
    Two years ago at this time, election workers in the Rock County Courthouse were being harassed about ballot processes and accused of compromised election integrity. “It was bad,” said Ashley Kurtz about the last election cycle. “Our workers were frequently in tears.” Kurtz has been Rock County’s Auditor-Treasurer for 13 years and this will be her ninth time heading up a local general election…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    October 30, 2024
    The 2024 general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and voters who haven’t already cast ballots early will head to the polls to make election choices. Luverne voters will decide contests for mayor and two council seats. Isaac DeBoer is challenging incumbent mayor Pat Baustian. Incumbent Dan Nath and Josh Gangestad will be on the ballot for North Ward City Council. And Lori Hallstrom and Marlin Kracht…
  • By Lori Sorenson
    October 30, 2024
    Minnesota has ranked No. 1 for general election voter turnout across the country since 2008 according to the Minnesota Secretary of State. In the 2020 presidential election, Minnesota’s average voter turnout was 81.56 percent, compared to the country’s average of 76.8 percent. Among Minnesota counties, Rock County voters often lead the way with over 93 percent voter turnout in 2020, 2016 and…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    October 30, 2024
    Two Hills organizations worked together to provide Halloween activities Sunday afternoon for residents and children. Bethlehem Lutheran Church’s board of education organized its first Trunk or Treat along North Main Street featuring 19 separate treat stops along each side of the street. Each stop was decorated and manned by local individuals, organizations and/or businesses of Hills. Maleeka…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    October 30, 2024
    The Hills-Beaver Creek School District had a more favorable bid opening for the second construction phase. Bids were received at or below estimates to remodel the Hugo Goehle gymnasium in Hills and were accepted Monday night by the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board. The total was $2.8 million and included accepting three alternate bids. Accepted bids also included $448,000 to demolish the three-…
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