Naturalists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led a prairie wildflowers nature walk Wednesday morning, Aug. 12, at Touch the Sky Prairie where participants learned which wildflowers are in bloom and what to expect in the coming months.

 With the Aug. 11 primary in the rearview mirror, attention has turned to the Nov. 3 general election, which presents several contested races for Rock County voters. 

Depending on where voters live, local ballots will include the following candidates this fall. 

A new future is about to begin for Hardwick’s gas station, with Chandler Co-op stepping in as the new owner and operator. 

Chandler Co-op has officially purchased the station on First Street from the city of Hardwick with plans to have it operating by the end of August. 

Meetings 

At their Aug. 12 meeting Beaver Creek City Council members accepted bids for demolition of the former elementary school building. 

Following the Aug. 11 Primary Election, the list of major-party candidates for local, state, and federal offices on the Nov. 3 ballot are set. 

Rock County voters will decide between the following Democratic- Farmer-Labor (DFL) and Republican party candidates in the fall election. 

Steve Smedsrud, Pete Connell and Mary Jo Graphenteen were recently named 2026 Luverne Country Club Tournament champions.

Smedsrud took top honors in the senior tournament Aug. 8 with an 18-hole score of 71.

Rock County residents joined voters from across Minnesota to cast ballots in the 2026 Primary Election on Tuesday, Aug. 11. 

In addition to voting in the partisan primaries, some voters had local races to decide on. 

Luverne High School senior Darius Dolo won the 2026 Cardinal Pride competition on the opening day of football practice Monday, Aug. 17.