Happy New Year, Star Herald readers. We in the newsroom find satisfaction in reviewing and highlighting the top stories of the year in our final December edition.
We feel it showcases our progressive local leadership and our resilient community residents.
It also shows we at the Star Herald take our work seriously throughout the year as we document local happenings, big and small, good or bad.
After gathering input from our colleagues and community partners, here’s our list of 2025 top stories at a glance:
•The first local cannabis dispensaries are now poised to open, following a flurry of local licensure and pending state level supplies.
•The Hills-Beaver Creek School District opened its new elementary school in Beaver Creek.
•The Kids Rock! Child Care Center opened in Luverne addressing a decades-long child care need. Also, the Patriot Pals Child Care Center opened with the new elementary school in Beaver Creek.
•Agri-Energy reopened this year hiring 30 employees and providing exciting new markets for local grain.
•Rock County Law Enforcement has new leadership with Sheriff Matthew Sorenson.
•Rock County invested millions in local facilities, renovating the former armory building and remodeling the courthouse.
•Rock County Rural Water broke ground on a 500,000-gallon water tower southwest of Beaver Creek.
•Luverne School District had a challenging year with difficult budget cuts in the face of declining enrollment.
•Local farmers brought in a bumper crop but faced disappointing commodity prices in the wake of federal tariffs and global policies.
•A tragic fatal crash in March has resulted in a third-degree murder charge unfolding in Rock County District Court.
•Nutcrackers continue to attract thousands of visitors to the History Center, and the community celebrated its first annual Nutcracker Fest centered around the slowly assembling “World’s Largest Nutcracker.”
These topics and more are highlighted in our annual “year in review” story, and our Star Herald sports editor has shared his take on 2025 from the sidelines of our Rock County high school teams.
Meanwhile, it’s true what “they” say, “'The days pass slowly but the years fly by.”
See you next year.
