rock county
By Betty MannApril 16, 2025The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Feb. 6, 1925. First and Farmers Nationals merged Complete Reorganization effected under title of First and Farmers National Bank Capital and surplus of new bank, $150,000 Stockholders of two banks to liquidate real estate holdings and frozen assets The merging of the First National bank and the Farmers National bank of Luverne into a new…- April 16, 202510 years ago (2015) •It was a record-breaking night for volunteers and fundraising coordinators at Sanford Luverne Hospice Saturday, April 11. The Blue Mound Banquet Center in Luverne accommodated a packed house of 400 people for the Annual Hospice Charity Dinner and Auction fundraiser, which featured a New Orleans and Mardi Gras theme. According to Sanford Luverne Hospice volunteer…
By Lori SorensonApril 02, 2025ATLAS of Rock County hosted an open house Wednesday, March 26, to celebrate 10 years as an independent ministry. The organization now boasts dozens of volunteers and several paid staff to operate five ministries that are housed under one roof in downtown Luverne. Pastor Michael Blank said the past 10 years of growth are worth celebrating, but at its core, ATLAS still has the same mission: “…- By Pastor Mark Eliason, Palisade Lutheran Church, Rock CountyMarch 26, 2025In the 13th chapter of Luke, Luke writes about sin and punishment. In this passage Jesus asks, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025For the second year in a row, wind energy production taxes will exceed $1 million in Rock County. The five wind production farms will pay $1.062 million in 2025, about a $1,000 less than last year. The 165 turbines operating in the county generated 901,300 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2024. Walleye Wind, operating 39 turbines near Beaver Creek, will pay the most tax at $569,096 followed by…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 19, 2025Children and adults alike were able to decorate farm animal-shaped sugar cookies Monday afternoon as the Rock County Library kicked off its annual Farm Week. Various activities will occur throughout the week, and a full list is on the library’s new social media. Kinsley Nath, 3, enjoys the sugar cookie she decorated. Knox Arends, 2, quickly decorated and ate his cookie.- By Lori SorensonMarch 12, 2025A 2024 study lists Rock County as the second-best county to live in Minnesota, which is the No. 2 state in the nation for raising families. This is based on data about education, housing, recreation, affordability and other factors. According to the study by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, Rock County is the second-best county in Minnesota to raise a family, based on four criteria…
By Mavis FodnessFebruary 05, 2025Luverne volunteer firefighters were called to a grass fire Monday afternoon, the third in the past eight days. According to fire chief Dave Van Batavia, Monday’s grass fire at 151st Street and 180th Avenue in Vienna Township was small, extinguished in about 20 minutes. The call came in at 1:35 p.m., and its cause is unknown, but it was the third grass fire call the Luverne Fire Department…
January 29, 2025Gov. Tim Walz on Friday announced the appointments of Kayla Johnson and Paul Gunderson as District Court Judges in Minnesota's Fifth Judicial District. The Fifth Judicial District consists of 15 counties in southwest Minnesota: Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Lincoln, Lyon, Martin, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock and Watonwan. Johnson will replace the…- By Lori SorensonJanuary 15, 2025A good way to measure growth over time is to track the number of building permits issued for construction. The city of Luverne issued fewer building permits in 2024 than in the prior year, but the permitted projects had a higher total valuation than the 2023 list. Luverne building official Chad McClure compiled a building report for 2024 that shows he issued 162 permits for projects, with…
By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2024The Star Herald in 2024 carried stories about contested elections, legalized cannabis, weather extremes and ongoing challenges of child care shortages. It also chronicled community growth, with a $30 million elementary school under construction in Beaver Creek, an $18 million feed mill expansion in Magnolia, and several other multi-million-dollar projects. These stories, as well as human…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 30, 2024The cost to house a prisoner in the Nobles County Jail increased from $60 to $75 per day, according to a new agreement accepted by Rock County Commissioners at their Dec. 17 meeting. For the past five years, the amount was $60 per day, and the $15 increase was anticipated over the past year, according to Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge, due to increased personnel and operating costs. From…
By Lori SorensonDecember 30, 2024The honorable Terry Vajgrt retired Dec. 31 after nearly 13 years as district judge of the Fifth Judicial District. He said his career has been both challenging and rewarding. “From Day 1 I’ve thought about how fortunate I am to have been able to do this. I’ve enjoyed it,” Vajgrt said. “I’ve had an opportunity to make an impact. That could be through consequences, but it can also mean…- By Mavis FodnessDecember 24, 2024A year after the Rock County Commissioners adopted the first hemp-derived products ordinance, a second ordinance will be in effect Jan. 1. After a 55-minute public hearing Dec. 17, commissioners adopted the ordinance for the sale, growth and manufacturing of high-dose hemp products in Rock County. The ordinance is in response to the state legalizing recreational marijuana in 2023. While the…
- By Pastor Mark Eliason, Palisade Lutheran Church, Rock CountyDecember 11, 2024And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49 (NRSV) Imagine, if you can, the story of a young girl, around 14 years old, engaged to a man she barely knows…
- By Mavis FodnessDecember 04, 2024A recently completed audit shows Rock County’s financial reserves exceeding the state’s recommended amount. The Minneapolis-based firm CLA LLP completed the annual audit showing Rock County with 6.32 months in financial reserves. The state recommends five months in reserves in order for a county to be in good financial health. County auditor-treasurer Ashley Kurtz talked with commissioners…
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