December 2023

Dispatch report Dec. 30 •Complainant on E. Brown Street reported a fire call. •Complainant on Oak Drive reported a fire call. •Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported an abandoned vehicle. •Complainant reported fraud/forgery/counterfeit. •Complainant westbound on Interstate 90, mile marker 16, reported debris. •Complainant on W. Main Street reported a road and drive law issue. Dec. 31 •…

Community members are mourning the loss of longtime businessman and volunteer George A. Bonnema, who died at age 74 on Dec. 26. His obituary (see page 7) lists personal and professional landmarks, but he will be best remembered for his untold, unpaid contributions to the community. George and Corrine came to Luverne in 1974 when they purchased Luverne Flowers and turned it into a thriving…

The newest deputy at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office is embarking on a career path he started 25 years ago. Troy Wenzel was sworn in by Sheriff Evan Verbrugge on Dec. 26 in front of Rock County commissioners. Wenzel is the fourth deputy hired by Verbrugge in the past year. “I finally came upon someone who’s actually close to my age to hire, not someone just out of high school or college,”…

Dispatch report Dec. 23 •Complainant on Davidson Street and W. Lawn Park Street reported an accident with personal injury. •Complainant on Interstate 90, mile marker 16, Magnolia, reported a road and drive law issue. •Complainant on S. Kniss Avenue reported property damage. •Complainant west-bound on Interstate 90, mile marker 5, Beaver Creek, reported debris. •Complainant on Warren Street…

Community Ed Watch for the new Winter Brochure in the Luverne Announcer the weekend of New Year's Day. Registrations will be taken starting Jan. 4. The Community Education office will be closed from Dec. 22 through Jan. 3 for winter break.  Defensive Driving schedule for Luverne classes follows: Beginner 8-Hour Class  Feb. 5 and 12 (4 hours each evening). Call 507-283-4724 to register.  …

10 years ago (2013) •Land Management Office Engineering Technician Arlyn Gehrke told County Commissioners at their Dec. 16 meeting how the Pictometry service they purchased is being used in the county. Pictometry is the name of a patented aerial image capture process that produces imagery showing the fronts and sides of buildings and locations on the ground. In 2012 the county, the city of…

Karen Hardick will celebrate her 80th birthday on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Greetings may be sent to 1003 N. Spring Street, Luverne, MN 56156.

St. Catherine Catholic Church 203 E. Brown St., Luverne St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor Sunday: 8:30 a.m. Mass. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.  …

For Rodger and Dianne Ossenfort, Santa was more than an act; it was a calling. And for the children — and their children — who climbed on their laps, Santa and Mrs. Claus fed their imaginations and nurtured their belief in the magic of the season. “They’re kind and caring and made each child feel special,” said Tammy Johnson, whose children were among the first to experience the Ossenforts in…

Visitors to Grace Lutheran Church in Luverne Sunday leisurely take in the sights and sounds of the annual Live Nativity in the church parking lot. The walk through the nativity scene provided a serene atmosphere as songs played in the background. Grace Lutheran youth and adults portrayed Mary and Joseph, an angel, wisemen and shepherds who tended to live goats, donkeys and camels. For warmth,…

Local law enforcement and the Minnesota BCA are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that occurred on the morning of Dec. 13 in rural Rock County. A passerby called law enforcement around noon to report a body had been discovered in the north ditch near the intersection of 141st Street and County Road 6. The man, identified as William Krotzer, 76, of Luverne had been found about one-half mile…

UMC community Christmas Eve meal Dec. 24 The United Methodist Church will host its free community meal at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24. Sign up at the church or call the office, 283-4529. All are welcome! A pick-up option is available.   Candy Cane Day Celebration Dec. 26 The History Center will be offering a Candy Cane Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, at the History Center…

Luverne City Council members certified the levy at $3,232,740 for taxes payable in 2024. That’s an increase of $466,180, nearly 17 percent, over the current levy, and council members explained their rationale during the city’s annual Truth in Taxation hearing Tuesday night, Dec. 12. City Administrator Jill Wolf acknowledged that the levy increase is significant but said taxpayers will not bear…

Thone amazed at musical talent in Luverne community Letter to the Editor: I want to express how amazing the musical talent is in this community. The past couple of weeks my family and I have been privileged to be able to listen to three incredible musical events in our community: the Holiday Choir Concert at the school, the ‘Hear the Sounds of Christmas’ Luverne Street Music recital event at…

Dispatch report Dec. 12 •Complainant reported threats. •Complainant east-bound on Interstate 90 ramp, near Luverne, reported a miscellaneous public assist. Dec. 13 •Complainant on E. Dodge Street reported an accident to property damage. •Complainant in Fremont County, Iowa, requested assistance from another department. •Complainant on 141st Street, Luverne, reported a sudden death/body…

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources encourages Minnesotans to use caution and stay aware of wildfire risk. Lack of snow and unusually warm, dry conditions over the next week are likely to increase fire danger in much of Minnesota. Dry, brown grasses and vegetation mean wildfires can start easily and spread quickly. This elevated risk is likely to persist until we have continuous snow…