editorial
- January 11, 2016The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter. Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, which has resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and reduced the blood supply. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily…
- January 04, 2016With less than one week into 2016, we’d like to offer one New Year’s resolution for everyone who lives, works and visits our communities from rural locales. The pungent smell left by snowy, dirty boots has been considerably noticeable in several public establishments. It was obvious the wearer walked directly from a feedlot into a retail business. Not only were the boots covered in animal…
December 22, 2015As we marvel at the new and shiny Christmas gifts we anxiously waited to unwrap, please take a moment and think about what to do with the old stuff. We live in a disposable age where unwanted and broken items are thrown away. In fact, more and more of today’s items are designed with discarding in mind when broken. The price of these items is lower than their fixable predecessors, making the…- By Dennis Frederickson, regional director, Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesDecember 07, 2015A few weeks ago, I visited the Rock County Board of Commissioners to discuss the DNR’s process for evaluating and deciding the future of the dam at Blue Mounds State Park, which was significantly damaged during the flood of June 2014. Knowing our local communities have great interest in this issue, I wanted to share some of the key aspects of the DNR’s decision-making process with members of the…
- November 23, 2015Transition back to a traditional school year Encourage our educators to continue thinking outside the box For six years Luverne Public Schools have been members of a unique group of educators who wanted to take an adventurous approach to instruction. State education officials supported this approach through their Flexible Learning Year program. Locally, the program allowed districts to begin…
- November 16, 2015There is a quiet discussion underway in the community right now about the future of the Carnegie Cultural Center on North Freeman Avenue in Luverne. For the past two decades, the city of Luverne, which owns the building, has leased it to the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County (CAHRC). That group includes Rock County Fine Arts Association, Blue Mound Area Theatre, Rock County…
- November 09, 2015Star Herald doles out thumbs for veterans, artists, volunteers and holiday shopping Thumbs Up — to veterans and to Veterans Day programs and events. Rock County has a proud tradition of military service, and Veterans Day is the perfect time to honor those who served. The Star Herald covered Veterans Day programs in Luverne and Hardwick and will feature them in our Nov. 19 edition. Thumbs…
- November 02, 2015City ordinances were developed by our forefathers as a guide for community development — both residential and commercial. These ordinances are sometimes hard to understand, and we may wonder if following these rules is the right course to follow. In a small town, why would anyone care if the integrity of these rules is loosening or, in some cases, being completely ignored? The Hardwick City…
- October 05, 2015The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, has named the theme of this year’s campaign, Oct. 4-10, 2015, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm!” “Working smoke alarms can make the difference between life and death in a fire,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of outreach and…
- By Minnesota Department of AgricultureSeptember 28, 2015As farmers across Minnesota ramp up fall harvest activity, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reminds everyone of possible hazards of the season. Federal and state statistics show farming is one of the most dangerous professions. In 2013, the latest year reported, 17 of the 69 work-related deaths in the state were in the ag industry, according to data from the Minnesota Department of…
- September 21, 2015In the past five years Rock County’s debt has grown. Today the amount totals $11,115,019.29. At the Sept. 8 Rock County Board meeting, Chairman Ron Boyenga proposed taking on no more debt for the next five years. Instead of passing the resolution, board members supported the idea instead, making it a possible goal. As a goal to not raise the county’s debt, the action won’t tie commissioners’…
- September 14, 2015The little prairie town of Luverne was changed overnight when its “opera house” opened in September 1915. Founder Herman Jochims spared no expense in outfitting the Palace with the latest and greatest in technology and décor. The New Palace Theatre was able to offer the finest in stage productions, vaudeville and music entertainment in the world, and its very existence on Luverne’s Main Street…
By Randall J. Slieter, 8th Judicial District Judge, OliviaSeptember 07, 2015Sept. 17 is the day we annually celebrate Constitution Day as a reminder of the importance of our constitution and the foundation it provides for the enduring magnitude of the United States. Constitution Day is a federal observance that recognizes the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on this day in 1787. Here are some interesting facts about our United States Constitution: •…- August 31, 2015Tuesday marked a significant milestone for our rural Rock County residents. Rock County Broadband Alliance broke ground on a $14 million project to bring high-speed Internet service to all residents living outside the city of Luverne. RCBA is a subsidiary of Alliance Communications Cooperative based in Garretson, South Dakota. The co-op received a $5 million state grant to expand its fiber-to-…
- August 24, 2015A disappointing controversy arose last week during the annual sale of the Cardinal Coupon Card. The folded card displays the names of more than 50 local businesses offering discounts totaling more than $2,000 in goods and services. The Chamber does the legwork contacting interested businesses, and the athletes do the legwork selling cards. The proceeds are split between the Chamber and Luverne…
- By Lt. Governor Tina SmithAugust 17, 2015In 1922 the Minneapolis Tribune speculated, “… The day will come soon when farms are run by electricity, just as the other great industries are." The newspaper marveled that the relatively new technology was creating new economic opportunities in rural Minnesota and was making work more efficient and life a little easier. Eventually Minnesota farms were electrified, but it didn't…
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