editorial
- June 06, 2023Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota DNR are encouraging Minnesotans to get out in nature and enjoy the state’s outstanding outdoor opportunities by proclaiming June 2023 as Great Outdoors Month. The proclamation cites the health and wellness benefits of spending time outdoors as one of the many reasons to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors. We couldn’t agree more. The recently completed Legislative…
- May 30, 2023Old Glory was waving proudly over the Memorial Day weekend, and with the onset of summer, she’ll have increasing opportunities to be on display. Flag Day is observed on June 14. It’s a good time to review flag etiquette with regard to proper handling and display of our nation’s symbol of freedom and liberty. According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the U.S. flag should fly at peak, above any…
- By Veronica RaussinMay 23, 2023Memorial Day is a time to honor the memory of men and women who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. But we must also never forget the veterans who made it home but are struggling with addiction and mental health issues and suicide thoughts. Early intervention and prevention is critical to help veterans find the treatment they need. More than 300,000 veterans live in Minnesota,…
- By Eric Sage, executive director, Rock County Opportunities, LuverneMay 16, 2023I have been asked a lot lately what I think about the growing movement across the country and here in Minnesota to end subminimum wages for people with disabilities in the next five years. It's comforting that Minnesota has a Task Force on Eliminating Subminimum Wages to help develop a plan if this bill does pass. However, I’m nervous about removing options for individuals with disabilities…
- April 25, 2023The Rock County Board of Commissioners will consider the future of mail ballots at their meeting on Tuesday, May 2. And we hope they consider the reasons we implemented mail ballot voting in the first place. Rock County has been using mail ballots since 2006 when the federal Help America Vote Act required all precincts to make sure all voters can vote with ease, regardless of disability. It also…
- April 18, 2023Are you ready for severe weather? Each year Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in collaboration with the National Weather Service, sponsors Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota. The week is designed to remind and educate the public about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them. It's also a good time to make and practice emergency plans and check…
- April 11, 2023April is National Safe Digging Month and CenterPoint Energy encourages customers to call 811 in advance about projects such as installing a garden, fence, pool or water sprinkler system. Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, service disruptions and costly fines or repairs. Hitting underground natural gas, electric, communications,…
- April 04, 2023Driving distracted puts everyone on the road in danger, contributing to an average of 28 deaths and 156 serious, life-changing injuries per year in Minnesota. That’s why law enforcement agencies and traffic safety partners are teaming up to educate motorists, enforce the hands-free cell phone law and help stop other distracting behaviors. The distracted driving enforcement and awareness campaign…
- March 28, 2023The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas on four dates in 2023. The Free Park Days will be Saturday, April 22; Saturday, June 10; Saturday, Sept. 9; and Friday, Nov. 24. With the support of the state legislature, the DNR offers Free Park Days to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors and enjoy the health and wellness…
- By Nickolaus Hayes, Health Care ProfessionalMarch 21, 2023The NCAA tournament, known as March Madness, showcases some of the best basketball talent in the nation, but for every tip-off, students and fans are likely tipping back an excessive amount of alcohol. It can be challenging at any time of the year to avoid excessive alcohol use. It can be particularly difficult for someone in recovery or the average person choosing sobriety for their health.…
- By Jim Pumarlo, Red Wing Republican EagleMarch 14, 2023Sandy Robinson and Ben Carlson were part of news reports as birth announcements in Minnesota’s newspapers. Neither one was probably aware of the attention created by the event, but we could expect to see more of Sandy and Ben in the coming years. Likewise, we hope the local newspapers become a part of their daily routines. Newspapers pride themselves as recorders of local history. I encourage…
- March 07, 2023Rural residents have dealt with diminishing access to health care for decades, largely because increasing costs of services makes sparsely populated areas less economically feasible to serve than densely populated urban areas. This problem applies just as much to mental health services as to any other aspect of health care in the United States. But now more than ever, as the demand for mental…
- February 21, 2023This week Minnesotans honors bus drivers across the state with “School Bus Driver Appreciation Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 22, to draw attention to these dedicated professionals and to the statewide bus driver shortage. Rock County’s list of school bus drivers report for duty in the Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek districts. Luverne school bus drivers include Brad Goembel, Scott Adams. Keith Brandt,…
- February 14, 2023Parents need to understand the prevalence of e-cigarette use, also known as vaping, and the serious health risks they pose to young people. Vaping comes in many forms: e-cigarettes, pen mods, box mod kits, pod mods (JUUL), which may sound foreign to some, but are everyday terms among youth. They look like pens or flash drives or are disguised as watches or tucked into the sleeve of a hoodie,…
- January 31, 2023Feb. 6-1o is National School Counselors Week, a time to focus attention on the contributions of school counselors in education. Sponsored by American School Counselors Association, the week highlights the impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. According to Luverne Elementary School Counselor Marie-Atkinson Smeins, children are experiencing…
- January 10, 2023Rock County’s recent heavy snow created headache and hardship for many people attempting to travel – and even depart their blocked garages and driveways. This week’s Star Herald chronicles the efforts of professional snow movers and shares images of snow blowing, snow shoveling and snow piles of mammoth proportions. The sheer volume of snow last week was the third largest in recent history,…
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