Columns

I scraped the last of the peanut butter from the bottom of a Skippy jar last week and thought about our golden retriever. It was Ginger’s job to lick the peanut butter and yogurt containers before they hit the recycle bin. I can still see her — the picture of contentment. She’d wrap her front paws around the Skippy jar and plunge her nose deep into the jar so her tongue could reach the edges,…

  Important Dates Nov. 9: County Committee Election Ballots mailed to voters in LAA #3 Nov. 11: FSA Office closed for Veterans Day Nov. 16: 2016 Apiculture, Perennial Forage and Fall-Seeded Small Grains Crop Acreage certification deadline Nov. 20: 2016 MPP-Dairy sign-up deadline Nov. 20: CRP Grassland Phase 1 application deadline Nov. 20: 2016 NAP Perennial Fruits and Vegetables sales deadline…

Bits By Betty—October 29, 2015   The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on October 28, 1999:   Drumsticks, leaves, pumpkins, corn. . . .   About 500 people consume 3,000 grilled chicken drumsticks during Fall Festival   Luverne’s first Fall Festival won’t be the last, according to the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce Office. Next year’s plans are already being discussed, and this…

Results of unscientific test on three-lane Highway 75 yields 4-minute average OK, it’s been a couple, maybe three, weeks since Highway 75 went from four lanes to three with the center lane being a turn lane. Many locals are probably still opposed to the change. When it was first announced that the reduction in lanes was going to take place, the overwhelming sentiment at our morning coffee was, “…

  “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Hebrews 13:14 ESV  Lars went to the lumberyard to buy some lumber." May I help you?" asked the salesman. "Yah, sure, you betcha," replied Lars. "I vould like to buy some 2x4s." "How long do you want them?" "Oh, I vant dem for a long time," Lars answered. "I am…

  Question: Hi, I read your “Ask a Trooper” responses in the daily news and have a question for you: common sense — I am aware it is illegal to leave your dog in the car, but I was also told it’s illegal to leave your car running/idling with the dog in the car so you can keep the air conditioner on for them. Wondering if this is true? I looked it up and saw no idling laws except for Minneapolis…

  The view from my living room window and other thoughts on  cancer The view from my living room window includes a cemetery. Last night we had the first hard frost of the season, so the view also includes dead and dying plants and flowers. Facebook tells me Luverne lost another beautiful soul to cancer yesterday. It won’t be long before we lose another, and another. Of the three friends I…

  The following appeared in the Rock County News March 12, 1896:   An Interesting Teacher’s Meeting   The Teachers’ association met in the High school room Saturday and was largely attended. Messrs. Guthrie and Crandle not being present, their parts were not taken up. The recitations, putting it mildly, were excellent. The paper on “Vertical Penmanship” by Miss Crane was highly instructive, and…

  It is Monday, and I don’t know what the weather has in store for us for the week, but our topsoil is dry and I am concerned.  Perhaps it will rain before the ground freezes, but I don’t know if the rain will be sufficient to give our shrubs and shallow-rooted trees enough moisture to keep them healthy through the winter.  A good soaking now will ensure that will not be a problem later. That…

  The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on April 6, 1923:   BEAVER CREEK LEADS IN ALFALFA ACREAGE   County Agent Roeke Finds That Acreage in County is 1560 Acres, With 350 Acres in Beaver Creek   “Rock county doubled its acreage in alfalfa the last two years. In 1920 there were but 850 acres in the county. In 1922 there were 1560 acres in the county,” contends county agent Roske. “The…

  By Cole McCormick Interim pastor at Grace Lutheran Church From the words of Psalm 91:16, “Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.…

“If you haven’t used it or missed it in three months, you can probably just throw it out.” I gasped when someone gently suggested this as a solution to our delayed unpacking. It’s been nearly a year since we moved Matt out of the old farmhouse that got bulldozed, and it’s been four months since we moved into our new home that went up in its place. Yet, the machine shed at our place is still full…

  Luverne’s first annual Community Fund campaign came to a glorious, smashing triumph of a climax this week. Cash in the bank from the campaign totaled $10,850. Pledges to be paid during the coming year total $2,817.70. This makes a total of $13,667.70 raised by the campaign solicitors who didn’t leave a stone unturned in a united effort to make the Community Fund drive a success. The quota set…

  If you have been “vacationing” indoor plants outdoors for the summer, now is the time to begin to acclimate them for their return to indoor conditions.  The houseplants have been used to summer’s long days with light coming from all around them, but indoors they will have to adjust to what available light comes through a window. So bring the plant in to where it will be for the winter for a…

  Question: Why are “new” license plates issued every seven years? Answer: Minnesota State Statute 168.12 states, “Plates issued for passenger automobiles must be issued for a seven-year period. All plates issued under this paragraph must be replaced if they are seven years old or older at the time of registration renewal or will become so during the registration period.” The replacement is in…

  To start off, I must say that I am impressed by the quality of our school’s meals. Last week I had lunch with my boys at the school. Fresh fruit, veggies and milk were gleefully ingested by children all around me. Great job, Luverne school! Go Cards! One thing that struck me was how the children happily ate what was in front of them. It wasn’t that they didn’t have a choice. The ladies who…