Opinion
- By Anthony Gacke, Rural LuverneMay 27, 2026To the editor: We the taxpayers and electricity users paid for an auto start on the generators and it appears that we do not need it according to City Administrator Jill Wolf. Her statement in the April 30 Star Herald article stated the L&O notifies the power plant/city how long the outage will be and if they should turn on their generators. She also stated that these generators cost a…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolMay 27, 2026Question: Did I hear something about a new law about stopping for school buses? Answer: In March 2026, Minnesota law changed to require drivers to stop at least 20 feet away from a school bus whenever the red lights are flashing. The stop arm does not need to be fully extended. This new requirement aims to remove confusion and clarify expectations for every driver on the road. WHAT CHANGED…
By Calla Jarvie, Rock County Library directorMay 27, 2026School’s out and summer is here! It’s the library’s busiest season with our Summer Reading Program! We have two reading programs — one for kids and one for adults. The theme for this year’s program is “Plant a Seed, Read!” The summer reading program kick-off is at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 5, with The Zoo Man, sponsored by the Friends of the Library. The Friends are also handing out treats at…- By Tom GetmanMay 20, 2026What does one who is in public life in a nation’s capital do when despair undermines hope? Often discouragement abounds from exceptionalist imperialistic governance, illegal warring foreign policy, lack of support for beleaguered farmers, with many communities suffering emergencies without adequate relief. There is heartbreak because of diminished attention to suffering people oppressed at…
By RIck Peterson, general managerMay 20, 2026This is my last column for the month of May. I have June and July left and then I step away from the computer on my July 31 retirement date. Before I do step away, we have two very busy months ahead. Last week we published the 2026 Business Directory. This week’s Star Herald will have the 2026 Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek Graduation special edition. Then in early June the Arts and Academic…- By Roger Elgersma, PipestoneMay 20, 2026To the Editor: When I talk to people about when Jacob Wetterling was raped and murdered, if they were his age they immediately emphatically say, ‘that is when it all changed.’ Previously kids would go on bike rides as a group and stop at a community park and chose sides for a softball game on their own. Jacob and his brother and friend were out on a bike ride on a summer evening when they…
By Wyatt VanSteenbergMay 20, 2026Spring may finally be upon us with a recent string of mild, sunny weather. That got me thinking about things that we take for granted here in Rock County that people in bigger cities may not get to experience. The first one is as simple as smelling the fresh air when you go outside or after a good spring rain. Obviously when farmers are laying fertilizer — especially manure — the smell might…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolMay 13, 2026Question: In my community and on my daily commute I encounter two roundabouts each morning, others that I work with will encounter three roundabouts in less than five minutes. Please use your platform to remind drivers how to safely and properly use a roundabout. I see, almost on a daily basis, drivers physically stop their vehicle for other drivers that have not even entered the roundabout.…- By Star Herald EditorialMay 13, 2026During Mental Health Awareness Month, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation is encouraging conversations around mental health in agriculture and reminding farmers that support, and resources are available. Farming is a rewarding yet high-pressure profession. From volatile markets and unpredictable weather to long hours and diverse daily responsibilities, the challenges farmers and ranchers face can…
By Lori SorensonMay 13, 2026As the child of a farmer, wife of a farmer and mother of a farmer, this week’s Farm Bureau editorial content resonated with me. Farming is among the most physically and mentally hazardous occupations in the world, yet farmers are the least likely to reach out for care when they need it. That’s partly due to high-deductible health insurance that makes you think twice before scheduling an…
May 06, 2026Highway 75 through Luverne is closed. The highway, for those unfamiliar, is not just a road. It is — the — road. It’s the road that gets us to church, school, the Tasty Drive In, the world’s largest half-of-a-nutcracker and I-90. Highway 75 is the road we take if we’re going anywhere. I live on the north end of town which now feels like a gated community with an exceptionally long driveway…- By Star Herald EditorialMay 06, 2026May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness about the prevention, symptoms, and treatment of tick-borne illnesses as tick activity increases with warmer weather. Key efforts focus on educating the public to avoid infections, which can cause serious long-term health issues if left untreated. LymeDisease.org offers the following tips for prevention and awareness: …
By Rick Peterson, general managerMay 06, 2026I started my 40-year newspaper career in 1985 at the Worthington Daily Globe. It was called the Daily Globe back then because it was six days a week, so close enough. I have a handful of columns left to write before I punch out for the last time on my July 31 retirement date. Today, my column reflects on the technology advances in the newspaper industry over those 40 years. In 1985 the Globe…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolMay 06, 2026Question: Like most people I travel every day for work and I know that construction season is upon us. Can you write about getting people to understand the zipper merge? I still see a lot of people that can’t seem to figure this out. Answer: The zipper merge is a driving strategy that requires drivers to change their mindset about merging. Traditionally, drivers have been taught to merge early…
By Nicole RonchettiApril 29, 2026When I was growing up, books were very nearly my entire life. Every morning before school I would wake up early to read before breakfast. If there was a spare minute in class, I would pick up my book. I even read while I was walking home from school, taking my nose out of the pages only to look both ways before crossing a street. But then my life changed. I went to college. I graduated. I…- By Linda Wenzel Program Manager, ACE of Southwest MinnesotaApril 29, 2026Volunteer Appreciation Week was last week, April 19-25, when we recognize the individuals who quietly, consistently, and generously strengthen our communities. Here in Rock County, that spirit is alive and thriving thanks to the remarkable efforts of local volunteers. A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota – Rock County is proud to celebrate 751 dedicated volunteers who, over the past year,…
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