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- By Lori Sorenson, editorSeptember 26, 2017Siri is slowly doing away with recipe books, how-to manuals and other tried and true handy references. Our old backyard apple tree has been busy bearing fruit, and we’ve been busy harvesting. Since our McIntosh apples are somewhat “vintage” I consulted my 1950s-era community cookbooks for old-fashioned recipes. Apple dumplings, applesauce, baked whole apples, apple cobbler and others were printed…
- By Mavis Fodness, ReporterSeptember 19, 2017Since March, the empty nest stage I thought I crossed into last September has not been the experience I envisioned. As the last of the four children chose to join the Air National Guard and set off to basic training a year ago, I pictured tackling those back-burner projects to keep my mind off no longer having any children at home. I did enjoy reading again, coloring or watching TV with my feet…
- By Betty Mann, President, Rock County Historical SocietySeptember 19, 2017The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 16, 1931, and is the first in a series about Luverne's Rock River bridge. NEW BRIDGE AND PAVING DEDICATED YESTERDAY Senator Schall and Charles Forbes, “Granddad” of Highway System, Participate in Program. ROAD IMPROVEMENTS BIG ASSET TO LUVERNE Rock River Bridge Among the Best in Minnesota; Main Street Approach is More…
- By Rick Peterson, Tollefson Publishing General ManagerSeptember 12, 2017It’s been a productive summer around here. By that I mean it’s been a productive few months in the baby department here at the office as well as in my family. Abbe, our production manager here at the office, had her second son at the end of July. My daughter Jenna had daughter No. 2 on Aug. 10. Our circulation manager, Jenn, had her second child, a daughter, on Aug. 22. Abbe had her first child a…
- By Brenda Winter, columnistSeptember 12, 2017My husband, youngest daughter and I arose early that morning. Our mission for the day was to drive to Beatrice, Nebraska, to view the total eclipse of the sun scheduled to happen there around noon. NASA promoted the event like this: “On Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe-…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorSeptember 05, 2017My friend, Carrie, and I recently took advantage of cheap airfare and an invitation to stay in her family’s Las Vegas timeshare. I wouldn’t describe either of us as impulsive, but sometimes good deals are too good to pass up, and sometimes spur-of-the moment plans actually work. Within days of spotting the deal we chose our dates and booked our flights. A few weeks later the schoolteacher and…
- By Rick Peterson, Tollefson Publishing General ManagerAugust 29, 2017“Thanks for the memories.” That is how I felt after Sunday afternoon’s Stars and Stripes USO Show at the historic Palace Theatre. They weren’t really my memories, but I could tell many of those in the audience were remembering good times of long ago. I truly enjoyed the show, but it was an added pleasure watching others enjoy the performances. No doubt a lot of memories resurfaced for those in…
- By Mavis Fodness, ReporterAugust 29, 2017Naming an animal is not at all unusual. As a child I named every cat — along with a special chicken or cow. Giving an object a name is a little more unusual. In elementary school I gave my first band instrument, a clarinet, the name Clarice. Clarice the Clarinet. I grin at the thought. You might think I named the black plastic instrument after Jodie Foster’s character in the horror movie, “…
- By Mavis Fodness, ReporterAugust 29, 2017Naming an animal is not at all unusual. As a child I named every cat — along with a special chicken or cow. Giving an object a name is a little more unusual. In elementary school I gave my first band instrument, a clarinet, the name Clarice. Clarice the Clarinet. I grin at the thought. You might think I named the black plastic instrument after Jodie Foster’s character in the horror movie, “…
- By George Bonnema, Luverne gardening enthusiastAugust 29, 2017For weed spray to be most effective, the weeds should be growing actively ... with all the rain we have had, the weeds ARE really growing actively. So, I’m saying that right now is a great time to attack creeping Charlie and any other broad leaf weed in your lawn. A fall application of spray will catch the weed seedlings as they germinate, giving you a clean sweep going into spring. Tough weeds…
- By Jason Berghorst, reporterAugust 22, 2017There’s a first time for everything. I had one last week when I purchased my first brand new major household appliance. I’ve purchased brand new TVs, computers and furniture before, but never an appliance. When I bought my house eight years ago, the refrigerator, range, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer all came with the house. I really hesitate to type this, but so far only the washing…
- By Betty Mann, President, Rock County Historical SocietyAugust 22, 2017The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on October 8, 1926: CROW HUNTERS FAIL TO BAG MANY BIRDS Total of Only 103 Crows Killed in First Crow Hunt Staged by Local Izaak Walton League LOSING TEAM TO GIVE WINNING TEAM A FEED Second Hunt will be Staged Next Month, When it is Hoped More Favorable Weather Will Prevail. A total of one hundred three crows were killed in the three-day…
- By George Bonnema, Luverne gardening enthusiastAugust 22, 2017The Minnesota Northern Gardener magazine was in my mail box today, and there is an article about a new disease showing up in roses in the Midwest ... Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. The disease is rampant in southern states because of milder weather. Rose rosette disease (RRD) is caused by a virus which is carried by a microscopic mite. The tiny, wingless…
- By Brenda Winter, columnistAugust 15, 2017And now they are 2. The baby girls who became our granddaughters two years ago have had their birthdays — one in June and one in July. So the family is blessed with not one, but two, completely illogical people. Webster defines logic as “a proper or reasonable way of thinking about something.” A 2-year-old is not a logical creature, especially regarding property rights. We were about to cross the…
- By Brenda Winter, columnistNovember 07, 2016It’s Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, and the sun is rising over the bike path in my back yard. I’ve had my first cup of coffee and fed the stray calico kitty who now lives on our deck. (Because we are clever we have named her “Deck Kitty.”) I haven’t yet cast my ballot for oatmeal or scrambled eggs, but there will be a winner. Oatmeal is pulling ahead in the polls because it comes with the…
- By Lori Sorenson, editorOctober 31, 2016Several weeks ago, my sisters and I and my parents planned holiday dates for the Kroontje Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. While we were busy entering the dates into our smartphones, Mom made an off-hand remark that stopped us mid-text. “It’s a blessing to be able to plan for the future,” she said, returning her calendar to its nail in the kitchen wall. It took us awhile for the observation…
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