opinion
October 13, 2020Well, I took the bait. It happens about once every two weeks or so. I replied to a semi-political comment on Facebook. I should know better. In my defense, the original post was about the no-barrier COVID testing available this week in Luverne. It wasn’t technically political. I would have passed it by, but the author of the post mentioned online learning. As a teacher experiencing hybrid…- By Craig Oftedahl, Luverne Public Schools SuperintendentMay 05, 2020Thank you, Luverne teachers! During the past six weeks, I have been reminded many times why I became an educator. It has been and always will be about the students for me. As a teacher, coach, principal, athletic director, and now as a superintendent, I always wanted students to have better opportunities than I had as a student and participant of extra-curricular activities. …
- March 24, 2020Luverne and Rock County have always been leaders in our little corner of the state on policies ranging from schools, the environment, agriculture and most recently the census (we’re leading the state right now in data response). Now, dear readers, we must again step up and be leaders. Our governor has issued mandates and our local businesses and governments are following through. But just 30…
- January 14, 2020On Monday, Minnesota Senate Republicans announced their agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Known as “Vision 2020,” it will guide public policy work during the 2020 legislative session, which is expected to include capital investment bill, a supplemental budget, tax relief, health care, public safety, roads and bridges, public infrastructure and more. Sen. Bill Weber, Luverne, shares his…
By Esther FrakesJanuary 01, 2020So what’s in a name? Obviously a very specific spelling, for one thing. One of the challenges for the Star Herald staff is to spell names correctly — not an easy task. As early as possible at the beginning of each school year, we ask the area schools to email student class lists to us for reference when needing to verify spellings of names of students in our stories. The variety of spellings…- November 12, 2019We’re closing in the end of another decade, and the Star Herald is looking back on the highlights of the years between 2010 and 2020. The first 10 years of the new millennium in Rock County were marked by the Ken Burns world premiere of his documentary series, “The War,” at the Palace Theatre. The decade also saw a regeneration of what we now know as the Courthouse Square with the stately…
- November 05, 2019Every two years state legislators submit requests for the capital budget bill. The requests include improvements to state facilities, public lands and grants to local government entities. The city of Ellsworth is requesting a $1.3 million grant for a new city hall, multi-purpose center and maintenance shop. It’s the only request from a community in our own backyard, and Governor Walz would like…
- By Tom GetmanOctober 22, 2019As I suggested last week, there is a bright side dawning in this dehumanizing time. There is increasing sense in our land, spurred by the political crisis, about what defines and characterizes honorable public service, a free compassionate society and faithful witness to the Good Shepherd. Shepherds, in the spirit of Jesus, take risks for the lost, lonely, endangered lambs … even those who may…
- By Tom GetmanOctober 15, 2019You in Luverne likely feel like I do here in Washington. In the midst of the hostile even bigoted political debates and civil disequilibrium, I confess the need for instruction to maintain my faith and peace. The Parable of the Good Shepherd (in Luke 15) reminds us what the sacrificing-servant-church, service clubs, NGOs and families can be in this period of resurgent racism, the ravages of rapid…
- By Michael Walgrave, Rock County Land Management technicianJuly 23, 2019“If civilization is to avoid a long decline, like the one that has blighted North Africa or the Near East for 13 centuries, society must be born again out of an economy of exploitation into an economy of conservation.” — W.C. Lowdermilk, former Assistant Chief of Soil Conservation Service and author of “Conquest of the Land Through 7,000 Years.” Armor the Land Attend Aug. 1 Cover Crop ‘How To…
- July 23, 2019The Rock County Fair is underway in Luverne. The Star Herald has been previewing the annual event for weeks. Rock County Fair Board members have been working hard for months to prepare for these three days. 4-H members and families have spent thousands of hours getting ready to show their animals and projects. Open class entrants have created and grown their ribbon-worthy entries. Now it’s your…
- By Julie Tesch, president and CEO of the Center for Rural Policy and DevelopmentMarch 26, 2019Have you read a newspaper lately? Was it your local newspaper? Was it in print or online? I’m fortunate to have a daily, regional newspaper delivered to my door every day. I also have two neighboring community newspapers delivered weekly. Why do I spend this money? It is my connection to my community and local news. I can go online at any time and find out what is going on in pop culture and…
- By Jane Wildung-Lanphere, Luverne Area Chamber DirectorJuly 31, 2018I strongly felt that I needed to respond in defense of the wonderful men and women who have volunteered and are serving on the Destination Branding Committee for Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow. If you are a social media person (I admit that I am not), you probably have heard of the negative comments, hatred and hype that has been focused on the work that these volunteers are doing trying to…
- By Becky Rahm, LuverneOctober 09, 2017Over the course of my teaching career, educational content and methods have evolved a lot, but unfortunately the Luverne Middle School/High School building has not kept up with the many changes. It is clear that the current middle school classrooms in particular are no longer adequate for the 21st-century teacher and student. Students must learn skills like collaboration, problem solving and…
- By Miranda Roskamp, Southwest Crisis Center Youth AdvocateSeptember 12, 2017With school back in session, students and parents are focused on classes and schedules, but it’s also time to recognize and prepare for the possibility of various forms of violence. Domestic and sexual violence do not discriminate. Any time is a good time to start ongoing conversations with young people about what these types of violence look like, how they may be affected by it, how to help…
By Jason Berghorst, reporterAugust 23, 2016Like me, you felt it this past Friday and Saturday. Some of you, like me, were energized by it and liked the feeling. Others of you dreaded it. But we all noticed it. The change of seasons was in the air last weekend. Temperatures in the sixties during the day and low fifties at night felt downright chilly. It felt like fall. It felt great. Don't get me wrong, I like summer and have…
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