opinion

The Star Herald had received a number of suggestions for a “thumbs up, thumbs down” editorial, and this week we’re sharing those submissions.  Thumbs up — to a new place in town to get ice cream. Cowbells Meats and Treats opened earlier this month, and the homemade ice cream selection is fabulous (as are the waffle cones and other options.)  Thumbs down — to parking on the street in front of…

The library is thrilled to announce, in partnership with the City of Luverne, the Rock County Community Foundation, the Friends of the Library, and Sioux Valley Energy, our Story Trail is up and running!  First of all, what is a Story Trail?  A Story Trail is an interactive outdoor reading experience that combines early literacy with physical activity. Pages from a children’s book are separated…

Have you ever sung the song “I’ll Be a Sunbeam”? It was written in 1898 by Ellen A. (Nellie) Talbot for a Sunday school convention. The first verse says, “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, to shine for Him each day; In every way try to please Him, At home, at school, at play.”  Remember the last time a sunbeam broke through the clouds after a thunderstorm? That sunbeam brings a ray of hope and a ray…

I recently hiked the Flatiron Trail in the Arizona Superstition Mountains.  The view from the summit was spectacular, as were the views going up and coming down. But that’s not why I chose to hike it.  I did it because I could. (I hoped I could and was thrilled to discover I could.)  According to Google AI, the Flatiron summit is a “renowned, strenuous” hike via the Siphon Draw Trail in Lost…

Our office has received several notifications regarding a scam call or text currently going around the county.  The message is sent by an individual acting like they are a lieutenant or sergeant advising that a friend or family member is currently incarcerated, and that money is needed to be sent for their bond.  Other variations of the same message have been reported as well. One example we…

My column for this week is about things I have never taken for granted. Those things remind meof how lucky I have been to work in an office setting for the past 40 years.  The hot muggy days recently give me reason to be thankful I work in an air-conditioned office. The same is true in the middle of a subzero cold spell in the dead of winter to be working in an office with the thermostat set at…

Question: I know you talk about the importance of tires when it comes to the winter months but I think it’s just as important to talk about it in the spring with rain and wet roads. Thank you.  Answer: It is always a good time to talk about tire safety. Tires must support your vehicle’s weight and grip the road properly.  Inspect tires regularly for cuts, cracks, uneven wear, bald spots, bulges…

At a bonfire one early summer evening, a dad turned to the teenage boys in our group and said, “You’ll never understand how much your parents love you until you have a child of your own.” That line stuck with me.  Growing up, I knew my parents loved me. But ten years after that bonfire conversation, when my wife told me she was pregnant, I finally understood more about the extent. Before ever…

As I enjoyed lunch with a friend, I suggested I might have a second biscuit when she (lovingly) pinched a bit of flubber on my waistline and said, “I think you’ve had enough biscuits.”  This was shortly after another friend told me of the success her co-workers were having with weight loss drugs and (lovingly) suggested, “You could try it.”  My shirts and pants had been sending the same (loving…

Luverne has a reputation for being a “clean and pleasant” town, with rows of stately homes, shaded drives and manicured lawns.  This year, with Highway 75 construction in the middle of town, it’s harder to pull off that image for visitors.  Especially for town celebrations — like this weekend’s Buffalo Days and upcoming Hot Dog Night and our 75th Annual Tri-State Band Festival.  While we’re…

   The past few weeks have been pretty frustrating for this outdoor guy. It is hard to have so much work on my to-do list and each day passes and none of it is getting done. The work I am referring to is my list of prescribed grassland fires. That list has been accumulating since last May and for most of those projects it needs to be completed by May 15.  There are always lots of calls and…

How many of you have noticed that there is a lot of negative reporting in our national news?  Many people talk about how divided we are as a state and a nation. It’s sad because it can start to negatively affect relationships between people in communities and families.  When I was young, our teachers would tell us that we had an attitude problem. Like usual our teachers were right. Our attitude…

Sometimes I’m proud to be “old school.”  I didn’t get a cell phone until 2006.  And I still haven’t adopted the use of GPS or other personal navigation technology.  That’s right; when I travel I use my trusty “mental map” or look at Google Maps to plan ahead.  I don’t let anyone or anything on my phone or car tell me where to go.  This is especially true when the route is familiar.  Why…

As we recognized Older Americans Month in May, it was an opportunity to celebrate the contributions, wisdom and resilience of older adults in our communities while also reflecting on the importance of supporting healthy aging for all.  This year’s national theme, “Champion Your Health,” emphasized prevention, wellness and personal responsibility as key components of aging well.  It serves as a…

The column count has now entered June, leaving just five columns left, counting this one, before my retirement on July 31.  One of the joys of this job is being involved in a whole host of community events. This weekend is Luverne’s annual Buffalo Days, and because of the Highway 75 construction some of the traditional events have detoured to different locations.  For example, the Friday Night…

Question: In last week’s article you wrote about e-bikes. Can you also just provide a reminder on all around bicycle safety? Thank you.  Answer: If you’re riding a bicycle, you must:  •Obey all traffic control signs and signals, just as you would when driving. — The only exception is that bicyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs when the intersection is clear.  •Use signals, if able, to…