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  • By Scott Rall, outdoors columnist
    January 31, 2024
    Sitting in my day job office this morning, my mind did wander a little bit anticipating the first 70-degree day of 2024. Working outside on habitat projects is about as much fun as I can have. Others like to golf or chase round ball sports. I just don’t share the same interests as many others and that is very OK. Working on habitat that is owned by the public was for a long time very difficult…
  • By Pastor Josh Hayden, Living Rock Church, Luverne
    January 31, 2024
    What is Christianity? Is it just a doctrine or your theology? Is there no need to get up out of your pew or seat? Is there no need to care for the least of these? What is Christianity? Is it a Sunday morning symphony? Where everyone can sing their hymns in harmony? Yet not grow in love and unity? What is Christianity? Is it loving your neighbor and the lost? Is it an energy-packed conference…
  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    January 24, 2024
    A Star Herald co-worker last week discovered a lone screw on the floor beneath my office chair. “I thought you should know, in case it’s essential,” she handed me the short, stubby screw. I retrieved a Phillips screwdriver from the 50-year-old toolbox in the former press room, now a warehouse-sized storage room, to repair my 40-year-old office chair. I think it’s 40. It was well used when I…
  • By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol
    January 24, 2024
    Question: I heard you on the radio the other day. You were talking about new, young drivers having some restrictions on their driver’s license. You mentioned something about a parent being able to take their license away. Could you explain more about that? Answer: I was talking about graduated driver license (GDLs) laws, which support a three-stage driver licensing system to phase in young…
  • By Betty Mann, Rock County Historian
    January 24, 2024
    The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on April 13, 1944. Early days in Kanaranzi township were recalled this week by Harry S. Curry, Luverne, who for many years was a blacksmith and…
  • By Mavis Fodness, reporter
    January 17, 2024
    For the new year, I am participating in a 12-week Healthy Human Challenge with about 120 like-minded individuals. Daily points are assigned for meeting our nutrition and step goals. More points are added for drinking water, getting enough sleep, and listening to a self-improvement podcast. I’m motivated to amass the 2,600 points necessary to fulfill the three-month challenge. One thing I’ve…
  • By RIck Peterson, general manager
    January 17, 2024
    Over a very short period of time, Luverne lost three great men. I extend my sympathy to the families of George “the flower guy” Bonnema, Dave “the pilot dentist” Paquette, and Elmer “the coach” Menage. It was the summer of 1975 when I first met coach Elmer Menage. Coach Menage was selected to be one of the coaches, and I was selected as one of the players for the second annual North-South…
  • By Betty Mann, Rock County Historian
    January 17, 2024
    The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on April 6, 1944. Mrs. Zillah E. Wilson continues her life story: The years after their marriage proved to be busy ones for Mrs. Wilson. From 1899 to…
  • By Scott Rall, Outdoors columnist
    January 17, 2024
    We just had our first snow of the season, and it did not take very long to wish we had missed the snow for the entire winter. The cold temperatures expected later in the week would have gone a long way to creating safe ice for all of those ice anglers waiting on the shore. With eight inches of snow on what little ice was there, it will now delay the formation of safe ice, as the snow will act…
  • By Brenda Winter, columnist
    January 10, 2024
    (If you haven’t yet read Lori Sorenson’s Jan. 4th column, “Be Like George,” do it now. Then read this one.)   A week and a half before he died, Flower George Bonnema marched into my living room. Observing the wilting leaves on my Peace Lily plant, he poked the dry dirt. “This needs water.” He paused. “And it needs to be repotted. It’s root-bound.” George was at my house to drop off a Christmas…
  • By Rick Peterson, general manager
    January 10, 2024
    Over the holiday weekend we did a little cupboard cleaning at the Peterson household. By that I mean down-sizing the number of pots, pans, coffee cups, thermo beverage containers and just about anything else that hasn’t seen the light of day for some time. While doing so, we would run across some things we forgot we even had – or what they were, in a couple of cases. I must say it was quite…
  • By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol
    January 10, 2024
    Question: I was wondering, with the ads on television showing people driving with their hands off the steering wheel, is that legal in Minnesota if your vehicle has that capability? Answer: I believe you are asking about autonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, which are capable of sensing their environment and operating without human involvement. Minnesota law states that every driver is…
  • By Betty Mann, Rock County Historian
    January 10, 2024
    The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on April 6, 1944. “Seattle has just gone through a city election, and I had a heap of fun, serving on the election board.” The above statement was…
  • By Scot Rall, Outdoor Columnist
    January 10, 2024
    An interesting winter we’ve been having until this week. Don’t get me wrong, but I can say I totally loved it. There was no snow to shovel and holiday travel and other events had no road conditions to worry about. What this also means is that if you are a die-hard ice angler or pike spearer, there has been very little to no opportunity in the southern half of Minnesota. There is still some cool…
  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    January 03, 2024
    George Bonnema has been gone for only a week, and already we feel his conspicuous absence. (See our front page tribute story) Who will lead Generations and be the voice of our newly energized senior citizens? Who will tend the boulevards and update the seasonal planters? Who will place fresh arrangements on tables for senior dining? Who will bake and donate award-winning carrot cake for…
  • By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol
    January 03, 2024
    Question: I am applying for a new job that will have questions about my driving record. Can I visit with someone from Law Enforcement to get a copy of that? Answer: No, this is not something that Law Enforcement agencies can provide. If you want to know what employers and insurers see, the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division has made it easier than ever to get a copy of either your…
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