Editorials

Washington, D.C., where my wife, Karen, and I have had a home for 48 years, is deeply shaken by the political assassinations in our beloved Minnesota. So many people here live and work in circles of friendships with (and have traditional aspirations about) Minnesotans. The Beatitudes teach, among other things, that “blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice.” Rep. Melissa…

National Flag Day is June 14, the anniversary of the flag’s adoption in 1777. The American Legion Post 123 will present an informational program on flag etiquette in honor of Flag Day at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 13, at the Plaza on Main. The presentation will be appropriate for adults and children.   There will be a drawing for new American flags and the Legion will accept and properly dispose…

The Star Herald hasn’t issued a “Thumbs” editorial in a while, and that’s partly because we haven’t heard from our readers. So … Thumbs down — to our readers for neglecting to share their “thumbs” up and down editorial ideas. Please send them to editor@star-herald.com Thumbs up — to our readers and community sources in general for keeping us informed of news and feature story ideas in Rock…

We have a reputation here in Rock County of working together to solve complicated problems. This collaborative spirit — especially among local leaders and private enterprise — has put us on the map numerous times for many reasons. Thirty years ago, for example, Rock County emerged as a leader in the state when our planning and zoning commission adopted its own feedlot ordinance. It was 1995,…

A Minnesota native deeply moved by nature, I must have been in high school when I had the unforgettable opportunity to work with renowned National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg. On a frigid winter night, we ventured into the untouched wilderness near Ely, Minnesota. The cold was biting and the silence — vast and consuming. An audio technician placed microphones on the frozen lake, and…

The Star Herald last week was pleased to be invited by Congressman Brad Finstad’s office to join him at the local John Deere dealership for a tour and visit with local people. “Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) will be visiting C&B Operations in Luverne on Friday, April 25, at 1:30 p.m. CT,” the email message read. “Press is welcome to attend. Please reply … if you plan to join.” We replied…

Held in April every year, National Volunteer Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of volunteers. It is an opportunity to join the impact of volunteerism and encourage more people to get involved in their communities. And it’s a great month to reaffirm personal commitments to giving back. In Rock County in 2024, 690 volunteers donated 53,835 hours of service at 64…

Our much-appreciated Sen. Tina Smith extolled the virtues of Luverne and Rock County in her weekly coffee for mostly small-town Minnesota visitors in her Senate office on April 10. She raved about the partnership among Luverne officials and child care leaders and the federal government, in which she and Sen. Amy Klobuchar played a role.    She noted how the joint advocacy was critical in…

It’s been a rough week. When there’s a fatal crash, it’s always a dark day — for the drivers involved, for their families, for first responders, for law enforcement — and for us at the Star Herald. It’s hard to report sad news about local families, and it’s even harder to do that work under a barrage of social media criticism. “Shame on you for posting those pictures,” one wrote about the…

It’s been a rough week. When there’s a fatal crash, it’s always a dark day — for the drivers involved, for their families, for first responders, for law enforcement — and for us at the Star Herald. It’s hard to report sad news about local families, and it’s even harder to do that work under a barrage of social media criticism. “Shame on you for posting those pictures,” one wrote about the…

Last summer Rock County was impacted once again by an extreme weather event in the form of heavy rains that flooded fields, basements and public places. My wife and I have lived in Luverne for more than 20 years. In that time we have witnessed at least three “100-year floods” with the most formidable being the Father’s Day flood of 2014. Our autumns are trending warmer and drier, and we have…

I’m sincerely grateful —even proud — each week when I open the digital Star Herald, and I look forward to later lingering over the print edition. It amazes me to see the large sports section with the many fine athletes and their accomplishments both at LHS and HBC. Sports experiences at LHS provided larger-than-life influence on me and many others. The coaching mentors undergird the ethics and…

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. As a general surgeon at Sanford Luverne, I perform colonoscopies regularly and I also recommend when people can get by with a home test instead. In fact, Sanford tried to make it easier and more convenient for patients to complete their recommended screenings through an initiative to mail screening kits to…

The Minnesota Alliance for Problem Gambling and the Minnesota Lottery are partnering with the National Council on Problem Gambling to recognize March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “Seeking Understanding,” focuses on increasing awareness of problem gambling as a serious but often misunderstood mental health condition. The campaign seeks to foster greater awareness and…

It’s high school tournament time again. The state high school gymnastics tournament and the state wrestling tournament are in the books for the year. Amira Cowell and Kianna Winter both competed in the State Gymnastics Individual Tournament and represented the Luverne Cardinals well. The Rock sisters returned to the State Wrestling Individual Tournament, where Bernie took second place and…