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Opinion

  • By By Thomas Getman
    June 18, 2025
    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…
  • By Jason Berghorst, reporter
    June 18, 2025
    It seems to be happening more often. I say or think or do something and then quickly realize, “Wow, I’m getting old.” Three weeks ago I finished my 23rd year as a teacher and began my 12th summer working part time at the newspaper.  That means I’m (hopefully) well past the halfway point of my career and solidly in my “midlife” years, if I’m blessed enough to live past the average longevity of…
  • By Scott Rall, outdoors columnist
    June 18, 2025
    It has been a very long time since I last laid eyes on a creature I saw last night. For the first time in over five years, I saw a small juvenile red fox. This animal used to be quite common around southwest Minnesota, but for reasons I mention a little later, they have for all practical purposes vanished from my area. The red fox is in the upper quartile of foxes for size around the world. They…
  • June 11, 2025
    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…
  • By Brenda Winter, columnist
    June 11, 2025
    It’s been a long time since anyone dared me to do a trick on my bike. I was the lucky winner of a new Townie Electra at the Take 16 bike drawing last Thursday. (Thank you, Lineage Logistics!) My 10-year-old nephew rode over on his bike to invite my husband and me to join him on a test drive of my flashy new prize. He wanted to “see what she could do.” I thought he meant the bike. Once we hit…
  • By RIck Peterson, general manager
    June 11, 2025
    This is the last of four columns about my take on the abundance of choices we have when it comes to selecting and purchasing a simple item. I wrote about the number of choices on the shelf for the perfect barbecue sauces at our local Sunshine Foods store, the plethora of paint colors and sheen to choose from at the Luverne ACE Hardware store, and the aisle after aisle of choices of dog food at…
  • By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol
    June 11, 2025
    Question: I read your last article about road construction and work zones. Can you talk about the zipper merge? It seems like a lot of people don’t know what it is or can’t figure it out. Thank you. Answer: The “Late Merge - Zipper Merge” is a driving strategy that requires drivers to change their mindset about merging. Traditionally, drivers have been taught to merge early when a lane is ending…
  • June 04, 2025
    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…
  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    June 04, 2025
    I recently tagged along with Matt to the Washington, D.C., area where he had meetings for a conference. In addition to touring the iconic memorials and monuments, people-watching was one of my favorite perks of the trip. The locals are a melting pot of diversity, but when you throw in the visitors, it’s a place like no other that offers a perfect cross-section of humanity on display. Among…
  • June 04, 2025
    Creating homes, building America — NeighborWorks America’s lasting impact on America   To the Editor: The first full week of June each year is designated as NeighborWorks Week. As we celebrate NeighborWorks Week this year from June 7-14, it’s a timely moment to recognize the profound and often underappreciated role NeighborWorks America plays in strengthening our communities. With this year’s…
  • By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State Patrol
    June 04, 2025
    By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I have been receiving text messages about an “E-Z Pass Final Reminder.” It’s something about having an outstanding toll and submitting payment. I was told it was a scam. Can you get me more information on this? Answer: Here is information from the Minnesota Department of Transportation E-ZPass page. https://www.dot.state.mn.us/ezpassmn…
  • By Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Senator
    May 28, 2025
  • By Mavis Fodness, reporter
    May 28, 2025
    Imagine running 437 miles across the state of South Dakota. In September my nephew-in-law is doing just that — running a relay race from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in five days. Izzo is one of 12 runners selected for the 437 Project, an awareness and fundraising event for the Helpline Center based in Sioux Falls. Izzo, a former Marine, is bringing attention to his fellow veterans and current…
  • By RIck Peterson, general manager
    May 28, 2025
    This is the third installment in my series of columns about what I consider growing trends of having too many choices in making simple decisions. I so far covered barbecue sauces and paint, and now we’ll cover dog food. Pet food choices are off the charts, and for this column I am zeroing in on dog food. Our local Bomgaars is where I buy my dog food, so I did my research there on the plethora…
  • By Scott Rall, outdoors columnist
    May 28, 2025
    There seems to be a new sheriff in town when it comes to operating a boat or personal watercraft in Minnesota waters. There are new regulations starting July 1, 2025. These new rules require both youth and younger adults to be certified in watercraft safety if you were born after 2004. The new rules are being phased in. If you were born after 2004, the requirements begin on July 1 of this year…
  • May 21, 2025
    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,…
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