Opinion

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…

Former Rock County Star Herald Editor Al McIntosh penned his widely acclaimed “Tired American” commentary in 1965 at the height of anti-government protests and anti-American sentiment. He wasn’t afraid to express his political views on the Star Herald opinion page, though it cost him friendships and garnered plenty of local criticism. He wrote “Tired American” because he was indeed tired. I’m…

My phone has pretty much been ringing off the hook the past few months as people see dead geese decomposing on the ice of area lakes. The bird flu is not a new thing, but a pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has been working its way across Minnesota since it was first reported in 2022. The danger to humans is very low, but you should avoid contact with infected animals and use protective gear…

A friend of mine lives in a relatively nice Glendale, Arizona, suburb. The house a few doors down from hers  is home to a group of high school-aged basketball players from across the U.S. They were sent by their parents to attend high school with a primary focus on their ultimate goal – to play in the NBA. Parents who choose Christian schools are somewhat like-minded. Of course there is…

Have questions about blood donation? Here are some answers Someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion about every two seconds. Blood donations play a critical role in maintaining the health of our communities, particularly in the winter when the blood supply tends to be at its lowest.   Claudia Cohn, a professor and director of the University of Minnesota Blood Bank Laboratory in…

Prekker: Land transfers are not 'generous gifts from the state' I recently read Mr. Rall’s article from The Outdoors column about his concerns over recent land transfers that are occurring in Minnesota. These transfers are of public lands that our state’s indigenous people are requesting to be returned to them. These lands include the Upper Sioux Agency State Park, the Upper and Lower Red Lakes…

This is one of those times of the year when a dog guy gets kind of bored. The ice conditions have been so sketchy that I don’t really feel all that great driving on the ice of the area lakes. More about this next week. So with no seasons open, I took to observing one of the only ways yet available to harvest a pheasant. How do you do that when all of the hunting seasons are closed? You find a…

Minnesotans observed the ninth annual School Bus Driver Appreciation Day this week to recognize dedicated professionals and the incredible service they provide to Minnesota families. School Bus Driver Appreciation Day first started in Minnesota in 2017. The Minnesota School Bus Operators Association (MSBOA) and Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) created the day to encourage…

It’s been over five years since my sisters and I lost our parents and took over the family farm near Kenneth. The five of us gathered Saturday to paint the kitchen and living room, followed by supper, a little business, and as always, plenty of reminiscing. We had discovered a large, frayed accordion folder with school report cards for each of us girls documenting our achievements from…

It’s been 20 years since I started working here at the paper. To say things have changed a bit in the paper industry would be an understatement, considering computers, digital cameras, cell phones, internet and social media, not to mention the fax machine that came and went over a relatively short time. All of the afore-mentioned changes came about in the last 30 years or so. Twenty years in…

Last week I hinted that I would be trying to add some insight as to why the ice conditions across Minnesota have been so hit and miss this season. What leads me to this subject matter is just how many cars and trucks have made their way to the bottom of so many lakes this winter. One of the conditions I am referring to is why there is so much open water on many area lakes and why, after…

Have you noticed anything different about the Star Herald lately? We haven’t lost weight or got new eyeglasses, but our new look is about that subtle and we hope our readers notice. We’re enjoying more vibrant colors, crisper graphics and better contrast on the pages. That’s because we switched to a new printer, White Wolf Web and Digital Printers in Sheldon, Iowa, and the new presses required…

Just before Christmas, an obsession began in our house thanks to the office holiday party. A Star Herald gift exchange resulted in a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle coming home with me. The intriguing “Coca Cola memorabilia” picture ultimately led to the opening of the box and clearing off the dining room table for my husband and me to work on it. As a result, we’ve finished 10 puzzles since mid-…

Who doesn’t like gifts? I don’t think there is anyone who doesn’t like to receive things of value. Some are small and have less meaning, and others might fall under a substantial inheritance. The gift giver makes a determination that the asset is better in the hands of someone else. The Minnesota State Legislature seems to really enjoy giving gifts of great value. The issue is that the gifts…

Next week is Valentine’s Day, and Friday, Feb. 7, is the deadline to sign up for a giant frosted heart cookie for the lovers and loved ones in our lives. A thoughtful local nonprofit is hosting a creative fundraiser, “Cookies for a Cause,” to support their mission and to encourage thoughtful gifts timed with Valentine’s Day. Luv1LuvAll is a non-profit organization that addresses issues in the…

The key to successful New Year’s resolutions is to make them so vague that success is ensured no matter the effort. Which is why, after six weeks, I’m keeping all of my New Year’s resolutions for 2025. One of my resolutions for the year was to go to the gym. All I have to do is “go to the gym.” That’s it. Find a parking spot. Boom. I am at the gym. My commitment “to work out” begins if I…