Opinion
- By Eric Sage, executive director, Rock County Opportunities, LuverneDecember 11, 2024This year Rock County Opportunities (RCO) is facing a new challenge that affects not only work opportunities for our clients, but local seniors who have benefited from a service that helps them remain independent, living in their own home. RCO recently received a notification from one of our long-standing partners that the funding to provide free laundry and cleaning services for seniors will…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterDecember 11, 2024Results from last month’s general election may have surprised many, but no one was more surprised than I was. Come January, my oldest son, Andrew, will be sworn in as the mayor in Lismore, and I couldn’t be more proud as he steps into a local government leadership role. He said that when he received his mail-in ballot, no candidate was listed for Lismore mayor. Concerned, he started asking…
By RIck Peterson, general managerDecember 11, 2024It’s been just a little over two months since the Rock County Star Herald introduced you to Star Media, our way to expand our presence beyond the printed page. Star Media aired its first podcast in late September and in relatively short order produced 20 different podcasts resulting in over 4,000 downloads. Just in case you have no idea what Star Media is, take a moment and crawl out from under…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolDecember 11, 2024Question: Every once in a while, I notice some vehicles stop in the road at the railroad tracks when nothing is coming. Can I pass them when they do this? Answer: Some vehicles, such as passenger vans, buses, and larger trucks, are required to stop at all railroad tracks, whether or not a train is present. Do not pass these vehicles. It is illegal to pass any vehicle within 100 feet of a…- November 26, 2024On four days each year, all Minnesota state parks and state recreation areas offer free admission to everyone, with no vehicle permits needed. Friday, Nov. 29, is the next free parks day, and it couldn’t come at a better time, considering Thanksgiving celebrations are typically all about food and sedentary gatherings. While there’s nothing wrong with indulging in gravy and pumpkin pie, we could…
By Lori Sorenson, editorNovember 26, 2024This is the story of Cookie, the Hero Kitty of the Kroontje farm … or at least the farmhouse. On a recent cold and blustery November night, there was a fire scare in our childhood home near Kenneth. The ancient electric heater under the kitchen cabinets was chugging away … blowing warm air across a cold linoleum floor, just as it has for 50 years. After our parents died in 2019 and 2020, we…
By RIck Peterson, general managerNovember 26, 2024It’s time for the annual “What I am thankful for” column. Before I started pecking away at the keyboard, I sat there staring at the screen. After a longer pause than I care to admit, I decided to start by mentioning the little things I am thankful for that oftentimes are overlooked. The automatic garage door opener comes to mind as does the motion light. Thank goodness for that little sliding…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolNovember 26, 2024Question: My vehicle is equipped with airbags. Do I need to wear my seat belt? Answer: Yes, seat belt use is required. An airbag is a supplemental restraint system. Airbags work with seat belts to prevent injuries but are not designed to keep occupants from being ejected. For safety reasons, children under age 13 must ride in the back seat if it is available. Try to keep at least 10 inches…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 20, 2024Monday was a special day for the Rock County Star Herald. For a portion of the afternoon, the office was closed, and all nine of my colleagues and I traveled to the school for the annual Luverne Education Association awards announcement. We were named the LEA 2025 Friend of Education. I say “we” because even though general manager Rick Peterson in his message to those in attendance said, “…- November 20, 2024On Monday night the Luverne Area Community Foundation hosted its annual “Friends of the Foundation Celebration of Philanthropy” at Take 16. The event recognizes and celebrates businesses, nonprofits and individuals who benefit from and support the foundation’s mission of strengthening the community. Among the groups and individuals at the packed Take 16 event center were people from diverse…
- By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolNovember 20, 2024Question: I can’t help but notice that it seems like a lot of people are following each other too close out on the highways. It’s been many years since I was in driver’s education but what is the recommendation for following distance? Answer: Here is information that is shared in the Minnesota Driver’s Manual. Applying the "Three-Second Rule" helps you keep a safe distance between your car and…
- November 13, 2024Even a joyous holiday season can be stressful, and many turn to alcohol as a stress reliever. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly nine in 10 Americans say that concerns such as not having enough money, missing loved ones and family conflict cause them stress during this time of year. Unfortunately nearly two in five adults who experience stress during the holiday…
By Brenda Winter, columnistNovember 13, 2024Well, it’s time. “The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular” will be performed on stage at the Palace Theatre this weekend and next. The first time I took the stage was in 1979. I was a sophomore at Luverne High School playing the part of the maid in a murder mystery, the name of which I have forgotten. Opening night I was shocked when cast members began to encourage each other to “break…- November 13, 2024Frakes: Mock Presidential Election To the Editor: Last week I read an article in the Minnesota Star Tribune opinion pages. It said that a Minneapolis middle school had a mock presidential election and Harris won 577 to 47 for Trump. Now I’m sure that their education so far has taught them that they are on the hook for mom’s and dad’s and grandpa’s and grandma’s tax bills. Who said we’re…
By RIck Peterson, general managerNovember 13, 2024Oh, what to write about this week … Politics, I’ll pass. The weather, the Vikings, Medicare — again I’ll pass. I have mentioned more than once that the fall is my favorite season of the year. The reasons are the usual suspects, like the fall colors, the weather, football season and, of course, hunting season. The downside to fall is the prep work we have to do to get ready for winter. Raking…- November 06, 2024By the time our Star Herald subscribers read this, the 2024 general election will be in the books, and voters will be acclimating to results and their expected impact. As with every election, we can participate, but we can’t control outcomes. What we can control is how we respond to those outcomes. Will we trust our free and fair elections? Will we respect our local elections officials if the…
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