Opinion
By Lori Sorenson, editorMarch 06, 2024I’ve made it a habit to pay for gas at the pump to avoid convenience store snacks and beverages, but when Luverne’s long-awaited Kwik Trip opened last month, I went inside to check it out. Yes, the store lived up to the hype of bright lighting, clean restrooms, fresh food and happy helpers. However, as a lifelong coffee drinker with an affection for strong brews, I gravitated to the Kwik Trip…- February 28, 2024World Teen Mental Wellness Day is observed across the globe on March 2 every year to raise awareness about challenges facing teens and how to improve their brain health. And in the Hills-Beaver Creek School District, students took charge of observing the day and carrying the message. (See this week’s news section for their story). During the month of February, they raised awareness, raised…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 28, 2024In an era of political correctness, I’m happy to see a state agency is not shying away from humor, and it comes from an unlikely department: the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Eight years ago, the Department of Transportation began “Message Mondays,” where the state’s electronic message boards along state highways and interstates display safety messages to travelers. The target…
By RIck Peterson, general managerFebruary 28, 2024Every four years Feb. 29 shows up on the calendar, and for some it’s their birthday. To those folks I say, “Happy Birthday.” For me and thousands of pheasant hunting enthusiasts, it means it’s Sioux Falls’ turn to host the Annual Pheasant Fest. This year’s event kicks off on Friday for three days of all things pheasant hunting. There is literally something for everyone. Over 400 exhibitors will…- February 21, 2024Is it possible you overlooked a rebate check that didn’t get cashed? If so, you may soon get a reissued check, so watch your mail and know what you’re looking for. Officials with the Minnesota Department of Revenue announced last week that they will begin reissuing over 128,000 one-time tax rebate checks that have gone uncashed and subsequently expired after their November and December issuance…
By Brenda Winter, columnistFebruary 21, 2024On May 9 the “elderly spinster sisters from Leota, Minnesota,” Marlene and Darlene, played by DJ Luethje and me, will take the stage at the Palace Theatre for the annual Generations spring fundraiser. This year’s show is called “Without George.” When George Bonnema died unexpectedly in December 2023, he left a void bigger than most. One of the many positions he vacated was being the “Life Force…- By Jody Boulay, community outreach coordinator for Drug Rehab ServicesFebruary 14, 2024There can be pitfalls for anyone playing the dating game, but protecting sobriety can be particularly tricky in new relationships. With Valentine’s Day in the recent spotlight, it’s a good time to consider tips for success in relationships and sobriety, While dating can be an adventure, it’s important to never lose sight of sobriety goals. Generally, health professionals recommend that people…
By Lori Sorenson, editorFebruary 14, 2024My mother-in-law cautioned me about her son early in our dating years. “You know, these Norwegian men aren’t very affectionate,” she told me, in case I should want to escape the relationship before I was too invested. Of course, she laughed when she said it, but she wasn’t wrong. My husband is a kind and gentle man, but affectionate, he is not. Especially in public. During our own wedding…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolFebruary 14, 2024Question: Hello, I thought I read somewhere that rest areas help reduce crashes. I saw a trooper at a rest area the other day, and it got me thinking about that. Can you write about that? Answer: More than 20 million travelers stop at Minnesota rest areas annually. Rest areas serve as an essential safety feature on the highway system by giving travelers a place to stop and rest. This helps…
By RIck Peterson, general managerFebruary 14, 2024Every time something about the world’s largest nutcracker coming to Luverne is published in the paper or on Facebook the anti-nutcracker folks seem compelled to voice their concerns. Earlier this month it was Groundhog Day, and I can only imagine the local naysayers from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, when they heard about the idea of Groundhog Day. I can’t help but imagine the conversation at the…- February 07, 2024The unofficial motto of U.S. Postal Service is, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Unfortunately, this motto is no longer observed at the U.S. Postal Service, as quality of mail delivery has steadily declined while postal rates are steadily increasing. The Star Herald last week published a Letter to…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterFebruary 07, 2024Attending last week’s Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention reminded me why I chose a career in newspaper journalism. Being a conduit for information speaks to my creative nature and fits my personality, and the like-minded conference attendees rekindled my news passions. They include an eagerness to tell people about exciting news, a sense that what I do actually matters and pride in a…- February 07, 2024Sandbulte: Post office is struggling Letter to the Editor: As a retired rural carrier with the post office, I think I can respond to some of the complaints against the local service. For the last three years I have come out of retirement to help deliver packages during the holiday season. This past session was by far the worst. It appeared to me, that Amazon was short of help too, so the…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolFebruary 07, 2024Question: I was driving on the freeway during the worst part of a recent storm. Just had a question — are people supposed to use their emergency flashers when they are driving? So many cars on the freeway were, and it made it impossible to tell if someone was actually stopped or moving slowly (also, if they changed lanes, there was no way to tell). I was having trouble seeing anyway, and this…- January 31, 2024We in Luverne have been proud of our local artist, Andrew Prekker, who submitted the winning proposal for Minnesota’s new state flag. Of more than 2,000 proposals, his was used as the base for the final flag design. It was a process that started more than four months ago with the goal of having the new flag and emblem in the State Capitol buildings by May 11, which is Statehood Day. Why did we…
By Brenda Winter, columnistJanuary 31, 2024It was just after the Big Chill a few weeks ago that Melvin appeared by our back door. The big orange tabby was also a few feet from death’s door. He had a cut on his face, a bent tail, a gimpy leg and hadn’t had a bath in weeks. He looked like he’d had a close encounter with a car, or maybe a snow plow. His coat was a mess and his eyes were watery and sad. Melvin was in tough, tough shape. I…
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