Skip to main content

column

  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    May 14, 2025
    There once was a little candle whose flame was beginning to dim. Her light is dimmed by clouds of hardship: a D-minus in math, social media bullying and the recent loss of her grandmother. She tries to push the clouds away, but as other hardships accumulate, she begins to lose hope. The darker and heavier the clouds, the more tired she gets, and it appears her flame might go out entirely.…
  • By RIck Peterson, general manager
    May 14, 2025
    This is the second installment in my four-part series of columns on how I feel we have too many choices. My last column dealt with the onslaught of choices regarding barbecue sauces. This week I was overwhelmed by the choices in the world of paint. Our local Ace Hardware is ground zero when it comes to paint choices: brands, color, sheen, and now even texture. First, brands. At Ace you can pick…
  • By Scott Rall, outdoors columnist
    May 14, 2025
    So how many of you have even heard of the Land and Legacy Amendment? Of those of you who recognize the term, how many of you are familiar with what it is and how it operates? I am so surprised how the average Minnesotan is so disconnected from this title. Let us give you a little background. It was during one of the biggest recessions of the past 40 years that the citizens of Minnesota made a…
  • By Pastor Josh Hayden, Living Rock Church, Luverne
    May 14, 2025
    Recently I have found myself complaining too much about the state that I live in. This is not a political article, but because of some possible political laws that could happen, a weird tax on my shipping packages that is supposed to help our roads (don’t get me talking about Highway 75), and some other inconveniences, it has come up in my mind the possibility of moving. Don’t worry, Living Rock…
  • By Mavis Fodness, reporter
    May 07, 2025
    Yukon Cornelius is the name of the Arctic prospector in the animated holiday special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It’s also the name we’ve given to our new-to-us GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle. Like the animated character, our Yukon has become a trusted friend, especially after a recent drive to California to visit our youngest son. My husband and I spent nine days, 3,676 miles and an…
  • By Betty Mann, Rock County Historian
    May 07, 2025
    The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Feb. 20, 1925.   Prices of gasoline continue to ascend   Boost of two cents per gallon attached Friday makes five cents increase since January 1st Prices of gasoline were given another boost this week when a two-cent increase brought the price up to 21.1 cents per gallon. Local oil service stations received announcement of the rise in price…
  • By Scott Rall, outdoors columnist
    May 07, 2025
    The smoke is in the air. Anyone who has been driving around the countryside lately will have seen lots of smoke. The different departments of wildlife agencies have been very busy doing prescribed fire. Yours truly has been doing the same, mostly for private land owners who have acres enrolled in CRP.  It seems that no matter how many times I include the rationale for spring burning, I always…
  • By Pastor Bob Junak, Rock River Community Church, Luverne
    May 07, 2025
    Let’s look at a subject that so many of us have prayed about at some point in our lives – God’s timing. Specifically, how it is almost never our timing. And how incredibly frustrating that can be. Let’s be honest, we’ve all prayed those “Lord, please do this by Friday at 7:00 p.m.” prayers. Oh, I know you have! Do we think God is in heaven taking appointments like some sort of divine doctor’s…
  • By Brenda Winter, columnist
    April 30, 2025
    Her brow furrowed in disapproval, my nine-year-old violin instructor releases another exasperated sigh. “Gra-maw! Your ‘second’ finger!!!!” She reaches for the instrument and again demonstrates the finger progression required “to tell Aunt Rhody the old gray goose is dead.” We are in Kentucky where children play the violin and call their grandmothers “Gra-maw.” I have been a violin student…
  • By RIck Peterson, general manager
    April 30, 2025
    Sometimes coming up with a topic for my column takes more time than actually typing it out. So the other day when I was throwing column ideas around in my head, I stumbled across writing a series of columns on how I think we have way too many choices. The first topic of overabundance of choices will focus on barbecue sauces to choose from. My area of research was conducted standing in front of…
  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    April 23, 2025
    How was your Easter? It’s a fair Monday morning question following the Easter Sunday holiday. My short answer: I ate too much ham and cheesy potatoes and enjoyed my favorite people. My longer answer (which no one had time for after a three-day weekend): It was blessed (the two-syllable version of the word, bless-ed). For many reasons. First, there was the miracle in the riverbank at the…
  • By Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, St. John Lutheran Church, Luverne
    April 23, 2025
    Traditionally, pastors could count on seeing a few faces on Christmas and Easter that didn’t show up much the rest of the year. These are the so-called “Christmas and Easter Christians.” Like many pastors, I was of two minds about it. On the one hand, I would rejoice that they came to hear God’s Word and receive His gifts. On the other hand, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that I wouldn’t…
  • By Mavis Fodness
    April 16, 2025
    My youngest daughter is getting married next Saturday, and she’s asked me to give a little speech at the event. I’m happy to oblige. It’s not very often that children ask parents what they think, let alone listen to what they have to say. Thoughts about what I’ll say are still being formed, as Lyndsey has taken a very long route in the choices of how she’s living her life. I’d liken Lyndsey…
  • By Brenda Winter, columnist
    April 09, 2025
    It was 1992. I was a young pup reporter for the Rock County Star Herald and was assigned to cover speakers for the Luverne School’s 125th anniversary. I sat with hundreds of folks on the courthouse lawn listening as dignitaries and others extolled the wonders of Luverne. Then it was Jim Brandenburg’s turn to speak. I waited for him to talk about the Great Big World out there and the delights of…
  • By Lori Sorenson, editor
    April 02, 2025
    With our nation’s current political upheaval (that’s my best shot at a diplomatic description), I’ve increasingly wondered what I can do to make the world better. And I came across a quote from Anne Frank that struck a chord with me. “How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world,” she wrote. “How lovely that everyone, great and small,…
  • By Rick Peterson, general manager
    April 02, 2025
    In today’s Star Herald and in this weekend’s Luverne Announcer there is an ad announcing The Great Easter Bunny Hunt. The season for The Great Easter Bunny Hunt runs from April 3 through April 22. Just to be clear, no bunnies will be hurt in any way. The Easter Bunnies in this case are paper bunnies. There are only 10 bunnies hidden. A different paper bunny will be hidden in each of the 10…
Subscribe to column

You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.