editorial
- May 16, 2016In the coming week, hundreds of local seniors will graduate from high schools in the Star Herald coverage area. As longtime news reporters, we’ve followed many of these students from preschool through their senior year, documenting their journey and accomplishments along the way. It’s been our pleasure to photograph them with their kindergarten construction paper art all the way to their senior…
- May 09, 2016Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children’s lives. Many of these children will become the future leaders in our communities and will be the teachers for future generations. Our teachers’ impact is immeasurable and worthy of celebration every day. Last week marked the National Education Association’s National Teacher Appreciation Week. Since 1984, the NEA has designated…
- By Terry Gallswyk, Tim Buysse and Vong RathsachackMay 02, 2016Minnesota West will soon award 661 diplomas, certificates, and associate degrees for spring commencement, and another 288 students have completed the Certified Nursing Assistant courses. Collectively, 949 awards will have been earned, and we know over 85 percent of these graduates will stay, live, work and raise families in this great state. Regional local employers have significant opportunities…
- By Nicole Woodley, Luverne native and current resident physician at the University of Minnesota, MinneapolisApril 04, 2016Preventing chronic illness and treatable diseases is necessary for supporting our long-term health and wellness. Over 70 percent of Minnesotans have a dedicated health care and dental professional, and along with personal health goals and responsibility, this is one of the most important factors that has led to Minnesota becoming the fourth-healthiest state in the nation. The University of…
- March 28, 2016A report released earlier this year named Rock County as one of only 10 counties in Minnesota to have fully recovered from the 2010 recession. The National Association of Counties report indicated a large majority (93 percent) of U.S. counties have not recovered to prerecession levels in jobs, unemployment rates, economic outputs and median home values. Fortunately, Rock County is among the 214…
- March 21, 2016Where does your food come from? For many Americans, the answer is the grocery store, and for those of us living in an agricultural community, that’s a disturbing answer. The grocery store isn't where food comes from. It's just where food is distributed. In reality, far too many people are unaware of the role American agriculture plays in their daily lives … and what it really takes to…
- By By Jim Zachary, Valdosta, George, Daily Times Transparency Project of GeorgiaMarch 14, 2016Government must be held accountable. The only way for the public to hold government accountable is for all of the actions of government to be out in the open. That is why open government is part and parcel of democracy. When government is allowed to operate behind closed doors, it grows out of control, is not responsive to the public and is subject to corruption. These are some of the reasons the…
- By Cammy (Martin) and Rick Iverson, guest editorialFebruary 29, 2016Your article in the Feb. 11 edition of the Star Herald highlighted the work of so many committed citizens in Luverne who have made it possible to ask the question, “Is Luverne ready to be a destination?” From our perspective, the answer is a resounding YES! In June of last year, a group of twelve of our friends from Minneapolis joined us as we all enjoyed Luverne as a destination for three days…
- February 15, 2016While Gov. Mark Dayton will no longer press landowners to maintain a vegetative strip between farm fields and private roadside ditches, we think it’s a great idea to implement the practice anyway. Buffers of grasses, trees or shrubs stop harmful nutrients from washing off farm fields, entering waterways that empty into road ditches. Vegetative buffer strips soak up excessive phosphorus, nitrogen…
- February 09, 2016Seven years ago, the Luverne community came together as individuals, businesses and government to brainstorm on ways to improve this community. The downtown retail corridor was suffering, the community was lacking things to do, places to eat, venues to shop and daily activities. People and businesses were moving out of town. Some of this was real, some was perception, but everyone agreed we…
- February 09, 2016Seven years ago, the Luverne community came together as individuals, businesses and government to brainstorm on ways to improve this community. The downtown retail corridor was suffering, the community was lacking things to do, places to eat, venues to shop and daily activities. People and businesses were moving out of town. Some of this was real, some was perception, but everyone agreed we…
- January 25, 2016For the third straight year, Minnesota is ranked one of two strongest states in the nation. The annual analysis by the Politico Magazine is based on 15 separate categories that demonstrate the educational attainment, quality of life and economic health of each of the 50 states. New Hampshire was first in the nation. Louisiana was ranked last. States surrounding Minnesota all ranked in the top 20…
- January 18, 2016This week’s Star Herald Opinion Page represents the quintessential community newspaper opinion page. It has the perfect mix of personal columns and letters to the editor on local topics. It’s an editor’s dream. This, dear readers, is what an opinion page should be: a format to air local opinions. And it’s ideal when differing opinions are submitted on the same topic in the same week. Thank you,…
- January 11, 2016The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter. Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, which has resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and reduced the blood supply. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily…
- January 04, 2016With less than one week into 2016, we’d like to offer one New Year’s resolution for everyone who lives, works and visits our communities from rural locales. The pungent smell left by snowy, dirty boots has been considerably noticeable in several public establishments. It was obvious the wearer walked directly from a feedlot into a retail business. Not only were the boots covered in animal…
December 22, 2015As we marvel at the new and shiny Christmas gifts we anxiously waited to unwrap, please take a moment and think about what to do with the old stuff. We live in a disposable age where unwanted and broken items are thrown away. In fact, more and more of today’s items are designed with discarding in mind when broken. The price of these items is lower than their fixable predecessors, making the…
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