Columns
By Brenda Winter, columnistNovember 19, 2025On an early November morning three years ago, Mom and I sat in the living room. She was holding a fluffy, blue and white blanket. Her shortness of breath made it clearer that her remaining time on earth was short. I didn't know the blanket’s ownership was in dispute between Mom and my nephew until she said quietly, “Kingston gets the blanket.” Apparently she and her 8-year-old grandson had a…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistNovember 19, 2025The news is always full of car crashes and other accidents. Some are farm- or work-related or others might be as simple as a guy falling off a ladder or crashing to earth from a tree stand. Almost all of these have one thing in common: The name of the person who died or was critically injured is a name I have never even heard of before. That changed on Nov. 8 when Luverne lost a community…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistNovember 12, 2025So, what do four guys from California, Washington, D.C., Oregon and Minneapolis have in common with three guys from Toledo, Ohio? They all made it to southwest Minnesota in the past two weeks to go pheasant hunting on public lands. There could not have been a more diverse group of outdoors enthusiasts than this group. Two sold mortuary services, one was a crane operator, one a political lobbyist…
By Lori Sorenson, editorNovember 12, 2025The American poet John Russell Hays wrote, “The Groves Were God’s First Temples” in 1895 as a tribute to nature. I’m not a fan of abstract poetry and didn’t even know the poem existed until a friend shared it with me after learning about my frequent walks in our grove. I’ve written columns about the joy of long walks on gravel roads, either with a friend or with a dog. However, our aging lab-…
By Rick Peterson, general managerNovember 12, 2025This Friday is opening night for the Green Earth Players’ musical production of “Little Shop of Horrors” under the direction of Shawn Kinsinger and Carol Ceynowa. There will be seven shows altogether: Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week and Thursday through Sunday next week. Show times are at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Ticket prices are $14 for adults and $7 for students…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterNovember 05, 2025Marie Kondi is a professional organizer who’s developed a way to create a happy living environment by using our feelings, in particular, the feeling of joy. I find myself craving joy in my new-found widowhood, and the search for joy has been exhausting and elusive. There’s been retail therapy, emersion in each grandchild’s activities … and even a tattoo. Meanwhile, I’ve been working to…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolNovember 05, 2025Question: I have two grandsons, one 17 years old with a driver’s license, the other 15 with a permit. They both have a bad habit of driving with one hand on the wheel. I stress how dangerous this is and both hands need to be on wheel all the time. I drive at the 9 and 3 position and try to have them do the same. Any suggestions? Answer: When it comes to driving, try to keep at least 10 inches…
By Calla Jarvie, Rock County Library directorNovember 05, 2025November at the library Holy cow, you guys, the library is busy this month. Normally I save the last couple of paragraphs for events at the library, but there’s so much going on in November, I’m going to use the entire article to talk about it. The Rock County Community Library is having its very own series of TED Talk showings! At 6 p.m. for three Mondays (Nov. 10, 17 and 24) the library will…- By Pastor Joshua HaydenOctober 29, 2025In a conundrum or in despair we run in haste To a life of prayer that revives, But when life is good we slow our pace Because we do not understand the word “abide.” A sign in our yard to keep on praying Is easier than to actually meet for an hour. Yet we see churches all over decaying Because we are not dependent on God’s power. “But I can pray wherever I go!” We shout with self-…
By Brenda WinterOctober 29, 2025“Other duties as assigned” are not unique to Equipt Christian School where I’ve been volunteering the past few months. Every job and volunteer position includes them. As a K-2 classroom helper, I expected I might help students find lost papers, sound out complicated words, or write the No. 7 facing the right direction. I do all of those things. I thought I might carefully monitor the amount of…
By Rick Peterson, General managerOctober 29, 2025Halloween is on a Friday, and that is sure to bring out the trick-or-treaters. And the weather looks good for the candy collectors as well. The Luverne Area Chamber’s annual “Trunk or Treat” at the Luverne Elementary School parking lot starts at 4 p.m. and runs until 5:30. I am proud to say that I am the current reigning office participant in the annual “Truck or Treat” promotion. The following…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistOctober 29, 2025When is the weather so bad that you will just not go hunting in it? That answer is different depending on who you ask. I, for one, will not chase my favorite ring-necked pheasants in a steady rain. The only other time I will take a voluntary pass is when the wind is above 25 miles per hour. Then just add in the fact that you have visitors who have traveled a long distance, and then these two…
By Lori Sorenson, editorOctober 22, 2025My creative colleagues at the Star Herald have been sharing social media posts about our staff members’ work anniversaries It’s been fun for the online community to get a glimpse of the humans behind the titles in our office, and community reactions to the posts have been delightful and encouraging. This week it’s my turn. We accidentally overlooked my actual work anniversary in April, but it’s…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianOctober 22, 2025The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Nov. 6, 1941. One of the most familiar sights on the Luverne streets now, and for almost 60 years, is one of Clarence M. LaDue and his horse drawn milk wagon. At the age of 86, he is hale, hearty and agile, and getting down from the seat of the wagon and getting back up on it is no trick at all for him. That he still uses the horse drawn…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterOctober 15, 2025Thirty-seven years ago, I stood looking out the second-story window of our rented acreage in Kanaranzi Township. A vast expanse of soybean and corn fields stretched out as far as the eye could see. A feeling of contentment filled me as I held my infant son Andrew. I briefly imagined him working in those peaceful fields, enjoying the feeling of growing something from the rich, black soil. That…
By RIck Peterson, general managerOctober 15, 2025I don’t order a lot of things off the internet, but from time to time I do order a few things. Recently I was in the market for a couple of dog collars. So, like most Amazon shoppers, I typed in what I was looking for, and dozens of options popped up. So, after scrolling through them, I started to check out the reviews. Most of the reviews fell into the three-, four- and five-star category,…
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