Columns
- By Rick Peterson, general managerAugust 20, 2025August is a busy family celebration month at our household. We have three birthdays and two anniversaries on the calendar this month. One of the birthdays belongs to me, and one of the anniversaries reminds Mary and me it’s been 48 years since the “I do’s” were exchanged. Those of you who have 48 years or more of marriage under your belts probably already know there are only so many ways to…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistAugust 20, 2025I can remember back in the mid ’80s when seeing a pheasant was a really big deal. This is how my life worked back then. If you went pheasant hunting and saw one bird, it was a total success. It did not matter if you saw it fly across the road on your way to a spot or if you flushed it. Just seeing one was a win. Years progressed, and as small fragments of grasslands returned to southwest…
By Calla Jarvie, Rock County Library directorAugust 13, 2025In case we don’t know each other, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Calla Jarvie, your friendly neighborhood library director. I have lived in Luverne since 2013, and I have been lucky enough to be the Rock County Community library director since 2018. Rock County is a wonderful place, but hands down, my favorite spot is the library. First of all, it’s got working air conditioning (most of the…
By Greg Hoogeveen, Time OutAugust 13, 2025Where did July go? Feels like we just celebrated the Fourth of July last week. Oh well, we go through this every year … so many activities, celebrations, vacations and more crammed into one month. Now we’re into the last month of summer – and August ushers in back-to-school preparations and the start of a new school year of sports activities. With summer sports in the review mirror, it’s time…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistAugust 13, 2025After years of failed attempts, I might actually get a food plot that might actually result in food for wildlife. Food plots work to attract wildlife, but they seldom work very well unless they are at least a few acres in size. That being the case, food plots might attract wildlife, but they do not necessarily get them close enough to get a shot. I am a wildlife guy and certainly do not qualify…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 06, 2025I noticed the angels surrounding me beginning late afternoon on July 11. They’re not angels as supernatural beings with actual wings, but angels in the sense of the compassion and care they displayed in the three weeks following my husband’s motorcycle accident and resulting funeral on July 26. I’ve offered a personal thank you to many of these angels, while some I’ve yet to meet and maybe I…
By RIck Peterson, general managerAugust 06, 2025The first week of August is in the books, and the back-to-school shopping season is well underway. It’s fair to say back-to-school shopping isn’t what it used to be. Granted, I am out of the loop when it comes to back-to-school shopping. For this column I reached out to my two granddaughters for their help with the “must have” back-to-school clothes, shoes and school supplies. Brooke is a soon-…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistAugust 06, 2025I was out on a wildlife ride yesterday to look at the native wildflowers at their very peak for the season. For whatever reason this is about three weeks later than a normal year. Nobody can really explain why that happened this year. During this trip I came across several monarch butterflies that were hanging out on a yellow cone flower that was in full bloom. As I watched these creatures, I…
By Brenda WinterJuly 30, 2025Jim and I were enjoying a blistering hot summer evening on the Take 16 patio when our out-of-town guests asked casually, “So what’s with all the nutcrackers?” An eerie silence fell over our table, and the free-flowing conversation was stalled by the question no one can answer. We took small, nervous sips of our ice-cold beers, eyes darting from side to side. The air was thick enough to cut…
By Betty MannJuly 30, 2025The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on March 14, 1963. Teachers will get pay raises here next fall The Luverne school board Monday night approved a raise in salaries averaging $357 for grade school teachers and $381 for high school teachers. The lowest increase was $200 and the maximum increase amounted to $527 for teachers. The starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025The longer I live, the more I believe everybody hurts … often beneath the surface of polished social media profiles. And those who have been hurt by life-and-death loss tend to emerge as different people, permanently affected by grief. While tragedy can be cruel, I also believe it offers opportunity for growth — in a meaningful sense not experienced by everyone. For example: We learn what…
By Rick Peterson, General managerJuly 23, 2025It is fair week – well, actually four days – but it has a week’s worth of fun and entertainment packed into those four days. If memory serves me right, the Minnesota State Fair’s slogan is the Great Minnesota Get-Together. I think that can be said about the Rock County Fair but on a smaller scale. My guess is that a very high percentage of the Rock County fairgoers are repeat visitors. I…
By Jason Berghorst, Star Herald Summer ReporterJuly 16, 2025Have you ever had one of those Mondays? One of those Monday Mondays that are about three Mondays rolled into one Monday? I had one of those Mondays this Monday. To be fair, as a teacher, my schedule is generally more relaxed in July. I work a couple of days a week here at the paper, but my days are much less structured than the rest of the year. And then came this Monday. Upon returning…
By Scott Rall, Outdoors ColumnistJuly 16, 2025I just might be addicted to my pastime. Conservation of habitat and the wildlife that lives there consumes at least some part of every day. I cannot remember the last time I was able to completely unplug my thoughts from what might be the next and greatest potential habitat project. This process for me started over 40 years ago and has culminated in a big event that happened on Friday, July 11.…
By Brenda Winter, columnistJuly 09, 2025Rain does not dampen community spirit. Rain was in the forecast, but it was July Fourth and this is ’merica. As the sun began to set, the mood at Luverne’s annual Fourth of July celebration at The Lake was jovial. An elderly gentleman sitting in front of us succumbed to the music when the band started playing “Fishin’ in the Dark.” Pushing his seed corn cap back on his head, he grabbed his…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJuly 09, 2025Is it just me, or are there a lot more distractions while driving on the city streets these days? I am not referring to texting while driving or fiddling with all the knobs, dials, buttons and switches that cars and trucks come with these days. What I am getting at is all the other modes of transportation vying for space on the streets. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds and UTVs all have to be…
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