Editorials
- By U.S. Sen. Tina SmithJanuary 15, 2019It’s no secret that farmers in Minnesota and across the country have been rocked by low crop and dairy prices, and a crippling trade war that has blocked billions of dollars in sales of U.S. farm products abroad. So, the last thing our farm economy needs as we move into the new year is to have the federal government shut down. For me, job one in the new Congress is to end this wasteful and…
- By Jane Wildung-Lanphere, Luverne Area Chamber DirectorJuly 31, 2018I strongly felt that I needed to respond in defense of the wonderful men and women who have volunteered and are serving on the Destination Branding Committee for Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow. If you are a social media person (I admit that I am not), you probably have heard of the negative comments, hatred and hype that has been focused on the work that these volunteers are doing trying to…
- July 17, 2018Voting is both a right and a privilege, but it’s also an important responsibility of every eligible citizen. The primaries are only a few weeks away, and the 2018 election season is shaping up to be a pivotal moment of changing leadership in many levels of government, so it’s never been more important to research ballot options and the candidates you’ll support. For our local elections, we hope…
- By Becky Rahm, LuverneOctober 09, 2017Over the course of my teaching career, educational content and methods have evolved a lot, but unfortunately the Luverne Middle School/High School building has not kept up with the many changes. It is clear that the current middle school classrooms in particular are no longer adequate for the 21st-century teacher and student. Students must learn skills like collaboration, problem solving and…
- By Jim Pumarlo, Minnesota News MediaOctober 03, 2017Nothing is more satisfying to an editor than reviewing a day’s edition — whether in print or digital format — and quietly proclaiming, “We connected with our readers.” A newspaper’s relationship with its readers is at the heart of National Newspaper Week. Newspapers, at their best, are stewards of our communities. News columns are a blend of stories that people like to read and stories they…
- By Craig Oftedahl, Luverne Public Schools SuperintendentSeptember 19, 2017I’ve worked in schools for 30 years and every fall I am impressed and inspired by the energy of students when they come back to school. It’s an exciting time of year for the kids, for parents and for teachers. The theme for this school year is “Purpose, Passion, Pride … Making a Difference.” Educating students and building relationships to prepare young people for the world is our purpose and we…
- September 05, 2017Thousands of preschool through 12th-grade students entered schools throughout the area this week. It’s a fresh start. A clean slate. A new way to start over with a positive focus on the tasks at hand. Most importantly, the new school year is a chance for young people to learn to communicate and understand that, while issues seem overwhelming, there are ways to overcome them. This summer the…
- By Matthew Paxton IVAugust 29, 2017What happens when mail comes late? We found out a few years ago, when the postmaster general took away overnight first-class and periodicals mail from most of the nation. That caused problems for a lot of consumers and businesses. Late payments affect credit scores. Medicines mailed late could mean a trip to the hospital. Delayed payments to a business could mean delays in loan payments. Late…
- August 22, 2017When Minnesota’s public schools open their doors for the 2017-18 school year in September, some students will learn more than just reading, writing and arithmetic. Students at Luverne Public Schools will learn skills that may be life-saving. Beginning this year, Luverne students and staff will be exposed to lessons about what do to if a violent intruder enters their building. While this training…
- By Rick Peterson, Tollefson Publishing General ManagerAugust 15, 2017As you can tell, we have a drastically different front page this week for Minnesota Newspaper Week and the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s 150th anniversary. The whole idea behind the mostly blank front page is to offer a sense of what it would be like without a local newspaper. I suspect a few readers will pick up the paper and look at the blank front page and think we had screwed up in some…
- November 07, 2016The political campaigning is now over and it’s time to pull together. We need to gather those good ideas and actually accomplish some legislative good for our communities, our state and our nation. We also need to set aside blatant disrespect, finger pointing and general negativity of the presidential campaign and mend fences. What better place to start than in our own backyards? Take the time to…
- October 31, 2016At this stage of any election process, it’s easy to become cynical. This year that’s the case more than we’ve ever seen in any other presidential election. In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear people say, “I don’t trust any of them. They’re all crooks, and I’m not going to vote.” Sadly, this would be the worst response to what should be a celebrated moment in American politics. Voting has always…
- October 17, 2016Every year in October we observe National Newspaper Week during which time newspapers all over the nation remind their readers why local newspapers are important. In an age where we have instant access to so much online information, there’s little reason to be uninformed about the world around us. And that’s a good thing. But without careful consideration of sources and motivation behind messages…
- October 11, 2016Last week the Star Herald covered the Luverne Middle School-High School students’ participation in the nationwide event “See You at the Pole.” The last time such a gathering occurred in Luverne was at the turn of the new millennium, and community members resoundingly indicated it was about time. Pictures from last week’s brief gathering in front of the middle-high school were posted on our…
- September 26, 2016Next week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. If you don’t have a mental illness or disorder, count your blessings, and if you don’t know someone with a mental illness or disorder, you’re in the minority. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, an estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — experience a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year…
- September 19, 2016Motorists traveling on Minnesota highways this fall need to be aware of large farm equipment transporting crops to markets, grain elevators and processing plants, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. “Harvest season is in full swing and farmers in every corner of the state are out using the highways,” said Jay Hietpas, state traffic engineer. “Motorists need to be prepared to…
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