Columns
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistApril 06, 2021It seems that garden plants that were showing growth last week survived the 16-degree cold without damage, and I’m appreciating that, especially after one breezy 88-degree day yesterday, I have daffodils blooming this morning … what a glorious morning view! I do seem to have more than my share of critter problems … both two legs and four legs. A pair of Canadian honkers seem to think Poplar Creek…
By Brenda Winter, columnistMarch 30, 2021One of my grandmas could make a jumping mouse out of a handkerchief. The other grandma let us have a sip of her beer and eat supper without washing our hands. One grandma took us to the store to buy pop and candy, the other entertained us for hours by telling stories from her childhood in Germany. I loved both of my grandmas. I didn’t love them for what they could do. I loved them because they…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMarch 30, 2021The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on June 24, 1892. The Old Settlers The Annual Meeting Held at the Court House Last Saturday Pursuant to the call published in these columns, the annual meeting of the Old Settlers’ association of Rock county was held at the court room last Saturday afternoon. E. L. Grout, president of the association, called the meeting to order, and the…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistMarch 30, 2021It is Monday and I have been cleaning up the Healing Garden at Sanford. As I was working, I noticed little sprouts of bluegrass that have been hiding among the stems of perennials that I didn’t notice last year. That reminded me to remind you that this is the best time to remove perennials grass that may have begun invading your garden area. Many of these grasses like blue grass or quack grass…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMarch 30, 2021Spring is upon us and prescribed fire season will be here and gone in the blink of an eye. Fire scares the heck out of most people and it should. Utilizing fire to benefit wildlife habitat is not something you can pick up in a weekend or two. I have been active in prescribed fire projects for almost 20 years. Still today, I have a very high respect for fire, and this is the primary reason that…
By Jason Berghorst, reporterMarch 23, 2021If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. That old “rule” seems to be forgotten on social media. It seems like negative, divisive, and/or false information is posted or shared much more than positive or uplifting content. You know what I mean. The same few people who constantly produce posts that are either bashing one political party, sharing false information or…
By Rick Peterson, general managerMarch 23, 2021The St. Patrick’s Day parade that made its way down Main Street last week may pale in comparison to other event parades, but this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was the best parade of the year by non-traditional measures. The parade itself was kind of a coming out party for life having a little bit of normalcy. For 10 years or more, the Star Herald has participated in the parade, and I would say…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistMarch 23, 2021Spring is a transition between winter and summer, and this week we have been transitioning. The snow added some much-needed moisture to our top soil and that gives me confidence after last year’s prolonged dry season. Today I will remind you that now is a good time to rejuvenate your indoor plants if they are needing that attention. Taking cuttings from old plants to get new plants is the best…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMarch 23, 2021The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on June 24, 1892. Death and Disaster One Death in the County and Serious Injuries to Buildings and Crops Occasioned by the Storm Monday Evening Between four and five o’clock last Monday afternoon one of the severest storms of wind and hail ever known in this section swept over a narrow strip of country in the southern part of the county and…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMarch 16, 2021The community received long-awaited news last week from the Sheriff’s Office that suspects had been arrested in connection with the holiday vandalism at the city park. Businesses, organizations and individuals had put careful, creative consideration into their lighted displays, not to mention long hours and personal expense. And it paid off in a big way. Anyone who showed up for the fireworks and…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMarch 16, 2021The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Sept. 16, 1932. Highway Dept. Shows Interesting Figures Assorted Activities of State Highway Patrol Summarized for August; 100 Cars Taken Into Custody The report of activities of the state highway patrol for the month of August, as summarized by a recent highway bulletin, shows that in addition to giving directions and other information to…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistMarch 16, 2021It’s Monday and I am thinking of all the pruning I got done last week. Now I’m looking at a blanket of the whitest and heaviest snow we have seen in awhile. But hey, the frost came out of the top layer of soil so this will be wonderful moisture to help replenish the deficit from last year. So, we get a couple of days off but we do want to get the pruning done whenever we get the chance because…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMarch 16, 2021When you spend your free time in the conservation universe, there is normally very little down time between seasons. The ice fishing season closed at the end of February, and in a short window of about 30 days I am heading into the heart of fire season. When it comes to managing grassland habitats, there is nothing else that can have such a positive impact as fire. Before human settlement, the…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMarch 09, 2021Author Theodor Seuss Geisel has taken readers on whimsical journeys through Whoville, Kaverns of Krock and the Jungle of Nool, and many other fictional places since the publishing of his first book in 1937. We know Mr. Geisel better by his pen name Dr. Seuss. March 2 is “I Love to Read Day” and is celebrated locally as well as nationally with Dr. Seuss books taking center stage during the day. Dr…
By Rick Peterson, general managerMarch 09, 2021Many of you probably have filled out the Minnesota Department of Health’s application on the Vaccine Connector website to get your name on the list to receive the vaccine. I did as well, and frankly the application is absurd. If you haven’t done it yet and if you want to get your name on the list, here are a few of the questions you’ll need to answer. The first two are simple and necessary. “What…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistMarch 09, 2021I haven’t been submitting any garden articles for the paper for a year because I thought I had all of you educated enough so I could retire. Someone recently reminded me that we are humans and we forget … “so what’s wrong with refreshing our memories?” Well, that’s not a hard task for me, so here goes. … We have survived winter, and if there is one good thing about extreme cold (other than higher…
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