Columns
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolJuly 07, 2020Question: I have heard speeding over 100 mph has increased. What is the State Patrol doing about this problem? Answer: The Minnesota State Patrol, along with law enforcement agencies across the state, is currently conducting enhanced speed enforcement on the roadways through July 19. The extra enforcement will target speeding violations as well as aggressive driving. From April 1-May 21, the…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyJuly 07, 2020The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911. Rock County Village of Hills continued from 7-02-20 edition of the Star Herald. Since Hills has become an incorporated town, its growth has been steady. Over $30,000 were expended on building improvements in 1904. The state census of 1905 gave the town a population of 320. In 1908 the building improvements footed up over $15,000 and…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistJuly 07, 2020I was on a daylong, 75-mile wildlife ride on my Polaris Ranger with a few friends Saturday to observe habitat conditions on public lands located in Nobles County. One of the riders said her friend didn’t know what a side-by-side was. A side-by-side is the slang term for a 4-wheeled all-terrain vehicle. I don’t know anyone who calls a two-passenger, steering wheel equipped side-by-side an ATV.…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJune 30, 2020A “novel” virus is, by definition, a new virus, not previously identified. When it emerged six months ago scientists knew nothing about it, except that it was highly contagious and could kill people. Today we know a little about it, like how it’s transmitted and what it’s capable of. But mostly, it seems, the more we learn, the less we know. Things at first believed to be true about it (like, it…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJune 30, 2020In past columns I have shared with you the little life changes I have experienced that may indicate that the aging process in my case keeps advancing. Here are two sure, but not so subtle, hints I reluctantly took notice of recently. Making a list of things to pack for any sort of trip —be it an overnighter or more importantly anything over two days — is a must. You would probably agree such a…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyJune 30, 2020The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911. Rock County Village of Hills, continued from 6-25-20 edition of the Star Herald. Hills became an incorporated municipality in 1904. It had a population to warrant taking the step ten years before, but the fear of many of the residents that incorporation would result in the licensing of saloons precluded taking any action at that time. In the…
By Scott Rall, outdoor columnistJune 30, 2020The Fourth of July should have every American thinking about our independence and those who made sacrifices to keep America free. I am not sure that an ever-growing percentage of our population still keeps those thoughts at the top of the list for this national holiday. As a kid growing up, I remember that almost every neighborhood would be plastered with American flags waving in the wind up and…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistJune 23, 2020I was kidding my girlfriend, Cindy Scott, about how excited she would be when the new puppy shows up at our house on or about the 20th of July. She has never house-trained a dog before, and I was really piling it on when I said how much fun it would be. House training a puppy is not all that hard, but for some dog owners it is just a miserable task. If this is difficult for you, then all I have…
By Jason Berghorst, reporterJune 23, 2020We all want to be right. We all want and need to be part of a group. We believe that those who share our opinions are also always right. These three concepts form the basis of partisan politics. Republicans agree with and defend other Republicans and Democrats do the same for other Democrats. My team vs. their team. Conservatives vs. liberals. We’re right. They’re wrong. It’s how it works.…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyJune 23, 2020The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911. Rock County Village of continued from 6-18-20 edition of the Star Herald. The next item we have to consider in the history of Hills was also an important one — no less than the removal of the entire business section of the town. The village was originally located three blocks west of the present location, on low ground. In 1893 F. C. Finke…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 16, 2020Since the first cases of the coronavirus hit Minnesota in March, one of my colleagues went missing. Gone. Poof. Vanished. In the past three months only a handful of sightings of former sports editor John Rittenhouse have been passed on to the newsroom, but none of these by me, this former colleague. Three months ago, as the newspaper was scrambling to understand the new health rules, John quietly…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJune 16, 2020The Luverne Area Community Foundation has created a worthy dedicated fund called the Rock County Veterans Fund. Don’t confuse this fund with the Rock County Veterans Memorial fund. The Rock County Veterans Memorial Fund is dedicated to the perpetual care of the Veterans Memorial on the front lawn of the Rock County courthouse. In fact, while you have the checkbook out, write two checks — one for…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyJune 16, 2020The following appeared in The Rose History in 1911. Rock County Village of continued from 6-11-20 edition of the Star Herald. The growth of Hills during 1892 was substantial and its permanency was assured. It distanced some of the neighboring villages and boasted a larger growth than its rivals.9 Among the new enterprises of the year were the town’s first hotel by T. O. Strandness, a bank…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistJune 16, 2020Does anybody know what I am talking about when I call a bird a “shy poke”? This was the name I first learned from my grandpa, Arnold Bender, who lived in Leola, South Dakota. This is the nickname for the great blue heron. Another name for them is a looper. This is for their large slow wind beats. The great blue heron was the subject of many watercolor paintings by my favorite wildlife artist,…
By Scott Rall, outdoor columnistJune 09, 2020My friend Ken Red has wildlife property in Pine County, Minnesota, where there are pheasants, wood cock, sand hill cranes, ruffed grouse and deer. I am impressed by the difference between my similar spot in southwest Minnesota and his property only 285 miles away. His game species is way more diverse than that of the grasslands in our area. One bird I really admire that’s not found here is the…
By Brenda Winter, columnistJune 09, 2020I was just learning to read when I handed my mom the anniversary card I’d found in a box on her desk. With all the over-dramatic “ohhs and ahhs” one gives a child for doing a good thing, Mom received the card with appreciation and read it silently. Then — she collapsed into a heap of laughter and could not stop laughing. She laughed the kind of laugh one laughs when trying not to laugh. I’m sure…
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