Columns
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyJune 04, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958. County Road Improvement Contracts Total $162,437 Rock county’s Board of Commissions Tuesday awarded a total of $162,437.27 in three contracts for road improvement this year. Major projects will be the installation of a gravel base and bituminous surface costing $102,898.67 for 10.7 miles on C.S.A. No. 5.…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistJune 04, 2019Driving back from Detroit last weekend, I saw several trees infected with tent caterpillar nests, and believe it or not, we have them in Rock County, too. So if you see that white webby mass in the crotch of a tree branch, they’ve found a place to call home. Usually they prefer apple, crabapple or plum trees as a food source. You don’t have to get real radical like cutting the branch out. Just…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolMay 28, 2019Out of the tragedy of one teen’s death comes life-saving change for Minnesotans statewide. For Kathy Cooper, her family’s efforts to strengthen Minnesota’s seat belt law began after her daughter Meghan’s unbelted death. Their advocacy is saving lives. In 2009 the state’s primary seat belt law took effect in honor of Meghan. It is helping contribute to fewer unbuckled people dying in traffic…
By Brenda Winter, columnistMay 28, 2019Day 78 Dear Diary, We awoke again this morning to the sound of rain pattering against the bedroom window and the neighbor hammering away at his ark. We believe building an ark is a bit of an overreaction to a weather pattern, but we are willing to admit this rain is driving us all toward madness. This morning in church, praise band members began playing “Healing Rain” but stopped when God-fearing…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMay 28, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958. Phone Subscribers Will Get Call Explaining Dial System Starting Monday, April 14, Northwestern Bell Telephone Company will start calling all Luverne telephone customers, according to N. C. Johnson, local manager. “The reason for these calls is to explain the new dial service which will start Sunday, May 4…- By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 21, 2019Against my better judgment we purchased a vacuum robot this spring. It’s not a Roomba, but it’s better, according to my sister who enthusiastically recommended it. We have a light-colored dog and dark-colored flooring so pet hair dust bunnies make daily appearances. When the robot came on sale for half price, I clicked “add to cart,” “proceed to checkout” and “buy.” A week later a big box showed…
- By Rick Peterson, general managerMay 21, 2019When you start to age, that’s different from getting older — at least I differentiate between the two. Getting older has more plusses than minuses. On the plus side, as you get older, you get your driver’s license. A few years older you can vote. Tack on a couple more years after you’re old enough to vote and you can enjoy an adult beverage, and so on. With aging, the minuses outnumber the…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistMay 21, 2019This is the right time to prune any plants in the pine family. The new growth emerges as what we call a candle, and to keep the evergreen compact and full, we cut 1/2 to 3/4 of that individual candle off. When the cut is made this early in the growing season, the cut edge will have time to develop new growth buds for the next growing season, so instead of a long space between tiers of branches,…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolMay 14, 2019Question: Both my daughter and I have a disability. I have the handicap license plates on my car and she only has a placard. When she drives my car, does she have to use her placard to park? Answer: The registered license plates are designed for you to be able to park that vehicle in a disabled/handicap parking location. If your daughter has her own permit, she would need to display her permit in…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 14, 2019My teenaged son and his friends introduced me to Marvel comics just before the cinematic franchise blossomed to include 22 movies and counting. Until the Marvel movies came along, I rarely watched movies at a multiplex, preferring to purchase the DVD and watch the movies multiple times in the comfort of my living room. Younger kids prefer to go to the cinema. One year when Adam and his friends…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMay 14, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958. Past Week’s Precipitation Totals 1.14 In. After an unusually dry period the first three months of 1958, Rock County came in for some brisk rainfall in the past week. Starting last Thursday and continuing intermittently through Sunday a total of 1.14 inches of moisture was recorded at the Luverne precipitation gauge. The…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolMay 07, 2019Question: Can you please explain the new hands-free cell phone law? Answer: Under the law, you may not hold your phone in your hand and cannot use it at any time for video calling, video live-streaming, Snapchat, gaming, looking at video or photos stored on the phone, using non-navigation apps, reading texts and scrolling or typing on the phone. The new law does allow a driver to use their cell…
By Rick Peterson, general managerMay 07, 2019If you have wondered about the purpose and cost of that cable that Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has installed between the east- and westbound lanes on Interstate 90 from the South Dakota border to Worthington, you’re not alone. The Star Herald reported on the project prior to the start of cable installation, and we even did stories as the work progressed. The project was…
By Brenda Winter, columnistMay 07, 2019When consulted about removing bats from one of our rental properties in Luverne, the exterminator from Sioux Falls said, “Yeah. Wow. Luverne is freaking filled with bats.” I already knew that. My husband serves on the Blue Mound Area Theatre Board. The Board spent five figures to remove bats from the historic Palace Theatre. We rent a building on Main Street for our photography business. Once, my…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyMay 07, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on April 10, 1958. City May Rent South Air Strip Luverne’s airport committee was authorized to negotiate for a lease of the landing strip south of the city on U.S. Highway No. 75 by the City Council Tuesday night. Benjamin Vander Kooi, representing the city’s airport committee, appeared before the council and urged the city…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolApril 30, 2019Question: I want to install a lift kit and put bigger tires on my Jeep. I want to comply with all the state laws. What is a bumper height law and the law about tires that extend out past the fenders? Answer: Anytime you make any modification or alteration to a vehicle’s stock suspension and tires/rims, it can change how that vehicle handles, steers, brakes and could affect its overall performance…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
