Editorials

Wednesday night’s candidate forum, livestreamed from our Star Media studio, was a milestone for our Star Herald We knew it could be done, but we didn’t know if we could do it. We wanted to do it. So we practiced doing it, and we practiced again and again. We wrote a script, read it out loud, rewrote it, read it again, and rewrote it again. We solicited candidate questions from the community…

Linda M. Rust, age 66, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, passed away Friday evening, Sept. 27, 2024, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne, Minnesota. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, also at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, with Fr. Sunny Dominic officiating. There will be a…

We at the Star Herald understand elections can be confusing, and we know there are many competing voices trying to influence votes. That’s why we publish candidate questionnaires in the paper and online for voters to read, and that’s why we host candidate forums for voters to learn from conversations live and recorded in podcasts. Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian is being challenged by Isaac DeBoer…

During National Suicide Prevention Month in September, it’s important to recognize the connection between substance use and suicide. Drug and alcohol addiction significantly increases the risk of suicidal ideation, attempts and death, and they are generally the most implicated substances in suicide risk. The risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior is elevated with acute alcohol intoxication and…

September is Suicide Prevention Month — a time to raise awareness of an urgently important crisis. The goal this month is to shift public perception, spread hope and share vital information with people affected by suicide. Ultimately, we want to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. How can you help?…

When Luverne voters cast ballots in the general election this fall, they will have choices in local leadership. Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian is being challenged by Isaac DeBoer for the privilege and responsibility of guiding city government. Two open seats on the Luverne City Council will be contested on the general election ballot. Josh Gangestad is challenging longtime council member Dan Nath…

As students prepare for the start of the fall school year, the American Red Cross offers essential safety tips to help ensure a smooth, safe start to the school year. Whether walking, biking or taking the bus, consider these practical tips for safety.  Teach your younger students key safety skills: Ensure they know their phone number, address, and how to reach you or another trusted adult at…

Government “by the people” depends on voters having the information needed to select leaders who will serve their interests. At the Star Herald we’re working hard to inform our readers about their election choices. We published candidate profiles ahead of last week’s primary election, and we’ll offer similar profiles ahead of the general election. Our Rock County voters will have choices in…

Minnesota students who use e-cigarettes, also called vaping, are finding them-selves increasingly trapped in nicotine dependence, according to new data from the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey. About 7 in 10 students who vape want to quit, and nearly two-thirds have tried to quit, with some trying to quit 10 or more times. Nicotine dependence has implications for youth mental health. Youth and…

Words can send a powerful message, and this is especially true during an election season. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 13, and it’s a good time to reiterate the message we editorialized on earlier this year: Be respectful, no matter how strongly you feel about a candidate or issue. In June we launched the “Respect Campaign,” which is a series of advertisements and messages reminding…

For some people, growing older isn’t celebrated with much excitement and energy. At the Southwest Crisis Center, however, we are excited to say that this year, we turn 40! Our agency has been providing victim-centered services for 40 years in southwest Minnesota. As we look back over the last 40 years, we see all that has changed both within our organization and in how we as a society and…

Rock County is now considered part of the Sioux Falls, S.D., Metropolitan Statistical Area. What it means is the U.S. Office of Management and Budget has determined that based on 2020 census data, Sioux Falls, population 202,000, and Rock County, population 10,000, have a high degree of economic and social integration. Columnist Karen Tolkkinen shared her thoughts in a July 19 column in the…

This is the week, folks, the “be a george week” in honor of the late George Bonnema who would have turned 75 on July 18. The T-shirts have been distributed, and if you bought one (or three), now’s the time to wear it. If you committed to the mission, now’s the time to ‘be a george.’ It’s an exciting week in Luverne and Rock County, where people are already known for their generosity. If you…

In case you missed Lori's lovely article in the paper a couple of weeks ago, or if you need a reminder, “Be a george” Week is coming July 14-20. Next week will be your opportunity to do something for someone else for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do. If you knew George Bonnema, you know he was always doing something for others … often without them even asking. In case you…

It’s been a rough start to the summer of 2024, as many in Rock County have suffered the effects of devastating flooding. Some of us are reeling from crop losses, water-damaged homes and other flood-related disaster, and the realities of extreme weather are coming into focus. While it’s easy to get discouraged, the July 4 holiday is a good time to recenter life perspectives. Despite our recent…

Words can send a powerful message, and this is especially true during an election season. But sometimes words — thoughts and ideas — are shared in a way that can be hurtful or damaging. Sometimes the truth is detrimental to somebody, and that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t share truths. But deliberately harming someone out of spite is counterproductive, and it seems social media and its anonymous…