Opinion

Dear Editor, parents, friends and neighbors  The last few weeks I’ve noticed while I binge watch television, that there’s a new commercial that comes on repeatedly-online/phone app gambling.  Interestingly I had recently heard a story on MPR about this exact issue. A woman talked about the struggles over her son’s now gambling addiction. She discussed her own struggles of addressing the issue…

To the Editor:  Pete Hegseth was appointed to the post of Secretary of Defense (not War) by President Trump, and serves at the pleasure of the president.  Like Trump, he is “thin skinned” according to Democratic Representative Adam Smith, and if given information he does not like he may retaliate against the person who spoke out.  Hegseth has fired more admirals and generals (12) in his brief…

To the Editor:  I thoroughly enjoyed Lori’s article in the April 2 Star Herald titled “Adrift in unchartered waters.”  Myself being a word lover more often than not, meanings go right over my head.  I just simply appreciated Lori’s article.  And to get the drift of it; I literally read it twice!  I realize there is a lot of work and thought that goes into writing for the paper.  It is all…

Are you ready for severe weather? Each year, Minnesota’s office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management collaborates with the National Weather Service to sponsor Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota.  The week is designed to refresh, remind and educate the public about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them.  It’s also a good time to make and practice…

We are building a yard shed.  All of our neighbors have yard sheds. Some have two.  We need a shed.  The key words for architecture and space planning are “form” and “function.”  Form is what something looks like. Function is what something does.  As for what this new yard shed will look like, Jim and I both want it to look “kind of cool.” We want it to have a bit of a mid-century modern…

I’ll admit that I cry very easily. If a book or a movie has a bittersweet ending, my friends and family know to have a box of tissues on standby.  But I don’t think I’ve ever cried as hard as when I watched “When Life Gives You Tangerines.”  That might not sound like a winning endorsement, but bear with me.  The story starts off in post-war Korea, focusing on a young, soon to be orphaned girl…

April is Child Abuse Prevention month, a time for communities to come together and commit to the safety and well-being of children.  This year is especially meaningful, as it is the first time we are bringing this type of awareness campaign to our region.  At the Southwest Crisis Center’s Child Advocacy Program, we work alongside children and families during some of their most vulnerable…

April is Earth Month and earlier this week we hosted a Star Media Conversation with Shannon Dwire, president of Millennium Recycling in Sioux Falls.  Starting this Thursday, you can watch that episode on our Star Media YouTube page, www. starmedia.today website, the Star Media Facebook page, or on the Star Herald website and Star Herald Facebook page.  We discussed the do’s and don’ts of…

Question: Can you write about the laws on headlights on when they are to be used? It would probably be a good idea to mention the rules of dimming one’s bright lights. Thanks.  Answer: When you are within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle or following another vehicle at a distance of 200 feet or less, your headlights must remain on low beam.  Your headlights must be turned on at sunset and used…

Question: I just purchased a pull behind camper. I have never owned or pulled one before. What do I need to know?  Answer: If you pull a camper or trailer with your vehicle, you must maintain at least 500 feet of following distance from other vehicles.  When loaded, 10 to 15% of the trailer’s weight should be balanced on the hitch between the trailer and vehicle. When correctly loaded, the…

To the editor:  A front-page article in the Thursday, March 12, edition titled “County bracing for unfunded mandates in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’” describes cuts to SNAP. The county must now cover a portion of these costs because the federal government is not. These cuts hurt the most vulnerable amongst us, families just trying to get by.  Readers are encouraged to reach out to state representatives…

To the editor:  We have relatives, neighbors and friends standing in harm’s way, serving America in the war in Iran. More troops have been ordered to deploy to the Mideast. Already, 13 Army and National Guard members have died, and more have been wounded, some grievously. On March 12 an Air Force KC135R Stratotanker crashed, killing all aboard.  In the March 18 Minnesota Star Tribune newspaper…

To the editor:  I am concerned about the Northern Con-Agg interim use permit application to open a new gravel pit. One concern is the amendment approved last year which allows expansion of a gravel pit in the A-1 zone as long as the land is contiguous or next to a current pit.  Northern-Con-Agg asked to have the previous A-1 zoning ordinance amended to allow expansions of existing gravel pits…

Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota were joined by three Secretaries of State for a recent virtual press briefing to discuss the potential impacts of the SAVE America Act on elections.  Secretary Steve Simon (Minnesota), Secretary Steve Hobbs (Washington), and Secretary Stephanie Thomas (Connecticut) discussed the impacts to voters, election administrators, and…

After we sent pages to press last week for our March 26 edition, I began the familiar process of second-guessing AP (Associated Press) style choices, editorial judgement and potential errors and omissions.  It’s a press day curse shared universally by newspaper editors around the world.  This week, the bothersome word choice was “unchartered.”  I had quoted our Rock County Land Management…

The Star Herald has received a number of suggestions for “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” mentions in recent weeks. They include:  Thumbs down — to the removal of beautiful, mature trees on North Highway 75. Their shade and functionality will be missed as the landscape of that corridor changes drastically. The only good thing about their loss is that they’re coming down for progress — a new road…