Opinion
By Jason Berghorst, reporterAugust 21, 2024Sometimes it’s good to step outside your box. Other times it might be good to step off the dock and into a small fishing boat. In my experience last weekend, the two mean the same thing. As a teacher, my summer ends this week. It’s been a great summer and I’m always thankful for the opportunity to rejuvenate and reset for the new school year. My last opportunity for rejuvenation came last…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolAugust 21, 2024Question: Since I've moved to Minnesota, I've seen many drivers use right turn lanes as a bypass lane. Is this legal or does the sign reading "lane must turn" mean exactly what it says? Answer: White signs are regulatory and failing to comply can result in a citation for “fail to obey traffic control sign/signal.” “Right Turn Lanes” are what they are posted for, not passing or bypassing. The “…- August 14, 2024Minnesota 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…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 14, 2024Two months ago I wrote about how my mother blossomed into a different person since moving into Tuff Home in Hills late last year. For as long as I can remember, she mainly showed her stubborn side and rarely let a softer side of her personality shine. On Sunday, at the age of 96, and after living a full life on her own terms, my mother died. Her service is today (Aug. 15), and I agreed to…
By RIck Peterson, general managerAugust 14, 2024When you live in Minnesota, you have a variety of seasonal tools. In the winter a snow shovel, ice scrapper and possibly a snow blower are all tool essentials. For the fall the rake probably ranks at the top of the list. In the spring you break out the rake again to do a little spring cleanup around the yard. If you’re a gardener the hoe is your “go to” tool. Summer is where you need the big…- August 14, 2024Klosterbuer: 'You might just save a life' To the Editor: As a long time Red Cross blood donor, I was alarmed to see that there is a critical shortage of blood in our country. For most people donating blood is a simple process, usually taking an hour or less. If you have never donated blood before or have put it off, I urge you to make an appointment. Red Cross will be in Luverne on Tuesday,…
- August 07, 2024Words 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…
By Brenda Winter, columnistAugust 07, 2024Our friendship began in college. She thought I was funny and I loved her infectious laugh. We became apartment-mates and centered our home life around Tom Petty, Bud Light, Marlboro 100s, Doritos and cheese dip. She lived with my family in Luverne for a few months after our freshman year. We walked beans and picked cucumbers. The summer’s highlight was her catching a ride home to Rapid City…- August 07, 2024Bickerstaff: PMP supports child care center To the Editor: Premium Minnesota Pork continuously supports the efforts to create a child care center in Luverne, Minnesota, that serves the needs of our community. Child care is an essential part of economic development and a critical part of the social infrastructure of a healthy community. The Luverne area provides a wonderful environment for…
- By Sara Wahl, Southwest Crisis Center executive directorJuly 31, 2024For 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…
By Jason Berghorst, reporterJuly 31, 2024“Everything in moderation … including moderation.” I like to think I’ve been living out this famous quote by Oscar Wilde this summer. As a teacher, my time is more flexible in the summer. Although it feels like my days are mostly filled with this part-time job, online classes I’m taking, and meetings for church and other organizations I’m involved with, there’s no doubt I have more time to…
By RIck Peterson, general managerJuly 31, 2024You may or may not agree with me, but August is one of my two favorite months of the year. Sure, the clock is ticking toward the end of summer, but let’s face it – after the Fourth of July summer is in its final chapter for the year. So why does August rank in my top two? For selfish reasons – my anniversary and birthday are in August for starters, and football season is gearing up for another…- July 31, 2024Jarvie reflects on her move from South Dakota To the Editor: This letter is in response to Karen Tolkkinen’s article about whether or not Rock County feels Minnesotan, especially now that we’ve been added to the Sioux Falls metro area. I will say without hesitation that Rock County is absolutely Minnesotan. Tolkkinen spoke with Mayor Pat Baustian, who mentioned people who have moved to…
- By Karen Tolkkinen, Star Tribune columnistJuly 24, 2024Rock 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…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 24, 2024We celebrated a 70th wedding anniversary for Matt’s parents Saturday, and I kept thinking what an amazing gift it is to reach that milestone. Arden and Mary Ellen were married on July 17, 1954, at the tender ages of 20 and 19, which sounds terribly young today, but they fit right in with their peers at the time. To be married at that age also gave them a better shot at reaching a 70-year…- July 17, 2024This 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…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
