Take a long look at city’s northern horizon; big change is on the wayWhile covering the hospital groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon, I couldn’t help but wonder what Luverne will look like 10 years from now.In the past decade since I started at the paper, I watched the Veteran’s Addition sprawl into what became the Evergreen Addition and the Evergreen II addition.Al and Marge Christensen’s acreage has been slowly absorbed into urban growth on Luverne’s north side. And some of the last patches of alfalfa along Blue Mound Avenue are currently becoming basements for new houses under construction.I’m sure I wasn’t the only one at Tuesday’s hospital groundbreaking to take a long look at the northern horizon and wonder what changes are afoot.The excitement and enthusiasm at the ceremony was contagious, and I felt like we were living a moment that will long be revered as a significant event in Luverne’s history.It also occurred to me how fortunate we are to have been blessed for decades with progressive leadership in this town. It’s something we can’t take for granted, nor is it something our current leaders can coast on for the future.Congratulations will be in order at a ribbon cutting ceremony a few years from now, but it’s not too early to thank the ones who had the foresight to get the ball rolling, and the others who had the ambition to follow through to this point.Drive cautiously in school zonesTuesday was the first day of school for most area kids, and as I wandered around on the school grounds looking for photos, Sheriff Mike Winkels’ write up on school driving really hit home.The first-day-of-school chaos brought together a dangerous mix of little pedestrians , darting pell-mell across parking lots, and high school kids in speeding cars, frantically vying for the best parking spots.Actually, I’m exaggerating, but it’s still puzzling, to me, that the buses don’t run into each other, much less run over students.Fortunately, the district has an amazingly well-organized system of getting students into the building without getting run over.But without everyone looking out for everyone else, and without everyone exercising patience and common sense, the school campus could be a volatile place at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day.Word from overseasI’ve never been too romantic about National Guardsmen being activated to serve the country. Practically speaking, I always reasoned that they’d enjoyed generous benefits for their weekend warring, and activation meant they were earning their pay.That may all still be true, but having mingled with families that our activated Guardsmen have left behind, I’m changing my tune.Missing their children’s first day of school, trick-or-treating and Christmas is a big six-month sacrifice for their military benefits, and their absence is a big deal.The Star Herald received an e-mail Tuesday from Sgt. Jody Reisch who reports that the Luverne unit arrived at Lakenheath, England Friday and is in the process of attending briefings.The Star Herald office is sending them issues of the paper to help stay in touch. "You would not believe how having the local newspaper here makes the guys smile," he writes. He promises to send a news release on their activity as soon as he can get the information approved.Good luck, guys, and best wishes to your families at home.
