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When I was 5 years old, standing outside of the elementary school and nervous for my first day of kindergarten, my mother did what so many parents do and gave me a hug. Then, she kissed my hand and said that if I ever became scared or overwhelmed that her kiss was still there – all I had to do was think about it and she’d be with me. That was the ritual for the first several months of…

Unlike other church buildings that are sold or demolished or left to decay once a congregation disbands, Blue Mound Lutheran Church has been lovingly maintained by former parishioners and their families. Every fall they celebrate together, inviting the public to join them for worship. A half-century after the doors closed, the spirit lives on. Dennis Olson, an emeritus professor at…

It’s not often that reporters and photographers find themselves part of a story — being interviewed and recorded.  And when it happens, it can cloud perspective.  I’d been following Jason Lennox and his Recovery Road walk around the periphery of Minnesota.  I read the Star Tribune story about him, along with compelling coverage by community newspapers on the state’s border about his 1,776-…

One of the many fun things I get to do as a library director is attend conferences. I just got back from my favorite conference of the year, the Association for Rural and Small Libraries conference. This year it was in Montgomery, Alabama.  As you probably guessed from the title, this conference is geared toward small and rural libraries. ARSL defines “small and rural” as those with service…

It was one of the first Labor Days that I can remember over the past years that was actually a rainout. Nobles County received about 3.5 inches of rain over the long weekend.  This is the first significant rain we have had in about three months. It killed a lot of plans but part of my weekend plan went off despite of the rain. A few years back I enrolled about 75 acres in a conservation…

Grapevines connect a family’s generations. Six Concord grape vines grew on the garden fence between the garage and rhubarb when Grandpa Winter bought the farm in the 1920s. His bride, fresh off the boat from Germany after World War I, made tending them part of her responsibilities as a dedicated hausfrau. Every September, Grandma dutifully lined the canning room shelves with sparkling jars of…

Question: I saw in one of your recent articles talking about stopping for a school bus. In the article you stated, “Motorists are not required to stop for a bus if the bus is on the opposite side of a separated roadway (median, etc.) — but they should remain alert for children.” Can you explain the “etc.” as I still have questions. Answer: Excellent question and yes, I can. Minnesota state…

Some of my favorite high school memories start with me getting up at 6 a.m. to go with my dad to his Rotary Club meetings.  Every Tuesday, we would get in the car before the sun had come up and drive to what used to be the Hibbing Park Hotel.  Other Rotarians would already be there, setting up, and we’d say ‘hi’ and then order breakfast.  A few minutes later, I would be sitting in front of a…

Question: We are starting to see a lot more fog with spring time. Can you provide some advice for driving in those types of conditions.  Answer: This is a great topic. Here is some information from the National Weather Service for driving in fog. If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:  •Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.  •Make…

I learned last week that new refrigerators, the kind that cost $5,000, are equipped with cameras on the inside.  Upon learning this, my immediate thought was, “Oh good. Another tool to curb late night snacking.”  I imagined the refrigerator syncing with my diet and exercise app to report undocumented calories.  •two slices of ham  •two tablespoons of French onion dip  •three bites of…

What television show started with the line, “What time is it?” What time it is relates to this time too. It is time to find the school list that was mailed out in July. It is time to realize the shoes the kids have been wearing all summer are now two sizes too small. It is time to replace the batteries in all the alarms and detectors. It is time to triple check the calendar and mark off all the…

For 13 summers, I’ve had the opportunity to write part-time for the Star Herald when on break from my real job as a teacher.  As a high school teacher, I have the opportunity to attend many graduation parties each spring.  I’ve written at least one column over the years about “grad parties,” how they both change and stay the same, and how much I do enjoy them.  One of the aspects of graduation…

September is one of the most exciting months at the library.  For one thing, it’s Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you don’t have a library card, get yourself into the library and sign up for one ASAP!  But the big event in September is the Friends of the Library annual book sale. Every year, the Friends of the Rock County Community Library put on a massive book sale in the basement of the…

With summer settling down, school will be back in session here shortly for Luverne and surrounding communities.  For the kids, this means butterflies in anticipation of a new school year, or maybe fear of the unknown that a new season brings.  Some enjoy the prospect of learning something new, while others may believe they know all they need to know to succeed and make it in the world. …

I have a confession to make: I own too many houseplants. Not by my estimations, of course, but maybe by others.  The greenery brings me peace, as does the careful care each week of checking their water levels, their leaves and their health.  That’s why when I moved to Luverne I thought it was fitting to buy a new houseplant in honor of the move. I knew the species I wanted, shopped around, and…

If you’ve lived in Luverne longer than 10 minutes, you already know we’re in the middle of what the Bible might call “tribulation,” and what the rest of us call “construction season.”  Highway 75 is shut down, Main Street is the detour, and now they’re closing the intersection we all actually need.  I don’t know who’s in charge of cone reproduction, but they’re fruitful and multiplying far…