guest editorial
- By Sue Abderholden, director, Minnesota chapter of the National Alliance on Mental IllnessNovember 15, 2022World Kindness Day was Nov.13, a day that more than ever before needs recognition. Here at NAMI Minnesota, we’ve been promoting “Space and grace,” to give others space to err, to be upset or mad. It means giving others grace so that our response to them is not filled with anger or frustration. When we respond with grace and space, we actually feel better – because we have responded with kindness…
- By Michael Leach, substance use disorder and addiction specialistNovember 01, 2022Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, countless celebrations, family gatherings and work functions often occur. It can be a stressful time of year for some people, especially those recovering from alcohol addiction or anyone battling alcohol addiction. The holiday season can be triggering for many people, with the holiday parties, loneliness, financial worries, or the general stress of having…
- By Linda Wenzel, A.C.E. of SW Minnesota Rock County program coordinatorMay 17, 2022For many caregivers, stress is a constant companion. One effective way to reduce caregiver stress and reduce burnout is to write in a journal. Getting your thoughts down on paper and out of your head is therapeutic. Studies have found that journaling improves health and well-being. Chronic stress is devastating on your physical and mental health. Take a few minutes out of your busy day and try…
- By Joseph KertisDecember 14, 2021The Covid-19 pandemic put many of last year's holiday festivities on hold, so these holidays are the first opportunity that many have had to gather and celebrate. But this could also mean that many people who've become addicted to drugs and alcohol are seeing their family again, which could bring a lot of things to light. That's because the Covid-19 pandemic drastically worsened…
- By Kari Voss-Drost, Southwest Crisis Center assistant directorOctober 19, 2021Each year the Southwest Crisis Center joins advocates, survivors and supporters across the nation to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). More prevalent than most realize, one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Last year, the Southwest Crisis Center served over 500 individuals, families and children, providing nearly…
- By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolAugust 31, 2021“Let's have one last celebration before summer ends! What shall we do?" “Great idea! Let's spend thousands of dollars in legal fees! Or … spending months in the hospital might be fun. Or how about dying in a car crash?" If all of that sounds like a ridiculous way to spend Labor Day weekend, we agree. And yet that's what can happen if you don't find a sober ride, as a…
- By Pat Baustian, mayor, city of LuverneJune 29, 2021I was recently invited, among other community leaders across the state, to be a Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador. As ambassadors, it will be our focus to promote and encourage fellow Minnesotans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. I plan to continue communicating through the Rock County Star Herald to help inform, educate, promote and put aside any misinformation that citizens of Luverne and Rock…
- By Cary Radisewitz, Building Bridges JC, LuverneJune 08, 2021We’ve started a new foundation in Rock County that I’d encourage you to join. Building Bridges JC is non-profit that is part of the Luverne Area Community Foundation (LACF). All are welcome to participate. We are not affiliated with a church or a political party. The goal of Building Bridges JC is to reach out to groups and individuals that need help and see if we can muster resources to help…
- By Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State UniversityMarch 16, 2021When government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.” That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have to run for office again. No one wants to be held directly responsible for letting the public down. Case in point is the recent catastrophe in Texas, when unexpected winter storms left four million homes without power, ruptured pipes and…
- By Bob Worth, Lake Benton mayor and president Minnesota Soybean Grower's AssociationMay 26, 2020Farm stress is certainly not a new concept. My father saw rural suicide rates spike in his farming days in the 1930s. When I was a young farmer just getting started in the ’80s, I became super depressed. Interest rates were as high as 21 percent, while land and machinery values plummeted. Farmers were being foreclosed on, and once again mental health in ag communities declined. I didn’t want to…
- By Sara Wahl, executive director of Southwest Crisis CenterApril 28, 2020Earlier this month, Minnesota Governor Walz reported that two-thirds of police calls over the weekend were related to domestic violence. As individuals are coping with the uncertainty of the COVID- 19 virus, loss of income and staying in their homes, the stress can be overwhelming. Abusers often resort to the use of manipulation, power, control and violence, correlating to higher incidence of…
- By Jane Wildung-Lanphere, Luverne Area Chamber directorMarch 10, 2020Luverne and Rock County are unlike 95 percent of the small towns in America. While tens of thousands of small communities see businesses closing and people moving away, we are at the brink of what can be the most exciting growth in decades. I remember in the early 1960s when Mid-Pack came to town. That plant was the “spark-plug” for community growth in both the residential and business sector.…
By Jennifer Lindsey, Southwest Crisis Center, LuverneOctober 01, 2019October is often a busy month with school sports, fall festivals and harvest season upon us. Easily forgotten is that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. In the past year, the Southwest Crisis Center in Rock County has provided services for 88 individuals who experienced domestic and sexual violence. To help bring awareness that domestic violence does happen here in Rock County, the…- By Evan Verbrugge, Rock County SheriffSeptember 24, 2019With the new school year beginning, I thought that it would be a good idea to review the driver’s responsibility for when they see children getting on or off a school bus, as well as the Hwy Pedestrian Crossing Lights. The Law states in MN Statute 169.444 Safety of School Children: Duties of Other Drivers. Subdivision 1. Children getting on or off school buses. When a school bus is stopped on a…
- By Craig Oftedahl, Luverne Public Schools SuperintendentSeptember 10, 2019This is somewhat an unusual title to an article in September, but each year at school, we get to experience a new beginning in September. Our tremendous staff members are busy prepping for the return of students and anxiously await the arrival of friendly faces, smiling students, giddy parents and the giggles and laughter that signal another school year. One of the great things about school is…
- By Jason W. Swanson, director, Minnesota River Area Agency on AgingAugust 13, 2019It’s time we have “that talk” with our loved ones — whether a spouse, parent, in-law, grandparent or a friend — about establishing a plan as they age. We plan careers, vacations, weddings, get-togethers and retirements, but we often don’t take time to plan the things we’ll need help with as we age and the different types of services we may require. It’s difficult to make these decisions in a…
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