Columns
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistAugust 13, 2025After years of failed attempts, I might actually get a food plot that might actually result in food for wildlife. Food plots work to attract wildlife, but they seldom work very well unless they are at least a few acres in size. That being the case, food plots might attract wildlife, but they do not necessarily get them close enough to get a shot. I am a wildlife guy and certainly do not qualify…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterAugust 06, 2025I noticed the angels surrounding me beginning late afternoon on July 11. They’re not angels as supernatural beings with actual wings, but angels in the sense of the compassion and care they displayed in the three weeks following my husband’s motorcycle accident and resulting funeral on July 26. I’ve offered a personal thank you to many of these angels, while some I’ve yet to meet and maybe I…
By RIck Peterson, general managerAugust 06, 2025The first week of August is in the books, and the back-to-school shopping season is well underway. It’s fair to say back-to-school shopping isn’t what it used to be. Granted, I am out of the loop when it comes to back-to-school shopping. For this column I reached out to my two granddaughters for their help with the “must have” back-to-school clothes, shoes and school supplies. Brooke is a soon-…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistAugust 06, 2025I was out on a wildlife ride yesterday to look at the native wildflowers at their very peak for the season. For whatever reason this is about three weeks later than a normal year. Nobody can really explain why that happened this year. During this trip I came across several monarch butterflies that were hanging out on a yellow cone flower that was in full bloom. As I watched these creatures, I…
By Brenda WinterJuly 30, 2025Jim and I were enjoying a blistering hot summer evening on the Take 16 patio when our out-of-town guests asked casually, “So what’s with all the nutcrackers?” An eerie silence fell over our table, and the free-flowing conversation was stalled by the question no one can answer. We took small, nervous sips of our ice-cold beers, eyes darting from side to side. The air was thick enough to cut…
By Betty MannJuly 30, 2025The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on March 14, 1963. Teachers will get pay raises here next fall The Luverne school board Monday night approved a raise in salaries averaging $357 for grade school teachers and $381 for high school teachers. The lowest increase was $200 and the maximum increase amounted to $527 for teachers. The starting salary for a teacher with a bachelor’s…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 23, 2025The longer I live, the more I believe everybody hurts … often beneath the surface of polished social media profiles. And those who have been hurt by life-and-death loss tend to emerge as different people, permanently affected by grief. While tragedy can be cruel, I also believe it offers opportunity for growth — in a meaningful sense not experienced by everyone. For example: We learn what…
By Rick Peterson, General managerJuly 23, 2025It is fair week – well, actually four days – but it has a week’s worth of fun and entertainment packed into those four days. If memory serves me right, the Minnesota State Fair’s slogan is the Great Minnesota Get-Together. I think that can be said about the Rock County Fair but on a smaller scale. My guess is that a very high percentage of the Rock County fairgoers are repeat visitors. I…
By Jason Berghorst, Star Herald Summer ReporterJuly 16, 2025Have you ever had one of those Mondays? One of those Monday Mondays that are about three Mondays rolled into one Monday? I had one of those Mondays this Monday. To be fair, as a teacher, my schedule is generally more relaxed in July. I work a couple of days a week here at the paper, but my days are much less structured than the rest of the year. And then came this Monday. Upon returning…
By Scott Rall, Outdoors ColumnistJuly 16, 2025I just might be addicted to my pastime. Conservation of habitat and the wildlife that lives there consumes at least some part of every day. I cannot remember the last time I was able to completely unplug my thoughts from what might be the next and greatest potential habitat project. This process for me started over 40 years ago and has culminated in a big event that happened on Friday, July 11.…
By Brenda Winter, columnistJuly 09, 2025Rain does not dampen community spirit. Rain was in the forecast, but it was July Fourth and this is ’merica. As the sun began to set, the mood at Luverne’s annual Fourth of July celebration at The Lake was jovial. An elderly gentleman sitting in front of us succumbed to the music when the band started playing “Fishin’ in the Dark.” Pushing his seed corn cap back on his head, he grabbed his…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJuly 09, 2025Is it just me, or are there a lot more distractions while driving on the city streets these days? I am not referring to texting while driving or fiddling with all the knobs, dials, buttons and switches that cars and trucks come with these days. What I am getting at is all the other modes of transportation vying for space on the streets. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds and UTVs all have to be…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolJuly 09, 2025Question: I heard some talk about a new law of July 1 that allows motorcycles to drive through traffic. Can you explain this as a lot of my friends are talking but I can’t get the same answer from any of them. Answer: Motorcycle lane splitting and filtering are legal on Minnesota roads as of July 1. The new law, passed by the Legislature in 2024, allows motorcycles to share lanes with cars for…
By Scott Rall, Outdoor ColumnistJuly 09, 2025Since I was about 14 years old – that was 50 years ago, I have always been attached to the outdoors. I started on a bike as my transportation to and from the local lake in my town to go fishing. A kid with a rod and reel and an old-fashioned stringer hanging from the center bar with a few crappies on it if I was lucky that day. I believe that every human being has a magnetic attachment to wild…
By Lori Sorenson, editorJuly 02, 2025I rescued some clearance-priced begonias at Bomgaars a few weeks ago, despite completing spring planting in mid-May. The perky pink blossoms are the perfect spot of color in the wicker planter near our patio door. Especially after the ones intended for that spot are long dead. I have a poor track record for keeping flowers alive in that location at our home. Year after year I peruse the “…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianJuly 02, 2025The following appeared in The Rock County Herald on Feb. 7, 1963. N.F.O. Family Night will be held February 9 NFO national Directors from South Dakota and Minnesota will speak at a special Family Night gathering of the Rock County NFO, to be held in the Luverne high school cafeteria, Saturday night, February 9. Headlining the program will be Ken Stoffern, Humboldt, S.D., national director…
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