Columns
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistJune 21, 2022I need to remind you that now is the time to prune lilacs, weigela, mock orange, and snowball viburnums. These are all spring-blooming plants, and cutting them back now gives the new growth time to mature and develop buds for next year’s flowers. I recommend pruning to eliminate the old stems to encourage new growth from the base of the shrub. When I looked at my potato crop last week, I noticed…- By Mavis Fodness, reporterJune 14, 2022Our family dog became lost several years ago. We returned to our acreage one day to find the kennel door open and our beloved Ginger nowhere to be found. Fortunately, only hours passed before Ginger was safely back at home. She ventured six miles from home and allowed a family to keep her safe until we arrived. However, not all lost dogs are safely returned home or willing to allow humans to…
By Rick Peterson, general managerJune 14, 2022We finally did it. The Petersons recently said good-bye to cable TV. When we moved to Luverne nearly 18 years ago, we had two choices of cable providers, Mediacom and Knowledge. I believe those were the company names at the time. They have changed their names so many times it’s hard to remember for sure. We have actually subscribed to both cable companies over the years, going back and forth,…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianJune 14, 2022The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. March 4, 1943 To have seen a real prince and princess as a boy was one of the many interesting experiences of William C. Tomlinson, Luverne. Mr. Tomlinson was the son of Joseph and Mary Tomlinson. He…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistJune 07, 2022I called my son Brandon on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend to thank him for his military service. He was deployed twice to Afghanistan and Iraq back when things were pretty hairy for our service members. I asked him if he wanted to take his two daughters fishing for any part of the weekend, and we started reminiscing about one fishing adventure we had when he was little. Brandon and his twin…
By Brenda Winter, columnistJune 07, 2022My three besties from the LHS Class of 1981 and I celebrated turning 59 with a 24-hour “Luverne Experience” over Buffalo Days. Our adventure began at noon Friday with the renting of electric bikes from the Luverne Aquatics Center. There were a few glitches. One battery was dead. Two batteries occasionally shorted out. The highlight was the collapsing seat which left one of us “riding like a…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 31, 2022As I surveyed storm damage through the Star Herald camera lens Monday, I couldn’t help but notice how Mother Nature took out her wrath on two neighboring farms but skipped the one across the road. When the National Weather Service jarred us from our sleep at 2:15 a.m., we sheltered in the basement like everyone else. We emerged to find our home and property still intact. Others didn’t. It raised…
By Rick Peterson, general managerMay 31, 2022About the only summer curb appeal improvement project that I am considering is replacing my mulch with landscaping rock. Who would have thought choosing between mulch and rock would be column-worthy. I know … compared to the bigger issues of the day, this issue isn’t on most people’s radar screen. From the get-go I want to be clear I am not much of a fan when it comes to using landscaping rock.…
By Mavis Fodness, reporterMay 24, 2022Keeping a car clean is an exhausting chore. I like to have the vehicle shine and its tire rims sparkling as I drive around. I also like the inside to be clean. Unfortunately, not everyone in my household thinks that vehicles you use and get dirty should be cleaned right after use. Over the weekend I received an email from StressFreeCarRental.com titled “Ten Ways to Keep Your Car Clean.” Here are…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMay 24, 2022It is that time of year again when I need to purchase my new licenses for everything from the early light goose season to a spearing license, deer license, small game license and then the gamut of special stamps needed to hunt some of those seasons. Deer licenses come later into the summer. About 10 years ago I decided to make this seasonal expenditure a little easier. I decided to purchase a…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianMay 24, 2022The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. February 11, 1943 The name “Drake Station,” unfamiliar to the majority of Rock countyians born after the turn of the century, was a place of significant importance to the early day residents of eastern…
By Brenda Winter, columnistMay 17, 2022My mom is quiet, reserved and a bit on the shy side. Lots of folks like crowds and gatherings and spectacles. Mom doesn’t. Which is why it was a bit of a challenge to throw her a proper 80th birthday party. Her idea of a good time is reading a book in her sunroom or maybe mowing the lawn. So, we decided to have several smaller gatherings. The first was a breakfast tea party at my sister Sarah’s…
By Rick Peterson, general managerMay 17, 2022So what’s in a name? The name parents pick to bless, or in some cases curse, their new baby with can be a daunting task. As you may know, my name is Rick, but that is not my legal name. I have no problem with Rick. After 60-plus years, it kind of grows on you. My legal name is where the curse part comes into play. I have even checked into changing my legal name to Rick. After considering the…
By Betty Mann, Rock County HistorianMay 17, 2022The following article is part of the Diamond Club Member group that began in the January 7, 1943, issue of the Rock County Star Herald. Members of this group consist of persons of age 75 and older. February 4, 1943 When prairie chickens were so numerous in this section of the country that one could ride along in a wagon and shoot them was recalled this week by William Heckt, Luverne. The birds…
By Scott Rall, outdoors columnistMay 17, 2022It could actually be an unpaid Minnesota holiday if you didn’t know better. There are lots of days on the calendar that Minnesotans look forward to, but they don’t hold a candle to the Minnesota Fishing Opener. As the time wound down ahead of the big day, anglers in garages everywhere got ready to holler “Start your engines,” like a NASCAR race. I really used to be one of those die-hard anglers…
By Lori Sorenson, editorMay 10, 2022As a kid, I often pondered who and what I might grow up to be — an artist, musician, athlete, teacher. (Don’t we all dream of being teachers?) Why didn’t I just enjoy being a kid? I had a great childhood. Yet I distinctly recall a preoccupation about what comes next. I still do. Maybe we all do. It’s a universal curse that hinders life enjoyment. Or perhaps it’s a survival mechanism — like…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
Columnists
