Columns
By Brenda Winter, columnistSeptember 24, 2019Unlike some, my husband and I heard the tornado sirens loudly and clearly when they blasted a severe weather alarm around midnight on Sept. 11. We were asleep. Deeply, blissfully, soundly asleep. When suddenly, a low whining, blaring, horn-like sound filled our bedroom. It was the sound of someone playing a poorly tuned saxophone, or perhaps it was a beagle in pursuit of a rabbit. Perhaps a…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietySeptember 24, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on September 7, 1967. Crowds Throng Here To Make Centennial Whopping Success Luverne’s 100th anniversary birthday party was a whopping success. Young and old alike came to celebrate — many in costume, many in whiskers, the rest in modern day garb appropriate for the occasion. It was a fun event for three days and…
By George BonnemaSeptember 17, 2019Just a reminder that if you have had some indoor plants vacationing outdoors for the summer, now is a good time to begin acclimating them to being indoors for the winter. Place the plant in the spot you intend for it to grow for the winter season. Keep it in for a week and then bring it back out for a week. Repeat this a few times and the plant will have acclimated to its new home without…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolSeptember 10, 2019Question: As we are ending the Motorcycle season I heard of an individual near Rochester, MN whom was killed by going off the road and struck a sign head on. He was not wearing a helmet. Being an individual whom has been in a motorcycle accident with the helmet likely saving my life, why are helmets not required in the State of Minnesota for all two and three wheel bikes? Answer: There is not a…
By Rick Peterson, general managerSeptember 10, 2019By now the fall high school sports seasons are all underway. Before each season begins, parents, coaches and student athletes gather for a required meeting to discuss a number of rules that need to be adhered to by parents and the athletes. Items that are covered are eligibility rules, player and parent conduct, and additional rules such as game day dress code for the players that coaches might…
By Jason Berghorst, reporterSeptember 10, 2019What makes a person a true Minnesotan? Some may say it’s rooting for the Vikings or the Twins. Others might say it’s having a special taste for tator-tot hotdish, lefse or a Jucy Lucy. It could be owning or using a boat, a hockey stick or a snowmobile. Or is it a propensity to utter phrases like uff-da and you-betcha in regular conversation? Many would say it’s as simple as having a Minnesota…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistSeptember 10, 2019So here we are in September, the best time to do lawn seeding — renovation, if necessary — and the best time to rid your lawn of weeds. If you are seeding a new lawn, as the ground temperature drops, most weed seed will not germinate; however, the grass seed germinates better in cool soil so the weeds are not competing with the grass. The new grass has plenty of time to get established before the…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolSeptember 03, 2019Question: When turning left on a blinking yellow light, should one pull into the intersection? It seems like a blinking yellow should let at least one car through, but often cars will wait behind the line, negating the ability to move traffic through the intersection. Answer: If you are preparing to turn left at a flashing yellow light, you must enter the intersection with caution, as oncoming…- By Mavis Fodness, reporterSeptember 03, 2019I liken the feeling of riding a bike to that of the Geico Insurance ad featuring a pig named Maxwell. In the commercial the puppet leans out the car window with a pinwheel in his hand (or in this instance, hoof) yelling “Weeeee we-weeeee!” as he leans into the wind. Earlier this spring I felt the same way when I climbed aboard a borrowed bike and rode the Luverne Loop for the first time. I didn’t…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietySeptember 03, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on August 17, 1967. Fairgrounds Barn Leveled In Spectacular Blaze Costly Fire Hits One Week After The Fair Two boys, ages 9 and 10 admitted to the deputy state fire marshal and local police that they had been smoking in the livestock barn at the fairgrounds before it was destroyed by fire Sunday evening. Deputy Marshal…- By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolAugust 27, 2019Question: I'm writing to you to ask a question regarding whether or not you might know where the signal is that I can only assume is the method to tell current "smarter" cars what the speed limit is on the road or highway they are currently driving. I wonder how accurate they really are. Answer: Never rely solely on the displayed GPS speed reading. Your vehicle’s speedometer is the…
By Rick Peterson, general managerAugust 27, 2019Last week I reached one of those birthday milestones, something called Social Security age. Twenty years ago that was the age when darn near everyone walked off the job into retirement. Not so much nowadays. With $1,000-a-month health insurance premiums, not many of us can pull the plug on the nine to five. I have quickly learned the new target date for retirement is more likely to happen around…
By Brenda Winter, columnistAugust 27, 2019It was 1971. Or maybe it wasn’t. I don’t know. I was a kid and there were three of us in the back seat of a Ford Mustang with Mom and Dad in the front. I sat in the middle. I always sat in the middle. I was the middle child and that’s where I sat with my older brother on one side and my younger sister on the other. The middle back seat of a Ford Mustang is actually a hump. I sat on a hump with no…
By George Bonnema, Luverne HorticulturalistAugust 27, 2019Vegetable gardens are at their maximum production and that quantity of fresh produce can be almost overwhelming, but this is the vision for every gardener. Beans are being produced in quantity, and you may get tired of harvesting. But if you don’t keep picking, they stop producing, and beans produced late in the season are amazing. Onion tops have kinked over, indicating that they are finished…
By Betty Mann, president, Rock County Historical SocietyAugust 27, 2019The following appeared in the Rock County Star Herald on Aug. 5, 1965. OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY- Kanaranzi Bank Has Served Community Half A Century Open house will be held Saturday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. at the First Farmers State Bank in Kanaranzi, commemor-ating the 50th anniversary of the bank’s founding. Free coffee and doughnuts will be served during the afternoon to visitors, and a number…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolAugust 20, 2019Question: Can you please explain the new law that requires drivers to move to the right lane if they are impeding traffic by traveling under the posted speed limit? Answer: Modernized language regarding left lane usage was added to Minnesota state statute for those drivers that drive in the left lane below the posted speed limit and are impeding traffic. The new law, starting Aug. 1, requires…
You must log in to continue reading. Log in or subscribe today.
Columnists
