Editorials
- July 30, 2019This week the Hills Crescent put out its final edition after 126 years of serving the readers of Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen. (See the related story on page 1.) Since 1997, it’s been publishing under the same ownership as the Rock County Star Herald but with its own news writer and its own community identity. As has been the way of many small-town newspapers, subscriptions have dwindled with…
- July 23, 2019The Rock County Fair is underway in Luverne. The Star Herald has been previewing the annual event for weeks. Rock County Fair Board members have been working hard for months to prepare for these three days. 4-H members and families have spent thousands of hours getting ready to show their animals and projects. Open class entrants have created and grown their ribbon-worthy entries. Now it’s your…
- By Julia Silvrants, respiratory therapist, Sanford LuverneJuly 16, 2019We are seeing a new national epidemic in our teenagers regarding E-cigarettes and vaping, and they are starting at earlier ages than even with cigarettes. Statistics show that many start at 13 or even younger and that since 2014 the number of teenagers using e-cigarettes has increased over 50 percent, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Even though the legal age to buy them is 18 (…
- July 09, 2019Submitted by Dale Moerke, Luverne, field staff West Area Labor Council- Red River Valley/AFL-CIO In 2018 CEOs of Standard and Poor’s 500 companies made on average $14.5 million, up from the $500,000 dollar raise from 2017. Compare that to the average rank-and-file worker who received barely more than a $1,000 raise, bringing total take-home pay in 2018 to $39,888. Even with the extra cash, wages…
- July 01, 2019Editor’s note: This editorial by editor Alan C. McIntosh first appeared in the Nov. 9, 1967, edition of the Rock County Star Herald. It was reprinted in the Feb. 27, 1969, edition after it had received the George Washington Honor Medal Award of Freedoms Foundation. ‘Just a Rag’ “I am the American flag. “Most of the time they call me ‘Old Glory.’ Which is ridiculous. I can’t regard myself as…
- June 25, 2019We constantly marvel at the abundance of big news to share with our Star Herald readers. There are a lot of really important things happening, and we often wish for a daily publication to adequately update the ever-progressing projects and to keep up with new announcements in a timely manner. Just this week we had the privilege of covering the groundbreaking ceremony for Luverne School District’s…
- June 18, 2019The construction of the Minnesota Veterans Home in 1991 marked a distinct turning point in the history of Luverne’s economic development. The multi-million dollar facility with its dozens of high-paying jobs was a big deal all on its own, and there are many progressive leaders from the day who can be credited for bringing it to town. But the development of several residential subdivisions that…
June 11, 2019Memorial Day through Labor Day marks the 100 deadliest days on Minnesota roads. Preliminary numbers show the 100-day stretch last year accounted for 124 of the 381 fatalities, making up 33 percent of all the traffic deaths in 2018. Preliminary numbers by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety show 107 fatalities on Minnesota roads in 2019 compared with 112 this time last year…- By Sen. Tina SmithJune 04, 2019If you don’t live in rural America, you may well have some preconceptions about what it’s like “out here” in the heartland. It’s true, the news hasn’t been good: the worst farm economy in a generation, never-ending wet weather that has kept farmers out of the field when they can least afford it, and tariffs that are ripping apart the trading relationships that Minnesota ag producers have spent…
- By Michael Walgrave, Rock County Land Management technicianMay 28, 2019Local Rock Beast The American bison is the national mammal of the United States and is native to Rock County. It is one of the heaviest land animals in the Americas with wild bulls weighing up to 2,800 pounds and semi-domestic bulls weighing up to 3,800 pounds. The Lakota Native Americans called the bison “tatanka,” which means “he who owns us.” There are other explanations for this title, but…
- May 14, 2019As the number of children in Minnesota’s foster care system has grown — from 11,500 in 2013 to 16,500 in 2018 — there is a greater need than ever for foster parents to provide temporary, critical care to children in crisis. The good news is many people who might not think they qualify to be foster parents are actually eligible, and now is a good time to consider the commitment during Foster Care…
- By John Wayne Barker, Minnesota Organization for Habilitation and RehabilitationMay 07, 2019Stable, solid, secure — these are words for anything that’s important. Unfortunately, the words do not apply to the support staff situation for people with disabilities in Minnesota. There are more than 8,000 vacancies for the direct support professionals (DSPs) who serve these individuals. It’s called a workforce crisis. Locally, day training programs are very aware of this situation. With low…
- April 30, 2019The tobacco industry is using e-cigarettes to draw new customers, and youth tobacco use in Minnesota has increased for the first time in 17 years. E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid usually has nicotine and flavoring in it, and other additives. Their rise in popularity among youth is partly attributed to the fact that they’re easy to…
By Rick Peterson, general managerApril 22, 2019I hope everyone had a nice Easter this past weekend. The weather was spectacular for a change so we were able to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. The Petersons actually hosted two Easter family gatherings, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. Why two gatherings, you ask? Family work schedules dictated the weekend get-together. As mentioned earlier, the weather allowed us the opportunity…- By Joe Martin and Troy DaniellApril 22, 2019At USDA, we celebrate Earth Day 2019 by offering a big thank you to farmers and ranchers here in Minnesota for all they do. Every day we see their efforts to conserve natural resources while producing food, fiber and fuel for people in their communities and around the world. They are doing what needs to be done to make sure we all enjoy the benefits of clean and plentiful water and healthy soils…
- April 16, 2019Tornado season is approaching; learn how to survive As weather gets warmer, it is a good time to review and prepare for the upcoming storm season. Tornadoes can be a threat in most of the Midwest, and there is no guaranteed safety if you are in one’s path. But preparedness increases chances of survival, and Farm Bureau offers several tips. Tornado safety preparation Have a plan in place to know…
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