Photo by Tucker Henderson The annual gingerbread party was held in the kindergarten classrooms on Friday. While some students took to decorating their gingerbread houses, others tried to sneak a quick bite to eat. 

Grieger is a 2003 alum of New York Mills High School By Tucker Henderson Reporter Each school year, the New York Mills School District chooses one teacher from their staff as a representative of the finest work that is done in their district throughout the year. This 2025-26 school year’s nominee is 7-8th grade social studies… Read More

Virnala found passion in music as a young child By Tucker Henderson Reporter Back before David “Dave” Virnala’s family ever bought a television set, his parents would take him to the Liberty Theatre in New York Mills where they would watch movies about twice a month and he got his first taste of Elvis’ rockabilly and… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The owners of Wet Woody’s Pub and Grub in downtown Deer Creek have served a 30-day notice to the Deer Creek Lions Club to end its charitable operation at the Deer Creek establishment.  During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, Rod Woodward of Wet Woody’s Pub and Grub, informed the city council… Read More

Otter Tail County is larger in size than the state of Rhode Island, 1,062 miles of paved roads By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Otter Tail County, since 2016, has administered a half-cent sales tax. Money from this tax is used for road and bridge maintenance. Also taking effect in 2016 was a county charge of… Read More

Discussion centers around late timing of Labor Day By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills School District is joining a growing group of local schools weighing a dramatic change in philosophy for the first day of school in the fall. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the NY Mills School Board took a look at… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Grants from the state of Minnesota sales tax revenue from the Legacy Amendment, approved by state voters in 2008, will be used by Otter Tail County for design work of one section of the Glacial Edge Trail. This section will run from the northwest section of Maplewood State Park southward… Read More

Awards were presented as part of 159th annual state newspaper convention By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills Dispatch was honored as one of the top newspapers in the state as part of the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest. The Dispatch was recognized during the 159th annual Minnesota Newspaper Convention, which was held… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson The kindergarten classes in New York Mills held their gingerbread party last Friday where students and a special adult worked together to create a delicious gingerbread creation. This annual tradition is typically held at the end of January with kindergarten students and a special friend. While the students and adults were able… Read More

Audrey Weller is the 2025 New York Mills Civic Excellence Award recipient. She has requested that the award’s donation component be given to Valley Christian Counseling and Wellness for the amount of $200. The New York Mills Civic Excellence Award is to promote a strong sense of citizenship with a focus on “service to others.” Service… Read More