By Chad Koenen Publisher The City of Deer Creek’s general fund continues to go in the right direction financially, at least according to its 2024 year-end audit. During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Deer Creek City Council heard from Dean Birkhead of Carlson SV who update the city council on its 2024 year-end audit. According… Read More

Construction on Fergus Falls courthouse was completed in 1922 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The current Otter Tail County Courthouse, completed in 1922 just south of downtown Fergus Falls, has paintings of all the townships of Otter Tail County. The courthouse is four stories tall and has a total of 47,000 square feet of space. Included… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Discussing the future of local journalism, including the news media in Otter Tail County, was the topic May 1 at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls. The event was sponsored by the West Central Initiative. Close to 80 people attended and took the opportunity to discuss the importance of local… Read More

During Child Foster Care Month, Otter Tail County is asking individuals and families to consider becoming foster parents. With the number of children needing safe, stable homes increasing, there is a need for caring foster families. “Otter Tail County prioritizes placing children with relatives whenever possible; family restoration is our ultimate goal,” shared Stephanie Olson, Human… Read More

Jim Bainer, a recently retired diesel instructor at M State, has been inducted into the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence Hall of Fame. The award commemorates lifetime contributions to transportation education in Minnesota. Bainer retired in January after 20 years of teaching at M State, where he was well-known as a skilled and dedicated Diesel… Read More

Each day, Otter Tail County’s Justice and Safety teams engage with individuals affected by substance use and mental health disorders—challenges that often underlie criminal behavior. Many individuals cycle in and out of the justice system without effective intervention. Otter Tail County Treatment Courts break that cycle through accountability, treatment, and intensive supervision. Established in 2008 and… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson Kindergarteners from NY Mills visited the Mursu Dairy Farm last Friday for their annual field trip. They learned about the robotic dairy and were able to get up close and personal with the Mursu’s dairy cows.

Visiting novelist embraces slower life in rural Minnesota By Tucker Henderson Reporter While many people in Minnesota tend to vacation in the warmer states during the winter and into the springtime months, Alice Hatcher, a writer from Tucson, Ariz. decided to do just the opposite as an Artist in Residence through the New York Mills Cultural… Read More

Photos by Dani Koenen New York Mills School was transformed on Saturday night for the annual prom and post prom festivities. This year’s theme was “A Night to Remember” and featured a walk through the movies as part of the annual grand march. The evening came to a close with post prom at the school. For… Read More

Ordinance to mirrior one approved by OT County By Chad Koenen Publisher A new rental ordinance will soon put in place basic regulations for vacation homes in the heart of lakes country.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 17, the Ottertail City Council formally adopted a new vacation home rental ordinance. The city’s hope was… Read More