Council debates addition of battery pack storage By Chad Koenen Publisher Better-than-expected bid prices could result in a rather large expansion of New York Mills’ solar project at city hall.  ¶  During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the NY Mills City Council heard that favorable bidding prices for an expansive solar project led by West… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), established by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression in the 1930s, was a public works program. Young men joined up all across the United States, including those who worked as part of the CCC at Itasca State Park. A display at the visitors center in… Read More

Large surface waves produced by powerboats are a mainstay for recreational watersports. A new study from the University of Minnesota shows that beneath the surface, factors such as propeller thrust and other types of waves can impact delicate lakebed ecosystems. Researchers at the University’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory built on previous research to study the effects… Read More

WellPath works with over 350 detention centers By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The county board of commissioners, on Aug. 12, renewed an agreement with WellPath as its medical provider to the county jail (detention center) in Fergus Falls. The contract with WellPath was first approved in 2024 after a recommendation from County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. The… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners periodically hear easement requests from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A wetland easement is a legal agreement signed with the United States of America, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands.  If approved, landowners in Otter Tail County will retain primary… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Union Lake, near Alexandria in Douglas County. Douglas County invasive species staff found zebra mussels on a settlement sampler at the Union Lake public water access. Settlement samplers are solid surfaces temporarily placed in the water that people can regularly check for… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen The Cultural Center in New York Mills hosted its 16th annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant on both Friday night at the corn feed and Saturday at the Finn Creek Festival. The Kalevala Puppet Pageant is a large-scale, street-theater style performance bringing to life characters and tales from the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic…. Read More

The Friends of Phelps organization recently received a significant financial donation from the Hurst family, according to a press release from the non-profit organization. Tom and Amy Hurst recently presented the gift in memory of Tom’s mother, Marcelyn Hurst. The amount of the donation was not disclosed. The Hurst family vacationed in Otter Tail County for 40… Read More

Contributed photos The New York Mills High School Class of 1972 held its 53rd reunion on July 26 at the NY Mills Sculpture Park. Class members who attended the reunion include: From left to right:  Delbert Sandback, Bonnie (Nesges) Minten, Peter Minten, Laurine (Abrahamson) Braukman, Julie (Jacobson) Doll, Cole Grace, Mary (Persson) Meine, Jerry Guck,… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In the Detroit Lakes City Park, near the pavilion and lakeshore, you’ll find Alexa, a spoon-wielding troll in need of ingredients as she plans to brew a special elixir to counteract a spell. Alexa is one of several trolls seen by visitors in and near Detroit Lakes. The exact locations of… Read More