By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Good road conditions, unlike in November 2022, lured more people to Barnesville on Thursday evening, Nov. 16, for the annual lutefisk and meatball supper held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. People came from near far for the lutefisk, meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, lefse, corn, coleslaw and dessert of pumpkin pie… Read More

Contributed photos Left: Buzzer Koehler shot this 8-point buck during the deer hunting season. Right: Joanie Salo shot this buck during the deer hunting season in Otto Township. Salo is 83-years of age and still enjoys deer hunting on the family farm with her children Steve “Squiggy” Salo, Gary “Grass” Salo and Suzi Karvonen.

By Robert Williams Editor A Big Pine Lake resident completed a three-month discussion with the Otter Tail County Planning Commission after taking out an entire ridge during earth moving on his beach without a permit and clear-cutting the area. “We got several complaints earlier this fall and made him get an after the fact conditional use permit,”… Read More

Community group is seeking a person for executive steering committee By Tucker Henderson Reporter The New York Mills Economic Development Authority met for their monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15 to discuss the state of development in town. Tim Muehler and Caleb Monson were welcomed as the newest members of the EDA Board after being officially accepted… Read More

Capital improvement plan to not exceed $11.7 million By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The county board of commissioners, on Nov. 14, held a public meeting concerning a proposal to issue general obligation transportation sales tax revenue bonds to finance projects. There was no opposition in person or from county resident emails. Several sections of county highways… Read More

Military personnel serving overseas that have ties to the community, VFW Post 3289 or Auxiliary will once again be receiving a soldier care package this Christmas season. A drop off for donations has been set up at Mills Lanes and Lucky Strike Grill. Care package ideas that are appreciated by service members include: sunblock, socks, lip balm,… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen The annual Community Serving Classrooms Community Carnival at New York Mills School was held on Friday evening in the gym and sports center. The event featured dozens of carnival-style games including rolling dice, a version of Pinko, fishing, guess your speed throwing a baseball, a balloon making clown, a ping pong drop,… Read More

Many state parks were formed by CCC projects By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s was a work relief program that provided employment to 3.5 million young men during the Great Depression. Young men from 17 to 25 who worked as part of the CCC built state parks, planted millions… Read More

Showcases state, federal funding for local communities On Thursday, Nov. 2nd, Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) hosted an event at Thumper Pond Resort in Ottertail for city and county officials to learn about state and federal funding opportunities available for local projects.  Approximately 80 local officials from Senate District 9 were in attendance, including Vergas Mayor… Read More

In a news release from the U.S. News and World Report, Prairie Wind Middle School (PWMS) was named a U.S. Best Middle School for the State of Minnesota.  PWMS ranked in the top 40 percent of middle schools in Minnesota, achieving an overall score of 81.75 out of a 100 which ranks PWMS 76th overall in… Read More