Otter Tail County celebrated the completion of significant upgrades to Phelps Mill County Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 7, highlighting new amenities such as a boardwalk and prairie restoration project. What’s new The first phase introduces visitors to a scenic boardwalk and prairie restoration, connecting them with the park’s natural beauty and history. “This project… Read More

UMD announces Dean’s List The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) has announced its Dean’s List for Spring Semester 2025. Students on the Dean’s List have achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher while earning a minimum of 12 letter-graded credits.   Local students named to the UMD Dean’s List inclue: Zoe Griese, New York Mills,… Read More

United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties and United Way of Otter Tail & Wadena Counties have officially merged into one regional organization, effective July 1. The unified United Way will continue to serve the five-county region of Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Todd, and Wadena, with operational hubs in both Alexandria and Fergus Falls. This strategic… Read More

By Jenny Hoppe Correspondent The New York Mills Eagles Fishing Team continued its strong season with five teams finishing in the top eight during the third Heart O’ Lakes High School Fishing League tournament, held Tuesday evening on Rush Lake. Despite tougher fishing conditions, the Eagles delivered another solid performance. Leading the way was the third-place team… Read More

Boatville Drags to be held in downtown New York Mills By Tucker Henderson Reporter The New York Mills Summer Celebration and Lund Mania event will kick off this weekend. Everything from a scavenger hunt to a classic car show will give families and community members much to do over the two-day celebration. Friday’s festivities will begin with the… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter The Randy Windels Memorial Golf Tournament took place today, Wednesday, July 9 as 18 teams competed at Balhepburn Golf Course, just outside New York Mills. The tournament has been a part of the NY Mills Lion’s Club activities for a number of years now, but was renamed in 2019 after longtime Lion member… Read More

By Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin  1st Fighter Wing, Special to the Dispatch “Flight School Opening Soon!” The sign, tied to a chain-link fence outside a rural Minnesota airport, stopped 17-year-old Nick Le Tourneau in his tracks. He was just driving to another shift at his dishwashing job. “I’ll always remember that day,” he said. “It felt like something in me… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher In the land of otters it seems only fitting that a larger-than-life otter statue would be the focal point of a new marketing and promotional campaign. Two new otter statues have been unveiled at a pair of Ottertail businesses, but more will soon be on the way to highlight the unique features… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The late Otter Tail County World War II veteran Myron Broschat, best remembered as the foremost military historian in west central Minnesota, lived his life eager for knowledge and was intellectually curious. Broschat was wounded in battle during World War II and worked as manager of electric transmission at Fergus Falls-based… Read More

Painting shop and shoreland alterations get go ahead in rural Frazee By Robert Williams Editor The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved a new solar system consisting of 200 panels on Rose Lake on Tuesday, June 24. A Conditional Use Permit Application was approved for The Mark and Karman Rheault Trust to construct two ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV)… Read More