About 2 in 5 homes in the state have dangerous radon levels Radon is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. More than 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon each year in the U.S. About 2 in 5 homes in Minnesota… Read More

Contributed photo The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office issued an online warning about a crack on the north side of Rush Lake running from the west to the east approximately one-mile long. There is some open water that was marked off with cones and pylons by the Perham Fire Department Friday, Dec. 30. The Sheriff’s… Read More

Snow-covered hydrants can delay fighting a fire By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent When a house is on fire someplace in Otter Tail County, the last thing firefighters want to do is waste time removing snow from the nearest fire hydrant. County residents can prevent this by clearing snow from fire hydrants themselves. “This makes firefighting easier for us,” said… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on Dec. 29, reported that fire destroyed a house in rural Erhard. Authorities were called to the scene at 5:03 p.m. The house was owned by Pamela Forer on 230th Avenue, a few miles southeast of Erhard. Also responding to the scene of the fire were fire crews from… Read More

Organization to host kick-off event on Saturday in Perham After almost two years of gradual baby steps, the Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) chapter of Greater East Otter Tail is close to becoming a visibly active organization. The desire to establish a Love INC chapter in East Otter Tail County originated with the… Read More

Question to weight importance of the environment, economy The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center is pleased to announce the 2023 Great American Think-Off question: Which is more important to protect: the environment or the economy?  Everyone is invited to submit an essay answering this question by April 1. This is the topic put forth by the… Read More

Burns takes over top role at NYM Assembly of God Tucker Henderson Reporter Along with the new year that has arrived, a new face is preaching from behind the New York Mills Assembly of God pulpit in recent months. Pastor Stewart Burns has joined the Assembly of God of NY Mills to fill the hole left… Read More

Grant aimed at attracting, helping businesses in Ottertail By Chad Koenen Publisher Hume Plumbing has become the second business to receive a grant as part of the Ottertail Opportunity Fund.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, which was delayed four days after inclement weather forced a delay to the city council meeting on Thursday, Dec. 15,… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Andrew Browne will take over as the new fire chief in Deer Creek. During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, the Deer Creek City Council learned the fire department recommended Browne as its new fire chief. He will replace the current fire chief Travis Collins who has served in that capacity… Read More

Twenty local fire departments receive $1,000 grants from the Funders Network  West Central Initiative awarded grants totaling more than $20,000 from The Funders Network’s Community Foundation Disaster Response Fund to 20 fire departments in west central Minnesota.   “We received a grant from The Funders Network for emergency preparedness activities,” said West Central Initiative’s Director of Development,… Read More