By Chad Koenen Publisher As she sits in a conference room in the back of the Karvonen Funeral Home in Wadena, Kendra Schumacher can’t help but smile as she talks about the past year at the locally owned funeral home and cremation service. Schumacher is a licensed funeral director at Karvonen Funeral Home and Cremation Service and… Read More

Photo by Chad Koenen Eiderson Biddle eyes up Santa Claus as he tells the big guy in red what he really wants for Christmas on Friday night. Santa Claus stopped by the Bluffton Community Center as part of Santa Day in Bluffton. The day included cookie decorating, wagon rides and the lighting of the community Christmas… Read More

Photo by Tasha Geiser Brothers Grady and Bode Roberts celebrate with their dad Chris after winning the Rodd Olson Invitational on Saturday. 

By Tucker Henderson Reporter A local blood drive has been planned for Dec. 14 at St. Peter’s Church in New York Mills. NY Mills High School senior Jaida Newborg organized the blood drive as a project for the National Honor Society and welcomes everyone eligible to sign up and donate. The blood drive will start at 10 a.m…. Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson Mills Country Market gave area residents the opportunity to sample a number of different food items and pairings during its annual Taste of the Season event on Thursday night. As part of the event, people could sample food items that were inspired by the Christmas and holiday season. Above: Jerry Nesland, Deidre… Read More

Budget surplus was one of the first topics of conversation By Robert Willams Editor Area legislators discussed current topics ahead of the upcoming legislative session on Friday, Dec. 9, via Zoom during the Legislative Kaffeeklatsch, hosted by West Central Initiative (WCI) and Lakes Country Service Cooperative (LCSC).  Participating in the round table were District 4B Representative Jim… Read More

Senator-elect to introduce new legislation when legislative session begins in January Senator-elect Jordan Rasmusson, R- Fergus Falls, has announced he will introduce a property tax relief package when the new legislative session begins in January. Rasmusson’s proposal will include increasing the homestead market value exclusion, enhancing relief to seniors who defer their taxes, and beginning to… Read More

Contributed photos The New York Mills VFW Auxiliary 3289 has put a wrap on the Military Care Package collection. A total of 12 packages were mailed on Dec. 5 to local military members serving overseas. Christmas greeting cards made during the Community Tree Festival were included with the care packages. Organizers of the care packages… Read More

Contributed photo At the Community Tree Festival, the New York MIlls VFW Auxiliary Post 3289 held a campaign to write, or create, Christmas cards for veterans and those currently serving. The goal of the letter writing campaign was to create 300 cards, but the community came out in full force and more than 600 cards… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson The kindergarten classes had their annual Christmas concert last Thursday and many festive songs including “Jingle Bells” and the Spanish song, “Cascabeles.” In addition to the kindergarteners, the first/second graders also held their concert on Thursday night. This week the junior high, senior high and jazz band concert was held on Monday,… Read More