Minnesota FFA plays active role in lives of local youth As the new year officially kicks off this week, the Minnesota FFA Foundation continues the vital role of supporting the development of young people through Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) programs and the FFA.  Minnesota FFA is experiencing unprecedented growth in the number of schools… Read More

Pests, insects can hide in Christmas trees, holiday greens Holiday greenery and Christmas trees bring joy throughout the season, but they can also hide dangerous hitchhikers. Diseases and invasive species can make their way into the landscapes on trees and boughs brought into Minnesota from other states. To protect the environment, the State of Minnesota is… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, reported traffic injuries in eastern Otter Tail County. Deputies were assisted by the Minnesota State Highway Patrol. The first accident, on Highway 10 at 6:08 p.m. on Dec. 26, was a northwesterly, single-vehicle rollover. It appeared to be one person with minor injuries. Deputies… Read More

Lake Park man was always teaching about conservation By Benjamin Velani  West Central Initiative Richard “Rick” Paul Olson, born December 31, 1950, devoted his life to helping others farm sustainably and organically. His deep connection with nature began early, living and working on his family’s century farm and continued until his passing on November 10, 2022. Rick worked alongside… Read More

The State of Minnesota launched a new telehealth test-to-treat program to ensure Minnesotans who have tested positive for COVID-19 have easy access to clinician care and therapeutic treatments that reduce their risk of serious illness or hospitalization. Beginning immediately, Minnesotans who test positive for COVID-19, either with a home test or a positive test from a… Read More

Tucker Henderson Reporter Snow covered evergreens, frigid temperatures, and early sunsets mark the Christmas season in Minnesota this year, but both climate and scenery seem to mirror that of Finland’s countryside. It’s no wonder so many Finnish immigrants settled in this area of the United States. There are several Finnish Christmas traditions that have passed the… Read More

Cultural Center hosts a photographer in November By Tucker Henderson Reporter During the month of November the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center hosted an artist from abroad to work on his photography project. Antti Leinonen hails from Ii, Finland and works in the field of photography. After applying to several residencies, the Cultural Center accepted his application… Read More

Public Health to promote prevention strategies By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Corespondent On Dec. 13 the five-person Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved  the allocation of up to $180,000 to partially fund health educator positions to abate and prevent opioid misuse. Funding to Otter Tail County and Minnesota’s other 86 counties is the result of multistate… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County residents, on Monday evening Dec. 12, expressed their opinions about a proposed fish passage project at Phelps Mill. The public information meeting was held at the county Government Services Center in Fergus Falls.  ¶  At issue for many county residents is the fear of the overall aesthetics of historic… Read More

Vehicles, goats lost in pole shed fire By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Three weekend traffic accidents were reported by sheriff deputies on Monday, Dec. 12. At least one person was injured Dec. 9 in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 80 near Perham. The accident took place at 12:37 p.m. Another person was injured in a one-vehicle rollover… Read More