By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In 2023 the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners established the Hazard Mitigation Project Assistant Grant Program, utilizing funds to help communities throughout the county. The goal is to reduce the long-term risk to human life and property resulting from severe winter and summer storms.  Outdoor warning siren and generator projects… Read More

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center (NYMRCC) is pleased to announce its 2026 Winter/Spring Concert Series, bringing original live music to rural West-Central Minnesota with a renewed Pay What You Can model. Thanks to generous support from the Lake Region Arts Council, all concerts in the series are open to everyone with no tickets required…. Read More

The Community Cantata singers will present the Lenten Cantata “On a Hill Too Far Away” on March 29 and April 1, under the direction of Adam Tervola Hultberg and accompanied by Janell Brakell. The concerts will be Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday)  at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills and Wednesday,… Read More

M State announces fall 2025 academic honors Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) named 682 students to its President’s List and 699 students to its Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester.   Students on the President’s List earned a grade point average of 4.0 while completing a minimum of six college-level credits and 75… Read More

2026 program for high school juniors   The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to announce its 2026 Scholarship Program, which will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to high school juniors. The Scholarship Program is designed to heighten awareness among young people about Minnesota’s grassroots township government. All students currently enrolled in 11th grade,… Read More

The VFW Post 3289 Auxiliary met January 8 with 15 members present. Minutes from the December 11 meeting were approved, and the December Treasurer’s Report was filed subject to audit. The General Orders Bulletin for January 2026 from the Department President was read and discussed.  Our Auxiliary received a thank you card for a donation to the… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter With an anniversary year ahead of them and nearly four decades of experience behind them, Perala Bros. Auctioneers owners and brothers Dean and Mickey Perala are looking forward to celebrating their 40th anniversary with two new auctioneers by their side.  ¶  The two Perala brothers grew up in the auction industry watching… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher There’s far more to building a Habitat for Humanity home than simply hammering nails, raising walls and putting down new flooring. Those are, of course, important skills for building crews and volunteers to possess, but Habitat for Humanity homes are more than just walls and a yard, they are about a community… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The City of Ottertail could become the latest city to realize big savings in electricity through a grant program being spearheaded by West Central initiative.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15, the Ottertail City Council heard a solar project presentation by Cedar Walters of West Central Initiative that could save… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter The New York Mills Economic Development Authority met on Wednesday, Jan. 21 to discuss the continuing development within the community. The revolving loan fund balance sits at $250,234.15 to be used by eligible local businesses. Board terms were discussed as Adam Johnson’s term was up at the end of 2025. After a call for… Read More