Elderberry farm joins over 1,400 with certification True Vine Specialty Farms, a relatively new elderberry farm operated by Stephanie and Patrick Hockett in Otter Tail County, has joined over 1,400 producers in becoming stewards of water quality through the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP).  The voluntary program certifies producers protecting water quality by utilizing conservation… Read More

Photo by Tucker Henderson The New York Mills High School Class of 1964 met during LundMania recently. Front row: Jerry Muckala, Ray Tisdell, Fred Ely, Bonnie (Ojala) Anderson, Rosie (Klapprodt) Greene, Mary (Tumberg) Aho, Priscilla (Ryckman) Karvonen, Janet (Piippo) Gregorich, Carol (Volkmann) Fiedler, John Schwartz. Back row: Dan Isola, Roger Smith, Gary Simpson, Tom Karvonen, Gary… Read More

Sheriff’s Office offers tips for safe summer driving By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent A Pelican Rapids man was injured after losing control of his motorcycle late Wednesday afternoon, July 17, near Deer Creek. The accident took place near the intersection of Highway 29 and 580th Avenue. Sheriff deputies said the man, 59-year-old John Franklin Donson, sustained… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Stan Satre, even though he is past the age of 90, still is one of the pastors for summer outdoor Sunday worship services at Camp Nidaros near Walker Lake. Satre has been the main chaplain at Camp Nidaros since 1982, heading many of the 10 a.m. Sunday worship services himself and… Read More

Allen Arvig, President and CEO of Arvig, has received the Leaders & Legacies award from Prairie Business magazine.   Arvig is one of eight business leaders honored in the July issue of the magazine for their career accomplishments and contributions to their companies, industries and communities.  The Leaders & Legacies award recognizes top executives throughout the upper… Read More

West Central Initiative welcomes Ben Schierer as Director of Civic Partnerships and Griffin Peck as Climate Resilience Officer, bolstering the organization’s regional development work. Schierer will engage with government entities, communities, and organizations to foster strong public-sector partnerships and advocate for regional needs at legislative levels. Peck will spearhead efforts to help communities adapt to… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Auctioneer Tim Erp rattled off a cadence during the annual Ottertail Community Auction on Saturday evening in Ottertail. The auction featured everything from gift baskets to gift certificates and getaway packages. Proceeds raised from the auction will benefit the Ottertail community. A final total of money raised at the auction was not… Read More

East, West Otter Tail County Fairs to be held this week By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent This summer’s West Otter Tail County Fair in Fergus Falls drew in youth 4-H members, similar to other county fairs, with a rich tradition of 4-H participation from generation to generation. Every summer thousands of 4-H members take part in… Read More

Photo by Tucker Henderson The Schiffelly Puppets (and Jim and Shelley) put on a show at the New York Mills Library on Thursday morning. The family-friendly event featured a number of different puppets and was sponsored by the NY Mills Library and Viking Library System in part, or whole, with monies from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural… Read More

New York Mills Lions Club member begins two-year term as director By Tucker Henderson Reporter Bert Nelson, New York Mills, was recently elected as one of the newest International Directors for the Lions Clubs International at a convention held in Australia in June. Nelson has been involved with the Lions organization since he joined the local NY Mills… Read More