Top priority from citizens of Otter Tail County The Solid Waste Department submitted a grant application last month that would support planning efforts for transitioning Otter Tail County to single-sort recycling. Otter Tail County currently has a hybrid recycling program with Fergus Falls and Perham having curbside single-sort recycling, and the rest of the county having… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on Feb. 20, reported fire damage at the Swedberg Nursery, a family-owned landscape business, near Battle Lake. Two green houses were on fire when first responders arrived. The cause of the fire was malfunctions of a gas furnace and/or electrical panel. As of Feb. 22 the total extent of the… Read More

Member driven innovation reduces carbon emissions From increased adoption of electric vehicles to navigating the ongoing transition to cleaner energy, Minnesota’s not-for-profit electric cooperatives offer innovative energy programs to member-owners. In a time of remarkable industry change, Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) hosted an open forum for its member-owners on Friday, Feb. 18.   Electric cooperatives across the state… Read More

Otter Tail County’s Big Build initiative saw promising housing growth in 2021. Last year, $79.2 million in housing investment was added in the County from 507 new and rehabbed housing units, 435 of these being new construction and 72 being rehabbed units. This is an increase in new construction countywide compared to 2020. The success in… Read More

Arvig is now participating in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, making funding available to help offset the cost of internet service for eligible households within its service area. Congress authorized the $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program to replace the temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit. The new program offers expanded eligibility criteria and a monthly discount on internet… Read More

Program is supported with grant from MPCA The Solid Waste Department, along with partner sites around Otter Tail County, is preparing to kick off the Organics Recycling Pilot Program over the next week. The Organics Recycling Pilot Program is supported by a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Organics recycling is the industry term… Read More

Alexandria residents Earl and Sonya Anderson have been named the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Volunteer Snowmobile Instructors of the Year for 2021. While the award typically goes to one person, the Andersons have worked together for years to certify nearly 6,500 students in snowmobile safety. The Andersons, who are longtime members of the local Douglas Area… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher February hasn’t traditionally been a snowy month—unless of course the year ends in ’22. Almost 100 years to the day after a snowstorm dropped over 13 inches of snow in Fergus Falls, schools and businesses closed last week as another snowstorm blew through Otter Tail County. According to the National Weather Service in… Read More

FFA is in 220 schools statewide A new Minnesota license plate celebrating agriculture will benefit 4-H and the state’s FFA members. The plate’s design was unveiled last Friday. FFA members and 4-H’ers joined Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen and Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Patrice Bailey for the event, along with leaders from both organizations “We’re excited to have this new license… Read More

St. Cloud Technical & Community College congratulates the following students for their academic achievement Fall 2021. They have earned recognition on the President’s List for a grade point average of 4.0 or the Dean’s list for a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.99.  Local students who were named to the President’s List include: Addison Van… Read More