Visiting novelist embraces slower life in rural Minnesota By Tucker Henderson Reporter While many people in Minnesota tend to vacation in the warmer states during the winter and into the springtime months, Alice Hatcher, a writer from Tucson, Ariz. decided to do just the opposite as an Artist in Residence through the New York Mills Cultural… Read More

Photos by Dani Koenen New York Mills School was transformed on Saturday night for the annual prom and post prom festivities. This year’s theme was “A Night to Remember” and featured a walk through the movies as part of the annual grand march. The evening came to a close with post prom at the school. For… Read More

Ordinance to mirrior one approved by OT County By Chad Koenen Publisher A new rental ordinance will soon put in place basic regulations for vacation homes in the heart of lakes country.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, April 17, the Ottertail City Council formally adopted a new vacation home rental ordinance. The city’s hope was… Read More

Utility dept. recognized by MPCA By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills City Council received its annual year-end audit that showed the cash balance in the general fund dipped slightly last year, especially after the city made a few big purchases for public safety and continued to expand the South Point housing project.  During its regularly… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter New York Mills students are gearing up for the 13th annual Kids Garage Sale, which will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the High School gym. This sale raises funds for the NY Mills Parents Nest, a Parent-Teacher Organization which helps cover costs of a… Read More

County board denies request for 14 more slips at Loon Lake Resort By Robert Williams Editor Otter Tail County is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive the prestigious “Above and Beyond Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense. This recognition is… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor The Office of the State Auditor Julie Blaha recently released the annual analysis of municipal liquor store operations for 2023. The report provides comparative data on municipal liquor operations owned and operated by Minnesota cities. In 2023, 176 Minnesota cities reported operating 210 municipal liquor stores, with 84 cities operating both on-sale and… Read More

Yvette Higgins Report for Minnesota As the Legislature assembles a new two-year budget for public safety needs, some lawmakers are concerned that crime victims and incarcerated people will not get the help they need due to limited funding.  The $3.66 billion budget bill that the House passed on April 25 increases state spending for the next two… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Residents of Otter Tail County know that the county has a rich history. Now and then it is good to pause and reflect on the county history and express appreciation for early settlers in the 1800s. The first group of non-Native American settlers, Cutlerites, came to Clitherall Lake in the spring… Read More

Elias Thomas Report for Minnesota A state-funded program that helps people get down payments to become the first in their families to buy homes will become permanent if the Legislature passes the House omnibus housing budget bill.  The program, established in 2023, helped 600 families become homeowners in the first seven months of its existence, according to… Read More