By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills School District and teachers association has agreed to a new two-year contract. The contract was officially approved by the school board on Monday night, after being approved by the teachers union earlier in the day.  NY Mills School Board member Wendy Hetland credited the work of the teachers and individuals… Read More

The New York Mills School has recently honored 13 Star Students for the second quarter. The new program recognizes students in the areas of academics and/or character.  NY Mills High School staff nominate students at the end of each quarter for the award. Six junior high students and seven high school students were recognized as Star… Read More

Small restaurants have a rich history By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In mid-January a newspaper column by Vicky Anderson of the Otter Tail County Historical Society caught the attention of many longtime county residents.  Anderson noted, in the first section of her column, the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Runningen Café in 1947, a prelude… Read More

County park to remain open to the public during repairs The mill building at Phelps Mill Park will be closed for repairs beginning Jan. 24. The historic Phelps Mill and the surrounding park is a cherished place in Minnesota.  Built in 1889 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, Phelps Mill is… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County land and resource employees, always seeking to better serve the residents of Otter Tail County, will be at a retreat on Friday, Feb. 18, for staff training. Offices will be closed on that day. “We work each day to ensure a viable environment for the residents and visitors of Otter… Read More

Doug Walvatne began employment with the Otter Tail County Assessor’s Office on Sept. 1, 1985, first as an office technician then two years later moving to an appraiser position working in the Fergus Falls area.  In 2010, he began his service as county assessor. As an appraiser he was responsible for assessing taxes on 64,409 total… Read More

Schwantz honored as 500th joint recipient at TCHC The orthopedics team at Tri-County Health Care recently completed their 500th joint replacement. The orthopedics team reached this milestone just three years after adding the full-scope service.  Carla Schwantz discovered she was the 500th joint recipient when she scheduled her bilateral knee replacement surgery. Previously, she had her… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County sheriff deputies, late in the evening on Jan. 25, reported that fire destroyed a shop and damaged a nearby house. The location was close to Highway 11, southwest of Elizabeth and northwest of Fergus Falls. “After the electricity went out in the house, home owners looked outside and saw their… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent This month County Auditor-Treasurer Wayne Stein is reviewing with county board members a previously-approved county board resolution to appoint the office of county auditor-treasurer.  A Minnesota statute allows for the incumbent auditor-treasurer to enter into a contract with the county board, making that incumbent an appointed auditor-treasurer. Making this an appointed position… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson Kindergarten students at New York Mills School were able to create some tasty treats on Friday with the help of some special friends. The students and their helpers created gingerbread houses in each of their classrooms. The activity is an annual event at the school, which officially ends the students unit on… Read More