By Bonnie Dykoff Special to the Dispatch This story was written with the blessing of a family member.  This is the story of Patrick. Patrick was a VietNam vet.  He was a sniper.  Patrick came home from war, but let’s just say  he never “came back” from the war.    What he witnessed, had to do and had to… Read More

The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed November as National Adoption Month as a time to honor adoptive and foster parents. In Minnesota there are more than 700 children waiting for an adoptive family. Otter Tail County Human Services will complete 10 transfers of custody and 13 finalized adoptions this year. Adopting a child… Read More

Woman with early dementia scammed out of money By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on Nov. 1, reported that one person was injured Oct. 29 in a traffic accident east of Henning near the intersection of Highway 210 and Highway 29. The injury was minor. Assisting sheriff deputies at the scene of the accident were members… Read More

A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16 regarding a proposed management plan for Indian Lake in Sibley County, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The DNR is proposing that Indian Lake becomes a designated wildlife lake, which permits DNR wildlife managers to manipulate water levels to manage habitat conditions. Temporarily lowered water levels,… Read More

Final passenger trains left OTC in 1971 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Birds flew overhead on a sunny and still morning in late October, 1971, at the Great Northern Railroad station north of downtown Fergus Falls. A group of passengers waited outside the station on the platform, next to railroad tracks. They were ready to board… Read More

Tri-County Health Care now uses the Hologic SmartCurve Breast Stabilization System. This new equipment’s design makes mammograms more comfortable for patients.  Discomfort is often cited as the main reason women avoid this potentially lifesaving procedure. This new technology increases patient comfort during mammogram screening with the use of conforming paddles. The paddles come in a variety… Read More

During the quarterly allocation of Operation Round Up (ORU) funding, Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) awarded $24,245 this October. The ORU Board of Trustees granted funding to 12 local organizations at their October 11 meeting, bringing LREC’s total donation amount to $435,195 since 2007.  Organizations receiving funds were: • $2,500 to A Place to Belong for Community Connections… Read More

Youth hunting season a success for Schmitz By Barbie Porter Editor, Frazee-Vergas Forum Hunting is a family affair for Talli Schmitz. When deer hunting season rolls around the rifles are cleaned, safety checks performed and scopes sighted. And, many family members pack their bags and travel to family-owned property where memories are made annually. “We have party hunts… Read More

Expenses were less than budget last year By Jenna Baker Correspondent The main topic of discussion at the October New York Mills School Board meeting was the presentation of the school’s 2019-20 audit by Eide Bailly. Present via Zoom was Coutney Richman of Eide Bailly who gave an overview of the findings, funds and balances of the school district…. Read More

Meal to be prepared by Farmer’s Daughter Rustic Bakery, served at Trinity church By Tucker Henderson Reporter Trinity Church will once again be hosting a community Thanksgiving meal on November 24.  After 10 years of preparing the annual meal, Barb and Gary Schultz of Concept Catering, have passed the baton to Lisa Kopveiler, owner of the Farmer’s… Read More