Parents requests start process By Barbie Porter Editor St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Perham is adding seventh and eighth grade classes to its parochial school next fall. The school currently offers preschool and grades K-6. After several requests from parents to provide a junior high curriculum, school board member Jamie Holzer and several others formed a sub-committee and… Read More

Accurate voting systems are in place By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The voting process was a topic for discussion at some recent precinct caucuses in Otter Tail County. Distrust of the voting process has taken place in some areas of Minnesota and across the nation. Fortunately, Otter Tail County has a strong reputation for voting integrity. Well trained… Read More

Contributed photos New York Mills kindergarten and first grade students recently hosted Lacey Ament to school to learn about proper dental hygene. The visit came as part of National Children’s Dental Health Month. Students read a book and got an up-close look at teeth during Ament’s stop in NY Mills.

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