By Bev Johnson Special to the Dispatch Bunkey wants a tree that will attract birds and is not so big that it overwhelms the yard. One tree that fits all those criteria is an ornamental crabapple. Crabs come in many shapes and many of them are resistant to apple scab, hold their apples, or don’t fruit at… Read More

Kyle Joseph Anderson, 34, of Perham, received a stay of imposition in county court, Fergus Falls, on Dec. 16, 2024. He will have his felony conviction regarding threats of violence reduced to a misdemeanor if he stays law abiding during a probationary period. This case dates back to Nov. 26, 2023, and a plea agreement was… Read More

Family-owned company is based in Ottertail By Tucker Henderson Reporter Fifty years ago, a small family tree trimming and stump removal company was founded in the Ottertail area. With humble beginnings in a small shop with wood heat and a small fleet of equipment, Carr’s Tree Service has grown exponentially in its half-century of history. The company… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter As longtime administrative assistant Mary Hendrickx retired from the New York Mills Elementary School in November, a need arose for someone to fill her place in the centrum of the elementary school’s operation. Rural NY Mills resident Megan Schmitz now sits in that seat, making sure everything runs smoothly in that south… Read More

Event to be held at NYM ballroom By Tucker Henderson Reporter The annual New York Mills Community Kick Off will take place next week on Wednesday, Jan. 22 starting with a social hour and light lunch at 5:30 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Civic & Commerce Association and they encourage everyone to attend to… Read More

Johnson elected OTC chairman By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent On Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, the new county board of commissioners held its first meeting for 2025, including newly elected member Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls who replaces the retired Lee Rogness. Commissioner Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids is the new board chairman for 2025 and… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 73 state parks and recreation areas on Monday, Jan. 20. This Free Park Day is one of four days each year on which the DNR waives the requirement for a vehicle permit at state parks and recreation areas. There is one fee-free… Read More

In the early 1990s, Allen Arvig heard rumblings about a relatively obscure, largely untested, and somewhat clunky new technology. In the telecommunications industry at the time, it was common to hear of promising innovations, even if they didn’t all live up to the hype. This particular technology, in its own right, was still unproven—and from a… Read More

Contributed photo The New York Mills seventh grade history class led by Will Grieger partook in an online history bee. The top scoring student was Wolfgang and second place was Evan. The students outscored their classmates in a digital test based on U.S. and World History content and application. The top students now will have… Read More

Nature is a common thread in the art exhibits featured at M State in Fergus Falls this winter, with the fiber creations of Mary Jo Wentz and watercolor batiks of Ruth Hanson tied together by the two artists’ appreciation for the natural world. “I am influenced by nature, farm life and people,” said Hanson. “I strive… Read More