Awards were presented as part of 159th annual state newspaper convention By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills Dispatch was honored as one of the top newspapers in the state as part of the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest. The Dispatch was recognized during the 159th annual Minnesota Newspaper Convention, which was held… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson The kindergarten classes in New York Mills held their gingerbread party last Friday where students and a special adult worked together to create a delicious gingerbread creation. This annual tradition is typically held at the end of January with kindergarten students and a special friend. While the students and adults were able… Read More

Audrey Weller is the 2025 New York Mills Civic Excellence Award recipient. She has requested that the award’s donation component be given to Valley Christian Counseling and Wellness for the amount of $200. The New York Mills Civic Excellence Award is to promote a strong sense of citizenship with a focus on “service to others.” Service… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In 2023 the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners established the Hazard Mitigation Project Assistant Grant Program, utilizing funds to help communities throughout the county. The goal is to reduce the long-term risk to human life and property resulting from severe winter and summer storms.  Outdoor warning siren and generator projects… Read More

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center (NYMRCC) is pleased to announce its 2026 Winter/Spring Concert Series, bringing original live music to rural West-Central Minnesota with a renewed Pay What You Can model. Thanks to generous support from the Lake Region Arts Council, all concerts in the series are open to everyone with no tickets required…. Read More

The Community Cantata singers will present the Lenten Cantata “On a Hill Too Far Away” on March 29 and April 1, under the direction of Adam Tervola Hultberg and accompanied by Janell Brakell. The concerts will be Sunday, March 29 (Palm Sunday)  at 3 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills and Wednesday,… Read More

M State announces fall 2025 academic honors Minnesota State Community and Technical College (M State) named 682 students to its President’s List and 699 students to its Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester.   Students on the President’s List earned a grade point average of 4.0 while completing a minimum of six college-level credits and 75… Read More

2026 program for high school juniors   The Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) is proud to announce its 2026 Scholarship Program, which will award up to five $2,000 scholarships to high school juniors. The Scholarship Program is designed to heighten awareness among young people about Minnesota’s grassroots township government. All students currently enrolled in 11th grade,… Read More

The VFW Post 3289 Auxiliary met January 8 with 15 members present. Minutes from the December 11 meeting were approved, and the December Treasurer’s Report was filed subject to audit. The General Orders Bulletin for January 2026 from the Department President was read and discussed.  Our Auxiliary received a thank you card for a donation to the… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter With an anniversary year ahead of them and nearly four decades of experience behind them, Perala Bros. Auctioneers owners and brothers Dean and Mickey Perala are looking forward to celebrating their 40th anniversary with two new auctioneers by their side.  ¶  The two Perala brothers grew up in the auction industry watching… Read More