Organization found 2024 election was fair, orderly By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The League of Women Voters conducted a 2024 post-election review of 43 of Minnesota’s 87 counties, including the election process in Otter Tail County. Findings were reviewed to county commissioners on April 14 by Teresa Muckala, a member of the League of Women… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on April 15 and in association with the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, reported that a New York Mills man was injured in a traffic accident near Perham at 6:56 a.m. Authorities said a Freightliner Semi Tractor was traveling on County Road 80, attempting to cross onto eastbound Highway 10,… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County Land and Resource Director Chris LeClair informed county commissioners on April 14 that an additional $500,000 is being made available to help residents of Otter Tail County replace non-compliant subsurface sewage treatment systems (SSTS). Otter Tail County serves as the lender, with the cost of the system assessed to the property… Read More

County action to help Bongards receive lesser bond rating By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, on April 14, approved issuance and sale of bonds to assist Bongards Creamery of Perham with a waste-water improvement system, part of an overall modernization plan for the cheese and whey manufacturer. Community Development Director Amy Baldwin explained to county… Read More

Bill establishing term limits for governor, AG held over By Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota The Minnesota House Rules Committee turned its attention toward the executive branch this week, as Republicans proposed resolutions calling for the impeachment of two top state Democrats, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, and term limits for future governors and… Read More

By Shay Scanlan Report for Minnesota A 2025 law mandating a $250 million cut to special education is prompting bipartisan pushback at the Minnesota Capitol, as school districts warn of widespread negative impacts.  Last year, the Legislature passed a law establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission, tasking it with finding $250 million in special education cuts by October 2026,… Read More

Part of Window to the World: Finland 2026 Series  The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center invites the community to a captivating morning of Finnish storytelling and music with Kip Peltoniemi on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. This special event was rescheduled from its original April 4 date due to weather. Through… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Transportation awarded grants to nine Minnesota cities Tuesday, April 14, to help plan new ways for people to safely walk and bicycle in their communities. “Our Active Transportation Planning Assistance program helps cities, counties, and other eligible groups improve transportation safety, curb traffic, spur economic activity and increase Minnesotans’ health and well-being,”… Read More

In celebration of Law Day, Otter Tail County invites community members and school groups to an Open House on Thursday, May 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic county courthouse at 121 West Junius Avenue in Fergus Falls.  This free public event is an opportunity to explore the justice system and engage directly… Read More

NYM improves to 3-0 with two more wins By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills softball team has found its offensive groove to start the season as the Eagles outscored their opponents by a 44-9 margin and improved to 3-0 on the season. After defeating Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal 12-2 on Friday, April 10, the Eagles hosted… Read More