The Otter Tail County Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force and the Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations (OTC COLA), www.otccola.org, are again sponsoring the second annual Lake Stewardship Symposium on May 16, 2026. The 2026 Symposium is in response to enthusiastic requests received from attendees of the first Lake Property Owner Stewardship Symposium held on… Read More

By Kendra Mobilia Report for Minnesota When a speeding drunk driver crashed into the outside seating area of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park and killed two people and injured a dozen others in 2024, Rep. Larry Kraft began looking for ways to prevent similar incidents in the future.  Now the St. Louis Park DFLer is sponsoring… Read More

By Kendra Mobilia Report for Minnesota When a speeding drunk driver crashed into the outside seating area of the Park Tavern in St. Louis Park and killed two people and injured a dozen others in 2024, Rep. Larry Kraft began looking for ways to prevent similar incidents in the future.  Now the St. Louis Park DFLer is sponsoring… Read More

Sen. Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), Republican lead of the Senate Human Services Committee, joined Senate Republicans to roll out a legislative action plan to stop fraud in Minnesota’s public support services and restore accountability in state government. The plan focuses on three key objectives: stricter legislative oversight, smarter use of technology to verify services, and… Read More

By Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota A statewide cellphone ban for K-12 schools may be on the horizon after a state Senate committee debated it during the second week of the legislative session. A bill authored by Sen. Alice Mann, DFL–Edina, would prohibit students from using cellphones and smartwatches in school from kindergarten through 12th grade and ban… Read More

Business offers automotive, agricultural mechanic, welding services By Tucker Henderson Reporter Down an unassuming gravel road just south of Bluffton, sits a nearly full-service automotive and agricultural mechanic and welding shop. Ament Repair and Welding, now in its fourth year of operation, fills the needs of local drivers, farmers and anyone in need of some welding work. Seth… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter The Economic Development Authority (EDA) Board recently met on Wednesday, Feb. 18 to discuss the development within the City of New York Mills. Treasurer, Latham Hetland, discussed the housing study, environmental and sustainability study and the strategic framework survey which are all being done simultaneously with end dates nearing. The housing study is being… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter A new technology tool is now being utilized by the New York Mills School District as they recently implemented the new Stopfinder app to help parents see where their children’s bus is located in real-time. The app, which can be downloaded from the App Store and the Google Play Store, is sent… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In 2021, Otter Tail County completed a Master Plan that established strategic goals for waste management. The plan includes a path towards zero landfilling, uniform service delivery to all residents and responsible financial decision making.  The county’s current solid waste initiatives include single-sort curbside recycling. In January 2026 Otter Tail County… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson The New York Mills Family Resource Center, in collaboration with the NYM Public Library held a Free Books and Family Fun Day last week where students and their families were able to pick up books, do crafts, have a snack and utilize parent resources.