By Chad Koenen Publisher Accordions will be working overtime this weekend as the Ottertail Lions Club hosts its 16th annual Polka Daze celebration. The event typically attracts some of the biggest names in polka music, as well as hundreds of people from across the country.  Featuring a large wooden dance floor, five bands will perform… Read More

Capital project to renovate,  expand New York Mills facility The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center (NYMRCC) has announced a $100,000 grant from the Blandin Foundation. This grant brings the organization’s Cultivating Community Capital Campaign to more than 75 percent committed toward its $2.3 million goal, representing significant momentum toward preserving and expanding this important… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking the public for help collecting red pine cones and has increased its payment to $95 per bushel for clean, ripe and closed cones. This year’s crop is expected to be the best the state has seen in a decade. Cones will be ready for collection from early… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The Deer Creek City Council reaffirmed its support of city clerk/treasurer Miriam Steuck, but acknowledged there may be some personality clashes and some things to work on moving forward. As part of a special, and somewhat contentious meeting at times between approximately a dozen people in attendance and the city council,… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Despite coming off a down season in which the Eagles won just four games, there is a renewed sense of energy inside the Sports Center walls at New York Mills High School. Seven seniors and a new coaching staff have been hard at work throughout the summer and fall as they… Read More

Eagles to host Jaguars Thursday night By Chad Koenen Publisher Eight letter winners will lead the New York Mills Eagles into action this fall as they look to improve on last year’s 2-7 record. Of the seven losses last season, four games were decided by one score or less, meaning a few bounces one way… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher New York Mills football, baseball and softball games could soon be coming to a big screen TV near youa. During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Aug. 24, the NY Mills School Board heard of a plan to install HUDL cameras at the football field, as well as the varsity baseball… Read More

‘First 85’ moved to OTC from Kentucky in 1898 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent This past summer, in early July and late August, two busloads of people from the Twin Cities came to the county museum in Fergus Falls (historical society) to learn more as descendants of black veterans of Otter Tail County…. Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher  New York Mills High School alum will be one of two new teachers greeting students as they walk through the school doors for the first time this week.  ¶  Karli Kawlewski will be returning to her roots this fall as the NY Mills High School alum will be the new second… Read More

Eight ACC parishes to ‘realign’ into one, four locations By Matthew Johnson Reporter The Mary, Mother of the Church Area Catholic Community (ACC) is in the process of a “realignment” of its eight area parishes, essentially “unifying” them into one large parish in four existing locations, according to the Rev. J.C. Duncan of the Diocese… Read More