Contributed photo Three New York Mills Elementary students were recently honored for the posters they created as part of the annual fire safety poster contest. Their posters have been sent to the state competition to get judged with local poster contest winners from across Minnesota. NY Mills School winners include: Alyssa Foley, Josephine Brandt and… Read More

The mental health teams from Prairie Wind Middle School and Heart of the Lakes Elementary School were presented with an $8,160 check from the PrairieCare Fund. PrairieCare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of local communities. The organization focuses on providing essential funding for youth mental health resources in Minnesota Schools… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen The New York Mills Christmas Tree Festival is underway at the city ballroom. The event features dozens of decorated trees (right) that line the ballroom through the NY Mills Lions Club Community Christmas Party on Saturday. The week long festival kicked off on Saturday morning with a visit from Santa Claus (middle… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter The New York Mills Economic Development Authority met for their regularly scheduled meeting last Wednesday to discuss matters relating to economic development within the city.  ¶  The board is maintaining a healthy revolving loan fund balance with all loans current or ahead and a balance of $213,364.27 available for local business ventures… Read More

Organizers planning for 2025-26 school year By Tucker Henderson Reporter As the school year is in full swing for the local schools in the Lakes Area, many students are benefiting from the cross-cultural learning opportunities provided by the variety of foreign exchange students who are spending their year in the United States. Sheila Piippo, rural New York… Read More

Free meal to be available on Thursday By Tucker Henderson Reporter As families come together for their annual Thanksgiving traditions tomorrow, not everyone is so lucky to have a place to go, a meal to eat, or a family to laugh with during the holiday season. The Continental Divide Brew Pub in New York Mills will… Read More

Ditches 13, 19 are located in rural Parkers Prairie By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, on Nov. 19, approved unanimously the merging of Ditch 13 and Ditch 19 that will include the townships of Parkers Prairie, Woodside and Eastern. Prior to the vote, commissioners heard from landowners affected by the merger. Drainage Inspector Colby Palmersheim… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson The New York Mills Education Foundation hosted the 13th annual Community Carnival in NY Mills on Friday night. The event featured a number of carnival-style games that raised funds for the school and classrooms. Among the games was a mini golf course (above), silent auction (below right), spin the wheel (bottom left),… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, on Nov. 5, authorized a contract agreement between Otter Tail County and the State of Minnesota’s Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. This allows for a pilot project that evaluates alternative Emergency Medical Services (EMS) ambulance services primary in Otter Tail and Grant counties.  Otter Tail County will serve as… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Gert Larson, who this reporter visited at the Pioneer Pointe senior living facility in Fergus Falls in late October, is a person who has a stabilizing influence on other people. She is an excellent listener who always provides encouragement. This dear friend, to many people, is doing well and is alert… Read More