Across Minnesota, early childhood educators are finding new ways to help children build emotional resilience, develop empathy, and thrive. Thanks to a gift from the Sauer Family Foundation to West Central Initiative, more educators and families now have access to transformational Conscious Discipline training—an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that equips adults to manage their own emotions while… Read More

In a time of the world where newspapers are facing dire straights to keeping their doors open, the New York Mills Dispatch continues to provide weekly news, sports and community coverage to the greater northeast portion of Otter Tail County.  The publication began in 2013 when a group of community members approached Henning Publications, LLC, owners… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter It was nearly two years ago when the New York Mills community heard about the loss of one of their own, Sam Long, who died by suicide on December 22, 2023. Since that time, an attempt to improve and expand mental health services to those in need has been under way and… Read More

Dufour is staying with VonRuden family in NYM By Tucker Henderson Reporter Elsa Dufour joins the New York Mills High School senior class as the district’s lone foreign exchange student this year. She hails from Charleroi, a city in the French-speaking region of Belgium. Dufour has been in the United States since August 23 and is staying… Read More

Upgrades in Ottertail, Fergus Falls come at no cost to taxpayers By Robert Williams Editor Otter Tail County Deputy Administrator Nick Leonard provided a resolution that was adopted regarding the Guaranteed Energy Savings Project for facility improvements and two 40 kW solar arrays, one located at the Government Services Center in Fergus Falls and the other at the… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Seventy feet, or slightly longer than the distance needed for a first down in football, that was reportedly the difference between New York Mills being home to the Otter Tail County’s first cannabis business located in the downtown area and being denied by the county. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson Pastor Stew Burns and several local volunteers set up 2,977 American flags at Central Park last week in remembrance of each of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. A group of volunteers set up the flags on Wednesday afternoon and evening in advance of September 11 on Thursday.

Photo by Chad Koenen The annual Dreams for Kids motorcycle ride was held on Saturday throughout the region. The bike ride kicked off at 12 p.m. at 1894 in Perham, before making a number of stops, including Parallel 46 near Pelican Rapids. The night came to a conclusion at the Silver Moon in Perham. Proceeds from… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels and starry stonewort in Anna Lake, near Underwood in Otter Tail County. A lake property owner contacted the DNR after finding zebra mussels on a concrete block near a boat lift in Anna Lake. DNR staff found additional zebra mussels in the lake. While… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Over the years local historians, youth groups and others from Otter Tail County have appreciated the opportunity to roam the grounds at historic Fort Abercrombie only 40 miles westward from Fergus Falls.  To get there, drive 26 miles from Fergus Falls to Breckenridge and then 14 miles north on Highway 75… Read More