Otter Tail County Commissioners will host a community event at the New York Mills City Center on March 18 from 7-9 p.m. This event, which is not a board of commissioners’ meeting, offers an opportunity for residents to engage with commissioners and learn about ongoing county projects in the New York Mills area. Commissioner Robert Lahman,… Read More

State law to require additional staff training By Chad Koenen Publisher A new state mandate has set a lofty goal of having every student read at their grade level beginning in kindergarten. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the New York Mills School Board heard from school superintendent Blaine Novak about the READ Act. In order to come… Read More

Library to be installed as part of school service project By Chad Koenen Publisher A new small library could be coming to downtown Deer Creek. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the Deer Creek City Council heard from Tanner Collins about a community service project he wanted to complete in Deer Creek. The new little free… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter When the New York Mills School Board received Superintendent Blaine Novak’s notice of retirement, they did so knowing that the search for a successor needed to begin right away. Within two weeks of receiving his letter of retirement the school board set the wheels in motion to have the school’s next superintendent… Read More

Probation Advisory Board composition approved By Robert Williams Frazee-Vergas Forum Editor The Otter Tail County Board passed a resolution of support for development of a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) that Clay County is pursuing at the Tuesday, Feb. 13 meeting of the Otter Tail County Commissioners. According to Human Services Director Deb Sjostrom, Minnesota joined a group of… Read More

Free event to be held on March 11 at the library By Tucker Henderson Reporter Fred Liljegren and David O’Brien are returning to the New York Mills Public Library for another meet-and-greet surrounding their most recent book, “Fredtime Stories II: More Stories From a Mostly Rural Life.” This book comes on the heels of the sequel,… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Otter Tail County’s success with housing initiatives is drawing attention from other counties throughout the state of Minnesota. “The Big Build” program, approved five years ago by county commissioners, is designed to spur new investment in single and two-family homes.  “Each month the county board considers approval of tax abatements on… Read More

Drug-sniffing dog also searched for missing people, fugitives By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Mojo, the county sheriff K9 drug-sniffing dog, has for several years answered the call to assist the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office and in neighboring counties. This 10-year-old dog also searched for missing people, pursued fugitives and assisted deputies in evidence detection…. Read More

Habitat for Humanity house recently built in Fergus Falls By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent This past year 25 churches in Otter Tail County helped build a Habitat for Humanity house in Fergus Falls. Church involvement included teams of eight, 792 volunteer hours and more than $50,000 raised by the churches toward materials for the house. On Thursday, Feb. 22,… Read More

Olson named to Saint Mary’s Dean’s List Kali Olson, New York Mills, has been named to the 2023 fall semester Dean’s List at Saint Mary’s University. The list includes 465 undergraduate students who earned a grade point average of 3.60 or better on a 4.0 scale. BSU announces fall Dean’s List Several local students have earned dean’s list… Read More