Three people expressed interest in open position By Chad Koenen Publisher Ottertail staple Jerry Martin has been appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Ottertail City Council. Martin was one of three people to write a letter of interest to fill the open seat and received two of the four votes cast for the position. He… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Otter Tail County commissioners approved a subdivision plan near Maine Lake and Round Lake, just west of Pickerel Lake in Maine Township. Included are 22 proposed lots. A new roadway also received county board approval as part of a conditional use permit. At the same time, the… Read More

On Thursday, Jan. 16, the Otter Tail County Highway Department announced it has temporarily closed County State-Aid Highway (CSAH) 76 over Bluff Creek, west of Bluffton, after routine inspections revealed advanced deterioration underneath this bridge. A detour has been established to redirect traffic. The Otter Tail County Highway Department understands the inconvenience this closure may cause… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The County Board of Commissioners previously passed a resolution to change probation services from a county probation office delivery system to community corrections. This transition is scheduled to be effective as of Jan. 31, 2025. Since the time that the resolution was passed, county staff have been working with the Minnesota… Read More

Entries thought for 32nd annual GATO in NYM The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center has announced the 2025 Great American Think-Off question: “Is there only one truth, or are there many truths?”   The stage is set for the 32nd annual Great American Think-Off, a nationally renowned philosophy competition that invites participants of all backgrounds… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  County sheriff deputies reported injuries in a head-on crash at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 13, at the intersection of Highways 52 and 29, northeast of Deer Creek. The vehicles involved were a semi and pickup. No further details were available. Assisting sheriff deputies were members of the Minnesota State Highway Patrol. Items… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The County Community Development and Housing Department, in conjunction with the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners, is considering housing partnerships with communities throughout the county who wish to continue offering tax rebates. Applications to the county-wide single-family tax rebate program, which provides financial support for the construction of new single-family… Read More

Even small amounts of snow can hide danger Snowmobile enthusiasts still await a large, widespread snowfall, but are finding places to ride in some parts of Minnesota. Frozen lakes are seeing plenty of attention, as are road ditches and trails where there’s adequate snow. With a long holiday weekend on tap, the Minnesota Department of… Read More

Photo by Tucker Henderson The Central Haven Church of New York Mills installed a new ADA compliant sidewalk into their building in the past few months to accommodate all visitors.

Winter is the ideal time to prune or remove oaks Now is a great time to prune or cut oaks without the risk of oak wilt infection, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Winter is also the safest time to remove infected oaks. Oak wilt is an invasive fungal disease spread by sap-feeding beetles… Read More