The VFW Post 3289 Auxiliary met May 8 with 18 members present. Minutes from the April 10 meeting were approved, and the April Treasurer’s Report was filed subject to audit. The General Orders Bulletin for May 2025 from the Department President was read and discussed.  Our Auxiliary received the following District awards: Veterans and Family Support (1st… Read More

Community gathers to honor the life of Blake Unger By Tucker Henderson Reporter Within 12 hours of his death, the New York Mills and Bluffton communities heard the news that one of their own, recent high school graduate Blake Unger, was gone. As families, friends, and neighbors read about the circumstances surrounding his passing and shared the… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Music, hot dogs, popcorn and Elvis Presley—oh my! One of the more popular summertime activities in the Ottertail region will once again be making a return to the Ottertail Community Park next week. The summer concert series is back for its 10th season and will once again feature a mixture of musical… Read More

Contributed photos The New York Mills speech teach recently held its end of season awards banquet. Among the award winners were: Most Valuable Speaker: Elijah Geiser, Most Improved: Marissa Uselman, Most Dedicated: Payton Lausten, Most Competitive: Payton Lausten, Most Revived: Brooke Sonsalla, Most Inspired: Wolfgang Kawlewski, Most Supportive: Owen Johnson, Most Resilient: Hadlie Lien, Senior… Read More

Majority of rental properties are located near a lake By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent In 2024 the county board of commissioners held public hearings related to regulations of vacation home rentals. An ordinance was developed and in recent months it became necessary to adopt a second ordinance. Close to 90 percent of the 182 rental properties as… Read More

Schermerhorn faces three felony charges By Chad Koenen Publisher Less-than one week after receiving his high school diploma, a local teenager is dead following a crash in Bluffton Township on Tuesday night (May 27).  Blake Unger, age 18, was killed in an accident near the intersection of 370th St and 640th Ave, northwest of Wadena at around… Read More

Cleveland outfielder was a nine-time all-star in the 1950-60s By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Kids in Otter Tail County playing sandlot baseball games, prior to the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, had baseball heroes from other major league teams. There were only 16 major league teams in the late 1950s, compared to 30 teams… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The New York Mills School District will continue its contract with Interquest Canine Services to conduct up to nine random searches for illegal items and drugs in the school and parking lot. However, prior to approving the contract, the school board had quite a bit of candid conversation about the need to… Read More

Photos by Tucker Henderson Kim Imsande was honored last Friday during her retirement party after working as the church’s Administrative Assistant for 24 years.

Contributed photos Three New York Mills Mills Elementary students placed at the district level for their Americanism Essay through the VFW. Sydney Jorgenson took third place (left), while Shane Schornack (middle) and Anora Knutson (right) were recognized by finishing with an honorable mention.