Join Chris Schuelke from the Otter Tail County Historical Society for a tour of historic New York Mills on Friday, June 13 at 5 p.m. Gather in front of the Cultural Center. Thanks to a grant from the Lake Region Arts Council, this walking tour will be available at no cost to participants. The public… Read More

Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, has announced its 2025 spring semester honors lists.    The President’s List includes 277 students who earned a grade-point average of 3.75 to 4.0 while enrolled for at least 12 credits.   The Dean’s List includes 234 students who earned a grade-point average of 3.25 to 3.74 while enrolled for at… Read More

Recreational programming at the Minnesota Veterans Home – Fergus Falls is getting a big boost this year, thanks to a $26,000 donation from the non-profit Veterans Home Rest & Relaxation (Veterans Home R & R).  “This act of kindness not only underscores the importance of community engagement but also serves as a beacon of appreciation for… Read More

As organizers of the 2025 Relay For Life make plans to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Otter Tail County Relay, they are also looking for ways to make this year’s Relay new and exciting.  They also hope to get more and new people involved in this year’s Relay. In addition to the hopes that… Read More

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