Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, is the leading environmental cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the primary cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.  Each year, more than 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the U.S. are attributed to radon exposure. Alarmingly, about 2 in 5 homes in Minnesota have elevated radon levels. Otter… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for passionate and dedicated students interested in learning more about natural resource careers through paid summer internships. DNR summer interns receive valuable training, develop key skills and contribute in important ways to the department’s mission of working with Minnesotans to conserve and manage natural resources, provide outdoor recreational… Read More

Photo by Tucker Henderson The dilapidated house at 116 North Broadway Avenue was recently torn down for the safety of the community. The aged building was a longtime residence in NY Mills, but around 100 years ago it was a glove factory. The nickname of the “old glove factory” has lasted a century and was still… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter As January begins, a new era of civic duty dawns as New York Mills mayor-elect, Latham Hetland. He is set to be inaugurated at the January 14 city council meeting.  ¶  Hetland, age 29, is likely the youngest mayor the city of NY Mills has seen in its 140 years of history…. Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent A few residents of Otter Tail County, for the third time in 2024, enjoyed lutefisk.  For this writer, the first time was the late October 2024 lutefisk feed near Walcott, North Dakota, followed by a lutefisk lunch at the Viking Café in Fergus Falls and a Christmas Eve lutefisk feed prepared… Read More

New houses continue to pop up in Ottertail By Chad Koenen Publisher The Ottertail City Council approved a 10 percent tax levy increase for 2025. That number was five percent less-than the 15 percent proposed tax levy increase that was approved in August. During its regularly scheduled meeting, city clerk/treasurer Amanda Thorson said the city was able… Read More

By Tucker Henderson Reporter The residents of Ottertail and the surrounding community recently gained a new feature to an already novel skating experience located at Thumper Pond Resort. The Ottertail Rod and Gun Club and the Ottertail Lions Club joined together in sponsoring a warming house for the skating rink there. Ottertail Mayor, Ron Grobeck, said that… Read More

Photo by Tucker Henderson The New York Mills utility department has been busy over the past few weeks as they flooded the ice skating rink at Smith Park in time for the annual Christmas holiday break from school.

Public can document elk observations using new elk sightings tool The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will conduct aerial elk surveys in the next few weeks when conditions allow. DNR staff will survey the Kittson County and Grygla elk herds in northwestern Minnesota and the border elk herd in both Minnesota and Manitoba. The surveys are… Read More

By Rick Schara West Central Initiative Kim Konikow was looking for a new home. In Bismarck, she truly enjoyed her job with the state arts council but was looking to semi-retire and wanted a new forever place, a change of scene.  Minnesota was among the handful of states that offered that retirement intrigue. Konikow had grown up in Detroit, and… Read More