5 years ago

Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021

Larger-than-life puppets will return to New York Mills this weekend for the 12th annual Kalevala Puppet Pageant. A unique play based on the characters and tales from the Kalevala, the Finnish book of legends, will be told by local residents through puppet costumes, stilt-walking, songs and music by award-winning duo Curtis and Loretta of Minneapolis, Minn.

The New York Mills City Council will continue its pursuit of purchasing a tax forfeited property in town, even though the county board rejected its initial offer. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, in the new city council chambers in the Government Services Building, the NY Mills City Council heard from city clerk Julie Roberts that the county rejected the city’s proposal to purchase the property at 105 South Main in NY Mills. The city offered $300 for the lot with the goal of simply cleaning up the property.

Emily Reed is the third generation to volunteer with the children’s barnyard at the East Otter Tail County Fair. For Emily, the opportunity holds a special place in her heart. In ways, she is helping her late grandfather’s dream continue. Deland Porath was a longtime advisor of the New York Mills FFA and brought the Children’s Barn to the fair.

35 years ago

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 1991

Construction work on the Park View Apartments on Gilman Avenue is drawing to a close, with September 1 being set as the occupancy date for the apartment building. Four three bedroom, four two bedroom and 1 one bedroom apartment remain available, reports Manager Greg Imsande, with the three currently signed tenants also set to move in the same weekend. People interested in getting more information about the low and moderate income housing should call Imsande for details.

People who have urgent matters that they need to notify a missing person about can sometimes receive help through the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) letter forwarding service. The service is available to inform a person about a matter of great importance of which he or she is unaware and about which he or she would undoubtedly want to be informed. For example, where there is a serious illness or death in the missing person’s family or a missing person is due a sizable amount of money, such as an inheritance. SSA will attempt to forward a letter. Friends and  relatives should be aware, however, that the service is not available to forward love letters or other correspondence for the  purpose of reestablishing contact with old friends and acquaintances. In fact, it can be used only in very limited and  compelling circumstances. SSA forwards letters primarily for the benefit of the  missing person rather than the requester. And, by regulation, the agency must be careful to assure the missing person’s right to privacy. Because letter-forwarding is not related in any way to a Social Security program, the use of the service must be limited so that it does not interfere with our regular program activities. 

As part of an effort to boost interest in homes being offered for sale in New York Mills, local officials and the city’s economic developer are working on a  special open house event. Private sellers and area realtors will be involved in the “Community Open House,” said Area Economic Developer Brian Fritsinger earlier this week. The goal of the event, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 14, is to have a single-day showing of the 20 New York Mills city or area homes that are currently available. The idea is to allow younger prospective buyers with families a chance to visit the homes and see the benefits of living in New York Mills, Fritsinger said. For more information about the “Community Open House,” contact Fritsinger in Perham or New York Mills City Clerk Wayne Mattson at 385-2213. Also watch Parta  Printers publications for full page advertisements promoting the open house and available properties.

50 years ago

Thursday, Aug. 19, 1976

Co-op store Manager Mike Jorgenson, along with Co-op Services board chairman William Meyer and secretary Verner Anderson, looked over some of the more than $56,000 worth of checks and stock certificates which will be disturbed to patrons Saturday during Co-op Dividend Days. Co-op Services will be paying out to area patrons some $35,480.90 in cash Saturday. Some $30,000 of the cash payments will be stock retirement paid to the estates of deceased patrons which accumulated over the past several years. The other $5,480.90 in cash along with  $21,116.33 in stock certificates will be disbursed as dividend on last year’s patronage. “According to the by-laws of the firm, Co-op Services pays any and all profits made during the year back to local people on the basis of the purchases with the Co-op,” remarked manager Mike Jorgensen. A special beef barbeque open to the public will be held at noon in front off the Co-op Services Hardware store.

During a busy meeting last Monday evening, the school board prepared for the coming school term. The board hired a registered nurse, Mrs. Steven (Cynthia) Baumgart of the Butler area, who will serve as nurse for the coming year. Mrs. Baumgart has previously worked at the Perham School, the Perham Hospital and also trained at the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. In other action, the board decided to build restrooms at the athletic field. The building for the lavatories will be located at the north end of the school property at the athletic field with completion set for some time this fall. The board also voted to continue with the late bus program on Monday and Thursday evenings for the coming year. The school board also went on record at the meeting to pay the full cost of athletic physicals which are given this week at the school. Other athletic physicals not taken at this time will be reimbursed to a sum of $5.

Currently 250 families are participating  in a garden seed buying cooperative. The program is administered by the Rural Resource Markets Co-op. This project was started through Otter Tail Wadena Community Action Council, Inc. This project will be repeated this fall for family type gardeners in Otter Tail and Wadena Counties. Person interested in receiving a seed order form should call 385-2900 soon. The seeds will be packaged and ready for distribution early next year.

75 years ago

Thursday, Aug. 23, 1951

WARNING! It has been brought to the attention of this newspaper that dogs with rabies have been cited a short distance from town. It has also been reported that rabid skunks are numerous. Please watch your pets so that they cannot get in contact with these diseased animals. It endangers the lives of all, adults and children alike.

The Mills Hotel, which was recently purchased by Mr. A.C. Morey, has been remodeled and redecorated since he took over the hotel. The rooms have been attractively made over and the restaurant in the downstairs has been remodeled with a new entry placed on the east side of the building.

Rural school buildings being placed on town school site. Two of the rural school buildings to be used in connection with the permanent buildings in New York Mills have been set up during the past two weeks. These buildings were in the former districts 238 and 178. Each of these two buildings will be heated by new type gas heaters. The heater will be located in the ceiling of the buildings and will force warm air to all parts of the room. The heaters will be completely automatic. Movers are now in the process of moving in the buildings to be used for the Industrial Arts Department and the music department. The work is progressing favorably and it is expected that most of the work will be completed by school time.