Local newspaper receives first place in six categories By Chad Koenen Publisher The Citizen’s Advocate received eight awards, including first place in six categories, at the 156th annual Minnesota Newspaper Association Convention last week. Henning Publications, which operates the Citizen’s Advocate, Frazee-Vergas Forum and NY Mills Dispatch, won 21 awards as a group.  The Citizen’s Advocate competes in… Read More

Eight students to compete for Snow Week royalty By Chad Koenen Publisher With the temperatures dipping below zero it almost seems fitting that Henning School is getting ready to celebrate winter. The annual Snow Week celebration will get underway next week and feature a variety of dress up days and activities at the school. The week will kick off… Read More

Chad Koenen, co-owner of Henning Publications, LLC and co-publisher of the Citizen’s Advocate in Henning, New York Mills Dispatch and Frazee-Vergas Forum, has been re-elected as the president of the Minnesota Newspaper Association.   Koenen was re-elected president at the organization’s annual meeting on Friday, Jan. 27, at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, Minn. “I… Read More

Event to feature hundreds of door prizes, food, bon fire on the lake By Chad Koenen Publisher If you are planning to attend the 44th annual Henning Rod and Gun Ice Fishing Derby on Saturday, make sure to have a radio nearby and keep your hearing aids turned up—otherwise you may miss out on a chance to… Read More

Fire department responded to 78 calls last year By Chad Koenen Publisher The Deer Creek City Fire Department continues to be an active fire department when it comes to medical and fire calls in eastern Otter Tail County. During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Deer Creek City Council heard from new fire chief Andrew Browne about… Read More

Old-time restaurants provided more than food for a community By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Many baby boomers in Otter Tail County remember the good old days in the 1960s when, before and after basketball games, kids could purchase a burger for 30 cents, French fries for 25 cents and a Coca-Cola for ten cents. A milk… Read More

Massive lake was four times bigger than Lake Superior By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Many people driving along Highway 210 just west of the Fergus Falls municipal airport visualize what was once the shoreline of the massive Lake Agassiz. This huge lake, 12,000 years ago, was more than four times the size of Lake Superior. Eventually, with… Read More

Mergens retired as district manager for West Otter Tail SWCD on January 24 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Meeting with county commissioners on Jan. 24 was Aaron Larsen who has replaced the retired Brad Mergens as district manager for the West Otter Tail County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) based in Fergus Falls. Larsen began his… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  A county fish house owner, at Crimson Trail (Rush Lake), reported a theft on Jan. 21. Taken from the fish house were two ice fishing rods and two tackle boxes. A nearby fish house had its door open. The owner was contacted and planned to come to Rush Lake, south of… Read More

Fifteen Minnesota counties are part of MICA By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA), which includes Otter Tail County, is a voluntary, joint powers organization of 15 Minnesota counties. This includes most of Minnesota’s larger and faster growing counties. “We share interests with the larger counties in Minnesota, through our MICA membership,” said County Board… Read More