Highway department has had busy start to winter season  By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The removal of snow and ice from Otter Tail County highways is the most important job confronting the County Highway Department maintenance personnel during the winter season. The safety of the traveling public and serviceability of county highways are the primary concerns… Read More

Program aimed at building pipeline of workers for employers Otter Tail County has announced that its Empowered Worker Program has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Outstanding Economic Development Award by the Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers (MAPCED). The award was presented on December 9 at the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC)… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The late 1960s and early 1970s was a remarkable time to be working at newspapers in Otter Tail County. About 1972 newspapers in our county and across the state of Minnesota saw the transition from letterpress hot type to offset cold type printing. In Fergus Falls, Daily Journal employees moved in… Read More

On Thursday, Dec. 18, the Minnesota Housing board of directors selected 51 housing developments totaling more than $166.4 million in state investments. The developments will support the creation and preservation of 1,424 single-family homes and apartments. The projects represent more than $550 million in total development costs and will support 4,700 jobs. “These resources are helping… Read More

One person injured in traffic accident near Pelican Rapids By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on Dec. 20, reported one injury in traffic accident at 9:21 a.m. just south of Parkers Prairie. The accident took place at the intersection of Highway 29 and 119th Street. A Ford Escape was stopped on the south-bound shoulder of… Read More

Local snowmobile clubs in need of new members By Matthew Johnson Reporter The best that local snowmobilers can hope for is enough snow early on at the start of the winter season for a good base to be groomed on the local trails. That first round of grooming has basically come and gone with that coveted early start… Read More

Health officials encourage residents to get vaccinated With flu and other respiratory illnesses increasing in recent weeks and holiday gatherings approaching, local healthcare providers are encouraging neighbors to protect themselves and their loved ones by getting vaccinated against influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are viruses that spread easily and can… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will conduct aerial elk surveys in the next few weeks when snow cover and other conditions allow. DNR staff will survey the Kittson County and Grygla elk herds in northwest Minnesota and the border elk herd in both Minnesota and Manitoba. Aerial survey information helps the DNR monitor elk populations… Read More

On Thursday, Jan. 1, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is hosting First Day Hike events at 12 state parks in support of a nationwide effort to connect people to the outdoors. As part of the First Day Hikes initiative led by America’s State Parks, a national organization, hikers in all 50 states will welcome… Read More

5 years ago Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020 Citizen’s Advocate Rising from an otherwise vacant lot in-between Deer Creek and Wadena, the new Joyful Spirit Church is beginning to take shape. Perhaps it’s a bit symbolic that just the foundation of the new Joyful Spirit Church in-between Deer Creek and Wadena was completed this year. This fall the… Read More