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

Contributed photos Above: Henning Food Shelf volunteer Jerry Clovning delivered checks from neighboring Deer Creek to director Karen Stueve this week. Deer Creek American Legion Post 283 made a contribution of $500, while a $2,000 gift came from the Deer Creek Lions’ pull tabs. Top right and top left: The Deer Creek American Legion made… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Henning Elementary School students took the stage on Friday afternoon for their annual Christmas concert. The concert featured a mixture of songs by students in grades K-5, as well as the Nutcracker (right) that was presented by the second grade class. Above: First and second grade students were hoping for that perfect… Read More

AIS prevention funds come to Otter Tail County By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent A motion by County Commissioner Sean Sullivan of Fergus Falls and seconded by Commissioner Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie was unanimously carried to schedule public hearings for food, pool and lodging ordinances at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, during the… Read More

Henning establishment named as second highest rated bar/grill in OTC By Chad Koenen Publisher Gateway Pub in downtown Henning has been making a big impression on Google. The locally owned bar/restaurant was recently honored as one of the top bars and grills in Otter Tail County.  Brandy Hanson, who owns Gateway Pub, said they were shocked and surprised… Read More

Beck family purchased a cabin on Rush Lake in 2016 By Tucker Henderson Reporter For the past several decades, Detroit Lakes area native Bruce Beck has been painting, making carpentry repairs, snow blowing and everything in between. Beck started his painting contracting company Lakes Painting, LLC 29 years ago and has been hard at work ever since…. Read More

Fargo VA Health Care System helped house 177 Veterans locally The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in fiscal year 2025.  That number is 4,011 more Veterans than VA housed last year. The nationwide numbers include 177 Veterans permanently housed by the Fargo VA Health Care System. This is… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, in coordination with the State Highway Patrol, responded to several traffic accidents during a winter snowstorm that lasted from Tuesday, Dec. 9, to Wednesday, Dec. 10. It was a tough two days on roadways all cross the state of Minnesota. Two people were injured in a traffic accident on… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Henning 6-12th grade band and choir students held their annual Christmas concert on Monday, Dec. 8 at the school. The night featured holiday music from the bands, choirs and handbell choir.