By Chad Koenen Publisher The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office has released the names of two people who died on Monday afternoon in a suspected murder-suicide in rural Battle Lake. According to a press release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, the deceased are Steven Kern, age 59, and Susan Kinnunen, age 58.  The Otter County Sheriff’s… Read More

5 years ago Citizen’s Advocate Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 Big changes could be on the horizon for the Henning Fitness Center. During its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday night, the Henning School Board heard a presentation from Henning School Superintendent Jeremy Olson about the fitness center in the school. After years of stagnant membership, issues with finding… Read More

Winter anglers on Mille Lacs Lake can enjoy a walleye harvest opportunity for the seventh season in a row. Starting on Thursday, Dec. 1, anglers will be allowed to keep one walleye between 21-23 inches or one walleye longer than 28 inches on Mille Lacs.  “Our assessment netting shows that the walleye population is abundant enough… Read More

OtterDazzle, Deer Creek Santa Day set for Saturday By Chad Koenen Publisher The skies above Ottertail will come to life as part of the annual OtterDazzle celebration on Saturday night. A large fireworks display will bring to a close a busy day in Ottertail that will feature a visit from Santa Claus, as well as everything… Read More

Dear Grandma Sara, I feel excited and happy when you do nice things for me. You help me get things that are high up on the shelf. It was a book I wanted to read. It is special when just you and me go to the store. I like watching movies together because your always funny… Read More

OTC expresses interest in keeping the festival going By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Phelps Mill Treasurer David Iverson and Jerome Holicky provided a report to county commissioners on the annual Phelps Mill Festival.  Iverson noted expenses and income and highlighted the drop in attendance from 2021 to 2022. The 2022 festival was down by 25.5 percent,… Read More

Meeting to be held on December 12 in Fergus Falls By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County residents are invited to weigh in on a proposal for a possible fish passage at Phelps Mill. The public meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, at the county Government Services Center in Fergus Falls. This project,… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Henning School students took to the stage last week for their annual fall musical. This year’s fall musical was Mamma Mia!  and featured three shows from Friday through Sunday, as well as a dress rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon in front of students and staff members at the school. Above: Aaliyah Olson (Tanya),… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s was a work relief program that provided employment to 3.5 million young men during the Great Depression. Reviewing life as a CCC worker, on Nov. 16 at the Fergus Falls Public Library, was author, story teller, guitar player and singer Bill Jamerson. He… Read More

Caucus to be held Feb. 1 at various locations in OTC By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County officials often emphasize that Otter Tail County is larger in size than the state of Rhode Island and paved roads total 1,062 miles. This is one reason for the importance of a long-range transportation plan, updated periodically. Two open… Read More