By Chad Koenen Publisher The Ottertail Community Center will be getting a fresh look.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday night, the Ottertail City Council approved a bid from Erik Ness to install a variety of landscaping options at the community center. As part of the bid, the new landscaping at the community center will include… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Beaver dams cause a lot of problems along ditches in many counties in Minnesota. Otter Tail County is no exception. County Ditch Inspector Kevin Fellbaum addressed this issue during the regular meeting of the county board of commissioners on Tuesday, April 13. Beavers oftentimes build their dams across the entire width of… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The hallways, and vast outdoor space at Lutheran Island Camp, will soon come alive. After essentially being shut down last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the bustling camp on the shores of East Battle Lake is gearing up for another busy summer of campers, counselors, songs, activities and opportunity to share the… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies reported that fire destroyed a seasonal camper northeast of Clitherall and near Highway 5. Firefighters were called to the scene at 1:46 a.m. on April 13. Lost to the fire, along with the 2016 Salem Villa, was a deck, shed and jet ski. Damaged was a neighboring RV trailer… Read More

Hearing set for May 5 for Nelson Lake project By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent What to do about high water at Nelson Lake, west of Parkers Prairie, will be the topic at a public hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, at the Prairie Event Center in Parkers Prairie. High water has adversely affected Highway… Read More

There have been several changes happening in the library since mid-January.   Before our 10th through 12th graders returned to school full time I knew that I wanted to change the decor in the library to be updated to what is referred to as the modern farmhouse look.   My daughters Courtney and Stephanie helped me to… Read More

Man with local ties to canoe to the Gulf of Mexico By Chad Koenen Publisher When inspiration strikes, a person has two choices—stand pat, or float down the stream. Hank Kohler has never been one to stand pat, so 42 years after making a trip from East Leaf Lake to the Hudson Bay, he is making… Read More

OTC has a ‘One Watershed, One Plan’ philosphy By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Otter Tail County and area counties have in place the philosophy of “One Watershed, One Plan.” This plan is intended to utilize the existing structures of county government, soil and water conservation districts and watershed districts while increasing collaboration across county lines. The challenge… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Henning School will be hosting kindergarten registration night on Tuesday, April 20. The registration night will be held at 5:30 or 6:30 p.m., both in the Henning School Library and on Google Meet. Parents of students who will be 5-years-old by Sept. 1 should plan to attend either virtually, or in person, to… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Injuries were reported in a traffic accident at 5:20 p.m. on March 29 near Vining. Deputies and first responders were called to the scene at the interaction of Highway 210 and Creekside Road. Another accident with injuries, this time involving an ATV, took place two days previously, on March 27. The… Read More