Man with Ottertail ties began his journey on East Leaf Lake on June 3 By Chad Koenen Publisher Hank Kohler quickly picked up his phone on Wednesday morning, just south of Vicksburg, Miss., only to have to put it down to avoid a large barge that was sharing the waterways of the Mississippi River. Of course when… Read More

Old Homestead Cafe reopens after closing due to COVID-19 By Chad Koenen Publisher Just over one year after closing their doors due to the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan and Elizabeth Eckman are back in the kitchen, serving up homemade breakfasts and lunches at the Old Homestead Cafe. Situated on a busy stretch of highway… Read More

City council discusses camping at Lions Park By Lori Newman Correspondent The Deer Creek City Council held their regular monthly meeting on July 26. New York Mills Police Chief Bobby Berndt gave the police report for June and told the council the police department has hired another full time officer.   Berndt and the council also discussed the city’s policies on… Read More

Donations being sought for local children in need By Chad Koenen Publisher The annual Stuff the Bus campaign is underway and local volunteers are hoping to give families in need a little jumpstart on the school year.  As part of the Stuff the Bus program, the United Way of Otter Tail and Wadena Counties will collect back to… Read More

Non-profit organization provided over $1 million in loans in Otter Tail County last year By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Representatives of the West Central Initiative (WCI), on July 27, thanked the county board of commissioners, and county residents, for contributions that were used to respond to citizen needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the past year alone,… Read More

On injured in moped accident near Richville By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, On July 26, warned area residents, especially young people, that in light of low water levels it is extremely dangerous to swin at dams and spillways. Near-drownings took place July 25 at the dam near Highway 72 and close to Zorbaz on the southwest side… Read More

Zebra Mussels also confirmed in Eagle Lake and Turtle Lake in Becker County The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in Clitherall Lake, near the city of Clitherall in Otter Tail County; Eagle Lake, near Frazee in Becker County; and Turtle Lake, near Lake Park in Becker County. DNR invasive species specialists followed… Read More

NYM man sentenced for felony vehicle theft By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The following felony convictions and sentences took place in recent weeks in county court, Fergus Falls. Nathaniel James Littrell, 23, of the city of Ottertail, was sentenced June 1 in county court, following a firearms felony conviction. Littrell’s sentencing of five years to the Minnesota Correctional… Read More

Loss of small-town newspapers can hurt democratic process The loss of small-town newspapers leaves many Minnesota communities without in-depth coverage of critical issues. Why is this important to communities, what impact does it have and how is it connected to the very American democracy we cherish?   West Central Initiative (WCI) explores this topic in its next… Read More