Ottertail city has big gains with new housing Otter Tail County’s Big Build initiative saw promising housing growth in 2021. Last year, $79.2 million in housing investment was added in the County from 507 new and rehabbed housing units, 435 of these being new construction and 72 being rehabbed units. This is an increase in… Read More

Member-driven innovation economically reduces carbon emissions without compromising grid reliability From increased adoption of electric vehicles to navigating the ongoing transition to cleaner energy, Minnesota’s not-for-profit electric cooperatives offer innovative energy programs to member-owners. In a time of remarkable industry change, Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) hosted an open forum for its member-owners on Friday, Feb. 18.  … Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, in coordination with the Minnesota State Highway Patrol, reported a fatality near Dalton, along Interstate 94, Thursday evening, Feb. 24. This was a two-vehicle collision that took place close to 7:30 p.m. The deceased person was identified as 53-year-old Eswein Waldemar of West Kelowa, British Columbia, a province in western… Read More

Deb Berry is passionate about providing learning opportunities for children, and it shows through her work with the Brandon Evansville Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program and serving as the Lakes Country Service Cooperative’s Raising a Reader Early Literacy Initiative Coordinator. “Our local children are the people that will be taking care of me in… Read More

Distrust in voting has taken place in some areas By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The voting process was a topic for discussion at some recent precinct caucuses in Otter Tail County. Distrust of the voting process has taken place in some areas of Minnesota and across the nation. Fortunately, Otter Tail County has a strong reputation for… Read More

Accident occurred on Hwy. 210 By Chad Koenen Publisher One person died and several others were injured in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 210 near mile marker 40 early Sunday morning.  Grace Katherine Olson, age 19 of Barnesville, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu westbound on Highway 210 when the vehicle collided with a 2011 Ford F650 straight… Read More

Orders are due by March 8 By Chad Koenen Publisher Orders are currently being taken for the latest World Down Syndrome Day t-shirts at Henning School. The WDSD festivities in Henning will be held on Monday, March 21.  All first and fifth grade students will receive a t-shirt in honor of Hendrick Witt and Kysar who both… Read More

Free give away to be held Saturday at Woodshed By Chad Koenen Publisher As the old saying goes, you can’t get anything for free anymore—unless, of course, that free thing is a giant bag of sunflower seeds.  On Saturday, the Ottertail Rod and Gun Club will be bringing back a popular bird seed giveaway. The promotion was… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds Minnesotans who intend to burn vegetative debris, such as grass, leaves, brush and untreated lumber, to do so now, when there is ample snow on the ground, rather than in the spring when wildfire risk is greatest due to brown grass and low humidity. Each year, spring burning permit… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Members of the Henning Elementary cheerleading program took to the floor on Friday night for performances at halftime of the girls and boys basketball games. The cheerleaders were even joined by Henning School Principal Thomas Williams for one of the performances to do a cheer named after him (above). Right: Paisley Starry… Read More