By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent On March 10, county commissioners voted unanimously to support a state bonding request of up to $7.3 million. The funding, through the Capital Assistance Program (CAP), would help build a permanent ash processing facility and modernize the region’s solid waste transfer station. “Every year, thousands of tons of ash get buried… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The Deer Creek City Council expressed its desire to continue assisting in the purchase of the pickleball and basketball courts near the former Deer Creek School. During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the city council heard an update concerning the ongoing negotiations between the city and property owner Dominic Koep, who purchased… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Ottertail Ave. and China St. will be getting a new driving surface after the City of Ottertail received a favorable bid from Ottertail Aggregate to complete the project.  During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, March 19, the Ottertail City Council approved a low bid of $109,678.48 from Ottertail Aggregate for surface improvements…. Read More

Bill would establish mixture of grants, forgivable loans Shay Scanlan Report for Minnesota A Minnesota Senate committee moved forward with a bill on March 23 that would provide financial relief to small businesses that lost revenue due to the surge in federal immigration enforcement in the state.  The DFL-led Senate Jobs and Economic Development Committee voted to include the bill… Read More

Otter Tail County Commissioners will host a community open house on Monday, April 13, from 7-9 p.m. at the Pelican Rapids Public Library, 25 W. Mill Ave. The event is not a formal Board of Commissioners meeting. It is a chance for residents to talk directly with commissioners and county staff about local programs and services…. Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is restricting the open burning of vegetative debris effective Monday, March 30, due to increased wildfire risk resulting from warm temperatures and dry conditions in parts of central, northwest, and northeast Minnesota.  The DNR will not issue permits for open burning of brush or yard waste in these counties until… Read More

OTCHS executive director retired after 37 years of service  By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Chris Schuelke, retiring executive director of the Otter Tail County Historical Society (county museum), was honored by the county board of commissioners on March 24 for his 37 years of service.  He was hired in 1989, serving as curator for two years and… Read More

Eleanor Steffen Report for Minnesota Minnesota legislators delayed action on a bill that would bar Medicaid coverage for prescription medications used solely for weight loss.  ¶  The bill authored by Rep. Danny Nadeau, R-Rogers, aims to prohibit the state’s Medical Assistance program from covering drugs known as GLP-1s if patients are using them exclusively for weight… Read More

Disability advocates speak in favor of self-driving vehicles Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota As autonomous vehicle companies set their sights on Minnesota, legislators are struggling to reach a consensus on how self-driving cars should be operated and regulated.    The latest attempt to set up parameters for autonomous vehicles came in the form of a bill authored by… Read More

Proceeds from Henning fish fries benefit local  community By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Volunteers step forward each year for fish fries during Lent at several churches in Otter Tail County. Such was the case at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Henning. The turnout was very good even though many community residents were in the Twin… Read More