OTC welcomes new Deputy Administrator By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The new chairperson of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners for 2026 is Bob Lahman of Parkers Prairie, assuming duties from outgoing chairperson Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids. The new vice chair for 2026, approved at the first meeting of the new… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Henning and Ottertail water customers could notice some brown water over the course of the next few months as the City of Henning completes a large water treatment facility project. While the water could have a brown look at times over the next three months, the water will remain safe to… Read More

Family-owned resort is located south of Vergas By Greta Hentges West Central Initiative ast Silent Lake Resort in Otter Tail County has been welcoming families to the water for more than a century. Founded in 1915, the resort has long been part of Minnesota’s classic lakes culture. For Andy Leonard and his family, it is… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Many older residents of Otter Tail County remember watching Fargo native and New York Yankees star Roger Maris play baseball against the Minnesota Twins during the early 1960s at the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, south of the Twin Cities, today the location of the Mall of America…. Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  A resident of Otter Tail County, on Jan. 2, was scammed and lost $100 while thinking he was finalizing a car purchase online. The county resident forwarded $100 worth of gift cards to the scammer, believing that the would-be seller would come to the home of the county… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Gift card scams, despite repeated warnings, continue in Otter Tail County. The most recent scam was reported by sheriff deputies on Jan. 6. A county resident, near Rush Lake, lost close to $5,000 in this latest scam. Sheriff deputies said the scam victim had originally been contacted through Facebook by… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  In early January the Otter Cove Children’s Museum in downtown Fergus Falls hosted members of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club with a tour of their facility.  “We learned what Otter Cove is all about and saw the fishing vests and other fishing-related supplies that our club… Read More

Otter Tail County has welcomed Liz Mickelson as Deputy Administrator of the Finance, Property and License Management Services Team, as County Administrator Nicole Hansen introduced her to the County Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. Kris Vipond administered the oath of office to Mickelson as County Auditor-Treasurer, as required by Minnesota statute. Mickelson brings 10 years of… Read More

Picture this: Your house is on fire. You grab your phone, dial 911, and your mind goes blank. What’s your address? How many people are inside? Where are the kids’ bedrooms? In that terrifying moment, you don’t have to remember. If you’ve signed up for Smart911, first responders already know. “When someone calls 911, they’re… Read More

January in Minnesota may feel like a gardening lull, but it’s actually prime time for one important task: dormant pruning. When trees and shrubs are bare, it’s easier to see their structure and make clean cuts that promote health and productivity. But before you grab the pruners, here’s what you need to know about what… Read More