5 years ago Tuesday, July 21, 2020 Citizen’s Advocate Ottertail Fire Chief Stuart Fleischauer couldn’t help but smile as he talked about a recent visit he had with Kenny Nelson of Ottertail. During its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday night, Fleischauer said the meeting was a great opportunity to learn about the KLN Family Brands owner, who… Read More

Photo by Dani Koenen Nathan Thalmann took time during the annual Henning Festival parade to cool off in a stock tank full of water. Of course no stock tank with water is complete without a camouflage floatie. Friday’s parade was just one of a number of events held throughout the weekend as part of the annual… Read More

Wendland, Loder compete with Moment in Time Dance Company in Wadena By Chad Koenen Publisher A pair of Henning dancers helped the Moment in Time Dance Company bring home top honors at the Triple S National Dance competition in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.  The competition was held at the Wilderness Resort and featured 11 dancers from the Wadena-based… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Over the past 17 years the Ottertail Community Auction has become much more than an event to simply pass time on a warm July evening. It has become a place where a person can go fishing on the bottom of a beer bottle, race a bike and play Deal or No Deal… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Three expansive city projects jumped to the forefront of last week’s city council meeting. During its regularly scheduled meeting last Monday night, the Henning City Council heard from Bob Schliemann, of Apex Engineering, about the water treatment facility rehabilitation, Highway 108 slurry seal project and the 2026 utility and surface improvement projects. The water… Read More

Painting shop and shoreland alterations get go ahead in rural Frazee By Robert Williams Editor The Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners approved a new solar system consisting of 200 panels on Rose Lake on Tuesday, June 24. A Conditional Use Permit Application was approved for The Mark and Karman Rheault Trust to construct two ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV)… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Kim Pederson, a contributor to the Pelican Rapids Press, met with editor Louis Hoglund in late 2024 about writing a couple of articles about Star Lake. Six months later, she authored a complete book. “Kim has also assembled a collection of photos and images, as part of the book, that will… Read More

Funding for sealcoating project comes from local sales tax, license tab fees By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, on June 24, approved bids needed for upkeep of the 1,062 miles of paved roadways in Otter Tail County. A motion by County Commissioner Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood and seconded by Commissioner Sean Sullivan of… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The Lawrence Welk Show debuted nationally on ABC-TV 70 years ago, on July 2, 1955. Welk, a native of Strasburg, North Dakota, southeast of Bismarck, offered champagne music, bubble machines, dance routines and toe-tapping polkas.  One of his outstanding performers was South Dakota native and accordionist Myron Floren. Star singers included… Read More

Photos by Dani and Chad Koenen Above: The outgoing Henning Festival Royalty congratulated the new 2025-26 royal court during Friday’s coronation ceremony. Pictured above are Tiffany Weber, Monica Hansen, Evie Thorson, Brynley Jorgenson, Lillian Tallman, Brenna Bunkowski, Lucy Torgerson, Lila Thorson, Vaylyn Eckhoff, Emma Fosse, Kennedy Lutgens and Kendra Juvrud.  Right: With Brynley Jorgenson and Vaylyn… Read More