Otter Tail Power transforms Hoot Lake Plant to solar energy By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Customers of Otter Tail Power Company, on May 22 and May 23, attended an open house at the Hoot Lake Solar facility east of Fergus Falls.  The 49-megawatt solar generation complex has nearly 130,000 solar panels that generate enough energy to… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, on May 21, approved the hiring of an additional Communications Sergeant for the County Sheriff Office. “With the two Communications Sergeants, each will be responsible in overseeing 6 to 8 staff which is more in line with supervision recommendations,” said County Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons to the five-person county board…. Read More

Assistant Solid Waste Director is committed to public service Otter Tail County has announced the hiring of Scott Bjerke as the new Assistant Solid Waste Director. Bjerke, an educator with extensive experience, brings a wealth of leadership and community engagement skills to his new role. Bjerke grew up in Moorhead, Minn. and attended Concordia College, where… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent  Sheriff deputies, on May 23, reported that a structure near Elizabeth was damaged by fire. This was an outbuilding fire with no injuries reported. The fire was called in to authorities at 10:07 p.m. The fire was believed to be weather related. Responding to the scene of the fire were fire… Read More

Contributed photo Deputy Colton Odash, left, recently completed all four phases of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Institute for Credible Leadership (ICLD). The ICLD is a four phase, online, leadership learning system offered through the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association. The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association and the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office believe that every person who works in… Read More

With strong bipartisan support, the Minnesota Legislature recently passed a $30 million aid package for rural emergency medical services (EMS), which includes more than $4 million for West Central Minnesota. This legislation, authored by Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) and a bipartisan group of legislators, provides $24 million in emergency aid for EMS providers who… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is encouraging families to use the Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program (WIC), which has successfully improved maternal and child outcomes for 50 years. The WIC program helps pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children get a healthy start through nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and… Read More

Photo by Chad Koenen The corner of 2nd St. and Douglas Ave. was transformed last week as the former garage sale building was torn down on Tuesday. The aging building was torn down to make way for an outdoor seating area for The Farmstand. By the end of last week the building was cleared and completely… Read More

Otter Tail County has announced the hiring of Clancy Oliphant as the new Public Information and Education Officer (PIEO) in the Solid Waste Department. A Fergus Falls native and graduate of Kennedy Secondary School, Oliphant began her work in the Solid Waste Department on May 1. “In the 1980s the State of Minnesota authorized counties to… Read More

Shelby Westad and Garrett Greenwood, of Henning, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Rhett Luther Greenwood, who was born on May 24, 2024. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. He was delivered by Doctor Bobbi Adams at Astera Health in Wadena.  Proud siblings are Lane, Stetson, Jameson, and… Read More