Park is open to the public until February 15 As part of its work to transfer the land at Upper Sioux Agency State Park to the Upper Sioux Community, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will close the park to the public on Feb. 16, 2024. The Upper Sioux Community has had a longstanding request to the… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources presented its annual Watershed District of the Year award to the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District. Dan Lais, DNR Ecological and Water Resources Division Central Region manager, presented the award at the annual Minnesota Watersheds conference on Nov. 30. The Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, just north of Stillwater and east of Hugo… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher There was perhaps no topic more popular on street corners or through small talk last year than the new convenience store and car wash in town. From the demolition of the former Denny’s Food N’ Sport to the construction of a new state-of-the-art building in its place, dozens of people were already… Read More

County reviews EMS concerns By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent The new chairman of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners for 2024 is Kurt Mortenson of rural Underwood, taking over from outgoing chairman Wayne Johnson of Pelican Rapids. The new vice chair for 2024 is Commissioner Lee Rogness of Fergus Falls. The other two county commissioners are… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Situated in the northeast section of Underwood is the Foss Log Cabin, named after Ole and Anne Foss who homesteaded in 1869. The cabin is located on the corner of a residential neighborhood and serves as a reminder of the pioneer spirit in this area of Otter Tail County. Homesteaders chose… Read More

State representatives to host meeting on rural EMS challenges in Elbow Lake By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County board members, on Dec. 19, held a discussion concerning statewide funding for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).  Concerns surrounding rural communities and EMS service continue to be at the forefront. The county board asks the public to write to their… Read More

Andrews passed away on Dec. 22 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County County Correspondent On Dec. 22, 2023, area residents said goodbye to Budd Andrews of Pelican Rapids who lived to be 102. Budd, who served as a bombardier with the Army Air Corps during World War II, was part of what many Americans refer to as… Read More

Grants to help fund community-oriented projects throughout central Minnesota Central Minnesota residents with an idea to strengthen sustainability in their community can now apply for partnership support from the University of Minnesota Extension Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (Central RSDP). Central RSDP supports local innovation by connecting community ideas to University of Minnesota resources. Community members… Read More

The annual meeting of the H-545 Foundation will be held on Monday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Henning Landmark Center.  Topics at the meeting will include an H-545 financial update, our annual newsletter, scholarships to be given out this spring and election of officers. The H-545 Foundation invites any interested community members to attend.  Those… Read More

5 years ago Citizen’s Advocate Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019 There is a large flicker of light glowing on the north side of Highway 108 near Ottertail. As motorists fly by an otherwise dark stretch of road, the Dave and Louise Trana home lights up the sky with Christmas lights as far as the eye can see. Over… Read More