MFIP program includes nutrition, housing support By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County commissioners, in late February 2026, approved three Employment Services Specialist positions to support the Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) and its work to assist families throughout Otter Tail County. MFIP in Otter Tail County provides cash, food assistance and employment services to low-income families with children… Read More

Jack Schmitt has ties to WBL, walked on the moon in 1972 By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Former astronaut Harrison (Jack) Schmitt, a retired geologist and resident of New Mexico, oftentimes stayed at a family cabin at West Battle Lake during the summer months. Schmitt was 37 when he landed on the moon in December 1972…. Read More

Contributed photo Rep. Backer and Rep. Tom Murphy met with the Otter Tail County Commissioners and department heads to discuss property tax, the Perham Resource Recovery Facility, Human Services, and other important matters.

Seasonal road restrictions in accordance with Minnesota Statute §169.87 went into effect on Friday March 7, for Becker County Highways that are South of US Highway 10.  Seasonal road restrictions will go into effect on Becker County Highways that are North of US Highway 10 at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 18.  The weight restriction signs shall govern… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent County collections is an ongoing process that includes recouping money related to public assistance, long-term care medical assistance and other cases related to various county-assessed fees such as jail and detox.  Otter Tail County employees, in 2025, recovered $1.78 million. A year earlier, in 2024, a total of $970,012 was recouped… Read More

5 years ago Tuesday, March 16, 2021 Citizen’s Advocate Gary Meyer, of the Minnesota Geological Survey Department, said the Continenal Divide basically goes right through downtown Henning. Most of the water on the East side of Highway 108 flows to Willow Creek. That body of water eventually joins Leaf River, flows to the Red Eye River and… Read More

On Saturday March 14,the Henning Fire Department conducted an ice rescue/cold water rescue training.  Henning was joined by Ottertail Fire Department, Battle Lake Fire Department and Vining Fire Department, along with the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office Sherp and the area Sprint Medic for the training.   The training was conducted with instructors from Customized Fire… Read More

Second fire reported at garage, house in NY Mills By Chad Koenen Publisher The Deer Creek and Henning Fire Departments responded to a fire in the upstairs portion of a residence in rural Deer Creek on the afternoon of March 11. According to a release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, Korie Gray reported a fire in… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Otter Tail County announced the completion of the County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 35 reclamation project, including the bike trail that connects the Heart of the Lakes Trail to Vergas on Thursday, March 12. The project included a full-depth reclamation and resurfacing of 10.8 miles of CSAH 35 and the construction of a… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen The Henning Elementary cheerleaders put on a show in front of a large crowd of Henning basketball fans on Friday night. The group was under the direction of Mary Trana and a number of assistants who performed a number of cheers during halftime of the Henning and Underwood boys basketball game. Prior… Read More