With lower-than-normal rainfall and higher-than-normal temperatures in the last few weeks, persistent drought and lower lake levels have become common across a large portion of the state. Much of north-central Minnesota is experiencing storage drought. In years of significant drought, long-term water storage is depleted in lakes, soil and groundwater to a degree that typically… Read More

By Tom Hintgen Otter Tail County Correspondent Gift card scams, despite repeated warnings, continue in Otter Tail County and nearby counties. “If someone calls you and says you need to send money in order to collect a financial prize, this is a scam,” says county Sheriff Barry Fitzgibbons. A financial prize scam is a fraudulent… Read More

The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) is now accepting applications for three open grant opportunities. • Minnesota Musicians: $400,000 in total to individual Minnesota Musicians to create, produce, and perform music; application closes September 11, 2026. • Youth Literary: $500,000 in total to individual authors and organizations to create, produce, and distribute books for youth, that… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher A former Underwood teacher, who also served as head softball and wrestling coach for the Otter Tail Central programs, has been sentenced to two years of probation and must surrender his teaching license in any state after recently receiving a stay of adjudication on three counts of malicious punishment of a… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The land of otters will be abuzz this weekend for the annual OtterFest celebration. The celebration in the heart of Ottertail will kick off on Friday night with the demo derby beginning at 7 p.m. before the festivities get into high gear on Saturday morning. Ottertail Mayor Ron Grobeck said this… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Pickleball is taking over the country, and a group of local volunteers are doing their part to bring the dink, kitchen and third drop shot to the Henning Festival Grounds. The Courtside Crew, as they have been dubbed, are just $5,000 away from completing a set of new pickleball courts near… Read More

Two people file for Henning City Council By Chad Koenen Publisher There will likely be more than a few familiar faces come 2027 on local school boards and city councils.  Filing to appear on the November ballot for school boards and city councils closed last week across the state. Unlike in recent years when voters… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher Doug Maser is not exactly sure how many years he has been the face of the Lutheran Island Camp Quilt Auction, but he knows this year may be his swan song for the popular quilt auction in rural Henning.  ¶  “I told then this year I would like to retire (from… Read More

Rodeo to benefit local fire departments, non-profits By Chad Koenen Publisher o you want to see a professional rodeo without having to leave central Otter Tail County? Perhaps you are looking for a fun way to pass a Friday or Saturday night in the waning weeks of summer? Or better yet, do you want to… Read More

City joins growing number of  communities to shun new state flag design By Chad Koenen Publisher The City of Ottertail will join a growing list of communities across the state who will fly the old state flag, as opposed to the new State of Minnesota flag. During its regularly scheduled  a on Thursday, July 16,… Read More