By Robert Williams Editor Otter Tail County is proud to announce that it has been selected to receive the prestigious “Above and Beyond Award” from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense. This recognition is awarded to a select group of employers who demonstrate exceptional support… Read More

Elias Thomas Report for Minnesota A state-funded program that helps people get down payments to become the first in their families to buy homes will become permanent if the Legislature passes the House omnibus housing budget bill.  The program, established in 2023, helped 600 families become homeowners in the first seven months of its existence, according to… Read More

By Chad Koenen Publisher The Henning High School band and choir received some rave reviews during the annual large group contests over the past month.  The Henning band received a superior rating from all three judges at the large group contest, which was held on March 12 in Long Prairie. The mallet percussion section also received an… Read More

Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) and Representative Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township), along with Representative Jeff Backer (R-Browns Valley) and Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids), held a press conference on Monday, April 21, to voice their concerns over a dramatic surge in enrollment by undocumented immigrants in Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded health care programs. This spike follows the… Read More

Henning junior leads tracksters charge in Pillager By Chad Koenen Publisher Myiesha Antoni broke a school record and captured first place in the high jump at the John Reimer Classic in Pillager on Thursday night. Antoni, who is a junior at Henning High School, finished with a jump of 5’3” to post a personal best and… Read More

Otter Tail County and the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Task Force in partnership with the Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations (OTC COLA) are pleased to invite all area lake property owners to attend the upcoming Lake Stewardship Symposium on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Thumper Pond Resort… Read More

Samantha Siedow Report for Minnesota The Minnesota House passed an omnibus agriculture bill on April 24 that includes a second round of funding for a University of Minnesota seed bank project that university officials say they didn’t have a hand in developing. The bill would spend $250,000 in each of the next two fiscal years on the… Read More

5 years ago Monday, April 28, 2020 Citizen’s Advocate The lights at Elmer Becker Park in Deer Creek came alive on Monday night in honor of the Be The Light Minnesota campaign to honor all of the students, staff and community members, as well as the Class of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lights at the… Read More

Contributed photo The Henning fourth grade math masters team competed in Staples on April 22 with 11 other teams from surrounding districts. Henning secured third place overall. Braxton Balbach also placed eighth in individual rounds. Team members included: Braxton Balbach, Lane Greenwood, Kaylee Godding, Reegan Hoelscher and Teddy Larsen.

Photo by Chad Koenen The Ottertail Business and Community Association hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday afternoon in the community park. The egg hunt featured approximately 6,400 Easter eggs that were hidden throughout the community park and community center area. The egg hunt is typically one of the biggest egg hunts in Otter Tail… Read More