By Robert Williams Editor The working plan of the Vergas Economic Development Authority (EDA)/Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to bring daycare to Vergas made the rounds of a special EDA/HRA meeting, the Vergas Planning Commission and the Otter Tail County Commissioners last week. Formerly titled the “Vergas Area Housing Project,” a change to that moniker was made to… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Otter Tail County introduced Natalee Yates as the new Public Information and Education Officer (PIEO) in the Solid Waste Department. Yates brings extensive environmental expertise and a passion for community education to the county’s recycling and waste reduction programs. Yates was born in Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation from… Read More

Both parties agree to continue constructive conversations By Robert Williams Editor The tone of the ongoing conversations between residents of Red Willow Heights and the Frazee Economic Development Authority (EDA) have improved with both sides attempting to find a middle ground on development opportunities in the front of the subdivision on County Highway 29. After finding little… Read More

Luke Sweere, a former Frazee Police Officer and Chief announced his candidacy for Becker County Sheriff last week. Sweere worked in Frazee as a police officer from 2000-03 and was the police chief from 2003-06. Since then, he has worked for Becker County as a deputy 2006-13 and as an investigator 2013-24. He was promoted to… Read More

Minnesota’s 1,776 townships will hold their annual meetings on Tuesday, March 10. Known as Township Day, these meetings are held each year on the second Tuesday in March and are a defining feature of township government. On Township Day, residents gather with their neighbors to discuss local issues and vote directly on matters such as… Read More

Otter Tail County Chief Deputy Reed Reinbold his candidacy for Otter Tail County Sheriff via social media on Friday, Feb. 20. “Otter Tail County isn’t just where I work — it’s the community I’ve dedicated my career to serving,” Reinbold said. “More than two decades ago, I set a goal to serve with the Otter Tail… Read More

An Osage woman who was pronounced dead at the scene of a structure fire Wednesday, Feb. 18 has been identified by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office as Anita Charlene Gruel, 79, of Osage. The Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 4:24 a.m., of a structure fire in Osage, approximately 30 miles east of Detroit Lakes.  A… Read More

Ottertail Family Center is a $1.4 million project in Ottertail By Marsha Erickson West Central Initiative In the early care and education world, we often hear the phrase “It takes a village.” Nowhere is that more true than in the small lakeside community of Ottertail.  The City of Ottertail—population 721—sits on the east side of Otter Tail Lake,… Read More

By Matthew Johnson Reporter Robert W. “Luppy” Keranen, Sr., 83, of rural Menahga and a Wolf Lake area native, is planning to round out 60 years of operating a road grader this summer and likely fully retire after that. His road grading experience began nearly 60 years ago in the summer of 1966 when he was just… Read More

By Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota A statewide cellphone ban for K-12 schools may be on the horizon after a state Senate committee debated it during the second week of the legislative session. A bill authored by Sen. Alice Mann, DFL–Edina, would prohibit students from using cellphones and smartwatches in school from kindergarten through 12th grade and ban… Read More