By Robert Williams Editor From the retail store to warehouses, the service center and a future gas station, visitors to Renewable Energy Resources (RER) open house at the end of the month will be stunned by the variety of products and services provided by the new company on Highway 10 between Frazee and Perham. “We don’t want… Read More

Why? A journey of  growth, perseverance and humility By Robert Williams Editor Michael Watchorn, of Frazee, recently released his first book, a memoir, “Why? A journey of perseverance, growth and humility,” about how the wilderness reshaped his perspective and inspired personal growth, both individually and in his family unit. It was a family member that got Watchorn… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Approximately 50 local residents and some trail supporters from outside the immediate area faced a dais of 10 representatives of the Hobart Township Board, the City of Vergas, PartnerShip 4 Health, and Otter Tail County during an informational meeting about a proposed future trail connecting Vergas to Frazee at the Hobart Township… Read More

Pickleball to break ground this week By Robert Williams Editor Superintendent Terry Karger recognized Positive Community Norms (PCN) Grant Coordinator Karlie Lehmann, both for the work that she is doing in the final year of the grant and contributions the program is making to the district. Lehmann is currently one of eight PCN Coordinators in Minnesota and… Read More

The Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference (NMRC) is pleased to announce the 2026 Conference All-Academic Team. The NMRC All-Academic Award program recognizes the academic excellence (based on GPA) of participating High School students in the Northern Minnesota Robotics Conference. To earn NMRC All-Academic Team honors, a student must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (based… Read More

Photos by Robert Williams Students and younger children got a chance to get up close and personal with emergency responders and their vehicles from police squad cars to rescue trucks and an ambulance, a fire truck and there was a special visit by a Life Link III helicopter and personnel during the Touch a Truck event… Read More

By Shay Scanlan Report for Minnesota A 2025 law mandating a $250 million cut to special education is prompting bipartisan pushback at the Minnesota Capitol, as school districts warn of widespread negative impacts.  Last year, the Legislature passed a law establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission, tasking it with finding $250 million in special education cuts by October 2026,… Read More

Bill establishing term limits for governor, AG held over By Abbey Mulcahy Report for Minnesota The Minnesota House Rules Committee turned its attention toward the executive branch this week, as Republicans proposed resolutions calling for the impeachment of two top state Democrats, Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, and term limits for future governors and… Read More

By Ashley Quam West Central Initiative The Early Care and Development Foundation of Becker County (ECDF) is strengthening communities across the county by supporting child-care providers and expanding access to high-quality care and education.  ¶  The need for expanded child care in Becker County has been clear for several years. A 2019 needs analysis, conducted by First… Read More

Maurice Dwayne Copeland, 45, of Frazee was charged in Becker County District Court with felony third-degree assault after an April 12 incident in Detroit Lakes. Detroit Lakes police were dispatched on a report of an assault at a Detroit Lakes residence at 1:53 a.m., Sunday, April 12, according to court records. Responding officers found a man claiming… Read More