Photos by Robert Williams Above: Free rounds of hammerschlagen were available to those not participating in the bean bag tournament at Saturday’s Hairyman Festival. Below: Bean bags were flying all over the Hairyman Festival as a large tournament field battled for the championship on a perfect afternoon in the sun Saturday in Vergas. Left: A nerve-wracking… Read More

County Board nixes master plan and land purchase By Robert Williams Editor The Becker County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 to discontinue the county’s request for proposals (RFP) of a master plan and future purchase of two parcels of Toad Lake and Toad Mountain property on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Board of Commissioners meeting in… Read More

New Ogema Driver’s Services office requested By Robert Williams Editor Teaira Christen was introduced as the county’s new Human Resources Director during the Becker County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17. She replaces Carrie Smith, who took over County Administrator duties upon the departure of former Admin Pat Oman. Smith has been performing both roles since… Read More

A 13-year-old is in custody in Pine Point for Threats of Violence By Robert Williams Editor The Frazee Police Department and Becker County Sheriff’s Department responded to a threat of violence at Frazee-Vergas High School after threatening graffiti was found on a desk. According to social media reports, the alleged graffiti contained the statement “Shooting on Friday”… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor When Vergas hosts an event the town is always filled to capacity from wiener dogs during Looney Days to hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts during Ole’s Ride. The third annual Hairyman Festival brings its own unique crew in side-by-side and all-terrain vehicle operators as they take over Vergas during the festival’s signature event—the… Read More

EDA/HRA annual contract with MMCDC renewed By Robert Williams Editor The Becker County Board of Commissioners approved a preliminary increase in next year’s property tax levy of 7.5 percent, according to County Administrator Carrie Smith. “The majority of the increases are with regards to increase and implementation of our salary grid and getting a lot of our… Read More

Photo by Chad Koenen Eight fire departments responded to a fire in the heart of lakes country last Monday night. A large fire struck Stub’s Dining & Gunpowder Bar on Monday, Sept. 16 shortly after 9:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is still unknown and it has to yet-to-be-determined if the building was a total… Read More

Otter Tail County has announced the launch of a new, user-friendly webpage dedicated to ditches and drainage systems. This online resource gives the public easy access to important information, documents and services related to the county’s extensive drainage infrastructure. The new webpage is part of the county’s ongoing efforts to provide residents, visitors, contractors, and local… Read More

City council takes no action on municipal liquor store By Matthew Johnson Reporter At its Tuesday, Sept. 10, regular monthly meeting the Wolf Lake City Council agreed to keep its annual property tax levy the same as last year with no increases. The Wolf Lake 2024 preliminary property tax levy, as it was for the final 2023… Read More

Lake Agassiz Regional Library will host a tour of author visits featuring Minnesota author Douglas Wood. Attendees will hear all about his new memoir, A Wild Path, as well as his experience as an author, artist, musician, naturalist and wilderness guide. Wood is the creator of classic children’s books including Old Turtle and A Quiet… Read More