Harvest Festival Pageant set for Friday, parade and mud run to highlight Saturday By Chad Koenen Publisher Wolf Lake may not be the biggest town in Becker County, but it can put on a celebration that is the envy of the eye of communities 10 times its size. This year’s celebration will be no different as Wolf… Read More

Plan will guide local food development in west central Minnesota Residents of Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, and Wilkin counties are invited to comment on the first draft of a plan that will guide local food development in their region. People can view the plan and share their comments via an online form on the PartnerSHIP… Read More

Alcohol may have been a factor in a rollover crash that injured a Missouri woman early Sunday morning in Toad Lake Township. Kylie Elizabeth Stepp of Springfield, Missouri, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s hospital in Detroit Lakes. Stepp, 26, was southbound on Becker County Road 37, at Highway 34, when her 2018… Read More

Photos by Chad Koenen Despite rainy conditions being predicted for most of the weekend, Looney Days events stayed mostly dry over the weekend in Vergas. Sunday’s parade once again featured everything from candy being caught by guests from floats and parade entrants by the Vergas Lions Club and Hansons Plumbing and Heating. Hansons also hosted an… Read More

Grand champion edges son in loon calling finals By Chad Koenen Publisher As a handful of loons swam in the water within earshot of the annual loon call contest, Rebecca Wieben was crowned as the loon calling grand champion on Saturday afternoon in Vergas. In what proved to be a family affair, Rebecca edged her son Arnold… Read More

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has announced the household income guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and the Child and Adult Care Food Program through a public notice. The income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2023… Read More

Meeting set for Aug. 16 at Hobart Town Hall The Minnesota Department of Transportation will host two public open houses to answer questions and share information about the 2024 Highway 10/County Road 60 intersection improvement project: • Tuesday, Aug. 15, from 4-6:30 p.m., at the Perham Area Community Center, located at 620 Third Ave SE, Perham. • Wednesday,… Read More

Facilities across the state are seeing the results of the 2023 legislative session as funding fought for by Senate Republicans is flowing to their facilities.  On Tuesday, Aug. 1, more than 300 nursing homes across the state, including 11 in Senate District 9, received their first Nursing Facility Grants payment. These direct grants are part of… Read More

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing concern over recent policy changes and rate hikes affecting local and rural newspapers.  In July, the USPS eliminated the use of sack containers for newspapers and other periodicals and will now only accept newspapers delivered in bulkier… Read More

The Youth Outreach scholarship committee of Lions District 5M9 is offering up to $12,000 in college scholarships for the 2024 school year.  The application deadline is November 15, 2023.  Students must be in the last year of an accredited college 2-year program, final two years of a degreed college program or the final year of obtaining a… Read More