Photos by Robert Williams Top left: Senior Emersyn Wake, center, playing reporter Katherine discusses her plan for a city-wide newsie strike to Jack Kelly, (Simon LaSart), and photographer Darcy, (Aubrey Aho). Top right: The cast of newsies finished “Seize the Day” with a victorious pose during Sunday’s final performance of News-ies, Jr., at the Frazee-Vergas High… Read More

The preliminary deer harvest numbers are closing in on the 2024 total of 170,679 harvested last year. As of Wednesday, Nov. 26, this year’s total is at 166,176 deer with nearly 60 percent of that total being male adults (99,455). Female adults make up 28.6 percent of the harvest (47,525), while male juveniles totaled 10,982 (6.61… Read More

Photos by Robert Williams Above: Mrs. Claus and Santa were on hand for photo opportunities and to hand out treats to kids during Vergas’ Merry Small Town Christmas celebration on Saturday, Nov. 29. Right: Holiday gifts of all kinds were available in town and around the Vergas area as the Small Town Christmas celebration focuses on… Read More

Quilts of Valor awarded to 15 local veterans By Robert Williams Editor United States Marine veteran Allyn Stoltz stole the show at the annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner and Quilts of Valor ceremony held at the Frazee Event Center Wednesday, Nov. 19.   ¶  After being awarded the first Quilt of Valor of the night, Stoltz grabbed… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Preliminary talks have begun to determine what will happen to available space at M State Detroit Lakes if dropping enrollment numbers do not make a quick turnaround in the next two years. Becker County Administrator Carrie Smith met with officials at M State to discuss future planning due to a significant drop in… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Frazee have begun a program to use meals as a way to get closer to members of the congregation and share their cooking talents as a way to help people. The “Love Kitchen” is a program that provides meals for pick-up to bring to someone who is… Read More

West Lake Street to be reconstructed By Robert Williams Editor A local sales tax is being considered to fund the proposed $1.2 million Vergas Park Improvement Master Plan for Long Lake Park, which includes upgrades to playgrounds, trails, a restroom facility, and accessibility features within the city’s primary park and recreation area. The council passed a resolution… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor Public Health Director Jody Lien announced changes to the Prairie Lakes Community Health Board (CHB) Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) at the meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Proxy language was found within the agreement that was removed due to legality issues after conferring with Michelle Eldien,… Read More

The Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a drive-by shooting on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at approximately 6:09 p.m. No injuries were reported.  The incident occurred near the intersection of State Highway 34 and County Highway 39, approximately one mile west of Snellman in Shell Lake Township—later identified as the family farm of activist Winona LaDuke…. Read More

Sheriffs advise stay off local lakes Two teenagers, ages 13 and 14, were rescued after falling through the ice on Straight Lake in Osage Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two juvenile males that had fallen through the ice on Straight Lake at 2:51 p.m. Emergency personnel from the Becker County… Read More