Publisher’s Perspective Chad Koenen Sports are a big part of the lives of my children. Whether it’s playing softball in the summer, volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter, or just coming up with random games in the yard, we always seem to find ourselves getting into our competitive spirit for fun. As our children… Read More

To the Editor, Perhaps you have heard of the infighting in the Otter Tail County Republicans since the Caucus in February. Some of the leaders may have committed election fraud by adding to the delegates and alternates after caucus night. Only those who were voted delegates and alternates on caucus night are reported to the State… Read More

What was life like before? It occurred to me that at my age, I’m rapidly becoming one of the fewer and fewer people left who experienced life before Before what, you say? Well, lots of things weren’t around when I was growing up. I’m also becoming one of the few who grew up on a small family… Read More

By Robert Williams Editor It was not difficult to appreciate the area in which we live after seeing the headlines that came out of the Fourth of July holiday and the ensuing days, especially in Minnesota’s metro areas. Holidays like the Fourth are meant to celebrate the country and honor those who died defending this land and… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief Haying season is in full swing with the majority of the first crop stacked at the farm.   We have 160 acres to go and those fields usually only get one cutting. We have 532 bales run through the baler so far and there should be another 300 or more for… Read More

There is, perhaps, nothing more American than watching a bunch of adults stuff their faces with enough hot dogs to feed an entire school. Give me freedom, give me fireworks and give me Joey Chestnut shoving his face with over 70 hot dogs in 10 minutes on Coney Island on the Fourth of July. Somewhere… Read More

Over the years, I’ve seen some pretty miserable weather. Beyond a doubt, winter weather has produced the most memorable temperatures, but summer can do it, too. Summer might be in second place, but. Just check the picture. That was a couple of days ago. Maybe I just don’t remember the last time that happened here. Probably… Read More

By Tyler Trieglaff Notes from the Chief We are down to three cows left to calve. Two new babies this week and one more very close. We brought one cow back to join the main herd. Last year, she calved on Aug. 18 and this year she calved on June 20. That is a two-month difference, which… Read More

Question: I really liked your recent article about the dangers of putting your feet up on the dash while driving and air bags. With the way vehicles are changing, can you talk about the other air bags, like side curtains and such? Thank you. Answer: Thank you for the email and I am happy to talk… Read More

Let’s talk about the weather, and all the ways that people over the years have figured out to predict it. Along the way, I’ve got a couple ways of my own which I’ve developed over the years. A lot of weather predictions are indirectly connected to  barometric pressure, BP, which is itself connected to the weight… Read More