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Otter Tail County, Minnesota

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About Otter Tail, MN

Local News
Complete local news coverage for Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Stay updated on local government, community events, business developments, and civic matters affecting residents of Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, Battle Lake, and surrounding communities.
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Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, Battle Lake and 1,980 square miles in western minnesota

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Newsroom monitoring local Otter Tail, MN developments. Next update cycle in 28 minutes.

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Perham boys basketball makes memorable run to state under first-year coach
Video

Perham boys basketball makes memorable run to state under first-year coach

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Jurgens leads Fergus Falls girls golf at windy Moorhead invite
Video

Jurgens leads Fergus Falls girls golf at windy Moorhead invite

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Five Perham students qualify for national BPA competition in Nashville
Video

Five Perham students qualify for national BPA competition in Nashville

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Fergus Falls fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for Chris Tungseth's Idol run
Video

Fergus Falls fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for Chris Tungseth's Idol run

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Perham Knowledge Bowl team takes fifth at state meet
Video

Perham Knowledge Bowl team takes fifth at state meet

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Fergus Falls Summerfest faces short deadline to fund fireworks privately
Video

Fergus Falls Summerfest faces short deadline to fund fireworks privately

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Regional search continues for missing Perham man Joshua Ard, reward offered
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Regional search continues for missing Perham man Joshua Ard, reward offered

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More Local News

Five Perham students qualify for national BPA competition in Nashville
Education

Five Perham students qualify for national BPA competition in Nashville

Five Perham High School students turned a Minneapolis BPA conference into a ticket to Nashville, extending a rare run of career-education success in Perham.

Marcus Williams2m read
Fergus Falls fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for Chris Tungseth's Idol run
Community

Fergus Falls fundraiser raises more than $6,000 for Chris Tungseth's Idol run

Fergus Falls restaurants turned a one-day promo into a $6,122.75 show of support for Chris Tungseth, whose Idol run kept climbing.

Marcus Williams2m read
Fergus Falls Summerfest faces short deadline to fund fireworks privately
Government

Fergus Falls Summerfest faces short deadline to fund fireworks privately

Summerfest’s Friday night fireworks are unfunded, and volunteers have about six weeks to replace the city’s usual $3,500 before June’s Kirkbride Park festival.

Marcus Williams2m read
Perham boys basketball makes memorable run to state under first-year coach
Education

Perham boys basketball makes memorable run to state under first-year coach

Perham's boys basketball run to state turned a first-year coach's reset into proof, capped by a Section 8AA title and a trip to Target Center.

Marcus Williams4m read
Perham Knowledge Bowl team takes fifth at state meet
Education

Perham Knowledge Bowl team takes fifth at state meet

Perham’s Knowledge Bowl team finished fifth at state in Brainerd, with seven qualifiers and coaching honors underscoring a program on the rise.

Sarah Chen2m read
Jurgens leads Fergus Falls girls golf at windy Moorhead invite
Community

Jurgens leads Fergus Falls girls golf at windy Moorhead invite

Olivia Jurgens shot 94 to pace Fergus Falls at the windy Spud Girls Golf Invite, where the Otters placed fourth with 386 after a calm morning turned tough.

Lisa Park2m read
Special Olympics athletes compete in Fergus Falls basketball tournament
Community

Special Olympics athletes compete in Fergus Falls basketball tournament

Kennedy Secondary filled with athletes, families and volunteers as the Fergus Falls Roosters took second in Unified basketball. The regional meet showed how close-to-home competition builds inclusion in Fergus Falls.

Lisa Park2m read
Two Fergus Falls residents seriously hurt in mudding rollover accident
Community

Two Fergus Falls residents seriously hurt in mudding rollover accident

A homemade off-highway vehicle rolled in a muddy Fergus Falls field, pinning Jeffrey Rutten under a roll bar and seriously injuring him and Jennifer Anderson.

Sarah Chen2m read
Battle Lake family loses home, belongings in fast-moving fire
Community

Battle Lake family loses home, belongings in fast-moving fire

A Battle Lake family escaped a deck fire with two adults and six children, but the blaze destroyed their home and most of their belongings.

Marcus Williams2m read
Zierden sets school record as Otters open strong at Harrington Invite
Education

Zierden sets school record as Otters open strong at Harrington Invite

Zierden’s school record gave Fergus Falls an instant spring benchmark, and the Otters backed it with a second-place girls finish and third on the boys side at home.

Lisa Park2m read
Perham sweeps Harrington Early Bird Invite with 11 event wins
Education

Perham sweeps Harrington Early Bird Invite with 11 event wins

Perham piled up 11 event wins in Fergus Falls, with Matt Jorgenson and Laston Dahl among the Yellowjackets setting the tone in a sweeping team performance.

Marcus Williams2m read
Princeton man charged in Otter Tail County sexual-assault case
Government

Princeton man charged in Otter Tail County sexual-assault case

A Princeton man was arrested after a woman said a consensual encounter at her Otter Tail County home became an assault while she slept, court records show.

Marcus Williams2m read
SWAT, deputies arrest Battle Lake man after firearm incident
Community

SWAT, deputies arrest Battle Lake man after firearm incident

SWAT officers and deputies converged on a Battle Lake trailer park after a firearm was discharged recklessly, then arrested 67-year-old Clinton Hunnicut Jr.

Marcus Williams1m read
Perham council backs change to EMS board voting rules
Government

Perham council backs change to EMS board voting rules

Perham’s 3-2 vote backed dropping the EMS board’s unanimity rule, a change that could speed ambulance decisions across the city and surrounding townships.

James Thompson2m read
National Welding Month spotlights Kennedy Secondary instructor, student training
Education

National Welding Month spotlights Kennedy Secondary instructor, student training

Dennis Wutzke is training Kennedy Secondary students for welding jobs that can pay a median $51,000 a year and keep them working in west-central Minnesota.

Marcus Williams2m read
Fergus Falls man sentenced to prison in long-running vehicle theft case
Government

Fergus Falls man sentenced to prison in long-running vehicle theft case

Fergus Falls man Bryant Christopher Turner was sentenced to 20 months in prison for stealing a Chevy Equinox, closing a case that began in March 2022.

Marcus Williams2m read
Fergus Falls Chamber event to address business challenges, growth outlook
Business

Fergus Falls Chamber event to address business challenges, growth outlook

A state report says Minnesota is losing ground, putting Fergus Falls employers, workers and storefronts under the microscope at a May 8 chamber forum.

Sarah Chen2m read
Perham farmers market seeks vendors for 2026 season opener May 22
Business

Perham farmers market seeks vendors for 2026 season opener May 22

Perham Farmers Market opens May 22 at 200 5th Street SE, with free booth space still open for growers, bakers, crafters and fundraiser groups.

Sarah Chen2m read
Otter Tail County Republicans back Rasmusson for reelection bid
Government

Otter Tail County Republicans back Rasmusson for reelection bid

More than 300 Republicans packed the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls to back Jordan Rasmusson, a show of strength heading into the Senate District 9 race.

Marcus Williams2m read
Fergus Falls teen cancer survivor leads national entrepreneurship contest
Business

Fergus Falls teen cancer survivor leads national entrepreneurship contest

A Fergus Falls teen who survived childhood cancer is in first place in a national startup contest, with a $25,000 prize and Daymond John mentoring on the line.

Sarah Chen2m read
Vergas Maple Fest draws 650 with pancakes, contests, community fun
Community

Vergas Maple Fest draws 650 with pancakes, contests, community fun

About 650 people filled Vergas for pancakes, a 5K and a maple syrup contest, giving the town an early spring lift.

Lisa Park2m read
9-year-old boy hospitalized after dirt bike crash near Ashby
Healthcare

9-year-old boy hospitalized after dirt bike crash near Ashby

A 9-year-old boy was airlifted to Fargo after a dirt bike crash northeast of Ashby, where even a helmet did not prevent a serious injury.

Dr. Elena Rodriguez1m read
Perham sophomore Avaeh Grismer hits first career home run against Hawley
Education

Perham sophomore Avaeh Grismer hits first career home run against Hawley

Avaeh Grismer, a Perham sophomore, launched the first home run of her high school career as the Yellowjackets faced Hawley, a bright spot for a young roster.

Sarah Chen2m read
Chipotle opens Friday in Fergus Falls with Chipotlane pickup lane
Business

Chipotle opens Friday in Fergus Falls with Chipotlane pickup lane

Chipotle will bring a Chipotlane, two posted jobs and a revived corner to 528 Western Ave., ending nearly five years of vacancy there.

Sarah Chen2m read
Cold front drops Fergus Falls to 28, weekend stays chilly
Community

Cold front drops Fergus Falls to 28, weekend stays chilly

Fergus Falls woke to 28 degrees as a fast-moving cold front brought frost risk, wind, and a weekend of lows below freezing.

Lisa Park2m read
Aakre takes second as Perham boys golf places third at Wadena meet
Education

Aakre takes second as Perham boys golf places third at Wadena meet

Reid Aakre finished second at Whitetail Run, and Perham opened spring with a third-place team finish that hinted at a higher ceiling.

Sarah Chen2m read
New York Mills teen turns old lead into local fishing lures
Business

New York Mills teen turns old lead into local fishing lures

A New York Mills teenager is turning scrap lead into Backwoods Tackle lures and already selling them online, at Mills Country Market and at events.

Sarah Chen2m read
Otter Tail County deputies arrest Erhard man after UTV theft, pursuit
Community

Otter Tail County deputies arrest Erhard man after UTV theft, pursuit

A fork jammed into a UTV ignition, a family theft, and a 45 to 50 mph chase put Erhard roads at risk before deputies stopped Justin Allen Sheridan.

Lisa Park2m read
Perham boys tennis falls close to Moorhead, wins two doubles matches
Education

Perham boys tennis falls close to Moorhead, wins two doubles matches

Perham pushed Moorhead to the edge by winning two doubles matches, with Zach Morburg, Jake Hennagir, Ethan Wimmer and Charlie Murdock leading the charge.

Lisa Park1m read