Nicholas Hohrman laughs with Jean Zahler at the Senior Citizens Center Monday afternoon. Hohrman was with Lynette Ringquist’s third grade class that was adopted by the Senior Citizens Center this past school year. In addition to enjoying some one-on-one time with the seniors, the students presented May baskets. View photo »

Members of the Fergus Falls School Board, along with district leaders, break ground at the future spot of the secondary school. View photo »

Bill O’Donnell Jr. has a long-standing link with Norway Beach on Stalker Lake east of Dalton. His family started Norway Beach in 1950. View photo »

The prairie chicken is the focal point of the Rothsay community. The statue was repainted this year, coinciding with the celebration. View photo »

Smaller pelicans are positioned throughout Pelican Rapids during this, the city’s 125th anniversary year. View photo »

Lunch on the lawn - Grace, Jenny, Jack, and Jonathan Westrup listen to music by the Carlisle Band while enjoying lunch, provided by Carlisle/French 4-H, on the lawn of the Otter Tail County Courthouse during the 20th annual Courthouse lunch and band concert, sponsored by the Otter Tail County Historical Society, Tuesday. View photo »

Members of the Otter Fury Dance Team who recently attended a camp at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. were, from row, from left: Courtney Diestler, Captain Amber Hagedorn, Captain Jessica Marquedant and Katelyn Marquedant. Middle row, from left: Coach Amanda Kretchman, Nadia Danzeisen, Katie Swedberg, Emily Giza, Stephanie Danielson and assistant coach Crissy Willets. Back row, from left: Taylor Amberg, Justine Ewy, Taylor West, Rachelle Wigtil and Elly Kretchman. View photo »

Fergus Falls High School students gather together during their summer trip to France. View photo »

Jump in the river - Swimmers are seen enjoying the cool water of the Otter Tail River last weekend while jumping off a county highway bridge. View photo »

Edward Williams is in his eighth year as mayor of Elbow Lake View photo »

Construction on the PWLC addition is expected to finish next week. The new space will allow District 544 fourth graders to join the Prairie Science class this fall. Previously only fifth-graders participated in the program. View photo »

Alexandra Davis, a drummer for the Heather and Thistle Pipes and Drums Band, is blind and is guided by a fellow band member while marching. View photo »

Dan Aird, pipe major of the Heather and Thistle Pipes and Drums Band, explains the art of piping for crowds at the Pelican Rapids International Friendship Festival last month. View photo »

Egil Vindorum, representing His Royal Highness Harald V of Norway, congratulates Verlyn Anderson after presentation of the St. Olav Medal. View photo »

These 13 pieces of artwork by regional artists are only a taste of what was previously shown at the Cormorant Area Art Club’s fine art show and sale, including DeVaughn Kolke’s piece entitled “My Grandson and Kid” (middle left). All pieces on display are original works of art and never shown more than once. View photo »

Ryan Pesch inspects a row of Napa cabbage, also referred to as Chinese cabbage. This vegetable should be ready for consumers about mid-July. View photo »

Dawn Birch, representing the Special Olympics, Fergus Falls Junior chapter, accepted the VBS offering of $330.41 from Mary Christenson, Calvary Free Lutheran's Children's Ministry Chair. The SOFF Junior chapter will be using the funds towards the entrance fees for their athletes to compete in various upcoming athletic competitions. View photo »

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Doug Huebsch View photo »

Bob and Cathy Miller remove a window of an abandoned trailer at Green Acres trailer park in Fergus Falls. The two are among a group of residents working to clean up the neighborhood. View photo »

Colorful flower beds, like the ones at the Veterans Memorial Park, add a summer touch to city parks. View photo »

The log cabin playhouse is a backyard imagination haven for David Stoddard’s 9-year-old daughter, Emily. View photo »

Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Scott Koennicke and his K-9 dog, Zorro, were on hand during Saturday’s annual meeting of the Otter Tail Lakes Property Owners Association. View photo »

Relay for Life luminary bags took a beating from the rain Friday night. Then high winds prevented walkers from lighting them. View photo »

The Walk of Flags is flown on patriotic holidays and will be up July 4. View photo »

Nathan Porter pulls the “Blue Ox” during the antique tractor pull Sunday during Summerfest in Dalton. Porter was driving a 1951 “B” John Deere. View photo »

Engineers Cy Melby, left, and Erick Halvorson take Kjersti Halvorson, 5, and other passengers for a ride on the “Milton Martinson” Saturday afternoon on the Lake Region Pioneer Threshermen’s Grounds as part of the Dalton Summerfest celebration. The train was purchased by Martinson, a former member of the association, in Iowa. View photo »

Gopher Athletic Director Joel Maturi, left, met with Perham businessman Ken Nelson prior to the start of the golf event in Perham. Proceeds went to University of Minnesota athletics. View photo »

Cameron Martin accepts a donation from Derik Bergh who put on a racing clinic to raise money for the Martin family. View photo »

Ride em’ cowboy - Kirby Nelson honks his horn while riding through the bike rodeo course at the Underwood school parking lot Thursday night in Underwood. View photo »

Dion Wells sits near a rock during his overseas travels. View photo »

Dion Wells sits near a rock during his overseas travels. View photo »

Jelisa Seals and Ty’tania Hill watch for the Greyhound bus at Olson Oil Card Express in Fergus Falls Tuesday. View photo »

Jelisa Seals and Ty’tania Hill watch for the Greyhound bus at Olson Oil Card Express in Fergus Falls Tuesday. View photo »

Fireworks like these, displayed at Mark Lundeen’s stand in the parking lot at Sunmart, are legal. View photo »

Ten Mile Construction contractor Keith Sellner works at the Stan and Bev Rund home. View photo »

Quinn Eckley, 11, works on a stamp during a printing class at MSCTC-Fergus Falls Tuesday. View photo »

Art Fosse, left, who formerly operated Fosse Transport, and his former employee, Robert (Andy) Anderson, talk about their good working relationship. View photo »

Matt Lemke measures the scoreboard of his “Green Monster” Sunday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ferguus Falls. View photo »

Ready to shoot - An instructor at the Bethel youth sports camp instructs youngsters on the proper technique for shooting a basketball Tuesday in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Out on the patio - Mike Westergard, left, Harry Olson and Phil Frederick work on leveling out sand for the patio being built at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy Wednesday evening. The patio is a project of the Fergus Falls Noon Rotary Club. View photo »

Former NFL star O.J. Simpson watches his drive sail down the fairway at Thumper Pond Golf Course Wednesday. View photo »

Les Hanson prepares for a garage sale at his Fergus Falls home last week. All proceeds from the Eagles-sponsored sale benefit this year’s Relay for Life. View photo »

Pelican Rapids area residents packed the public library meeting room Wednesday evening during the first of four junk car informational gatherings. View photo »

Herbert Mueller and Eric Miller prepare for some sunfish angling at the public access on Swan Lake. View photo »

Stacey Wendland, left, hospice department manager; Dr. Debra Hagel, director of clinical services; Cheryl Pelaccio, administrator; Roger Parks, Hospice board chairman; Tammy Anderson, fund development coordinator; and Kayleen Frich, professional education and outreach coordinator, look over the plans for an eight-bed hospice house planned for completion in the fall of 2009. View photo »

All about the flag - Eleanor Friedrich from the Fergus Falls Auxiliary Post 612 discussed the history and significance of the flag at the Fergus Falls Public Library Friday morning. View photo »

Scouts practice skills - Logan Lillis lets go of his wrist rocket and fires a rock at a metal pot during the Under the Big Top Day Camp Friday. View photo »

Scouts practice skills - Cub Scouts practice their archery skills with leader help during the Cub Scout Day Camp Friday afternoon. The camp theme, “Under the big top,” offered a variety of activities for Scouts and continues until 6 p.m. today, with a circus carnival. Campsers are also collecting donations to help other Scouts in Iowa and Nebraska affected by floods and tornados. View photo »

Scouts practice skills - Cub Scouts lay in the prone shooting position to steady their aim during the day camp. View photo »

Vining commemorates its most famous resident, Astranaut Karen Nyberg with a display on top of a cooler at Big Foot Convenience Store. View photo »

Sponge bob Square pants - Jayda Dewey, left, and Lilyana Davis stand next to SpongeBob for a picture at Ottertail Telcom in Fergus Falls Friday afternoon. The popular children’s cartoon character helped kick off Summerfest activities, which continue today with crafters, food vendors, bingo, entertainement and more on Washington Avenue and Court Street. View photo »

Still pledging allegiance - Veterans Alvin Dornburg, left, Lyle McCormick, and Ken Skauge say the Pledge of Allegiance during a program honoring veterans at the Broen Memorial Home Friday afternoon. View photo »

Canisters, like this one at BJ’s East in Fergus Falls, hold aluminum cans and other recyclables at 28 locations throughout the county. Thefts of aluminum from these canisters occur periodically. View photo »

Fergus native Andrew Spidahl is touring China, one pedal stroke at a time View photo »

Lance Johnson performing on the WurliTzer organ at A Center for the Arts. View photo »

A Bridge From Normal features current and former Hillcrest students, from left to right, Tim Borowski, Nick Tungseth, Peter Rogness and Zach Lewison. View photo »

‘Tom Sawyer’ opens June 18 in Barrett View photo »

A variety of classical, romantic and blues music was presented by the students of Karen Hauck Tuesday, May 27, at Sverdrup Church in Underwood and was enjoyed by many friends and relatives. The students who participated included front row from left, Sophie Johnson, Kindra Peterson, Isabel Dahl and Theo Johnson. Second row, Colt Dahl, Chad Peterson, Isaiah Wenzel, Carter Peterson, Justin Masloski, Dana Speer and Corrina Denston. Back row, Karen Hauck, Megan Biegler, Marah Mikkelson, Stephany Wold, Matthew Biegler, Dinah Mikkelson, Morgan Frederick and Nicole Teberg. Not picured is Tara Budke. View photo »

Minnsota State House of Representatives members met for a fun weekend at the once-popular Dunvilla on Lake Lizzie near Pelican Rapids in 1933. View photo »

Fergus native Andrew Spidahl is touring China, one pedal stroke at a time View photo »

The labor is hard work just north of Kolkata, India — plenty of people to do it though. View photo »

Tourists, children and all View photo »

Thailand camp — “One night we heard the beating of drums and yelling; I suggested it might be to scare away elephants. Peter took action to safeguard our tent by hanging a reflective vest on the outside. At breakfast, some women asked us if we’d seen the elephants. Thankfully, they hadn’t come into our little camp nestled in the bamboo.” View photo »

Storm damage on Battle Lake - Wednesday’s storms took their toll on the Lakes Area. In these photos, taken Thursday morning, storm damage can be seen from around the east side of Battle Lake. Lakes throughout Otter Tail County suffeered similar damage. View photo »

Storm damage on Battle Lake - Wednesday’s storms took their toll on the Lakes Area. In these photos, taken Thursday morning, storm damage can be seen from around the east side of Battle Lake. Lakes throughout Otter Tail County suffeered similar damage. View photo »

Storm damage on Battle Lake - Wednesday’s storms took their toll on the Lakes Area. In these photos, taken Thursday morning, storm damage can be seen from around the east side of Battle Lake. Lakes throughout Otter Tail County suffeered similar damage. View photo »

Down on the island - Music in the Park kicked off Thursday night in Fergus Falls with the sounds of the band Island Time. The band treated about 250 people to tropical tunes and even a conga line. Dean Hastings of Fergus Falls gives out a big smile as he shakes to the music. View photo »

Down on the island - Music in the Park kicked off Thursday night in Fergus Falls with the sounds of the band Island Time. The band treated about 250 people to tropical tunes and even a conga line. Gabriel Torkelson — a visitor from California — rocks out on his homemade guitar. View photo »

Down on the island - Music in the Park kicked off Thursday night in Fergus Falls with the sounds of the band Island Time. The band treated about 250 people to tropical tunes and even a conga line. At top, Piper Olson of Fergus Falls gives a thumbs up to family members after using a shaker to add some flavor to an Island Time song. View photo »

Grand opening at Nelson Auto Center - Laurel Nelson, left, watches her husband Brent with a whimsical smile as he cuts a ribbon with a pair of giant scissors Wednesday night during a ribbon cutting ceremony for Nelson Auto Center. Behind Laurel are the Nelson’s two sons, Alex, left, and Adam, right. Their remodeled and expanded dealership is located at 2228 College Way in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Wayne Nelson, president of Communicating for America (CA), played a major role in helping new farmers through legislation that’s part of the new six-year farm bill. View photo »

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Salesman Wayne Jensen looks at a truck in the Minnesota Motor parking lot Thursday. View photo »

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Weekend campers and fishermen at Maplewood State Park included front, from left, Dave Richardson, Buffalo; and Jeff Riley, Barrett. In back are Doug Johnson, Hopkins; Dan Guenther, Lester Prairie; and John Loebach, Rosemount. View photo »

Pelican Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce board member Cyndy Stotesbery, left, and Maureeen Berg, new C of C employee, display a t-shirt for promotion of the International Friendship Festival. View photo »

Don and Diana Magnuson of Battle Lake opened Fast Times on Fir Avenue within the past two weeks. View photo »

Right on course - Kathy Kanwisher (#43) of Fargo and Jennifer Lund (#55) of Cyrus, run the half-marathon Saturday in Fergus Falls. The man behind them was not identifiable. View photo »

Runners make their way up the course Saturday during the Fergus Falls Half-Marathon. More than 150 turned out. View photo »

Sara Kipp of Fergus Falls rounds Lincoln Ave. View photo »

Marathon winner Brian Kinsey makes his way through the course. View photo »

Rose Fitzsimmons of Ashby was the first woman across the finish line with a time of 1:38.54 View photo »

Greg Winter, Fergus Falls High School principal, received the Blue and Gold award for his support of the Fergus Falls FFA Chapter. View photo »

Trevor Norgen received the Outstanding New Member award. View photo »

Rick Drevlow from the Wells Fargo Foundation accepts a plaque for the Outstanding Service Award. View photo »

Laura Jennen received the Jed Fjestad Memorial Scholarship. Presenting the award were Peter and Becky Fjestad and Mel Fronning of Titan Machinery who sponsor the award. View photo »

Receiving the Honorary FFA degree at the FFA banquet were Russell and Mabeth Kudrna, and Dale and Deb Zemple (not pictured). Presenting the award was Karissa Kudrna, chapter president. Karissa also received the Peter Madison Memorial Scholarship. View photo »

The new officer team for 2008-09 are (back left to right): Matt Schleske, sentential; Ashley Long, secretary; Laura Riestenberg, president; Megan Rasmussen, reporter and Region 3 sentential. Front from left to right: Trevor Norgern, officer at large; Ben Brause, vice president; and Kayla Riestenberg, treasurer. View photo »

Janine Ringdahl Schmidt illustrated Michael J. Larson’s book, “Nature’s Christmas Story,” featuring animals of the tundra. View photo »

Daisy troop graduates to Brownies - Girl Scout Daisy Troop 30657 celebrated bridging over to become Brownies in May at Broadway Park in Fergus Falls. From front left are Haylie Stach, Trisha Langer, Kayla Ann Masterman, Kaylin Bosworth, Megan Quamme and Elissa Lee. In back from left is Troop Co-Leader Marian Quamme, Maddy Godwin, Brooklyn Cordner and Troop Co-leader Brenda Bosworth. View photo »

A crowd gathered at the fair grounds to watch the inflating of the balloon, the “Fergus Falls," which first soared over the city in 1915. View photo »

Five senses - Volunteer teacher Vicki Hanneman plays the senses game with her students, ages 1 through 4, during First Lutheran Church’s Vacationland Bible School Wednesday. View photo »

Annie Humphrey-Jimenez and her son, Justice, help construct a traditional wigwam displayed on the grounds of the Evansville Historical Foundation. View photo »

Rhyan Buettner of Fergus Falls spends time with children at God’s Little Angels Orphanage in Haiti during a volunteer trip in April. View photo »

Bev’s Bakery owner Janet Schicker took home three Awards of Excellence after showcasing her specialty cakes in Minneapolis. View photo »

Late April sledding - Taking the opportunity to slide down the hill at Roosevelt Park Saturday afternoon were, from left, Reggie Undseth, the duo sled team of Quincy and Sophia Undseth, Mark Undseth and Thomas Martinson. View photo »

Mountains of snow - City crews had a big job with snow removal Saturday following the snowstorm. Snow was piled high along West Cavour Avenue, Fergus Falls, near US Bank, and at other locations. View photo »

Blowing snow from the sidewalks near Federated Church Saturday afternoon was Henry Price, owner of Price Family Construction. View photo »

A street sign on Lincoln Avenue in Fergus Falls warns residents of snow removal times on Sunday after a late April snowstorm dumped a foot of snow or more across parts of western and northern Minnesota, forcing authorities to close a major freeway. View photo »

The Mehl Center is home to a wide range of fitness equipment for clients of Athletic Republic. Pro Multi-Hip, which works leg flexion and extension. View photo »

Machines include high-intensity treadmills. Athletic Republic Coordinator Tom Uvaas is pictured in red. View photo »

Recumbent bike. View photo »

Hillcrest choir concert scheduled View photo »

Einar Mickelson of Fergus Falls was a member of the Flying Tigers during World War II. View photo »

Einar Mickelson of Fergus Falls was a member of the Flying Tigers during World War II. View photo »

2007 Dairy Princess Emily Schroeder, left, 2008 Dairy Princesses Rebekah Frietag and Hana Cardwell, and 2007 Dairy Princess Erika Sorenson attended the crowning April 5. Not pictured is 2008 Dairy Princess Melissa Curfman. View photo »

Ashley Beim and her bay Quarter horse, PS Rusty Bay Doc. View photo »

Cindy Thernell, left, and Cheryl Rose Proffit are co-chairs for Saturday’s St. James Episcopal Church chili supper that will benefit the community food shelf View photo »

A 4-foot pile of concrete planks have piled up near the shore on the west side of Lake Lizzie, north of Pelican Rapids. The access is off of 460th Street. View photo »

Chunks of ice hug the east shore of Prairie Lake about four miles north of Pelican Rapids on Highway 59. The annual occurance creates picturesque landscapes. View photo »

Ariana Odegard and Wes Green are juniors at Underwood High School. They are two of the 12 people from the community that traveled to Haiti in early March. View photo »

A farmer plants wheat in a field south of Dalton Wednesday afternoon. View photo »

Preparing the field - Jeff Paulson of Elbow Lake Co-op Grain drives a Terra-Gator to fertilize Barry Fabien’s soon-to-be corn field Wednesday afternoon. View photo »

Tee Time - Travis Martinson uses an iron to get out of the rough on the first hole at Pebble Lake Golf Course Wednesday afternoon. View photo »

Josh Ellingson, right, and Stephanie Synstelien go through a dress rehearsal for “The Curios Savage,” at A Center for the Arts Wednesday afternoon. View photo »

Head of the house - A tree swallow stakes a claim to a bird house on a farm south of Dalton. View photo »

Patrick Ray was among the Vinylite Windows employees planting trees outside the company’s building Wednesday. View photo »

As part of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial celebration Underwood will enhance Fort Juleson east of town. The fort site is a symbol of settlers coming together following the Battle of the Little Bighorn in Montana in 1876. View photo »

Second-grader Hailey Thompson is assisted by junior Monika Pachel with a fable titled, “Cat and Puppy.” View photo »

Junior Tyler Meyer assists second-grader Isaiah Klug for the fable, “Fox and Bear.” View photo »

Rising performers - The Just for Kix Rising Stars group performs during Friday night’s performance at the Fergus Falls High School. View photo »

Grant County fire departments sponsored a smoke and safety house to teach kids how to escape a house fire during Saturday’s Expo in Ashby. View photo »

Speaker makes green point with ride - Ken Pentel, a 2006 Green Party candidate for Minnesota governor, bikes up the Central Lakes Trail at Dalton Monday afternoon. Pentel, the keynote speaker today at Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s Earth Day celebration, biked from St. Cloud to Dalton, but rain and cold temperatures cut his trip to Fergus Falls short. Pentel spoke in Pelican Rapids Monday night and spoke at MSCTC today on our sustainable future. View photo »

Judge Wally Senyk, left, celebrates National Adoption Day last year with adoptive parents Emily and Dan Johnson and their children, Nick, Alexander and Judah. View photo »

Todd and Anne Mathison, with children Kori, 16, and Kaleb, 12, will be filmed this week for the Home and Garden Television program “Sleep On It.” View photo »

Charles Beck displays a blue heron (top), egret (front) and snow goose in his home studio. View photo »

Rev. Robert Kiefer of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church holds a frame Saturday morning representing the window of a new home that Habitat for Humanity will build for Eric and Veda Brown at 320 W. Adolphus Ave. The home is being sponsored by the Catholic Daughters. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Saturday at the home site. View photo »

Second in DL - The Fergus Falls girls softball team placed second in a tournament in Detroit Lakes over the weekend. The team is pictured above with its trophy. View photo »

Ryan Littau of Amesworth, Neb. rides a bull during the 8 Second Challenge at the Red Horse Ranch Arena north of Fergus Falls. The two-day competition attracted bullriding enthusiasts from throughout the region. Litteau and the 31 other registered bullreaders were charged with staying on their bull a full eight seconds while riding one-handed. View photo »

Darren Hage holds his first place plaque at this year’s ACS Billiards State Tournament in Rochester. View photo »

Removing smelt and French fries from the fryers Saturday evening were Parkers Prairie Lions Club members, from left, Gary Olson, Rick Gappa and Kelly Mesker. View photo »

Emergency response training is an ongoing process for Fergus Falls-based ETA. From left are Randy Fischer, operations director; Bjorn Ringdahl, owner; Denny Ehrichs, program director; and Tollef Ringdahl, owner. View photo »

The Rev. Luther Larson, left, and the Rev. John Kilde have special memories of their careers with Church of the Lutheran Brethren View photo »

Many old-timers who drive by the Eagles Ship recall that a nearby brewery, now gone, operated only a few yards east of the ship that’s located on the east side of Fergus Falls. The ship and brewery were both owned by George Heinrich. View photo »

In 1895, the Bender Brewery was in operation in Fergus Falls. It previously was called the Aberle Brewery and later became the Fergus Brewery. The location was near Ann Street and Mt. Faith Avenue on the east side of Fergus Falls. View photo »

Tracy Anderson’s “Delightful Dahlia,” was chosen for a national juried exhibition. View photo »

Many long-time Fergus Falls residents recall waiting to board passenger trains at the Great Northern Railway station near North Mill Street. View photo »

Gas prices reached $3.39 at Stop-n-Go in Fergus Falls on Thursday. View photo »

Jared Huwe of New York Mills is a local bull rider competing in this weekend’s 8 Second Challenge at Red Horse Ranch Arena in rural Fergus Falls. View photo »

Out on the sandlot - Tony Preston takes a cut at the ball Thursday afternoon at Hannah Park in Fergus Falls. A group of about 20 youngsters gathered at the park late Thursday afternoon. See a video highlight on the Daily Jounal Web site, www.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Bringing it in - Daylon Jensen looks towards first base as he tries to pick up a grounder Thursday afternoon at Hannah Park. View photo »

Diane Huso looks on as Rachel Ronnevik tries to pick out a bowl for the empty bowl fundraiser for the Salvation Army. View photo »

Billy and Andy Eerdmans perform on the set for an “Explore Minnesota” webisode and commercial at St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis . View photo »

Where’s the beef? - Beefmobile Wrangler Tracey Orsburn gives prizes out to Harold Thorson (cowboy hat) and Jerry Enderson Tuesday at the Fergus Falls Livestock Auction Market. View photo »

Dillon Riehm was one of Lynette Ringquist’s Cleveland Elementary School third graders who played Bingo at the Fergus Falls Senior Citizens Center on Tuesday afternoon. Don Pederson helps Dillon check his card. View photo »

Billy and Andy Eerdmans Click here to view the twins' video. View photo »

Don Maslow makes an adjustment on a fish barrier. The unit is used to prevent rough fish from going upstream. View photo »

Judy Zenner and Jean Rustand, who volunteered Saturday at the OLV salad luncheon, serve Fergus Falls in a variety of volunteer capacities. View photo »

The monument at Ten Mile Lake Lutheran Cemetery, close to the Dalton exit along Interstate 94, has been a landmark for 22 years. View photo »

The Battle Lake High School drama department took the stage Monday night for its final performance of Disney’s High School Musical. More than 1,500 people visited The Royal Broberg Auditorium April 11-14 to see the show. - Matt Erwin, left, playing Troy Boltan, and Courtney Cline, playing Gabriella Montez, sing “Breaking Free” in High School Musical. View photo »

The Battle Lake High School drama department took the stage Monday night for its final performance of Disney’s High School Musical. More than 1,500 people visited The Royal Broberg Auditorium April 11-14 to see the show. - View photo »

The Battle Lake High School drama department took the stage Monday night for its final performance of Disney’s High School Musical. More than 1,500 people visited The Royal Broberg Auditorium April 11-14 to see the show. - Sammi Bottko as drama teacher Ms. Darbus. View photo »

The Battle Lake High School drama department took the stage Monday night for its final performance of Disney’s High School Musical. More than 1,500 people visited The Royal Broberg Auditorium April 11-14 to see the show. - The East High Wildcat basketball team sings. View photo »

Brittany Bleichner, left, playing Sharpay Evans, and Rusty Duncan, playing Sharpay’s brother Ryan, try out for the lead roles of Juliet and Romeo in Battle Lake High School’s performance of “High School Musical” Monday night at the Royal Broberg Auditorium in Battle Lake. The four-day run of the play came to an end Monday night. View photo »

Pelican Rapids native and Nashville performer Bruce Arntson is part of the Doyle & Debbie duo that will perform Saturday, April 19, at the Fargo Theatre. View photo »

Family and friends, along with Pelican Rapids residents and others, admired photos and tributes to Jessica Weishair following her funeral Sunday View photo »

Doug Houska, president of Bremer Bank, Fergus Falls, is proud of the Bremer Foundation that helps improve the quality of life in Otter Tail County. View photo »

Picnicking with teddy bears - Katie Jo Hauschild holds her teddy bear as she sits beside her cousin, Hannah Hauschild, during a puppet show Saturday morning at the Fergus Falls Public Library. The show was part of the Teddy Bear Picnic. Katie Jo is the daughter of Bryan and Becky Hauschild of Fergus Falls. Hannah is the daughter of Doug and Julie Hauschild of Red Wing. View photo »

MSCTC students Courtney Spiker and Taurean Smith practice their door-knocking skills at Saturday’s program. View photo »

Eric Marts, left, and his brother, Steve, were two of the bikers at Sunday afternoon’s fourth annual Prometheus Motor Cycle Club Show. The two-day show was moved to the National Guard Armory in Fergus Falls this year. Steve built his 1948 Harley Davidson motorcycle from a frame which he bought in Detroit. View photo »

Walvatne auction - A spaghetti supper was held Saturday night at the Dalton Community Center for Julie Walvatne, a Dalton woman who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The benefit drew 581 people. The benefit included a silent auction. View photo »

A man who identified himself only as Mr. Otter protests outside the Otter Tail Corporation annual meeting this morning. View photo »

Deb Holicky practices for the synchronized swim show, “Memories,” which will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the middle school pool. She uses a wrench to tap out the beat of the music underwater. The production will feature numbers from the past 20 years of shows in honor of Holicky’s tenure with the dance program. View photo »

Synchronized swimmers perform a ballet leg in which the toes are pointed to the ceiling as one of the “steps” in their dance. View photo »

Author Doug Hoverson’s presentation covers the history of brewing in Minnesota. View photo »

1928 Fergus Falls High School graduate Julius Quello, in later years, second row holding granddaughter on his lap, raised five sons with his wife, Dorothea. Like his father, Quello became a minister. View photo »

Dinner by candle light - Shari Vaughn helps her mother Ida Hanson at the Broen Home candlelight dinner Thursday evening. View photo »

Gregg Palmer, Laurie Mullen and Maxine Schmidt were among the attendees at Thursday’s planning session. View photo »

A cold Otter Tail River flows past the former flour mill west of downtown. The city of Fergus Falls is listening to ideas for the future development of the area. View photo »

The Otter Tail River looking east towards the old flour mill and downtown Fergus Falls. View photo »

The Rev. Paul Nelson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church proudly stands alongside the restored console as part of the pipe organ renovation project. View photo »

At last week's BCLP retreat were: Back Row (L to R): Nancy South, Brooke Barsness, Rebecca Petersen, Jerry Ness, Jackie Maethner, Scott DeMartelaere, Sarah Thacker, Mary Jo Wimmer (BCLP Trainer), Nehrwr Abdul-Wahid (BCLP Trainer); Middle Row (L to R): Jean Kummerow (BCLP Psychologist), Chris Cadem, Connie Knapp, Rick Terway, Wayne Hurley, Evan Westra, Ken Garrahan, Jonathan Piekarski, Lori Larson; Front Row (L to R): Melanie Dethlefsen, Bonnie Ewert, Jenny Harrington-Stumbo, Tim Brennan, Melanie Cole, Thad Olsen, Elizabeth Cadem, Harold Stanislawski, Harry Olson, Jon Steinbrenner. View photo »

William, Andrew Eerdmans View photo »

A Barbershop Chorus Concert will be held at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Legacy Hall at MSCTC, Fergus Falls. View photo »

Warming up for theater - Brian Grandison from the Minneapolis Theatre Company does warm up exercises with a third grade class at Adams Elementary Wednesday. View photo »

Union Avenue crash - A two-vehicle accident at 4:57 p.m. Wednesday at Union and Cavour in Fergus Falls resulted in one injury and damage to both vehicles. Wendy Gale Harlow, 47, Erhard, was taken by ambulance to Lake Region Hospital. Her injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. View photo »

Alycia Johnson hangs a few of the formal dresses already collected by students at the ALC. Students are collecting gently used formalwear to sell as low-cost prom dresses. View photo »

Staff with Fergus Falls Public Works repair the pavement around a manhole at East Channing and South Mill Thursday in an effort to beat tonight’s storm. View photo »

Minnesota State CTC athletic coordinator Dave Retzlaff has enjoyed many great moments and tremendous success during his 40 years in Fergus Falls. Retzlaff is stepping down as athletic coordinator but will continue to serve as a volunteer coach with the men’s basketball team, which has been led for the last two years by his son, Jason. View photo »

A bale of wood chips blocks an eastbound lane of Interstate 94 about five miles east of Fergus Falls at mile marker 63. A semi lost seven bales of wood chips from its load, completely closing traffic in one lane of the interstate and slowing traffic in the other. Snowplows were called to help the Fergus Falls and Dalton fire departments clear the scene. View photo »

Rooting out poverty - Ending poverty requires a consistent and persistent approach, and the participation of people of faith, nonprofit agencies, government and businesses, said Gregory Gray, executive director of the Minnesota Legislative Commission to End Poverty by 2020. He spoke at the Rooting Out Poverty—Rural Family Economic Success conference, Monday at the Bigwood Event Center. More than 300 people attended the event. It was sponsored by Community Action Partnership and supported by West Central Initiative. View photo »

Starter plants - Starter plants of many varieties, including this caliente fir sold by Roger Walvatne of Lake Country Gardens on Otter Tail Lake, were available at Garden Day Saturday at the Underwood School. Sponsored by the West Otter Tail Master Gardeners, Garden Day was attended by 625 registrants, who attended a variety of classes on gardening. View photo »

This monument near the public access and picnic area on the west side of West Battle Lake is dedicated to the men and women, with ties to Battle Lake, who served their country in the United States military. View photo »

Students from Lake Park-Audubon High school erected a sign expressing their condolences to the Pelican Rapids community following Saturday’s tragic bus crash on I-94 near Albertville that left one dead and dozens injured. View photo »

Construction is underway on the west side of Fergus Falls for a building that will house American Welding Supplies and Carquest of Fergus Falls. In July both businesses will move from other locations in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Up on the roof - Dominick Hanson, 6, shovels snow from the roof of a car belonging to his grandmother Mandy Halvorson Monday at 621 S. Sheridan in Fergus Falls. Dominick was home from school Monday after a Sunday storm dumped more than seven inches of snow in the city. View photo »

Tracy Kloos removed snow from underneath her vehicle this morning. View photo »

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper and employees of a wrecker crew look over a Richards Transportation motor coach Saturday morning after the bus crashed on Interstate 94 about one mile south of Albertville. A 16-year-old Pelican Rapids student died as a result of the crash and dozens of others were injured. View photo »

Pelican Rapids students gather with their belongings outside St. Albert Catholic Church in Albertville where they were interviewed by State Patrol investigators Saturday. View photo »

A wrecker pushes a Richards Transportation motor coach backwards up a freeway entrance ramp in order to clear it from I-94 and reopen westbound traffic Saturday morning following a crash near Albertville. A Pelican Rapids student died in the crash. Dozens of others were injured. View photo »

Lt. Mark Peterson of the State Patrol discusses the Saturday crash. View photo »

Traffic along I-94 was closed and detoured for hours. View photo »

Pelican Rapids High School students exit a motor coach Saturday at the school. View photo »

Parents at Pelican Rapids High School look for their children Saturday after the bus not involved in a crash in Albertville returns to Pelican Rapids. View photo »

Pictured is the ditch where the bus came to rest after the Saturday morning crash. The photo was taken minutes after the bus was removed from the scene. View photo »

Janet Knapp, left, and Desta Hunt display vintage hats and pincushion hat centerpieces that will be part of the fun during the Thursday, April 10, “Hats Off to You” salad luncheon at The Federated Church, Fergus Falls. View photo »

The teachers are Lori Bredenberg, left, Sue Heidorn, Jolene Wagner and Jo Ann Deterding View photo »

Let’s go fly a kite- Michael Thomas, below, ran with his kite at Grotto Park Thursday as he enjoyed the temperatures that crept over the 50-degree mark for the first time this spring. View photo »

Let's go fly a kiteAubryana Tripp who watched her kite fly. Otter Tail County residents will have an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors this weekend with temperatures expected to remain around 50 degrees Saturday and Sunday. View photo »

Neal Schmidt unloads corn at the ethanol plant northwest of Fergus Falls. Schmidt is a hauler for Harvest States of Callaway, north of Detroit Lakes. View photo »

Third and fourth graders received “Let’s be bully-free” bracelets Thursday as reminders of how to treat each other. View photo »

Haley Berger sings about the Golden Rule. View photo »

Ashley Whaley pumps gas Tuesday afternoon at Holiday on Union Ave. View photo »

Spartan baseball player Mackenze Grunig helps Dylan Bernard, 10, with an adapted bubble-maker in the MSCTC gymnasium Tuesday. View photo »

Tuesday’s gathering at MSCTC was part of a six-year tradition at the college, bringing together Spartans and students in the public schools. View photo »

Shelley Schoeneck, currently based out of Fergus Falls Middle School, will teach kindergarten at Morning Son Christian School next year. View photo »

Tim Thompson, left, is CEO of Lake Region Electric Cooperative and Dan Husted oversees marketing and customer service. View photo »

Artist Lance Albers paints a reproduction of the Gerda artwork at the Otter Tail County museum in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Above is a look at the Gerda painting. View photo »

Nathalie Nellmer is a Swedish exchange student who’s living with Daryl and Linda Synstelien in Fergus Falls this school year. View photo »

Serving fellow veterans in any way he can is a priority for Veterans Home volunteer Gene Fahey. View photo »

Madness on the marsh - Youngsters decorate reusable grocery bags on the lower level of the PWLC. View photo »

Madness on the marsh - Ashley Stenger, 11, of Flanders, S.D., builds a bluebird nesting box with the help of Mike Rheault of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club during Marsh Madness at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. Despite cool, blustery conditions, hundreds of parents and children turned out to learn about wetlands Saturday afternoon. The Fish and Game Club helped more than 50 youngsters View photo »

Marsh madness - Jake Wasson uses a chainsaw to carve the likeness of a heron during Marsh Madness at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. View photo »

Daily Journal reporter Lauren Radomski attended the Retro Weekend dance as Bert from Sesame Street fame. View photo »

Colorful senoritas - The Fergus Falls Figure Skating Club’s Basic 1 and 2 skaters perform the “Mexican Hat Dance” as part of the club’s “Cruzin’ the World” show at the Community Ice Arena. View photo »

Leading the way - Danna Botner, Fergus Falls, was one of the participants over the weekend during the Spring Fling Barrel Races held at the Red Horse Ranch Arena northeast of Fergus Falls. She competed in this particular race with her horse, Colty. View photo »

Sen. Dan Skogen (D- Hewitt) speaks at a bill signing ceremony Thursday at the Minnesota State Capitol after Gov. Tim Pawlenty , far right, signed into law a Skogen-sponsored bill making March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day in Minnesota. View photo »

Patriotic presentation - Students from Tim Peterson’s fourth grade class at Morning Son School in Fergus Falls sing the “Fifty Nifty United States” for veterans and their families Friday at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home. The home celebrated 10 years of serving veteransin Fergus Falls on Friday. View photo »

Fergus Falls Mayor Russ Anderson speaks Friday at a hearing at the state Capitol. Rep Bud Nornes is at right. View photo »

Erin Max, co-owner of Sew Perfect Bridal, Fergus Falls, adjusts a tuxedo display at the business on the west side of Fergus Falls. View photo »

Poor Benny will play for a dance at the Eagles Friday in Fergus Falls and in concert at the Unitarian Church in Underwood on Saturday. View photo »

Sertomans make a donation. View photo »

Claire Ann Shover Nursery School, which began in 1934, is a renowned place of learning along West Spruce Street in Fergus Falls. Dropping off his son, Nathan, 5, for the afternoon session Wednesday was Ted Wedll. View photo »

Clint Halverson from the Otter Risers Kiwanis donates a check for $500 to the Fergus Falls Food Shelf, which was accepted by volunteer Marlene Larsen. View photo »

Local performers practice for the Razzle Dazzle Review Thursday night at A Center for the Arts. The Review takes place April 4-5 at A Center for the Arts. View photo »

Coach Barry Seidel works on Junior Bible Quiz with members of the Rookie Team. From left are Jacob Ugstad, Hannah Eckhardt, Jesse Ugstad and Anna Sundheim. Not pictured is Lile Sundheim. View photo »

The Kids for Christ Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) Team displays the trophy the youths received for placing second in the JBQ Minnesota Western Division. Front from left are Travis Seidel, Trevor Seidel, Jonathan Eckhardt, Rachel Seidel and assistant coach Angela Holmen. In back is coach Barry Seidel. Not pictured: assistant coach Amy Seidel. View photo »

Weighing in on ethanol - Mick Tostenson works in the scale house at the ethanol plant owned by Otter Tail Ag Enterprises northwest of Fergus Falls. Corn is weighed in trucks just outside the scale house. Inside, corn samples are obtained. View photo »

What a hoot - Scott Norton, a volunteer at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, shows fifth-grader Shawn Nordick and Mill Street Residence tenant Cliff Berglund a few of the interesting facts about owls at a special presentation. View photo »

Sen. Norm Coleman is surrounded by supporters this morning at Barringer’s Coffee House in Fergus Falls where the senator talked about his plans for re-election. About 100 people packed the cafe. View photo »

Sen. Norm Coleman addresses supporters this morning at Barringer’s Coffee House in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Entrance plan - Members of the Otter Tail County S.W.A.T. team make entry into a residence Wednesday afternoon during a training session near the Eagles Club in Fergus Falls. Team members are carrying weapons and wearing protective gear. View photo »

Diana Oien and her daughter, Jamie, were among those attending a forum in Perham. View photo »

Kevin Richter, vice president of Star Bank, Elbow Lake, is proud of the new bank building on the south side of downtown. View photo »

Naturalist Tia Thysell talks with Dave Ellis’ prairie science students at the PWLC Tuesday morning. View photo »

Selah Ouse was among the Rothsay kindergartners decorating collection boxes in their classroom Tuesday. The boxes will be placed in several Rothsay locations to benefit the Borgos family of Dalton, who lost their home to fire March 12. View photo »

Ethan Curtis decorates a collection box with other Rothsay kindergartners Tuesday. View photo »

Britta Seiple, right, pictured with fellow kindergartner Amanda Aaberg, discussed loss with her mother, Daidre, following a Dalton house fire March 12. Those talks led to a community-wide donation drive, which kicked-off in the Rothsay classroom Tuesday. View photo »

High School art and communications students at WCA came up with this 1950s and 1960s soda fountain theme. View photo »

WCA art students produced this ballerina figurine. View photo »

This cold-hearted —albeit cute and harmless — crowd greeted Phil and Denise Nelson when they returned to their home on Dunhill Lane from vacation Sunday. View photo »

Promoting the upcoming Grant County Traveling F.U.N. Festival & Expo are, front, Elbow Lake Librarian Gail Hedstrom, and back from left, Deb Hengel, Grant County Child and Youth Council, and Tina Lindquist, Office of Land Management/Emergency Management. View photo »

Cruzin’ the World - Livi Stigen of the Fergus Falls Figure Skating Club practices Monday night at the Community Ice Arena. The 12-year-old skater will be participating in the club’s annual show “Cruzin’ the World” this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. View photo »

The Grand Hotel and its elegant restaurant in Fergus Falls was one of the class hotels in Minnesota in the late 1800s and early 1900s. View photo »

Alan Roebke visits at The Journal office Thursday. View photo »

Adam Strand of Minnesota Drywall, Detroit Lakes, finished a task March 13 during construction of the new First Lutheran Church on the southwest side of Battle Lake. View photo »

Mowlid Hussein Ali, 24, a native of Somalia, recites the Pledge of Allegiance during Thursday’s ceremony. View photo »

Magda Erickson receives a flag from Mayor Russ Anderson. Erickson moved to the U.S. at age 16 and now lives in Pelican Rapids. View photo »

Sixth grader Seth Stein will participate in the Middle Level State Honor Band in April. View photo »

Syd Nelson and his wife, Kathy, pictured in the ‘90s, when he served in Minnesota’s House of Representatives. View photo »

Otter Tail County Commissioner Syd Nelson discusses his political career, which spans 50 years. Nelson will not seek re-election to the board when his term expires in December. View photo »

Comets’ streak ends - Hillcrest’s Cody Aasness, Joey Battillo and Tim Erickson hold the Section 6A runner-up trophy following Tuesday night’s game with Norman County East. The Comets lost 73-60 to Norman County East, ending their hopes of a trip to the state tournament. Pelican Rapids on Tuesday also lost their bid for the state tournament. See video highlights at www.fergusfallsjournal.com and photos at spotted.fergusfallsjournal.com View photo »

Hippity-hop - Katie Tysdal, housing manager at Park Gardens, plays Easter Bunny at the Fergus Falls Senior Center Tuesday as Jerry and Joann Nelson look on. View photo »

Stringing along - Fergus Falls Middle School students perform Monday night during the Middle School Orchestra Concert at A Center for the Arts. The program highlighted the skills of students in the middle school music programs. View photo »

A bridge will be built over the Otter Tail River at Tower Road in Fergus Falls in 2009-10. Concept designs for the bridge were approved Monday by the City Council. View photo »

Dylan Kortus holds a menu at the remodeled Chagen’s Pub in downtown Henning. On the wall is a Fran Tarkenton football jersey and Mike Modano hockey jersey. View photo »

Gail Guse is among the instructors who work with students in the after-school Targeted Services program in Henning. View photo »

Colors all around - Elle Selzler rolls an egg in purple dye Sunday at the Fergus Falls YMCA where she participated in the annual Easter egg hunt and egg coloring event. Easter is next Sunday. View photo »

Dolores Duncan, as a volunteer at the county museum in Fergus Falls, has a focus on genealogy. View photo »

Greg Stmbo announces his bid for the District 10A seat in the Minnesota House Friday at Fergus Falls City Hall. View photo »

Little House in the classroom - Katie Petersen, a student in Donna Olson’s 5th grade class, plays the violin during Laura Ingells Wilder Day at Fergus Falls Middle School. The author was celebrated throughout the 5th grade classrooms Friday. View photo »

The one-room school is among the many permanent exhibits at the Otter Tail County museum in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Ramona Caswell, wearing a chemistry lab, studied chemical engineering and worked for an environmental consulting firm before joining MSCTC-Fergus Falls in spring 2006. View photo »

Nandini Banerji, physics instructor at MSCTC-Fergus Falls, works with Lindsay Hanson and Michael Walls in a college lab Thursday. View photo »

Duane Smith is the new pastor at Abundant Life Church, Fergus Falls. View photo »

State representatives Bud Nornes, (far left) and Torrey Westrom (far right) sit at a testifying table with Travis and Lynn Johnson of Fergus Falls during a legislative hearing Thursday on Emily’s Law, at the State Office Building in St. Paul. Nornes, R-Fergus Falls, and Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, are authors of the bill that would reduce the age prosecuters could charge teens accused of serious crimes from 14 to 13. The legislation is in response to the 2006 death of the Johnsons' daughter, 2-year-old Emily Lynn, who died of a severe head injury one day after being assaulted by a 13-year-old boy at day care in Fergus Falls. After 12-6 committee vote in favor of the bill, it movrd forward and will be heard by a finance committee. View photo »

Bridgett Raph, left, and Brooke Heikes were among the Morning Son second graders organizing food at the Fergus Falls Community Food Shelf Wednesday. View photo »

Fergus Falls firefighters work the scene of a fire Wednesday at 654 W. Cavour in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Hillcrest seventh- and eighth-graders rehearse at Bethel Lutheran Church Wednesday for “It’s Cool in the Furnace,” a musical based on the Bible story of Daniel in the fiery furnace. View photo »

Daffodil Days - American Cancer Society volunteers Laurice Swenson, left, Carol Mortenson, and Jean Prochnow bag daffodils Monday at the Posie Inn in anticipation of the annual Daffodil Days. Bouquets of 10 daffodils will be availavle for $8 today at the Farmhouse Cafe in Underwood, Larry’s Foods in Battle Lake and JC’s General Store in Dalton through Saturday and Service Food and Sunmart in Fergus Falls on Friday and Saturday. View photo »

Members of the Fergus Falls girls basketball team and its coaching staff stand in the high school gym this morning during a send-off ceremony for the state championship hopefuls. Fergus Falls will face Minnehaha Academy at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the girls high school championship play-offs. View photo »

Big Band sounds - What a night of music it was Monday in the Fergus Falls High School gym where the All-School Band Concert was held. The concert featured musicians in grades 5 through 12 under the direction of Jim Iverson, Denise Wiese and Scott Kummrow. View photo »

Fergus Falls High School students and staff members who purchased pins for Justin Fiedler posed for this photo this morning in the high school gym. View photo »

The Heart of the Lakes Credit Union, Perham’s office, includes, front from left, Janice Matti and Nancy Neuberger, and in back Jean and Harold Siirila. View photo »

City of Perham liquor store manager Randy Hendrickx stands alongside one of the coolers at the new store being completed on the south side of town. View photo »

Lois Atchison, left, and Ardyce Fjestad are co-chairing Daffodil Days for West Otter Tail County this year. Fjestad has co-chaired for 10 years and claims this is her last year in the job. On Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15, volunteers will sell Daffodils at Service Food and Sunmart from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., or until all o f the flowers are sold Saturday. A bunch of daffodils (10 stems in a bunch) can be purchased for $8. View photo »

The following youth completed Babysitter Training at the Perham Area Community Center in Perham on March 1: Back Row: Lexi Frederick, Paige Weber, Carah Ashcroft, Dani Nelson, Olivia Stoll, Dylan Kruzel and Dan Ingebrad; Kneeling: Torrie Jorgenson, Gracie Stewart, Britta Torgerson, Cassidy Anderson and Alyssa Moris; Front: Leah Weber and Kendal Bjorklund View photo »

The 1928 Fergus Falls High School boys basketball team defeated all teams with the exception of Moorhead. Front, from left, are Chuck Severn, Parmar Carlson, James Grina, Maynard Lee and Vincent Gates. Back, from left, are Robert Harris, Willis Alexander, Julius Quesso and coach Pramann. The two at back right are not identified. View photo »

Under the umbrella - Second grader Kaysha Foley of Heart of Lakes Elementary in Perham places Carlos, the main character in the book “The Umbrella,” onto the tree in a mural. Second graders taught by Kathy Lauer have been working on the mural in connection with the book project. View photo »

The Rev. Curtis Deterding, left, Chairman Arnold Bolland, Teacher Jolene Wagner, and Minnesota District Representative, Rick Hans. View photo »

Mary Ann Anderson, a member of Augustana Lutheran Church, is a volunteer at the county museum which helped with installation of the Augustana altar. The alter had been used at the former church, located near City Hall, until 1965. View photo »

Jubilant Fergus Falls basketball players are joined on the Moorhead State court by their equally happy fans following Thursday night’s 46-45 win over Detroit Lakes in the Section 8AAA title game. View photo »

Fergus Falls' Hannah Draxten is flanked by her happy teammates as she holds the Section 8AAA trophy aloft following Thursday night's 46-45 win over Detroit Lakes. View photo »

Fergus Falls High School students exhibited their Otter pride Thursday evening in Moorhead while cheering the girls basketball team to its first section championship. The team now heads to the state tournament. View photo »

Math champs - The Hillcrest Math Team 2 that took first place in the Tri-College Math Competition in Moorhead Wednesday is comprised of Sophie Kim, front left, Hannah Lee, Ye Jin Kim, Hailey Jeong. Back row, Shin Young Kim, Richie Martinson, Tyler Lacey, Sung Hyun Park. Not pictured, Ben Kwon. View photo »

Math champs - The Hillcrest white team, which took second place is comprised of Ella Yu, front from left, Ha Young Lee, Amy Overgaard, Haein Oh. Middle row, Sophia Undseth, Suzie Kang. Back row, Dae Hyun Lee, Hae Yeon Yang and Savannah Clark. View photo »

Mike Metzger, on crutches, was part of a delegation that toured corn-growing farms in South Africa. View photo »

Mike Metzger of rural Elizabeth interacted with youths in a low income housing area of Johannesburg, South Africa, during an international study tour. He and others in the delegation gave the youths crayons made from Minnesota soybeans as well as pencils and pens. View photo »

The equipment in the ethanol plant boiler room was fired up this week. View photo »

Reading frenzy - Battle Lake Elementary School students take to the school’s auditorium stage Tuesday where they picked out prizes for their achievements during “I Love to Read” month celebrated at the school in February. The students read thousands of books in February. View photo »

14-year-old Cody Lehmann will be hard at work this weekend in the MSCTC auditorium sound booth during the production of “The Taming of the Shrew” at the college. View photo »

Bird on a stick - Tyler Jorgenson, a fourth grader at Cleveland Elementary, asks a question of Molly Stoddard, an instructional systems specialist with Prairie Wetlands Learning System. Stoddard, pictured holding a stuffed coot (also called a mud hen), has been visiting some fourth grade classrooms over the winter, teaching them about wildlife. Other students pictured include, in the front from left to right, Branden Hattlestad and Jessica Wahlgren. In the back are Grace Murphy and Sydney Overbo. View photo »

Slimed in Battle Lake - Battle Lake sixth grader Spencer Johnson pours a bucket of slime over the head of librarian Alaine Risbrudt Tuesday in the school’s auditorium. Risbrudt volunteered to be slimed after her students achieved impressive results in a school reading challenge. For more photos visit spotted.fergusfallsjournal.com. Video photo is available at www.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Slime time - Battle Lake 4th grader Jakob Bradsteen pours a bucket of slime over the head of librarian Alaine Risbrudt Tuesday in the school’s auditorium. Risbrudt volunteered to be slimed after her students achieved impressive results in a school reading challenge. For more photos visit spotted.fergusfallsjournal.com. Video photo is available at www.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Ashby City Clerk/Treasurer Val Martin and Mayor Tom Grover review city business. View photo »

Ashby American Legion Post 357 has showcased military memorabilia with two displays at the post headquarters since 1985. View photo »

Ron Melius expressed his frustration to the Fergus Falls City Council Monday. He brought along samples of floor tile he offered for a city project. View photo »

Cole Remmen, a Detroit Lakes eighth grader, became champion of the Regional Spelling Bee held Monday at the Fergus Falls Middle School Auditorium. View photo »

Using an over-sized model, Liz Tysdal of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, showed Cleveland Elementary fourth graders how their hearts work. The MHIF visited local fourth graders yesterday and today. The presentations were funded by Lake Region Hospital Foundation. View photo »

Jay Hanneman took the opportunity early Friday afternoon to wash, by hand, his half-ton Chevy Silverado truck at Don’s Self-Serve Car Wash on the west side of Fergus Falls. View photo »

Taming the shrew - Emma Larsen and Kai Thorstad take the stage during a performance of “Taming of the Shrew” at MSCTC-Fergus Falls over the weekend. Performances are scheduled to continue March 7 and 8 at 7:30 p.m., and March 9 at 2 p.m. Ticket information is available by calling the Waage Fine Arts Center office at 736-1600. View photo »

Trophy time - Fergus Falls swimmers Nathan Jobe and Joel Money present the Minnesota State High School League second place trophy to Supt. Jerry Ness on Sunday afternoon. See video highlights of Sunday’s presentation at www.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Getting ready to read - Brandon Brown tries his hand at making an origami jumping frog. Origami was one of the may Chinese-themed activities during the Big Read kick-off Friday at the YMCA. The Joy Luck Club is the book chosen for this year’s Big Read. View photo »

Getting ready to read - Dane Hastings, 15 months, showed off his brush technique during the Big Read kick-off Friday at the YMCA. The event was filled with activities for all ages. View photo »

Kristi Hastings and her daughter, Ava, 3, painted the sun during the Big Read kick-off Friday night. Painting and storytelling were just two of the many family activities planned by the Fergus Falls Reads Committee for the kick-off. View photo »

Bill Gitchel, Salvation Army volunteer, performed kitchen cleanup duties. View photo »

State champion - Fergus Falls’ Drew Ross stands proud Saturday after winning the state individual wrestling title at 189 pounds in St. Paul. Saturday was a big day for Fergus Falls sports. The boys swim team took second place at the state swim meet while the girls basketball team advanced to the section finals with a win over Thief River Falls. View photo »

Bob Russell, a client of Lake Region Healthcare’s cardiac rehabilitation unit, uses the treadmill as he visits with Nancy Nubson, RN, Lake Region Healthcare. View photo »

29,000 meals to go - Youth from Bethlehem Lutheran Church and other congregations package meals Friday for Kids Against Hunger. The group had a goal of packing 29,000 meals at WestRidge Mall because worldwide 29,000 kids under age 5 die every day from the preventable causes of hunger and malnutrition. About 300 area sixth graders and their families were expected to take part. View photo »

Bill and Jolene Halena and their daughter Sheyenne, 10, and son Riley, 7, at home. Cancer has affected the family’s life, but it has also pulled them closer together. View photo »

Discussing the area economy Friday was Nancy Straw, West Central Initiative president; Chuck Johnson, back left, Perham economic development director; and Harold Stanislawski, Fergus Falls economic development director. View photo »

Grue Lutheran Church is located in a picturesque setting between Battle Lake and Ashby, just west of Eagle Lake in south central Otter Tail County. View photo »

Ron Schara, right, Men’s Night guest speaker, has some fun as his brother, Rick, tips the scale at the completion of a two-month weight-loss competition with three other participants. Buzz Lundeen, back, was the weight-loss winner. Also in the photo is Ron Schara’s faithful dog, Raven. View photo »

As part of Men’s Night, Gary Nereson of Fergus Falls had his blood pressure checked by MSCTC LPN student Starla Chilson during the event Thursday at Legacy Hall at the college. View photo »

Erin Smith, pictured at the Fergus Falls Public Library, is one of the organizers of this year’s Fergus Falls Reads, which kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the YMCA. View photo »

Move at your own Risk - Fergus Falls eighth graders, from left, Aaron Paulson, Michael Berger and David Drake, participate in a Risk tournament at the middle school Thursday morning. View photo »

Cheering Otters to the semis - Fans cheer on the Fergus Falls girls basketball team as they moved on to the Section 8AAA semifinals with a 75-37 win over Sauk Rapids Tuesday. See video highlights at www.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Playing in the dough - Kindergartners Aliyah Harris and Will Pawlowski survey the Play-Doh selection at Our Lady of Victory School Tuesday. View photo »

Lexi McGary tackles some pink Play-Doh in her OLV kindergarten classroom Tuesday. View photo »

Jim Ham, owner of OK Pawn, will be relocating his business to 101 W. Lincoln Ave. in March. Clients with items at the 109 N. Union Ave. location can redeem them at the new location. View photo »

Maplewood State Park Manager Robert Hanson, left, assists Terry Heller of rural Pelican Rapids who already is making some camper plans for stays at the state park later this spring and during the summer months. View photo »

In front are entertainment manager Twanna Anderson and Frank Sentwali, who performed at Pelican Rapids Viking Elementary and the public library. In back is Nadine Brown, Pelican Rapids, who heads the Multi-District Cultural Collaborative in cooperation with area school districts. View photo »

Amanda Lewis, center, and her Otter teammates will take on Sauk Rapids tonight at 7 p.m. at home. View photo »

Choral tunes- Everett Jacobson directs the Men’s Varsity and Concert choirs Monday night during the All-School Choir Concert at the Fergus Falls High School gymnasium. View photo »

Jacki Maethner is investment executive at Willow Financial Services, Fergus Falls. View photo »

Sara Thronsedt is a volunteer with the Lake Region Hospital Auxiliary. View photo »

Icy plunge - Josh Anderson of Henning jumped in the water three times for his three kids, Noah, Jaron, and Zach during the fifth annual Polar Plunge at Lutheran Island Camp Saturday. View photo »

From the passenger’s perspective, a front-seat view of ice racing on Bass Lake on the northwest edge of Underwood. The Underwood Lions sponsor the races, free for the public, every Sunday at 12:30 p.m., on a half-mile ice track. There are five different classes of racing, from adults, to women and children. View photo »

No one tries to catch up to car 26 during Sunday’s race on Bass Lake. The Underwood Lions sponsor the races, free for the public, every Sunday at 12:30 p.m., on a half-mile ice track. There are five different classes of racing, from adults, to women and children. View photo »

Greg Palmer kiteboards along Pebble Lake in Fergus Falls Thursday. Atop a snowboard, Palmer uses a harness and 100-foot kite ropes to connect to a 22-foot nylon parachute, letting the wind move him across the snow. View photo »

Stephanie Hagen will compete in the regional Poetry Out Loud contest Saturday. View photo »

Matt Kava gets his nose hair waxed by Becca Sytsma of Trendz at MSCTC job fair Thursday. View photo »

Area girls will model gowns at the bridal gala. View photo »

The 12,000-square foot addition to the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center is scheduled for completion in early August. View photo »

Morning Son Christian School fourth grader Jesse Ugstad participated in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. View photo »

Catholic Aid Association (CAA) Field Representative Donna Cushman presents the St. Leonard’s Guadalupe Dinner Committee with a matching grant check for $1,000. From left are Florencio and Rosaneli Barragan, Donna Cushman, Mario Mancilla, the Rev. Stan Wieser, Susana Molina, Rento Molina, Mariana Molina, and Esther and Arturo Saavedra. View photo »

The Rev. Stan Wieser, pastor of St. Leonard’s Church, Pelican Rapids, holds a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron of Mexico. View photo »

Junior Black Belt Tae Kwan Do participants, from left, are Andrew Jennen, Isabel Jennen, Christina Kruize and Stephanie Jennen. The white uniforms are referred to as dobok. View photo »

In front is Marilyn Pattison, auxiliary vice president. Back, from left, are Janet Johnson, auxiliary secretary and Carolyn Horst, auxiliary historian View photo »

Noah, right, and Jaron Anderson are first graders at Henning Public School. Their parents are raising money to purchase insulin pumps for the twins, diagnosed with juvenile diabetes in fall 2006. View photo »

Morning Son first grader Alexis Palm delivered about 56 pounds of food to the Fergus Falls food shelf Friday. View photo »

A home on Highway 59 outside of Elbow Lake was destroyed by fire Monday. According to authorities, three fire departments battled the blaze for about four hours. View photo »

Char and Randy Zens have closed out 28 years as owners and operators of Creative Catering. The business is being sold to Randy’s cousin and wife, Tom and Daniela Zens, who will continue to operate the business in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. View photo »

Daryl and Linda Synstelien own and operate Synstelien Community Services which encompasses seven group homes in Fergus Falls. View photo »

The symbolic groundbreaking for the new Habitat for Humanity/Thrivent home took place Saturday morning at the Jennen shop west of Fergus Falls. From left are Craig Molstad, Fergus Falls Area Habitat executive director; Rev. Richard Kennedy, Thrivent Builds project chairman and Habitat board member; Karen Iverson, president of Fergus Falls Area/Wilkin County Thrivent chapter; new Habitat homeowner Joan Vanderlinden; Gary Jennen, Habitat board member and Norv Rueckert, president, Habitat board. View photo »

It was good times in the summer of 2006 when Isaiah Anderson, holding the trophy, led the Babe Ruth White team to the state championship at Breckenridge. Anderson was killed in a one-vehicle rollover on Saturday. View photo »

Triggering a deal - Kyle Carlson of Zero Tolerance Arms and Ammo in Willmar shows handguns to potential customers Saturday morning at the Neigel Gun Show in the National Guard Armory. The two-day gun show has been bringing dealers together with gun enthusiasts since 1999. View photo »

Joren Skillingstad and Nathalie Nellmer won scholarships after taking various dance classes. The scholarships will cover entry fees at an upcoming dance competition. View photo »

Joren Skillingstad, Brianna Mattson, Paige Stangvik, Ashley Smith, Nathalie Nellmer, Danielle Sundblad, and front, Instructor Lyndsey Knutson, attended a dance convention where they took dance classes from reknown choreographers. View photo »

Staff and residents posed in front of the Pioneer Home in the late 1920s. View photo »

Valentines in Spanish - Fergus Falls Middle School fifth graders carry colored signs during a Valentine’s Day presentation by the Spanish class Thursday at the middle school. View photo »

Star Tribune columnist and host of the television magazine show, Minnesota Bound, Ron Schara, is the guest speaker scheduled at the upcoming Men’s Night. View photo »

Bernie Hartman, left, and Bill DuBord will be among 29 people who will be part of a Gospel and work mission in El Salvador and Honduras from Friday, Feb. 15, to Tuesday, Feb. 26. The group left on Thursday. View photo »

John Richards, CEO of Pioneer Retirement Community, discusses the new $21,873,000 center that will be built. The 103,000-square-foot facility will be built behind Minnesota Motor. View photo »

Farmers Union executive board members, front from left, are State Secretary Bessie Klose, President Doug Peterson and Vice President Dennis Sjodin. Back, Markell Vogt, Merlyn Hubin, Dave Johnson, Larry Jacobson and Eunice Biel. View photo »

The walls of the museum are lined with the mounts of animals Slack hunted across six continents. View photo »

The museum includes mounts of nearly every big game animal found in North America. View photo »

Steve Slack, founder of the Preserve the Tradition Museum of Natural History in Dalton, has traveled the world on hunting expeditions the past 20 years. View photo »

Creative Valentines - Fifth grader Cory Rouw slips a valentine into a classmate’s hockey player-shaped collection box at Fergus Falls Middle School Thursday. View photo »

A Valentine in the box - Joshua Fredrickson leaves a valentine in fellow Fergus Falls fifth-grader Kayla Jarandson’s box Thursday. View photo »

Conceptual design of the new middle school entrance. View photo »

From left, Tawneke Cloud, Cari Jo Hohncke and Cody Aasness finish lunch in Hillcrest’s cafeteria Tuesday. View photo »

Leanne Meis, left, owner of the Flower Mill, discusses Valentine’s Day flower orders with employee Dianne Soliah. Valentine’s Day is the busiest time of year for florists. Some supplies have to be ordered before Christmas. View photo »

Rock-n-bowl - Hayato Taguchi practices his bowling skills during gym class Tuesday at Adams Elementary. The school is hosting a rock-n-bowl event throughout the week. View photo »

Jeri Nesland, seated, is owner-agent of Farmers Union Insurance, New York Mills. She is assisted by Shelley Wessels. View photo »

The cultural center in New York Mills is home to Maxwell MacKenzie’s photo collection through the end of the week. MacKenzie was born in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Helping the shot - Hillcrest basketball fans try to bring some luck to a a shooter’s free throw attempt in the second half of Monday night’s game with Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley at the Student Activities Center. View photo »

A van drives Saturday during winter storm conditions along Highway 210 near the intersection of Western Avenue in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Retirement group awarded - Rep. Brita Sailer presents members of the Fergus Falls Learning in Retirement group a check for $2500. Rep. Sailer authored the bill granting money to learning in retirement groups. Pictured from left to right: Rep. Brita Sailer, Paul Beithon, Rebecca Petersen, Dr. Richard Kagan, and Stanley Romanstein of the Minnesota Humanities Center which will administer the grant. View photo »

Pat Swan is manager of Curves in Fergus Falls. Curves offers a new CurvesSmart personal exercise program for women, which they promote as “the most advanced fitness technology in the world.” View photo »

Volunteers with the Spartan Booster Club are Bernie Erickson, left, secretary-treasurer, and Jim Tenneson, club president. View photo »

John Ringdahl started Ringdahl Ambulance Service in Fergus Falls in late 1967. He’s proud of his employees the past four decades. View photo »

Former Minnesota State CTC head men’s basketball coach Dave Retzlaff hugged a member of his 1997-98 NJCAA Division III national championship squad at Saturday’s 10-year reunion ceremony. View photo »

Ministry of Jazz will perform Dixieland jazz at 8 p.m. tonight at the ITOW Veterans Museum in Perham. The group is comprised of Kathie Brekke on vocals and keyboards, John Pederson on trumpet, Ed Christianson on trombone, Harley Sommerfeld on saxophone, Kent Karch on bass and Joe Riewer on drums. Tickets are $12 at the door and cover an array of chocolate desserts. View photo »

Ice harvesting was in full force in the Battle Lake area during the 1920s. View photo »

Hennepin Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, right, talks about Otter Tail County roads with Rick West, highway director, outside county offices Friday in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Donna Cushman holds a photo of her late husband. View photo »

Eighth-graders Tori Fogard, left, and Missy Hanson, right, talk with Hayley Jorud during the health fair at Fergus Falls Middle School Friday. View photo »

A lick for each school day - Gracee Albertson and Ethan Olson count to 100 licking their Toostie Pops after every number. The McKinley Elementary School students were celebrating their 100th day of school with classmates. View photo »

I’d like a 100... - Gabriel Torgusson and Elaina Hanson write a story about things they would like to have 100 of during Mckinley’s 100th day of kindergarten celebration. View photo »

Health and prosperity - Grace Viache, left, looks perplexed while Emily Kunz picks up egg noodles with chopsticks as part of Thursday Chinese New Year festivities at Adams Elementary School in Fergus Falls. Students ate mandarin oranges, which are believed to bring wealth, and noodles, which Chinese believe help you live long. See a photo gallery at spotted.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

The Cleveland Elementary sledding hill is off-limits for at least the next month as workers drill wells for the school’s geothermal heating system. View photo »

The Rev. Omar Gjerness taught at Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls for 29 years. In his final seven years he also served as seminary president. View photo »

Receiving District Awards of Merit during Thursday evening’s Oxcart Trails District recognition banquet were Don Glesne, left, Underwood Troop 325 scoutmaster, and Robert Peck, right, Wahpeton Pack 352 cubmaster. At center is Jim Stratton, district executive. Not pictured is a third Award of Merit recipient, Fergus Falls Troop 305 committee treasurer Jeff Ellsworth. View photo »

Kindergarteners weave their way through the PWLC burrow, a string of cardboard boxes donated by area businesses. View photo »

Inside the burrow, students used flashlights to see pelts and other objects. Classes from around Otter Tail County will visit the burrow through next week. View photo »

Students from Sharon Tungseth’s kindergarten class visited the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center Wednesday to take part in “Babies Born in Burrows” activities. For more on the program View photo »

David Nelson, right, talks with Mike Schwartz and Don Matteson about fertility management Wednesday at the annual forage show at the Bigwood Event Center. View photo »

Dan Roehl and his father Robert Roehl look at the winners of the wheat category. View photo »

Pelican Rapids FFA honored - The Pelican Rapids FFA chapter, during a presentation at the West Otter Tail Crop & Forage Show, received the champion award for showing crops. Front, from left, are Jacob Hayden, Alex Klovstad, Nate Tollefson and Mitch Field. In back are Derek Tollefson, Sam Klovstad, Landon Ohe and Connor Klovstad. Advisor is Bill Januszewski. The award was sponsored by Ag Country Farm Credit Services. View photo »

The Fergus Falls delegation at the Northland Competition in Duluth were, back row, from left: Coach Heather Dirkman, Allie Murphy, Caitlyn Nygaard, Carley Fabian, Kaylar Neumann, Anna Buck, Mary Sanders, Taylor Johnson, Arriana Stigen, Heidi Buck and Coach Isabelle Prischmann. Front row, from left: Amy Johnson, Annie Murphy and Olivia Stigen. Not pictured: Elise Viger, Abbie Neuleib, Grace Cory and Coach Leigh Gervais. View photo »

John Demuth’s Alternative Learning Center students will work on a garden to be located at Fergus Falls Middle School this spring. Front row: Rebecca Wahl, middle school staffer Karla Vistad, Bryer Balch and Paul Gadow. Back row: Lisa Helps, Amber Helps, Starlyn Tifft, Demuth and Brandon Hoeper. View photo »

Rep. Bud Nornes, Joyce Nornes, Kathy Petersen, and Tom Lee wait for the Republican caucus results Tuesday at the Middle School. View photo »

Elroy Finkelson, Meanie Ricks, Marlene Lehman, and Harland Martinson choose the secretary for their township during the Democratic caucus held Tuesday at Fergus Falls High School. View photo »

Underwood’s Aaron Grove is in his eighth season as a volunteer assistant basketball coach with the MSCTC Spartans. He’s also assistant manager with Sverdrup Mutual Insurance in Underwood. View photo »

Mayor Russ Anderson gives his annual State of the City address on Monday. View photo »

Rep. Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake) sits in on a meeting of the Minnesota Utility Investors in his hometown of Elbow Lake. View photo »

Cleveland progressing - The Bobcat of a construction crew prepares a base layer Monday at the Cleveland Elementary School construction site where a school addition will eventually be built. View photo »

Selvin and Margaret Brenden of rural Rothsay have been named West Otter Tail County Valley Farmer and Homemaker for 2008. View photo »

Bob and Susie Thormodson. View photo »

A great ride - James and Leah Thomason visited the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls Tuesday with their horse and sleigh where they took veterans on sleigh rides in the area. The Thomason’s spent nearly five hours giving rides and report that everyone at the home had a great time. View photo »

Jim Stras, Eagles manager gives the dart board a workout before Saturday’s event. The tournament has been going on for about 21 years, he said. View photo »

The Graystone on Otter Tail Lake will open for the 2008 season under new ownership. View photo »

Mary Deal is among the MSCTC-Fergus Falls students who spend six months working full-time at Lake Region Hospital as part of the college’s medical laboratory technician program. View photo »

A rendering of StoneL’s new building, currently under construction. The concrete foundation has been poured and framing should begin in February. Occupation is set for Oct. 1. View photo »

Wally Stommes, StoneL president, displays a tray of completed electronic circuits, which were built by Linda Jones, pictured in the background. View photo »

Dakota Ecker, 6, left, and Blake Ohren, 12, read “Biscuit’s New Trick,” during a Reading Buddies session at Ashby Public School last week. View photo »

Rothsay seventh graders Brady Johnson, left, and Dexter Aaberg work on measurements at the school-owned Rothsay Store Front lumberyard. In back are instructor Randy Balken and Superintendent Mary Donohue Stetz. View photo »

Casey Curtis, back, and Tim Marquardt are two of the five owners of Rothsay Truck & Repair, Inc. View photo »

Snowball Coronation - It was Snowball coronation night Monday in the middle school auditorium for Fergus Falls High School. Royalty party: King Cody Peck and queen Amanda Lewis are pictured in front. In back are Wade Underwood, Hanna Carlson, Jana Thole and Kaleb Kosak. View photo »

Crowning the queen - Drew Ross places the Snowball Queen crown on the head of a surprised Amanda Lewis Monday night at the coronation ceramony of Fergus Falls High School’s 2008 Snowball Week royalty at the middle school auditorium. At right is runner-up Hanna Carlson. Jana Thole was also a candidate for queen. Cody Peck was crowned king View photo »

Steve and Linda Babcock are a happy couple as the new Dairy Queen building in Fergus Falls nears completion. View photo »

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Rohde Insurance Services in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Boy Scout volunteer Dick Barsness works with Nathan Block, Pelican Rapids, on orienteering skills during the annual Boy Scout Klondike Derby Saturday. View photo »

Boy Scout Morgan Stempfley, Underwood, took a hot chocolate break during the annual Boy Scout Klondike Derby Saturday in Maplewood State Park. Sleds were loaded with gear and pulled by teams of scouts from various learning stations. View photo »

Emma Baez works on a project in her OLV classroom last week. View photo »

Jack Savoy resides at The Village senior complex in northwest Fergus Falls. View photo »

Legion group volunteers for vets - Brad Moe, left, Deanna Mounts, Todd "Speedy" Peterson and Keith Stempfley from the Underwood American Legion were among the members who planned the POW/MIA Motorcycle Run last summer which raised more than $7,000 for the Recreation Program at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls. This is an annual event and the planning is ongoing. This group and others meet at the American Legion in Underwood. Even though it's winter and you don't see any bikers out and about, you can be sure they are planning next year's event. (And it's always better than the year before.) Last year there was a breakfast, a special POW/MIA Remembrance Program, a supper, and a dance. Before you know it this group will be "volunteering for veterans” by hosting another POW/MIA run in July. View photo »

Event offers hands-on learning - 4-H Junior leaders Justin Kudrna and Cole Heifort assist youth in the rocketry area. West Otter Tail County 4-H held its annual Project Day at the Underwood School, Jan. 12. Project Days offers youth, grades K-6, the chance to explore and participate in many diverse, hands-on learning opportunities. Some of the workshops and project areas offered by 4-H junior leaders and volunteers were: wood working, performing arts, sewing, arts and crafts, rocketry, foods, recycling. More than 125 youth and their parents participated in this fun, educational day. View photo »

The Carlsons, Hanna, Randy, Vera, and Sophie, are pictured with their baby goldendoodles and their adult goldren retrievers at their Fergus Falls home View photo »

Hanna Carlson rubs noses with a goldendoodle. View photo »

Randy Carlson holds a gold and a black goldendoodle. View photo »

Hanna Carlson, left, and her sister Sophie gathered up the family’s six goldendoodles this week at the family’s home. View photo »

Holly Froemming helps Adams Elementary students through the cafeteria lunch line Thursday. View photo »

An expanded Nelson Dodge GMC, located at 2228 College Way, is scheduled for completion April 1. View photo »

Fergus Falls Sertoma Club member Pam Bice (right) was named the 2007 Sertoman of the Year for her outstanding service to the club and the community. She has been an active member of the club since 1998, serving in various positions including president and is currently serving as treasurer. Pam is the business relationship manager at Wells Fargo Bank. She is pictured with Sertoma President Ron Schetnan. View photo »

Bang on the drum - Will Johnson plays a drum solo Wednesday night during the Fergus Falls High School winter band concert. He was performing “Twist it Up,” a sopng composed by Lee Hansen. The band is directed by Jim Iverson. View photo »

A captive audience - Dave Schneeburger reads a book about banking Wednesday at Adams Elementary to Renee Larsen’s class. View photo »

Surrounded by smoke - A member of the Fergus Falls Fire Department is surrounded by smoke Thursday morning while he holds a fire hose and applies water to a shed on fire at 26313 230th Ave. in Aurdal Township. The fire, which was reported shortly after 8 a.m., destroyed the large shed. Fire departments from Fergus Falls and Elizabeth fought the blaze. Smoke could be seen for miles. View photo »

Ken Herbranson, a Clitherall area dairy farmer who serves as chairperson of the Minnesota Division of the Midwest Dairy Association, confers with Sherry Newell, association communications manager. View photo »

Peggy Underwood assists her seventh grade students as they fold origami cranes at Fergus Falls Middle School Tuesday. View photo »

Erin Beske View photo »

Buddy Streeper, Fort Nelson, B.C., will be back to defend his 2006 title. Buddy has won the world title for open sprint racing. He generally runs the most dogs of any open competitor. View photo »

Arvid Strande hits his stride at Northern Aire Lanes Tuesday. Strande is the first person to score a perfect 300 game since the bowling season began in August. View photo »

In flight - A goose takes flight from the water Tuesday at the Riverside Waterfowl Sanctuary near Riverview Heights. View photo »

John Waller III serves the public at Larry’s Supermarket deli in Pelican Rapids and also is a member of the city council. View photo »

Pelican Rapids Fire Chief Trevor Steeves and his volunteer fire crew now have spacious quarters in which to house eight fire trucks, one rescue snowmobile/sled and other fire-fighting equipment. View photo »

Carol Dudgeon, Service Food cashier, is a big fan of reusable grocery bags when she does her own shopping. Reusable bags are available at some local stores. View photo »

Fourth graders in one of Jeannie Martini’s Underwood Spanish classes sing songs about numbers, weather and more last week. View photo »

Jeannie Martini is in her third year teaching Spanish in Underwood. View photo »

McKinley Elementary School students Sam Nelson, left, and Nathan Zick work on an art project as part of an activity to commemorate Martin Luther King. Jr. Day Monday at the Fergus Falls school. View photo »

Chris Welle, who has started a new business called Four Feathers Photography, displays one of his eagle photographs. View photo »

Arri Stigen is among 20 Fergus Falls students who will have poetry published in an upcoming poetry anthology. View photo »

Megan Fritz is one of three Fergus Falls eighth graders representing their school in the Promising Young Writers competition, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English. View photo »

City crews worked to repair a water main leak this morning on Washington Ave. in Fergus Falls. View photo »

City crews worked to repair a water main leak this morning on Washington Ave. in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Fergus Falls City Council Member Rick Wilson tries his hand at a Firearms Training System (FATS) scenario. He is monitored by Fergus Falls Police Sgt. Jeff Hohrman, firearms instructor. The system lets law enforcement officers practice making split-second decisions. View photo »

Seventh grade Underwood youth basketball concession workers, from left, are Spencer Ferry, Tony Onstad and Justin Bickett. View photo »

During a visit to the Daily Journal Friday, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie explained the non-partisan precinct caucus finder. View photo »

Structural damage can be seen in the timber stringers beneath the wooden deck of the Water street Bridge where cracks as wide as 1 inch compromise the safety of the structure. View photo »

A sign has stood at the entrance to the Water Street Bridge for more than a year now alerting motorists that the bridge is closed due to structural damage. View photo »

Fred Jacobs and Jake, a pure-bred Arabian, are the team behind Hope Carriage Service. They will provide carriage rides on Feb. 2 as part of Frostbite Festival activities, as they have for the past four years. View photo »

The Rev. Kent Groethe, after spending close to 10 years in the Fergus Falls area as an interim pastor at several churches, has accepted a pastoral call in Arizona. View photo »

Out in the cold - Temperatures were frigid in Fergus Falls Thursday, but not cold enough to keep students from Jill Damrau’s Adams Elementary School class from walking to the Mill Street Residence, where the class is involved in the elementary school adopt-a-class program. Above, Damrau leads her bundled-up students down a Fergus Falls street on the way to Mill Street. View photo »

Out in the cold - Caleb Danielson (in blue hat), Tyler Hansen (in black hat), and Emma Jaroszewski appear to be weathering the cold with no problems. Temperatures fell to 17 below zero Thursday in the Fergus Falls area. A high of -4 is forecast for Saturday with a low of -16 predicted. View photo »

Firefighters battle a fire on Green Acres Trail Thursday View photo »

Andy Kasten now holds the house record of 827 — three lines of bowling — at Northern Aire Lanes in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Laurie and Paul Schroeder operate a dairy and grain farm northeast of Fergus Falls. View photo »

An expansion plan at the Fergus Falls ublic Libray was excluded from the Governor’s bonding bill. View photo »

Dr. Jeff Christenson, left, president of My Father’s House, Inc., which operates the Matthew House, and Ron Heikes of Heikes Advanced Auto Care, have forged a partnership to help fund the Matthew House. View photo »

News media could someday be allowed to bring cameras into Otter Tail County courtrooms, like the one pictured above in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Mike Johnson, front, of Fargo-based Johnson Organ Company, and Fred Heffner, a pipe organ tonal finisher from Connecticut, work on voicing one of the largest of the 1,496 organ pipes at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls. View photo »

Give me an ‘E’ - Otters Are Always Otters students rehearse Tuesday afternoon in the Fergus Falls Middle School auditorium in preparation for Thursday performances. View photo »

Brianna Leitch and Sam Norman create junk sculptures from wire, bits of wood and more at Fergus Falls High School Tuesday. View photo »

Craig Haby works in his 3D art class Tuesday, as his “Singing in the Rain” volume sculpture sits nearby. View photo »

Young artist - Alyssa Eggum, a senior at Fergus Falls High School, works in an art class Tuesday. For more on Eggum and the other students participating in this year’s Young Artists Exhibit at MSCTC-Fergus Falls View photo »

Otters are... - Otters Are Always Otters students Anna Buck, Megan Kostuck, Sarah Langbehn and Lexi Wedll rehearse Tuesday afternoon in the Fergus Falls Middle School auditorium in preparation for 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday performances at the school. The group performs to promote school spirit. The event is open to the public. View photo »

Jody Klimek, pharmacist at Trumm Drug, Elbow Lake, is among the 10 employees who takes part in Blue Jeans Friday to collect money for charities and community projects. View photo »

Retiree Orvin (Orv) Erickson is the number one sports fan of the West Central Area Knights. View photo »

Dr. David Tomb, left, and Dr. Gloria Jing-Lon Tong have joined the Fergus Falls Medical Group. View photo »

TC Bear was a hit with kids during the Twins Winter Caravan stop Monday evening at the Bigwood Event Center in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Opal Newman proudly displays lefse that became part of Monday’s lutefisk dinner. At left is her niece, Elaine Austin, and at right is her nephew, M.L. Kupitz. View photo »

Amy and Patrick Herzog have learned how to balance their busy lives. They will share their strategies with those attending a motivational dinner next Tuesday sponsored by the Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce. View photo »

Ol’ Sam Clemens - Mark Twain impersonator Dr. Bill Cosgrove, an instructor at North Dakota State University, performs for MSCTC faculty Friday afternoon in Legacy Hall at the college as part of All-Campus Day, a kick-off to the spring semester. Cosgrove’s version of Twain is based on the way the writer sounded when he was about 70 years old. View photo »

Author speaks - Author Bill Holm speaks to faculty and staff at MSCTC Friday morning as part of its All-Campus Day. The event helped mark the beginning of the spring semester View photo »

Mary Beth Brandborg says having a good time is mostly what quilting is all about. She just started quilting in 2001 and loves the hobby. View photo »

Mary Beth Brandborg and her quilting buddies. In the front row are Kathy Bares, Karen Kooda, Karin Erickson, Jeannie Anderson, Linda Challey and Netty Simdorn. In back are Jean McKenzie, Linda Ellingworth, Carol Mikkelson, Robin Schmidt, Randy Meyer, Brandborg, Kim Charest and JoAnn Seeger. View photo »

Arlene Volden Sherman has spent the past 20 years developing her painting style. Her work is on display at Lake Region Hospital. View photo »

The grandson of Victor Lundeen, Maxwell MacKenzie has photographed Otter Tail County from the seat of an ultra-light craft for more than 20 years. View photo »

Matthew W. Kovarik View photo »

Matthew Doric View photo »

Brendan Janssen View photo »

Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon stayed at the Glendalough main lodge in the 1950s, several years before the property became a state park. View photo »

Left to Right: Roberta Ouse, outgoing president of Hamar; Pastor Paul Huso, pastor of New Life Lutheran Church; Pastor Curt Tilleraas and Jim Boyce , outgoing President of Our Savior's View photo »

Pastor Matthew Philaya of First Lutheran Church enjoys reading from his Bible to relax. View photo »

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited Elbow Lake Municipal Airport Thursday. View photo »

The Family Dollar Store will close in February to make way for Walgreens. Other buildings that will be purchased to make way for the building include Moore Engineering, Cole’s Cameras, and OK Pawn. It will be about a year before Walgreens opens. View photo »

The proceeds of Celebrate Rothsay! Cookbook will benefit the community’s 125th anniversary celebration this year. View photo »

Kiwanis adds to foundation - Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis Club presented $2,150 to the Fergus Area College Foundation to raise the Vernon C. Arneson Kiwanis Scholarship Fund to $11,000. The scholarship was originally started in April 1987. The annual award is given to one or two Fergus Falls or Hillcrest High School graduates who are active in community or school affairs and who are attending MSCTC - Fergus Falls. View photo »

Mercedes Gorden, above, is spearheading an effort to get restitution from the state for survivors of the I-35W bridge collapse View photo »

General stars are placed on the shoulder epaulets of newly promoted Brig. Gen. Patrick L. Martin by Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N. D. National Guard Adjutant General, left, and Martin's wife Norma, at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D. on Jan. 4. View photo »

Red Cross collection specialist George Calderon works with first-time donor Rebecca Cole, 18, Wednesday at the bloodmobile in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Larry Weinhandl was among the volunteers who gave blood at the Fergus Falls Armory Wednesday. Weinhandl has given over 10 gallons of blood since he first donated in 1953. View photo »

Randy Fischer, operations manager at Ringdahl Ambulance Service, demonstrates an automated external defibrillators, one of several models available. View photo »

Cohort training leaders, front from left, are Michele Petterson and Jodi Wentland. In back are Barry Fitzgibbons, Brian Armstrong and Chuck Grotte. View photo »

The Otter Fury Varsity Dance Team performs at the Alexandria Dance Team Invitational Saturday. View photo »

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Lake Region Electric Cooperative built an additional substation to serve the ethanol plant that will come on line north of Fergus Falls in March. A 10,000 k Va transformer was needed to power the plant. View photo »

Aly Erickson and Matt Mithaugen, juniors on the Fergus Falls High School student council, are among the students putting plastic recycling bins in school hallways. View photo »

Jozeca Lathrop, left, and Vada Brown are lunchroom volunteers at the Salvation Army, Fergus Falls. View photo »

The Virgin Mary’s head can be seen broken from her body. In the back are other broken figurines, including one of the three kings. View photo »

Wade and Ashley Miller of Fergus Falls are the parents of Madison Miller, the first baby born at Lake Region Hospital in 2008. Madison was born Thursday afternoon. View photo »

Dennis Yost, a loader operator for the city of Fergus Falls, loads sand into a truck box in preparation for road de-icing. The white box on back of the truck sprays a brine solution on the salt and sand. View photo »

The first place general livestock team included, from left to right, LaTeasha Eckley, Megan Rasmussen, Laura Riestenberg, Karissa Kudrna, and Matt Schleske. View photo »

Work continued Wednesday at Cleveland Elementary, where workers packed backfill into the west end of the future gymnasium. View photo »

Sydney Nelson, left, was elected chairman of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners for 2008. Everett Erickson was elected vice chair. View photo »

Feeding the flock - Glen Rosentreter feeds geese along the Otter Tail River near Benjamin Drive in Fergus Falls. Rosentreter, a special education teacher at Fergus Falls High School, regularly feeds the birds with his students. View photo »

Kraemer’s Supper Club is located in the heart of Evansville. View photo »

Matthew Kolstad, front, of Underwood, and Dennis Quam of Battle Lake installed this portable fish house Saturday afternoon at West Battle Lake. View photo »

Erica Ellingson, 9, caught this crappie at her grandfather’s fish house late Saturday afternoon at West Battle Lake. She proudly displays the fish with sisters Allie, 19, and Emily, 15. View photo »

Serious injuries in crash - Dale Gangl, 35, of St. Cloud, was seriously injured just before 7 a.m. Sunday when his semi with double trailer ran off west-bound Interstate 94 near the County Road 1 junction on the south side of Fergus Falls. Gangl, who was ejected from the vehicle, was taken to Lake Region Hospital and later transported to a Fargo hospital. The State Highway Patrol said Gangl’s injuries were non-life threatening. View photo »

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A century ago, this house, now owned by Don and Maryjane Westra at 620 South Court Street, Fergus Falls, was under construction. The structure was built and later occupied by Fred G. Barrows. View photo »

A fire dancer entertained during our visit to Fiji. View photo »

The Men's and Women's Groups at Eagle Lake Church in Battle Lake donated gifts to families and adults served by Otter Tail County Human Services. Eighty-seven individuals, children and adults received the gifts. Among the staff who helped with the project from the Children’s Services Unit of Otter Tail County Human Services, top, were Cathy Miller, left, Jan Gudmundson, Brad Void, Erin Bahr, Dave Johnson, Stephanie Johnson and Kelsey Jones. Staff from the adult services unit included. View photo »

Wyatt Herrmann, bottom left, is pictured with his brother, Dakotah, and parents, Eric and Dawn, at Disneyworld. View photo »

Ivan is a yellow lab being trained as a service dog for Wyatt Herrmann, a Dent 6-year-old with autism. View photo »

Heading down the hill - Sledders enjoy the hill at Cleveland Elementary Friday. View photo »

Larry’s Bar, which opened in 1997, will close Dec. 31. View photo »

In back are Jody and Beno Lohse, who operate Our Home, Your Home in Henning. Family members include (in front of Beno) Sally Arndt and lower left Stacy Spaeth, Tanner Arndt and Travis Arndt. View photo »

Michelle Bode, seated, will assume duties Jan. 1 as new Henning city clerk-treasurer. Wilma Morse, standing, is closing out 24 years as clerk-treasurer. View photo »

Peder Butenhoff works with students in one of his art classes at Fergus Falls High School last week. View photo »

Bradley Moore uses a stability ball in Renee Larsen’s classroom at Adams Elementary School. View photo »

Gregg Preston poses with his daughter, Susana. The Prestons celebrated their first Christmas with their daughter on Tuesday. View photo »

Duane Bartsch, closing out more than 42 years of employment with Otter Tail Power Company, paused in front of the company’s Central Dam waterpower station near downtown Fergus Falls. View photo »

Pamida gives to United Way - On behalf of the Fergus Falls and Perham stores, the Pamida Foundation has donated $2,000 to the United Way of Otter Tail County. From left: Fergus Falls Pamida store manager Keith Erickson; employees Bev Haynes and Sandy Watterud; United Way President Joel Myhre; employee Dylan Hartness, and United Way executive director Mary Phillipe. View photo »

Displaying their dogs with Santa at the Humane Society during photo sessions were Humane Society board members and husband/wife team Gary Reuhmann and Jeanne Cannady. Gary is with their dogs, Will and Itchie, Jeanne is with their dog, Gracie, and Santa holds Lil-Bit. View photo »

Michal Bajzik, Nathalie Nellmer and Jakob Wahlberg are international students experiencing Christmas American-style in Fergus Falls this year. View photo »

Desirae Stanton, left, Al Youngburg and Cody Lehmann visited with Lila Schmidt, under Lakeland Hospice care, and her nurse, Karen Dunwell Friday afternoon. These ninth-graders and others at the Fergus Falls High School baked 60 dozen Christmas cookies for Lakeland Hospice families, which will be delivered by hospice nurses. View photo »

Dancing at the ball - Students dance during the annual Holiday Ball at the Fergus Falls High School, which is put on by the Social Dance class at the High School. View photo »

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The Janice and Richard Ickholt residence is a colorful winter wonderland. Their grandchildren help them set up the display. View photo »

Skating on Lake Alice in January 1933. View photo »

Sally Wingert will play the lead in the thought-provoking play, “Third,” being performed at the Guthrie. View photo »

Last minute shopping can be overwhelming, as Cass Viger knows. He shopped at Union Avenue Thursday. View photo »

Ready for the snow - Pam Torkelson, left, helps Josey Wilson put his snowshoes on Tuesday at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center. View photo »

Dennis and Melissa Fronning, with son, Christopher, 2, inspect some of their dairy Holsteins on their farm southwest of Battle Lake. View photo »

Sound effects for this weekend’s "It's A Wonderful Life" theatrical production is provided by seventh-grader Caleb Deterding and percussionist Tom Rassmussen. The show portrays a live radio program on Christmas Eve 1946, with all the music and sound effects one would expect from an event at that time. View photo »

A visit with Santa - Dustin Duenow, left, Aliyah Harris, center, and Nicole Duenow visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus Tuesday night at the Jim and Patty Johnson residence, about three miles north of Fergus Falls on Highway 27.The Johnsons will host Santa nights from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21 and 22. Everyone is invited to walk through the Christmas light display and visit with Santa. For a video tour and history of the Johnson displays, visit The Daily Journal website at www.fergusfallsjournal.com and click on the link in the green box at the top of the site. There is also a photo gallery on SPOTTED, at spotted.fergusfallsjournal.com. View photo »

Walt Dunlap, director of the Fergus Falls Public Library, hangs a tag on the library’s first annual Gift Tree early this week. View photo »

Gingerbread boys - Fourth grader Jesse Ugstad, left, helps kindergartner Malachi Johnson make a gingerbread house at Morning Son Christian School Tuesday morning. The kindergarten class makes gingerbread houses with the fourth graders every year. View photo »

Andrew Millard, with students at Fergus Falls High School Tuesday, is a graduate of the high school, MSCTC-Fergus Falls and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. View photo »

It’s snow much fun - School of Choice student Taylor Larson tried snowshoeing at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center Tuesday afternoon. The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center has a partnership with the School of Choice, which allows students to visit the wetlands every Tuesday. View photo »

Abigail Marfell and Tyler Hansen examine twigs and branches during a visit from Prairie Reader Connie at Adams Elementary School in Fergus Falls Tuesday. View photo »

A celebration of Cayden Burud’s life took place Saturday. A baseball bat and catcher’s mit, symbolizing the game he loved, were placed at the front of Life Church next to his picture. View photo »

Eggs were scattered across the ground Friday at the site of a train-egg truck crash near Barrett. View photo »

The train engine was covered with debris following the Friday accident. View photo »

Gary Albertson displays a Canaan Fir tree and Shorty Albertson holds a Fraser Fir at the Weetown Outpost which sells Christmas trees. View photo »

Daily Journal file photo - Attendees at last year’s Christmas Day Dinner at Grace United Methodist Church, pictured above, totaled approximately 200. Approximately 100 meals were delivered to area homes. View photo »

Adam Sebek practices with a patient simulator in the MSCTC-Fergus Falls nursing lab Friday, as fellow student Teri Axness, left, and instructor Jamie Steinle work in the background. View photo »

Handel’s Messiah - Choir and orchestra members perform Handel’s “Messiah” Sunday afternoon at A Center for the Arts in downtown Fergus Falls. View photo »

Holiday oratorio- Violinists perform as members of the choir look on during Sunday’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at A Center for the Arts. View photo »

Holiday oratorio - Everett Jacobson performs a solo number during a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” Sunday afternoon at the Center for the Arts. View photo »

2007 and 2008 Red Horse Ranch Arena Saddle Club royalty back row from left to right, 2008 Queen Becky Fronning, 2007 Queen Kayla Hailing, 2007 Princess Dacia Walkup, 2007 Junior Princess Stephanie Kohlhase, 2008 Princess Skyler Kugler; front row left to right 2007 Pee Wee Princess Taylor Samuelson, 2008 Pee Wee Princess Brynn Rogelstad and 2008 Jr. Princess Katie Vosberg View photo »

The 2008 Red Horse Ranch Arena Saddle Club royalty back row from left are Queen Becky Fronning, Princess Skyler Kugler; front row left to right are Pee Wee Princess Brynn Rogelstad, and Junior Princess Katie Vosberg. View photo »

Displaying and recalling ration stamps from the World War II days are from left, Dorothy Donley, Larry Streif and Gladys Splittstoesser. View photo »

Bernice Roysland and her book, “Nourishment for Body and Soul.” The compilation of recipes, original poetry and history is available at Victor Lundeen’s. View photo »

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The Fergus Falls High School dance line hosts its first-ever invitational at the school today. View photo »

Performance jitters - Morning Son Christian School students Kristina Kvamme, who plays Mom, and Quincy Undseth, who plays Jonathan, giggle during a performance of “A Christmas Carol” Thursday morning. View photo »

City Finance Director Bill Sonmor displays a meter reader presently used by staff. Purchased in 1994, replacement parts are no longer available. New meter-reading equipment for the city is planned. View photo »

Bonnie Wallin, Lakeland Hospice and Home Care bereavement coordinator, with some of the information on grieving that is available at Lakeland Hospice. View photo »

Heralding in the holidays - Stephanie Synstelien plays Christmas songs on the trumpet at Security State Bank Friday. Local students performed holiday music during the bank’s open house. View photo »

Fourth-grader Brett Swedberg plays Christmas songs on his recorder along with other fourth-graders from Cleveland Elementary during a holiday open house at Security State Bank Friday afternoon. View photo »

Penny Wars - Kayla Norman, left, and Lexi Wedll collect pennies for the seventh and eighth grade “Penny Wars” at Fergus Falls Middle School Wednesday. The money raised will be used to purchase food for the Salvation Army. View photo »

Oodles of frosting - Zachary Hauge frosts gingerbread cookies at McKinley Elementary Schoo in Fergus Falls on Wednesday afternoon as part of a holiday activity. View photo »

Dylan Meyer, Tyler Meyer and Wes Green, students in the Underwood School’s Chinese II class, work in the library earlier this week. View photo »

Taking part in a practice session on infant resuscitation are, from left, EMT Intermediate Rod Fry, Ringdahl EMS Operations Director Randy Fischer and EMT Kim Lesetmoe. View photo »

Winter beauty - Winter beauty is seen at the walking bridge just west of the public library in Pelican Rapids. View photo »

Members of WAASUP are part of the Trinity Lutheran Church youth group. Front, from left, are Kayla Christianson, Rebecca Deterding, Sara Christianson and Annelise Johnson. Back, from left, are Kyle Sorkness, Nathan Johnson and Jared Salwei. Not pictured are Ben Smith and Andrew Connell. View photo »

Lauren Werner, center, and Alise Werner, right, wear white gowns and a crown of candles upon their heads as they spend time at the piano with Katie Vosberg Saturday at Augustana Church in Fergus Falls. The cousins were selected to serve as St. Lucia at the church’s annual St. Lucia Day. View photo »

State Bank and Trust recently donated toys decorated by customers to the Salvation Army. From left to right, Salvation Army Capt. Mike Parker; State Bank and Trust president Jeff Stanislawski; and State Bank and Trust employees Lori Kvidt, Natasha Ryzhova and Diane Eggen. View photo »

Pictured in NP Park, the Fergus Falls Noon Kiwanis recently made its final loan payment to the city. In the front row are Lee Danielson; Tim Jensen (member of City Council and Noon Kiwanis; and Parks and Recreation manager Rick Terway. In the back are club members Connie Knapp, Bruce Austad, Cindy Holte, Paul Newton, club president Tammy Anderson, Sara Piekarski, Jean Bowman, Megan Jensen and Jim Worner. View photo »

Brett Garrahan, a senior at Fergus Falls High School, works with fifth grader Amber Ham at the middle school Tuesday. View photo »

Clean-up duty - Sue Waasdorp clears off the sidewalk in front of Victor Lundeen’s Tuesday. View photo »

Chad Reed uses a snow blower to clear out his driveway after Tuesday’s snowfall. View photo »

A snowy day - Hal Leland clears snow from the windshield of his vehicle Tuesday afternoon on Lincoln Avenue in downtown Fergus Falls. The National Weather Service reports that the region received 5.7 inches of snow Tuesday. View photo »

A Christmas chorus - Members of the 7th grade choir perform Monday at the Fergus Falls Middle School Holiday Concert in the school’s auditorium. View photo »

Doug Becker assists Laura Jennen with her workout at Fergus Falls Fitness Centre. View photo »

Orchestra season - Members of the seventh- and eighth-grade Chamber Orchestra perform Monday at the Fergus Falls Middle School holiday concert in the school’s auditorium. View photo »

The space shuttle is depicted by Underwood High School senior Don Drechsel. View photo »

A music theme, in the form of art, is the creation of Underwood senior Amber Underdahl. View photo »

Saturn and Milky Way artwork is the creation of sophomore Haley Diaz-Lane. View photo »

The Otter Tail River, back right, meets the Bois de Sioux River at Wahpeton-Breckenridge to form the Red River of the North that flows northward to Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks and Winnipeg. An informational kiosk is in place on the Breckenridge side of the Minnesota-North Dakota border. View photo »

Jennifer Davis is the owner of Union Cafe located next to Falls Baking along North Union Avenue in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Lighting the holiday season - The weather outside was frightful, but it didn’t stop a hardy crowd from gathering outside City Hall at dusk on Saturday for the community Christmas tree’s ceremonial lighting. As the wind peppered them with snow, Hal Leland and Michelle Danielson sang Christmas carols. View photo »

Lighting the holiday season - The weather outside was frightful, but it didn’t stop a hardy crowd from gathering outside City Hall at dusk on Saturday for the community Christmas tree’s ceremonial lighting. View photo »

Students take in the ala carte options in the Fergus Falls High School cafeteria Thursday. View photo »

Gunhild Oyangen, Anna Lian and Knut Anders Vestad, from Norway, discuss plans for a holding the play adopted from the book, "The Emigrants,” in August 2008 in Fergus Falls. View photo »

Ethan’s bakeri - Ethan Taylor, a high school freshman, sold Norwegian-style bakery cookies and breads at his Norsk Bakeri booth at WestRidge Mall on Saturday. He was one of about 80 young people who participated in the annual Kids in Business event. View photo »

From Seattle, Wash., Dr. Paul Michels sees patients at Lakeland Mental Health Center in Fergus Falls using Live Link Psychiatry. View photo »

One Fine Cookie - The Y Folks were busy in the kitchen Friday preparing for their annual cookie sale Dec. 5. Irene Eckley makes up dough. View photo »

One Fine Cookie - The Y Folks were busy in the kitchen Friday preparing for their annual cookie sale Dec. 5. Eula Brynelson makes cookies. View photo »

One Fine Cookie - The Y Folks were busy in the kitchen Friday preparing for their annual cookie sale Dec. 5. Barbara Bigwood takes a batch of sandbakkles out of the oven. View photo »

One Fine Cookie - The Y Folks were busy in the kitchen Friday preparing for their annual cookie sale Dec. 5. Twyla Rudd makes sandbakkles. View photo »

Bob Schultz makes sure that all the equipment is hooked up correctly. View photo »

Emma, left, Maddie and Alex Jaroszewski and some of the items they will be selling at WestRidge Mall today. View photo »

Stephanie Sanderson, Mary Worner and Kris Warhol stand in front of the Charles Beck mural. The design came from a Unitarian Universalist Christmas card in the 1970s. Beck’s work is referred to as a representation of world religions. View photo »

A snowy day - Malissa Anderson, left, and Brooke Benavides play in the snow during recess at Adams Elementary School Wednesday afternoon. View photo »

Home for the Holidays - Battle Lake kicked off its holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” event Thursday night. Above, Reba Gilliand, right, helps Little Miss Battle Lake, Alexis Reger, light the Battle Lake Christmas Tree. View photo »

Home for the Holidays - Battle Lake kicked off its holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” event Thursday night. Margie Quammen introduces Alexis during the ceremony. View photo »

Home for the Holidays - Battle Lake kicked off its holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” event Thursday night. Above, Reba Gilliand, right, helps Little Miss Battle Lake, Alexis Reger, light the Battle Lake Christmas Tree. The Battle Lake high school choir sings Christmas carols and were joined in by city residents. View photo »

Home for the Holidays - Battle Lake kicked off its holiday season with its “Home for the Holidays” event Thursday night. Above, Reba Gilliand, right, helps Little Miss Battle Lake, Alexis Reger, light the Battle Lake Christmas Tree. Margie Quammen introduces Alexis during the ceremony. View photo »

Bundling up - Alexis Danner, left, Olivia Zuehlsdorff, and Sakeena Pinckney bundle up for the cold on Wednesday. View photo »

Roger Priewe displays a Norway pine at his 100-acre Christmas tree farm north of Pelican Rapids and east of Rollag. View photo »

Bryce Westphal, 14, of Fargo, prepares to saw a Christmas tree for his family at Roger Priewe’s tree farm. View photo »

Gregor-Alexander von Ehrenfels, the author of an upcoming photographic book on Fergus Falls and its Norwegian sister city, will work from a darkroom in the basement of the Hotel Kaddatz. View photo »

Fire engulfed a home early this morning at 105 South Oak Street in Clitherall, across the street from the post office on the southwest side of town. View photo »

A partition between two rooms is visible inside the home that was gutted by fire early this morning in Clitherall. View photo »

Cecily Cecil, left, Taylor Ashworth, Ansty Skillingstad and Spencer Carpenter rehearse Wednesday for this year’s Madrigal Feast at MSCTC-Fergus Falls. View photo »

Ashley Strube, 12, placed a donation into the Salvation Army red kettle Tuesday evening at Pamida in downtown Fergus Falls. The themes are “Sharing is caring” and “Need has no season.” View photo »

Lisa Workman, left, Rick Terway and Jean Bowman, co-chairs of the Fergus Falls TRAM committee, are pictured with the Sylvie Award from the MS Society. View photo »

The late Morning Son Christian School kindergarten teacher Cheri Hosch shared a special moment with 2006-07 student Ben Golden. View photo »

Les Estes has served as mayor of Battle Lake since 2000. View photo »

Sweetheart, a dog that had been running loose in Fergus Falls since spring, was rescued Friday night and is resting at the Otter Tail County Humane Society. She has had lots of visits from people who were concerned for her safety before her capture. View photo »