An important piece of legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate called the Local Journalism Sustainability Act of 2021, a bill that would help local newspapers reach viability through tax credits. The bill comes five weeks after a similar bill was introduced in the House.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that Carleton Capital Investments LLC (CCI) has been awarded a Minnesota Rail Service Improvement (MRSI) program grant through the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) totalling $480,000. This grant will be used to construct a rail …
LITTLE FALLS, MINN. — Design Electronics announced an agreement to sell its wireless retail store operations to Wireless World, according to owner Steven Andres.
Minnesota REALTOR® Charlie Brue was recently awarded the highly acclaimed national Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) designation. In completing the required curriculum, Charlie Brue, of CENTURY 21 Atwood in Fergus Falls, joins other top REALTORS® in the residential real estate industry fr…
Fergus Falls is not a dying community.
Every Thursday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, downtown Fergus Falls and other retail stores and restaurants have extended their operating hours until 8 p.m. The initial idea was developed by Dawn Saxton, owner of Cora’s Closet, and Jan Werkau, owner of SoapWerks and Creative Handmade Go…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
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Rolf Nycklemoe of Nycklemoe and Ellig P.A., was presented the Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Recognition Award for Outstanding Service on Tuesday, June 22. The award serves as an honor and recognition to Nycklemoe as he has gone above and beyond work duties at LSS in supporting decision-maki…
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Every Thursday between Memorial Day and Labor Day, downtown Fergus Falls and other retail stores and restaurants have extended their operating hours until 8 p.m. The initial idea was developed by Dawn Saxton, owner of Cora’s Closet, and Jan Werkau, owner of SoapWerks and Creative Handmade Go…
Otter Tail and Grant County farmers and their soybean checkoff dollars are giving back to local first responders this summer – and promoting the diverse uses of soybeans at the same time.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that Ole & Lena’s Pizzeria has expanded its market to include corporate wholesalers such as Walmart. This account places the Ole & Lena’s Pizzeria brand in Walmart’s located in Fergus Falls, Wahpeton, Dilworth, South Fargo and Detroit…
During difficult times, extending a helping hand to those in need leads to healing. Gate City Bank has spent the past 98 years creating a better way of life for customers, communities and team members. This hasn’t changed throughout the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in Fergu…
Daily Journal Media is branching out by offering a new social media platform in order to better connect with the community. The new platform, NABUR, is free to all community members and will serve to facilitate constructive conversation between the public and the newspaper in order to dig in…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Fiskum Flooring and Custom Showers LLC, is bringing a new design center to Fergus Falls. Fiskum Flooring and Design has purchased the building at 2609 Cenex Drive, with a tentative grand opening slated for early fall.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that Töast, a new restaurant serving Scandinavian and Danish fusion cuisine for breakfast and lunch, will officially open its doors in downtown Fergus Falls on Tuesday, June 22 at 7 a.m. What’s more? With five separate businesses operating ou…
Renovations are underway for Fresh and Fancy at MamaSheena’s, an extension of the existing business that provides catering services to the area.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
The Best of Otter Tail County is back with a new and improved format. The publicly determined, vote-driven competition is now accepting nominations online and will remain open through July 5.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Fergus Pet Camp, a pet boarding business owned by David Thacker, opened its doors to the community on April 26.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Two more Fergus Falls businesses have been designated as Bicycle Friendly Businesses through the League of American Bicyclists.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Kate Mudge of Ashby, Minnesota, has joined West Central Initiative as the business development officer.
Effective June 14, Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) and Lake Region Energy Services (LRES) will change daily business and lobby hours to 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that Tyler Schepper joined the nonprofit economic development organization on May 17. Schepper serves as the administrative assistant with a focus on strategic fundraising.
The building behind the west end of the former Kirkbride designed Regional Treatment Center that served as living quarters for nurses is going to officially be repurposed as an assisted living center called the Cottage Senior Living Facility, managed by Northern Oaks Senior Living, with head…
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce the purchase of the former Sunmart facility at 1205 W. Lincoln Ave., has been finalized. Local development company Wayne Enterprises LLC, took ownership on Friday, May 28, 2021, with plans to redevelop the property into a multibusiness facili…
The Fergus Falls Walmart hosted a blood drive with Vitalant on Tuesday, May 25, which helped collect a total of 15 units of blood products for patients in need.
Otter Tail County and Otter Tail Lakes Country Association (OTLCA) are excited to announce the launch of a new countywide job portal. The job portal will connect jobseekers and people looking to move to the area with opportunities in the area. It automatically collects the more than 1,000 av…
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that their sponsored ILT Academy participant, data scientist Dr. Shauna Overgaard, will be wrapping up the 20-week program with a virtual pitch night. Overgaard represented Fergus Falls in the west-central Minnesota cohort and attended ILT Ac…
Justin Thoennes, CRPC a financial advisor with Steidl, Benzinger, Tatge, Seifert & Engebretson; a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., in Alexandria, has achieved the professional designation of chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC®) through Th…
Katie Ganoe has been named executive director of Otter Cove Children’s Museum in Fergus Falls.
Four years ago, Alex and Caileen Ostenson left the Twin Cities, moving to Evansville to be closer to family. The move allowed Caileen to stay at home with their daughter, Bella, who was about 18 months old at the time.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Joseph Branca and Christopher Swanson financial advisors with Legacy Financial Partners, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services LLC, in Fergus Falls, were named to the list of “Barron’s Top 100 Private Wealth Management Teams” published by Barron’s Magazine, a pu…
Kenny Nelson, founder of KLN Family Brands of Perham, spoke to juniors and seniors in Natalie Schoenbauer’s culinary arts and carpentry/manufacturing class at West Central Area Schools on Monday, April 26.
Rubyspinoyfood truck kicked off its Fergus Falls Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting event Friday at Fergus Brewing Company.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Longtime Fergus Falls hair salon, Salon Eclips has transitioned ownership. After 19 years, previous owners DiAnne Biss, Tammy Raph and Elaine Schultz transitioned ownership of the salon to Justine Ricks, stating it wasn’t a difficult decision to let Ricks have her dream after they had many w…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that local consulting firm, Cardinal Consulting Solutions (CCS) is open for business. With a mission to help companies empower their workforce and energize productivity by optimizing their recruitment, retention and engagement processes, this…
After years of planning and two years of construction and testing, Otter Tail Power Company’s Astoria Station now is part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) energy market, allowing MISO to economically dispatch the unit. Located in Deuel County, South Dakota, this 245-meg…
Every quarter Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) awards various recipients funding from their Operation Round Up program. During the April 12 meeting, the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees were excited to disburse $19,400 to 14 local organizations and programs across the LREC service area.
For the 22nd time, Edward Jones is named one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For by Great Place to Work and Fortune magazine. Edward Jones took the No. 20 spot on the prestigious list.
State Bankshares, the holding company for Bell Bank, has entered into an agreement to purchase the Wells Fargo bank building at 11 South Broadway in Pelican Rapids.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF), in partnership with ISD 544’s work-based learning program and Otter Tail County, is pleased to announce the launch of a virtual career fair. This platform gives high school students and other jobseekers expanded access to area employers and career opportunities th…
At Kinder Care, we always encourage family and friends to keep in contact and stay connected with our residents, whether that’s family in the area, friends from afar, or even childhood connections. The phrase, “what a small world”, seems to ring true in Kinder Care’s small, tight-knit commun…
On June 28, Security State Bank of Fergus Falls, Granite Falls Bank and F&M Bank Minnesota (Clarkfield and Olivia locations) will become one organization, pending regulatory approval. These banks have the same family ownership and all operate in a similar way as independent community ba…
Another facet of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting normal life and business as usual, is the lack of applicants for summer jobs this year with the city of Fergus Falls.
The city of Battle Lake is receiving a $174,900 state grant to help fund a Hatchery Row project as one of only seven Minnesota cities recently issued a Redevelopment Grant Program award.
Jenna Ray of Morris has joined West Central Initiative as a development associate.
West Tool Enclosures on North Tower Road in Fergus Falls is expanding. The expansion will add a welding and polishing robot, as well as extra office space.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that The Creation Shop will be celebrating the grand opening of their business April 22-24 from 3-7 p.m. at 119 N. Mill St. in downtown Fergus Falls. Owner and artist Blayze Buseth will be hosting an open house and tour on Thursday and Friday…
Bell Bank has named Zac Wanzek, CFA, CPA, as deputy chief investment officer (CIO) for Bell Institutional Investment Management. Wanzek becomes one of the company’s “next generation” of leaders, having previously served as senior vice president/senior portfolio manager for Bell, one of the n…
A drive past local car dealerships make it clear the pandemic has left a rather large mark on the industry. Inventory, while slowly improving, is still much lower than it had been prior to the spring of 2020. Steve Weber, general sales manager at Quality Toyota, shared that manufacturers shu…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
West Central Initiative awarded grants totaling more than $60,000 to organizations in the Fergus Falls, Perham and Dent areas through its donor advised funds program.
The board of directors of Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is proud to announce that NeTia Bauman has been named managing director of Greater Fergus Falls. Bauman, the former business development coordinator for GFF, takes over effective April 18 as the board sends Annie Deckert off to new adventu…
The Greater Lakes country’s Keller Williams offices were recently awarded multiple spots in the top 10 of the entire North Central Region which consists of KW agents and teams across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
University of Minnesota Extension, along with Minnesota Beef Council, will host several online beef quality assurance (BQA) and secure beef supply (SBS) training sessions starting in February through April. Producers only need to attend one of these free workshops to receive a three-year BQA…
Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) was recently honored with the Above and Beyond Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). ESGR is a Department of Defense organization established to promote cooperation and understanding between service members and their civilian employers.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar stopped in Fergus Falls Thursday as she traveled north to visit with former U.S. Congressman Collin Peterson.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
At its March 25 agenda meeting in St. Paul, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved construction of the Hoot Lake Solar Project, a 49.9-megawatt renewable energy initiative brought forward by Otter Tail Power Company (OTP).
Brian Hansel
Reporter
A new way to eat is now available in Fergus Falls. Roasted, a meal preparation and catering business owned and operated solely by 23-year-old Evan Burkdoll, opened its doors April 1 in a order, grab and go format that provides the community with prepackaged, nutritious meals that simply need…
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Otter Tail County businesses and nonprofits hit hard by winter pandemic-related closures were provided $1.15 million in relief grants by the county. The state-funded grant program was administered through the county’s Community Development Agency and provided grants from $1,250 to $15,000 to…
Beginning April 1, and running through Oct. 31, Gate City Bank will once again partner with various cities across North Dakota and central Minnesota in an effort to revitalize mature neighborhoods, helping local homeowners make repairs and improvements with a low interest rate.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that local entrepreneur Victoria McWane-Creek recently established the Organization 4 Full Participation. This new business is a performance improvement company that enables individuals, teams, organizations, and communities to close the gap …
Minnesota seems to be dragging their feet when it comes to conformity with federal changes this tax season. As a result, a number of returns are sitting in limbo while waiting for the Legislature to address variants such as unemployment and paycheck protection program (PPP) loans.
Heather Kantrud
reporter
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) continues to celebrate Women’s History Month and the growing number of women entrepreneurs in the area. They are pleased to announce that Variant Digital, a web design and business consulting service, has relaunched this month. Owner Jaime Price-Anderson can provid…