South Mill Service in downtown Fergus Falls is breaking new ground according to Bernie Schuetze.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Businesses around Fergus Falls are adapting to new government regulations regarding COVID-19 guidelines and people are slowly becoming more comfortable shopping in public. At The Market in downtown Fergus Falls, manager Susanne Strom has noticed business picking up this month. “We’ve been ve…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Mayor Ben Schierer, the city of Fergus Falls, the Fergus Falls Public Library and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community of Practice are hosting the first of several Community Conversations on Equity Aug. 4 at 7 p.m.
With advancement in technology and ever-changing consumer shopping patterns, the e-commerce industry has become a wide-open market and local businesses are starting to see the benefits. For nearly five years, HD Boutique, a women’s clothing store, has had a physical presence for nearly five …
It’s been almost two months since Victor Lundeen Company reopened the store to foot traffic after a month of closure and a month of curbside pickup only. Paul Lundeen, president of Victor Lundeen Company, has noticed a gradual increase in customers as people slowly become more comfortable wi…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
With a recent jump in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Otter Tail County, two businesses in Fergus Falls — Union Pizza & Brewing Co. and Mill Street Residence — recently announced confirmed cases at their establishments.
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With Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order requiring Minnesotans to wear face coverings in certain settings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many community members are looking for masks. Thanks to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the department is offe…
John Romney said what has worked for newspapers in the past will work for them in the future — connect with audiences and report relevant, engaging stories.
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Fergus Home & Hardware is pleased to announce the purchase of The Country Store of Fergus Falls. The acquisition was finalized on Friday, July 17, 2020. The plan is to have The Country Store products and services available exclusively at Fergus Home & Hardware starting Tuesday, Sept…
Otter Tail Power Company is aware of an uptick in scam activity in its service area. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scammers have been taking advantage of heightened anxieties,” said customer care supervisor Collin Kremeier. “It’s very important our customers know that we’ll never pressu…
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many. Yet the trappings that go with these lake homes can keep a lake home owner awake at night. The last full census of registered boats in Minnesota pegged the number of registered watercraft at around 813,000 – then add docks and lifts to a fair share of that number.
Fergus Falls remains one of the top cities in the United States with the most “Bicycle Friendly Businesses,” as determined by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) in their newest update to the list. Overall Minnesota is ranked as the third most bicycle friendly state.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Sometimes the writing is on the wall and other times you can erase it and start again. With a well-known stop near Dent — The Pickle Factory Bar and Grill — being up for sale, it was a matter of time before someone decided to take the establishment and put their own spin on it. For friends S…
Zach Stich
Editor
The Fergus Falls Community Food Shelf, which the city has been running since late March with help from local organizations like Federated Church and Sunrise Rotary, will be scaling back its hours of operation from three days a week to two and from three hours to two starting on July 29. The …
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Attorney Van Ellig strongly suspects the Nycklemoe and Ellig Law Office has been the victim of a COVID-19 hoax.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
On behalf of Northern Contours and Business Development for Fergus Falls, the Pay it Forward Business Support Committee is excited to announce that 13 businesses were approved for grants up to $2,500 to help heal from the economic effects of COVID-19 related closures. Committee members based…
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to congratulate Outstate Brewing Company’s accomplishments during their first six months of operation despite COVID-19. The production brewery and tap house opened in November 2019, with a handful of brews on tap and a few varieties in distribution. Havi…
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that another entrepreneur initiative client is preparing to open in downtown Fergus Falls. Located at 121 W. Lincoln Ave., Dandelion & Burdock is a new retail store that offers a variety of clothing, shoes, and jewelry for both men and wo…
In February, shortly before the pandemic closed dentist offices in the state, Dr. Jacob Ihle purchased Hanley Murphy Dental in Fergus Falls and renamed it Otter Tail Dental.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Summer is here and so is Big Fish Kayaks.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
The AmericInn by Wyndham Fergus Falls at 526 Western Avenue recently announced it has been awarded the annual “Best of AmericInn,” which recognizes the brand’s top performing hotels and their staffs.
Minnesota State Community and Technical College will partner with MAHUBE-OTWA to provide Microsoft training and personal and professional development through a $43,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
For the second year in a row, Bell Bank has been honored as the No. 1 Best Workplace (large companies) in Minnesota, as listed by the Minneapolis StarTribune. Bell was the only bank listed among the state’s best large companies.
With the summer turning to July, area residents have been starving to find things to do in their communities. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many area festivals and events have had to take a backseat due to safety. With that in mind, the Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has changed i…
Zach Stich
Editor
Many people have started their July Fourth fireworks shopping early this year and retailers have seen a boost in sales following cancellations of local shows.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Kaddatz Galleries in Fergus Falls began their Phase 3 reopening on Tuesday, June 23, allowing people to enter the gallery without needing an appointment. Up to 10 people are allowed in the gallery at a time and staff will be wearing masks and sanitizing the gallery between patrons. They’re a…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
After three months of having its doors shut, the Otter Tail County Historical Society’s (OTCHS) museum will open to patrons.
Zach Stich
Editor
Cinema 6 Theatre, located at 320 Minnesota Ave. in Breckenridge, Minnesota will be permanently closing its doors. The Cinema Entertainment Corporation (CEC) theater has been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Alcoholic beverage purchases at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic spiked in the U.S. with a 55% increase in the week ending in March 21 according to market research firm Nielsen, with a 243% increase in online sales. That growth has continued throughout the shutdown, with total alcohol sale…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
AgCountry Farm Credit Services will soon be donating $273,000 to local organizations within the communities they serve as part of relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Myren “Micky” A. Rohde Jr., celebrated 25 years with Rohde Insurance Services (RIS) in Fergus Falls. Mickey went from being the janitor at age 14 to a full-time employee, then a partner and now sole owner of RIS.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Small Business Relief Grants program will begin accepting applications June 23. The application will close at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 2. DEED will select grant awards through a computer-generated, randomized process shor…
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce a sweet collaboration coming to downtown Fergus Falls. The Hastings family has signed a deal with local cupcakery, Peney Cakes to add a weekend pop-up shop to the downtown repertoire. This collaboration will kick off with a grand opening sche…
Father’s Day is coming up this Sunday, June 21 and the slow reopening of businesses means families can take dad out to eat or he can spend the day at the golf course, activities moms unfortunately missed out on in May.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Sam Mandan recently joined Collins and Krank | Raymond James located at 300 NP Ave. N., Suite 108, in Fargo, according to branch manager, Jeff Collins.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that B. Good, a family-owned and operated CBD business, is officially seeking retailers for their product. CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol, one of the compounds found in hemp.
Minnesota moved to Phase 3 of its reopening plan on Wednesday, allowing for indoor dining at 50% capacity with 6 feet of distance between parties. Many restaurants in Fergus Falls felt ready to reopen on Wednesday while others chose to wait a little longer.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
After 48 years at its location on 914 E. Channing Ave., the Fergus Falls Daily Journal will be moving back to downtown Fergus Falls Monday. The Journal will now move to 125 N. Union Ave. Suite 301, or what many citizens remember as the old Carnegie Library building.
Zach Stich
Editor
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that one of their early entrepreneur initiative clients has successfully launched a new business in downtown Fergus Falls.
Laurie Cunningham has been a child care provider in Fergus Falls for around 40 years, caring for generations of the area’s children. Later this month on June 27, she’ll be celebrating her retirement with her family and those who have become her family over the last four decades.
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Fewer children, seniors and families across North Dakota and western Minnesota will be going hungry due to the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a generous gift from Cargill, which has donated $40,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank. Having a shared mission to the Great Plains Food Bank to feed the …
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin issued the following statement today following the enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act:
The Otter Tail County Community Development Agency is committed to supporting area businesses as they navigate the road ahead. To directly aid in the recovery of small businesses, the board of directors recently dedicated $200,000 to establish a small business relief fund.
Bjorn and Tollef Ringdahl and their five ambulance crews were not in New York City to see the Statue of Liberty or visit Coney Island.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce another local business partnership to provide local businesses with supplies to support the safe reopening of the business community on June 1. Cooper's Office Supply has teamed up with Excel Plastics and Ottertail Glass to produce acrylic ba…
In a partnership, the city of Fergus Falls, Lake Region Healthcare (LRH), the Downtown Riverfront Council (FFDRC), Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) and the Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce (FFACC) rolled out a public service campaign aimed at community safety as businesses gradually reopen in…
Zach Stich
Editor
Rohde Insurance Services of Fergus Falls, along with Grinnell Mutual of Grinnell, Iowa, has named McCormick Meyer of Perham as one of the 80 recipients out of 19 states of a 2020 Road to Success Scholarship. He was among those selected from thousands of Grinnell Mutual policyholders. McCor…
The Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) represents Minnesota’s small, family-owned liquor retailers, both on-sale (of bars and restaurants) and off-sale (at liquor stores). Tuesday executive director, Tony Chesak made the following statement:
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) is pleased to announce that kid-owned and operated, Sugarbomb is back at it! The boutique, pop-up candy and bath bomb store saw incredible success in their inaugural year and look forward to their upcoming sophomore season opener on Friday, June 5 at 10 a.m.
Great Plains Natural Gas Company is conducting its annual quality control survey of the natural gas system to ensure public safety and the proper operation of the gas lines and meters.
Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program Inc. (RMCEP), is moving their offices from downtown Fergus Falls to the Minnesota State Community and Technical College Fergus Falls campus this June. RMCEP is a private nonprofit corporation that offers workforce development services in north-…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley is recommending that consumers take advantage of the opportunity to check their credit rating during these trying financial times. The three major credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and Transunion, are offering free weekly …
After Gov. Tim Walz loosened restrictions set in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which allowed golf courses to reopen in April, granted they comply with state guidelines, Pebble Lake Golf Course in Fergus Falls has seen an eruption of customers hitting the links.
Matthew Holding Eagle
Sports Reporter/Photographer
The Welcome House Thrift Store will be opening its doors to customers on Thursday, May 28 from 3-6 pm.
With so many things changed by the coronavirus pandemic, many community members are wondering when things will get back to normal. Many have expressed how much they miss doing the things that they were able to do before any stay-at-home order or closure. Some miss those that they interacted …
Zach Stich
Editor
With an opening delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency orders by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Greg Smedsrud has found time to put more atmosphere into the new ABC Brewery in Battle Lake.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
After Wednesday’s announcement by Gov. Tim Walz about what is allowed to open June 1 and how several state businesses were supposed to operate, many community members were shocked and upset on the restrictions that were still in place. Several state officials and organization leaders were al…
Zach Stich
Editor
The Fergus Falls Public Works Department is coming to the rescue of local restaurants and bars.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) and West Central Initiative (WCI) are co-hosting a live Q&A session to answer questions from within the business community about available funding programs for the region. Watch the live event from the GFF Facebook page on Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m.
Greater Fergus Falls (GFF) and West Central Initiative (WCI) are co-hosting a live Q&A session to answer questions from within the business community about available funding programs for the region. Watch the live event from the GFF Facebook page on Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30 a.m.