More than 100 students who enroll in 40 high-demand programs at Minnesota State Community and Technical College will be receiving $2,500 scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year, thanks to the Minnesota Legislature’s support for the Workforce Development Scholarship (WDS) program.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be the keynote speaker at “Building our Beloved Community,” a day-long rural racial equity summit set for Monday, Jan. 20, at the Fergus Falls campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
A student was injured in an accidental discharge of a firearm on the Wahpeton campus of North Dakota State College of Science.
Missy Halda knew she was passionate about the outdoors when she started going to Camp Wilderness as a child. “I was part of the Holy Cross Catholic Church group out of Fargo and we went to Camp Wilderness as a church group and I just fell in love with it,” Halda says. Camp Wilderness, near P…
Johanna Armstrong
Reporter
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2019 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
Public meetings on District 544’s technology plan, internet safety policy and the public school’s taxes payable for 2020 were held Monday in the Otter community room.
Brian Hansel
Reporter
breaking
The Fergus Falls School District announced that it will be two hours late today (Monday, Dec. 9) due to weather.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison has recognized students named to the dean's list for the spring semester of the 2018-19 academic year.
featured
The choirs at M State are preparing for their annual winter choir concert taking place this Thursday, Dec. 5. This is new choral director Laura Odden Quaintance’s first winter choir concert and she’s excited to share with the community all that she, the students and community members have be…
top story
For most people, high school band music usually involves a brass section, percussion and wind instruments. But while these musical devices aren’t old hat, different instruments provide first-time musicians an opportunity to contribute. For the Fergus Falls High School Music Department, the p…
Harvey Robert Grasshoff, 93, of Fergus Falls, died Monday, December 2, 2019, at Knute Nelson Memorial Home in Alexandria.
It is important for all organizations to periodically reflect on their mission, beliefs, vision and practices. The Fergus Falls Public School District is taking time this year to do just that. Our goal is to gather feedback on what we do well and on what we need to improve on. The data coll…
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2019 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
Sydney Weniger is Wadena County’s recipient of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association scholarship for 2019.
Planning to be out and about for the Over the River Holiday Festival? Visit the Otter Tail County Historical Society Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fergus Falls Community Education will be hosting a homebuyer education workshop on Dec.2 and 3 from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Across the nation, schools and communities just finished an observance of American Education Week. American Education Week has been in place for nearly 100 years - dating all the way back to 1921. It began through conversations between members of the National Education Association and the …
Students grades 4-6 are invited to ski or snowboard at Andes Tower Hills on Friday nights.
Caring for young children is not easy. When parents leave, the babysitter is responsible for keeping the kids or their siblings safe, fed and entertained. Fergus Falls Community Education will host BLAST, babysitter lesson and safety training, at the Roosevelt Education Center, Community Edu…
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2019 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
With several items on the docket Monday evening, the Fergus Falls School Board listened to business manager Mark Masten explain the school’s fiscal year 2019 financial audit.
Zach Stich
Editor
Fergus Area College Foundation hosted its annual scholarship reception Nov. 14 at Legacy Hall on the Fergus Falls campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College.
With a packed agenda, the Fergus Falls School Board took to a two-hour meeting Monday to discuss a variety of topics including a public meeting on the World’s Best Workforce report, several reports from the various committees and multiple hires.
Zach Stich
Editor
The college and community is invited to celebrate the heritage of our nation and honor veterans in American Landscape, the fall concert band and jazz band concert at Minnesota State Community and Technical College on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Live acoustic music by Ty Stortroen will set the stage for a special self-care workshop hosted by Lake Region Healthcare (LRH) for their Living Well education series next month. The session will be held at the Fergus Falls Public Library community room beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Holiday preparations getting you stressed? Need a break from endless Black Friday advertisements? The Otter Tail County Historical Society has your back with Flock to the Museum beginning Thursday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 23.
This is one in a series of articles written by students who received scholarships in 2019 awarded through the Fergus Falls Area Dollars for Scholars chapter. The purpose of these articles is to thank the community for its support of students and their higher education goals.
The Fergus Falls Public Library is hosting a free Zero Waste Gift Wrapping workshop on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10-11 a.m. Make less waste this holiday season with furoshiki – the Japanese art of fabric wrapping and tying. Practice using furoshiki and make your own hand-stamped furoshiki fabri…
Masters and mavens of mystery may want to get tickets to M State’s fall play, “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” which opens Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The play follows a group of guests who meet at a New York mansion for what they believe to be a backer’s audition for a musical. […]
The Fergus Falls School Board gave a thumbs up to the June 2021 student trip to Europe Monday night at their final meeting of October. Randy Hansen pitched the trip to board members at their Oct. 14 meeting in the Otter Community Room. Fundraising efforts will offset some of the $4,500 to $5,000 cost per […]
Fergus Falls Community Education will be hosting a class on sudden unexpected instant death and abusive head trauma on Saturday. This is a class that is required for child-care providers and foster parents who provide care for infants and children. The instructor, Mary Johnson, has over 35 years of experience teaching health care classes. The […]
Junior Leader Workshop (JLW)-“Team JLW” was held Oct. 17-18 at Faith Haven Camp near Battle Lake. This camp is designed to inspire and enable each participant to uncover unique abilities, develop greater confidence and master strategies for success as a leader in their 4-H program. It is essential for the future of our rural communities […]
United Way’s Women United hosted their third annual “Conversations That Matter” event at Grace United Methodist Church on Tuesday. Their first event in 2017 focused on human trafficking in the area and last year’s topic was opioid addiction. This year’s subject was just as imperative with a focus on childhood and adolescent mental health with […]
The Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation awarded almost $46,000 in grants to the Fergus Falls School District at its Oct. 10 board meeting. The grants awarded are as follows: • $239.96 for two classroom sets of Legos at Adams Elementary School. • $299.70 for 30 seat sacks for a third-grade classroom. • $327.06 for six […]
Hospice of the Red River Valley is offering a free educational grief-support program for adults in Pelican Rapids titled “Tear Soup: A Time of Gathering for Grieving Hearts.” During this session, attendees will view the “Tear Soup” video and participate in sharing stories and discussion about grief, holidays, healthy ways of coping and keeping memories […]
Two Minnesota colleges have been recognized as Bicycle Friendly Universities (BFUs) by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB). Minnesota, the second most bicycle-friendly state in the U.S., now boasts six BFUs “From the northwoods to the plains of Minnesota, the diverse range of terrain, weather and type of university is showcased in this round of […]
Underwood Community Education is sponsoring a quilting class on Saturday, Oct. 26 with Sharlene Jorgenson and Angela Weber. Sharlene and Angela were on PBS with “Quilting from the Heartland.” Weber has precut all of the pieces needed to make a Cleopatra fan quilt the size of a table topper to help attendees learn the technique […]
Employees from the Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union Fergus Falls branch were at Kennedy Secondary School on Monday, Oct. 14 alongside their CEO, Dave Larson, to present the school district with a donation to cover what remained of the Fergus Falls 544 Education Foundation Classroom Wish List, a total of about $7,500. They also brought […]
The trip senior high instructor Randy Hansen pitched to the Fergus Falls School Board Monday night will take a group of Fergus Falls juniors and seniors to another continent in 2021. After Kennedy High students Sam King and Will Pawlowski supplied staff and board members with their impressions and memories of their 2019 trip to […]
Kennedy Secondary School (KSS) has been hosting exchange students of a different kind this past month: exchange student teachers. Ruth Anna Rusnes and Pernille Flatner Ask are students at the University of Agder in Kristiansand, Norway studying to become English teachers and have spent three weeks in Fergus Falls observing classes and occasionally teaching alongside […]
The Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society (MPCS) is offering a $500 scholarship available to college students who have completed at least three semesters in the natural resources areas. This scholarship will be awarded directly to the student upon completion of at least their third semester to help allay the costs of college studies. Applicants can secure […]
With homecoming festivities underway last week, the Fergus Falls High School inducted five new members into its Hall of Fame. The group included Tom Uvaas (Distinguished Service), Steve Rufer on behalf of Gerald Rufer (Distinguished Alum), Duane Larson (Arts), Maria (Bigwood) Schellpfeffer (Distinguished Alum) and Peter Campion (Athletics). The group was honored at a ceremony […]
Fergus Falls Community Education will be hosting “Salads in a Jar” class from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1. Salads and healthy eating have always had a delicious partnership. Add more salads into your weekly meals and make these delicious salads in a jar for the entire week. In this class, you will pack four healthy salad […]
While several key subjects that affect the community were on the docket at Monday’s Fergus Falls School Board meeting, one interesting resolution involved the school district’s online classroom. A resolution to close enrollment in the Fergus Falls school’s iQ Academy at the end of April was voted on by the board. The school had remained […]
Column: From the Desk: By Jeff Drake What are your perceptions of school lunch? I have a confession to make – I nearly always enjoyed eating school lunch. Naturally, I had my favorites which usually involved mashed potatoes and gravy. One of my fondest elementary school memories was the smell of fresh-baked dinner rolls every […]
The North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates to Wahpeton, Fargo, and online summer 2019 graduates. The graduates are: Barnesville: Kylie Hinsz, A.A.S., Dental Assisting. Elbow Lake: Rory Island, Certificate, Emergency Medical Services. Fergus Falls: Genevieve Junkert, A.S., Liberal Arts. Henning: Chelsey Cordes, A.A.S., Emergency Medical Services. Perham: Elizabeth […]
The Fergus Falls School Board met Monday evening to hear reports from principals and educators, while also talking about the 2020 tax levy. After opening the meeting business manager Mark Masten spoke about the review and comment for Lincoln School, formerly the Target building. “This serves as a way for the public to be assured […]
Talk to any educator and the chances are excellent they will all agree on one aspect of their profession — education is constantly evolving. There would certainly be no argument from the Minnesota School Boards Association on that point. Two MSBA members, executive director Kirk Schneidawind and Terry Morrow, the director of legal and policy […]
The Fergus Falls School Board held a special meeting Monday to agree to the financing and award the agent for the bonds for Lincoln School, formerly the Target building. The district received three bids from distributors with Northland Securities being award the bid with an interest of 2.88%. Robert Baird (2.93%) and Bremer Bank (3.56%) […]
The Fergus Falls School Board met Monday for a quick meeting to approve a few items and hear reports for the various committees the members are a part of. After taking role for a quorum, the board heard from Kirby Anderson about the happenings in the 544 Education Foundation. Anderson mentioned that last week’s Otter […]
Columnist: From the Desk: By Jeff Drake The Fergus Falls Public Schools 2019-20 school year is officially underway amid blue skies and glorious sunshine! It is exciting to have students back in the building again and we look forward to a great year ahead. “Can our school be so welcoming, so inviting and so comfortable […]
The University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center, Morris, is offering a free horticulture educational class Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 5:15 p.m. “Fresh Flavors of the Garden: Cooking with your Produce,” will introduce new flavors, ideas and methods to make delicious use of your abundant garden produce. The event will be held in […]
The University of Aberdeen, Scotland, has announced that Jacqueline Lee Hall Broen has been awarded a doctorate in theologically-informed environmental ethics. She’s also the most senior female student to have earned a Ph.D. from King’s College, a part of the University of Aberdeen, in 500 years. Broen is the granddaughter-in-law of E.M. Broen, the founder […]
A larger portion of North Dakota and Minnesota teens are getting their first dose of a cancer-preventing shot, but health officials want the number of people who are up to date on the vaccination to rise, health experts said. Nearly 77% of North Dakota’s teenagers between 13 and 17 years old received the human papillomavirus […]
Beginning this fall, Fergus Falls area small business owners and staff will have the opportunity to gain crucial workplace skills, thanks to a $10,000 West Central Initiative grant awarded to Minnesota State Community and Technical College Workforce Development Solutions division. Amy Hochgraber, the WDS director of business and industry, said grant money will be used […]
The Fergus Falls campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College will host a regional bonding tour for Minnesota House members and community officials from the area on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The meeting, scheduled for 7-8:15 p.m., is intended to give local state agencies an opportunity to introduce lawmakers to the projects for which they […]
M State Fergus Falls started their new monthly wellness events with a talk by Kasim Abdur Razzaq, a St. Paul-based speaker, author, business owner and psychotherapist. He’s a licensed independent clinical social worker with a specialty in culturally centered intervention. Victoria McWane-Creek, M State’s director of campus housing and residential life, explained the change from […]
Do you make the best homemade bread, home canned pickles or cookies? Consider selling your product as a Minnesota cottage food producer. Join University of Minnesota Extension food safety educator, Suzanne Driessen at the Keep it Legal! Keep it Safe cottage food producer class in Duluth on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, from 5-8 p.m. at […]
Area Minnesota students were among the 190 North Dakota State University students to be placed on the summer 2019 dean’s list. A student must earn a 3.50 grade point average or higher and be enrolled in at least nine class credits to qualify for the summer list. Fergus Falls • Hayden H. Devorak, accounting • […]
On Monday, the Fergus Falls School Board accepted the retirement of business manager Mark Masten and discussed the new name of the former Target building. Masten has worked for Fergus Falls Public Schools since 1983 and will retire at the end of 2019. Masten has been influential on the school board helping guide several projects […]
School starts Sept. 3 and students might notice some changes in the cafeteria. The elementary school kitchens will be up and running and the high school will be serving up homemade pizzas. “We’re shifting some of the preparing of the food back to the elementary schools,” said school food service director Lance Wells. “Up until […]