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Paul Allen and Tim Siegle talk Vikings football, horse racing and faith during FCA event.

𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝘀

Paul Allen, the “Voice of the Minnesota Vikings,” was the keynote speaker at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event April 11 at the Pelican...

Kellsey Steeves, Abby Scott, and Diane Erickson of the Oktoberfest Committee met with community leaders, Brittany Tollefson of the Erhard 4th of July Committee, Gary Stadum representing the City of Erhard, and Trevor Steeves representing Peteyville, to announce $10,000 in funding for local projects. PHOTO BY BRIAN BURGESS

Oktoberfest grants $10k toward giant snowman at Peteyville; new...

The Oktoberfest Committee is already planning next fall’s celebration and has announced $10,000 in funding for three local projects. The money...

The retired astronaut, now 90, has long-standing ties to West Battle Lake through his family cabin.

Do You Remember When? From West Battle Lake to the stars: Last...

Former astronaut Harrison (Jack) Schmitt, a retired geologist and resident of New Mexico who oftentimes stayed at a family cabin at West Battle...

𝟒𝟒𝟐 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts team up for biggest...

Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts in Pelican Rapids joined forces Sunday to help fight hunger in their community, collecting 442 pounds of food and more...

Morgan Korf in the midst of a layup against Staples-Motley in January. Korf will take to the court again for the Minnesota Basketball All-Star Game on Saturday, April 11.

Pelican senior Morgan Korf named to state all-star game

Pelican Rapids senior standout Morgan Korf will cap off an impressive high school basketball career with one more prestigious honor, as she has...

The View FROM HERE: Steaks for me, scraps for thee: What $93...

Imagine your dad tosses an $788 iPad into the cart at the store — not because he needs it, but because the $499 model right next to it doesn’t...

Coach Jake Januszewski, Head Coach Laura Januszewski, Morgan Korf, Jadon Peterson, Brendan Hanson, Walter Torrez, Andrew Checco de Souza, Danny Salazar, Coach Cary Haugrud, Coach Eli Beacher

Vikings turn to track season as winter sports wrap up

With wrestling and boys and girls basketball seasons wrapping up — including playoff runs and state trips — there is little time for rest as the...

Erhard Community Park could serve beer all summer long

A proposal at the Minnesota Capitol would give the city of Erhard a standing liquor license for Erhard Community Park, putting the town’s Fourth...

Morgan Korf and her father, Brian Korf, who coached her throughout her six-year varsity career at Pelican Rapids High School.

Korf completes six-year varsity run as Pelican’s longest-tenured...

Who is the Pelican Rapids basketball player with the longest tenure? Morgan Korf. The last game of her high school career was a tough one against...

County Commissioner Wayne Johnson explains to Rotary Club members why county officials learned about the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme from news reports rather than from state officials.

County commissioner addresses state fraud concerns to Pelican...

February 26, 2026

𝑱𝒐𝒉𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒔, 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆-𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒈𝒂𝒑When a small town like Pelican Rapids...

Peasley, Salazar go to State!

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝-𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐖𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐮𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞

February 26, 2026

Pelican Rapids High School Vikings wrestlers are heading to the Minnesota State High School League tournament in St. Paul Feb. 26 at the Grand...

Katie Gehring, Pelican Rapids’ new economic development specialist, brings nonprofit management experience and a passion for community building to her role with Community and Economic Development Associates.

Pelican hires new economic development specialist

February 19, 2026

Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA) has a new representative serving Pelican Rapids. Katie Gehring joined the organization at the...

By Tom Hintgen,
Otter Tail County Correspondent
Otter Tail County’s Community Development and Housing Department continues to connect people throughout the county with successful housing programs, workforce development, child care, business development, and other efforts.
“Housing remains foundational to county government’s ability to help attract and retain residents and workforce,” said Amy Baldwin, Otter Tail County Community Development Director, to the county board of commissioners Tuesday morning, Feb. 10, at the County Government Services Center in Fergus Falls.
The Community Development and Housing Department builds partnerships to expand housing throughout the county by seeking funding opportunities. “We take on roles that range from convener and technical advisor to project initiator and developer,” Baldwin said.
In Pelican Rapids, county government acted as the developer for the Pinewood Estates single-family housing project. This was accomplished using a model grounded in community input and strategic funding. “Local residents assumed home ownership, demonstrating the success of this approach for new housing,” Baldwin added.
Over in Battle Lake, the Lincoln workforce housing apartments were completed following support from Otter Tail County. There was also community engagement, technical assistance to secure grant funding, and direct financing to the developer.
“A strong workforce is essential to employer success and community stability,” said Baldwin to county commissioners. “Our county workforce strategy guides efforts to promote the availability of jobs in our county, help employers recruit and retain workers and create partnerships.”
Otter Tail County experienced a year of growth for the Empowered Worker Program. This is a county-initiated workforce development program that provides individualized workforce navigation services to individuals facing barriers to employment.
“We help participants identify career pathways, access training, and secure employment in household-sustaining wage jobs while building a pipeline of qualified and motivated workers for local employers,” Baldwin said. “
She said quality and affordable childcare is essential for people in order to live and work in Otter Tail County. “We supported a project that added family child care units in the city of Ottertail,” Baldwin said, “creating close to 56 new child care slots for the community and the surrounding area.”
In addition, the Community Development and Housing Department has worked alongside employers and community leaders from throughout the county to explore right-sized child care solutions that align with local needs. “Hands on technical assistance, mentorships and coordination help stabilize existing day care providers,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin emphasized to county commissioners that supporting a resilient and competitive business environment is critical to Otter Tail County’s economy. Key partners in all community development efforts include the 22 communities and 62 townships in Otter Tail County. In place is a Community Growth Partnership Grant Program.
Accomplishments
during 2025
• 336 new housing units and 54 rehabbed units added this past year; more than $87.2 million of housing investment
• $240,000 grant awarded to Otter Tail County from the state of Minnesota for child care assistance
• County delivery of more than 590 hours of technical assistance and mentorship from child care project managers to existing providers, new providers, and community partners
• County funding provided to Battle Lake, New York Mills, and Clitherall Township to support commercial rehabilitation of businesses in their communities
• Otter Tail County is working with Otter Tail Lakes Country organization to advance tourism and engage with students who are preparing to enter the workforce, and connect them to career opportunities available in Otter Tail County.

Otter Tail County adds 336 new housing units: Pelican Rapids...

February 19, 2026

Otter Tail County’s Community Development and Housing Department continues to connect people throughout the county with successful housing...

During a wrestling meet against NY Mills, Jackson Peasley took home Pelican Rapids High School’s all-time wins record with 143 victories.

Pelican Rapids wrestlers eye sections after defeating New York Mills

February 12, 2026

In an electric filled night, Jackson Peasley takes home PRHS all-time wins record with 143 victories The Pelican Rapids Vikings put together an...

Pelican Rapids based ministry settles with state over $238,000 in...

February 12, 2026

2-12-2026 Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated Dan Ottoson is an Associate Pastor at Lake Eunice Evangelical Free Church in Detroit Lakes. Ottoson has...

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