Fergus Falls Forum

ST. PAUL, Minn.—The Minnesota Department of Transportation received a national Transportation Planning Excellence Award for the 2009 Minnesota Comprehensive Statewide Freight and Passenger Rail Plan, a strategic vision for enhancing the movement of people and freight and improving access to goods and services. The award was presented July 11 by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration (divisions of the U.S. Department of Transportation) and the American Planning... Read More →

An arrest warrant has been issued against twenty-three year old Benjamin James Stavaas, who is accused of slashing the throat of his dog, in Otter Tail County District Court on Monday. Stavaas, of Battle Lake, was scheduled to make his first appearance in court Monday morning, however, neither Stavaas nor his attorney made it to court. According to assistant county attorney, Heather Brandborg, the court wasted no time issuing a warrant for Stavaas’ arrest. Stavaas has been accused of making... Read More →

After months of preparation, Lake Region Healthcare and Fergus Falls Medical Group have integrated and are now one organization known as Lake Region Healthcare. Besides the obvious visual clues such as the new signs going up outside the facilities, integrating has included action behind the scenes as well. Interfacing two major computer systems, combining various departments and clinics that were part of the Fergus Falls Medical Group, including clinics in Ashby, Battle Lake, Westridge Mall, Wheaton,... Read More →

The cost of a cafeteria lunch within the Fergus Falls Public School system will be increasing starting this coming school year. The decision was made at Monday’s school board meeting, where the motion was unanimously passed. The increases are relativity low, however. Elementary school lunches will increase by a little over eight percent (a $0.15 increase) which will make the price be $1.70 per lunch. High school lunches will face a near eleven percent increase (an additional $0.20 per lunch)... Read More →

Plans to develop parts of the Regional Treatment Center (RTC) on the north side of Fergus Falls are moving forward. However, the controversial immersion school for Chinese students is unlikely to happen, after an update was given to the Fergus Falls City Council. Initially, the group known as Campus Development Group (CDG) had plans to create a cross-cultural learning institute aimed to bring Chinese students to the United States. With the recent economic downturn, as well as changes to the administration... Read More →

Fergus Forum would like to give a big birthday shout-out to the United States of America, and wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July. While there will be no city fireworks tonight, at Krueger Field in Perham, there’ll be fireworks at the East Otter tail County Fairgrounds after the baseball game, which will be around 10:00PM. The largest Fourth of July fireworks display will be 45-minutes north-east of Fergus Falls in Detroit Lakes on Highway 59. Fireworks will begin at approximately... Read More →

The unemployment rate in Fergus Falls is improving, with 304 jobs added to the payroll since the beginning of the year. To put that in perspective, on average, 5 new jobs are added every day in the Fergus Falls area. Compared to the national unemployment rate of 9.3% (May 2010), Fergus Falls is doing quite well with a mere 6.9% of the population being unemployed. Fergus Falls is also ahead of other near-by communities in the region, with similar population. In Alexandria, they’re facing an... Read More →

Severe weather, which caused numerous tornadoes throughout the area, swept through on Thursday, and the latest reports are showing at least three deaths. Of those two deaths, one person died in Almora, Minn. (roughly 40 miles east of Fergus Falls), and another person died in rural Polk County. In southern Minnesota, one person was killed on a farm west of Albert Lea. According to emergency officials, the Almora, Minn. woman was found dead in tornado debris. The tornado in Almora was part of a severe... Read More →

Summertime entertaining should be easy and fun. And it can be — with some simple solutions and fresh recipes. Holly Clegg, the “Queen of Quick,” is a best-selling cookbook author who knows how to keep things sweet and simple. She’s teamed up with the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Make it Possible campaign to offer helpful tips and recipes to make your summer entertaining a breeze. Start with Simple Recipes —For this tropical dessert pizza, make the cookie crust the day before.... Read More →

For years, juniors and seniors at the Fergus Falls High School have enjoyed an open lunch period, where they were able to leave school grounds for their lunch period. However, with the opening of Kennedy Secondary School, that won’t be the case. Fergus Falls Public School Superintendent, Jerry Ness, says the school district is primarily concerned for the safety of students. Ness pointed out that the student parking lot will be located near the tennis courts, which will make it hard for students... Read More →