OTTER TAIL COUNTY

Mom, 68, dies of machete wounds from alleged attack by son

The 68-year-old mother of a man accused of fracturing her skull with an 18-inch machete has died. Barbara Howard of Dalton, Minn., died about 5 a.m. Sunday at Fargo’s Sanford Medical Center, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office. Her body has been transferred to the Fergus Falls (Minn.) Lake Region Hospital morgue at the request of the Sheriff’s Office. James Francis Howard, 46, has been charged with attempted murder and assault for the April 23 attack. Several of her fingers were nearly cut off as she fought back, according to court records filed in the case.

By The Forum , May 09, 2011

1 dead in Otter Tail County crash

A passenger riding in a pickup truck died early Sunday in a one-vehicle crash near Parkers Prairie, Minn., the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department said. The victim was identified as Justin Hemmerlin, 24, of Parkers Prairie.

By The Forum , May 09, 2011

Motorist injured in rollover near Pelican Rapids

A motorist was injured and had to be freed by the Jaws of Life in a one-car rollover Friday morning in Otter Tail County.

By Nathan Bowe , May 06, 2011

Two Minn., men cause thousands in damage in East Otter Tail County

Two New York Mills, Minn., men were arrested at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after allegedly engaging in a spree of burglary, vandalism and reckless driving in East Otter Tail County in the early morning hours.

By Ryan Howard , May 04, 2011

Otter Tail drug sting yields 19 arrests

In a joint venture with the West Central Minnesota Drug Task Force and the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, the Fergus Falls Police Department arrested 19 people this week in connection with narcotics distribution.

By The Forum , May 04, 2011

Authorities: Otter Tail County man, accused of assaulting his mom, may face attempted murder charge

DALTON, Minn. – A 46-year-old Otter Tail County man might be charged with attempted murder after his arrest this morning for the alleged assault of his 68-year-old mother. An ambulance was called near Dalton at 7:51 p.m. Saturday on a report of a severe head injury, which prompted the medical personnel to call Otter Tail County sheriff’s deputies, Lt. Matt McGuire said in a news release. McGuire said Barbara Howard, the mother, was taken to a hospital in Fergus Falls before she was taken by helicopter to Sanford Health in Fargo.

By The Forum , April 25, 2011

Authorities rule Otter Tail County teen shootings a 'murder-suicide'

Two grieving families in Otter Tail County, Minn., are left with questions to which there will likely never be any answers.

By Kristen M. Daum , March 23, 2011

Second teen dies in Otter Tail County shootings

UPDATED: 6:13 p.m.
A 17-year-old boy has died following a shooting incident Monday night that also killed a 16-year-old girl near the Otter Tail County town of Amor.

By The Forum , March 22, 2011

Masked gunman robs Dent, Minn. convenience store

According to a news release from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect entered the Dent Oasis with a handgun and a ski mask and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

By The Forum , January 08, 2011

High water means more Otter Tail County, Minn., lakes need outlets

Flooding lakes in Otter Tail County continue to plague the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District.

By Nathan Bowe , January 01, 2011

Wadena, Minn., man man injured in farming mishap

A 21-year-old Wadena, Minn. man severely injured his leg in a farming accident this morning.

By Forum Communications , November 19, 2010

UPDATE: Deputy: Reported contact with dog-knifing suspect false

A 23-year-old from Battle Lake, Minn., accused of slitting his dog’s throat has had no contact with Denver police, and if he had, he’d have been extradited, Otter Tail County officials say.

By Dave Roepke , November 12, 2010

Perham man dies in accidental Otter Tail County drowning

Authorities say a Perham man was found dead Sunday at Devils Lake northwest of Perham, the victim of an accidental drowning.

By The Forum , November 09, 2010

Three hunting accidents reported in Otter Tail County

Authorities in Otter Tail County, Minn., responded to three separate hunting accidents during the weekend deer opener, including two that involved injuries after hunting stands collapsed.

By Amy Dalrymple , November 08, 2010

Crash kills Ottertail, Minn., man, 82

Edward Theodore Nelson, 82, was driving eastbound on County Highway 1 on the northwest edge of Ottertail when his van left the road and struck a tree, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department.

By The Forum , October 13, 2010