Fergus Falls Daily Journal

The Daily Journal is a community-focused newspaper that comes out five days a week, highlighting the stories of Fergus Falls and its neighboring areas. It aims to provide an accurate account of local events through fair reporting, helpful advertising, and engaging features, including photos and commentary. While it strives to highlight positive aspects of the community, it also addresses the challenges faced by residents. For almost 125 years, The Daily Journal has been an integral part of Fergus Falls. It was established in 1873 by A. J. Underwood and remained in his family until the mid-1980s, when it was acquired by Thomson Newspapers. In December 1992, Boone Newspapers Incorporated took over its operations until July 2019, when Wick Communications, a family-owned media company, purchased it. Wick Communications operates various newspapers, websites, magazines, and specialty publications across ten states, with its main office located in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Its publications can be found in states including Arizona, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and Washington.

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#998258

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#228525

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#7174

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Ask a trooper

2 days ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Jesse Grabow

Question: The other day I came across a railroad crossing sign with the word “EXEMPT” placed on it. What is that all about? kAmp?DH6Ci p? )\D92A65 D:8? :56?E:7:6D 2 C2:=C@25 4C@DD:?8] x7 E96C6 :D >@C6 E92? @?6 EC24<[ 2 D:8? 36=@H E96 4C@DD3F4< :?5:42E6D E96 ?F>36C @7 EC24<D] (2C?:?8 D:8?D[ A2G6>6?E >2C<:?8D[ 82E6D 2?5 7=2D9:?8 C65 =:89ED 2C6 A@D:E:@?65 2E >@DE C2:=C@25 4C@DD:?8D] !2G6>6?E >2C<:?8D :?4=F56 2 DE@A =:?6[ 2? “)[” 2?5 E96 =6EE6CD “##” A2:?E65 @? E96 A2G6>6?E :? 7C@?E @7 E96 4C@DD:?8]k^AmkAmp?
Employee fired then arrested for trespassing

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | James Allen

An employee who was terminated at a Pelican Rapids agricultural plant and refused to leave the premises was arrested and taken to the Otter Tail County Detention Center on April 15. kAm}:>2? y@H92C p35:[ ae[ @7 $E] r=@F5 92D 366? 492C865 H:E9 @3DECF4E:?8 E96 =682= AC@46DD 2?5 EC6DA2DD:?8] w6 2EE6?565 2? 2CC2:8?>6?E 962C:?8 @? pAC:= `f :? ~EE6C %2:= r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E r@FCE]k^AmkAmr@FCE 492C8:?8 5@4F>6?ED DE2E6 E92E 2E 23@FE dida A]>] 2 !6=:42?
The day the music died: ISD 544 school board votes to cut fifth grade band

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Karrie Carlson

Community members are looking to ISD 544 school board members for answers regarding the recent vote to eliminate the fifth grade band program as part of the district budget cuts. kA 5:ClQ=ECQmkDA2?mpE 2? pAC:= `c D49@@= 3@2C5 >66E:?8[ 2 G@E6 H2D E2<6? E@ 25@AE E96 =:DE @7 3F586E 4FED E@ AC@8C2>D 2?5 A@D:E:@?D[ @C A@CE:@?D E96C6@7] q@2C5 >6>36C z6==: vC277 2D<65 E@ 255C6DD E96 3@2C5 2?5 D92C65 E92E D96 92D 962C5 7C@> ?F>6C@FD A6@A=6 H@CC:65 23@FE E96 4FE E@ >FD:4 :?
Question on cargo

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Jesse Grabow

Question: Are trailer hitch load extenders legal? Occasionally I haul some lumber that sticks out beyond my tailgate and would like to know if I can use this. kAmp?DH6Ci *6D J@F 42?] }@E6 E92E H96? E96 =@25 FA@? 2?J G69:4=6 6IE6?5D E@ E96 C62C 7@FC 766E @C >@C6 36J@?5 E96 365 @C 3@5J @7 DF49 G69:4=6 E96C6 2C6 D@>6 C6BF:C6>6?ED] pE E96 6IEC6>6 C62C 6?5 @7 DF49 =@25 2 C65[ J6==@H @C @C2?86 7=28 @C 4=@E9 ?@E =6DD E92? `e :?496D DBF2C6 D92== 36 5:DA=2J65]k^AmkAmpE E96 E:>6D H96? =:89E65 =2>AD @?
The dichotomy of widowhood

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Jill Pertler

As a person who was made a widow much too early (and aren’t we all widowed much too early?) I have a confession to those of you not members in our very elite club. kAmx =@G6 D66:?8 A9@E@D @7 J@F 8C@H:?8 @=5 E@86E96C] qFE 6G6? >@C6[ x 92E6 E96>]k^AmkAmx 2> D@ D@CCJ] x H:D9 x 76=E 5:776C6?E=J[ 3FE =:76 E9C6H >6 2 4FCG6 32== 2?5 x H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 92G6 E96 A9@E@D E92E J@F ?@H 92G6] qFE x 5@?’E]k^AmkAmp?5 x H@F=5?’E 36 9@?6DE :7 x 5:5?’E 25>:E E92E DE:== 9FCED] xE 9FCED 2 =@E]k^AmkAm$@[ 6G6?
Mayor strives toward unity of council

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | James Allen

Mayor Anthony Hicks made an impassioned plea at the beginning of the Fergus Falls City Council Committee of the Whole meeting on April 16, for unity. kAmw:4<D DE2CE65 3J C6>:?5:?8 4@F?4:= >6>36CD E92E E96J H6C6 6=64E65 3J E96 A6@A=6 E@ 4@?5F4E E96 4:EJ’D 3FD:?6DD]k^AmkAm“(6 2C6 u6C8FD Wu2==DX] (6’G6 366? :? D6DD:@? 7@C D@>6 @?6 9F?5C65 52JD 2D 2 4@F?4:=] (6 H6C6 6=64E65 3J E96 A6@A=6 7@C E96 A6@A=6] (6 2C6 96C6 E@ H@C< 7@C 2?5 @?
Klobuchar visits FF Veterans' Home

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | James Allen

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited the Fergus Falls Veterans Home while on a break from senate business, on April 11. kAmz=@3F492C E@=5 >2?J G6E6C2?D >66E:?8 :? 2 4276E6C:2 E92E D96 925 2 b 2]>] G@E6 62C=:6C :? E96 >@C?:?8[ 3FE >256 2 DA64:2= A@:?E E@ 4@>6 E@ G:D:E E96> 2?5 9@H D96 :D 4@>>:EE65 E@ G6E6C2?DV ?665D]k^AmkAmz=@3F492C E@FC65 E96 724:=:EJ H:E9 DE277 2?5 D2H E96 >2?J DA64:2= 4@CC:5@CD[ =:3C2CJ 2?5 H:?8D D6E FA 7@C E96 G6E6C2?D]k^Am
'Twelve Years a Slave'

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Ken Harty

My wife and I recently watched the movie “Twelve Years a Slave”. The movie is based on the 1853 autobiography “Twelve Years a Slave” by free Negro Solomon Northup. Northup was kidnapped in Washington D.C. in 1841 and sold into slavery. After spending 12 years working on plantations in Louisiana, he was released after finally being able to get some help with sending a message to his friends in New York.
From the record -- April 14, 2025

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | James Allen

April 14, 11:30 a.m.kAmkDEC@?8m!@DE2= ECF4< 4@==:56D H:E9 A2C<65 G69:4=6k^DEC@?8mk^AmkAm%96 @H?6C @7 2 G69:4=6 @? E96 a__ 3=@4< @7 uC2?<=:? pG6?F6 4@?E24E65 u6C8FD u2==D A@=:46 E@ C6A@CE E92E H9:=6 E96J 925 366? 8@?6 2?5 C6EFC?65 E96J 7@F?5 E92E E96:C G69:4=6 925 366? 9:E 2?5 2 ?6:893@C 925 E@=5 E96> E92E :E H2D 2 >2:= ECF4<] &A@? :?G6DE:82E:@? 3J 2? @77:46C[ :E H2D 56E6C>:?65 E92E 2 A@DE2= H@C<6C 925 DECF4< E96 5C:G6C’D D:56 7C@?E 3F>A6C @7 E96 G69:4=6 H:E9 E96:C ECF4< H9:=6 EC2G6=:?8 62DE3@F?5 @?
Embracing the shouse trend

1 week ago | fergusfallsjournal.com | Heather Kantrud

In the heart of west-central Minnesota, Otter Tail County is quickly becoming a go-to destination for shouse construction — the increasingly popular hybrid of shop and house. With its rolling countryside, expansive lakes and small-town values, the county offers the ideal setting for those looking to combine living space with a functional workshop, garage or storage area. kAm(96E96C 2 9@33J:DE[ D>2== 3FD:?6DD @H?6C @C D@>6@?6 H9@ ;FDE H2?ED DA246 E@ DE@C6 @FE5@@C 862C @C 6BF:A>6?E[ D9@FD6D :?