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National Night Out draws community to Lakeside Park
KIDS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY to show off their firefighting skills by taking aim at a container during National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4 at Lakeside Park. This was the 11th Annual event which is held to build stronger community partnerships and for everyone to meet their public safety staff that keeps this area safe for kids and adults. National Night Out was hosted by the Big Stone County Sheriff’s Department and the Ortonville Fire Department.
20 hours ago


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Betty Weick Reflects on a Century of Faith, Family and Caring for Others
When Betty Weick is asked what it feels like to turn 100 years old, she doesn't make much of it.
“No different, really,” she said with a smile. “I can't say I feel any different because I am in good health.”
That simple answer seems fitting for a woman who has lived through nearly a century of change without ever seeking the spotlight. Instead, the lifelong Traverse County resident has spent much of her life caring for others as a wife, mother, Sunday school teacher, nurs
22 hours ago
the northern star


Former Appleton prison sold to federal government for $495.6 million
A day after it was announced that a former private prison in west-central Minnesota would be used to house U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees, the company operating the facility announced the sale of the former prison to the federal government for nearly half a billion dollars.
22 hours ago


Council briefed on Energy Report for Community Center
The Ortonville City Council met for its first meeting of the month Monday, Aug. 4, in the Library Media Center. Council member Ashley Berger was absent from the meeting. Lisa Graphenteen of the Ortonville Economic Development Association (EDA) and Kevin Ketelson of the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC) were present to discuss the City of Ortonville’s Community Center energy assessment recommendations and potential funding resources.
22 hours ago
the Ortonville independent
news

Sports


Border West Fishing Team Wraps Up Another Successful Season
The coach reported that the fishing team had another amazing year. The team finished their competitive fishing season with the Heart O’ Lakes Championship event, and they chose Big Stone Lake as the location to fish. Fishing hours were from 7:30 a.m. to noon. This created a very tight window to arrive in Battle Lake by 2 p.m., a risk worth taking to allow them more practice time on home water.
18 hours ago3 min read


Clinton Ball Field, Saturday Aug. 8
CLINTON BASEBALL FIELD WAS busy last Sunday, Aug. 9 with the amateur town ball tournament in full swing. Clinton field hosted three games on Sunday including the following stats: Dumont beat Clinton 7-3, Morris beat Madison 6-3, and Dawson beat Rosen 4-2. This coming Saturday, Aug. 15 Appleton field will host Morris against Dumont will play the winner of that game, on Sunday, Aug. 16 in Rosen for the championship.
19 hours ago1 min read
obituaries


Gertrude Goldsmith
Gertrude Goldsmith, age 101, of Big Stone City, S.D., passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, at St. William’s Care Center in Milbank, S.D.
22 hours ago3 min read


Dorothy Gmiterko
Dorothy Gmiterko, age 95, of Ortonville, Minn., passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville.
22 hours ago2 min read
Letters to the editor


Apr 226 min read
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