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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.
2 days ago


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.
2 days ago


MSHSL Board of Directors makes decisions for 2026-2027 school year
A new venue for the Girls and Boys Cross Country State Meets, a schedule adjustment for the Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments and continued dues credits to Member Schools were among the formal decisions made on Tuesday, Aug. 4, when the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors met for the first of six in-person meetings during the 2026-2027 School Year.
2 days ago


Still Serving
By Jake Lilleghaug The automatic doors slid open as my kids and I walked hand in hand into Fairway View. We were only planning to make a quick stop. School is out for the summer, so they had tagged along with me as I dropped off a pin recognizing one of our American Legion members for 70 years of continuous membership. We had already honored him publicly during our Memorial Day program, but his commemorative pin had finally arrived in the mail. I figured putting on my Legion
2 days ago
The Ortonville Independent


MSHSL Board of Directors makes decisions for 2026-2027 school year
A new venue for the Girls and Boys Cross Country State Meets, a schedule adjustment for the Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments and continued dues credits to Member Schools were among the formal decisions made on Tuesday, Aug. 4, when the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors met for the first of six in-person meetings during the 2026-2027 School Year.
The Ortonville Independent
2 days ago


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.
The Ortonville Independent
2 days ago


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.
The Ortonville Independent
2 days ago


Tamara “Tammy” Minder
Tamara “Tammy” Minder, age 63, of Estelline, S.D., passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at her residence in Estelline.
Clarissa
2 days ago


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.
Clarissa
2 days 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.
Clarissa
2 days ago


Eighteen contestants vie for Miss Big Stone Lake Area
THE MISS BIG STONE LAKE AREA PAGEANT will be held Friday, Aug. 21, during Cornfest at Lakeside Park. Pictured left to right are Summer Rixe, Addison Brown, Selina Diekmann, Josephine Heck, Amelia Zinski and Liv Wollschlager. Inset, left to right, are Alexa Larson and Brianna Nelson.
Clarissa
2 days ago


Nine file as candidates for Ortonville School Board
The filing period for candidates seeking seats on the Ortonville School Board, Ortonville City Council and local township and municipal offices closed Tuesday, July 28. The General Election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 3


Fellows takes reins as Ortonville Athletic Director
ORTONVILLE — Matt Fellows officially began his new role as Athletic Director for the Ortonville School District on Aug. 3.
The Ortonville Independent
Aug 3


BSCB approves SW PIC Joint Powers Agreement
The Big Stone County Board met for a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2 at the Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville with all commissioners present.
The Ortonville Independent
Jun 26
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