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Local Election Results Reported for CGB Area
Voters headed to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, with all precincts reporting in local races. CGB School Board: Scott Mahoney (760), Nicole Fuhrman (732), Nicole Homan (720) and Kelsey Holtz (680) won the four open seats. Jodi Morrill received 637 votes. Theresa Diekmann received 925 votes in the special election.
1 day ago


Ortonville Elects Three School Board Members, Rejects Two Referendum Questions
Voters came in full force for the General Election held Tuesday, Nov. 3, electing three new members to the Ortonville School Board and voting down two school referendum questions. In the Ortonville School Board election, Alicia Radermacher received 862 votes; Andy Strei had 682; Emily Sigler, 591; Meggan Karels, 448; Craig Danielson, 442; Travis Jorgenson, 420; Kathryn Melton, 324; Connie Rausch-Jurgens, 229; and Karley Teske, 225. Radermacher, Strei and Sigler will take the
1 day ago


Bonnie Pearson Layton
Bonnie Pearson Layton was boron February 13, 1945, to Harold and Dorothy Pearson. As a young child, Bonnie moved with her parents to Ortonville, MN, where they had charge of The Ortonville Greenhouse. The family grew by two when Al and Dori were adopted, giving Bonnie a brother and a sister.
3 days ago


County Board approves clinical services with Woodland Centers
The Big Stone County Board met for their regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville with all County Commissioners present for the meeting. Board members approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from their regular meeting on Oct. 6. They also authorized payment of bills. During committee reports, board members discussed information from recent meetings. Following committee reports, the Big Stone County Board received updates and
Oct 27


Ortonville Elects Three School Board Members, Rejects Two Referendum Questions
Voters came in full force for the General Election held Tuesday, Nov. 3, electing three new members to the Ortonville School Board and voting down two school referendum questions. In the Ortonville School Board election, Alicia Radermacher received 862 votes; Andy Strei had 682; Emily Sigler, 591; Meggan Karels, 448; Craig Danielson, 442; Travis Jorgenson, 420; Kathryn Melton, 324; Connie Rausch-Jurgens, 229; and Karley Teske, 225. Radermacher, Strei and Sigler will take the
The Ortonville Independent
1 day ago


Bonnie Pearson Layton
Bonnie Pearson Layton was boron February 13, 1945, to Harold and Dorothy Pearson. As a young child, Bonnie moved with her parents to Ortonville, MN, where they had charge of The Ortonville Greenhouse. The family grew by two when Al and Dori were adopted, giving Bonnie a brother and a sister.
The Ortonville Independent
3 days ago


Ortonville council approves 2027 contract with UMVRDC
The Ortonville City Council met for their second meeting of the month on Monday, Oct. 19 at the Library Media Center will all members present. The meeting was brief as council member approved an Amendment of Lease of the Ortonville Community Center between the City of Ortonville and State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, acting for the benefit of the Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services. The lease covers approximately 1,500 square feet of offic
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 27


Catherine "Cathy" Karels
Catherine "Cathy" Karels, 96, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Friday, October 16, 2026, at Fairway View in Ortonville, MN. Catherine “Cathy” Martha Karels was born on August 3, 1930, on the family farm near Nassau, MN, to Paul and Clara Pillatzki. She attended District 8 country school before continuing her education at Bellingham High School, graduating in 1948. Following graduation, Catherine moved to Montevideo, MN, where she worked for five years for various businesses
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 27


Ortonville man injured in crash near Big Stone Power Plant
A 20-year-old Ortonville man, Owen Dorry, sustained serious injuries in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning, Oct. 11, near the Big Stone Power Plant outside Big Stone City, SD. According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Dorry was heading southbound on 484th Avenue in a Toyota Avalon when he failed to stop and navigate a turn at the T-intersection of 484th Avenue and County Road 4, by the Power Plant. The vehicle crossed the roadway, entered the ditch, and trave
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 22


Ortonville man, identified, found dead in cornfield east of town on Oct. 19
2nd Update 10/27/26 10:30 AM -- A deceased individual was discovered in a cornfield just east of Ortonville along Highway 12 on Monday evening, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. The deceased has been identified as Gerrick Maus, 42, of Ortonville. Maus was located approximately one‑quarter mile northeast of the area where he was last seen by law enforcement. It is believed that the last known sighting of Maus occurred on Oct. 1, 2026, after he fled on foot from law enforcement near the Or
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 21


Still Serving
By Jake Lillehaug 10-15-26 There is something special about driving a country road in western Minnesota just after sunset in October. The sky glows with brilliant oranges and reds while the last sunlight catches the changing leaves. Across the countryside, clouds of dust rise from freshly harvested fields, illuminated by the headlights of combines working well into the evening. Grain trucks wait along field approaches. Service trucks travel from farm to farm, keeping equip
Jake Lillehaug
Oct 14


BSC Pheasants Forever Chapter selected for Upland Caucus
In 2026-2027, Pheasants Forever (PF) is excited to invite one chapter from each of Pheasants Forever’s 26 regions to serve as a member of the second annual Upland Caucus, a group of the Habitat Organizations top Legislative Action Fund supporters and grassroots policy leaders, working together to advance policies that benefit upland wildlife, their habitats and the people who enjoy them. According to Big Stone County Pheasants Forever President, Kevin Seehafer, back in mid-J
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 14


OHS Homecoming King and Queen
CROWNED KING AND QUEEN during the Homecoming coronation ceremonies on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Ortonville high school auditorium, were King Jonas Henrich and Queen Sara Kirkeby. Jonas is the son of Jason and Heather Henrich and Sara is the daughter of Kyle and Kris Kirkeby.
The Ortonville Independent
Oct 2


BSCB approves 2027 Levy; sets Dec. 1 for TNT Meeting
The Big Stone County Board met for their regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Big Stone County Courthouse in Ortonville with all County Commissioners present for the meeting.
The Ortonville Independent
Sep 25
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