The Parkers Prairie Independent, LLC

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE--08/13/26

The deceased victim of the fire has been identified as Paulette Venzke, a 77-year-old female who lived at the residence. One family dog is missing and presumed to be deceased from the incident. One Henning fireman was injured in the initial response to the scene. The fireman was treated and released from the hospital, no other injuries were reported. While the investigation is still ongoing, no foul play is suspected.

08/11/2026

UPDATE: The unaccounted person has been located deceased. The investigation is on going with the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office and the MN State Fire Marshal's Office

On 08/11/2026 at approximately 0938 hours, the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office received a call of a house explosion northwest of the city of Parkers Prairie. Responders from area fire departments, EMS and law enforcement were dispatched. The house was fully engulfed upon arrival. One party is unaccounted for at this time.

This is an active scene and the investigation is ongoing. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office asks that people refrain from traveling to the location.

08/11/2026

We pride ourselves in providing 30 recycle bin sites across the county. Unfortunately we have seen an increase in our bin sites becoming dump sites. Help us keep our bins sites clean by making sure all recycling ends up in the correct bin and nonrecyclables are disposed of correctly at a transfer station, household hazardous waste, or as compost. If you are uncertain where something goes visit the Waste Wizard at ottertailcounty.gov/waste-wizard

08/10/2026

CONGRATULATIONS!!

08/01/2026

07/20/2026

Congratulations to our very own Phil Koep on being inducted in to the MN Senior Amateur Basbeall Hall of Fame! Phil becomes the 5th Urbank Player to be inducted in the HOF joining Joe Dorn, Paul Klimek, Ollie Woida, and Tim Christianson.

07/06/2026

If you're headed to the Miltona or Rose City area today or the near future, you'll need to plan around a road closure on County Road 14. The road is closed to general traffic. Emergency vehicles and people who live in the area will be able given access but everyone else will be detoured. This is to allow road construction to proceed all the way from east of the city of Miltona to the Todd County Line.

06/05/2026

What a season it has been for our Girls 4x800M Relay team!

Nevaeh Koep, Alexa Lego, Norah Froslee, and Chloe Patrick didn't just compete—they made history. They shattered records, earned a spot among the state's best, and finished 10th overall at the State Meet. Their hard work, dedication, perseverance, and commitment to one another have been inspiring to watch every step of the way.

Beyond the times and accomplishments, we're most proud of how they represented our program—with class, character, and determination. They set a standard for future athletes and showed what can be achieved through teamwork and belief in each other.

Thank you for the memories, the milestones, and for making history. We couldn't be more proud of all you've accomplished. A special thank you and congratulations to our Norah Froslee and Alexa Lego, our seniors! Outstanding careers for both of these girls!

Congratulations on an outstanding season.