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Astera Health of Wadena announced that Mike Schramm joined the organization as Interim Chief Executive Officer as of July 6. Schramm brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in rural healthcare organizations across Minnesota. Throughout his career, he has led hospitals and health systems through strategic growth, physician recruitment, facility expansion, financial improvement, and organizational transformation while maintaining a strong commitment to pro

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at 5:14 p.m. on Saturday, June 13, a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier and a 2015 Ram 1500 collided at the intersection of Highway 29 and County Road 77 in Compton Township, Otter Tail County. The Cavalier, driven by Tanner Mathew Schulke, 18, of Verndale, was entering southbound Highway 29 from 610th Avenue when it collided with the northbound Ram driven by Chester Junior Disselbrett, 66, of Wadena. Schulke and his passenger, Jadyn Brittany W

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 12, a 2024 Toyota Venza driven by Donald Gerald Jablonsky, 84, of Bismarck, North Dakota, was traveling eastbound on Highway 10 in Verndale. A 2015 Dodge Dart driven by Benjamin John Sellnow, 23, of Wadena, was traveling northbound on Brown Street when the vehicles collided at the intersection after one driver failed to see the other. Jablonsky and his passenger, Margie Ann Jablonsky, 79, of Bismarck, wer

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, at 6:34 a.m. on Sunday, a 2009 Buick LaCrosse, driven by Andrew Ronald Riedel, 36, of Alexandria, was traveling southbound on US Highway 71. Meanwhile, a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, driven by April Ann Brown, 44, of Browerville, was heading northbound on the same highway. The two vehicles collided at County Road 9 in Rockwood Township, causing the Suburban to roll off the roadway and come to a stop in the east ditch... Subscribe to get t

On Wednesday, April 22, the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a house fire at the Jared Forcier property in Section 34 of Aldrich Township. The fire was reported shortly before 12:30 p.m. Upon the arrival of the first responders, they found the house completely engulfed in flames, but all occupants were reported to be safe and evacuated. Fire departments from Verndale, Staples and Wadena spent several hours working to extinguish the fire... Subscrib

A man who died in a house fire early Monday morning in Otter Tail County has been identified. According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was reported before 4 a.m., March 9, along County Highway 75, northwest of Wadena. Multiple emergency crews responded to the scene, including firefighters from the Bluffton, Wadena, Sebeka and New York Mills fire departments, along with Astera Ambulance... Subscribe to get the rest of the story...

On Wednesday, January 28, at approximately 11:42 a.m., the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a structure fire in Section 24 of Blueberry Township. Upon the arrival of emergency responders, it was discovered that the attached garage of a home was fully engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading to the house and an RV parked next to the garage. Fortunately, the occupants of the home were able to evacuate safely without injury... Subscribe to get the rest

Astera Health celebrated the first birth of 2026 on January 2 at 5:22 p.m. Beth and Jesse Mitchell welcomed Quinn Beth in the obstetrics department. Dr. Shaneen Schmitt delivered baby Quinn, assisted by nurse Sharon Cottrell.  Quinn weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long at birth. She has five siblings: Emery, Hayden, Sutton, Lennox and Warren... Subscribe to get the rest of the story...

Pictured l-r: Sharon Cottrell, RN, Dad and Mom—Jesse and Bethany Mitchell—with Baby Quinn and Dr. Shaneen Schmidt welcomed Astera Health's first baby of 2026 on January 2. Astera Health celebrated the first birth of 2026 on January 2 at 5:22 p.m. Beth and Jesse Mitchell welcomed Quinn Beth in the obstetrics department. Dr. Shaneen Schmitt delivered baby Quinn, assisted by nurse Sharon Cottrell.  Quinn weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and was 20.5 inches long at birth. She has f

The Initiative Foundation has awarded 17 grants totaling $740,000 through the Otto Bremer Trust’s Community Responsive Fund, supporting Central Minnesota nonprofits that are improving lives and strengthening communities. The Community Responsive Fund distributed $3 million to 64 organizations in Greater Minnesota. The Initiative Foundation helped administer the funding across Greater Minnesota to ensure resources reached local organizations that understand their community’s