Portfolio - Freelance work - Otter Tail Lakes Country Magazine - 2026 issue
Below are Heather's stories from the 2026 issue of the Otter Tail Lakes Country Magazine published by the Otter Tail Lakes Country Association. PDFs of each story below are available to view/download via the corresponding images.
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Built to Last: Everts Lumber Company Marks Five Generations
March 8, 2026 For more than 140 years, Everts Lumber Company has operated with family at the center of their business. Now into their fifth generation, their lumber yard and hardware store sit nestled in Battle Lake’s beautiful downtown. |
Meet the Locals: Jerry and Tori Covington
March 22, 2026 Tucked into the quiet of lakes country, the Covingtons balance a calendar of choir rehearsals and ball games with chickens, gardens, and a community they love. |
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Robots are Riveting
March 29, 2026 Lund Boats are known to be riveted, just like airplanes. The company has two riveting robots working in tandem to help construct the boats. |
Winning Dinner is a Spin Away
April 5, 2026 On a Friday night in Ottertail, the spin of a wheel can decide what’s for dinner. |
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Meet the Locals: Stuart and Christie Fleischauer
April 12, 2026 Stuart Fleischauer is originally from Wahpeton, and his dad started All Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning in 1994. Their family had a lake place before later moving to Otter Tail County permanently. |
Pelican Rapids Welcomes Wishy Washy Laundry
April 19, 2026 Pelican Rapids didn’t have a laundromat in town for quite a while, leaving residents to travel to Dunvilla, Fergus Falls, or elsewhere to find a laundromat. That changed last summer when Wishy Washy Laundry opened a 24-hour facility right in town. |
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Small Seed, Big Vision: Mustard Seed Co. Grows in Perham
April 26, 2026 Matthew 17:20-21. That Bible verse was part of the inspiration in naming a clothing business in Perham–Mustard Seed Co., owned by Olivia Smith. |
Go Wild for Wildfire Furs
May 3, 2026 Sometimes a hobby turns into a business. That’s the case for Amber Pausch, owner of Wildfire Furs. She started her fur business out of her house about 15 years ago. |
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Trail in Vergas Tells a Storybook Tale
May 10, 2026 With the world’s largest loon watching over Long Lake Park, it only feels right that Vergas’ newest trail feature tells a loon’s story. |
Plenty of Food and Drinks to Go Around
May 17, 2026 Wadena boasts a variety of restaurants in town for visitors and residents to enjoy. From baked goods to burgers, Mexican cuisine to beer, there’s a taste of something for everyone. |
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Splish, Splash! The New Aquatic Center is a Summer Sensation
May 24, 2026 The Pelican Rapids Aquatic Center made a splash when it opened in the spring of 2025. The city is looking forward to another great summer of aquatic fun in 2026. |
Small Hands, Big Impact: Youth Art Camp Adds Color to Vergas
May 31, 2026 Julie Bruhn got the idea to start a kids’ art camp in Vergas after seeing a garden magazine article where a town put art pieces together for its community garden. Bruhn thought it would be a fun project to do in Vergas. |
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Music in the Park is a Hit!
June 7, 2026 Pull up a lawn chair for the second summer of Music in the Park in Pelican Rapids, featuring a variety of music on six evenings throughout the summer. |
Prairie Farmers Market
June 14, 2026 The Prairie Farmers Market will enter its third season in 2026. It’s open throughout the summer from 3-6 p.m. on Fridays at the Parkers Prairie City Park. |
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Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Fort Juelson
June 21, 2026 Fort Juelson marks the most remarkable Indian scare to happen in western Minnesota. A band of Tordenskjold farmers got together and built a fort on a hill, giving a commanding view of the territory. |
A Little Glam, A Lot of Heart
June 28, 2026 After more than 20 years in the beauty industry, from red carpets to tv shows, Mallory Hunter noticed something missing when she moved to the Ottertail area: a welcoming space where women could learn, explore, and care for themselves all in one place. |
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Be on the Lookout for the Otter Statues
July 5, 2026 With tourism growing in Ottertail, the talk of the town is the various otter statues that have shown up around the area in recent years. Tall, wood-carved, themed otter statues are pieces of décor and an added photo-op spot in Ottertail. |
Meet the Locals: Tyler and Hailey Muehler
July 12, 2026 From the grocery store to the bank, Tyler and Hailey Muehler are very much a part of the New York Mills community. |
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