Vergas Archives - KVRR Local News

Vergas Man Saved by Critical Medical Intervention

Arden Shulstad went into his doctor seeking aid for abdominal pain - soon, he was being flown to Fargo for emergency surgery.

March 19, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – 67-year-old Arden Shulstad had never been hospitalized and had no issues aside from mild arthritis and needing blood pressure medication. So, even though he was constipated and had abdominal pain, he put off going to see his primary care physician, Garrett Penton of Essentia Health in Detroit Lakes, until his sister-in-law insisted he make an appointment….

Vergas, MN Teen Accused of Shooting and Killing Neighbor’s Dog

January 1, 2025

KVRR Staff,

OTTER TAIL CO., Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — A Vergas, Minnesota teen made his first court appearance Monday on charges of killing a neighbor’s dog. Court documents show 19-year-old Bodi Engebretson admitted that he had shot the neighbor’s dog with an air gun on July 1. He denied shooting it on the neighbor’s property, claiming that the dog was on his property…

Vergas Man Pleads Guilty To Bar Burglary Because He Wanted Handgun Being Raffled

September 18, 2024

KVRR Staff,

Donald Merrill Jr. OTTER TAIL CO., Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — A Vergas, Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to the burglary of Billy’s Corner Bar and Grill in Vergas. 25-year-old Donald Merrill Jr. admitted to breaking into the bar in late March and stealing a handgun. According to court records, surveillance video shows a man smashing the front window and taking the…

Boy nearly drowns outside home in rural Vergas

April 30, 2024

Alison Voorhees,

VERGAS, Minn. (KVRR) — A young boy nearly drowned this morning in Otter Tail County. The sheriff’s office says a one-and-a-half-year-old boy had disappeared from his mom outside their home near Vergas. When the 30-year-old woman found the boy, he was face down in water on their property and not breathing. Authorities say the water was roughly 4.5 feet deep….

Vergas man injured after crashing into tree and parked cars

December 19, 2023

Alison Voorhees,

VERGAS, Minn. (KVRR) — A Vergas man was flown to Essentia in Fargo after crashing his vehicle last night in town. Joshua Carlson, 45, was driving on South Pelican Avenue in Vergas around 9:30 when he left the road, hit a tree, embankment and parked cars. He caused damage to a home and a garage area. Carlson was ejected from…

Annual wiener dog races steal show at Looney Daze

August 12, 2023

Site Staff,

VERGAS, Minn. (KVRR) — A small town in Minnesota celebrates its annual festival like a street fair but includes what some are calling the race of the year. “Looney Days is the annual town festival here in Vergas. They’ve been having it a long time back. We’ve been trying to figure out how long it’s been going on. It’s been…

Vergas Man Sentenced for Soliciting a Child in Stearns County

April 26, 2023

KVRR Staff,

STEARNS CO., Minn. (KVRR/KFGO) — A Vergas, Minnesota man is sentenced for soliciting a child for sex in Stearns County. 57-year-old Darrin Watro was given 30 days in jail and gets credit for having already served five days. He must also register as a predatory offender. Watro pleaded guilty to describing sexual conduct to a child through electronic communication in…

Four Minnesota Post Offices To Be Renamed To Honor Veterans & Postal Carrier

December 21, 2022

TJ Nelson,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — A bill to rename three post office buildings in Minnesota in honor of three fallen Minnesota National Guardsmen is headed to the president. If he signs the bill just passed by the senate, the Perham Post Office will be renamed in honor of Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charles Nord. The Winsted Post Office will…

Motorcyclist Pulled From Lawrence Lake Friday is Identified

August 1, 2022

TJ Nelson,

OTTER TAIL CO., Minn. (KVRR) — Authorities identify a motorcyclist pulled from Lawrence Lake Friday morning who later died at a hospital. He is 70-year-old George Hough of Elbow Lake, Minnesota. Otter Tail County Sheriffs Office responded to the crash just after 10 a.m. Friday on Highway 4 southwest of Vergas. The reporting party called 911 after seeing Hough crash…

Social Distancing: Keep Your Distance From The People, Not The Animals

Trowbridge Creek Zoo Near Vergas Opened For The Season This Month

May 11, 2021

Site Staff,

We’ve got some more socially distanced exploring tips you can do now that the weather is warmer. Today we’re heading to a small town zoo that lets you keep your distance from people, but not necessarily the animals. The Trowbridge Creek Zoo has only been around for a handful of years. It’s tucked away near Vergas, Minnesota and just…