Community Corner

🌱 How you can honor Bob Coffman at Battle Lake’s October 10 service

Also, don't miss WORKSHOP: "Winter Scene on Light-Up Ornament Using... on the Battle Lake Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday October 1st Patch AM
Thursday October 1st Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Battle Lake! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How you can honor Bob Coffman at Battle Lake's October 10 service
  • What investigators say happened during Battle Lake's deadly Twin Lakes Road standoff
  • Battle Lake remembers beloved teacher and hockey coach Roger "Rog" Johnson

Also on today's calendar: WORKSHOP: "Winter Scene on Light-Up Ornament Using Alcohol Ink" @ Art of the Lakes Gallery, Battle Lake — Arts Calendar and 6 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and cooler, with a high of 62 and low of 40 degrees.
  • Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 61, low: 49.
  • Saturday: A passing shower or two, with a high of 60 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Robert Paul 'Bob' Coffman – Battle Lake, MN (battlelakereview.com) — Battle Lake residents are invited to celebrate the life of longtime community member Bob Coffman at the Battle Lake Senior Citizens Center on Saturday, October 10, from 1–4 p.m. A 1961 Battle Lake High School graduate, Bob was known for his love of sports, storytelling, flea-market treasure hunting, and animals, and leaves behind many local family members and friends who will cherish his memory.
   

2. Minnesota BCA identifies man shot, killed by police during Battle Lake standoff (cbsnews.com) — Battle Lake residents are learning more about last weekend's deadly police standoff in town, as state investigators identify 39-year-old Christopher Olson as the man shot and killed by a Fergus Falls officer. Authorities say Olson fired a shotgun at an armored vehicle during the overnight Twin Lakes Road standoff before being fatally shot; the officer is on leave while the BCA investigates.
   

3. Roger Gerald Johnson ('Rog') – Battle Lake, MN (battlelakereview.com) — Battle Lake is mourning longtime educator and hockey coach Roger "Rog" Johnson, a Battle Lake resident who passed away September 16 after decades shaping Fergus Falls students and athletes. Though his services were held in late September, his deep ties to Eagle Lake Lutheran Church and the local hockey community continue to resonate with family, former players, and friends across the area.
   

4. Afternoon Headlines, September 30th 2026 (minnesotanewsnetwork.com) — A Battle Lake man, 39-year-old Christopher Olson, has been identified as the person fatally shot by a Fergus Falls police officer during a SWAT standoff in Otter Tail County, a case still under state investigation. The same statewide roundup also highlights stable Minnesota test scores, a new human services oversight commission, and other policy developments that could indirectly affect local schools and services.
   

5. Dale Roger Findley – Fargo, ND (battlelakereview.com) — Family and friends in Battle Lake are grieving Dale Roger Findlay, whose sister Jean Boyum lives in town and who died after a life spent advocating for people with disabilities. Though services were held September 25 in Wheaton, Minnesota, his long career at Target, church involvement, and work on accessibility laws left a legacy that reaches into the Battle Lake community through his close relatives.
   

📸 Around Battle Lake

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Battle Lake

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Battle Lake Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Sanford Health posted a job opening for CNA LTC - Full Time Evening in Battle Lake. Apply here.
  • Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Manager I in Fergus Falls. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Battle Lake here.

Ok Battle Lake! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Battle Lake