Brainerd Dispatch All Access

INTRODUCING ALL-ACCESS MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTIONS Changing the way news is delivered.

B

By RENEE RICHARDSON

eginning May 20, the Dispatch will join other news outlets by charging for online and mobile media access.

Renee Richardson Senior Reporter Brainerd Dispatch

“Today newspaper websites are the most trusted, most often read, most in-depth and most accurate of all the types of news that are

available on the Internet,” said want it, whenever you want it and John Gagliano, Dispatch circula- the Dispatch has kept up with the tion director. “Truly, today’s news cutting edge of technology. is available in whatever form you CONTINUED INSIDE...

Brainerd Dispatch announces All-Access Membership

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“The last time the Sunday single copy rate went up was 1998 when gas was about $1 per gallon.”

“Our digital evolution is necessary for us to stay relevant in the world we live in today and will inhabit tomorrow.”

Gagliano said the commitment to gather and report news across multiple digital platforms — smartphones, the iPad edition John Gagliano and the electronic edition Circulation Director Brainerd Dispatch of the paper available at the Dispatch website — comes with a stark reality.

“Our digital platforms are not free, yet up to this point we have not been charging to access them as we charge for our paper edition,” Gagliano

said. “In fact, we have been increasing our costs while diminishing our revenues because many people simply made the choice to get their information for free once we offered it that way.”

Now, Gagliano said the newspaper can cut staff to the point where it is ineffective in delivering the news in any format, leaving a void that couldn’t be filled by community bloggers or other non-professional journalists or it can begin charging for digital products.

“Our prices will increase, but so will the value of our products,” Gagliano said. “All of our home delivery packages will increase in price by slightly less than $3 per month. That’s not really much in our world of $5 coffees.”

The all access membership plan creates a reader rewards program, offering exclusive discounts

~John Gagliano

with area businesses. Readers may access the discounts online or by showing a free discount card at the participating businesses.

“Using one of these offers per month will more than offset the small price increase and we have even more benefits and perks planned for the future,” Gagliano said.

Visitors to the Dispatch website will be able to see the home page, classifieds and advertising along with photo galleries at spotted.brainerddispatch.com at no charge. They will also be able to access seven articles for free each month.

In addition to the all-access plan, the Dispatch is raising daily single copy rates from 75 cents to $1 and from $1.50 to $2 for the weekend edition. The last time the Sunday single copy rate

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“All of the changes we have made recently have been to

rededicate ourselves

and resources to better serving our communities.” went up it was 1998 when gas was about $1 per gallon.

Gagliano said when newspapers first put up all their content for free the idea was online advertising would cover the cost. While it may cover the cost of blogTim Bogenschutz Publisher of the ging from the basement, Brainerd Dispatch Gagliano said it doesn’t cover the cost of maintaining a professional staff to cover news and sports for the community.

“With today’s constant thirst for information we need to reach more audiences with more infor-

BEST VALUE

mation for local readers than every before,” said Dispatch Publisher Tim Bogenschutz. “The Dispatch Internet services attract an average of well over 200,000 unique IP addresses monthly. A large growing portion of those customers are using mobile platforms to access our information.

“We can reach each of you. Whether by phone, tablet, computer, the newspaper or social media, you are accessing our information daily.

The trick is to do it all and still have enough money to pay our employees and reinvest in our business and community.”

Even through a challenging recession, Bogenschutz said the Dispatch dedicated itself to reinventing and redesigning its products. Coinciding with the all-access plan, the Dispatch is

~Tim Bogenschutz

upgrading its iPad app to one with easier navigation, highlights of coming issues and retrieval of stories from previous editions.

“All of the changes we have made recently have been to rededicate ourselves and resources to better serving our communities,” Bogenschutz said.

RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at 8555852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz.

An Award-Winning Newspaper with Award-Winning Employees SPORTS: Oakland sweeps Twins 1B

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Serving the Brainerd LakeS area and CentraL MinneSota SinCe 1881

Wings on the Waves

Monday, July 16, 2012 • 75¢

Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com

A loon raises its wings Friday on Gull Lake.

e V e r y d ay p e o p l e

Meet ‘Froggy’ the poet

Hot and steamy Heat advisory in effect Monday

By JODIE TWEED Special Correspondent

By RENEE RICHARDSON renee.richardson@ brainerddispatch.com

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hen Noah Theisen was a baby, he liked to sit in his bathwater on his tiptoes, steadied by his hands out in front of him.

He looked like a little frog sitting in the water and that’s how the 10-year-old Brain-erd boy earned his family nickname, “Froggy.”

Noah may now be known by another moniker: “Poet.”

The Forestview Middle School fifth-grader recently learned his poem, “Frog Jumping,” was published in the August issue of “High-lights for Children” maga-zine. He wrote the poem about two years ago when he was 8. He said he has loved frogs since he was very young. About two years ago he drew a picture of a frog jumping from lily pad to lily pad and asked his mom, Theresa Theisen, to write down his poem inspired by his drawing. He wanted to submit his work to “High-lights,” a magazine he’s sub-scribed to since he was in kindergarten.

While his mom learned his poem was to be pub-lished in the August issue back in June, she kept it a secret from him until Noah got his copy of the issue in the mail last week.

“It’s cool. I’m a star,” Noah said with a laugh.

“He was shocked,” his mom added.

According to Highlights magazine, the editors of the widely-read children’s mag-

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emperatures will flirt with triple digits Monday as the thermometers are expected to soar to 98 degrees in a return of the summer heat.

A heat advisory is in effect from noon to 9 p.m. Monday for the lakes region. The National Weather Service in Duluth reported the return of the heat means a dangerous combination of heat and humidity with heat index values of 100 from the Brainerd lakes area to Wisconsin.

The heat index, which factors in both heat and humidity, is expected to range from 95 to 105 degrees. When the heat index reaches these levels those working or remaining active outdoors are advised to take additional precautions against heat illnesses.

Strenuous activity should be restricted to later in the night. Wearing light weight and loose fitting clothing is advised along with drinking plenty of water.

Precautions should also be taken with animals to enSee HEAT, Page 16A

Governors put off health care questions, for now

W • Jodie Tweed

Noah Theisen, 10, of southeast Brainerd, has loved frogs since he was a baby, when he earned his nickname “Froggy” because of the way he liked to sit in the bathtub. Theisen, a Forestview fifth-grader, had his poem about a frog published in the August issue of “Highlights for Children” magazine.

azine select work submitted from boys and girls of all ages from around the world.

The magazine receives about 35,000 submissions

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Minnesota looks to replace Tubby Smith

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 • 75¢

Gallery & Video BD Photo brainerddispatch.com

State

blizzard conditions on I-94

Samuel Anderson smiles as he slides down a snow pile while being held up by his uncle Devin Anderson Saturday at

Crash kills 2

the Nisswa Winter Jubilee. For more photos go to spotted.brainerd

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dispatch.com.

Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com

MOORHEAD (AP) — Two people have died and a third was seriously hurt in a three-

Local

vehicle crash in bad weather on Interstate 94 in western Minnesota.

CLC student sues school

The State Patrol says visibility was at or near zero when it happened about 11:30 a.m.

Monday in the westbound lanes near Barnesville, about 22 miles southeast of Moorhead. Sgt. Jesse Grabow says the poor visibility likely was a factor.

The Patrol closed the westbound lanes and diverted traffic so investigators could reconstruct the crash and move the vehicles in blizzard conditions.

Names of the victims have not been released.

The area is under a blizzard warning that covers much of the eastern Dakotas and parts of western Minnesota. Blowing snow and icy roads have created hazardous driving conditions and led to several crashes across the area.

after being expelled for

acebook

comments

A Central Lakes College (CLC) student due to graduate this

Larry Lundblad, president. Steven Rosenstone, chancellor and chief executive officer of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, also is named as a defendant, as he had authority sonal Facebook page. over actions occurring at the college and the The student, Craig Keefe of East Gull Lake, in turn filed a lawsuit ability to overrule the expulsion.

Keefe’s attorney, Jordan Kushner of MinneapoFeb. 8 in U.S. District Court stating the college violated his First lis, said the case represents a clearAmendment rights and his rights to due process cut violation of civil rights. Kushner were denied. Defendants named in the lawsuit said college officials violated their own from CLC in Brainerd are Beth Adams, dean of

By JENNIFER STOCKINGER jennifer.stockinger@ students; Connie Frisch, director of nursing; Kelly brainerddispatch.com See CLC, Page 8A McCalla, vice president of academic affairs; and

spring from the school’s nursing program was expelled from the

program for allegedly posting “disturbing” comments on his per-

www.brainerddispatch.com

Serving the Brainerd LakeS area and CentraL MinneSota SinCe 1881

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 • 75¢

Board hires Terry as community services director

Crow Wing County

Serving the Brainerd LakeS area and CentraL MinneSota SinCe 1881

Puddle Time

www.brainerddispatch.com

Alexis Thurman navigates the flooded sidewalk on Brainerd’s north side with her dog, Gibby.

Temperatures continue hanging around the melting point.

Steve Kohls • steve. kohls@brainerddispatch.com

I

By RENEE RICHARDSON renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com

In a split vote, Crow Wing County commissioners Tuesday approved hiring Kara Terry as community services director.

Board members Paul Koering and Rosemary Franzen were opposed to the starting wage of $90,000 and the plan to add a $3,000 raise in three months.

Koering said he thought the wage offered should be lower by $10,000.

“I do think the wage is high,” Franzen said.

Tamra Laska, human resources dikara rector, negotiated the wage after the terry board interviewed finalists and voted to make Terry an offer.

Terry has 11 years of experience working with the Hennepin County. She is manager of the central planning unit, with about 2,800 employees in the division. Her experience includes leadership positions in human service and public health departments.

She worked income maintenance as a staff member and supervisor.

The county’s community services department has been going through major changes and unrest with program and leadership changes that are altering jobs across department segments.

Commissioner Paul Thiede said, as the swing vote in the decision to offer Terry the job, he wasn’t convinced with the choice from the beginning. But Thiede said after meeting with front-line supervisors Monday and touring

By JESSICA LARSEN jessica.larsen@brainerddispatch.com

Three of the four groups with plans for Whittier Elementary school drew out their ideas during an interview process Monday night.

The Whittier Task Force questioned each of the proposers after evaluating each idea last week. The group was still left with questions on timelines, concepts and investments.

A proposal for a chemical dependency treatment program

by Duane Halvorson was taken out of consideration after it placed last in a ranking system.

Whittier closed more than four years ago due to budget constraints. Since, the Whittier Task Force was formed to help bring life back into the building. Members put out a call for proposals on what the space could be used for.

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MOSCOW (AP) — Scientists have found more than 50 tiny fragments of a meteor that exploded over Russia’s Ural Mountains, and preliminary tests are turning up in-

Vol 133-145

World

formation about its contents.

However, local residents seem more interested in the black market value of the fragments. As they search for their own pieces of the meteor, sale offers already are filling the Internet, and police are warning all purchasers to prepare for possible fraud.

The meteor — which injured nearly 1,500 people and caused widespread property damage in

See WHITTIER, Page 8A

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Chelyabinsk city on Friday — was the largest recorded space rock to hit Earth in more than a century. Health officials said 46 of the injured remain hospitalized.

Viktor Grokhovsky, who led the expedition from Urals Federal University, said Monday that 53 fragments of the meteor have been plucked from the ice-covered Chebarkul Lake. He said they are less than a centimeter (half an inch) in size, about 10 percent iron, and belong to the chondrite type, the most common variation of meteorites found on Earth.

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See METEOR, Page 8A

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Dispatch for iPad! www.brainerddispatch.com

five times in the last year • Chosen from 800 newspapers • 90 countries competing

See TERRY, Page 10A

Roundabout gains traction for Isle Drive

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Crow wing County may not

By RENEE RICHARDSON renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com

conomic development and a growing list of health care providers is driving a Baxter

Scenic Drive, the project was before the county board Tuesday.

Baxter is in favor of putting in a roundabout at the new intersection, which will link the extended Isle Drive, Highland Scenic Drive and Ironwood Drive.

County Highway Engineer Tim Bray said

project to extend Isle Drive.

A priority for the city, the street project is scheduled for construction in 2014. As the city street will intersect with Crow Wing County Highway 48, known as Highland

provide funding until

Scientists recover meteor fragments

Whittier Task Force questions candidates

• Braienrd Dispatch won Top Ten list

Crow Wing County

2017

the new Isle Drive will be a natural corridor for Forestview Middle School, residential growth and to serve the growing commercial area to the north.

Bray said the traffic study completed in the area also recommends a roundabout for the intersection to allow traffic to flow during low and high volume periods of the See ROUNDABOUT, Page 9A

Parks & Recreation

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Warriors host Moose in quarterfinals

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Vol 132-270

mother, Sandy Theisen, were also very proud of him. His little sister, Breanna, 6, was

sports

sports

A

each year.

Noah said it felt good to see his name and poem in the magazine.

His mom and grand-

ILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) — Millions of uninsured people may have to wait until after Election Day to find out if and how they can get coverage through President Barack Obama’s health care law.

More than two weeks after the Supreme Court gave the green light to Obama’s signature legislative achievement, many governors from both parties said they haven’t decided how their states will proceed on two parts under their control: an expansion of Medicaid, expected to extend coverage to roughly 15 million low-income people, and new insurance exchanges, projected to help an additional 15 million or so purchase private insurance.

In some states, such as Colorado, Oklahoma and Wyoming, governors said they’re crunching the numbers to determine what’s best for their residents. But in other states, including Virginia, Nebraska and Wisconsin, Republican governors said not to expect a decision before Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney square off in November.

Brainerd’s Easter Bunny still hopping after 33 years

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To nearly 500 kids, she’s the Easter Bunny.

To friends and family, she’s Bonnie Muzik.

Brainerd’s

Easter

Bunny

is

in

charge of a lot of eggs — 35,000 to be exact.

Her grassy egg-hunting field spans 20 acres, and is filled with nearly 500 giggling, basket-toting children each year.

“It’s the best feeling in the world. You can’t find anything better,” she said of watching the children hunt. “It’s a tough world for some of those kids. This might be the little happiness they get.”

Muzik began Brainerd’s first city egg hunt 33 years ago after starting at the Parks and Recreation Department, where she works as the recreational coordinator.

New to the job, Muzik was approached by the Brainerd

InsIde Today

Optimist Club, wanting to organize an event for kids.

Somehow, the group decided on the hunt.

The Easter hunt started at Gregory Park with about 150 kids.

After a couple of years, however, it grew so big that officials moved it to Lum Park and restricted the participation age up to 7, instead of 10.

The one factor that has disappeared is the competition. The first few hunts offered prizes like bikes to the top egg finders.

By JESSICA LARSEN jessica.larsen@ brainerddispatch.com

Vol 133-176

See HOPPING, Page 10A Bonnie Muzik from the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department prepares the plastic Easter eggs that will be used in the city’s annual egg hunt at Lum Park.

Kelly Humphrey • kelly.humphrey@brainerddispatch.com

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Dispatch for iPad! www.brainerddispatch.com

#1

source

for information

In the last three years...

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hrough the years, the Dispatch has gained awards for design and editing, general excellence, spot news, sports, photography and investigative reporting from the Minnesota Associated Press Association.

Dispatch staff members were awarded a 2011 Morris Journalism Excellence Award for deadline news reporting related to the Wadena tornado from the Morris

Publishing Group, the Dispatch’s owners.

Also in 2011, Kelly Humphrey earned a Morris award for excellence in photography.

In 2012, five Dispatch journalists were awarded the Morris Excellent Awards for community service for coverage of a racially motivated assault in Brainerd.

In 2012 and 2013, the redesigned Dispatch gained worldwide recognition when five of its

in the Brainerd lakes area

front pages made the Newseum’s top 10 list, chosen from more than 800 newspapers from 90 countries.

In 2012, the Dispatch won 12 awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest, including a website named one of the top three among dailies in the state with a circulation of 10,000 or more. The Dispatch also gained awards for clever ad placement

and for best magazine with “Her Voice,” and best of police blotter.

The Dispatch took a first place for a “tech wrap” for a complete and compelling explanation of how newspaper operations have changed and, according to the judges, gave “readers and nonreaders many reason to stick with (or join) the Brainerd Dispatch brand.”