Brainerd Lakes Progress Edition 2024

The legacy of Paul Bunyan Land

BY THERESA BOURKE Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — Siblings

Al Rademacher and Lois Moon never planned on owning an amusement park.

But now it’s their fulltime job.

When Rademacher heard Paul Bunyan Land was for sale in 2003, he spoke with then-owner Don McFarland about purchasing a train on the property and a building for his dad’s pioneer village.

What he came away with was an entire amusement park.

“When I walked out of there that day, it was like I pretty much bought the whole thing,” Rademacher said.

And then he roped his sister in with him.

“It happened so quick, honestly,” Moon said.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, the siblings were co-owners of Paul Bunyan Land, a

well-known amusement park then located in Baxter, where Kohl’s department store now stands. They didn’t quite know what they were getting into, but they did it anyway.

“I always quote my dad saying we were never told that we can’t do something,” Moon said. “Our first question is always, ‘How are we going to do it?’”

When McFarland decided to sell Paul Bunyan Land, all the various pieces were set to go in different directions, including the iconic Paul Bunyan statue and his trusty blue ox, Babe.

“Part of it was saving it for the area,” Moon said. “Literally, Paul was going somewhere, Babe was going somewhere, the rides were getting split up. And that was very close to happening.”

Changes are coming on many fronts for the Brainerd lakes area

BY RENEE RICHARDSON Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” It was true for the titular character in a 1986 movie classic, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” and it is true of most years in the Brainerd lakes area. With this Progress

edition, once again it’s time to take stock of what just happened and what is coming down the pike.

2024 is bringing a mix of new businesses and big names, it is revitalizing closed storefronts, witnessing an expansion of manufacturing and celebrating longstanding business success with notable employers. And it’s all happening

with the speed of a Minnesota summer. This spring and summer, two major additions were announced for Baxter. As one of the most inquired about projects, Kwik Trip, announced it was planning to construct a multi-million dollar 24-hour store at the corner of Edgewood Drive and Novotny Road

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Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

The 26-foot-tall talking Paul Bunyan welcomes visitors to Paul Bunyan Land on Monday, July 8, 2024. Paul greets children by name and has done so since 1950.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Lois Moon, co-owner of Paul Bunyan Land, talks about the amusement park and pioneer village on Monday, July 8, 2024. Paul Bunyan l and: H2

The 26-foot-tall animatronic Paul Bunyan has welcomed generations to the Brainerd lakes area. It’s a summer tradition, watching those mouths fall open with shock and squeals of delight — or occasionally dismay — when the low voice of that giant lumberjack greets kids by name.

Instead of seeing Paul and his various amusement park amenities split up and shipped out all over the place, Rademacher and Moon moved everything to their family’s property east of Brainerd on County Road 18, merging it with This Old Farm. Thus began Chapter 2 in the park’s history. Paul and the amusement side of the business date back to 1950, but for the past 20 years, visitors have been able to glimpse items much, much older.

This Old Farm Pioneer Village

A separate venture started by their father, Dick Rademacher, This Old Farm is an assortment of old buildings, combined with Dick’s penchant for collecting. Today, it’s known as the Pioneer Village at Paul Bunyan Land and boasts 40 old-fashioned buildings housing Dick’s vast amount of collectibles. Locales include a post office, school house, newspaper office, saloon, sawmill and a church where family weddings have taken place. Paul’s

Petting Barn attracts the animal-lovers, with goats, ducks, chickens and other animals to feed and pet.

There’s even a few standout buildings, including the depot from 1994 Disney movie “Iron Will,” along with

the oldest homestead in Brainerd, that used to stand where the Brainerd Family YMCA now sits.

The original barn and farmhouse sit on the property, too, and future plans include revamping the barn into a space to host dances or other events.

More buildings are added to the Pioneer Village every year to accommodate the growing collection of items.

A walk through the village will transport visitors through time and space, as they see what it might have been like to sit in a doctor’s office, drink at the saloon, deposit their money or attend class in a one-room schoolhouse as their ancestors did centuries ago.

Rad’s Groceries — Lunches — Confectionary still stands in the original building and with the original sign as when Ralph and Minnie Rademacher ran it as a business in the 1930s near where The Harbor on Crescent Bay sits today off South Long Lake. After learning the building was going to be torn down, Rademacher and Moon arranged for it to be moved to their Pioneer Village, not wanting to part

Rooted in Values, Services and Mission

By Alyson Levig

Since 1995, Mike’s Tree Company has provided excellence in their knowledgeable tree care services throughout the Brainerd lakes area while also rooting down their community and employee-focused mission toward present and future generations. Owner and founder Mike Schwarze has worked tirelessly to grow the image and integrity of his company to be a year-round local resource for the community, providing snow removal and land clearings during winter besides the many tree services and mulch sales throughout summer. All of which relate toward their customer-centric referral reputation, pride in completed work and dedication to ministering to the community.

Qualified Employees

As an additional show of their commitment to their mission, Mike’s Tree Company has 30 employees, who on average retain at least 12-15 years. Four to six are certified arborists while the rest are highly-trained, dedicated crew members, yet all participate in training from national organizations each year which are then incorporated into standards throughout the company. These changing standards establish a safe and professional end goal for both crew and clients.

“We are always investing in state-of-the-art equipment for our employees,” Mike said. “It helps us become more efficient with all the services we provide.”

protection, stump removal, insect disease control, and even attend to soil care. Moreover, you can trust these to follow safe and correct procedures to ensure the protection of your tree(s) for future generations.

New Moves at Mike’s

Though Mike’s Tree Company has been around the Brainerd lakes area for almost 30 years, many branches have extended in the company within the past two. With the purchase of a crane, Mike’s has expanded its land clearing division, enabling them to take on more commercial-size projects. And with land clearings comes wood waste. But Mike’s Tree Company recycles all wood waste from projects at company headquarters to be resold as sustainable mulch, with eight different available colors, including natural hardwood, barnwood red and light chestnut brown.

Because of this ongoing investment in equipment and training knowledgeable workers, the employees at Mike’s Tree Company can easily conduct tree removals, trimmings, pruning,

Finally, Mike’s Tree Company has also opened its doors to the local community and other businesses as a drop-spot for their organic yard waste, which helps reduce the amounts heading to a nearby landfill and instead re-purposes it back into the community as a landscape feature.

Check out Mike’s Tree Company

Overall, Mike’s Tree Company is a local, friendly, growing business with an extensive customer-based reputation rooted down into the community because of their focus on their work in servicing the Brainerd lakes area. Trust that Mike’s will take care of both you and your trees, ensuring a healthy population for generations to come.

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Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

This Old Farm started back in the 1970s as a venture of Dick Rademacher, father of current Paul Bunyan Land owners Al Rademacher and Lois Moon. Dick Rademacher's many antique collectibles are on display for viewing.

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Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Old trains and other trinkets line one of the buildings of This Old Farm at Paul Bunyan Land on Monday, July 8, 2024.

with a precious piece of their grandparents. The building doubled as the family house for a long time, and they recall stories of their dad as a young entrepreneur, biking around the nearby lake to collect and swell worms.

“It would have meant nothing to anybody else,” Moon said of the building. “But to us it meant a lot.”

Old-fashioned porcelain dolls, train sets, ships, buggies and so many, many more antique collectibles draw the eye in the various buildings. Historic Brainerd artifacts line the shelves, too, including paraphernalia from the old Paramount Theatre.

“Sometimes it’s not the age of something, but it’s the uniqueness,” Moon said.

A shed stands full of classic cars, including the Model A bought decades ago by Dick Rademacher and his father, Ralph. There’s a golf cart that belonged to Muriel Humphrey, wife of Minnesota Sen. and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. And in the same automotive vein, old gas pumps line one of the buildings, advertising gas prices at mere pennies per gallon.

A lot has changed since the times that are preserved in the Pioneer Village, and so much about Paul Bunyan Land itself is different, too.

But there’s one thing that hasn’t changed. The park’s namesake remains the focal point.

The man, the myth, the legend

After serving as the main attraction at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948 and 1949, the giant Paul Bunyan was

purchased by two Brainerd businessmen and moved to the original location of Paul Bunyan Land — at the intersection of highways 371 and 210 in Baxter. He began attracting visitors to the amusement park in 1950 and still takes that job seriously today,

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nearly 75 years later.

With a voice as big as Paul’s comes equally big responsibility.

No one knows that better than Hans and Virgil, the current voices of Paul.

“Voicing a character such as Paul and being able to entertain the public is quite the honor,” Virgil said during a phone interview.

Opting only to be referred to by their first names, the duo trade off giving the giant lumberjack that iconic booming voice. Those who listen closely will hear a slight Canadian accent, eh? That’s done on purpose to pay homage to Paul’s Franco-American ancestry.

“Paul Bunyan was an amalgamism of two Canadian lumberjacks,” Hans explained. “And I believe that tales of Paul Bunyan started in the FrenchCanadian logging camps.”

Today the legend has grown to one of giant proportions — pun intended — making Paul Bunyan the Mickey Mouse of the North, a summertime Santa, watching closely to see if kids are naughty or nice. It’s another big job that comes with the voice.

“I love entertaining the public and being a teacher to children, reminding them that obedient children are rewarded,” Hans said. “And that’s why

Santa Claus rewards nice children with Christmas presents, or Babe the Blue Ox gets a sugar lump when he’s nice.” Perhaps most importantly, Hans likes to remind kids that “mother knows best.”

“All mothers like that one,” he said.

When Paul isn’t welcoming kids to the park or reminding them to be on their best behavior, he’s likely doing one of his all-time favorite things — singing.

“Paul is not only the world’s largest talking animated man, he loves to sing as well,” Hans said. “I have sung many children’s songs, including his favorite, ‘Pop Goes the Weasel.’”

And if a child ever calls Paul “creepy,” which happens from time to time, he’ll have a little fun by singing the theme song from “The Addams Family.”

Hans began talking and singing as Paul nine years ago and boasts over 4,000 hours of experience.

He recalls running into Paul himself as a youngster, after his family moved up to the lakes area from the Twin Cities in 1981.

“He said my name, and I was never scared. I was just stunned, how he

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Paul Bunyan l and:

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

A child gets his photo taken on Paul Bunyan’s boot on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Paul Bunyan l and CONTINUED

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Babe the Blue Ox stands at the entrance of Paul Bunyan Land on Monday, July 8, 2024.

knew it,” Hans said.

He went back to visit Paul on several occasions and was even present in Baxter on closing day in 2003, standing next to Don McFarland when the first chapter of Paul Bunyan Land closed. Then in 2015, Hans traipsed over to Paul Bunyan Land with his dad, hoping to find work mowing the grass at the amusement park.

But in a twist of fate, there was only one job open — the voice of Paul.

“I rubbed my chin and said, ‘Hmm, maybe I could do that,’” Hans said. “And Lois looked at me, and her jaw dropped. She pointed and said, ‘Perfect.’”

It wasn’t planned, but it was clearly meant to be.

Virgil vaguely remembers Paul at the first amusement park location, being about 3 or 4 years old when everything was in Baxter.

“I was just a little shy, but I remember I pretty much warmed up to him pretty quickly and everything,” Virgil said. “... It was one of the things that helped me get acquainted with Paul Bunyan as a whole.”

He started working at Paul Bunyan Land as a ride operator in 2016. When he showed an interest in voicing Paul, he learned the job was already covered.

It just wasn’t meant to be — yet.

Partway through the 2018 season, though, a second voice for Paul was wanted.

“And the first guy that came to my mind was my buddy Virgil,” Hans

every job available at Paul Bunyan Land over the past nine years, from retail to rides to cook to park manager. Now she works on the marketing side of the business in the summer while she’s not teaching. Her dad brought her to the park as a kid after he, himself, had worked there in his teenage years. She eventually found the same enjoyment in that kind of employment.

“I love working for the Rademacher family,” Larson said. “They really do make this a full family operation with their employees and with their guests. … I just like getting to help make those memories, seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces.”

And perhaps Larson’s own daughter will follow in her mom and grandpa’s footsteps, finding a job at Paul Bunyan Land when she’s old enough.

Park Manager Wendy Kasper doesn’t have to wait to share the experience with the younger generations in her family. She and her two granddaughters came to the park together looking for work, and all three of them love it.

Kasper recalls working for the old park back when it was in Baxter, too, and now continues her family’s tradition at the Brainerd location.

“It’s amazing that it’s still up and running,” she said.

said.

Hans trained Virgil in the art of voicing Paul. And it helped that the two already had similar-sounding voices.

Moon said she even struggles to tell the difference sometimes when listening to Paul.

Virgil officially started in 2019,

taking the morning shift for Paul, while Hans fills in the afternoon.

Now, the two voices are best friends, able to bounce ideas off one another when needed.

And they never forget the other friend who made all of it possible.

Dick Rademacher died in April 2024, but his legacy lives on in the 160 acres of farmland he gave for Paul Bunyan Land and This Old Farm Pioneer Village.

“We must always remember that, thanks to Dick giving his family some land for Paul Bunyan Land to be built on, Paul and Babe could stay in the Brainerd area, where they remain to this day,” Hans said, reiterating the speech he gave at Dick’s funeral.

“Without Dick, there wouldn’t be a Paul Bunyan Land,” he added. “And we wouldn’t have a job voicing Paul.”

And so many people wouldn’t have the memories they do.

A family affair

Families out at Paul Bunyan Land Monday, July 8, drove bumper cars, climbed the rock wall, ate ice cream and discovered all the amusement park had to offer.

It’s not only the visitors who come back to the park year after year with their families, though. It’s the employees, too.

Jackie Larson has done just about

And that’s thanks to Rademacher and Moon and all the work they’ve put into the business over the past 21 years. Paul Bunyan Land reopened in Brainerd Memorial Day weekend in 2004, not missing a single season when changing ownership. At that time, Moon and Rademacher both already had full-time jobs. Moon was a teacher’s aide, and Rademacher worked at Shannon’s Auto Body. Up until about six years ago, Rademacher still worked elsewhere in the winter, but now it’s hard to even do that with their commitment to Paul Bunyan Land. There are rides to rebuild and maintenance projects to keep up with.

“We are not the owners that spend six months down south,” Moon said. “... That’s when we do our maintenance. We are over here painting a building or building this or making that. We do it ourselves.”

It’s something they have to live and breathe in order to keep succeeding.

“It has to be your passion,” Moon said. “We just never stopped.”

And they don’t have plans to do so anytime soon.

They’ve updated the concessions area, added a 32-site campground in 2019, and, of course, there are the fall festivities. While the Paul Bunyan

Lakewood Health System Breaks Ground on New Cancer Center

By Wade Swenson, MD

oncology case managers will be located within the new space for easy access to patients.

At Lakewood Health System, we know access to timely cancer care is crucial, particularly in rural areas like those here in Minnesota. In rural communities, patients often face challenges such as long travel distances, limited healthcare facilities, and even fewer specialists. These barriers can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment, significantly impacting patient outcomes. Quick access to cancer care is essential for early detection and effective treatment, improving survival rates and quality of life for patients.

has four full time oncology providers, recently adding Dr. Emily McGovern, and a sixth, Dr. Aquino Williams, set to join the practice in the fall of 2025. With these additions, we are doing everything we can to eliminate barriers to care by providing quick access to patients throughout the area.

Establishing a community-based cancer center is a game changer for the region and the impact of this project extends beyond the immediate healthcare benefits. It signifies a commitment to the long-term well-being and development of central Minnesota and the Lakewood communities. By investing in such a facility, we are improving healthcare access and contributing to the region’s economic and social vitality. The cancer center will create jobs, foster community engagement, and position central Minnesota as a healthcare innovation and excellence hub.

medical oncology and 2 radiation oncology exam rooms, a procedure room, in-house PET/CT, and a linear accelerator, used for radiation treatments. Additionally,

Lakewood is addressing this critical need by providing comprehensive cancer care close to home in Staples, MN. In addition to myself, Lakewood now

As a medical professional committed to this cause, I am incredibly proud to be part of this transformative journey. Our collective efforts today will pave the way for a healthier, more resilient community tomorrow, where high-quality cancer care is accessible to all in the heart of central Minnesota.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Al Rademacher, co-owner of Paul Bunyan Land, talks about his family’s history with the business on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Jackie Larson, who works in marketing for Paul Bunyan Land, talks on Monday, July 8, 2024, about the many jobs she’s had at the park.

Paul Bunyan l and: H5

just off Highway 371 North in Baxter. With the arrival of the first Kwik Trip, more were expected to be constructed in the area and it didn’t take long for additional plans to surface. In May, the Echo Journal reported a development company has an active purchase agreement with Kwik Trip to build a gas station on the west side of Highway 371 in Pequot Lakes, at the highway and County Road 11. The project is in a preliminary stage and, if it is eventually approved, would be the first major development on the highway since it expanded to four lanes in 2017, Nancy Vogt, Echo Journal editor, wrote on May 14.

More new jobs will be added with the addition of the Amazon distribution center in Baxter’s Industrial Park with plans to start construction this fall. Amazon plans to build a 49,500-square-foot last-mile distribution facility on a 20-acre site on Timberwood Drive, off Highway 210 on Baxter’s west side. The plans come with a potential 19,000-square-foot expansion, bringing the possible total building size to 68,500 square feet.

Projects started and highlighted last year were completed, such as longtime manufacturer Clow Stamping’s expansion near Merrifield. The company has grown from a 15,750-square-foot facility, which it purchased in 1973 and moved all production to in 1985, to more than 285,000-square-feet with more than 500 full-time employees today. The recent $18.9 million expansion is expected to create 65 jobs over the next two years with an average wage of $17.50.

Other longstanding companies had milestones, like Sheridan, formerly known as Bang Printing, which celebrated its 125th anniversary on July 22 at its Brainerd printing facility.

Owner and CEO of CJK Group, the parent company of Sheridan, Chris Kurtzman, at the celebration noted the business started in downtown Brainerd and has been in the family since 1980.

“It’s just a fantastic community with a great core of employees,” Kurtzman said. “I think of the growth we’ve had, all of us collectively, starting here (and growing) to several thousand employees. It couldn’t be done without all of your support.”

Another longstanding community

business, Brekken’s, announced it was going full circle and back to its roots in downtown Brainerd with a move out of the Westgate Mall in September.

“I’m excited about being part of the downtown redevelopment that I’ve seen happening, and I thought that the future would be that area,” owner Isaac Brekken said. He pointed to the continuing evolution and buzz in Crosby with new businesses and renovation fueled by the mountain bike trails and work downtown Brainerd has already accomplished to renovate as well. Brekken didn’t just move into the open retail space, he purchased the iconic Parker Building, also often known as the Menk Building for longtime former owner Ed Menk, who continues to operate his jewelry business at the corner of Laurel and Seventh streets.

After being vacant since the pandemic, the former Northwind Grille space was transformed into the Chick N Rice restaurant via the entrepreneurial nature of restauranteur and mushroom farmer Thamrong “Keng” Dechawuth, who is the registered agent with the business, which is

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Land amusement park and Pioneer Village are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day another big event takes place in October. Things turn dark the last three Fridays and Saturdays of the month, and Hidden Hollows emerges.

A haunted house and corn maze emerge on the property, scaring all the daring visitors since 1998. Planning for the holiday is a year-round task, as they look to up their game every year with new scary attractions.

“People come, and they have high expectations for us,” Moon said.

But those expectations don’t stop in the summer either. While it might be a different crowd looking for some good, family fun instead of a spine-chilling scare, the expectations are still there for a top-notch experience that keeps them coming back year after year.

“It’s the memories that they create that day,” Moon said. “If grandma and grandpa, mom and dad are with them, it’s a memory day.”

For Rademacher, it’s the place’s already well-known and long-established history that keeps it going today.

“Generations of people knowing what’s here, generations of people talking to Paul,” he said. And generations of Paul talking back.

As Hans puts it: “With a big voice, comes big responsibility.”

Paul Bunyan Land City: East of Brainerd.

Number of employees: 45-50 during the summer season. Interesting fact: Paul Bunyan’s footprints from the original Paul Bunyan location are still visible in the parking lot at Kohl’s.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch. com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ DispatchTheresa. Paul Bunyan l and CONTINUED FROM H4

ConnectingourCommunity

CTC is dedicated to its’ craft, membership and communities

It’s rare for a company to receive a 90% response rate when asking employees about their workplace satisfaction, but that’s exactly what happened at CTC.

Known for providing exceptional fiber optic internet services, CTC is now also recognized as one of the best small businesses to work for in Minnesota for the second year in a row.

CTC was ranked 47th among the top small businesses in the state by the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2024. In 2023, CTC was ranked in 68th place. Each year, the Star Tribune highlights the top 200 workplaces in Minnesota, categorizing them into large, midsize and small companies. This prestigious recognition is based on employee feedback that assesses engagement, organizational health and overall satisfaction.

The rankings were determined from the input of 125,000-plus employees across Minnesota’s public, private and nonprofit sectors. At CTC, the feedback

showcased a positive and unique workplace culture where employees feel supported and valued. Employees reported high levels of job satisfaction, with many highlighting opportunities for growth and a supportive management team. As one employee noted, “CTC truly cares about its staff. Everyone from managers to the CEO is approachable and our team is motivated and connected.”

Another employee shared, “Working here feels like part of a big family, and that sense of belonging makes me happy. Management listens to us and genuinely cares about our opinions.”

CTC’s workforce is diverse, with each employee bringing unique skills and perspectives that enhance the company’s success. The management team regularly acknowledges the outstanding contributions of staff members, who are united in their mission to deliver excellent service to CTC members. An employee said, “I’m part of a

cooperative with the best fiber optic network in the area. CTC allows me to provide top-notch customer service, ensuring satisfaction for all our clients.”

CEO/General Manager Kristi Westbrock commented on the recognition: “Being in the Top 50 of best workplaces in MN, out of the 5,000 companies that applied, is humbling and a true testament to the culture we have all worked to create at CTC. Our team’s dedication to their craft, our membership, and our communities has developed a workplace full of pride and loyalty,” CTC is grateful to every employee for their hard work and commitment to their members. CTC always seeks passionate, skilled, and techsavvy individuals to join their team. If you or someone you know is interested, visit goctc.com/ careers. CTC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The sun broke through the clouds along Edgewood Drive in Baxter near Novotny Road on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. A Kwik Trip is expected to be constructed on the site and open in 2025.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch Rides are one attraction at the Paul Bunyan Land amusement park.

Workers process outgoing shipments at an Amazon Fulfillment

based in Bemidji. Dechawuth, a native of Thailand, came to the United States to study electrical engineering at the University of Southern California in the late 1990s and graduated with a master’s degree in 2000. However, he soon found his true passion in the restaurant industry and in 2009 he opened Drunken Noodle in Fargo, North Dakota, followed by the Bemidji location (called Tara Thai then Tara Bemidji) and more recently the Drunken Noodle on Main Street in Crosby, before buying the 612 Station, renaming it the Blue Oyster on Front Street in Brainerd and now Chick N Rice on Laurel Street.

After much anticipation, Dunkin’ opened its new walk-up and drive-thru restaurant on Washington Street in northeast Brainerd on Aug. 6 with

throngs of people filling the drive-thru lane, sitting beneath the umbrellatopped tables and waiting in line at the walk-up order window. Even with the crush of customers, service was quick on a sunny summer’s day.

Challenges ahead Highway construction will pose a challenge in the not too distant future.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation in partnership with the city of Baxter and Crow Wing County, will design and install an overpass with Highway 371 going over the BNSF Railway tracks and Highway 210. When Highway 371 will come back down to ground and allow access to local businesses will be a key component. Construction on the $58 million project is expected to start in 2028.

“That’s going to change the landscape, it is,” said Nate Grotzke broker at Close Converse Commercial Real

Estate/Business Brokerage. “And it’s not set in stone to our understanding, it’s not set in stone exactly how it’s going to look.”

That will follow on the heels of the reconstruction of Highway 210 — also known as Washington Street — from Baxter Drive on the east through Brainerd to Pine Shores Road. The project includes building two roundabouts in east Brainerd. Construction is expected in 2026-2027.

Grotzke and Chris Close, senior adviser and owner at Close Converse in Brainerd, both sat down to talk about the lake area’s growth, real estate, housing needs and opportunities for a Progress story on population growth.

“I think there’s been a real migration, not just to Brainerd but to others of those that were originally vacation destinations,” Close said. “It’s like, ‘This actually could be a

full-time destination.’ And I think that’s what’s happening.”

Ben Winchester, a rural sociologist and educator with the University of Minnesota Extension, St. Cloud office, focuses on rural community economics and development. He’s often spoken about the rural “brain gain” as young people move back to smaller communities as they begin to have their own children and bring their skills and talents with them.

“Since the ‘70s, there’s been a consistent pattern of people moving in, and it really filled up our towns in the ‘90s,” Winchester said during a Zoom interview. The migration slowed in the 2000s. One reason could be a lack of housing. That lack of housing goes against the narrative of small towns dying.

“Our homes are full, which again,

Cragun’s CRMC Championship continues to be successful

By Carrie Scarfino

This year’s 2024 CRMC Championship was truly incredible. Building on the success of the 2023 event, which won tournament of the year, the CRMC Championship team knew they had to raise their game as PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada merged to form PGA TOUR Americas.

In March 2024, the inaugural PGA TOUR

Americas commenced with 16 events spanning across Latin America, Canada and Cragun’s Legacy Courses, the only United States stop on the tour. PGA TOUR Americas is now a singular, competitive pathway tour leading to the Korn Ferry Tour. Players from two continents and eight countries competed for the chance to earn their way onto the Korn Ferry Tour and ultimately the PGA TOUR.

Cragun’s Legacy Courses was the final full-field stop before the PGA TOUR Americas Fortinet Cup Championship in Calgary. The CRMC Championship was played on the 7,059 yard, Par 70, Blue and White nines of the resort’s Dutch 27 championship golf course,

renovated by PGA TOUR Pro Tom Lehman.

This year, the top pointsearner in the Fortinet Cup earns membership into the Korn Ferry Tour for 2025, along with a $40,500 bonus. Players who earn Korn Ferry Tour cards (up to 15) through the PGA TOUR Americas season will be guaranteed a spot in the Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, post-PGA TOUR Americas season, for a chance to earn PGA TOUR membership.

Entering its third year, the CRMC Championship saw tournament director and Cragun’s Legacy Courses Director of Golf Jack Wawro feel the pressure to elevate this year’s event beyond last year’s.

“The difference maker in 2024 was how much the Brainerd lakes community has embraced this annual event. Our sponsors, volunteers, and spectators have rallied to make this a “must attend” event in our area. It is so much fun to see everyone enjoying the event and supporting our charities and the professionals competing for the championship,” Wawro said.

Returning title sponsor, Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, presenting sponsor Gertens, pro-am and ticket event sponsor Northern Pacific Center, Saturday Night Jam sponsor Clow Stamping Company, and volunteer sponsor BLAEDC were all in attendance. New sponsors such as Wolf River

Electric, BlazeAir and Ernie’s on Gull also contributed significantly.

This year’s event also featured the Babinski Foundation pet adoption on Thursday, Military Day on Friday offering the first 250 military members free access to the VIP area, Ladies Night on Friday with Anderson Daniels, a rock concert on Saturday with The Hype, a Sunday breakfast buffet benefitting Smiles for Jake, a championship trophy presentation and a donation check to the CRMC Foundation.

The PGA TOUR Americas event will be back in 2025.

To become a 2025 sponsor, please contact Jack Wawro at jwawro@craguns.com.

Center on Cyber Monday in Tracy, California, U.S. November 28, 2016.

Overview: H7

goes against the negative narrative that if you believe our small towns are dying, trying to find a home to buy — good luck,” Winchester said.

For Winchester, the pandemic didn’t start the migration to smaller communities in the state, it just brought it to light.

“It didn’t like reinvigorate us, it just shone the light on the already high demand for our rural communities,” Winchester said.

He noted it did add to the rising home values as demand for houses increased. More employers embraced the option to work from home. Those are hard numbers to quantify, but anecdotally individuals moved up early prior to retirement. Others

Ben Winchester, rural sociologist

made seasonal homes their full-time residence and instead of driving to the lake when they could, they now commute back to the Twin Cities for certain days and spend the rest of their time at home in the lakes area.

On the other hand, Winchester said it made work and home are disconnected.

“They’re decoupling, and you don’t always live where you work. In fact, just 51% of Minnesotans now work in

the county that they live in. And that’s been a long-standing trend downward,” he said.

“So when we think about how people do live, shop, play, recreate, it’s in the region and Brainerd can be a hub of that region. A lot of jobs have migrated to these regional centers. But again, in our smallest towns, you’ve got people coming in. And even in the small towns, you have people commuting into those then people in town commuting out. So there’s this really big flow of people moving all around regions right now.”

Perhaps surprisingly, Winchester said the majority of movers to rural communities are not from there.

Whether they stay, add their children to the school district, add to the community’s social fabric, pay taxes and fill open jobs or open new businesses

— in other words add to the growth of the local economy — can hang on how welcoming the community is to newcomers. It’s not a matter of creating the jobs because the jobs are here, Winchester said.

“Instead of industrial recruitment, we need to supplement it with residential recruitment. … We need to find ways to welcome new residents in,” Winchester said, adding 60% of new residents don’t join the community because of a job offer. Instead they are moving for other reasons, he said, perhaps a slower pace of life, safety, security and a lower cost for housing.

Winchester said people move for quality of life and a job was not even on the top 10 list of reasons to relocate.

Protect what matters most

By Jodie Norquist

As you and your family spend Labor Day weekend enjoying all the Brainerd lakes area offers, it’s also a great time to consider safeguarding your most valuable assets. Shannon Finnegan and his staff at American Family Insurance in Brainerd are dedicated to providing the comprehensive coverage you need.

Finnegan & Associates Inc. is your local American Family Insurance agency. They offer a range of insurance products, including personal, auto, home and life insurance policies. Your home is your largest asset and it’s important to have proper coverage. You don’t want to discover after the fact when it’s too late. Shannon Finnegan, agent and owner, understands each family’s needs are unique and he and his staff ensure tailored solutions that fit your lifestyle and budget. Their focus is on excellent service and making sure their clients are happy and, most importantly, feel their homes and families are protected. Stop in and get a quote at their office, 406 W. Washington St., Unit 4, Brainerd, or call 218-829-3040.

Caroline Julstrom / Brainerd Dispatch

to the block where the store started in the city 70 years ago.

“They are moving to put their home in the middle of everywhere, is what I call it, inside the middle of nowhere,” Winchester said, noting whether moving to a smaller town is alienating or welcoming is key to retaining those workers, families and entrepreneurs. Six out of 10 of those new residents won’t be there in five years if they

find the community isn’t welcoming.

“So this is now a huge retention issue,” Winchester said. “So economic development for me is not just about the job. It’s everything but the job to ensure that you are retaining the people that you work so hard to recruit.”

Winchester pointed to Otter Tail County, which developed a “grab-abite” program to welcome new residents and answer questions they may have. “So this is the key point — how

do you allow new people to help build their community too in the same place that previous generations have built theirs?” Winchester said different communities across the state are trying a variety of approaches aimed at welcoming newcomers. Finding answers to these questions and needs for child care and affordable housing are key aspects of the lakes region’s economic health.

This Progress edition looks at a host of area workers, employers, and entrepreneurs along with what they bring to the fabric of the region. Take a moment to check it out. It’s all moving pretty fast.

RENEE RICHARDSON, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/DispatchBizBuzz.

Holden ElectricCo.,Inc. is committedtopr oviding

By Sara Schroeder (with edits

Advertorial

by advertiser)

At Holden Electric, you can. A family-owned business that has been serving and servicing the Brainerd lakes area since 1957, Holden Electric is known for contributing to the lakes area’s economic growth and has become the largest electrical contractor in the Baxter/Brainerd area.

Holden Electric serves both central and northern Minnesota with offices in Baxter, Duluth and Two Harbors. They have become a leading electrical contractor in service and excellence.

Top notch, quality work is what you can expect when you call for a repair, a new build or remodel.

Holden Electric is a name you can trust, backed by years of experience and local businesses as proof of not only a job well done, but continued great customer service, quick response to repairs and knowledgeable ideas for new builds and businesses.

Whether you are new to the area, or have been here for years, you will for sure hear of Holden Electric. The owner and many employees are involved in the community, the company donates to many causes locally both financially and with in-kind services.

As you visit various places throughout northern Minnesota you will soon learn that Holden Electric has had their hand in many of them such as the Gichi-ziibi Center for the Arts, Brainerd Airport, Staples School, Shannon’s Auto, Essentia Deerwood Clinic, and Habitat for Humanity to name a few. The signature project was the ground up new Astera Hospital in Wadena. Holden Electric isn’t just a business in Baxter, Minnesota; it’s a family of electricians, working together, cheering one another on and celebrating each other’s life events and being there for co-workers when life gives them challenges. Holden Electric recently added several electricians that have roots in our community and have been welcomed by all.

With Holden Electric, you aren’t just a name, you’re family.

Call for a quote for your next project at 218-829-4759 or visit holdenelectric.com.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Chick N Rice, the new restaurant on Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd, is now open in the former Northwind Grille.

Holistic health services grow in the Brainerd lakes area

BY CAROLINE JULSTROM Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — According to a poll by Gallup and West Health, 42% of respondents felt their most recent experiences with a medical provider were not worth the cost of care, and 57% said the United States had a poor or failing ability to address mental health conditions.

Although high cost is the main reason Americans are dissatisfied with their care — only 17% of survey respondents rated the United States poor or failing in quality of care, versus 75% giving those ratings for cost of care — people like Amanda Plevell, Julienne Becker, Jenna Niggeler, Kelly Vanvickle and Kelly Thompson believe there is something missing from the way we treat illness.

ANMC Holistic Health

Amanda Plevell’s story is, in her opinion, nothing short of a miracle. When her chronic illness left her wheelchair-bound, unable to move her arms or legs and suffering from neuropathy and myopathy — diseases of the nerves and muscles respectively — Plevell’s doctors weren’t sure she would ever walk again. Unsatisfied with the answers she was getting from the conventional medical community, she went to seek out her own.

Fifteen years and a doctorate later, Plevell is walking, gesturing and “doing all the things.” Beyond that, she is sharing the knowledge that led to her success.

“I think acute medicine in America is amazing, phenomenal, we need it,” Plevell said. “What we could do better at is holistic wellness ahead of time.”

Acute medicine is the medical specialty concerned with urgent medical needs, like managing life-threatening medical emergencies and administering care in the first 72 hours of presenting ailments, according to the Society for Acute Medicine. Holistic wellness, in contrast, is an approach to health that considers many aspects of wellness such as physical, emotional, social and spiritual, according to Western Connecticut’s Institute for Holistic Health Studies.

Plevell’s company, ANMC Holistic Health in Little Falls, uses a method Plevell called PIP care, which stands for proactive, intentional and purposeful, to address clients’ health needs. By developing a personalized relationship with clients and their bodies, she said ANMC intends not to treat disease, but to cause health.

“The biggest mission (is) creating communities where it’s easy to be healthy and OK to be happy,” Plevell said. “What are the things that we can be doing to teach people, so that they’re causing their own health, so that we don’t end up in these disease states?”

ANMC operates on long term relationships with clients to improve their overall health and well-being. During ANMC’s $320 comprehensive initial consultation, Plevell and her staff

S. Thomas & Associates Estate Sale Services goes digital

BY CAROLINE JULSTROM Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — For the Foys, making the old new again is a family business.

Steve and Julie Foy, along with their son Matthew Foy, own the physical store Design Consign in downtown Brainerd, as well as conducting estate sales through S. Thomas and Associates Estate Sale Services. Now, S. Thomas and Associates is expanding its capabilities into the online world. The Foys have been conducting estate sales with S. Thomas and Associates since 2009, pricing and selling the contents of entire homes at the request of their clients. S. Thomas and Associates conducts sales from the Bemidji area to a bit south of St. Cloud and is fully licensed and bonded in the state of Minnesota.

In 2012, the Foys started Design Consign and continued running it parallel to S. Thomas and Associates. The store sells items on consignment, which means owners of the items pay Design Consign a fee to price and sell their items in a store environment. Steve Foy said his family’s prices are the lowest prices for antiques in the state of Minnesota, and he doesn’t plan to raise them. Now, the Foys are expanding their reach once again by conducting online auctions of goods that might otherwise be sold at estate sales.

“There has to be enough inventory in the house to attract the people that we need to have this sale successful,” Steve Foy said. “So it’s one of those things that not everybody has enough for an estate sale.”

ESTATE SALES: H12

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Amanda Plevell, founder of AMNC Holistic Health gives a tour of her building on Tuesday, June 18, 2024.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Owner Julienne Becker demonstrates cupping on Caroline Julstrom at Better Days Acupuncture on June 21, 2024, at The Franklin Arts Center.

HOLISTIC HEALTH: H10

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Steve Foy, left, Julie Foy and Matthew Foy pause behind the counter of the Design Consign store on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in downtown Brainerd.

helps avoid stress in clients and allows them to feel safe.

improve wasn’t as possible when she was working at the county.

collect information on clients’ current health and lifestyle in order to create a personalized plan to address their needs.

“So once we know the concepts and the challenges and the limiting beliefs and the things that are getting in their way, the coaches work to teach out and train those various things, so they can create new blueprints in their mind,” Plevell said. “So when they’re done with their coaching, we might have … a couple of infrared saunas that we use for chromotherapy. We use chromotherapy, we use a lot of frequency and light and sound, vibration.”

Plevell said using non-invasive therapies that involve sound and light

Plevell said finding her staff, building and clients felt meant to be. Jessica Scherping, ANMC Holistic Health’s executive assistant and client support specialist, agreed.

“Yeah, it was truly just divine intervention,” Scherping said. “I had worked for the county for a long time, had my son, wanted something different, and I found Amanda. I started right away and I’ve been here for three years.”

Scherping, office administrative assistant Danielle Crawford and intern Calli Funk all said they appreciated the ability to get to know patients on an individual level. Scherping said being able to see customers come in with problems and watch how they

Our6,000+squarefootshowroomisfilledwithjustabout everythingtocompleteyourspace!

ANMC has a program called The Next Generation of Healers, in which Plevell personally trains members of partner clinics to operate on a more holistic medical model. Although Plevell does plan to open a second location sometime in the future, she said this program is her main priority at the moment.

“I’m at the point now where I can work individually, and I can train a staff to work with bigger groups of individuals, but I’m at the point now where I need to train individuals to affect their group of people,” Plevell said.

Better Days Acupuncture

Julienne Becker started her health

career in the military, where she served as a Navy cryptologic technician, but found herself responsible for the health of her crewmates because, “it was a lot of fun.”

After the military, Becker went on to St. Cloud State University to earn a degree in public health, then to a county health department in Arizona, back to school for a degree in medical specialties and eventually to a job as a medical assistant. It was there that Becker noticed something missing from Western medical care.

“It just kind of set me on fire to provide a little bit more of a bridge between Western medicine and Eastern medicine,” Becker said. “So I ended up going back to school and

Is it time for a home refresh? Discover rustic elegance with Lonesome Cottage

By Jodie Norquist

Is it time to breathe new life into your home? Consider Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company, a family-owned business in Pequot Lakes, for your inspiration and design needs. The company employs local artisans and craftspeople at its production facility and produces furniture that is sold globally. The design center also has a 6,000-square-foot showroom with handmade furniture and other products made for every room in your home, cabin or business. They have professional designers on staff to help you create the perfect space.

Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company combines quality with sustainability. Whether you are interested in cedar logs, reclaimed barn wood or hickory pieces, their extensive selection is sure to spark inspiration for your new home build or remodeling project. They can also help you completely furnish any room, offering everything from beds, couches, bedding, pillows, chairs, rugs, art and gifts. For more information about Lonesome Cottage, visit lonesomecottage.com, call 218-568-8223, or email at showroom@lonesomecottage. com. They are located at 30773 Patriot Avenue, Pequot Lakes, right next to the Dairy Queen.

Holistic HealtH CONTINUED FROM H9

Holistic HealtH: H11

Caroline Julstrom / Brainerd Dispatch

Kelly Thompson, left, and Kelly Vanvickle, right, at Key Wellness and Aesthetics on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

getting my acupuncture degree, and I have never looked back. I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

Better Days Acupuncture is nestled in the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd, sharing a location with another acupuncture business, New Morning Acupuncture. Becker has been practicing at this location for six years.

Becker’s services include needle acupuncture; electrical stimulation applied to those same acupuncture points for those nervous about needles; cupping, which is the practice of heating the rim of a glass cup and placing it on the body to suck skin outward and stimulate circulation; and a variety of massage techniques.

Becker described acupuncture as a means to direct the body’s awareness through electrical energy and frequency, inflicting tiny traumas to stimulate circulation and allow the body to go into a healing state without actually being severely injured. She said the process is cooperative between the practitioner and the patient, and going on that journey with people is beautiful.

“I offer people to take back their healing power, to recognize that they’re in charge of their own healing,” Becker said. “So, acupuncture is just one way to connect the mind, body, soul together in the healing journey.”

An initial appointment at Better Days Acupuncture is $140, and a follow up is $100.

Becker said she’d like to hire somebody to help out at her practice, as both she and her colleague were consistently booked out. Until then, she plans on incor porating breath work, stretching and meditation into her range of services.

New Morning Acupuncture

In the same large office space as Becker, their workspaces separated by lushly decorated canopies, Jenna Niggeler runs her own acupuncture practice.

Niggeler, who grew up in the Brainerd area, said her work in health care started as a medical assistant. When she got acupuncture done to help with her knee pain as she trained for a marathon, she noticed other aspects of her health improving.

“So that’s where I kept going back for my women’s health stuff, and digestion, and sleep, and all these things that I were told were OK and couldn’t get better got better,” Niggeler said. “And then that’s where I

decided that I needed to study this more and go to school for it.”

Now, Niggeler has been doing acupuncture for a decade, and has been running New Morning Acupuncture in Brainerd for five years. She generally focuses her services on women’s health, pregnancy, postpartum and menopause care, but will treat anything that walks through the door.

“I don’t have them fill out any paperwork,” Niggeler said, referring to her patients during intake. “I like to chat. And so, asking kind of basic questions, you know, what they’re in for, what have they tried for it? I think that’s important as to, you know, what they’ve done to help their bodies so far. And then, of course, like, nutrition. I’m a fan of going through, like, a breakfast, lunch and dinner with them.”

Niggeler said she chats for about 10 minutes with new patients to get an idea of their nutrition, activity and emotional state, and to allow them to ask any questions they’d like about her practice. This first visit is priced at $100, with subsequent visits at $80.

Cupping at New Morning Acupuncture is $60 for a 30 minute session, and a facial rejuvenation session is $120.

Becker and Niggeler met five years ago, both looking for someone to provide holistic medicine services they could not perform on themselves.

Niggeler said the difference in perspective she and Becker had retained from studying at different schools helped them learn from each other and improve their practices.

“I really feel lucky to have her here, that’s for sure,” Niggeler said. “We just kind of joined forces, even though we’re two separate businesses who share space. Like, some people might think that’s crazy, but it works really, really well for us.”

Key Wellness and Aesthetics

Kelly Vanvickle and Kelly Thompson, known to their staff as “The Kellys,” have been working together for 24 years, but opened Key Wellness together in October of 2021. Vanvickle and Thompson initially worked together at the Lakewood Health System in Staples, when they were both registered nurses, but eventually decided that would not be the best fit for them going forward. Their current location in Crosslake is 38.2 miles from Lakewood, requiring them to get a variance on their noncompete with them, which speci-

fied a 40 mile radius.

“I kind of sensed a change in Kelly one day and was like, ‘What’s going on?’” Vanvickle said. “She said she was putting in her resignation. And I said, ‘Well, you’re not going without me, so what are we doing?’”

Key Wellness offers a wide variety of services including infertility consultations, IV nutrition therapy, nutrition supplements, post bariatric support, weight management, laser hair removal, skin resurfacing, botox and hormone management. An initial aesthetic consultation is free, but a hor mone consultation is $150, and a client may be charged if they choose to discuss health information during an aesthetic consultation.

Besides botox maintenance and follow up appointments, which are free, other treatments at Key Wellness range from $99-$150.

Thompson said she and Vanvickle added aesthetic services to Key Wellness’s roster after being asked for referrals by clients.

“And, you know, you always say, before that you thought of all that stuff as vanity,” Thompson said to Vanvickle.

Midwest Eye Center: An eye to good vision

By Sheila Helmberger

Our eyes are one of the most valuable assets we have, making it possible for us to fully experience and enjoy the world around us. When we can’t see correctly, or if our eyes are sore or blurry, it can be painful, uncomfortable and can change the way we see.

The expert staff at Midwest Family Eye Center have been helping people see clearly for over 35 years. Dr. Jackie McCall and Dr. Torvin Rajala offer complete eye care and can help you take the best possible care of your eyes. Many eye conditions; such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and dry eye, can be effectively treated or minimized with timely detection and the appropriate treatment plan. We are excited to now offer an in-office dry eye treatment. This procedure

targets the glands of the upper and lower eyelids when they are not functioning properly to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. Also available to our patients are clinically proven lenses aimed at reducing light sensitivity and migraines. Specialty contact lenses, such as multifocal contacts and contact lenses that correct astigmatism, are also offered.

Regular preventive eye exams are essential. If it is time for your eye exam, our friendly staff can assist you in scheduling an appointment and then help you find the ideal visual enhancing options for your needs, ensuring you leave with confidence in your eye care for the long term. Your vision is as important to the staff at Midwest Family Eye Care as it is to you. Call 218-828-9545 to set up your appointment today.

Holistic HealtH: H12

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Jessica Scherping, executive assistant and client support specialist.

“Vanity, I did,” Vanvickle said. “It was something I didn’t grow up with.”

“And neither did I,” Thompson said.

“And then I had it done,” Vanvickle continued. “Actually, Kelly did a little bit of filler in the cheeks. And I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, ‘Oh, that looks good, I don’t look as tired,’ And it dawned on me that that’s not vanity — that’s self confidence. I looked in the mirror and had a positive thought instead of something negative. We can do that now, for other people.”

The Key Wellness location also includes a boutique out front that sells clothes, jewelry and skincare.

Vanvickle said this was added to bring in some retail to cater to

tourists in the area, who wouldn’t normally come into the building if there wasn’t something to buy.

Vanvickle and Thompson also work with Therapeutic Touch in Nisswa to provide massage services at Key Wellness.

Key Wellness employs about seven people, including Morgan Rickard, a registered nurse and injector who said there was nothing about her job she didn’t like. Rickard said she

appreciates the ability to offer clients comprehensive care, as well as lear n about her own body.

“Talking with both of the Kellys, they teach me so much each day,” Rickard said. “I feel like I come into work, and I’m constantly just learning from them, which is awesome.”

CAROLINE JULSTROM, intern, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or cjulstrom@brainerddispatch.com.

Shown here is one of the original windows in the Design Consign store Thursday, May 13, 2021, at the historic First National Bank Building in Brainerd. The window is filled with an enlarged photo from the Crow Wing County Historical Society showing the former Ransford Hotel which would have been visible from that window.

Steve Foy said online auctions could be the right move for estates where relatives have taken a majority of the items in the estate instead of having them sold. The Foys have

encountered situations where the family might be selling something large, like a car or snowmobile, that would make a sale worthwhile but not a large enough number of items to justify having the sale at the house.

When S. Thomas and Associates are contracted to conduct an estate sale,

they begin with a free consultation to evaluate the value of the items and the needs of the customer, sign a contract, then clean, organize, display, price and market the items before conducting the sale.

S. Thomas and Associates has an emailing list customers can sign up for to be notified about upcoming estate sales. Steve Foy said there were around 8,000 people on that emailing list, which would now also provide them information about upcoming online auctions.

Matthew Foy, who started the online auction company, said they created their own platform for the auctions and the long-term goal was to establish it as a platform other estate sale services in different areas could use to conduct online auctions.

“So, basically, the online auctions, they, they’re very similar to estate sales,” Matthew Foy said. “The main difference is that they’re sold online, and we do offer shipping. … I would

say 30% of the items are shipped.” Matthew’s wife, Ashley Foy, also joined him in the family business nine months ago. The only person involved in the Foy’s business on a consistent basis who isn’t related to them is the full-time interior designer who arranges the items and furniture in Design Consign. Sometimes, working in secondhand goods turns up strange things like cash or expensive guns, Steve Foy said, but sometimes he and his family find things much stranger than that.

“A guy came back from World War II and he had a bunch of Nazi stuff,” Steve Foy said. “We don’t sell Nazi stuff. I don’t want Nazi stuff anywhere near me or my store. But we’ve come across it sometimes.”

“He fought in the war and he was one of those troops that liberated Germany,” Steve Foy said. “So when he went in, if you look at the old videos,

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

EstatE

EstatE salEs: H13

Holistic HEaltH CONTINUED FROM H11

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Owner Julienne Becker at Better Days Acupuncture on June 21, 2024, at The Franklin Arts Center.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Julienne Becker performs acupuncture on Caroline Julstrom at Better Days Acupuncture on June 21, 2024, at The Franklin Arts Center.

Caroline Julstrom / Brainerd Dispatch

Jenna Niggeler’s work space at New Morning Acupuncture.

there were big Nazi flags hanging down.”

“Yeah, it was like two stories tall,” Matthew Foy said. Although some of their finds might be shocking, Steve and

Matthew agreed that the surprisingness of each day’s work was something they enjoyed about the business. Meeting wildly different people and doing wildly different things every day, they said, was pretty cool.

“This one lady moves to a new house every year and a half,” Steve Foy said. “And gets rid of

everything with us, and then moves to a new house, gets all new stuff for a year and a half, gets the whole house redone and then she calls us to go pick it up and she sells the house.”

The Foys said interesting clients, like the wife of the man who they said introduced LG electronics to

the American market, provide them with a wealth of stories to tell. The best thing about the job, though, was the feeling of getting new items to clean up and sell.

CAROLINE JULSTROM, intern, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or cjulstrom@brainerddispatch.com.

By Sheila Helmberger

It is finally time for that new build. The first thing you will need to do is have the land and footprint for your new home, garage or storage space cleared. Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can do the job quickly and easily, all while keeping the surrounding area in mind so they do not disturb any of the root systems of the trees that will remain or any of the natural habitat that you’d like to keep. If it is not a new build you are working on, it might be time to clear up the overgrowth that is encroaching onto your property and choking out the space you enjoy as a yard. Joe Nelson and his staff can help with that too.

An ATV trail can give you easy access to even more of the spaces on your property and provide a little extra fun for your family close to home. Let Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching tackle the job and

help you plot out a trail through your property that will give you a scenic and fun way to utilize your land even more, and if you have your eye on the upcoming hunting season, a wildlife food plot can be created using the right crops and other materials to attract the animals you would like to see in your sight. Whether it is turkey, fox or deer Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching can advise you and what and where to plant to ensure a successful season.

Buckthorn has long been a nuisance for homeowners in the area that threatens forests and wetlands and invites other unwanted guests to your property. Wilderness Land Clearing and Mulching specializes in removing the Buckthorn leaving only the natural healthy greenery you desire.

Call Joe today to see what he can do to help you achieve the land and greenspace you envision surrounding your own home at 800-630-2960.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The historic First National Bank Building, now Design Consign, Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Brainerd.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

In 2012, the Foys started Design

Thomas and

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

The historic First National Bank Building, now Design Consign, Thursday, May 13, 2021, in Brainerd.

Hy-Tec Construction: Building community, one project at a time

By Jodie Norquist

Construction isn’t just about creating buildings — it’s about building a community. And no one understands this better than Hy-Tec Construction.

Rooted deeply in the heart of the Brainerd lakes area since 1989, Hy-Tec is more than a construction company; it’s a cornerstone of community development. We believe where you live, work and play should be enhanced by the spaces you create.

Building the future with a community focus

Hy-Tec Construction’s philosophy is simple, yet profound: a strong community makes for a strong company. This belief is evident in every project we undertake, from commercial buildings to residential homes. Hy-Tec doesn’t just build structures; we build relationships, ensuring that each project reflects the needs and aspirations of the community.

At Hy-Tec, the employees are not just workers; they are your neighbors, friends, and active members of the community. We employ tradespeople with a strong work ethic and a passion for their craft. Hy-Tec provides them with the latest technology and equipment that allows them to showcase their skills on complex construction projects, often built right in their own backyard.

This local connection is a vital part of Hy-Tec’s identity. Employees live in the communities they serve, enjoy the lakes and other amenities, and work on projects that they, too, will benefit from. This unique perspective allows Hy-Tec to deliver high-quality projects that also deeply resonate with the community’s character and needs.

A commitment to excellence

Hy-Tec Construction has a commitment to excellence. We understand that each project is a significant investment for our clients, and we take pride in delivering value, whether it’s a local business or a residential project aimed at enhancing neighborhood charm. Our approach involves meticulous planning, innovative design, and sustainable business practices.

Specialized services

Hy-Tec Construction offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. From pre-construction planning and design-build services to general contracting and construction management, Hy-Tec ensures every project is executed with precision and care. Our expertise spans various sectors, including commercial, industrial, healthcare, and education, highlighting our versatility and capability to handle diverse projects.

Community engagement

Hy-Tec is actively engaged with the community. From sponsoring local events to supporting community service organizations, our employees are always looking for ways to give back. This proactive approach not only strengthens community ties but also fosters a sense of pride and belonging among our employees and their neighbors.

The Hy-Tec promise

Hy-Tec Construction promises more than just buildings; we promise a better future for the communities we serve. Our dedication to quality, community and sustainability is woven into the fabric of our work. Each project is a testament to our belief that strong communities are built on strong foundations. Hy-Tec Construction is not just a construction company; it’s a community builder. Our local roots, commitment to excellence, and community engagement make our company an integral choice for any construction project. When you choose Hy-Tec, you’re not just investing in a building; you’re investing in the future of your community. So, whether you’re planning a commercial development or a new home, trust Hy-Tec Construction to bring your vision to life with employees who value integrity, understand quality, and have a heart for the community.

Let’s get in touch

If you’re in the market for construction services, give us a call to start the conversation. Call Hy-Tec Construction at 218-829-8529, email us at office@hyteconstruction.com or stop by our offices at 113060 Business 371, Brainerd.

New survey highlights optimism for Minnesota businesses

ST. PAUL — Minnesota business services firms expect improved profits, productivity and job growth over the next 12 months, according to a survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

More than half of respondents expect sales revenue, profits, productivity and employment to increase or stay the same in Minnesota over the next year, according to the survey. Two-thirds of firms expect labor availability to stay about the same, while nearly 65% anticipate raising wages by at least 3% to attract workers during Minnesota’s labor shortage.

On inflation, 56% of respondents expect it to rise over the next year, but that figure is down from 65% in last year’s survey, reflecting cautious optimism about slowing price increases.

“Businesses are optimistic about Minnesota’s economic outlook. Our employers have added jobs eight of the last 12 months and dozens of businesses have announced expansions in our state, including major companies like Meta, Polar Semiconductor and Solugen,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek, in a news release.

“We’re working hard to address businesses’ concerns about our economy, especially the labor shortage, as we aim to keep Minnesota among the top states for business.”

CNBC recently ranked Minnesota the sixth best state for business in the country.

“This survey partnership with DEED provides us with on-the-ground intelligence about the business conditions and expectations for inflation and hiring that is key to our understanding of the national economy,” said Joe Mahon, Regional Outreach Director for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

The Business Services Industry Conditions Survey gauges the sentiments of Minnesota business services fir ms concerning their own operations, as well as the state economy as a whole. Accounting firms, computer

consultants, advertising and public relations agencies and other types of service companies support the activities of other businesses, and their performance is an indicator of overall business conditions and trends across industries and throughout the state.

This year’s survey included responses from 141 businesses.

DEED and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis have conducted this survey annually since 2006. A detailed report of the 2024 Survey of Minnesota Business Services Firms is available on the DEED website.

Job vacancy surveyDuring 2023, employers reported a total of 139,059 vacancies, down 24.7% from second quarter 2022. This was the fifth-highest number of vacancies on record in Minnesota dating back to 2001. However, it is well down from the previous two years, 2021 and 2022, when the labor markets in Minnesota and the nation were bouncing back from the Pandemic Recession.

Regional Findings

Regionally, 78,325 or 56.3% of all job vacancies were located in the sevencounty Twin Cities metro area, while the remaining 60,734 vacancies, or 43.7%, were located in Greater Minnesota in 2023. Compared to one year ago, the number of job vacancies decreased by 20.3% in the Twin Cities and 29.6% in Greater Minnesota.

As in past years, the job vacancy rate was higher in Greater Minnesota (5.8%) than in the Twin Cities (4.6%), with both regions exhibiting tight labor markets. The Twin Cities had a ratio of 0.6 unemployed persons to every one job vacancy, while Greater Minnesota had a slightly higher ratio at 0.7 unemployed persons to every one job vacancy.

Findings by Industry, Occupation and Size

Statewide, the Health Care & Social Assistance industry had the most job vacancies with more than 36,000 openings, followed by Retail Trade with almost 24,000 vacancies, Accommodation & Food Services with 18,600

postings, and Manufacturing with almost 11,800 vacancies. Combined, those four industries accounted for almost two-thirds of the total openings in the state (see Figure 2).

Three industries had a job vacancy rate that was higher than the state’s (5.1%): Accommodations & Food Services had the highest vacancy rate of any industry at 8.6% followed by Retail Trade at 8.4% and Health Care & Social Assistance at 7.3%.

Three industries saw an increase in job vacancies over the year including Public Administration, Utilities, and Management of Companies & Enterprises. The remainder saw decreases with the largest in Health Care & Social Assistance, Accommodation & Food Services, Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Educational Services, Finance & Insurance, Administrative & Waste Services, Professional & Business Services and Transportation & Warehousing.

Occupations By occupational group, Food Preparation & Serving had the most job vacancies with just over 20,100 postings and a vacancy rate of 9.3%, followed by Sales & Related with 18,100 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 7.6%, Healthcare Practitioners & Technical with just over 15,100 openings and a vacancy rate of 8.1%, Healthcare Support with almost 11,400 openings and vacancy rate of 7.0% and Transportation & Material Moving with 9,500 openings and a vacancy rate of 4.2%.

Five occupational groups saw small increases compared to second quarter 2022: Internships, Apprenticeships, Protective Service, Legal and Community & Social Service occupations. All other groups saw losses compared to second quarter 2022, with the largest declines in Food Preparation & Serving, Sales & Related, Production, Healthcare Support, Transportation & Material Moving, Healthcare Practitioners & Technical and Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance occupations.

The 10 detailed occupations with the most job vacancies during 2023

were Retail Salespersons with 7,599 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 11.4%, Personal Care Aides with 5,669 vacancies, Fast Food & Counter Workers with 5,648 vacancies with a vacancy rate of 10.5%, Registered Nurses with 4,382 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 6.9%, First-line Supervisors of Food Prep and Serving Workers with 4,156 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 24.4%, Cashiers with 3,334 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 5.8%, First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers with 3,075 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 16.1%, Nursing Assistants with 2,591 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 10.4%, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers with 2,299 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 6.5% and Stockers & Order Fillers with 2,259 vacancies and a vacancy rate of 5.4%.

Trends in Wage Offers

The median (50th percentile) wage offer for all job vacancies is $19.68 per hour in 2023. This is easily the highest median wage offer in the history of the Job Vacancy Survey, reflecting both employers offering higher starting wages and a changing mix of available occupations. As Figure 4 illustrates, wage offers are highly correlated with experience and education requirements.

Which Occupations Are in Demand?

Jobseekers and employers want to know who is hiring and for what fields of work. Job vacancy counts alone are not a complete picture of labor market demand since larger occupations tend to have higher numbers of vacancies. Occupations in Demand (OID) provides a ranked list of occupations currently in demand, along with links to occupational descriptions, wages and programs of study. Lists are available for Minnesota as well as the 6 sub-state planning regions. These lists use measures of demand from Job Vacancy Survey statistics as well as other sources of data including Unemployment Insurance claimants and Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics.

Bridges of Hopehasamissionto“buildbridges of support,anchoredin Christ’slove,betweenfamiliesintheLakesAreaandthecommunityassets thatcanhelpthemthriveandgainhope.”Asanonprofit for20+years, theorganizationcontinuestodojustthat:connectpartnershipswithin thecommunitytostrengthen,stabilize,andsupportbothfamiliesand individualsfacingchallenges,crisesorinstabilitywithintheirlife.Bridges of Hope offersavariety of servicestoassistwiththeever-changing needs of thesurroundingcommunity.TheseservicesincludeResource Connections,CommonGoodsThrift Stores,OperationSandwich,and TheBridgeon7thOvernightShelter.

TheResourceConnectionServiceisasingularpoint of entry forindividuals andfamilieswithinthecommunitythathaveashort-termchallengeor need.Thestaffisabletoprovideaccessto resourcestotheseclientsto helpthem regainstability.Theprogramhasassistedthousands of householdsthroughouttheBrainerdLakesArea.

CommonGoodsisatrendythriftstore forthecommunitymindedshopper,ownedbyBridges of Hope.Common Goods offershigh-qualitygoods at reasonablepricesand wascreatedtosupporttheongoingwork of Bridges of Hope. StoreslocatedinBaxter,Crosby,andCrosslake.

TheResourceConnectionServiceisasingularpoint of entry forindividualsandfamilieswithinthecommunity thathaveashort-termchallengeorneed.Thestaffisable toprovideaccessto resourcestotheseclientstohelp them regainstability.Theprogramhasassistedthousands of householdsthroughouttheBrainerdLakesArea.

In2021,Bridges of Hopeopenedanovernightshelter calledTheBridgeon7th.Theshelterprovidesasafe place foranyhomelessadult18yearsandoldertosleep from7p.m.to8a.m.Theshelterislocated at 1926 S. 7th Street,Brainerd. Bridges of Hope offersmanywaysinwhichyoucaneitherdonateyour timeormoneytohelpfamiliesinneedthroughoutthecommunity. Additionally,donatingyourgentlyuseditemsand/orshopping at one of theirCommonGoodsstoresisanothergreatwaytosupportthe organization.

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by Alyson Levig (with edits by advertisor)

Entrepreneur behind Copper Creek Landscapes started endeavors at a young age

BY NANCY VOGT Echo Journal

NISSWA — Driving along Highway 371 near Nisswa, you can’t miss Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center off Highway 371 just south of downtown.

In summer, it boasts a colorful palette of flowers and plants.

In fall, giant, painted hay bales sitting in a row greet motorists.

In winter, it’s Santa in his sleigh being pulled by reindeer all aglow atop the garden center roof, not to mention skaters on the ice rink out front.

What today is Copper Creek Landscapes and

BY TIM SPEIER Brainerd Dispatch

Garden Center sprawled off Highway 371 started with a teenage entrepreneur doing lawn service for spending money.

“When I was 15 or 16 years old, I hung a little flyer on the Schaefer’s (Foods) bulletin board down here at the grocery store just for lawn service — rake your yard, mow your grass sort of thing,” Copper Creek owner Joe Hall said during a conversation in June in a conference room where the walls are filled with giant photos of landscape projects the company has done. Outside, a little bridge takes people over water

Food trucks bring new tastes to Brainerd lakes

BRAINERD — From fairs to store parking lots and everything in between, no one is angry when they find a food truck nearby.

A food truck’s ability to showcase a plethora of culinary cuisines often makes its presence a draw wherever it decides to open up shop.

Mille Lacs County

Sheriff’s Office

‘Friday Food Truck’

Originally thought of during a brainstorming session on supporting county staff, Mille Lacs County Sheriff Kyle Burton said their food truck event snowballed into its own thing, thanks to the popularity of locals and passersby stopping for lunch.

“We have a lot of

county employees that come over and we have people from the community that come, too, so it’s been a good opportunity for us to sit down, chat and connect with people,” Burton said.

Food Truck Friday has been happening for almost a full year now. Thanks to a surprisingly mild winter, receiving positive feedback and being asked if they would continue, Burton said they decided to keep it going.

“Once we started, it became so popular,” Burton said. “People driving by our office, like, ‘Oh, there’s a food truck. Let’s stop in.’ So we started throwing it up on social media because we started to get people asking if we’re going to keep doing this.”

FOOD

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch People get food at the Pit Happens food truck Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024,

Contributed / Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center

yards, patios, fire pits,

shown in displays at the business.

Contributed / Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center

Copper Creek Landscapes off Highway 371 in Nisswa opened The Garden Center in 2020, selling annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

COPPER CREEK: H18

filled with koi to outdoor settings with fireplaces, fire pits and seating. Color abounds everywhere in flowers and plants.

Hall also did golf course maintenance at Whitebirch Golf Course in Breezy Point as a teen.

He grew up in Nisswa, attending Nisswa Elementary School and graduating from Pequot Lakes High School. He obtained a degree in welding and fabrication at Central Lakes Colle ge in Brainerd before venturing to Bemidji State University for a teaching degree to become a high school industrial arts teacher.

I’m wrapping up a project right now for my very first clients that I ever did a project for. They’re still on Pelican Lake.

I’ve landscaped their place four times now. Joe Hall, Copper Creek Landscapes owner

Though he was a student teacher at Brainerd High School, he never delved into that field.

“During that time frame I always owned my business and had the business running all through college,” Hall said.

“I actually hate mowing grass myself, so I got into the construction end of it and then I had a dock service business for probably 10 years,” he said.

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The original name of the business he formed as a senior in high school was Hall Landscaping and Dock Service. He hired his friends to work for him and operated from a shop near where he lived.

“I’m wrapping up a project right now for my very first clients that I ever did a project for. They’re still on Pelican Lake,” Hall said. “I’ve landscaped their place four times now.”

In 2006, two individuals, including one for whom Hall had done a large residential project, asked to buy his business.

“In January of 2007, I sold my first company,” he said.

Three years later, in 2010, he started Copper Creek Landscapes, specializing in landscape construction, including yards, patios, fire pits, water features, Copper Creek:

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H19

Contributed / Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center

The Market at Copper Creek opened in 2021 with outdoor furniture and home decor, and the Bouquet Bar inside The Market opened in 2022 with floral and fresh cut flowers and arrangements.

yards, patios, fire pits, water features, outdoor living spaces and custom metal working. The business specializes in large and commercial custom landscape projects.

Around 2015, Hall bought the land where Copper Creek is now located.

“I actually bought four different parcels of land from three different owners, and I combined it all up to make one parcel here on the highway,” he said. “I bought it for a real estate investment and it was a good buy at the time. I actually didn’t know what I was going to do.”

As the Copper Creek business kept growing, Hall realized he should turn the land he owned into something and take a run at the retail side of the business.

Copper Creek Landscapes opened The Garden Center on that property in 2020, selling annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.

“Each year I keep trying to expand a bit,” Hall said.

To that end, he added The Market in 2021 with outdoor furniture and home decor, and the Bouquet Bar inside The Market in 2022 with floral and fresh cut flowers and arrangements. The Market online store launched last fall.

The Market, which also houses the business office, is where the former longtime business Johnson’s Personality Plus Interiors was located.

Copper Creek offers family events that cater to children, including Christmas Acres, Easter Hop Around and Fall Festival Days.

“My goal with that is to try and really be family orientated and create a tradition or a fun activity in town for kids and families to do together,” Hall said.

The business continues to evolve.

“Everybody that works here just tries to keep coming up with new ideas on what we can do bigger or better, exciting or fun,” Hall said.

Regarding staff, Hall strives to provide a fun workplace where employees are proud of what they do.

“My goal is to create a very fun place to work, that people enjoy it, that they enjoy who they’re working for and what they’re doing and that they take pride in it,” Hall said. “And all the staff that I have do that and enjoy that. That’s a high priority for me.”

Dedicated employees include Nikki Holst and Nick Hoffmann. Holst is the director of retail and customer experience.

“I love the variety of things that

we do across the year,” she said. “I enjoy doing new things and thinking about what will change for the better for the next season.

“I love our staff and love working with them and supporting them in their various roles. And I love that the majority of the customers that walk through the door here are here for fun,” she said, noting there are a lot of pleasantries.

“And that can make for a very good day.”

Hoffmann does digital design for landscape projects.

“I love creating environments and the creativity behind that — thinking through that for people and trying to match that to the specific client,” Hoffmann said. “And I just love the people I work with.”

Hall finds excitement in new challenges, and failure has never limited his desire to try something new.

“I’m not scared to fail,” he said.

“I’ve done a lot of stuff and tried a lot of stuff, and I’ve been like, ‘Yeah, that doesn’t work.’ But you keep going.”

His goal for his business is to continue to grow and expand into more retail offerings, as well as offering a food venue. He wants to keep expanding the family atmosphere where people can shop and attend events.

“Really try to make it another destination in the area for people to come and enjoy it,” Hall said.

He credits his staff with Copper Creek’s success.

“I don’t want anybody to be fooled that I have done all of this on my own,” Hall said. “I haven’t. I’ve just been blessed to be able to find very good people and talented people to help create all this with me.”

For your information

Business: Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center.

• City: Nisswa.

• Number of employees: 35-40 in the high season; 15 in the off-season.

• Interesting fact: Copper Creek owner Joe Hall has a goal to create a student scholarship for Pequot Lakes High School students pursuing a horticulture trades program.

Nancy Vogt, Echo Journal editor, may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy. vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook.

BY JODIE NORQUIST

unmire’s Bar and Grill in East Brainerd and Dunmire’s On The Lakes on North Long Lake are synonymous with outstanding food, a dedicated staff and effortless event planning. Whether it’s a cozy gathering or a grand banquet, Chris Dunmire and his seasoned team have the experience and expertise to make your next event unforgettable.

Dunmire’s menu features over 120 delicious options, ensuring every guest leaves satisfied. Their culinary offerings are diverse and delectable, ranging from gourmet burgers and pastas to seafood and ribeye steaks. Their commitment to quality has earned Dunmire’s On The Lakes a spotlight on “America’s Best

Restaurants Roadshow” in 2023, recognized for its top-tier food and stunning lakeside ambiance. The North Long Lake location also offers a rental home for 15 guests. At the heart of Dunmire’s success is a dedicated staff that goes above and beyond to ensure every event runs smoothly. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction make event planning stress-free for hosts. For a flawless event experience backed by exceptional food and quality staff, contact Dunmire’s Bar and Grill at 218-454-0625 or Dunmire’s On The Lakes at 218-454-0690. Explore their full menu and learn more at dunmiresbar.com.

Nikki Holst Nick Hoffmann

Contributed / Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center

Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center logo.

Contributed / Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center

Joe Hall owns Copper Creek Landscapes and Garden Center in Nisswa.

Burton said the event has garnered enough excitement that they have started to receive inquiries from food truck owners asking to be added to the list.

“We get regulars now, not even county employees, just people from the community who love food trucks and like coming and chatting with us,” Burton said.

Crabby Dales BBQ

A self-taught barbecuer who was looking for his next adventure, Nate Albertson said he could always be found at parties standing around the grill and when presented with the opportunity to jump into the food

truck business in 2022, he jumped at the chance, opening Crabby Dales BBQ, and never looked back.

Leading up to opening his own truck, Albertson said he took first place in the 2021 Brainerd Jaycees Ribfest and won.

“Took first place in the 2021 Jaycees Ribfest and then that’s really when I was like, ‘OK, maybe this opportunity really will work out for me. Maybe I do have something here,’” Albertson said.

Barbecuing for the past 16 years, Albertson said the idea of owning his own business had always been in the back of his head, then he found the truck in Grand Rapids after a business closed down.

Albertson said the truck had everything he needed and was ready to go, though getting the truck was the easy part.

Learning food codes and different regulations for each city and county he operates in is not something to be taken lightly, or something that can be overlooked, Albertson said.

“Every town has its own codes and permit fees and stuff like that; you have to get that all in order before you can do anything and there are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to food,” Albertson said. “It’s hard work, not something you can just think you’re going to go do 10 minutes of research and go. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication.”

Albertson said the rules and laws for food truck vary wildly, even from Brainerd to Baxter, making it a tough learning curve to figure out what is and is not allowed.

“Even just Minnesota Health code stuff, from someone who’s never ever worked in a commercial kitchen before, it was a lot of reading and studying for food safety,” Albertson said.

Albertson said there is also plenty of prep before heading out to an event — such as how many people are expected, what type of event it is and whether there’s seating. Seating or no seating changes the menu. If there are no seats for people to eat, they tend not to make ribs or meal plates as people would shy away from them because they would be walking and eating. Determining how many people he needs to prepare for is a work in progress, he said.

Seeing Your Way to Better Eye Health

By Sue Ready

seen in a reasonable amount of time, as well as meeting emergencies that arise. The optometrists are dedicated to providing quality eye care services to patients of all ages. Their mission is to ensure healthy eye care for patients.

Dr. Taylor Swanson finds that with such a good group of dedicated people to work with Brainerd Eye Care Center flourishes, offering exceptional personalized service in a welcoming and friendly environment.

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Food Trucks: H22

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Crabby Dales BBQ food truck on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Wefixed myknee.

Experienceexceptionalcareinthe BrainerdLakesarea.Frominjuries tojointreplacements, weofferacomprehensiverange oforthopedicspecialties-right hereinourcommunity.

Outdoor enthusiast overcomes rheumatoid arthritis with successful joint replacements at Essentia Health

A quick conversation with Crosby’s Lynn Harker is sure to be an energetic one. The 75-year-old has spent his whole life living in the Brainerd Lakes area enjoying all the outdoor activities he can. An outdoors enthusiast, Harker grew up playing football, basketball and golf. He’s a hunter and an avid angler.

“Fishing is my true passion,” Harker said. “I love being on the water in the summer.”

In 2014, Harker was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – a chronic disorder that impacts the joints.

“I really didn’t want to have surgery, so I tried everything I could first,” Harker said. “But really, I was just putting a BandAid on discomfort and pain that wouldn’t go away.”

Over time, the arthritis and the wear and tear of an active lifestyle became too much and he started exploring surgery. Harker went to the experts at Essentia Health in Brainerd for advice.

“Everyone there is wonderful,” Harker said. “The whole staff is very caring and concerned for your well-being, and they do their best to make you as comfortable as possible.”

Harker’s first surgery, performed by Dr. Christoper Mertz, was his right shoulder.

“My shoulder surgery was life-changing,” he said. “I have total mobility back with no discomfort and full range of motion. I can do anything anyone else can do and I have no discomfort.”

“We’re here to help patients and explain what surgical and non-surgical options are available to them,” said Dr. Metz. “Lynn decided that his quality of life was affected enough that it was time to replace his joint, and when patients get to that point and have the surgery they are routinely happy with the joint replacement.”

Harker was so pleased that he had two more surgeries – one on his left shoulder and then on his right knee. All were performed by Dr. Metz.

“He is top-notch,” Harker said graciously. “As much as I’ve seen him over the years, he’s a friend

now. I’ve even taken him fishing. He is just very easy to talk to. He would explain everything about each surgery and let me know what the possibilities and options were.”

All three of Harker’s surgeries were overwhelming successes.

“I feel like I’m in better shape than most people my age and can do more active things with no limitations,” Harker said. “I still walk 10-12 miles a day during pheasant hunting. I guide all day in a boat, go deer and duck hunting and have no problems.”

“It is very common that patients will have multiple joints affected by arthritis,” said Dr. Metz. “When we provide that expert care and engage patients in the decision-making process, it makes it easy for them to choose where they will go for their next joint problem.”

Harker said one of the things Essentia offers that really made a difference is the Joint Camp. This is a short class offered to patients to help them recover from joint-replacement surgeries.

“We perform more than 700 joint-replacement surgeries per year at Essentia, and have developed our Joint Wellness Center to guide patients through this process,” said Dr. Metz. “This program helps educate patients and their families about the process, prepare for the procedure and the rehabilitation that will take place after their joint is replaced. We believe this program has dramatically improved patient outcomes.”

While he’s hoping he doesn’t require any more surgeries, Harker said he’d have no reservations about going back to Dr. Metz. Until then, he’s enjoying life on the lake, as well as retirement with his wife of more than 50 years and their two kids and seven grandchildren.

Once he is going to an event, he needs to start cooking at least 16 hours beforehand as he is making barbecue and not just grilling a burger. So when they run out of food, they are done. But that also needs to be balanced with making too much food and then being stuck with it, eating their own losses.

“We kind of limit ourselves to what we think we can do,” Albertson said. “The first year was kind of challenging just because we were new at that so we didn’t know what to really expect. Going into our third summer, I think we got a pretty good grasp on it.”

Albertson said that even though it is tough work, he loves that his family is there to help him on his business journey.

He said most of the work he does is located around the Brainerd lakes area and they are willing to attend most events or even cater private parties and weddings.

Caribbean Fusion

Starting in the culinary world, Rayan Reid, owner of Caribbean Fusion, said he spent 16 years working in the kitchens at Madden’s on Gull Lake before becoming burned out.

Looking for a change of pace, Reid left Madden’s in 2022 and started work full-time as a correctional officer at the Crow Wing County Jail.

“I just wanted something different,” Reid said. “I was kind of just getting bored with cooking and wanted something new. So I was looking around

and seeing what was available in Brainerd and corrections kind of hit that spot.”

A little over a year ago, Reid was asked by a cousin to help with a catering event in the Twin Cities, where they served around 600 people.

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Afterwards, they got to talking and Reid realized he missed cooking and started toying with the idea of cooking again.

Deciding on the type of food was the easy part, though they have tamed it down for those northern palates.

“My wife is from Brainerd and I’m from Jamaica,” Reid said. “So I wanted to do a Caribbean approach with a twist. And that’s how Caribbean Fusion came about. Fusion because I know Brainerd, it is not, how do I put it, enthused about spicy food. … So we tame down everything. My burgers and stuff are seasoned with jerk, but they are basically an American twist to the Jamaican version.”

After coming up with a menu Reid said he needed to test out his food and get some honest feedback, so he invited the jail staff to his home for a cookout for Jamaican Independence Day.

Working at the jail full time, Reid said when he has a job he will usually get off work in the morning and immediately go home and start cooking the meat. Most all other prep work is done beforehand to make the process easier.

When it comes to booking events, Reid said it is about 50/50 of him reaching out to businesses or events

and then people seeing him at events or on Facebook and asking him if he is available.

“When I started, I didn’t know how to get into the events and stuff like that,” Reid said. “And just by posting stuff on Facebook and being in the truck, you get to meet a lot of different people and pick up a lot more ideas of how to expand and just get out there from the customers.”

Reid said his passion for cooking and seeing the smiles on the faces of people he serves helps when he puts in a full shift at the jail and then turns around to head to an event to serve people all day.

“If your heart is not into it, don’t do it. It is a lot of work, a lot,” Reid said. “And you need some people who can guide you in the right direction and support you. You need that support. … It is good money but it is a lot of work. You have to be determined and motivated to get up and do it every day.”

Pit Happens Catering

Coming back to Brainerd from college in 2008, Adam Peterson, owner of Pit Happens Catering, said he wanted to be more involved in his community

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Brainerd lakes home to award winning radio

By Sheila Helmberger

The six radio stations owned in the Brainerd lakes area by Hubbard Broadcasting are no strangers to winning awards.

This year, Nikki Lyter, Digital Brand Strategist for Hubbard Broadcasting, was named No. 1 Best Marketing, Advertising and Designer in the Brainerd lakes.

Lyter addressed the honor in a note to the residents and businesses of the area, crediting the team effort it takes to excel.

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For the Fifth year in a row, one of its six local stations, WJJY, was named the 2024 Best Radio Station. The radio station has also been awarded the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Award for exceptional public service in 2001, 2003, 2007 and 2021.

Food Trucks: H23

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Nate Albertson, owner of Crabby Dales BBQ food truck, makes nachos on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch Rayan Reid, owner of Caribbean Fusion, prepares food on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

and decided to join the Brainerd Jaycees.

Peterson said he started getting into Street Fest, especially the Ribfest they hosted.

“There were professional teams there, backyard barbecue teams, and I couldn’t help but want to get involved with that,” Peterson said. “I just found a passion for smoking meat and being part of the community. That’s really where it began.”

Falling in love with barbecue and competing, Peterson was doing competitions across Minnesota. After coming up with the barbecue team name of Pit Happens and winning a few awards for his barbecue, Peterson decided his next step would be to open a food truck.

“So in 2016, we got our license for vending, then we built up from there,” Peterson said. “And I was able to purchase the food trailer in 2020.”

Peterson said before they purchased the truck, they would set up a tent at Roundhouse Brewery when it was located at the Northern Pacific Center to sell his barbecue. Looking to make the most out of competing and serving the local community, Peterson attended Myron Mixon’s barbecue school in Unadilla, Georgia, to bolster his skills.

“I got a whole whole list of ideas,” Peterson said. “So I think that’s the fun part about the food truck role, is you can create about any dish you want. It just doesn’t have to be just barbecue ribs or pork.”

From smoked pie to ravioli and tacos, there is nothing that can’t be made on a barbecue, Peterson said, and that’s what makes it fun.

Though he misses the days of competitive barbecue, Peterson said he is happy to bring his family and friends along to help him with his new adventure as well.

Whether it is a wedding or a birthday party, when planning events he makes sure that is the only event they have for the day. They never double book a day, he said.

“That’s the only event we’re doing that day because I want people to know the food’s fresh and made just for them,” Peterson said.

Peterson said he wishes there could be more events featuring more food trucks to help draw in more people.

“I want all the food trucks to be there,” Peterson said. “We work together, we talk about what we’re making, so we’re not clashing and having the same things. Especially if there’s two barbecue guys, we like to make sure we’re not clashing too

much or anything like that. Camaraderie, although there’s still that competition.”

Along with competing and running a successful business, Peterson still loves volunteering his time to cook for the women’s shelter or Brainerd Community Action.

“It’s nice to be able to be that person, too, to give back to the community,” Peterson said.

Peterson said without all the support from the community when they first started he doesn’t know how far they would have made it, so they always look at ways they can serve the community that supported them in jumping at the opportunity.

“We are just a family, a small family of friends who have been together for 10-20 years — high school buddies,” Peterson said. “And I think that’s what’s interesting about us. It’s the same group of us and we’ve maintained that friendship through barbecue and working together. … With barbecue, we can still catch up and be buddies, and that’s what’s important to us — to me.”

Morey’s Seafood Markets

When Paul Burton, general manager of Morey’s Seafood Markets, started with Morey’s in the summer of 2006, they were still in their original building, “the blue store,” south of their current location on Highway 371, and they had a full-service restaurant inside the store.

Moving into the Baxter Village location, next to the Baxter Cub Foods store in 2007, the decision was made not to include a restaurant.

Fast forward to 2015, Morey’s moved to its current location at 15811 Audubon Way in Baxter. In the summer of

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2016, Burton said they decided they wanted to bring back hot food service.

Burton said his wife, Elsye Burton, vice president of Morey’s, brought up the idea of bringing the restaurant back to the store in some way after a lot of their long-time customers kept inquiring.

“We did a quick look at doing brick and mortar, doing something with the existing building or doing an addition,” Burton said. “When those rough ballpark bids came in, it was very high. And my wife had a brilliant idea. She said, ‘Well, how much does a food trailer cost?’ So we did some research, found a trailer and bought it.”

Burton said it was around that same time they decided their food trailer was not going to travel and would only be operated on their property.

“Just to have simplicity because the concept behind it was to be able to offer hot food on our property,” Burton said. “We didn’t have any desire to play the game of driving it around and doing everything. We have enough going on between having this retail store here and Motley, staffing-wise. In our minds and in our opinion, it was just too much to do and was just easier to operate it here.”

Burton said their main clientele are people on lunch break who are looking for a quick, healthy and fresh meal.

“People can come here and have food within 10 minutes,” Burton said. “They still have a little time to eat here if they want to. Otherwise, everything’s boxed and packaged to go.”

From five different options of fish tacos to a Minnesota staple walleye sandwich, the food trailer’s menu is based on the menu they had at the old store, Burton said.

“It wasn’t a stab in the dark,”

Burton said. “We knew what we wanted to do and what the people wanted, and that’s why we have that menu, and it doesn’t change. I think the other thing that helps us is that our food trailer is seasonal, operating from roughly the middle of May through the middle of September. There’s enough variety on the menu that people can eat different things, but then it’s gone in September.”

With the trailer only open for lunch, Burton said it is staffed by two fulltime employees, Jack Foran and Eric Zelinski, who when not in the trailer, can be found behind the counter helping customers and preparing food. Not looking to bite off more than they can chew, Burton said they still get asked to bring the trailer to events but he has to tell people the trailer does not move. When they first opened they thought of doing some events, but then where would the line be drawn, he said. So it stays in front of Morey’s Seafood Markets, serving customers lunch from 11 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The Iron Waffle on Wheels

Working at The Iron Waffle Coffee Company in Lake Shore since 2019, Samantha Bennett, one of the co-owners of Iron Waffle Coffee Company, said they were approached in 2022 by the previous owners, asking if they would like to buy the business.

Samantha, along with her parents, Greg and Becky Bennett, and her sister Isabella Bennett, became co-owners of the Iron Waffle in April 2022.

“Between the two of them (Samantha and Isabella), it’s kind of theirs,” Greg said. “They kind of run it and manage it. I mean Becky and I are both working full-time jobs, so we ended up in the food truck every once in a while but it’s mainly these guys. These guys are kind of the nuts and bolts of everything.”

Greg said almost immediately after working a grad party where they had the waffle makers under a tent, they decided to add a food truck to bring liege waffles to the masses. They thought if they could make that happen, why not add a food truck? So they reached out to Ice Castle to have a custom trailer built for them.

“I figured it doesn’t work out, I can drill some holes and we’re going ice fishing,” Greg said.

They were able to get it outfitted by the end of the summer and were able to attend a few events around the Brainerd lakes area that year, including the Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.

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By Renee Kardell (with edits

Think back…it’s the first day of school, you’re nervous and most likely the first person you encounter is your bus driver! Somehow their smiling face puts you at ease as they greet you and cart you off to school.

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Food Trucks: H24

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Morey’s Seafood Markets food trailer on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

made by Brainerd Dispatch staff)

Samantha said she and her sister take turns working on the food truck, with the other working at the store.

Given the busy nature of the Fourth of July weekend, both Samantha and Isabella were at the shop on Sunday, July 7, as Greg and Becky took the trailer and slung waffles at the 2024 Heritage Church block party.

But running and operating a food truck comes with its own set of challenges.

“Securing all the appliances, that was a little bit of a learning curve,” Samantha said.

“You’ve got to remember to secure the microwave and the fridge. Like connected to the wall. Yeah, the fridge tumbled to the side the first time driving it.”

And not only that, Becky added it was important “learning not only do you secure the fridge to the wall, but you also lock the fridge,” recalling how they almost had a big mess to clean up one day.

Samantha felt this summer had been the best they have had in the food truck. They were able to be out more in the truck and, as always, had fun while doing so.

Big AL & ODB’S Meat & Greet Food Truck Co.

Starting out in a career a lot differently than most other food truck owners, Jessie Kresa, co-owner of Big AL & ODB’S Meat & Greet Food Truck Co., was a professional wrestler for 24 years with TNA Wrestling, where she was know as ODB.

After “leaving” wrestling, Kresa said she bottled a barbecue sauce she created and was selling it out of her trailer while working for wrestling Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart at his bar in Daytona Beach.

Kresa said her love for smoked meats came from her breaks in wrestling. In between traveling the country to put on shows, she would come back home to Minnesota to relax and visit with family.

“When I came home from the road, I would be home for a couple of days,” Kresa said. “I’d always have get-togethers at the house, just hanging out, barbecuing and whipping up some sauces.”

While living in Daytona Beach and selling her barbecue sauce on the side, Kresa said one of her friends suggested she open a food truck, and so in 2017, she got a small trailer with some money she saved up.

“I’m going to see what happens. I mean, doing it by myself. Oh God, I

just cringe every time I think about it,” Kresa said. Everyone who wants a food truck thinks they can jump right in, but it’s not for everyone, Kresa said. She recommends if someone is looking to start a truck, they reach out to a truck owner to find out more about what it entails and even ask to work a shift on the truck to see if it is truly something they want to do.

The first day she opened up was during Daytona Bike Week, one of the biggest bike rallies in the country. “And I did everything,” she said.

“There have been a lot of ups and downs in it,” Kresa said. “And people just look at the big picture, like when we’re at big events and we have a nonstop line and stuff. But they don’t see that it took us years to get there.”

Kresa said she met her husband

Alan Leaf — also known as Big AL — while working in Florida. Deciding she wanted to move back home, Kresa said she asked Leaf if he would come with her, saying the food truck could support both of them. He said yes and they moved north.

“He has helped out a lot, because he’s now the pitmaster,” Kresa said.

“So instead of, when I had to do everything myself my first four years, now he’s all about the barbecue and kind of leveled the food truck up where it’s at now.”

Loving her job, Kresa said she always looks forward to events and meeting fans of her days in the ring and making barbecue loving fans as she goes.

“I’m always interacting, just not getting beat up for a living anymore,” Kresa said. “But it took years for us to be where we are now.”

Minnesota Food Truck Association

In 2013, John C. Levy, a lawyer with Sapientia Law Group trade association, started the Minnesota Food Truck Association after attending a meeting in the cities and seeing food truck owners not being fairly represented.

Levy said he became interested in opening a food truck after talking with his friend Andrew Zimmern, host of Food Network’s “Bizarre Foods.”

“In 2012, we decided to create a food truck and it was called AZ Canteen,” Levy said. “It was outstanding because (Zimmern) curated the food and everything, alternative proteins like goat meat and all sorts of things. It was a great menu.”

Around December 2012, Levy said he attended a food truck meeting in the cities as they were looking to talk to the owners about some ordinances and

regulations.

“I looked around the room and thought, this group is not organized. And basically, that was the founding of the Food Truck Association,” Levy said.

Levy said he started by reaching out to the old timers who had been operating in the Twin Cities for a while.

Hearing positive feedback from them, he put in the footwork to get in touch with everybody and for an association.

Their original objectives were based around creating best practices, advocating for the industry, helping with legislation and mentoring new owners.

“We were advocating for some sensible changes to food truck regulation, because it’s highly over-regulated,” Levy said. “You have to deal with the Department of Health, you have to deal with food issues, you have to deal with property issues, and so many different government interests are involved. A lot of this regulation was overlapping and redundant. So one of our big objectives was to try to get rid of some of that redundancy.”

With Levy and Zimmern both having full schedules, AZ Canteen only lasted a few years, but the Food Truck

Association was off the ground and running.

“The Food Truck Association had become very successful, particularly its website, particularly for newer, less experienced operators,” Levy said. “So, I continued in my capacity as the founder and president of the association. The association grew a lot to include the vast majority of trucks in the Twin Cities area and continues to expand to outer Minnesota trucks.”

In the last few years, the association has changed its main purpose from one that does eight different things to one which is focused on mentoring, best practices and helping fellow food truckers along. Levy said he always aims for the association to provide more to the owners than they pay to be in the association.

“I loved the concept, food trucks are sort of an inexpensive step into the American Dream for a lot of people who didn’t have a lot of opportunity,” Levy said.

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter@timmy2thyme, call 218-855-5859 or email tim.speier@ brainerddispatch.com.

Experts in their field, trusted and Insured

By Sheila Helmberger

Joe Nelson and the team at JN Tree Service are trained professionals when it comes to taking down a tree that is leaning toward your home or outbuilding. Let Joe Nelson and the workers at JN Tree Service do the job expertly, easily and safely, trusting the work will be done by a team that follows industry standards and will not compromise any others that you would like to keep. The company has a 65-ton mek crane, used with a remote control, making it the safest way to remove a tree. They can also remove any unhealthy trees from an area so those that remain may thrive in a healthier environment.

This summer’s winds may have resulted in one or more trees leaning in one direction even farther than ever before. Having them removed before they fall on their own, either to hurt someone or to make

an unsightly mess, can save you time and money later. If the unthinkable does happen, or if a tree hits a structure, JN Tree Service can help you get through the paperwork of an insurance filing by billing them directly.

It is the perfect time to inspect your property for any improvements you may want to make before next year. Whether you would like to increase the size of your yard by taking down a few trees or need to have some branches trimmed before they become a bigger problem, now is the time to do it. An ISA Certified Arborist is on the staff.

JN Tree Service also specializes in lot clearing, brush clearing and shoreline restoration and services the Brainerd Lakes, Central Minnesota, and the Twin Cities. Call for a free estimate on your project today at 218-232-7328. For more information, go to jn-treeservice-landscaping.com.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Jessie Kresa, co-owner of Big AL & ODB’S Meat & Greet Food Truck Co., on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024.

Lakes area potential fuels growth

BY RENEE RICHARDSON Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — Ten counties in the state are projected for significant population growth and almost all are in metro areas, but one stands out in Greater Minnesota — Crow Wing County.

The Minnesota State Demographic Center’s projects the state to grow from 5.78 million in 2024 to 6.11 million in 2075. Along with Crow Wing County, the counties expected to have the most notable population increases are in or around the Twin Cities metro area — Dakota, Washington. Anoka, Wright, Scott, Carver, with Sherburne and Isanti counties. The other outlier, Olmsted County, is the home of the Rochester metropolitan area.

Crow Wing County stands out as the only county without a metro area expansion with an expected 18,278 people added to the county. The U.S. Census datea from 2020, listed the county’s population at 66,124.

The natural resources with abundant water, forests, habitat and quality of life along with amenities of health care, shopping and arts are all here.

“Sometimes having an outsider’s

perspective is really helpful for me,” said Chris Close, senior adviser and owner at Close Converse in Brainerd.

“We are seeing way more people from across the country recognizing it. And it’s like growth begets growth. And it feels like we’re at the tipping point.”

Close referenced the Malcolm Gladwell book, “The Tipping Point,” that notes small changes can have a big impact and when a trend grows to become something bigger with more dramatic change like growth spurring more growth.

Close and Nate Grotzke, broker at Close Converse Commercial Real Estate/Business Brokerage, have monitored business trends across the lakes area for decades. Close Converse was established in 1995 and represents clients across a variety of industries in selling, buying, leasing properties in retail, office and industrial uses as well as investments in real estate. The company notes its work team represents more than 100 years of combined experience in the field. Their signs marketing properties are ubiquitous across the lakes region.

Grotzke, who has also been

CLOSE CONVERSE: H27

Family traditions keep guests coming back to Crosslake resort

BY TOM FRAKI Echo Journal

CROSSLAKE — Some things in life change, and some things manage to stay the same. Nowhere does it seem these realities are more apparent and welcoming than at Boyd Lodge in Crosslake, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Currently owned and operated by Mike and Ruth Schwieters, the resort has been the passion of three generations of the same family since it began in 1934.

Since then, Boyd Lodge has become a destination for family traditions, outdoor pastimes and anyone looking to dive into lake life in Minnesota. Located on both Lower Whitefish Lake and Rush Lake on the Whitefish Chain of Lakes, the resort is open year-round and caters to the ever-changing seasonal activities that draw people to the lakes area.

While Mike and Ruth have been managing Boyd Lodge since 2010, Mike’s parents, Roger and Nancy

Schwieters, had been in charge of the resort since 1967.

Over its 90 years, Boyd Lodge has left an indelible impact on those who visited and worked there.

History and family

The story behind Boyd Lodge started with Nancy’s parents, Lynn and Ceil Boyd, in 1934. Originally from St. Paul, the Boyds — particularly Nancy’s father, Lynn — were looking for land to hunt and fish on and not necessarily a place to vacation. Lynn found what he was looking for in a piece of property on Lower Whitefish Lake, and he purchased 200 feet of shoreline that the railroad owned.

From there, what started as a family retreat grew through family, friends and word-of-mouth into a business of renting cabins and building a resort.

“I don’t think he did much for advertising. He knew people in the Cities, and they would pass the word along,” Nancy said.

BOYD LODGE: H30

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The Lofts at Novotny, here in the spring of 2024, are just off Novotny Road and a short distance from Highway 371 North in Baxter.

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

Roger and Nancy Schwieters, left, with their son, Mike, and his wife, Ruth, at Boyd Lodge.

Animals from all over the world right here in Brainerd

BY CAROLINE JULSTROM Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — It all started with a pet raccoon.

Kevin Vogel and his wife, Kelly, have been running Safari North Wildlife Park in Brainerd for 12 years, but Vogel said his love of collecting animals began when he was a child. One of his friends had a pet raccoon, he asked his dad if he could have one too, and, as he said, “it’s all been downhill since then.”

Safari North sports a 10-acre safari experience, camel rides, a petting zoo, a parakeet encounter and a chance to feed giraffes. The zoo is home to more than 120 animal species, most of which stay in Brainerd year-round, taking shelter in heated barns during the colder months.

The exceptions to this rule, the alligators whose enclosure was broken into by a parkgoer in pursuit of her wallet in 2020, are rented from a provider in Georgia.

General admission day passes can be purchased in person or online for $19.99 for adults or $15.99 for children 12 and under. Vogel said he and other zoo owners discuss ticket pricing with each other to make sure they’re not over or under-charging.

Vogel said he leans on his staff to make the complicated work of maintaining a zoo possible.

“To do a business like this, you have to be a politician, a banker, a marriage counselor, a veterinarian, a carpenter, electrician, a plumber,” Vogel said. “I mean it covers all bases of everything possible.”

Vogel said it can be difficult to give up control over jobs to delegate them to other staff, but learning how to do it comes with age. Safari North employs about 30 people during the summer, around 10 of which are fulltime employees.

“Our zookeepers are really good,” Vogel said. “We have a good, good staff. They’re out here, you know, they’re with the (animals) every single day, and they know if something’s off a little bit.” Safari North also has a veterinarian do monthly herd health checkups on their animals, to ensure they are healthy and happy. For miscellaneous health needs, Vogel said he’s built up a network of colleagues he can contact if he or his staff notices a problem.

Because many of Safari North’s positions are seasonal jobs, there are a few young people who work there in the summer, when they’re off school.

Aiden Davis, 14, was handing out sticks covered in seeds for attendees to the parakeet encounter. Davis said the

birds might get a little annoying sometimes, but the job was worth it because not many places hired people his age.

Alexis Johnson also started working at Safari North when she was 14 and, four summers later, she’s still there.

Though Johnson does a variety of things at the zoo, this time she was manning the carrot stand at the giraffe feeding station.

“I’m loving it,” Johnson said with a smile.

Johnson said she enjoyed seeing people’s faces as they look at the animals, especially happy children.

Safari North’s animal care team is currently made up of about seven people who are responsible for the animals’ feeding, cleaning and other chores. Tori Narlock, Meghan Lacy, Mercedes Julifs and Grace Gumiela are among the members of the animal care team.

“So the station workers work more with the public and the people, handing out food for feeding,” Lacy said. “And instead we come in early mornings, we let everything out, which sometimes is difficult because sometimes the bears don’t want to come out. We have to try and coax them out with treats. Then we prep all of our food, chop up a lot of things, and then we do our loops. We all kind of have a system and we all feed different animals each day and — yeah.”

“Yeah,” Narlock said. “And then the last two of us in the day put everything back in!”

The women seem to enjoy their job, but it’s not without its hazards.

“Grace has a problem with the birds,” Lacy said.

“Yeah, your rose breasted cockatiel got me in the ear yesterday,” Gumiela said to Vogel. “Because I’m the only one that wears earrings! I think it’s something shiny and new that they’re like, ‘Yeah!’”

Vogel said Julifs had been working at Safari North since she was around 15, when the zoo opened.

“Those girls are rockstars,” Vogel said. “We couldn’t have a better team

than them.”

Besides bears and bitey birds, the zoo houses a wide range of animals including Capuchin monkeys, tigers, capybara, pallas cats, foxes and wolves. New to Safari North this summer are Gunnar the Rhino, a southern white rhino whose enclosure neighbors the giraffes, and the zoo’s very own clouded leopards, who have yet to be named.

Before labor, Vogel said Safari North costs about $100,000 to run. He couldn’t pinpoint how much they spent on food, but said all the meat they purchased for the animals probably amounted to 30 or 40 thousand dollars.

Vogel said his son, Zack Vogel, 20, and daughter, Cheyanne Vogel, 26, seem perfectly poised to take up the family business.

While Zack Vogel is currently enrolled in Central Lakes College and studying welding, his father said he’s interested in the physical aspects of maintaining the zoo. Cheyanne Vogel, on the other hand, is very interested in animals. Together, their interests make up two halves of a whole zoo.

Although Vogel didn’t have any specific plans for the business’s future, he said Safari North will continue to expand in size, attractions, and visitor growth. Vogel said the zoo is making improvements to itself all the time.

CAROLINE JULSTROM, intern, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or cjulstrom@brainerddispatch.com.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Kevin Vogel with Gunnar the Rhino at Safari North. Tuesday July 2, 2024.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

People feeding giraffes at Safari North. Tuesday July 2, 2024.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

Leopards at Safari North. Tuesday July 2, 2024.

Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch Kevin Vogel at Safari North. Tuesday July 2, 2024.

instrumental in the Brainerd Destination Downtown business contests, joined Close Converse in 2007, working with leasing and sales in office spaces and retail and more. Close joined the business in 2002 and specializes in business brokerage and investment properties.

Close pointed to the development this year of The Lofts on Novotny in Baxter.

“When Corner Lot began to consider development opportunities outside of Florida, Central Minnesota was one of the first places we looked.” said Andy Allen, Corner Lot CEO, in a news release when the The Lofts on Novotny projectwas announced. “That part of the country is near and dear to my family, and we spend a large part of our summers in the region. People are drawn to a lifestyle of outdoor activities, and Crow Wing County has so much to offer.”

Close said Allen lived in Jacksonville, Florida, all his life.

“As someone that grew up in Florida, south Florida, saw Jacksonville boom, he looks at this and says, ‘This is just like Jacksonville,” Close said of a lunch conversation the two had. Close countered the Brainerd lakes area was so much smaller. Allen concurred but said, the culture, the growth, everything was so much like Jacksonville.

“He’s very, very bullish on the area,” Close said of Allen’s positive outlook on central Minnesota, leading to his thoughts on the benefits of an outsider’s perspective.

The Lofts on Novotny represented the Florida group’s first development outside of Florida. The 64-unit, threestory apartment building was quickly filled with renters in what developers describe as apartment homes. There are plans to build a second apartment building in Pequot Lakes.

Strong market and changing mindset

In terms of office, commercial and industrial vacancies, Close said the area has a healthy supply with not too little and definitely not too much. Five years ago there were a lot of vacancies.

“We’re a strong market,” Close said, noting it’s finding the right person to fit the open space.

Kwik Trip is building in Baxter. Close said a new Veterans Administration clinic will be here in the next three years.

“We went for a long period of time with very little new construction,”

And it’s like growth begets

And it feels like we’re at the tipping point.

Grotzke said. “So what was happening is buyers and tenants were choosing to take existing space and make it work or just not doing stuff because they weren’t building. Some of it was the uncertainty. Some of it was the cost. Interest rates have not come down significantly.”

While some costs like lumber did go down, labor went up, Grotzke said. But there are more people now looking to potentially build. He said in the past when people outgrew their location, if they owned it they sold it and built something somewhere else. If they rented, they moved out. But recently that wasn’t happening and landlords weren’t building many multi-tenant buildings.

Multi-tenant buildings along Highway 371 in Baxter are about $30 per square foot plus other things a business needs to add on such as operating expenses, taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities. So businesses could pay that or lease existing space

Chris Close

for $12 a square foot per year. National tenants were able to move into spaces where a local tenant, who might be able to afford $8 to $14 per square foot but not $35 a square foot, just didn’t build and instead tried to find a place that would work.

“In the past, we’d have retail centers with quite a few vacancies,” Grotzke said. “Now it’s one here, one here, one here, one over here. … People are buying existing stuff just because they can’t afford to build. And so that’s helped push up sale prices.”

Close noted two things also changed mindsets. He pointed to the murder of George Floyd in 2021 in Minneapolis, which prompted protests and riots across the country and the pandemic. The New York Times reported protests erupted in at least 140 cities across the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared in March of 2020.

Close said those events shifted people’s mindsets to opportunities to move to a lot of beautiful places and

smaller communities they could be part of with technology and remote work. People may have thought about those moves before, but those events may have pushed them to actually do it, Close said. Being able to own 10 acres in the Brainerd lakes area or be on a lake for less money than a metro area, and still have the amenities and technology, made it attractive and suddenly more possible.

“I think there’s been a real migration, not just to Brainerd but to others of those that were originally vacation destinations,” Close said. “It’s like, ‘This actually could be a full-time destination.’ And I think that’s what’s happening.”

What will peak baby boomer retirement bring?

In addition, Close noted the baby boomer generation, which Forbes reported is now retiring by more than 10,000 a day or four million a year,

Cub Foods is here for YOU

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Whether you live in Baxter or Brainerd, there is a store convenient to you. You will find us in East Brainerd near Highway 210 and Eighth Street, and in Baxter on Highway 371 and Excelsior Road.

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Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The Lofts at Novotny are just off Novotny Road and a short distance from Highway 371 North in Baxter.

expected to retire to lake places and make them their permanent home. Baby boomer retirement is expected to peak this year with the greatest surge of Americans turning 65, the Alliance for Lifetime Income reported.

While there were previous demographic projections for the Brainerd lakes area to grow considerably, some of those predictions were slowed by the Great Recession and the housing bubble mortgage crisis of 2008.

This recent growth and the predictions for the future are different than the past, Close said.

“I’ve been doing this since 2002, so 22 years, and I’ve never and my dad, who’s lived here all his life, we’ve never seen — and we can’t like grab actual necessarily statistical data and everything — but just from the pulse and what you hear and what we see on the street, has been the most momentum we’ve seen. It’s pretty impressive. And we’re hearing it from other outsiders, other developers that are very bullish on this area.”

There are challenges ahead with years of highway and road construction in the near future as Highway 210 is reconstructed or repaved and the overpass is built on Highway 371.

“That’s going to change the landscape, it is,” Grotzke said. “And it’s not set in stone to our understanding, it’s not set in stone exactly how it’s going to look.”

Another challenge continues to be affordable housing.

“Many communities are offering incentives for housing development to happen within their community, because a lot of other communities

are facing the same thing that we are here in the Brainerd lakes area,” Grotzke said.

Larger housing developers look at Minnesota and try to figure out the communities where it makes the most

financial sense to build, Grotzke said, and are finding more options elsewhere.

While those housing developers are saying they’d like to build 30-40-50 house developments, they find the cost of infrastructure is too high, Grotzke said. He pointed to a recent 30-house developer who said they just couldn’t make the numbers work after looking at costs for roads and other infrastructure.

Costs come in sewer and water availability charges and for apartment buildings, they can pose a real barrier, Close said, as the commonly called SAC and WAC fees are one-time costs charged for each unit. The money goes to the cities to help them pay for wastewater and water treatment pipes and plants and maintain those systems.

In Brainerd, the SAC fees are $1,400 and WAC fees are $1,300 or $3,300 per single home or per unit in a multi-family structure. In Baxter, WAC fees are $2,800 for new residential construction and SAC charges are $3,000, for a combined $5,800.

“Right now, there aren’t as many

financial packages offered to developers, as in other communities, so the developers that are developing here, while there are some benefits to it, or financial benefits or assistance from the community, there’s a lot of other communities that are pushing out a lot more money than what we are to get these developers,” Grotzke said. “... I’ve worked with some developers recently that just said the numbers don’t make sense.”

There are projects under development that will be able to make a dent in housing needs, including the redevelopment of the former Thrifty White location into a 78-unit apartment complex in downtown Brainerd. Dubbed Eight05 Laurel, the new four-story building will include 12 studio apartments; 28 one-bedroom units; nine one-bedroom apartments with a den; 15 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units; and 14 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments. Per Americans with Disabilities Act standards, there will be one handicapped accessible unit. The main level will house five rental

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Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

The commons area at The Lofts at Novotny.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

A view of the back patio at The Lofts on Novotny.

reinvigorate an empty building in downtown Brainerd and bring residents within walking distance of retail, restaurants, and groceries.

Properties, said at a Baxter City Council meeting in 2022. “We have nothing available ever. So we decided (Baxter would) be a great spot to build.”

spaces, along with an office, community room with kitchenette, work spaces and unisex bathrooms.

There will be 65 underground heated parking stalls, 26 surface stalls, an elevator and secure entry to the building. The city of Brainerd waived the SAC and WAC fees, which amounted to $257,400, for the apartment project.

“That’ll be a great one,” Grotzke said of the Brainerd redevelopment project for housing. The project will

In Baxter, Campbell Properties’ Pinehurst Apartments set up a five-year plan in 2022 to construct five 50-plus unit apartment buildings off Cypress Drive and Douglas Fir Drive. All told the development is constructing 289 residential units when the project is completed in 2026.

“Our vacancy rate, it’s been zero percent for five years,” David Campbell, a representative from Campbell

If more builders find they can fill a niche for housing that sells quickly, the lakes area may see more patio homes or garden homes. Garden homes offer a private front and backyard providing room for landscaping, greenspace or gardening but still on a small lot with a smaller more easily maintained single-family home and main-level master suite

Garden homes provide an option to downsize or embrace a starter home with enough square footage to be comfortable while retaining a smaller footprint and private outdoor space that retains greenery. In some cases a garden home, which typically includes a second floor room for guests or a young family, can share one wall with a neighbor’s home. As homes that are designed to fit into the environment, garden homes may be something that work well in the lakes area and fill an existing demand.

Minnesota State Demographic Center projections

May 2024

Natural change from births and deaths is expected to decline over the years, turning negative by 2065, indicating that deaths will outnumber births.

Net mig ration will contribute positively to population growth, though the numbers are relatively modest compared to the overall population.

Minnesota’s population in the 65+ age group will more than double from 2024 to 2075.

• The population in younger age groups (0-19 years) shows a relatively stable but slowly declining trend.

Black and Indigenous communities and other communities of Color are projected to grow at a faster rate than the White population. By 2075:

• The White population is expected to decrease from around 4.45 million in 2024 to about 3.98 million.

The Black population will increase from 440,627 in 2024 to 785,638.

• The Asian population will rise from 323,309 in 2024 to 498,668.

The American Indian and Alaska Native population will see modest growth from 60,949 in 2024 to 65,522.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population will grow from 3,571 in 2024 to 7,179.

About the data: projections rely heavily on assumptions about future demographic behaviors based on historical trends.

Crow Wing County Census data

By the numbers

$66,568 — median household income, compared to the state median of $82,338.

• 66,123 — total population with 61,586 white, 2,712 with two or more races, 912 Hispanic or Latino, 663 American Indian/Alaska Native, 332 Asian, 392 some other race, 419 Black or African American, 19 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

• 41,568 — number of housing units in the county. 28,475 — total households

• 2,227 — number of employers.

• $861 — median g ross rent compared to $1,200 in the state.  81.2% — percent of homeownership 73.7% — school enrolled population in kindergarten to 12th grade.

• 64.5% — percentage of workers employed at a private company.

45.6 — median age. The median age in Minnesota is 39.  32.6% — have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 39.1% in the state.

• 25.1 minutes — average travel time to work. State average was 22.8 minutes. And 75% of workers aged 16 and older drive to work alone.

• 24.6% — population percentage age 65 and older. In Minnesota, the population 65 and older is 17.4% 11.3% — population living in poverty, compared to a state total of 9.6%.

• 8.3% — percentage of population who are veterans, compared to 6% in the state.  36.3% of ancestry is German, followed by 15.2% Norwegian, 11.2% Irish, 7.2% English, 5.9% Polish, 4.6% French, 2.4% Italian, 1.6% Scottish, 0.1% Subsaharan Africa.

Note: Data from U.S. Census 2020 and 2022 American Community Survey oneyear estimates.

RENEE RICHARDSON, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/DispatchBizBuzz.

Jim Stafford / Brainerd Dispatch file photo

Motorists pour into Baxter from the south and west on Highway 371 and Highway 210 in 2019 as the Labor Day weekend begins.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

“They started renting by the weekend or just whoever drove in. It wasn’t really a reservation, people just sort of found it,” she said.

In 1969, shortly after Roger and Nancy took over managing Boyd Lodge, the resort saw the construction of its first pool.

Later, in 1983, Boyd Lodge went through its first major expansion with the building of its townhome cabins on the west end of Rush Lake.

Most recently, in 2014, Boyd Lodge saw the completion of its seven cottages just north of its loft cabins.

Traditions

Boyd Lodge began as a place for family traditions and activities, and over the years, the resort has managed to keep those a part of its focus.

“The whole thing is just that it brings families and guests together. They get to know each other, and it really is like a big family. I was just talking to someone the other day, and they were like, ‘Who are the people in the cabin next to us? Because our kids are like best friends with them already.’ That’s the stuff that hasn’t changed in 90 years,” Mike said.

“People end up spending time together or meeting new people, and then they want to come back together. So there’s a lot of bonding that goes on here,” Roger said.

Ongoing activities that became much-anticipated parts of a Boyd Lodge visit include popcorn and movie nights, Monday morning doughnuts, picnics, bonfires, tie-dye T-shirts, turtle races and Boyd-o (a Boyd Lodge variation of bingo).

While Boyd Lodge has a wide variety of traditions it keeps alive, the resort itself has become a tradition for

H31

Boyd Lodge CONTINUED FROM H25

Boyd Lodge:

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

Boyd Lodge’s beach on Lower Whitefish Lake offers guests a place by the water to relax, play, or have their own bonfires. The resort also has canoes, kayaks, row boats, paddle boats and paddle boards available to guests at no additional cost.

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

Sarah Bowman, seen in the Boyd Lodge store, started out as a guest at the resort and later came back to help out seasonally.

People end up spending time together or meeting new people, and then they want to come back together. So there’s a lot of bonding that goes on here.

Roger Schwieters

Boyd Lodge CONTINUED FROM H30

many families that kept coming back over multiple generations.

“Especially in the summertime, it’s almost all families, multigenerational. Lots of grandparents. It truly is families coming back year after year,” Mike said.

The draw of Boyd Lodge

Visitors to the lakes area have no shortage of options when it comes to looking for a place to stay. But Boyd Lodge, the Schwieters said, is more than that, and it’s that personal experience that keeps guests coming back.

“If you’re going to do it right, you’ve got to be there. You get to know your guests. You know who they are, you know their families and they really become like family honestly,” Mike said. “Another part of that is you have to listen to what your guests are looking for. And how you do that is by being there.”

Among Boyd Lodge’s many amenities are two pools, both with spa buildings, docks on Lower Whitefish and Rush Lakes with boat access, a pristine swimming beach with fire pits, and seven cottages and 17 loft cabins that include wood-burning fireplaces. There are also trails throughout the property, allowing visitors the chance to take in nature off the water.

Growing up at the resort, Mike said he sometimes takes for granted the fact that not everyone gets to spend time in such a stunning natural environment.

“Even just hearing the call of a loon. Sometimes we forget the significance of those to our guests. It’s neat that we have an opportunity for them to experience that,” Mike said.

The resort has pontoons and fishing boats to rent to guests, as well as canoes, kayaks, row boats, paddle boats

Boyd Lodge: H32

ADVERTORIAL

Gracewin nearing full capacity

By Sheila Helmberger

Only six opportunities remain to get in on the Cooperative lifestyle at Gracewin Living Cooperative in Baxter. With 87 percent of the building already filled, the remaining units will not last long.

Gracewin offers members a chance to thrive in an active 55-plus housing community with all the same financial and tax benefits that benefit a single homeowner.

Take the stress and work out of your life by utilizing the professional property and management team at Gracewin, offering maintenance free living both inside and out with your own heated parking space.

Upscale finishes, including quartz countertops, vinyl/tile flooring and an ensuite bathroom with a step-in shower means you can stay in your home as long as possible. Enjoy social opportunities with others in the cooperative that include monthly birthday parties, yoga classes and other scheduled gatherings.

Whatever it is you love best about your current home you can have it at Gracewin. Whether it’s a BBQ space together with friends, a hobby room, an outdoor patio, or fire pit, along with an onsite fitness room and an outdoor terrace with views of Perch Lake. Gracewin is pet friendly for up to two pets and is fully accessible with an elevator.

Make an appointment to see the available floorplans at Gracewin today and secure your new home. Making the move means you will be on the list even if your perfect floor plan is not currently available because those already living in the cooperative have the first option as other homes become available.

Call Gracewin today before the last six homes are

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

A view from the Lower Whitefish Lake dock at Boyd Lodge where the resort offers pontoon and fishing boat rentals.

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

The cottages at Boyd Lodge, the most recent addition to the resort, offer guests spacious and upscale interiors that include stone fireplaces and screen porches.

and paddle boards available to guests at no additional cost.

During the winter months, the resort caters to people looking to ice fish, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers taking advantage of its location.

Boyd Lodge is certainly a family endeavor, but the Schwieters were all in agreement the resort would not be what it is today without their past and current employees, whom they consider a part of their family.

“We’ve always looked at our staff as part of our family because if things don’t get taken care of, people aren’t coming back. They’re what makes us who we are. Without that, we’re not here and we can’t do it alone,” Mike said.

“It has really been a labor of love,” Nancy said of everyone who’s worked at the resort.

Particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike said the employees at Boyd Lodge were largely to thank for providing exemplary service and giving guests a great experience without ever missing a check-in.

“We’ve been very fortunate and blessed with the staff we have. When COVID came in, we were trying to figure out what we were going to do. (The staff) were like, ‘We’ll figure it out,’” he said.

Even

A part of the area

While there are a variety of reasons guests keep coming back to Boyd Lodge, Mike said the resort has always been just one part of the appeal of Crosslake and the lakes area as a whole.

“As much as I would like to think people come to Boyd Lodge just for Boyd Lodge, I know that 90% of our guests go do stuff away from here. They’ll go to Nisswa to go shopping, they’ll go to Crosslake to hear music in the park, they’ll go to Cuyuna to

go biking,” Mike said. “So if you’re not promoting and encouraging the whole community, you’re missing out because I think this area has something to offer everyone.” Regarding people visiting from the Twin Cities, Roger noted that this part of the state gives people the ideal getaway.

“I think that we in the Brainerd area are the most crucial point of tourism in the state. There’s no other area that has what we have to offer,” Roger said.

“One of the benefits is that we’re only about three hours away. So it makes it easy for people to come and enjoy a different style of living. Here you can be in the woods, sit by a wood fireplace and you can really relax,” he said.

Boyd Lodge

Where: 36539 Silver Peak Road in Crosslake.

Number of employees: 30 (During peak summer months)

Interesting fact: The initial property that started Boyd Lodge in 1934, and included 200 feet of shoreline on Lower Whitefish Lake, was purchased from the railroad for $2, which would be equal to about $48 in 2024. TOM FRAKI, staff writer, may be reached at 218-855-5863 or tom.fraki@ pineandlakes.com.

BY SARAH NELSON KATZENBERGER

It’s hard to miss Holiday Inn Express’s blue and yellow water slides while driving north on Highway 371, but what you can’t see from the road is the hotel offers more fun than meets the eye. Tucked in the corner of the waterpark is the Brainerd lakes area’s only laser tag arena and it’s available to everyone.

“You can come in and play a game or two or play unlimited laser tag,” said Holiday Inn Express General Manager Tom Vasecka.

Since opening in 2016, Holiday Inn Express’s laser tag has been a great stop for locals and out of town guests alike. The 2,300-square-foot multi-level arena can host up to 24 players at one time and is available for players ages five and up.

While the waterpark and complimentary breakfast is always included with an overnight stay, laser tag can be added on to hotel packages for a nominal fee.

Vasecka said laser tag is also a great alternative to standard

team building exercises. From sports teams to corporate groups, Vasecka said laser tag is a great way to build camaraderie, “It’s a great bonding experience,” Vasecka said. “Companies use it for team building – or stress relief. It gives them an opportunity to learn strategy and find out who their natural leaders are.”

Laser tag at the Holiday Inn Ex-press in Baxter is open seven days a week during the summer months from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m Friday and Saturday. Hours in the school year shift to 10 a.m. -10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more information on laser tag at the Holiday Inn Express call 218-824-3232 or visit https://brainerdhi.com.

Tom Fraki / Echo Journal

Mike Schwieters

Looking toward the future of cannabis Brainerd lakes area

BY TIM SPEIER Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — With the passage of recent legislation, cannabis stores and dispensaries in the Brainerd lakes area are gearing up toward the future. In 2014 lawmakers approved a bill which legalized limited use of medical marijuana with products becoming available in 2015. In 2022, Minnesota legalized the sale and consumption of edibles containing small amounts of hempderived THC. Gov. Tim Walz signed the cannabis legalization bill, allowing the recreational use of cannabis for adults starting Aug. 1, 2023. Without a fully operational licensing body to issue licenses to recreational dispensaries, people can expect to wait until at least early 2025

before seeing recreational dispensaries opening their doors.

With the Office of Cannabis Management being a brand new state agency created with the passage of Minnesota’s new legal cannabis bill, Charlene Briner, interim director of the Office of Cannabis Management, said they have been building the agency from the ground up.

“We’re building the regulatory framework, we’re writing the rules that businesses will have to adhere to,” Briner said. “We’re hiring the staff to carry out everything from licensing to inspections to enforcement and education activities.”

Building the agency from the ground up, Briner said they have received advice and a lot of caution from

BY THERESA BOURKE Brainerd Dispatch

EAST GULL LAKE — It’s not just a home. It’s a lifestyle.

It’s resort life and a house of your own all rolled into one.

“Last night my wife took our golf cart out, and she had a group of friends, and they went up to Ernie’s, then they stopped at the Gravel Pit for a beverage, and they went and had dinner at the Legacy,” said Eric Peterson, general manager of Cragun’s Resort and resident of Cragun’s Legacy Village. “So to me, what we’re selling is we’re selling that lifestyle.”

Begun in 2019, the Legacy Village is the first of three new housing developments situated around the Legacy Golf Course at

Cragun’s, offering a home in the Brainerd lakes area, with all that has to offer, along with the perks afforded to resort guests.

Legacy Pointe and Legacy Ridge lie on the edges of the Lehman 18 Golf Course, an 18-hole championship golf course named for American golfer Tom Lehman. Legacy Village A short street off Gull River Road winds into three cul-de-sacs on the northwestern side of the Legacy Golf Course, adjacent to the clubhouse. The Legacy Village includes 38 homes on 26 acres, boasting maintenance-free living. The idea sprung out of plans in 2017 for a golf course expansion, which included a housing development. While the

Tim

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch A hemp plant.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Cholly’s Farm CBD & More Store in Garrison on July 18, 2024.

Housing serves as an engine for economic growth

BY RENEE RICHARDSON Brainerd Dispatch

BRAINERD — Brainerd, Baxter and Crow Wing County are expected to continue to add residents — both retirees and those looking to work remotely.

For economic growth for existing businesses, housing is also a key factor.

With jobs available here, where will workers live?

Municipalities are tasked with looking at population needs, current and future, and determining how to meet those needs without losing the very things that draw people here — woods, lakes, amenities.

Unlike its next-door neighbor Brainerd, first established in 1881 with the expansion of the railroad to the West, Baxter’s growth into a significant retail center began more recently. Baxter was incorporated in the spring of 1939. The city had steep growth from 1970, when the population was less than 2,000 people, to present day. In 2022, Baxter’s population was listed at 9,030 in 3,594 households by the state demographer. Baxter compiles its own projections looking at the Census data and also its own building permit data. The city expects the total housing units to be close to 4,000 by the end of this year. Baxter also lists its estimated population at 9,341 for the end of 2024, although the demographer’s numbers are used as an official count.

“Baxter is expected to continue growing significantly for the next twenty-plus years,” a demographics report to the Baxter Planning and Zoning Commission noted in October of last year. “Crow Wing County is

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projected to increase by about 29% to over 80,000 by 2035 (more than the State of Minnesota’s 20% increase in the same time period).

“Brainerd is due to increase less than 8% to about 14,613 population, whereas Baxter with all of its available land, is due to inherit much of Crow Wing County’s increased population, growing by 68% to 12,814, approaching Brainerd’s size.”

Baxter has a considerable number of options for housing development within the city. Last fall, city staff estimated there were about 600 vacant single family lots platted in the city in 2014. And looking at trends, the city expects the share of multi-family residences to grow and account for about 40% of the dwelling units in Baxter by 2030. In anticipation of the city’s population growth by 2035, Baxter estimates it needs 360 acres for 720 single family homes or 88 acres to accommodate 880

multifamily units.

Baxter has added apartments with The Lofts on Novotny opening this year and the construction of Pinehurst Apartments on Hinckley Street as part of a multi-phase construction project. In 2023, Baxter also heard from a developer interested in building a four-building apartment complex, with 70 units each, along Evergreen Drive near Highway 371 and the southern entrance to the city. There are additional single family homes going up in the city.

Price Homes out of Elk River lists Baxter maintenance free home sites at Preserve Circle off Foley Road in southwest Baxter with a common area including waterfall, pond, gazebo and walking trails. On its website, Price Homes also lists home sites at Westwood Oaks with wooded lots of 0.37 to 0.72 acres west of White Sand Lake on

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Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch

Pinehurst Apartments stretch along Hinckley Road in Baxter on a rainy afternoon on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Also in Baxter, the Pinehurst Apartments are under construction along Hinckley Road in Baxter with an anticipated opening for the first units in the fall of 2023.

HOUSING: H37

legislators and advocates to look to other states for lessons learned, though no state in particular stood out.

“What we’ve seen is that there is no single template that states have taken on,” Briner said. “Every state has done this somewhat differently. There are definitely lessons to be learned about what hasn’t worked. There are fewer that give us a roadmap because every state has taken a slightly different approach to legalization.”

With over a year of recreational cannabis use in the state, Briner said the first year was devoted to thinking about what the office’s regulatory framework looks like and spending a lot of time with Minnesota’s new law, figuring out how to turn the words on the page into an actual operational agency.

Over the next year, they are working on getting licenses out the door, and in early 2025, they hope to open up for the next round of business applicants. She said they will have multiple rounds of licenses as they work toward filling the market without it becoming oversaturated.

“We’re working with a universe of advocates and prospective business operators who haven’t always had a lot of experience in dealing with state agencies,” Briner said. “We’re dealing with a brand new industry that people have a lot of excitement and interest in and we’re dealing with a wide range of advocates. Everything from potential business operators to folks who have concerns around workplace safety to medical cannabis patients and caregivers. So it’s a broad range of stakeholders and interested parties who are watching what we’re doing.”

Briner said even before the state offered licenses, Minnesota’s uniquely positioned hemp-derived cannabidiol market had already collected more than $10 million in tax revenue in the last 11 months.

“There is a lot happening as we continue working to stand up the market,” Briner said. “There’s a lot of information on our website, whether you are a consumer, a medical patient or a potential business operator. So check the website frequently, because we’re continuing to add information, and we’re going to be working hard to make sure that we can stand up a market that is safe, accessible and transparent.”

Getting in on the ground floor and looking to help others in the Brainerd lakes area are a few businesses whose owners believe in what they are doing.

on July 18, 2024.

We’re at about 400-500 plants a year now.

Molly Lewis, Cholly’s Farm CBD & More

Cholly’s Farm CBD & More Store, Garrison

Retiring from nursing and firefighting, respectively, Molly and Charles Lewis moved from Georgia up to the Brainerd lakes area in 2018.

Molly said Charles was forced to retire from their hometown fire department in Georgia due to health concerns and chose Minnesota due to it being one of the better states for air quality. As long as Canada is not on fire, that is.

“Being a fireman and breathing and all that stuff in the ‘80s, it really took its toll on his health,” Molly said. “He was on oxygen. He was very weak. So we moved up here because the air is better here than it is in Georgia.”

With retirement not all it’s made out to be, the Lewises decided to continue helping people in need while starting a farm. They landed on growing hemp to cultivate CBD after learning about all the medicinal properties of CBD in the hemp plant.

According to the Harvard Medical School, CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most prevalent active ingredient in cannabis/marijuana. While CBD is an essential component of marijuana, it is derived directly from the hemp plant, a cousin of marijuana.

Starting with around 20 hemp plants in 2020, they first started selling at farmers markets in the area before moving into their Garrison store in 2023.

Molly said their first growing year was definitely an adventure, recalling one day when an inspector came to visit.

“He came up and said, ‘You’re kidding, right?’ And I said, ‘What did I do wrong?’ He said, ‘Everything. You did everything wrong,’” Molly said with a big smile on her face. “Fast-forward to today, we’re at about 400-500 plants a year now.”

In 2021 they expanded to grow to over 400 plants, including specialty plants that have different characteristics and levels of CBD to help with different ailments.

Michelle Cmela, an Aitkin resident, stopped in the store to talk with Molly about getting help with her multiple sclerosis. Cmela said she prefers hemp and cannabis as the pharmaceuticals she was prescribed had horrible side effects.

“I just got tired of it all and I came in today to get some relief,” Cmela said.

Each customer is greeted with a “How can we help?” when they come into the store, Molly said. And each of her employees takes a cannabis training course because there’s no sense in being there if they don’t know what they’re talking about.

Although they carry a plethora of products along with making their own, Molly said their best seller is a salve she makes herself to help with

everything from joint pain to bug bites. From gummies to pet oil, when customers come into the store, employees talk with them to find out what they need help with. If they are looking for something she does not have on hand, she will specially make it for them. Molly said most of her customers are not someone looking for a hightype effect; they are in their 60s and 70s and looking to sleep or to help with pain without the side effects of a pharmaceutical.

She said there is still a stigma around the smoking of cannabis with that generation, and most prefer a gummy or a tincture.

With the changing laws, Molly said they are looking at applying for a marijuana license as she wants to use the different properties, cannabinoids, that some marijuana plants have over hemp plants. She said each plant is unique in its own chemical characteristics.

Cholly’s Farm CBD & More Store is located at 8037 Highway 169 in Garrison. More information on them can be found on their website at tinyurl.com/ y5px6xbh.

Cuyuna Cannabis, Crosby Also opening in 2023 on Main Street in Crosby but with a bit of a different start up story is Mark Hendrickson, owner of Cuyuna Cannabis.

Hendrickson said he graduated from North Dakota State University in 2012 with a degree in industrial engineering and management. Always looking to work his way back to Minnesota, he eventually found himself working for Wells Fargo in the Twin Cities. Then COVID hit.

Having saved up some money, when Hendrickson eventually got laid off from work, he found himself back in the Crosby area.

“I don’t know if I would have ever jumped if they didn’t (let me go),” Hendrickson said. “I’ve always thought of myself as an entrepreneur type for the longest time. But when you get the comfort of the steady paychecks, it’s hard. Any big change is hard.”

Once Minnesota legalized low-dose THC and CBD, he had an idea — to open his own shop.

“I always wanted to do my own branded version, that was important to me, just more creative than just selling other people’s stuff. So I wanted to at least try that first, which made it a little slower to start,” Hendrickson said. He decided to start a cannabis business, he said, after he had the idea

Cannabis: H36

By Nicole Stracek

hether you’re ready to pop the question or looking for something special to celebrate an anniversary, E.L. Menk Jewelers is ready to help make your next jewelry purchase stress free. Located in historic downtown Brainerd, E.L. Menk Jewelers has been providing exceptional customer service to the Brainerd lakes area since 1979. Offering a large selection of jewelry and accessories, the goal is to help customers find the perfect piece. From bracelets to rings to earrings and necklaces, E.L. Menk Jewelers boasts a wide selection of items that are hand-selected by owner Ed Menk.

“We know how important and precious a piece of jewelry is to you. That’s why we offer in-house services so you can take comfort in knowing your jewelry is in good hands.”

If you can’t find the perfect piece for that special someone, Ed Menk can help by creating a unique piece that will be cherished forever. “If you have

something specific that you want but don’t see it on display inside the store, we can create unique customized items using our in-store workshop using our beautifully cut diamonds and gemstones.” EL Menk also offers repairs and jewelry maintenance to ensure your purchase stays beautiful for years to come. Because the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers knows the importance of all things that sparkle and shine, they provide customers with peace of mind when purchasing fine jewelry and accessories. Extremely knowledgeable with over 45 years in the business, the team at E.L. Menk Jewelers is excited to help make your jewelry purchase memorable and unique. Stop by E.L. Menk Jewelers to see the selection of beautiful jewelry. E.L. Menk Jewelers offer engagement and wedding rings, diamonds and gemstones, exclusive collections, custom jewelry, and estate jewelry. Visit www.elmenk jewelers.com or call 218-829-7266.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Molly Lewis is talking about hemp plants and CBD at Cholly’s Farm CBD & More Store in Garrison

during COVID as it helped him with his own ADHD.

“I’ll have people from high school come in now and be like, ‘You were yelling at me for smoking weed in high school. Are you sure this is you?’” Hendrickson said. “Yeah, I changed my viewpoints. I was probably a little close-minded back then. … It’s been interesting.”

With his own line of drinks and gummies, Hendrickson said he is looking forward to 2025 when he hopes to be one of the lucky few in the state to receive a marijuana retailer’s license.

Hendrickson said one of the toughest things is the regulations can change overnight on what needs to be on a label or can’t be on the label.

Learning from past mistakes, he is doing better than most as he does not pre-label his whole stock, only what is in the showroom. That way if changes are made, he only needs to redo a few of his products.

“I have some gummies, seltzers, sweeter sodas, some topicals, some lotions like an icy hot muscle relief situation with CBD in them, as well as CBD dog treats. I just started doing those in my own brand recently,” Hendrickson said.

Hendrickson said he contracts with a few breweries and manufacturers in the Twin Cities to make his drinks and edibles, though it costs around $500 to get a batch tested. The hard part for him right now is figuring out how much inventory to order to make the testing worthwhile.

Coming from an industry that is rigid and always has people working has been a bit of a transition for Hendrickson.

“Coming from the banking and engineering world, and now my suppliers will come in and be wearing a tank top, shorts and whatnot,” Hendrickson said. “The relaxed nature of the industry is kind of annoying at times just trying to get people to reply or work things out. It’s been interesting. It’s more stressful (owning my own business), but at least I’m not stuck in a cubicle anymore, feeling like I’m wasting my time making money for somebody else.”

Though most of his customers are out-of-towners during the summer, Hendrickson said he has a steady amount of locals who help keep his lights on in the wintertime. Of everyone he meets, most are receptive and are genuinely looking for help.

Tom Bukowski stopped in on his way to their cabin for the week of vacation. He said he saw the store and wanted to support local businesses.

Cuyuna Cannabis is located at 2 E. Main St. in Crosby. More information on them can be found at tinyurl. com/373eycm9.

Happy Tree THC & CBD Products & Beverages,

Emily

Rick and Kathy Erickson, owners of Happy Tree THC & CBD Products & Beverages in Emily, said they moved up to Emily from the East Bethel area around 2020 and purchased the building for Kathy’s other business, Rustic Pines Custom Apparel, which she has operated for almost 20 years.

The custom embroidery machines and the apparel showroom take up most of the building, though there is a little side shop connected by a doorway. After being approached by

multiple people looking to rent the side-shop as a place to sell cannabis edibles, they politely declined and did not think much of it until Rick saw an order she was working on and asked what it was all about.

Working on logos and apparel, Kathy had to call him back to find out about the order and told Rick she would inquire.

“Kathy goes, ‘Well, that’s one of Scott (Lissick’s) deals,’” Rick said. “What is he doing now? And she’s like, I don’t even know but I got to call him because he gave me the wrong amounts for the shirts he sent.”

Lissick’s original location of Happy Tree THC & CBD Products & Beverages is located at 2885 Country Drive in Little Canada.

Hearing about the THC and CBD store concept, a light went off in Rick’s head. If people are trying to buy the building to do the same thing, maybe they should look into it.

After listening to Lissick’s comments, Rick asked if he would be interested in franchising. They met the next day and drafted the franchise agreement.

Prior to opening the store, Kathy said they were helping to care for

Rick’s father, who was dying from cancer. The opiates were so bad for him that they looked for anything else that might help and found the power of cannabis.

Not wanting to enter something blind, Rick attended St. Paul College and received a certificate in cannabis retail. After completing his certificate, he received three job offers.

From there, it was pretty easy, like “plug-n-play” when Happy Tree showed up with their inventory, they already had everything they needed for inventory control and Rick and Kathy just needed to put everything on the shelves.

The classes he took covered everything from agriculture to how CBD and THC interact with the brain, giving Rick a leg up when someone comes in asking questions about what works best for PTSD or what they are doing wrong with their own homegrown plants.

“I have a CDL and I can’t use, but I’m growing just so when growers come in and talk to me I can help them because I understand some of the issues with growing,” Rick said

Rick said about eight out of 10 people who walk in that door need help with PTSD, chronic pain or sleep and are in their 70s.

“I got used to it real quick. Because they’re the ones who don’t want to be taking opiates,” Rick said. “They’re the ones that are having a hard time sleeping or they’re the ones with hip problems. But for a lot of them, there still is a stigmatism on the actual smoking of flower.”

And those are the people they are looking to help, looking for an alternative to hard prescription drugs and not necessarily looking to get high.

Deb, a customer of Happy Tree, said she has a cabin in the area and likes to frequent the store to help her sleep. She said she started coming in originally to get things for her husband, who recently passed away.

“The clientele is different than I thought it would be,” Rick said. “It is a ‘Field of Dreams’ moment for us. You know, if you build it, they will come. It’s just the people that have come, it’s

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Molly Lewis stands behind the counter at Cholly's Farm CBD & More Store in Garrison on July 18, 2024.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Molly Lewis, left, talks to Michelle Cmela about getting help with her multiple sclerosis at Cholly's Farm CBD & More Store in Garrison on Thursday, July 18, 2024..

Most have at least three-car garages. Some are slab on grade, with multiple looks to choose from in the home categories.

been surprising. It’s not what I thought it would be. I thought it would be weekend partiers swinging in here. Grabbing their stuff off to their cabins. It’s not.”

Rick said everyone is different and he helps them to find the product that works best for them.

“We’ve only been in for five months, and it takes a long time to develop customers, but many of our customers don’t smoke,” Rick said. “They don’t care if we have a dispensary; this is what they need and what they use.”

Though they have only been open for less than a year, the Ericksons are happy with their decision and look forward to what the future holds as the cannabis regulations in the state work themselves out.

Happy Tree THC & CBD Products & Beverages is located at 39948 Highway 6 in Emily. More information on them can be found at tinyurl.com/ n9tu7czw.

Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries. According to their 2023 yearend report, Green Thumb, established in 2014, has 20 manufacturing facilities, 91 open retail locations and operations across 14 U.S. markets.

RISE Dispensary Baxter opened in March 2024, allowing them to serve the largest concentration of Minnesota medical cannabis patients across the state, Hannigan wrote. In a 2023 Baxter City Council meeting, RISE reported Crow Wing County has the highest number of registered medical patients in the entire state of Minnesota, totaling roughly 4,000 patients.

“Serving both our existing patients and new adult-use customers, we plan to be ready to open our doors to customers 21 and over,” Hannigan wrote. “We’re excited to introduce more Minnesotans to the RISE experience, where our guests can expect a curated selection of premium cannabis products served up in a welcoming environment at great value.”

Kelly Drive and Emily Road. The company also has home sites of 0.34 to 0.55 acres in Jacklitch Estates a short distance from Whipple Beach. Price Homes also has larger acreage lots at Barbeau Road Estates, Cragun’s Legacy Courses and Lake Allen Drive, which is south of Gull Lake Dam Road, not far from Brainerd International Raceway and at Two Mile Road east of Brainerd, along with a couple of lake lots — one on Gull and one on Round.

Price Homes also has move-in ready homes in the lakes area and builds homes with two-story, rambler, splitlevel, villa and multi-level home plans.

In Brainerd, Level Contracting LLC, Thomas Allen Homes and Lumber One Avon have had the lion’s share of building contracts for new single family homes. Multiple homes have gone up in the Sugarberry Creek area, Serene Pines Court and Dal-Mar Drive near the roundabout on Wise Road and on Holton Avenue and York Court in the Brainerd Oaks development as well as Northtown.

Both Brainerd and Baxter have room to grow.

Brainerd neighborhoods like Northtown, just past the intersection of Beaver Dam Road and Riverside Drive, are looking more established with maturing trees now adding to the neighborhood’s appearance as homes are added. According to recent RE/MAX listings homes in Northtown — two bedroom, one bath; two-bedroom, two bath; three bedroom, two bath — run from $325,000 to $418,530. Annexation would give Brainerd more room for additional housing developments. From the June 15 Brainerd City Council meeting, Crow Wing County staff members were noted as being open to giving up some of the First Assessment District land to Brainerd.

Brainerd city staffers will continue working on a proposal for annexing a portion of land along Riverside Drive and adjacent streets into the city. The orderly annexation process would

At LINDAR and Eufouric Brands, we design, develop and construct tools, plastic parts and components, assemblies, and our own proprietary products for hundreds of industries worldwide. This Labor Day we salute you, our motivated and talented team.

THANK YOU!

RISE Dispensary, Baxter

RISE Dispensary is a medical marijuana dispensary located in the Westport Shopping Center in Baxter.

In an emailed response, Patrick Hannigan, RISE Minnesota’s commercial general manager, said RISE dispensaries are a national cannabis retailer with a mission to promote well-being through the power of cannabis.

The company was founded by

In addition to RISE Baxter, there are six other RISE locations serving Minnesota patients in Eagan, Mankato, New Hope, St. Cloud, St. Paul and Willmar.

RISE Dispensary is located at Baxter Dr #14091 in Baxter. More information on them can be found at tinyurl.com/4asnn6uu.

TIM SPEIER, staff writer, can be reached on Twitter@timmy2thyme, call 218-855-5859 or email tim.speier@brainerddispatch.com.

Lindar is the Industry’s Leading Thermoforming Company

LINDAR is a Baxter, Minnesota, company specializing in plastic thermoforming and rotational molding — a process that forms plastic in shapes using custom designed molds.

Using this process, LINDAR designs, develops, and produces products that are part of people’s everyday lives.

Whether you’re at a Lowes in Sacramento, a Target in Toronto, a Kwik Trip in Des Moines, a Wal-Mart in Mexico City, a construction site in Tampa, on a golf course in Charlotte, or in a farm field in central Illinois you are likely within arm’s reach of products that have been custom designed and made by LINDAR for some of the most well-known brands today.

LINDAR’s roots run deep as Tom and Ellen Hagin started the company over 30 years ago with one manufacturing machine and one product.

“The name LINDAR represents the entrepreneurial spirit of two people that put everything on the line to start a company whose vision today remains unchanged,” said Steve Lund, president of LINDAR. “We bring together a team of like-minded and incredibly talented people focused on helping companies achieve success with their products in the market. If we consistently deliver this to our customers, we will also achieve success.”

Now a multi-generational family-owned company, LINDAR has grown to over 175 employees who use industry-leading technology and processes in its over 200,000 square feet of facilities on its manufacturing campus in Baxter.

With the same entrepreneurial spirit that started LINDAR over 30 years ago, a new company was formed in 2019. Leveraging all of LINDAR’s product design, development, and manufacturing capabilities, EUFOURIC BRANDS, LLC is a consumer

products company that has several of its own proprietary brands with many different patented products.

Whether it’s their line of Maluna brand coolers, whose ice retention performance outperforms the industry leading competitor by 35 percent, or the vast assortment of DUHA brand storage cases for nearly every model of truck, SUV and UTV in the market today, EUFOURIC BRANDS, LLC is a consumer product company focused on bringing new and innovative products directly to consumers. Using creative marketing strategy and tactics, EUFOURIC BRANDS sells its products through multiple channels, such as traditional retail stores, Amazon and other retail websites and its own proprietary websites.

“Being part of the team at LINDAR or EUFOURIC BRANDS, LLC deeply connects you to the energy and excitement of bringing products to life and following them right to the consumer,” said Lund. “I would be willing to bet that you have a LINDAR made product close to you right now.” To learn more, visit www.lindarcorp.com and www.eufouric.com.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Cuyuna Cannabis in Crosby on Monday, July 8, 2024.

Renee Richardson / Brainerd Dispatch file photo

A 2006 aerial view of the Brainerd Oaks housing development.

Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch

Construction of homes as seen Thursday, April 14, 2022, on Northtown Street in Brainerd.

golf course part of those plans didn’t pan out at that time, Peterson said there was a lot of interest in the housing piece.

The development sold out in about three years and is composed of mostly one-level patio homes, with a couple two-levels thrown in as well, valued at around $500,000 to $800,000. No two houses next to each other look exactly the same, and well-manicured lawns give the neighborhood the charming curb appeal Peterson envisioned.

“I like to think of it as like a townhome development but with your own walls,” he said. “It has all the benefits of townhome living, and it’s right off the main trail.”

That main trail winds through the golf course and surrounding area, allowing residents to traverse their neighborhood — go have dinner, visit the resort, get to the lake — without having to get their cars out.

“All of our developments are about lifestyle and getting the East Gull Lake lifestyle, or the resort lifestyle,” Peterson said.

Demographics in the Village lean more toward retirees and snowbirds, those who spend the winter months in warm climates, though there are also younger families and residents that call the neighborhood home as well.

A homeowners association — with fees Peterson said are kept relatively low — takes care of tasks like lawn maintenance and snow removal.

“I’d much rather be spending my summers on the golf course than mowing my lawn and taking care of that,” Peterson said with a smile.

The homes in all of the Cragun’s developments also come with a resort club membership, which includes various perks at the resort. Residents can get discounted golf rates, access to the resort’s boat club and sporting amenities, and discounts on dining, shopping and lodging at the resort. The new boat club grants them access to Gull Lake and various marina rentals like boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards and canoes.

Legacy Pointe

Farther to the east, along holes 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Lehman 18, lies Legacy Pointe, another residential development with sweeping views of the green, accessed via Gull River Road.

Here, buyers can purchase just a lot or to-be-built spec homes on one of 16 sites with an average size of an acre. This development is in its infancy stages, with just one home built so far and a couple more lots sold.

“Obviously the interest rates spiked in 2022 and into 2023, so the housing market has slowed a little bit,” Peter-

require public hearings to take place before properties were admitted into Brainerd and able to be assessed for street projects and hooked up to city utilities.

Brainerd Oaks also has homes for sale with recent Century 21 Brainerd Realty listings from about $275,000 to $365,000 in east Brainerd. Developers of Country Manor promise to bring a senior living and day care complex just off Beaver Dam Road.

The Foundation for Health Care Continuums,also known as Country Manor, plans to build a facility composed of 92 senior apartments, 18 memory care units and a day care component serving eight infants, 14 toddlers, 40 preschoolers and 30 school-aged children off Beaver Dam Road in Brainerd. The complex would also offer rehabilitation services for residents and the public.

Brainerd is also working with the school district and developers at Tapestry Companies on an agreement for land at and next to Buffalo Hills Park.

In May, Tim Trimble, of Tapestry Companies, said in a memo to the city of Brainerd the land would be an ideal location for three housing complexes. One building is proposed to have 60 units for families, while a second would have 65 units for seniors. Both facilities would have income restrictions of 50% area median income, which is a variety of housing city staff has confirmed the city needs. Any residents would have to make 50% or less of the local area median income. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 50% median income for Crow Wing County as of May 1, 2024, is $32,100 for a single person and $45,800 for a family of four.

Brainerd Public Schools owns the 20-acre parcel of undeveloped land on the north side of Buffalo Hills Park but has indicated there are no plans for future use. The proposal from Tapestry Companies has the developer purchasing that land from the school district and then swapping about 7.95 acres of the western portion for about 5 acres of the eastern portion of Buffalo Hills Park.

Creekside Community, the cleared land behind the Tyrol Hills Shopping Mall with Ace Hardware by Walgreens, is expected to eventually include a 12-plex apartment complex with 10 studio apartments and two two-bedroom units.

This building is the second 12-unit apartment complex planned for the development, which is spearheaded by

• Sat-Sun:

Vicky Kinney and My Neighbor To Love Coalition as a project to provide housing for the homeless. Work and fundraising efforts are now focused on the first complex planned to the north, with a boarding house going between the two apartment buildings. The two apartment buildings will be called Creekside North and Creekside South.

Just how many other existing lots in Brainerd would be available for single family housing is a little more complicated to pin down. Eric Charpentier, Brainerd Housing and Redevelopment Authority executive director, and Tyler Glynn, executive director of the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp., are working on getting a reliable estimate of the single family homes now in Brainerd. Charpentier recently noted the U.S. Census data doesn’t provide a good delineation of single family versus multi-family homes in the city. Charpentier said estimating the bare land that isn’t yet platted is difficult. Housing was also a top priority for the respondents to the Crow Wing County community survey as part of the comprehensive plan update. The community survey input showed the top two issues to address are housing (27%) and jobs and economic development (27%). Many survey respondents feel there should be higher quality housing options for those of all incomes and age groups.

Forty-eight percent of respondents felt more senior housing options are needed, and 58% said there needs to be better incentives or resources to maintain existing housing.

The survey also identified respondents’ top priorities for the area’s natural resources, including increased protection of water quality (73%), preserving natural forests (75%) and protecting quality farmland (64%).

A 2019 study that indicated the region needed more than 4,500 residential units during the next 15 years to meet the housing demand for yearround residents.

Theresa Bourke, Dispatch staff writer, contributed to this story. New

units by

Renee Richardson, managing editor, may be reached at 218-855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch. com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter. com/DispatchBizBuzz.

ADVERTORIAL

I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream.

hen I started in the glass business, I had not envisioned myself making this my longterm dream. Well, here I am some 30-plus years later. I started at the very bottom and worked my way to owning my own business. I met my wife because of it and in turn had two wonderful children.

Along the way I have worked with and beside some very wonderful people. When my wife and I purchased Brainerd Glass in 2009 we had visions of growing the company and in doing so also creating a bond and trust with not only our clients but also with our employees.

Treating people with respect and listening to what their needs are is the foundation of what we do at Brainerd Glass. Integrity, hard work and going the extra mile is not only sound business practice but the right way to do things.

As we look to the future, our hope is to not only grow our business, but to also maintain up-to-date standards. We will embrace and utilize all the new technology that increases the value of our products and services. Our bottom line is to create a positive work environment for our employees and a quality product and service for our customers.

In today’s economy, unfortunately, the products we purchase have run into some time delays. Whether it is a lack of workers from our suppliers or lack of material, our lead times have grown. When you work with Brainerd Glass you will get full disclosure on the status of your project. Our goal is to work as quickly and efficiently as humanly possible. Sometimes the path may get crooked, but the result will always be for us to give the highest quality product and service available.

I personally want to thank all my employees, both present and past. Brainerd Glass is more than just a name; it is a reputation that has stood the test of time. It is a tradition that was started in 1943 and continues to this day. We consider it a blessing to live and work where we do. We actively take part in the community both physically and monetarily. We look forward to the future and will always strive to be the very best that we can be.

LEGACY: H39

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Cragun’s Resort General Manager Eric Peterson talks Wednesday, July 17, 2024, about the three new Legacy housing developments at the resort.

son said. “But we’re patient with it.”

These homes are adjacent to the Gravel Pit Golf Course and not far from Madden’s either, giving residents — especially golf enthusiasts — even more amenities beyond Cragun’s.

“You start doing all the math, and you’ve got 120, 130 holes of golf just by your golf cart,” Peterson said. “So to me, it’s all about owning a golf cart and enjoying that experience.”

Aside from the golfing perks, the homes come with a variety of scenic views. A few lots even have dual sunset and sunrise views, catering to all tastes and preferences.

“It’s not a golf course housing development. It’s a little bit of housing around a beautiful golf course,”

Peterson said. “So the purpose wasn’t housing and then, ‘Oh, we’ll squeeze a golf course in.’ The purpose was, ‘Let’s build a great golf course, and if there’s some land left over, let’s maximize that for some really beautiful home sites.”

Legacy Ridge

Going south on the golf cart trail leads to Legacy Ridge, the last of the new developments, situated on holes 9-14 of the Lehman 18.

Purple, yellow and white flowers line the picturesque trail, leading to views of not only the golf course but also environmental Lake Stephens, for those who relish being on the water.

“Here you get golf, lake, golf,” Peterson said. “Usually you get one thing in

Legacy: H40

Wishing you all a Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Covering area communities from Nisswa to Hackensack and Pequot Lakes, Pine River to Crosslake and surrounding communities ADVERTORIAL

Echo Journal earns 15 awards for quality coverage

By Pete Mohs

The PineandLakes Echo Journal staff enjoyed one of its best Better Newspaper Contest finishes in recent years with 15 total awards, including first place for top website, earlier this year at the Minnesota Newspaper Association annual convention.

Second-place finishes for the Echo Journal were Use of Photography as a Whole, Classified Advertising Section, Best Magazine Design, Best Magazine Cover, Best Magazine Article (Nancy Vogt), Magazine Use of Photography as a Whole and Best Use of Multimedia (Advertising team and Sara Leitheiser).

Placing third were Typography and Design, Best Magazine, Best Magazine Design, Best Magazine Cover, Best Magazine Article (Nancy Vogt), Best Magazine Photography and Magazine Use of Photography as a Whole.

The Echo Journal works hard to produce quality coverage of local news in its printed weekly newspaper and daily digital news. The staff covers local meetings, feature stories, community events and sports activities for the cities of Pequot Lakes and Pine RiverBackus, plus a dozen area communities in its readership area.

The Echo Journal staff was also recently honored by

finishing third among the entries in the “Best Newspaper” division of the “2024 Best of” contest judged by area residents.

The Echo Journal staff focuses on local news coverage of a dozen communities in Crow Wing and Cass counties. The publication also covers the school districts of Pequot Lakes, Pine River-Backus, Brainerd (Nisswa School) and the Crosslake Community School.

The Echo Journal, combined with the Brainerd Dispatch staff, produces more than 30 special sections and magazines each year. They also help produce the weekly EcholandPiper Shopper.

The PineandLakes Echo Journal has continuous news updates at pineandlakes.com. Before the digital age, Echo Journal readers were forced to wait, sometimes almost a week, to receive the local news. Today, the coverage is updated 24/7 with breaking news on its website. This development has helped the website reach more than one million page views in 2023.

The Echo Journal newspaper is the result of a merger between the Lake Country Echo and Pine River Journal newspapers in the fall of 2013. The Pine River Journal was established in 1935 while the Lake Country Echo began in 1972.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Hole No. 4 of the Lehman 18 Golf Course is visible from one of the lots in the Legacy Pointe housing development at Cragun’s Resort.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Stephens Lake is visible from a lot in Legacy Ridge housing development around the Lehman 18 Golf Course at Cragun’s Resort.

your view. Here in these couple of lots you get all of it.”

Legacy Ridge includes 53 home sites between half an acre and 2.5 acres in size, starting around $100,000, with three residents already moved in as of mid-July. To-be-built spec homes start around $639,000. Prices for this development vary more on the location and view than on size.

Both residential and owner rental homes comprise Legacy Ridge. Drivers along County Highway 77 can glimpse the five Private Collection homes built and valued at about $900,000 to $1.1 million. These fully furnished homes are available as permanent residents or owner rentals. In the rental scenario, owners are able to occupy them for up to 42 days in the summer and 100 days in the winter. The rest of the time, they’re rented out through Cragun’s, with the resort and the owner splitting the rental income. Boasting between five and eight bedrooms and several bathrooms, along with recreational areas with pool and poker tables, the homes are ideal for large groups of vacationers or corporate retreats, as well as owners who are working professionals.

Carrie Lee, the listing agent on the Legacy Ridge properties through Evolution Resort Real Estate, said the homes would be perfect for medical professionals who might need to live within a certain distance to a hospital, or snowbirds who might want to move off the water but remain in the Brainerd lakes area.

“When you think about the Brainerd lakes area and what drives value, it’s the concentration of the amenity package,” Lee said. “And so a lot of times I tell people, it’s like taking that and duplicating it at a higher level when you have resort style living because you have all of the Brainerd lakes area, but now you’ve plugged yourself into a resort and that amenity package. And so it’s even more accessible without being on the water.”It’s what Lee calls a microeconomy.

“The community within the community that offers an owner really good leverage because they’re getting the best of what the community has at a price that is still in that range of — we’re not on the lake, but we’re really, really close, and we have all the amenities,” she said. “And then when you par tner that with the boat club that Cragun’s does and all of that, there’s all these ancillary things that add value beyond just living in the Brainerd lakes area.

”It’s like plugging your home into an outlet that’s much larger than a traditional power source.

“You plug into those things at the resort that you otherwise wouldn’t have access to,” Lee added.

Peterson sees the developments as great opportunities for retirees, as the Brainerd lakes area is an attractive place for friends and family to want to come visit.

And if those summer visitors overstay their welcome, there’s plenty of golf holes and lakes nearby to spread out and enjoy some more personal space.

Cragun’s Legacy housing developments

City: East Gull Lake

Number of employees: About 40-50 on the golf courses and around 500 at the resort.

Interesting fact: The new roads created for the Legacy Ridge development are named for golfer Tom Lehman (Tom Lehman Drive) and the golf course where he won his British Open (Royal Lytham Court and St. Annes Court), after Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club.

THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Private Collection homes are part of the Legacy Ridge housing development at Cragun’s Resort, available for private ownership or as partial rentals through the resort.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Listing agent Carrie Lee talks Wednesday, July 17, 2024, about the Private Collection homes that are part of the Legacy Ridge housing development at Cragun’s Resort.

Tim Speier / Brainerd Dispatch

Eric Peterson, general manager of Cragun’s Resort, points out vacant lots on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, in the Legacy Pointe housing development at the resort.

Over the course of 53 years, the Scamp Trailer company has built such a loyal following that in

and hold a big party.

BY TRAVIS GRIMLER

Echo Journal

PINE RIVER — September marks the 10-year anniversary of the opening of the Northern Sales and Manufacturing Ice Castle fish house manufacturing plant in Pine River.

The Pine River area is fish house central

Four fish house manufacturers bring skilled manufacturing jobs to the area

opened a larger facility partnered with Voyager Outdoors north of Pine River in April 2019.

• Polar Fox Outdoors began producing skid houses in the fall of 2022.

It’s unlikely that anyone anticipated the small city and surrounding area becoming fish house central in the years that followed with not just one, but three additional companies coming to the area. Nor thern Sales officially opened in September of 2015.

• Blackline Conversions began finishing Yeti Fish Houses in Backus in 2015 and

When I was young, I wanted to be an English teacher or a librarian. I loved spelling, grammar, punctuation, books and reading. While I didn’t get my degree in education, nothing changed in regard to liking words and spelling as I recently celebrated my 25th year here at the Brainerd Dispatch. I’m not doing what I originally wanted to do but working with our writers and editors daily for the last 25 years has been nothing short of amazing for this “word” girl. For this year’s Progress Edition, we asked our readers to share their career paths with us. Thank you so much to everyone who submitted their stories.

The over 50-year-old Scamp Trailer Company in Backus added a new ice fishing specific model to their product line around 2023. After all, Pine River is in the center of some of the best ice fishing on the planet with Leech Lake to the north, the Whitefish Chain to the east and the Gull Chain of Lakes to the south. Perhaps it was only natural that high-end fish house manufacturers should congregate in

FISH HOUSES: H42

Totally different career path I graduated from Brainerd High School in 1978 and always wanted to go to college to become a physical education/health teacher and a coach. I set out to St. Cloud State for one year and really got caught up in the “partying” atmosphere. My parents weren’t too happy so they cut me off financially and told me if I wanted to get a college degree, it would be all on me. I transferred to Brainerd Community College (that’s what it was called back in the day) and went there for two years. After my two year AA degree, I transferred to Bemidji State University, where I went

lines and built-in furniture make for a different style of very high-end trailers that have kept

since 1971.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

recent years past customers have returned to the “homeland” to see the facility

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

Smooth

Scamp popular

Micah Eveland

this community.

“It’s a prime location with the type of person that lives here,” said Micah Eveland, Scamp president and partial owner at Blackline Conversions. “There are very skilled workers, very handy, but it’s also great because of the chains of lakes around us. We’re also partway to Red Lake, partway to Winnibigoshish and partway to Lake of the Woods.”

“All of a sudden you have people coming together with creative ideas and design ideas for these product lines and when we look at how we’re building products, we are building them with the user’s need in mind,” Polar Fox Outdoors Co-owner Chris Beberg said. “So when we employ people who use these products and are familiar with them and have spent a lifetime in the area fishing and camping and hunting, it helps with product development.”

While they all share a market, they all participate in that market in different ways. Their companies have their own strengths and features.

From the start, Ice Castle has marketed itself as infinitely customizable.

“We are a specialty company,” said Gregory Poncelet, with Northern Sales and Manufacturing, which makes Ice Castles. “If we can get it to fit on the frame and in our framework, we’ll build it for you. One thing everybody knows with Ice Castle is that we do customization. We will do whatever the customer wants, to a certain extent. We sit down with the customer one on one and do a plan and measurements.”

Ice Castle uses steel frames and 2-by-3 stud walls, cedar and pine and now cabinet stain.

Since arriving on the scene, Yeti has boasted an impressive extruded aluminum frame that appeals to many for its reduced weight.

“They’re all-aluminum fish houses so nothing in them will rot,” Eveland said. “These are premium as far as being engineered. They have hydraulic lift systems or manual crank systems and they are industry-leading, for sure.”

Polar Fox filled a different niche with extremely lightweight skid houses.

“Everyone has some degree of, ‘Hey, we make a trailer for fishing that can drop down and you can fish in,’” said Beberg. “But some of them are more RV focused and some are just more ice fishing focused. The difference is really about materials and construction, which are chosen based on the needs and goals of my customers.”

Polar Fox houses are made from panels that combine insulation and rigid finishing materials into single panels, eliminating the need for extra wood framing that would make their shelters heavier. History alone is enough to make Scamp stand out. Scamp brought with them many years of experience and a customer base so loyal that in 2022 they started a homecoming rally for Scamp owners.

“We started in 1971, building fiberglass units,” Eveland said. “The one thing that stuck was the Scamp Travel Trailer and we’ve been manufacturing those ever since. We’re a very niche market. We make a molded fiberglass travel trailer and we’re one of the ones that’s been around the longest. Volume speaks for itself; the more you see out there, the more people are comfortable with purchasing that brand.”

Of course, the industry has grown with Scamp’s introduction of an ice fishing specific line of Ice Pro camper fish houses. The new product, introduced just over a year ago, uses the company’s experience in fiberglass shells, but applies it in a different shape.

“We’re always looking for new and exciting things,” Eveland said. “About a year and a half ago we started the Ice Pro project. We wanted to compete and created a very lightweight fish house. We also stayed in the same category of molded fiberglass since there’s not a molded fiberglass fish house out there right now, and our engineering

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

in the

industry within 10 miles.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

In 10

team came together on our new design and landed on the shape you see today.”

The new Ice Pro line features lightweight toy haulers. An angler can haul the house with a four wheeler inside to the shore of the lake, unload the four wheeler, attach the trailer to the all-terrain vehicle and tow it to the lake, leaving their vehicle parked on shore.

They also come equipped with all expected furniture and amenities.

The competition has grown over the years. Polar Fox, for example, has begun to ramp up production of their toy hauler trailer models in the face of increased market demand.

“We’ve brought in more wheelhouse systems into what we call an all-season trailer,” Beberg said. “They are a lifelong product with an ice fishing layout, then we add a bit of RV camping features.”

The Polar Fox wheel houses come with openings and space to allow ATVs to be hauled inside.

As their production plants grow in age, Ice Castle and Blackline Conversion’s Yeti Fish Houses continue to g row in quality. At Northern Sales, for example, they have begun building narrower houses that are more suitable to be pulled behind a utility vehicle. They are also shifting designs toward camper friendliness.

“People like seasonal campers,” Poncelet said.

While the area population isn’t too

incredibly big by manufacturing standards, it turns out these companies think “this town” is in fact big enough for the four of them, and the competition is a boon for the industry.

Any time you get competition, you’re going to get a better product for the consumer,” Eveland said. “We all keep moving and keep raising the bar and get a better product for our consumers in this area and in the nation.”

“I think anytime you bring people doing the same thing into a community it turns out not to be a competition, but some sort of camaraderie,” Beberg said. “It kind of creates energy for everybody, and that’s a lot of fun. It brings benefits to everyone.”

As the first to delve into local fish house manufacturing, the people at Northern Sales also feel the advantage

of working near others in the same industry.

“Anyone that starts something in a location should feel honored when other people follow suit in the area. As far as a business aspect, it’s very smart to have more manufacturing in one area,” Poncelet said. “A better workforce. If they don’t like working for us, they can go some place else. If they don’t like working for that company, they can come back to us. But the more you give to one community, the more options, the more people it brings here and brings out of Minneapolis.”

TRAVIS GRIMLER is a staff writer for the Pineandlakes Echo Journal weekly newspaper in Pequot Lakes/Pine River. He may be reached at 218-855-5853 or travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com.

Ernie’s On Gull – A Long-time Favorite That’s

Better Than Ever

Besides a scrumptious menu and a fun atmosphere, a successful restaurant depends on a winning staff as a key to success.

Whether you dock your boat at Ernie’s on Gull or come in after a drive around the lake, you can find the perfect spot to sit indoors or lakeside on the patio and overlook scenic Gull Point. The adjoining On Point Burger Company offers yet another option for outdoor seating and is the perfect place to meet friends for fun with a picturesque backdrop as a bonus.

Ernie’s offers customers a popular gathering spot to grab a light appetizer or relaxing bite in the lakes area. Delicious dinner entrées are available for every palette. Start your experience with a selection from the long list of beverage options, including beer, wine and your favorite signature cocktail followed up with one of their well-known appetizers including peaches and cream bruschetta or peel and eat shrimp.

From pasta to seafood to a burger and fries just the way you like them, Ernie’s delivers.

Just like it was in 1917 when the original Ernie’s first opened, today it’s a place for friends to enjoy one another’s company.

In addition to Ernie’s on Gull, Chris Foy and his brother, Mike, pride themselves on owning three of the most family friendly establishments in the Brainerd lakes area. The two also own both Dough Bros Woodfire Kitchen in Baxter and Main Street Ale House in Nisswa.

“Coming off this strong, busy season we just really want to thank our staff. We appreciate everything they do so that others can enjoy our establishments and everything we have to offer. We truly have the best staff in the area, and we appreciate them.”

To find out what is currently happening at Ernie’s on Gull or to explore the menu, follow them on Facebook or go to Erniesongull.com.

Travis Grimler / Echo Journal

Northern Sales and Manufacturing in Pine River led the way by opening a fish house manufacturing facility in 2014. Ten years later there are three others in the Pine River and Backus area.

to collect unemployment for the winter, or take the long-term sub position with School District 181.

From Zimmerman to Pequot Lakes

on to graduate in 1984 with a BS degree. I had a major in physical education/health and a teaching degree with a minor in biology, along with a coaching certificate. I was provided student teaching at Washington Middle School in the fall of 1984.

I had picked up a job working for Anderson Brothers Construction Company during the summer months flagging, laboring and driving a dump truck hauling hot asphalt, while working 70-80 hours a week. When I started my student teaching in the fall, I was working with the sixth grade students in physical education and also teaching some health classes. I believe I had to complete 6-8 weeks of student teaching to finalize my teaching degree. When I was almost done, the district offered me a long-term substitute teaching position. I had been offered my job back at Anderson Brothers in Brainerd and had to decide if I wanted

Not knowing then what I know now, I am very happy with my decision to go back to work for Anderson Brothers. I met my husband Lyndon at Anderson Brothers, and we will be celebrating 34 years of marriage in October. I have assumed many different positions within the company after all these years, which have consisted of flagger, laborer, truck driver, foreperson, logistics manager, safety director and now aggregate environmentalist. My job at Anderson Brothers was only going to be temporary, but has turned into a career of 41 years of service. I was just recently given my own reserved parking spot at Anderson Brothers. So, when you ask about a career path, one can dream of what or who they want to be when they grow up, and end up with a totally different career path.

Kim Kirk,

Anderson Brothers

Growing up in a family of eight children, being third from the oldest, it was interesting and fun to help the younger siblings.

While going to college at St. Cloud State in 1961, I had an interest to become an elementary teacher as many elementary teachers that I knew were almost all female. I believed a male teacher would be a benefit to many of the students. While attending college to become an elementary teacher, almost all the student teachers were female.

I graduated in 1964 and was hired to teach third and fourth grade in Zimmerman, Minnesota. I really enjoyed working with these young people for two years. There was an opening for a sixth grade teacher in Brainerd, Minnesota, and I was hired to teach in the Lincoln Elementary School.

During the year I had some really sharp young students but I had a number of students that were struggling.

ABOUT BLAEDC Crow Wing County, known for its scenic beauty, is also a hub for thriving businesses. The Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation (BLAEDC) plays a pivotal role in fostering economic growth and community development through various programs and services. Here, we highlight some of BLAEDC’s key initiatives and their impact on the local economy.

RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

The Brainerd Lakes Area is more than just a tourist destination; it’s a thriving business community. BLAEDC’s Recruitment Program is instrumental in attracting the talent needed to support local businesses in a competitive market. Since its inception in 2016, the program has successfully hired over 82 employees and over 250 new families have moved to the area.

UNIFIED FUND

Established in 2017, BLAEDC’s Unified Fund supports local businesses by pooling unused public funds from across Crow Wing County into a single lending assistance program. Over the past seven years, the fund has provided more than $1.8 million in GAP lending assistance, demonstrating BLAEDC’s vital role in workforce development and business financing.

BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES

In addition to its core services aimed at business growth and expansion in the Brainerd Lakes Area, BLAEDC serves as a satellite site for the North Central Small Business Development Center. This service supports both potential and current business owners in Crow Wing County, offering valuable consulting and resources.

Thinking I could help other students better, I was awarded a scholarship to get my master’s degree at the University of Grand Forks. After getting my master’s degree in special education, the administration asked me if I would stay on at Grand Forks and work with 13 of the elementary schools. What an eye opener! I worked closely with the teachers, special education teachers, school psychologist, school psychiatrist and other agencies. In 1970, I was hired by the Pequot Lakes School District to be a special education teacher for grades 7-11. Seniors were not considered as they did not have a graduating class for them. That was changed the first year I was there. I really enjoyed teaching all the classes — home ec, phy ed, reading, basic math and other subjects. I had junior/senior high students from Pine River and Backus with the younger students going to the other two schools. Our students were

Career Path: h45

CURRENT PROJECTS AND IMPACT

BLAEDC continues to address critical issues such as housing, childcare shortages, and employment challenges. Other notable projects include:

• MN Design Team Visit: In May 2024, BLAEDC/CREDI hosted the Minnesota Design Team, comprising architects, urban designers, planners, and other experts, to develop a shared vision for the Cuyuna Lakes Region. This initiative engaged residents, community leaders, and businesses in planning a future that reflects their collective aspirations.

• Brainerd Exterior Improvement Grant Program: In July 2024, BLAEDC administered this program on behalf of the Brainerd Economic Development Authority (EDA) to incentivize external and visible investments within the Brainerd city limits, stimulating local economic growth.

• Supporting Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: In 2024, BLAEDC/ North Central SBDC have offered a variety of events and workshops aimed at supporting businesses in Crow Wing County including QuickBooks Across the County and Entrepreneurs on Tap.

CONCLUSION

BLAEDC’s continued success wouldn’t be possible without the support of local governmental partners, business community, and members. This backing enables BLAEDC to attract talented staff and create new programs that foster a thriving business environment in Crow Wing County. As we move forward, our mission remains: to expand business, build community, and grow jobs in Crow Wing County. Together, we can continue to make a positive impact.

For more information on our services and resources, visit growbrainerdlakes.org

in charge of planning trips each spring to go to the Boundary Water Canoe Area. Each student was in charge with others of planning meals, etc., for the four to five days we would stay. As we would be using canoes, I had the students arrive at the school wearing old shoes and clothes they wouldn’t mind getting wet. I stressed the importance if one were to fall overboard to see if they could swim with their clothes on. The students, stopping off at the YMCA, had to jump off at the deep end and swim to the other end. We would have lost over half the class or more. Yes, the water in the BWCA at the end of May is near freezing.

I taught a special group at the Brainerd Vo-tech where I was the coordinator/instructor. Eventually the vo-tech became part of the Central Lakes College. I retired from there in 2000. Since 1970 until 2023, my older brother, Calvin Wallin, and I have taught mainly 11-13 year olds the Minnesota DNR Firearm Safety Program. We each had 55 years of team teaching and have helped thousands of young people to help them get their MN Firearm Safety Certificates. One of our last years of teaching we had over six different communities being represented by sending students to attend our classes. Many of the firearm safety instructors from some of those other areas had retired or resigned. We ended up that year with more than 62 students attending.

I have taught Sunday school for over 60 years, most of the time this younger group was from our Lutheran Church in Nisswa, Minnesota.

I was the 2015 Minnesota Tree Farmer of the Year and I was one of eight semifinalists for the national honor. I was the 1983 Pequot Lakes Teacher of the Year and one of the eight semifinalists for Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year. I was Nisswa’s 2018 Citizen of the Year.

I have been truly blessed to have been involved with many things including being a professional photographer/videographer for over 40 years which included taking wedding photos in many other states and one wedding in Mexico.

John Wallin, Pequot Lakes Keeping agriculture in the family I see you are looking for people to share their career path with you. I would like to write about my husband, Bruce and me. We were both involved with FFA in high school (BHS). At that time it

Liesa Thill

stood for Future Farmers of America. Bruce was my brother’s best friend; both were FFA officers. Bruce graduated in 1972 and went on to study ag production at Willmar Technical college — a two-year program. After I graduated in 1975 (also an FFA officer), I went to two years of college, one at the U of M in Morris and one year in St. Paul. Then we got married and we both got educated about agriculture. We farmed a little on our own but mostly worked for Bruce’s uncle on his dairy and beef farm. In 1980, we got more involved by forming a partnership with his aunt and uncle. We continued to learn more about agriculture, pursuing our goals through good times and challenges. Fast forward 44 years, we have fulfilled our career goal of using our agricultural knowledge to care for several hundred acres of land and several thousand production animals to provide food for millions of people. We raised our children to appreciate their agriculture background so now they can work on obtaining their goals. We have been blessed.

Rosanne and Bruce Caughey, Brainerd

A long, strange trip

Beginning in high school, after watching the movie “Sybil” in which Sally Field plays the titular character with 16 personalities, all of which is wrapped up in about two hours, I wanted to be the world’s preeminent, youngest, richest psychiatrist. When I learned that would mean medical school, I took it down a notch to psychologist. I pursued a major in psychology at the University of South Dakota and stumbled upon my second major in criminal justice studies — I had enough credits for a second major, so why not? I was rejected from every psych grad program I applied to, except the Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology program at the University of Minnesota, and even that was after sitting on a waiting list until enough people declined to join the program. (Hint No. 1)

My summer job between my junior and senior years was at a state hospital for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I

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attributed my miserable time there as working to try to make the patients’ lives better, but there would be no complete recovery. (Hint No. 2)

At my summer job between undergrad and grad school, my coworker/ supervisor, knowing my grad school plans, quipped, “‘Yeah, I can just see you with a client. They walk in and you say, ‘And what the (heck) is wrong with you?’” (Hint No. 3. See where this is going?)

I happily moved from the small town life in South Dakota to the urban fast lane of Minneapolis, and I loved it. Well, all but the stupid practicum experience I had to do — be a counselor at the Learning and Academic Skills Center, where every week the students would come in complaining of the same thing we’d covered the week before, over and over. Sigh. Every day I was scheduled to work, I woke up saying to myself, “(Dang), I’m not sick.” This misery I attributed to it being students and study skills — no Sybils to work with and miraculously heal in two hours’ time. (Hint No. 4)

student loans would be due. I had to find a better job than stitching together part-time work at a liquor store, the Walker Art Center and the Star Tribune. I found a full-time job as a secretary/receptionist at a small architecture firm. I was lucky enough the owners recognized I could handle those tasks plus learn about their business and contribute much more. I did everything there except design the buildings. I also saw the owners were not putting together a business plan that would include me as they prepared the firm for their retirement. I needed to move on and took a shortterm administrative job with a local publisher. That way, I was not abandoning my mentors and friends for a competitor, and I could discern what parts of that experience I really enjoyed — being in a design environment, working on marketing materials, and writing and editing content ... what could I do with that?

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I also had a part-time job at a group home where adults who had been in in-patient mental health care could transition back into their communities. My last day was spent barricaded in the office while an irate resident pounded on the door yelling expletives at me because I had told them where they could find more ketchup rather than getting the ketchup for them. Here was a Sybil moment, but I couldn’t even defuse the situation. (Hint No. 5, and yes, I was starting to see a pattern.)

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By this time, I completed all the required coursework and was ostensibly working on my thesis. I kind of wasn’t, though — I was completely unmotivated to research anything that had to do with counseling. I was adding up the hints and coming up with, “What the (heck) am I doing here?” When the program sent me a questionnaire about my progress, I answered honestly. Their response was to remove me from the program for lack of making progress.

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Kicked out of grad school. That statement alone was bad enough, but it also meant my copious amount of

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After just a few months, the ideal position appeared in the Star Tribune classifieds: Marketing Coordinator for an architecture/engineering firm. I could specialize in the one area I had enjoyed the most, while someone else answered the phone. I went for it, got it, and loved it. I assumed leadership positions in the firm, moved up the ranks and was promoted into the first step of ownership in the firm. By the time my husband and I started our family, however, I was less enamored with life in the fast lane and sacrificing my time with our little family just to continue up that career ladder. We looked for opportunities outside the Twin Cities while I stayed home with our firstborn and did some contract work for the firm. Just like the last time I had turned to the Star Tribune classifieds, a help wanted ad jumped out at me: Marketing Coordinator for Widseth Smith Nolting in Brainerd. It’s rare to find such specialized openings, and even more rare for those employers to find such specifically qualified candidates. I asked my husband how he felt about moving to the Brainerd area and taking over as our full-time stay-at-home parent, because I knew if I pursued that job I was going to get it. (Not that I’m bragging — it really is rare to find one of us architecture/engineering marketing folks out in the wild.) Now, nearly 22 years later, I’m still here at Widseth, where I joke that my background in psychology and criminal justice studies is really not all that far off — wink, wink. Since starting at Widseth, I have again taken on

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Career Path: h46

additional responsibilities and added graphic design — finally doing something with my creative talents I overlooked as I locked in the blinders and would only focus on “Sybil.”

It’s been a long, strange trip. And it either serves as a warning (don’t take out a ton of student loans to study something you don’t love) or a reassurance (lots of people change their minds about what they want to be when they grow up). I guess what I hope for my own kids is that my experience is both: Take time to try different things, change your mind, and hone in on something that’s worth investing in — something you love to do.

Liesa Thill

Business Development Manager, Widseth

Still doing what I love in retirement

Since I was a little kid I always wanted to be a radio announcer. I never considered anything else. I went to Bemidji State University which had a radio program and I actually moved to Brainerd to work for KVBR radio. However, I learned it doesn’t pay and it’s amazingly boring, especially now when everything’s run by computers.

So, I got into sales but eventually worked with Lakeland PBS here in Brainerd so I got the opportunity to do some voice work, be on television and more.

My skill is creating media. I’ve been an amateur photographer and done some writing. I taught voice acting. Technology has advanced to the point where I can bring all that together and I now do videography in retirement. It combines my love of words and writing with voiceover work and photography.

Dan Hegstad

Videographer, author, speaker

A roundabout way I graduated from Pequot Lakes High School in 2011, went to Bethel University in St. Paul, then transferred to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and graduated with a degree in marketing and finance. I finished my master’s degree in accounting a few years later.

At the end of the day, I always knew I wanted to own my own business. I took a roundabout way to get there for sure, but have enjoyed every step of it including working in corporate in

both public accounting and sales. Moving back home during COVID kickstarted my entrepreneurial side and now I currently own a business with my best friend doing wedding and event planning and my job Monday through Friday is a marketing director at a real estate firm in town.

Kendra Johnson, Crosslake Full circle and ‘back home’

What I find interesting about my career path over the past 38 years is that it has literally come full circle.

I started out as a dental assistant in general dentistry at three different practices over four years and accepted my first long-term employment with the local oral surgery office where I spent 11 years doing a bit of everything from assisting to scheduling to billing, etc. I learned a lot over those years and went from full-time to parttime as we added two girls to our family.

My favorite task over that time was doing transcription, typing surgical reports as well as letters and other items. By the time our daughters were beginning school and I decided to work full-time again, we had moved to the Browerville area and in order to work closer to home I took a job at Lakewood Health System where they took a chance on me in their medical transcription department where I further learned on-the-job all the medical terminology and skills needed to excel at such a position.

The 19 years I spent doing medical transcription led me to being able to work from home, which I thoroughly enjoyed since it allowed me the flexibility to be available for our growing daughters and take care of the household.

As 2019 continued to progress the amount of transcription work began to wane due to changes in the medical field progressing to more voice recognition capability as well as our girls were now out on their own, leading me to want to get outside of the home again. I moved on to being a scribe for an eye clinic, but after a few months, COVID hit and that position was eliminated. As we all know that led to a lot of uncertainty for so many of us regarding jobs and careers. What came about for me at that time was nothing short of amazing to me in that my career came full circle, landing me back at the local oral surgery office, this time as their patient coordinator registering patients for surgery along with other responsibilities and very quickly felt like being “back home.”

Kimberly Spencer, Brainerd Why did I become an instructor in college?

My direction in life took place after I compressed three discs in my neck tackling a player in football with my head. I had problems with adjusting my head to sleep and to stand straight in an upright position. The local doctor made a decision to have me sent to Gillette Children’s hospital for treatment. They placed me in traction for one year with heavy weights to stretch or pull back the discs from the compressed state 24 hours a day.

Needless to say a person goes through the “why me mental state” for a while but with guidance from staff, doctors and nurses, I recovered enough to finish high school and graduate with my classmates. They were a great support group by writing and phoning me during my recovery.

I commenced working part-time in jobs in and around Le Sueur County, Minnesota. I even drove a truck for Green Giant for seven summers.

When off from part-time jobs, I traveled around the USA looking at and discovering how to grow up and mature. While meeting all different kinds of people, I decided to go to college and get a degree to help me decide what to do in life at 27 years of age. I chose Winona State in the winter of 1974. Because of my age, Winona State hired me as a resident assistant one year and then promoted me to director of dormitories the following year. Really to this day I do not understand why they did this other than the age factor.

I graduated in March of 1979 and began work as an internal auditor in the Twin Cities. While working, the controller asked me to volunteer for Junior Achievement on Tuesday nights during the school year. I did. The club had to set up a company and run it with officers. My management degree helped a lot in organization and procedures to follow. We even wrote a constitution for rules to abide by in meetings, selling product of which we decided to do. Lou Nanne, a North Star player, volunteered to be with our club; he led the marketing and production of the product. Our club was recognized as the best Junior Achievement club in the Twin Cities two years in a row that I and Lou volunteered for. Lou recognized my talent with seventh and eighth graders and said to me one night, ‘Why don’t you go into teaching?’

After the second year, the company I worked for gave the volunteers a trip to Madden’s Resort near Brainerd. While there, I read an ad in the Brainerd Dispatch for an instructor of accounting at the BAVTI college. I applied within the week and shortly

thereafter I was hired by Arthur Bialka in the business department in 1972. I made a profound promise to myself that if I couldn’t become teacher of the year within 10 years, I would go back to work in industry. In 1979 I was selected co-teacher of the year at District 181. The management skills I trained in and for at Winona State carried me through my career. I became the business chairperson of the business department of BAVTI. I wrote the curriculum to change from clock hours to credits and then into semester credits when the BAVTI merged with Brainerd Community College to become Central Lakes College. I also worked on the merger team to make this happen more easily. Why did I become an instructor in college? I should divulge that my mother and aunt were teachers, my older sister (who was teacher of the year in her district five times) and brother-in-law (James McCabe) were mentors and advocates of my going ahead with being an instructor of some type. They recognized my capabilities and with my education recommended that I do something better with my life, so, working in a filling station, managing students in college, while receiving a degree in business management along with their mentorship, I became an instructor in accounting in college thus moving on and managing faculty. Thus chairing the business department for five years and after the merger with Brainerd Community College, I became their lead counselor for 12 years. All decisions and my progress were stimulated by the business management degree from Winona State College and mentorships of friends, relatives and supervisors. Even the students over the 37 years gave me encouragement to improve and augment the skills to instruct and manage others.

I thank all for their impact on my life to date at 84 plus years of age.

Roy Androli

Speech pathology to nursing home administrator

When I graduated from Brainerd High School in 1988, I decided to study speech pathology because it was a recommendation from a career test. However, in my freshman year of college, I took interest in nutrition and went on to become a Registered Dietitian. This path led me to leadership in healthcare, especially in skilled nursing care. In 2005, I moved into executive healthcare leadership. I currently work as a licensed

Career Path: h47

Liesa Thill

nursing home administrator. I never expected I would serve elders, especially during a pandemic.

Julie (Syvertson) Schmidt

Vice President Senior Services, Glencoe Regional Health

A necessary ingredient

I have had an interesting and unscripted career path.

Born just as the United States was about to enter World War II, and growing up in a small town in Minnesota, everyone, including me, assumed I would go to the University of Minnesota and get a degree in electrical engineering, as my father had done, and then take over his successful construction company.

That all went as planned for the first couple of years at college after which it was clear that my interests lay elsewhere. I explored all kinds of other options, finally graduating with a B.A. in English and a minor in humanities. By this time, I was also married.

My goal was to be a writer and I wanted to find a way to get to New York City to be close to one of the centers of writing. To accomplish this goal, I got a job with what was then known as the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare as an epidemiologist in Manhattan.

This was during the Vietnam War and I had a draft deferment since I was involved with the nation’s health, education or welfare. My wife and I were also thinking of starting a family. After a year in that job, my co-workers began to get draft notices in spite of our public health program being very successful, so I began to look for other employment options.

Teaching was still draft exempt, so I began to look for teaching jobs. My wife was also a teacher. And even though I had a B.A. but no education credits, there was a shortage of teachers and so we were both hired to teach in a small town in Michigan without too much of a cut in our income. I would be an English teacher in the high school and my wife would be a kindergarten teacher in the elementary school. By the time we arrived, my wife was pregnant with our first son. After a short time, I discovered teaching was a very good fit for me. I began to take classes to qualify for my accreditation in Michigan. When I received my accreditation, I discovered I was qualified to teach all high school subjects except physical education, so my diverse undergraduate work had served me well after all.

During my time in Michigan, our

two sons were born. I also earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Michigan State University and my wife began to take graduate level administration classes.

After about a dozen years in Michigan, we moved back to Minnesota, me to the Anoka-Hennepin School District as a high school teacher and my wife to a job as an assistant principal in the Elk River School District.

After a couple of years, I began fulltime work in a PhD program in adult education at the University of Minnesota and my wife was hired as the Lower School Director at The Blake Schools.

During this time, I also worked for a time in the human resources department at Honeywell, started an event planning company, Surprise Enterprise, and began to serve clients on my own as an empowerment consultant.

Ten years later my wife was offered a job as Head of School at Phillips Brooks School, a private elementary school in Silicon Valley in California so we moved. As a result of this move, I left most of my clients behind in Minnesota, so I began to spend more time on my writing.

After nearly 10 years in California, my wife was ready to retire and we moved back to Minnesota, to our present home in Brainerd. To find intellectual stimulation we joined Unlimited Learning in Crosby, and I was introduced to the national Great Decisions Program, which consisted of a monthly discussion of U.S. Foreign Policy.

After a short time, I became the program coordinator, facilitating and leading the monthly discussions for nearly a decade in Crosby, and then starting a Great Decisions Program in Brainerd.

It was during this time I began to really return to my writing goal from all those years ago, now being able to use all those experiences of the intervening years. I began to write letters to the editor and a few guest opinions for the Brainerd Dispatch. I also wrote for a small monthly publication called Common Sense II and I found an online service to publish my writing, opednews.com.

Because much of my writing was about democracy and politics, I published a book after the 2016 elections, called “Saving Democracy: The 2016 Presidential Election.”

Since then, I have continued to write as my full-time job starting a newsletter on substack.com called Perspectives-Bob Passi, about a year ago: bobpassi.substack.com.

After a varied and definitely unscripted career path, I finally found the writing career I had hoped to

pursue all those years ago. Perhaps all that life experience was the necessary ingredient to develop the perspective to be ready to become a mature writer.

Bob Passi, Baxter

Broadcasting to law enforcement to fire department

In elementary school, I wanted to be an architect, but when I entered junior high school, I began volunteering at the local PBS TV station. That sparked my interest in broadcasting. I went to Bemidji State University and earned a BS in Mass Communications. I began working onair at the radio station in Bemidji and eventually moved to Brainerd when the company bought WJJY. After working on-air and in the engineering department, I felt the need to do something for my community and help people, so I joined the Brainerd Fire Department as a paid-on-call firefighter. I continued to work at the radio station and fire department for a number of years, but still wanted to do more for the community, so I started to take some classes at Central Lakes College for law enforcement and passed the POST test to earn my Law Enforcement license. I worked part time for the Lake Shore Police Department while still at the radio station, then after 25 years in broadcasting, I left the radio station and went to work as a full time police officer with the Mille Lacs Tribal Police De partment. I was still a paid on-call firefighter while working as a police officer when the full time position as the Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal opened at the Brainerd Fire

Department. I left the police department and have been full time with the fire department now for over eight years.

Dave Cox

Best career choice

I was born and raised in Pequot Lakes. When I was in high school, I liked to try different over-the-counter hair colors. After several applications, I ended up with orange roots and black ends. Hilma Hartman owned a beauty salon north of Thurlow Hardware. She got me back to one color so that was when I decided to choose cosmetology as my profession.

After I graduated from high school, I attended St. Cloud Beauty College. After graduating from college, I came back to Pequot to work at Hilma’s salon.

After a year, I moved to Cannon Falls, Minnesota, to manage a salon for five years. In 1971, I moved back to Pequot and built my own shop. We opened Sept. 23, 1971. I retired September 2022.

During my 60 years as a beautician, so many of my people almost became family as we shared our feelings, both happy and sad times of our lives. I loved my job, making them look good always made me feel great. I could not have picked a better career for myself. Cosmetology was a great choice.

Glenda’s Beauty Salon is still open with Shirley Cox as manager. I am now 80 years young. Thanks to all over the years.

Glenda Schmidt

By Sheila Helmberger

Your shingles are a major investment. Making them last as long as possible could offer you savings and prove to be money well spent.

Local 5-Star dealership owners, Jaime and Mathew Schad, have offered Roof Maxx since 2022. Over time shingles and caulking start to dry and begin to deteriorate. This natural asphalt shingle maintenance option, made with soybean oil, restores the flexibility and water shedding benefits for five years, each treatment.

“The Roof Maxx Treatment will help to extend the life of the roof on your home,” says Jaime. “And when we rejuvenate asphalt shingles they don’t have to go to the landfill, additionally, our clients save 80% versus re-roofing.”

“We spray newer shingles as early as three to five years old to condition them,” says Mathew Schad. “This gives them a better chance to achieve their 20-30 plus year intended lifespan.”

“The wear on your roof will already start to sneak up just a few years after initial installation,” says Jaime, in agreement. “The frontend property maintenance will help

you avoid spending the money to re-shingle sooner than necessary. Older systems, 12-20-plus years old, that don’t show signs of curling, or significant granule loss, may also qualify.”

Take advantage of a free assessment and estimate, taking a half hour or less, for the Schads to determine if the shingles on your roof will qualify for Roof Maxx. These treatments absorb within a half hour to 45 minutes, and include a five-year transferable warranty. Safe for pets, people, plants and the planet.

A maintenance plan through Roof Maxx offers a re-application which can be applied up to three times in 15 years. Roof Maxx is the nation’s original leading brand, which is suitable for homes and commercial properties from the Brainerd lakes to Bemidji, Grand Rapids to Crosby, Walker, Iron Range, North Shore and a neighborhood near you.

To discuss your project/roof concern, or to get scheduled, contact Jaime and Mathew Schad directly at 218-360-2604.

Don’t let another winter pass without protecting one of your biggest investments.

Menahga couple opens escape room in downtown Wadena

BY FRANK LEE Wadena Pioneer Journal

WADENA — Brad and Michelle Krotzer’s idea of fun is being “locked” in a room, and they are banking that others in the Wadena area find escape rooms fun, too.

The married couple from Menahga with five children works in the Wadena area and opened in June the first escape room in the region called Escape 2 Fun. Their new business venture is located in the former MAHUBE-OTWA offices on Jefferson Street in downtown Wadena.

“For an escape room, this is a very, very small town. But we’re hoping to draw not only the locals but the people from the surrounding vacationing area,” Brad Krotzer said.

Added Michelle Krotzer, “We’re in a chapter change in our life, meaning our youngest just graduated from high school, so we’re moving into that empty nest stage. And so our goal is to slow down and retire out of our primary current job and find something fun to do in the next chapter in our life.”

Brad Krotzer is 63 and owns Custom Septic, which installs, designs and inspects se ptic systems down in the metro area. Michelle Krotzer is 51 and works as a full-time massage therapist at Comfort Corner Massage, which is adjacent to Escape 2 Fun in Wadena.

“I’m addicted to games, and I just absolutely love all types of games and stuff,” Michelle Krotzer said. “And we came up with the idea of an escape room. … And so we just started dreaming, and we designed the current room basically from scratch.”

An escape room is a game in which a team of players discover clues, solve puzzles and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal in a limited amount of time, according to Wikipedia, and the goal is often to escape from the room. “Technically, you’re not locked in the room. You’re welcome to leave at any time. It’s designed for puzzle-solving,” Michelle Krotzer said of Escape 2 Fun, which is available by appointment only.

“We’ve gone to a few escape rooms and enjoyed it and just came up with

an idea and a storyline and spent a lot of time designing it and testing it and putting it together. Everyone that has come through is very happy with it.”

Brad Krotzer said their escape room has a median complexity with a 7.5 to 8 out of 10 skill level compared to other escape rooms like the ones in Brainerd, St. Cloud or Alexandria.

The room’s theme is “Banker Bob” and the expressed goal is to locate Banker Bob, who has gone missing.

“Banker Bob is missing, and we are suspicious of a little bit of foul play because he’s had some shady dealings with some people, or he’s had some dealings with some shady people recently and so we want everybody to help us find Bob,” he said of the escape room’s bank setting.

“We don’t allow cellphones out, usually, in the room because we don’t want people taking pictures, because it would ruin it for somebody else. … But we make sure you’re supplied in the room with absolutely everything you need if you just look around

Thank you to our community all of your continued

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the room.”

Plans are to add two or more escape rooms in the near future, according to the local chamber of commerce, and the couple will also change up the escape room with a fresh and challenging new mission so as to bring back repeat customers.

“You get to try to put clues together, to try to figure something out, so as soon as you get into the room, you start getting absorbed with the things that you can look at, what you can search for, the things that you can do,”

Michelle Krotzer said.

Brad Krotzer said, “We have cameras set up throughout the room to keep an eye on you in case anything were to happen where somebody had a problem where they get frustrated with the puzzle or they can’t figure it out.”

Brad Krotzer said he and his wife do their best “not to make people feel stupid” by way of how they designed their Escape 2 Fun escape room, so people can enjoy the experience,

which generally runs about an hour long depending on skill level.

“What we do is design the room so that it handles many, many different types of thinkers and brains,” he said.

“Some of the things in the room take more mental work, some of them take more strategy. … We have something for everybody in there.”

A minimum group of three individuals and a maximum of six is recommended to participate in the Escape 2 Fun escape room; the cost is $27 per person and if there are less than three in a group, the total cost for a single individual or two people still wanting to play is $81. For more information about Escape 2 Fun in downtown Wadena, visit the Facebook page or website. Schedule an appointment to play by calling 218-670-5505.

FRANK LEE is the features writer for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. He may be reached at 218-631-6470 or at flee@ wadenapj.com.

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Brainerd Dispatch captures its first Vance Trophy By Pete Mohs

The Brainerd Dispatch staff earned a total of 44 awards to become the smallest circulation newspaper to win the coveted Vance Trophy for multi-day publications in the state at the annual Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Better Newspaper Contest.

Overall, the Dispatch earned 21 first-place awards, 13 for second place and 10 for third place. It was the most awards ever earned by the Dispatch, who finished ahead of Rochester and Fargo to capture its first Vance Trophy.

First-place awards, mostly in the 5,001-10,000 circulation, included: General Excellence, General Reporting, Use of Photography as a Whole, Website, Best Magazine, Magazine Cover, Magazine Use of Photography, Special Section, Classified Advertising Section, Best Use of Social Media (Conrad Engstrom), Category X - Coverage of School Boards (Theresa Bourke), Government/Public Affairs Reporting (Renee Richardson), Hard News (Renee Richardson), Human Interest Story/Personality Feature/Profile (Theresa Bourke), Photo Story (Kelly Humphrey), News Photo (Steve Kohls), Feature Photo (Steve Kohls), Photography Portrait and Personality (Kelly Humphrey); Use of Information Graphics and Graphic Illustrations (Kelly Humphrey, Becca Larson and Jeremy Millsop), Business Profile (Hannah Ward) and Arts and Entertainment Story (Frank Lee).

Second-place awards included: Government/Public Affairs Reporting (Renee Richardson); Magazine Use of Photography as a Whole; Best Use of Multimedia; Business Profile (Renee Richardson), News Photo (Steve Kohls), Portrait and Personality (Kelly Humphrey), Feature Photo (Kelly Humphrey), Photo Story (Steve Kohls), Sports Photo (Kelly Humphrey), Social Issues Story (Theresa Bourke), Human Interest Story (Theresa Bourke), Sports Feature Story (Jeremy Millsop) and Typography and Design.

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Veterans Day Salute - Third

We’re honored to be recognized by the Minnesota Newspaper Association for our news coverage, magazine production and overall general excellence.

Finishing third were Human Interest Story/Personality Feature/Profile (Theresa Bourke), Best Magazine Photography (Joey Halvorson), Best Use of Video (Steve Kohls), Feature Photo (Steve Kohls), Special Section, Government/Public Affairs Reporting (Theresa Bourke), Human Interest Story/News Feature (Matt Erickson), Photography Portrait and Personality (Steve Kohls), Sports Reporting and Sports Story (Conrad Engstrom).

The Dispatch was also recognized by the local residents by placing first in the “Best Newspaper” division of the “2024 Best of” contest.

The Dispatch produces newsprint publications on Wednesdays and Saturdays and digital newspapers editions on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The Dispatch also features continuous news updates at brainerddispatch.com.

The Dispatch’s commercial printing operation will move to Forum Communications Printing’s plant in Detroit Lakes by Oct. 1, 2024. The Dispatch had one of the last printing operations in a newspaper office in northern Minnesota.

The Dispatch has been responsible for covering the Brainerd lakes area since it was first published in 1881. The newspaper continues to be a key source of area information — although the news is delivered in a variety of forms. The Dispatch began to transition its news and advertising to a combination of print and online platforms with the debut of the Dispatch website in 1996.

The Dispatch has an annual audience of more than 21 million page views with 2.2 million users while the number of Dispatch e-edition readers is increasing daily. The Dispatch produces podcasts and has expanded its video coverage with breaking news and weekly features. The Dispatch is also active in social media like X (formerly Twitter) updates that link stories to Facebook posts.

Frank Lee / Wadena Pioneer Journal

Brad and Michelle Krotzer of Menahga opened their Escape 2 Fun escape room in June in downtown Wadena.