The Verse Like Water program started by Central Lakes College instructor Jeff Johnson has been bringing world class American poets to the Brainerd Lakes region for the past five years. U.S. Poet Laureates , Pulitzer Prize Winners and National Book Award recipients are all included in the impressive list of Verse Like Water visiting poets. In this segment of Area Voices, Jeff Johnson tells of the colorful life and intense history of poet Luis J. Rodriguez . Living proof that a person can pull

We talked with Sheila Haverkamp who is the Executive Director of the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation about how a private-public parternership over 13 years ago has created a fiber optic network that is attracting new people and new businesses to the Brainerd Area. February 8, 2017 Entrepreneurs find a technology-friendly home in the Brainerd Lakes Area CROSSLAKE, Minn. – Developing an automated video system to entertain Alzheimer’s patients is more personal than professional

A radio series produced by historian Don Boese. Don is the author of eight books about the history of Itasca County, including "John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi", and the main source for this series, "Papermakers: The Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota". The series begins with the arrival of the first Euro-Americans to the forested wilderness of Itasca County in the 1870s. In those early days the site that became the town of Grand Rapids was at the base of a

The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is an environmental justice organization focused on indigenous communities, their water, land and sacred spaces. In Bemidji, the IEN is housed at the Rail River Folk School . Together, Rail River and the IEN are constructing a yurt that will be used for taking sustainability to the next level. It will be provide a space to learn about emerging, alternative energies infused with indigenous cultural values and both indigenous and non-indigenous

A radio series produced by historian Don Boese. Don is the author of eight books dealing with local history in Itasca County, including "John C. Greenway and the Opening of the Western Mesabi", and the main source for this series, "Papermakers: the Blandin Paper Company and Grand Rapids, Minnesota". The series begins with the arrival of the first Euro-Americans to the forested wilderness of Itasca County in the 1870s. In those early days the site that became the town of Grand Rapids was at the

In this final installment of the Dig Deep podcast on jobs Chuck and Aaron look ahead. Is the model of job creation outdated? Who should be creating jobs and how much should people be paid? These are all questions that guide this conversation. Our commentators are Aaron Brown from the Iron Range - he's an educator, author, blogger and host of the Great Northern Radio Show . Aaron provides our liberal perspective on our topics while Chuck Marohn is a conservative commentator from Brainerd who is

Each Tuesday, our resident phenologist John Latimer takes listeners on a journey through the outdoor world. This week, listeners learn about breeding practices of the adorable saw whet owl and recently noticed flight activity of the Canada goose and the Tundra Swan. John talks with Harvey Tjader about wind pollination vs insect pollination, changes occurring in trees and shrubs at this time and evergreen varieties to keep an eye out for right now. What have you noticed out in nature lately? We'd

Nathan Bergstedt is the playwright. Sam Miltich composed the score. The Ballad of Newton Badger came from a conversation after a production of Shakespeare in the Park a few years ago. These two artists from Grand Rapids worked together and on their own to present a GR Players presentation of the original play. Based loosely off the character and work of Sir Isaac Newton, The Ballad of Newton Badger is a modern day fairy tale that includes not only the badger but Mayor Buck, a group of squirrels,

It's part 2 of our podcast on jobs. This time Aaron and Chuck are looking at what increased productivity that was supposed to mean workers would have more time for learning or families or becoming entrepreneurs. But automation and increased productivity often meant a loss of jobs and a change in community. Our commentators are Aaron Brown from the Iron Range - he's an educator, author, blogger and host of the Great Northern Radio Show . Aaron provides our liberal perspective on our topics while

We talk a lot during our membership drives about what you hear when you tune in to Northern Community Radio. It's people and music with passion. Whether it's John Latimer , Colleen Nardone, Julie Crabb or Marshall Helmberger , it's people who are passionate about what they do in the world. Today was a great example. We invited GR Hockey Coach Trent Klatt to talk with us about winning the championship last weekend. And we got so much more. He was as proud of the GR High School band as he was the