DispatchCast

We all could use a break from the reality we currently face, right?

Here's your chance. We're bringing you a rebroadcast of our most popular DispatchCast episode ever.

Ironton native John Henry Seadlund was the central figure in a captivating series of crimes 80 years ago -- crimes that led FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover himself to visit the Brainerd lakes area. The story of small-town boy turned brash criminal made headlines across the country, and a close look at the Brainerd Dispatch archives adds some local flavor.

Listen to Seadlund's story, as told by former Brainerd Dispatch publisher and "This Was Brainerd" columnist Terry McCollough, on this episode of the DispatchCast.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guest: Terry McCollough

Nick Anderson is one of the nine rising Major League Baseball stars who should be a household name, according to MLB.com's Richard Justice. The 2008 Brainerd High School graduate had his breakout season in 2019, ending it with the AL Wild Card game-winning Tampa Bay Rays. Anderson talked with Brainerd Dispatch sports reporter Conrad Engstrom about what it's like to not be playing baseball right now, along with what his experience was like as a rookie in the majors last year. Plus, the Brainerd Dispatch's top headlines of the week.

Host/Co-Producer: Community Editor Chelsey Perkins

Contributor/Co-Producer: Sports Writer Conrad Engstrom

Brainerd City Council members have a big decision ahead of them with choosing a new mayor, students and teachers weigh in on the first week of distance learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and we catch up on this week's news in the Brainerd lakes area

Host/Producer: Theresa Bourke

Leaders in the Brainerd lakes area business development community join Community Editor Chelsey Perkins to talk developments in federal and state aid to businesses over the week, ways they've seen small business leaders adapt and what makes them proud to be involved in this community.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guests: Greg Bergman, regional director of Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College; Tyler Glynn, executive director of Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp.; and Matt Kilian, president of Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

"Something like this happens and the cynics might say, 'Oh, it takes a crisis for us to actually come together.' And I guess the optimist might look at is as, 'Yeah, in a crisis, we can still come together.' Maybe that's the good way to look at it," said Brainerd Dispatch Editor Matt Erickson. "Something big comes up, we still have the ability to put everything else aside and work for the common good."

On this week's episode of the "DispatchCast," Managing Editor Renee Richardson, Community Editor Chelsey Perkins and Erickson discuss how our newsroom is covering the COVID-19 crisis, what we're seeing emerge in our community and where we're finding hope to hold onto.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Contributors: Matt Erickson and Renee Richardson

Coronavirus concerns are sweeping across the state, a large fire hit Brainerd, new inductees made it into Brainerd Public Schools' Legendary Women Hall of Fame, Second Amendment rights activists want county officials to take action, and new data sheds light on the county's housing situation.

Host: Chelsey Perkins

Producer/Contributing Reporter: Theresa Bourke

Contributing Reporters: Jennifer Kraus, Gabe Lagarde and Frank Lee

Catch up on all the top Brainerd area headlines of the week, plus step inside to Brainerd High School for a rundown on the Tech Warriors program, connecting students and technology in a new way.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Reporter: Theresa Bourke

Who killed Rachel Anthony? On the 19th anniversary of her disappearance, we take a look back at the case. Plus, Dispatch reporters Gabe Lagarde and Theresa Bourke take us inside the grassroots action at the DFL and GOP caucuses this week, and the Brainerd Dispatch's top headlines.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Contributing Reporters: Theresa Bourke, Gabe Lagarde, Conrad Engstrom

We hear from young voters about their reasons for political activism, get the scoop on the latest in virtual reality technology and catch up on the his week's news in the Brainerd lakes area.

Host/Producer: Theresa Bourke

Contributing Reporter: Gabe Lagarde

A children's museum is headed to Brainerd, plus the Dispatch newsroom talks school updates, the upcoming presidential primary, a rape allegation against a former Baxter youth pastor that came to light recently, plus the week's top news and sports headlines.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Contributing Reporters: Theresa Bourke, Conrad Engstrom, Jennifer Kraus and Gabe Lagarde.