We talk light pollution in Brainerd, vandalism at Milford Mine Memorial Park and two upcoming theatrical productions you won't want to miss -- plus, catch up on the week's news in the Brainerd lakes area.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Contributing Reporters: Theresa Bourke and Jennifer Kraus

Around 5 p.m. on Aug. 6, 1969, a tornado that had intensified to a powerful category F4 with winds of more than 200 mph, barreled toward the northern Minnesota community of Outing.

It was one of a series of tornadoes that cut across northern Minnesota and killed a total of 15 people, including 11 in the Outing area. Most of the Outing deaths were visitors staying at cabins located along the east shore of Roosevelt Lake and owned by Bethany Fellowship of Bloomington.

One of the survivors from those cabins was Sue Moline, who was 17 years old at the time. Seven of her family members and friends died in the storm, and for decades Sue's family didn't talk about the tornado that changed their lives. But in the past year, Sue has led efforts to gather more information from survivors, rescue workers and the weather service to find out details of what happened that summer day.

Sue and her aunt, Priscilla Dugan, recently met with veteran scuba diver Bill Matthies of Brainerd, who recovered the bodies of two of the Outing storm victims who were tossed into Lake Roosevelt.

Listen to there story of that tragic day, which took place exactly 50 years ago this week. The Outing tornado still ranks as one of the top five most deadly tornadoes in Minnesota history. 

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Reporter/Guest: Pete Mohs

Featuring: Bill Matthies, Sue Moline and Priscilla Dugan

What are Brainerd residents doing to try to save the city's historic water tower, a landmark towering over the landscape for a century? And how can others help?

In this episode of the DispatchCast, reporter Theresa Bourke sits down with water tower committee members Carissa Meyer and Dave Badeaux to learn about fundraising initiatives and how to get involved in saving the tower from destruction.

Producer/Reporter: Theresa Bourke

Guests: Carissa Meyer, Dave Badeaux

DispatchCast presents "This Week," a dive into Brainerd lakes area headlines and newsmakers.

Feb. 22, 2019

• A look at a bill on charitable gambling taxes, by Gabe Lagarde (5:34)
• Get to know newly elected Aitkin County Sheriff Dan Guida with Jennifer Kraus (8:29)
• Hear from Brainerd Community Development Director David Chanski on his vision for the city with Theresa Bourke (12:05)
• Learn more about Brainerd Family YMCA CEO Shane Riffle from Frank Lee
• Straight out of Brainerd's past, a posse chasing rabid dogs in the streets, from Terry McCollough and Chelsey Perkins

Producer/Host: Chelsey Perkins

Co-producers/Reporters: Theresa Bourke, Jennifer Kraus, Gabe Lagarde, Frank Lee

 

Robbery. Kidnapping. Ransom. Murder.

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

On DispatchCast Episode 038, Melissa Barrick talks about the upcoming native tree and plant sale hosted by the Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District, and Frank Lee shares some of his recent interview with Bob Nelson, who plans to retire from the Crow Wing County Veterans Service Office this May.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/bobnelsonVSO to read Frank's full story on Nelson and his experience as veterans service officer.

For more information on the SWCD's annual tree and plant sale, visit https://crowwingswcd.org/annual-tree-plant-sale/. 

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Reporter: Frank Lee

Guests: Bob Nelson, Melissa Barrick

Mike Bialka spent the last four decades covering high school sports in the Brainerd lakes area.

The retiring sports editor sat down recently to reflect on his career -- and those who’ve been impacted by Bialka’s dedication to the craft shared some memories, too. Listen in as one of the longest-tenured sports editors in the state, a constant presence at Brainerd Warriors athletics events for multiple generations, recalls some of his favorite moments on the job.

Special thanks to all those who shared their favorite memories of the man we call "Bert" and offered him well wishes as he sails off into the sunset.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guest: Mike Bialka

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes elevated stress levels.

But it doesn't have to be that way! Local naturopath and author of "The Blue Sheep Movement," Cynthia Ransom, shares her tips for alleviating stress naturally in this week's episode of the DispatchCast. Ransom recently shared her calming wisdom in a column in the winter 2018 edition of "Her Voice" magazine -- just in time to center ourselves for the approaching holiday season.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guest: Cynthia Ransom

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them comes elevated stress levels.

But it doesn't have to be that way! Local naturopath and author of "The Blue Sheep Movement," Cynthia Ransom, shares her tips for alleviating stress naturally in this week's episode of the DispatchCast. Ransom recently shared her calming wisdom in a column in the winter 2018 edition of "Her Voice" magazine -- just in time to center ourselves for the approaching holiday season.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guest: Cynthia Ransom

"In The Dark" lead reporter Madeleine Baran and senior producer Samara Freemark offered a behind-the-scenes look at their investigative journalism at an event Thursday night at Arrowwood Lodge at Brainerd Lakes in Baxter. Before the event, they sat down with me and talked about the cases they’ve investigated and their thoughts on their work’s impact. There are some spoilers in here, so if you’d like to maintain the suspense of the podcast, listen to “In The Dark” first -- then come back and listen to my interview.

Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins

Guests: Madeleine Baran, Samara Freemark