CENTERPIECE

Amy Bogart, Tiffanie Knapp and Brad Pieper sit at a table.

Local

Stâre Academy to open in Baxter this fall

An informational session is scheduled for 3-5 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Heritage Church in Baxter.

Local

Dispute drags on over Crow Wing County hunting land access

As the township officials for the Unorganized Territory previously known as Dean Lake Township, Crow Wing County Board members must eventually act on the petition, having determined Middleton and his ownership partners qualify for the cartway they seek.

April 22, 2022 07:30 AM

Local

Second chances: ‘Everything happens for a reason’

Zanna Gray is the office manager Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project and uses her work and her history of addiction to help impact others.

April 22, 2022 06:00 AM

Vehicles navigate the roundabout at the intersection of East College Drive and South Fourth Street.

Local

Roundabouts prominent in county’s future road plans

A 2017 study by the state showed roundabouts resulted in an 80% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes compared to right-angle intersections with signals or signs and a 42% drop in all types of injury crashes at intersections with any kind of roundabout.

April 20, 2022 09:00 AM

Latest Headlines

Patrick Spradlin as "Clarence Darrow" in a one-man show at Central Lakes College

Arts and Entertainment

CLC theater director tackles legal drama in final performance

Central Lakes College Theatre Director Patrick Spradlin retires May 17. He will perform in the one-man show "Clarence Darrow" at the college's Brainerd campus starting Thursday, April 21.

April 20, 2022 08:00 AM

By Dispatch staff report

Headshots of Joe Derosier, Dawn Powell-Bowman and Jesse Jones

Second chances: The ability to dream again

Lakes area residents are sharing their stories of second chances and overcoming addiction during April, which is know around the country as Second Chance Month.

April 20, 2022 06:00 AM

By Theresa Bourke

Close up of the top bowl and the walkway around the exterior of the historic Brainerd water tower

Local

Roof to be constructed on water tower this summer

Hy-Tec Construction will complete the work for $385,000.

April 20, 2022 05:00 AM

By Theresa Bourke

Local

Paul Sandy resigns as Brainerd city engineer

Sandy will begin working as a senior project manager for engineering firm WSB on May 9.

April 19, 2022 08:15 AM

By Theresa Bourke

Repair work is being done on the St. Paul's Episcopal Church bell.

Local

St. Paul’s Episcopal restores historic bell in time for Easter

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church hired a Cincinnati-based company specializing in bell repair to rebuild the housing last month of its 1875 bell which has not rung in almost a decade after the rope broke. The church at North Seventh and Juniper streets is Brainerd’s oldest church.

April 16, 2022 07:00 AM

By Frank Lee

Local

Second chances: ‘It’s so worth it’

Baxter's Joe Derosier works at Mattson Lumber and volunteers at Lakes Area Restorative Justice Project after getting a second chance at life.

April 15, 2022 08:03 AM

By Theresa Bourke

Thirteen parcels make up a 500-acre complex of wetlands, one small lake in its entirety, and nearly 5 miles of shoreline along Island Lake, Mud Lake and a creek that spans the two lakes. The land is protected as part of a permanent conservation easement. Submitted photo.

Local

Crow Wing County hits pause button on sensitive shoreline development

The changes, in effect countywide, mean developers can no longer split shoreland parcels into smaller lots at the land services counter without a more stringent and public process, nor can they seek permits to create walkway systems for residents who otherwise would not have direct access to a lake.

April 13, 2022 05:00 AM

By Chelsey Perkins

Local

After career in East Gull Lake, Mason ready to enjoy lakes area life

“And I've actually lived and worked within about 3 to 5 miles of my house and my job for all 46 years, which is kind of amazing, to tell you the truth, in a small city like East Gull Lake," Mason said. After career in East Gull Lake, Mason ready to enjoy lakes area life

April 10, 2022 08:00 AM

By Renee Richardson

A woman seated at a desk speaks in a microphone

Local

Crow Wing County sees 7-year low of children in out-of-home placements

Griffin estimated a typical year-to-date figure would be 20 to 30 children, and she compared the one placement this year to a time in 2016 or 2017 when 18 youths were removed from their homes within a 72-hour period. In 2018, the number of children outside the home never dropped below 167, with a monthly average of 180 throughout that year.

April 09, 2022 08:00 AM

By Chelsey Perkins