Shows / Community Focus
Community Focus
"Community Focus" is the longest-running locally produced, community affairs program in the Brainerd area. Hosted by Tess Taylor and Eric Grant, Community Focus has covered everything from arts and entertainment to issues concerning health, public safety, education, and much more. If it’s happening in the Brainerd Lakes Area, it’s on Community Focus.
Episodes
- Community Focus
07-31-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today
Becky Hale, Event Chairperson for the Brainerd Lakes Area Women of Today, joins Community Focus to talk about the return of the popular Flock Your Friends…
- Community Focus
07-30-26 Community Focus- Brainerd American Legion
Wayne Harting, Commander of Brainerd American Legion Post 255, and Billy Lowe, 2nd Vice Commander and Gambling Manager, join to discuss the Brainerd Legion…
- Community Focus
07-29-26 Community Focus- Lakers Lions
Lakers Lions Club members Ken Baalson and Don Smude talk about the 18th Annual Project New Hope/Mike Wilder Golf Tournament. The tournament raises money to…
- Community Focus
07-28-26 Community Focus- Crosslake Chamber
Cindy Myogeto, Director of the Crosslake Chamber of Commerce, joins Community Focus to highlight all the summer fun still ahead in Crosslake! From family…
- Community Focus
07-27-26 Community Focus- Cuyuna Lakes Chamber
Ericka Heid, Executive Director of the Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce, shares what's happening across the Cuyuna Lakes area as the community gears up for a…
- Community Focus
07-24-26 Community Focus- Smiles For Jake
Sarah Smith, Executive Director of Smiles for Jake, is joined by Emma Sheflo and Chloe Czech, co-event coordinators for the upcoming Miles for Smiles event at…
- Community Focus
07-23-26 Community Focus- Pillsbury Players Club
Cast and crew from Pillsbury Players joins to preview School of Rock, the nonprofit community theater's premier summer musical for 2026. Learn about this…
- Community Focus
07-22-26 Community Focus- CLC Performing Arts Center
Joey Yow, Director of CLC Performing Arts Center in Brainerd talked about a number of upcoming events including the currently running "Mean Girls" and the…
- Community Focus
07-21-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Sue Galligan, Director of Special Events for the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, joins to preview the Chamber Golf Classic coming up August 13. Sue shares how…
- Community Focus
07-16-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Energized
Kelly Johnson, SHIP Coordinator with Crow Wing County, and Rena Bolt, Community Health Specialist with Crow Wing Energized, stop by to talk about a busy summer…
- Community Focus
07-14-26 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Baxter Police Chief Matt Maier and Officer Tim Carroll join to preview Baxter's Night to Unite coming up Tuesday, August 11th at Oscar Kristofferson Park…
- Community Focus
07-15-2026 Community Focus- Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts
Guests Karla Shepard-Johnson, Andrea Anderson, and Jayley Andresen join us to preview the Great Lakes Academy of Performing Arts' upcoming production of Into…
- Community Focus
07-13-26 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes joins to discuss the extensive renovation project underway at Fire Station 1. Holmes explains what prompted the upgrades, the…
- Community Focus
07-10-26 Community Focus- Wild & Free Wildlife Rehabilitation
Katie Waugh, Wildlife Program Coordinator with Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation, joins us to give an inside look at the wide variety of animals currently…
- Community Focus
07-09-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Shane Riffle, CEO of the Brainerd Family YMCA, stops by to share the latest on a busy summer at the Y. He discusses the continued success of the Summer Meals…
- Community Focus
07-08-26 Community Focus- Camp Ripley
Tony Housey, Public Affairs Officer at Camp Ripley, joins to recap the installation's recent 95th Anniversary celebration and discuss the early planning…
- Community Focus
07-07-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator for the Lakes Area United Way, recaps the success of the Llama Llama Read-O-Rama literacy event and shares a save-the-date…
- Community Focus
07-06-26 Community Focus- Hockey Day MN 2027
Brainerd Warriors Activities Director Jack Freeman, Brainerd boys hockey head coach Jerr Johnson, and Brainerd/Little Falls girls hockey head coach Tony…
- Community Focus
07-03-26 Community Focus- MN State Patrol/TZD
Captain Adam Fulton and Lieutenant Karla Beierman discuss the recent increase in traffic fatalities across Minnesota and stress the importance of making safe…
- Community Focus
07-02-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Jen Chock, Healthcare Career Outreach Specialist at Central Lakes College, and Kathy Cottew, Workforce Development Specialist with Essentia Health, discuss the…
- Community Focus
06-30-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area Artists
Aryn and Courtney Kern join to talk about the upcoming Lakes Area Art Show, taking place on July 4. They highlight talented local and regional artists…
- Community Focus
06-29-26 Community Focus- Merrifield Lions
Cory Jay, President of the Merrifield Lions, previews this year's Merrifield Parkfest and Car Show, happening Saturday, July 18. Cory shares everything…
- Community Focus
07-01-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Jory Danielson, Crow Wing County Administrative Services Director, joins to discuss everything voters need to know ahead of the upcoming Primary Election…
- Community Focus
06-26-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Community Action
Executive Director of Brainerd Community Action and Brainerd Mayor Dave Badeaux joins to highlight the busy lineup of community events leading up to Brainerd's…
- Community Focus
06-25-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Area Drug Coalition
Talia Brodhead, Community Engagement Coordinator with MN Prevention & Recovery Alliance and BLADE, and Lanaya Tilbury, Director of Programming at Lighthouse…
- Community Focus
06-24-26 Community Focus- Pups In The Park
Kristy Crocker, Lead Veterinary Technician at Brainerd Animal Hospital, and Isabel Glover, Marketing Manager for the Babinski Foundation, join Eric Grant and…
- Community Focus
06-23-26 Community Focus- Pequot Lakes Chamber
Nicole Heinen, Executive Director of the Pequot Lakes Chamber of Commerce, joins us to talk about everything happening during Stars & Stripes Days 2026…
- Community Focus
06-18-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing Public Health
Taylor Lesmeister, Health Educator with the Crow Wing County Public Health, joins us to discuss the increased presence of ticks and mosquitoes during the…
- Community Focus
06-17-26 Community Focus- Relationship Safety Alliance
Guests Kat Emard and Sarah Fleischacker join us to talk about several upcoming community events. They share details on their upcoming garage sale fundraiser…
- Community Focus
06-16-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Matt Killian, President of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, talked about the new Drive 210 campaign that is underway during the reconstruction and improvements…
- Community Focus
06-15-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Martha Smithson, Early Learning Principal with ISD 181, and Jennifer Lindholm, Early Childhood Programs Secretary, join to discuss registration opportunities…
- Community Focus
06-12-26 Community Focus- City of Pequot Lakes
Mayor Tyler Gardner and Julie Meister, Deputy Clerk and Police Department Administration for the City of Pequot Lakes, join Community Focus to talk about the…
- Community Focus
06-11-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Brainerd Family YMCA CEO Shane Riffle discusses the summer youth sports programs, membership specials, and the YMCA’s continued search for additional staff…
- Community Focus
06-10-26 Community Focus- Good Samaritan Society Hospice
Guests Jolie Bray, Clinical Manager at Good Samaritan Society - Home Care & Hospice, and Maggie Chapin, Clinical Admission Specialist, discuss the upcoming…
- Community Focus
06-09-26 Community Focus- City of Baxter
Brad Chapulis, Baxter City Administrator, joins to discuss several ongoing projects around the city, including updates on road construction and improvements to…
- Community Focus
06-08-26 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Brainerd Public Works Director Paul Sandy and City Administrator Nick Broyles join to discuss the city’s construction projects. Broyles also shares updates on…
- Community Focus
06-05-26 Community Focus- Cuyuna Regional Medical Center
Jennifer Lowe, Director of Foundation and Community Relations for Cuyuna Regional Medical Center Foundation, joins Community Focus to preview the upcoming…
- Community Focus
06-04-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Paul Preimsberger, Director of Secondary Relations and Narren Brown, Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success join to talk about fall semester as well…
- Community Focus
06-03-26 Community Focus- Crow Wing County
Debby Erickson, Crow Wing County Administrator joins to provide insight on the response to the Flanders Wildfires from the county perspective. Debby also talks…
- Community Focus
06-02-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson with United Way, sharing info about their United Way Vision Council, revealing the 14 local agencies the United Way will partner with the upcoming…
- Community Focus
06-01-26 Community Focus- Nisswa Women's Club
Sharla Fillhouer, President of Nisswa Women's Club and Mary Beth Jones, Fashion Show Committee Chair talk the upcoming Annual Fashion Show hosted by the Nisswa…
- Community Focus
05-28-26 Community Focus- Let's Go Fishing
Leann Plinske and John Grandin join to talk about the programs offered through Let's Go Fishing, including fishing excursions and nature tours that provide…
- Community Focus
05-27-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo
Jeremy Allord, Organizer, Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo talks about the upcoming Expo, a free event at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds featuring…
- Community Focus
05-26-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area Chamber
Ali Beste, Marketing & Young Professionals Coordinator and staff liaison to the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, discusses WAVE Young Professionals, including the…
- Community Focus
05-22-26 Community Focus- Memorial Day Committee
Mark Persons and Herman Wisnewski, committee member, join the show to discuss the annual Memorial Day observance in Brainerd. They talk about the importance of…
- Community Focus
05-20-26 Community Focus- MN State Patrol
Lt. Beierman discusses Memorial Day weekend enforcement efforts across Minnesota roadways as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer” begin. Topics include speeding…
- Community Focus
05-19-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Sue Galligan, Special Events Director, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, talks about several upcoming events and opportunities through the Brainerd Lakes Chamber…
- Community Focus
05-18-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Public Schools
Nisswa Elementary Principle Molly Raske and Interim Superintendent Peter Grant join to discuss end-of-the-school-year happenings across the district, from high…
- Community Focus
05-15-26 Community Focus- Actors Repertory Theatre
Patrick Spradlin, Producer and co-founder of Actors Repertory Theater and Don Abbott, Director of the two-part performance Oh Look, Another Roundabout, join us…
- Community Focus
05-14-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Family YMCA
Brainerd Family YMCA CEO Shane Riffle discusses the upcoming Y Kids Triathlon happening in August and how the event encourages young athletes of all skill…
- Community Focus
05-12-26 Community Focus- Camp Ripley
Camp Ripley Public Affairs Officer Staff Sgt. Tony Housey discusses the latest training schedule at Camp Ripley, including upcoming exercises and the impact of…
- Community Focus
05-11-26 Community Focus- City of Brainerd
Nick Broyles, Brainerd City Administrator discusses several important updates for the Brainerd community. Topics include the upcoming public hearing on…
- Community Focus
05-07-26 Community Focus- Central Lakes College
Joey Yow, Director of the Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center, joins the show to highlight upcoming performances and presentations coming to the…
- Community Focus
05-06-26 community Focus- Crow Wing County
Debby Erickson joins to talk all things happening around Crow Wing County, including excitement surrounding Minnesota’s fishing opener, what residents can…
- Community Focus
05-05-26 Community Focus- Lakes Area United Way
Faith Hamson, Marketing Coordinator for Lakes Area United Way joins to recap the Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby fundraiser Hamson shares details on the…
- Community Focus
05-04-26 Community Focus- Cuyuna Rock Club
Ed Opatz, President, Cuyuna Rock Club, talking about the Annual Rock Show at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy…
- Community Focus
05-01-26 Community Focus- Relationship Safety Alliance
Alex Dominguez, Program Manager, and Stephanie Charles, Lead Visitation Supervisor, Relationship Safety Alliance, talking about May being Supervised Visitation…
- Community Focus
04-30-26 Community Focus- Camp Confidence
Amynda Hadfield, Camp Director at Camp Confidence, and Ron Plinske, Public Relations for Let's Go Fishing, join the show to highlight meaningful ways the…
- Community Focus
04-29-26 Community Focus - Cory Borg-Massaneri Foundation
Bobbie Gorron, founder of the Cory Borg-Massaneri Foundation, joins to talk about Corey’s Backyard BBQ happening this weekend at Green Lantern, along with a…
- Community Focus
04-28-26 Community Focus- Brainerd Lakes Chamber
Brainerd Lakes Chamber Office Manager Colleen Dols joins to preview the next Blue Ox Success Series, focused on helping local businesses prepare for severe…