Small-Town Publisher Randy Olson Stakes Future on Newspapers, Brooten, Minn.

BROOTEN, Minn. – Walking down the hallway of his old high school, Randy Olson knows each person who passes. Teachers, parents, members of this year’s track team. Not just their names but their grandparents’ names, when they graduated, their varsity record back in 1998.

“Have you seen it?” Olson asked senior Weston Gregory, unfolding a copy of the newspaper to reveal a photo Olson took of the tall teen racing at a track meet. Olson smiled and handed it to him. “There’s your copy.”