Messenger welcomes new co-owner

by Julie Gutknecht
“Theresa does the things I don’t do and I do the things she
doesn’t do,” said Joanne Tichy of her new working relationship as co-owner of the Maple Lake Messenger.
Theresa Andrus has served as the Messenger’s publisher and editor over the past year since purchasing the paper from its long-time owner, Harold Brutlag. The two women had been friends for many years with their strongest ties through their involvement at the school plus similar interests in journalism and publishing.
“I was happy she bought it,” Tichy said of hearing the news of the sale to Andrus last January. This past summer, at the wedding of mutual friends, the two struck up a conversation about how Andrus’ first year was going and one thing led to another. “We talked about it for a long time,” she said and they came to a consensus it could be a good partnership.
That social chitchat was formalized with Tichy beginning work at the paper on Feb. 26.
“I’ve been looking forward to having Joanne on board,” Andrus said. “With her background, we will be able to produce a better paper and offer more customer service. I’ve enjoyed working with her in the past and look forward to more of the same in the future.”
Tichy and her family have been Maple Lake residents since relocating to town in 1981. “We were looking for something in the country,” she explained. “And I wanted to have a horse.” She and Mike, her husband, drew a circle with the center point being his office at Thexton in Edina. Maple Lake was just outside that circle.
In addition to working as a homemaker, Tichy began working with insurance and billing at the Big Lake Chiropractic Clinic. They had two daughters, Alexis and Regan, and now two grandchildren, Kianna and Justice.
While always involved in their children’s education, Tichy became more so when Alexis was a junior. When no advisors could be found, Tichy began working in that capacity for the yearbook and school newspaper. And although she had had no previous experience along those lines, Tichy quickly realized it must have been an underlying passion. She worked for six years at the school, 1988 to 1994, after which she went back to school. She graduated from St. Cloud State University with a degree in mass communications with an emphasis on advertising and public relations.
Most recently, she has worked as a marketing manager for Central Roofing Co. of Fridley. Now co-owner, co-publisher and advertising manager of the Maple Lake Messenger will be added to her list of accomplishments.
Mike, now retired from Thexton after 26 years, is enjoying his retirement as his wife starts this new endeavor. “It’s exciting, for sure,” he said. “This is something she’s really looking forward to. I’m happy for her. This was something she’s always sounded like she’d like to do.”
“I’m excited and nervous,” Tichy said of her new responsibilities. “Theresa is the writer-person and I’m okay with that. I like advertising. I like to design it and I like to sell it. I see my role as the upfront person, getting the advertising and doing the talking.”
The current Messenger staff will remain intact with Linda Ordorff working as a copy setter, newspaper layout and as an office clerk. This reporter will be working with Tichy on ads plus dedicating more time to reporting. Brutlag will maintain his semi-retirement mode as the staff printer and writer of Brute’s Bleat.
Tichy is also being urged to begin her own column for the Messenger’s editorial page. She admits she has had comments she’s wanted to share on issues or as rebuttals to reported news. “Right now I’m just telling people to be nice to me, I’m new.”