'With the right words, you can make something grow': ND publisher celebrates half-century

HEBRON, N.D. – Jane Brandt, publisher of the Hebron Herald and Richardton Merchant, has reported on fires, floods and blizzards, watermelon days and fall festivals. She's never missed a publishing deadline, even when the press went down, ice covered the highways and storms rolled over the city.

Reflecting on 50 years in the publishing business, Brandt considers her years as a labor of love to her community and newspaper.

"A weekly newspaper pulls the community together," she said. "With the right words, you can make something grow even more."

Former Hebron Mayor Ken Rehling appreciates the contributions made by Brandt throughout the years.

"She stays on top of things," he said. "I think we and Richardton are lucky to have a local paper and to have Jane in the community."

Rehling served 18 years on the Hebron City Council and as mayor, and he remembers how Brandt kept the city accountable.

"She reminded us of things we may have forgotten about and, to this day, if something is going on in the county or state, she will send me an email."

Rehling can't image the day when Brandt ever decides to retire.

"I don't know who would take over," he said.

Early years in Hebron

Brandt's earliest memories are of attending schools at St. Vincent, Minn., and Pembina until moving to California with her parents. She graduated from San Rafael High School in Marin County and enrolled at Zweegman's School for Medical Secretaries in San Francisco. She worked two years for two cancer specialists in Oakland and another six years a nurse and secretary in San Leandro, Calif.

She had always liked to write, but had no journalism education.

"I had no background in writing with the exception of grocery lists and an occasional letter to a friend," she said.

Her first husband, Dick Berg, had come from a family of weekly newspaper owners in Minnesota and always dreamed of owning his own weekly paper. Jane planned to be a "stay-at-home" mom and care for two small children, Carlee and Curtis.

Purchasing the newspaper from Joyce and