About Us

Mahnomen Pioneer

The Mahnomen Pioneer is a weekly newspaper that has been serving the Mahnomen County
and White Earth Reservation areas since 1905. The publication has seen several owners over the years.
However, our commitment to covering local news remains the same. The Mahnomen Pioneer is
currently owned by Highview Communications, LLC. We are committed to providing coverage of local
events and items of local interest. In the Mahnomen Pioneer, you will find coverage of activities,
including Athletics, Academics and Arts, for the Mahnomen School District, the Waubun-Ogema-White
Earth School District, St. Michael's Elementary School and other educational entities in the coverage
area. We provide coverage of local festivals and events. We provide stories about the Mahnomen City
Council and the Mahnomen School Board. The Mahnomen Pioneer serves as a legal newspaper in the
state of Minnesota. We print legal notices for Mahnomen County, City of Mahnomen, City of Waubun,
City of Bejou, ISD #432, ISD #435, and other government entities as requested. We work to be a positive
reflection of Mahnomen County and the surrounding area. We strive to be a good hometown newspaper
for our readers.

Meet The Team

Managing Editor - Sue Kraft

Sue Gruman Kraft is the Editor of the Mahnomen Pioneer. She is originally from Hannaford, North
Dakota. From 1986 to 1990, she attended the University of North Dakota, where she obtained a
Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Political Science. She interned at the Wahpeton Daily News, and
was hired there after graduation. From 1991 to 1992, she worked as editor of the Mahnomen Pioneer
under Pat Kelly. She left for another position, but returned in 1993 to the position of editor at the
Pioneer, until late 1996, when expecting her first child. She returned again to the editor's position in
1998, and continued working for the Kelly family until 2010, when she and sister Audra Coppa purchased
the Mahnomen Pioneer from the Kelly family under the name of Highview Communications LLC. Sue
later purchased her sister's interest and is now the sole owner. Sue enjoys her work writing, taking
photos, selling advertising and keeping the business going. She also enjoys time with family, including
her husband, Karl, and sons Michael and Nathan. You can contact her at mahedit@arvig.net

Graphic Artist - Michael Flake

Michael Flake is the graphic artist and creator of advertisements at the Mahnomen Pioneer. He was born
in Minneapolis, and raised in Detroit Lakes, where he now lives at his cabin. Michael Flake is a Concordia
College graduate, attending 1968 to 1972, to obtain an Art Major and Economics Minor. He worked at
Donaldson's Department Store in Minneapolis as a Production Manager, then for Holiday Erickson, as
Advertising Coordinator. He studied at Hennepin Technical College to obtain an electronic publishing
degree, then worked for International Multi-Foods in Minneapolis from 1982 to 1988. He then returned
to college at Hennepin Tech and obtained an Associates Degree in Electronic Publishing in 1990. He
worked for Red Wing Publishing from 1990 to 2018 as a graphic designer. From 2018 to present, he has
worked at the Mahnomen Pioneer.