Anders Publishing is proud to announce the transition to new ownership of the Middle River Honker, continuing the legacy of this cherished publication. While there will be changes, we are committed to keeping the history alive and honoring the vision Barb Geer and KayDell Super had for the Honker.
As of April 1, the Middle River Honker will remain the same. Then, beginning May 1, the Newfolden paper, 'Frostheim Journal,' will be combined with the Honker. This transition will create two front-page features and highlight the amazing events happening throughout central Marshall County. Any current Honker subscription will remain valid until renewal is due, continuing with the Honker while also receiving the bonus of both front-page features.
Anders Publishing is owned by Jessica Andersen. Jess was born and raised in Plummer and Thief River Falls and now lives in Newfolden, MN, with her husband and their three children.
Her husband, Mike, has worked for Waage Farms in Strathcona since 2020. He is also a volunteer firefighter for the Newfolden Fire Department. Mike has a passion for cattle, tractors, and trains. He volunteers at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion (WMSTR) in Rollag, MN, every Labor Day weekend, as well as a few times in the summer, helping with the steam trains. His favorite pastime is building projects for his wife’s 'funny farm' and (allegedly) chasing her goats and ducks around the yard—though he may not fully agree with that last part.
Their daughter, Mariah Kenfield, age 17, attends Heritage Christian School in Karlstad, MN, and takes online PSEO (Post-Secondary Education) courses through Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls. She also works as a nurse's aide at the nursing home in Karlstad, is an avid reader, and has a strong passion for volleyball. She plans to pursue a nursing degree after graduation next year. Their son, Mikale Kenfield, age 14, is also an avid reader who enjoys coding, computers, and video games. He is a math whiz with a natural talent for problem-solving and numbers. Their youngest, Jordan, age 6, shares his dad’s love for trains but is equally fascinated by anything military—planes, tanks, and submarines. He enjoys playing Minecraft occasionally but has recently taken a strong interest in cattle farming like his dad. Jordan is homeschooled by Jess. This fall, Mike and Jess will also be welcoming two foreign exchange students into their home, one from Italy and one from Spain.
After her husband’s diagnosis of brain cancer in 2019, Jess' values shifted to deeply support small-town living. During that challenging time, many smalltown communities came together in support of her family, and she saw firsthand the impact of strong community ties.
Jess has always had a passion for storytelling, which led her to the world of newspapers. Her love for reading began at a young age, thanks to her late Uncle George (Uncle 'Ikie' to her), with whom she shared a close bond. He introduced her to the magic of books and ignited her love for storytelling. Jess also credits her Uncle Al for being a constant source of inspiration— his entrepreneurial spirit and hard work showed her what it means to succeed, both in business and in life. While her heart lies in storytelling, Jess especially loves Fantasy Romance, getting lost in worlds of imagination and adventure. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found enjoying farm life—watching her ducks and geese, pulling weeds in her garden, watching her daughter play volleyball, or walking through the woods with her boys. Jess treasures the quiet moments of rural life but also thrives on the connections that small-town communities bring.
Over the years, Jess has encountered countless stories, especially those shared by the elderly, with whom she has a special connection. She could spend hours sitting with them, listening to their stories, which have deeply shaped her appreciation for community and the importance of local journalism. Jess also draws inspiration from her best friend, Andrea Borsvold, who will be joining the team as co-editor and advertising/ design lead. Andrea brings a wealth of experience in community journalism and a deep passion for storytelling. She is excited to connect with readers, highlight local events, and continue the legacy of the Honker with fresh perspectives and engaging content.
Andrea Borsvold is no stranger to the newsroom or deadlines. She grew up between the woods and farmland of Karlstad, MN and Stephen, MN. She married her soulmate, Luke, in 2012, and so the Borsvold Adventures began. They lived in Scotland for a year and travelled the world extensively between grad school assignments, visiting Sweden, Ireland, Norway, and Japan. They stopped in Iceland on their way back to the States, settling in Thief River Falls to start a family and still be close to parents and grandparents.
They are now raising three feral kids on nine acres near Strandquist and blissfully homesteading. Andrea spends most days homeschooling her oldest, Torsten, who is an adventurous Minecraft kid, calming her middle, Freya, who is a crafty firecracker and a bibliophile, and potty training her youngest, Ivar, who loves trucks and Bluey and never wants to be left out. They have two cats, a blue heeler puppy, seven hens and a rooster (and yes, they all have names). Her garden is always experimental and expanding, as she’s always ready to learn something new in nature. Andrea is an early riser, so before her kids and the rest of the world wake up, she’s busy writing, baking, or simply finishing her coffee. Her husband works the morning shift at DigiKey as a packaging supervisor and so that schedule just works for them.
Andrea started her own weekly student newsletter in high school, writing, designing, printing and distributing it all herself every Monday morning. She then turned down an internship at the North Star News one summer before graduating, because she “wasn’t going to become a reporter.” The joke was on her when her first job out of college was with the North Star News, and her next newspaper job was straight out of grad school, at the TRF Times. Watching a Goss Web Newspaper Press work its magic on a daily basis inspired her to stay in the newspaper business. She then took a remote job, doing layout and design with the Middle River Honker. Now, she writes weekly columns in the North Star News and Grand Forks Herald, and is excited to share stories with all of the readers of The Honker and Frostheim Journal.
With her education in writing, graphic design has always been her hobby, but Andrea has fallen in love with the convergence of both in local weekly newspapers. They bring a sense of life to small towns and are really the only current written history of the area, making hyperlocal news so important to record. She’s looking forward to connecting with the amazing people and businesses in the area and helping them tell their stories. She is especially excited to move forward on this adventure with best friend Jess as they learn this newspaper business better together.
As the saying goes, “There’s no ‘I’ in team,” and this transition won’t be done alone. Both The Honker and Frostheim Journal will have a strong team working to ensure it remains a reliable, authentic, and vibrant connection for the communities it serves.
To better connect with readers, new business hours will be Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12-3 at the Frostheim Journal office located at 136 W Minnesota Ave in Newfolden. We encourage you to email us about activities, community events, or any news we should attend. Photos and information submitted by you are also greatly appreciated and help us feature the heart of our area.
Finally, we want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Brianna Geer for her dedication to the newspaper over the past several years and for her unwavering help and support during this transition. Jess and Andrea will do their very best to follow in her footsteps and uphold the tradition and quality of The Honker.
Thank you for welcoming us into the community. We look forward to building on the rich history of the Middle River Honker and celebrating the people and stories that make this region so special!
