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Students in the Niigaane Ojibwemowin Immersion School, a K-6 school within the Bug O Nay Ge Shig School on the Leech Lake Reservation near Bena, know what it feels to be movie stars. They were featured on "First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language," a documentary by Twin Cities Public Television that was recently honored with a Regional Emmy Award. "First Speakers" follows the efforts of a new generation of Ojibwe scholars and educators attempting to save one of Minnesota's native languages. Anton Treuer, historian, author and professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, is also fea
Tom Hill, Justin "Bud" Kaney and Tina Hanke, three friends hoping to start a microbrewery in Bemidji, are asking for $5,000 in donations by Jan. 23 so they can start brewing their own craft beer. Instead of going to a bank or potential investors, the three have initiated a Kickstarter campaign, in which they are asking the public to donate a total of $15,000 at Kickstarter.com.
With applications due in a few weeks for the North Dakota University System chancellor's job, Richard Hanson said he's not going anywhere. Last month, a former colleague nominated Hanson for the position, but the president at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College said he won't apply for the job. Hanson, who grew up in North Dakota, is now in his second year in Bemidji. A Dec. 7 letter nominated Hanson for the job overseeing North Dakota's five community colleges, four regional universities and two research universities.
At first glance, Lynn Schmidt's job appears tedious. But to the 60-year-old, being back at work symbolizes winning a battle against cancer. His doctor has restricted him to working only four hours a day as the dryer operator at Norbord, an oriented-strand board plant in Solway, but Schmidt appreciates every minute of it.
Sears in Bemidji has no plans of closing, despite the recent announcement from Sears Holding Corp.
This Christmas, Kelsey Johnson, a Bemidji State University alumna, said being together with her family will be the best gift of all. Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the day Johnson helped save her stepfather's life. Because of her efforts, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Bemidji Mayor David Larson will join the North Star Chapter of the American Red Cross to present her with a Red Cross "Lifesaving Award of Merit," signed by President Barack Obama. She will receive her award at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 5 in Bemidji City Hall.
After counting the donations that came in during the last six weeks, one phrase popped into Teri Collyard's mind: "Wow, that's awesome," she said. The Beltrami Humane Society raised $35,000 in little more than one month and is now $5,000 away from reaching its goal, the Chairman of Beltrami Humane Society's Board of Directors said Thursday. The money is needed to fill a budget shortfall for 2011. Collyard feels confident community donations will continue to come in this month.
Numerous Bemidji High School students received statewide recognition for their performance in "White Christmas," a musical held Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at the school. BHS has participated in the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program, a flagship educational initiative of Hennepin Theatre Trust, in recent years. SpotLight honors high school musicals and students by recognizing their achievements.
Those needing to lift their spirits this holiday season should plan on attending the Bemidji High School choir concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the school. Performances by the school's Varsity, Bel Canto and A Cappella choirs, Madrigals and Lumberjack Men's Chorus, as well as the Bemidji Boychoir, will be featured. In all, 210 students will be singing. "They are incredible," said BHS Music Director Chris Fettig. "I think all of the groups have been outstanding." What makes this concert unique is the lineup of songs, some of which combine different choirs or soloists.
Hundreds of trophies line the shelves and walls of the Bemidji High School choir room, reflecting decades of notable performances by choir students. But the awards are not what impress Chris Fettig, the school's music director, the most. "These are my most important trophies," he said, looking at the 20 graduating class picture collages that line the back wall of the room, dating back to the early 1990s. "They are the students who sang here for all four years," he added. Five collages are missing from the wall because the tradition did not start until a few years after Fettig came to BHS.