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The Bemidji area's youngest children and their families recently strolled around the Tiny Tots Expo in Bemidji. While there, they gathered information about local agencies, played games and took part in other activities. The annual expo, which was held Saturday morning at the Boys & Girls Club of the Bemidji Area, is one of several programs of the Bemidji Area Early Childhood Initiative.
As floodwaters threatened the Red River Valley area, more than 50 college students from Moorhead have made the Bemidji area their temporary home. More than a week ago, Bemidji State University opened its doors to about 30 students from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Around the same time, Concordia Language Villages near Bemidji began housing 26 Concordia College students at Waldsee, the German language village. Faraja Kurubai, a junior at Concordia College, said she believes it means a lot to the students to stay at CLV because many of them are international students. Kurubai, who is
Retired Lt. Mark Wynn believes the words "domestic violence" do not fit the crime. To him, he said Thursday morning in Bemidji, "domestic terrorism" is more accurate. "I think this is the original homeland security issue," said Wynn, who retired from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department in Tennessee. Wynn, who now consults for the U.S. Department of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, spoke about domestic terrorism Thursday morning at the third biennial Breaking the Silence on Sexual and Domestic Violence Conference at Bemidji State University.
With its men's hockey team headed to the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C., next week, the national spotlight is shining on Bemidji State University. University officials say the national attention is positive. "It's really good for us," BSU President Jon Quistgaard said. The Beavers made history Sunday in the NCAA Division I hockey tournament as they defeated Cornell University 4-1 to clinch their first-ever appearance in the Frozen Four, a four-team tournament that decides the national champion.
A blanket of snow covered the Bemidji area Tuesday, prompting some early school closings and creating slippery road conditions. The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D., received a report that 6 inches of snow fell in Bemidji by 3 p.m. Tuesday, said Dave Kellenbenz, senior meteorologist. "The worst looks to be over," he said around 4 p.m. Tuesday. Kellenbenz said the Bemidji area had many bandings of snow Tuesday.
Students at Bemidji High School are bringing their designs to life by printing them in 3-D. They are printing their designs with a printer that builds 3-D plastic models layer by layer from the bottom up. The uPrint 3-D printer arrived at the high school March 16 on loan from First Technologies.
As nonprofits face challenges in today's economy, they also have opportunities to work together. Area nonprofit leaders recently met in Bemidji for a Nonprofit Survival Summit to discuss the challenges and opportunities nonprofits face. The United Way of Bemidji Area, in cooperation with Community Resource Connections and Beltrami Area Service Collaborative, held the summit March 20 in Bemidji. The summit drew 67 attendees, mostly area nonprofit leaders. "I thought it was very effective," said Ashli Bowen, executive director of the United Way.
Two and a half years ago, Jerry and Cathy Osterloh of Pine River lost their son. It was just two months before his 20th birthday when Andrew Osterloh overdosed on heroin at his parents' home. His mother found him dead. "Drugs have changed our lives forever," Jerry told the attendees of the 2009 Evergreen House Annual Conference this week in Bemidji. The two-day conference, titled "Strengthening Youth and Preserving Families: Confronting the Epidemic of Alcohol and Drug Abuse," was held Thursday and Friday at First Lutheran Church.
As a wintry storm swirled outside, covering the Fargo, N.D., area with a blanket of snow, Civil Air Patrol cadets from the Bemidji area worked inside the Fargodome filling sandbags Wednesday. A day earlier, the cadets helped sandbag along the Red River to prevent the anticipated rising water levels from reaching homes. The Civil Air Patrol's Northland Composite Squadron based in Bemidji dispatched a team of 14 members Monday night to assist in the flood-relief efforts in the Fargo area. The late-night trip took several hours longer than expected because of impassible or closed roads into th
The Bemidji School Board is considering its options. At a special meeting Monday night, the board explored ways it could make about $2 million in budget adjustments for next year. The Bemidji School District faces a deficit of about $2 million from overspending last year and projected overspending this year.