I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.
Jan. 26, 1997
By Devlyn Brooks
Staff Writer
The purchase of seven school buses and an update on the County Family Services Collaboration Grant will highlight an otherwise routine Bemidji School Board agenda 7 p.m. Monday in the High School Green Room, according to schools Superintendent Rollie Morud.
Completing a task begun in October, district Business Services Director Bryan Westerman has recommend the board accept the low bids on six 71-passenger buses and a special education bus.
Originally, the district sought bids on seven passenger buses, but due to a freeze on transportation funding and the concern that the district may be considering capital projects for the Transportation Department soon, Westerman wrote in his memo to the board, the purchase of only six is suggested.
If approved, the total cost will be $334,708, but excise taxes and the installation of radios will add about $25,000 to the cost. The initial estimate for eight buses was $400,000.
Hoglund Bus Co. would provide five Thomas buses at about $82,000, and North Central would provide one Bluebird make for about $21,500. The six International chassis would be provided by Alex Diesel at about $182,000, and the completed special education bus will be contracted with Northstar for about $49,000.
The board will also hear an update concerning the recently received County Family Services Collaboration Grant from Community Education Coordinator Bob Wagner.
He announced, in a memo to the board, a coordinator for the Family Services Collaborative was hired. A requirement of the original grant was that a portion of the $300,000 would be used to fund the position. The coordinator is to have an office in the new Community Services Center building in 1998.
The grant is also funding other "intervention and prevention" projects such as a home visit for new moms, coordination with Head Start, expanded family learning programs, a family resource center in Blackduck, a community youth activity brochure, pre-conceptual care clinics and community violence education, according to Wagner's memo.
In other action the board will:
Consider the approval of current bills and special checks.
Hear the second reading for a resolution concerning a Tax Sheltered Annuities Program for district teachers.
Consider the approval of salary lane advancement for several district teachers.
Consider the approval of an out-of-state trip to be taken by the Bemidji High School Band.
Consider the submission of several grants.
Elect board officers and organize board committees.
Comments