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.
June 30, 1996
By Devlyn Brooks
Staff Writer
The 52nd Annual Bemidji Jaycees Water Carnival makes it return to the newly renovated waterfront Wednesday through July 7. After a year's absence from the waterfront, the Water Carnival will return bigger than ever, Jaycees representatives said.
The carnival will run five days, kicking off 5 p.m. Wednesday when Merriam's Midway Shows open. It also will be "Arm Band Night" on the midway, which will run from 6-11 p.m.
Craig Williams, co-chairman of the carnival, said people should be happy with the operation of Merriam's Shows because they are a clean show.
"They aren't your typical 'carny' operation or ride carnival. they are very clean," he said. "We're proud to have them. We think they're the best in the country."
Due to the space limitations, the midway will be arranged in a slightly different fashion this year, co-chairman Everette Johnson said. The adult rides will remain in the parking lot area, but on the paver stones between the Chamber of Commerce building and Paul and Babe the carnival games will be set up. Behind the games will be set up. Behind the games toward the lake in the grassy area will be the children's rides. Then, to the north, on the other side of the Chamber building near the Rotary Pavilion, will be the food court and Jaycees tent, formerly known as the beer tent.
Johnson said the idea behind the set-up was to match the layout of the Paul Bunyan Amusement Park, which is all of the adult rides to the west and south and the children's rides to the east and north.
On Thursday, the traditional fireworks display will be synchronized to music that will be provided by Oldies 98. The fireworks will begin at dusk or about 10:15 p.m.
Williams said the fireworks should be even bigger than ever before, with the Jaycees spending $10,000 on the display.
Williams said he remembers a couple of years ago when Oldies 98 was playing music during the fireworks and played the song "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood. "It sent chills up my spine," he said. "It made me feel proud to be an American."
The major new event the Jaycees are sponsoring is the Garage Band Showcase that is part of the newly developed Teen Day. From noon-5 p.m. Friday, the Jaycees tent will be home to area garage bands so they can display their talent and entertain their peers, Johnson said. A lunch will be provided to the teens, and for admission they only need to be wearing a Jaycees Water Carnival button.
"We've always had events for children and adults, but never anything for teens," Johnson said.
Also, there will be live entertainment held in the Jaycee tent Friday and Saturday night. The band Power Play will play Friday night, and the band Ice Breaker will play Saturday. Ice Breaker is a popular regional band that has some semi-successful musicians that have made their mark, Williams said.
"They play everything from country to rock," he said. "They're really eclectic."
Saturday, the big event is the 2 p.m. Prior Lake Water Ski Show that will be held on Lake Bemidji in front of the waterfront area. Johnson said the group has performed before for the Water Carnival and people "really enjoyed them."
The traditional Grand Parade will be held 1 p.m. Sunday following the traditional parade route. It will begin at 15th Street following Minnesota Avenue south until Third Street, where it will follow Third Street over to Bemidji Avenue back up to 15th Street.
Retired Bemidji State University professor Art Lee will be the parade's grand marshal. "We (the Jaycees) felt it was fitting that he be the grand marshal," Johnson said, "because he knows more about Bemidji than most people do."
Johnson said the Jaycees float of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox has been refurbished and will once again return to the parade after a three-year absence. "Both Craig and I felt it wasn't a Jaycees Water Carnival without Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox," Johnson said.
There are five bands scheduled to play in the parade this year, the Bemidji High School Band, the Hibbing High School Marching Band, the Bemidji Community Band, a BSU Dixieland band and new addition Kramer's Krackerjacks. Johnson said the Krackerjacks are a five-drummer line from St. Cloud that are "wonderful."
Of course, the bingo tent and Jaycees tent will be open throughout the carnival providing a place to rest for weary feet," Johnson said.
All proceeds earned from the Water Carnival will go to a fund that will be used to set up an Enhanced 911 system in Beltrami County and help with additional waterfront projects.
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