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. 29, 2000
By Devlyn Brooks
About 300 snowmobilers will gather here in February as Bemidji hosts the state's annual VIP Ride, formerly known as the Governor's Ride.
The event -- hosted by the Minnesota United Snowmobile Association and five local snowmobiling clubs -- is held to raise awareness of snowmobiling.
"In the good ol' days, a lieutenant governor or governor would show up, and they could get the press from England, Japan and Australia here," MnUSA's Dick Lueben said, "but there is only a teeny, tiny chance that (Gov. Jesse) Ventura will show up."
Although this year's event lacks a high profile politician, it will feature the likes of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Al Garber and local state representatives, Lueben said.
"It's now called the VIP Ride," he added. "And the purpose is to get officials to meet real people and real people to meet with officials, with nobody haranguing each other."
The Midwinter Rendezvous -- as MnUSA calls the weekend - will be held Feb. 10-13, with the big media ride happening the morning of Feb. 11. It will include about 300 sleds that will leave from the Northern Inn that morning in sections of 20 sleds each. They will head south to Lake George, eventually angling toward Walker, where they will have lunch.
Both government officials and media representatives associated with the tourism industry will ride, Lueben said. And, hopefully, MnUSA will accomplish its goal in portraying snowmobiling as an attractive winter activity.
On the way back, riders will have three options: quick, not so quick and the really scenic tour. Later that day, most people not affiliated with MnUSA will take off.
Friday evening, MnUSA will host a social and then guides from several local snowmobiling clubs will take riders on various local excursions within a 50-mile radius of Bemidji on Saturday morning. The event pretty much ends that night with more socializing, dining and dancing.
Lueben said local organizations are counting on the weather to give the area some snow, but if it doesn't cooperate, there are contingency plans.
More than likely, he said, the local clubs will organize shuttle trips by van or bus to take the riders to the planned snowmobiling destinations.
"Last year, that's how they solved the problem in Willmar (Minn.), with renting buses and taking them to the places they would see on snowmobile," Lueben said.
Economic impact
Lueben said each snowmobiler attending MnUSA's event, will shell out about $100 in gas, food and lodging per day in the area.
"With the loss of money due to a lack of snow this winter, this at least provides a little kick in the knickers here in Bemidji," he said. "There is a possible $100,000 economic impact on the community that weekend."
Bemidji has hosted this event twice before -- in 1987 and 1992.
MnUSA is a political lobbying and public relations organization for those interested in snowmobiling in Minnesota. At least 20,000 households are members, according to Lueben.
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