On-Campus Straight Talk

People Tell Their Personal Stories to Benefit Others

By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Word Count: 1,160

Story #5



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

People were waiting in line at entrance to the

American Indian Resource Center.



In this society, alcohol is advertised everywhere. Commercials and billboards advertise alcohol as a good time, even though that is not always the case. Last Wednesday, a “straight-talk” panel comprising six people convened in the Great Room at the American Indian Resource Center. The main focus was alcohol and drug abuse, and the use of date-rape drugs.

Brett, Gabriel, Brittany, Erinn, Michael, and Dave all sat in the front of a full room with their name tags placed in front of them. Using just their first names they told their stories that all had the similar problem of alcohol and drugs.

Brittany and Erinn had similar stories, but also very different. Both of their stories involved alcohol and being rapped.

Brittany is a 19-year-old BSU freshman. She started drinking at a very young age. One

of the drinks she drank at a party had the rape drug PCP in it. She woke up nude, and was rapped.



BSU sophomore Rachel Brodin went to the straight talk for extra credit for her psychosocial nursing class. “It was very informative and personal,” said Brodin. “I enjoyed the openness and honesty that individuals on the panel had.” Brittany’s story affected Brodin the most, and putting extra credit aside, she was glad that she came. 

Similar to Brittany’s story Erinn also got rapped. But, she got raped by someone she trusted, and was going to marry. She was not used to drinking, and he mixed her drinks strong. She went to counseling and got help, “Talking to other survivors was very helpful,” said Erinn.

To get help like Erinn did, the Health and Counseling Center is located in Birch Hall and is available to come over and make an appointment to talk to someone.



By Rhea Wawrzyniak

Before walking into the Great Room there was a display

 about drunk driving that told a story about a kid named

Andrew Todd Hammerlund. Hammerlund was born July 8^th, 

1985 and died Aug. 24^th, 2004 in an accident

where alcohol was involved.



Dave told his story of how he had a great life, and lost it all due to alcohol. He also shared The Jellinek Curve on addiction and recovery. “I just think that it is amazing that it is so predictable what will happen if you continue to not deal with your problem,” said Dave.

Dave, Brett and Michael are all living example of The Jellinek curve, but, at some point in their life they dealt with their problems. “Currently I am just over four months clean and sober,” said Michael.



“I thought it was a really good,” said Hannah Bloom, sophomore at BSU. “Very sad but also eye opening.” Bloom also went to get extra credit for class, but was glad that she came. Next “straight-talk” she would certainly bring a friend to share the experience.



In Gabriel’s story, the marines had affect on him, and lead him to drinking. Gabriel stressed that there is no shame in asking for help. “You can make better choices right now and you don’t have to live the examples that we are sharing,” he said. “I encourage you if you have a problem, fix it now, it’s a heck of a lot easier addressing it now then it is down the road.”  









By Rhea Wawrzyniak

The straight talk panel talked in the great room

where all the seats were filled.









By Rhea Wawrzyniak

After everyone told their stories there was time to come up

 and talk to them and ask questions.

Brett’s Story: 



Brett’s addiction started when he was seven or eight years old. He was given beer to put him to sleep. At age fourteen he stole his dad’s car and his grandmother’s homemade wine and drove drunk. That was when he realized he had an addiction problem. During the same year, he drove a motorcycle drunk and ended his career in sports when he got in an accident. When he was eighteen years old he relied on alcohol and was out of control. After his 19^th birthday he started drinking every night for the next 3 years. He got his first DWI on his 22^nd birthday. After that he went to treatment in Fergus Falls and was sober for six months and then went right back to drinking every night. He got his second DWI on his 24^th birthday and resisted arrest and assaulted the police officer. He ended up back at Fergus Falls and was sober for a couple of years, and then went right back to the bottle. Starting in 1985 he stayed sober for three years with the help of his wife. Then problems started again and he went right back to the bottle. “Another wrong decision in my life,” said Brett. “I chose the bottle over my family.” He moved to Texas and had the same job for fifteen years. Then he broke his hip and became addicted to Oxycontin and was drinking 24-7. One night after drinking all day a friend came up to Brett to ask for a cigarette and was holding a butcher knife because he was cooking steaks. Brett thought his friend was coming at him and hit him over the head with a tequila bottle. It took one hundred and fifty three stitches to put his friend back together. “I asked god to take the alcohol and drugs away from me,” said Brett, and he has been sober ever since.

Brittany’s story:



Brittany was not getting the attention and love she needed at home and started drinking at age eleven. Her stepfather was a drunk and beat her mom, and she wanted to feel numb and high when drunk and just have fun. At age 14 she went to a party in a garage. At 2:00 a.m. she noticed all the girls were gone. She didn’t think anything of it, and took the drink handed to her by one of the young men. It contained the date-rape drug PCP. She started to feel dizzy and went to lie down on the back seat of a car in the garage. She blacked out, and woke up to a guy raping her and then blacked out again. She woke up nude and went home and told her mother. In the ER they did a rape kit on her and found eight different seamen deposits. She ended up with an STD, and thought she was pregnant. It took Brittany till she was 16 to actually get over it. “The guy that put PCP in my drink is still sitting in Crow Wing County to this day,” said Brittany. “He is going to be there for a long time.” To this day Brittany has not touched alcohol and won’t even go near it. “I will never trust alcohol again,” said Brittany. 

Bemidji State Studies Abroad

Tara Hjermstad

Reporting and Writing

BSU News Story

10/15/10

Bemidji State Studies Abroad

Offering Students the Education of a Lifetime

                Being a college student has many perks and advantages, and studying abroad is one of them. Bemidji State University offers several international study programs.

                The study abroad programs are open to students that can meet each of these requirements: students must be at least a sophomore in college, a 2.0 GPA or higher, and of course must have the money to afford these expensive adventures. The study abroad program trips are typically used to cover generals.

                Kayla Meskan, a senior at Bemidji State majoring in Business with an emphasis is Marketing and Small Business Management and an employee in the international office, says the most popular international studies trip at BSU is Eurospring .  Meskan has first-hand experience with Eurospring when she went in the spring of 2009. Kayla said, “Ireland, Oxford, Paris and Rome were the best!”  She says of Oxford, “Since we lived there for five weeks, it becomes all you know,” even saying it was like a “second home” to her. Kayla said Paris and Rome were “really pretty and fun cities.” The people of France are “rude,” but those in Ireland are “welcoming and homey,” especially the man at the bed and breakfast where she stayed; the host was “caring and warming” making them meals and taking them sight-seeing in the “gorgeous” country. Kayla chose Eurospring because she had “always wanted to go,” and if she were given the chance to go again, she “might not come back.”

                Eurospring is a two-month long trip from March to May that the University makes every year, taking around 25-30 students. It makes up for fifteen credits, and costs around $6,800.00 plus tuition and fees and any extra spending money (which is usually around $3,000.00). The “Grand European Tour,” as it is called, tentatively visits Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Orvieto, Rome, Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Dachau, Nuremberg, Heidelberg, and Amsterdam. According to Kayla, five of these weeks will be spent in Oxford at Wycliffe Hall, where all students are to attend the main lecture course, as well as two of the seven classes offered. Field trips to Avebury, Stonehenge, Salisbury, City of Bath and the Roman Museum, Burford and the Cotswolds, Portsmouth Dockyard Museum, and Stratford are also part of this adventure. There is a four-day window for students to stay and do whatever they please, during this time, Kayla said some of the students choose to stay in hostiles. The program fee for Eurospring is due in full prior to departure; these fees cover all scheduled travel, tour driver’s tip, lodging, most meals, all tour lunches and four tour dinners. All pre-trip workshops and orientation sessions, which are covered in the fees, are held throughout the fall semester prior to departure.

                Sinosummer is another trip offered through Bemidji State from mid-May until mid-June, earning students 12 credits. The price for this is estimated to be $5,351.00, without including tuition and fees, but does include all travel, airport fees, accommodations tips, and most meals in China; all payments being due in full prior to departure. This tour goes to Beijing, Shenyang, Xi’an, Guilin and Hong Kong; spending time at each to visit historical spots. Also part of Sinosummer are visits to farms, factories and various types of stores, Benxi Water Cave, Chinese Acrobatics and a two-day trip to Inner-Mongolia. Lectures about Chinese history, culture, society, economics, education, industry, agriculture and other topics will be offered at Liaoning University, and BSU Sinosummer faculty directors will give lectures pre-trip and throughout the month in China. There are both pre-trip and post-trip assignments as part of this program, along with a daily journal and periodic discussion sessions.

                Rozina Mosse, a former Bemidji State student, went on the Sinosummer tour in 2007, when she was a sophomore majoring in Graphic Design. Mosse said, “The best part of the Sinosummer trip, was the culture that is so opposite of our culture. It took getting used to, but it was a pleasant experience.” Studying at their university, staying in their hotels, and eating the food there was all “new and exciting,” she said. The people were “different,” and their culture was “hard to understand at times,” but all together it was a lot of fun. Everyday was full of “noise and excitement and there was never a dull moment.” She also said, “There was something to see and explore every minute of the day.” Moss said, “My one complaint about the trip was that it was so expensive. I spent somewhere around $7,000.00 all together, and that’s a lot of money for a struggling college student to afford!” If she was given the chance to go again, Mosse said she would decline. However, she would study abroad again through Bemidji State and go on a different tour, “probably choosing Eurospring.”

                This year, for the first time ever, Bemidji State is taking students to Australia from the end of December until about mid-January for a total of 6 credits. This trip will cost around $8,400.00 plus tuition and fees and any spending money. Kayla reminds, “There are about 13 spots left, and if it doesn’t fill up the trip will be cancelled.”

                Another study abroad program offered through Bemidji State is Argentina every year through the month of July. This trip is through the Spanish program, but is welcome to any student, even those that do not know the Spanish language.

                Hawaii is another option for students that need to fulfill the “People and the Environment” requirement, but is welcome to any student that meets the requirements to study abroad. Here, students will have the chance to camp on the Black Beach for a couple days.

                Every three years the University switches from South Africa, Malaysia/Thailand, and now Australia; this year being Australia.

                Most of these trips have room for about 20 students, Eurospring having availability for 30. The price of the trip covers the airfare to and from the destination, hotels, bus transportation, some meals, field trips, tours of different cities, and any pre and post-trip workshops required. Also included is the insurance, which costs students about $22.00 per week; students need to fill out an extra form for this

prior to departure. Those who qualify for financial aid have that as a payment plan, along with any grants, scholarships, and/or extra loans.

                If interested in any of the study abroad programs, students need to first visit the international study abroad office located in Deputy Hall down from Admissions and talk to Kayla or Cassie.

BSU active in Governor’s Race

Campus preparing for election

By Andrew Pooch and Nick Jelacie

Word Count: 842

The Governor’s race is fast approaching its conclusion and BSU is low in their involvement of the election.   The plans had been set, then fell through and now students may go uninformed into the election booths on Nov. 2.

“We had planned on having a governor’s debate at the BREC, but one of the campaigns pulled out so now we are focusing on a mayoral and city council debate, said Student Senate Co-President Kyle Moellering.  “On Oct 18^th, the College Republicans and College Democrats are hosting a debate for the state House and Senate Candidates next week as well.”

            This missed opportunity at the BREC leaves students with no exposure to the Governor candidates.  One of the main platforms is change in Minnesota education.  College students should be highly concerned with how this election will affect their time at college.

            In August, the primaries were held to choose the Republican and Democratic candidates who would run for Governor of Minnesota.  The candidates that emerged were Mark Dayton for (DFL), Tom Emmer (R), and Tom Horner (I). 

This election is especially important to students at BSU.  Each candidate has a different view about how education should be handled and since BSU is part of the education docket, there should be concern.

Dayton wants Minnesota to start spending more on each student.  The classrooms are overcrowded and under funded.  If elected Dayton said on his Web site, “I will increase our state’s investment in public education so that we can achieve smaller class sizes, and other innovations that are proven to improve outcomes for our kids.”

FOX News reported that Dayton would like to college to be more affordable for the middle class.  Education goes beyond grade twelve.  Minnesota Daily reported that Dayton see too many students with school loans and part of his plan included cutting high-paid Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employees.

Emmer wants to see education outcomes improve for all students.  His way of making this happen is through improved student achievement, improve teacher and school accountability, address teacher effectiveness, and facilitate innovation within our current system.

Emmer said on his Web site, “I would be committed to real change and to real improvement for my kids and for all Minnesota’s children. Minnesota has been and remains the best place in the world to live, work and raise a family. With these education reforms we can ensure that it remains so for the coming decades.”

Minnesota Public Radio reported that Emmer’s budget plan relies on actual cuts in state spending on higher education.  He wants the institutes to be more efficient.  He will look at ways to make it more affordable.  Inflation on college campuses are running beyond other sections of the budget.

            Horner views the education of Minnesota as a struggling system.  Children are unprepared to attend school and many drop out to early.  To fix this problem, he to see more accountability from school districts, investments in technology and teacher rewards for exceptional work.

            Minnesota Public Radio also reported on Horner saying he didn’t think the governor could realistically address the issue in the tough budget time, but outlined a long-term vision of allowing high school students to take more college-level course work.  He noted that the next governor’s unique opportunity for higher education reform exists as the University of Minnesota and MnSCU transition into new leadership.

            The views that the candidates take, will affect BSU students.  Spending will allow more facilities and equipment.  It will also allow BSU to maintain their professors and continue majors.

            Through the evaluations of professors, students will receive better educations.  Recently the business department at BSU was awarded National Accreditation.  This happened through PhD requirements and positive evaluations.

            “I would have to say what students should be looking for when choosing candidates is their opinions on education, since we are currently students, said Senior Brian Ahlers.  “That being said, graduation is right around the corner, and there will be a higher need of younger people needing jobs; I’m considering what each of their stances is in jobs and the economy.”

            Students at BSU should know how to get informed about their candidates.  Each candidate has a website that supplies information such as opinions on the issues, information about their background, ways to get involved, campaign news and ads, events and endorsements.  

            Students who are out of their precinct while attending BSU can apply for an absentee ballot.  If students visit the Minnesota Secretary of State Web site, they will be able to register for an absentee ballot.  This will allow them to cast their vote for the area they grew up in.

            Moellering also added, “Students who live in any dorm besides Oak can vote at the John Glas Fieldhouse.  Students who live in Oak must vote at Trinity Lutheran, which is just up the street.   Student Senate will be working on a shuttle to help get students who live off-campus to the polls.”

 Mark Dayton, DFL candidate for Minnesota Governor. “I am running for Governor, because Minnesota is in crisis. We can, and we must, do better. If I’m Governor, we will. That is my campaign’s theme: A Better Minnesota.” Picture taken from http://markdayton.org/mainsite/

Tom Horner is the Independent Party candidate for Minnesota Governor. Horner is a native Minnesotan, born and raised in Minneapolis where he graduated from University of St. Thomas. Picture taken from http://politicsinminnesota.com/2010-mn-governor-race/

Tom Emmer, Republican Party Candidate for Governor, his education reform agenda focuses on three main pillars: improve teacher and school accountability, address teacher ineffectiveness, and facilitate innovation within our current system. Picture taken from www.minnpost.com

Bemidji gets to work

Local volunteers dedicated their day to participate in the 350 mission

By Caley Jorgensen

Story #4

October 19, 2010

Word Count: 769

                Last Sunday, dozens of trash bags lay full and piled high next to Paul and Babe. Volunteers returned dirty shovels, gardening tools, and work gloves. The volunteers had just finished a dedicated, hard day of work and the sweat and smiles showed it. These participants in the 350 mission had cleaned up trash along Lake Bemidji, the Mississippi River, and city parks. BSU sophomore Amy Asell helped out at Cameron Beach and Diamond Point Park. “I notice the garbage alongside the roads as I drive to school in the mornings,” she said. “It was really nice to help out.”



People started to gather at noon, where locations were assigned.
The sign reads "Bemidji's & 350's Global Work Party." Photo
by Caley Jorgensen.



Like Asell, Matt Ellinghuysen, a BSU sophomore, learned about this opportunity in "People and the Environment”, a required course for all BSU students. “I knew it was going to be good volunteer hours,” he said. BSU sophomore Robin Stalberger didn’t mind picking up trash for her volunteer hours. “My favorite part was being outside and enjoying the nice weather,” she said.

Also, volunteers prepared the community gardens for next year. “Our group pulled out weeds at one of the gardens,” said BSU junior Hannah Hutchins. “There were so many, it was really hard work.” Along with those tasks, volunteers planted cedar trees and more than 300 pine seedlings in the forests and also cleaned paths for bike trails.



Volunteers worked all afternoon in many different parts of the city including six parks: Cameron, Diamond Point, Library, Nymore, Paul Bunyan, and Bemidji City Park. They started at Paul and Babe, where everyone met after all their hard work. Helpers brought back any equipment used and the trash that was collected.



Volunteers returned wth garbage
collected from all over the city.
Photo by Caley Jorgensen.



At the end of the long day, group leaders and helpers put together a sign using recycled cardboard and cans for a group photo in front of Paul and Babe, as they did last year. At 5 p.m., everyone gathered in the Rotary Pavilion next to the Tourist Information Center. Here, guest speakers spoke to the group about environmental issues and how they’re involved.

Mayor Richard Lehmann explained how the city has become more aware and has used clean energy. “Decreasing our carbon footprint is something we’re very conscious of as a city and city council,” he said. He explained that the city wanted to build the BREC so it uses clean energy. Geothermal heat pumps, or pumping natural heat from the ground, are being used, as well as high-efficient light bulbs. “The BREC was built with windows facing the west, so we could take advantage of the natural, solar heat,” Lehmann said. “Bemidji is working hard and has made a commitment.”



Senator Mary Olson spoke to the volunteers at the end of the
day. "I want to say how thrilled I am to be living in a place
where people like you are genuinely committed in keeping this
area a beautiful place to live and raise our families in," Olson said
Photo by Caley Jorgensen.



The district’s State Senator, Mary Olson, also spoke. “It’s very difficult politically to get these things done. You have one side concerned about cost and the other side saying, ‘One way or another we’ve got to do something because this is becoming a crisis in our world and we have responsibilities,’” she said. “I was proud to be a part of supporting that legislation.” Part of her initiative was to find a way to take politics out of the process of managing natural resources and “make decisions for the right reasons, rather than for political reasons.”



Chris Waltz, the Northwest CERT [Clean Energy Resource Teams] coordinator, and Marty Cobenais, office manager for the Indigenous Environmental Network, also spoke at the gathering to share information about energy and climate. Worldwide, 350 organized 7347 events in 188 countries this year. This was an increase from the 5,200 events held by 181 countries in 2009.

As the sun lowered towards the horizon and the air cooled, people started leaving and the big event came to an end. “With leaders and volunteers, the total amount of people totaled around 70,” said Brett Cease, organizer and group leader. “It exceeded my expectations and it was greatly appreciated.”



Volunteers gathered for a group photo to share on 350.org. The sign
read, "350 Get to Work!" and is made of collected cans and used
cardboard. Photo submitted to 350.org.



New Amenities Coming to Bemidji

The Hampton Inn and BREC Considering New Hotels

 By Natalie Reque

With the sparkling blue waters splashing up on the many sandy beaches, and the flourishing pine tree-woods used for many seasonal activities, the city of Bemidji has prime land to be developed and for it flourish.  According to the City-Data page located on the internet for the public to see, Bemidji itself has a population of about 13,749, but the county has 43,835 according to the public data files. 

One of the signs that Bemidji is on its way on becoming more then a tourist town is the finalization of the Bemidji Regional Event Center (BREC) located on the south shores of Lake Bemidji. It officially opens with the first men and women's hockey games of the season on Oct. 15. With the selling out of the tickets for the game, one can see how excited the community is about this new development.

However, the city of Bemidji is not going to stop there with just the event center and the new hockey arena that they spent an estimated $90.7 million on. It is also in the progress of making plans for a new Holiday Inn hotel to go in right next door to the existing event center building. The original idea came from the fact that it will be convenient for the family members of the teams and the people who have purchased year round seats in the BREC.

Because of the large amount of money that was used to build the BREC, there have been rumors that the city  is having a hard time funding the new hotel. However, that rumor was thwarted by development specialist Ryan Zemek of the Headwaters Regional Development Commission.  “There is a developer, Ray Brenny, interested in and made an offer to the city for the land, and it is contingent on him getting backed from the bank,” he said.  Ray Brenny is a private contractor from the Bemidji area who works for Red Lake Tribe; he also runs all the hotels for Red Lake. Brenny was not available for questions concerning the new hotel.

 The BREC itself is owned by the city and roughly 180 more acres. “The city is trying to sell the land to private developers, and if anything the city is having a hard time doing that” said Zemek during the interview.

This new hotel that Ray Brenny is considering putting up is going to be a Holiday Inn and Resort making it a notch better than a normal hotel. It will be attached to the BREC building via a glass walkway  and contain a Minnesota sports bar so that people can come in and enjoy a large screen TV or get out of the elements for a few minutes while they are tailgating during games. Of course, there is going to be more rooms which will accommodate those coming to town for conference meetings and banquets held at the BREC.

But there is competition in the air. It has been confirmed from the local papers and managers at the Hampton Inn that the Hampton Inn Hotel is expanding.  “We are putting up a new hotel on the other side of us,” declared day manager Debbie Peck of the Hampton Inn and Suites. “The BREC hotel is not part of our chain so it will not be a hotel we would not be working with so to speak and yes, they would be considered a competitor.”  Instead of just adding onto the already existing building, the Hilton Company has bought a piece of land next to them right across from the Green Mill restaurant, and will be putting up an entire new building.

It also will not be just another Hampton Inn; this new hotel will be notch higher on the Hilton chain of hotels. The Hilton line contains the Homewood Suites, Homes2Suites, Hampton Inn, the Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotel, and the Conrad Hotels containing the Waldorf Hotels.

When asked why the Hampton does not just add onto their building, Peck responded by saying that there are city ordinances that need to be abided by such as buildings can only be so tall in the city of Bemidji and so long, and also it would not be astatically pleasing. As for the competition, Hampton does not feel any need to worry considering that every hotel has their own specific amenities, and now with the Northern Inn closing up the city will be able to support two more hotels.

Both hotels are looking to start as soon as possible with the building process. As for the actually breaking ground, they may have to wait until spring when the anticipated snow will clear.

Word count: 845

 The BREC located on the south shores of Lake Bemidji.

 Part of the land the BREC wishes to put an adjoining hotel.

The adjoining piece of land that the BREC and the Hampton Inn are putting new hotels. The Hampton can be seen in the background.

Fishing Hall of Famers Host an Open Seminar

...And Talk to Attendees about Faith and Fishing

By Casey Dainsberg (STORY #4)

Last weekend a group of about eighty men and some of their wives gathered together at the Walker Area Community Center. Fishing poles leaned up against the walls, and various lures were laid strewn across tables at the front of the room. The low murmur of men’s voices wafted out the open door to greet the unseasonably warm October night. Inside however, things were about to get started.

It was the Faith and Fishing weekend hosted by fishing Hall of Famers Al Lindner and hisbrother, Ron. The Lindner brothers are both well known in the fishing industry; together they created and sold businesses such as In-Fisherman, a nationally distributed magazine, and Lindy Tackle. Al Lindner said their key to success was built on one simple promise, “helping people find and catch fish."

Currently, both Lindner’s work with Lindner Media Productions, where, as their Web site states, they produce, edit, and post-produce outdoor television series programming. In addition to Lindner’s Angling Edge and Fishing Edge, they currently produce the highly acclaimed “FLW [Forrest L. Wood] Outdoors Bass Series” and “Walleye Series Tour.”



However, it was not only fishing that brought the Lindner brothers to Walker. Al and Ron Lindner are not only known for their fishing, but also for their faith. Before Al Lindner kicked off the first night he told attendees “you’ll not only be a better fisherman [after the seminar], but the hand of God is going to touch you in some way, shape, or form.” For two nights, guest speakers shared their personal faith journeys; and Pastors Russ Kalenberg and Mark Boone, both from the Brainerd area, closed each night with a short message.

Al Lindner acted as host and emcee of both evenings. He first introduced Dick Sternberg, referring to Sternberg's “passion for quality walleye fishing.” Sternberg worked for many years as a biologist with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He is well-known for his research and for creating state programs to stock fish in lakes where little to no natural reproduction takes place.



Sternberg presented graphs and statistics describing the problems Leech Lake has suffered during the last several years. The walleye population decreased dramatically and it took a lot of effort from community members and the DNR to begin bringing back the lake. As Sternberg recounted, the problems began with cormorants and crayfish, describing is as “a perfect biological storm.” In 2005, the DNR began stocking walleye fry into Leech Lake, and since then they have continued to stock the lake annually, with as many as 7.2-22 million fry a year. In addition the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe began targeting (selective shooting) double crested cormorants in 2005.  Their hope was to reduce cormorant numbers from an annual population of about 10,000 birds to 500 breeding pairs about 3,000 juveniles.  Since the control efforts began in 2005, nearly 15,000 birds have been culled and now the fishery is in recovery.

-



James Lindner shared tips on where and how to
catch big muskies.
(Photo from Lindner's Angling Edge Web site) 



 Al Lindner introduced his nephew, James “Jim” Lindner, describing him as someone who “loves musky fishing” and is “quite good at it.” “Fishing today is better than it ever has been,” Jim Lindner explained, adding that our area is the epicenter of the finest musky fishing in the nation. He mentioned Lake Bemidji, Lake Plantagenet, Leech Lake, and Battle Lake as being known for big fish. He said this facet of the sport is “very specialized,” describing different presentations and techniques to the audience.

Also joining the Lindners were local guides and professional fishermen from the area. Al Maas, Reggie Theil, and Dan Craven addressed the crowd with different tips on baits, presentations, and techniques regarding various species of fish. Each had a unique specialization and passion to share. Maas, a professional guide and fisherman, talked about catching large-mouth bass on Leech Lake and gave the crowd tips on where the big bass can be found, such as in small bays off the big lake.

Reggie Theil, another well-known guide, also spoke but not about fishing. He shared his testimony, describing how one year ago he was lying in a hospital at the University of Minnesota recovering from a heart transplant. He attributed his recovery to his faith in God, and said that it was a result of many prayers that he is doing so well today.

Dan Craven described his experience with Camp Fish. Purchased by Al and Ron Lindner and In-Fisherman in 1983, the instructional youth fishing camp encouraged young men and women to get out and fish, equipping them with the tools and skills needed to do so. Many of the men at the retreat, including Craven, had all been staff at Camp Fish until it closed in 1991. Craven said it “set a foundation for a lot of people.”




Hall of Famers Ron and Al Lindner (LF to RT) hoist a walleye.
The Lindner brothers  hosted the Faith and Fishing weekend last week.
(Photo from Lindner's Angling Edge Web site)

 

Ron Lindner, an experienced fisherman and Hall of Famer, didn’t talk about fishing so much as the changes that have taken place over the years in technology and bait. He described the past, and how the professional fisherman had access to new technologies and products well before the average fisherman. However, that has now changed and professional guides don't have any more access to products than the average person. Because of these changes, it has “leveled the playing field,” allowing novice fisherman just as much access to fish as professionals.  Ron Lindner wrapped up, saying if there were ever a golden year, time for fishing for musky and walleye, it’s now.

WORD COUNT: 952



Story # 4 - Beaver Hockey Unveils New Home - Eric Story

Bemidji, Minn.

Beaver Hockey Unveils New Home

BREC Opens in Grand Style

By Eric Story

Published: October 19, 2010

On a beautiful fall afternoon with the temperature in the low sixties, and the sun shimmering off lake Bemidji, spending the day indoors isn’t what most people would do knowing that a Minnesota winter could appear around the next corner. Then again, this day is what Beaver hockey fans and citizens of Bemidji have been dreaming about. There couldn’t be a better day to sit inside for the grand opening of the Bemidji Regional Events Center.

As the zamboni made its final pass, you could feel the excitement building and see it on the player’s faces as they took the ice.  At 2:07 p.m. Friday, October 15th the puck was dropped, officially christening the BREC as the BSU women’s hockey team faced off against nationally ranked #1 Mercyhurst. 

The Beavers came out playing confident and fast, controlling the play early on in the first period. That play wouldn’t last, as Mercyhurst showed why they’re ranked number one.

 Mercyhurst captain and Olympic Gold-Medal winner, Meghan Agosta scored the first official goal in the new building 8:44 into the first period. Agosta then added a second goal to make it 0-2 after one period. Although the first game in their new home wasn’t the outcome they had hoped for, losing 4-0, it didn’t change what this day meant to the community and program.

“We got better as the game went on,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “In the second period we battled better and scrapped with them, we just have to get more traffic in front of the net.”

Just the match up of playing against nationally ranked #2 North Dakota is enough to get excited about, but this night was so much more for the BSU men’s hockey program. It was the beginning of a new era for the storied program. Not only was it their first game in the BREC, it was the Beavers first game as a new member of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

As the fans filed in, many getting their first look inside the BREC, you could feel the energy and anticipation growing. A sold out crowd of 4,373, the largest to witness a hockey game in Bemidji, oozed energy and built up excitement the moment they set foot in the arena.

To commemorate the night, representing Governor Tim Pawlenty, with the first of two ceremonial puck drops were Steve Sviggum, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry; Mary Olson, State Senator; and David Tomassoni, State Senator. The second ceremonial puck drop belonged to Robert H. (Bob) Peters, whom the heart of the BREC (The Robert H. Peters Rink) is named after.

With more than 300 alumni in attendance it didn’t take the Beavers long to send the BREC into a wild frenzy.  Forward Jamie MacQueen would score the first Beaver goal at the BREC, just 1:52 into the first period thanks to a turnover forced by teammate Ryan Cramer at center ice.

The lead would last until the final minute of the first period when UND would tie the game, quieting the crowd. The second period was all Sioux, deflating a crowd that wanted nothing more than to explode in celebration.  UND would go on to win 5-2, spoiling the Beaver season opener.

Day two of hockey at the BREC offered everything the first day had, another beautiful fall afternoon in northern Minnesota with hockey fans waiting to get inside. This time the BSU women’s hockey team would take care of business, earning their first ever victory over a number one ranked opponent 5-3.

“It was great to be able to knock-off a No. 1 team in the country, but you have to start with McElhinney in net,” said head coach Steve Sertich. “She was unbelievable and really was the difference.”

The Beaver defense, lead by goaltender Alana McElhinney, would muddle Mercyhurst’s offense enroute to victory. McElhinney turned away 56 of the 59 shots she faced.

“You never hope to have fifty plus shots on goal in a game, but you just take them as they come and go from there,” said McElhinney. “[Mercyhurst] really came at us tonight, but our team played great and it was nice to get that first win.”

The excitement of the win trickled over to the fans attending the night-cap, hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of North Dakota.

Just like the previous night the arena was electric, waiting to explode. You could almost hear a pin drop as the Sioux struck first on the power-play.

After a string of penalties with plenty of boo-birds to be heard, the Beavers found themselves on a 4 on 3 man advantage. The BREC felt like gasoline, just waiting for someone to light a match. With the power-play severing as the striking surface forward Jordan George struck the match, igniting the BREC.

“[Last night] we had no jump, no energy and we didn’t take care of the puck very well. I think our guys recognized that.   Serratore added, “We had a lot of energy tonight, we fore checked well and we moved the puck around on the power-play so our special teams were a factor.”

The capacity crowd would once again leave without victory, as UND completed the sweep with a 5-2 win.

“Nobody likes to lose so if you go in the locker room right now, the guys are disappointed,” said Bemidji State Head Coach Tom Serratore.  “They are competitive guys and wanted to win a hockey game.  They feel they can win a hockey game.  I don’t think they look at moral victories, but as a coach I want to make sure we are getting better.”

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BSU women's hockey team taking the ice
Photo by: Eric Story



R. H. Peters receiving jersey before ceremonial puck drop
Photo by: Eric Story