Area High School Students age 16 or 17 are encouraged to enter the Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest for a chance to attend the 2019 Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. June 1-5, with all expenses paid by Paul Bunyan Communications.

Students MUST be age 16 or 17 at the time of the Youth Tour with their parent/guardian a member of Paul Bunyan Communications Cooperative.

Students interested in attending the Youth Tour need to submit a short essay, no more than 500 words in length, on why they would like to attend the Youth Tour.

Entries can be dropped off at the Paul Bunyan Communications office in Bemidji or Grand Rapids, or they can mailed to:

Paul Bunyan Communications Essay Contest
1831 Anne St. NW
Bemidji, MN 56601

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 8.

The trip features a comprehensive overview of the telecommunications industry, including careers in telecom, the critical role telecommunications plays in rural America, and how legislative and regulatory decisions affect the industry.  The tour allows youth to meet with members of Congress who represent rural constituents.  They also participate in educational sessions about the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).  Students visit some of the nation’s most historic sites, including Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Museums, and a beautiful night tour of our Washington D.C.

“We hope that by providing our youth with telecommunications services comparable to those found in urban areas, as well as exposing them to cultural and educational opportunities, such as the FRS Youth Tour, our youth will remain in and become active members in their rural communities,” said Brian Bissonette, Paul Bunyan Communications Marketing Supervisor.

The Foundation for Rural Service is dedicated to informing and to improving the quality of life throughout rural America.  Each year, it organizes the Youth Tour, designed to educate rural youth about the telecommunications industry and the federal political process.  The FRS is a subsidiary of the NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member.

This is the 23^rd consecutive year that Paul Bunyan Communications has participated in sending a local high school student to the Youth Tour.

Paul Bunyan Communications is excited to announce the winners of the 4th Annual Pick-it Bowl Challenge, a free online contest for participants to pick the winners for the 2018-19 College Bowl games for a chance to win a credit on a Paul Bunyan Communications account.

Winners of the Paul Bunyan Communications Pick-it Bowl Challenge. 

The top 10 finishers all won a credit on their Paul Bunyan Communications account.

1^st Place- $500 credit  Patti Ryan, Park Rapids

2^nd Place- $250 credit  Julie Owens,

3^rd Place- $100 credit  Shayna Wenell-Jack, Grand Rapids

4^th Place- $50 credit    Ryan Reierson, Bemidji

5^th Place- $25 credit    Greg Spahn, Grand Rapids

6th-10th place – $25 credit (in order of finish)

Brian Murawski, Bemidji

Mike Britton, Bemidji

Steve Lundberg, Bemidji

Steven Peterson

Gary Weaver

The next Paul Bunyan Communications Pick-It Challenge is March Mania for the College Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Minnesota Twins 59^th Annual Winter Caravan, sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications, is coming to Bemidji on Wednesday, January 23 at the Bemidji Eagles Club!

Scheduled guests include Jose Berrios, Eddie Rosario, and new manager Rocco Baldelli.

Tickets are $8 in advance, 10 at the door.  Ticket includes dinner, program, and autograph session.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., Dinner served at 6 p.m. with program to follow

Advance tickets are available at Paul Bunyan Broadcasting located in downtown Bemidji at 5^th Street and Beltrami Avenue.

This event is sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications and the stations of Paul Bunyan Broadcasting including KB101, KZY 95.5, Z99, KBUN AM 1450, and KBUN FM 104.5.  All proceeds of the event go to Bemidji Youth Baseball.

The longest running and most extensive offseason team caravan in professional sports, the Twins Winter Caravan is also presented in part by Fox Sports North and the Twins Radio Network. The Twins Winter Caravan features five teams of current and former players visiting schools, hospitals and Upper Midwest corporations and service clubs during the day with a traditional “hot stove league” program each evening.

The Minnesota Wild, Fox Sports North, and Wells Fargo are bringing Hockey Day Minnesota to Bemidji January 17-19 with local title sponsor Sanford Health and sponsored in part by Paul Bunyan Communications!  It’s three days celebrating the state of hockey, outdoors, Bemidji style.

Hockey Day Minnesota Bemidji Schedule of Events

Tickets are on sale now at the Sanford Center Box Office or through Ticketmaster.

Thursday, January 17  Sanford Health Family Night  (all kids 17 & under get in FREE)

6 p.m.  Gates Open

7 p.m.  Bemidji High School Girls vs Woodbury

9-Midnight   Johnny Holm Band

Friday, January 18

5:30 p.m.  Gates Open

5:30-6:30 p.m.   Pre-game Musical Entertainment with Orlando & Rhonda

7 p.m.  Bemidji State University Men vs Michigan Tech

9-Midnight  Musical Entertainment: Midbro’s

Saturday, January 19   Hockey Day Minnesota

8:30 a.m.  Gates Open

9:30 a.m.  Andover vs Minnetonka High School Boys

1:00 p.m.  Bemidji State University Women vs Minnesota State Mankato

2:30-4:30  Musical Entertainment:  The Acoust Hicks

4:30 p.m.  Bemidji High School Boys vs Greenway

Fireworks after the game

6:30-8:30 p.m.  Musical Entertainment: Corey Medina & Brothers

8:30-Midnight   Musical Entertainment: Redline

For more information visit www.nhl.com/wild/community/hockey-day-minnesota or follow @BemidjiHockey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Get in to win with the 4th Annual Paul Bunyan Communications Pick-it Bowl Challenge, a free online contest for participants to pick the winners for the 2018-19 College Bowl games for a chance to win a credit on a Paul Bunyan Communications account.

The top 10 finishers will win a credit on their Paul Bunyan Communications account. First place winner will receive a $500 credit, second place is a $250 credit.

To sign up for the Pick It Bowl Challenge go to http://paulbunyan.pickitchallenge.com

The first official College Bowl game this year is December 15 so be sure to register and make your picks by December 15 for the best chance at winning!

The Pick-it Bowl Challenge is a fun and free way to interact with others in northern Minnesota and enjoy a little friendly competition.  Must be 18 years of age or older. Limit one entry per person. Prizes not redeemable for cash. Void where prohibited. Some restrictions may apply. See Pick It Bowl Challenge website for complete contest rules.

Below are our office closures for the holidays. As always, emergency after hours repair will remain available at 1-800-475-8309.

Monday, December 24

Offices will close early at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, December 25

Offices will be closed in observation of Christmas holiday

Monday, December 31

Offices will close early at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, January 1

Offices will be closed in observation of New Year’s holiday

Happy Holidays from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!

The Paul Bunyan Communications offices will be closed Thursday, November 22 for Thanksgiving. Our regular office hours resume, Friday, November 23.

As always, emergency after hours repair will remain available at 1-800-475-8309.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!

The annual Paul Bunyan Communications Holiday Open House is Friday, December 7 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.   Stop in to either of our offices in Bemidji or Grand Rapids!

*Free Hot Apple Cider and Cookies

*Pick up our 2018 collector ornament

*Pick up a 2019 desktop or sticky calendar

*Pick up a mini-Minnesota Gold Telephone Directory

All while supplies last.  Come celebrate the holiday season with your local cooperative.  We’re Right Here!

Congratulations to the Park Rapids High School Volleyball team on advancing to the Class AA State Volleyball Tournament! The Panthers take on Marshall High School in the Quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and you can watch it online for free at http://www.prepspotlight.tv

Good luck Panthers!  We are proud to serve the Park Rapids area.

See the Lakeland PBS story on the team here: https://lptv.org/park-rapids-volleyball-is-heading-to-state/

Congratulations to the Bemidji High School football team on advancing the State Tournament Semifinals!

The Lumberjacks will play St. Thomas Academy in the Class 5A state semifinal game this Saturday at 7 p.m. at US Bank Stadium. The game can be seen online at http://www.prepspotlight.tv or heard on the Lumberjack Radio Network, 104.5 FM which is also on PBTV channel 977, PBTV Fusion channel 1077 or online at http://www.kbunsportsradio.com/

Good Luck Lumberjacks from all of us at Paul Bunyan Communications!