Bunyan 2.0

LOGGING CAMP GETS A SECOND BUNYAN

Paul Bunyan, an eight-foot tall legendary lumberjack, accompanied by his equally giant blue ox, Babe, can be seen towering over the Paul Bunyan Logging Camp Museum in Carson Park. The museum opened in 1933 in hopes of preserving the logging heritage of the Chippewa Valley, and now the museum has received a new likeness of Paul Bunyan. Bill Vienneaux, who made a rustic wood-carved statue 25 years ago, has donated it to the museum. A ceremony was held June 4 dedicating the new statue to James Peterschmidt and Doris Mitchell Arnold Losby. Peterschmidt served as a board member, fundraiser, tour guide, and volunteer for the museum and Losby has family ties to the museum as her father was one of the original founders.

ERBERT & GERBERT’S OPENS LANDMARK 50TH RESTAURANT

When one is hungry in Eau Claire, there are few places that enlist such a following as Erbert and Gerbert’s sandwich shop. Recently, the Eau Claire-based franchise opened its 50th store in Decatur, Georgia. Apart from the two stores in town, Erbert and Gerbert’s has locations in Minnesota, both Dakotas, and Colorado. And in honor of their success, owners Edward and Sara Andrist have introduced five new sandwiches to their menu: Erupter, Spartan, Pompeii, Quatro, and Titan. Even with advancements like these, the franchise continues to be locally owned and operated, with headquarters in Eau Claire and a regional office in Bloomington, Minnesota. So next time your tummy starts to rumble, I would recommend sampling our local recipe for success. 

YOUNG MEN’S ORGANIZATION OPENS LOCAL CHAPTER

Recently, a youth leadership organization called DeMolay opened a chapter in the Chippewa Valley. This program offers leadership skills to young men between the ages of 12 and 20, with a variety of activities that can motivate the youths. Members participate in activities such as paintball, sports, games, and dances. Phil Itzenhuiser, spokesman for the Wisconsin DeMolay, explains, “DeMolay is unique, because the boys really do call the shots. They elect their own officers, decide if they are going to go fishing or play basketball.” For more information on the Chippewa Valley Chapter of DeMolay, people are encouraged to visit their website, WIdemolay.org, or contact the chapter advisor Ross Johnson at 834-1964.

 CHILDREN’S THEATRE LATEST TO TRY PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN SYSTEM

Eau Claire Children’s Theatre is offering something different this year during the Summer on Oxford series. For one night only, on June 16, ECCT will have a “pay-what-you-can” admission for their production of I Do! I Do!. “Pay-what-you-can” tickets can only be purchased at the door and are not able to be reserved. This concept is nowhere near new (the UWEC Players did it for Because of Poppy Weisz), but it hasn’t been done locally on this kind of scale. Executive Director Wayne Marek said he thought ECCT would give it a try and a lot of groups around the country are doing the same. His hope is that people who may normally be hesitant about attending a production will be willing to try it out at a lower cost.

DESIGN RACE SHIRT, WIN CASH

Hey artists! We’ve got a job for you. The Indianhead Track Club is looking for talented individuals to submit T-shirt designs for its 43rd Annual Carson Park 5 & 10 Run/Walk taking place on October 29 in our own Carson Park. There are prizes, too! One-hundred smackers for the creator of the winning design. Not bad, not bad at all. And it’s for a cool cause: promoting fitness and healthy lifestyles in our area. What do you have to do? Submit an original design to Wade Zwiener (wade1218@yahoo.com) by July 1. Write it down. July 1. Be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and email address. What to design? Think about the spirit of running, Halloween, Carson Park’s natural beauty, and Paul Bunyan. (Yes, Paul Bunyan.) Most importantly: Be Creative. For more information about the event and the contest rules, please visit indianheadtc.org.

EAU CLAIRE PROBLEM SOLVERS PLACE 5TH IN THE WORLD

The Eau Claire South Middle School Odyssey of the Mind Team represented Wisconsin well in the World Finals held at the University of Maryland. The team, comprised of eighth graders Calvin Henderson, Leah Nelson, Ellie Phillips, Maggie Phillips, Brad Rutter, and Amy Schiefelbein, placed fifth in the world after three days of competition. Coached by Jason Splichal, the team competed against 856 other teams from 26 countries. They were the only Wisconsin team and one of two teams from the Midwest to place at finals. The team previously won the state championship and was recognized at the Comcast Center on May 30 in a ceremony streamed live around the world.