Cardini-Pearson Funeral Home

The custom-made jersey for Paul has already been created, and actually went on the statue not long ago for about an hour as part of a photo opportunity, which was used when it was announced that Bemidji would be the location for the next Hockey Day Minnesota.However, doing so was in contradiction to a policy set by the City Council in 2014 when Bemidji officials denied a request by the Shriners to put a large hat on the statue and disallow all future requests to dress either Paul Bunyan or Babe the Blue Ox for promotional events to avoid continual and potentially controversial requests."It was against city policy. The policy was on record by way of a motion that was in the city minutes that we weren't going to let anybody dress the statues," City Attorney Alan Felix said Monday. "We just can't have that kind of activity going on unless the policy changes. If we are moving on from this point with this understanding that a policy has to change at the Council level, then it has to be know that this can't happen again."In a statement sent to the Pioneer, event organizer Brian Bissonette said the committee spoke with city staff in October and again just before the jersey was placed on Paul Bunyan for the photo opportunity."We did have permission to do it. I can't be sure, but I would guess the city didn't think much of it because it was going to be done during the middle of the night and for only about an hour," Bissonette said.Kevin Waldhausen, another event organizer, also touched on the photo opportunity and the Paul Bunyan idea for next year's event Monday, saying that, "we went through some clear channels with the appropriate people we felt we needed to. Our committee is not guiding or working for a policy change with the city of Bemidji whatsoever regarding Paul. If the council can grant permission moving forward, we'd be ecstatic, but only if that's approved through policy. Is it a demand or direct request? Absolutely not."Because Ward 5 and At Large Council members Nancy Erickson ...