BEMIDJI — A former elementary school in Bemidji may soon be listed on the market after an initial proposal for purchase from the Red Lake Nation fell through.
Oshkimaajitahdah, a tribal entity managing 22 programs for the Red Lake Nation, submitted a bid to purchase the former school to expand its services in the Bemidji area, which the board accepted last November. The entity currently uses another former district building for its Bemidji office.
Since then, Red Lake withdrew its offer to purchase the school, and Central Elementary was again declared a surplus property in April.
While the minimum threshold price for the building set by the School Board is not public information, Superintendent Jeremy Olson told KAXE in a Friday, May 31, phone interview that the asking price would be public information once it is listed by a realtor.
Olson said he was open to engaging in conversations with anyone interested in developing the building near downtown Bemidji. The Board did set two provisions for the sale of the property: that it cannot be a school serving K-12 students, and that it can’t be used for the production, manufacturing or sale of cannabis.
Oshkimaajitahdah did not return a request for comment Friday.
-
Contributed/Maria HilemanThe decision to permanently chlorinate the city’s water starting this month came after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak dating back to April 2023. -
Charlie Mitchell/KAXEKAXE Staff Phenologist John Latimer provides his weekly assessment of nature in Northern Minnesota. This is the week of July 23, 2024. -
Contributed/Lorie ShaullAttorneys general in a dozen states — including North Dakota, South Dakota and Iowa — filed the lawsuit challenging the EPA rule requiring states to consider the rights of tribal members for water management decisions on ceded lands. -
contributed/Jeff SundinJeff Sundin has been a professional fishing guide in Minnesota for almost 40 years. In 2023, he was inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame and he’s a weekly guest on KAXE. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEUnicon21, a two-week convention and competition for a global community of unicyclists, wraps up in Bemidji on Friday, July 26. -
Contributed/Mask and Rose Women’s Theater CollectiveMask and Rose Women’s Theater Collective presents ‘Something Rotten’ July 25-29 in Puposky. Director Cate Belleveau and actor Eric Callagan join ‘Area Voices’ to discuss the production. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe Minnesota Pollution Control Agency stated tests show an increase of sulfate and boron in the Blackwater Creek at Minnesota Power in Cohasset. -
Contributed/IRRRThe region's new industrial space could help attract new manufacturing businesses. -
Contributed/Resource RuralInstalling a solar array didn’t just impact Stuart Lavalier's farm’s bottom line: it provided a way for his operation to be more self-reliant. -
New research shows that kids aren’t reading for fun as much as they used to. Local educators Tracy Kampa and Kathrina O’Connell talk about why and how you can motivate young readers.
