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HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcCall Winter Carnival 1987MHO STATE 3now:Sculyein9 onvertrion.,� Mc ALL•IDAHO October 14, 1987 Ms. Carol Luther Continental Airlines Regional Office - Room 200 9000 Smith Road Denver, Colorado 80207 Dear Carol: It was a joy to talk with you yesterday and we want to express our genuine gratitude that you have agreed to provide air transportation to Milwaukee for our State Snow Sculpting Champions to compete in the National Competi- tion in January. The winning three -person team from Idaho Falls is already hard at work planning their sculpture. While the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Championship is a new event begun in January of 1987, it was an immediate success! Thousands came to view the sculptors at work in the sculpture garden. The artists and the viewers alike were dazzled by the work produced and the competition now has the firm backing of the Idaho Travel Council because it will bring increased tourist to our town. They have provided us with a promotional grant for the 1988 Competition. Jim Hawkins, Director of the Department of Commerce has been most supportive and will be very pleased to hear that you have shown such generous support and interest. Likewise, Idaho State Treasurer, Lydia Edwards, to whom you had originally indicated an interest will be delighted that you have responded so favorably to our request. It is gratifying to receive such a positive response to our event which covers all bases from the artistic to the educational to the tourist attraction. The Competition is held on a blocked -off city street and the sculptors work where the visitors can watch. Three -person teams start with a 5' x 5' x 9' high block of snow provided by competition organizers. The artists have three days to transform that block of snow into a work of art. The enclosed photographs speak for themselves. The competitors were, indeed, artists. I have advised you that we will be printing a brochure on the competition and the name of Continental Airlines as a major sponsor will be prominently displayed therein. We will definitely use the print sample you are sending. Additionally, the name of Continental Airlines will be included on the sponsor list displayed at the competition site throughout the event. Further, 802 N. 3RD STREET • McCALL, IDAHO 83638 • (208) 634-8171 IDAHO STATE 3now:Sculyrin5Com�erirwru Mc ALUIDAHO October 15, 1987 Mrs. Lydia Edwards Statehouse - Room 102 Boise, Idaho 83720 Dear Lydia: Enclosed is a copy of a letter to Carol Luther thanking her for her committment to provide transportation to Milwaukee for the Idaho Falls snow sculpting team who won the State Competition last winter. They are fine artists and will represent our state well. Of course, we are fully aware that none of this would have been possible without your help and support. Lydia, it is a joy to have responsive, caring people in government. Planning for the 1988 Snow Sculpting Championship is underway. We hope you can be here because it is a beautiful blending of art, education, outdoor activity, and tourist attraction. We received a small promotional grant from the ITC and are looking for other financial support since we are required to house and feed the competitors, insure the event, etc. If you know of sources that might be interested in helping this promotion of both art and education in a new medium, we would appreciate your suggestions. Again, thank you for your help. You are terrific. Sincerely, SI:404,44( Frank J. Volk P. S. Carol is thinking about helping a McCall team get to Milwaukee as well. Wish us luck! 802 N. 3RD STREET • McCALL, IDAHO 83638 • (208) 634-8171 CONTINENTAL 'A STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DENVER, COLORADO 80207 December 22, 1987 Hon. Lydia Justice Edwards State Treasurer State of Idaho Room 102 Statehouse Boise, Idaho 83720 Dear Lydia: FakauRER lAt!:I IISERVATIONS PHONE 398-3000 Your letter cheered up my day considerably! It was so nice hearing from you -- it has been so grim here in my office and in my heart, as I know it has been in Boise. The Holidays just seem to magnify ALL emotions, so the rollercoaster continues. I was busy and seemed to be okay until about two weeks after the accident, when it all just seemed to hit me at once. I couldn't really function, or get dressed for work, etc. The grief counselors said this was very common, and it was strange because it happened to everyone in Denver who worked at the command center and at the scene, to some degree or another. I'm really fine now, except for a bit of a grinch about Christmas (will it ever be over??) I've agreed to be a judge in McCall in February for the ice sculpting event. Jane Volk was just so kind, offering everything from a free condo to advice about my boyfriend if I would come. Who could turn that down! I hope maybe you'll be up there -- will you? I think it is around February 4th. Thank you again for your friendship and support. It's really what it's all about, isn't it? If I don't see you in McCall, I'll make a point of calling before my next trip to Boise so we can set up dinner or lunch. Happy New Year! ov0, arol Luther a z ► /1/ /fi it PAGE A--5--THE STAR-NEWS--WEDNESDAY JANUARY 14, 1987 McCall sculpture team falls short at contest The ice sculpture team representing McCall in the Na- tional Snow Sculpting Competi- tion fell short in the judging last week, but placed high among spectators. The team, consisting of Hal Sager, Frank Brown and Jane Volk, failed to win one of four prizes in the competition against 38 teams that built sculptures at the Milwaukee Zoo in Milwaukee, Wisc. However, the team was told by the judges that they came in fifth place, which is an unof- focial place with no prize, said Frank Volk, who spoke to team members in Milwaukee. The team's sculpture was a 13-foot-tall figure of a clown coming out of a barrel. One consolation was that the McCall team took second place in the Viewer's Choice voting among spectators, Volk said. Star Golf, Third Place and Viewer Involvement. Gold Panner, Family. Viking, First Time. Blodger, Precise Detail. harlie, Folklore of McCall, co -winner, Action. Two Swans a -Swimming, co -winner, Wildlife. 'a9P $ 2 a,-T �a4 P s' Juggler on Unicycle, Second Place. Wrecks, vandalism mar carnival start Winter Carnival begins The snow blew and roads were slick, but the curious still came by the thousands over the weekend to kick off the 1987 McCall Winter Car- nival. The spectators took part in events and gawked at the famous ice sculptures, including Sno Magic, above, which took the Grand Prize. Other popular sculptures included the giant bust of Chief Joseph, right, in Art Roberts Park. A photo revue of all the sculpture contest win- ners begins on Page A-5, and a rundown on events still coming up during the rest of the 10-day carnival begins on Page B-1. Photos by Tom Grote , S�Ur • /XP1-6 r /�/41p-7 »i9P./Z o_C 2 /'-«/Ns Smaller crowds and a family atmosphere made for less trouble for the McCall Police Depart- ment this year during the opening weekend of the McCall Winter Carnival, McCall Police Chief Ed Parker said. Between Friday afternoon and Sunday night, McCall police handled five minor traffic ac- cidents, took one burglary report, made an arrest for reckless driving, and investigated complaints of malicious injury to snow sculptures. Parker said crowds at McCall taverns were smaller this year, eliminating late -night crowd overflow onto the downtown streets that had caused some pro- blems for officers last year. However, Parker said a con- tingent of 12 law -enforcement of- ficers were kept busy during the weekend with traffic control and public assistance requests. Aiding McCall department were officers from the Idaho State Police, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and the Valley County Sheriff's office. Parker said an investigation in- to an incident just prior to the Winter Carnival would result in a local 15-year-old male being peti- tioned into Valley County Magistrate's Court. The youth will answer charges of malicious injury to property in connection with an incident on Jan. 25 where a snow sculpture at the Conte! offices on First Street was vandalized. The name of the suspect could not be released because of his age. About 30 hours of labor had gone into he sculpture at that time, Parker said. Parker said he was also aware of other incidents of vandalism to snow sculptures during the weekend, including the destruc- tion of swans and dolphins plac- ed at various downtown loca- tions. Also, some sculptures were stained, apparently by yellow paint pellets shot from air pistols, he. said. With the exception of several snow -related accidents, the Mc- Call Winter Carnival's opening weekend was relatively quiet as far as the Valley County Sheriff's office was concerned. "Highway 55 was just plagued with slide -offs and accidents," Valley County Sheriff M. Blair Shepherd said Monday. "But other than that, things were pret- ty quiet this weekend." Shepherd said it appeared that there were ,not as many people traveling fo Winter Carnival this year as in the past. The most serious accident oc- curred Saturday afternoon and involved 17-year-old Sam A. Lagusis of Cascade. Lagusis, who was injured in the accident, was reported in fairand stable condition Monday at St. Alphon- sus Regional Center in Boise. According to Idaho State Police reports, a 1973 Jeep driven by Diana B. Kotewa, 43, of Boise, collided with Lagusis' vehicle, a 1960 Chevrolet pickup, on Idaho 55 about 1.5 miles south of McCall. Kotewa was traveling south and apparently lost control of her vehicle on a slushy road surface. She slid into the northbound lane of the highway, colliding with Lagusis, the report said. Lagusis was pinned in the pickup before being extricated by McCall Fire Department rescuers. He was taken by am-, bulance to Boise. Kotewa and the other passengers in the vehicles, Brian K. Kotewa, 12, of Boise, and Michael R. Mauk, 17, of Cascade, were treated and releas- I ed at McCall Memorial Hospital. Mauk was admitted to Valley County District Hospital on Monday, however, and remains in good condition there. A hospital spokesman said Tuesday that Mauk has possible internal injuries as well as cuts and abrasions. ' Kotewa was cited for driving left of the center line. Both vehicles were damaged beyond repair. Three cars were involved in another accident Saturday, this one occurring on Idaho 55 just south of the Tamarack Falls road. According to police reports, a 1985 Dodge Aires driven by William A. Magnusson, 28, of Mountain Home, slid into a snowbank on the side of the roadway, apparently setting off a chain of events involving the two other cars. The car behind Magnusson, a 1978 Audi Fox driven by Claudia L. DeJong, 34, of Donnelly, slowed to avoid hitting Magnusson's auto, and was struck from behind by a 1980 Mercury Cougar driven by Nancy Wallace, 44, of Boise. Wallace was cited for following too close. Damage to the DeJong and Wallace vehicles was estimated at $2,000 each. None of the drivers nor their passengers required hospitalization for injuries related to the accident. Shepherd said most of the ac- cidents and slide -offs were related to a single cause — driv- ing too fast for snowy road con- ditions. ISP Cpl. Mitch Ruska had one piece of advice for drivers coming up for the second weekend of Winter Carnival activities. "Please use your turn signals, so everybody knows which way you're going," he said. Ruska also advised drivers to slow down when there is slush on the roads to be sure they can maintain control. Sia •fg y1 a h ,Te c 5, / 9 8 7 Voters fancy abstract show sculpture logo Wanted: snow sculptors for contest Grab your mittens and head to McCall to make magic out of snow. Entries for the second Idaho snow - sculpting contest still are being accepted. "Snow sculpting is becoming a true art form and is being recognized all over America," says Frank Volk, chairman of the snow sculpting contest committee. "Team members do not have to be sculptors, but it helps to have an artistic background." There is no entry fee, and team members must be age 18 or older. For information, contact Volk at 311 E. Lake St., McCall, Idaho 83638. The phone number is 634-8171. Idaho snow sculpture enthusiasts voted overwhelmingly in favor of an abstract "mobius strip" design for a logo to identify the Idaho Snow Sculpting Championship in February. The second annual snow sculpting competition will be held Feb. 2-5 in conjunction with the McCall Winter Carnival. The snow sculpting remains separate, however, from the ice sculptures that decorate this central Idaho mountain town during the carnival held annually on the first weekend in February. The vote ran 80 to 28 for the mobius design over another idea showing a snowflake with a stocking cap and mittens. Snow sculpting chairman Frank Volk received the ballots after a coupon was published in The Statesman. "We thought that both logos were very good, but we were overwhelmed by the nearly 75 percent vote in favor of the abstraction," Volk says. "We were amazed by the response we got." Both logos in the balloting were designed by McCall artist Karen Murtishaw. Several of the voters added comments to their logo -design ballots. "A number said the abstraction was `exquisite,' whereas the mittens were too cute," Volks said. "Others thought the gloves were typical of snow sculpting and that the abstraction was `too arty.' " A few even made modifications to the designs, while one voter says he didn't Like either and submitted a new one. The chairman says that although most of the ballots were mailed from Boise, the committee also received ballots • postmarked from Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Marsing, Weiser, Nampa, Cascade, Ontario, Ore., and of course, McCall. z2/�i a4 a Wi1/4 7 Carnival in McCall succeeds Organizers create 10-day work of art By ANNE PETERSON //it/ The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — Happiness is a suc- cessful winter carnival in McCall, and that's what four of the 1987 or- ganizers said they had. Sunday was the last day of the 10-day festival, with races of all - terrain vehicles and more than 60 ice sculptures in tiptop viewing condition. "The weather for this carnival has been absolutely ideal for visi- tors," Jan Volk, publicity chair- man, said. Warm days of 40 to 45 degrees encouraged walking, sightseeing and race participa- tion, while cold nights of 3 to 10 degrees preserved the sculptures, she said. Only one major sculpture fatal- ity occurred, when the horse and rider at the McCall Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Argee Corp., toppled Thursday. That sculpture was so finely detailed that rebuilding it was impractical, Bonnie Allen, C of C president, said. Dirost or the other sculptures eaten away by weather were re - slushed and reworked by their builders late in the week so they would look good for the final weekend of the festival, she said. The seven works of art in the state sculpture contest were com- pleted Friday. About 4,000 people lined the main street to watch the ATV races. "They looked like the parade on. opening day," Allen said. Nancy Stathis, wife of Harry Stathis, grand prix chairman, said that about 75 people took part in that race. Participants competed in seven divisions on three- and four - wheeled ATVs in the third annual running of the event. The street and lake course offered 90-degree turns and jumps with thrills and spills, but no serious injuries, she said. Winners of the main event, the open modified class, were Ken Medley of McCall, first place; Joel Husky of McCall, second; and Jason Newhouse of Boise, third. Other division winners were: Ken Medley of McCall, men's stock two-cycle engine; Jack Struthers of Boise, utility division; Todd Hitchcock of McCall, four-cycle engine over 250 cc; Brian Clancy of Boise, See MCCALL, Page 3C / 64 y, a� �yg7, McCall business heats up during winter carnival Motels run out of rooms on weekend; restaurateur cites 400% to 500% hike By LOUIS VACCHER '�� The Idaho Statesman The McCall Winter Carnival, which began Friday and will end next Sunday, makes some busi- nesses as busy as they are in the summer. Business has increased 400 to 500 percent at the Cutty Sark res- taurant in McCall, owner Hal Sager said. He said that his res- taurant was full Sunday, a day business sometimes is so slow the restaurant closes. Usually, business during the 10- day carnival doubles on week- days, he said. He said that while weekday business during the car- nival is slower than during the summer, weekend business created by the carnival is about the same as during July and Aug- ust, big months in the resort town. No rooms were available any- where in McCall on Friday night, Shore Lodge Motel owner John Edwards said. Usually, his 120- room motel is about 65 to 70 per- cent full, he said. He agreed that weekend busi- ness created by the carnival is about the same as it is in the sum- mer. The carnival boosts the econ- omy and gets businesses out of the post -Christmas lull, he said. The town's business will gain momentum in February and March, before sagging again in spring, he said. Larry Bouck, owner of the Shaver Grocery and Department Store in McCall, said he is pleased with the carnival's effect on busi- ness. Bouck said that he sees more customers in his store, al- though not double the usual num- ber. Sager, who also is assistant chairman of the carnival, said that the second carnival weekend has become as busy as the first weekend. The Snowmobile -Poker Run is one reason for the increase in traffic on the second weekend. _VI) A o SY/4 /fs /1 1,4,r 7;":74eu407, l of yi Warm weather takes toll on McCall Winter Carnival ice art By KAREN BOSSICK P� The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — The proud Indian warrior greeting visitors to McCall's Winter Carnival bit the dust — er, snow — this week. The stately brave outside the old railroad depot succumbed to Mother Nature, as the legs on the ice sculpture buckled under in- tense afternoon sun and tempera- tures in the upper 30s on Tuesday. Pinnochio's yo-yo melted off its string, and Gepetto had to be propped up. The Sno Magic clown overlooking Payette Lakes lost his hand, and a boy dressed up in daddy's coat and hat lost his head. But McCall residents weren't daunted, and Wednesday morn- ing's low of 7 degrees — the first cold clear night McCall has seen in more than a week — gave the ice sculptures the hard freeze they needed to combat warm days. Wednesday's high in McCall was 37, and the same was fore- cast for today. "When the miner's nose grows long (from dripping) I'm going to turn him into one of the dwarfs,' said Jim Gale, who crafted "Sun- day Night at Springville Mine" outside Idaho First National Bank. Several McCall residents worked into the night Tuesday re- shaping scales on dragons and Tanbini estimated 15,000 sight- seers came to town this past weekend despite a steady snow- fall for what has become the Northwest's largest winter carni- val. The crowd was just about as big as last year's, he said. A steady stream of sightseers paraded through McCall Tuesday and Wednesday, taking pictures of the ice sculptures and watching contestants in the first Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition build new ones. Among the visitors were 11 members of the Idaho Commis- sion for the Blind and a couple of hundred senior citizens, who con- verged on the town Wednesday for Senior Citizens Day. "Considering everything, I think the sculptures look pretty good," said visitor Charles Ward of Boise. "They've got some real nice work up here." "It's not nearly as bad as last year, when it rained," said Ward's wife, Louise. Mother Nature isn't the only force playing havoc with the sculptures this year. Police Chief Ed Parker said vandalism has in- creased. Workers had to apply a fresh coat of snow to the mammoth bust of Chief Joseph after some- one sprayed him with yellow food dye resembling war paint. The patching cracks in other sculp- tures. More work went on Wednesday and will continue today to resur- rect the ice art, including the In- dian warrior, in time for this weekend, the second and final weekend of the 10-day Winter Car- nival. "The weather's been a bit of a damper, but the community com- mits to maintain the sculptures when they put them up," said Jen- nifa Lorenzi, executive director of the McCall Chamber of Com- merce. "In fact, we give an award at the end of the carnival for best maintenance." McCall police investigator Mike bar crowd toppled several small sculptures of swans and squirrels lining the main streets, and a juvenile destroyed a bear and salmon sculpture, which since has been rebuilt. "It's sad the weather's not cooperating," said Della Rudolph of Hendersonville, Nev. "But what's even more sad is the peo- ple who are destroying them." Overall, however, the crowd has been "quite friendly," Parker said. "There really haven't been that many problems," Lorenzi said. "Mostly, we're getting visitors commenting how very good ... the sculptures are this year." �� S /0 /t N cJ,4 Al 4 cf, 30) 11 McCall revs up for carnival By JUDY GRIGG HANSEN The Idaho Statesman Monumental snow and ice sculptures will line the streets of McCall for the 23rd annual Winter Carnival today through Feb. 8. About 70 sculptures, many up to 20 feet high, will wow thousands ..-of carnival -goers expected for the celebration. Each sculpture rep- resents 20 to 500 hours of work, according to Jane Volk, publicity chairman. The carnival will offer a variety of activities, including snowmo- bile races, a children's snowman building contest, a variety show, bingo night, an ATV .Grand -Prix and the Snowflake Ball. Other events include parades, fire- works, Casino Night, telemark ski races, a beard contest, teen dances, a snowmobile poker run, and live drama and concerts. The McCall Lighting Ceremony and Torchlight Parade will open the carnival at 6:30 tonight in downtown McCall. The Winter Carnival queen and her court will be crowned, followed by a finale of fireworks. On Saturday, the Carnival Parade will fill down- town streets at noon. At 10 a.m. Saturday and Sun- day, hundreds of young skiers will schuss down Brundage Mountain for the J-3 Super G Qualifier Ski Competition, a regional juniors ski race. Don't miss the Finlandia Slow - ball Snowball at noon Sunday at Ponderosa State Park when state employees meet federal employ- ees for a softball game on C. usa country skis. The first Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition will be held in conjunction with the carnival from Feb. 3 through 6. Three -per- son teams will carve snow blocks into fine artworks, and visitors will be able to watch work in pro- gress and talk to the sculptors. Winners of this competition will represent Idaho at the National Snow Sculpting Competition in Milwaukee in 1988. Participants' works will not compete with the sculptures co.istructed for McCall's Winter Carnival. "We are excited about adding the competition," Volk said. "There will be more sculptures the second weekend than the first." Downhill skiing at Brundage Mountain, with a 1,700-foot drop and fine powder, will please the alpine skier. Nordic skier also can strap on their boards in the wilderness, on the golf course or at any of five groomed nordic trails. For eve- ning cross country skiing, head for the lighted trails at Kimber- land Meadows. Inquire at the Kimberland Meadows clubhouse for a free trail pass. For information about accom- modations or the sculpting competition, call the McCall Area Chamber of Commerce at 634- 7631 or write to Box D, McCall, ID 83638. 21.4/2y, g6/ / 9171 lititt,i4-14a /A * Winter Carnival grew from dog -sled races The button commemorating the 1929 McCall Winter Sports Carnival features a photograph of a young woman and her Irish setter standing beside a 4-foot snowbank. It reads " 'Thula' lady driver, March 2nd 1929." The button came from my mother's attic in Payette from the time she lived in McCall. She also remembered Thula's last name, Geelan, and some of the woman's dog -sled racing exploits, which she recalled, were considerable. After talking with two McCall women, one of whom lives on Thula Street, I discovered Thula's, sons, Warren and Floyd Campbell, still live in this mountain town nestled on the shore of Payette Lake. When the McCall Winter Carnival originated back in 1924, dog -sled races were topping the agenda and Thula was one of the top sled drivers. And as Buck Manic of Weiser remembered accurately, her dogs were Irish setters, as were many of the teams. Warren, 64, said his mother raced her teams from McCall to Ashton/Sun Valley in Idaho, Red Lodge, Mont., and Truckee, Calif. At that time when Thula was in her late 20s, she and her second husband, Ted Geelan, owned cabins and a camp at Crystal Beach. "One of the fastest sled rides I remember wasn't during a race," Warren said. "It was the time Ted's team got loose. Ted took mother's team to chase them down and got all tangled up in dogs and harness when he finally caught them." Trio carves up snow competition at McCall carnival Inexperienced team from Idaho Falls wins By KATHY MULLEN Special to The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — A team from Idaho Falls that had never made a snow sculpture before won the first Idaho Snow Sculpture Competition in McCall on Friday. "I've not only never made a snow sculpture before — I've never even seen one," said Michelle Havens, one of the three Idaho Falls sculptors who depicted a horse and dragon locked in combat. The Idaho Falls team, which topped a field of seven, will represent Idaho in the National Snow Sculpting Competition in January 1988 in Mil- waukee. Havens' co -team members were Marilyn Hansen, an artist and wife of Rep. Reed Hansen, R-Idaho Falls, and Allen Haroldsen. Havens said although Hansen and Haroldsen both sculpt professionally, she in concrete and he in bronze, none of the three had ever sculpted snow before. "Everyone kept saying it couldn't be done. We showed them it could," Havens said. The trio decided to enter the event after hearing of McCall's invitation for teams from other cities to enter the four -day contest, held in conjunction with the 23rd McCall Winter Carnival, which lasts through Sunday. Havens, who recently worked in public relations for the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, said she thought it would be fun to try. Although she had been ac- quainted only briefly with her two teammates, Havens put the proposition to them. Their next step was to find a couple of spon- sors. "We had a hard time getting sponsors in Idaho Falls. The peo- ple in our area have no idea what goes on over here," Havens said. Eventually the team gained back- ing from the Achievement Lead Club of their home town and from Tel Conn in Boise. Havens said they received fur- ther help from event organizers who arranged for Aspen Time • Shares to lodge all of the contest- ants for free. Additionally, vari- ous McCall eateries provided free meals for the team. Hansen said each team mem- ber took on a specific task. "The thing that I found to be ex- ceptional is that none of us knew each other well, and now we do," Hansen said. "That can be very challenging, coming from differ- ent walks of life. Simply bringing two artists together can turn into a real slugfest, but we all got along wonderfully." Snow sculpting contest Chair- man Frank Volk called the event "a smashing success" and said he hoped to double the number of teams next year. "I think a star event was born," he said. McCall teams placed second and third. Second place went to Ralph Geibel, Al Apodaca and Rich Primmer, for their two- faced sculpture of an elephant and a clown. Third place was won by Jim Gale and Linda Canary for their "mobius" — a circle with a twist. Judges were Statesman colum- nist Larry Gardner, KBOI radio personality Kevin Ross and McCall resident Frank Brown. Entries were critiqued on design, execution, attention to detail, structural difficulty, creativity and finish. Each of the three winning teams received a trophy. The Idaho Falls team will be provided expense money for the trip to Milwaukee. .1(11,1_l) 0 cS17141/53' /14 /V CT AI /V u A RBI, 1, //6r/ Winter carnival in McCall draws crowd of 2,00� By KATHY MULLEN Norma Engen of McCall, were presented to the crowd, and a fireworks display capped the eve- ning's festivities. Deanna Bouck was crowned 1987 carnival queen and Stephanie Shepherd and Michelle Stan - bury were selected as carnival princesses. The contestants, all juniors at McCall -Donnelly High School, were judged on essays they wrote on what the winter carnival means to them. "Sno Magic," a snow sculpture depicting a clown who had been cut in half in a magic show, was awarded the grand prize in the snow sculp- ture contest. The sculpture was carved by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Volk, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown and the Cutty Sark restaurant. A sculpture of a juggling and singing unicycler, carved by employees of the Chicken Roost Din- ner House, won second place in the competition. Third place went to an entry called "Star Gulf," by Bryan's Burger Den. I.orenzi, who serves as executive director of the McCall Chamber of Commerce, said she was astounded by the commitment McCall businesses and residents put forth to organize this year's event and was pleased with the results. "This event has grown to the extent of being See CARNIVAL, Page 2C Carnival Continued from Page 1C named one of the top 100 events in North America, and we're proud of that," she said. Lorenzi said expenses for the event were about $20,(XX), adding that all of the labor was donated. "It takes an incredible volun- teer effort and I'm astounded by the commitment these people make," she said. Lorenzi estimated the winter carnival would attract about 20,0(X) visitors over the next 10 days. Other winners, by category, in the snow sculpture contest were: Mythical category — "Rapun- zel," a sculpture by The Merc. Action — "Charlie Folklore of McCall," by K&L Jewelers and Brundage Office Supply; and "Somebody's Got to Fight the Bull," by Maria's Restaurant Child appeal — "Smaug," by the Backstage secondhand store. Family and individuals —"Gold Panner," by the Clenendon fami- ly. Corporate — "Spirit of the War- rior," by the Argee Corp. Wildlife and nature — "Polar Bear and Cub," by F Stop Film & Camera; and "Two Swans a -S- wimming," by the Village Inn motel. Precise detail. — "Blodger," by Medley's Other Place. Humor — "White Water Rodeo," by Hometown Sports. Viewer involvement — "Star Gulf," by Bryan's Burger Den. Historical — "Nez Perce Trib- ute," by the Payette National Forest. First time — "Viking," by Apo- daca, Powel, Neisinger and Wy- song. ,0,4 i-► o �"AT'C- 5 /MAA 1 — �� � 4' 7 - Aqv '41 / a f h� yes Below, the Merc of McCall ice sculpture Rapunzel glistens against the night sky. The work won the mythical theme award. Right, Mark LaSalle of McCall dusts fresh snow from the Brundage Bears sculpture. MCCALL — Despite a steady snowfall, thousands thronged to the opening week- end of the McCall Winter Carnival. Temperatures sank to below freezing, after a spell of 50- degree days threatened to melt the stars of the festivities — the town's snow sculptures. But the new snow was wet, and winter - wear was in order: hats, gloves, ear- muffs, waterproof jackets and snow pants. Visitors took nature's trick "in tow" and improvised their travel modes while meandering through the town. Children were towed along on sleds, while snowmobiles and ATVs zipped openly along the highways; others hitched rides on horse -drawn buggies and sleighs. In addition to viewing and snapping photos of about 70 sculptures, visitors en- tered a snowmobile race and cross coun- try ski race, skied at Brundage Mountain and enjoyed a parade, variety show, arts and crafts fairs, and square dancing. 0 Ic Two of the carnival's viewer-parucipa- tion sculptures got heavy use: Star Golf at Bryan's Burger Den, which offered a miniature golf game, with wooden clubs and orange golf balls, among statues of movie stars; and the Mt. Slip -n -jar -u tub- ing hill created at the Kimberland Mead- ows resort outside New Meadows. People waited in line to play on both sculptures. Ten tons of snow and water went into the mini -golf sculpture, which measures 30 by 100 feet. The sculpture has become so popular, a tournament will be held on it Wednesday. The 41/2 inches of snow that fell Satur- day gave the carnival the appropriate winter setting. "The weather is cooperat- ing," said Jennifa Lorenzi, carnival chair- woman. "Everything is as it should be." 04 / . . :7 :. . ?22' � � c \ � � < ���� \ / � \ : . . . ;: < «� \2� �� \� \ ��� <: .. . �� : .. . � \� . .�2<� y }� \\ « \ � y % \\ ��\ ? .�� y.. � /?.� \ 2 � / \ «� ^� © \ \� \. 2.} ? ?22' � � § § \ � . °1§) \ \ : \� ; ;: < < \ . : { \ \� \ \/� . .�2<� r Frank Brown of McCall ties a balloon to the grand:-prize-winning Sno Magic sculpture, by Volks, Cutty Sark and Browns. Larry Gardner Remember snowmen? So try sculpting snow OK, Boise. Are they going to hold the first Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition in McCall next month without you? Right now, word filters through what snow they have flying at McCall that three -man teams from Sandpoint to sun Valley and in- between have taken on the task of converting blocks of snow into works of art. Even Grangeville and Idaho Falls —McCall will field three teams — will be represented, but apparently Boise has no sculpting talent ... . Here's the deal. Teams will have from high noon Feb. 3 until I I a.m. on Feb. 6 to create a sculpture garden in a roped -off area in the middle of the McCall Winter Carnival. The state competition will be separate from the traditional McCall snow sculptures, so it'll just add to the shimmering alabaster beauty of the setting. . Do you need more incentives Jerry Snodgrass, Ann LaRose, Michael Booth .... The lodging is free, as' are most of the meals for snow sculpting teams. Give Frank Volk a call at 634 -8171 and sign up. Karen Bossick/Statesman Lynda Smith uses a machete to whittle on the arm of a snow Eskimo. Sculptors create art out of snow Competition draws 7 teams to McCall By KAREN BOSSICK The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — Until Tuesday, Lynda Smith's work in the snow had been limited to rolling snowballs and plopping them on top of one another. This week the Ontario, Ore., resi- dent and her sisters — Elyssa Alva- rez and Lolita Jensen, both of Weiser — joined snow - building forces for the first time since child- hood to create a masterpiece in snow for the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition at the McCall Winter Carnival. "It was so baffling at first, kind of a challenge," said Jensen, as she stood back and examined the squared -off Eskimo the sisters were crafting. "But we've loved it — the town, the experience, everything about it." The sisters were one of seven teams competing in the first of what contest organizers hope will become an annual event. The teams, made up of two or three people each, came from as far away as Idaho Falls, Boise, Weiser and Sandpoint to participate in the four -day event. While each of the seven team leaders is an artist or architect, many of the snow pushers hail from a variety of non -art occupations. Jensen, for instance, works at a school cafeteria, and Alvarez is a beautician. Jerry Foote, who has been turning a block of compressed snow into the mythological Pend Oreille Pete, is a foreman for a paving company in Sandpoint; his wife, Janet, works with traffic control there. The winning team, to be an- nounced at 11 a.m. today, will re- ceive an expense -paid trip to the January 1988 U.S. Snow Sculpting Competition in Milwaukee, Wis. "So far, I've talked to seven teams who plan to go, and that's the attitude we want," said Jane Volk, See SCULPTORS, Back Page / D /(-f` Z Sculptors Continued from Page 1A , said Enrique de La Vega, a Boise who who helped organize the com eti- sculptor who was making a tower- tion. "The people working out ing semi - abstract sculpture titled Snow Mountain Flower. here are having the time of their "It's t an awful lot of hard work. Brandishing every kind of tool I've never worked this hard be- imaginable — sickles, ice axes, machetes, hatchets, flathoes, fore Hansen agreed. The e sculptures, lined along a pan- cake turners, mixing spoons and downtown street closed off traffic, attracted a steady stream crosscut saws —the snow scul P- tors of passers -by, who milled around set upon their 9- foot -tall blocks of snow Tuesday morning taking pictures of the sculptors like hunters seeking a kill. and chatting with them as they They quickly learned that an worked. It was, in the eyes of Lake Fork sculptor Jim Gale, like array of tools could do remark- able things. Barbed wire, for in- an art fair without the pressure to stance, cut through the blocks as easily as saws. sell. "We plan to stop by every day Cheese graters could be used to smooth out the and take progressive pictures," sculptures and branding irons said Delia Rudolph of Henderson - ville, Nev. "It's really great being made nice ice patterns. Although most had never able to watch the sculptures being worked with snow before, they put together, to see all the work that goes into them." soon were touting its advantages. "It's so easily manipulated that For that very reason, snow you can build large things far sculpting is special, said Frank Brown, a member of a McCall more quickly than with other mediums," said Marilyn Hansen, team that won second place in wife of Rep. Reed Hansen, viewer choice and fifth overall out of 32 teams at a recent na- R -Idaho Falls. "But what's really tional competition. exciting is working on life -size art." "When you do a wood carving, Many of the sculptors retired to not that many people see it. This bed by 8 p.m. the first night, nurs- is a fun medium for the artist be- ing sore muscles after a full day cause lots of people see his work without going to a museum or his of cutting blocks of snow, lifting house," he said. slush and whacking ice off their sculptures. Volk said she hoped to lure as "I usually spend three, four, many as 20 teams to the competi- tion next five months on a sculpture. If I year. "It's doing a tremendous had known what I was in for, I would've modified amount to promote art and art my sculpture," forms in Idaho," she said. S at McCall festival Hard work saves sculptures after show - threatening thaw By KATHY MULLEN Special to The Idaho Statesman MCCALL — The snow sculp- tures at the McCall Winter Carnival this year look just as impressive and finely detailed as ever — but it wasn't easy to get them that way. The sculptures were the stars of the show Saturday for the estimated 5,000 visitors who came on a perfect winter day — 30 degrees and snowing. But a sudden warm spell last week nearly spoiled the sculp- tures, and only a round -the- clock effort restored them. "We were at the mercy of the weather," said Jennifa Lorenzi, chairwoman of the 23rd annual carnival and exec- utive director of the McCall Chamber of Commerce. Carnival snow sculptors traditionally begin their work for the 10-day event in mid - January. For example, it took 17 days to build the chamber's sculpture of an Indian on horseback, Lorenzi said. "Temperatures control a lot of it," she said. Cold weather at the start of sculpting season allowed work to progress smoothly. But then a warm spell sent tempera- tures soaring above 50 and melted much of the work. Lorenzi said her team's sculpture and many others were saved only by a return to normal temperatures, with highs in the 20s. A larger sculpture created for viewer participation re- quired an around- the -clock work force that applied finish- ing efforts just before judging. Bryan Hill, owner of Bryan's Burger Den, said his full -time team of five, plus other part - timers, began work on Star Golf on Jan. 17. The sculpture invites viewers to walk onto it, pick up a wooden club and bat an orange golf ball around amid wax- museum - quality likenesses of old -time movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin and W.C. Fields. Hill said the team worked daily, mixing and piling the sculpture's sole ingredient: slush. Sculptors had only two days' work left when the warm spell hit. Once cool weather returned, the team had to rebuild their masterpiece in three days, working from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., while keeping the restau- rant open. "Thursday, we started at 10:30 a.m. and worked till 8 a.m. the next morning. We fin- ished one hour before judging" Friday morning. It took another gallant effort to put together a huge snow - sculpted bust of the Nez Perce tribe leader Chief Joseph. Several young Nez Perce put finishing touches on the sculp- ture Thursday, and about 70 tribe members conducted a dance exhibition Friday night. Dave Brookman /Statesman Above, couple walks past the grand - prize - winning ice sculpture, Sno Magic, at the McCall Winter Carnival. Top left, teachernaut- designate Barbara Morgan waves to the crowd Saturday while riding through downtown with colleague Sue Anderson. Y Coincidentally, it's year for Fridays the 13th Well, here it is, Friday the 13th, a good day to stay home. Or perhaps that fact doesn't bother you — maybe it even turns you on. Take the case of Bob and Gail Hampton — they love it. They were both born on Friday the 13th, and Feb. 13th just happens to be Gail's birthday. Bob was born on Nov. 13, but both significant Fridays fell in the same year, 1953. A peculiar circumstance in the calendar makes November and February interchangeable this year, and don't forget that other almost- carbon copy, March. As a matter of fact, Bob and Gail were married on the 13th, but it was just a Saturday in 1975, and it was a mistake. Bob said they had planned to be married on the 20th in Stanford Memorial Chapel at Stanford University, but since he Was playing baseball with the Boston Red Sox organization, game schedules pushed the nuptials a week ahead. Do Bob and Gail attribute anything more to the 13th? "The coincidence is shock enough," the Boise attorney admitted. ® e The steady melt has slowed to a drip with cold, cloudy weather in McCall, but with a little help from Larry Chalfant and his city crews, four of the snow sculptures from the state competition live on. Although they had to open Lenora Street, closed for the contest so seven sculpting teams from Sandpoint to Idaho Falls could sculpt for three days, four of the surviving sculptures were relocated. The first, second and third -place creations — the horse and dragon, elephant /clown and infinity sign Mobius strip —as well as Pend Oreille Pete, still stand a week after the 10-day Winter Carnival. So if you're headed for the Cascade Winter Jamboree this long President's Day weekend, you can still catch a glimpse of what once was. It may be a cold day before they find any experienced snow sculptors in Boise, but there is one novice three -man team carving on a block of snow in McCall today as part of the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition. One of the fun things about the snow sculpting Contest is that spectators can get up close and personal with the seven teams as they attempt to mold their 5- by- 5-by -9 -foot blocks of rock -hard packed snow into something recognizable. The experts from McCall — three hometown teams have entered — will face one professional sculptor from the capital city. Enrique "Hank" de la Vega, who has lived in Boise for less than a year, signed up with two friends, Mike Leonard, a carpenter, and Curry Koehler, a salesman, to build a creation called "Idaho Snow Mountain Flower." But the Boiseans have their work to cut out — each of the seven team leaders is an artist. Then there are the "grips" who do the real work such as "Apprentice Slave" Meg Sager of McCall and Karen Bossick of The Statesman, a last- minute fill -in on a short- handed McCall team. e • • As for the rest of the sights at the Winter Carnival, which runs through the weekend, don't worry about snow or warm weather damaging the ice sculptures already standing. Publicist Jane Volk assured me sculptors are burning the midnight oil to repair any damage to their creations in ice. "We're putting a foot and a leg back on our clown," she laughed. Also, the golf course at Bryan's Burger Den is ready to go ... but swingers just keep losing golf balls. About 40 McCall duffers will don their cleats and play a tournament today ... and the course is open, if say, a group of Boiseans would like to stage a little ice golf. Give Bryan Hill a call at 634 -7964. Or if snowmobile poker turns you on, there's $6,000 in prizes, including two snowmobiles, up for grabs in Saturday's poker run. Pete Zimowsky will run details in Thursday's Venture section, or call Hal Sager at 634 -7049. The run is for anyone ... it's not a race; you pick cards at each stop. May the best draw win. P&. � o2 t F . s l /I /i�Et'S P&. ' /(' / S,7 The roar of engines during the McCall Winter Car- nival is normally associated with snowmobile racing, but a much different type of winter sport will make its debut this Sunday. The first McCall Winter Carnival ATV Grand Prix, starting at 11:30 a.m., will combine the excit- ment of a dirt bike race with a setting often seen in Formula 1 racing, organizer Allan Chandler said. The streets of downtown McCall will serve as part of the eight- tenths mile course designed for the three - wheeled and four - wheeled ATVs (all- terrain vehicles). The route will carry racers past many of the car- nival's famous ice sculptures as well as an expected crowd of spectators. The course will veer off toward the old McCall sawmill sitc"and take the racer onto the frozen sur- face of�Payette Lake before winding back to town. Eight classes of racers have been set up for the event, including open- modified, men's, women's, junior and child. The men's, women's and junior classes have been divided into two categories accord- ing to engines above and below 200cc in capacity. Chandler said the response so far to the race has been much larger than expected, which will force the running of heats of 10 racers in some divisions to nar- row down the field for a championship race. Each heat will be between two and five laps long. Registration for the races begins at 9 a.m. in downtown McCall with a $10 entry fee charged. A drivers meeting and track inspection period will begin at 10:45 a.m., Chandler said. The first race will get underway at 11:30 a.m., starting with the children's class and working up to the open- modified. No traction devices will be allowed. That rule, combined with the sharp corners and slick ice on most of the course, will help even up the odds among racers of different skills, Chandler said. Top prize in each class is $50, with the second - place winner taking home $25 and third place winn- ing $10. All racers will be eligible for the prize drawing even if they do not win a race, Chandler said. Top prize in the drawing will be a Yamaha 125 ATV sponsored by Shaver's supermarkets. Other prizes will include $50 gift certificates to The Toll Station restaurant and Medley Sports, a jacket from Coors, two $25 gift certificates from Cutty Sark restaurant, a scenic air cruise from Pioneer Aviation, and a $20 gas certificate from Bill's Cash Grocery. Boat Ramp y Fir st. Race Course *000 4000 10 i f f t Payette Lake I r—, Art Roberts Park CO U) map Pine St. Start /Finish Jq o \o cn -0 1 t Lenora 1 St. N A -� Tice 'fir AG. Z vr= oZ r� , owl- Qa Map shows Grand Prix route. Iva c,t..' r7 J a vi 9, l y V Nez Perce students work on Joseph sculpture BY DEBBIE BARNETT For The Star-News Three art students from the Nez Perce Indian tribe traveled 150 miles from Lapwai and defied the elements last week to put their own special touches on &.n ice sculputue of Chief Joseph going up in McCall. Brooklyn Baptiste, Vernon 1-1olt and Keith Twohatchet �)egan work on the facial features fif the huge sculpture on Friday - and became so enthusiastic with the results that they worked until 10 P.M. Work began again early Satur- day morning for the students, who were equipped with buckets of slush, special protective gloves c�nd tools, to work on the main ice sculpture of the McCall Winter Carnival. Lapwai High School art teacher Linda Boyer said she was asked by the tribal council to, .hoose three talented art students for the assignment. The boys were required by the Nez Perce Art students from Lapwai work on Chief Joseph sculpture. Tribal Council to be registered by the Nez Perce to the Winter performance is set to start at 8 members of the Nez Perce, and Carnival festivities. Fifty p.m. at the McCall - Donnelly they had to have good academic students from Lapwai will be High School gym. standing in order to earn the trip displaying art work in the car- On Saturday, a performance .o McCall. nival's art show. A heritage quilt will be given by tribal dancers at The sculpture that now constructed by the students will the base of the Chief Joseph dominates Art Roberts Park also be displayed that features a statue after the noon parade. started as a project of the Payette picture of each student's heritage Miss Indian America, Jorja National Forest. The idea of in- and a Nez Perce word to describe Oberly, will perform as part of cluding Nez Perce Indians to par- it• the carnival's variety show Satur- ticipate came from Jeff Fee, the On Friday, the Nez Perce Tribe day night, also at the M -D gum. native American coordinator for will hold a powwow involving Tribal council chairman Her - the Payette. traditional dances and display man Rueben will be part of the Fee said he has worked with tribal arts and crafts. The public carnival parade. the Nez Perce from Lapwai on various work projects, and it seemed natural to honor them with this piece of their heritage. The white man's association with the Nez Perce Indians has been a long one, dating back to the first settlers in Long Valley and Meadows Valley. Many peo- ple feel that the tribute to the Nez Perce tribe is overdue, Fee said. The work on the sculpture of Chief Joseph is only a small part of the contributions being made Photo by Debbi Winning snow sculpture entry. Idaho Falls team wins snow sculpture crown Lenora Street in downtown McCall was tranformed into a garden of graceful, shimmering snow sculptures last week in the grand premiere of the Idaho State Snow Sculpting Competition. Seven three - person teams, in- cluding four teams from outside McCall, scraped and carved fran- tically for three days to earn the right to be Idaho's official team to the 1988 National Snow Sculpting Competition in Milwaukee. On Friday morning, the judges gave the first prize to the team from Idaho Falls, the members of which had only made snowmen up to last week. The team of Allen Haroldson, Marilyn Hansen and Michelle Havens won the top prize for a mythical battle between a dragon and a stallion. Hotn consolation prizes went to McCall teams. Second place was won by the team of Ralph Geibel, Al Apodaca and Rich Primmer for a work that looked like an elephant on one side, but transformed into a clown when viewed from the opposite side. Jim Gale and his wife, Linda Canary, of Lake Fork, plus Rob Cordtz won third place for their statue of a twisted belt called a mobius strip. Gale started on the work after just having completed two other sculptures, including "Sunday Night at Springville Mine" at Idaho First National Bank, which earned the Viewer's Choice award. Kathleen Smith and Carl Whitaker made up the third Mc- Call team, with the towns of Weiser, Sandpoint and Boise represented by the remaining teams. The work was speeded up by the fact the sculptors were Presented nine -foot blocks of pressed snow at the beginning of the contest, whereas most sculptures in the McCall area are built up from the ground with slush. Even with that advantage, the task was more than a challenge for Enrique de la Vega, the leader of the Boise team and a profes- sional sculptor. De la Vega said he found snow to be a much different artistic medium than the wood, stone and bronze with which he is more familiar. "It's fun, easy in some ways," he said. "When it is soft, you can correct things quickly. But it is not consistent." The Weiser team, made up of Lolita Jensen, Elyssa Alvarez and Lynda Smith, said they fell victim to some pranksters when they first asked about how to build a snow sculpture.' "They told us to bring torches and chain saws, but we found out they were not appropriate," Smith said. The team members said pro- gress was slow, and their muscles ached from the work, but that they were having a perfectly good time building their angular Eskimo. McCall city crews who had to clear the street on Monday tried to move the sculptures rather than push them over, and three works survived the attempt. Shore Lodge led the list of sponsors that helped support the competition, followed by the City of McCall, Aspen Timeshares, Ken Eklund, Richard Udell, Richard Owens, Warren Brown, Idaho First National Bank, Franklin Building Supply, Payette Lakes Lumber Co., May Hardware, The Pancake House, Lardo Grill and Saloon, Eat Your Heart Out Deli, Morn's Cafe and Bryan's Burger Den. TG � c �a�,- AlpW_s - ,-f / /r � k/