HomeMy Public PortalAboutMcCall Winter Carnival 1987MHO STATE
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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
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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
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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
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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."
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M c C a l l r e v s u p f o r c a r n i v a l
B y J U D Y G R I G G H A N S E N
T h e I d a h o S t a t e s m a n
M o n u m e n t a l s n o w a n d i c e
s c u l p t u r e s w i l l l i n e t h e s t r e e t s o f
M c C a l l f o r t h e 2 3 r d a n n u a l W i n t e r
C a r n i v a l t o d a y t h r o u g h F e b . 8 .
A b o u t 7 0 s c u l p t u r e s , m a n y u p t o
2 0 f e e t h i g h , w i l l w o w t h o u s a n d s
. . - o f c a r n i v a l - g o e r s e x p e c t e d f o r t h e
c e l e b r a t i o n . E a c h s c u l p t u r e r e p -
r e s e n t s 2 0 t o 5 0 0 h o u r s o f w o r k ,
a c c o r d i n g t o J a n e V o l k , p u b l i c i t y
c h a i r m a n .
T h e c a r n i v a l w i l l o f f e r a v a r i e t y
o f a c t i v i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g s n o w m o -
b i l e r a c e s , a c h i l d r e n '