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Brutal cold causing problems for famous snow-sculpting brothers
The pair is trying to make a sculpture for the New Brighton Brave the Brrr celebration, but the process is being delayed due to lack of snow and cold.
NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. — The brutal cold is forcing two of Minnesota’s most famous snow sculptors to get creative.
Austin and Connor Bartz are, once again, making a massive sculpture – this time, for the New Brighton ‘Brave the Brrr‘ event that celebrates winter throughout January.
Mother Nature, though, has had other plans this season.
“We’ll get it done, it’s just going to take longer than we thought,” said Austin.
First, it was too warm and with so little snow, the two could only truck it in from parking lots across the metro and even asked for volunteers.
“We’ve spent more time collecting snow and trying to get it here than we have actually sculpting,” said Austin.
Now, it’s too cold to even make it, forcing them to improvise inside a shed they built by hand at the Brightwood Hills Golf Course.
“We’re taking sleds of snow from outside on the pond, we’re sledding it inside, bringing it around this way and into the snow factory,” explained Austin, who used heaters to warm up the snow so that it’s the right consistency.
“When we get the snow warm and full of moisture, we can work with it outside,” said Austin. “We probably have about five minutes in this weather, so we get it outside, take half sled loads and pack it on as quick as we can.”
The process is a painstaking one, but there’s a heartwarming reason that drives them to do it.
“Most people think we’re a little bit crazy,” said Austin. “When we have our heart to something, we go all out.”
The brothers solicit donations to raise money for countries that don’t have access to clean water. This year, they’re supporting the non-profit World Vision and so far, have raised about $7,000. Last year it was almost 12 times that.
The Bartz Brothers hope to have a sculpture complete by January 19. For up-to-date information, you can visit – https://www.facebook.com/BartzSnowSculptures
“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Austin. “We can’t take a break.
The festival’s other events are going on as planned, for now, but some activities, like skiing at Trollhaugen ski area, are cutting hours short due to the cold.
Highland Hills ski area will close if the wind chill reaches 35 below.
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MINNEAPOLIS — How much do you know about your grandma’s upbringing?
“The Stories From My Grandmother’s Hands” is a book that aims to show young Black children how their grandmas lived through beautiful illustrations and descriptions.
KARE 11 News at Noon shared more on Thursday about the impact that this book will have.
Gary Peterson and his friends are collecting donations to help people in their community.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — A St. Louis Park pumpkin display is raising money for their local food shelf.
Gary Peterson started carving and painting three pumpkins over a decade ago. It’s now grown to over 100.
“I’ve heard people say they’ve come from Hutchinson,” he said.
Peterson along with two of his neighbors have spent the last 14 years growing their display, turning it into a neighborhood event.
“It’s been incredible, I just can’t believe how much this has expanded,” he said. “We did it just because we like to and then people were asking to give us money to cover the cost.”
The trio refused to take people’s money, but then one of them had an idea.
“My neighbor, Steve Leensvaart, just mentioned how about we just do it for the STEP program and the STEP program is our local food shelf in St. Louis Park,” he said.
So, they started to collect donations to help families in need. They’ve raised hundreds of dollars and donated hundreds of pounds of food over the last few years, carving for a cause.
“It is more gratifying every year,” Peterson said.
He estimated they have over 100 unique pumpkins in their yard. They’ve created the displays and come up with new family-friendly concepts for people to enjoy. Peterson said about 30 of their neighbors carved their own pumpkins to be put on display, and it’s been a big hit.
“It’s great. In the last couple of years, it’s turned into more of a neighborhood event,” said Sarah Durch.
“We love this Halloween display, we come every year to see it. We love that the whole community gets involved to craft and carve the pumpkins,” said Jami Gordon-Smith.
“The shading and the details are unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Hanson.
Hanson hopes to take her 2-year-old son trick or treating for the first time but is worried the cold temperatures might keep them indoors.
“We’re going trick or treating hopefully,” she said. “He’s going to be a firefighter, but we’re probably going to have sweatshirts maybe like two pairs of sweatpants underneath. We’re going to be bundled up.”
Gordon-Smith said her family will be out Halloween night no matter the weather.
“Halloween only comes once a year, so you really have to take advantage and enjoy the evening no matter what the weather brings,” she said. “Guess it’s not totally unheard of in Minnesota to have a cold Halloween, but we are going to try and modify and do a lot of layers underneath our costumes and then we might add some hats and maybe some warmer socks.”
Durch also isn’t surprised they’re in for another chilly night.
“Well, what would Halloween be without Minnesota cold? I feel like every time you plan a costume you have to plan for how you can make this work if it’s snowing,” she said.
Peterson said they will have a bonfire and some hot chocolate and cider on Halloween to keep trick-or-treaters warm while they look at their pumpkins.
Click here to learn where you can see the pumpkins and how you can donate.
Jeremy Jourdain was 17 when he was last seen on Halloween 2016.
BEMIDJI, Minn. — The search for Jeremy Jourdain, who was last seen on Halloween in 2016, continues now eight years later.
Jourdain was last seen at a family member’s house in Bemidji, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs. He left the residence near the 500 block of Wood Avenue after midnight and while people followed him, no one was able to find him.
Jourdain was 17 at the time.
Officials said he was wearing a blue and grey sweatshirt, and blue jeans when last seen. He is Native American and is described as 6 foot 5 and 175 pounds.
If you have any information on his whereabouts, you can contact the Bemidji Police Department at (218) 333-9111. Tips can also be sent to 1-833-560-2065, or you can email ojs_mmu@bia.gov.
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