BPEA auction raises over $80k

BLOOMING PRAIRIE--The Blooming Prairie Education Association raised over $80,000 for the school district at their annual auction on Saturday night, according to co-chair Sue Zweiner.

The live auction included over 140 items, including a framed Warren Buffet-signed $100 bill, which sold for over $4,000.  Other big items included a guitar autographed by Alice Cooper, a Mississippi River cruise hosted by Chad and Julie Eischens, and a set of 4 chairs from the recently demolished Metrodome.

Several items were donated by the district itself, including framed autographed portraits of BP's 2013 State Championship softball team, a year's worth of activity passes, and manual labor provided by the boys cross country and basketball teams. Local artists Sandy Jones, Nate Pillar, and H Peterson donated paintings.  Others, like co-chair Becky Noble, donated baked goods.

The association has raised over $500,000 since Zwiener and Noble have been heading the fundraising effort.  The event was again held at the Blooming Prairie Cue Company.