Bemidji High School searches for another logo after complaints

BEMIDJI (AP) -- Bemidji High School is looking for another new logo after complaints that the newly designed ax with red edges looked like a bloody weapon and wasn't appropriate.

Designed by a high school student in February to replace the aging lumberjack mascot with his finger pointing up in triumph, the new logo is a blue ax propped against the letter B, which is blue, red and white, the uniform colors of Bemidji High School teams.

''I don't have a problem with it,'' said school board member Steve Fogelson. He said sports teams use hockey sticks, baseball bats and golf clubs as insignia and people could use those as weapons, too.

Lumberjacks use axes to cut down trees and that's all the logo attempted to identify, he said.

While Fogelson said he hasn't received complaints, other board members have.

Diane Corcoran said she heard from about 25-30 people who don't like the new design.

''I do agree with the people who have spoken to me,'' she said, adding it's also not the best logo because of recent acts of violence in schools across the country.

New designs will be accepted until May 10. A review committee will decide which ones will go to a student vote, with the final design to be submitted for school board approval in June.