Family, Friends Celebrate Missing Man’s Birthday

BEMIDJI (AP) - While investigators search for clues in the disappearance of a northern Minnesota man, friends and family in two communities gathered to mark his birthday.

A special Mass was held at a Mountain Iron Catholic church Thursday night for Matthew Pulis on his 32nd birthday. His sister, Steph Kniefel, says the family believes that with everyone praying together, some answers to his disappearance may emerge.

Meanwhile in Bemidji, friends and co-workers released 32 balloons at a local park. Kniefel says her brother spent much of his life in Mountain Iron before moving to Bemidji in 2010. Pulis has not been seen since Oct. 20 in Bemidji. In January, authorities renewed their request for the public's help finding him.

Bemidji Police Detective Mike Solheim says not much new information has come up in recent weeks.