A 208,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter in Dickinson will celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday with a variety of special events, including appearances by local and state politicians, cheerleaders and characters like the Keebler Elf, Pillsbury Doughboy and Cat in the Hat, according to Dickinson Wal-Mart store manager Kristi Schwartz.

Dickinson State University cheerleaders will perform the "official Wal-Mart cheer," and a Wal-Mart associate and an assistant manager will perform the national anthem and lead a pledge of allegiance.

Located at 2456 Third Ave., the store's grand opening celebration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and store doors will open at 8 a.m.

"Our customers from the old Wal-Mart store here tell me they're very excited about the opening," Schwartz said. "They say they can't wait."

The new store will employ more than 300 people, 110 more than the existing Wal-Mart location. Schwartz said the store is close to being fully staffed, although some overnight positions are available.

"We still need a few people," she said. She noted that 50 of those employed at the Dickinson store have worked for Wal-Mart for more than 10 years, and 34 have been there for 15 years.

According to a Wal-Mart Web site (www.walmartfacts.com), the national average wage at Wal-Mart for full-time hourly employees is approximately $10.11 per hour.

Schwartz, who started out as an hourly Wal-Mart employee 15 years ago in Sheridan, Wyo., says she loves North Dakota and has enjoyed the past 10Â1/2 years in the state.

Some North Dakota companies, including Ambassador Foods, Dakota Growers Pasta Co. and Mandan-based Cloverdale Foods Co., will be among the suppliers for the new Dickinson store.

Schwartz said the store also will likely carry Deja Moo brand milk from the Great Plains Dairy in Bismarck, as will other Wal-Mart stores in North Dakota.

"We're working on trying to get it in our store," she said. "All of the stores in North Dakota will probably have it."

Great Plains Dairy spokesman Jim Odney announced in January that the Wal-Mart Supercenters scheduled for opening in Bismarck in late April or early May would carry the Deja Moo brand, due partly to the unique packaging of the product.

"It will stand out on the shelf," said Greg Mertes, dairy category manager for U.S. Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Ark.

Overall, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. spent $82,382,315 for merchandise and services with 241 suppliers in North Dakota during 2004, according to Wal-Mart spokesperson Melissa O'Brien, and the company paid more than $2.5 million in state and local taxes.

Upon its opening, O'Brien said, the Dickinson store will announce donations totaling $25,250 in cash and merchandise to a number of local organizations, from the Women's Alliance Inc. to the Stark County Sheriff's Department.

(Reach reporter Nathan Denton at 250-8261 or at nathan.denton@;bismarcktribune.com)