>> I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

HERE'S WHAT IS COMING UP ON A VERY SPECIAL EDITION OF ALMANAC NORTH.

>> IT IS JULIE ZENNER'S FINAL TIME HOSTING THE PROGRAM.

AND WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL LINED UP.

>> I HOPE IT IS NOT TOO SPECIAL.

ALMANAC NORTH PRODUCER GREG RAIL IS RETIRING AFTER ALMOST 31 YEARS PRODUCING THE SHOW.

>> SPECIAL GUESTS, A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE, AND CLIPS HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF THIS PROGRAM.

AND A FEW SURPRISES.

>> THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

ALL COMING UP NEXT ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

I'M JULIE ZENNER.

[LAUGHTER] >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

THAT CLIP WAS JULIE OPENING THE SHOW ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1993.

HER FIRST TIME AS THE PERMANENT COHOST.

DOES IT FEEL LIKE A LIFEIME AGO, OR LIKE YESTERDAY?

JULIE: HOPEFULLY IT LOOKS LIKE A LIFETIME AGO.

[LAUGHTER] IT EXPLAINS WHY THEN GENERAL MANAGER GEORGE DODDS USED TO CALL ME DOBBER.

I HAD THAT THING GOING ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

>> WE'VE GOT A LOT MORE REMINISCING TO DO AND SOME FUN HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST 31 YEARS.

OUR FIRST GUEST IS PART OF THIS SHOWS HISTORY.

JULIE: HE SURE IS.

I'M SORRY, I'M OVER HERE.

HE WAS A REGULAR GUEST FOR THE FIRST 12 YEARS OF OUR RUN, EVEN AFTERWARD.

GARY DOTY, THE FORMER MAYOR OF DULUTH.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU ON SUCH A WONDERFUL OCCASION.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND GREG.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

YOU WERE ON THE SHOW QUITE A BIT IN THOSE EARLY DAYS.

I THINK ON SHOW NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH PREDATES ME.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN BEING ON THE SHOW?

>> I WAS LOOKING FOR PUBLICITY.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHY ELSE WOULD YOU COME ON?

ACTUALLY, I ENJOYED COMING HERE BECAUSE I KNEW THAT WHEN I CAME HERE, NOBODY WAS TRYING TO GET ME INTO TROUBLE.

OFTEN TIMES YOU GET INTERVIEWED BY THE MEDIA AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS HIDDEN AND TRYING TO MAKE YOU LOOK BAD.

NOT ALL MEDIA, I DON'T MEAN IT THAT WAY.

BUT I CAME HERE AND IT WAS COMFORTABLE BECAUSE YOU TOLD ME WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL MEMORIES?

>> I WISH I HAD A LOT OF TIME.

I THINK ABOUT GREG AND JULIE OVER THE YEARS, THE 1990'S, I WAS ON A LOT.

A COUPLE THINGS I REMEMBER.

I DON'T KNOW IF JULIE WILL REMEMBER OR NOT.

SHE USED TO HAVE A CHAIR THAT HAD THIS CUSHION.

REMEMBER THE CUSHION?

JULIE: I DO.

JOAN MADE ME THAT CUSHION.

>> THAT CUSHION WAS THERE.

I KNEW SHE WANTED IT BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO BE -- SHE WANTED TO BE UP HIGH.

BEFORE WE WENT THERE, SHE CAME BACK, I STOLE HER CUSHION.

THAT IS HOW COMFORTABLE I GOT WITH JULIE ON THE SET.

SHE'S KIND OF LOOKING ALL OVER.

I DID GIVE IT BACK FOR WE STARTED.

THE OTHER ONE WAS THIS, AND GREG REMINDED ME OF THIS.

I WAS ON SO MUCH, I GOT COMFORTABLE.

I SAID TO GREG, WHEN SHE ASKS ME A QUESTION, I WILL ANSWER YES OR NO.

AND NOT ANYTHING ELSE.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I SAID YES.

SHE TRIED SOMETHING ELSE -- JULIE: WHICH WAS UNUSUAL BECAUSE USUALLY YOU ARE VERBAL.

>> SHE WAS STUNNED.

AT THAT POINT, I THOUGHT I BETTER -- I COOPERATED.

WHAT I DO REMEMBER ABOUT JULIE, THE TWINS WERE BORN IN 1994.

I FOUND THAT OUT BECAUSE I ASKED YOUR DAUGHTER WHAT YEAR IT WAS.

I REMEMBER WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE, AND LISTENING AS IT WENT ON.

>> YOU WOULD ALWAYS ASK ABOUT THE KIDS.

>> YOU ARE SUCH A FAMILY PERSON.

THAT IS WHAT I RESPECT.

ALSO, YOU ARE A WOMAN OF FAITH.

YOU USED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ALL THE TIME.

AND MAYBE THAT IS WHY YOU AND DANNY GEL SO WELL.

YOU ARE PEOPLE OF FAITH, THAT IS IMPORTANT.

WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN THE WORLD TODAY.

>> WE GOT ALONG WELL OVER 12 YEARS.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

JULIE: AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> WHILE JULIE STARTED IN THE FALL OF 1993, SHE'S NOT THE FIRST HOST OF THE PROGRAM.

JACK SODERLUND LANDED THAT POSITION AND HOSTED WITH AND LEWIS.

AND AN ALTERNATING CAST OF LOCAL NEWS ANCHORS.

JACK COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.

PRODUCER GREG RYLE SAT DOWN EARLIER THIS WEEK TO RECORD HIS MEMORIES OF WORKING WITH JULIE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT SOME QUESTIONS AND DEBATE THINGS BACK AND FORTH.

SHE WAS ALWAYS PREPARED.

I WAS SOMETIMES PREPARED.

SHE WAS ALWAYS PREPARED, HAD ALWAYS DONE HER RESEARCH.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STICKS WITH ME.

THE OTHER THING, SHE WAS SO MUCH FUN TO WORK WITH.

SHE'S SUCH A GREAT PERSON ON AND OFF THE SCREEN.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE GOOD MEMORIES I HAVE.

>> GOOD NIGHT, JULIE.

>> YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SAY GOOD NIGHT, JACK.

JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER, GOOD NIGHT.

>> WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL REALLY QUICKLY.

WE BECAME FRIENDS.

AS I DID WITH YOU AS THE PRODUCER.

IT REALLY MADE IT A LOT EASIER.

WHEN YOU ARE SPENDING TIME DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH PEOPLE YOU ENJOY, IT BECOMES LESS WORK.

IT IS LIVE TELEVISION.

SO ROCK 'N' ROLL HERE WE GO.

IT IS ADDED PRESSURE, BUT IT RAISES THE STAKES.

AND FOR THE FOLKS DOING IT, THE ANCHOR IS IT MAKES YOU BE ON YOUR A GAME, WHICH IS GOOD.

♪ [LAUGHTER] JULIE: JACK AND I HAD A LOT OF FUN HOSTING THE SHOW BACK IN THE 1990'S.

>> DID YOU KNOW THE CAMERA WAS ON?

[LAUGHTER] >> CLEARLY NOT.

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF COHOSTING, JACK MOVED ON.

AND AN OLD FRIEND WHO HAD BEEN OUT OF TELEVISION GOT THE ITCH TO GET BACK IN THE BROADCAST GAME.

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

JULIE: I DID, ESPECIALLY THE NEWS YOU WOULD BE MY PERMANENT COHOST.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

JACK DECIDED HE WOULD RATHER SPEND FRIDAY NIGHTS WITH HIS WIFE.

>> I WILL HAVE TO TALK TO MY WIFE ABOUT THAT.

>> IT HAS BEEN A NICE OPPORTUNITY, APPRECIATE IT.

FOR ALL OF THE CREW HERE, I'M DARREN DANIELSON.

JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> TV STATIONS ARE OUR LIFE.

GREG AND JULIE, WE GO WAY BACK.

I MET JULIE IN THE 1980'S AT KT LH.

I WAS A PRODUCER ANCHOR.

SHE WAS A REPORTER.

SHE QUICKLY BECAME OUR STANDARDBEARER FOR BROADCAST SPELLING AND GRAMMAR.

SHE WOULD CALL US AT THE CARPET.

ALWAYS TO TELL HER BROADCASTERS, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL ANYTHING.

SHE WAS OUR WORDSMITH.

I REMEMBER SINCE THE DAY WE MET.

AND YEARS LATER, WE WOULD SPEND 15 YEARS TOGETHER AT ALMANAC NORTH.

JULIE AND GREG.

YOU TAUGHT ME SO MUCH ABOUT THIS PROFESSION.

NOT JUST ABOUT WRITING STORIES, BUT INTERVIEWING, TELLING A STORY THROUGH QUESTIONS, UNPACKING THE DETAILS OF A SITUATION BY JUST BEING IN THE MOMENT.

GREG AND JULIE, YOU TAUGHT ME MORE ABOUT THIS PROFESSION THAN I THINK ANY OTHER PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

AND THEN WE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS.

JULIE IS SPENDING TIME WITH OUR KIDS.

GREG, I SANG AT YOUR WEDDING.

A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE.

WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT TURN INTO DEEP FRIENDSHIPS.

WE HAVE A GREAT HISTORY.

YOU LEFT A GREAT LEGACY.

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.

>> IT IS ME, TERESA.

YOUR GOOD FRIEND.

THE FABULOUS WEATHER BABE.

I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

YOU HAVE WORKED HARD ALL OF THESE YEARS.

NOW IT IS TIME FOR YOU AND TIM TO PLAY HARD AND GET OUT AND DO SOME OF THE FUN, EXCITING THINGS YOU GET TO DO IN RETIREMENT.

I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF SOME REALLY GREAT MEMORIES FOR ME.

FROM THE BOWLING DATES TO THE LATE NIGHT PICKUP MEALS AT LOUISE CAFE.

TO THE ONLY PERSON WHO COULD ACTUALLY CONVINCE ME TO GO TO A RODEO AND PUT PANTS ON A CALF.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT STORY WITH OTHERS.

I STILL HAVE PTSD FROM IT.

WE WILL MOVE ON.

BUT ANYWAY, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WORKING WITH YOU NOT ONLY MADE ME A BETTER BROADCASTER AND A BETTER JOURNALISTS, BUT A BETTER PERSON.

I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR YOU AND TIM ON THIS OCCASION OF YOUR RETIREMENT.

>> I'M SURE YOU HEARD THE STORY, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T, I WILL FILL YOU IN.

AROUND 240 BC, ARCHIMEDES AND GREG GRELL WERE SITTING AROUND THE TABLE HAVING THEIR MORNING COFFEE.

BOTH WERE DISCUSSING WHETHER -- WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES.

ONE OF THEM WANTED TO BE AN INVENTOR, A GREAT MATHEMATICIAN, AND DO SOME GOOD WORK IN PHYSICS.

THE OTHER WANTED TO DO STORIES ON PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS AND LEAD THE NEXT GENERATION.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS GREG HAD A LONG CAREER.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I HOPE YOU HAVE EVEN MORE FUN IN ENDEAVORS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD IN LIFE.

>> IN THE 1990'S, JULIE WAS OUR PRODUCER, A BEGINNER REPORTER MAKING A LOT OF REPEAT GRAMMATICAL ERRORS ON A DAILY BASIS.

ONE DAY JULIE GOT ANNOYED WITH ME.

SHE GAVE ME A GENTLE, YET FIRM PUNCH ON THE ARM OVER ONE PARTICULAR GRAMMATICAL ERROR THAT I KEPT MAKING.

SINCE THEN, I'VE NEVER MADE THAT ERROR IN MY CAREER.

I THANK JULIE FOR THAT.

ALL KIDDING ASIDE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A TRUE STORY, SHE'S ALWAYS THE CONSUMMATE PRO.

HER ATTENTION TO DETAIL, ATTENTION TO FACTS, HER ATTENTION TO CONTEXT, SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE TO CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE AND IS A GREAT ASSET TO THE BROADCAST COMMUNITY.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, A GREAT FRIEND AND A TREASURE.

CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS GREG ON YOUR RETIREMENT AND LONG REAR -- LONG CAREER.

I KNOW THE SECRET, YOU ARE REALLY JUST A KID FROM THE WESTERN IRON RANGE WHO SNUCK INTO A TV STUDIO AND SOMEHOW STUCK AROUND LONG ENOUGH.

I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED OUR MEETINGS AND TALKING ABOUT THE IRON RANGE AND VOICES OF THE REGION SEGMENT.

I ALSO ENJOYED THE MANY TIMES MY TEAM DEFEATED YOURS IN OUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

A PRACTICE I HOPE CONTINUES LONG INTO THE FUTURE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK.

>> JULIE IS A WONDERFUL PERSON AND A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL IN THE MEDIA BUSINESS.

WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO WORK WITH HER THROUGH THE YEARS.

WHAT HER TELEVISION AUDIENCE MIGHT NOT KNOW IS SHE'S ALSO AN EXCEPTIONAL WRITER.

HER YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COUPLED WITH HER INNATE CURIOSITY GIVE HER A KNOWLEDGE BASE THAT NO ONE CAN BEAT, INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE NO ONE CAN SURPASS.

>> HAPPY RETIREMENT, YOU MADE IT.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I'M HAPPY FOR YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS LIGHTING UP EVERY ROOM THAT YOU ARE IN.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT FEEL LIKE I BELONGED AND FOR ALWAYS BEING THE WELCOMING FACE AND THE WARM SMILE.

THE STATION IS GOING TO MISS YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS.

GET READY TO TAKE THE MUCH-DESERVED REST.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING RUN WITH ALMANAC NORTH IN YOUR CAREERS AT PBS.

YOU ARE ACCOMPLISHED PROFESSIONALS AND CHERISHED COLLEAGUES.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT WITH US ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE VENTURE NORTH YEARS AND COUNTLESS HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARIES AND HOW MANY PLEDGE DRIVES.

I THINK I DID MORE PLEDGE DRIVES WITH YOU THAN ANYONE ELSE.

YOU GUYS DESERVE THE BEST, AND WE ARE CHEERING FOR YOUR NEXT CHAPTER.

♪ >> THAT WAS SO FUN.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE BROADCAST BUSINESS.

JULIE: SOME SURPRISES.

NEVER EXPECTED THAT.

OUR NEXT GUEST SAT NEXT TO ME FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS AS COHOST.

HERE YOU ARE AGAIN.

DARREN.

I CANNOT GET RID OF YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU CAN TRY, BUT YOU CAN'T.

JULIE: AS YOU MENTIONED, WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FROM WAY BACK AT KATIE LH.

THEN YOU GOT OUT OF THE BROADCAST BUSINESS FOR QUITE A WHILE AND DECIDED TO COME BACK.

WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN DOING THE SHOW?

>> THE OLD SAYING, YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF BROADCASTING BUT CANNOT TAKE BROADCASTING OUT OF THE BOY.

I LIVE IN DULUTH, I RAISE MY FAMILY HERE.

BEING PART OF THIS COMMUNITY MADE ME WANT TO COME BACK AND DO "ALMANAC NORTH" WITH YOU.

WE HAD SUCH A HISTORY.

WE WERE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS EVEN BEFORE I CAME HERE.

>> SO FUN WITH THE LITTLE SWITCH YOU HAD.

>> HE WAS AT MY DESK, I GRABBED HIS.

>> THAT WAS A GOOD FIT BOTH WAYS.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR WORK REALLY LEAD YOU INTO THE CAREER PATH THAT YOU HAD LANDED AGAIN?

>>>> I TOLD GREG BEFORE I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN ABLE TO TAKE HIS ROLE AT WDO HAD I NOT BEEN AT WDSE.

THIS KEPT ME CONNECTED WITH THE REGION, IN CONTACT WITH THE NEWSMAKERS AND DECISION-MAKERS.

AND BECAUSE I WAS HERE STAYING CONNECTED TO THE REGIONAL ISSUES, I THINK IT HELPED ME BE IN BETTER POSITION TO TAKE OVER.

JULIE: ARE THERE SOME MEMORIES OF THE SHOW THAT MAKE YOU SMILE?

>> HE WAS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT HIS STORIES.

>> THAT IS MAYOR DOTY.

>> EXCUSE ME.

>> GARY IS UP HERE TALKING ABOUT HOW HE FELT SO FAMILIAR.

HE DID.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME OR SOMEBODY SAID GARY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO ASK YOU?

HE SAID I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO ASK ME, I KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL THEM.

CONSUMMATE POLITICIAN.

HE HAD TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY FROM THIS PROGRAM?

>> THEY ALL KIND OF COME TOGETHER.

I CANNOT HIGHLIGHT ONE.

SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE IN THE NORTH LAND WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT AND FEATURE.

IT GAVE ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE PEOPLE ON A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL WITH THE LONG FORM INTERVIEW TYPE PROGRAM ALMANAC NORTH IS.

I REMEMBER GOING OUT TO BLACKWOOD'S EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT WITH GREG AND JULIE FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH FUN TALKING ON THE SHOW.

WE WERE DONE TALKING.

JULIE: EVEN TALKING BEFORE.

I LOOK AT YOU AND THINK PIZZA NIGHT.

>> GREG'S MOST IMPORTANT ROLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

HE HAD TO ORDER THE PIZZA BEFORE WE GOT THE SHOW DONE.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU WILL COME BACK WHEN YOU RETIRE?

>> THAT IS UP TO THIS GUY.

HE TOLD ME I HAD TO TAKE OVER BEFORE.

SAID I'M GOING TO RETIRE, I WANT YOU TO TAKE OVER.

>> WHEN YOU GET THE CALL, YOU ARE BACK.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY FINAL SHOW.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO GREG AND JULIE.

>> GREG HAS PUT TOGETHER FUN VIDEO CLIPS.

>> I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DARREN DANIELSON GETTING READY FOR A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF "ALMANAC NORTH."

>> WE WILL CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE WAY.

THE DIVERSITY LIAISON AND DULUTH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR SCHOOL.

JULIE: AND IF YOU NEED HUMOR INJECTED IN THIS HOLIDAY MADNESS, WE WILL BRING YOU SOME WITH THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY OFFENDERS, DULUTH'S RENEGADE COMEDY THEATER.

>> BUSINESSES COMING YOUR WAY FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:00.

JULIE: JUST TO CLARIFY, WILL YOU ARE WILL YOU NOT BE RUNNING FOR SENATE?

>> LET IT BE KNOWN RIGHT HERE ON "ALMANAC NORTH," ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, I WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

JULIE: I'M HEDGING MY BETS RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT IS SO LIKE YOU.

FOR DARREN AND THE CREW, I'M JULIE, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> FROM THE BEGINNING, ALMANAC NORTH HAS PUT AN EMPHASIS ON LOCAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC NEWS IN OUR REGION.

AS PART OF THAT COVERAGE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH NEW YEAR, WE HAVE INVITED ECONOMIC EXPERTS ON THE SHOW TO TALK ABOUT THE YEAR THAT WAS AND MAKE SOME PREDICTIONS ABOUT WHAT THE NEW YEAR MIGHT BRING.

JOINING US IS TONY BARRETT, PROFESSOR EMERITUS FROM THE COLLEGE OF SAINT SCHOLASTICA WHO HAS BEEN ON THE SHOW FOR 30 YEARS.

AND RON HAS BEEN JOINING US FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

THE CORE PUBLISHER OF BUSINESS NORTH AND LAKE SUPERIOR MAGAZINE.

YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SHOW SO LONG, YOU MUST FEEL LIKE ONE OF THE FIXTURES.

>> IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN FUN.

YOU MAKE IT EASY.

IT IS LIKE 15 MINUTES, LET'S GO.

IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO DO.

JULIE: WHAT KEPT YOU COMING BACK?

WAS IT SOMETHING YOU LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN TIME CAME AROUND TO DO THE PANEL?

>> IT REALLY WAS.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING DAILY WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE AND IT WAS FUN TO BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE TO THE SHOW, TO THE AUDIENCE.

YOU ARE WORKING IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS, WHERE YOU NOT?

WHY DID YOU DUMP -- JUMP INTO TELEVISION?

>> BECAUSE I HAD A FACE FOR IT.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: I THINK BACK ABOUT THE YEARS WE HAD AT THE ECONOMIC PANEL, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WERE A LOT OF RECURRING THEMES FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR.

IS IT THE NATURE OF OUR REGIONS TO MOVE AT A SLOW PACE?

>> I WOULD SAY YES.

THERE HAS BEEN CHANGE.

LOOK BACK 30 YEARS, A LOT OF CHANGE.

OR DIVERSITY TO OUR ECONOMY THAN IN 1990, NOT AS RELIANT ON THE IRON AND THE LUMBER.

THAT HAS BEEN GOOD.

IT HAPPENS GRADUALLY.

IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

>>>> WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME BACK AGAIN?

>> ANY TIME AM ASKED.

JULIE: EVERY YEAR, WE WOULD ASK YOU TO PUT ON YOUR PROGNOSTICATOR HAT AND LOOK AT YOUR CRYSTAL BALL AND MAKE SOME PREDICTIONS.

DO YOU GENERALLY PLAY IT SAFE, OR DID YOU EVER GO OUT ON A LIMB WITH SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT THIS IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> A LOT OF TIMES, BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE THERE ARE CRAZY POLITICAL THINGS HAPPENING IN THE BACKGROUND THAT WOULD BE OUT OF ANYONE'S CONTROL AND CAN AFFECT THE ECONOMY IN WEIRD WAYS, IT WAS KIND OF A GUESSING GAME.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU, TONY?

>> I TRIED TO BE ENTERTAINING, AND NOT ON ONE HAND, ON THE OTHER HAND.

I ALWAYS TRIED TO TAKE A STAND AND MAKE SOMETHING GREG COULD SHOW.

>> WHAT IS THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?

>> IT IS GOOD RIGHT NOW.

THE ECONOMY FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY IS GOOD.

I AM BAFFLED PEOPLE SAYING WE ARE IN AN ECONOMIC MESS.

MORE PEOPLE ARE WORKING THAN EVER.

WAGES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER.

REAL WAGES ARE GOING UP.

IT IS A VERY STRONG ECONOMY NATIONWIDE.

DULUTH IS A PART OF THAT.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED CRAZY THINGS LIKE ELECTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE THINGS.

WE HAVE AN ELECTION YEAR COMING UP.

WILLING TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS?

>> I THINK DESPITE THE CONSUMER OPTIMISM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING LAID OFF AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE BEING HIRED.

INFLATION IS ALWAYS A GUESSING GAME.

I THINK MAYBE IT COULD BE AN INTERESTING YEAR, A DIFFICULT YEAR.

>> I HATE TO BE THE OPTIMIST AROUND HERE.

BUT I SEE NOTHING.

ELECTION YEAR IN THE ECONOMY ALWAYS DOES WELL.

THAT HELPS THE INCUMBENTS.

EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE.

I THINK 2025 MIGHT BE A TOUGH YEAR.

BUT 2024 WILL BE OK. JULIE: THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS.

>> JULIE HAS HAD A LONG CAREER IN BROADCASTING.

SHE ALSO HAS A FULL LIFE OUTSIDE OF TELEVISION.

MEGAN MCGARVEY SAT DOWN WITH JULIE RECENTLY TO LEARN HOW SHE GOT HER START IN TV AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

JULIE: I'M GETTING READY FOR A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF ALMANAC NORTH.

COMING UP ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF ALMANAC NORTH.

>> I'M JULIE ZENNER WITH DENNIS ANDERSON.

>> HERE'S WHAT IS COMING UP.

>> HERE'S WHAT IS COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

>> WHAT ACTUALLY GOT YOU INTO MEDIA?

WHAT WAS THE SPARK?

>> IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BY ACCIDENT.

I CAME TO UMB FROM ST.

CLOUD THINKING I WAS GOING TO PURSUE A DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE.

BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MY MATH TEACHERS AND COMPUTERS WERE JUST COMING INTO GENERAL USE AT THAT POINT.

I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

I GOT TO UMD AND MY FIRST CALCULUS CLASS, I REALIZED THAT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK.

I DECIDED TO PURSUE A COMMUNICATIONS DEGREE.

PART OF IT WAS GETTING AN INTERNSHIP.

I GOT AN INTERNSHIP AT KT LH, THE CBS AFFILIATE.

AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP FOR WEEKEND REPORTING AND FULL-TIME REPORTING.

>> BUCKLES CLEARLY TO ROBES, MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TOOK TURNS LOWERING EACH OTHER FROM THIS RIVER BRIDGE.

THE TEAM IS JUST FINISHING UP A MONTH-LONG TRAINING COURSE IN EMERGENCY RESCUES.

>> WHILE I WAS REPORTING, I WAS TERRIFIED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

I WOULD NOT DO STANDUPS WITH ANY OF MY STORIES.

I WAS KIND OF THE INVISIBLE VOICE THAT WOULD GO OUT AND DO STORIES AND AT THE END SAY JULIE ZENNER, BUT NOBODY KNEW WHAT I LOOKED LIKE BECAUSE I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT.

IF I'M GOING TO STAY IN DULUTH, I MARRIED A LOCAL BOY.

I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WORK IN PUBLIC TELEVISION BECAUSE THAT WAS THE APEX OF WHAT THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE LOOKED LIKE.

AND EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE IN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

AT CHANNEL EIGHT, AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP TO FILL IN ABOUT A YEAR INTO ALMANAC NORTH.

IT STARTED AND THERE WAS UNREST WITH THE EARLY HOSTS.

HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IN.

AND EVENTUALLY, IT SEGUED INTO BEING ABLE TO DO IT EVERY WEEK.

WHICH I HAVE FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THE MOST MEMORABLE INTERVIEW I HAVE DONE WAS NOT WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS A BIG BUSINESS LEADER OR A POLITICIAN OR A VISITING CELEBRITY OR ANYBODY WHO YOU WOULD REALLY THINK OF AS IMPORTANT IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE STEVE O'NEILL APARTMENTS OPENED.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE FAMILIES WHO HAD STRUGGLED WITH HOMELESSNESS.

THE MOTHER, FATHER, AND TWO KIDS CAME ONTO THE SET AND TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO THEM TO HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

I DON'T KNOW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT FAMILY.

I LIKE TO THINK THAT WAS THE LEG UP THAT GAVE THEM ABOUT A -- AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD FROM SOME DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT THAT WAS ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT STICKS OUT IN MY MIND BECAUSE IT HIT ME AT A HARD LEVEL.

>> THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT STORY, THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU HAVE DONE.

GOOD LUCK.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> I THINK WHAT I'M PROUD OF IS ALMANAC NORTH HAS BEEN SUCH A STEADY PRESENCE OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE REALLY BROADENED OUT TO TRY TO REACH AND TELL THE STORIES AND MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE.

NOT JUST IN THE TWIN PORTS, WHERE IT IS EASY TO GET INTERVIEWS, BUT TO STRETCH OUT AND FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE VIEWING AREA.

THE VIEWING AREA COVERS A LOT OF GROUND.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THOSE FOLKS ON THE IRON RANGE AND THE CANADIAN BORDER AND IN WISCONSIN, ALMOST TO MICHIGAN, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

THAT IS THE REAL GIFT OF ALMANAC NORTH.

PEOPLE COME IN, I THINK THE SHOW HAS BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH AND DENNIS AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH, I BELIEVE PEOPLE TRUST US TO GIVE THEM A FAIR SHAKE.

AS FOR THE QUESTIONS PEOPLE IN THE STREET ARE ASKING, OPEN IT UP AND GIVE THE GUESTS TIME TO JUST RESPOND.

NOT INTERRUPT THEM, NOT TRY AND SHAPE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING, LET THEM SPILL OUT THEIR PERSPECTIVE, MAKE THEIR CASE, DEFEND THEIR POSITION, AND THE AUDIENCE CAN DECIDE.

I TRUST OUR AUDIENCE IS SMART AND WISE ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO SOMEBODY TALK AND MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND COME TO THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS.

>> WITH PBS NORTH BEING SUCH A BIG PART OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

>> OUR THREE DAUGHTERS ARE GROWN UP.

TWO ARE MARRIED.

WE HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN AND ONE ON THE WAY NOW.

PLANS ARE TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME WE CAN WITH ELI AND LUCY.

THE YET TO BE NAMED BABY.

AND I MAKE POTTERY.

I HAVE BEEN HAVING TONS OF FUN LEARNING HOW TO MAKE POTTERY.

THAT GOES BACK TO PBS.

EVERY TIME I WOULD DO A STORY ABOUT A POT, I WOULD BE MESMERIZED BY THE WHEEL.

ONE POT OR IN PARTICULAR THAT WE SAT DOWN AT HER WHEEL DOING THE STORY, I WENT WHILE, BEFORE I DIE, THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO DO.

AND ABOUT 15 YEARS LATER, MY HUSBAND AND KIDS GAVE ME A MOTHER'S DAY GIFT FOR A POTTERY CLASS AT THE ART INSTITUTE AND STARTED TAKING CLASSES THERE AND TAKING MORE CLASSES.

IT HAS BECOME A HOBBY THAT HAS TAKEN OVER MY LIFE, MY HOME, AND MY GARAGE -- [LAUGHTER] MY YARD.

IT HAS BECOME SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN MY WORLD.

THAT IS DONE FOR NOW.

I WILL MAKE THOSE GUIDELINES IN HERE, THEN THE GLAZE KIND OF CATCHES ON THE TEXTURE I PUT ON AND IT BALLS AND AN INTERESTING WAY.

I LIKE IT.

WE ARE HAPPY LIVING ON AN OLD REMODELED FARM, ENJOYING THE COUNTRY.

>> I'M JULIE ZENNER, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

FROM THE CITY OF DULUTH, THE OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION.

ALMANAC NORTH FIRST WENT ON THE AIR SEPTEMBER 11, 1992, AND HAS CONTINUED FOR MORE THAN 31 YEARS.

WHEREAS JULIE ZENNER BEGAN AS COHOST IN 1993.

WITH THE ORIGINAL HOST JACK SNYDER LAND, CONTINUING TO HOST WITH WELL-KNOWN NEWS ANCHORS DARREN DANIELS AND AND DENNIS ANDERSON.

JULIA'S THE LONGEST TENURED HOST OF ALMANAC NORTH WITH 30 YEARS ON THE AIR AND MORE THAN 1400 SHOWS HOSTED.

WHEREAS JULIE IS A TRUE JOURNALIST WHO INSISTS ON ACCURACY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY IN EVERYTHING SHE DOES, WHICH HAS KEPT ALMANAC NORTH STANDARDS HIGH.

WHEREAS ON THIS OCCASION, JULIE ZENNER'S FINAL SHOW HOSTING ALMANAC NORTH AND HER RETIREMENT FROM BROADCASTING CAREER, WE CELEBRATE JULIE.

THEREFORE I, EMILY LARSON, DO OFFICIALLY PROCLAIM DECEMBER 15, 2023 AS JULIE ZENNER DAY IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

THANK YOU.

YOU ARE INCREDIBLE.

WE WISH YOU THE BEST.

>> WHAT -- >> THAT IS AMAZING.

I SAID I WOULD NOT GET EMOTIONAL.

BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL.

THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TOO MAY OR LARSON AND MEGAN MCGARVEY FOR THAT PIECE SHE'S PUT TOGETHER.

>> WE HAVE HAD FUN WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT THINGS DO NOT ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED.

HERE IS EXHIBIT A. FOLKS, ON THE LEVEL.

>> LET ME LEVEL WITH YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> IS THIS TOO HOKEY?

-- LET'S GO OUT AND GET HAMMERED, JULIE.

JULIE: NOW WE ARE SCREWED.

ONE THING WILL NOT CHANGE.

WE WILL BRING YOU IN-DEPTH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR REGION.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT NEW LOOK.

JULIE: YOU WILL NOT HAVE LONG TO WAIT.

I SCREWED UP AGAIN.

I SAID THE SAME THING TWICE.

>> TRY IT AGAIN.

>> THE STUDIO IS A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION ZONE RIGHT NOW.

>> OUR DIRECTOR HAS BEEN PRODUCING FOR A BIG EVENT.

THE START OF -- 25TH -- [LAUGHTER] NOT EXACTLY OUR FINEST HOUR.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> OVER THE YEARS, GREG ROLL HAS LINED UP THOUSANDS OF GUESTS TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO VIEWERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO JUSTICE TO THOSE GUESTS.

HERE ARE A FEW OF HIS FAVORITE CLIPS FROM OUR EARLY YEARS.

>> ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE COME UP TO ME.

INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO'S HAD I LIVED IN THIS TOWN MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER BEEN CALLED FOR JURY DUTY.

THAT IS NOT ANYBODY'S FAULT.

THERE IS A JURY COMMISSIONER'S JOB, IT IS OPEN, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE INCLUDING EVERYBODY THERE.

THE ARGUMENT 1.6% IS NOT THAT MUCH.

IF I SAID YOU SHOULD NOT HIRE ANYONE THAT IS BLACK WORKING AT WDSE BECAUSE IT IS 1.6% OF THE POPULATION, YOU WOULD THINK I WAS OUT OF MY MIND.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NO MORE BEAUTY PAGEANTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WOMEN ARE PORTRAYED IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT, A MORE CAREER-ORIENTED AND EVENING GOWN.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE MISS AMERICA PROGRAM .

PERSONALLY, I WOULD LIKE IF THERE WERE NOT ANY MORE -- IF IT IS GOING TO BE FOR SCHOLARSHIP, NOT TO HAVE SUPERLATIVES.

>> IS THEIR WAY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WITHOUT GOING AFTER THESE PROGRAMS?

>> IF YOU DO IT OVER A LONGER TIME, AND IT IS SILLY TO HAVE TAX CUTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, YOU CAN'T DANCE AT TWO WEDDINGS AT THE SAME TIME.

THEY ARE TALKING BIG TAX CUTS.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF TAX CUTS BECAUSE WE SHOULD DO THE DEFICIT REDUCTION.

IT IS NOT TREATING PEOPLE WITH INTELLIGENCE.

YOU HAVE TO CUT THE MILITARY BUDGET.

YOU CANNOT RAISE IT.

420 $5 BILLION OF TACTICS PREDATORS.

THESE ARE THE SUBSIDIES, THE TAX DODGES THAT FLOW TO THE FINANCIAL OUR FULL INTEREST.

YOU HAVE TO CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES.

>> WELCOME TO MINNESOTA LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

I'M YOUR HOST GREG GRELL.

>> GREG GRELL, LONGTIME PERFORMER -- PRODUCER OF ALMANAC NORTH AND MY FRIEND.

YOU'RE LOOKING GREAT.

>> WHEN THEY GIVE YOU THOSE TESTS, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?

I NEVER REALLY KNEW.

I JUST DID NOT WANT A JOB I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO.

I KNEW PEOPLE, I GREW UP IN THE MINING AREA, THEY GET PAID REALLY WELL.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THEIR JOB.

OR ANYONE THAT COMPLAINS ABOUT THEIR JOBS.

I REMEMBER THINKING THE LAST I WANT IS A JOB I HATE BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR 40 YEARS.

UNLESS YOU ARE LUCKY TO RETIRE EARLY.

A RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAM HAD JUST BEEN STARTED.

SO I WAS LIKE THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING.

I WILL TRY THAT.

IT WAS NOT LONG AFTER I STARTED I REALIZED IT PROBABLY WAS SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT LONGER.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

MY FRIEND AND I, THE SAME FRIEND BEFORE THE BROADCASTING, WE WOULD WATCH THE BE GAY BEFORE WE WOULD GET INTO THE VARSITY GAME.

WE WOULD PRETEND WE WERE BROADCASTERS AND BROADCAST THE GAME.

MY FIRST JOB AFTER I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I WANTED TO GO INTO SPORTS BROADCASTING.

I DID GET A JOB IN SPORTS BROADCASTING MY FIRST JOB.

I WAS WORKING FOR A SMALL TV STATION IN FAIRMONT, MINNESOTA.

CHANNEL 28, IT WAS CALLED A LOW POWER STATION.

ONLY BROADCASTING IN A SMALL AREA.

THE IDEA WAS FOR SMALLER TOWNS THAT DID NOT HAVE COVERAGE FOR LOCAL NEWS, THEY CAN HAVE A LOCAL NEWS STATION.

AFTER ABOUT A YEAR, I STARTED LOOKING FOR A JOB IN SPORTS.

SEVEN DAYS AFTER GOING ON THE AIR, THEY PULLED THE NEWS OPERATION.

SUDDENLY I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB.

I STARTED LOOKING BUT I WAS LOOKING IN SPORTS.

I STARTED LOOKING FOR A JOB IN DULUTH.

THE SAME FRIEND WHO HAD GOT ME INTERESTED IN TELEVISION WAS WORKING AS A WEEKEND WEATHERMAN.

HE TOLD ME THEY'VE GOT A PRODUCER OPENING.

I THOUGHT I HAVE BEEN PRODUCING SPORTS, I CAN PROBABLY PRODUCE NEWS.

I APPLIED AND GOT THE JOB.

EVERY MOTHER'S NOT -- NIGHTMARE, THE ROTTEN PAIR OF SNEAKERS FALLING OFF THE KIDS FOOT.

TRYING TO BUY THEM A NEW PAIR, IT SITS IN THE CLOSET.

NOW THEY HAVE A CONTEST TO FIND OUT WHO'S CHINESE SMELL THE WORST.

HERE'S GREG GRELL WITH THE VICTORY AND AGONY OF DEFEAT.

>> THEY COME FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE -- I PRODUCED FOR SEVEN YEARS BEFORE I CAME HERE.

I WAS WORKING AS A NEWS PRODUCER AND EVENTUALLY EXECUTIVE NEWS PRODUCER, SO I ONLY HAD TO PRODUCE THE 6:00 NEWS AND HELP THE 10:00 PRODUCER.

IT WAS MORE OF A DAYSHIFT.

THE OPENING CAME UP HERE AT WDSE, NOW PBS NORTH.

THEY WERE STARTING A SHOW MODELED ON THE TWIN CITIES AND LOOKING FOR A PRODUCER.

I WAS HIRED IN JUNE OF 1992.

31.5 YEARS LATER, I'M STILL PRODUCING THE SHOW.

BECAUSE I WORKED IN LOCAL NEWS, THAT IS A DEADLINE GRIND THAT PEOPLE GO BACK TO THE SAME VOICES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THEY KNOW I CAN GET THIS PERSON TO TALK ABOUT THIS.

WHAT I'VE ALWAYS TRY TO DO IS FIND NEW VOICES THAT MAY NOT BE THE ONES YOU ARE HEARING EVERY NIGHT.

CITY COUNCILORS, MAYORS, YOU WILL HAVE THEM ON THE SHOW BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS TRY TO REACH OUT AND FIND DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THAT HAS BEEN MADE EASIER SINCE WE HAVE INTERNET ACCESS.

BACK IN THE DAY I WOULD CALL PEOPLE.

DO YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ABOUT THIS -- NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE ARCHIVES.

WE HAD OVER 200 SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS.

SOME REPEAT GUESTS.

200 DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE SHOW.

DOCUMENTARIES, THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.

I'M A HISTORY GEEK.

DULUTH HAS SO MUCH HISTORY IT IS AMAZING.

THE MINING IN THE LOGGING IN THE SHIPPING, THAT IS FASCINATING.

THE NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY IN OUR REGION IS STRONG.

BECAUSE I LOVE HISTORY, IT HAS BEEN FUN.

I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH TONY DURKIN'S, ON THE LOST DULUTH SERIES.

THEN WE DID OTHER IRON RANGE DOCUMENTARIES.

LOST IRON RANGE, LOST MINING TOWNS.

ONE OF MY FAVORITES I DID PROBABLY 10 YEARS AGO WAS MINNESOTA HOCKEY, LAND OF 10,000 RINKS.

THAT WAS FUN TO DIVE INTO THE CULTURE OF HOCKEY IN OUR REGION, WHICH IS A DEEP SUBJECT.

THE DOCUMENTARY WAS A HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS FUN.

I THINK A LOT OF THE FIELD REPORTS, I INTERVIEWED A GENTLEMAN FOR ONE OF MY DOCUMENTARIES.

THERE IS A FAMOUS SHIP THAT WENT UP AND DOWN THE NORTH SHORE.

HE WAS A WHEELS MEANT.

HE MUST'VE BEEN IN HIS 90'S.

HE STEERED THE BOAT UP AND DOWN THE NORTH SHORE.

HE WAS A WHEELS MAN.

IT WAS FASCINATING TO TALK WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS PRESENT FOR THAT HISTORY.

>> WE GOT UP TO PORT ARTHUR AND FORT WILLIAM.

WENT UP MISSION CREEK.

WE HAD TO GO UP THAT CHANNEL.

IF IT WAS FOGGY, HE WOULD MOVE AND LISTEN FOR THE ECHO OF A CERTAIN ELEVATOR AND HE COULD TELL WHERE HE WAS.

I DID NOT LIKE THAT NATURALLY, BUT WE MADE IT.

>> PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>> IT NEVER GETS OLD.

HE'S GOT SUCH A GOOD VOICE.

>> I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO WORK AND BROADCAST.

I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS OFTEN FROM MY FIRST JOB THROUGH MY FINAL DAYS.

ALL OF THE COOL PEOPLE I GOT TO MEET AND THE INTERESTING THINGS I GET TO RESEARCH.

THINGS I WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO DO ANYWAY, I GET PAID TO DO.

I KNOW IT WILL BE WEIRD WHEN I WAKE UP AND I DON'T HAVE TO COME INTO WORK ANYMORE.

I THINK IT IS THE PEOPLE I WILL MISS MOST.

EVERY DAY HAS BEEN DIFFERENT AND FASCINATING.

DEFINITELY BACK TO MY ORIGINAL PLAN OF NOT HAVING A JOB I DREADED GOING TO EVERY DAY.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

>> THAT WAS FUN.

>> GREG AND JULIE, YOU ARE BOTH GOING TO BE MISSED AT PBS NORTH.

SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ON YOUR RETIREMENTS.

IN THIS VIDEO PRODUCED BY MEGAN MCGARVEY.

>> SUCH A MASTER CLASS AND HOW TO INTERVIEW PEOPLE.

GETTING TO SEE THAT IS SUCH A GREAT EDUCATION FOR MYSELF, MY CREW, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS HAD THE JOY OF GETTING TO WORK WITH HER.

THERE WILL NOT BE AN ITERATION OF THE SHOW WHERE GREG AND JULIE'S INFLUENCE WON'T BE IN THE DNA.

THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

THEIR INFLUENCE WILL BE SEEN FOR GENERATIONS.

AS THE SHOW KEEPS CHANGING IN THE FUTURE AND AS THINGS KEEP MOVING, I'M SO GRATEFUL WE'VE HAD THIS TIME TOGETHER AND GONE TO CROSS EACH OTHER'S PATHS.

I WISH PEOPLE SO MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

>> GREG GRILL WAS ON THE COMMITTEE THAT HELPED HIRE ME AT PBS NORTH.

THE TEMPO OF WHAT I WAS DOING AS DIRECTOR WAS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS FOR ALMANAC NORTH.

AS A RESULT, I KEPT ON SCREWING UP.

GREG WAS ALWAYS REINFORCING THAT I WAS DOING A GOOD JOB.

GREG HAD HIS SENSE OF HUMOR, POSITIVE OUTLOOK.

AND HE ACTUALLY MADE ME STAY.

HE'S THE REASON I'M STILL HERE.

GREG, THANK YOU FOR BACKING ME UP.

JULIE HAS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS OF WORKING WITH ALMANAC NORTH, BEEN SO KIND AND SWEET TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED, EVERYONE WAS A PART OF THE TEAM.

SHE WOULD BRING IN POTTERY AND GIVE THEM AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF HER HEART, HER TIME AND EFFORT, JULIE IS A GENUINE HUMAN.

I CANNOT SAY ANYTHING MORE ABOUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO MISS THEM SO MUCH.

>> JULIE IS AN INCREDIBLY PROFESSIONAL PERSON BUT HAS A REALLY FUN SIDE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MOMENTS OVER THE YEARS, GETTING READY FOR SHOWS WHERE WE WILL HAVE A LOT -- HERE ARE RANDOM LAUGHED, AND YOU HAVE TO INVESTIGATE WHY.

IT IS ALWAYS ENTERTAINING STUFF.

>> TIME FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

-- >> I GET TO READ THIS.

[LAUGHTER] JULIE: IT IS TIME FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

>> I WORK WITH GREG ON VOICES OF THE REGION.

EVERY WEEK, HE TALKS TO THESE DIFFERENT REPORTERS FROM ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY THE CAMARADERIE HE HAS WITH THESE REPORTERS, THE KNOWLEDGE HE BRINGS TO IT TO UNEARTH SOME OF THEIR STORIES.

IT SHOWS HOW LONG GREG HAS BEEN IN THE REGION AND THE HISTORY.

>> WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO DULUTH, THERE WAS A PARTY, PICNIC IN THE PARKING LOT ON A SPRING DAY.

I DECIDED TO STOP BY.

THE FIRST PERSON I MET WAS GREG GRELL.

WE STARTED CHATTING UP THE BUSINESS.

HE SAID LOOK, WE HAVE AN OPENING IN PRODUCTION.

ON THE RECEPTION TABLE WAS A LITTLE LATE BY 11 PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAID PART-TIME PRODUCTION HELP-WANTED.

BY HIM POINTING THAT OUT AND TALKING TO ME AND SAYING YOU SHOULD TALK TO JASON, FOUR YEARS LATER HERE I AM.

I DID NOT EXPECT WITH EVERYONE RETIRING THAT I WOULD BE LEFT AS THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE STATION.

SO THANKS FOR THAT, JULIE AND GREG.

>> WHENEVER I DO A SEGMENT ON ALMANAC NORTH, TALK ABOUT DOCUMENTARIES OR WHATEVER, THERE'S USUALLY OTHER GUESTS IN THE GREEN ROOM.

HE'S SO GOOD AT MAKING PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

HE IS WARM AND ENTHUSIASTIC.

PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS.

THEY HAVE TO BE ON TV.

TO HIM IT IS JUST -- IT IS HIS LIFE, NO BIG DEAL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYONE WHO IS SO GOOD AT MAKING NERVOUS PEOPLE FEEL AT EASE FOR THEM TO GO ON TV.

>> JULIE, IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR REMARKABLE CAREER.

YOUR PRESENCE IN THE WORLD OF JOURNALISM HAS BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY.

THROUGHOUT YOUR TENURE, YOU HAD AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING NEWS WITH INTEGRITY, ACCURACY, AND GRACE, PROVIDING A STEADFAST SOURCE OF TRUTH AND RELIABILITY TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

WHAT TRULY SETS YOU APART IS YOUR ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

YOU POSSESS THE RARE GIFT OF MAKING EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR EXPERTISE, FEEL SEEN, HEARD, AND VALUED.

YOUR DEPARTURE LEAVES A VOID THAT WOULD BE CHALLENGING TO FILL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEADFAST DEDICATION.

YOUR ILLUMINATING INSIGHTS, AND SMILE THAT HAS GRACED OUR SCREENS FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

WE WILL MISS YOU DEARLY BUT COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR YOU AS YOU EXPLORE YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE.

GREG, AS YOU STEP BACK FROM YOUR REMARKABLE CAREER, WE BID YOU A JOYFUL FAREWELL.

YOUR STEADY DEDICATION AND LOYALTY HAVE LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON OUR STATION, CREATING A LEGACY THAT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE TELEVISION SCREEN.

YOUR KINDNESS, POSITIVITY, AND WARM SMILE YOU BRING HAS BEEN THE GLUE THAT HELD US TOGETHER THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

NEVER HAVE I SEEN ANYONE SO RESILIENT, WHICH HAS INSPIRED ALL OF US.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT PBS NORTH BEING THE STORYTELLERS OF THE REGION, YOU ARE AT THE TOP.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR WORDS REACHED HEARTS AND MINDS IN WAYS IMMEASURABLE.

YOUR GENUINE PASSION FOR STORYTELLING COUPLED WITH AN INFECTIOUS ENTHUSIASM TURNED MONDAY MOMENTS INTO MEMORABLE ONES.

WHILE YOU MOVE INTO THIS NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE, MAY YOUR RETIREMENT BE FILLED WITH ADVENTURES AND JOY THAT YOU RICHLY DESERVE.

TAKE A BOW FOR A CAREER WELL LIVED AND THE COUNTLESS LIVES YOU HAVE TOUCHED ALONG THE WAY.

♪ JULIE: I THINK BOTH GREG AND I ARE TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE LEAVING, "ALMANAC NORTH" IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

IT WILL CONTINUE WITH A NEW HOST AND PRODUCER.

JOINING US IS MARIA HEWITT, YOUR NEW HOST WORKING WITH DANNY.

GREG IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PRODUCER AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

I SEE THEY'VE ALREADY ISSUED YOU THE UNIFORM.

YOU ARE GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] >> LIKE JULIE.

>> SHE BROUGHT THE NOTE.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE THINKING A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT AS YOU SIT HERE AND WATCH ALL OF THESE TRIBUTES.

>> THE FIRST WAS WATCHING THAT AND SEE HOW IT WAS MAKING EVERYONE ELSE NOT BE NERVOUS.

I'M NERVOUS TONIGHT.

BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.

MEGAN DID A FANTASTIC JOB SHE IS OUR ASSOCIATE PRODUCER.

SHE PRODUCED 90% OF THE VIDEOS ON TONIGHT'S SHOW.

SHE FOUND PEOPLE I HAVE NOT SEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

IT WAS AMAZING.

>> FOR THE PEOPLE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOUR NEWS BACKGROUND, REFRESH PEOPLE'S MEMORIES A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM AND WHY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE SHOW.

>> I GOT MY DEGREE IN JOURNALISM.

MY FIRST JOB IN JOURNALISM BROUGHT ME TO DULUTH AT WDI OH.

I WAS THERE FIVE YEARS.

I WAS A NEWS REPORTER FOR SEVERAL YEARS COVERING WISCONSIN STORIES.

THEN I MOVED TO THE MORNING SHOW.

I COVERED THE MORNING STORIES AND ANCHORED DOWN THE DESK FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

THEN THAT SCHEDULE GOT A LITTLE DIFFICULT.

SO I MOVED ON.

AS DARREN DANIELSON SAID, IT PULLS YOU BACK.

IT IS IN YOUR BLOOD.

>> I MET YOU BACK IN YOUR DAYS AS A REPORTER.

WE DID THE SHOW AT K WS TALKING ABOUT REGIONAL NEWS.

WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER QUITE WELL.

IT IS COOL.

JULIE: WHAT IS YOUR NEWS PHILOSOPHY AS YOU COME INTO THIS NEW POSITION?

>> I THINK SOMETHING THAT DREW ME TO THIS POSITION AND THIS DESK IS THE LONGER FORMAT.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE MORNING SHOW IS THE INTERVIEWS EVERY DAY.

WE WOULD BRING IN LIVE GUESTS.

THEY WERE SHORT, THREE MINUTES.

SO YOU WOULD JUST START THE CONVERSATION AT HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.

AND I FELT LIKE WE WERE KINDRED SPIRITS TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU LIKED TO LET PEOPLE TALK AND LET THE CONVERSATION FLOW.

THERE IS SO MUCH YOU CAN LEARN FROM JUST LETTING PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORIES AND GIVING THEM THE PLATFORM TO DO THAT AND LETTING THE AUDIENCE DECIDE.

THAT IS WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT.

>> IT WILL BE WONDERFUL WORKING FOR YOU, A GREAT PHILOSOPHY.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

JULIE: GREG, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PERSON MOVING INTO YOUR POSITION?

THOSE ARE BIG SHOES TO FILLED.

>> HE WILL START AT THE END OF THE MONTH, HIS NAME IS CHRIS BROWN.

HE'S WORKING IN MICHIGAN AT A TV STATION.

HE'S A NORTHLAND NATIVE.

HE WILL BE PRODUCING THE NEW VERSION OF ALMANAC NORTH.

THE SHOW WILL TAKE ABOUT 1.5 MONTHS OFF.

THEY WILL BUILD A NEW SET IN STUDIO.

I WILL BE WORKING WITH BROWNIE, AS HE LIKES TO BE CALLED.

WE WILL GET HIM KIND OF STARTED ON JANUARY 5.

THE REST OF THE CREW HERE WILL ALL BE CREATING A NEW SHOW, A NEW VERSION OF THE SHOW.

NOT A BRAND-NEW SHOW, BUT A NEW VERSION.

>> OUR PART IS EASY.

WE COME OUT HERE, YOU DO THE HARD WORK LINING UP THE GUESTS AND DOING THE WRITING.

POINTING US IN THE DIRECTION OF SOME RESEARCH.

AND I FILLED IN A COUPLE OF TIMES, SO I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THE NEW PRODUCER COMING IN?

>> AS I SAID IN THE INTERVIEW, TO ME IT IS OUR JOB HERE TO BRING NEW VOICES TO THE TABLE.

WE WILL ALWAYS TALK WITH POLITICIANS AND PEOPLE IN THE NEWS.

WE CAN TALK WITH SOMEBODY WITH A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OR POINT OF VIEW, IT IS BRINGING MORE INFORMATION TO THE VIEWERS.

>> WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME.

IT WILL BE A BIG LOSS NOT WORKING WITH YOU REGULARLY BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY YEARS.

>> I FEEL THE SAME WAY, BUT I'M NOT MOVING.

I'M STAYING IN TOWN.

WE CAN GET BREAKFAST OR SOMETHING.

>> MARIA, WELCOME TO THE SHOW.

>> I HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

>> I'M THRILLED YOU WILL STICK WITH THE SHOW GOING FORWARD AND YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO BUILD A NEW PROGRAM.

>> WE WILL DO OUR BEST.

>> IT IS IN GOOD HANDS.

>> BEFORE GREG AND JULIE SIGN OFF FOR GOOD, ONE MORE VIDEO FOR YOU.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, JULIE AND GREG.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS GREG AND JULIE ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

YOU DESERVE IT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THAT IS IT.

IT HAS BEEN A GREAT NIGHT.

MY PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.

THANKS FOR 12 WONDERFUL YEARS.

>> IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND JOY TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE OTHERS I HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WORK WITH.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE IT.

FOR DENNIS ANDERSON, DARREN DANIELSON, JACK SUNDERLAND, MEGAN MCGARVEY, AJAY LARSON, THE STUDIO CREW, AND THE ENTIRE STAFF, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

♪