JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER ALONG WITH DENNIS ANDERSON, HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON ALMANAC NORTH.

DENNY: AFRICAN HERITAGE CAUSES ARE GETTING A BIG BOOST FROM THE DULUTH SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S "UNITY FUND", WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE.

JULIE: WE'LL HAVE A SPECIAL "INTERSECTIONS" STORY ON A GROUND-BREAKING DULUTH POLICE OFFICER AND HER EFFORTS THAT WON EQUAL PAY FOR FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS.

DENNY: AND WE'LL TAKE A TOUR OF THE SAPPI MILL IN CLOQUET, A PROUD COMPANY WITH A LONG HISTORY IN WOOD CITY.

JULIE: THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH!

HELLO AND WELCOME TO ALMANAC NORTH, THANKS FOR WATCHING!

DENNY, THE RAIN THIS WEEK REALLY HAS OUR LAWNS GREENING UP QUICKLY.

DENNY: I LIKE SEEING THAT, I LOVE SPRING, A GOOD TIME OF THE YEAR.

JULIE: IF WE COULD GET SUNSHINE TO GO ALONG WITH IT I THINK THINGS WOULD TAKE OFF.

DENNY: THEY ARE SAYING SO ON SATURDAYS LET'S KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.

JULIE: LET'S BEGIN WITH THE HEADLINES.

DENNY: THANKS JULIE!

A MINNESOTA HOUSE-SENATE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE HAS AGREED ON A $3-BILLION DOLLAR TAX BILL THAT WILL SEND MONEY BACK TO TAXPAYERS.

FAMILIES THAT MEET INCOME THRESHOLDS WILL RECEIVE TAX CREDITS FOR CHILDREN, AND MANY WILL SEE MINNESOTA'S TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME ELIMINATED.

$260 INDIVIDUAL REBATE CHECKS ARE ALSO PART OF THE TAX DEAL.

JULIE: ESSENTIA HEALTH CEO DR. DAVID HERMAN TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON D.C.

THIS WEEK TO TESTIFY BEFORE A SENATE SUBCOMITTEE.

HERMAN TESTIFIED TO THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE WEDNESDAY ABOUT ISSUES FACING RURAL HEALTH CARE.

HERMAN SPOKE ABOUT VALUE-BASED HEALTH CARE THAT EMPHASIZES KNOWING YOUR PATIENTS AND WHAT THEY NEED AND DELIVERING THAT CARE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

DENNY: CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK TO REPLACE A BRIDGE ON MINNESOTA HIGHWAY 73 SOUTH OF HIBBING.

THE HIGHWAY WILL BE FULLY CLOSED AT THE WEST SWAN RIVER BRIDGE JUST NORTH OF COUNTY ROAD 16 UNTIL EARLY SEPTEMBER.

A DETOUR WILL DIRECT MOTORISTS TO HIGHWAY 169 TO HIGHWAY 65 SOUTH TO COUNTY ROAD 18 TO GET AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE.

JULIE: AND THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS LOOKING FOR MUSICIANS TO TAKE PART IN THE SECOND "MAKE MUSIC SUPERIOR" DAY ON JUNE TWENTY FIRST.

SUPERIOR'S EVENT IS PART OF THE GLOBAL "MAKE MUSIC DAY", A CELEBRATION ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE EACH YEAR.

INTERESTED MUSICIANS CAN SIGN UP FOR THE EVENT AT MAKEMUSICDAY.ORG/SUPERIOR DENNY: THE "UNITY FUND" OF THE DULUTH SUPERIOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WAS CREATED TO SUPPORT THE AFRICAN HERITAGE COMMUNITY IN THE TWIN PORTS AND THE IRON RANGE.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF FUNDRAISING AND PLANNING, THE UNITY FUND IS NOW READY TO CREATY OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION.

HERE WITH MORE IS SALAAM WITHERSPOON, THE UNITY FUND COMMITTEE CHAIR.

AND CARL CRAWFORD IS A UNITY FUND COMMITTEE MEMBER AND DULUTH'S HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER.

WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING HERE!

GUEST: THANK YOU.

DENNY: GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

WHAT IS A UNITY FUND ALL ABOUT?

>> OPPORTUNITY FOR AFRICAN HERITAGE FOLKS TO INVEST IN OURSELVES.

WE CAN SUPPORT LOCAL INITIATIVES THAT ARE TO CREATE EVENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

JULIE: CARL, WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD UNITY IN THE TITLE WHAT IS THAT MEAN TO YOU?

HOW DOES THAT ADVANCE THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THIS REGION?

GUEST: THANK YOU JULIE, UNITY IS A POWERFUL WORD, THE MOST IMPORTANT LETTER IN THE MIDDLE IS I THAT BRINGS US ALL TOGETHER.

IT IS TO CREATE UNITY IN OUR CITY.

DENNY: WHAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE?

GUEST: WE ARE EXCITED A SHORT TWO YEARS AGO WE WERE RIGHT HERE ON THE STAGE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE UNITY FUND.

NOW WE HAD A MATCH, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW EXCITED WE ARE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE POINT TO GIVE THOSE FUNDS TO OUR COMMUNITY DEGRADES IN CHANGE.

JULIE: CARL GAVE THE OPENING STATEMENT.

>> THE FUNDS ARE MATCHED, BUT IT IS, WE TAKE A LOOK A PROCESS OF GRANT MAKING.

ACCESSIBILITY.

IT GIVES OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VERY EXPERIENCED IN WRITING GRANTS.

IT WILL FUND SOME THINGS THAT NORMALLY GRANTS DO NOT COVER.

LIKE COMMUNITY AFRICAN HERITAGE SPECIFIC EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, MAYBE EDUCATION OR SUSTAINABILITY OF SOMETHING ELSE.

I HOPE.

DENNY: WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

I AM SURE HAS TO BE APPLIED FOR.

GUEST: RIGHT NOW THERE IS A PLACE ON THE WEBSITE TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDS.

.

AT THE UNITY FUNDS.

THROUGH THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FOUNDATION.

THERE IS A PROCESS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT IS, WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE ARE CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL WAYS OF FOLKS HOW SUPPLY AND RECEIVE FUNDING.

WE LOOK AT IT THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS TO REMOVE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT STOP YOU BEFORE YOU START.

JULIE: YOU MENTION SOME OF THE POSSIBLE USES FOR THE FUNDS.

DO YOU HAVE PRIORITIES SET UP AS FAR AS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO WEIGH THOSE APPLICATIONS THAT COME IN AND THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS YOU WANT TO FIND?

-- FUND?

GUEST: I WOULD NOT SAY PRIORITIES.

WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON HISTORY, PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PIECES LIKE HISTORY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE MAYBE STARTING WITH IDEAS FOR BUSINESSES.

FURTHERING EDUCATION.

WE ARE STILL DIVING INTO WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS.

HOPEFULLY, IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.

DENNY: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE HERITAGE CAUSES AND DULUTH SUPERIOR?

>> THE HISTORICAL FACTORS WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THAT NEED MORE SUPPORT UNTIL THE REAL NARRATIVE OF DULUTH THE ENDS, -- DULUTHIANS.

THE OTHER OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE IS TO RECOGNIZE AN AMAZING PARTNERSHIP NOT ONLY WITH THE DULUTH SUPERIOR FOUNDATION AND THE GRANDMAS.

THE WAY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING JUNETEENTH TO BRING -- REACH MORE OF AN AUDIENCE THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT WILL BE GOING ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRANDMAS THAT RAISES THE PROFILE OF JUNE 15 -- JUNETEENTH.

>> IT WILL BE THE SECOND ANNUAL ELDERS LUNCHEON, FRIDAY, 1130 TO 1:00, WE RECOGNIZE THE SICK THERE CAN VALUES OUR ELDERS BRING TO THE TABLE.

WE HAVE CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH IN DULUTH WELL BEFORE THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE KEPT THE TRADITION ALIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS TIME TO RECOGNIZE.

DENNY: WHAT TYPES OF CONVERSATION SHOULD BE READ -- WE BE HAVING IN OUR HOMES RELATIVE TO HUMAN RIGHTS?

>> MOST SUPPORT AND WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT WHY THE CONVERSATION MATTERS.

HOW DO WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER?

HOW DO WE KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS?

MOST OF US DO NOT KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS ANYMORE.

THERE WAS A TIME GROWING UP WE KNEW WHO THE NEIGHBORS WERE AND WHO THE KIDS WERE AND WE CONNECTED ON THAT.

SO OFTEN WE CLOSE THE DOOR DID NOT KNOW WHY NEIGHBORS ARE.

IT IS TIME FOR US TO GET BACK OUT AND UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY.

JULIE: ONE OTHER THING SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS FUND IS IT IS LED BY MEMBERS OF THE AFRICAN HERITAGE COMMUNITY.

WHY IS THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE WHOLE THING?

THAT YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP AND HOW THESE FUNDS ARE BEING USED IN THE COMMUNITY?

>> BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO THE SAME, IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE TABLE YOU WILL BE ON THE MENU.

THE OWNERSHIP IS NO IMPORTANT -- SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED.

THERE ARE STIGMATIZED COMMUNITIES IN AREAS ARE NOT SPECIFIC TO OUR NEEDS, WE HAVE TO ADJUST TO IT.

THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY I NEED THIS AND THIS.

I DO NOT NEED THAT.

DENNY: I AM SURE WE FIND RACISM IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHAT IS BEING DONE IN OUR SCHOOLS TO BATTLE RACISM?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON, WHAT GOING ON, I DO NOT THINK ANYONE IS TO BLAME FOR IT.

THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE AWARENESS.

PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY PARENTS NEED TO GO AND BE MORE INVOLVED.

MORE SO THE NEED TO KNOW THEY ARE ABLE TO BE INVOLVED.

DENNY:.

THAT IS NICE TO HEAR.

JULIE: YOU HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE MET THE MATCH WITH THE DUE SUPERIOR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

I IMAGINE -- DULUTH SUPERIOR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BUT I IMAGINE FUNDRAISING CONTINUES.

>> DO NOT STOP NOW.

JULIE: IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE OR DONATE WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO THE WEBSITE AND GIVE, WE WILL HAVE A BOOTH AT GRANDMAS.

MORE IMPORTANT, STOP AND PAUSE, WHEN IT IS TIME TO GIVE, THINK OF THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

DENNY: THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

GUEST: THANK YOU.

JULIE: NEXT, A STORY FROM PBS NORTH'S "INTERSECTIONS" SERIES, WHICH FOCUSES ON LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO INSPIRE US WITH STORIES OF OVERCOMING ADVERSITY.

TONIGHT WE MEET A RETIRED DULUTH POLICE OFFICER WHO HELPED BRING EQUAL PAY TO FEMALE OFFICERS.

VIDEOGRAPHER - EDITOR TOMAS SODERBERG BRINGS US DONETTA WICKSTROM'S STORY: >> MY HUSBAND AND I WERE CONTEMPLATING SELLING THE HOME WE WERE IN AND NOTHING IN YOUR HOME.

WE WENT TO A BANK IN DULUTH.

DURING THE APPLICATION PROCESS THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE CANNOT COUNT YOUR SALARY.

I SAID WHAT?

HIS COMMENT WAS YOU ARE IN YOUR CHILDBEARING YEARS.

I SAID TO HIM WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND THAT IS WHAT WE INTEND TO KEEP AS OUR FAMILY.

>> BUT YOU CAN STILL GET PREGNANT.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A LETTER FROM YOUR DOCTOR SAYING YOU HAD HAD A HYSTERECTOMY AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHILDREN , THEN WE COULD COUNT YOUR SALARY.

I TURNED MY HUSBAND AND I SAID, WE ARE OUT OF HERE.

I THINK THAT WAS A SPARK FOR SOME OF MY LATER ATTITUDE AND EXPRESSIONS WITH REGARD TO SEEKING TO HAVE THE PAY EQUALIZED.

BUT ALSO TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT.

I WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE.

WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A POLICE OFFICER ARRIVED, I REALLY FELT LIKE I COULD DO SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHEN I BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE SERGEANT EXAM.

IT ALSO REFERS TO WHEN I FILED A LAWSUIT WITH THE MINNESOTA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR EQUALIZED PAY WITH THE PATROLMAN AND FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCEMENT.

>> WHEN I GOT DONE WATCHING IT I WANTED TO GO AND HUG HER, THANK YOU FOR PAY BEING THE WAY FOR US AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

DOUBLE THANK YOU CAUSE MY DAUGHTER IS NOW A POLICE OFFICER IN THE CITY OF DULUTH.

SHE PAVED THE WAY FOR BOTH OF US.

WE HAVE COME SO FAR.

HER PAY WAS NOT THE SAME, SHE WAS DOING THE EXACT SAME JOB AND NOT GETTING PAID FOR IT.

>> THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSED THE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

I HAD GONE TO MY UNION, AND I HAD ASKED THEM TO SEEK EQUALIZED PAY.

THE COMMENTS I GOT BACK WORK, WELL, THERE ARE OTHER OFFICERS WHO ARE IN SPECIALTY FIELDS.

THEY NEED TO COME FIRST.

JUST HANG IN THERE, AND MAYBE SOMEDAY.

I COMMENTED, YOU DO NOT JUST SOMEDAY ADHERENCE TO A FEDERAL LAW.

THE UNION CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT WAS COMING UP IN THAT MONTH IN DECEMBER.

1971 I THINK IT WAS.

THE UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS PRESENT.

THEY SAID, WELL, YEAH.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE THE WOMEN THAT, IT IS FINE, DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE MEN.

THEY APPROVED IT FOR THAT CONTRACT.

THE FIRST READING WAS SIGNED.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT MEETING, 10 MORE EXPERIENCED SENIOR OFFICERS ON THE PLEASED APARTMENT FILED -- POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED A COMPANION -- COMPLAINT WITH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DEMAND THEY RESCIND THE APPROVAL OF THE RACE TO BRING US INTO COMPLIANCE.

THE COMMENT WAS NO WOMAN COULD DO MY JOB.

WHAT WOULD MY WIFE THINK IF I WORKED WITH A FEMALE OFFICER IN PATROL?

I LOOKED AT HIM, AND SAID THAT IS NOT MY PROBLEM.

I WILL DEAL WITH MY HUSBAND.

YOU DEAL WITH YOUR WIFE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME.

IT WAS THE TIMES.

IT WAS HANGING ONTO THE WAY THINGS WERE IN THE PAST.

IT TOOK 4 YEARS TO GET THAT FILING INTO COURT FOR A HEARING.

WE RESOLVED THE LAWSUIT WITH THE STATE AND THE CITY FOR EQUAL PAY.

IT WAS AUTOMATIC.

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE COURT CASE MADE IT.

HE DID NOT WANT TO TACKLE THE PROMOTIONAL ELEMENT OF IT.

HE SAID I WANT THE CITY AND THE UNION TO AGREE.

EVEN THOUGH WE DISAGREED ON SOME THINGS, HE SAID, I CAN SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.

AND HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD THAT SAID.

I RECOMMEND THAT ALL THE POLICEWOMEN RANK BE CHANGED TO POLICE OFFICER.

AND THAT THEIR DATE OF TENURE BEGINS WITH THEIR DATE OF HIRE.

THEY AGREED.

THE CITY COUNCIL AGREED.

AFTER THAT DATE I WAS ELIGIBLE TO TAKE THE SERGEANTS TEST AND THE LIEUTENANT TEST.

IT WAS A GOOD JOB.

I HAD WONDERFUL HARD-WORKING OFFICERS.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

AS A RESULT I GOT A LOT OF BIRTHDAY CAKES, TOO.

JULIE: SAPPI PAPER IN CLOQUET CELEBRATED A MILESTONE THIS WEEK TURNING 125 YEARS OLD!

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY AND VIDEOGRAPHER ISAAC QUICK GOT AN INSIDE LOOK INTO HOW THE SAPPI PAPER MILL HAS INCORPORATED ITS PAST INTO INNOVATING FOR THEIR FUTURE!

>> REINVENTION AND INNOVATION HAVE IN THE TWO PILLARS FOR SAPPI PAPER IN CLOQUET AFTER 125 YEARS OF EXISTING.

>> IT WAS BUILT ON THE BANKS OF THE ST. LOUIS RIVER.

IF YOU EVER NOTICE WITH A PAPER MILL THEY ARE ALWAYS BUILT AROUND A LARGE BODY OF WATER.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS HIS -- IS IT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WATER TO MAKE PAPER.

NORTHWEST PAPER STARTED OFF WITH THREE ORIGINAL PAPER MACHINES 90 INCHES WIDE EACH.

THIS WAS BUILT IN THE 1930'S.

SINCE THEN IT HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE UPGRADES, LIVE UPGRADES, MODERNIZATION PRODUCTS.

THIS MACHINE IS MEGAN THE COVER WAITS.

ANY -- IS MAKING THE COVER WEIGHTS.

WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE MAGAZINE AND YOU SEE THE THREE BY FIVE CARD FOLLOW THE MAGAZINE COMES AS A FLIGHT CARD.

IT IS MADE BY THIS MACHINE.

IT CAN BE A 238 POUND COVER.

IPHOTO ALBUM, SO THEY COME SHUTTERFLY, A LOT OF THAT CAN BE MADE ON THIS MACHINE RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS THE AUTOMATIC ROLE STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM.

ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF AUTOMATION.

504 STORAGE PHASING HERE, EVERY FOLL HAS A BARCODE -- ROLL AS A BARCODE ON THE END.

EACH ONE THE WAKE OF A CAR.

-- WEIGHT OF A CAR.

>> IN 2005, THE PAPER INDUSTRY CHANGED COMPLETELY.

FACEBOOK HAS NORTH OF 2 BILLION SUBSCRIBERS.

ADVERTISING CHANGED COMPLETELY.

ALL ADS WERE ONLINE.

PEOPLE WERE UTILIZING FACEBOOK.

IN 201 -- 2007 THE IPHONE WAS RELEASED.

YOU HAVE A PORTABLE DEVICE TO SOCIALLY INTERACT WITH ANYBODY.

AGAIN ADVERTISERS WERE ALL OVER THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE PRODUCTION OF CODED GRAPHIC PAPERS, CODED MECHANICAL PAPERS, THE VOLUMES FROM 2005 UNTIL NOW HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE COMPLETELY.

A LOT OF MILL CLOSURES OCCURRED FROM THIS POINT FORWARD.

WE HAVE TO ADAPT FROM THAT.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE.

EVEN THESE TWO THINGS HAPPENED, WERE SIGNIFICANT IN THE PAPER INDUSTRY.

2013 WAS THE BIG EVENT.

THAT WAS WHEN WE TOOK THE PULP MILL AND CONVERTED INTO DISSOLVING PULP A $175 MILLION PROJECT.

IT CHANGED THE FACE OF WHAT WE DO HERE.

WE MAKE A BRAND CALLED VRV.

IT IS VERY UNIQUE, VERY HIGH-QUALITY, USE AS A RAW MATERIAL FOR MAKING REAL.

-- RAYON.

IT IS A SYNTHETIC MATERIAL USED TO MAKE TEXTILES.

THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR, THE LINENS THAT YOU BUY.

>> THIS RIGHT NOW WE ARE MAKING OUR PRODUCT.

IT IS MORE FOR THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY.

THIS GETS USED AND MADE INTO RAYON.

A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR SOME OF THE DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

THIS IS OUR FINISHED PRODUCT.

IT IS ABOUT, ON AVERAGE, 68 TIMES THICKNESS -- 6-8 TIMES THE THICKNESS OF NORMAL PAPER.

IT IS WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS NEED.

NEAR CELLULOSE, NOT THE HEAVY CELLULOSE.

>> THICK ABOUT 125 YEARS WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE WORKING MORE THAN 25 YEARS PART OF THE QUARTER CENTURY CLUB.

A HUNDRED YEARS OF QUARTER CENTURY EMPLOYEES NOW.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LONGEVITY AT A FACILITY LIKE THIS IT OILS DOWN TO HAVING GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE THAT -- BOILS DOWN TO HAVING GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN MAKING PRODUCTS.

TO MAKE IT WORK.

DENNY: THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.

IT'S TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION, WHEN WE HEAR FROM A REGIONAL JOURNALIST ABOUT STORIES THEY ARE FOLLOWING.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS HEIDI HOLTAN FROM NORTHERN COMMUNITY RADIO IN GRAND RAPIDS.

>> THIS WEEK WE FEATURED A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF OUR CONTRIBUTING REPORTERS AND PRODUCERS.

SHE USED TO PRODUCE A PROGRAM FOR US CALLED NORTHERN VOICES, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TRADITION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND INDIGENOUS AND ANCESTRAL WAYS OF LIFE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

ONE OF THE GUEST SHE FEATURE WAS SURELY NOR DRUM, SURELY PASSED AWAY -- SHIRLEY PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS MONTH.

SHE WAS AWARDED A BUSH FELLOWSHIP IN 20 TO STRENGTHEN CULTURALLY RELEVANT -- IN 2022 TO STRENGTHEN CULTURALLY RELEVANT SCIENCE COURSES IN SCHOOLS.

>> IN MY LANGUAGE, MY NAME IS THUNDER BIRD WOMAN AND MY COLONIAL NAME IS SHIRLEY OF THE MARTIN CLAN.

ECOLOGY PROFESSOR SAID, DULUTH LOVED THEIR BABIES.

TO HAVE A BABY, THEY RAISE IT, AND GOES AWAY, THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY EMOTIONAL FEELINGS FOR THAT LITTLE ANIMAL.

I ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT TO BE FALSE.

I HAVE SEEN THAT PEOPLE'S.

IT WAS -- THAT BE FALSE.

IT WAS TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THAT WHERE I WOULD GET DINGED.

IT IS NOT PART OF THE WAY SCIENCE IS LAID OUT.

NOT THE WESTERN SCIENCE, ANYWAY.

>> BLACK BEARS ARE ROAMING THE REGION RIGHT NOW AND THE MINNESOTA DNR IS GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THEM, WE TALKED WITH ANDY, THE BEAR PROJECT LEADER FOR THE FOREST WILDLIFE GROUP AT THE MINNESOTA DNR.

THEY ARE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC ABOUT BEARS AND HOW WE CAN BE BEAR WISE.

IF YOU FEED THE BIRDS YOU SHOULD CLEAN UP SPILLS EVERYDAY AND TAKE YOUR FEEDERS IN AT NIGHT.

WE TALKED FOR A WHILE, WITH ANDY, ABOUT HOW MUCH A BEAR ACTUALLY EATS.

HE DESCRIBED A STANDARD SEVEN POUND TO FEED HER, 5000 -- TWO FEEDER IS FULL OF CALORIES, THE BEARS LOOKING FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY NEED THE CALORIES.

>> IS PRETTY COOL YOU THINK -- TO THINK ABOUT YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL THAT IS ADAPTED TO BASICALLY GET ALL OF THE CALORIES OR THE BULK OF THE CALORIES THEY NEED IN 3.5 MONTHS.

THEN THEY SLEEP MUCH OF THE REST OF THE YEAR OR WORSE -- OR HIBERNATE THE REST OF THE YEAR.

THIS TIME OF YEAR THEY TARGET GREEN.

VEGETATION.

WHEN WE TARGET -- CAPTURE BEARS THE TEETH ARE STAINED GREEN FROM THE CHLOROPHYLL OF THE GRASS.

A LOT OF THEM SPEND A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE WETLANDS SOME MERGED IN VEGETATION.

THEY WILL EAT ARROWHEAD AND SOMETIMES DIG CATTAIL TUBERS.

SKUNK CABBAGE IS A FAVORITE EARLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT IS AN AMAZING PLANT.

IT GENERATES ITS OWN HEAT AND SOMETIMES A MELT SNOW AROUND IT.

IT IS THE FIRST PLANT THAT IS AVAILABLE, BEARS THAT AWAKE EARLY WILL JUST POUND IT.

>> WE TALKED TO LAURA ERICKSON THIS WEEK.

SHE HAS AUTHORED 11 BEDBUGS AND A RESIDENT -- BIRD BOOKS AND A RESIDENT OF DULUTH.

HUMMINGBIRDS ARE STIRRING TO SHOP AND WE ASK HER FOR SPECIFICS ABOUT FEEDING THEM.

WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW THEY MADE THEIR NEST.

>> ON COLD DAYS MAKE THE RATIO OF SUGAR TO WATER A THIRD OF A CUP TO ONE CUP.

IN NORMAL SITUATIONS, LIKE YESTERDAY WAS 80 DEGREES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN DULUTH, THEN IT SHOULD ONLY BE A QUARTER CUP TO A CUP.

THE WAY YOU GET THEM TO NEST IN YOUR YARD YOU NEED A FEW TREES WITH BARELY BIG LIMBS.

THEY NEED SPIDER SILK AND THEY NEED LICHENS TO BUILD THEIR NEST.

DO NOT BE USING PESTICIDES AND DO NOT WIPE OUT ALL THE SPIDER NESTS, THE SPIDERWEBS IN THE EAVES IF IT IS IN A PLACE WHERE NOBODY LOOKS LIKE -- ACCENT ANYWAY -- LOOKS AT ANYWAY, HUMMINGBIRDS NEED THAT BUILDER NEST.

JULIE: A PROGRAM NOTE BEFORE WE GO, NEXT WEEK IN THIS TIME SLOT, WE WILL FEATURE A SPECIAL HOUR-LONG ALMANAC NORTH "CORE CONVERSATION."

THE TOPIC IS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND EFFORTS TO END THIS SCOURGE, MODERATED BY NATIVE REPORT HOST RITA KARPPINEN.

SO PLEASE TUNE IN FOR THAT IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

DENNY, IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR SOME WARMER WEATHER HERE AT THE HEAD OF THE LAKE, WE DESERVE IT!

DENNY: I AM READY FOR IT, BRING IT ON.

JULIE: FOR DENNIS ANDERSON AND THE CREW AT ALMANAC NORTH, I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!