>> HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH" -- IT IS NEARING THE MIDWAY POINT OF THE SHIPPING SEASON.

WE WILL TALK TO THE PORT DIRECTOR FOR THE LATEST NEWS OF THE HARBOR.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST EVENTS OF THE SUMMER IS ABOUT TO SOAR INTO TOWN.

WE WILL TALK TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE DULUTH AIRSHOW AND HAVE THE MOVING STORY OF THE WALL THAT HEALS.

A MOVING TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

THESE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION NEXT ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LET'S BEGIN WITH A WEEK'S HEADLINES.

MINNESOTA'S BORDER COUNTRY HAS BEEN HARD HIT BY FLOODING.

FLOODWATERS RECEIVE, AND THE KETTLE FALLS HOTEL RECEIPT -- RENEWED OPERATIONS TODAY.

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE NUMBER OF POLITICAL SIGNS GROWING IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS?

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REMINDS CANDIDATES THAT POLITICAL SIGNS ARE NOT ALLOWED ALONG HIGHWAY RIGHT'S UNDER STATE LAW.

ALSO, LANDOWNER PERMISSION IS NEEDED BEFORE POLITICAL SIGNS CAN BE PLACED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

AND THE NEW LOCK UNDER CONSTRUCTION BETWEEN LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE ST. MARY'S RIVER RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $1 BILLION IN FUNDING THIS WEEK.

THE ARMY CORPS GRANTED THE NEW FUNDING FOR DAYS THREE OF CONSTRUCTION.

IT WILL PROVIDE REDUNDANCY WITH THE PALAT, THE ONLY LUCK CAPABLE OF ALLOWING THOUSAND-FOOT VESSELS TO TRANSIT TO AND FROM LAKE SUPERIOR.

AND THIS SHIPPING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING AND NEARING ITS HALFWAY POINT THIS SUMMER.

IT HAS BEEN MARKED BY THE RETURN OF PASSENGER SHIPS TO THE PORT OF DULUTH, BUT THE MAIN EVENT IN THE PORT EACH YEAR IS BULK CARGO SHIPMENTS WHICH PUMP BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AT THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE LATEST SHIPPING NEWS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY.

WELCOME.

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE IN THE STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I'LL WITH LOVE COMING IN.

>> GREAT.

I LIKE TO HEAR THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU KIND OF GIVE US A MIDWAY REPORT ON WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW?

>> THE SEASON IS OFF TO A SLOW START.

PART OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE LINGERING SNOW AND ICE -- ICE IN PARTICULAR -- IN MARCH AND APRIL.

WE ACTUALLY HAD 27 FEWER SHIPS THAN WE DID LAST YEAR IN MARCH AND APRIL.

THE PACE HAS PICKED UP IN MAY AND JUNE, AND I WILL REPORT THAT SO FAR IN JULY, EVERY DAY, WE HAVE HAD OVER THREE SHIPS A DAY INTO THE HARBOR, AND IF WE KEEP THIS PACE UP, WE WILL BEAT OUR 2021 PACE FOR JULY, BUT IT IS HARD TO PREDICT.

IT IS AN INTERESTING YEAR.

THE WAR IN UKRAINE, THE ONGOING SUPPLY CHAIN SNARLS, THE DOLLAR IS STRONG.

WE HAVE SURGING INFLATION AND FUEL PRICES, AND ALL OF THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO PREDICT, AND OUR JUNE NUMBERS ARE NOT IN THAT.

I WOULD SAY LET'S CHECK AGAIN AFTER AUGUST AND EVEN SEPTEMBER AND WE WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA HOW THE SEASON IS SHAPING UP.

>> ACONITE IS SUCH A BIG CARGO FOR THE PORT.

CAN YOU GIVE ANY SENSE AS TO IF THAT IS BEHIND WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE?

I CANNOT REPORT FOR JIM, BUT THE UTILIZATION RATE IS NOT HIGH.

IT IS NORMAL.

I KNOW THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMOBILE MAKERS, TRUCK MANUFACTURING BECAUSE OF THE CHIP SHORTAGE, SO THERE'S ONGOING ODDITIES WITH THE SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.

>> DULUTH CARGO CONNECT GOT APPROVAL FOR CONTAINER HANDLING LAST YEAR AND STARTED TO LOAD AND SEND OUT SOME CONTAINERIZED CARGOES THIS YEAR.

IS THERE A HUGE DEMAND?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE YEAR.

WE DID HAVE GOOD NEWS THAT WE ANNOUNCED THAT CAPABILITY LAST YEAR, THAT THAT SERVICE WOULD BE OFFERED THIS YEAR, AND WE DID SEND OUT OUR FIRST EXPORT CONTAINERS WITH 200 EXPORT CONTAINERS WITH KIDNEY BEANS OF ALL -- I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS A PRODUCT YOU WOULD EXPECT, BUT KIDNEY BEANS FROM MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN, AND THEY WENT TO 10 LOCATIONS IN FOUR NATIONS IN EUROPE, AND THERE'S ANOTHER SHIPMENT EXPECTED OUT IN AUGUST, SO, YES, THE SERVICE HAS STARTED.

HOW MUCH DEMAND IS THERE FOR IT?

WE ARE WORKING WITH OTHER PORTS ON THE GREAT LAKES TO ESTABLISH REGULAR SERVICE.

ULTIMATELY, THAT IS THE END GOAL, TO HAVE REGULAR SERVICE, WHICH MEANS STEAMSHIP OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER THAT ARRIVES MONTHLY.

IT HELPS TO HAVE OTHER NODES ON THE GREAT LAKES BECAUSE THE MORE VOLUME YOU HAVE A CONTAINERS COMING IN, THE MORE LIKELY THE CAPABILITY.

>> TRAFFIC AT THE GARFIELD AVENUE INTERCHANGE IS EXPECTED TO BE BUMPED UP.

>> WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE CREATIVITY OF MEN.

-- INMAN D.O.T.

-- MNDOT.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF THE JOBS ACT MONEY ORIGINALLY SLATED.

THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET THEM FUNDED AND THEY ARE MOVING AHEAD THIS YEAR.

THAT'S GOING TO MOVE ON SCHEDULE .

>> THE DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY GOT HIGH MARKS AGAIN FROM GREEN MARINE, WHICH IS KIND OF A SCORECARD.

TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT MAYBE ELEVATE YOU IN THAT AREA.

>> I HAVE TO BRAG A LITTLE BIT FIRST.

WE WERE RANKED NUMBER ONE OF THE U.S. GREAT LAKES PORTS THIS YEAR AND NUMBER SIX IN U.S.

PORTS, SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

YOUR SCORE AGAINST SEVEN CRITERIA.

MORE CHALLENGING EVERY YEAR, AND THE IDEA THAT WE ARE DRIVING TO IMPROVE IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS, SO WASTE MANAGEMENT AND AIR EMISSIONS.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH AT THIS POINT DEFICIENCIES IN MANAGEMENT.

WE ARE DOING A STUDY NOW TO LOOK AT ELECTRIFICATION, WHAT WE CAN ELECTRIFY AND IN WHAT SORT OF SEQUENCE.

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED LAST YEAR TO IMPROVE?

WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.

IT GETS TO BE VERY DETAILED VERY QUICKLY.

>> BUT CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

WE TAKE IT REALLY SERIOUSLY AND WE REALLY DO WORK WITH OUR OPERATING AGENT TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AROUND THE PORT TO HIT EACH OF THOSE MARKS.

>> WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT, BUT WE MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION THAT CRUISE SHIPS ARE BACK.

>> CRUISE SHIPS, YES.

THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP WORKING TOWARD THAT, AND IT IS THE CITY OF DULUTH, THE DULUTH ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTER AND DULUTH SEAWAY PORT AUTHORITY, AND WE HAVE TWO SHIPPING LINES THAT ARE ACTIVE THIS YEAR.

BIKING, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT, I THINK, BUT WE ALL GOT A CHANCE, A NUMBER OF US GOT TO BOARD A SHIP LAST WEEK FOR A WELCOMING CEREMONY.

LET ME TELL YOU, THOSE SHIPS ARE BEAUTIFUL AND REALLY AWESOME, AND ALL THE PASSENGERS WE TALKED TO WERE THRILLED TO BE ON THAT.

THE VIKING IS COMING SOME TIME THIS YEAR.

THE AMERICAN QUEEN VOYAGES ALREADY CAME TWICE.

BIKING HAS THE SAME NUMBER OR A SIMILAR NUMBER PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PLANNING TO EMBARK AND DISEMBARK HERE, WHICH MEANS THOSE PASSENGERS BEING EXPOSED TO OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.

IT IS ALL ABOUT TOURISM, RIGHT?

THOSE PASSENGERS ARE EXPOSED TO OUR CITY AND SPEND TIME HERE, AND IDEALLY, THEY COME BACK.

THE EMBARKATION AND DISEMBARK ASIAN, THEY STAY IN HOTELS, THEY ARE EATING HERE, THEY HOPEFULLY FLY IN TO OUR WONDERFUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE.

>> THANKS SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT.

♪ >> THE WALL THAT HEALS TRAVELED TO CHISHOLM RECENTLY FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER AND EDUCATE A NEW GENERATION ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR AND THOSE WHO WERE LOST IN THE CONFLICT.

PRODUCER MEGAN MCGARVEY VISITED CHISHOLM TO LEARN ABOUT THE TRAVELING MEMORIAL.

♪ SOME GAVE ALL.

>> THE WALL COMING TO US IS SO SPECIAL.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE THEY ARE COMING TO VISIT, YOU KNOW?

IT IS GOOD FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, GUYS THAT SERVED WITH PEOPLE ON THE WALL, AND VIETNAM VETERANS.

I THINK IT IS GOING TO CREATE CONVERSATION AND HELP PEOPLE TALK MORE, WHICH IS HEALING FOR PTSD ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> TO BRING HEALING TO ALL INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY VETERANS , VETERANS' FAMILIES, AND TO SHARE THE HISTORY OF THAT TIME.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LEARNING TOOLS YOU CAN SHOW A YOUNG CHILD, IS ACTUALLY THE EVENT GOING ON, SEEING SOME OF THE COURTESIES WE SHOW EACH OTHER HERE AND THERE RESPECT.

THAT'S THE MAIN AND, IS SHOWING RESPECT.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT TO D.C. TO SEE THE ACTUAL WALL, SO I THINK ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT LOCAL COMMUNITY CAN PROVIDE BRINGING THIS AND HOSTING IT IS IMPORTANT.

ALSO, THERE'S VETERANS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN READY TO VISIT THEIR BROTHERS ON THE WALL OR IT COULD BE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE, AND YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW WHEN THAT TIME IS GOING TO BE RIGHT.

FOR US, THERE'S -- IT WAS ABOUT PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY.

THERE'S SO MUCH YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE VIETNAM WAR AND WHAT WENT ALONG WITH IT, SO THIS IS OPENING THE DOORS FOR OUR YOUNGER GENERATION.

>> TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE WALL WORKS, HOW THE NAMES ARE PLACED, YOU START IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEY GO FOR 70 PANELS DOWN TO A SINGLE PANEL WITH FIVE NAMES ON ONE LINE IN ORDER OF DEATH, AND THEY RESUME OVER HERE AND GO ALL THE WAY BACK TO UNDERSTAND ALL THAT, ALL THE GREAT NUMBERS OF GUYS -- LIKE, WE LOST 17,000 GUYS IN THE YEAR 1968, SO EVERYTHING IN ALL THEM YEARS BEFORE THAT BUILDS UP TO 1968, AND THEN IT IS A BIG CRESCENDO, AND IT STARTS GOING BACK DOWN AGAIN.

>> THE WAR GOES ON 24 HOURS A DAY.

IT IS OPEN TO ANYONE, ANY TIME.

A LOT OF VETERANS ARE RECLUSIVE, AND WE ARE HEARING FROM PAST EXPERIENCES WITH THIS WALL THAT PEOPLE COME IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, AND IT IS JUST WONDERFUL.

>> IT IS WONDERFUL TO COME HERE AND MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE FAMILIES OF THESE GUYS THAT YOU ONLY LEARNED ABOUT LIKE KERRY TAYLOR.

I LEARNED HE WAS A MINNESOTA TWINS PROSPECT.

I LEARNED HIS NICKNAME WAS YO-YO.

THAT'S ONE OF THE TINY STORIES.

>> WE HOPE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE SERVICE FOR YOUR VETERANS PROVIDED.

WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A PROPER WELCOME HOME, THE WELCOME THEY DID NOT RECEIVE WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK.

>> THEY DESERVE BETTER.

THIS IS CALLED THE WALL THAT HEALS, AND FOR A LOT OF REASONS, THESE GUYS NEED THAT HEALING.

>> THE WALL IS HUGE, AND THERE'S 50,281 NAMES, AND I DON'T LOOK AT IT IS JUST THEIR NAME.

BEHIND EVERY NAME, THERE IS A SPIRIT AND A MEMORY THAT PEOPLE HERE CAN SHARE.

EITHER THEY WERE RELATED TO THEM, SERVED WITH THEM, SO I DON'T LOOK AT IT IS JUST A NAME ON A PIECE OF GRANITE.

BEHIND THAT IS A SPIRIT AND A MEMORY.

THOSE ARE THE TRUE HEROES, THE ONES THAT DIED IN VIETNAM.

>> YOU CAN FIND THE MEMORIAL'S NEXT DESTINATION ONLINE.

♪ DULUTH MAYOR AND AVIATION EXPO FLIES INTO TOWN NEXT WEEKEND, JULY 16 AND 17.

MINNESOTA'S LARGEST AIR SHOW IS HEADLINED THIS YEAR BY THE UNITED STATES AIR WAS THUNDERBIRDS.

THE AIR SHOW ALSO CONFIRMED THIS WEEK THAT THE AIR FORCE F-35 LIGHTNING TO THUNDERBIRD TEAM WILL BE PRESENT.

THE DIRECTOR THE AIRSHOW IS WITH US.

THANKS FOR COMING.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

WHY IS THIS EVENT SO POWERFUL AND SO IMPORTANT?

PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO IT LIKE NO OTHER EVENT.

>> IT IS THE SAME FOR THE SPECTATORS AS IT IS FOR ME, TO BE HONEST.

IT IS A CULMINATION OF VETERANS, PATRIOTISM, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO ALONG.

YES, IT IS ENTERTAINMENT, YES, IT IS EDUCATION, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THE DULUTH AIRSHOW.

>> WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT?

>> WE ARE NOW TRACKING BETWEEN $19 MILLION AND $20 MILLION FOR EACH AIRSHOW WE BRING TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE REALLY PROUD OF THOSE NUMBERS, AND AS THE AIRSHOW CONTINUES TO GROW ON A YEARLY BASIS -- IF YOU RECALL, WE USED TO BE EVERY OTHER YEAR, AND IN 2016, WE MADE THE SWITCH TO AN EVERY-YEAR AIRSHOW, AND WE ARE FINDING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT BASED ON THAT SWITCH CONTINUES TO GROW BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE ARE RELYING ON THE WEEKEND AND WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSITION PARTNERS TO THAT WEEKEND SO THEY CAN BUDGET FOR IT, AND ALSO SPECTATORS.

PEOPLE AROUND THE MIDWEST, THEY KNOW DULUTH IS GOING TO HAVE AN AIR SHOW EACH YEAR.

>> WE MENTIONED SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE INTRODUCTION, BUT BRING IT TO LIGHT FOR US.

>> THE HEADLINE WILL BE THE THUNDERBIRDS, ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER AERIAL DEMONSTRATION TEAMS IN THE WORLD, NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES.

HAVING THEM BACK, THEY WERE LAST HERE IN 2018.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PERFORM IN 2020, BUT THAT WAS THE SHOW THAT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID.

IN ADDITION TO THE THUNDERBIRDS, AS YOU MENTIONED, THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE F-35 LIGHTNING DEMONSTRATION TEAM.

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM PERFORM.

BUT THEN THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.

WE GOT 16 ASKED THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE MOST WE HAVE EVER HAD PERFORMING AT THE DULUTH AIRSHOW, SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED WITH THE LINEUP BECAUSE IS ITS CURRENT.

IT IS VIETNAM ERA.

IT IS WORLD WAR II WITH SOME OF THE BOMBERS AND SOME OF THE P 51 MUSTANGS.

JUST A WHOLE VARIETY OF THINGS AT THIS YEAR'S AIRSHOW.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT IS UP IN THE AIR, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON ON THE GROUND, TOO, A LOT OF STATIC DISPLAYS THAT ARE PRETTY COOL FOR PEOPLE TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST MISSED.

THE REALITY IS YOU MISS ABOUT 95%.

95% OF THE AIRSHOW IS BEING AT THE AIRSHOW WITH ALL THE STATIC DISPLAYS, WITH ALTHOUGH THE LOW-FLYING AIRCRAFT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T SEE IT, YOU DON'T SEE THAT.

YOU MIGHT SEE THE JETS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LONG RADIUS.

THEY ARE GOING SO FAST THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND COME BACK, BUT IT IS LITERALLY ALL THE OTHER ACTS YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON, AND THEN THE EXPLORING.

THE COMMUNICATION WITH PILOTS, THE COMMUNICATION WITH VETERANS, AND THEY ARE TEACHING YOU ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT THEY HAVE ROCK.

IT REALLY IS A FAMILY EVENT BECAUSE THERE'S EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS.

THERE'S ENTERTAINMENT THE KIDS, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE DULUTH AIRSHOW.

>> DO EVENTS LIKE THIS INSPIRE PEOPLE TO PURSUE MILITARY OR AVIATION CAREERS?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THAT IS A VALID STATEMENT.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FLYING.

IT IS ABOUT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALSO PRESENT THEMSELVES.

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE AIRCRAFT HERE, AND THERE'S VENDORS AND PEOPLE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT BECOMING A PILOT, BUT SUPPORTING THOSE AIRCRAFT.

THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT.

SUPPORTING EDUCATION.

THEY SUPERIOR COLLEGE HAS A GREAT AVIATION EDUCATION PROGRAM.

WE ARE ABLE TO TIE THOSE UP, BRING IT ALL TOGETHER IN ONE SPOT AND REALLY PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE.

>> GOT ABOUT A MINUTE, BUT GIVE ALL THE LOGISTICS, THE INFORMATION.

WHERE PEOPLE GET TICKETS, WHERE DO THEY PART, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION AND WE REALLY ARE DIRECTING PEOPLE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE, DULUTHAIRSHOW.COM.

IT HAS INFORMATION FOR WHOSE PERFORMING, WHO WAS ON THE GROUND, TICKETS, PARKING.

WE'VE GOT MAPS.

WE GOT EVERYTHING THERE, INCLUDING OUR FAVORITE LITTLE SEGMENT.

WE HAVE 10 TIPS FROM A MOM, WHICH IS GREAT, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO READ THAT SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD BRING WITH YOU, WHAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT AND, REALLY, HOW THE DAY FLOWS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE AIRSHOW.

HOPE THE WEATHER COOPERATES AND EVERYTHING.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT IS TIME NOW FOR VOICES OF THE REGION.

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTH LAND.

>> WE ARE REPORTING ON THE RECENT DECISION OF THE EAGLES NEST TOWN BOARD TO REJECT THE DESIGNATED ADV CLUB.

THE CLUB IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING TRAILS THAT WILL CONNECT ELY AND BABBITT AND TOWER AND TIE THEM AS WELL TO OTHER NEIGHBORING A TV TRAIL NETWORKS IN THE REGION.

IT IS PART OF A PLAN TO CREATE AS MUCH AS 1000 MILES ATB TRAILS IN AND THROUGHOUT NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA IN HOPES OF TURNING THE AREA INTO A NATIONAL A TV MECCA COMPLETE WITH TRAILS AND RELATED AMENITIES LIKE NEW CAMPGROUNDS THAT WILL CATER TO SPECIFICALLY TO ATB RIDERS.

WE ARE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE INCREASED RIDERSHIP IN THE AREA, AND A LOT OF IT IS COMING FROM FOLKS OUTSIDE THE AREA, AND EAGLES NEST TOWNSHIP LOCATED BETWEEN TOWER AND ELY, WAS THE FIRST PLACE IN OUR AREA WHERE RESIDENTS HAVE ORGANIZED IN HOPES OF PREVENTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ONE OF THESE HIGH-TRAFFIC CORRIDORS.

IN RECENT WEEKS, THE TOWN BOARD MEETINGS HAVE BEEN PACKED WITH LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY HAVE AN AT LEAST 95% OPPOSED TO THE TRAIL.

AT A SPECIAL MEETING LAST WEEK, THE BOARD VOTED MORAL 3-2 TO GO ON RECORD OPPOSED TO THE TRAIL, AND THOSE EVEN WHO VOTED AGAINST THAT SAID THEY WERE NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE TRAIL BUT DID NOT THINK THAT THEY HAD THE AUTHORITY TO STOP IT, SO THAT WAS PART OF THEIR REASONING.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY.

ATB CLUB OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE DNR AND THE COUNTY TO FIND A ROUTE THROUGH THE TOWNSHIP, PRIMARILY ON STATE OR COUNTY-MANAGED LANDS, BUT THE OPPOSITION WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP IS LIKELY TO MAKE THAT PROCESS MORE DIFFICULT.

THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING LEVEL OF CONCERN BY RESIDENTS THAT THE EXPANSION OF THIS OFF-ROAD VEHICLE TRAIL NETWORK IS IMPACTING THE RIGHTS OF RESIDENTS TO THE QUIET ENJOYMENT OF THEIR PROPERTY.

WE ARE ALSO REPORTING ON A CRITICAL STAFFING SHORTAGE THAT COULD WELL FORCE THE MEN'S SHOOTING WILDLIFE SANCTUARY TO SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY NEXT MONTH DUE TO A LACK OF HELP.

THAT COULD AFFECT THE SANCTUARY'S ABILITY TO TREAT THE NUMBER OF WILD -- WILD BLACK THERE'S THAT FREQUENT THE SANCTION LARRY -- WILD BLACK BEARS THAT FREQUENT THE SANCTUARY.

UNLESS THEY CAN FIND ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS FOR WORKERS, THEY SAY THEY EXPECT TO CLOSE FOR THE SEASON STARTING IN AUGUST, WHICH IS GENERALLY THE PEAK SEASON FOR BEAR WATCHING AT THE SANCTUARY.

THE SANCTUARY IS A HUGE DRAW IN THE AREA, WHICH ANNUALLY BRINGS IN THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE FACILITY'S VIEWING DECK WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO WATCH WILD BLACK BEARS AS THEY FEED AND INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AT PEAK TIMES, PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENINGS, THERE CAN BE DOZENS OF BEARS, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF CUBS, AND THAT MAKES FOR JUST REALLY FUN WILDLIFE WATCHING.

IF PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN THERE BEFORE, THEY REALLY SHOULD MAKE THE EFFORT TO GET UP THERE SOME TIME BECAUSE IT IS A LOT OF FUN.

FINALLY, WE ARE REPORTING ON THE LATEST ON THE VOYAGERS WOLF PROJECT, WHICH IS AN ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT STUDYING GRAY WOLVES IN AND AROUND VOYAGERS NATIONAL PARK.

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, RESEARCHERS HAVE USED A COMBINATION OF GPS TRACKING COLLARS AND HUNDREDS OF TRAIL CAMERAS THAT THEY HAVE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THEIR LARGE STUDY AREAS TO LEARN ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF WOLVES IN THE NORTH COUNTRY, INCLUDING RAISING PUPS.

THEY HAVE CONNECTED MANY HOURS OF FASCINATING VIDEO FOOTAGE OF WOLVES AS WELL AS OTHER WILDLIFE THAT LIVE IN THE STUDY AREA, AND THAT HAS ATTRACTED A LOT OF INTEREST THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT HAS ALSO ATTRACTED THE INTEREST OF THE SAME FILM CREW THAT CREATED THE LANDMARK NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SERIES "PLANET EARTH," AND THEY HAVE JUST COMPLETED A NEW SIX-PART NATIONAL HISTORY SERIES ENTITLED "AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL," WHICH FEATURES SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST SPECTACULAR REGIONS WITH A FOCUS ON SOME OF THE ICONIC WILDLIFE SPECIES FOUND THERE.

THEY WORK WITH THE FILM CREW TO GATHER THE HIGH-RESOLUTION FILM INCORPORATED INTO THEIR SERIES.

THE WHOLE SERIES IS NOW AVAILABLE ON DISNEY+, AND THE FOOTAGE FROM VOYAGERS IS INCLUDED IN THE FIFTH EPISODE TITLED "HEARTLAND."

>> WELL, WE ARE OUT OF TIME, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR SHORE BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

LOOK FOR PROGRAM UPDATES, NEWS ABOUT THE STATION, AND UPCOMING EVENTS, AND DOWNLOAD THE PBS VIDEO APP TO WATCH YOUR FAVORITE CONTENT ANY TIME YOU WOULD LIKE.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪