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>> THE WEATHER IS SPONSORED IN PART BY WIDSETH; ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, LAND SURVEYORS, SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE, THE ALL FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>> LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS FROM BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

DENNIS WEIMANN WITH THE NEWS, STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER AND CHARLIE YAEGER WITH YOUR SPORTS.

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD MET TODAY TO DISCUSS POTENTIALLY ADDING A REFERENDUM TO THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER, BUT THE MEETING HAD TO BE CANCELLED DUE TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: OVER 50 PEOPLE FILED INTO THE BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOL'S BOARDROOM TO LISTEN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSS POTENTIALLY ADDING A REFERENDUM TO THIS NOVEMBER'S BALLOT.

THE PROBLEM, THREE OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT IN ATTENDANCE.

RANDY, STEPHANIE, AND D.J.

WERE ABSENT FROM THE MEETING, RESULTING IN A LACK OF QUORUM.

>> SO WE HAD A USUAL WORK SESSION, WE HAVE THESE MONTHLY AND THEY STARTED DOING THEM MONTHLY AS WORK SESSIONS.

SO WE HAD A REGULAR WORK SESSION SCHEDULED FOR TODAY AND WE WERE GOING TO GET TOGETHER, TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AND WE DID NOT HAVE A QUORUM TODAY SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE ANY OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Reporter: THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS DISCUSSING ADDING A REFERENDUM TO THE BALLOT FOR MONTHS AS THEY FACE A BUDGET DEFICIT.

ACCORDING TO SARAH SPEAR, WITH THE CURRENT AGREED UPON BUDGET, THE DISTRICT IS FACING A $2.4 MILLION DEFICIT AND IT COULD CLIMB TO $5 MILLION NEXT YEAR WITHOUT A REFERENDUM.

>> THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED THIS YEAR, WE ARE AT A DEFICIT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS NEVER A FUN THING TO DO.

WE SEE THAT COMING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING AT A DEFICIT EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S JUST NOT A GOOD PRACTICE.

YOU WOULDN'T DO THAT AT HOME.

SO, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I WANT TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> Reporter: TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR THE BOARD TO ADD A POTENTIAL REFERENDUM TO THE BALLOT.

WITH THE DEADLINE TO DO SO BEING NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 12TH.

>> WHAT'S AHEAD IS LESS THAN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS THAN THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO VOTERS.

WE SHOULDN'T MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT THEM.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> WE REACHED OUT TO THE ABSENT BOARD MEMBERS FOR COMMENT WITH RANDY HEIDMANN AND STEPHANIE ETTERMAN SAYING THAT THEY WERE ABSENT DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS THAT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WERE AWARE OF, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO COME TO A CONCLUSION AS A TEAM.

>>> A 35-YEAR-OLD CROSSLAKE WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 39 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HER ROLE IN A CHILD ABUSE AND MEDICAID FRAUD CASE.

JORDEN BORDERS WAS SENTENCED IN CROW WING COUNTY COURT TODAY AND HER PARENTAL RIGHTS TO THE THREE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TERMINATED.

IN JUNE, BORDERS WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THREE COUNTS OF CHILD TORTURE, THREE COUNTS OF STALKING, FOUR COUNTS OF THEFT BY FALSE REPRESENTATION, AND ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

SHE WAS ALSO FOUND TO HAVE SEVERAL AGGRAVATING FACTORS, INCLUDING THAT SHE ABUSED HER POSITION OF TRUST, THAT ONE CHILD VICTIM WAS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE, AND THAT SHE ACTED WITH PARTICULAR CRUELTY.

AS WAS PROVEN AT TRIAL IN CROW WING COUNTY COURT, BORDERS PHYSICALLY, VERBALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY ABUSED HER THREE MINOR CHILDREN FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS.

BORDERS' ACTS INCLUDED, BUT WERE NOT LIMITED TO, ENGAGING IN MEDICAL CHILD ABUSE BY PERFORMING SPECIFIC ACTS AGAINST HER CHILDREN THAT LED TO THEM PRESENTING WITH FALSE MEDICAL CONDITIONS TO THEIR MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

THIS INCLUDED BORDERS FORCIBLY WITHDRAWING BLOOD FROM HER CHILD, WHO WAS NINE YEARS OLD AT THE TIME, PRIOR TO HIS DOCTOR'S VISITS.

BORDERS THEN PRESENTED THE CHILD AT DOCTOR'S VISITS AND HOSPITALS, WHERE HE WAS OBSERVED AS HAVING DANGEROUSLY LOW HEMOGLOBIN LEVELS.

BORDERS ALSO SELF-DIAGNOSED HER CHILDREN WITH OTHER DISEASES, INCLUDING BRITTLE BONE DISEASE, AND FORCED HER CHILDREN TO WEAR BOOTS, CASTS, AND NECK BRACES, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IDENTIFIED FRACTURES OR DIAGNOSED INJURIES.

ONE CHILD WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN IN A CAST FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS OF HIS LIFE DESPITE HAVING ONLY TWO CONFIRMED INJURIES FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

>>> A MAN HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN THE KILLINGS OF THE TOP DEMOCRAT IN THE MINNESOTA HOUSE AND HER HUSBAND.

58-YEAR-OLD VANCE BOELTER IS ALSO ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND INJURING STATE SENATOR JOHN HOFFMAN AND HIS WIFE ON JUNE 14TH.

HE WAS INDICTED LAST MONTH ON MURDER AND OTHER CHARGES THAT COULD CARRY THE FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY.

ONE OF BOELTER'S ATTORNEYS ENTERED THE PLEA ON BOELTER'S BEHALF DURING THURSDAY'S ARRAIGNMENT.

PROSECUTORS EARLIER RELEASED A RAMBLING LETTER IN WHICH THEY SAY BOELTER CONFESSED TO THE ATTACKS.

HIS MOTIVATIONS REMAIN MURKY.

>>> AFTER WEEKS OF CLEANUP EFFORTS AND TALLYING THE NUMBERS, BELTRAMI COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS AFFECTED BY THE JUNE 21ST WIND STORM FELL JUST SHORT OF ELIGIBILITY TO REQUEST FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN SPOKE WITH THE BELTRAMI COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR TO SEE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE AREA, AND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE GOING FORWARD.

>> THE JUNE 21ST DERECHO STORM LEFT OVER $8 MILLION IN NON-INSURED INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE IN ITS WAKE, AND THE ESTIMATED 9 MILLION TREES THAT WERE KNOCKED DOWN AND UPROOTED.

IT FELL SHORT OF FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF BY $800,000.

>> IT WASN'T A SURPRISE, WE CAME AT $8.3 MILLION FOR BELTRAMI COUNTY AND ENTITIES THAT REPORT THROUGH US.

WHERE WE FELL SHORT WAS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS A THRESHOLD THAT THEY NEED TO REACH IN ORDER TO REQUEST FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND THAT IS $10.7 MILLION AND BETWEEN THE SIX OTHER COUNTIES AND TRIBAL NATIONS THAT DID THE PRELIMINARY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WITH US, WE CAME UP $800,000 SHORT OF BEING ABLE TO REQUEST FEDERAL ASSISTANCE.

>> THEY MAY NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA FUNDING BUT OTHER AVENUES CAN BE TAKEN.

>> THAT DOES OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE STATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO, NOT EVERYTHING IS LOST.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS A PROGRAM WHERE THEY CAN APPLY AND GET 75% REIMBURSEMENT.

YOU ONLY NEED 50% OF THE FEDERAL INDICATOR FOR YOUR STATE.

>> Reporter: FOR BELTRAMI COUNTY, THAT 25% IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $2 MILLION.

>> IT'S NOT JUST BELTRAMI COUNTY THAT WILL HAVE TO EAT THAT, IT WILL BE THE CITY OF BEMIDJI, THE TOWNSHIPS, THE SCHOOLS, MnDOT.

EACH WILL SUBMIT WHAT THEIR DAMAGES ARE AND THEY WILL BE REIMBURSTED 75% OF THAT.

>> HE SAYS THE DOLLARS AND CREPTS MATTER AND IT'S CONCERNING BUT THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.

>> THE FACT THAT THIS DERECHO, THE 120 MILES PER HOUR WINDS HIT THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS JUST INCREDIBLY BAD LUCK.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AT A COUNTY LEVEL DOES IS WE WORK TO RESTORE OUR GOVERNMENT.

WE WANT TO GET OUR SERVICES BACK.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE AND MAKING SURE WE'RE OPEN.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE 2012 STORM THAT SWEPT THROUGH THE BEMIDJI AREA IS WHAT SET THE GROUNDWORK FOR MINNESOTA'S DISASTER ASSISTANCE CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT, WHICH WILL MAKE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE STORM THREE-QUARTERS WHOLE VERSUS HAVING NO ASSISTANCE.

>>> A FUNDRAISER IS UNDERWAY TO HELP A BAGLEY FAMILY WHO LOST THEIR HOME TO A FIRE ON TUESDAY MORNING.

THE FIRE HAPPENED AT THIS HOME LOCATED ON 141ST AVENUE ABOUT FIVE MILES WEST OF BAGLEY.

THE FAMILY WHO LIVED THERE LOST PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AND THE FUNDRAISER AIMS TO HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

YOU CAN DONATE BY GOING TO THE GOFUNDME WEB PAGE AND SEARCH “AID BIRGIT'S FAMILY AFTER HOUSE FIRE”.

WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE A LINK TO THAT PAGE WITH THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

[♪♪♪] >> STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

>> Stacy: WE HAVE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

SOME OF THOSE COULD BE STRONG OR SEVERE.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE BRAINERD AIRPORT COMMISSION IS MAKING PROGRESS ON FINDING A NEW AIRPORT DIRECTOR.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> THE BRAINERD AIRPORT COMMISSION IS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS APPOINTING A NEW DIRECTOR.

DURING THIS MORNING'S MEETING, AIRPORT COMMISSION MEMBERS MENTIONED HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS AIRPORTS IN MINNESOTA ON THE SUBJECT, INCLUDING BEMIDJI AND DULUTH, THEY ARE IDEALLY EYEING A CANDIDATE FROM THE UPPER-MIDWEST, WHO IS BOTH FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA'S CLIMATE, AND WILL BE A LONG-TERM OPTION.

FORMER AIRPORT DIRECTOR STEVEN WRIGHT RESIGNED FROM THE POSITION BACK IN MAY, LEADING TO NEW YORK NATIVE NEIL PLANZER STEPPING INTO THE INTERIM ROLE.

ALTHOUGH PLANZER HAS QUITE THE AVIATION BACKGROUND, FORMERLY WORKING FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE, THE PLAN IS FOR PLANZER TO SERVE FROM ANYWHERE BETWEEN TWO MONTHS TO A YEAR.

>> I HAD TWO GOALS WHEN I CAME UP HERE, ONE IS TO MAKE SURE THE AIRPORT CONTINUES TO RUN AND IT DOES WELL.

THE OTHER IS TO FIND A PERMANENT DIRECTOR.

WE WILL PROBABLY GO OUT WITH A BID IN THE NEXT COUPLE THREE WEEKS.

WE WILL HAVE EVERYTHING DONE FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING AND THEY WILL APPROVE IT AND WE WILL GO FORWARD.

>> THE BRAINERD AIRPORT COMMISSION'S NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 4TH.

>>> WE ARE INTO AUGUST NOW SO THAT MEANS WE'RE NEARING THE END STRETCH OF OUR LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVEAWAY CONTEST, WHERE THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER GETS A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUNS RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

EACH NEWSCAST WE DRAW FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS FOR A GRAND DRAWING THAT WILL HAPPEN ON OUR MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH NEWSCAST.

AND HERE ARE TONIGHT'S POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS.

TO BE AN OFFICIAL QUALIFIER, IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AND YOU WILL BE IN THAT GRAND DRAWING SLATED FOR LATER THIS MONTH.

>>> STRAIGHT LINE WINDS IN LONGVILLE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO A LAKELAND NEWS VIEWER IN LONGVILLE THE STORM ROLLED THROUGH AROUND 3:30 A.M.

MANY TREES AND BIG LIMBS CAME DOWN WITH THE WINDS ESTIMATED AT 60 MILES PER HOUR.

THE STORM ALSO KNOCKED OUT ELECTRICITY IN PARTS OF THE AREA AND CREATED A MESS AT CAMP OLSON YMCA IN LONGVILLE WHERE A FAMILY CAMP WAS UNDERWAY.

CAMP OLSON REPORTED NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND FAMILY CAMPERS AND CAMP NEIGHBORS WERE ABLE TO CLEAN UP EVERYTHING SO THEY COULD CONTINUE PROGRAMMING.

>>> STACY JOINS US NOW AS WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET.

>> Stacy: WE'RE GOING TO SEE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW EVENING, TOMORROW NIGHT, AND THE POTENTIAL IS THERE.

EACH OF THESE TIMES, SOME OF THOSE STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG OR SEVERE.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS ON TH [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY HAVE CONTINUED TODAY AND WE HAVE MORE ON THE WAY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.

VERY HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE AND WE'LL HAVE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND CONDITIONS WILL FUEL THOSE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

SO ANY OF THAT COULD BE STRONG OR SEVERE TONIGHT IN OUR VIEWING AREA AND AGAIN TOMORROW AS THEY MOVE THROUGH.

WE WILL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A RELIEF FROM SOME OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, BUT THERE IS STILL A CHANCE FOR SOME UNSETTLED WEATHER ON SATURDAY.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 76 AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A LIGHT SOUTHEAST WIND AT OUR STUDIO, THE DEW POINT IS 67, AND THE HUMIDITY IS AT 75%.

IN BRAINERD, PARTLY CLOUDY, 78, WITH A DEW POINT OF 71.

PRESSURE IS HOLDING STEADY, WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR PICTURE, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF SUNSHINE TODAY, VERY HOT, VERY MUGGY OUT THERE, STILL VERY MUGGY OUT THERE TONIGHT, SOME PASSING CLOUDS.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT, WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND THERE IS THE CHANCE THAT SOME OF THOSE COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE AS THEY MOVE IN, A FEW OF THOSE STORMS ALREADY RIGHT AROUND THAT INTERNATIONAL BORDER, BUT WE'LL BE SEEING THOSE MOVE INTO THE AREA TONIGHT.

MORE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW MORNING AND AGAIN LATE TOMORROW AND THE POTENTIAL ONCE AGAIN OF SEEING SOME SEVERE WEATHER.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, CHRISTINE SHOWING US THE LIGHTNING LAST NIGHT.

SAMROSE CAPTURING THE SUNRISE OVER UPPER RED LAKE.

IT WAS A FOGGY START FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA AND LAURIE CATCHING A PHOTO OF THE DEER IN HER YARD NEAR LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

SONYA WITH A PICTURE OF THE BUSY BEES.

WE HAVE GARY WITH SOME CHERRIES IN THE AREA.

BEAUTIFUL EVENING SKIES FROM BILL AND JUDY OVER UPPER RED LAKE.

DEAN SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE MOONRISE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA REPORTING 81 AND CALM THIS EVENING.

SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, 76 DEGREES THIS EVENING.

JOAN IN LAPORTE, SUNSHINE WITH A HIGH OF 87.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, FOG, SUN, AND HUMID.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY AND 84.

DEAN IN RED LAKE, 72 THIS EVENING.

PAUL IN BEMIDJI WITH SUNNY SKIES AND A HIGH OF 86.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 86 WAS THE HIGH IN BRAINERD, 5 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE, AND MUGGY OUT THERE.

SO IT'S FEELING HOTTER.

66 WAS OUR LOW, 6:07 WAS OUR SUNRISE, 87 WAS THE HIGH IN BEMIDJI, SO WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

65 FOR THE LOW AND 8:42 WAS OUR SUNSET.

SO WE WILL HAVE THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT.

THEY WILL STILL BE MOVING THROUGHOUT NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA TOMORROW MORNING.

IT SHOULD EXIT DURING THE MORNING, WE'LL SEE A VARIETY OF CLOUD COVER THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TO MOVE IN LATE TOMORROW AND TOMORROW NIGHT AND ONCE AGAIN, SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE.

HIGHS WILL BE IN THE LOW 80s IN WARROAD TO MID TO UPPER 80s IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WITH UPPER 80s AND LOW 90s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

OUR FORECAST TONIGHT, A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, SOME OF THOSE MAY BE SEVERE WITH OTHERWISE MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND LOWS NEAR 66.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW, THERE IS THAT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING, AND THEN AGAIN LATER IN THE DAY, SOME SEVERE WITH HIGHS NEAR 86.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN AND EASTERN MINNESOTA ON SATURDAY, TEMPERATURES WILL BE A LITTLE BIT COOLER.

UPPER 70s AND MAINLY QUIET ON SUNDAY, AND THEN AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK, OVERALL LOOKS QUIET, HIGHS IN THE LOW 80s BY TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE TONIGHT WITH SOME VENNABLE SOFTBALL PLAYERS.

>> Charlie: YOU AND I ARE OUT OF THE YOUNG ATHLETIC GAME, BUT WE STILL LIKE TO PLAY SPORTS IN OUR OLDER AGE AND WELL THESE GUYS ARE TAKING IT TO THE EXTREME.

THEY ARE MUCH OLDER THAN US, BUT THEY ARE PRETTY GOOD AT SOFTBALL.

WE GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> ANYONE WHO SAYS YOU'RE TOO OLD TO BE PLAYING SPORTS HASN'T MET THE OLD MEN PLAYING SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL IN BEMIDJI.

THE 75-PLUS TRIPLE-A TRAVEL SOFTBALL TEAM KNOWN AS THE MINNESOTA LUMBERJACKS, HAS PROVEN AS MUCH.

THE TEAM COMPETES UNDER THE SENIOR SOFTBALL U.S.A. GOVERNING BODY AND EVERY MEMBER OF THEIR TEAM IS 75-YEARS OR OLDER.

THEY TYPICALLY PLAY IN TOURNAMENTS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, BUT OCCASIONALLY TRAVEL FARTHER FOR EVENTS LIKE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LAS VEGAS, WHICH THEY WON MOST RECENTLY IN 2021, OR THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS IN FLORIDA, WHICH THEY WON IN 2022, BUT IT'S NOT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT KEEP THE MEN COMING BACK.

>> I GUESS I JUST CAN'T STOP.

I HAD BACK SURGERY, I HAD A KNEE REPLACED, AND I STILL CAN'T STOP PLAYING IT.

IT'S FUN, THE COMRADERY WITH THE PLAYERS, THE TEAMMATES, AND EVEN THE OPPONENTS.

AT THIS LEVEL, IN THIS AGE, WE ALL GET ALONG.

WE'RE NOT FIGHTING EACH OTHER.

WE'RE NOT GIVING EACH OVER A HARD TIME.

WE'RE HAVING FUN.

THAT IS WHAT KEEPS YOU COMING.

>> WE WENT TO A COUPLE TOURNAMENTS AND THEY HAD THIS GUY PITCHING THAT WAS 84 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS WEARING A CHEST PROTECTOR AND HE WAS PITCHING AND I THOUGHT HOLY CRAP, IF THIS GUY CAN DO IT WHEN HE'S 84, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY FOR A WHILE ANY WAY.

A LOT OF IT IS WITH THE GUYS YOU ARE PLAYING WITH, THE COMRADERY AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN GETTING TOGETHER WITH THE GUYS.

>> MUCH LIKE YOUTH SPORTS, SENIOR SOFTBALL TEAMS USE AGE AS A MINIMUM THRESHOLD TO ENSURE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD IN BOTH COMPETITIVENESS AND ABILITY.

MANY FROM THIS GROUP HAVE BEEN TEAMMATES FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS WHEN THEY BEGAN PLAYING TOGETHER ON THE 60-PLUS TEAM, BUT AS THE OLD MEN GROW OLDER, THE MINNESOTA LUMBERJACKS NUMBERS HAVE DWINDLED, MAKING IT HARDER TO FIELD A TEAM.

>> IT'S TOUGH.

IT REALLY IS.

A LOT OF THE GUYS THAT I PLAYED FAST PITCH WITH, GOOD BALLPLAYERS, I COULDN'T GET THEM TO COME AND PLAY.

THEY SAID WELL, MY SHOULDERS HURT, MY KNEES HURT, I LIKE TO PLAY GOLF, AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.

SO IT WAS JUST REALLY TOUGH TO GET GUYS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

>> I THOUGHT I WOULD STILL BE PLAYING BUT NOT AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL.

I NEVER DREAMED OF THAT.

I TRY TO STAY IN SHAPE.

I'M NOT THE GREATEST SHAPE BUT I'M ACTIVE EVERY DAY AND I WANT TO PURSUE THAT.

THE OTHER THING I LIKE IS MY WIFE ENJOYS THE COMPANY OF THE FELLAS' WIVES THAT COME AS WELL.

IT'S REALLY A FAMILY THING FOR US.

IT REALLY IS.

WE JUST, YOU KNOW, LIKE TODAY AFTER WE PRACTICE, WE WILL GO AND SHOOT THE BREEZE OVER AT A RESTAURANT AND WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN OUT THERE.

>> HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR MAJOR TOURNAMENT WINS OVER THE PAST DECADE, ALTHOUGH THEY'VE WON SMALLER TOURNAMENTS AS WELL.

THE MINNESOTA LUMBERJACKS CURRENTLY FIELDS 60, 70, 75, AND 80-PLUS TEAMS.

THEY ARE COMPRISED OF GUYS FROM BEMIDJI AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS LIKE PARK RAPIDS AND LAPORTE AS WELL AS PLAYERS FROM THE TWIN CITIES AREA.

>>> BEMIDJI STATE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY RELEASED THEIR SCHEDULE FOR THE 2025 SEASON, THEY WILL HAVE JUST THREE REGULAR SEASON RACES.

THE FIRST IS THE AUGIE TWILIGHT AT AGUSTANA, A 5,000-METER RACE, THEN THE ROY GRIAK HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA AT THE LES BOLSTAD GOLF COURSE, BEFORE FINISHING AT THE JIMMIE INVITATIONAL AT JAMESTOWN.

THEY'LL ROUND OUT THE SEASON WITH THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY WAYNE STATE IN NEBRASKA.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW ASSISTANT COACHING HIRES THESE PAST TWO WEEKS, SO HERE'S THE FULL LIST.

7 OF THEM HIRED FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY, 1 PROMOTION FROM WITHIN AND THAT IS JAKE GOING FROM SECOND TO FIRST ASSISTANT, BUT IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THOSE COACHES THAT WERE HIRED, YOU CAN VISIT THEIR ATHLETIC WEBSITE AT BSU BEAVERS.

>> Dennis: WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A QUIZ AT THE END, ARE WE?

>> Charlie: NO, IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, AUGUST COMES AND YOU HIRE ALL THE COACHES.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

FOR WEEKS EDITION OF FISHING TIPS, RAY AND MANDY ARE GETTING JIGGY WITH IT, AS THEY TEACH US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF JIGS IN YOUR TACKLE BOX.

>> HELLO AGAIN EVERYBODY.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT JIGS.

I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN YOUR FISHING BOX, IS TO HAVE JIGS.

EVERYTHING BITES JIGS, NORTHERNERS, WALLEYES, CRAPPIES, BULL HEADS, YOU NAME IT, THEY ALL BITE JIGS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE WAYS TO FISH THESE JIGS.

I'M GOING TO USE A COUPLE EXAMPLES.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF HEAVIER JIGS, 3 TO 8 POUNDS, AND IF YOU'RE IN DEEPER WATER, YOU WANT TO BE DOWN WHERE THESE COULD BE AT THE BOTTOM AND YOU CAN SLOWLY LIFT THEM UP.

THOSE ARE ROUND HEADED JIGS, VERY POPULAR, VERY COMMON.

ANOTHER JIG THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD MUCH ABOUT IS A WEED WEASEL.

A WEED WEASEL HAS A GUARD THAT PROTECTS IT FROM GETTING INTO THE WEEDS AND A COUPLE OF MY GUIDE FRIENDS LIVE WITH THESE IN JULY AND AUGUST, THAT'S ALL THEY USE.

YOU CAN CAST THEM RIGHT UP INTO THE WEEDS, PULL THEM THROUGH, AND THEY COME OUT VERY EASILY.

ANOTHER VERY, VERY POPULAR ONE IS A JIG WITH A SPINNER.

YOU CAN SEE THAT SPINNER IS WORKING RIGHT THERE.

IT'S THAT SPINNER THAT IS AN EXTRA ATTRACTANT FOR A FISH WHEN YOU SEE THAT JIG AND THAT SPIN MAKES THEM ATTRACTED TO THEM.

FINALLY, I HAVE A HEAVIER JIG, IF I GO LAKE TROUT FISHING OR I'M FISHING FISH I KNOW IN 25 TO 35 FEET OF WATER, THIS IS A HEAVIER JIG.

A LOT OF TIMES YOU CATCH THE FISH ON THE TRAILER HOOK, NOT ON THE JIG ITSELF.

MANDY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER KINDS.

>> CORRECT, I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ONES HERE AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

THIS GUMBALL JIG, YOU SEE HOW IT WANTS TO LAY IN MY HANDS.

IT WANTS TO PUT THAT HOOK IN THE AIR AND KEEPS THAT BAIT FLOPPING IN THE WATER.

THE NEXT ONE, A MOON EYE JIGGED.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THIS COMES IN DIFFERENT LENGTHS.

SO THIS IS A SHORT SHANK, THIS IS A LONGER ONE.

I WILL SAY THIS, NOT ALL JIGS ARE HEAVY.

THIS IS A FLOATING JIG.

THIS IS A GREAT LITTLE JIG THAT YOU CAN TIP WITH A NIGHT CRAWLER, YOU CAN TIP WITH A LEECH, BUT THE BEST PART IS THAT IT KEEPS THAT BUOYANT AND OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE BOTTOM.

>> GREAT INFORMATION, I'M RAY GILDOW.

>> AND I'M MANDY UHRICH, THE BASS N' BIOLOGIST.

>> Dennis: AND STACY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A DECENT WEEKEND TO GET OUT ON THE BOAT ON THE LAKE.

>> Stacy: WE MAY HAVE TO DODGE A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ON SATURDAY, QUIETER ON SUNDAY.

FOR TONIGHT, CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOVING IN ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SOME OF THOSE ARE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH LOWS NEAR 66, MORE POSSIBLE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY AND LATE TOMORROW AND THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR SEVERE WEATHER ONCE AGAIN, HIGHS SHOULD BE NEAR 86.

>> Charlie: BSU FOOTBALL IS ENDING THEIR FIRST WEEK OF CAMP.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE OFFENSIVE LINE TOMORROW.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING EVERYBODY.

WE'RE BACK AT 10:00 TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]