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C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

>> SOURCEWELL; BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

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>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH WITH PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS IN BEMIDJI AND ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST.

SANFORD HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CARE CLOSE TO HOME.

LEARN MORE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> 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, PROVIDING ALL FIBEROPTIC INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGS WITH NO DATA CAPS AND NO SPEED THROTTLING.

>> 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.

>>> BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED BOTH THE BUDGET AND LEVY FOR 2026 EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE PROPERTY TAX LEVY WILL BE 4.75 PERCENT HIGHER THAN 2025.

FINANCE DIRECTOR CONNIE HILLMAN STATED THAT THE LEVY AMOUNTS TO A LITTLE UNDER $7.5 MILLION.

THAT MAKES UP OVER 30-PRECENT OF THE CITY'S PROJECTED REVENUES.

IN THE BUDGET, HILLMAN SAID THAT THE CITY'S TOTAL EXPENDITURES ARE ESTIMATED AT $17.27 MILLION FOR 2026.

>> THE WORKING FUNDS HAD A FINAL LEVY WITH A 4.75% INCREASE OVER 2025.

OVER BUDGETS PREPPED FOR ADOPTION TONIGHT ARE THE CAPITAL TRANSIT, RECYCLING PARKING LOT, MAYOR'S CONTINGENCY AND THE STORM SEWER FUNDS AS WELL.

>> THE BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 5TH.

>>> A BOVEY MAN HAS BEEN FINED $20,000 FOR STORM WATER AND WETLAND VIOLATIONS.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY, DEREK VEKICH FILLED IN A WETLAND WITH MORE THAN 9,000 SQUARE FEET OF UNPERMITTED FILL NEAR TROUT LAKE IN ITASCA COUNTY.

INVESTIGATORS ALSO FOUND THAT VEKICH ENGAGED IN UNPERMITTED STORMWATER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

THE VIOLATIONS OCCURRED IN JULY OF 2024.

>>> ACCORDING TO A POLL CONDUCTED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NORC CENTER FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH, ROUGHLY HALF OF AMERICANS SAY ITS HARDER THAN USUAL TO AFFORD CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS YEAR.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL CAUGHT UP WITH ONE ORGANIZATION WHO IS TRYING TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT KIDS IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA ARE GETTING THE PRESENTS THEY WANT THIS CHRISTMAS, HERE HE IS WITH MORE.

>> Reporter: THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE DETACHMENT WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES TO THE NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY IN BRAINERD YESTERDAY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH TOYS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.

>> WE ARE DOING OUR ANNUAL TOYS FOR KIDS DRIVE AND WHAT WE DO IS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE PLAN THIS AS AN EVENT FOR THE CHILDREN IN NEED IN OUR AREA.

CHRISTMAS WE FEEL IS FOR THE CHILDREN.

>> Reporter: THE ORGANIZATION SPENDS MONTHS PACKING AND COLLECTING TOYS TO GIVE THE KIDS IN THE BRAINERD AREA A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> I SAY IT'S A LABOR OF LOVE.

I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHEN I SAY IT'S A ROLE IN LIFE THAT WE THINK IS NECESSARY.

THE CHILDREN IS WHAT OUR FUTURE IS ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR FAMILY IS GROWING ON IN THE FUTURE AND TO START THESE PEOPLE OUT WITH SOMETHING TO ENJOY.

>> Reporter: THE WORK PUT IN THIS YEAR WON'T JUST BE JUST HELPING KIDS IN 2025 BUT ENSURES THERE WILL BE TOYS UNDER THEIR TREES FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> WE'RE PACKING UP AND THEY ARE GENEROUS ENOUGH TO OFFER US SOME SEMIS AND WE STORE WHAT WE HAVE TO START OUT, PROCEED PLANTING NEXT YEAR.

SO IT WILL START RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

THEN WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS YEAR.

IT DOESN'T END TODAY.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE MONTHS OF WORK TO PULL OFF THE EVENT, FOR EVENT OFFICIALS, SEEING THE JOY ON THE FAMILY'S FACES MAKES IT WORTHWHILE.

>> THERE IS A LITTLE BOY THAT CAME IN AND HE HAS A BIG RED FIRE TRUCK AND THEN ONE CHILD GOT A BIKE AND IT WAS AWE A BIKE.

SO IT'S VERY GRATIFYING.

OUR KIDS, OUR GRANDKIDS ARE 18 YEARS OLD.

I DON'T GET TO GO SHOPPING FOR ANY OF THESE NICE TOYS.

IT'S FUN TO DO THAT ALSO.

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

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

>> OFFICIALS WITH THE TOY DRIVE SAY THAT WORK WILL BEGIN ON NEXT YEAR'S DRIVE AS EARLY AS THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR.

>>> THE CITY OF BACKUS APPOINTED DOUG TAYLOR AS THEIR NEWEST MAYOR EARLIER THIS MONTH.

TAYLOR TOOK OVER THE JOB AFTER LONGTIME MAYOR KURT SAWYER RESIGNED IN OCTOBER.

TAYLOR HAS A BACKGROUND IN ENTERTAINMENT, HAVING WORKED AS A STUNTMAN IN VARIOUS MOVIES, AND WORKED TO BRING THE FILMING OF THE TV SHOW “VELVET PROZAK” TO BACKUS IN 2018.

DURING HIS TENURE, TAYLOR HOPES TO BRING NEW, FRESH ENERGY TO THE TOWN.

>> I'M EXCITED TO HELP OUT WITH -- AS THE MAYOR OF BACKUS COMING UP HERE AND I AM HOPING THAT WE -- I AM HOPING THAT PEOPLE WILL COME OUT TO MEET ME AND I'M HOPING TO BRING SOME PRIDE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK BACKUS NEEDS THAT.

>> TAYLOR WILL BEGIN ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN COUNCIL MEETINGS STARTING ON JANUARY 5TH.

>>> THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, THE CLEARWATER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS HELD DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS EVENTS LIKE BRINGING IN SANTA FOR VISITS, HOLIDAY CRAFT-MAKING CLASSES, AND SHOWING OFF 30 UNIQUE TREES THAT WERE DECORATED BY THE COMMUNITY.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE FROM THE 4TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES.

>> Reporter: FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, THE CLEAR WATER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS TRANSFORMED THE HISTORY CENTER INTO A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WITH THEIR FESTIVAL OF TREES.

>> EVERY TIME I WALK AROUND, I SEE SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT ABOUT THE TREE THAT I DIDN'T SEE BEFORE.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THEM FOR 10 DAYS OR MORE.

>> Reporter: THE TREES COME FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUT WHEN THEY'RE SET UP, THEY'RE COMPLETELY BARE.

EACH TREE IS UNIQUE AND ALL OF THEM ARE DECORATED BY THE COMMUNITY.

>> EVERY SINGLE ONE IS DIFFERENT AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO, WE HAVE FROM THE FOOD SHELF AND FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND EVERYBODY HAS THEIR KIND OF THING THEY WANT THE CHRISTMAS TREE TO LOOK LIKE.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE 30 TREES AND OTHER CHRISTMAS DISPLAYS ARE FESTIVE AND FUN, THE FESTIVAL OF TREES IS MORE ABOUT GATHERING PEOPLE TOGETHER IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON RATHER THAN THE BEST LOOKING TREE.

>> WE HAD SOME VISITORS FROM THE LOCAL NURSING HOME AND THEY HAD COFFEE AND COOKIES.

THEY TOLD STORIES AFTER STORIES AFTER STORIES OF GROWING UP WITH CHRISTMAS, THINGS THAT HAPPENED, GETTING THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE, THINGS THEIR DAD OR MOM DID, THE TYPES OF COOKIES THEY MADE, AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

>> Reporter: BUT EITHER PAYING $1 OR BRINGING A FOOD ITEM TO DONATE TO THE LOCAL FOOD SHELF, THE PUBLIC IS ABLE TO VOTE ON THEIR FAVORITE TREE, BUT THIS WEEKEND IS THE LAST CHANCE TO VISIT THE TREES.

>> WE'RE OPEN 10:00 TO 4:00 ON SATURDAY, AND NOON TO 4:00 ON SUNDAY.

SUNDAY IS OUR LAST DAY SO THE 21st, THEN WE HAVE SANTA COMING AROUND 1:00 FOR KIDS WHO DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE SANTA YET.

HE WILL STOP BY AND THEN WE WRAP THINGS UP AT 4:00.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM SHEVLIN, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY SAYS THAT THE OVERALL WINNER OF THE 2025 BEST TREE WILL BE AWARDED THE MASSIVE PRIZE, OF BRAGGING RIGHTS UNTIL NEXT CHRISTMASTIME.

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

>> Stacy: YOU MAY SEE A BIT MORE SNOW OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, BUT STRONG WINDS WILL BE PICKING UP AND WE WILL SEE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW TOMORROW.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> Reporter: COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK WITH THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, THE WATERMARK OF BEMIDJI IS HOSTING CREATIVE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >> SURVEYS INDICATE AMERICANS DON'T FEEL GREAT ABOUT THE OVERALL ECONOMY RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT WON'T STOP THEM FROM HITTING THE ROAD FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

MULTIPLE FORECASTS SEE RECORD NUMBERS OF HOLIDAY TRAVELERS.

KARIN CAIFA HAS A LOOK AT WHICH COSTS ARE UP AND DOWN.

>> Reporter: AMERICANS AREN'T LETTING ECONOMIC UNEASINESS STOPPING THEM FROM HITTING THE ROADS, RAILS, AND AIRPORTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

>> THE UNCERTAIN ECONOMY IS NOT STOPPING THEM FROM HOLIDAY TRAVEL.

THIS IS A RECORD SEASON.

>> Reporter: AAA FORECASTS 122.4 MILLION TRAVELERS WILL TAKE A TRIP AT LEAST 50 MILES FROM HOME BY THE END OF YEAR TRAVEL PERIOD.

ABOUT 90% OF HOLIDAY TRAVELERS WILL GO BY CAR, WITH THE NATIONAL AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF GAS SITTING BELOW $3, THANKS TO CRUDE OIL PRICES DOWN 20% FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

IN THE SKIES, INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP AIRLINES FOR AMERICA ANTICIPATES DOMESTIC AIRLINES WILL CARRY 52.6 MILLION PASSENGERS BETWEEN DECEMBER 19 AND JANUARY 5.

OF 1.5% OVER 2024.

EXPEDIA SAYS THAT PASSENGERS THAT WANT TO TRAVEL WITH MINIMAL CROWDS SHOULD AVOID THE HIGHEST VOLUME DAYS.

>> THE BUSIEST DAY FOR AIR TRAVEL IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

THEN THE SECOND BUSIEST DAY IS SHAPING UP TO BE THE 26th, THE DAY RIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS.

>> Reporter: AIRLINES FOR AMERICA PREDICTS U.S.

AIRLINES WILL ADD 72,000 SEATS EVERY DAY FOR THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL.

AIRLINES HAVE PREPARED FOR THE RUSH AS BEST THEY CAN, EVEN AS THE NATION GRAPPLES WITH AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SHORTAGE.

>> THE AIRLINE IS CONFIDENT THIS SEASON THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COME OUT AND FLY.

>> Reporter: IN WASHINGTON, I'M KARIN CAIFA.

>> Dennis: TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY JOINS US.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHITE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR.

>> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE SEEN SOME SNOW.

WE COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE SNOW OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND WINDS ARE GOING TO PICK UP SO WE COULD SEE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW TOMORROW.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, UP AND DOWN.

IT WILL BE WARMER AND THEN COLDER AND VARY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD.

AFTER TODAY, WE WILL SEE MAINLY DRY WEATHER THROUGH MIDWEEK NEXT [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE DID START OUT WITH COLD TEMPERATURES EARLY THIS MORNING.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE TEMPERATURES WARMING UP THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WE DID EXPERIENCE A FEW SNOW SHOWERS OUT THERE.

WE STILL ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, NOT LOOKING TOO BAD.

HEADING INTO TOMORROW, WINDS ARE GOING TO BE PICKING UP.

WE WILL BE SEEING AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE EARLY, WE'LL SEE COLD AIR MOVING INTO NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA, SO WE WILL SEE A LOT OF THE TEMPERATURES FALLING TOMORROW.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 14 DEGREES.

WINDS FROM THE STUDIO ARE AT THE EAST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

DEW POINT AT 6, WE PICKED UP A TRACE OF SNOW, AND OUR PEAK WIND GUSTS AT 10 MILES PER HOUR.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, IT IS 11 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 1, HUMIDITY AT 64%, AND WINDS GUSTING UP TO 32 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING LIGHT SNOW, SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION, SOME FREEZING RAIN DEVELOPING IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS EVENING.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE CHANCES OF SOME LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE WILL ALSO SEE WINDS STARTING TO PICK UP, SO EXPECT TO SEE WINDY CONDITIONS, BREEZY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA TOMORROW.

THAT COULD CREATE SOME AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

AGAIN, WITH THE STRONG WINDS.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, HIGH TEMPTS WILL BE EARLY ON IN THE DAY, EXPECT THE TEMPS TO FALL AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING, SOME BEAUTIFUL SKIES OUT THERE.

WE HAVE PHOTOS FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA, RALPH IN JENKINS WITH THOSE PICTURES.

WE HAVE SOME SUNSHINE OVER THE ICE ON A BLUSTERY DAY IN DEER WOOD.

ANGELA SPOTTING AN EAGLE IN THE TREE IN CASS LAKE.

GARY SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE SNOWSCAPE IN DEER WOOD.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA -12 AND CALM THIS MORNING.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, OVERCAST, A HIGH OF 9, AND A WINDCHILL OF -19.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLOUDY, TOPPING OUT AT 21.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH A HIGH OF 9.

TAKING A LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD REACHING A HIGH OF 11.

SO THAT IS A COOL DAY, A COLD DAY, OUR AVERAGE IS USUALLY IN THE MID-20s.

-11 WAS OUR LOW, WE HAD SUNSET AT 4:32.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 14, WE HAD A LOW EARLY ON TODAY OF -17, AND WE HAD SUNSET THIS EVENING AT 4:30.

SO AS YOU LOOK AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, WE WILL BE SEEING A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE STARTING IN THE MORNING, MAYBE A FEW FLURRIES IN PARTS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AGAIN THAT MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE ACROSS THE AREA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY.

WE WILL BE SEEING THE VERY STRONG WINDS, SO WE COULD SEE SOME AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

AS FAR AS OUR HIGH TEMPERATURES GO, WE'RE LOOKING AT SINGLE DIGITS TO LOW TEENS.

WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE THE COLDER AIR MOVE IN.

WHERE WE HAVE THE WARMER TEMPERATURES, IT LOOKS LIKE THE TEMPS WILL FALL INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIGGER STORY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA WHERE WE HAVE HIGHS IN THE MID-TEENS TO 20.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON, THE TEMPERATURES WILL BE FALLING BACK INTO THE SINGLE DIGITS.

SO OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY, WE DO HAVE A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES, AND THERE MAY BE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

OUR LOWS ARE DOWN TO 1.

VARIABLE CLOUDS FOR US TOMORROW, FLURRIES ARE POSSIBLE IN THE NORTHEAST IN THE MORNING, OTHERWISE LOOK FOR PATCHY, BLOWING, AND DRIFTING SNOW AS WE SEE THE WEST WINDS PICKING UP 15 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, AND HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 10.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, THE REST OF THE WEEKEND FORECAST, MOSTLY SUNNY ON SUNDAY.

WE START OFF BELOW 0 BUT HIGHS SHOULD CLIMB TO 16 ON MONDAY, AND WE'LL SEE CLOUD COVER.

HIGHS COULD REACH 31, WE'RE BACK DOWN TO 17 AND CLOUDY ON TUESDAY, AND THEN 32 WITH VARIABLE CLOUDS ON WEDNESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE HAS TONIGHT OFF AND MILES IS IN WITH OUR SPORTS.

A JOURNEY HOCKEY TOURNAMENT STARTED TODAY.

>> Miles: 15 NHL DRAFT PICKS PLAYING TONIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE MORE AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

>>> THE WORLD'S BEST MEN'S HOCKEY PLAYERS UNDER 20 YEARS OLD ARE GATHERED ACROSS MINNESOTA FOR THE 2026 WORLD JUNIORS PRE-TOURNAMENT SERIES.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS 50-YEAR HISTORY, BEMIDJI IS PLAYING HOST TO THREE OF THE 10 COMPETING COUNTRIES IN LATVIA, CZECHIA, AND SLOVAKIA.

GAMES GOT UNDERWAY TONIGHT FROM THE SANFORD CENTER, WITH LATVIA, AND CZECHIA HITTING THE RINK.

40 SECONDS INTO THE SECOND PERIOD, SCORELESS.

HE SHOVES IT IN TO BREAK THE ICE, GIVING THEM A 1-0 LEAD.

SECOND PERIOD, LIGHTS UP THE LAMP, EXTENDS THE LEAD TO 2-0.

A COUPLE MINUTES LATER, POWER PLAY FOR LATVIA, SCHMIDT SHOOTS IT FROM DEEP, CUT IT IS DEFICIT FROM 2-1.

THEY GET THE W IN A 3-2 VICTORY.

THE SERIES WILL RESUME TUESDAY NIGHT.

>>> MORE AROUND THE AREA, LITTLE FALLS FELL TO FERGUS FALLS TONIGHT.

DULUTH MARSHALL GOT THE W OVER BRAINERD.

IN BOYS BASKETBALL, BRAINERD IMPROVES 4-2, AND PEQUOT TAKES THE W OVER LITTLE FALLS.

IN GIRLS BASKETBALL, BEMIDJI IMPROVES TO 7-2 FOR THE SEASON.

MORE ON GIRLS BASKETBALL, PINE RIVER STAYS UNDEFEATED, THEY ARE 7-0.

CROSBY FALLS TO MAPLE GROVE ON THE ROAD.

THE NBA STILL GOING ON, TIMBERWOLVES ARE UP ON THE THUNDER.

>>> CROSBY-IRONTON GIRLS BASKETBALL HAS PLAYED A BEVY OF GAMES WITH HIGH STAKES OVER THE PAST THREE SEASONS.

THIS YEAR, THE RANGERS ARE STARTING THEIR GAUNTLET EARLY AND OFTEN, WITH 10 OF THEIR 26 REGULAR SEASON OPPONENTS, EITHER BEING RANKED IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CLASS, OR COMING OFF A SECTION TITLE.

>>> WHETHER IT'S OPENING THE SEASON AGAINST A THIRD RANKED TEAM, FACING CLASS 4A RUNNER UP, OR 4A CHAMPS HOPKINS IN 11 DAYS, THE HEAD COACH WANTS HIS GIRLS TO FACE THE BEST THAT MINNESOTA HAS TO OFFER.

>> AN UNDEFEATED SEASON IS UNBELIEVABLE.

IT WAS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

WE CHECKED THAT OFF THE CHECKLIST.

SO WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?

SO THE NEXT STEP IS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

HOW DO YOU GET THAT?

YOU HAVE TO PLAY TOUGH TEAMS.

>> Reporter: THEY LEFT A KEY PIECE IN RE BEGAN, WHO SCORED 21 POINTS A GAME.

SO FAR, THE TEAM, MAINLY LUCY WHO HAS GONE FROM 9 POINTS LAST YEAR, TO 17 THIS SEASON, IS FILLING THE GAP WELL.

>> IT'S BEEN MINDSET A LOT, JUST READING THAT YOU ARE ONE OF THE MAIN TOP SCORERS AND HOLDING THE BALL MORE AND BEING MORE OF A POINT GUARD.

WE LOST AND IT'S A BIG LOSS, BUT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO FILL IT.

>> Reporter: THE RANGERS VANGUARD IS STILL GOLDEN GOPHER, WHO BECAME THE SECOND GIRL IN MINNESOTA BASKETBALL HISTORY TO HAVE OVER 1,000 POINTS, REBOUNDS, AND ASSISTS PER CAREER.

>> I'M TRYING TO GET MY SHOT QUICKER AND GET THE BALLS QUICKER AND MY SHOTS QUICKER.

I'M JUST GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE THINGS I'M ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.

GETTING 1,000 ASSISTS, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THE SIX YEARS.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE COMING OFF THEIR BEST SEASON IN PROGRAM HISTORY, FINISHING 32-1 WITH THE ONLY LOSS COMING IN THE CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TO FOUR TIME REIGNING CHAMPS PROVIDENCE ACADEMY.

PLAYOFF HOOPS IS STILL QUITE A WAY DOWN THE PIPES AND THEY HOPE TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE PREPARATION.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP.

SO THIS WEEK WE PLAY FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND MONDAY, AND THOSE ARE ALL REALLY GOOD TEAMS.

I THINK THAT IS HELPING US, GETTING US PREPARED FOR STATE.

IT'S VERY DRAINING TO PLAY THAT MANY GAMES IN A ROW, SO I THINK THAT PREPARATION WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL.

>> Miles: LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT, THREE GAMES OVER THE NEXT FOUR GAMES.

THEY LOST AGAINST MAPLE GROVE BUT THEY WILL GO AGAINST ROCK RIDGE AND THEN GOING AGAINST THE NUMBER ONE RANKED TEAM.

>> Dennis: PLAYING SOME BIG HITTERS THERE, A COUPLE OF 4H TEAMS.

>> Miles: YES, THE QUARTER FINALS IN 23, AND THE CLASS 2-A CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.

>> Dennis: YEAH, GOOD COMPETITION.

THANKS MILES.

THE WATERMARK ART CENTER IN BEMIDJI IS HOSTING WHAT THEY CALL INTERCULTURAL CREATIVE CIRCLES, AS A WAY TO BRING ARTISTS OF ALL AGES TOGETHER TO HELP WITH EACH OTHER'S PROJECTS.

OUR REPORTER, MATTHEW FREEMAN, ATTENDED ONE OF THE CLASSES AND HAS MORE FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-FOCUS.

>> Reporter: ONCE THE TEMPERATURE STARTS TO DROP AND THE WINTER JACKETS START TO APPEAR, THE WATERMARK ART CENTER BEGINS THEIR CREATIVE CIRCLES ON MOST WEDNESDAY.

>> IT'S JUST A DROP IN.

ANYBODY CAN COME WITH ANY PROJECT THEY HAVE AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT GUEST ARTISTS, USUALLY MONTHLY.

>> Reporter: ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GET STARTED ON THE PROJECT CAN DROP IN TO GET SUPPORT FROM A GUEST ARTIST OR IF YOU BRING A PROJECT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON, YOU CAN DO SO IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS.

>> WE ALL GO TOGETHER AND SHARE.

>> COMMUNITY IS THE BIGGEST PART.

I THINK THAT'S THE THING.

WE CAN ALL DO THIS AT HOME BY OURSELVES BUT IT'S FUN TO COME TOGETHER AND KIND OF, PUSH EACH OTHER TO FINISH OUR PROJECTS AND LEARN NEW THINGS FROM EACH OTHER.

>> Reporter: AS A WAY TO KEEP THINGS FRESH, EACH MONTH FEATURE AS DIFFERENT GUEST ARTIST TO SUPPORT THE PARTICIPANTS.

>> EVERYBODY IS CREATIVE AND WE ALL LIKE TO DABBLE WITH THINGS AND IT'S SO REFRESHING TO LEARN THINGS FROM A HUMAN AND NOT JUST LIKE FALL BACK ON YOU CAN LEARN EVERYTHING ON YOUTUBE.

THEY BRING DIFFERENT TALENTS AND THINGS TO LEARN THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH WHOEVER COMES.

>> Reporter: THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS BUILT FRIENDSHIPS THAT LASTED FOR YEARS.

SOME PARTICIPANTS SHOW UP FOR EVERY CLASS WITH ONE MAKING A LONG DRIVE TO ATTEND.

>> I DRIVE 2.5 HOURS EVERY WEEK TO GET HERE AND AGAIN TO GO HOME.

WE FOUND OUR OWN LITTLE COMMUNITY HERE.

THERE IS A CORE GROUP OF US THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS NOW.

IT'S BEEN VERY ENJOYABLE.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS SIMPLY WALKED IN ONE RANDOM DAY WHILE THE CIRCLE WAS BEING HELD AND ATTENDED EVERY CLASS EVER SINCE.

>> I WAS IMMEDIATELY DRAWN TO IT.

BEING THAT WE LIVE IN A RESERVATION AREA, THIS HAS BEEN MY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF THE COMING TOGETHER CROSS CULTURE.

>> THERE'S BEEN REMARKABLE JOY AND DISCLOSURE OF OUR WALK IN LIFE AND IT'S COMING OUT IN OUR ARTWORK.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE INTERCULTURAL CREATIVE CLASSES RUN AT THE WATERMARK ART CENTER ON MOST WEDNESDAYS FROM 11:00 A.M.

UNTIL 3:00 P.M.

THROUGH MARCH 18TH.

>>> WE HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER CHECK OF OUR WEATHER.

WE GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: AND WE WILL BE SEEING AGAIN SOME AREAS OF SNOW OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE WILL BE SEEING PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH LOWS NEAR 1.

THEN AS WE LOOK AT TOMORROW, IT LOOKS LIKE OTHER THAN A FEW FLURRIES IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA, WE'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE VARIABLE CLOUDS, HIGHS NEAR 10.

>> Miles: AND IN SPORTS, WE'LL BE HEARING FROM THE BEMIDJI BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AFTER THE WEEKEND.

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

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE'RE BACK ON MONDAY NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Miles: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪] CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: AV CAPTIONING WWW.AVCAPTIONING.COM