>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY: FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI; CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER FDIC.

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

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> 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.

>>> LONGTIME NORTHERN MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARY MURPHY HAS DIED.

THE HERMANTOWN DEMOCRAT WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE HOUSE IN 1977 AND SERVED THROUGH 2022.

SHE IS THE LONGEST SERVING WOMAN IN MINNESOTA HOUSE HISTORY.

D.F.L.

OFFICIALS SAY MURPHY DIED WEDNESDAY AFTER RECENTLY SUFFERING A STROKE AND THEN A SECOND SERIES OF COMPLICATIONS.

MURPHY WAS 85 YEARS OLD.

>>> THE MINNESOTA STATE PATROL HAS IDENTIFIED A DRIVER WHO SPED PAST A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA LAST FRIDAY.

THIS VIDEO SHOWS THE PICKUP TRUCK PASSING ON THE SHOULDER AND THEN HITTING A MAILBOX.

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED JUST NORTH OF THE CITY OF VIRGINIA.

THE STATE PATROL SAID TODAY THE DRIVER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING.

A PERSON WHO PASSES A SCHOOL BUS LIKE THAT COULD BE CHARGED WITH A GROSS MISDEMEANOR.

>>> SOME MIXED NEWS TO REPORT ABOUT A GREAT GRAY OWL AND A SNOWY OWL THAT WERE BEING TREATED BY EXPERTS AFTER BEING RESCUED BY A NORTHERN MINNESOTA WOMAN.

ANNABELL WHELAN SAYS SHE FOUND THE FIRST OWL ON MONDAY MORNING AND BROUGHT HIM TO A WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER, WHICH SENT HIM TO A RAPTOR RESCUE.

HOURS LATER WHELAN HELPED SAVE A SECOND OWL THAT WAS STUCK IN THE GRILLE OF A CAR.

SHE BROUGHT HER TO THE WILDLIFE CENTER AS WELL BUT OFFICIALS THERE REPORTED TODAY THAT OWL, THE SNOW OWL, SUSTAINED SEVERE TRAUMATIC INJURIES AND THE KINDEST OPTION WAS A PEACEFUL PASSING THROUGH EUTHANASIA.

THERE WAS BETTER NEWS ON THE GREAT GREY OWL.

THAT OWL HAS A BROKEN BONE IN THE WING, AND SOME LARGE SOFT TISSUE WOUNDS ON THE SAME WING.

WILDLIFE REHABILITATION OFFICIALS SAY THESE INJURIES ARE SEVERE, BUT VETERINARIANS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GIVE THIS BIRD A CHANCE AT RECOVERY.

>>> THE PINEY-PINECREEK BORDER AIRPORT HAS A UNIQUE CLAIM TO FAME.

ITS RUNWAY STRADDLES THE BORDER OF THE U.S. AND CANADA BUT AFTER SEVEN DECADES OF OPERATION, THE SMALL AIRPORT THAT SITS NEAR ROSEAU, MINNESOTA, AND PINEY, MANITOBA IN CANADA, WILL CLOSE FOR GOOD ON FRIDAY.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAID IN A NEWS RELEASE EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT THE AIRPORT HAD VERY LOW USE AND FACED LARGE MAINTENANCE EXPENSES.

THE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE AIRPORT EXPIRES ON FRIDAY AND WILL NOT BE RENEWED.

THE AIRPORT OPENED IN 1953 AND WAS OFTEN USED BY AMERICANS TRAVELING TO CANADA TO HUNT AND FISH.

>>> FIRST-TIME FILINGS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT HELD STEADY LAST WEEK, INDICATING LAYOFF ACTIVITY REMAINS LOW.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO A REPORT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELEASED THURSDAY.

THERE WERE AN ESTIMATED 219,000 INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FILED DURING THE WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 21ST.

THAT'S A DROP OF 1,000 FROM THE WEEK BEFORE.

HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING ONGOING JOBLESS BENEFITS HIT A THREE-YEAR HIGH, A SIGNAL THAT IT'S HARDER FOR JOB SEEKERS TO FIND WORK.

UNEMPLOYMENT DATA CAN BE HIGHLY VOLATILE AND IS FREQUENTLY REVISED, BUT IT CAN PROVIDE A SNAPSHOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LABOR MARKET.

>>> BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL EXPECTS TO IMPLEMENT LEADERSHIP COURSES INTO ITS CURRICULUM BEGINNING THIS UPCOMING FALL.

THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE ADDITION FOLLOWING SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER AND FOOTBALL COACH JASON FREED'S PRESENTATION AT THE BOARD MEETING THIS MONTH.

THE COURSE WOULD BE OPEN TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AS FREED BELIEVES THAT LEADERS CAN BE CULTIVATED WHEN GIVEN THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND HE PLANS ON FOCUSING ON DEVELOPING KEY SKILLS WITHIN STUDENTS, IN AN EFFORT TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION, FOR LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

>> FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE, AND SOMETIMES THAT IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND REALLY CHALLENGING AND I THINK IT'S REALLY HEALTHY FOR STUDENTS TO DO THAT.

>> BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL IS ALSO HOPEFUL THAT A LEADERSHIP 2 COURSE WILL ALSO BE ADDED TO THE CURRICULUM DOWN THE LINE.

>>> SPECULATION IS GROWING OVER THE CAUSE OF A DEADLY PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED AT LEAST 38 PEOPLE ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE COUNTRY OF KAZAKHSTAN.

MICHAEL YOSHIDA HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: A DAY OF MOURNING FOR DOZENS KILLED IN AN AIRLINER CRASH IN KAZAKHSTAN, AS NEW QUESTIONS SWIRL ON WHAT CAUSED THE PLAN TO COME DOWN.

THEY CRASH LANDED IN KAZAKHSTAN.

RUSSIA'S FEDERAL AIR TRANSPORT AGENCY PREVIOUSLY SAID A COLLISION WITH BIRDS CAUSED THE CRASH BUT THE HEAD OF UKRAINE COUNTERING DISINFORMATION DISPUTES THAT CLAIM, WRITING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THE PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN BY A RUSSIAN AIR DEFENSE SYSTEM.

THERE IS PERFORATIONS SIMILAR TO DAMAGE FROM SHRAPNEL OR DEBRIS.

>> IF IT WAS A MISSILE ATTACK, THAT'S WHAT YOU WOULD LOOK FOR, THIS SHRAPNEL THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

JUDGING THE AIRCRAFT, FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME THEY TRIED TO FLY FOR 20 MINUTES, IT WASN'T JUST AN UP AND DOWN THING WITH A BIRD STRIKE, IT WENT LEFT AND RIGHT, WHICH INDICATES LOSS OF FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS.

>> Reporter: COUNTRIES HAVE URGED PEOPLE NOT TO SPECULATE UNTIL INVESTIGATIONS ARE COMPLETE.

IN WASHINGTON, I'M MICHAEL YOSHIDA REPORTING.

>> AND CNN IS NOW REPORTING THAT ACCORDING TO A U.S. OFFICIAL, THERE ARE EARLY INDICATIONS THAT A RUSSIAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM MAY HAVE DOWNED THE AIRLINER.

A COMMISSION HAS BEEN SET UP TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH, INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE PLANE'S ROUTE.

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

>> Stacy: WE'LL SEE SOME AREAS OF DENSE FOG THROUGHOUT NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING AND WE COULD BE SEEING THAT VISIBILITY REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMESFUL I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, THE BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL'S PRODUCTION OF MEAN GIRLS WON SEVERAL AWARDS.

WE'LL HAVE THAT AND YOUR LOCAL NEWS, WEATHER, AND SPORTS COMING UP >> THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

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

>> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> CLOSED ( [♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME FOR FAMILY, BUT FOR MORE THAN 100,000 KIDS IN FOSTER CARE, IT'S A PAINFUL REMINDER OF WHAT THEY ARE MISSING, A PERMANENT HOME.

THAT'S WHERE THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION IS STEPPING IN TO HELP.

MANY PROSPECTIVE PARENTS BELIEVE THE PROCESS IS TOO COMPLICATED OR EXPENSIVE BUT THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

RITA SORNONEN FROM THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION IS WORKING TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT SOME OF THE MOST COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS.

>> TO ADOPT FROM FOSTER CARE IS RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE, BUT I SAY THAT WITH THE CAUTION THAT I DON'T THINK THESE CHILDREN ARE ANY LESS VALUABLE THAN A CHILD THAT COST $50,000 TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY.

THE STATE COVERS THE COST.

THAT COULD BE THE COST OF A HOME STUDY, THE COST OF AN ATTORNEY, IF YOU CHOOSE TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO HELP YOU WITH THE PROCESS.

WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IT'S ANYWHERE FROM REALLY COSTING NOTHING TO $2,000 TO $3,000 TO ADOPT FROM FOSTER CARE.

OFTEN THOSE COSTS ARE REIMBURSABLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> THE FOUNDATION HAS RESOURCES TO GUIDE FAMILIES THROUGH THE PROCESS AND ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS.

THEY HOPE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WILL INSPIRE MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP AND BRING A CHILD HOME FOR GOOD.

>>> THE BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND FOUNDATION IS NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR ITS 2025 CLASS OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI.

EACH YEAR, BEMIDJI STATE HONORS ALUMNI FOR OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THE ALUMNI AND FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS ALL NOMINATIONS AND MAKES SELECTIONS BASED ON NOMINEES' PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, AS WELL AS HOW THEY BRING RECOGNITION TO BSU THROUGH OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITY, STATE AND NATION.

THE SELECTED AWARD WINNERS WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE 2025 HONORS GALA DURING BSU'S HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES.

YOU CAN NOMINATE A WORTHY CANDIDATE FOR ONE OR MULTIPLE PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AT THE WEBSITE LISTED ON THE SCREEN.

MORE INFORMATION ON EACH AWARD AND PREVIOUS WINNERS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THAT PAGE.

BSU DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY MARCH FIRST EACH YEAR.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS HERE.

IT'S A WEIRD DRIZZLY DAY TODAY.

MORE IN STORE?

>> Stacy: YES, THE DREARY WEATHER WILL BE STICKING AROUND FOR AT LEAST TOMORROW, POSSIBLY INTO THE START OF THE WEEKEND, BEFORE MORE SUNSHINE RETURNS.

WE HAVE A DENSE FOG ADVISORY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE WILL BE SEEING REDUCED VISIBILITY.

SO I'LL H >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DEAF, DEAF/BLIND, AND HARD OF HEARING STATE SERVICES DIVISION.

>> SANFORD HEALTH; HERE FOR ALL, HERE FOR GOOD.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES IN THE BEMIDJI AREA IS AVAILABLE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

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

>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, IT WAS A DRIZZLY DAY OUT THERE TODAY AND WE HAVE MORE OF THE SAME ON THE WAY.

WE HAVE WIDESPREAD FOG DEVELOPING FOR TONIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING, PATCHY FOG TOMORROW AFTERNOON, AND SOME AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND LIGHT RAIN THROUGH TOMORROW, BUT IF WE HOLD ON A LITTLE BIT LONGER, WAIT ONE MORE DAY, WE HAVE A SHOT OF SEEING SUNSHINE THIS WEEKEND.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 33 AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 7 MILES PER HOUR.

THE DEW POINT IS 33, GIVING US HUMIDITY OF 100%.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, AREAS OF FOG, 36 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 33, AND PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 8 MILES PER HOUR.

THE ENTIRE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS UNDER A DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL NOON ON FRIDAY.

WE WILL SEE VISIBILITY REDUCED A QUARTER MILE OR LESS WITHIN THOSE AREAS OF DENSE FOG, WHICH AGAIN IS POSSIBLE, REALLY ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

ON THE RADAR, WE AREN'T SEEING A LOT OF PRECIPITATION.

WE HAVE SOME LIGHT MISTS, SO IT'S DREARY WITH THE FOG AND DRIZZLE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT AREAS OF DRIZZLE OR FREEZING DRIZZLE IN FAR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, BUT WE COULD SEE ONLY LIGHT RAIN DEVELOPING IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THE WIDESPREAD FOG THROUGH THE MORNING, PATCHY FOG IN THE AFTERNOON.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, THE FOG AND THE MOISTURE IN THE AIR REALLY CREATING FROSTY CONDITIONS OUT THERE.

DEBRA SENDING US THIS PHOTO NEAR LAKE ADA.

YOLANDA WITH A MORNING DRIVE SHOT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, DEBRA IN PINE RIVER REPORTING 31 THIS MORNING.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 32 WITH THE OVERCAST CONDITIONS AROUND MID-MORNING.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, FOG AND MIST TONIGHT.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, FOGGY WITH CLOUDS, THE HIGH WAS 34.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, 36 WAS THE HIGH TODAY IN BRAINERD, VERY MILD TEMPERATURES, MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE OUR AVERAGE.

IT'S NOT MUCH WARMER THAN OUR LOW OF 31 FROM THIS MORNING.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 32, SO AGAIN VERY MILD AND ONLY A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAN OUR LOW TEMPERATURE, 28 WAS OUR LOW THIS MORNING AND SUNSET AT 4:34.

TOMORROW, EXPECT TO SEE MORE CLOUDS, WE HAVE THE WIDESPREAD FOG IN THE MORNING, PATCHY FOG POSSIBLE IN THE AFTERNOON, AND WE COULD SEE SOME LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE DEVELOPING, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

WE'LL BE SEEING THOSE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 30s, WITH UPPER 30s, CLOSE TO 40 IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, BUT AGAIN IT IS GOING TO BE A DREARY DAY, LOOKING AT AREAS OF DRIZZLE WITH LIGHT RAIN STILL POSSIBLE IN PARTS OF WESTERN MINNESOTA.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, CLOUDY SKIES, WIDESPREAD FOG, SOME FREEZING FOG AND A CHANCE OF DRIZZLE, LOWS NEAR 32.

TOMORROW, CLOUDY SKIES, WE'LL SEE THE WIDESPREAD FOG THROUGH THE MORNING, PATCHY FOG IN THE AFTERNOON, SCATTERED RAIN AND DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WITH HIGHS NEAR 37.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE REST OF OUR WEEKEND FORECAST.

WE DO HAVE AT LEAST A CHANCE OF SEEING SOME SUNSHINE.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF SOME SCATTERED RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AND SNOW ON SATURDAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING.

WE DO DROP A LITTLE BIT EARLY NEXT WEEK.

VARIABLE CLOUDS ON SUNDAY, MORE CLOUDS MONDAY AND TUESDAY, AND HIGHS WILL BE IN THE LOW 20s BY TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE HAS TONIGHT OFF.

MATT IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS.

>> Matt: WE HAVE THE BOWLING TEAM THAT FINISHED THEIR SEASON NOT TOO LONG AGO AND CHARLIE YAEGER WAS ABLE TO GET A WORD IN WITH THE BOWLING TEAM.

SO WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, BRINGING NORTHERN MINNESOTA THE GIGAZONE.

INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGABITS PER SECONDS, BOTH UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD.

IT'S THE GIGAZONE FROM PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS AND IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> THE GOLDEN APPLE IS SPONSORED IN PART BY CROW WING POWER.

DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RELIABLE ELECTRICITY AND A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CARING STAFF TO ASSIST YOU WITH ENERGY-SAVING PROGRAMS AND TIPS MORE AT CWPOWER.COM.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> WHILE NOT AN OFFICIAL MSHSL SPORT, THE BEMIDJI CLUB BOWLING TEAM MEETS 3-DAYS A WEEK DURING THE FALL SEASON AND THIS YEAR MADE THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE TRIP TO THE MINNESOTA STATE TOURNAMENT.

SPORTS DIRECTOR CHARLIE YAEGER HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH THE TEAM AFTER THE SEASON FINISHED TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS UNIQUE HIGH SCHOOL SPORT THROUGH THE EYES OF THE LUMBERJACKS.

>> Reporter: AT THE BOWLING ALLEY IN BEMIDJI, PINS ARE SET, AND PINS ARE KNOCKED DOWN BY A GROUP OF LUMBERJACKS THAT ARE MAKING THEIR MARK ON THE BOWLING PROGRAM.

LAST YEAR THEY QUALIFIED FOR THEIR FIRST EVER STATE TOURNAMENT AND FOLLOWED IT UP THIS YEAR WITH A RETURN TRIP.

>> THEY ENDED UP FINISHING 15th, WHICH THEY BOWLED 5 PINS OVER THEIR AVERAGE.

THEY DID DO REALLY WELL.

I'M REAL PROUD OF THEM.

>> Reporter: THE FORMAT USED IS CALLED BAKERS STYLE, WITH FIVE BOWLERS ROTATING EACH FRAME, PLAYING FIVE GAMES TO A MATCH, WITH THREE MATCHES PER MEET.

SO IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT HELPS TO NOT ONLY TRUST YOUR TEAMMATES, BUT BE CLOSE WITH THEM AS WELL.

>> I MET SOME OF MY GOOD FRIENDS ON THIS TEAM, LIKE JUSTIN, AND HUNTER, AND IT'S JUST BEEN A THING I'VE DONE.

I BOWLED SINCE I WAS 3.

I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM UNTIL WE GOT INTO HIGH SCHOOL AND I JOINED IT AND IT WAS PRETTY FUN.

>> Reporter: AND THAT SENTIMENT IS SHARED AMONG THE OTHER BOWLERS AS WELL.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN, A LOT OF GOOFING AROUND.

>> Reporter: BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON THAT THESE BOWLERS HAVE JOINED THE TEAM.

>> AT A YOUNG AGE, WATCHING MY MOM DO A LEAGUE AND IT INSPIRED ME.

>> MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

YOU GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND SEEING DIFFERENT PLACES ALSO, ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE REST OF THE REASONS FOR JOINING THE TEAM MAY VARY, THEY SHARE A COMMON GOAL THAT ALL TEAMS SHARE, CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, CHARLIE YAEGER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THIS YEAR THE LUMBERJACKS ALSO SENT THREE BOWLERS TO COMPETE IN THE MINNESOTA STATE INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENT AS WELL.

8TH GRADER MALLORY VIGEN WHO FINISHED 12TH OUT OF 30 GIRLS, AS WELL AS HUNTER JULIN WHO FINISHED 47TH OVERALL AND HAYDEN SMITH WHO FINISHED JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP 50 BOWLERS.

>>> THE WARROAD GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM HAS WON THE CLASS-A SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP THREE YEARS IN A ROW AND LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR DOMINANCE THIS SEASON, STARTING OFF WITH A RECORD OF 7-1, BUT HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES IN A 2-GAME SKID AFTER A PAIR OF AWAY GAMES.

THE WARRIORS WERE BACK IN WARROAD TODAY HOSTING CROOKSTON AS PART OF THE HOCKEY-TOWN HOLIDAY CLASSIC.

WARROAD STARTING THINGS OFF WITH A STATEMENT IN THE FIRST PERIOD, AS JAY-LEE FRENCH CONNECTS WITH THE BACK OF THE NET TO PUT THE WARRIORS UP 1-0.

THAT WOULD BE 1 OF 2 GOALS FOR FRENCH ON THE NIGHT.

AS 12 MINUTES INTO THE SECOND PERIOD, CROOKSTON TRYING TO DRIVE IT DOWN THE LANE.

KAIYA SANDY SAYS NO NO NO, NOT TODAY, AS SHE PUTS THE WARRIORS UP 2-0.

SANDY WOULD STAY BUSY LATER IN THE 2ND PERIOD AS SHE PASSES IT TO KATY COMSTOCK WHO RINGS THE CHRISTMAS DINNER BELL TO PUT THE WARRIORS UP 3-0.

COMSTOCK WOULD SCORE AGAIN IN THE 2ND AS WARROAD WOULD FINISH THE GAME WITH A SCORE OF 6-0 OVER CROOKSTON.

THE GIRLS TEAM HOSTS ANOTHER PAIR OF GAMES AS PART OF THE HOCKEY TOWN HOLIDAY CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND, STARTING WITH ALBERT LEA TOMORROW SOME OTHER HOCKEY SCORES FOR YA.

>>> BEMIDJI GOT ONE OVER JEFFERSON, AND GRAND RAPIDS FALLS TO ROSEAU.

>>> THE BOYS TEAM FOR WARROAD STARTING THEIR HOLIDAY CLASSIC AGAINST RIVAL GRAND FORKS-RED RIVER.

KICKING IT OFF IN THE FIRST PERIOD, TAVON JAMES FINDS RYAN SHAUGABII FOR THE WARRIORS FIRST GOAL OF THE NIGHT.

THAT WOULD BE SHAUGABII'S 4TH GOAL OF THE SEASON SO FAR.

THIS COMBO WOULDN'T BE DONE HOWEVER, AS LATER IN THE 2ND PERIOD, THIS TIME IT'S SHAUGABII WHO DROPS IT TO JAMES WHO RIPS AROUND THE GOAL TO PUT THE WARRIORS UP 3-0 IN THE SECOND PERIOD.

JAMES STILL WASN'T DONE THOUGH AS THE ROUGHRIDERS TRY TO MOUNT A COMEBACK LATE IN THE 3RD, BUT TAVON JAMES CONNECTS WITH AN EMPTY NET FOR HIS SECOND GOAL ON THE NIGHT.

AND THE FINISHING GOAL TO GIVE WARROAD THE 4-2 VICTORY OVER RIVAL GRAND FORKS-RED RIVER.

WARROAD NOW HOLDS A RECORD OF 5-3 WITH ONE TIE ADDED TO THAT.

SOME OTHER BOYS HOCKEY SCORES FOR YA.

>>> BEMIDJI HELD IT OFF AGAINST ST.

CLOUD.

AND FORT FRANCIS HOLDS IT OFF AGAINST BAGLEY FOSSTON.

ROSEAU HOLDS AGAINST ARMSTRONG COOPER.

CROSBY HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT, PROCTOR IS ABLE TO GET A SHOT ON CROSBY-IRONTON TO GET A LAST SECOND VICTORY.

>>> WELL, A FORMER WAAROAD WARRIOR FOR THE BOYS' TEAM HAS MADE HIS WAY ONTO THE WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY TEAM FOR TEAM U.S.A.

IN GOALIE HAMPTON SLUKINSKII.

SLUKINSKII STARTED FOR THE WARRIORS FROM 2021 TO 2023, AVERAGING A 0.933 SAVE PERCENTAGE, AND HAD 18 SHUTOUTS DURING HIS TIME IN WARROAD.

SLUKINSKI WAS THEN DRAFTED BY THE L.A. KINGS ONCE HE BECAME ELIGIBLE, MADE IT TO THE UNITED STATE HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS LAST SEASON AS PART OF THE FARGO FORCE, AND HE CURRENTLY PLAYS FOR WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY IN THE NCAA.

SLUKINSKII DIDN'T GET ANY PLAYING TIME TODAY HOWEVER AS TEAM U.S.A. STEAMROLLED OVER GERMANY 10-4, BUT TEAM U.S.A. WILL BE TAKING ON LATVIA ON SATURDAY THE 28TH SO MAYBE SLUKINSKII CAN GET SOME PLAYING TIME THEN.

>> Dennis: YEAH, HE'S HAD A GOOD CAREER SO FAR.

STILL BUILDING ON IT.

>> Matt: YES, AND MAYBE SOME MORE WITH THE L.A. KINGS.

>> Dennis: THANKS MATT.

>>> IN NOVEMBER, BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL PUT ON A RENDITION OF “MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL” FOR THEIR FIRST PRODUCTION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE PERFORMANCE, THE CAST WAS AWARDED SEVERAL SPOTLIGHT AWARDS FROM "HENNEPIN ARTS" IN MINNEAPOLIS.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK MET WITH SOME OF THE RECIPIENTS TO SEE WHAT THE RECOGNITION MEANS TO THEM AND SHE HAS MORE IN THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE REPORT.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T JUST A REGULAR PERFORMANCE, IT WAS A COOL PERFORMANCE.

BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL'S PRODUCTION OF MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL WON 8 INDIVIDUAL AND 2 GROUP AWARDS FROM THE HEN PIN ARTS SPOTLIGHT EDUCATION PROGRAM.

>> IT'S FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE FOR THE PLAY, LIKE THEY COME AROUND AND THEY LOOK AT EVERYONE SAYING THEY ARE DOING GOOD WITH THEIR ACTING, THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, THEY'RE ACTING.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE DIFFERENT TIERS FROM A SHOUT-OUT, HONORABLE MENTION, BUT THE RECOGNITION MEANS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE SLIP OF PAPER.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO REALIZE THEY DON'T WORK IN A VACUUM.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT APPRECIATE THE THEATER AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GIVE THEM CAREERS IN IT AND THERE IS A PLACE THEY CAN GO.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THESE AWARDS THAT STUDENTS CAN PUT ON THEIR RESUME AS THEY ENTER THE WORKING WORLD OR TRY AUDITIONING.

>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE PRESENTED WITH AN AWARD LIKE THIS.

IT FEELS LIKE ALL MY HARD WORK PAID OFF IN THE END.

>> IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE I ALWAYS LOVED THEATER AND JUST SINGING AND DANCING AND ALL THAT.

TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE STAGE FIRST OF ALL WAS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND THEN BEING ABLE TO WIN AN AWARD IS AWESOME.

>> I THINK IT MEANS MY EFFORT WENT NOTICED AND THEY REALLY WANTED TO SHOWCASE THAT THEY SAW HOW HARD I WORKED.

>> Reporter: SEVERAL OF THE STUDENTS WILL BE INVITED TO THE 2025 SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE AT THE STATE THEATER IN MINNEAPOLIS, WHERE THEY WILL LEARN TECHNICAL SKILLS AND PERFORM AT THE NEXT LEVEL.

WHILE OF COURSE MANY OF THE PERFORMERS RECEIVED THESE AWARDS, THEY WANTED TO SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THE BEHIND THE SCENES WORKERS AS WELL.

>> WORKING IN TACTICAL THEATER, PEOPLE CAN FEEL UNAPPRECIATED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON STAGE GETTING THE APPLAUSE, BUT WHAT I TRY TO EMPHASIZE IS THAT NONE OF IT WORKS WITHOUT THE TECH PEOPLE BACKSTAGE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

>> I NEVER GOT RECOGNIZED AT MY OLD THEATER SO IT'S NICE TO SEE I'M A VALUABLE PART OF THE PRODUCTION.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE HONORS HAVE ALL BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT THEY WILL BE HANDED OUT TO THE STUDENTS AT AN AWARD CEREMONY IN JANUARY IN ORDER TO GET TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE AS A WHOLE CAST AND CREW.

>>> OKAY, MORE WEATHER NOW, STACY WE GAINED A COUPLE MINUTES OF DAYLIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE PAST THE WINTER SOLSTICE, BUT WE CAN'T ENJOY IT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S SO WET AND GLOOMY.

>> Stacy: NOT SEEING MUCH SUNSHINE WITH THE DREARY CONDITIONS WE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE.

WE HAVE A DENSE FOG ADVISORY THROUGH NOON TOMORROW FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE'LL SEE THAT VISIBILITY IS REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS WITHIN THAT DENSE FOG.

SO FOR TONIGHT, LOOK FOR CLOUDY SKIES, WIDESPREAD FOG, AND CHANCES OF DRIZZLE, AND MORE OF THE SAME AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW.

>> Matt: I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE ABLE TO CATCH ANY OF THE NETFLIX CHRISTMAS GAMES YESTERDAY, BUT I KNOW WHAT GAMES YOU WILL WATCH THIS WEEKEND, VIKINGS AND PACKERS.

>> Dennis: THAT'S A BIG WIN.

>> Matt: GOING TO DECIDE A LOT.

>> Dennis: THANKS MATT AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT A NIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD ONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Matt: GOOD NIGHT.

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