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

MEMBER FDIC.

>> C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

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

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

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> 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.

[♪♪♪] >>> HEY EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, MY NAME IS MATTHEW FREEMAN, FILLING IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> SOME SAD NEWS TO REPORT, A BELOVED BEMIDJI RESIDENT, RODNEY ANDERSON, THE OWNER OF ROD'S SPECIALTY MEATS, DIED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH AT THE AGE OF 86.

ANDERSON WAS BORN ON JUNE 28TH, 1939 IN VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA.

HE FIRST STARTED CUTTING MEAT AT THE AGE OF 16, DURING HIS FIRST JOB AT NATIONAL FOODS IN VIRGINIA.

HE WOULD TRANSFER TO THE BEMIDJI NATIONAL FOODS LOCATION.

UNTIL THEY CLOSED IN THE LATE 70'S.

ANDERSON WOULD OPEN ‘ROD'S SPECIALTY MEATS' IN 1985, AND RETIRE AFTER 38 YEARS IN 2023 AT THE AGE OF 84.

RODNEY WAS AT HIS HOME SURROUNDED BY HIS FAMILY AT THE TIME OF HIS PASSING.

MEMORIAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7TH AT SAINT PHILLIPS CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BEMIDJI.

VISITATION WILL BE ONE HOUR PRIOR TO THE SERVICE.

>>> WHAT STARTED AS A VEHICLE FIRE IN NORTHERN TOWNSHIP ERUPTED INTO A STRUCTURE FIRE, BRINGING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 26TH, AT ROUND 3:00 P.M.

THEY RECEIVED A REPORT OF A CAR ON FIRE INSIDE OF A STRUCTURE IN THE 8500 BLOCK OF IRVINE AVENUE NORTHWEST, JUST FIVE MILES NORTH OF THE CITY OF BEMIDJI.

UPON ARRIVAL, FIREFIGHTERS FOUND A LARGE POLE-TYPE BUILDING.

WITH HEAVY SMOKE VISIBLE THROUGHOUT.

A TOTAL OF 17 FIREFIGHTERS AND 6 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WERE ON SCENE FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS.

THE BUILDING AND THE CONTENTS SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT THE RELEASE SAYS THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE ACCIDENTAL.

>>> AT THEIR DECEMBER 15TH MEETING THE BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL HELD A VOTE ON A PROPOSED SOLAR PANEL PROJECT IN THE CITY.

THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL FOR FOUR BEMIDJI OWNED LOCATIONS, FIRE STATION 2, THE SANFORD CENTER, THE WARMING HOUSE IN CITY PARK, AND THE NEILSON REISE ARENA.

THE $700,000 PROJECT IS SET TO BE 70-PERCENT STATE FUNDED, AND 30-PERCENT FUNDED THROUGH A FEDERAL REBATE.

ALL IN ALL, THERE WILL BE FOUR SOLAR ARRAYS THAT REQUIRE 1,200 FEET OF FENCING.

BUT ALTHOUGH THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED, THERE WERE STILL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO FELT APPREHENSION.

COUNCILMAN JOSH PETERSON VOICED CONCERN ABOUT THE ARRAYS THAT WOULD BE PLACED AT CITY PARK AND AT THE SANFORD CENTER.

>> CITY PARKS IN OPEN SPACE, IT'S A HEAVILY USE PARK, KIDS LIKE TO RUN AROUND AND DO OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

I'M CONCERNED OF THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.

WE HEARD HOW THEY WANT TO BUILD OUT THEIR GRASSY AREA AND THIS IS THE PROPOSED SITE WHERE THEY WANT TO DO THIS WEDDING VENUE THING.

SO THE BRIDES TO BE WILL WANT TO HAVE THE SOLAR ARRAYS IN THE BACKGROUND FOR THEIR WEDDING RECEPTION.

ALL THESE SPACES, JUST NOT THE PARTICULAR LOCATION.

>> THE CONCERNS ABOUT DETAILS WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE COUNCIL, PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE, AND THE LOCATIONS SET TO RECEIVE THE SOLAR.

AS OF NOW, THE PROJECT IS SET TO BE FINISHED BY SUMMER OF 2026.

>>> THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT IS FREEZING CHILD CARE FUNDS TO MINNESOTA AFTER A SERIES OF FRAUD SCHEMES IN RECENT YEARS.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES JIM O'NEILL SAID ON THE SOCIAL PLATFORM X ON TUESDAY.

THAT THE STEP IS IN RESPONSE TO THE "BLATANT FRAUD THAT APPEARS TO BE RAMPANT IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY."

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ SAID THE STATE HAS SPENT YEARS CRACKING DOWN ON FRAUDSTERS, BUT THAT TRUMP IS "POLITICIZING THE ISSUE TO DEFUND PROGRAMS THAT HELP MINNESOTANS."

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AFTER YEARS OF INVESTIGATION.

IT BEGAN WITH A $300 MILLION SCHEME, FOR WHICH 57 DEFENDANTS IN MINNESOTA HAVE BEEN CONVICTED.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES ONE DAY AFTER U.S.

HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS WERE IN MINNEAPOLIS, CONDUCTING A FRAUD INVESTIGATION BY GOING TO UNIDENTIFIED BUSINESSES AND QUESTIONING WORKERS.

A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR ALLEGED EARLIER IN DECEMBER, THAT HALF OR MORE OF THE ROUGHLY $18 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS, THAT SUPPORTED 14 PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA SINCE 2018.

MAY HAVE BEEN STOLEN.

THE PROSECUTOR ADDED THAT MOST OF THE DEFENDANTS ARE SOMALI AMERICANS.

>>> THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WILL BE AWARDED MORE THAN $193 MILLION FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM.

THE FIVE-YEAR FUNDING PROGRAM WAS SIGNED INTO LAW IN JULY BY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH APPLIED FOR THE FUNDING IN NOVEMBER, ASKING FOR $1 BILLION THROUGHOUT THE FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD BE AN AVERAGE OF $200 MILLION PER YEAR.

THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN NEW TECHNOLOGY TOOLS, TO BRING CARE CLOSER TO HOME FOR RURAL RESIDENTS, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR MINNESOTANS WITH OR AT RISK OF DEVELOPING CERTAIN DISEASES, AND EXPAND THE RURAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE, THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING PATHWAYS.

THIS IS THE STATE'S FIRST YEAR BEING A PART OF THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM.

ALL 50 STATES WILL RECEIVES FIRST-YEAR AWARDS IN 2026.

>>> A STORM FRONT HAS BEEN WREAKING HAVOC IN THE U.S, AND ITS SHUFFLING OFF THE EAST COAST TODAY.

IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR RECENT BLIZZARDS, ICE STORMS, AND MORE.

NOW, SOME SNOWED-IN OR DELAYED TRAVELERS, MIGHT BE ABLE TO RETURN HOME SAFELY.

BUT, HAZARDS REMAIN, AS AMY KILEY REPORTS.

>> Reporter: WINTER WEATHER CONTINUES TODAY.

MORE SNOW IS PILING ON TO EXISTING DRIFTS IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.

FORECASTERS SAY THIS WEEK'S TOTALS COULD REACH 3 FEET IN SOME AREAS.

MANY AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ALSO FACE BITTER COLD TODAY.

THAT FOLLOWS DAYS OF BRUTAL STORMS IN THE NORTHEASTERN QUADRANT OF THE U.S.

METEOROLOGISTS SAY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS MADE IT HARD TO SEE IN SOME MIDWESTERN AREAS.

>> I MEAN YOU KNOW, THE ROAD IS UP HERE SOMEWHERE.

I'M JUST WINGING IT.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS REPORT HUNDREDS OF ACCIDENTS ON AFFECTED ROADWAYS.

MICHIGAN STATE BELIEVES 20 CARS AND SEMI-TRUCKS WERE IN THIS PILE UP IN DETROIT.

SOME NEW ENGLANDERS ARE GRAPPLING WITH RECENT SNOW AND ICE UP TO HALF AN INCH THICK.

DOWN SOUTH, THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS PARTS OF WEST TEXAS HAD A WINTER STORM WARNING LAST NIGHT.

EVEN SOME TRAVELERS OUTSIDE SAY THEY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

>> WE GOT DELAYED AND THEN CANCELED AND THEN NO FLIGHTS IN AND OUT FOR TWO DAYS.

SO MANY PEOPLE HERE ARE TRAVELING, THERE ARE DELAYS DUE TO THE WEATHER.

>> Reporter: FLIGHT AWARE REPORTS MORE THAN 900 U.S.

CANCELATIONS AND 9,000 DELAYS YESTERDAY.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE AIRPORT ON TIME, RELAX.

BE PATIENT, THINGS GET COMPLICATED AT TIMES AND BE PREPARED FOR A SLIGHT DELAY.

>> Reporter: I'M AMY KILEY REPORTING.

>> A SMALL AREA IN THE WEST TEXAS MOUNTAINS, ACTUALLY GOT A BLIZZARD WARNING LAST NIGHT.

MUCH OF TEXAS HAD FACED RECORD-BREAKING HEAT DURING CHRISTMAS WEEK.

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

>> Stacy: A FREEZING DRIZZLE IS CREATING SOME SLICK ROADWAYS OUT THERE AND NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3:00 A.M.

ON WEDNESDAY.

>> AND COMING UP IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, THE PINE RIVER COMMUNITY BRAVED THE HARSH MINNESOTA WINTER FOR THE PARADE OF LIGHTS CELEBRATION.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >>> ONCE THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, A SLEW OF NEW LAWS WILL TAKE EFFECT ACROSS THE STATE.

FOCUSING HEAVILY ON EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING A NEW PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM.

STARTING ON THE 1st, A STATE-RUN PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE PROGRAM WILL TAKE EFFECT, PROVIDING UP TO 20 WEEKS OF PAID LEAVE FOR MEDICAL NEEDS.

FAMILY CARE, BONDING, AND SAFETY ISSUES.

THE LEAVE DOESN'T COVER FEDERAL OR TRIBAL EMPLOYEES.

ALSO STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR, EMPLOYERS MUST PROVIDE A PAID 15-MINUTE REST BREAK FOR EVERY 4 HOURS WORKED, PLUS A 30-MINUTE UNPAID MEAL BREAK FOR EVERY 6 HOURS.

THERE ARE PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.

THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE WILL ALSO BE INCREASING ON THE FIRST.

ADJUSTING FOR INFLATION TO $11.41 AN HOUR FOR MOST EMPLOYERS.

A NEW ELECTION LAW NOW REQUIRES ONLINE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS, TO ASK FOR THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, AND YOUR MINNESOTA I.D.

NUMBER.

SOMEONE MAILING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.

IN A WAY THAT IS CLEARLY VISIBLY WHEN THE MAILING IS OPENED.

THERE WERE ALSO SOME CHANGES TO FEES AND EQUIPMENT FOR HUNTERS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS.

IF YOU WISH TO TAKE A FULL LIST OF THE NEW LAWS TAKING EFFECT IN THE NEW YEAR, WE WILL PROVIDE A LINK TO THAT LIST ALONG WITH THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WELL, STACY IS HERE TO HOPEFULLY TELL US THAT THE NEW YEAR WILL BE CLEAR AND NO SNOW DURING THE NEW YEAR.

>> Stacy: IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE IS A CHANCE OF SNOW.

THE BIGGER ISSUE RIGHT NOW TONIGHT IS THE AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE, WHICH IS CREATING SOME SLICK ROADWAYS AND MUCH OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TOMORROW.

THERE MAY BE A BIT OF LIGHT SNOW IN PARTS OF THE AREA TOMORROW NIGHT, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE COLDER AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, IT HAS BEEN CLOUDY WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW AND FLURRIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND EVEN THE EVENING, WE HAVE SEEN AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE, CREATING SLICK ROADWAYS.

MOST OF MINNESOTA IS UNDER A WINTER ADVISORY UNTIL 3:00 ON WEDNESDAY MORNING.

WE'LL SEE THIS PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONING TO SNOW.

WE COULD SEE LIGHT ACCUMULATION AND IT LOOKS LIKE TEMPERATURES WILL START TO BE COLDER AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 24 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT THE STUDIO, WINDS ARE NORTH AT 10 MILES PER HOUR, DEW POINT IS 23, AND WE RECEIVED 0.5-INCH OF SNOW TODAY.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, 27 DEGREES, A DEW POINT OF 23, PRESSURE IS FALLING, AND WINDS ARE NORTHWEST AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

MUCH OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA IS UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3:00 A.M.

ON WEDNESDAY.

FREEZING DRIZZLE MAY LEAD TO A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE ACCUMULATION THAT COULD BE UNDETECTABLE IN ROADS, ESPECIALLY BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES THAT WILL BECOME SLICK AND HAZARDOUS.

AS WE LOOK AT THE RADAR, WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT SHOW UP ON THE RADAR TOO MUCH.

IT'S IN THE FORM OF FREEZING DRIZZLE, BUT IT IS OUT THERE AND WE COULD SEE THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.

OVERNIGHT, WE WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING PRECIPITATION IN THE FORM OF SNOW ACROSS THE AREA THAT COULD LINGER IN PARTS OF THE AREA TOMORROW MORNING, BUT BEYOND THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE SUNNY SKIES AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLING OFF ONCE AGAIN.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

A LOT OF NEW SNOW ON THE GROUND.

THE CLOUDS ARE OVER LOWER RED LAKE AND GARY WITH THE NEW SNOW IN DEER WOOD.

JOAN SAYING IT WAS SLICK OUT THERE WITH THE FREEZING DRIZZLE IN LAPORTE.

ANGELA WITH SOME OF THAT EVENING GLOW FROM THE MOON.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, 22 AND BREEZY THIS EVENING.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 30 WITH A LIGHT BREEZE.

JOAN IN LAPORTE, A LITTLE BIT OF FREEZING DRIZZLE, OTHERWISE CLOUDY SKIES AND LIGHT SNOW THIS MORNING.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY WITH AN INCH OF SNOW.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, A LITTLE LESS THAN AN INCH OF SNOW TO REPORT WITH A LOW OF 3.

ON OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 26, A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

OUR LOW TEMPERATURE, 3 DEGREES.

WE HAD SUNRISE AT 8:00 THIS MORNING.

IN BEMIDJI, WE HAD A HIGH OF 27.

SO ACTUALLY WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE.

4 WAS THE LOW AND SUNSET TONIGHT AT 4:38.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING LIGHT SNOW IN THE MORNING AS WE PUT THAT IN MOTION, THAT WILL BE MOVING OUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

THE CLOUDS SHOULD CLEAR OUT, GIVING US SUNNY SKIES, BUT IT IS GOING TO MEAN COLDER TEMPERATURES.

THESE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA, BUT IT WILL BE FALLING AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE DO START OUT A LITTLE BIT WARMER, HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-TEENS, EXPECT THE TEMPERATURES TO FALL AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST, MOSTLY CLOUDY, A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW, FREEZES DRIZZLE THIS EVENING, LOWS AROUND 3.

TOMORROW, A 50% CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING, HIGHS NEAR 7, NORTH WINDS 5 TO 20.

LOOKING AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, THERE IS A SMALL CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW AS WE START THE NEW YEAR.

COLD TEMPERATURES, 6 FOR THE HIGH.

TEMPERATURES START TO MODERATE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND.

WE SHOULD SEE DRY WEATHER THROUGH SATURDAY, A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW ON SUNDAY, BUT HIGHS NEAR 18.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU STACY.

WE HAVE CHARLIE WITH US TO GIVE US A LOOK AT THE BOYS BASKETBALL BEFORE WE HEAD INTO THE NEW YEAR.

>> Charlie: YEAH, WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE NORDIC SKI AS WELL, IT'S THE PERFECT TIME FOR GOING OUT AND SKIING, CROSS COUNTRY SKIING, AND WE GET TO HEAR FROM BSU'S HOCKEY TEAM AS THEY HEAD INTO A GAME AGAINST MINNESOTA.

THAT AND MORE COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> IT'S BEEN A COMPLETE 180 FOR BEMIDJI BOY'S BASKETBALL WHO HAVE WON 5-STRAIGHT AFTER DROPPING THEIR FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON.

INCLUDED IN THAT STREAK WERE TWO BIG WINS OVER SECTION 8-4A OPPONENTS SAINT MICHAEL ALBERTVILLE AND RIVAL BRAINERD.

TODAY, THE LUMBERJACKS HAD ANOTHER SECTION SHOWDOWN WITH MONTICELLO.

EARLY FIRST HALF, JAXON BOSCHEE USING HIS SPEED, SHOWING HE CAN DO MORE THAN JUST DRAIN 3'S, HE HAD A GAME HIGH 27-POINTS.

BUT HE WASN'T THE JACK'S ONLY HOT HAND, AUSTIN RIEWER CAUGHT FIRE FROM BEYOND THE ARC, HE HAD 4 TREY'S, PART OF HIS 21-POINTS, BEMIDJI STARTED THE GAME ON A 204 RUN.

DEFENSE A BIG KEY TODAY AS WELL FOR THE LUMBERJACKS, WYATT TERVASTALL, WITH THE SWIPE, RHYS SNEIDE FINISHES ON THE OTHER END, HE ADDED ANOTHER 21.

BEMIDJI LED BY 21 AT THE HALF, THEY'D GO ON TO BEAT MONTICELLO 81-71, SECURING THEIR 6TH WIN IN A ROW AND IMPROVING TO 3-0 IN SECTION PLAY.

>>> ELSEWHERE IN BOYS BASKETBALL, BRAINERD FALLS.

WARROAD GETS THE WIN.

DEER RIVER CRUSHES CROSBY-IRONTON.

IN THE GIRL'S SIDE OF THINGS IN BASKETBALL, ROCHESTER BEATS BRAINERD AND BEMIDJI FALLS TO ELK RIVER.

ROCK RIDGE BEATS LITTLE FALLS.

GRAND RAPIDS GETS THE WIN OVER ZIMMERMAN.

HOPKINS TOPS CROSBY-IRONTON.

>> IT WAS A PERFECT DAY FOR SOME NORDIC SKIING AT THE NORTHLAND ARBORETUM IN BRAINERD, WARRIORS HOSTING THEIR INVITATIONAL, BEMIDJI, LITTLE FALLS, AND WADENA DEER-CREEK ALSO COMPETING.

STARTING WITH THE BOYS CLASSIC RACE, JACK MARTIN WAS THE TOP PERFORMER FOR THE LUMBERJACKS, PLACING 15TH IN 17 MINUTES AND 32 SECONDS.

WARRIORS TAITE KNAPP SNAGGED THIRD PLACE IN THE EVENT, FINISHING IN 15 MINUTES AND 57 SECONDS.

HOWEVER BRAINERD'S OWEN ROBERTSON, CLEARED THE FIELD BY OVER 25 SECONDS, TAKING FIRST PLACE IN 15 MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS.

IN FACT THE WARRIORS HAD THIER FIVE SKIERS FINISH IN THE TOP 12 OVERALL IN PURSUIT, EARNING THEM FIRST PLACE AS A TEAM, WITH BEMIDJI AND LITTLE FALLS ROUNDING OUT THE TOP FIVE.

>>> THE GIRLS CLASSIC RACE WAS RIGHT AFTER THE BOYS.

ELYSE YOREK WAS THE FLYER'S TOP RACER, SLIDING INTO 10TH PLACE IN 20 MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS.

MAEV STORBAKKEN WEARING THE NUMBER 56 BIB, TOOK SEVENTH PLACE FOR THE WARRIORS, JUST BEHIND HER WEARING NUMBER 60 WAS BEMIDJI'S CLAIRE STORY WHO, BECAUSE OF THE STAGGER STARTS, TOOK THIRD IN 19 MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS.

THE JACK'S IZZY RENN HAD THE LOWEST PURSUIT TIME OF ANY AREA RACER, THATS THE CLASSIC AND SKATE RACE TIMES COMBINED.

HERE ARE THE TEAM RESULTS, FERGUS FALLS FINISHING ATOP THE FIELD FOR THE GIRLS.

>>> WE HAVE SOME OTHER SCORES.

WARROAD BEATING ANOTHER NORTH DAKOTA TEAM.

LITTLE FALLS BEATS PRINCETON.

HUDSON TOPS NORTHERN LAKES.

CONTINUING ON, BAGLEY FOSSTON GETTING THE WIN OVER WILMER.

GREEN WAY GETS THE WIN.

IN GIRLS HOCKEY, BEMIDJI A WIN OVER ST.

PAUL.

ALEXANDRIA BEATS BRAINERD LITTLE FALLS.

GENTRY ACADEMY TOPS ROSEAU.

ALSO IN GIRLS HOCKEY, WARROAD WINS.

ROCK RIDGE KNOCKS OFF NORTHERN LAKES.

>>> 23 DAYS, THAT'S HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE BSU MEN'S HOCKEY HAS TAKEN THE ICE AGAINST ANOTHER TEAM, AND IT WILL BE ANOTHER TWO UNTIL THEY FINALLY DO, WHEN THEY HOST THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IN AN EXHIBITION GAME THIS FRIDAY.

THE CLASH WITH THE GOLDEN GOPHERS OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BEAVERS TO GET THEIR LEGS BACK UNDER THEM BEFORE THEY RETURN TO CCHA PLAY NEXT FRIDAY FOR A SERIES AT HOME AGAINST A DIFFICULT OPPONENT IN MICHIGAN TECH.

>> I WANT US TO BE THE SAME TEAM THAT WE WERE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.

I WANT THAT.

NOW, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME COMPONENTS TO THE GAME THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS SHARP.

WE HAVE MICHIGAN TECH THE NEXT WEEKEND, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR GAMES UNDER THEIR BELT BY THE TIME THEY COME TO BEMIDJI.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M THINKING ABOUT AND THAT'S THE COACH IN ME.

I OVER THINK.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE PLAYING MINNESOTA AND IT'S STILL MINNESOTA, IT'S AN EXHIBITION GAME BUT WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST, PLAY OUR BEST, AND IT'S A GOOD BENCHMARK TEAM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PLAY THIS GAME AGAINST THE GOPHERS.

WE NEED TO GET BACK INTO GAME SPEED BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO IN PRACTICE AND FOR IT TO TRANSLATE INTO A GAME, THAT'S DIFFERENT.

IT WILL HELP US MOVING FORWARD.

>> Charlie: THEY WILL BE WITHOUT L.J.

AND BRODY AND THE HEAD COACH, WHO ARE WITH TEAM U.S.A.

AT THE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP.

BEMIDJI STATE SPLIT THEIR SERIES WITH MINNESOTA LAST SEASON.

>>> THE SPENGLER CUP IS AN ANNUAL INVITATIONAL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT THAT SHOWCASES, PROFESSIONAL, NATIONAL, AND EVEN COLLEGIATE TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN HELD IN DAVOS SWITZERLAND SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1923, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, A TEAM OF SELECTED COLLEGE HOCKEY PLAYERS FROM THE NCAA ARE COMPETING THERE.

THE U.S.

COLLEGIATE SELECTS WAS EXPECTED TO FINISH LAST AMONG THE 6-TEAMS INVITED BUT INSTEAD WON THEIR GROUP.

AND TODAY DEFEATED SPARTA PRAGUE 5-3 IN THE SEMIFINAL GAME THANKS TO THE HELP OF BRAINERD'S ERIC POHLKAMP, WHO SCORED THE FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME, HIS SECOND OF THE TOURNAMENT.

THE SAN JOSE SHARKS' DRAFT PICK AND FORMER WARRIOR DEFENSEMAN WON A GOLD MEDAL WITH TEAM U.S.A.

AT THE 2024 WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP WHILE PLAYING AT BEMIDJI STATE, BUT HAS SINCE TRANSFERRED PLAYS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER.

POHLKAMP AND THE REST OF THE U.S.

COLLEGIATE SELECTS WILL PLAY FOR THE SPENGLER CUP AGAINST TOURNAMENT HOST HC DAVOS TOMORROW AT NOON SWISS TIME.

WHICH IS 5:00 A.M.

MINNESOTA TIME, AND YOU CAN WATCH IT LIVE ON THE SPENGLER CUP DAVOS YOU-TUBE CHANNEL.

>> Matthew: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU CHARLIE.

>> Charlie: YEAH.

>> Matthew: THE PINE RIVER COMMUNITY BRAVED THE HARSH MINNESOTA WINTER FOR ITS ANNUAL PARADE OF LIGHTS CELEBRATION.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS MORE ON WHAT THE LONG-STANDING EVENT MEANS TO THE TOWN IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOOD'S EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: ROUGHLY 900 PEOPLE RESIDE IN PINE RIVER AND YET MAIN STREET WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH SEEMINGLY EVERY RESIDENT AS FLOAT AFTER FLOAT GLIDED ALONG THE PAVEMENT.

>> THIS EVENT BRINGS PEOPLE OUT FROM NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY BUT SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

IT'S KIND OF ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND BONDING.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT SEEING THOSE THROATS GOING BY, IT'S STANDING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: IT'S HOSTED THROUGH THE PINE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THIS YEAR, THE THEME WAS A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

>> AS THE COMMITTEE MET, THEY WANTED TO MAKE THIS A VERY USER FRIENDLY THEME FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A FLOAT IN THE PARADE AND NOT TO MENTION, SOMETHING THAT WILL BE REALLY APPEALING TO CHILDREN.

WHAT CHILD DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT CHARLIE BROWN.

>> DIFFERENT FLOATS THEMED WITH THE PEANUTS CHARACTER, THE SKATING RINKS, SNOOPY, DOG HOUSE ALL LIT UP.

>> Reporter: AND IT LASTS FOR ROUGHLY 15 MINUTES, STARTING AT 5:00 P.M., THE ORGANIZER BEGINS PREP WORK MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> THESE EVENTS DON'T RUN THEMSELVES BUT IT'S A SMALL TOWN MINNESOTA, THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IT TAKES PLANNING AND PARTICIPATION FROM BUSINESSES AND THE EVENT ITSELF IS A GOOD WAY TO SHOWCASE BUSINESSES.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO SHOP DOWN MAIN STREET.

>> Reporter: THE PARADE OF LIGHTS ILL LINE UP NATES THE NIGHT SKY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO THE TOWN.

>> WE HAD ONE LARGE DONATION FROM THE GOOD SAMARITAN.

IT'S A STAPLE FOR THE PARADE TO END WITH THE FIREWORKS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GREW UP SEEING AND THEY WANT THEIR KIDS TO SEE IT.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN PINE RIVER WITH THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, MILES WALKER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Matthew: WELL STACY, HOW IS THE WEATHER LOOKING FOR FIREWORKS?

>> Stacy: IT'S GOING TO BE A COLD START TO THE NEW YEAR.

WE HAVE AREAS OF FREEZING DRIZZLE.

MIDNIGHT TONIGHT IT WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW.

MOST OF MINNESOTA IS UNDER THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AS WE COULD SEE SLICK ROADWAYS.

>> Matthew: WE'LL BE OFF UNTIL FRIDAY AND WE'LL BE BACK ON FRIDAY.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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