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

MEMBER FDIC.

>> SOURCEWELL; COOPERATIVE PURCHASING FOR GOVERNMENT NONPROFITS AND EDUCATION.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LOCAL NEWS FOR BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

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

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

>> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS DISTRICT HAS BEEN TRYING TO RECRUIT BUS DRIVERS SINCE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED.

THE LACK OF BUS DRIVERS HAS CAUSED TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR JEREMY JENSEN TO EVEN GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR SOME OF THE ROUTES.

REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR STARTED SHORT FOR THE BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, WITH THE LACK OF BUS DRIVERS, IT CAUSED THE CANCELATION OF ROUTES IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND MORE BUS DRIVERS TO FILL IN THE ROUTES.

>> WE STARTED THE SEASON WITH FIVE DRIVERS SHORT AND WE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER A LITTLE BIT.

WE ARE DOWN TWO ROUTE DRIVERS RIGHT NOW BUT OUR SUBSTITUTE DRIVING POOL IS A LITTLE LOW.

>> BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE EVENT OF HAVING TO CANCEL SOME ROUTES BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE DRIVERS.

AS I SAID, BECAUSE WE HAVE PICKED UP A FEW DRIVERS, WE HAVEN'T HAD TO DO THAT.

SOMETIMES THAT'S OUR LAST RESORT.

>> Reporter: THE DRIVER SHORTAGE IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM THAT AROSE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A BUS DRIVER HAS BEEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE DUE TO THE RESTRICTIONS OF BECOMING A DRIVER.

>> LONG STANDING PROBLEM, WE HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM A COUPLE DECADES NOW, ONE IS WE HAVE A LOT OF REGULATIONS ON BUS DRIVERS, SO IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET OUR BUS DRIVER LICENSE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

SECONDLY, WE'RE ALSO GETTING A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE, WHICH IS CAUSING SOME PRESSURES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE FOR OUR BUS DRIVERS.

>> Reporter: WITH THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE HERE IN BEMIDJI, IT HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM RETIREMENT AND DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS TO PROVIDE RIDES FOR STUDENTS ON THEIR WAY TO EDUCATION.

>> I HAD SOME THAT REACHED OUT TO US AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF THAT.

WE HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF OUR DRIVERS THAT HAVE RETIRED AND COME BACK TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO TRY TO GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: EVERY DRIVER HAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

>> I HAVE 20 YEARS NOW ON BUSES ANYWHERE.

I MEAN IT'S FUN, THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

YOU GET TO KNOW THE KIDS.

THERE ARE CRAZY ONES, THERE ARE NICE ONES, THERE ARE FUN ONES.

I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE KIDS START DAYCARE AND GRADUATE.

WELL, EIGHT YEARS, PRETTY CLOSE.

IT'S SUCH A VARIETY.

>> I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE MYSELF OF DRIVING A SUB-ROUTE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AND I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS.

THEN I HAD A YOUNG MAN GET ON THE BUS AFTER I HAD BEEN ABSENT AND GAVE ME A HUG AND SAID I KNEW YOU WERE COMING BACK.

I MISSED YOU.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, I'M ZY'RIAH SIMMONS, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE BEMIDJI SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STILL LOOKING FOR BUS DRIVERS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED YOU CAN VISIT THE BEMIDJI AREA TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OR VISIT THE WEBLINK BELOW FOR INFORMATION.

>> Dennis: IN OTHER NEWS TONIGHT, THE HUSBAND OF A WOMAN WHO WAS FOUND DEAD ALONG A CROW WING COUNTY ROAD IN JUNE OF 2023 HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE IN CONNECTION WITH HER DEATH.

47-YEAR OLD TONY JAMES MCCLELLAND OF FORT RIPLEY WAS ACCUSED OF USING HIS VEHICLE TO HIT 49-YEAR OLD ANGELA MCCLELLAND AFTER THE TWO HAD GOTTEN INTO AN ARGUMENT AND ANGELA GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

MCCLELLAND WAS CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER WITH INTENT, NOT PREMEDITATED, FIRST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER INTENTIONALLY CAUSE DEATH IN THE HEAT OF PASSION, CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE, OPERATE VEHICLE WITH NEGLIGENCE-UNDER INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, AND CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE-DRIVER WHO CAUSES COLLISION LEAVES SCENE.

MCCLELLAND PLEADED GUILTY ON WEDNESDAY TO THE THIRD COUNT, CRIMINAL VEHICULAR HOMICIDE WITH NEGLIGENCE.

SENTENCING IS SET FOR APRIL 10TH ANGELA MCCLELLAND'S BODY WAS FOUND LYING IN THE ROADWAY NEAR HIGHWAY 371 BY THE INTERSECTION OF LEGEND LANE AND KILLIAN ROAD EARLY IN THE MORNING ON JUNE 25TH OF LAST YEAR.

ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT IN THE CASE, TONY AND ANGELA MCCLELLAND ATTENDED A PARTY THE NIGHT OF JUNE 24TH AND LEFT EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.

TONY TOLD AUTHORITIES THE TWO GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT AND ANGELA LEFT THE VEHICLE BUT HE WAS DRUNK AND DOESN'T REMEMBER MUCH AFTER THAT.

EVIDENCE PROCESSED FROM UNDER TONY'S SUV FOUND BLOOD THAT MATCHED ANGELA'S.

FORENSIC DATA ALSO PLACED THE SUV AT THE LOCATION OF WHERE ANGELA'S BODY WAS FOUND AT THE SUSPECTED TIME OF DEATH.

>>> A ROYALTON MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 16-YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWED BY 15 YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR PRODUCING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES OF A MINOR.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, IN NOVEMBER 2022, 35-YEAR-OLD ANDREW JOHN GROEN CONTACTED A MINOR VICTIM USING THE MESSAGING APPLICATION TEXTME.

GROEN, WHO KNEW THE VICTIM WAS A MINOR, IDENTIFIED HIMSELF IN MESSAGES AS A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN NAMED TYLER.

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, GROEN COERCED THE MINOR TO SEND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES.

GROEN ALSO SENT THE MINOR VICTIM OBSCENE IMAGES AND LINKS TO PORNOGRAPHY AND ENCOURAGED THE MINOR VICTIM TO HAVE SEX WITH AN ADULT MAN IDENTIFIED IN MESSAGES.

ON AUGUST 24TH OF LAST YEAR, GROEN PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF PRODUCTION AND ATTEMPTED PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

GROEN WAS SENTENCED ON TUESDAY IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT.

>>> THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS HAS AGREED TO PAY $950,000 TO SETTLE A LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT JOURNALISTS WERE SUBJECTED TO POLICE HARASSMENT AND EVEN HURT WHILE COVERING PROTESTS OVER THE POLICE KILLINGS OF GEORGE FLOYD.

THE SUIT WAS BROUGHT BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MINNESOTA AND PRO BONO ATTORNEYS.

IT WAS ONE OF SEVERAL FILED AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ALLEGED CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS INVOLVING USE OF FORCE.

SEVERAL JOURNALISTS REPORTED BEING STRUCK BY LESS-LETHAL MUNITIONS, HERDED AND DETAINED WHILE COVERING PROTESTS.

THE ACLU SAID THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE SETTLEMENT ON A 13-0 VOTE.

A CITY SPOKESPERSON SAID THE CITY HAD NO COMMENT ON THE SETTLEMENT.

>>> THE CITY OF BRAINERD ACCEPTED A BID FOR A RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR SEVERAL RESIDENTIAL ROADS IN SOUTH BRAINERD.

THE PROJECT ENCOMPASSES ABOUT 18 BLOCKS OF ROAD BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT, THERE WILL BE TWO PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION.

THE FULL RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT INCLUDES REPAVING THE ROADS, NEW CURBS, FULL SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT, AND UTILITY REPLACEMENT.

THE BID CAME IN AT 17 PERCENT UNDER THE CITY ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE OF $4.32 MILLION.

GETTING THE PROJECT OUT TO BID EARLIER THAN USUAL COULD HAVE HELPED WITH RECEIVING A FAVORABLE BID.

>> IT WAS A PRETTY COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS.

WE WERE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN WE TYPICALLY BEEN WITH SOME OF THESE LARGER PROJECT BIDS.

WE THINK THAT GARNERED MORE UNWANTED ATTENTION.

>> CITY ENGINEER JESSIE DEHN EXPECTS THE PROJECT TO LAST THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION SEASON.

THE CONSTRUCTION SEASON IS USUALLY FROM LATE APRIL UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

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

[♪♪♪] >> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND D.N.R.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE HOSTING AN INFORMATIVE EVENT REGARDING THE EMERALD ASH BORER >> 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.

>>> THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION EDUCATORS AND D.N.R.

FOREST HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE HOSTING AN INFORMATIVE EVENT REGARDING THE RECENT EMERALD ASH BORER INFESTATION IN MINNESOTA ON MARCH 22ND IN CASS COUNTY.

THE EVENT WILL GO OVER EVERYTHING LANDOWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT EMERALD ASH BORERS FROM IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR PRESENCE ON ASH TREES TO HOW TO TREATMENT METHODS.

THE EMERALD ASH BORER IS A QUARANTINED INVASIVE SPECIES AND WAS DISCOVERED IN CROW WING COUNTY IN LATE JANUARY.

>> THE BEETLE HAS KILLED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF ASH TREES SINCE IT HAD BEEN DISCOVERED AND THERE ARE NEARLY 1 BILLION ASH TREES IN MINNESOTA.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATIONS OF ASH TREES IN THE COUNTRY AND WE KNOW THAT THE TREES HERE HAVE LITTLE TO NO RESISTANCE TO EMERALD ASH BORERS, THERE ARE GREAT CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS PEST WILL HAVE ON MINNESOTA'S FORECAST.

>> Dennis: THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DEEP PORTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER IN HACKENSACK FROM 9:30 A.M. UNTIL 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN VISIT THE WEBSITE BELOW.

>>> A TREASURE TROVE OF HISTORIC FOOTAGE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED AT THE MAYO CLINIC.

THE REMARKABLE, 16-MILLIMETER COLOR FILM OPENS A WINDOW IN TO THE CLINIC'S SECRET ROLE IN PREPARING TROOPS FOR BATTLE IN WORLD WAR II.

OLIVIA PRONDZINSKI HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: WORLD WAR II WAS A RACE BETWEEN AMERICA AND ITS OPPONENTS.

AVIATION PLAYED A KEY ROLE.

PLANES FLEW FASTER AND HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE, HOWEVER THE HUMAN BODY COULDN'T.

>> MAYO CLINIC STEPPED UP AND MADE INCREDIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> Reporter: DIRECTOR OF MAYO CLINIC MATTHEW SAYS DOCTORS AND RESEARCHERS JOINED THE EFFORT, THEIR MISSION IS TO KEEP PILOTS SAFE FROM THE DEADLY EFFECTS OF G-FORCE IN HIGH ALTITUDE.

HISTORIANS KNEW THE PROGRAM EXISTED AND EVERYONE HAD SOME FOOTAGE OF IT.

PIECES OF THE PUZZLE WERE STILL MISSING UNTIL ONE DAY AN EMPLOYEE CLEANED OUT THEIR OFFICE.

>> THE BOXES IN THE ORIGINAL METAL CANS.

>> Reporter: A TREASURE HUNT FIND AT THE RIGHT TIME.

DIGITAL ARCHIVISTS WERE THE FIRST TO SEE THEM.

IT WAS ESPECIALLY EXCITING AS THE CLINIC WAS ALSO WORKING ON A FILM FOR THE PROGRAM.

>> THE ONLY CLUE WE HAD WERE ONE OR TWO WORDS WRITTEN ON THE CAN, OR THE BOX.

>> PRESERVED WITH FULL COLOR AND DETAIL.

>> WHEN YOU SEE THESE FILMS, YOU ARE THERE.

YOU ARE WITH THE PEOPLE PUTTING THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO DO RESEARCH UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS, CHALLENGING CONDITIONS.

NOW WE REALIZE, NOW I UNDERSTAND HOW THAT ROOM LOOKED LIKE, I UNDERSTAND HOW CLOSE THINGS WERE.

ONE OF OUR TEST PLANES FLEW OVER ROCHESTER.

>> Reporter: AS MAYO CLINIC CONTINUES TO ADVANCE, WHO KNOWS WHAT IS LEFT TO BE UNCOVERED.

>> DIGITAL ARCHIVISTS BELIEVE THE FOOTAGE HADN'T BEEN SEEN IN ALMOST 80 YEARS.

WELL, STACY HAS TONIGHT OFF BUT I'LL BE BACK WITH YOUR WEATHER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

>> AND BY 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, LAND SURVEYORS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>> AND NOW THE WEATHER ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: WELCOME BACK EVERYONE.

STACY HAS TONIGHT OFF.

AFTER A WARM AND RAINY DAY, IT WILL START TO LOOK AND FEEL MORE LIKE FEBRUARY STARTING TONIGHT.

SNOW IS LIKELY, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN AND WESTERN MINNESOTA, WHERE WE COULD PICK UP AN INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COLDER THROUGHOUT THE AREA, WITH HIGHS IN THE 20S THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

HERE'S A LOOK AT YOUR CURRENT TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT IS 33.

A SOUTHEAST WIND AT 4.

THE DEW POINT IS AT 32.

IN BRAINERD AT THIS HOUR, IT'S 36.

THE WIND IS FROM THE WEST, SOUTHWEST, GUSTING UP TO 27 MILES PER HOUR.

YOUR RADAR, YOU SEE THE PRECIPITATION THERE STILL IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE AS IT WINDS ITS WAY THROUGH, BRINGING US MUCH OF THIS PRECIPITATION THROUGHOUT THE DAY TODAY.

A COUPLE OF EAGLE EYES WITH PHOTOS TODAY.

ANGELA FROM CASS LAKE WITH THE PHOTO TODAY, SHOWING US SOME RAIN IN CASS LAKE, AS WELL AS MOST OF THE AREA.

DEBRA FROM LAKE ADA, THE ICE DEFINITELY LOOKING DARKER AS WE MOVE INTO THE SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY.

EAGLE EYE REPORTS, STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, LOW OF 42, HIGH OF 46.

ANGELA SAW A HIGH OF 41 IN CANS LAKE.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, A LOW OF 38, HIGH OF 43 AND 0.75 PRECIPITATION.

BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTS 42 AND LIGHT RAIN.

ALMANAC IN BRAINERD, OUR HIGH WAS 46, JUST OFF THE RECORD OF 48, AND A LOW OF 36, SUNRISE AND SUNSET, 7:31 AND 5:31.

IN BEMIDJI, HIGH IS 40, WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE, LOW WAS 33, AND THE SUNSET TODAY AT 5:32.

FORECAST TOMORROW, WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PRECIPITATION, PARTICULARLY MORE IN THE MORNING AND IT SHOULD BE SNOW.

WE COULD SEE SOME ACCUMULATION, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT MAJOR ACCUMULATIONS TOMORROW, BUT UP TO AN INCH OR TWO THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW.

SITUATION TO THE SOUTH AND EAST, AS CENTRAL MINNESOTA, LESS OF A CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION, A 20% CHANCE WITH HIGHS IN THE 20s.

HERE'S YOUR FORECAST TONIGHT, RAIN TO SNOW, AND UP TO 1 INCH OF SNOW.

IN THE WEST, NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE, WE WILL SEE THE MOST SNOW OVERNIGHT.

TOMORROW, SNOW LIKELY IN THE NORTHWEST AGAIN, UP TO 1 INCH OF SNOW AND A HIGH OF 23 FOR TOMORROW.

OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, 23 TOMORROW, 24 ON SATURDAY, AND 28 ON SUNDAY, SO STILL NOT BAD, BUT DEFINITELY COOLER THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

THE EXTENDED FORECAST GETS US UP TO 31 ON TUESDAY, AND THEN WE DIP DOWN A LITTLE COOLER TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT WEEK, DOWN INTO THE LOW 20s AND HIGHER TEENS FOR THE HIGHS.

STACY WILL HAVE MORE ON THAT WHEN SHE RETURNS TOMORROW.

NOW CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

>> Charlie: YEP, AND IT'S SECTION TIME FOR GIRLS HOCKEY.

WE'RE IN THE THICK OF IT.

A COUPLE OF THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS WERE ABLE TO GET STARTED TODAY.

SECTION 7-2A IN THE QUARTER FINALS AND THEN SECTION 6A AS WELL, THEY WERE GETTING STARTED.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THOSE GAMES AND MORE COMING UP >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE GIGAZONE GAMING CHAMPIONSHIP AND TECH EXPO SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH WITH SPECIAL GUEST DANIELLE FEINBERG, PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS.

EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS ONLINE AT GIGAZONETECHXPO.COM.

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

WHEN LIFE GETS BUSY, WE KNOW YOU DEPEND ON US TO KEEP UP, SO YOU CAN TOO.

MORE AT W -- CWPOWER.COM.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> GRAND RAPIDS-GREENWAY GIRLS HOCKEY FELL JUST SHORT OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT LAST YEAR FALLING TO ANDOVER IN THE SECTION 7-2A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

THIS SEASON THEY ENTER THE SECTION TOURNAMENT WITH A 15-9-1 RECORD, EARNING THEM THE TWO SEED AND GUARANTEED HOME ICE UNTIL THE FINALS.

THE LIGHTNING ARE LED BY STANDOUT JUNIOR MERCURY BISCHOFF, WHO WAS THE SIXTH LEADING SCORER IN THE STATE, FINISHING WITH 57 POINTS IN 25 GAMES.

>>> TONIGHT, GRAND RAPIDS-GREENWAY HOSTING NORTHERN TIER IN THE QUARTERFINALS.

LIGHTNING COME IN AVERAGING NEARLY FOUR GOALS A GAME.

FIRST PERIOD NO SCORE, BUT IF YOU HAD TO BET WHO SCORES FIRST, IT'S ON BISHOFF.

PUCK FINDS ITS WAY TO THE STICK OF RILA, AND THE STARS HAD A FEW CHANCES ON THE OTHER HAND BUT RILEY WAS NAIL IN THE NET.

SHE FINISHES WITH 17 SAVES AND A SHUTOUT.

GREEN WAY TACKED ON 3 MORE GOALS TO BEAT NORTHERN TIER 5-0.

THEY WILL HOST BLAIN THIS SATURDAY.

>>> IN SECTION 6-2A, NORTHERN LAKES FACING OFF WITH MORRIS-BENSON AREA IN THE SEMI-FINALS.

LIGHTNING HAVE BEAT THE STORM IN BOTH THEIR MEETINGS THIS SEASON.

SECOND IN THE PERIOD, MISSING BUT HE IS THERE TO CLEAN IT UP.

NORTHERN LAKES LEADS 1-0.

THEN KNOCKS IT BOTTOM SHELF, NORTHERN LAKES GOES UP 2-0.

AGAIN IN THE FIRST, JUST SHORT FROM THE BLUE LINE, BUT KORAH FINISHES THE JOB.

NORTHERN LAKES WINS 7-0, ADVANCING TO THE 6A FINALS.

THEY WILL FACE FERGUS FALLS NEXT TUESDAY.

A COUPLE OF THE OTHER SCORES.

ON THE BOY'S SIDE OF HOCKEY, DETROIT LAKES GETS THE WIN OVER LITTLE FALLS.

>>> OVER TO THE HARDWOOD, IN GIRLS BASKETBALL NEVIS AT BLACKDUCK.

WE PICK UP IN THE SECOND HALF.

MAYA GETS THE SECOND CHANCE BUCKET.

THEY ARE UP 35-21.

A NICE BALL MOVEMENT, FINDING MARISSA, SHE TAKES IT IN, AND NOW IT'S 41-23.

LESS THAN 9 MINUTES TO PLAY, CLAIRE SAYS I WILL BE TAKING THAT AND TAKES IT HERSELF, FOR THE SCORE.

THEY BATTLED DOWN THE STRETCH, BUT THE TIGERS WERE ON THE PROWL TONIGHT AS NEVIS WINS OVER BLACKDUCK.

BRAINERD BEATS MOORHEAD, THAT'S 17 WINS FOR THEM.

GRAND RAPIDS BEATS HERMANTOWN.

PEQUOT LAKES BEATS ESKO.

CASS LAKE GETS THE WIN OVER PINE RIVER-BACKUS.

AND MENAHGA'S 20th STRAIGHT WIN.

ON THE BOY'S SIDE OF THE THINGS, BRAINERD GETS A WIN.

DETROIT LAKES BEATS CROSBY-IRONTON, TWO RANKED TEAMS FALLING AND PILLAGER BEATS WADENA DEER CREEK.

>>> IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL, BEMIDJI STATE WOMEN WIN OVER MINNESOTA CROOKSTON, THEIR THIRD NSIC WIN AND THE MEN'S BASKETBALL, THEY ALSO BEAT MINNESOTA CROOKSTON.

THE TIMBERWOLVES GET THE WIN OVER THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS.

>>> SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED SPORTS BRINGS ATHLETES BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES TOGETHER ON SAME FIELD OF PLAY.

BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THEIR UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS, FIELDING A UNIFIED BASKETBALL TEAM.

AND LAST NIGHT THEY HOSTED THEIR SECOND ANNUAL UNIFIED BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST MENAHGA, ANOTHER UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL, WHILE THE LUMBERJACKS GYMNASIUM HAS SEEN IT'S FAIR SHARE OF ROWDY CROWDS.

LAST NIGHTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE ROWDIEST OF THEM ALL.

MEMBERS OF BOTH COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ATHLETES FROM BEMIDJI STATE PACKED THEMSELVES INTO THE BHS FIELDHOUSE AND WERE TREATED TO A 58-57 COMEBACK VICTORY FROM MENAHGA BUT THE SCOREBOARD WAS FAR FROM THE BIGGEST CONCERN AMONGST THE PLAYERS.

>> THE GAME OF BASKETBALL ITSELF, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WON THE GAME, IT MATTERS HOW MUCH EFFORT YOU PUT IN TO SHOW SUPPORT TO ALL THE OTHERS BECAUSE THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS WINNING OR LOSING.

THERE ARE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES AND SPORTSMANSHIP.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THE GYMNASTS.

LAST YEAR WAS AWESOME, BUT THIS YEAR, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME.

THAT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY REALLY SUPPORTS THE UNIFIED TEAM AND THE UNIFIED IDEA.

>> Charlie: THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAS MORE THAN 8,300 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THEY HAVE A GOAL OF GETTING OVER 10,000 BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> Dennis: THAT'S AWESOME AND IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THE TURNOUT, THE FUN AND JOY AT THE EVENT LAST NIGHT.

>> Charlie: YES, SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR.

IT'S ALWAYS A BLAST, HOPEFULLY THEY DO IT A THIRD.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> BEMIDJI AREA SCHOOLS' JACKIE STOFFEL AND CASS LAKE-BENA'S KRISTA SAXTON HAVE BEEN NAMED AMONG A 158 FINALISTS IN THE RUNNING FOR 2024 MINNESOTA TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN GOT A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH THESE TEACHERS AND LEARN EXACTLY WHY THEY ARE NOMINATED FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE.

>> Reporter: CHRISTA, AN ENGLISH TEACHER THAT TEACHES HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL ENGLISH TO HER STUDENTS HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR MINNESOTA'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> IT IS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR.

NOT ONLY DO I KNOW THERE ARE SUPER AMAZING TEACHERS HERE IN MY OWN BUILDING AND DISTRICT, BUT THROUGHOUT MINNESOTA, THERE ARE TEACHERS DOING SUCH INCREDIBLE THINGS.

IT'S A HUGE HONOR.

>> Reporter: SHE EARNED THIS NOMINATION BY INDIVIDUALIZING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HER STUDENTS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS AND LET THEM KNOW I'M THERE FOR THEM, I CARE ABOUT THEM, AND ALSO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO MAYBE ASK FOR HELP MORE PRIVATELY, INSTEAD OF JUST CALLING STUDENTS OUT FROM ACROSS THE ROOM.

I AM RIGHT NEXT TO THEM AND I CAN SAY, DO YOU NEED HELP WITH THAT?

THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO WANT THE HELP INSTEAD OF THE I'M OUTING THEM IN FRONT OF THE CLASS.

>> Reporter: THAT'S JUST ONE NOMINEE IN CASS LAKE, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER NOMINEE HERE AT BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE INSIDE THE GYMNASIUM IS AN ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER, WHICH IMPLEMENTS AND MONITORS A PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES.

>> WE SAW THE BENEFITS OF STUDENTS COMING IN AND VOLUNTEERING AND HOW MOST STUDENTS WITH OR WITHOUT DISABILITIES ENJOY THEMSELVES.

THEY WERE PROGRESSING FURTHER IN THEIR SKILLS, SO WE CONNECTED WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND STARTED THE UNIFIED PROGRAMING UNDER MULTIPLE PILLARS IN OUR SCHOOL.

UNIFIED SPORTS, WHICH EVERYONE SEEMS TO LOVE.

>> Reporter: SHE WAS AWARDED WITH BEMIDJI TEACHER OF THE YEAR LATE LAST NIGHT, SO HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE NOMINATED FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR ACROSS MINNESOTA.

>> THERE ARE A TON OF AMAZING TEACHERS IN OUR DISTRICT AND AROUND THE STATE THAT DO WONDERFUL THINGS FOR KIDS EVERYDAY.

THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME TEACHERS AND TEACHERS GO ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL DAY SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE NOMINATED.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FOR THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> IN MARCH, AN INDEPENDENT PANEL OF LEADERS WILL RECONVENE AND REVIEW ADDITIONAL MATERIAL TO CHOOSE A GROUP OF FINALISTS.

>>> A COUPLE OF GOOD CANDIDATES THERE.

>> Charlie: ABSOLUTELY.

JACQUELINE IS THE REASON THAT THE WHOLE BASKETBALL THING WAS GOING ON, UNIFIED BASKETBALL.

TOMORROW WE HAVE GIRLS WRESTLING AT BEMIDJI AND WE'LL BRING YOU THAT AND ALL THE WINNERS AND THEY WILL BE WRESTLING INTO SATURDAY AS WELL AND WE'LL HAVE THE FINAL WINNERS COMING ON MONDAY.

>> Dennis: THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]