>> 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.

>> 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 BAXTER POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A NEW CHIEF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS.

JIM EXSTED ANNOUNCED HIS IMPENDING RETIREMENT EARLIER THIS FALL WITH THE BAXTER POLICE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF MATT MAIER SET TO SUCCEED HIM EARLY NEXT MONTH.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: AFTER GRADUATING FROM BRAINERD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, JIM KNEW THAT HE WANTED TO GET INTO EITHER PUBLIC SERVICE OR TEACHING AND GIVE BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY.

NEARLY THREE DECADES OF SERVICE LATER, HE KNOWS HE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.

>> PEOPLE LIKE BEING HERE.

THEY WANT TO WORK HERE.

WE WERE A GOOD FIT AS A TEAM.

THE DRUG TASK FORCE HAS BEEN A PART OF THAT FOR 20-PLUS YEARS.

FINANCIAL CRIMES, WE TOOK ON A SEX TRAFFICKING GRANT AROUND 2015, QUALITY OF LIFE, WHEN I WAS HIRED HERE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY.

>> Reporter: WHILE HE HAS PLENTY TO BE PROUD OF REGARDING HIS TIME WITH THE BAXTER POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE KNOWS THAT IT IS TIME TO START THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIS LIFE.

>> I'M TRYING TO STAY SUPER ENGAGED IN EVERY ASPECT, BUT I KNOW THERE IS ENERGY WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT TO MOVE FORWARD AND NEW IDEAS, NEW AMBITIONS.

THERE IS A PIECE THAT THE CITY DESERVES TO HAVE TOO, I DON'T THINK I NAILED IT AT ANY POINT, BUT TO STEP ASIDE AND WATCH THEM IS GOOD.

>> Reporter: AND MATT, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE BAXTER P.D.

IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF TAKING UP THE MANTLE.

>> HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A GO-GETTER.

ONCE HE GOT TO HIS GOAL, HE WAS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

I WAS HOPING FOR SEVERAL YEARS THAT HE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT.

FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I WAS ABLE TO START TRAINING HIM UP AND GUIDING HIM DOWN THE PATH BUT HE DIDN'T NEED MUCH GUIDANCE.

>> Reporter: THE INCOMING CHANGING OF THE GUARD IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST LOSING 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND WHY MATT KNOWS HE HAS BIG SHOES TO FILL, HE IS PREPARED TO PAVE HIS OWN PATH, TAKING ON JIM'S ADVICE TO BE HIMSELF.

>> I HAVE A PASSION FOR BAXTER.

I WAS RAISED HERE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LOT OF OFFICERS OR NEW OFFICERS WANTING TO COME TO OUR DEPARTMENT.

JUST MOVING THE DEPARTMENT INTO THE FUTURE AND BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE OUR CITY, SHOWCASE OUR DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BAXTER, MILES WALKER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> EXSTED WILL OFFICIALLY RETIRE DECEMBER 10TH WITH MAIER'S APPOINTMENT SET TO BEGIN ON THE 11TH.

>>> AN INDIAN MIGRANT WHO SURVIVED A DEADLY TREK ACROSS THE CANADA-U.S. BORDER IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IS EXPECTED TO TESTIFY IN THE FEDERAL TRIAL OF TWO MEN ACCUSED OF HUMAN SMUGGLING.

FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THE MEN PUT FINANCIAL PROFIT OVER HUMAN LIFE WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO SMUGGLE MIGRANTS ACROSS THE BORDER IN 2022.

A COUPLE FROM INDIA AND THEIR TWO YOUNG CHILDREN FROZE TO DEATH.

PROSECUTORS SAY THE MEN WERE PART OF AN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL NETWORK THAT SMUGGLED FAMILIES SEEKING BETTER LIVES IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR ONE MAN SAYS HIS CLIENT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CHARGED; AN ATTORNEY FOR THE OTHER SAYS HER CLIENT WAS TRICKED.

THE TRIAL IS TAKING PLACE IN FERGUS FALLS AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT FIVE DAYS.

>>> AN EARLY MORNING FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A HOME IN BEMIDJI THIS MORNING.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED AROUND 4:15 A.M. TO A HOUSE ON THE 1200 BLOCK OF BEMIDJI AVENUE THAT HAD FIRE AND SMOKE FROM THE SECOND STORY SHOWING WHEN THEY ARRIVED.

NO-ONE WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE BUT 28 FIREFIGHTER USED 9 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT TO BATTLE THE BLAZE AND WERE ON THE SCENE FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

>>> JEFF CZECZOK WILL VACATE HIS AT-LARGE SEAT AT THE END OF THE YEAR DUE TO WINNING A FOUR-YEAR SEAT TO REPRESENT WARD 3.

THE BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THEY'RE STARTING THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING SOMEONE TO STEP IN FOR THE FINAL TWO YEARS OF CZECZOK'S TERM.

>> THE VACANCY IS DECLARED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2026, FOR THE AT-LARGE POSITION THAT I CURRENTLY HOLD.

THEN THE APPLICATIONS ACCEPTANCE BY THE CITY, STARTING TOMORROW, THE 19th OF NOVEMBER.

>> THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 30TH AND THE APPLICANTS WILL INTERVIEW AT THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING IN JANUARY.

>>> OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP-OFF LOCATIONS ARE OFFICIALLY OPENED.

THE SAMARITAN'S PURSE PROJECT IS DEVOTED TO HELPING KIDS IN NEED.

RESIDENTS WITHIN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA CAN NOW DONATE GOODS TO CHILDREN IN THE FORM OF A SHOEBOX.

NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK BEGAN AT LAKEWOOD EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH IN BAXTER.

THE CHURCH HAS BEEN PACKING SHOEBOXES FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

THEY HAVE SET THE BAR HIGH FOR THIS GIFT-GIVING SEASON.

>> IN OUR AREA TEAM, OUR GOAL AND OUR AREA TEAM COVERS BEMIDJI, GRAND RAPIDS, BACKUS, AITKIN, BAXTER, AND WADENA.

OUR GOAL IS 14,103 SHOEBOXES.

>> THERE ARE OVER 4,700 DROP OFF LOCATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD HOPES TO REACH 12 MILLION CHILDREN IN 2024.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IS WORKING TO MAKE GOOD ON HIS PROMISE TO STORM VICTIMS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.

IN THE FINAL TWO MONTHS OF HIS PRESIDENCY.

HE UNVEILED A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR AID PACKAGE THAT HE'S HOPING CONGRESS WILL PASS BEFORE HE LEAVES THE OVAL OFFICE.

LEADERSHIP ON THE HILL HAS SIGNALED THAT PROVIDING DISASTER AID IS A PRIORITY BUT WILL POLITICAL HEADWINDS SLOW THEM DOWN?

LAURA AGUIRRE BRINGS US MORE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP YOU PICK BACK UP THE PIECES AND GET TO WHERE YOU WERE.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN LAST MONTH, SENDING REASSURANCE TO THOUSANDS OF STORM VICTIMS ACROSS THE HURRICANE RAVISHED SOUTHEAST.

NOW HE IS ASKING CONGRESS FOR ROUGHLY $100 BILLION TO BACK THAT UP AND $40 BILLION OF THAT WOULD GO TO FEMA, DOUBLE THE AMOUNT THAT CONGRESS BUDGETED FOR THE AGENCY THIS YEAR.

THIS YEAR'S ACTIVE AND POWERFUL ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON, INCLUDING STORMS HELENE AND MILTON, ALONG WITH THE DEADLY WILDFIRES OUT WEST DRAINED THE AGENCY'S BUDGET.

THE ADMINISTRATOR ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY, TESTIFYING BEFORE A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE AGENCY'S DISASTER RESPONSE.

>> OUR WORKFORCE PERSEVERED THROUGH ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND THEY PERSEVERED TO A DIFFICULT SECURITY ENVIRONMENT, GENERATED BY MISINFORMATION ABOUT FEMA'S WORK SPREAD THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Reporter: TWO HOUSE MEMBERS THAT COULD VOTE ON THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST OFFERED DIFFERING VIEWS ON FEMA'S PERFORMANCE.

>> I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PERSONNEL AND THE RESOURCES THAT WERE SURGED INTO THE REGION, INCLUDING ADMINISTRATOR CHRISWELLBEING THERE A COUPLE OF TIMES.

>> THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED.

THE GRIEF THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING IS COMPOUNDED BY BUREAUCRATIC MISSTEPS, DELAYS, AND POOR COMMUNICATION.

>> Reporter: WHEN AND HOW CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS MOVE ON THE 100 BILLION IS UNCERTAIN.

THEY COULD ADDRESS IT AS A STAND ALONE BILL OR TUCK IT INTO THE END OF YEAR SPENDING PACKAGE.

I'M LAURA AGUIRRE REPORTING.

>> THERE ARE MINIMAL WEEKS LEFT ON THE LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR AND REPUBLICANS ARE SET TO TAKE CONTROL OF BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE NEW YEAR.

BUT THERE IS A RECOGNITION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT GETTING AID PASSED IS A PRIORITY.

A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL CALLED ON LAWMAKERS TO PASS THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

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

[♪♪♪] OOFRNL.

>> Stacy: WE'LL SEE CHANCES OF SNOW SHOWERS INTO TOMORROW, A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS OUT FOR A PORTION OF OUR AREA.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, HAS THE DROUGHT OVER THE SUMMER IN MINNESOTA EFFECTED THE GROWTH OF CHRISTMAS TREES?

>> 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.

>>> NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE IN BEMIDJI HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED THEIR COSMETOLOGY ACADEMY.

THIS FALL, N.T.C.

ADDED THE COSMETOLOGY DIPLOMA, AND ENROLLMENT FILLED UP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

IN THE SPRING, THEY WILL ALSO BE ADDING NAIL TECHNOLOGY AND ESTHETICS CERTIFICATES.

THE SCHOOL HELD AN OPEN HOUSE TO SHOWCASE THE ACADEMY, WHICH WAS FORMERLY BEMIDJI'S PROFESSIONAL SALON ACADEMY.

THE EVENT ALSO HAD MORE THAN JUST A TOUR OF THE BUILDING.

>> IT IS THE FIRST HAIRCUT FOR N.T.C., FOR THE NEW COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM.

IT IS THE FIRST HAIRCUT FOR OUR SCHOLARSHIP WINNER MEGAN HERE, WHO IS JUST DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THIS AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE.

HOW FUN WOULD IT BE TO HAVE THE FIRST HAIRCUT, TO LET OUR COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT THIS GREAT NEW PROGRAM HERE IN TOWN AND FOR MEGAN TO DO THIS AND TO DO IT WITH COVERAGE LIKE THIS.

IT'S KIND OF A ROCK STAR EXPERIENCE, IF YOU ASK ME.

>> ALONG WITH PRESIDENT HOFFMAN, THE SCHOOL'S MASCOT, BUCKY, ALSO GOT HIS HAIR CUT.

THE CREATION OF THE COSMETOLOGY ACADEMY HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND THE IDEA IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS THEY ARE SERVING STUDENTS.

>> AND IT'S PART OF -- AN IMPORTANT PART OF N.T.C., ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND RESPONDING TO NEEDS BECAUSE WE KNOW WE NEED FOLKS TO PROVIDE QUALITY HAIRCUTS AND YOU KNOW, FULL SERVICES HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> NOW THAT THE SCHOOL IS FINISHED, THEY ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND ARE TAKING APPOINTMENTS.

>>> EAGLE LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD WHO WERE CRUSHED WHEN THE NEST OF A MINNESOTA PAIR AND THEIR CHICK COLLAPSED ON LIVE VIDEO LAST YEAR WILL GET A WHEN A NEW EAGLE CAMERA GOES LIVE THIS WEEK.

THE CAMERA STARTS LIVESTREAMING THURSDAY AND IS OPERATED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN A NEW LOCATION AND FOCUSED ON A DIFFERENT NESTING PAIR.

BUT THE DNR WILL ALSO KEEP ITS OLD EAGLECAM RUNNING BECAUSE THAT PAIR SURVIVED AND STILL VISITS THEIR OLD TERRITORY.

THE OLD NEST WAS HOME TO A PAIR THAT VIEWERS UNOFFICIALLY NICKNAMED NANCY AND BEAU UNTIL THEIR NEST COLLAPSED DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM IN 2023.

THAT CAMERA HAD VIEWERS IN ALL 50 STATES AND AROUND 160 COUNTRIES.

>>> AND A LITTLE SNOW IN THAT VIDEO THERE STACY, SOMETHING WE COULD BE SEEING COMING IN TONIGHT.

>> Stacy: WE COULD BE.

I SEE SNOWFLAKES ALREADY.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME SNOW AND WE WILL START TO SEE THAT ACCUMULATING, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

WE DO HAVE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE WESTERN PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA DUE TO ACCUMULATING SNOW AND >> 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, WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A BIT OF RAIN IN THE AREA TODAY AND NOW TEMPERATURES ARE FALLING, SOME OF THE RAIN IS BECOMING SNOW.

WE'LL HAVE CHANCES OF LIGHT SNOW OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW, WE DO HAVE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA WHERE WE COULD SEE HIGHER SNOWFALL TOTALS, ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS.

IT LOOKS LIKE AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE WEEK, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CLOUD COVER.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER, BUT IT LOOKS QUIETER.

THE CURRENT CONDITIONS, IT'S 32 AT THE AIRPORT IN BEMIDJI.

AT THE STUDIO, WE HAVE VARIABLE WINDS AT 6 MILES PER HOUR, BUT WE HAVE GUSTS UP TO 19 AND WE RECEIVED 1.21 INCHES OF RAINFALL SO FAR TODAY.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, 38 DEGREES, A DEW POINT OF 27.

SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE AT 22 MILES PER HOUR, GUSTING UP TO 36.

I DID SEE A REPORT OF 0.079-INCH OF RAIN IN BRAINERD TODAY, WHICH SETS A RECORD.

PARTS OF OUR AREA ARE UNDER A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

IT INCLUDES THE WESTERN MOST PART OF LAKELAND COUNTRY.

WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION, BUT IN ADDITION, WE WILL SEE WIND GUSTS UP TO 45 MILES PER HOUR, SO AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

AS I MENTIONED, 1 TO 5 INCHES OF ACCUMULATION, SO WE WILL SEE DIFFERENCES IN SNOWFALL TOTALS, VARYING IN SHORT AREAS.

AGAIN, MOST OF US ARE EXPECTING LIGHT ACCUMULATION, MORE AS WE HEAD INTO WESTERN MINNESOTA, WHERE WE WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL.

ON THE RADAR, THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST SNOWFALL THIS EVENING, A LITTLE BIT OF SNOW EXTENDING BEYOND THAT.

THERE ARE SOME SNOWFLAKES FALLING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE VIEWING AREA.

WE WILL HAVE THIS SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE LAKELAND COUNTRY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND AGAIN INTO TOMORROW, THERE ARE CHANCES OF SNOWFALL.

SOME OF THAT WILL TAPER OFF IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA IN THE MORNING.

IT LOOKS LIKE TEMPERATURES ARE GOING TO STAY COOL, WE'LL LOOK FOR HIGHS IN THE LOW 30s TOMORROW, WITH CONTINUED MORE SEASONAL TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK.

SO SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU, LAURIE SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF A COUPLE OF DEER SPOTTED AT HER YARD.

SAMROSE WITH THE LAYERS OF CLOUDS IN PEMBINA TODAY.

AND THIS IS THE CHICKADEES ENJOYING A VISIT TO THE BIRD FEEDERS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, ARLENE IN MENAHGA REPORTING 1.75 INCHES OF RAIN.

BOB IN BLUFFTON PICKING UP 0.75-INCH OF RAIN.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, WINDY, 1.05 INCHES OF RAINFALL.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH 1.18 INCHES OF RAIN.

A QUICK LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, 51 WAS THE HIGH IN BRAINERD, BUT THAT WAS EARLY ON.

OUR LOW IS OUR CURRENT T AT 38.

BEMIDJI WAS A HIGH OF 44, THE LOW IS OUR CURRENT AT 32, SUNSET AT 4:39.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CLOUD COVER TOMORROW, AND CHANCES OF LIGHT SNOW.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM 29 INTO THE LOW TO MAYBE SOME MID-30s IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A CONTINUED CHANCE OF SNOWFALL WITH CLOUDY CONDITIONS AND HIGHS AROUND THE 30 DEGREE MARK.

HERE'S OUR FORECAST, SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUE TONIGHT, MOST LIKELY FOR MOST OF THE AREA, A LITTLE SMALLER CHANCE IN THE EAST.

OTHERWISE, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH LOWS NEAR 27.

FOR TOMORROW, SNOW IS LIKELY IN FAR WESTERN MINNESOTA, OTHERWISE SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS ELSEWHERE, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, HIGHS NEAR 32.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW ON THURSDAY, OTHERWISE CLOUDY CONDITIONS CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND, ANOTHER CHANCE OF SNOW ARRIVES ON SUNDAY, HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE MID-20s TO MID-30s.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL TONIGHT IN SPORTS.

CHARLIE IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

>> Charlie: YEAH, BSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON.

THEY'RE COMING BACK FROM THE UPPER PENINSULA.

THEY'RE PLAYING MINNESOTA TONIGHT, SO ARE THE MEN.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT 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.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> BSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BEGAN THEIR SEASON THIS PAST WEEKEND ON THE UPPER PENINSULA, GOING 0-2 AFTER LOSSES ON BACK-TO-BACK NIGHTS AGAINST MICHIGAN TECH AND NORTHERN MICHIGAN BUT NOTHING CURES A TOUGH ROAD TRIP LIKE A RETURN HOME.

BEMIDJI STATE WITH THEIR HOME OPENER TONIGHT VERSUS MINNESOTA MORRIS, BOTH TEAMS SEARCHING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON.

WE PICK UP IN THE SECOND HALF AND THE BEAVERS ARE OUT AND RUNNING.

JANETTE FINDS ERIN AND SHE FINISHES WITH 10 POINTS, THE BEAVERS LEAD.

BSU LOOKING BEYOND THE ARK, IT'S AUBREY, SHE WAS 2 FOR 4 FROM TOWN DOWN, ALSO 10 POINTS.

THE BEAVERS ARE STILL UP BIG.

BEMIDJI STATE UTILIZE THE POST GAME AS WELL.

IT'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE SHOT RIGHT THERE.

ADDING 10 POINTS AS WELL, AND BSU RAN AWAY WITH THIS ONE, BEATING MINNESOTA MORRIS.

RACHEL LED THE BEAVERS WITH 14 POINTS AS THEY PICK UP THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON.

>>> WELL AFTER LOSING THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON, BSU MEN'S BASKETBALL HAS ANSWERED BACK WITH 2-WINS IN A ROW INCLUDING A 96-72 WIN IN THEIR HOME OPENER LAST WEDNESDAY VERSUS VALLEY CITY STATE.

TONIGHT, THEY HOSTED MINNESOTA MORRIS.

BEAVERS HAVE ONLY LOST ONCE IN 10 MEETINGS WITH THE COUGARS, WINNING THE LAST SIX STRAIGHT CONTESTS.

BEAVERS WON -- WERE ON FIRE, THEY LED 12-0.

LATER, MORE TRIPLE J'S, THIS TIME IT'S JALIN PATTERSON, HE FINISHED WITH 11 POINTS.

BSU LEADS 23-12.

JERRY WITH THE STEAL AND THE SLAM PUTS THE BEAVERS UP 32-14.

THEN NEAR THE END OF THE HALF, HERE COMES THE BIG SLAM, AUSTIN ON THE GIVE AND GO, AND BEMIDJI STATE, THEY HANDLE MINNESOTA MORRIS, THE SECOND LARGEST BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2003.

>>> IN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS HOCKEY, ROSEAU HOSTING BEMIDJI.

THE FIRST SECTION 8-2A MATCHUP OF THE SEASON FOR EITHER TEAM.

RAMS COMING IN 3-2, LUMBERJACKS A PERFECT 3-0.

FIRST PERIOD, ROSEAU ALREADY LEADING 1-0.

PEYTON GETS A STEAL INSIDE BEMIDJI'S ZONE.

THEY LED 2-0 AFTER ONE.

THEN BEMIDJI TRAILS, EMMA WITH A STEAL IN THE NEUTRAL ZONE, TAKES IT HERSELF AND KNOT IT IS GAME AT 4-4.

WE GO TO OVERTIME AND TAKING THE LOOSE PUCK, DEPOSITING IT FOR THE GAME WINNING GOAL.

5-4 IN OVERTIME, WHAT A WAY TO START SECTION PLAY.

THEY WILL MEET AGAIN IN DECEMBER.

>>> A FEW MORE SCORES FOR YOU.

BRAINERD LITTLE FALLS GETS A WIN AND NORTHERN LAKES BEATS SARTELL 3-2.

>>> THE MINNESOTA WILD ARE OFF TO THEIR BEST START IN FRANCHISE HISTORY GOING 11-3-3 WITH 25 POINTS OVER THEIR FIRST 17 GAMES.

THROUGH 11-GAMES, MINNESOTA HAD SET A FRANCHISE RECORD 41 GOALS AND HEADING INTO TONIGHT'S MATCHUP THEY'VE SCORED 57.

THE WILD ARE IN SAINT LOUIS TONIGHT TAKING ON THE BLUES.

MINNESOTA BEAT THEM 4-1 BACK ON OCTOBER 15TH.

WE'LL PICK UP IN THE FIRST PERIOD, RYAN HARTMAN IS GOING TO SCORE HIS FOURTH GOAL OF THE SEASON.

THAT'S THE 13th TIME THE WILD HAVE SCORED FIRST.

THEY LEAD THE LEAGUE IN SCORING FIRST.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY HAVE BEEN WINNING SO MUCH.

SECOND PERIOD, THEY GET ONE BACK, SCOTT'S SECOND GOAL OF SEASON, TIES IT AT 1.

NOW HIS 12th GOAL, HE TIPS IT OFF JAKE MIDDLETON'S SHOT.

THE MINNESOTA WILD GO ON TO WIN 4-2.

THEY WON 2 IN A ROW.

THEY ARE SECOND PLACE IN THE CENTRAL, 5 POINTS BEHIND FIRST PLACE THE WINNIPEG JETS.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE JETS ARE DOING.

>> Dennis: THEY ARE PLAYING WELL.

GOOD TURN AROUND FROM THE WILD.

>> Charlie: A GREAT WAY TO START.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> SOME DEGREE OF DROUGHT OCCURS IN MINNESOTA NEARLY EVERY YEAR.

THE STATE HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT CONDITIONS EACH YEAR SINCE 2021.

SOME PARTS OF THE STATE HAVE SEEN SIMILAR LEVELS OF DROUGHT THIS YEAR COMPARED TO 2021.

WITH THE HOLIDAY SEASON QUICKLY APPROACHING, THE QUESTION IS HAS THE DROUGHT THAT FACED MINNESOTA THIS YEAR AFFECTED THE GROWTH OF CHRISTMAS TREES?

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN MAY HAVE SOME ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION FOR THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE STATE OF MINNESOTA HAS SEEN NEAR RECORD BREAKING WARM TEMPERATURES THIS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, ABOUT 45% OF THE STATE IS STILL FACING SEVERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

>> DROUGHT IS A NATURAL PART OF OUR CLIMATE HERE IN MINNESOTA, BUT THERE IS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING.

>> Reporter: SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF MINNESOTA RECEIVED 32 INCHES OF RAINFALL SO FAR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE YEARLY AVERAGE AMOUNT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA RECEIVED 19 INCHES SO FAR.

THAT CAME IN THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER MONTHS.

>> THE RAIN HELPED REPLENISH OUR SOILS AND GET THOSE UP TO WHAT WE CALL FIELD CAPACITY, THE POINT AT WHICH THE SOIL BECOMES SATURATED.

>> Reporter: AND LUCKILY FOR THE GROWTH OF CHRISTMAS TREES, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED.

>> IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD YEAR FOR THE GROWTH, THE TREES.

THE RAIN THAT WE DID GET EARLY ON WAS VERY TIMELY.

EVERY RAIN IS HELPFUL AND NEEDED, BUT WHEN YOU GET THOSE TIMELY RAINS IN MAY AND IN JUNE, THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY SEE THE NEW GROWTH FLOURISH AND PUSH ALL OF OUR LARGER TREES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, HAVE NOT BEEN IRRIGATED ALL YEAR.

>> Reporter: BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN RAINFALL DURING THE SPRING SEASON IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, NOT ONLY WILL THIS HARVEST BE BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT IT SHOULD HAVE A GOOD EFFECT ON THE TREES CURRENTLY BEING GROWN AND HARVESTED IN THE FUTURE.

>> WE HAVE TREES WE PLANTED IN THE FIELD EIGHT YEARS AGO THAT WE'RE HARVESTING THIS YEAR AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

WE HAD GOOD NEW GROWTH THIS YEAR.

>> THEY LOOK WONDERFUL THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE WHITE PINES, DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FIR AND SPRUCE.

WHEN IT'S WARMER LIKE THIS, WE WANT TO KEEP THEM SHADED AND COOL AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEM FROM DRYING OUT.

SO IN THE GREENHOUSE, WHEN WE HANG THEM UP, WE HAVE THE VENTS OPEN TO KEEP IT NICE AND COOL HERE AND THAT IS THE KEY FOR KEEPING THEM GREEN AND WELL PRESERVED HERE.

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

>> Dennis: AND THE FORECAST FOR THE WINTER IS PREDICTING ABOVE NORMAL SNOWFALLS AND BELOW AVERAGE TEMPERATURES IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

STACY, WE WILL SEE THAT TONIGHT.

>> Stacy: WE ARE SEEING SOME SNOW, SOME ACCUMULATING SNOW IN MINNESOTA.

>> Dennis: WE ARE OUT OF TIME, WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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