>> 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.

>>> A JURY HAS CONVICTED TWO MEN OF CHARGES RELATED TO HUMAN SMUGGLING FOR THEIR ROLES IN AN INTERNATIONAL OPERATION THAT LED TO THE DEATHS OF A FAMILY OF INDIAN MIGRANTS WHO FROZE WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE CANADA-U.S. BORDER DURING A 2022 BLIZZARD.

HARSHKUMAR PATEL AND STEVE SHAND EACH FACED FOUR CHARGES RELATED TO HUMAN SMUGGLING BEFORE BEING CONVICTED ON FRIDAY.

PATEL IS AN INDIAN NATIONAL.

SHAND IS AN AMERICAN FROM FLORIDA.

THEY WERE ARRESTED AFTER THE FAMILY FROZE WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE DESOLATE BORDER DURING A 2022 BLIZZARD.

THEY WERE EACH CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS RELATED TO HUMAN SMUGGLING, INCLUDING CONSPIRACY TO BRING MIGRANTS INTO THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

>> THIS TRIAL EXPOSED THE UNTHINKABLE CRUELTY OF HUMAN SMUGGLING AND OF THOSE WHO ARE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT VALUE PROFIT AND GREED OVER HUMANITY.

TO EARN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, THESE TRAFFICKERS PUT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN EXTRAORDINARY PERIL, LEADING TO THE TRAGIC DEATH OF AN ENTIRE FAMILY.

BECAUSE OF THIS UNIMAGINABLE GREED, A FATHER, MOTHER, AND TWO CHILDREN FROZE TO DEATH IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES ON THE MINNESOTA CANADIAN BORDER.

>> THE MOST SERIOUS COUNTS THE MEN WERE CONVICTED OF CARRY MAXIMUM SENTENCES OF UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON BUT FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES RELY ON COMPLICATED FORMULAS AND PROSECUTORS SAID FRIDAY THAT VARIOUS FACTORS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING WHAT SENTENCES THEY WILL RECOMMEND.

>>> WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LARGE FIRE YESTERDAY AT THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE MINNESOTA EQUESTRIAN CENTER IN WINONA, MINNESOTA.

NO PEOPLE WERE INJURED BUT OFFICIALS SAY TWO HORSES AND A CAT DIED IN THE FIRE.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE 128,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY WAS DESTROYED AND ABOUT ANOTHER THIRD OF THE FACILITY SUFFERED MINOR SMOKE AND HEAT DAMAGE.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT STARTED THE FIRE IS STILL ONGOING BUT FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED.

>>> THE SILVER STAR MEDAL IS THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES' 3RD HIGHEST MILITARY DECORATION OF VALOR IN COMBAT, USUALLY PRESENTED TO ARMED FORCES MEMBERS WHO SHOWED COURAGE WHILE IN ACTION AGAINST AN ENEMY OF THE UNITED STATES.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE SILVER STAR MEDAL WAS GIVEN TO MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY OF CORPORAL NORRIS LEE BRENDEN FOR HIS ACTIONS IN 1968 DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN ATTENDED THE CEREMONY TO LEARN WHY CORPORAL BRENDEN EARNED THIS HIGHLY DISTINGUISHING AWARD.

>> Reporter: IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO HONOR A FALLEN HERO WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

HE MAY HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF HIS PLATOON, THANKS TO HIS ACTIONS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

>> WHAT DID HE DO -- I GET EMOTIONAL.

>> Reporter: HE BECAME THE SQUAD LEADER FOR THE FIRST BATTALION, JUST BEFORE BEING DEPLOYED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 1968.

THE PLATOON WAS TASKED WITH RETRIEVING THE BODIES OF TWO MARINES LEFT LYING IN THE STREET.

MANY TIMES, THE CORPORAL WOULD RUN ACROSS STREETS WITHOUT REGARDS TO HIS SAFETY, TAKING FIRE FROM AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND HIS SQUAD HAS A BETTER POSITION TO GET HIS FALLEN SQUAD MATES.

>> HE WAS A CORPORAL.

HE WAS EVERY BIT THE LEADER.

THAT DAY HE WAS SEEING SO MUCH FIRE POWER.

HE WAS PUSHING BACK.

>> Reporter: THE CORPORAL WAS SERVING A 13 MONTH TOUR IN VIETNAM.

HE HAD A MONTH REMAINING BEFORE HE SACRIFICED HIS OWN LIFE FOR HIS PLATOON.

EVEN WITH THE LITTLE TIME REMAINING, HE WANTED TO BE WITH HIS SQUAD UNTIL THE END.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS ONE WAY AND THE OTHER WAY.

IT HURT.

THE FOUR OF US, TO RECOGNIZE HIM FOR WHAT HE DID.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN GRAND RAPIDS, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DOES NOT KEEP AN EXTENSIVE RECORD OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SILVER STAR MEDAL.

INDEPENDENT GROUPS ESTIMATE THAT SINCE THE MEDAL WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED OVER 100,000 SILVER STAR MEDALS HAVE BEEN AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

>>> A BEMIDJI SCHOOL BUS WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT TODAY.

NO STUDENTS WERE ON THE BUS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WHICH HAPPENED THIS MORNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF IRVINE AVENUE AND FOURTH STREET NORTHWEST.

BRAINERD COMMUNITY ACTION STOPPED BY COMMON GOODS IN BAXTER RECENTLY TO SURPRISE 15-YEAR-OLD ABIGAIL HANSON WITH BRAINERD'S 2024 YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

HANSON IS THE BRAINERD JUNIOR JAYCEES PRESIDENT, A GROUP COMMITTED TO HELPING GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SHE ALSO HELPS OUT WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL'S WARRIOR WAREHOUSE FOOD PANTRY, AS WELL AS A HOST OF OTHER LANES TO IMPACT HER COMMUNITY IN A POSITIVE WAY.

[APPLAUSE].

>> IT'S REALLY, LIKE GREAT.

JUST TO SEE THAT EVERYONE IS SO HAPPY FOR ME HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.

I DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED AS LONG AS OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAPPY.

IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE ALSO RECOGNIZE WHAT I'M DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> HANSON NOTED THAT SHE FIRST GOT INSPIRED TO HELP HER COMMUNITY THROUGH HER PARENTS AND BROTHER'S DEVOTION TO VOLUNTEERING.

>>> THE STATEWIDE FIREARMS DEER HARVEST IS UP COMPARTED TO LAST YEAR AFTER NINE DAYS OF THE SEASON.

STATE-WIDE THE HARVEST IS UP 5 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR BUT DOWN 5 PERCENT FROM THE FIVE-YEAR MEAN.

SPECIFICALLY, THE NORTHWEST REGION WAS UP 5 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR AND DOWN 7 PERCENT FROM THE FIVE-YEAR MEAN.

THE NORTHEAST REGION IS UP TEN PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR BUT DOWN 11 PERCENT OVER FROM THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE AND THE CENTRAL REGION IS UP 5 PERCENT FROM LAST YEAR AND ROUGHLY THE SAME AS THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE.

>>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS A BIG JOB TO DO NEXT WEEK.

THE NATIONAL THANKSGIVING TURKEYS WILL BE PARDONED MONDAY ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN.

THE BIRDS ARE ARRIVING FROM MINNESOTA OVER THE WEEKEND.

WEIGHING IN AT 40 AND 41 POUNDS, THIS YEAR'S BIRDS WERE HATCHED IN JULY IN NORTHFIELD, MINNESOTA.

FOLLOWING THEIR EXPECTED PARDON, BOTH TURKEYS WILL RETREAT TO FARMAMERICA, AN AGRICULTURAL INTERPRETATIVE CENTER IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA.

THIS IS THE 77TH ANNUAL TURKEY PRESENTATION, ALTHOUGH PARDONING OF THE BIRDS DIDN'T BECOME TRADITION UNTIL GEORGE H.W.

BUSH'S ADMINISTRATION.

FOLKLORE HAS IT DURING ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ADMINISTRATION HIS SON ASKED TO SPARE A PET TURKEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE COOKED FOR DINNER.

>>> THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE STUDENT BODY, STAFF, AND ALL THOSE INTERESTED HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE DURING C.L.C.

'S NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION LAST WEEK.

A CHANCE TO BUILD COMMUNITY, TRY TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN CUISINE, AND MAKE DREAMCATCHERS.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS MORE FROM THE EVENT.

>> Reporter: FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, CLC PROVIDED A PLATFORM TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST AMERICANS, AND BOLSTER GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ON THEIR CULTURE.

>> I'M A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF NATIVE.

A LOT OF OUR WAYS ARE STILL PRACTICED OPENLY, THAT ISN'T REALLY SEEN BY A LOT OF THE PUBLIC.

I'M JUST VERY PROUD THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BEING MORE WELCOMED BY THE COMMUNITY, IN A PREDOMINATELY WHITE AREA.

>> Reporter: FROM A DEEP LOVE FOR NATURE, TO SHOWING RESPECT, ACCEPTANCE, AND KINDNESS TO OTHER PEOPLE, NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE IS FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN MANY KNOW.

>> YOU'RE IN A COMMUNITY AND NO MATTER WHAT TRIBE CAME IN, IF YOU SAW THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING, YOU GAVE TO THEM.

TO YOU, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS TO BE WITHOUT SOMETHING, AND HAVE SOMEONE DISREGARD YOU.

FOR US, WE LIKE TO GIVE TO PEOPLE WITHOUT EXPECTING SOMETHING BACK.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE IS SOMEONE THERE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: AND MANY ARE UNAWARE OF THE HARDSHIPS THAT NATIVE AMERICANS FACED OVER THE HISTORY.

>> I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF POWER IN RECOGNIZING THE WRONGS RIGHT AWAY.

THE MAIN THING IS THE PERSEVERANCE BECAUSE OF THE MULTIPLE ATTACKS ON THEIR CULTURE AND ATTEMPT AT CULTURAL GENOCIDE.

>> Reporter: WITH MANY NOT PRIVY WITH WHAT NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE REPRESENTS, STIGMAS AND STEREOTYPE CONTINUE TO SPREAD.

>> MY ROOMMATES TOLD ME THEY WERE NATIVE AND STUFF.

I WOULD TELL SOME CLASSMATES AND COACHES BACK HOME, THEY SAID I HEARD THEY'RE THIEVES AND LIARS.

HEARING THAT MADE MY BIAS ABOUT THEM BEFORE GETTING TO KNOW THEM.

>> Reporter: WITH THE NUMBER OF DISCRIMINATION THAT THEY FACE TODAY AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE HAVING INCLUSIVITY WOVEN INTO THEIR CULTURE PUTS THE STUDENT BODY AT EASE.

>> WALKING AROUND AND SEEING SMUDGING ROOMS WAS AMAZING.

I WAS TAKEN ABACK BY SEEING THAT AND KNOWING THAT I DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT MY CULTURE.

THE COMMUNITY IS REFRESHING, ACCEPTING, AND COMFORTABLE.

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

>> AND WHILE THEY WON'T SERVE FRYBREAD AND TACOS EVERYDAY, CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE IS CELEBRATING NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN FULL.

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

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE'RE GOING TO START THE WEEKEND WITH MAINLY QUIET WEATHER, BUT CHANCES OF SNOW RETURN ON SUNDAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, BSU AND THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS PAIRED UP TO HAVE THEIR UNIFIED BODY >> 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.

>>> BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY HOSTED THEIR THIRD ANNUAL UNIFIED BOCCE INVITATIONAL ON WEDNESDAY.

NEARLY 200 SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES GATHERED TO ENJOY PLAYING THE GAME, DANCING, AND SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER STUDENTS FROM ACROSS SEVEN SCHOOLS.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK MET SOME OF THE ATHLETES, VOLUNTEERS, AND EVENT ORGANIZERS.

>> THERE ARE MANY UNIFIED SPORTS HOSTED AT BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY.

BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, SOCCER, TRACK AND FIELD, AND BOCCE BALL.

>> THE ENERGY AROUND THESE EVENTS IS INFECTIOUS.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT YOU LEAVE AND YOUR CHEEKS HURT FROM SMILING.

YOUR HEART GROWS FIVE SIZES HERE.

IT'S SUCH A GREAT ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN AND I LOVE IT.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES WHO ARE HERE TO HAVE FUN.

>> IT'S HARD TO NOT WALK IN HERE AND SMILE.

IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE A PART OF.

>> Reporter: NEARLY 200 STUDENTS REPRESENTING 7 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS FROM ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA JOINED THE UNIFIED INVITATIONAL, WHO PLAYED BY SPECIAL OLYMPICS RULES.

>> BOCCE IS TECHNICALLY WHAT BROUGHT EVERYONE HERE TODAY, IT IS FAR FROM THEIR FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE EVENT.

>> EVERYBODY IS COMING TOGETHER AND YOU KNOW, BEING A PART OF A TEAM AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY MATTERS.

>> JUST SEEING EVERYONE'S SMILING FACES AND THEM HAVING FUN.

>> MEETING NEW PEOPLE WITH ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND IT'S AWESOME.

THERE ARE SO MANY NICE PEOPLE AND EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND WE CAN JUST HAVE FUN TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: ALONG WITH THE FUN, DANCING, AND SOCIALIZING AT THE INVITATIONAL, THE ATHLETES HAD A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A TEAM SETTING.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT DISABILITIES TO BE ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS AND YOU CAN'T SOMETIMES HAVE OTHER THINGS, AND THIS IS REALLY AWESOME.

WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT SPECIAL CAPABILITIES.

WE LOOK THE SAME ON THE INSIDE, BUT WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

JUST INCLUDE EVERYONE AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED IS WHAT WE DO HERE.

>> EVERYONE IS AN INDIVIDUAL.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR ACTIVITY, THEIR FRIENDSHIP, THEIR LIFELONG SKILLS, THEY NEED ALL THOSE ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE MET.

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

>> ALTHOUGH EVERYONE WAS ON A TEAM, THERE WAS NO WINNER OR LOSER OF THE EVENT, AS THE PURPOSE WAS TO HAVE FUN RATHER THAN GET CAUGHT UP IN A COMPETITION.

>>> WELL A GREAT EVENT STACY.

WE ARE READY FOR THE WEEKEND AS WE MOVE AND TURN THE PAGE ON TO SATURDAY TOMORROW.

HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING FOR THE WEEKEND?

>> Stacy: WE SHOULD START OUT WITH QUIET WEATHER, WE WILL SEE VARIABLE CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

AS WE HEAD INTO SUNDAY, CHANCES OF SNOW RETURN AND THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY.

WE HAVE COOLER TEMPERATURES >> 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 DID HAVE A LOT OF CLOUD COVER IN THE AREA TODAY, BUT THE SUNSHINE DID MAKE AN APPEARANCE, ESPECIALLY THIS AFTERNOON IN PARTS OF THE VIEWING AREA.

WE WILL SEE MORE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND, A CHANCE OF SNOW WILL RETURN.

WE COULD BE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF ACCUMULATION, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THEN WE HAVE COOLER TEMPERATURES ON THE WAY NEXT WEEK.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 21.

AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A LIGHT NORTHWEST WIND, DEW POINT IS 21, HUMIDITY IS 99%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE CLOUDY SKIES, 32 DEGREES, PRESSURE IS FALLING, AND WINDS ARE CALM.

LOOKING AT THE RADAR, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE CLOUDS INCREASE AGAIN THIS EVENING.

WE DO HAVE SOME UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE IN THERE.

WE'RE NOT SEEING REPORTS OF PRECIPITATION AND IN FACT, IT SHOULD STAY DRY OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

LOOK FOR MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES THROUGHOUT THE AREA AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, SO SOME OF US COULD BE SEEING SOME SUNSHINE, MAYBE A FEW FLURRIES ARE POSSIBLE IN PARTS OF THE AREA AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS.

IT SHOULD BE QUIET BY THE AFTERNOON.

TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE IN THE 30s ON SATURDAY AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE COOLER TEMPERATURES ARRIVE ONCE THAT SNOW MOVES THROUGH SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF FROSTY CONDITIONS THIS MORNING.

ARLENE SENT US THIS PHOTO OF THE FROST IN MENAHGA.

CARRIE WITH A PICTURE OF THE EVENING SKIES IN WALKER.

ANGELA ALSO GLIMPSING THAT LAKE SUNSET AT CASS LAKE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 20 AND FROSTY THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, CLOUDS AND A HIGH OF 29.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, OVERCAST SKIES, HIGHS IN THE MID-30s.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, CLOUDY SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 35.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, 36 WAS THE HIGH IN BRAINERD.

THAT WAS OUR AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THIS DATE.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN TEMPERATURES CHANGE MUCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

OUR LOW THIS MORNING WAS 32, SUNSET AT 4:37.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 28, 20 WAS OUR LOW, AND SUNRISE THIS MORNING WAS AT 7:35.

WE'LL LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE'LL SEE VARIABLE CLOUDS AND IN FACT MANY OF US IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA SHOULD SEE SOME SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE FROM THE MID-20s IN THE FOSSTON AREA, WE COULD SEE LOW TO MID-30s IN GRAND RAPIDS AND PARK RAPIDS.

THEN IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, MORE CLOUD COVER, SO EXPECT TO SEE VARIABLE CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA, HIGH TEMPERATURES IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA SHOULD BE IN THE MID-30s.

SO HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, LOWS NEAR 21, NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW AS I MENTIONED, THERE MAY BE A FEW FLURRIES IN THE MORNING, NOT ANYTHING THAT WILL AMOUNT TO ANY ACCUMULATION, HIGHS NEAR 31, AND NORTH WINDS UP TO 10.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, WE DO HAVE CHANCES OF SNOW RETURNING SUNDAY AND MONDAY, AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT ACCUMULATION, ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

HIGHS IS 33 ON SUNDAY, WE DROP TO ABOUT 23 FOR THE HIGH ON MONDAY, AND TEMPERATURES STAY PRETTY COOL AS WE HEAD THROUGH MIDWEEK.

OVERALL, IT LOOKS QUIET, BUT HIGHS AGAIN IN THE LOW TO MID-20s TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

BACK TO YOU DENNIS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, GOOD TRAVEL FOR WEDNESDAY, RIGHT BEFORE THANKSGIVING.

STAPLES MOTLEY, WHAT A SEASON FOR THEM.

>> Charlie: THEY HAD AN UNBELIEVABLE SEASON SO FAR.

TONIGHT THEY HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THEIR FIRST EVER PREP BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP OUT AT U.S. BANK STADIUM.

THEY WERE GOING UP AGAINST JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL, ANOTHER GREAT OFFENSIVE TEAM.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT GA >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS; NORTHERN MINNESOTA'S CERTIFIED APPLE SERVICE CENTER, OFFERING REPAIR SERVICES ON APPLE PRODUCTS AND P.C.S.

PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS IN BEMIDJI AND GRAND RAPIDS, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> STAPLES-MOTLEY FOOTBALL IS BACK IN THE PREP BOWL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 36 YEARS, LED BY RUNNING BACK COLBE TAPPE WHO HAD 170-YARDS AND 4-THOUCHSOWNS IN THE STATE SEMIFINALS.

THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO CAP OFF AN UNDEFEATED SEASON WITH THEIR FIRST STATE TITLE IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

STANDING IN THEIR WAY IS ANOTHER UNDEFEATED TEAM, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL, BUT THEY ARE PLAYING WITHOUT STARTING QUARTERBACK ROMAN VOSS WHO SUFFERED A SEASON ENDING ANKLE INJURY IN THE STATE QUARTERFINALS.

IT'S THE CLASS 2A PREP BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP FROM U.S. BANK STADIUM, THE 3-SEED OUT OF THE NORTH.

STAPLES-MOTLEY TAKING ON THE 2-SEED FROM THE SOUTH, JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL.

THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION LOOKING LIKE IT MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE EARLY.

LOOKS LIKE AN ICE PUCK WITH LEGS, CARDINALS STRIKE FIRST, IT'S 6-0.

NOW THE SEMI FINALS, BEN HAD 181 ALL PURPOSE YARDS, CARDS DID NOT GET THE MEMO.

TWO TOUCHDOWNS AND THE HUSKIES SCORE 28 UNANSWERED.

IN THE SECOND QUARTER, STAPLES MOTLEY TRAILING, AND ALEX CAME IN, USING HIS LEGS, 55 YARDS ON THE GROUND.

THAT PLAY SET UP THIS NEXT ONE.

SCHULTZ GOING TO THE AIR THIS TIME AND HE HAS A WIDE OPEN 47-YARD STRIKE, AND WITHIN TWO SCORES.

JACKSON COUNTY CENTRAL WILL KEEP THEM AT ARM'S LENGTH.

THEN CLAY WITH THE 21-YARD SCAMPER THERE.

STAPLES MOTLEY WAS ABLE TO SCORE LATE, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH.

THEY FINISH ONE WIN SHY OF THE PREP BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

A SPECTACULAR SEASON FOR THE CARDINALS, THAT TWO YEARS AGO WENT 0-9.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOYS RECOGNIZED, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THEIR RECENT DEFEAT.

>> WE HAD THAT BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE, BUT HAVING THAT 0-9 SEASON TO THIS, IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COACHES AND THE PLAYERS FOR PUTTING IN THE WORK.

>> THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BACKING US THE ENTIRE WAY.

THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP LIKE CRAZY, ESPECIALLY THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I MEAN IT WAS INSANE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME.

THAT IS A BIG FACTOR ON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO, HAVING THEM BEHIND US.

>> WE ENJOYED THIS WHOLE JOURNEY.

IT WASN'T ABOUT WINNING A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

I MEAN, THAT DIDN'T REALLY GET BROUGHT UP UNTIL THIS GAME, RIGHT?

WE JUST TRIED TO SOAK IN THE ENTIRE JOURNEY AND LIVE IN THE MOMENT AND IT'S BEEN SPECIAL.

>> Charlie: AND WHAT A JOURNEY IT WAS.

STAPLES MOTLEY FOOTBALL, THEY FINISHED AS 6-2A CHAMPS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.

>>> SOME HIGH SCHOOL BOYS HOCKEY SCORES FOR YOU.

WARROAD COLLECTING A WIN TONIGHT.

ROSEAU FALLING TO HOLY ANGELS.

RED LAKE FALLS BEATS LAKE OF THE WOODS.

ON THE GIRL'S SIDE, BEMIDJI GETS A WIN 6-0.

GRAND RAPIDS GREEN WAY, THEY BEAT ST.

CLOUD, 6-3.

IN GIRLS BASKETBALL, PILLAGER GETTING A WIN TONIGHT.

BROWERVILLE WINS AND SEBEKA GETS A WIN.

>>> BSU MEN'S HOCKEY ARE HOSTING ST. THOMAS.

BOTH TEAMS TIED FOR 6.

NO SCORE, TONY'S SHOT DEFLECTED.

HIS FOURTH GOAL IN THREE GAMES AND BEAVERS TAKE A 1-0 LEAD.

THEN ETHAN HAS HIS SHOT DEFLECTED, AND THAT IS HIS SECOND OF THE YEAR AS THEY KNOT THE GAME AT 1-1.

NOW THE FRESHMAN NETTED HIS SECOND GOAL OF THE SEASON.

ST. THOMAS WOULD TIE THE GAME AND IT GOES TO OVERTIME AND STAYS THAT WAY.

BEMIDJI STATE WIN IT IS SHOOTOUT.

THEY COLLECT 2 OF THE 3 AVAILABLE POINTS.

>>> BSU WOMEN'S HOCKEY ALSO IN ACTION TONIGHT.

THEY WERE ON THE ROAD TAKING ON NUMBER FOUR RANKED MINNESOTA DULUTH.

NOW THE BEAVERS HAVE SEEN A LOT OF QUICK GOALS IN THE PAST FEW GAMES.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS ONE.

OLIVIA WALLIN CLEANS UP FOR CLARA VAN WIEREN AND BULLDOGS LEAD JUST 27-SECONDS IN.

LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO IN THE 1ST, STILL 1-0 WHEN TOVA HENDERSON RIPS A LONG ONE, THREADS ABOUT 3-NEEDLES ON THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE NET.

IT WAS 2-0 AT THE BREAK.

SECOND PERIOD, BEAVERS FINALLY ABLE TO GET ON THE BOARD.

OLIVIA DRONEN BLUE LINER DEFLECTED IN BY SHELBY BREILAND, HER FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON, CUTS THE LEAD IN HALF.

BUT MINNESOTA DULUTH WOULD SCORE 6-UNANSWERED AFTER THAT TO BEAT BEMIDJI STATE 8-1.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> THE CROSSING ARTS ALLIANCE HAS GENERATED OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND GROW CREATIVELY WITH STRONG ARTS PROGRAMS IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

FOR THIS WEEKS IN FOCUS, NEWS REPORTER SKYLER BLAINE WAS IN DOWNTOWN BRAINERD TO EXPERIENCE HOW ART CAN HELP WITH EVERY DAY LIFE.

>> Reporter: FOR OVER 24 YEARS, THE CROSSING ARTS ALLIANCE HAS BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH ARTS EXPRESSION, CROSSING ARTS PROVIDES THE PEOPLE OF BRAINERD WITH DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS ON LIFE.

>> JUST COMING IN HERE AND SEEING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL THAT SOMEONE HAS SPENT THEIR LIVES GETTING BETTER AT AND LEARNING HOW TO MAKE AND SHARE WITH THE WORLD.

EVEN THAT EXPERIENCE CAN REALLY BRING US INTO A NEW SPACE AND OPEN OUR EYES TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND NEW, MAYBE A NEW PERSPECTIVE OR CULTURE.

>> Reporter: SCIENTIFIC STUDIES HAVE PROVEN THAT ART APPRECIATION IMPROVES OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKES US FEEL GOOD.

ART IS ALSO PROVEN TO DEVELOP REAL WORLD SKILLS LIKE CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, TEAMWORK, AND COMMUNICATION.

>> WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES HERE FOR EDUCATION FOR TEAMS AND YOUNGER CHILDREN THAT REALLY GET THEM OFF THEIR PHONES, CONNECTING COMMUNITY, BUILDING CONNECTIONS WITH EACH OTHER, AND JUST ENJOYING OTHER PEOPLE'S COMPANY OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, OUTSIDE OF HOME, WHERE THEY JUST GET TO BE THEMSELVES AND RELAX A LITTLE BIT WHILE CREATING SOMETHING OR LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

>> Reporter: ENGAGING IN CREATIVE ACTIVITIES CAN HELP LOWER LEVELS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION.

CROSSING ARTS ALLIANCE HAS SEEN THIS FIRSTHAND.

>> JUST WORKING WITH SO MUCH FOCUS AND ABSORPTION ON THE THING THAT THEY'RE CREATING.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD FOR US, TO HELP OUR MINDS DETACH AND TO BE COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE MAKING AND CREATING AND FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD, I'M SKYLER BLAINE, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BACK NOW AND WE'RE GOING BACK TO STACY FOR A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, LOWS NEAR 21, NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 10 MILES PER HOUR.

TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, MAYBE A FEW FLURRIES IN THE MORNING, HIGHS NEAR 31, AND NORTH WINDS UP TO 10.

CHANCES OF SNOW RETURN AS WE HEAD INTO SUNDAY AND MONDAY, COULD SEE SOME LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND THEN SOME COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE BACK TOWARDS MIDWEEK.

>> Charlie: COACH FORD WON ASSISTANT COACH AWARD FOR THE NSIC.

THEY'RE TAKING ON ANGELO STATE TOMORROW, GAME IS 1:00 ON ESPN PLUS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, WE'RE OUT OF TIME, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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