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>> 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.

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> THE BAXTER CITY COUNCIL HELD A PUBLIC HEARING LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL HIGHWAY 371 OVERPASS THAT COULD BE BUILT IN BAXTER.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: NEARLY 400 PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA FILLED THE AUDITORIUM ON MONDAY NIGHT TO LEARN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL CHANGES COMING TO HIGHWAY 371 IN BAXTER AS PART OF THE COMMERCE PROGRAM AND IF IT WAS UP TO THOSE ATTENDANCE, IT WOULD NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

>> THIS LOOKS JUST LIKE THE TWIN CITIES.

>> I DON'T WANT US TO BECOME A MINNEAPOLIS AND NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE BUSINESSES ON THE OUTSIDE.

>> Reporter: THE $60 MILLION PROJECT WOULD SEE FIVE ROUNDABOUTS AND AN OVERPASS PUT IN AT THE HIGHWAY 371 AND 210 INTERSECTIONS.

38 PEOPLE SPOKE OUT ABOUT THE PROJECT, CITING EVERYTHING FROM CONFUSING TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO SAFETY CONCERNS.

>> I CALL THIS THE DIZZY PLAN BECAUSE IT GOES ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND.

IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS, UNLESS THERE IS REALLY GOOD SIGNAGE AND YOU HAVE A G.P.S., YOU ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR TURN AND YOU WILL HAVE TO GO AROUND AGAIN AND AROUND AGAIN.

>> WHEN YOU WALK OUT, I DON'T WANT TO SEE A 30-FOOT CONCRETE WALL.

I WANT TO LOOK ACROSS THE STREET AND SEE BAXTER AND THE WOODS BEHIND IT.

I WANT TO SEE THE TRAFFIC IN THE SUMMERTIME AND UNDERSTAND HEY, I LIVE HERE AND THAT'S TOURIST DOLLARS COMING INTO MY TOWN.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT FLY PAST US.

>> Reporter: LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL.

>> THE PROPOSED LAYOUT ADDS MULTIPLE TURNS TO EACH BUSINESS, CAUSING TIME, EFFORT, AND CONFUSION.

THE LIMITATION WILL DETER A LOT OF THE SPONTANEOUS SPOTS, PEOPLE WILL KEEP DRIVING THROUGH.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT, MANY OF THE BUSINESSES FEEL THAT THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THEIR BUSINESS.

>> SO WE DID A BUSINESS SURVEY OVER THE SUMMER AND AT THAT TIME, 60% OF THE BUSINESSES SAID THE DESIGN IS POOR OR VERY POOR.

20% SAID THAT THEY THINK THAT IT COULD CAUSE THEM TO CLOSE OR RELOCATE THEIR BUSINESS.

THEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT REVENUE AND THEY SAID, 33% SAID NOT ONLY WILL THERE BE REVENUE LOSSES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WE ALL KNOW, BUT LONG-TERM OR PERMANENT REVENUE LOSSES.

>> Reporter: BAXTER CITY COUNCIL MUST MAKE A DECISION ON THE PROPOSED PLAN BY FEBRUARY 1ST, BUT ACCORDING TO MnDOT OFFICIALS, IF THE COUNCIL VOTES AGAINST THE PROPOSAL, FUNDS MAY BE ALLOCATED TO ANOTHER PROJECT IN THE STATE THAT FALLS UNDER THE CORRIDORS OF COMMERCE PROGRAM.

REPORTING IN BAXTER, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>>THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE PROJECT UNTIL THEY RECEIVE AN ANSWER FROM THE BAXTER CITY COUNCIL, WITH A TENTATIVE BUILD DATE FOR THE PROJECT OF SOMETIME IN 2028.

>>> BEMIDJI AREA BOOK CLUB MEMBERS GATHERED TO PROTEST AGAINST FUNDING CUTS MADE BY BELTRAMI COUNTY TOWARDS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS LIKE THE BEMIDJI AND BLACKDUCK PUBLIC LIBRARIES.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER, THE COUNTY BOARD VOTED FOUR TO ONE TO CUT ALL OF ITS PREVIOUSLY ALLOCATED FUNDS TOWARDS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

THE BEMIDJI AND BLACKDUCK PUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL SEE A 42-PERCENT CUT IN THEIR 2026 OPERATING BUDGET IF THE CUTS ARE VOTED THROUGH DURING THE TRUTH AND TAXATION HEARING IN DECEMBER.

AROUND 40 PROTESTORS MARCHED FROM THE LIBRARY TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS HAD THEIR BOARD MEETING.

>> OUR LIBRARY IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF LOW-INCOME FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT USE THE LIBRARY FOR THE STORY TIME AND ALL THE MATERIALS, SO IT'S A RESOURCE THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE GO AWAY, SO WE ARE HERE TO SAY TO OUR COMMISSIONERS, PLEASE DON'T CUT THE FUNDING TO OUR LIBRARY.

>> WE ASKED BOARD CHAIRMAN, CRAIG GAASVIG, IF HE WANTED TO PROVIDE A COMMENT ON THE PROTEST, BUT HE DECLINED TO DO SO.

>>> ITS ELECTIONS DAY HERE IN MINNESOTA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE ONLY STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS ARE TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS FOR SENATE SEATS, WITH THE BALANCE OF THE SENATE HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

COMING INTO TONIGHT DEMOCRATS HELD A 33-32 ADVANTAGE IN THE SENATE.

SENATE DISTRICT 29 IS VACANT BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF REPUBLICAN SENATOR BRUCE ANDERSON.

THE DISTRICT TYPICALLY LEANS REPUBLICAN.

AND HERE ARE THE NUMBERS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

REPUBLICAN MICHAEL HOLMSTROM JUNIOR IS A SMALL-BUSINESS OWNER.

HE HAS A SIZABLE ADVANTAGE WITH 81% OF THE VOTE.

DFLER LOUIS MCNUTT IS A HEAVY EQUIPMENT MECHANIC AND UNION LEADER.

SENATE DISTRICT 47 IS THE SEAT FORMER D.F.L.

SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL WON BY A LARGE MARGIN IN 2022, BUT SHE RESIGNED THIS YEAR AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF BURGLARY.

SO AND HERE'S A LOOK AT THE RESULT FROM THAT RACE.

IT'S TYPICALLY A STRONG DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT AND ONCE AGAIN, THE DFLer HAS A SIZABLE LEAD WITH 89 PERCENT OF THE VOTES IN.

THE DFLer IS REPRESENTATIVE IN THE DFL HOUSE, IN THE HOUSE, SO IF SHE WINS, THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE HOUSE TO COME.

ALSO OF INTEREST, THE MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR'S RACE, A WHOPPING 15 CANDIDATES VYING FOR THE SEAT.

THE RACE FIGURED TO BOIL DOWN TO INCUMBENT JACOB FREY, DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST OMAR FATEH, ATTORNEY AND BUSINESSMAN JAZZ HAMPTON, AND MINISTER DEWAYNE DAVIS.

NOW RANK CHOICE VOTING INVOLVE IN THIS RACE AND THIS IS WHERE IT SITS RIGHT NOW.

NOW BECAUSE NO CANDIDATE HAS MET THE 50% THRESHOLD, THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL.

IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE RANK CHOICE VOTING BALLOTING.

SO THAT RACE IS STILL TO BE DECIDED ALTHOUGH JACOB FRY HAS 41% OF THE VOTE AND A SIZABLE LEAD, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE RANK VOTE TALLY IS FINISHED.

FINALLY, SEVERAL SCHOOL REFERENDUM VOTES TONIGHT, LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN FOR RESULTS FROM DISTRICTS IN OUR VIEWING AREA.

TEN DISTRICT IN LAKELAND COUNTRY WITH REFERENDUM VOTES TONIGHT.

THIS IS AITKIN WHERE THEIR REFERENDUM FAILS, QUESTION 1 FAILS, AS DOES QUESTION 2.

CLEAR BROOK GONVICK, NOTHING IN FROM THAT SCHOOL REFERENDUM VOTE TONIGHT.

NOTHING FROM CROSBY-IRONTON.

DEER RIVER, WE DO HAVE RESULTS AND THAT ONE FAILS ON QUESTION 1, THAT IS WITH 25% IN, SO THESE ARE PARTIAL RESULTS.

IT HAS NOT FAILED YET.

IT MAY NOT.

NOW, LOOKING AT LAKE OF THE WOODS, NO RESULTS IN FROM THAT ONE.

0% OF PRECINCTS REPORTING.

ROSEAU HAS FINISHED THEIR TALLY AND THAT REFERENDUM PASSES WITH ABOUT 56% OF THE VOTE.

WADENA DEER CREEK, WE'RE STILL AWAITING RESULT FROM THAT ONE.

WE ALSO HAVE WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY, THIS IS NOTHING REPORTED FROM THAT ONE AND WARROAD, NOTHING FROM THAT RACE, WIN-E-MAC, THIS IS THE LAST ONE WE'RE SHOWING YOU TONIGHT.

THAT ONE PASSES, THE YES VOTE GETS ABOUT 58% OF THE VOTE, SO THAT REFERENDUM PASSES.

WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON THE OTHER ONES TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:00.

>>> WELL, BEMIDJI STATE UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER AN ESPORTS TEAM TO COMPETE IN ONLINE GAMING COMPETITIONS.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK STOPPED BY THE GIGAZONE ESPORTS LOUNGE TO SEE WHAT COLLEGIATE ESPORTS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA, COMBINING BSU AND NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS.

>> Reporter: ESPORTS HAVE BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND BEMIDJI STATE JUMPED ON THAT TRAIN, SPENDING THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, CREATING AN ESPORTS LOUNGE WITH P.C., AND GAMING SPACES, AND A BROADCASTING CENTER FOR GAMES.

>> ACADEMICS, COMPETITION, CHARACTER, ALL OF THAT COMES TOGETHER HERE BUT MAYBE IN NEW WAYS BECAUSE THIS IS A COLLABORATION OF OUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY ART, AND DESIGN FOLKS.

>> HAVING THIS SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME TOGETHER AND PLAY FOSTERS THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO COMMUNICATE AND CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, CREATING A SENSE OF TEAMWORK.

>> Reporter: WHEN CREATING THE LOUNGE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT ROOMS, IT WAS IMPORTANT THEY GOT STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT SO THE STUDENTS COULD HAVE THE BEST GAMING, STREAMING, AND PODCASTING EXPERIENCES AS THEY CAN.

>> THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THROWING A FOOTBALL TO SOMEBODY AND HAVING THEM BE ABLE TO CATCH IT OR THROWING A FOOTBALL TO WHERE SOMEONE USE TO BE.

SPORTS IS MEASURED IN MILLISECONDS AND WE'RE HAPPY THAT FIBEROPTICS ALLOWS US TO DELIVER LOW LATENCY CONNECTIONS.

>> Reporter: PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS AN OUTSIDE DONATIONS MADE THE FULL FLOOR OF GAMING POSSIBLE.

STUDENTS THAT WISH TO JOIN THE ESPORTS TEAM CAN START IN JANUARY WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE THAN JUST VIDEO GAMES.

>> BY PULLING STUDENTS OUT OF DOING GAMING IN THE RESIDENCE HALL ROOM, IN SPACES LIKE THIS, IT ADDS SOCIAL DYNAMICS, THERE IS MORE TEAM AND STRATEGY AND PROBLEM-SOLVING.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF SKILL BUILDING THAT OCCURS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THIS GAMING SPACE.

>> SOMETIMES YOU LEARN HOW NETWORKING WORKS BECAUSE YOU WANT A FASTER CONNECTION, YOU LEARN HOW YOUR COMPUTER WORKS BECAUSE YOU ARE DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS, YOU WANT TO OPERATE BETTER, AND THE NEXT THING, YOU DEVELOPED AN I.T.

SKILL SET WITHOUT REALIZING IT.

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

>> CONSTRUCTION IS FINISHED ON THE ESPORTS FLOOR BUT IT'S NOT READY FOR STUDENT COMPETITION YET BECAUSE THEY WILL BE CREATING A WHOLE NEW TEAM AND SYSTEM, THE ESPORTS WILL NOT BE MEETING UNTIL JANUARY AND JOINING OTHER COLLEGES FOR COMPETITIONS SET FOR NEXT FALL.

>>> THE CITY OF BEMIDJI OFFICIALLY TURNED 100 YEARS OLD IN 1997.

THE BEMIDJI HERITAGE PRESERVATION HAS BEEN MARKING BUILDINGS IN THE AREA THAT HAVE ALSO REACHED THE 100-YEAR MARK, AND THEY ADDED TWO BUILDINGS TO THE LIST TODAY.

THE FIRST BUILDING RECOGNIZED WAS THE FORMER LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHICH THE CURRENT MOUNT ZION CHURCH TODAY.

THE SECOND BUILDING IS A RESIDENTIAL SPACE ALSO ALONG LINCOLN AVENUE, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO HIT THE 100-YEAR BENCHMARK.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH SPACES WERE PROUD TO RECEIVE THEIR 100-YEAR MARKS.

>> WHEN WE GOT THE BUILDING, IT WAS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN BUT THE HOUSING COMMISSION DECIDED IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO TEAR IT DOWN.

WE ENDED UP WITH IT AND WE'RE HAPPY TO KEEP THIS BUILDING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I FOUND IT IN 1920 IN THE NEWSPAPER, THIS ADDRESS, AND IT ORIGINALLY HAD BEEN CALLED D-STREET.

THEY WERE HAVING A RUMMAGE SALE.

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THIS FROM MY PAGE ON THE SALE.

SO THIS IS RUMMAGE HOUSE.

>> BEMIDJI HERITAGE PRESERVATION HAS PREVIOUSLY MARKED THREE BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI AS 100-YEAR-OLD BUILDINGS.

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

>> Stacy: LINGERING RAINFALL WILL TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND WE SHOULD ENJOY SUNSHINE TOMORROW, BUT WE DO HAVE MORE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, THE CITY OF BAXTER OFFICIALLY OPENED A BRAND NEW DOG PARK OFF CLEAR WATER ROAD.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> LAKELAND PBS IS LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK ABOUT OUR CLOSED CAPTIONING SERVICES.

LAKELAND PBS PROVIDES REAL-TIME, CLOSED CAPTIONING OF LAKELAND NEWS.

THIS SERVICE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DEAF, DEAF-BLIND, AND HARD OF HEARING SERVICES DIVISION.

YOU CAN ACCESS CLOSED CAPTIONING BY PUSHING THE C.C.

BUTTON ON YOUR REMOTE OR BY CLICKING ON THE MENU BUTTON OF YOUR REMOTE.

IF YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTIES ACCESSING THIS FEATURE YOU CAN CONTACT OUR ENGINEERING TEAM HERE AT EITHER THE PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE SCREN.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR OPINION ABOUT OUR CAPTIONING SERVICE.

WE'VE SET UP A SHORT SURVEY ON OUR WEBSITE THAT SHOULDN'T TAKE MORE THAN ABOUT A MINUTE TO COMPLETE.

YOU CAN ACCESS IT BY FOLLOWING THE LINK YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.

LPTV.ORG/CAPTIONSURVEY >>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS HERE.

TEMPERATURES WERE MILD TODAY BUT WE DID SEE SOME RAIN.

>> Stacy: YEAH, WE HAD A LARGE AREA OF RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE AREA.

STILL RAINING IN PARTS OF THE AREA TONIGHT, BUT WE SHOULD SEE THAT TAPERING OFF IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS ACROSS THE VIEWING AREA.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE IN STORE FOR US TOMORROW.

WE DO HAVE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION THIS WEEK AND AS TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER THIS WEEKEND, IT [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE SEEN RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA TODAY.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, A LITTLE BIT ON THE MILD SIDE, BUT WE DID HAVE THE RAIN THAT IS TAPERING OFF AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT AND OTHER THAN A FEW SPRINKLES THAT MAY LINGER IN EASTERN MINNESOTA, WE WILL BE SEEING QUIETER WEATHER.

SUNSHINE IN STORE TOMORROW, A CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION HEADING THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK AND TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER THIS WEEKEND, SO WE CAN EXPECT THE PRECIPITATION COMING DOWN AS SNOWFALL.

IT'S 41 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE NORTH AT 5 MILES PER HOUR, 41 IS OUR DEW POINT AND WE PICKED UP 0.012-INCH OF RAINFALL.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, A DEW POINT OF 38, AND WINDS ARE CALM.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE CAN SEE THE LARGE AREA OF PRECIPITATION, RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE VIEWING AREA.

THIS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK EASTWARD AND OTHER THAN A FEW SPRINKLES, MOST OF US WILL BE SEEING DRY CONDITIONS AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TONIGHT, THE SKIES ARE STARTING TO CLEAR IN THE NORTHWEST, THAT CLEARING TREND WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA, SO BY TOMORROW, MOST OF US WILL BE SET TO ENJOY A LOT OF SUNSHINE.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, ANGELA CAPTURING THE BEGINNINGS OF THE SUNRISE THIS MORNING IN CASS LAKE.

WE HAVE GORGEOUS COLORS IN THE MORNING SKIES FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA.

SAMROSE DID SAY THERE WAS WIND BUT A LOT OF CLOUD COVER OVER LOWER RED LAKE AND GARY MANAGING TO SEE A BIT OF THE SUNSET TONIGHT BELOW THE CLOUDS IN OUR AREA.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 35 AND CALM THIS MORNING, BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTING MOSTLY CLOUDS TODAY WITH A HIGH OF 54.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, PARTLY CLOUDY, TOPPING OUT AT 57.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A LOW OF 35.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, RAIN THIS EVENING, AMOUNTING TO APPROXIMATELY 0.05-INCH OF RAINFALL, AND OUR HIGH WAS 52.

ON THE ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 58.

SO MILD TEMPERATURES OUT THERE.

33 WAS OUR LOW, WE HAD SUNSET AT 4:57.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 52, SO MORE THAN 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE.

33 WAS OUR LOW AND SUNRISE 10 MINUTES AFTER 7:00.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, A FEW LINGERING CLOUDS, THOSE WILL CLEAR OUT AND WE SHOULD BE ENJOYING A LOT OF SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY.

AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES GO, WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING SLIGHTLY COOLER TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-40s ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA, WITH TEMPERATURES TOPPING OUT IN THE UPPER 40s, MAYBE CLOSE TO 50 IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, VARIABLE CLOUDS TONIGHT, LINGERING SPRINKLES IN EASTERN MINNESOTA WITH LOWS NEAR 30 AND TOMORROW, WE WILL BE SEEING SUNNY SKIES, TEMPERATURES REACHING HIGHS NEAR 45, WITH WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15.

ON OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE OF RAIN, POSSIBLY MIXED WITH A BIT OF SNOW, ESPECIALLY LATE THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.

THEN TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOLER LATE THIS WEEK AND AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

SO AS WE SEE THAT PRECIPITATION RETURNING ON SATURDAY, A LOT OF THAT WILL BE COMING DOWN AS SNOW, THERE COULD BE A FEW RAINFALLS IN THE MIX AS WELL.

HIGHS THIS WEEKEND LOOK TO BE IN THE LOW TO MID-30s.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS.

OF COURSE THIS WEEKEND, NOW WE SEE THE COLDER TEMPERATURES, STILL SOME HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TO BE PLAYED OUTDOORS.

>> Charlie: THERE IS, IT'S THE LAST WEEK THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY OUTDOORS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET TO U.S.

BANK STADIUM.

IT'S THE SECTION QUARTER FINALS, WE HAVE A COUPLE AREA TEAMS PLAYING AND WE WILL HEAR FROM GRAND RAPIDS AND PIERZ AND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO COME OFF WITH THE W THIS WEEKEND.

THAT AND MORE COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> 1980, 1994, 2006, AND 2021, ALL THE YEARS GRAND RAPIDS FOOTBALL MADE THE STATE TOURNAMENT, AND NOW IN 2025, THEY MAKE THEIR 5TH APPEARANCE.

THE THUNDERHAWKS HAD ONLY ONE HICCUP THIS SEASON, A 24-7 WEEK TWO LOSS TO CLASS 5-A OPPONENT BEMIDJI.

IN THEIR 9-WINS, THE T-HAWKS HAVE NOT SCORED LESS THAN 34-POINTS, IN ALL TEN GAMES, THEY ARE AVERAGING 45-POINTS PER CONTEST WHILE HOLDING OPPONENTS TO UNDER 7, AND PITCHING 5-SHUTOUTS.

FOR THESE BIRDS, TEAM CHEMISTRY AND EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN THE KEY TO SUCCESS THUS FAR.

>> WE JUST CONNECT ALL TOGETHER, YOU KNOW.

RUNNING PLAYS, GOING THROUGH PRACTICES, IT FEELS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTING AND WE DO ALL THE WORK AND WE GO THROUGH PRACTICE, BUT THIS YEAR, IT FEELS BETTER.

>> WE PLAY AS A TEAM, NOT INDIVIDUALS, EVEN AT PRACTICE.

I THINK OUR SCOUT TEAM DOES AN INCREDIBLE JOB AND WE BONDED TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG GUYS, THIS IS THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

>> IT'S BEEN AMAZING, IT'S BEEN FUN.

IT'S FUN DOING IT WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND ALL YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS AND WE HAVE A STRONG BOND AND A LOT OF ATHLETES.

>> WINNING THE SECTION TITLE WAS STEP ONE ON RAPIDS TO DO LIST, THEY DID SO CONVINCINGLY AGAINST HERMANTOWN, 49-0, AFTER ONLY BEATING THE HAWKS BY 14 IN THEIR FIRST MEETING.

NOW THEY'LL TRY TO TICK THEIR NEXT BOX, WIN THEIR QUARTERFINALS MATCH SO THEY CAN PLAY AT U.S.

BANK STADIUM.

>> I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE IT'S WHERE WE COULD BE, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL SEASON LONG, GRINDING FOR THIS MOMENT.

WE ALL WANT IT BAD ENOUGH.

PLAYING WOULD BE AMAZING, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO END MY SENIOR YEAR.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF OUR TEAM GOALS.

>> IT'S ALL PREPARATION, WE HAVE BEEN COMING OUT EVERY DAY FOR PRACTICE, EVERY WEEK WITH A GOAL IN MIND TO GET BETTER AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

GOT TO KEEP THAT GOING.

>> WELL THIS WEEK THEY'LL NEED TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF GETTING READY, THEIR JOURNEY TO THE CLASS 4-A PREP BOWL BEGINS THURSDAY NIGHT AT BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL AGAINST BENILDE-SAINT MARGARETS, GRAND RAPIDS ENTERS AS THE TOP SEED IN THE NORTH.

>>> PIERZ FOOTBALL IS BACK IN THE CLASS AAA STATE TOURNAMENT, AN HONOR THE PROGRAM EARNED EIGHT TIMES BETWEEN 2009 AND 2019.

HOWEVER THE PIONEERS ARE NOT LOOKING TO REMINISCE HISTORY, INSTEAD THEY'RE TAKING AIM AT WRITING A NEW CHAPTER.

DEFENSIVELY THE PIONEERS ARE ALLOWING LESS THAN SIX POINTS A CONTEST, WITH THEIR MOST IMPRESSIVE OUTING LAST FRIDAY IN THE SECTION TITLE GAME VERSUS PEQUOT LAKES.

THEY SHUT OUT THE SECOND RANKED PATRIOTS AND HELD THEM TO JUST 40 TOTAL YARDS AND TWO FIRST DOWNS.

IT'S SOMETHING THE PIOS OWE TO THEIR PHYSICALITY, WHICH THEY HAVE PRIORITIZED ALL SEASON LONG.

>> FIRST OFF, IT STARTS WITH THE COACHING.

THEY PUT IN A GREAT GAME PLAN.

THEY ALL KNEW WHAT WE WERE CAPABLE OF DOING AND PUT US IN THE RIGHT SPOTS TO MAKE THE RIGHT PLAYS.

EVERYBODY JUST FOLLOWED THROUGH.

THEY LIKE THE HARD CONTACT, PLAY FOOTBALL HARD, AND A LOT OF COACHES SAY THAT'S HOW YOU PLAY THE FOOTBALL GAME, YOU PLAY HARD AND FAST AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

>> PIERZ DREW THE TWO SEED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BRACKET, AND WILL HOST SECTION 8-3A CHAMPS DILWORTH-GLYNDON-FELTON, A TEAM AVERAGING 33-POINTS A GAME.

TO COMBAT THE REBELS OFFENSE, THE PIONEERS KNOW IMPOSING THEIR WILL EARLY AND OFTEN IS A MUST.

>> THE RUN GAME IS REALLY STRONG.

WE HAVE A LOT OF BIG BOYS ON THE LINE.

WE'RE LOOKING TO SHUT IT DOWN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND PLAY OUR BEST GAME.

>> WE NEED TO BE MORE PHYSICAL AND SHUT DOWN THE RUN GAME EARLY.

HOPEFULLY THE FANS ARE ALONG FOR THE RIDE WITH US.

>> Charlie: THEY WILL RIDE IT ALL THE WAY TO ALEXANDRIA.

THE GAME IS FRIDAY NIGHT.

ALSO TWO QUICK SCORES FOR YOU, BEMIDJI STATE WIN IN THEIR EXHIBITION GAME AND THE WILD WIN 3-2 IN A WILD OVERTIME GAME.

CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

THE CITY OF BAXTER HAS MADE MORE ROOM FOR ITS CANINE FRIENDS TO ENJOY SOME QUALITY TIME OUTSIDE.

THE CITY OFFICIALLY OPENED A BRAND NEW DOG PARK OFF CLEARWATER ROAD EARLIER IN OCTOBER.

REPORTER MILES WALKER TELLS US MORE IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOOD'S EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE 1.1 ACRE DOG PARK IN BAXTER HAS BEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING.

JUST TALK TO CONNIE, WHO NOTED BRINGING A DOG PARK TO THE AREA AS ONE OF HER MAIN GOALS AMONG JOINING THE COUNCIL IN 2019.

>> I WANTED TO BE AN ADVOCATE IN MAINTAINING AND GROWING OUR PARKS IN BAXTER.

I WANTED THE ADDITION OF A DOG PARK BECAUSE WHAT WOULD BE BETTER THAN FRESH AIR, EXERCISE, DOGS, AND PEOPLE, AND I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Reporter: TWISTS AND TURNS CONTINUED TO PRESENT THEMSELVES, INCLUDING PUSHBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE ENGINEERING FIRM TOOK A YEAR TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA.

AS FAR AS THE COST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE MONEY FOR THE PARK DIDN'T REALLY COME FROM TAXES, IT CAME FROM THE PARK DEDICATION FEE.

>> Reporter: BAXTER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPROVED THE DOG PARK ON CLEAR WATER ROAD ON APRIL 2ND THIS YEAR, MAKING HER DREAM APPEAR AS A REALITY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> THERE WAS SOME APPREHENSION OF NOT EVERYBODY IS A DOG PERSON.

PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT CONNOTATIONS AND IDEAS OF WHAT THAT SHOULD BE.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DOG PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: ON OCTOBER 10TH, THE DOG PARK OFFICIALLY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

SHE CONSIDERED THE ROLE THAT SHE BROUGHT THE K-9 AREA TO THE TOWN ONE OF THE BEST THINGS SHE HAS DONE IN HER LIFE.

>> HAPPY TEARS, OH NO, I HOPE I AM DOING THIS THE BEST AND GRATITUDE.

WHEN I HAVE BEEN THERE, WHICH IS QUITE A FEW TIMES WITH OUR DOG OLI, THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THERE.

COMPLEMENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY HEARTWARMING AND I'VE BEEN INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL AND PROUD.

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

>> THE BAXTER DOG PARK ALSO HAS A MONUMENT WALL HONORING PETS THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY.

MONUMENT BONES AT THE PARK CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $25.

>>> WE HAVE TIME FOR A LAST LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

WE GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: MOST OF THE RAIN WILL TAPER OFF IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, LEAVING VARIABLE CLOUDS AND LOWS NEAR 30.

TOMORROW, SUNNY SKIES, HIGHS NEAR 45.

>> Dennis: WE'RE FINISHED FOR TONIGHT.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY, WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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