>> 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.

>>> ONE PERSON WAS INJURED AFTER AN EXPLOSION AT A HOME IN RED LAKE TODAY.

ACCORDING TO RED LAKE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR KENDALL KINGBIRD SENIOR, THE HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND MULTIPLE HOMES IN THE AREA NEAR THUNDER LAKE AND BOT DRIVE WERE ALSO DAMAGED FROM THE EXPLOSION.

ONLY ONE PERSON WAS IN THE HOME THAT EXPLODED AND THAT PERSON WAS TAKEN TO RED LAKE INDIAN HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED FOR INJURIES AND IS CURRENTLY IN STABLE CONDITION.

THE RED CROSS IS ON THE SCENE AND IS THERE TO ASSIST THOSE AFFECTED BY THE EXPLOSION.

AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION.

THE RED LAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SCENE AT THIS TIME.

>>> CASS COUNTY SHERIFF BRYAN WELK HAS IDENTIFIED THE TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN A FIERY TWO-VEHICLE CRASH NEAR PEQUOT LAKES THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A 60-YEAR-OLD REMER MAN LAST SATURDAY.

THE VICTIM IN THE CRASH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 60-YEAR-OLD ROBERT LEERSSEN OF REMER.

THE CRASH HAPPENED ON COUNTY ROAD ONE NEAR THE INTERSECTION WITH COUNTRY ROAD 24 IN MAPLE TOWNSHIP AND INVOLVED TWO PICKUP TRUCKS.

LEERSSEN'S PICKUP WAS ENGULFED IN FIRE AND LEERSEN WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS DEAD AT THE SCENE.

THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER PICKUP, 44-YEAR-OLD KRISTOPHER LAMBKE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR MINOR INJURIES.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CRASH IS ONGOING.

>>> THE STATE HOUSE 2A RACE PITS G.O.P.

CANDIDATE, BIDAL DURAN, AGAINST D.F.L.

CANDIDATE REED OLSON, WHO WANTS TO FLIP THE DISTRICT BLUE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 10 YEARS.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN SAT DOWN WITH BOTH CANDIDATES TO HEAR WHAT THEY BELIEVE ARE THE KEY ISSUES FACING THE DISTRICT, AND HOW THEY FEEL IS THE BEST WAY TO TACKLE THOSE PROBLEMS.

>> Reporter: A FORMER POLICE OFFICER AND HUBBARD COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY BELIEVES HIGHER TAX RATES AND EDUCATION ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS FACING THE AREA BUT PUT AS BIG EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> HOW COULD THEY STAY OPEN IF THEY HAVE A HUGE THEFT?

HOW CAN WE HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE?

WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS ISN'T MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.

WE HAVE TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS THAT HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

WE CAN'T SAY DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO STEAL THAT.

NO, YOU MEANT TO STEAL THAT, LET'S HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE.

>> Reporter: A FORMER BELTRAMI BOARD MEMBER BELIEVES EXPANDING HEALTH AND CHILD CARE WOULD HELP BRING MORE BUSINESSES TO THE AREA.

HE BELIEVES THE HOUSING CRISIS IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM FACING THE DISTRICT.

>> WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING.

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA MADE $1 BILLION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT UNTIL YOU TRY TO SPEND IT ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE, THE SIZE OF THE CRISIS.

ZONING THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY CAN BE REALLY RESTRICTIVE AND HAMPER DEVELOPMENT, SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITY'S ZONING POLICIES TO SEE IF THERE ARE RULES TO ALLOW FOR MORE HOUSING.

>> Reporter: HE SAID HE WAS -- HE WAS GIVEN A REPRIMAND FOR TURNING HIS BODY CAMERA OFF TWICE DURING AN EXCHANGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.

>> I WOULD NEVER LIE TO A JUDGE.

IT'S JUST A HUGE MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN ME AND THIS JUDGE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE SITUATION TO THE JUDGE AND HE WOULDN'T HEAR ME OUT.

HE WROTE WHAT HE BELIEVED THE SITUATION WAS INSTEAD OF THE TRUTH.

>> Reporter: A REVIEW OF THE INCIDENT BY THE FREDERICK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOUND THAT HE DID NOT VIOLATE ANY PUBLIC POLICY AND THEY WOULD USE HIM AS A WITNESS ON THE STAND.

HE WANTS TO OPEN HIMSELF UP TO THE PUBLIC FOR CRITICISM.

>> I HOPE THEY LOOK INTO ME.

I HOPE I'M SOMEONE THAT THEY FIND OUT THAT I'M JUST A REGULAR PERSON INSIDE THEIR COMMUNITY LOOKING TO MAKE IT BETTER.

I'M NOWHERE ABOVE ANYBODY, I'M NOT ABOVE REPROACH OR CRITICISM BY ALL MEANS.

>> Reporter: AND HE WAS INVOLVED WITH A LAWSUIT WITH A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHERE HE WAS ACCUSED OF GERRYMANDERING TWO COMMISSIONERS INTO THE SAME SEAT.

A JUDGE ORDERED A REDRAW OF THE MAP FROM AN INDEPENDENT GROUP.

>> WE MADE A VOTE ON THE MAPS AND HE THOUGHT THE MAPS WERE REALLY GOOD.

OTHERWISE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE VOTED FOR IT.

OUR COLLEAGUES DISAGREED AND ONE OF THEM SUED US.

THE MAP I VOTED FOR, IT WOULD HAVE ENSURED A DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO URBAN SEATS, ONE SUBURBAN SEAT, AND TWO RURAL SEATS.

IT WOULD HAVE REFLECTED THE MAKE UP OF OUR COUNTY.

IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE.

>> Reporter: BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS ON WHAT THE ISSUES ARE AND HOW TO SOLVE THEM, BUT THEY BOTH BELIEVE THEY'RE THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.

>> PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT I'M LOOKING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEAL WITH MULTIPLE BACKGROUNDS OF PEOPLE, POVERTY LEVELS, TO SOME OF THE MOST WEALTHY PEOPLE INSIDE THE AREA.

SO I DEALT WITH A GOOD WIDE RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE BIGGER PROBLEMS IN SOME OF THE WORST SITUATIONS IS WHAT I GUESS WILL SET ME APART FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

>> I HAVE A PROVEN RECORD OF TRUST, OF WORKING HARD FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, FOR MY NEIGHBORS.

I THINK PEOPLE KNOW THAT.

I THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, GETTING MORE CHILD CARE, BRINGING IN MORE JOBS, INCREASING THE MEDIAN INCOME.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WILL DO.

I THINK PEOPLE KNOW I AM GOING TO DO THAT.

PEOPLE KNOW THAT I'M A GOOD FAITH ACTOR AND THEY CAN TRUST ME.

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

>> AND JUST A REMINDER OUR LAKELAND PBS DEBATE BEGIN NEXT WEEK AND OUR VERY FIRST DEBATE IS THE HOUSE DISTRICT 2A DEBATE BETWEEN THESE TWO CANDIDATES.

YOU CAN WATCH THAT DEBATE AT 7:00 P.M.

RIGHT HERE ON LAKELAND PBS ON MONDAY.

>>> THE ANNUAL UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA'S COATS FOR THE COMMUNITY DRIVE HAS OFFICIALLY CONCLUDED AND THE LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COULDN'T BE HAPPIER WITH THE NUMBER OF COATS AND OTHER WINTER ACCESSORIES THAT WERE DONATED.

THE COAT DRIVE IS ONE OF UNITED WAY'S COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AIMED TO HELP MEET THE BASIC NEEDS OF THOSE WHO MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO GO WITHOUT, WHILE ALSO HELPING FAMILIES BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE.

UNITED WAY COULDN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT THAT WAS DONATED, AND WAS SUPER HAPPY WITH HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER.

>> OUR COMMUNITY IS SO GENEROUS, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COATS HAVE BEEN DONATED, ALONG WITH BOOTS, HATS, SNOW PANTS, ALL THE WINTER GEAR THAT ANYONE WOULD NEED TO STAY WARM IN OUR COLD WINTERS.

WE HAVE A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEERS AND A DOZEN PEOPLE FROM LUKENS, NORTH AND SOUTH HELPING US, THEY HELPED US MULTIPLE YEARS NOW.

WE HAVE THE WOMAN'S BASKETBALL TEAM EMPTYING OUR TRAILER AN OPENING ALL THE BAGS.

IT'S A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT TO GET SET UP FOR TOMORROW.

>> THE COATS AND WINTER ACCESSORIES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. AT FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH IN BEMIDJI.

ANYONE MAY ATTEND TO GRAB WINTER ITEMS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY.

>>> SINCE 1982, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS PROGRAM HAS SPOTLIGHTED THE BEST SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND SHARES THE BEST PRACTICES OF OUTSTANDING SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE.

THIS YEAR, PIONEER ELEMENTARY IN PIERZ WAS RECOGNIZED AS A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL.

REPORTER SAMMY HOLLADAY CAUGHT UP WITH PIONEER ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL TOM OTTE TO LEARN WHAT THE HONOR MEANS TO THE SCHOOL AND THE PIERZ COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: PIONEER ELEMENTARY WAS NAMED A NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL.

THEY MET THE CRITERIA AS AN EXEMPLARY HIGH PERFORMING SCHOOL.

IT SERVES AS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS PUT IN TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE PREPARED.

>> IN TEND, WHAT -- IN THE END, WHAT IT MEANS TO ME AND THE SCHOOL IS THAT IT'S A RECOGNITION FOR THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STAFF HAD PUT IN.

WE HAD REALLY GOOD RESULTS HERE.

OUR ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN HIGH AND IT'S GREAT RECOGNITION FOR THE WORK THEY PUT IN.

>> Reporter: SINCE RECEIVING WORD THAT PIONEER ELEMENTARY WOULD BE RECOGNIZED, IT'S BEEN A MORALE BOOSTER FOR STAFF MEMBERS.

>> WE TALK ABOUT OURSELVES BEING A FAMILY HERE AT PIONEER, AND I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE THE RECOGNITION, IT'S AN UPLIFTER.

EVERYBODY WALKS TALLER IN THEIR SHOES AND THEY SHOULD.

IT'S A GOOD RECOGNITION TO SAY THE WORK WE'VE BEEN DOING HAS BEEN VALIDATED AND HOPEFULLY THE STAFF FEELS THAT.

>> Reporter: IT'S NOT ONLY A SIGN OF THE HARD WORK THAT THE STAFF PUTS IN HERE AT PIONEER ELEMENTARY, BUT THE SUPPORT THAT THE PIERZ COMMUNITY HAS AS A WHOLE FOR EDUCATION.

>> THE SCHOOL IS THE CENTER OF WHAT HAPPENS HERE AND IT SHOULD BE.

WHEN WE'RE FULL HERE, BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE ABOUT 1,400 KIDS, OR 1,200 KIDS AND 1,400 PEOPLE.

THAT'S THE SAME AS THE POPULATION OF OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, WE CERTAINLY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY TAKES PRIDE IN HOW WE DO THAT.

>> Reporter: BEING RECOGNIZED AS A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST HONORS THAT A SCHOOL CAN RECEIVE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE STAFF DOESN'T WANT TO IMPROVE ON THE ALREADY HIGH STANDARDS THEY SET.

>> I WAS IN A MEETING THIS MORNING WITH THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND A GROUP OF TEACHERS AND THE CONVERSATION FOR 45 MINUTES IS THIS IS WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR BUT WE WANT TO BE BETTER THIS YEAR, HOW DO WE DO THAT?

THAT'S THE ATTITUDE WE HAVE.

ONE DAY TO THE NEXT, WE JUST KEEP PUSHING, PLUGGING AWAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN PIERZ, SAMMY HOLLADAY, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> 356 SCHOOLS WERE RECOGNIZED AS BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS IN 2024.

PIONEER ELEMENTARY IS ONE OF SEVEN SCHOOLS IN MINNESOTA TO RECEIVE THE HONOR.

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

>> Stacy: WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE AREA THIS WEEKEND AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR A PORTION OF OUR VIEWING AREA TOMORROW.

I'LL HAVE MORE ON YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, LOGJAMERS BAR AND GRILL HELD THEIR FIRST EVER TATT >> 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.

>>> THOSE WHO TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 210 IN STAPLES, TODD COUNTY, SHOULD PLAN FOR SHORT-TERM DELAYS AND A DETOUR LATER THIS MONTH.

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE CREWS ARE SCHEDULED TO WORK AT THE RAILROAD CROSSING.

HIGHWAY 210 WILL CLOSE BETWEEN HIGHWAY 10 AND FRONT STREET AT 7:00 P.M. OCTOBER 14TH UNTIL 5:00 P.M. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH MOTORISTS WILL FOLLOW A DETOUR ALONG COUNTY ROAD 21 FRONT STREET, AIRPORT ROAD, CARDINAL DRIVE AND BACK TO HIGHWAY 210.

GOOD WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY TO COMPLETE THIS WORK DURING THIS TIME.

>>> CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PRACTICAL NURSING INSTRUCTOR SARAH JENNISSEN IS THE COLLEGE 2024-2025 OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR.

JENNISSEN WAS NOMINATED BY HER PEERS, STUDENTS, AND EARNED A RECOMMENDATION FROM A COMMITTEE OF CLC EMPLOYEES FOR THE AWARD WITH TIME AWAY MIXED IN.

JENNISSEN HAS BEEN A PRACTICAL NURSING INSTRUCTOR AT CLC SINCE 2010 AND WHILE SHE INITIALLY DID NOT SHOW INTEREST IN TEACHING, SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HELPING STUDENTS GROW, THE SAME WAY SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HELPING PATIENTS.

>> I THINK IT'S A PATIENT THAT TRUSTS YOU, FEELS LIKE YOU CARE ABOUT THEM AND YOU ARE HEARING THEM, THEN I THINK IT CREATE AS BETTER HEALING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.

I LEARNED THROUGH MY TEACHING YEARS THAT BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS, THAT THEY DON'T JUST SEE ME AS A FIGURE UP FRONT THAT THEY CAN COME TO ME.

JUST GETTING TO KNOW THEM, THEY FEEL SEEN.

>> JENNISSEN WILL REPRESENT CLC AT THE B.O.T.

AWARD CEREMONY LATER THIS SPRING AND WILL BE UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SELECTION AS ONE OF SEVERAL MINNESOTA STATE B.O.T.

EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR.

>>> STACY IS HERE NOW, SOME HEAVY WINDS ARE COMING INTO THE AREA.

>> Stacy: YEAH, WE'RE SEEING STRONG WINDS ACROSS ALL OF LAKELAND COUNTRY TOMORROW, BUT ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA WHERE WE HAVE A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR TOMORROW, COULD SEE WIND SPEEDS OF 25 TO 35 MILES PER HOUR, AND GUSTS UP TO 55.

I'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT A >> 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 ENJOYED A LOT OF SUNSHINE AGAIN ACROSS THE AREA TODAY.

WINDS ARE STARTING TO INCREASE AND IN FACT, WE WILL BE SEEING SOME PRETTY STRONG WINDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA THIS WEEKEND.

A HIGH WIND WATCH OUT FOR PARTS OF THE VIEWING AREA TOMORROW.

AGAIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE STRONG WINDS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, WE COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN MOVING THROUGH THE AREA TOMORROW AS WELL.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS IN BEMIDJI THIS EVENING, IT'S 56 AT THE AIRPORT, AT OUR STUDIO, WE HAVE A SOUTHEAST WIND AT 5 MILES PER HOUR, A DEW POINT OF 31.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, IT'S 52.

THE DEW POINT IS 33.

PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WINDS ARE SOUTH AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

ON THE RADAR, IT IS QUIET SO FAR TONIGHT AND IN FACT, IT SHOULD STAY QUIET OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

WE SHOULD HAVE CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES.

WE WILL START TO SEE THE WINDS PICKING UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO INTENSIFY AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW.

AS I MENTIONED, A HIGH WIND WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF WESTERN MINNESOTA BEGINNING TOMORROW MORNING AND CONTINUING THROUGH TOMORROW EVENING, SUSTAINED WINDS OUT OF THE WEST AND ABOUT 25 TO 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS UP TO 55 EXPECTED WITHIN THAT AREA.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE WILL BE SEEING AN AREA OF RAIN MOVING ACROSS THE AREA, MAINLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA IN THE MORNING AND THEN PUSHING INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE VIEWING AREA AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

SOME OF THOSE COULD LINGER IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA SUNDAY MORNING.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE WINDY CONDITIONS WILL BE THE STORY FOR THE WEEKEND.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, BEAUTIFUL SKIES, A LITTLE BIT OF FOG THIS MORNING FROM BRANDON, TAKING THIS PHOTO IN NORTHERN BELTRAMI COUNTY AND LAURIE AT LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

IT WAS A FROSTY MORNING IN PARK RAPIDS, WE HAVE SOME FALL COLOR POPPING UP FROM JOAN IN LAPORTE.

IT'S NOT ALL FALL COLORS, BOB SAYS THE LILACS ARE IN BLOOM ONCE AGAIN.

WE HAVE DEBRA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF MORE FALL COLORS IN PINE RIVER.

A MONARCH SPOTTED BY ARLENE IN LONGVILLE AND THE SUNSET IS GORGEOUS.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, DEB WHERE AT PINE RIVER, CLEAR AND 36 THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, A LIGHT FROST THIS MORNING, OTHERWISE SUNNY SKIES.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, MOSTLY CLEAR, THE HIGH WAS 69.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUNNY AND 72.

JOAN IN LAPORTE, BREEZY TODAY, 66 IS THE HIGH AND ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 67.

REAL QUICK LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 70, SO WE ARE AGAIN AT AVERAGE.

31 WAS OUR LOW THIS MORNING, A LITTLE BIT ON THE CHILLY SIDE, SUNSET AT 6:50.

BEMIDJI, 67 FOR OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE, SO WE'RE 10 DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND OUR LOW THIS MORNING DOWN TO 34.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL SEE A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND AS I MENTIONED, THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT RAIN MOVING THROUGH THE AREA FROM WEST TO EAST, HIGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60s IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND THEN IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, AGAIN THAT MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE THERE AS THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS ARE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA AND HIGHS WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MAYBE EVEN MID-70s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY, LOWS NEAR 50, SOUTH WINDS PICKING UP 10 TO 20 AND TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS WITH THE CHANCE OF SHOWERS, 68 FOR THE HIGH, AND THE MAIN STORY WILL BE THE STRONG WINDS, WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 15 TO 30.

LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE WEEKEND FORECAST, STILL BREEZY ON SUNDAY, A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHT RAIN POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, 58 FOR OUR HIGH, SUNNY SKIES ARE BACK AS WE HEAD INTO THE WORKWEEK AND TEMPERATURES WARM ONCE AGAIN WITH HIGHS IN THE MID-70s BY WEDNESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: CHARLIE IS HERE WITH SPORTS NOW.

A BUSY FRIDAY NIGHT OF FOOTBALL.

>> Charlie: ABSOLUTELY, BRAINERD AND BEMIDJI PLAYING AT HOME.

WE HAVE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT AND SOCCER ACTION AS WELL.

THE LYNX ARE IN THE >> 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.

[♪♪♪] >>> BRAINERD FOOTBALL IS COMING OFF A TOUGH DEFEAT LAST WEEK AFTER FALLING ON THE ROAD TO THE TOP-RANKED CLASS 3A SQUAD IN ALEXANDRIA.

TONIGHT THEY AIM TO BREAK THE SKID AS THEY WELCOME FELLOW SECTION 8-5A OPPONENT SAINT CLOUD TECH TO THEIR FRIENDLY CONFINES.

FIRST QUARTER, CAMERAMAN GETS FOOLED BY ISAAC TURNS ON THE JETS.

57 YARDS TO THE CRIB, BRAINERD GOES UP 7-0.

NEXT DRIVE FOR BRAINERD, IT'S TY NELSON RUMBLING AND STUMBLING, 25-YARD SCAMPER.

IT'S 14-0 BRAINERD.

SECOND QUARTER, BRAINERD BACK IN THE RED ZONE AND NELSON GETS TO THE 7-YARD T.D., NOW 21-0.

TIGERS PUT 7 ON THE BOARD BUT BRAINERD GETS BACK AFTER IT.

23-YARD SNAG FOR KING AND BRAINERD WALKS AWAY VICTORIOUS, 42-14.

>>> WELL, LAST FRIDAY BEMID.

>> FOOTBALL WENT ON THE ROAD TO SARTELL, EXTENDING THEIR WIN STREAK TO TWO AND ENSURING A FIRST ROUND HOME PLAYOFF GAME.

THE LUMBERJACKS WOULD TRY TO TAKE A STEP TOWARDS THE BYE AND THE CARDINALS LOOKED IT EARLY, A MINUTE AND A HALF INTO THE GAME, CHASE ESCAPES THE POCKET, FINDS MASON BEHIND THE DEFENSE, A 57-YARD STRIKE AND ON THE ENSUING KICK OFF, WIND PUSHING THE BALL IN, AND THEY CAN'T GET THERE IN TIME.

A FEW PLAYS LATER, MAC INTO THE END ZONE UNTOUCHED, IT'S 14-0.

JACKS TRYING TO ANSWER ON THE OTHER END.

CONNECTING WITH FRAZIER FOR A 22-YARD GAIN, BUT THEY TURN IT ON DOWN.

THE SECOND QUARTER, CARDINALS AGAIN LOOKING TO THE AIR AND AGAIN IT'S THOMPSON TO HUBER IT'S 21-0.

THEN THEY WOULD SCORE LATE FOR BEMIDJI BUT OVERALL, UNABLE TO HANG WITH ALEXANDRIA.

LUMBERJACKS PLAY AGAIN NEXT WEEK AND IT WILL BE THE BATTLE FOR BABE'S BELL.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES FOR YOU, GRAND RAPIDS BEATS NORTH BRANCH.

WARROAD GETS THE WIN OVER CROOKSTON.

PEQUOT LAKES AND PIERZ COLLECTING WINS TONIGHT.

ST.

CLOUD CATHEDRAL AND WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY ALSO GETTING WINS.

AITKIN BEATS CROSBY-IRONTON IN THE BATTLE FOR THE STUMP.

RED LAKE COUNTY GETS THE WIN OVER BAGLEY.

RED LAKE FALLS TO ME -- MAHNOMEN.

WINAMAC GETS A WIN.

FOSSTON, THEY GET A WIN.

MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL CONTINUES TO DO WHAT MOUNTAIN IRON-BUHL DOES AND WIN.

>>> IN COLLEGE SOCCER, BEMIDJI STATE WOMEN SITTING AT 2-1 IN NSIC PLAY.

THEY HOSTED CONFERENCE FOE WINONA STATE EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.

MIDWAY THROUGH THE FIRST HALF, LAUREN HODNY STRIKES ONE FROM JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX BUT ALYSON JUMPER GETS A HAND ON IT, KEEPING THINGS KNOTTED AT ZERO.

IT WOULD STAY THAT WAY INTO THE SECOND.

THAT'S WHEN THE BEAVS LEADER SCORER KATRINA BARTHELT WOULD TRY THE FAR POST, NETS HER 6TH GOAL OF THE SEASON.

BSU LEADS 1-0.

JUST UNDER 4 MINUTES LATER, HODNY WITH SOME FANCY FOOTWORK, QUICK TRIGGER BEATS THE KEEPER FOR HER FIRST GOAL OF THE YEAR AND THE BEAVERS LEAD 2-0.

THEN IN THE 72ND MINUTE, BSU WITH A CORNER KICK, PERFECTION.

EMMA HILLS-NITZ HEADER FINDS TWINE FOR HER FIRST GOAL SINCE 2021.

THAT WOULD DO IT FOR SCORING AS BEMIDJI STATE BEATS WINONA STATE 3-0.

BEAVERS EXTEND THEIR WIN STREAK TO TWO.

THEY HOST SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE SUNDAY AT 1:00 P.M. FOR SENIOR DAY.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES FOR COLLEGE.

AUGUSTANA BEATS BEMIDJI STATE IN VOLLEYBALL.

IN WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY, ROBERT MORRIS GETS THE WIN OVER BEMIDJI STATE.

THEY'RE STILL SEARCHING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN.

THE WNBA SEMIFINALS TONIGHT, LYNX PLAYING AT THE SUN.

MINNESOTA IS AHEAD IN THE FIRST.

THEN WE GET BACK TO HER LATER.

A LITTLE BIT LATER, LANA FINISHED WITH 13 POINTS.

THEN YOUR BEST PLAYERS, THEY STEP UP WHEN YOU NEED THEM TO EXTEND THE LEAD TO 10.

THE MINNESOTA LYNX GO ON TO WIN THE CONNECTICUT SUN, 90-81.

THEY LEAD THE SERIES 2-1 AND THEY ARE ONE WIN AWAY FROM APPEARING IN THE FINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2017.

>> Dennis: GREAT SERIES THIS YEAR.

THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, A NEW TATTOO CONVENTION HAS MADE ITS DEBUT IN CASS LAKE.

LOGJAMMERZ BAR AND GRILL PARTNERED WITH D.J.

SHINE TO CREATE THEIR FIRST TATTOO EXPO.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: MOST PEOPLE GO TO THE BAR TO GET A DRINK.

THESE PEOPLE GO TO GET SOME NEW INK.

TODAY WAS DAY ONE OF THE BAR AND GRILL'S FIRST EVER TATTOO CONVENTION.

>> WE'VE BEEN BUILDING A NETWORK OF TATTOO ARTISTS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW AND I GOT LUCKY DUCKY INK HERE.

HE HELPED ME CONNECT ALL THE DOTS AND NOW I KNOW ALL THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: CLIENTS CAN COME IN WITH THEIR OWN DESIGN, CHOOSE A PRE-DONE ONE, OR SIT WITH AN ARTIST AND CREATE SOMETHING NEW.

ALL OF THE ARTISTS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE AND THEIR FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE CONVENTION AS WELL.

>> SEEING EVERYTHING COME TOGETHER AT THE END.

>> CREATING FOREVER ART, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME.

>> THE MEMORIES WE GET TO PUT ON PEOPLE'S BODIES, THEY GET TO CHERISH FOR A LIFE TIME.

>> SEEING ALL THE BEAUTIFUL FACES, PEOPLE HAVING FUN AND GETTING INKED UP.

>> LEAVING KNOWING THAT I MADE SOMEONE HAPPY.

I'M SPREADING JOY AND LOVE THROUGH ART.

>> NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY, YOU CAN JUST WALK RIGHT IN.

>> I GOT A TATTOO LAST NIGHT AND I MIGHT GO TO ANOTHER ARTIST AND GET ANOTHER ONE BEFORE THIS IS OVER WITH.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH TODAY WAS ONLY DAY ONE OF THREE AND ONLY IN YEAR ONE, THERE WAS A STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE ALL DAY.

>> IT'S BEEN A BLAST.

IT HASN'T BEEN SLOW YET AND IT'S FRIDAY.

SO IT'S A NICE TURNOUT FOR BEING THE FIRST YEAR.

>> EVERYBODY IS HAPPY, EVERYBODY IS HAVING A GOOD TIME, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE WILL DO IN THE FUTURE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS AGAIN.

WE'RE LISTENING TO MUSIC, WE HAVE SOME PERFORMERS, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM CASS LAKE WITH THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND WITH MILD TEMPERATURES BUT HEAVY WINDS.

STACY HAS MORE.

>> Stacy: WE WILL SEE STRONG WINDS ACROSS THE AREA, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

WE HAVE A HIGH WIND WATCH FOR THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING, WIND SPEEDS 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, COULD SEE SOME GUSTS UP TO 55.

NOW LOOKING AT THE FORECAST, OUTSIDE OF THAT, CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TONE, LOWS NEAR 50, WE COULD SEE SOME RAIN IN THE AREA TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, HIGHS NEAR 68.

>> Charlie: SECTION 8-2A, BEMIDJI GOT TWO OF THEIR DOUBLE TEAMS THROUGH THE SEMIFINALS AND ONE OF THEIR SINGLES PLAYERSFUL WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT ON MONDAY.

>> Dennis: THAT'S IT FOR US EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU ON MONDAY.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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