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>> 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.

>>> AFTER MANY, MANY YEARS OF DISCUSSION, THE PLAN OF BRINGING A YMCA FACILITY TO BEMIDJI IS BECOMING REALITY, AS THE DEMOLITION PHASE OF BEMIDJI'S RAIL CORRIDOR AREA WHERE THE Y WILL SIT COULD BEGIN AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

IN ADDITION, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED A DIFFERENT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT JOINING THE RAIL CORRIDOR ALONG WITH THE YMCA.

OUR REPORTER, MATTHEW FREEMAN, HAS MORE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: AFTER OVER A DECADE OF DISCUSSION, OFFICIALS LONG AWAITED VISION FOR REDEVELOPING THE RAIL CORRIDOR DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI IS BECOMING A REAL.

FIRST, WITH A BRAND NEW YMCA FACILITY.

>> THOSE WHO THINK THIS ISN'T REAL, IT JUST BECAME REAL, REALLY FAST.

>> Reporter: A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER TODAY ANNOUNCED THE FIRST PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSED BY GOOD NEIGHBOR PROPERTIES, WHICH INTENDS TO BUILD A $2.5 MILLION HOTEL AND EVENT SPACE IN THE CORRIDOR ALONGSIDE THE YMCA.

>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS TO TALK ABOUT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ONSITE AND THEN IT HAPPENED PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME WHEN YOU'RE SEEING MORE URBANIZATION, MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO LIVE WITHIN WALKABLE DISTANCE TO AMENITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE RETIRED.

WELL NOW WE'RE ABOUT TO INTRODUCE SOME WONDERFUL AMENITIES TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER SITE HAS A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE MAY HAVE $65 MILLION WORTH OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RAIL CORRIDOR IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

>> Reporter: OFFICIALS CLAIM THERE WILL BE OVER 100 CONSTRUCTION JOBS CREATED FOR THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH 150 PERMANENT JOBS CREATED WITHIN THE YMCA AND OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT AN ENTITY HERE THAT WILL PAY TAXES, WILL CREATE JOBS, WILL SPURRED A DECISIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IT'S A BIT OF A DOMINO EFFECT, YOU NEED THE ANCHOR, WHICH IS THE YMCA.

THAT HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO THE HOTEL BEING ANNOUNCED TODAY.

I THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR DOWNTOWN, VISIT BEMIDJI, FAMILIES THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FOR THEIR KIDS TO DO THAT IS HEALTHY AND SAFE DURING THE WINTER, AND ALL THOSE THINGS CAME TOGETHER IN THIS ONE PROJECT.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THE VISION AND DREAM BECOME.

>> Reporter: 86% OF THE RAIL CORRIDOR'S $25 MILLION GOAL HAS BEEN RAISED.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR RESIDENTS THAT FUNDRAISED OVER $3.5 MILLION TO FINISH THE COMMUNITY-WIDE CAMPAIGN.

>> WE BELIEVE AS A FUNDRAISING TEAM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE FUNDS NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

TIMELINE-WISE FOR THE Y AND THE HOTEL IS ONCE THIS REMEDIATION IS DONE, WE WILL BE READY TO BREAK GROUND, WHICH PUTS US INTO SUMMER OF NEXT YEAR.

>> Reporter: THE CLEAN UP PORTION WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK.

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

>> THE YMCA IS ALSO LOOKING TO POSSIBLY SELF-FUND A 100-PERSON DAYCARE CENTER THAT COULD BE ADDED TO THE NEW FACILITY.

YMCA OFFICIALS ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING THE AREA TO SEE WHAT COULD BE NEEDED FOR THAT DAYCARE CENTER.

>>> A 42-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER WHAT AUTHORITIES TERM AND ACCIDENTAL SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT TO HIS LEG.

BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF JASON RIGGS SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE THAT THE MAN SHOT HIMSELF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOAD A FIREARM.

THE SHOOTING WAS REPORTED AROUND 11:00 P.M.

ON MONDAY.

THE MAN WAS TAKEN BY PERSONAL VEHICLE AND THEN BY AMBULANCE TO BEMIDJI SANFORD HOSPITAL WHERE HIS CONDITION IS UNKNOWN.

THE VICTIMS NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

>>> THE LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF IN PEQUOT LAKES HAS BEEN PROVIDING FRESH, HEALTHY FOODS TO THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

BUT THEY HAVE RECENTLY SEEN AN INCREASED DEMAND FOR THEIR SERVICES ACROSS THE REGION IN RESPONSE TO THE REDUCTION IN SNAP FUNDING.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: THE LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF SERVICES NEARLY 200 BRAINERD LAKES AREA FAMILIES ON A WEEKLY BASIS, PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE TO A COMMUNITY IN WHICH 10% IS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE ACCORDING TO U.S.

CENSUS DATA.

>> IT'S AN AREA FOOD SHELF.

IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO A CITY, SO YOU KNOW WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM BRAINERD, FROM STAPLES, MOTLEY, AND THE FOOD SHELF IS REALLY WORKING HARD ON HEALTHY OPTIONS AND PRODUCE, FRESH PRODUCE, AND FRESH OPTIONS AS OPPOSED TO PACKAGE AND PRE-PACKAGED AND CANNED FOODS.

WE WORK HARD ON GETTING HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR OUR FOLKS.

>> Reporter: THE LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN CUSTOMERS THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

AFTER SURVEYING THOSE WHO CAME INTO THE STORE, OFFICIALS SAW THAT PEOPLE WERE TRAVELING WELL OVER 50 MILES TO RECEIVE FRESH PRODUCE AT THE FOOD SHELF, PROMPTING THEM TO OPEN A SECOND LOCATION IN BRAINERD.

>> ABOUT 30% OF OUR SHOPPERS ARE COMING FROM BRAINERD PROPER AND THAT IS NOT INCLUDING THE ONES COMING FROM EITHER SOUTH OF BRAINERD LIKE LITTLE FALLS OR PIERZ, OR FORT RIPLEY.

A BAXTER-BASED FOOD SHELF WOULD BE A SHORTER DRIVE FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: OVER 440,000 MINNESOTANS WILL BE AFFECTED BY IMPENDING CUTS TO THE SNAP BENEFIT THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT THIS SATURDAY.

THE LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF IS ALSO FEELING THE EFFECTS, SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE VISITING THE SHELF.

>> THE AVERAGE OF 1 NEW FAMILY AN HOUR FOR EVERY HOUR WE'RE OPEN.

FOR A 3-HOUR SHIFT, IT WOULDN'T BE UNCOMMON TO HAVE 3 NEW FAMILIES.

LAST TIME, WE HAD 50 NEW FAMILIES.

THE PREVIOUS WEDNESDAY, IT WAS ALSO JAW DROPPING BECAUSE WE HAD 9 NEW FAMILIES AND WE NEVER HAD 9 NEW FAMILIES IN A 3-HOUR TIME PERIOD.

>> Reporter: IN TOTAL, OVER 40 MILLION AMERICANS WILL FEEL THE EFFECTS OF THE CUTS TO SNAP FUNDING.

THEY WILL MAKE SURE THAT BRAINERD RESIDENTS HAVE FULL BELLIES AND STOCKED SHELVES.

>> WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING THIS AND KEEPING ABREAST OF THIS.

WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO COME AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS ADJUSTED OUR BUDGETS, WE EXPANDED OUR BUDGETS, WE ARE DOING MORE, WE'RE WORKING HARDER WITH OUR VENDORS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE NEED IS THERE AND CERTAINLY THE NUMBERS HAVE SHOT UP ALREADY.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN PEQUOT LAKES, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> AMIDST THE CUTS TO SNAP FUNDING, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ ANNOUNCED THE STATE WOULD BE DISTRIBUTING $4 MILLION TO FOOD SHELVES ACROSS MINNESOTA.

BUT ACCORDING TO LAKES AREA FOOD SHELF OFFICIALS, THE STATE'S MONEY WILL ONLY COVER ONE-SIXTH OF ONE MONTH OF THE FOOD SHELF'S BUDGET.

>>> PEOPLE IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA GATHERED FOR CROW WING POWER'S OPERATION ROUND-UP $5 MILLION CELEBRATION LAST WEEK.

THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF CROW WING POWER MEMBERS THAT CHOSE TO ROUND UP THEIR ELECTRIC BILLS EACH MONTH, AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF OPERATION ROUND UP TRUSTEES, THE ORGANIZATION REACHED THE MILESTONE.

OPERATION ROUND-UP IS A CHARITABLE GIVING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

RETIRED CROW WING POWER PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER CHAR KINZER PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN GETTING THE PROGRAM STARTED UP BACK IN 1996.

>> OPERATION ROUND UP IS ALSO VERY AKIN TO WHERE OUR COOPERATIVE IS.

YOU POOL TOGETHER, YOU WORK TOGETHER, AND YOU HAVE ELECTRICITY AS CHEEP -- CHEAP AS YOU CAN AND DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.

IT'S GREAT TO BRING TOGETHER THE TRUSTEES THAT HAVE WORKED AT IT FOR YEARS.

>> CROW WING POWER SERVES ROUGHLY 40,000 MEMBERS IN CASS, CROW WING, AND MORRISON COUNTIES.

>>> THE STRONGEST STORM OF THE YEAR IS SLAMMING THE CARIBBEAN.

HURRICANE MELISSA, A DEADLY CATEGORY 5 STORM, MADE LANDFALL IN JAMAICA TODAY AND COULD RESHAPE THE ISLAND FOR YEARS TO COME AND TRIGGER A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER.

MELISSA IS ALREADY RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 7 DEATHS IN 3 COUNTRIES.

MICHAEL YOSHIDA REPORTS.

>> Reporter: HURRICANE MELISSA, ONE OF THE STRONGEST ATLANTIC HURRICANES IN HISTORY BRINGING POWERFUL WINDS, DANGEROUS RAINFALL, AND FLOODING TO THE CARIBBEAN.

>> THERE WILL BE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE.

THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE IN THIS REGION, MAYBE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT COULD WITHSTAND THE CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE WITHOUT SOME LEVEL OF DAMAGE.

>> Reporter: THE MASSIVE STORM RAPIDLY INTENSIFYING AS IT APPROACHED JAMAICA, WARM WATERS FUELING MELISSA.

THIS IS THE FIRST CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE TO HIT JAMAICA.

OFFICIALS ARE WARNING IT'S NOT JUST POWERFUL WINDS, BUT ALSO STORM SURGES, LANDSLIDES THAT COULD BE DEVASTATING AND DEADLY.

>> THERE WILL BE FLOODING AND INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE.

WE HAVE 70 PEOPLE LIVING IN 5 KILOMETERS OF THE SEA, LOW LYING.

THE RISK OF FLOODING IS EXTREME.

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 800 SHELTERS OPENED ACROSS THE ISLAND.

RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS ARE BRACING FOR THE WORST.

>> THEY TOLD EVERYONE TO PACK AN EMERGENCY BAG SO WE WILL HAVE THAT AND ALL OUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS.

>> IT'S REALLY OVERWHELMING.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND HEARING THE MORE AND MORE UPDATES AND REPORTS AND HOW IT'S GETTING STRONGER AND STRONGER.

>> Reporter: AS THE STORM PUSHES PAST JAMAICA, CUBA SITS IN ITS PATH.

IN WASHINGTON, I'M MICHAEL YOSHIDA.

>> MELISSA IS NOW CENTERED OFF THE NORTHERN COAST OF JAMAICA AND IS CURRENTLY A POWERFUL CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE AS IT HEADS TOWARD CUBA.

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

>> Stacy: WE'LL SEE THE RAIN SHOWERS COME TO AN END OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

SOME OF US COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE TOMORROW, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF CLOUDY DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, GREAT RIVER RESCUE IN BEMIDJI HELD THEIR >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> HALLOWEEN IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM NOW, AND THE GREAT RIVER RESCUE ANIMAL SHELTER IN BEMIDJI HAS STARTED THEIR FESTIVITIES EARLY.

ON SATURDAY THEY HELD THEIR HOWL-O-WEEN WALK.

WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD GATHER WITH THEIR DOGS OF ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AND COSTUMES TOGETHER FOR A HALLOWEEN-THEMED GATHERING.

UNIQUE COSTUMES WERE WORN BY ALL THE DOGS AS WELL AS MANY OF THEIR HUMAN COUNTERPARTS.

AND ALONG WITH THE PHOTO BOOTH AND COSTUME CONTEST, THE EVENT ALSO GAVE LOCAL PETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SOCIALIZE.

>> I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE DOGS TO GET OUT.

IT'S GREAT FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY EVENT GOING ON TO BRING THEIR DOGS TO MEET OTHER DOG OWNERS, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, BEAUTIFUL NIGHT.

IT IS A FUNDRAISER, IT'S $5 PER PERSON, ANIMALS ARE FREE.

ALL THE PROCEEDS GO TO THE SHELTER.

>> THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF THE EVENT, AND THE HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES WENT FARTHER THAN JUST DRESSING UP AS A SPIDER.

ATTENDEES WERE ALSO ABLE TO WALK DOWN DECORATED TRAILS, WHICH ARE NOW FULL OF HALLOWEEN, BUT ARE NORMALLY A NECESSITY FOR KEEPING SHELTER DOGS HEALTHY.

GREAT RIVER RESCUE HOPES THAT HOLDING EVENTS LIKE THE HOWL-O-WEEN WALK WILL BE MORE THAN JUST A FUN TIME, BUT OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> CELEBRATING THINGS LIKE OUR NEW DOG PARK, GETTING PEOPLE TO SEE OUR SHELTER AND KNOW WHAT WE DO HERE.

IT'S JUST GETTING PEOPLE THROUGH THAT DOOR TO SEE THE ANIMALS, SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

THERE ARE A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT DEFINITELY NEED HOMES.

WE CAN'T ALWAYS TAKE IN EVERY ANIMAL POSSIBLE, AND WE JUST WANT TO GET AS MANY ANIMALS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN.

>> THROUGHOUT THE EVENING, GREAT RIVER RESCUE SAW NEARLY 50 DOGS ALL DRESSED UP FOR THE HOWL-O-WEEN WALK, WHICH THE SHELTER WANTS TO CONTINUE ON AS A NEW ANNUAL TRADITION.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS HERE.

YOU SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE WET TODAY AND IT CERTAINLY WAS.

>> IT WAS.

RAIN SHOWERS PRETTY MULL ALL DAY LONG.

THERE ARE A FEW OUT THERE, BUT IT WILL BE TAPERING OFF TONIGHT.

DRY WEATHER TOMORROW, SOME WILL SEE SUNSHINE AND SOME WILL SEE CLOUDS.

A NUMBER OF CLOUDY DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US AND WE COULD SEE A FEW RAIN SHOWERS FOR O [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON [♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A NUMBER OF RAIN SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA TODAY.

A FEW SHOWERS ARE STILL LINGERING TONIGHT AND A FEW OVERNIGHT IN PARTS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

OVERALL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE SEEING THE RAIN TAPERING OFF.

SOME OF US WILL SEE SUNSHINE, SOME OF US WILL SEE CLOUD COVER.

WE SHOULD BE SEEING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SOME RAIN SHOWERS ON HALLOWEEN.

IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 43 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE NORTH AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

THE DEW POINT IS 43, WE PICKED UP 0.046-INCH OF RAINFALL SO FAR.

IN BRAINERD, CLOUDY SKIES, 44 DEGREES, A DEW POINT OF 42, PRESSURE IS RISING AND WINDS ARE NORTH AT 8 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, A LOT OF CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA.

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SOME OF THE RAINFALL BEGINNING TO TAPER OFF A LITTLE BIT AS WE MOVED MORE INTO THE EVENING.

OVERNIGHT, MOST OF US SHOULD BE SEEING DRY CONDITIONS, ALTHOUGH A FEW SHOWERS COULD LINGER IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

A LITTLE BIT OF CLEARING STARTING IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA, SO WESTERN MINNESOTA COULD SEE SOME SUNSHINE TOMORROW, WHILE THE CLOUDS LINGER IN EASTERN MINNESOTA, BUT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK, WE WILL BE SEEING CLOUDS RETURNING AREA-WIDE.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, IT WAS A GRAY DAY FROM LAURIE OVER LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

THIS IS THE VIEW OVER UPPER RED LAKE, INTERMITTENT SHOWERS ALL DAY LONG.

GARY BRIGHTENING THINGS UP WITH FALL COLORS SPOTTED IN THE AREA.

YOLANDA CAPTURING THE SUNSET COLORS THROUGH THE CLOUDS.

ANGELA SAYING THERE WERE SOME SPRINKLES IN CASS LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, GARY IN DEER WOOD REPORTING 0.054-INCH OF RAIN.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, RAIN AND CLOUDY FOR MOST OF THE DAY, PICKING UP 0.5-INCH OF RAIN.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 46 IS OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE IN BRAINERD, JUST A LITTLE BIT BELOW THE AVERAGE, STILL SEASONAL, BUT WITH THE CLOUDS, WITH THE RAIN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE HAD A LOW OF 42.

IN BEMIDJI, WE TOPPED OUT AT 48, THE LOW WAS 43, AND SUNSET AT 6:06.

IN THE MORNING, WE WILL BE SEEING MORE CLEAR SKIES IN WESTERN MINNESOTA, THE CLOUDS IN THE EAST, AND THAT IS REALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FOR MOST OF THE DAY.

THE CLOUDS ARE HANGING ON IN EASTERN MINNESOTA AND THE WEST ENJOYS SOME SUNSHINE.

WE WILL BE SEEING MORE CLOUD COVER LATER ON THIS WEEK.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, WE SHOULD SEE THE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40s ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA HEADING INTO CENTRAL MINNESOTA, UPPER 40s AND A FEW 50s.

SO OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SOME LINGERING RAIN SHOWERS.

LOWS SHOULD DROP TO 34.

TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, HIGHS NEAR 48, WITH NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 10.

ON OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, CLOUDS ARE BACK AS WE HEAD INTO THE END OF THE WEEK AND THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THERE ON HALLOWEEN ON FRIDAY.

TEMPERATURES STILL IN THE UPPER 40s THROUGH THURSDAY, WE COOL OFF A LITTLE BIT BEGINNING FRIDAY AND TO START THE WEEKEND BUT BY SUNDAY, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS BUT HIGHS WILL BE BACK NEAR 50.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US TONIGHT?

>> Charlie: I JUST WALKED OUT HERE.

I JUST FINISHED LISTENING TO THE VERNDALE GIRLS SECTION VOLLEYBALL GAME.

WHAT A MATCH IT WAS.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT AND FROM THE OTHER SEMI FINAL GAME AS WELL.

A CHANCE TO GO TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP, WHO WILL IT BE?

WE'LL TELL YOU [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> TONIGHT, CROSBY-IRONTON HIGH SCHOOL WAS PLAYING HOST TO THE GIRLS VOLLEYBALL SECTION 5-A SEMIFINALS.

ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE BRACKET, TOP SEEDED NEVIS FINISHED THE SEASON 18-7 AND CRUISED THROUGH THEIR FIRST TWO MATCHES OF THE PLAYOFFS, WHILE 3-SEED VERNDALE IS RIDING HIGH AFTER PULLING OFF THE UPSET OVER 2-SEED SEBEKA IN THE QUARTERFINALS.

NEVIS AND VERNDALE, ONLY PLAYED ONCE DURING THE REGULAR SEASON, THE TIGERS BEAT THE PIRATES 3-1 IN THAT CONTEST.

FIRST SET HERE, AVA DETONATES ON THE PIRATES.

12-8.

VERNDALE, FIGHTING BACK, NOW 22-19 IN THE FIRST SET, GRACE CAMERON, FINDS THE SOFT SPOT, PIRATES CAN WIN THE FIRST SET, 25-20.

SECOND SET, VERNDALE UP 10-6.

SENDING IT RIGHT BACK, PIRATES GO UP 11-6, BUT IT'S THE TIGERS' TURN TO RESPOND.

LANDS THE CHANGE UP, NEVIS WOULD WIN THE SET, 25-23.

VERNDALE WIN IT IS THIRD SET BUT NEVIS WILL RALLY BACK AND WIN SETS 4 AND 5 TO WIN IN 5 SETS.

THEY ARE MOVING ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEY WILL PLAY THE WINNER OF OUR NEXT GAME IN THE OTHER 5A SEMI-FINALS.

PINE RIVER-BACKUS TAKING ON SWANVILLE, TRYING TO MAKE THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT SECTION TITLE GAME.

MIMI SENDS A SCREAMER DOWN THE LINE.

TIGERS ARE DOWN 18-16.

SAME SET, A FEW POINTS LATER, MAKING HER PRESENCE KNOWN AT THE NET, TIGERS GO ON TO WIN.

SWANVILLE, THEY GO ON TO WIN THE NEXT TWO SETS.

TIGERS ARE UP IN THE FOURTH SET, ALISON, A BRICK WALL UP FRONT, BULLDOGS GO ON TO WIN THE FINAL SET OF THE MATCH UP AS PINE RIVER-BACKUS FALLS, 3-1.

>>> MORE AROUND THE AREA, WADENA DEER CREEK GETS THE WIN.

THEY ARE MOVING TO THE 8-2A FINALS.

IN THE NHL, THE MINNESOTA WILD FALL TO THE JETS IN OVERTIME.

>>> BIRDS ARE MEANT TO FLY, FISH ARE MEANT TO SWIM, AND BEAVERS ARE MEANT TO PLAY HOCKEY.

THE BSU WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM IS READY TO RETURN TO THE ICE AFTER A DOUBLE BYE, AS THEY HIT THE ROAD TO CONTINUE WCHA PLAY AGAINST RIVAL MINNESOTA STATE.

IT WILL BE 20 DAYS BETWEEN GAMES FOR BEMIDJI STATE, WHO ARE LOOKING TO BUILD OFF A 2-1 LOSS AT THEN NUMBER-2 RANKED OHIO STATE.

BUT THE BEAVS FEEL LIKE THEY'VE USED THAT TIME WISELY TO BETTER THEMSELVES IN PREPARATION FOR THE MAVERICKS.

>> IT WAS TWO WEEKS THAT WE WEREN'T PLAYING GAMES, BUT IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT TWO WEEKS OFF.

I THINK WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT AND WORKED ON THINGS THAT WE CAN'T WORK ON PLAYING GAMES DURING THE WEEKEND.

THEY'RE GRITTY, THEY'RE A TOP TEAM TO PLAY AGAINST, THEY'RE SUPER FAST, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FRESHMEN THIS YEAR THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BUT WE'RE A YOUNG TEAM AS WELL READY TO MATCH UP WITH THEM.

>> MANKATO IS PHYSICAL, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HARD TO PLAY AGAINST.

THEY HAD A GOOD START TO THEIR SEASON.

THEY HAVE PLAYERS THAT CAN SCORE.

THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

IT WILL BE A PHYSICAL GAME SO EVERY WEEKEND WILL BE A CHALLENGE.

WE'RE EXCITED TO GET OUT THERE AND COMPETE.

>> BEAVERS ARE 2-4 OVERALL ON THE SEASON, BUT HAVE YET TO RECORD A WIN IN CONFERENCE PLAY.

BSU LAST BEAT THE MAVS IN A 3-2 OVERTIME WIN AT THE SANFORD CENTER LAST JANUARY, BUT HAVE NOT WON IN MANKATO SINCE 2019.

>>> WELL, AS PART OF THE LEAD UP TO THE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP OF HOCKEY, BEMIDJI STATE HOSTED TWO YOUTH CLINICS THIS PAST SUNDAY.

ONE, AN 8-U CLINIC FOR BOYS AND GIRLS JUST LEARNING TO PLAY HOCKEY, THE OTHER A 12-U GIRLS SKILLS CLINIC, AND BOTH OF THEM FREE OF CHARGE.

THE CLINICS WERE RUN BY PLAYERS AND COACHES FROM THE BSU HOCKEY PROGRAM AND FEATURED AN HOUR OF ICE TIME AND AN HOUR TO TOUR THE FACILITY, ALONG WITH A PLAYER Q-A AND A MEET AND GREET WITH BUCKY.

>> I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY JUST FOR US TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF THE GIRLS AT THE CAMP, THEY ARE FAMILIAR FACES WE SEE AROUND THE RINK AND IT'S SO NICE TO GIVE BACK TO THEM ON THE ICE WHEN YOU SEE THE SUPPORT THEY'RE GIVING US IN THE STANDS.

>> OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR PLAYERS AND TO HIGHLIGHT THE GAME AND WHAT A GREAT SPOT WE HAVE HERE.

NOT A LOT OF YOUTH PLAYERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO SKATE ON THIS SHEET OF ICE, SO GRATEFUL THAT BOTH OF OUR PROGRAMED HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP WITH THAT.

>> Charlie: THE PRE-TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES WERE RELEASED.

TICKETS HAVE GONE ON SALE FOR THAT AND YOU CAN FIND THOSE AT MNSPORTS, AND I'LL PUT THE LINK ON OUR ONLINE STORY.

>> Dennis: EXCITING.

>> Charlie: TEAM U.S.A.

WILL BE IN DULUTH, THEY WILL BE PLAYING OUT THERE AND SWEDEN IS DOWN IN MANKATO AND AROUND THE STATE.

PRETTY COOL LEADING TO THE WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS CHARLIE.

THE LONGEST HIKING TRAIL IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS A PORTION OF THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

THE 4,800 MILE SCENIC TRAIL RUNS THROUGH EIGHT STATES FROM NORTH DAKOTA TO VERMONT, AND SECTIONS OF THE MINNESOTA TRAILS ARE STARTING TO UNDERGO RENOVATIONS.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE INFORMATION ON SEVERAL MILES OF NEW TRAILS THAT ARE BEING BUILT, FOR THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE NORTH COUNTRY NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL IS THE LONGEST SCENIC TRAIL IN THE UNITED STATES AND 800 OF ITS 4,800 MILES BELONG IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

ALTHOUGH A PART OF A SCENIC TRAIL DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS, NOT EVERYTHING IS PICTURE PERFECT.

>> HIGHWAY 6 IS KIND OF A DANGEROUS ROAD WALK.

MINNESOTA HIGHWAY 6 DOESN'T HAVE ANY SHOULDERS ON IT.

>> WE'LL HAVE KIND OF A REPLACEMENT OF A LONG, UNSAFE ROAD WALK WITH FABULOUS FOOTPATH OUT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST.

IT'S A BETTER HIKING EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE WALKING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE NATIONAL FOREST, AS OPPOSED TO A PAVED ROAD.

>> Reporter: SO NCTA VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE THAT THE TRAIL PASSES THROUGH ARE CREATING 11 NEW MILES OF TRAIL IN THE CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST BETWEEN REMER AND GRAND RAPIDS.

THEY FINISHED THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE OF THE TRAIL BUT THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

THEY ARE SET TO FINISH 11 MILES OF TRAIL, WHICH COULD TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO FINISH.

>> I ANTICIPATE IT WILL TAKE 3 TO 4 YEARS TO COMPLETE THIS.

OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE FOUR WORK TRIPS PER YEAR.

>> YOU KNOW, AT THE START OF THE PROJECT, IT WAS JUST A BUNCH OF FLAGS HANGING ON BRUSH TO THE VERY END OF IT.

YOU CAN HIKE THAT THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE TRAIL AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD ALSO -- ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

>> Reporter: REPRESENTATIVES FROM FIVE DIFFERENT NCTA CHAPTERS, THE VOLUNTEERS AIM TO NOT CUT DOWN ANY MAJOR TREES BUT CURVE THE HIKING TRAILS ALL AROUND THEM.

>> TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS COMPLETED, THREE QUARTER MILE OF A TRAIL, REALLY BROUGHT UP A LOT OF EMOTIONS FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

>> WE'RE JUST SO LUCKY THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE SO WILLING TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND PUT IN THIS BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS TOWARDS PROJECTS THEY LOVE.

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM REMER WITH THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> ALTHOUGH THERE HAS ONLY BEEN ONE WORK SESSION ON THE SCENIC TRAIL SO FAR, THE FINISHED THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TO HIKE ON, AND THEN CONNECT BACK WITH THE ORIGINAL TRAIL.

>>> OKAY, WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

WE GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: OTHER THAN A FEW SHOWERS THAT COULD LINGER IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA TONIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL BE SEEING PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH LOWS NEAR 41, AND VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW, HIGHS NEAR 48.

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

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

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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