>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY: FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI; CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER FDIC.

>> C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

>> SOURCEWELL; BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH WITH PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS IN BEMIDJI AND ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST.

SANFORD HEALTH IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING CARE CLOSE TO HOME.

LEARN MORE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> 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.

>>> A CASS LAKE MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING AND KILLING MAN IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR.

22-YEAR-OLD AVERY CADWELL ADMITTED TO STABBING THE VICTIM WHO WAS ON AN A.T.V.

BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THE VICTIM OWED HIM $100.

ON SEPTEMBER 30TH HE PLED GUILTY TO 2ND DEGREE MURDER WITH INTENT.

HE WAS SENTENCED ON OCTOBER 24TH BY BELTRAMI COUNTY JUDGE JOHN MELBYE.

>> LAW ENFORCEMENT, BOTH OF BELTRAMI COUNTY OFTEN, LEECH LAKE, ET CETERA, THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF INVESTIGATING THIS.

THEY CAME UP WITH A SUSPECT VERY QUICKLY.

AS A RESULT, WHEN CONFRONTED, HE DID CONFESS VERY EARLY ON.

>> UNDER SENTENCING GUIDELINES CADWELL MUST SERVE A MINIMUM IMPRISONMENT EQUAL TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE 25 YEAR SENTENCE, WHICH IS ABOUT 16.5 YEARS.

>>> NO-ONE WAS INJURED IN A MOBILE HOME FIRE IN LENGBY LAST NIGHT.

THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AROUND 8:45 AT 401 LILLO STREET.

THE HOME WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARRIVED AND ALL OCCUPANTS WERE OUTSIDE OF THE HOME.

FOSSTON FIRE RESPONDED AND REQUESTED MUTUAL AID FROM BAGLEY FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.

THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE MINNESOTA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND NO FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED AT THIS TIME.

>>> LITTLE FALLS REPUBLICAN RON KRESHA HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR IN DISTRICT 10-A.

KRESHA SAYS HE HAS BEEN HONORED TO SERVE THE DISTRICT FOR SEVEN TERMS BUT THE TIME IS RIGHT TO STEP ASIDE AND DIRECT HIS ATTENTION TO FAMILY AND A NEW GRANDCHILD.

SO FAR TWO CANDIDATES HAVE ANNOUNCED PLANS TO RUN FOR THE 10-A SEAT, BERNIE PENNER OF BRAINERD AND BRIAN LINDQUIST OF LITTLE FALLS.

>>> BEMIDJI FIRE CHIEF JUSTIN SHERWOOD RECEIVED THE 2025 LEADERSHIP AWARD AT THE ANNUAL MINNESOTA STATE FIRE CHIEFS' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE RECENTLY.

SHERWOOD HAS SERVED AS BEMIDJI FIRE CHIEF SINCE 2021, AND STARTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN 2002, WORKING AS A RESIDENTIAL DORM FIREFIGHTER.

THE FACEBOOK ANNOUNCEMENT CREDITED SHERWOOD SAYING, FROM LEADING DURING DEVASTATING STORMS, TO REPRESENTING MINNESOTA AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, CHIEF SHERWOOD CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND RESILIENCE.

HIS SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM MAKE HIM A TRUE EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP IN ACTION.

SHERWOOD SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR HIS NAME CALLED.

>> WHEN I SAID I DON'T DESERVE IT OR I WASN'T LOOKING FOR IT, I WASN'T SURE THAT I WAS DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER FIRE CHIEF, BUT AFTER HE READ THAT, THAT SUMMARY AND ALL THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT AND NOMINATIONS I GOT, IT WAS OVERWHELMING.

I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO GET THAT.

IT'S GREAT FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, MY FAMILY, AND ME PERSONALLY, BUT EVEN THOUGH THAT AWARD HAS MY NAME ON IT, I DO REALLY THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS WORK BECAUSE I RECEIVED THAT AWARD ON BEHALF OF THEM AND THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT.

>> THE LEADERSHIP AWARD IS AWARDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND RECOGNIZES AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WHO MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRE SERVICE, AND FIRE SERVICE PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

>>> A MAN FROM SOUTH CAROLINA WITH DEEP TIES TO THE BELTRAMI COUNTY AREA HAS DECIDED TO DONATE ALL $7,500 THE HISTORY CENTER WAS SET TO LOSE.

AFTER HEARING NEWS OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY LOSING ALL OF ITS ALLOCATED FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY BOARD.

RICK BELTRAM, OWNER OF BEE SQUARE ENTERPRISES, A REGIONAL MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE GROUP IN THE SOUTH AND NORTHEAST, PLEDGED HIS DONATION AFTER READING A BEMIDJI PIONEER ARTICLE ON THE FUNDING CUTS.

BELTRAM HAS A GENEALOGY CONNECTION WITH COUNT BELTRAMI, AN EXPLORER IN THE AREA FROM THE 1820'S.

AND OFFICIALS ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF BELTAM'S DONATION.

>> WE WERE SURPRISED AND OVERWHELMED.

IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THERE ARE SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT BELIEVE IN WHAT WE DO.

WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE GIFT ENCOURAGES OUR COMMISSIONERS TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY TOO.

WHILE PRIVATE GIFTS ARE IMPORTANT, IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE NEED FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT HISTORY AS WELL.

SO WE HOPE THAT THE CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT WILL JUST FURTHER ENCOURAGE THE COUNTY TO REMEMBER US, COME TO BUDGET DECISIONS IN DECEMBER.

>> BELTRAM PLANS TO DELIVER THE PLEDGE TO THE HISTORY CENTER DURING NEXT YEAR'S BELTRAMI COUNTY FAIR.

>>> MINNESOTA STATE HAS NAMED FOUR FINALISTS IN THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE CANDIDATES WERE RECOMMENDED BY A SEARCH ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS COMPRISED OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND WAS CHAIRED BY KENNETH JANZ, PRESIDENT OF WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE CANDIDATES ARE MATT CECIL, LISA FOSS, RODNEY HANLEY, AND GREGORY TOMSO.

CECIL CURRENTLY SERVES AS INTERIM PROVOST AND SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE, A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE AUGUST 2024.

FOSS IS THE SENIOR DIRECTOR FOR U.S.

PRACTICE, UNIVERSITY DESIGN INSTITUTE AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, A POSITION SHE HAS HELD SINCE 2024.

HANLEY IS THE PRESIDENT OF NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY, IN OKLAHOMA, A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE 2023.

AND TOMSO IS CURRENTLY ON SABBATICAL THROUGH AUGUST 2026 FROM HIS PREVIOUS APPOINTMENT AS VICE PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT AND STUDENT AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA, A POSITION HE HAS HELD SINCE 2021.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MINNESOTA STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER CHANCELLOR SCOTT OLSON'S RECOMMENDATION FOR PRESIDENT OF ST.

CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY AT ITS NOVEMBER 19TH MEETING.

THE ANTICIPATED START DATE OF THE NEW PRESIDENT IS JANUARY 1ST OF 2026.

>>> FOR TWO DECADES, EVERGREEN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES HAS HELD AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE, FOCUSED ON EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATORS, AND LEADERS WHO WORK WITH YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK ATTENDED THE 2025 CONFERENCE THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK, AND HAS MORE ON WHY HELPING THE YOUTH OF TODAY, CAN CHANGE THE ADULTS OF THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: HUNDREDS OF YOUTH SERVING PROFESSIONALS GATHERED AT THE EVERGREEN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES 20th ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN BEMIDJI.

THOSE WORKING IN AREAS OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS, ABUSE, AND MANY OTHER TOUGH AREAS FOR YOUTH.

>> WE MAY NOT EVER SEE THE FRUIT OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING, BUT WE KNOW AND WE BELIEVE THAT THE WORK WE'RE DOING, WE BELIEVE THAT THE KNOWLEDGE WE'RE GIVING, WE BELIEVE THE HOPE WE'RE GIVING TO THE YOUTH ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP TO YIELD FRUIT LATER ON IN LIFE, WHETHER WE SEE IT OR NOT.

WE'RE NOT ASKING YOUTH TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT, WE JUST WANT TO HELP THEM TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

>> Reporter: THERE WERE SEVERAL BREAKOUT ROOMS THAT FOCUSED ON LOCAL RESOURCES THAT PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO.

>> IF WE HAVE A SPACE AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT, HOW MUCH BETTER ARE WE GOING TO LEAVE, FEELING A LITTLE MORE ENLIGHTENED, A LITTLE MORE EDUCATED AND EMPOWERED.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE CONFERENCE IS BRINGING IN SPEAKERS WITH CERTAIN LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THEIR OWN.

THIS INCLUDED A PANEL OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ONCE YOUTH WHO USED EVERGREEN SERVICES THEMSELVES, WHO HAVE COME BACK TO TALK ABOUT TURNING THEIR LIVES AROUND.

>> BECAUSE I DO THIS AND I LIVE THIS, I AM TEACHING YOU FROM THAT PLACE.

I'M NOT TEACHING YOU FROM A PLACE THAT I AM NOT CONNECTED TO, I'M TEACHING YOU THIS IS HOW I LIVE MY LIFE.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH WORKERS BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING WORK WHERE YOU'RE ALWAYS GIVING AND YOU'RE IN THAT ROLE OF GIVING TO OTHER PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU CANNOT GIVE WHAT YOU DO NOT HAVE.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS DIGGING ROOTS, HOLDING LIGHT.

>> HOLD THE LIGHT FOR THE YOUTHS YOU ARE SERVING AND ARE WORKING WITH SO THEY CAN SEE A PATH FORWARD, NO MATTER WHAT TRAUMA THEY EXPERIENCED.

SO HOLDING THAT LIGHT IS SOMETHING THAT ALL YOUTH WORKERS ARE DOING FOR OUR YOUTH TODAY.

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

>> BETWEEN THE KEYNOTE PRESENTERS AND BREAKOUT ROOMS, THERE WERE MORE THAN 30 TOTAL SESSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO DAYS OF THE CONFERENCE, AND NEARLY 200 ATTENDEES WHO WORK WITH YOUTH IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

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

>> Stacy: WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING SOME RAIN SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY SOME SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AREA TONIGHT AND TOMORROW BEFORE QUIETER WEATHER RETURNS TO START THE WEEKEND.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, PEQUOT LAKES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GETTING REAL WORLD JOB OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE THEY GET THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> TRICK-OR-TREATING IN THE BEMIDJI AREA STARTED LOOKING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT 35 YEARS AGO, WHEN R.P.

BROADCASTING STARTED DOING AN INDOOR HALLOWEEN EVENT CALLED TREAT STREET, AIMED TO GIVE KIDS A SAFE, INDOOR TRICK-OR-TREATING ENVIRONMENT.

LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS, AND OTHER GROUPS SET UP TABLES TO GIVE AWAY CANDY WHILE KIDS CAN ALSO A PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST, AS WELL AS A HAUNTED HOUSE.

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THE EVENT HAS BEEN HELD AT THE SANFORD CENTER, WHERE IT WILL BE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

NEARLY 30,000 PIECES OF CANDY ARE BOUGHT TO HAND OUT TO AROUND 1,000 CHILDREN.

>> MOST OF THE TIME, IT'S MOM, DAD, GRANDMA, GRANDPA, ONE OR TWO KIDS, SO WE HAVE ABOUT 3,000 TO 4,000 PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH TREAT STREET, BUT IT'S FOR KIDS 12 AND UNDER.

IT'S FREE AND WE ASK THEM TO BRING A NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEM FOR THE FOOD SHELF.

JUST THE HAPPY, THE JOY, THE FUN, KNOWING IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING GOOD IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE SUPPORT FROM BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO SUPPORT US DURING THIS.

>> THERE ARE 17 LOCATIONS IN BEMIDJI WHERE YOU CAN PICK UP FREE TICKETS FOR THE EVENT WHICH IS TAKING PLACE THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, FROM 4:00 TO 7:00 P.M.

THE FULL LIST OF TICKET LOCATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON THE TREAT STREET FACEBOOK PAGE, AND THERE IS NO ADMISSION FOR KIDS WITHOUT A TICKET, BUT ACCOMPANYING ADULTS DO NOT NEED ONE.

>> Charlie: STACY, TELL US HOW THE WEATHER WILL BE FOR HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREATING.

>> Stacy: TEMPERATURE-WISE, SEASONAL, WE'RE EXPECTING AVERAGE TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA BUT WE MAY HAVE SOME RAIN SHOWERS AND SOME SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MIX, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING.

PROBABLY NOT WHILE YOU'RE TRICK-OR-TREATING BUT WE COULD SEE A FEW MORE AS TEMPERATURES COOL INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

[♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: THE CLOUDS ARE RETURNING TO THE AREA.

IT'S STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE COOLER, A LITTLE MORE LIKE LAKE OCTOBER.

IN FACT, AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT, WE WILL BE SEEING RAIN AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR SOME SNOWFALL.

RAIN OR SNOW IS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY TOMORROW.

TEMPERATURE-WISE, SEASONAL.

SO FOR TRICK-OR-TREATERS HEADING OUT TOMORROW NIGHT WILL PROBABLY WANT TO BUNDLE UP A LITTLE BIT.

SO FOR OUR CURRENT TEMPERATURES IN BEMIDJI, IT IS 39 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

WINDS AT OUR STUDIO FROM THE NORTHWEST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR, OUR DEW POINT IS 31, HUMIDITY IS AT 73%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE CLOUDY SKIES, 42 DEGREES, A DEW POINT OF 38.

WE HAVE A RISING BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WITH LIGHT SOUTHWEST WINDS.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, NOT REALLY SEEING PRECIPITATION BUT WE HAVE SEEN CLOUD COVER ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT.

WE DO HAVE A PRETTY DECENT SHOT OF SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF RAINFALL AND EVEN A FEW ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, WITH RAIN OR SNOW POSSIBLE TOMORROW MORNING.

WE SHOULD SEE SCATTERED RAINFALL IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, ALTHOUGH AS TEMPERATURES COOL LATE TOMORROW, WE COULD SEE SOME SNOWFLAKES IN THAT FORECAST.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU, IT WAS A GORGEOUS MORNING OUT THERE.

WE HAVE SUNRISE PICTURES FROM ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, SONYA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE MORNING SKIES OVER TURTLE RIVER LAKE.

WE DID HAVE SOME FOG IN THE PINE RIVER AREA, DEBRA SENDING US THAT PICTURE AND ARLENE WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL MORNING SKY IN MENAHGA.

SHERRY SENDING US THIS PHOTO NEAR BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL.

BILL AND JUDY WITH THE CLOUDS THIS AFTERNOON OVER UPPER RED LAKE.

GARY SPOTTING A LEAF THAT LOOKS LIKE A HEART.

LAURIE WITH THE CALM SKIES THIS EVENING OVER LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, 32 AND CALM THIS MORNING.

DEBRA AT PINE RIVER, 46 WITH DENSE FOG THIS MORNING.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, FOG, CLOUDY SKIES, AND A BIT OF DRIZZLE.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, THE COOL BREEZE.

ON OUR ALMANAC IN BRAINERD, WE TOPPED OUT AT 47, A SEASONAL HIGH TEMPERATURE.

WE DID SEE A LOW THIS MORNING OF 31, WITH SUNSET AT 4 MINUTES AFTER 6:00.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 44, SO THAT'S RIGHT ON TARGET.

WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ON TARGET WITH OUR LOW, DOWN TO 26 THIS MORNING, SUNRISE AT 8:02.

SO TOMORROW'S FORECAST, WE HAVE CHANCES OF RAIN OR SNOW AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW MORNING, AND THAT WILL CONTINUE AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY.

MORE RAINFALL AS TEMPERATURES WARM A BIT IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT AGAIN AS WE HEAD INTO THE LATER PARTS OF THE EVENING, WE COULD SEE SCATTERED SNOWFALL ONCE AGAIN.

HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOW 40s ACROSS THE NORTHERN HALF OF OUR VIEWING AREA, WITH SOME LOW TO MID-40s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SOME ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS MIXING IN THERE.

WE WILL BE SEEING LOWS NEAR 32.

TOMORROW, CLOUDY SKIES, A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS, ESPECIALLY EARLY AND AGAIN LATE TOMORROW.

HIGHS NEAR 42, NORTH WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, WE WILL BE SEEING QUIET WEATHER ON SATURDAY, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH HIGHS NEAR 43.

TEMPERATURES WARM UP WITH A SOUTHERLY WIND ON SUNDAY, THERE IS ALSO A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN, BUT MAINLY QUIET AS WE HEAD TO THE WORKWEEK WITH PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ON MONDAY, HIGHS IN THE LOW 50s.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR SPORTS.

BIG MATCHES IN HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL TONIGHT.

>> Charlie: YEAH, WE HAD MATCHES IN VOLLEYBALL, MATCHES IN FOOTBALL.

WE JUST GOT A LOT GOING ON HERE TONIGHT ACROSS THE AREA AT NEVIS, AT GRAND RAPIDS, AT BERTHA HEWITT.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM ALL OF THAT AND MORE IN THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> GRAND RAPIDS PLANS AT A 4TH STRAIGHT STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE WAS FOILED BY NORTH BRANCH IN LAST YEAR'S SECTION 7-3A SEMIFINAL.

THE THUNDERHAWKS RETURNED THE FAVOR WITH 3-1 UPSET VICTORY OVER THE VIKINGS IN THE SEMIS THIS SEASON, AND NOW RETURN TO A FAMILIAR PLACE, THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP.

AT HERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, RAPIDS, TRYING TO WIN THEIR FOURTH TITLE IN FIVE YEARS, FACING TOP SEED PRINCETON, TIGERS BEAT THE T-HAWKS 3-1 TO OPEN THE SEASON.

RAPIDS COME OUT OF THE COMBAT -- GATE FIRING UP.

THEY ARE UP IN THE FIRST SET.

PRINCETON FIRES BACK, WINNING SET NUMBER 2 TO EVEN THINGS UP.

THIS IS WHERE GRAND RAPIDS BEARS DOWN.

THEY TAKE SET 3.

AND THEN THEY CLOSE THINGS OUT, IT WAS A MISPLAY AT THE NET BY PRINCETON AND GRAND RAPIDS WINS 3 SETS TO 1 FOR THEIR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE -- EXCUSE ME, THEIR FOURTH CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE YEARS.

IT'S BEEN AN UP AND DOWN SEASON FOR RAPIDS BUT THEY FOUND A WAY BACK TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> I THINK FOR ME, IT'S MY SENIOR YEAR, I WANTED TO GIVE IT MY ALL AND HAVE NO REGRETS.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEASON, WE WERE GAINING CONFIDENCE AND WE KNEW WE WERE CAPABLE OF MAKING IT TO STATE.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF AGES, SO NOT TO SAY IT WAS A STRUGGLE, BUT IT WAS A LEARNING CURVE TO LEARN HOW PEOPLE RESPOND TO CERTAIN THINGS AND PLAY TOGETHER.

BY THE END OF THE YEAR, JUST WATCHING THEM PLAY FOR MORE.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THAT THEY'RE PLAYING FOR EACH OTHER TONIGHT.

THAT'S AWESOME.

>> Charlie: AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT FOURTH SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP IN FIVE YEARS, IF I COUNT THEM RIGHT, THEY HAVE EIGHT TOTAL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ON THE WIN.

>>> ON TUESDAY NIGHT, DOWN 2-SETS-TO-1 IN THE WEST SUBSECTION-FINAL, TOP-SEED NEVIS RALLIED TO BEAT VERNDALE IN 5-SETS, SECURING THEIR PLACE IN THE 5-A TITLE MATCH FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS.

TONIGHT, THE TIGERS WERE RIDING THAT MOMENTUM AS THEY SQUARED OFF WITH THE TOP SEED FROM THE EAST, SWANVILLE, FOR ALL THE MARBLES.

NOT SINCE 2019 HAS BERTHA-HEWITT CLAIRE ISAACSON TO AT THE NET, THE TIGERS GO UP 10-6.

THEN NEVIS UP, BRENNA SETS UP McKENZIE, AND THROWS DOWN THE HAMMER, THE TIGERS ARE ON SET POINT.

TIGERS TAKE THE THIRD SET.

HERE'S PAT ON THE CALL FOR MATCH POINT FOR NEVIS.

>> MATCH POINT NUMBER 6, THAT'S 28-27 LEAD TO SET IT OVER FREE BALL.

AND IT'S IN.

AVA WITH THE KILL.

NEVIS, THE TIGERS, THEY TOOK THE STATE TOURNAMENT UNBELIEVABLY.

>> Charlie: THAT WAS IT RIGHT THERE, NEVIS, CHAMPIONS OF SECTION 5A, THEY WIN IT 3 SETS TO 1.

>>> NOT SINCE 2019 HAS BERTHA-HEWITT FOOTBALL MADE IT PAST THE FIRST ROUND OF THE SECTION PLAYOFFS, AND 2009 WAS THE LAST TIME THEY PLAYED IN A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

AFTER KNOCKING OFF MCGREGOR IN THE QUARTERS AND OGILVIE IN THE SEMIS, THE BEARS FIND THEMSELVES WITH A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THEY HAVEN'T DONE IN 20-YEARS, WIN A SECTION TITLE.

FROM BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL, THE SECTION-5 9-PLAYER CHAMPIONSHIP.

BERTHA-HEWITT, FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON 7-1, THEIR ONLY BLEMISH CAME AGAINST THE TEAM THEY'RE PLAYING TONIGHT, REIGNING CHAMP CROMWELL-WRIGHT.

FIRST QUARTER, BARELY TEN SECONDS IN, BRENDAN GRONNER TO AARON KORPELA, 47 YARDS TO THE HOUSE, CROMWELL UP 8-0 AFTER THE 2-POINT CONVERSION.

SECOND QUARTER, BERTHA-HEWITT NOW DOWN 11-0, DYLAN DAY, BULLDOZES HIS WAY IN, 3-YARD RUSH, BEARS CLOSE TO WITHIN 11-6.

THIRD QUARTER, BERTHA DOWN 26-6, TRYING TO KEEP IT CLOSE, DAY AGAIN, 33 YARD PICK UP ON THE GROUND, SETS UP HIS SECOND TOUCHDOWN, BEARS TRAIL 26-12.

NOW THIS IS FROM 1 YARD OUT.

BERTHA HEWITT COULDN'T MATCH THEM, THEY FINISH AS SECTIONS RUNNER UP WITH A 9-2 RECORD.

>>> MAHNOMEN-WAUBUN, TAKING RED LAKE COUNTY.

BLAKE CONNECTS WITH TANNER FOR 6 MORE, IT'S 14-0.

REBELS STRIKE BACK.

CONNOR, SHORT PASS, DODGES A FEW TACKLES, AND HE LOSES A SHOE AND STILL MAKES HIS WAY TO THE HOUSE, MAKING IT A 1-SCORE GAME.

IT WAS 14-7 AT THE HALF.

NOW IT'S TIPPED, BUT THE CONCENTRATION TO COME DOWN WITH IT FOR THE FIRST DOWN, A FEW PLAYS LATER, McMILLAN DIVES INTO THE END ZONE, EXCLAMATION POINT FOR THE THUNDERBIRDS, AS THEY WIN THEIR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SECTION 8-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

HOLY COW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER THEIR BELT.

21-7 THE FINAL THERE.

>>> ALSO, IN A COUPLE OTHER SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, BELTRAMI TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS AGAINST FOSSTON.

IN THE NHL, BAD NEWS FOR WILD FANS, THEY FALL 4-1 TO PITTSBURGH.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHARLIE.

PEQUOT LAKES HIGH SCHOOL IS WORKING WITH STUDENTS TO GET THEM BETTER PREPARED FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO CREATE AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE.

>> Reporter: REAGAN HAS WORKED ON CARS FOR MUCH OF HIS LIFE BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL RECENTLY THAT HE REALIZED THAT IT WAS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

>> SO I WAS 14 YEARS OLD.

I STARTED WORKING ON MY DAD AND MY MOM'S VEHICLE.

ONCE I GOT MY OWN, I WORKED ON THAT.

I REALIZED I DO ENJOY IT.

ONCE I TALK TO DAN AND MET EVERYONE HERE, I WAS 100% SURE I WANT TO BE HERE.

>> Reporter: IT'S PART OF THE PEQUOT LAKES INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, A PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO GIVE STUDENTS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEY GAIN THEIR DIPLOMAS.

>> WE WANT KIDS TO GET OUT INTO THE REAL WORLD AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND APPLY THE SKILLS THEY ARE LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY CAN SEE WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING MATTERS.

>> Reporter: FOUR AND FIVE HIRING MANAGERS BELIEVE THAT MOST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOT PREPARED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

THIS PROGRAM IS TRYING TO CHANGE THAT, CONNECTING STUDENTS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THEIR AREAS OF INTEREST.

>> MARKETING DREW TO ME.

IT'S LIGHT.

I RUN A SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE FOR OUR SCHOOL.

SO I'M KIND OF GETTING INTO THAT AND IT EXPANDED INTO THIS.

I DO ENJOY IT.

I CAME HERE LOOKING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANTED TO DO IN MY FUTURE AND SEE IF THIS WOULD HELP ME FIND IT.

>> Reporter: THE PROGRAM ISN'T JUST GIVING THE STUDENTS WORK EXPERIENCE BUT REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HELP THEM ONCE THEY GRADUATE AS WELL.

>> I DON'T CARE IF YOU HANG SHEET ROCK, I DON'T CARE IF YOU CLEAN HOUSES, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO, THERE IS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY OUT IN THE WORLD.

KIDS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR GRADES.

GRADES DON'T MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL.

FOR ME, WHEN I GRADUATED, I WAS MAYBE C'S AND B'S, FLIRTING WITH SOME OF THE B'S, MOSTLY C'S, AND NOW I'M GETTING AN A IN LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT, SHOWING UP, WORKING HARD, AND DOING YOUR BEST.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN PEQUOT LAKES WITH THIS WEEK'S GOLDEN APPLE.

I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY AT PEQUOT LAKES HIGH, STARTING WITH 48 STUDENTS IN 2023, AND GROWING TO 82 THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

THE DISTRICT HOPES TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM BY 20 PERCENT EVERY YEAR, GETTING MORE STUDENTS PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.

>>> TIME NOW FOR ONE LAST LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

WE GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND A FEW ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS.

OTHERWISE, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH LOWS NEAR 32.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, CLOUDY SKIES, WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS, HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 42, NORTH WINDS 5 TO 15, QUIET WEATHER TO START THE WEEKEND.

>> Dennis: AND THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

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

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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