JULIE: I AM JULIE ZENNER AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

RELEASING REPORTS THIS WEEK, WE WILL TALK WITH THE TASK FORCE COCHAIRS.

THE FOND DU LAC TRIBES MEDICAL DIRECTOR JOINS US TO DISCUSS HOW THE NATIVE COMMUNITY IS FARING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

ONE YEAR AFTER COVID-19 CHANGED LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, WE WILL DISCUSS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PANDEMIC.

THESE TOPICS AND MORE, NEXT ON ALMANAC NORTH.

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

DENNIS IS OFF THIS WEEK AS WE ALTERNATE HOSTING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

MINNESOTA EXPANDED VACCINE ELIGIBILITY AS THE STATE REACHED ITS GOAL OF INNOCULATING 70% OF RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 65.

MORE MINNESOTANS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE.

THE STATE HOPES TO START VACCINATING THE GENERAL POPULATION SOMETIME IN MAY IF ENOUGH VACCINE DOSES ARE AVAILABLE.

MONDAY, MINNESOTA IS LOOSENING RESTRICTIONS.

BARS AND RESTAURANTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO SERVE AT 75% CAPACITY.

LARGE OUTDOOR VENUES WILL BE ALLOWED UP TO 10,000 SPECTATORS WHILE INDOOR VENUES WILL BE ABLE TO SEAT UP TO 3000.

THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS BEGINNING WORK TO UPDATE ITS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR 2040.

THE PUBLIC AND PARTICIPATE BY FILLING OUT AN ONLINE SURVEY TO PROVIDE INPUT.

A VIRTUAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 22.

A SIGN OF SPRING IS VISIBLE AS THE COAST GUARD BEGAN ICEBREAKING OPERATIONS, WITH THE ALDER BEGINNING WORK TO PREPARE SHIPPING CHANNELS FOR THE START OF THE SEASON.

THE DULUTH BASED ALDER WILL OPEN UP THE ONTARIO PORT.

THE TASK FORCE ON THE FUTURE OF DULUTH SPIRIT MOUNTAIN RELEASED ITS REPORT.

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN HAS FACED A TOUGH FINANCIAL SLEDDING.

JOINING US NOW IS IN AT LARGE DULUTH CITY COUNSELOR AND COCHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE AND JANET KENNEDY IS THE FIFTH DISTRICT COUNSELOR, AND ALSO COCHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

WHY DON'T WE BEGIN WITH YOU?

WHAT DID THE TASK FORCE SET OUT TO DO?

COUNSELOR KENNEDY: THERE ARE 106 PEOPLE WHO APPLIED TO BE ON THE TASK FORCE, AND WE ENDED UP WITH 18 OF US.

A LOT OF THE WORK CAME FROM SUPPORT FROM ANNE GLUMACK WHO A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW AND HAVE WORKED WITH.

OUR TASK FORCE WAS TO LOOK AT THE BUSINESS STRATEGIES RIGHTSIZING, LOOKING AT HOW SHOULD WE USE THE TOURISM TAX AS WELL AS SOME OF THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE COME OUT, SO I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH.

I KEEP TELLING FOLKS, SPEND SOME TIME READING THAT BOOK.

JULIE: HOW MUCH IT IS THE CITY OF DULUTH CURRENTLY SUBSIDIZE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN?

IS THE INVESTMENT WORTH IT?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IT.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE AVERAGED ABOUT 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN TOURISM TAX SUPPORT TO SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, AND THAT HAS GONE UP OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE TOURISM TAX WAS TO DRAW IN VISITORS AND MAKE IT A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION.

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN IS RIGHT ALONG WITH THE DECK AS THE TWO ENTITIES SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING THESE FUNDS INTO THROUGH THE WORK OF THE TASK FORCE AND A CONSULTANT GROUP, WE ALSO UPDATED AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT SHOWS THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL IMPACT.

JULIE: I THINK WE HAVE A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS THAT.

>> ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, THE $1.2 MILLION AND AVERAGE ANNUAL TOURISM SUBSIDY.

FAR-RIGHT, THE $22.4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE WE HAVE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN BRINGING THOSE TOURISM DOLLARS.

JULIE: HOW WOULD YOU RATE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AFT -- IN TERMS OF MEETING ITS POTENTIAL AS A SKI RESORT AND YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTION?

>> SPIRIT MOUNTAIN WAS ENVISIONED AS A RECREATION AREA.

THERE WERE TIMES THAT IT WAS THAT BUT THEN IT MOVED OVER TO BEING MORE OF A SKI HILL.

WE HAVE RECOGNIZED THROUGH SOME OF THE TASK FORCE WORK AND LOOKING AT THE SEC GROUP WORK, BOTH THE CITY, SPIRIT MOUNTAIN LEADERSHIP AT TIMES HAVE FAILED AT THE ORIGINAL VISION.

AS WE LOOK FORWARD, SPIRIT MOUNTAIN IS A RECREATION AREA.

THAT IS THE QUESTION WE BEGAN AND THAT IS THE ONE WE END WITH.

AS WE LOOK AT PUTTING TOGETHER SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIES TO MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN AT THIS POINT CANNOT TO BE SOLD.

WE NEED TO DO SOME INVESTMENT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

JULIE: YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY THE REPORT, BUT THE TASK FORCE DID RECOMMEND SOME BUSINESS STRATEGIES.

CAN YOU GIVE SOME IDEAS OF WHAT SPARE MOUNTAIN BE DOING BETTER?

>> STARTING WITH BUSINESS STRATEGIES IS VISIONU.

-- VISIONING.

MAKING SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME VISION.

IF YOU HAVE THE WORKERS ON ONE CHAPTER WHO ARE AMAZING, LEADERSHIP ON THE OTHER CHAPTER, AND THE CITY ON ANOTHER CHAPTER, THAT BUSINESS MODEL DOES NOT WORK.

AS I BEGIN TO DELVE MORE INTO BUSINESS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT, I KNOW THAT WORKS THROUGHOUT NONPROFITS, SO AS A NONPROFIT IS A BUSINESS, SPIRIT MOUNTAIN IS A BUSINESS.

BUT THE CONVERSATION AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE TOURISM TAX IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT OUR QUESTION IS IS SPIRIT MOUNTAIN A SKI HILL OR RECREATION?

THAT IS A MUST THAT THE TASK FORCE CAME UP WITH.

JULIE: THE BIG HEADLINE WAS THAT THE CONSULTANTS WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE HAD MADE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE CITY INVESTS MORE THAN $22 MILLION IN THE FACILITY.

IS THAT A REALISTIC NUMBER?

>> THE TASK FORCE ITSELF DID NOT TAKE A POSITION ON THE THREE DIFFERENT MODELS THAT THE CONSULTANT GROUP CAME OUT WITH.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE FIVE LEADING SKI EXPERTS IN THE WORLD AS FAR AS CONSULTANT AGENCY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR DATA, IT IS NOT THAT ANY OF THESE THREE MODELS THEY POTENTIALLY RECOMMENDED WOULD DRIVE A SWATH OF NEW VISITORS TO TOWN.

THE REAL MATH BEHIND IT IS THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT SPIRIT MOUNTAIN BRINGS IN HER VISITOR.

RIGHT NOW, THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS NOT PROFIT IS $2.42.

IF YOU LOOK AT COMPARABLE SKI AREAS ACROSS THE MIDWEST, IT IS USUALLY AROUND $17 $24.

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN'S REVENUE HAS NOT BEEN THERE.

THE TASK REPORT, WHICH INCLUDES THE SC GROUP CONSULTING RECOMMENDATION ON HOW TO LOOK AT THE FINANCIAL REINVESTMENT REALLY GETS IN THE WEEDS OF HOW SPIRIT MOUNTAIN COULD BREAK EVEN AND TURN A PROFIT LONG TERM IF WE FOLLOW THE STRATEGIC ADVICE.

JULIE: DID THE TASK FORCE MAKE ANY DECISION ON THAT QUESTION THAT ALWAYS POPS UP -- TO THE -- IN THE CITY GET OUT OF THE SKI BUSINESS?

>> THAT WAS PART OF THE QUESTION WE PONDERED.

RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NOT VIABLE.

WE KNOW THAT, THERE IS SOME WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND SOME OF THE REINVESTING IN SPIRIT MOUNTAIN BEFORE WE COME OUT AND SELL IT.

THERE IS ALSO THE LEGISLATION THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT PROHIBIT SOME OF SPIRIT MOUNTAIN PROPERTIES TO BE SOLD.

THERE IS A WAY OUT OF IT, BUT RIGHT NOW, SPIRIT MOUNTAIN IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE WINTER.

IF WE DID NOT HAVE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE MONEY COMING INTO DULUTH, AND I AM A LITTLE BIASED AS THE WEST DULUTH DISTRICT COUNSELOR, WE NEED ACTIVITIES OUT THERE.

IF SPIRIT MOUNTAIN WENT AWAY, I AM AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO WESTERN DULUTH.

WE ALWAYS BOUNCE BACK, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR NOW.

JULIE: WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

>> THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL NEED TO HAVE A VERY PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT REINVESTMENT, GOVERNANCE, AND OTHER THINGS RELATED TO SPIRIT MOUNTAIN, BUT I AM OPTIMISTIC.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: IT IS TIME NOW FOR OUR VOICES OF THE REGION SEGMENT WHERE HE ASK A NORTH LAND JOURNALIST ABOUT THE STORIES THEY ARE FOLLOWING.

NORTHWOODS OF ITASCA COUNTY.. ♪ >> 10 OF THE MAJOR DISTRICTS ON THE IRON RANGE SHOWING A TOTAL ENROLLMENT LOSS OF THE 700 STUDENTS.

THAT IS A LARGE CHUNK OF ENROLLMENT ANYWHERE FROM 10% ENROLLMENT DECLINES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS AROUND THE REGION.

THIS IS ON TOP OF ALL OF THE ENROLLMENT DECLINES THESE DISTRICTS HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE SQUEEZED THE TURNIP, THERE IS MORE TO LOSE.

THAT IS WHAT I THINK IS CONCERNING ABOUT THE STORY.

UNLIKE PREVIOUS ENROLLMENTpDECLS AND STUDENTS THAT HAVE LEFT OF THE AREA SO MUCH OF THAT THEY HAVE LEFT THE DISTRICTS.

AMONG THE REASONS, HOMESCHOOLING, ONLINE ACADEMIES, AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE ENROLLMENT LOSS.

YOU CAN TIE IT TO COVID-19 AND THE OUTCOMES.

THE FACT THAT STUDENTS WERE IN DIFFERENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, BUT IT IS NOT JUST ONE THING BECAUSE SOME STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE LEFT TO HAVE A BETTER ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THROUGH A MORE DEDICATED ONLINE SCHOOL.

SOME MAY HAVE GONE TO HOMESCHOOLING THE, SKIPPING OVER THE SCHOOLING PORTION OF THIS, AND OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED WITH SCHOOL POLICIES AT ONE SCHOOL OR ANOTHER, SO IT CREATED KIND OF A MARKET-BASED ENVIRONMENTS, WHERE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WERE SHOPPING.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, ENROLLMENT LOSS MEANS FINDING LOSS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THESE DISTRICTS WERE NOT EXACTLY FLUSHING CASH BEFORE, AND NOW THEY ARE LOOKING AT SHORTFALLS THAT MAYBE THEY DID NOT COUNT ON.

♪ >> FULL DISCLOSURE, I AM A FACULTY MEMBER AT HIBBING COMMUNITY COLLEGE, SO I AM INVOLVED.

ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES INVOLVED IN MERGING ONE OF THE FIVE COLLEGES, AND IT IS SEVERAL DIFFERENT COLLEGES, ALL SEPARATELY ACCREDITED COLLEGES THAT WERE GOVERNED UNDER THE NORTHEAST HIGHER EDUCATION DISTRICT.

THEY HAVE ONE PRESIDENT, BUT OTHERWISE, WE ARE INDEPENDENT.

WE ARE MERGING INTO A NEW COLLEGE, MINNESOTA -- COLLEGE.

COME FALL 2022, WE WILL BE A SINGLE COLLEGE WITH SIX DISTINCT CAMPUSES.

WE WILL RETAIN SOME OF WHAT ARE INDEPENDENT COLLEGES WERE.

YOU WILL NOTE THAT DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS WILL CONTINUE AT ALL OF THE CAMPUSES.

BUT WE WILL BE SHARING ADMINISTRATION, WE WILL BE SHARING OUR CURRICULUM AND OTHER RESOURCES, BECAUSE FRANKLY, JUST LIKE THE LOCAL WHAT --LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, WE STRUGGLE WITH ENROLLMENT.

MOSTLY BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO LOST ENROLLMENT.

COMMUNITIES ARE OLDER AND THERE ARE FEWER PEOPLE GOING TO COLLEGE, BUT THE HOPE IS THAT THIS MERGER WILL ALLOW THE COLLEGE TO TAKE A REGIONAL APPROACH, BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN THE OVERALL ECONOMIC PICTURE, THE RETRAINING FOR A NEW GENERATION OF WORK AND WORKERS, AND WE HOPE IT ALLOWS US TO PRESERVE A PRESENCE IN ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES.

♪ >> GROWING UP ON THE IRON RANGE, BICYCLING WASN'T DEFINITIVELY A SUMMER ACTIVITY AND NOT A WINTER ACTIVITY, BUT TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED, AND IT IS FAT TIRES IS THE CHANGE, THEY HAVE PRETTY NICE BIKES NOW.

YOU CAN RIDE THEM OVER MOST THINGS, AND NORTHERN MINNESOTANS BROADLY ENJOY WRITING THINGS OVER THINGS.

-- RIDING THINGS OVER THINGS.

FAT TIRE BIKES ARE ARE PART OF LIFE THAT SPREAD OUT ACROSS OUR REGION.

PROBABLY THE BEST EXAMPLE DOWN IN CROSBY AND IRONTON, THOSE TOWNS HAVE ENJOYED A LITTLE MINI BOOM SURROUNDING OUTDOOR RECREATION.

THEY CONVERTED A LOT OF THE OLD MINE LANDS THAT SURROUND THOSE AREAS INTO SOME REALLY EXCELLENT MOUNT BREAK -- MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS.

WE HAVE SOME NEW TRAILS FORMING, THE TIOGA TRAILER, THE REDHEAD TRAIL, THE MINNESOTA DISCOVERY CENTER IN CHISHOLM.

THESE TRAILS ARE MULTI USE.

YOU CAN HIKE THEM AND USE THEM IN OTHER WAYS.

THIS RECREATION IS REALLY DRAWING PEOPLE IN, BUT ALSO, BECOMING SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN ENJOY HERE AND A REASON FOR PEOPLE TO LOCATE HERE.

♪ ♪ JULIE: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ♪ JULIE: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCED THIS IS LAND TO HAVE ALL AMERICANS ELIGIBLE FOR THE COVID-19 VACCINE BY ME FIRST.

WHILE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WORK ON DISTURBING THE VACCINE, WE WONDER HOW TRIBAL NATIONS HAVE FARED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

DR. REYNOLDS, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

DR. REYNOLDS: THANK YOU.

JULIE: HOW HAS COVID-19 IMPACTED TRIBAL MEMBERS?

DR. REYNOLDS: IT HAS TURNED INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES WORLDS UPSIDE DOWN, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF RACIAL INEQUITIES AND UNDERFUNDING OF HEALTH SYSTEMS, THERE HAS BEEN HEALTH DISPARITIES AND THERE HAS BEEN MORE BURDEN OF CHRONIC DISEASES, WHICH HAS LED TO MORE SEVERE OUTCOMES DUE TO COVID-19 DISEASE.

JULIE: YOU HAVE SEEN THAT HERE LOCALLY?

DR. REYNOLDS: WE HAVE SEEN IT LOCALLY.

JULIE: AS A SOURING NATION, HOW DOES -- DO YOU FOLLOW STATE AND FEDERAL COVID GUIDELINES OR DO YOU CHART YOUR OWN COURSE?

DR. REYNOLDS: GREAT QUESTION.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TEAM LOOKS AT THE CDC AND LOOKS AT THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ALL OF THE GUIDELINES THEY PUT FORTH AND WE ANALYZE AND SEE HOW IT IS GOING TO FIT WITH OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A HIGHER DISEASE BURDEN IN MY WE HAVE TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS, SO IMPLEMENTING THOSE GUIDELINES IN THE VERY BEGINNING, WE MADE SURE THAT IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

JULIE: NOW THE VACCINES ARE STARTING TO ROLL OUT.

HAVE YOU BEEN IMPLEMENTING INITIATIVES TO GIVE TRAVEL MEMBERS ACCESS TO THOSE VACCINES -- WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

DR. REYNOLDS: THANKFULLY WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE VACCINE OUT AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD AND FOR THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST RISK.

AT FIRST, WE WERE NOT SURE HOW MANY VACCINES WE MIGHT GET, SO WE HAD TO MAKE SURE WE COVERED OUR ELDERS AND THOSE THAT HAVE DISEASES THAT COULD LEAD TO SEVERE DISEASE, SO THOSE WITH DIABETES, IMMUNOCOMPROMISED DISEASES, AND THANKFULLY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE VACCINES AND, ROLLED THEM OUT, AND NOW, IT SEEMS VERY OPEN, ELIGIBLE SERVICES AT THE MOMENT WHICH IS GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY, BUT THAT SURROUNDING US AS WELL.

JULIE: HAS THERE BEEN ANY HESITANCY IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY OR AVERSION TO TAKING THE VACCINE?

DR. REYNOLDS: JUST LIKE THE GENERAL POPULATION, THERE HAS BEEN SOME QUESTIONING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HESITANCY, BUT WE FEEL THAT IF THERE IS SOME QUESTIONS, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HIT THEM VACCINATED TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY, TO PROTECT OUR ELDERS, TO PROTECT EVERYONE.

JULIE: YOU MENTIONED THAT THE ELDERS ARE ON THE FIRST LINE AS FAR AS GETTING THE VACCINE.

HAS IT BEEN IMPORTANT FOR THE ELDERS AND TRIBAL LEADERS TO USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO BRING PEOPLE ALONG AS TRUSTED MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY?

DR. REYNOLDS: DEFINITELY OUR LEADERS HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PREVENT COVID-19 DISEASE AND WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO OUR ELDERS ARE BEING THE ROLE MODELS AND BEING THE FIRST TO TAKE THOSE VACCINES.

WE HAVE HAD 77 PERCENT OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY OF THE ELDERS GETTING VACCINATED, SO THEY ARE WELL RESPECTED AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THEM GETTING VACCINATED FIRST.

JULIE: DO YOU GET YOUR VACCINE FROM THE STATES, DO YOU GET IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHAT IS THAT PIPELINE FOR YOU?

DR. REYNOLDS: CURRENTLY, OURS IS THROUGH THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SO THROUGH THE STATE.

JULIE: ARE YOU GETTING THE DOSES THAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU NEED?

THE STATE HAD SAID THAT NATIVE COMMUNITIES WOULD RECEIVE PRIORITY IN TERMS OF GETTING THOSE.

DR. REYNOLDS: AT FIRST, THERE WAS SOME QUESTION AS TO HOW MANY WE WERE GOING TO RECEIVE.

WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE FIRST, WE ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING A LOT, AND THEN THERE WAS QUESTIONING AT THE BEGINNING OF HOW MANY, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINES THAT WE DO NEED.

JULIE: DO YOU FEEL THAT FOND DU LAC IS GETTING COVID-19 UNDER CONTROL?

DR. REYNOLDS: THAT IS HARD TO SAY, BECAUSE I DO NOT THINK THAT COVID-19 IS UNDER CONTROL IN GENERAL.

WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK WE HAVE DONE A NICE JOB AND CAN CONTINUE TO BE CAUTIOUS, SOCIALLY DISTANCE, WEAR OUR MASKS, AND TO GET VACCINATED TO GET OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC SOON.

JULIE: DR. CHARITY REYNOLDS, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND SHARING THAT INFORMATION.

GOOD LUCK AS YOU MOVE FORWARD GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED.

DR. REYNOLDS: THANK YOU.

JULIE: IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK THE PANDEMIC WAS DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, SPARKING MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, AND OTHER STATES TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING PROTOCOLS.

MULTIPLATFORM PRODUCER SPOKE TO MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF ISOLATION BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> MY NAME IS STEVE, AND I AM A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER AND LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR AND I WORK AT THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN DOUGLAS COUNTY.

OUR MAIN PROGRAM IS CALLED THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM AND THAT IS FOR ADULTS WITH SERIOUS OR PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS.

WE HAVE 14 STAFF THAT SERVICE THOSE CLIENTS AND WE ARE PRIMARILY AN OUTREACH PROGRAM SEEING THOSE CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

BY NOT BEING ABLE TO DO OUTREACH, GOING TO PEOPLE'S HOMES, TAKING THEM TO APPOINTMENTS, TAKING THEM TO THE STORES, ETC.

WE HAVE HAD TO GO BY VIRTUE OF THE GUIDELINES OF THE PANDEMIC, THE SHELTERING IN PLACE, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, ETC.

WE HAVE HAD TO CONVERT OUR SERVER SYSTEM TO PRIMARILY A NON-FACE TO FACE SYSTEM.

WE TRY TO DO AS MUCH ITV WHICH SHOULD BE VIDEO, COMPUTER TYPE, BUT MOST OF OUR CLIENTS DO NOT HAVE ITV CAPABILITIES.

SO WE DO THAT BY PHONE.

FORTUNATELY, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND THIS HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA AS WELL, THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, THEY HAVE ALLOWED US TO BILL OUR PHONE SERVICES RATHER THAN FACE-TO-FACE.

BEFORE, THAT WAS NOT ALLOWABLE, BUT IT WAS A MEASURED THE STATE MADE IN AN EFFORT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH CLIENTS.

I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLIENTS LIVE ON KIND OF BARE MINIMUM INCOME.

SSI THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS A LOT OF FINANCIAL INEQUITY, AND THE PEOPLE WE SERVE TEND TO EXPERIENCE THAT MORE THAN THE REST.

OUR CLIENTS AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE MUCH MORE ISOLATED, SO HAVING LESS CONTACT WITH US MAKES THEM ISOLATED.

IT WILL VARY, SOME OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM , SOME DON'T.

I WORK WITH PEOPLE HERE THAT LITERALLY, I AM THE ONLY PERSON THEY SEE.

I'M THE ONLY PERSON THAT GOES TO THEIR HOME.

ONE OF THE TERMS I HAVE SEEN MORE OF LATELY AND SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE HEARD OF THIS, IS WE CALL THIS DEATH THROUGH DESPAIR.

WE ARE AWARE THAT THE SUICIDE RATE HAS INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL OVERDOSE TYPE RATES HAVE INCREASED QUITE A BIT, AND SOME OF THAT IS JUST BECAUSE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION HAS RISEN SUBSTANTIALLY.

I DON'T THINK WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH.

I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A REAL HANDLE ON HOW TOUGH IT IS OUT THERE.

WE KNOW THAT SUICIDE RATE IS UP FOR YOUTH, WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

I WOULD SAY IT IS WORLDWIDE.

I'VE LOOKED AT STUDIES IN GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES, AND IT IS KIND OF UNIVERSAL THAT WE ARE JUST SEEING THE STRESS FOR BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS.

>> WE ARE STARTING TO GET THE TRAUMAS AND STUFF WELLING UP.

NOW IS AN IMPORTANT TIME TO BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT, NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THIS PANDEMIC AND ITS OFFSHOOTS, BUT ALSO THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECT WHICH IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO JUDGING FROM THE AMOUNT OF SUICIDES WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST YEAR.

THAT COULD ALSO BE A PANDEMIC AND ALSO DRUG AND ALCOHOL OVERDOSES.

FOR INSTANCE, THEY ARE UP SO MANY TIMES THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT WAS MORE THAN ANY OTHER POINT IN HISTORY.

THAT IS HOW MANY DEATHS RESULTED FROM SUBSTANCE, AND YOU ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT THESE THINGS, EVERYTHING IS COVID, COVID, COVID, BUT IT IS NOT THE WHAT ABOUT YOUR MIND IN COVID.

WE ARE SOCIAL CREATURES AT OUR CORE, SO WE NEED PEOPLE.

WE NEED THAT CONTACT.

GOING WITHOUT IT, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS CAN SET IN, THE LONELINESS, THE BOREDOM, AND THESE ARE ALL VERY REAL ISSUES AND IT CAN LEAD TO MORE EXTREME THINGS.

THE NATURE OF TRAUMA, FOR INSTANCE, IT MAY NOT SET IN RIGHT AWAY.

THEY COULD ALSO LAST SEVERAL MONTHS OR MORE, MAYBE EVEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

SO THE WAKE OF THIS WILL HAVE A PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS.

JULIE: SUICIDE IS AMONG THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES AND RECENT NATIONWIDE SURVEYS SHOW IT IS ON THE RISE IN SOME POPULATIONS.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS IN CRISIS, CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE AT 1-800-273-TALK.

THAT NUMBER IS ANSWERED 24 HOURS, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

TONIGHT, A NEW EXHIBIT OPENED AT THE RICHARD IVONNE VETERAN HISTORICAL CENTER.

>> 1-2-3 [APPLAUSE] JULIE: THE EXHIBIT AS A SUPERIOR CENTER TOOK A LITTLE OVER A YEAR TO COME TO FRUITION AND FEATURES THE KOREAN AND VIETNAM WARS.

THE CENTER'S CURATORS SAYS THAT THEY CHANGED THEIR MISSION FROM WORLD WAR II TO INCLUDE CONFLICTS TO THE PRESENT DAY.

ECM OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE VIETNAM VETERANS, AND THE NEW EXHIBIT HAS MADE THEM FEEL MUCH MORE REPRESENTED.

>> YOU ENTER INTO KOREA HERE, AND WHAT WE DID IS TELL THE STORY OF EACH CONFLICT, BUT THROUGH THE LENS OF LOCAL PEOPLE.

WE HAVE SIX INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE EXHIBIT, THROUGHOUT BOTH EXHIBITS.

JULIE: THE EXHIBIT HAS A HANDS-ON, MORSE CODE SECTION TELLING THE STORY OF THE ARMY SECURITY AGENCY.

THIS IS THE LARGEST NEW EXHIBIT AT THE CENTER SINCE THE FACILITY OPENED.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR OUR SHOW BUT YOU CAN STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH ALMANAC NORTH BY FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

YOU FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND ALSO VISIT THE WDSE.ORG WEBSITE.

TAKE PUBLIC TELEVISION WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO BY DOWNLOADING THE PBS VIDEO APP.

THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW IN THE STUDIO.

I AM JULIE ZENNER, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪