JULIE: I'M JULIE ZENNER.

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

THE CITY OF SUPERIOR IS CONSIDERING CHANGING THE WAY IT ALLOCATES TOURISM TAXES, WE WILL TALK WITH THE MAYOR ABOUT THAT PROPOSAL.

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, AND RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH IS EMPHASIZING THAT HELP IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

AND WE'LL HAVE A STORY FROM GRAND MARAIS AS THE PBS NATIONAL PROGRAM "CRAFT IN AMERICA" MAKES A STOP AT THE FOLK HOUSE SCHOOL.

THOSE STORIES AND VOICES OF THE REGION, COMING UP ON "ALMANAC NORTH."

♪ JULIE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," THANKS FOR WATCHING!

DENNY IS OFF THIS WEEK.

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION, SUPERIOR STREET IN DOWNTOWN DULUTH FULLY RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC TODAY.

THE $31.5 MILLION PROJECT TO REBUILD DULUTH'S OLDEST STREET BEGAN IN 2018.

THE MAJOR DOWNTOWN ARTERY WAS REBUILT FROM THE 600 BLOCK OF WEST SUPERIOR STREET TO THE 400 BLOCK OF EAST SUPERIOR STREET.

RECENT RAINS HAVE ALLOWED THE DNR TO LOOSEN SOME RESTRICTIONS IN THE ARROWHEAD REGION.

BEGINNING TODAY, CAMPFIRES ARE ALLOWED IN FIRE RINGS AT HOMES, CABINS, AND CAMPGROUNDS.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE FIRE DANGER IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST ALSO THIS WEEK RE-OPENED MOST OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS TO OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

SOME ENTRY POINTS REMAIN CLOSED DUE TO EXISTING FIRES.

AND THE SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL RE-OPENED ITS CAMPSITES FOR PUBLIC USE, BUT NO CAMPFIRES ARE ALLOWED.

ESSENTIA HEALTH'S NEW CLINIC IN MOOSE LAKE WILL OPEN NEXT TUESDAY.

THE CLINIC IS LOCATED IN MOOSE LAKE'S HOSPITAL BUILDING.

THE 10,000 SQUARE FOOT CLINIC HAS 14 EXAM ROOMS AND IS A $4 MILLION PROJECT.

THE SUPERIOR CITY COUNCIL IS SET TO VOTE NEXT WEEK ON A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY THE CITY'S HOTEL/MOTEL TAX COLLECTIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED.

THE CHANGE WOULD CREATE A TOURISM COMMISSION WITH THE POWER TO DETERMINE HOW THOSE TAX PROCEEDS ARE DISTRIBUTED.

CURRENTLY, "TRAVEL SUPERIOR" RECEIVES ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THAT MONEY TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN THE AREA, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE UNDER THIS NEW PLAN.

JOINING US WITH MORE ON THE PROPOSAL IS JIM PAINE, THE MAYOR OF SUPERIOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AGAIN, YOU WERE HERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

MAYBE YOU CAN START WITH A BASELINE.

ON AVERAGE, HOW MUCH ARE THOSE TOURISM TAX COLLECTIONS EVERY YEAR AND HOW ROUGHLY ARE THEY DISTURB THE?

MAYOR PAINE: IT IS NOT REALLY AN AVERAGE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN GROWING.

WE HAVE BEEN FILLING ALMOST EVERY HOTEL ROOM OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

COVID WAS AN EXCEPTION, BUT GENERALLY, WE ARE PROBABLY LOOKING AT BETWEEN SIX OF THE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND $800,000 IN 2022.

70% OF THAT MONEY GOES TO TRAVEL SUPERIOR BY CONTRACT, A TOURISM ENTITY.

WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS ALLOCATING THAT TO A TOURISM COMMISSION THAT COULD CONTACT WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TRAVEL SUPERIOR BUT WOULD HAVE MANY MORE OPTIONS IN HOW IT MARKETS TOURISM.

JULIE: WHY WOULD THIS TOURISM COMMISSION BE A BETTER STRUCTURE IN YOUR OPINION?

MAYOR PAINE: STATE STATUTE GIVES US TWO OPTIONS FOR DISABLING THE MONEY AND WITHOUT ONE WE USE NOW REQUIRES US TO GIVE IT TO ONE ORGANIZATION AND THERE IS ONLY ONE ORGANIZATION THAT IS ELIGIBLE AND THE LAW WAS WRITTEN THAT WAY.

TO GIVE OURSELVES OPTIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN NOT ONLY DIFFERENT MARKETING COMPANIES, BUT TO INVEST IN LOCAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OR TO GROW AND IMPROVE THE CITY IN A WAY THAT WOULD ATTRACT VISITORS, WE NEED TO CREATE A COMMISSION.

THE STATUTE ALLOWS US TO HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THE MONEY BUT IT REQUIRES AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO DO THAT AND THAT IS A TOURISM COMMISSION.

JULIE: WHO WOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THAT COMMISSION?

MAYOR PAINE: IT IS A PUBLIC APPOINTMENT PROCESS BUT I HAVE NAMED THE PEOPLE THAT I INTEND TO APPOINT.

IT IS SIX MEMBERS, ALL OF WHOM ARE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN SUPERIOR, ALL OF THEM IN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTS THE BUSINESSES THAT PAY THE TAX, WHICH IS THE LODGING INDUSTRY.

JULIE: TRAVEL SUPERIOR, THE FOLKS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT ORGANIZATION, ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT THEY COULD LOSE THE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAVE WITH THE CITY.

HOW DO WE SEE THAT PLAYING OUT?

HAVE THEY BEEN MEETING THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITY?

IS THERE REASON TO THINK THAT THERE COULD BE MAJOR CHANGES COMING?

MAYOR PAINE: IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN BEATING EXPECTATIONS OR NOT, IT IS ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE GIVING THEM ALL OF THE MONEY IS THE BEST WAY TO PROMOTE TOURISM AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS ABOUT REVIEWING THE OPTIONS.

I THINK IT IS LIKELY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET A CONTRACT OF SOME KIND.

THEY RUN OUR VISITORS CENTER AND I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY ELSE CAN DO THAT BETTER.

SO THEY ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO GET MONEY TO DO THAT.

THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF MARKETING.

THEY CONTRACT WITH OUT-OF-TOWN MARKETING COMPANIES TO MARKET OUR AREA AND THEY MAKE THAT DECISION.

I IN THE CITY COUNCIL THINKS THAT THAT DECISION SHOULD BE AT LEAST REVIEWED BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

JULIE: SO SUPERIOR IS CONSIDERING SENDING OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE TOURISM SERVICES CURRENTLY THAT ARE PROVIDED BY TRAVEL SUPERIOR.

WHAT IS NEXT IN THAT PROCESS?

DID YOU HAVE TO GET THIS COMMISSION IN PLACE FOR THAT RFP TO GO OUT?

MAYOR PAINE: YES.

WE CANNOT PUT IT OUT TODAY IF WE KEEP THE CURRENT STRUCTURE BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE BIDDER.

SO IN ORDER TO PUT IT OUT, WE HAVE TO CREATE A COMMISSION AND THEY WOULD PUT IT OUT TO BID.

WE HAVE COULD A DRAFT RFP, I'M SURE THEY WILL TWEET THAT AND EXPRESS MORE ABOUT -- TWEAK TAHT AND EXPRESS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE AT MARKETING SERVICES.

BUT THEY WOULD PUT THAT RFP OUT AND OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS, REVIEW THE BIDS AND ALLOCATE ONE OR MANY CONTRACT USING THE MONEY WE GIVE TO THEM.

JULIE: DULUTH RECENTLY WENT THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS THAT WAS QUITE CONTENTIOUS, WHEN VISIT DULUTH, A LONGTIME PARTNER, WAS NOT CHOSEN TO DO THE MARKETING FOR THE CITY BUT THAT WAS GIVEN TO A TWIN CITIES FIRM.

WOULD YOU BE OPEN IF THE RFPS CAME BACK TO MAYBE SENDING SOME OF THOSE TOURISM DOLLARS OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SUPERIOR?

MAYOR PAINE: A LOT OF THEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY NOW.

MOST OF THE FIRMS THAT MARKET TOURISM ON BEHALF OF TRAVEL SUPERIOR ARE OUT OF TOWN ARCING FIRMS, ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION.

YOU WANT THE BEST MARKETERS AND YOU WANTS PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE AUDIENCE YOU ARE TALKING TO.

YOU WANT LOCAL PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF CHOOSING THEM AND YOU BOUGHT LOCAL PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY TO APPROVE THE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS AND MAKE SURE THAT IT REPRESENTS US AND THAT IS WHAT A TOURISM COMMISSION DOES.

IT IS PUBLIC THE APPOINTED OFFICIALS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS OUT IN PUBLIC, AND PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH PUBLIC MINUTES WHERE EVERYBODY GETS TO BE PART OF THAT DECISION.

JULIE: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THAT HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM INDUSTRY?

MAYOR PAINE: TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, VERY LITTLE.

FOR THE MOST PART, WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING TRANSPARENCY AND REPRESENTING OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND I THINK THE CITY HAS BUILT QUITE A BIT OF TRUST AND IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT AT LEAST MY APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FIRST COMMISSION WILL BE ALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITHIN THE CITY OF SUPERIOR.

I THINK THEIR INTERESTS ARE GOING TO BE WELL REPRESENTED.

BUT I THINK MOST PEOPLE JUST WANT TO SEE OPTIONS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE VERY BEST PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTING US AND HOPING TO DEVELOP THIS COMMUNITY AND THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

JULIE: I'M SURE IT IS SOMETHING FOLKS WILL BE WATCHING CAREFULLY IN SUPERIOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MAYOR PAINE: OF COURSE, THANK YOU.

JULIE: THANK YOU.

♪ JULIE: IT'S TIME NOW FOR "VOICES OF THE REGION."

EACH WEEK, WE HEAR FROM A JOURNALIST COVERING STORIES OF INTEREST IN THE NORTHLAND.

THIS WEEK, TIMBERJAY PUBLISHER MARSHAL HELMBERGER FROM TOWER IS OUR GUEST.

♪ >> THE CASE COUNT IS RISING QUICKLY.

270 THREE NEW CASES REPORTED IN THE PAST WEEK AND THAT IS A JUMP OF 52% OVER THE WEEK BEFORE.

THAT IS A HUGE TRAJECTORY HERE IN TERMS OF INCREASING CASES.

IN LIGHT THOSE CASES ARE SHOWING UP OUTSIDE OF THE DULUTH AREA IN PLACES WHERE VACCINATION RATES ARE LOWER THAN THE COUNTYWIDE AVERAGE.

THE TOWER AREA REPORTED NINE NEW CASES THIS PAST WEEK AND WE KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE DEATH IN TOWER REPORTEDLY DUE TO COVID.

THIS IS DEFINITELY VERY REAL, WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

THIS POTENTIALLY COULD BE AT LEAST AS BAD A SPIKE AS WHAT WE SAW LAST WINTER.

THIS NEW VARIANT IS NOT ONLY MORE CONTAGIOUS, IT SEEMS TO BE HITTING YOUNGER PEOPLE A LOT HARDER THAN SOME OF THE EARLIER VARIANTS.

DESPITE THIS SPIKE IN CASES, SCHOOLS IN OUR REGION ARE NOT REQUIRING MASKS AND NONE ARE CONSIDERING DISTANCE LEARNING AT THIS POINT AND SOME OF OUR AREA SCHOOL BOARDS ARE DIVIDED ON THAT ISSUE, SO IT MAY DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN NEXT WEEK.

OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS DID MENTION , WHEN ALBERT LEA OPENED THEIR SCHOOLS EARLY THIS YEAR, THEY HAD A CASE OUTBREAK THE FIRST WEEK, THEY HAD 36 CASES AND 290 STUDENTS AND STAFF IN QUARANTINE BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK.

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY FEAR THAT MANY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA COULD EXPERIENCE SIMILAR OUTCOMES WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN.

♪ MARSHAL: WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING EXTENSIVELY ON THE GREEN WOOD FIRE AND SOME OF THE OTHER FIRES IN THE BOUNDARY WATERS IN THE GOOD NEWS IS THE REINS OVER THE WEEKEND HELPED -- RAINS OVER THE WEEKEND HELPED GIVE THE FIREFIGHTERS THE UPPER HAND ON SOME OF THESE FIRES.

FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT TO HAVE FULL CONTAINMENT OF THAT GREENWOOD FIRE BY SEPTEMBER 10.

YOU ARE ALSO TAKING A LOOK OR IN-DEPTH -- MORE IN-DEPTH ON THE FIRES IN THE CRITICAL.

THE FIRES THEY HAVE DWARF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HERE.

IN PART, BECAUSE CANADIAN AUTHORITIES WERE NOT REALLY ACTIVELY TRYING TO SUPPRESS THE FIRES IN THE CRITICAL.

PARTLY, THAT IS DUE TO POLICY WHERE IN REMOTE PARTS, CANADIAN AUTHORITIES DO ALLOW THEY SAY FIRE TO WORK ITS NATURAL ROLE, SO THEY DO ALLOW SOME OF THAT.

ALSO, FOR A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE SUMMER, NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO WAS DEALING WITH A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF WILDFIRES IN SOME OF THOSE THREATENED REMOTE COMMUNITIES, SO THEY HAD THEIR RESOURCES DEDICATED ELSEWHERE.

NOW, A LOT OF THOSE FIRES HAVE BEEN EXTINGUISHED, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO START DOING SOME SUPPRESSION WORK IN THE CRITICAL, ALTHOUGH IT IS PRETTY LIMITED COMPARED WITH WHAT WE HAVE THROWN AT THE GREENWOOD FIRE ON OUR SIDE OF THE BORDER.

THE FIRE ULTIMATELY WILL PROBABLY BENEFIT MOOSE AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES IN THE CRITICAL.

AS CANADIAN OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE, FIRE DOES HAVE ABLE TO PLAY IN THE ENVIRONMENT -- DOES HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE ENVIRONMENT UP HERE.

FIRE HAS SHAPED FORESTS IN OUR REGION.

SO IT IS BEING ALLOWED TO PLAY ITS NATURAL ROLE.

♪ MARSHAL: IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

THE WINNER OF THIS TOURNAMENT CAUGHT 98 BASS WING TOTAL OF 247 POUNDS.

THAT WAS ALMOST DOUBLE THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR THIS PROGRAM STORE, THE CLASSIC PAST CHAMPION TOUR, IT WAS HELD IN AUGUST.

ADAM IS THE ANGLER WHO WON THIS TIME, HE IS FROM WISCONSIN.

HE STRUGGLED A BIT AT THE OTHER COMPETITIONS, BUT HE SAYS THE STARS ALIGNED FOR HIM AND FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HE WAS CATCHING A BASS ON VIRTUALLY EVERY CAST.

HE WAS NOT ALONE.

THE FISHERMEN HAD A GREAT DAY ON PELICAN LAKE AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS TOUR HAD COME TO PELICAN LAKE AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT IS GOING TO BE BACK.

I THINK A LOT OF THE ANGLERS WERE SURPRISED AT HOW WELL THEY DID.

THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER TALLIED 32 FISH WEIGHING 105 POUNDS AND THAT WOULD HAVE NETTED HIM FIRST PLACE IN THE PREVIOUS TWO COMPETITIONS IN THE STORE.

THIS IS DEFINITELY BRINGING SOME ATTENTION TO OAR.

WHEN THESE COMPETITIONS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW THESE TOURNAMENTS AS THEY HAPPEN OVER APPS NOW THAT INSTANTLY RECORD THE FISSURES, ESTIMATE THE SIZE AND WEIGHT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BRING WIDER AWARENESS OF WHAT SPECTACULAR FISH THEY HAVE ON PELICAN LAKE.

♪ JULIE: IN 2020 ALONE, MORE THAN 1000 MINNESOTANS LOST THEIR LIVES TO AN OVERDOSE.

ON TUESDAY, FOLKS GATHERED IN DULUTH'S LINCOLN PARK TO HONOR THOSE LOST ON OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY.

IT ALSO MARKED THE START OF NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH IN SEPTEMBER.

HERE WITH MORE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING AWARENESS IS JULIE VENA, PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH, AND BETH ELSTAD IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND TALKING ABOUT THIS PRETTY IMPORTANT TOPIC.

JULIE, IS THERE STILL A STIGMA ATTACHED TO SEGMENTS -- ATTACHED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE HELP THEY NEED?

JULIE V.: ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T THINK RECOVERY ALLIANCE WOULD EXIST IF THE STIGMA WAS NOT REAL AND WAS NOT ALIVE.

I THINK THERE STILL IS A BARRIER THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM REACHING OUT OR MOVING FORWARD.

THERE IS STILL A CHALLENGE AND -- IN PEOPLE ADMITTING THAT THEY NEED HELP.

JULIE: INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY HELD THIS WEEK, WHAT IS THE MAIN MESSAGE THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET OUT WITH AN EVENT LIKE THAT IN MY COMMEMORATING A DAY LIKE THAT?

JULIE V.: WE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY TO HONOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES DUE TO OVERDOSE, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CAMPUS FAMILIES THAT WERE IMPACTED AND BRING SOME AWARENESS TO OVERDOSE AND THE EPIDEMIC LEVELS WE ARE EXPERIENCING IT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO FOLLOWED OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY WITH A PROCLAMATION OF THE BEGINNING OF RECOVERY MONTH, WHICH BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 1.

WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT OVERDOSE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT RECOVERY.

JULIE: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE EPIDEMIC OF OVERDOSE FIRST.

OUR MEN AND WOMEN IMPACTED EQUALLY -- ARE MEN AND WOMEN IMPACTED EQUALLY?

IS AGE A FACTOR?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE THAT MIGHT BE COMING?

JULIE V.: I WOULD SAY THE DULUTH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME GOOD STATISTICS ON SPECIFICS AND I BELIEVE THAT MEN WERE IMPACTED AT A GREATER NUMBER AS FAR AS THAT AGE RANGE, I'M HESITANT TO SAY THAT AND I THINK THAT WE COULD DEFINITELY GET SOME MORE SPECIFICS.

IT IMPACTS EVERYBODY.

JULIE: OUR CERTAIN SUBSTANCES MORE OFTEN THAN NOT INVOLVED IN OUR REGION?

>> I WOULD SAY NOT.

I WOULD SAY THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES BEING USED AND ONE IS NOT DOMINANT TO THE OTHER.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF OVERDOSES WITH OPIATES.

WE ARE SEEING METH AND FETA MEANS, FENTANYL.

WHILE WE SEE OVERDOSE, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALCOHOL IS TAKING THE LIVES OF MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AS WELL.

JULIE: WHAT IS DULUTH DOING RIGHT IN TERMS OF TRYING TO WRAP ITS ARMS AROUND THIS PROBLEM?

>> I THINK DULUTH IS AN INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THE RECOVERY COMMUNITY IS ALIVE AND WELL WITH HOPE AND JOY AND I THINK PEOPLE IN THE DULUTH COMMUNITY ARE PROUD OF RECOVERY.

I THINK MARY LARSON DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WHEN SHE RECOGNIZED NATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY BUT ALSO NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH, STANDING BEHIND THE CITY OF DULUTH AND OUR ENTIRE REGION, WE SEE YOU AS PEOPLE AND WE SEE THAT RECOVERY ISRAEL.

JULIE: MAYBE YOU COULD TALK ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT YOU DO TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE GET ON THAT ROAD TO RECOVERY AND STAY ON THAT ROAD.

>> I'M A PERSON IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY.

JUST KNOWING THAT RECOVERY -- SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER IS A CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES SO WE NEED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CONTINUUM AND RECOVERY ALLIANCE DULUTH WORKS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE.

WE HONOR THEIR RECOVERY AND WHATEVER PATHWAY WORKS FOR THEM.

WE DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO, WE ASK WHAT WORKS FOR THEM.

WE CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES, WE PROVIDE.

RECOVERY SUPPORT -- WE PROVIDE PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT.

WE HAVE TRAINED 100 INDIVIDUALS.

IT IS OVER 100 SINCE WE BEGAN, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE DID NOT HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE DOING A LOT OF CAMPAIGNING ABOUT REDUCING AND ELIMINATING THE STIGMA THAT SURROUNDS RECOVERY AND SUBSTANCE USE.

AND WHAT WE ARE DOING IS SHOWING UP, WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH MANY AGENCIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE IN THE JAILS, WE ARE IN THE CORRECTIONS, WE ARE IN SAFE BABIES COURTS, WE ARE IN TREATMENTS COURTS, WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE IN SHELTERS.

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT RECOGNIZES THE NEED AND IS WILLING TO SUPPORT US IN DOING THIS WORK.

JULIE: IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

AND YOU FIND THAT AS WELL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR, SO I GET A LOT OF THOSE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONVERSATIONS AND I BELIEVE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE DO UNLESS WE WORK TOGETHER.

JULIE: TALK ABOUT SOME SUCCESS STORIES.

EITHER YOUR OWN OR ONES THAT YOU SEE AND THE COMMUNITY.

>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A RECOVERY COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION IN OUR REGION, WE ARE THE FIRST ARE CO IN THIS REGION.

-- RCO IN THIS REGION.

WE ARE SEEING FAMILIES REUNITED, WE ARE SEEING REIFICATION STATEMENT SUCCESS IS DEFINED DIFFERENTLY BY EVERYBODY AND WE JUST SEE, WHEN SOME IS FILLING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT THEIR RECOVERY, THAT IS A SUCCESS.

WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS AS A HEALTH ISSUE AND REDUCE THE SHAME, THAT IS A SUCCESS.

AND THAT IS HAPPENING.

JULIE: WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.

I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A WALK FOR RECOVERY THAT IS PLANNED.

TELL PEOPLE WHAT IS PLANNED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE WALK IS SEPTEMBER 11 FROM 1:00 P.M. UNTIL 7:00 P.M.

THERE WILL BE A WALKER, FOOD TRUCKS, ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS, A BOUNCY HOUSE, THEN A RECOVERY CONCERT FROM 5:00 TO 7:00.

JULIE: IS THIS SOMETHING ANYBODY CAN TAKE PART IN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HOPE EVERYBODY WILL.

JULIE: THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE WATER, I HOPE YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE, I HOPE IT RAISES A LOT OF MONEY IN THAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO GOOD WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

JULIE: THE NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL IN GRAND MARAIS HAS ATTRACTED STUDENTS FROM EVERY STATE AND AROUND THE WORLD.

LAST WEEK, A PRODUCTION TEAM FROM THE PBS NATIONAL PROGRAM "CRAFT IN AMERICA" WAS IN TOWN.

WDSE VIDEOGRAPHER STEVE ASH STOPPED BY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR VISIT.

♪ >> MEDICOS SQUARE BACK.

>> THEIR HOUSE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CRAFTS THAT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THE SCHOOL SINCE THE BEGINNING.

REFRAMING IS ONE OF THEM.

IF YOU WALK ACROSS OUR CAMPUS, IT IS CLEARLY PART OF THE CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL, AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.

>> WE CAME TO MINNESOTA BECAUSE WE ARE DOING AN EPISODE OF CRAFT IN AMERICA TITLED HOME.

I KNEW OF THE NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL SMALL TIMBER FRAME CLASS AND DECIDED IT WOULD FIT PERFECTLY INTO THIS EPISODE.

I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CRAFT IN AMERICA.

WE ARE A NONPROFIT BASED IN LOS ANGELES WITH A MISSION TO PROMOTE AND ADVANCE ORIGINAL HANDCRAFTED WORK THROUGH PROGRAMS IN ALL MEDIA.

OUR MOST IMPORTANT PROGRAM IS THE DOCUMENTARY SERIES THAT WE PRODUCE FOR PBS.

NORMALLY, WE WILL COME IN AND SPEND TWO TO THREE DAYS ON A SEGMENT.

THERE ARE BETWEEN FOUR TO SIX SEGMENTS AND EACH OF OUR HOURS.

THIS TIME, WE HAVE COME TO FILM THE TIMBER FRAME CLASS AND THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE THE TIMBER FRAME SMALL HOUSE WILL NOT BE ARRESTED UNTIL MAY.

SO WE WILL COME BACK FOR A SECOND VISIT TO MINNESOTA.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> IS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL.

THE SCHOOLHOUSES IS 24 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF CELEBRATING A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.

TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH SOME OF THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF OF CHALLENGES AND TO KNOW, WE ARE STRONG, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND LOOK WHO IS COMING AND VISITING.

IT DOES NOT GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT.

I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL, AND EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT IN MINNESOTA.

NORTH HOUSE HAS GROWN THROUGHOUT TO FOUR YEARS, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

NOW, IN A TYPICAL YEAR, 70% OF OUR STUDENTS COME FROM MINNESOTA.

BUT YOU CAN DO MATH AND FIGURE OUT THAT IT MEANS 30% COMES FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS HAS MEANT 48 DIFFERENT STATES AND SIX FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

>> I THINK IS SCHOOL LIKE NORTH HOUSE FOLK SCHOOL IS A COMMUNITY, NUMBER ONE, AND I THINK WE SEARCH FOR THAT NOWADAYS.

AND IT IS ALSO A SCHOOL, IT IS A SOURCE.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN SOME OF THE CLASSES THAT ARE TAUGHT HERE ARE QUITE ESOTERIC, I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS TEACHING THEM.

IF YOU WANT TO LEARN SOMETHING FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE, FOR PLEASURE OR TO ACTUALLY CREATE SOMETHING, A PLACE LIKE NORTH HOUSE IS ESSENTIAL.

OF ALL THE PLACES IN THE U.S. WHERE ONE CAN LEARN CRAFT AND WHERE CRAFT HAS A VITALITY, I WOULD SAY MINNESOTA IS BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PLACES.

>> OUR DREAM IS TO BECOME WHAT WE CALL THE NORTHERN CROSSROADS OF CRAFT.

A PLACE THAT PEOPLE JOURNEY TO.

NORTH HOUSE'S DREAM IS THAT WE BECOME MORE PART OF THE FABRIC AROUND THE WORLD OF CRAFT THAT LINKS THE PEOPLE OF THE NORTH AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD TOGETHER.

THAT IS WHAT OUR MISSION IS ABOUT.

BUILD COMMUNITY.

CRAFT IS THE VEHICLE.

THAT IS WHAT WE HOPE COMES OUT OF THIS.

JULIE: ANOTHER NATIONAL PRODUCTION ALSO VISITED THE NORTHLAND LAST WEEK.

"AMERICA OUTDOORS" IS A NEW SIX-PART PRIMETIME SERIES HEADED TO PBS IN THE SPRING OF NEXT YEAR.

A PRODUCTION TEAM FOLLOWED DULUTH PHOTOGRAPHER DUDLEY EDMONDSON FOR ONE OF THE EPISODES.

THE SERIES WILL SHOWCASE THE DIVERSE REGIONS ACROSS THE U.S. AND HOW THOSE LANDSCAPES SHAPE THE WAY AMERICANS WORK, PLAY, AND INTERACT OUTDOORS.

FUN TO SEE OUR REGION GETTING SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION.

THAT'S OUR TIME FOR THIS WEEK, BUT YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH OUR LATEST POSTS BY FOLLOWING "ALMANAC NORTH" ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.

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THANKS TO OUR GUESTS AND THE CREW HERE IN THE STUDIO!

I'M JULIE ZENNER, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

♪