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>> 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, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE, THE ALL FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT HAS TRANSFORMED HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>> 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.

[♪♪♪] >> Matthew: HEY EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS MATTHEW FREEMAN FILLING IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> AN EMPLOYEE OF THE WHITE EARTH TRIBAL COLLEGE IS FACING MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES THAT INCLUDE SOLICITING TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH SOMEONE HE THOUGHT TO BE A CHILD.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, 33-YEAR-OLD, RYAN FRYE OF WAUBUN, STARTED COMMUNICATING WITH WHO HE THOUGHT WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE ON JULY 27TH, EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE GIRL WAS ACTUALLY OFFICERS WITH THE ROCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT POSING AS THE 14-YEAR-OLD, TELLING FRYE WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MESSAGES THAT THEY WERE 14.

FRYE WOULD RESPOND BY SENDING EXPLICIT PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF HIMSELF, AND ASKING THE 14-YEAR-OLD MULTIPLE TIMES TO SEND SEXUAL IMAGES OF HERSELF.

CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS OCCURRED OFF AND ON UNTIL AUGUST 26TH, WHEN OFFICERS ARRESTED FRYE AT HIS PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.

OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO TRACK FRYE'S I.P.

ADDRESS BACK TO AN ADDRESS IN OGEMA, AND LEARNED THAT FRYE WAS THE PERSON WHO UTILIZED THE PHONE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT USED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE UNDERCOVER OFFICERS.

WHILE BEING ARRESTED, FRYE WOULD ADMIT TO SENDING THE EXPLICIT IMAGES AND VIDEOS.

FRYE NOW FACES THREE FELONY CHARGES, ALL OF WHICH INVOLVE ELECTRONICALLY SOLICITING A CHILD TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL CONDUCT OR DISCUSSING SEXUAL CONDUCT.

EACH CHARGE CARRIES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF FIVE YEARS, A $10,000 FINE, OR BOTH.

>>> STORIES OF BRAVERY AND HEARTACHE ARE EMERGING AFTER THE DEADLY SHOOTING AT A MINNEAPOLIS CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING A MASS THAT WAS MEANT TO CELEBRATE THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS SAY ONE GIRL WAS WOUNDED WHILE SHIELDING HER BUDDY AS HER FATHER, THE SCHOOL'S GYM TEACHER, HELPED USHER KIDS TO SAFETY.

THE AUNT OF A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO IS RECOVERING AFTER BEING SHOT TWICE SAYS HE ASKED A DOCTOR TO PRAY WITH HIM AS HE WAS RUSHED INTO SURGERY.

THE SHOOTING WEDNESDAY MORNING LEFT TWO STUDENTS DEAD AND 20 PEOPLE WOUNDED, NEARLY ALL OF THEM CHILDREN.

AT LEAST FIVE CHILDREN AND ONE ADULT REMAIN HOSPITALIZED.

>> THE TEACHER WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SAYING OUR PRAYERS AND THEN WE HEARD JUST ONE SHOT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A FIREWORKS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THE SECOND SHOT WAS JUST, EVERYBODY JUST COVERING THEIR EARS.

THE THIRD SHOT WAS WHEN EVERYBODY STARTED DUCKING LOW.

ALL THESE SHOTS WERE LIKE SLOW UNTIL THE FOURTH SHOT STARTED GETTING FASTER AND FASTER.

THEN THAT'S WHEN EVERYBODY TOOK INTO ACTION.

SOME KINDS, THEY HID UNDER THE PEWS THE WHOLE TIME.

SOME RAN OFF TO THE PRE-K ROOM, THAT'S WHAT I DID.

IN THE PRE-K ROOM, EVERYBODY STARTED TO HELP, ESPECIALLY THE KIDS, AND ALL THE OLDER BUDDIES.

WE ALL STARTED TO HELP, LIKE PUTTING TABLES ON THE DOORS, LOCKING THE DOORS, PUTTING ALL THIS STUFF ON THE DOORS, AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

>> OUR PRIEST, OUR DEACON, OUR PRINCIPAL, THEY WERE NOT DUCKING.

THEY JUST TOLD EVERYONE TO GET DOWN.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS ON THE GROUND AND I CRAWLED AROUND THROUGH OUTSIDE THE INTERIOR DOORS TO THE CLOSEST EXTERIOR DOOR I COULD FIND AND I HELD THOSE DOORS SHUT.

AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ONLY ONE SHOOTER.

AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHOOTER WAS AS CLOSE TO ME AS HE WAS.

I MEAN THE REAL HEROES HERE ARE THE CHILDREN WERE PROTECTING EACH OTHER.

>> MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CHIEF, BRIAN O'HARA, SAID SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED THE SHOOTER NEVER ENTERED THE CHURCH, AND COULD NOT SEE THE CHILDREN WHILE FIRING THE 116 RIFLE ROUNDS THROUGH THE CHURCHES STAINED-GLASS WINDOW.

>>> THE BRAINERD SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL BE TRANSPORTING KIDS IN THE AREA THROUGH REICHERT BUS SERVICE FOR THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH THE BUS COMPANY IN A 5-1 VOTE LAST WEEK DURING A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING.

THE CONTRACT WITH REICHERT IS CUTTING TWO BUS ROUTES FROM THE 2024-25 CONTRACT, HOWEVER THE COST HAS INCREASED BY 5,000 FOR THIS YEAR.

WHILE BOARD MEMBER JOHN WARD CITED CONCERNS WITH THOSE POINTS AND ASKED TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION FROM THE MEETING.

THE SCHOOL BOARD OPTED FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH REICHERT, OPPOSED TO ANOTHER TWO-YEAR DEAL.

>> THEY WANTED A TWO YEAR CONTRACT AND WE ONLY WANTED ONE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR BUDGET DECISIONS WILL BE GOING INTO 2026-27.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL CHANGE SOMETHING IN OUR BUSING, GO TO TWO MILES OUT.

WE'RE DOWN STUDENTS.

THE ROUTE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING THAT TRANSITION.

>> THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL GO UNDERWAY ON SEPTEMBER 22ND.

>>> EDRIC FUNK, A SEBEKA GRADUATE, HAS BEEN NAMED PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE TORO COMPANY.

A NATIVE OF RURAL NIMROD, FUNK HAS BEEN WITH THE TORO COMPANY FOR 29-YEARS NOW.

STARTING AS A DESIGN ENGINEER IN 1996.

AND MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS GROUP VICE PRESIDENT OF GOLF, GROUNDS AND IRRIGATION SINCE 2022.

FUNK WILL NOW BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE COMPANY'S GLOBAL BUSINESSES AND INTEGRATED SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS.

FUNK'S APPOINTMENT WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1ST.

>>> THE BEMIDJI AMERICAN LEGION POST GATHERED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW TO COOK UP A WALLEYE LUNCH FOR THE RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF THE BEMIDJI VETERANS HOME.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE ON THE FISH FRY, AND WHY THE LEGION FEELS IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO PREPARE A SPECIAL MEAL FOR LOCAL VETERANS.

>> Reporter: THEY SAY THAT NOTHING BEATS A HOME COOKED MEAL AND THE BEMIDJI AMERICAN LEGION POST REALLY TOOK THAT SAYING TO HEART WITH THEIR SECOND EVER WALLEYE FISH FRY THAT THEY COOKED UP AS A THANK YOU TO LOCAL VETS AT THE BEMIDJI VETERANS HOME AND TO THE STAFF WHO HELPED TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> I JUST CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB AND WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE.

SO THIS IS ONE WAY THE AMERICAN LEGION OF BEMIDJI CAN SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> Reporter: IN TOTAL, THEY HAD 250 FRESH CAUGHT FILETS THEY COOKED UP RIGHT HERE ONSITE.

>> YOU CAN'T HARDLY BEAT WHEN EVERYTHING IS FRESH MADE, THE POTATO SALAD, IT'S LIKE YOU ARE HAVING A HOME COOKED MEAL WHICH NORMALLY YOU MAY GET AT OTHER PLACES.

>> THIS IS THEIR HOME AND EVERYONE WANTS TO FEEL THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S SUPPORT FOR THE RESIDENTS HERE.

THEY KNOW THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEM.

>> Reporter: THE WALLEYE WAS CAUGHT FRESH IN THE MORNING FROM RED LAKE AND THE WILD RICE CAME FROM LEECH LAKE.

BETWEEN THOSE TWO AND THE AMERICAN LEGION, ALL OF THE FOOD WAS DONATED, THEN COOKED AND SERVED BY THE BEMIDJI AMERICAN LEGION AND LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> THEIR MODEL TOO IS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY, SO WE GET EVERYBODY KIND OF INVOLVED IN THIS AND IT'S JUST A GOOD COMMUNITY EFFORT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS AND OUR STAFF.

IT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT COMES TOGETHER TO HELP SUPPORT OUR VETERANS AND THIS IS WHAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE.

>> IT'S HUMBLING AND BOTH INSPIRING TOO, JUST THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT WE GET FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THEY REACH OUT ALL THE TIME TO SEE HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT US, WHETHER IT'S DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, A GREAT EVENT LIKE THIS, OR SPONSORING THINGS FINANCIALLY, OR JUST COMING IN AND SPENDING TIME WITH THE VETERANS.

WE'RE JUST REALLY GRATEFUL TO HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY LIKE BEMIDJI.

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

>> THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT THE AMERICAN LEGION HAS HELD THIS EVENT, BUT ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THIS AN ANNUAL LUNCHEON TO GIVE THE BEMIDJI VETERANS HOME RESIDENTS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO LOOK FORWARD TO AT THE END OF SUMMERTIME.

>>> CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE IS JOINING THE ASPEN INSTITUTE'S COLLEGE EXCELLENCE PROGRAM, THE UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITY NETWORK, TO HELP ENSURE STUDENTS WILL LEAVE SCHOOL WITH A CLEAR AVENUE TO GETTING A JOB.

CLC IS ONE OF JUST 55 COMMUNITY COLLEGES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO JOIN THE PROGRAM.

OVER THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS C.L.C.

WILL REFORM THEIR PROGRAMS TO ALIGN WITH AVAILABLE JOBS OR A CLEAR PATH TO GETTING THEIR BACHELORS DEGREE FROM A STATE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, HOPEFULLY THEY ARE GUARANTEED WHEN THEY GET DONE WITH THE PROGRAM, THEY WILL EARN A LIVING WAGE.

THEY WILL ALSO LOOK AT CLEAR, ACADEMIC PATHWAYS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFER AND COMPLETE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR UNIVERSITIES IN THE MINNESOTA STATE SYSTEM AND BEYOND.

SO WE WANT TO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL OF OUR UNIVERSITIES TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> THE PROGRAM WILL HELP 20,000 STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY MOVE INTO PROGRAMS THAT LEAD TO GOOD, HIGH PAYING JOBS, OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

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

>> Stacy: WE SHOULD ENJOY SUNSHINE AND WARM TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND, BUT OUR WEATHER WILL TAKE A DEFINITE FALL-LIKE TURN NEXT WEEK.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IS GEARING UP FOR THEIR FALL SEASON.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >>> YOUNG ARTISTS IN AITKIN COUNTY AND BEYOND HAVE BEEN FILLING THE JAQUES ART CENTER FOR FREE MINI ART CLASSES THIS MONTH.

THOSE IN ATTENDANCE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ART PERTAINING TO SCRATCH BOARD, MIXED MEDIA, AND ACRYLIC ON TILE.

JAQUES ART HAS STOOD TALL IN AITKIN FOR 30 YEARS, FOLLOWING ITS MISSION TO CELEBRATE THE VISUAL ARTS IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA BY PRESENTING ART EXHIBITS, WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER PROGRAMMING TO ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS.

THOSE AT THE CENTER HOPE THAT THE ART CLASSES, INSTILL A DESIRE TO PRESERVE THE TOWN'S ARTISTIC ROOTS, AND EVEN BEYOND.

>> OUR ART EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS CUT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

SO WE TRIED TO STEP UP THE PACE WITH PROVIDING ART FOR ANY STUDENTS THAT WANT TO COME HERE, BUT ALSO PURSUING THEM AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND BRINGING OUR ART TO THEM FOR AFTER SCHOOL ART CLASSES.

>> THE JAQUES ART CENTER IS CURRENTLY DISPLAYING THE ROTATING ARTIST'S EXHIBIT THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5TH, AND WILL BEGIN SHOWCASING ITS '30 IN 30' ART EXHIBIT ON SEPTEMBER 12TH.

>>> STACY IS HERE, ARE THE COOL TEMPERATURES FINALLY COMING?

>> Stacy: IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO FEEL A LOOT MORE LIKE FALL AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK, PARTICULARLY AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A COOL DOWN.

BEFORE THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WE ARE SEEING MORE SUMMER-TIME WEATHER WITH SUNSHINE AND HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70s, INTO THE LOW [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE WERE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME NICE SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE AREA, ALTHOUGH WE HAD A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HERE AND THERE.

OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, ANY LINGERING PARTICIPATION SHOULD COME TO AN END.

WE'LL HAVE AN INCREASE IN CLOUDS, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES IN THE AREA, SOME AREAS OF FOG THAT LINGERS INTO TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE IT BURNS OFF, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A RETURN TO MORE SUNSHINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE WARMER TEMPERATURES, AT LEAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, 64 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

HUMIDITY IS AT 73%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE CLEAR SKIES, IT'S 63, WITH A DEW POINT OF 61.

WE HAVE A RISING BAROMETRIC PRESSURE AND WINDS ARE CALM.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE DID HAVE A LOT OF SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE VIEWING AREA, SOME CLOUDS THOUGH IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA, AND AS YOU CAN SEE THIS EVENING, WE HAVE SEEN SOME SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THAT REGION.

NOW THAT WILL BE TAPERING OFF AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, CLOUDS WILL START TO INCREASE A LITTLE BIT IN THE AREA, SO WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, MAYBE SOME PATCHY FOG DEVELOPING TONIGHT, THAT COULD LINGER INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TO START THE DAY AND AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON, EXPECT TO RETURN TO SUNSHINE AND WARM TEMPERATURES.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

WE HAVE THE PUFFY CLOUDS FROM JOAN IN LAPORTE.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA AND LINDA IN ONAMIA WITH SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS IN BLOOM.

GARY SAYING A LOT OF ACORNS SPOTTED THIS SUMMER.

ALICIA HAS THE SUNSET IN WALKER.

LAURIE WITH THE SUNSET OVER LITTLE TURTLE LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, JOAN IN LAPORTE, THOSE BLUE SKIES WITH FLUFFY WHITE CLOUDS TODAY.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 74 AND CALM THIS EVENING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTING SUNNY SKIES.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUNSHINE AND 74.

ALICIA IN WALKER REPORTING A CURRENT TEMPERATURE OF 68.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 77.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 74 WAS THE HIGH TODAY IN BRAINERD, JUST A FEW DEGREES OFF OF THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AND OUR LOW WAS 56.

BEMIDJI, TOPPING THE AVERAGE HIGH BY 4 DEGREES, WE HAD A HIGH OF 78, 56 FOR THE LOW, 8:03 FOR OUR SUNSET.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, IN THE MORNING AS I MENTIONED, WE COULD BE SEEING SOME PATCHY FOG, LOW CLOUDS OUT THERE.

AS WE HEAD OUT THE MORNING, WE WILL START TO SEE THAT BURNING OFF, AND SUNNY SKIES IN THE AFTERNOON, AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL BE OUT THERE.

HIGHS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA FROM THE UPPER 70s INTO EVEN THE LOW 80s, SOME OF THE WARMER TEMPERATURES EXPECTED IN THE NORTHERN PART OF MINNESOTA TOMORROW.

CENTRAL MINNESOTA, NOT TOO SHABBY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, SOME PATCHY FOG OUT THERE, LOWS NEAR 54.

TOMORROW, SKIES BECOME MOSTLY SUNNY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON, WE STILL COULD SEE SOME PATCHY FOG THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 80.

LOOKING AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST, OUR LABOR DAY WEEKEND, PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, HIGHS NEAR 81 ON SUNDAY, AND THEN ON LABOR DAY, MONDAY, WE SHOULD STILL SEE SOME SUNSHINE, BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, HIGHS NEAR 78.

WE'LL SEE A BETTER CHANCE OF SOME SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AS WE HEAD TOWARDS MIDWEEK AND THERE IS THE FALL-LIKE TURN IN OUR FORECAST.

ON WEDNESDAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE MID-50s TO THE MID-60s.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU SO MUCH STACY.

WE HAVE CHARLIE YAEGER WITH US AND IT'S SAFE TO SAY IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE A FOOTBALL FAN.

>> Charlie: IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD TIME TO BE A FOOTBALL FAN.

WE HAD SPORTS REPORTER MILES WALKER DOING EVERYTHING HE COULD TO BRING YOU THESE HIGHLIGHTS TONIGHT.

BUFFALO, BRAINERD, HE STAYED UNTIL THE END, GOOD THING HE DID BECAUSE IT WAS AN ABSOLUTELY WILD GAME.

IT'S NOT THE ONLY GAME WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTS TONIGHT.

NEVIS, GRAND RAPIDS, SOME CROSS COUNTRY AS WELL, ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

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

[♪♪♪] >> Charlie: YOU ALREADY HAD SOME GREAT GAMES TO KICK OFF THE 2025 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON HERE IN MINNESOTA, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TOPPED THEM ALL WHEN BRAINERD HOSTED BUFFALO TONIGHT.

THE WARRIORS ARE COMING IN OFF A HIGH OF 2024 AND LOOKING TO MAKE A STATEMENT AGAINST THE BISON WHO ARE PLAYING AS A 6A SCHOOL JUST A YEAR AGO.

WE HEAD OUT TO THE FOOTBALL GAME IN BRAINERD FOR A GAME THAT CAME DOWN TO THE WIRE.

LET'S BUCKLE UP.

SECOND QUARTER, BUFFALO AT THEIR OWN 20.

WARRIORS BRINGING PRESSURE, ALBERT GETS THE STRIP, BRAINERD RECOVERS IN THE END ZONE, AND IT'S 8-0 AFTER THE TWO POINT CONVERSION.

LATER IN THE SECOND, BUFFALO IN THE RED ZONE, THOMAS JOHNSON, A 5-YARD RECEPTION, TIES IT AT 8.

THIRD QUARTER NOW, BUFFALO IS UP, AND JAYDEN, 16-YARD HOUSE CALL, GOING TO KNOT THE GAME AT 15.

THEN EARLY FOURTH QUARTER, BISON BACK UP, BARNUM AGAIN, AND THE WARRIORS TAKE THE LEAD.

BUFFALO IS DRIVING BENTSON, GIVING THE BISON THE LEAD BACK.

NOW INSIDE TWO MINUTES, BRAINERD HAS TO ANSWER.

BEAU DROPS IT IN THE BUCKET OF LUKE, AND ARE YOU KIDDING?

38-YARD CATCH.

THEY TAKE A 1-POINT LEAD.

LAST CHANCE FOR BUFFALO, THEY TRY TO FAKE THE FIELD GOAL TO GO FOR THE WIN, BRAINERD GETS THE PASS, AND THE BISON TURN IT OVER ON DOWNS.

THEY KNEEL THE REST OF THE WAY, THE WARRIORS DO.

THEY HAD 123 RUSH YARDS, SCHWARTZ 205 PASSING, AND BRAINERD WINS AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER BY 1 POINT OVER BUFFALO, 28-27.

>>> NEVIS MADE THE JUMP FROM 9 PLAYER TO CLASS ARK THIS YEAR AND THEY WERE HOSTING CROOKSTON.

THEY DECIDED TO GO FOR IT, ETHAN HITS ACTION A.J., COMES DOWN WITH IT IN THE END ZONE, AND THE TIGERS STRIKE FIRST, 8-0.

NEVIS LEADING 8-6.

AND NOW BUCKHOLT CONNECTS FROM 45 YARDS OUT, 16-6 TIGERS.

HE WAS CAUSING THE PIRATES FITS ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE AS WELL.

NEVIS COMES AWAY WITH A 40-6 VICTORY IN THEIR FIRST GAME AS AN 11-PLAYER FOOTBALL TEAM.

>>> GRAND RAPIDS ON THE ROAD TO START THEIR SEASON, TAKING ON CLOQUET.

FIRST DRIVE OF THE YEAR FOR THE THUNDERHAWKS JAXON RABBERS FINDS THE EDGE THEN WEAVES HIS WAY TO THE END ZONE TO GIVE RAPIDS A 6-0 LEAD.

AFTER A LUMBERJACK KICK RETURN T-HAWKS TRAIL 8-6, BUT THEY WOULD ANSWER BACK WITH A MASON JOHNSON RUN, HERE COMES THE BOOM, READY OR NOT, RAPIDS ADDS 6 MORE.

IN THE 2ND QUARTER THEY KEEP THEIR FOOT ON THE GAS, LOGAN MCNEAR KEEPS IT HIMSELF, UNTOUCHED AS THE T-HAWKS EXTEND THEIR LEAD.

THEY START 2025 OFF RIGHT, THUMPING CLOQUET 46-8.

>>> ELSEWHERE IN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, STAPLES MOTLEY GETS THE WIN OVER EAST GRAND FORKS.

WADENA DEER CREEK, A VERY LOW SCORING, 8-0.

AND BAGLEY GETS THE WIN.

CASS LAKE-BENA, BY 1 TOUCHDOWN OVER RED LAKE.

RED LAKE IS LOOKING FOR THAT FIRST WIN IN ALMOST 30 YEARS.

GOOD RIDGE GETS THEIR SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON TONIGHT.

BIG FORK FALLS TO MILLE LACS.

LITTLE FORK BIG FALLS FALLS TO CROMWELL WRIGHT.

>>> EARLIER IN THE DAY, BRAINERD CROSS COUNTRY OPENED THEIR SEASON HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL RUN FOR THE MELON MEET, WE START OFF WITH THE BOYS.

IT WAS A FAST RACE TODAY, TOP 17 RUNNERS ALL FINISHED UNDER 17 MINUTES.

CONNOR JANSEN WAS THE PATRIOTS TOP PERFORMER, PLACING 11TH IN 17 MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS.

FORMER STATE RUNNER JONATHAN COWELL TOOK FOURTH FOR BRAINERD, IN 17 MINUTES AND 9 SECONDS.

BUT BECKETT MILLER WAS THE WARRIOR'S TOP RUNNER, CLOSING IN 16 MINUTES AND 59 SECONDS FOR SECOND PLACE.

AS A TEAM, BRAINERD ENDED UPCOMING OUT ON TOP IN THE RUN FOR THE MELON WITH A LOW SCORE OF 38 POINTS.

>>> SWITCHING GEARS TO THE GIRLS.

ANNELISE BAIRD FOR BRAINERD AND TAYLOR COVIER FOR GREENWAY, FINISHED THIRD AND FOURTH RESPECTIVELY IN JUST OVER 16 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.

PEQUOT LAKES KYRA ROHRBACH, SMOKED THE FIELD TODAY, CLAIMING FIRST PLACE IN 19 MINUTES AND 57 SECONDS, ONLY RUNNER TO GO SUB-20 FOR THE GIRLS THIS MORNING.

HERE ARE THE FINAL RESULTS FOR THE TEAMS.

BRAINERD FINISHING THIRD, GREEN WAY IN FOURTH, AND PILLAGER ROUNDING OUT IN SIXTH PLACE.

>>> WE HAVE A FEW MORE SCORES, BOYS SOCCER AND MINNESOTA GETS THE WIN OVER THE PADRES.

>>> WELL THE NIMROD BULL LABOR DAY BULL BASH BEGAN TODAY, AND LOCAL RIDER DALTON WELLS IS COMPETING IN THE 3-DAY EVENT.

WELLS IS CURRENTLY RANKED FOURTH NATIONALLY HEADING INTO THE FINAL WEEKS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS SEASON.

# THE STAPLES LOCAL HAS FOUR WINS IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, INCLUDING THIS RIDE AT THE KANDIYOHI COUNTY FAIR IN WILLMAR ON AUGUST 7TH.

HE JOINS OTHER TOP-RANKED NFPB RIDERS AT THE BULL BASH, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH SUNDAY AT 25612 COUNTY ROAD 12 IN RURAL SEBEKA ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF NIMROD.

>> Matthew: SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD TIME.

BULL RIDING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MY FORTE.

ONE JUMP AND THE BULL WILL SEND ME FLYING.

>> Charlie: IT WOULD BE FUN TO WATCH, BUT NOT FOR YOU.

>> Matthew: PROBABLY.

THANK YOU CHARLIE.

THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN BRAINERD PUTS ON 24 SHOWS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

AND NOW THEY ARE GEARING UP FOR THE NEXT SLATE OF SHOWS WITH THEIR FALL SEASON, REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE WITH THIS WEEKS IN FOCUS.

>> Reporter: AT THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, ARTISTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TAKE THE STAGE TO PUT ON HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

>> I THINK THE VALUE THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PROVIDES TO THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA IS THAT ACCESS TO REALLY HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT, THAT OTHERWISE MAY BE, MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO US.

THAT'S WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT MY JOB.

IT'S BEING ABLE TO FIND THE EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE AROUND HERE SEEM TO CONNECT TO AND THAT THEY WANT TO GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND DOING SO IN A WAY THAT IS REALLY ACCESSIBLE.

>> Reporter: THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IS GEARING UP FOR THEIR FALL SEASON.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE FROM EMMY NOMINATED SINGER AND DRACULA, A COMEDY OF TERRORS.

>> THIS IS A SEASON THAT IS REALLY ABOUT CREATING MEMORIES TOGETHER.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE TO HAVE EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR FAMILY, WITH THEIR FRIENDS, HAVING AN AMAZING NIGHT OF SEEING SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND GOING HOME TO TALK ABOUT IT FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS.

>> Reporter: THEY WON'T JUST WATCH WORLD CLASS ENTERTAINMENT, THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF IT AS WELL.

>> WE HAD AN AMAZING GROUP OF COMMUNITY THEATER PERFORMERS.

WE WORKED REALLY HARD TO EXPAND THAT GROUP TO INCLUDE ALL COMERS, INCLUDING ALL AGES, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS.

WE TRY TO PICK THE SHOWS THAT WHEN WE DO THEM, WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME, A MOVING EXPERIENCE, AND THE ACTORS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THEM ARE GOING TO SAY, THIS IS A VALUED USE OF MY TIME.

>> Reporter: THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THE ORGANIZATION IS TO PROVIDE THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA WITH ENTERTAINING, COST EFFECTIVE PRODUCTIONS, LEAVING AUDIENCE MEMBERS WANTING MORE.

>> THESE ARE MEMORIES IN THE MAKING FOR PEOPLE.

WHEN FAMILIES GET TOGETHER LATER ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR YEAR WENT, IT'S GOING OUT TO EVENTS LIKE THIS, HUMMING THE SONGS AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO CREATE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD WITH THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Matthew: THE FIRST SHOW OF THE FALL SEASON WILL FEATURE ANGELA INGERSOLL.

WHO WILL BE SINGING SONGS MADE FAMOUS BY JUDY GARLAND.

THOSE PERFORMANCES WILL RUN SEPTEMBER 18TH AND 19TH AT 7:00 P.M. AT C.L.C.

'S CHALBERG THEATER.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN ON MONDAY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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