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

MEMBER FDIC.

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

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> 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 26-YEAR-OLD FORMER BEMIDJI MAN HAS BEEN EXTRADITED FROM CALIFORNIA TO BEMIDJI AND HAS NOW BEEN CHARGED IN BELTRAMI COUNTY COURT WITH FELONY CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT.

THOMAS HUMISTON WHO NOW LIVES IN CALIFORNIA IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT, PENETRATION OR CONDUCT WITH A PERSON UNDER 13.

HE MADE HIS FIRST COURT APPEARANCE THIS MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT IN THE CASE, HUMISTON IS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A BOY AND GIRL BOTH AROUND THE AGES OF 8-TO-10 NUMEROUS TIMES FROM 2019 THROUGH 2022.

THE ASSAULTS WERE GRAPHICALLY DETAILED BY BOTH CHILDREN.

THEY SAID THEY OCCURRED IN HUMISTON'S VAN WHILE HE WAS LIVING IN BEMIDJI.

THE BOY REPORTED THAT AT LEAST ONE TIME HUMISTON SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THEM BOTH AT ONCE AND THREATENED TO KILL THEM IF THEY TOLD ANYONE, SAYING SPECIFICALLY HE WOULD SLICE THEIR THROATS.

HUMISTON IS ALSO ACCUSED OF TRANSMITTING A SEXUAL DISEASE TO THE GIRL.

BOND OR BAIL FOR HUMISTON WAS SET AT $200,000 WITH NO CONDITIONS OR $100,000 WITH CONDITIONS.

HIS NEXT COURT APPEARANCE IS A RULE 8 HEARING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 21ST.

HUMISTON IS ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ADDITIONAL ASSAULTS IN CALIFORNIA.

>>> THE CITY OF BRAINERD IS ACCEPTING WRITTEN PROPOSALS FOR A MUNICIPAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY PARTNERSHIP.

THE CANNABIS LAW AUTHORIZES CITIES AND COUNTIES TO ESTABLISH, OWN, AND OPERATE A MUNICIPAL CANNABIS RETAIL STORE.

CITY OFFICIALS SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE THAT FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH STANDPOINT, THIS PROVISION OF THE LAW CREATES A FAVORABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS BY OWNING AND OPERATING ITS OWN RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT.

BECAUSE OF THAT THE CITY OF BRAINERD IS CONSIDERING PURSUING A MUNICIPAL DISPENSARY MODEL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN EXPERIENCED ORGANIZATION.

MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS CAN BE FOUND ON THE CITY OF BRAINERD'S WEBSITE.

>>> THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED THEIR NEWEST FIREFIGHTERS WITH THEIR 4TH ANNUAL BADGE PINNING CEREMONY.

OUR REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL ATTENDED THE CEREMONY AND HAS MORE DETAILS.

[APPLAUSE].

>> Reporter: IT WAS A FAMILY AFFAIR ON THURSDAY NIGHT, AS THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED THEIR 6th NEWEST MEMBERS TO THE SQUAD.

AFTER MONTHS OF INTENSE TRAINING, SOME SAW THEIR LIFELONG DREAM OF BECOMING A FIREMAN FINALLY BECOME TRUE.

[APPLAUSE].

>> THIS MOMENT MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTER, TO A FULLY VESTED MEMBER OF OUR ORGANIZATION, THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> HONESTLY, I LOOKED AT BEING A FIREFIGHTER SINCE I WAS 18, SO 20 YEARS AGO.

I FINALLY TOOK THE PLUNGE AND I THINK I'M GOING TO BE IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN.

>> Reporter: THE NIGHT WAS NOT JUST ABOUT WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS AS FIRST RESPONDERS FROM VARIOUS DEPENDENTS LIKE E.M.T.s COMING TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO GET THIS MEDIC TEAM UP AND GOING OFF THE GROUND.

WHAT WE PROVIDE TO THEM IS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO THEM AND CARRIES BIG WEIGHT FOR THEM.

>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH THEIR TRAINING MAY HAVE BEEN DONE ON THEIR OWN, THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A FIREMAN TRULY TAKES A VILLAGE.

>> HAVING MY KIDS PIN ON MY BADGE WAS, OH, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT.

IT'S JUST VERY INSPIRING.

>> Reporter: THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER BOB JACOBSON WAS INVITED AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND WELCOMED THE NEWLY MINTED MEN AND WOMEN.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SERVE AND SERVE OTHERS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT REALLY IS THE DEFINITION OF SPIRITUALITY.

>> Reporter: FOR SOME, BEING A FIREFIGHTER IS MORE THAN A JOB, IT COMES WITH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR COMMUNITY.

>> NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT, THAT THEY CAN CALL DURING THEIR TIME OF NEED OR THEY ARE TOO AFRAID TO CALL FOR HELP, SO THEY CALL A THIRD PARTY.

IT'S SOMETIMES ALL THEY HAVE AND BEING ABLE TO BE THAT PERSON FOR SOMEONE ON ANY GIVEN DAY IS A TRUE HONOR AND SPECIAL THANKS FOR ALL OF OUR ENTITIES WE WORK WITH AS WELL.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM BEMIDJI, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> SERVICE MEMBERS WERE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING THE CEREMONY.

SOME BEING HONORED FOR AS MANY AS 20 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.

>>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE CROSBY-IRONTON SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FOUND ITS NEXT SUPERINTENDENT.

THE CONTRACT STILL NEEDS TO BE NEGOTIATED BEFORE IT BECOMES FINAL BUT THE SCHOOL BOARD THERE SELECTED RICK AULIE TO FILL THE POSITION AND AULIE HAS ACCEPTED.

AULIE IS THE PRINCIPAL AT PINE RIVER BACKUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A POSITION HE'S HELD FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.

THE THE DISTRICT NEEDED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL BOARD DID NOT RENEW THE CONTRACT OF CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT JAMIE SKJEVLAND LAST YEAR.

>>> THE CITY OF BRAINERD WILL BE DIALING DOWN SAME-DAY TRANSIT FARES AFTER THE BRAINERD CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CHANGE DURING ITS MEETING THIS WEEK.

WHILE RIDERSHIP IN BRAINERD TOOK A DIP OVERALL IN 2024, THE YEAR-END ANALYSIS FOR BRAINERD'S TRANSIT SYSTEM SHOWED THAT DAILY RIDERSHIP INCREASED DURING THE LAST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, INDICATING 20 NEW RIDERS EACH MONTH.

SUPPORTING THE MOVE TO KNOCK SAME-DAY FARES DOWN FROM $6 TO $5.

>> EARLY ON IN THE YEAR, THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.

HOWEVER, THEY DID END THE YEAR WITH A POSITIVE NET REVENUE, ENOUGH SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO PUT IT IN RESERVES, POTENTIALLY MAKE SOME INVESTMENTS IN SOFTWARE AND THIS RECOMMENDATION OF REDUCING THE SAME DAY FARE FROM $6 TO $5.

>> THE CITY ALSO PLANS ON BUYING NEW TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE FOR THE TRANSIT SYSTEM THIS SPRING.

>>> BEMDIJ STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THIS YEAR'S “DAY OF GIVING” A SUCCESS.

THE 24-HOUR FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN BROUGHT IN WELL OVER $150,000 FROM MORE THAN 600 DONORS.

PEOPLE CAN STILL DONATE AND THE GRAND TOTAL AS OF LATE THIS AFTERNOON WAS $210,000 FROM AROUND 700 DONORS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO DONATE, YOU CAN STILL DO SO AT IS BSUALUMNI.ORG/DAYOFGIVING.

>>> CHAOS, UNCERTAINTY, AND, IN SOME CASES, OUTRIGHT FEAR.

EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING HIGH THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS THOUSANDS OF FORMER WORKERS REEL FROM RECENT JOB LOSSES AND AS MANY MORE WAIT TO SEE IF THEY'RE NEXT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ELON MUSK'S DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY CONTINUE TO UPEND THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE AMID A GROWING CASE LOAD OF LAWSUITS AND INCREASINGLY LOUDER PUBLIC BACKLASH.

LAURA AGUIRRE REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IN RECENT DAYS, THOUSANDS MORE FEDERAL WORKERS HAVE BEEN FIRED FROM ROLES AT MULTIPLE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, HOMELAND AFFAIRS, AND THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE AND C.D.C.

WHERE THE EXACT NUMBER OF JOB CUTS IS UNKNOWN.

>> MANAGERS FOUND OUT THAT TEAM MEMBERS HAD BEEN FIRED BECAUSE THEY E-MAILED THEM AND GOT A BOUNCE BACK SAYING THE E-MAIL ADDRESS NO LONGER EXISTS.

>> Reporter: A SOURCE TELLS CNN THAT IS I.R.S.

IS EXPECTED TO LOSE AROUND 6,000 EMPLOYEES IN THE THICK OF TAX SEASON, WHICH COULD AFFECT 50,000 EMPLOYEES AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT, AND A THOROUGH REVIEW OF WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR MILITARY READREADINESS >> I DON'T SUPPORT THE PROCESS THAT DOGE AND ELON MUSK ARE DEPLOYING.

>> Reporter: OR A CHAINSAW LIKE THE ONE THAT ELON MUSK WIELDED ON STAGE THURSDAY NIGHT.

CONSTITUENTS OF RICH McCORMICK NOT HOLDING BACK AT A TOWN HALL IN ROSWELL LAST NIGHT.

>> WHY IS THIS BEING JAMMED DOWN THE PIPE SO RUSHED AND SLOPPY?

>> USE A SCALPEL.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVE THIS MANY EMPLOYEES YOU HAVE TO CUT, THAT ORGANIZATION DECIDES WHO THEY WILL CUT.

>> THERE IS RISING CONCERN THAT THIS IS MINDLESS AND RECKLESS.

THERE IS NO PATTERN, THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON, AND IT'S GOING TO HURT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY IN THEIR CONSTITUENCIES.

>> Reporter: I'M LAURA AGUIRRE REPORTING.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, A FEDERAL JUDGE DECLINED TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK ELON MUSK AND HIS DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY FROM ACCESSING FEDERAL DATA SYSTEMS AT A SLEW OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH AGENCIES.

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

>> Stacy: WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME WARMER TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND AND WHILE THERE IS SUNSHINE TOMORROW, WE COULD SEE SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION BEGINNING LATE ON SUNDAY.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, A LOCAL ARTIST IS BRINGING A NEW STYLE OF ART YOU MAY NEVER HAVE SEEN BEFORE TO BSU.

[♪♪ >> THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

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

>> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA COMMUNITY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THE INTERACTIVE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE "DRAGONS AND MYTHICAL BEASTS" THIS PAST WEEKEND PRESENTED THROUGH THE CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER'S CULTURAL ARTS SERIES.

THE 55-MINUTE LONG SHOW COMBINED PUPPETRY, STORYTELLING, AND A SENSE OF WONDER, ALL GEARED TOWARDS IGNITING THE IMAGINATIONS OF BOTH YOUNGER AND OLDER VIEWERS, ALL WHILE TYING IN LESSONS ANYONE CAN RELATE TO.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY IN LIFE.

I THINK LIKE FIND THAT LITTLE SPARK OF MAGIC INSIDE THEMSELVES THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO BE THEMSELVES A LITTLE BIT MORE AND ALSO TO BE KIND.

I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER BIG MESSAGE IN THIS SHOW, WHICH I THINK IS A PEACEFUL MESSAGE IN THIS WORLD.

YOU LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

>> CLC'S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WILL NEXT BE PRESENTING THE SHOW "IT'S MURDER, DONTCHA KNOW" BEGINNING NEXT THURSDAY AND IT WILL RUN THROUGH MARCH 2ND.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS WITH US TONIGHT.

OUR NICEST WEEKEND IN A FEW WEEKENDS AT LEAST.

>> Stacy: IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

IT'S BEEN SO COLD THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE HAD WARMER TEMPERATURES TODAY BUT A BIG WARM UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, COULD SEE SOME 40s EARLY NEXT WEEK AND WHILE WE WILL ENJOY SOME SUNSHINE TOMORROW, WE MAY SEE SOME MIXED PRECIPITATION ON SUNDAY >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, DEAF, DEAF/BLIND, AND HARD OF HEARING STATE SERVICES DIVISION.

>> SANFORD HEALTH; HERE FOR ALL, HERE FOR GOOD.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES IN THE BEMIDJI AREA IS AVAILABLE AT SANFORDHEALTH.ORG.

>> THE WEATHER IS SPONSORED BY WIDSETH; ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, LAND SURVEYORS SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE DID SEE SOME WARMER TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND WE ENJOYED SOME NICE SUNSHINE TO GO WITH THAT.

AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, EXPECT WARMER TEMPERATURES, HIGHS IN THE 30s ACROSS THE AREA.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE TOMORROW, HOWEVER AS WE HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR SOME RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS MOVING IN AS THE TEMPERATURES WILL TOP OUT IN THE 30s AND EVEN SOME 40s.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 15 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT, WE HAVE A LIGHT SOUTHWEST WIND AT OUR STUDIO.

THE DEW POINT IS 8 AND HUMIDITY IS AT 76%.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, IT IS 16 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 8, PRESSURE IS FALLING AND WINDS ARE SOUTH AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW AS WE LOOK AT THE SATELLITE AND RADAR PICTURE, WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING SUNSHINE TODAY, BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME CLOUDS ROLLING IN THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING, AND MORE IN STORE AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

WE WILL BE SEEING MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES ACROSS THE AREA.

THERE IS A SLIGHT POSSIBILITY OF A FEW STRAY FLURRIES AS SOME UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE MOVES INTO THE AREA.

SOME OF THOSE COULD IMPACT US, BUT OVERALL, IT LOOKS LIKE QUIET WEATHER TONIGHT, SUNSHINE IS BACK TOMORROW AND WE HAVE A WARM UP WITH HIGHS IN THE 30s.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT.

DEBRA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE SUNRISE.

IN BLACKDUCK, SANDY SAYING A COUPLE OF SWANS FINDING OPEN WATER OUT THERE.

ANGELA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE DRAMATIC CLOUDS OVER CASS LAKE.

AND SAMROSE WITH A PICTURE OF THE SUNSET OVER LOWER RED LAKE AND IF YOU DIDN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE SUNSET, WE HAVE A FEW MORE SHOTS.

ARLENE SENDING THIS PHOTO FROM MENAHGA, CAREY FROM WALKER, AND SARAH OVER PERCH LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, SUNSHINE TODAY, A HIGH OF 14.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUN AND BREEZY, TOPPING OUT AT 28.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 24, AND STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD CLEAR AND 23.

SANDY IN BLACKDUCK REPORTING A HIGH OF 29.

TAKING A LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 23, BELOW THE AVERAGE BUT WARMER THAN THE TEMPERATURES WE HAVE BEEN SEEING.

-6 WAS THE LOW THIS MORNING.

BEMIDJI TODAY REACHING A HIGH OF 26, SO ACTUALLY JUST 1 DEGREES SHY OF THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE, -3 FOR THE LOW, AND 7:12 WAS OUR SUNRISE.

SO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TOMORROW.

WE WILL SEE SOME PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES ACROSS THE AREA TO START THE DAY.

WE'LL PUT THIS IN MOTION.

WE'LL HAVE A FEW CLOUDS ROLLING THROUGH, SO OVERALL, PLENTY OF SUNSHINE, A FEW CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

THE CLOUDS COULD INCREASE TOMORROW NIGHT AND THEN AS WE HEAD INTO SUNDAY, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON, WE HAVE A CHANCE OF SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF PRECIPITATION.

HIGHS TOMORROW SHOULD BE IN THE LOW TO MID-30s ACROSS THE NORTH AND LOW TO MID-30s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA AS WELL.

THERE WE GO, THE HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 32 IN WADENA.

SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

AS WE LOOK AT TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, 33 FOR THE HIGH, SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, THERE IS A CHANCE OF SOME RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS BEGINNING SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS THE AREA, WITH HIGHS NEAR 38.

41 ON MONDAY, STILL LOOKING AT A SMALL CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW WITH OTHERWISE VARIABLE CLOUDS.

QUIET, MILD ON TUESDAY, 34, AND ANOTHER CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, CHARLIE IS HERE WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

A LOT GOING ON.

>> Charlie: SO MUCH GOING ON.

>> Dennis: WHAT A GAME FOR WARROAD TODAY.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING GIRLS HOCKEY GAMES I'VE EVER SEEN.

>> Charlie: IT HAD EVERYTHING, IT HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

GOAL SCORING, NOT GOAL SCORING, GOALTENDING, AND THEN OVERTIME, NOT ONE OR TWO BUT THREE OVERTIMES.

IT WAS AN ELECTRIC FINISH.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER GOOD HIGHLIGHTS FROM AROUND THE AREA COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

>> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF THE GIGAZONE.

IN FOCUS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ARTS AND HERITAGE FUND.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> RARELY DOES A BIG TIME GAME LIVE UP TO THE HYPE, BUT THE SPORTS GOD CAN GIVE US SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AN UNPRECEDENTED FOURTH CONSECUTIVE STATE TITLE AGAINST ANOTHER STATE TOURNAMENT REGULAR.

IT HAD EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT IN A HOCKEY GAME AND MORE.

FROM THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER, A REMATCH, THE WARRIORS BEAT THE SPARTANS IN THE TITLE GAME, BUT THE SPARTANS BLANKED WARROAD 3-0.

HE GIVES THE SPARTANS THE 1-0 LEAD.

SAME SCORE, WARROAD FINDS THE NET ON THEIR POWER PLAY.

NOW WITH THE REDIRECT AND WE'RE ALL TIED UP.

IN THE THIRD, STILL 1-1 AND THE GOALTENDING WAS ON FULL DISPLAY.

PEYTON SAVED 61 SHOTS, 3 OF THEM HERE, HUGE SAVES.

THIS ONE WILL GO TO OVERTIME.

NO ONE WOULD SCORE IN THE FIRST, SO IN THE SECOND, KATIE TESTING THE WATERS.

38 SAVES AND NO ONE SCORED AGAIN UNTIL THE THIRD OVERTIME.

LINDSAY COMES UP HUGE FOR THE WARRIORS, THEY ARE TACKLING HER ON THE ICE.

WARROAD, THEY WIN 2-1 IN TRIPLE OVERTIME.

THE SCORE THERE AND THEY WILL BE IN A REMATCH TOMORROW AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WITH DODGE COUNTY, A REMATCH OF THAT ONE.

A FANTASTIC GAME THERE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE GAME TOMORROW.

>>> CASS LAKE-BENA BLACKDUCK WRESTLING TODAY AT CLB HIGH SCHOOL.

LOTS OF AREA SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING.

ONE OF THE EARLY MATCHES, IAN FROM DEER RIVER.

WHITNEY JUST NEEDED THREE OF THE FOUR TECHNICAL FALLS.

HE FINISHED FOURTH OVERALL.

IN THE FIRST PLACE, KATIE FROM STAPLES MOTLEY TAKING ON A FORMER CASS LAKE-BENA WRESTLER.

LATE IN THE MATCH, TIED AT 6-6.

HE GOES ON TO WIN BY AN 8-7 DECISION.

AND SECOND IN THE STATE IN HIS WEIGHT CLASS, TAKES THE TITLE IN ONE MINUTE AND 13 SECONDS.

STAPLES MOTLEY DOMINATES, WINNING SIX SECTION TITLES, SENDING NINE TO STATE.

YOU CAN SEE ROYALTON AND WE'LL HAVE MORE COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWNS ON THAT ON MONDAY AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL WRESTLING IS FINISHED.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES, ESKO BEAT BEMIDJI.

67-60.

WADENA DEER CREEK GETS THE WIN OVER MENAHGA.

PARK RAPIDS AND DEER RIVER COLLECTING WINS ON THE BOYS SIDE OF THINGS.

STAPLE MOTLEY GETS A WIN.

IN BOYS BASKETBALL, LITTLE FORK AND BIG FALLS GETS THE WIN.

PINE RIVER-BACKUS BEATS BLACKDUCK.

BEMIDJI GETS THE WIN OVER DULUTH EAST EARLIER IN THE DAY.

BRAINERD GETS THE WIN OVER ST.

CLOUD.

ROYALTON, STILL UNDEFEATED.

PEQUOT LAKES, THEY GET THE WIN OVER FOLEY.

BIG FORK, THEY FALL TO DULUTH MARSHALL.

>>> BSU MEN'S HOCKEY RETURNED TO THE SANFORD CENTER FOR THEIR FINAL SERIES OF THE REGULAR SEASON.

THEIR CHANCES OF EARNING A HOME PLAYOFF SERIES ARE SLIM.

BEMIDJI HOSTING BOWLING GREEN AND THE HEAD COACH IS JUST ONE WIN AWAY FROM HIS 400th CAREER WIN.

YOU SEE HIM THERE.

IT IS ALSO TEDDY BEAR NIGHT.

BEAR TOSS NIGHT, A LOT OF STUFFED ANIMALS IN ATTENDANCE.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND TO BE TOSSED.

NOAH GIVES THEM THE REASON WITH THE POWER PLAY GOAL AND THE STUFFED ANIMALS ARE FLYING.

PLAYERS ARE ON CLEAN UP DUTY.

REALLY GOOD STUFF, REALLY GOOD CAUSE.

BOWLING GREEN WOULD TIE THINGS UP.

BEN ON THE REDIRECT, ONE OF HIS TWO GOALS OF THE EVENING.

THE BEAVERS WOULD ANSWER WITH A REDIRECT OF THEIR OWN.

BSU IS BACK ON TOP AND BEMIDJI STATE GOES ON TO WIN 3-2.

THE HEAD COACH IS NOW A PART OF THE 400 WIN CLUB AND THE BEAVERS ARE WINNERS OF THREE GAMES IN A ROW.

THEY MOVE INTO SIXTH PLACE, THE SERIES ENDS TOMORROW.

>>> BASKETBALL, EXCUSE ME, WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY.

THE BEMIDJI STATE WAS PLAYING AT HOME AS WELL AND THEY FALL 5-1 TO NUMBER ONE RANKED WISCONSIN, WHO ARE ALSO PLAYING AT HOME TOMORROW.

>>> BASKETBALL, THE MEN TAKING ON CONCORDIA ST. PAUL.

THIS ONE WAS A SHOOTOUT.

HE BANGS BACK TO BACK TRAYS AND HE PULL IT IS BEAVERS WITHIN 1.

NOW A CHANCE TO TIE THINGS UP.

HE FINISHED WITH 26 POINTS AND TIES THE GAME.

IT WOULD PROVE TO BE TOO MUCH.

BEMIDJI STATE FALLS 100-86.

BSU HAS NOW DROPPED THREE OF THEIR LAST GAMES AND THEY ONLY HAVE THREE GAMES LEFT IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

>>> A COUPLE SCORES FOR YOU, CONCORDIA ST. PAUL, THE WOMEN'S SIDE, THEY BET BEMIDJI STATE.

IN COLLEGE SOFTBALL, THE BEMIDJI STATE GETS A SPLIT TODAY.

THEY BEAT ROOSEVELT 8-2.

THEN IN THE NBA, IN THE THIRD QUARTER, MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES, THEY ARE TRAILING BY 6.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT.

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TEDDY BEAR TOSS IS ALL ABOUT, WHAT IS THAT?

>> Charlie: THAT IS -- YOU KNOW, FORGIVE ME, I DON'T HAVE IT ON ME, BUT THEY DONATE THOSE TEDDY BEARS FOR SOME OF THE HOSPITALS AROUND HERE TO GIVE TO SOME OF THE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN NEED OF THAT.

IT'S A REALLY COOL THING.

THEY TOSS THEM ON AND ALL OF THOSE ARE DONATED TO THE HOSPITALS AND HERE.

>> Dennis: COOL DEAL.

THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> BEMIDJI STATE'S TALLEY GALLERY HAS BEEN HOME TO SIXTEEN DIFFERENT WORKS FROM LOCAL ARTIST NIKKI BESSER FOR THE PAST MONTH.

FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK WAS AT HER ARTIST TALK WHERE SHE TALKED ABOUT HER ART AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT.

>> Reporter: NICKI HAS BEEN AN ARTIST HER WHOLE LIFE ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT MEDIUMS BUT STARTING IN 2018, SHE PUT DOWN THE PAINT BRUSH AND TOOK A NEW LOOK AT PAPER.

>> THE STYLE OF ART IS CALLED PAPER QUILLING, WHERE PAPER IS FOLDED UPON ITSELF AGAIN AND AGAIN TO CREATE ONE BIG PICTURE.

SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN ALL OF THE ART TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE.

>> THE SCALE, THE COMPLEXITY, THE NUMBER OF PIECES IN THIS IS -- I HAVE DEDICATED TO THIS PARTICULAR BODY OF WORK IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, LIKE BUILDING THIS BODY.

DAYS LIKE TODAY, WHEN YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THE QUESTIONS, IT'S LIKE THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT FOR ME.

>> Reporter: THE EXHIBIT IS CALLED PORTRAYALS IN PAPER, TALES OF OVERCOMING.

>> THEY'RE ALL SIMILAR IN EACH OF THEIR OWN WAYS.

I JUST REALLY LIKE THAT THEY'RE ALL UNIQUE AS THEY ARE.

THEY CAN EACH STAND ALONE AND TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

>> Reporter: THEIR OWN STORY, WHICH IS OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION BY THE VIEWER.

>> WHEN I FIRST SAW IT, SAW HER ART, IT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL LIKE WHEN I WAS AT THE LOUVRE.

IT MOVED ME.

>> THIS REMINDS ME OF THIS, JUST PULLED OUT THIS MEMORY AND I THOUGHT WOW, THEY'RE SPEAKING EXACTLY THE WAY THEY'RE MEANT TO.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT, I WANT TO TAP INTO THE HEART OF MAN.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT TO DO.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EMOTION AND FEELING AND FEELING THAT.

>> Reporter: EVERY COMPOSITION HAS CHARACTER THAT BESSER AS BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH ELEMENTS OF THE HUMAN JOURNEY.

>> A DIFFERENT PIECE OF ME, A DIFFERENT PIECE OF YOU, A DIFFERENT PIECE OF US.

>> Reporter: THAT WILL BE EXPERIENCED BY EVERYONE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> IT'S DIVINELY INSPIRED.

I GET THESE VISIONS, SO SPECIFICALLY THEY COME THROUGH TO ME AND THEN THERE ARE THESE INNER VOICES THAT GUIDE ME IN HOW TO PUT THEM TOGETHER.

I FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT UNTIL I FEEL LIKE IT'S DONE AND THE MOMENT IT'S COMPLETED, I FEEL IT IN MY ENTIRE BEING.

IT'S DONE.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS >> EACH WORK OF ART TAKES THOUSANDS OF STRIPS OF PAPER AND A MONTH TO SIX WEEKS TO COMPLETE.

BESSER SAID THAT THE “PORTRAYALS IN PAPER” SERIES IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS AND SHE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD NEW CHARACTERS UNTIL SHE FEELS THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD.

>>> WELL, WE HAVE TIME TO HEAR MORE OF THE STORY OF THE WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST.

THERE'S STACY.

>> Stacy: IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE MILD OUT THERE.

TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, LOWS NEAR 8, SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 5 TO 15, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES TOMORROW, HIGHS NEAR 33, STILL LOOKING AT SOUTHWEST WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

WE COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN OR SNOW EARLY NEXT WEEK.

>> Charlie: WARROAD, THEY ARE TAKING ON DODGE COUNTY.

THEY BEAT THEM 5-2 IN LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

IF THEY CAN WIN THAT, THEY WILL BE THE FIRST GIRLS TEAM EVER TO WIN FOUR STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

THE BOYS HAVE DONE IT ONE TIME, BUT THAT WAS A WHILE AGO.

>> Dennis: WE'RE OUT OF TIME, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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