>> 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.

>>> THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE BEMIDJI PAUL BUNYAN PLAYHOUSE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE 2025 SEASON WILL BE SUSPENDED.

THE BOARD MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN A STATEMENT ON FACEBOOK ON SATURDAY SAYING THE SUSPENSION IS NOT AN ENDING BUT RATHER A NECESSARY PAUSE.

THE STATEMENT SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT GIVING UP.

INSTEAD, THEY ARE CHOOSING TO FIGHT FOR THE LONGEVITY OF THE PAUL BUNYAN PLAYHOUSE AND THE CHIEF THEATER AND ARE CHOOSING TO REBUILD.

THEY SAY THEY WILL BE BACK, STRONGER AND MORE STEADFAST THAN EVER.

WE ARE WORKING ON A FULL STORY WITH MORE DETAILS IN THE FUTURE SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT HERE ON LAKELAND NEWS.

>>> BEMIDJI SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT JEREMY OLSON ANNOUNCED THE 2024-25 CLASS SIZE REPORT AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING EARLIER THIS EVENING.

EVERY YEAR THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO REPORT ON IF ANY CLASSES WITHIN THE BEMIDJI SCHOOL SYSTEM EXCEED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ON THE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES.

THE SCHOOL BOARD MAKES THESE GUIDELINES BASED ON THE SUBJECT OF THE CLASS, STUDENTS AGE, AND OTHER FACTORS.

THE REPORTS HAPPEN TWICE A SCHOOL YEAR AND IN OCTOBER THE SUPERINTENDENT ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WERE THREE CLASSES OVER THE TARGET SIZE, EACH IN THE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> THIS IS WHERE I BRING YOU A LIST OF CLASSES FOR TERM THREE, THAT ARE OVER OUR TARGET AND I AM HAPPY TO REPORT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT IN THE BOARD TARGET.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING RATHER WELL.

IN TERM 4, WE DO HAVE ONE, BUT THAT IS STILL YET TO BE SEEN.

SO FOR TERM 3, NOTHING, TERM 4, THERE IS ONE, BUT AT THIS POINT, WE WILL SEE WHEN WE GET TO TERM 4 IF THAT COMES TO FRUITION.

>> OLSON SAID THAT SINCE HE STARTED IN 2018 THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE REPORTS HAVE SHOWN NO CLASSES OVER THE RECOMMENDED LIMIT.

>>> THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS PLANNING TO RECONSTRUCT AND IMPROVE HIGHWAY 210 THROUGH BRAINERD IN 2026 AND 2027.

THE CONSTRUCTION WILL SPAN FROM BAXTER DRIVE TO PINE SHORES ROAD AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MINN-DOT, THE BRAINERD LAKES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ARE INVITING LOCAL BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE CONSTRUCTION ZONE, TO PARTICIPATE IN LISTENING SESSIONS REGARDING THE PROJECT.

TWO ARE SCHEDULED FOR THIS THURSDAY, MARCH 6TH, ONE FROM 7:30 UNTIL 9:00 IN THE MORNING AND THE OTHER FROM 3:30 IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL 6:00 P.M.

BOTH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE BRAINED LAKES CHAMBER C.T.C.

ROOM.

THE LISTENING SESSIONS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET CRITICAL UPDATES ON THE PROJECT TIMELINE AND DESIGN, VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND IDEAS ABOUT DETOURS AND ACCESS BEFORE FINAL DECISIONS ARE MADE AND MAKE SURE YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS ARE CONSIDERED DURING CONSTRUCTION.

>>> CENTRAL LAKES COLLEGE IS SEEKING COMMUNITY INPUT AS THE COLLEGE KICKS OFF ITS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS.

C.L.C.

OFFICIALS SAY THE PROCESS IS A ONE-YEAR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO DEVELOP A 2026-2031 PLAN TO CONTINUE THE COLLEGE'S CRITICAL WORK TO BUILD FUTURES AS ITS MISSION DEMANDS.

ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO WEIGH IN AND PROVIDE INPUT BY COMPLETING A SHORT SURVEY BY MARCH 7.

YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SURVEY ON THE C.L.C.

WEBSITE AND WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE A LINK TO THE SURVEY WITH THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> POPE FRANCIS REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

BUT MONDAY, THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED HIS CONDITION HAS IMPROVED SLIGHTLY.

THE UPDATE CAME A DAY AFTER THE VATICAN SAID BLOOD TESTS SHOWED MILD SIGNS OF KIDNEY FAILURE.

MONDAY'S STATEMENT SAID THE KIDNEY ISSUES ARE NOT A CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

THE 88-YEAR-OLD PONTIFF RESUMED SOME WORK MONDAY AFTERNOON FROM THE HOSPITAL.

FRANCIS HAS NOW BEEN HOSPITALIZED SINCE FEBRUARY 14TH, WHEN HE WAS ADMITTED FOR RESPIRATORY ISSUES.

>>> IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE.

THE DAY WAS MARKED BY THE U.N.

PASSING A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING RUSSIA FOR THE INVASION, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKY HOSTING WESTERN LEADERS IN KYIV AND U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HOSTING FRANCE'S PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR.

>> UKRAINIANS SAY IT'S BEEN A LONG THREE YEARS.

>> I FEEL INCREDIBLY TIRED.

>> WE HAVE UNDERGONE A VERY BIG TRANSFORMATION.

>> Reporter: UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT MARKED THE THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY BY HOSTING EUROPEAN LEADERS AT A WORLD MEMORIAL IN KYIV.

WITH SOMBER EXPRESSIONS, THE LEADERS PLACED LANTERNS TO HONOR THE FALLEN.

ON X, ZELENSKYY PROCLAIMED HIS INTERNAL GRATITUDE TO THE FALLEN HEROES.

THREE YEARS OF RESISTANCE, THREE YEARS OF GRATITUDE, THREE YEARS OF HEROISM OF UKRAINIANS AND IN THE U.S., DONALD TRUMP HOSTED A WORLD LEADER OF HIS OWN.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD SAY WE WILL NEVER SEND BOOTS ON THE GROUND BECAUSE YOU SENT A BLANK CHECK TO VIOLATE ANY COMMITMENT.

>> Reporter: HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUMP STANDING FIRM AGAINST PUTIN.

THE U.S.

JOINED RUSSIA TO VOTE AGAINST THE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE, PUTTING THE U.S. AT ODDS WITH THEIR LONG TIME EUROPEAN ALLIES.

PRESIDENT TRUMP FALSELY ACCUSED UKRAINE OF STARTING THE WAR.

>> INSTEAD OF STANDING UP AGAINST PUTIN, DONALD TRUMP IS STANDING WITH HIM.

DONALD TRUMP PARROTING RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.

>> Reporter: UKRAINE'S FUTURE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

I'M SHERRELL HUBBARD REPORTING.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED THE RESOLUTION, THAT PLACES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR ON RUSSIA, IT RECEIVED 93 VOTES IN FAVOR.

RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES VOTED AGAINST IT.

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

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE WARM TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, BUT WE COULD HAVE RAIN OR SNOW MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TOMORROW OR TOMORROW NIGHT.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE >> 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 FIFTH ANNUAL TRIPLE FEST BROUGHT SNOWMOBILERS FROM ALL AROUND MINNESOTA TO BREEZY POINT RESORT TO COMPETE IN A WEEKEND FULL OF RACING AND REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL WAS THERE TO CATCH THE ACTION.

>> Reporter: STUCK RIGHT BETWEEN THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE START OF THE FORMULA ONE SEASON, ONE OF THE BIGGEST RACING EVENTS OF THE SEASON, TRIPLE FEST.

>> THE EVENT TODAY IS A MIRACULOUS GATHERING OF PEOPLE THAT LOVE SNOWMOBILING AND A WONDERFUL VENUE AND RESORT THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER.

TO KEEP THE SPORT STRONG AND WE LOVE IT.

>> Reporter: NOW IN ITS FIFTH YEAR, TRIPLE FEST CONTINUES TO EXPAND WITH EACH NEW ITERATION.

>> THIS YEAR IT'S DEFINITELY GROWN.

LAST YEAR, WE WERE RACING TO GET UP THE ICE BECAUSE THE ICE WAS NOT AS THICK AND SAFE.

NOW YOU CAN SIT OUT HERE, YOU CAN ENJOY THE SUNSHINE, TALK TO FRIENDS, SIT DOWN AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

>> WE JUST DECIDED TO STAY HERE AFTER LAST YEAR.

WE GOT SO MUCH POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY.

THIS IS REALLY WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT LEVEL, FOR THE EVENT TO GROW.

THIS BLOWS UP MORE AND MORE EVERY YEAR.

THINGS GO SMOOTH, WE WILL SLOWLY ADD THINGS IN AS THEY FIT AND BASICALLY JUST TURN THIS THING INTO A GREAT BIG WINTER CARNIVAL.

>> PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES CAME OUT TO TRIPLE FEST TO RACE THEIR SNOWMOBILES.

ONE COMMON THEME ACROSS ALL AGES, THE ADRENALINE RUSH.

>> I'M AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE AND FOUND A PASSION FOR IT AND HENCE THE REASON WHY WE STARTED THIS EVENT.

YEAH, IT IS AN ADRENALINE RUSH.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE COMPETITIVE NATURE, THEY FIND A WAY TO CATER TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

>> WE ENJOY THE COMRADERY OF FRIENDS AND JUST DROPPING SUCH A FUN EVENT AND GETTING PEOPLE OUT AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THIS MANY PEOPLE OUTSIDE ON A BEAUTIFUL WINTER DAY, IN THE SUN, ENJOYING EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.

THE LIVELINESS AND THE INTERACTION, I DON'T THINK YOU CAN BEAT IT.

>> WE WANTED IT TO BE A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ORIENTED SITUATION.

YOU CAN GET REALLY SERIOUS WITH RACING AND WHAT THAT TURNS INTO IS A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT ARE MAD AT EACH OTHER.

WE WANTED IT TO BE EASY AND FRIENDLY.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF GALS THAT CAME DOWN TO RACE WITH US.

THIS IS A SPORT AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT HERE.

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

>> TRIPLE FEST CONTINUES TO GROW YEAR AFTER YEAR, WITH THE ORGANIZERS PLANNING TO ADD SOME NEW EVENTS TO NEXT YEAR'S LINEUP TO ADD TO THE FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>>> STACY JOINS US NOW.

IT WAS A NICE WEEKEND WEATHER-WISE AFTER THE COLD WEATHER WE HAD THE WEEKEND BEFORE THAT.

>> Stacy: RIGHT, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES.

IT HAS BEEN SO WARM.

WE CONTINUED THAT WARM TREND TODAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE WARMER TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK, 30s AND 40s FOR OUR HIGHS.

WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW MOVING ACROSS THE AREA STARTING LATE TOMORROW, TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT WITH ANOTHER SYSTEM POSSIBLY LATER THIS >> 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, IT WAS ANOTHER MILD DAY OUT THERE TODAY.

WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE WARMER TEMPERATURES NOW AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK WITH HIGHS IN THE 30s AND 40s.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AND WE COULD BE SEEING RAIN OR SNOW AS THE SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH.

SO WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.

HERE ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS.

IT'S 34 AT THE AIRPORT IN BEMIDJI TONIGHT, THE WEST WIND IS AT 5 MILES PER HOUR AT OUR STUDIO, DEW POINT IS 30, AND HUMIDITY IS AT 85%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, IT'S 38 DEGREES, THE DEW POINT IS 30, PRESSURE IS ON THE RISE, AND WINDS ARE WEST AT 8 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW AS WE LOOK AT THE RADAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CLOUDS MOVING ACROSS THE VIEWING AREA THIS EVENING, A LITTLE BIT OF PRECIPITATION BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE ARROWHEAD.

FOR OUR VIEWING AREA, WE WILL SEE SCATTERED FLURRIES ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT, POSSIBLY SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN IN SOME LOCATIONS AND THERE MAY BE SOME SCATTERED SLIPPERY SPOTS AND THE MELTING SNOW MAY FREEZE ON THE ROAD OVERNIGHT.

IT LOOKS LIKE MILDER TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN STORE TOMORROW, BUT WE COULD BE SEEING THAT RAIN-SNOW MIX AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, YOLANDA SENDING US THE PHOTO OF THE DRIVING CONDITIONS NEAR PEMBINA.

ANGELA CAPTURING A PHOTO OF A BALD EAGLE IN FLIGHT NEAR CASS LAKE.

SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR PHOTOS WITH US.

YOLANDA REPORTING CLOUDY TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES THIS MORNING WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 34.

ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 35 WITH A BIT OF WIND THIS MORNING.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 48.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUN AND WINDY, 48 WAS THE HIGH.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, CLOUDY SKIES, HIGH OF 44.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH OF 46.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, BRAINERD TOPPING OUT AT 48 DEGREES, SO WE ARE NOW WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 30.

37 IS OUR LOW TEMP THIS MORNING, SUNSET AT 5:58.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 40.

OUR LOW TEMPERATURE IS OUR CURRENT AT 34, VERY MILD TEMPERATURES OUT THERE, AND WE HAD SUNSET AT 1 MINUTE BEFORE 6:00.

SO AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW MORNING, WE COULD BE SEEING A LOT OF CLOUD COVER, MAYBE A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE A LOT OF CLOUD COVER, MAYBE A FEW BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY HEADING INTO THE AFTERNOON.

BY MID AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING, WE WILL SEE THE CHANCE FOR MIXED PRECIPITATION MOVING INTO THE AREA.

THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO TOMORROW NIGHT AND EVEN WEDNESDAY MORNING BEFORE IT BEGINS TO MOVE OUT OF THE AREA, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE MILDER TEMPERATURES.

FORECAST-WISE, AS FAR AS OUR TEMPS TOMORROW, WE'RE LOOKING AT MID-30s IN THE WARROAD AREA, 40 IN BEMIDJI, AND LOW 40s IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THE MILD WEATHER.

FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, A FEW FLURRIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF FREEZING RAIN IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

LOWS IN THE MID-20s AND TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, BUT WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW, POSSIBLY SOME SPRINKLES AND FLURRIES IN BETWEEN, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON WITH HIGHS NEAR 39.

THAT SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH AND QUIETER RETURNS IN THE MIDWEEK.

THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION WILL ARRIVE ON FRIDAY, A GOOD CHANCE FOR NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WITH SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW AND RAIN ELSEWHERE.

A LITTLE BIT COOLER TO START THE WEEKEND, BUT WE'RE BACK IN THE 30s WITH VARIABLE CLOUDS ON SUNDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: NOW WE HAVE STATE TOURNAMENTS, EVERYTHING.

>> Charlie: IT'S THE LAST PUSH BEFORE SPRING.

WE HAVE A LOT TO BRING YOU TONIGHT.

WE HAD SECTION TOURNAMENTS STARTING TONIGHT IN 8-4A.

THEN WE WILL CLEAN UP SOME OF THE WEEKEND THAT'S -- THAT WAS AT THE CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THAT AND MORE COMING UP AFTER >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORT WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> TODAY MARKED THE SECTION PLAYOFFS.

BEMIDJI WAS PLACED AS THE 8 SEED, MEANING THEY WOULD HOST A PLAYOFF PLAY IN GAME THIS EVENING.

THEY WERE TALKING ON SAUK RAPIDS RICE.

THEY HAD A 75-16 WIN OVER THE STORM.

EARLY ON, IT WAS LIV THOMPSON WHO HAD THE HOT HAND FOR THE JACKS.

SHE HAD 10 POINTS AS THEY TAKE A 7-0 LEAD.

THEN CLARA GETS THE FEED DOWN LOW, FINISHES TO CAP AN 11-0 RUN.

SHE CONTRIBUTED 16 POINTS.

JACKS WERE GETTING IT DONE ON THE DEFENSIVE END.

MAT AMERICAS -- MATAYA ABLE TO CONVERT.

THE LUMBERJACKS WILL HEAD SOUTH ON WEDNESDAY FOR THEIR QUARTER FINAL MATCH UP WITH SAINT MICHAEL ALBERTVILLE.

>>> A COUPLE MORE SCORES FOR YOU, LAKE OF THE WOODS, THEY BEAT WINAMAC.

THEY WILL PLAY NORTHOME NEXT.

IN BOYS BASKETBALL TONIGHT, ALEXANDRIA BEATS BEMIDJI.

ESKO BEATS CROSBY-IRONTON.

PARK RAPIDS FALLS TO EAST GRAND FORKS.

NORTHOME-KELLIHER AND RED LAKE BOTH COLLECTING WINS TONIGHT.

OVER THE WEEKEND, MEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY, BEMIDJI STATE, THRILLING OVERTIME WIN AGAINST BOWLING GREEN.

THEY SCORED WITH 10 SECONDS TO GO IN THE GAME WITH AN EXTRA MAN AND THEY HAVE DONE IT QUITE A FEW TIMES THIS YEAR.

GOOD WIN.

ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE OF THINGS, THEY FELL TO NUMBER ONE WISCONSIN AND MEN'S BASKETBALL, THEY FELL TO MINNESOTA DULUTH AT HOME.

THE WOMEN DIDN'T FAIR MUCH BETTER.

>>> HISTORY WAS ON THE LINE SATURDAY WHEN WARROAD AND DODGE COUNTY MET IN THE GIRLS' HOCKEY CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT WAS A REMATCH OF LAST YEAR'S TITLE GAME, WITH THE WARRIORS TRYING TO BECOME THE FIRST GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM IN MINNESOTA TO 4-PEAT AS STATE CHAMPS, WHILE THE WILDCATS WERE TRYING TO AVENGE LAST YEAR'S LOSS AND WIN THEIR TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

HERE'S HOW IT ALL WENT DOWN AT THE XCEL ENERGY CENTER.

WARROAD THE 3-SEED, DODGE COUNTY THE TOP SEED, EACH HAVING ONLY ALLOWED ONE GOAL IN THIS YEAR'S STATE TOURNAMENT THUS FAR.

THAT'S WHEN WARROAD HAD THE 1-0 ADVANTAGE.

EARLY IN THE SECOND PERIOD, KYLIE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ONE HOME TO GIVE THE WILDCATS THEIR FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME.

THEY BUILD A 3-1 LEAD.

THEN THINGS STARTED TO LOOK BLEAK BUT MIDWAY THROUGH THE THIRD, THE MAGIC HAPPENED.

THEN 21 SECONDS LATER, VIVIAN, A BOMB FROM THE BLUE LINE, TIES THE GAME, EVENTUALLY SENDING IT TO OVERTIME.

NEAR THE END OF OVERTIME, JUST A MINUTE TO GO, THE SHOT DOESN'T GO AND THEN IT GOES BACK BEHIND IN THE NET, THEY SAY A NO GOAL AT FIRST.

THEN YOU SEE THE PLAYER SAYING SHE WAS SURE IT WENT IN FOR DODGE COUNTY.

THE REPLAY SHOWS IT WENT IN.

DODGE COUNTY IN AN UNBELIEVABLE FASHION COMES AWAY WITH A 4-3 OVERTIME VICTORY OVER WARROAD, ENDING WARROAD'S REIGN IN THE CLASS A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AFTERWARDS, TOUGH TO HEAR SOME WORDS FROM THE WARRIORS, BUT THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO WEAR THAT JERSEY ONE LAST TIME.

>> OBVIOUSLY WE DIDN'T GET THE OUTCOME WE WANTED BUT THERE HAS TO BE A LOSER AND THERE HAS TO BE A WINNER.

THIS LOSS DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE WHOLE SEASON WE HAD.

I'M GOING TO REMEMBER THE POSITIVES.

I'M GOING TO REMEMBER THAT COMEBACK WE HAD IN THE THIRD AND ALL THE WINS WE GOT, NOT THIS ONE LOSS.

>> I'M JUST REALLY PROUD TO BE A WARRIOR.

>> Charlie: WELL, THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT FOR THE TWO CAPTAINS TO BE PROUD OF REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.

THEY ARE ONE OF FOUR SCHOOLS IN GIRLS HOCKEY HISTORY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT FEAT.

THE WARRIORS STILL HAVE THEIR STATE CHAMPION STREAK ALIVE.

WARROAD HAD FOUR GIRLS ON THE TEAM, ONLY ONE OF THEM GRADUATING.

THAT BEING KATY COMSTOCK WHO WILL BE PLAYING AT BEMIDJI STATE NEXT SEASON.

>>> WELL, SHE'S BEEN ONE OF THE STATE'S BEST FOR THE PAST 6-YEARS AND ON SUNDAY.

GRAND RAPIDS-GREENWAY'S MERCURY BISCHOFF WAS CROWNED 2025'S MISS HOCKEY.

THE ANNUAL AWARD IS GIVEN TO THE BEST SENIOR GIRLS HOCKEY PLAYER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THIS SEASON SHE FINISHED AS THE STATE'S LEADING GOAL SCORER WITH 58.

THE LEADING POINT SCORER WITH 86, BUT WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE HONOR SHE REMAINED HUMBLE AS ALWAYS.

>> I DIDN'T WANT TO GET MY HOPES UP IN CASE NOTHING HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO THINK OH, THIS CAN HAPPEN.

>> NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO THAT SPOT, JUST LIKE FROM ANYWHERE, CONSIDERING YOU ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON OUT-OF-STATE.

SO I THINK IT'S FASCINATING THAT SOMEBODY FROM THE NORTH, BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS WHAT NORTHERN HOCKEY IS LIKE.

>> BISCHOFF IS NOW JUST THE 5TH GIRLS HOCKEY PLAYER FROM THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE TO WIN THE AWARD.

SHE LEAVES THE LIGHTNING AS THE CAREER LEADING SCORER WITH 381-POINTS.

NEXT YEAR BISCHOFF WILL PLAY FOR THE MAVERICKS AT MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO.

>>> WELL, BEMIDJI BOYS HOCKEY 5-1 WIN OVER ROSEAU IN SATURDAYS SECTION 8-2A SEMIFINAL HAS THEM BACK IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2016 AND LIKE 2016, THEY WILL BE FACING MOORHEAD.

THE TOP SEED COMING INTO THE SECTION TOURNAMENT AND THE 2ND RANKED TEAM IN CLASS 2A.

THE LUMBERJACKS LOST 3-1 ON THE ROAD TO THE SPUDS BACK IN EARLY JANUARY, A GAME IN WHICH THE JACKS SURRENDERED 2-GOALS IN THE FIRST 4-MINS, BUT HELD THEM SCORELESS UNTIL GIVING UP EMPTY NETTER LATE.

THIS GO AROUND, BEMIDJI WOULD LIKE TO REPLICATE THE RESULT FROM THE TITLE MATCH 9-YEARS AGO, A 4-3 OVERTIME VICTORY THAT SENT THE JACKS TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT FOR THE 8TH TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

>> A CHANCE TO GO TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

EVERYONE WANTS TO DO IT.

ONLY A SELECT FEW GET TO.

IT'S AWESOME THAT WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE THOUGHT FROM THE YOUTH LEVEL WE HAD A CHANCE, BUT WE ALWAYS KNOWN WE HAD TO GO THROUGH MOORHEAD.

WE GOT THAT CHANCE ON WEDNESDAY.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO THROUGH WITH THAT.

>> GROWING UP, WE HAVE BEEN STUPID BOYS, ALWAYS BEEN TOGETHER.

IT'S BEEN THE SAME TEAM ALMOST EVERY YEAR.

THEY'RE FAST, BUT WE'RE FAST TOO.

I THINK WE CAN COMPETE WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY IF WE JUST PLAY OUR GAME.

>> THE LUMBERJACKS ARE RIDING A 9-GAME UNBEATEN STREAK INTO THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEDNESDAY AT THE MINI RALPH IN THIEF RIVER FALLS.

PUCK DROP IS AT 7:00 P.M. AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT GOFAN.CO.

# SO YOU CAN GET THOSE TICKETS.

>> Dennis: SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE.

>> Charlie: YEAH, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> Dennis: THANK YOU CHARLIE.

>>> THERE HAVE BEEN MANY BUSINESSES THAT HAVE COME AND GONE IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI BUT THERE IS ONE STORE IN PARTICULAR THAT HAS REMAINED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND HAS BECOME A STAPLE OF THE AREA.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN SAT DOWN WITH THE OWNERS OF ROY'S COMICS AND GAMES TO SEE HOW THEY REMAIN OPEN 33 YEARS AFTER FIRST OPENING THEIR DOORS FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: ROY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BEMIDJI, HAD BEEN COLLECTING COMIC BOOKS FOR SOME TIME.

>> I HAD A SIZABLE COLLECTION TO BEGIN WITH.

I HAVE BEEN COLLECTING SINCE 1973.

>> Reporter: AND HE NEVER STOPPED COLLECTING COMIC BOOKS UNTIL ONE DAY.

>> I STARTED SELLING COMICS ON CONSIGNMENT.

I HAD BEEN ORDERING RETAIL FOR THREE YEARS ALREADY.

I DECIDED WELL, I'M GOING TO OPEN MY OWN STORE.

>> Reporter: AND ALL IT TOOK WAS A LEAP OF FAITH.

>> YOU START A BUSINESS WITH $500 AND $100 WENT TO RENT.

>> Reporter: AND NOW THEY REMAIN AND CONTINUE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS.

>> I HAD CUSTOMERS AND YOU SEE THEM WHEN THEY'RE ON VACATION OR I MEET THEIR GRANDKIDS.

>> WE'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH WE HAVE SEEN THEM HAVE KIDS AND THEY BRING THEIR GRANDKIDS IN.

THAT'S BEEN KIND OF COOL.

>> Reporter: ROY'S COMICS AND GAMES HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF COMICS THAT ANYONE CAN PICK UP AND READ.

THEY HAVE A BACK STOCK COLLECTION.

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS OUR STORE IS KNOWN FOR, HAVING A LOT OF STUFF THAT IS WEIRD, STRANGE, AND HARD TO GET.

YOU DON'T EXPECT TO FIND SUPERHERO, BRONZE AGE, CARTOONS, WAR, WESTERNS, IF IT'S ODD AND WEIRD, WE PROBABLY HAVE IT.

>> Reporter: THAT IS WHAT HELPED KEEP THE STORE IN BUSINESS FOR SO LONG AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF IT GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

>> WE HAVE $.25 COMICS TO VERY EXPENSIVE COMICS.

KIDS CAN FIND SOMETHING, ADULTS CAN FIND SOMETHING, OLDER PEOPLE THAT GREW UP WITH COMICS, YOU KNOW, AND SOME OF THE EARLY COMICS, THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING.

PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST INTO MOVIES CAN FIND SOMETHING.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY SORT OF STORE.

IT'S A NICE VARIETY AND I THINK IT HAS HELPED US IN BEMIDJI.

>> WE HAVE REALLY DONE A LOT TO BUILD THIS AS NOT JUST A LOCAL STORE BUT A DESTINATION.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-BUSINESS, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY ROY WAS WEARING AN EYE PATCH THROUGHOUT THE STORY, WELL UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS THE VICTIM OF A RANDOM ATTACK WHILE RIDING HIS WHEELCHAIR IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI AND HE WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO SEVERAL SURGERIES TO HOPEFULLY REPAIR HIS VISION.

CYNTHIA AND ROY STARTED A GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN IF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO HELP WITH ROY'S HOSPITAL BILLS.

WE WILL INCLUDE A LINK TO THE GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN ALONG WITH THIS STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>>> WELL, WE HAVE TIME FOR ANOTHER LOOK AT OUR WEATHER, SO LET'S GO BACK TO STACY.

>> Stacy: WE WILL BE SEEING PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES OVERNIGHT, MAYBE A FEW FLURRIES OR POSSIBLY SOME FREEZING RAIN IN PARTS OF MINNESOTA, LOWS NEAR 25.

TOMORROW, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY, A CHANCE OF RAIN OR SNOW MOVING INTO THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON.

>> Charlie: GIRLS BASKETBALL TOMORROW AND WE GET TO HEAR FROM BEMIDJI BOYS WRESTLING.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR US.

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

[♪♪♪] CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: AV CAPTIONING WWW.AVCAPTIONING.COM