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

MEMBER FDIC.

>> C.T.C.

; KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED WITH INTERNET, TV, MOBILE, AND HOME PHONE.

LEARN MORE AT AT GOCTC.COM.

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

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MINNESOTA.

>> 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, PROVIDING ALL FIBEROPTIC INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGS WITH NO DATA CAPS AND NO SPEED THROTTLING.

>> 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.

>>> ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN A SHOOTING IN CASS LAKE LAST NIGHT.

THE CASS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE RECEIVED REPORTS AROUND 7:00 P.M.

OF SHOTS BEING FIRED IN THE CITY AND WHEN DEPUTIES ARRIVED THEY LEARNED THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

A JUVENILE MALE WAS STRUCK IN THE LEG, AND TAKEN TO SANFORD BEMIDJI WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

SHERIFF BRYAN WELK SAYS SEVERAL PARTIES OF INTEREST INCLUDING JUVENILES AND ADULTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

>>> A TODD COUNTY MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO SIX COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON'S OFFICE SECURED THE CONVICTION OF MERVIN C. KAUFFMAN BETWEEN AUGUST 14, 2015, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5TH OF 2022, KAUFFMAN, WHO WAS OVER THE AGE OF 18, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED SIX JUVENILES AT HIS FAMILY HOME IN TODD COUNTY.

AT THE PLEA HEARING, KAUFFMAN ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAD A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OF THE VICTIMS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON'S OFFICE PROSECUTED KAUFFMAN UPON A REFERRAL FROM TODD COUNTY ATTORNEY JOHN LINDEMANN.

>>> THE MINNESOTA B-C-A IS ASKING FOR THE PUBLICS HELP IN LOCATING A WOMAN WHO WAS LAST SEEN IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF HUBBARD COUNTY.

68-YEAR-OLD KATHRYN WOESSNER WAS LAST SEEN ON JUNE 3RD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF STATE HIGHWAY 64 AND STATE HIGHWAY 87 SOUTH OF AKELEY.

SHE WAS DRIVING A BLACK 2015 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY WITH THE MINNESOTA LICENSE PLATE: G-L-E-3-4-8.

WOESSNER DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERSONAL BELONGINGS WITH HER AND HAS MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT HER SAFETY.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN OR KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF WOESSNER OR HER VEHICLE, PLEASE CONTACT THE DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE OR CALL 911.

>>> BELTRAMI COUNTY WILL BE CONDUCTING A STUDY ON COUNTY STATE AID HIGHWAY ONE, TO POTENTIALLY RAISE THE SPEED LIMIT TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

BELTRAMI COUNTY'S PORTION OF THAT HIGHWAY CONSISTS OF 5.75 MILES THAT RUN ALONG THE MARSHALL COUNTY LINE.

THE ROUTE IS COMMONLY USED FOR TRUCK TRAFFIC AND REGIONAL COMMUTERS TRAVELING FROM NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

THE CORRIDOR INCLUDES ROADWAYS IN POLK, RED LAKE.

PENNINGTON, MARSHALL, ROSEAU, AND BELTRAMI COUNTIES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE REQUESTED A SPEED STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED ON THE HIGHWAY.

>> IT IS PART OF THE CORRIDOR, THE GULLY, AND UP TOWARDS ROSEAU ON HIGHWAY 11.

THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER SPEED STUDIES THAT WE HAVE ASKED MnDOT TO DO FOR US.

IN THIS ONE, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE SPEED LIMIT TO GO UP FROM 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

THIS WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE FIRST FOR US.

>> THE STANDARD SPEED LIMIT FOR COUNTY ROADS IS 55 MILES PER HOUR, UNLESS POSTED OTHERWISE.

>>> CASS COUNTY SHERIFF BRYAN WELK PRESENTED DEPUTY COOPER SEVERSON WITH A LIFESAVING AWARD AT THE CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING THIS WEEK.

WELK SAYS SEVERSON WAS GIVEN THE HONOR DUE TO EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, PROFESSIONALISM, AND ACTIONS TAKEN TO PRESERVE A HUMAN LIFE DURING A CRITICAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN CASS COUNTY ON APRIL 5, THIS YEAR.

DURING THAT INCIDENT SEVERSON RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND FOUND A MAN UNCONSCIOUS, NOT BREATHING AND WITHOUT A PULSE.

SEVERSON QUICKLY TOOK OVER LIFESAVING EFFORTS AND CONTINUED C.P.R.

UNTIL ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS ARRIVED ON SCENE.

DEPUTY SEVERSON FURTHER ASSISTED BY DRIVING THE AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL, ALLOWING E.M.S.

TO CONTINUE ADVANCED CARE TO THE VICTIM, WHO IS NOW RECOVERING.

WELK SAYS DEPUTY SEVERSON'S ACTIONS EXEMPLIFY THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALISM.

>>> THE AITKIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT HAS RECEIVED FUNDS FOR A NEW TERMINAL.

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION'S 2026 AIRPORT TERMINAL PROGRAM HAS AWARDED THE AIRPORT OVER $1 MILLION, SYMBOLIZING A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF GENERAL AVIATION SERVICES IN AITKIN COUNTY.

AITKIN COUNTY COMMISSIONER CHAIR MARK WEDEL EXPECTS THE NEW TERMINAL BUILDING TO SERVE AS A PUBLIC RESOURCE THAT HELPS PROMOTE THE AIRPORT AND GENERAL AVIATION.

WEDEL ALSO BELIEVES THE TERMINAL WILL STAND AS A SAFETY MEASURE FOR PILOTS TO UTILIZE FOR REST OR INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

>> TO OUR NEW PILOTS AND EXISTING PILOTS, THE PILOTS ASSOCIATION LOCAL CLUB WILL HAVE A MEETING PLACE AND WE CAN HAVE A LOT OF AVIATION RELATED EQUIPMENT IN THIS.

THEY WILL USE THE AIRPORT, OFTENTIMES THERE IS A LAYOVER FROM THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, TAKE THEIR CREW TO THE HOSPITAL FOR THEM TO HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO BE AT.

IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT THEM.

>> THE NEW TERMINAL IS EXPECTED TO BE IN ITS DESIGN PHASE THROUGH AUGUST THIS YEAR.

>>> THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA HELD AN EVENT YESTERDAY ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND THE VOTING PROCESS WITH A GUEST SPEAKER AT THE NORTHLAND ABORETUM.

OUR REPORTER XZAYVER CURRY HAS MORE DETAILS.

>> Reporter: THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AN ORGANIZATION WORKING TO PROTECT AND EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND ENCOURAGE NOT JUST WOMEN, BUT EVERYONE TO VOTE.

>> WE WILL BE TAKING -- TALKING ABOUT HOW ELECTIONS WORK AND ANY QUESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

>> OUR FOCUS IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON VOTING ISSUES AND REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE AND HOW TO VOTE.

MINNESOTA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUTS IN THE COUNTRY AND WE WOULD LIKE IT TO STAY THAT WAY.

>> Reporter: THE EVENT FEATURED GUESTS SPEAKERS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CROW WING COUNTY WHO GAVE A PRESENTATION TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

>> I WAS INVITED TO COME AND SPEAK WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ABOUT THE ELECTION PROCESS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE NOT ONLY IN CROW WING COUNTY BUT ACROSS MINNESOTA AND THE NATION IN A FEW MONTHS HERE.

ONE THING WE WANT VOTERS TO KNOW IS THAT ELECTIONS IN MINNESOTA ARE FREE, FAIR, SECURE, AND ACCURATE FOR EVERY VOTE THAT IS CAST, WE TAKE OUR JOB VERY SERIOUSLY.

THIS IS ADMINISTERED BY HUNDREDS OF ELECTION JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> Reporter: ORGANIZERS ENCOURAGE THE BRAINERD LAKES COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTION PROCESS, WHETHER THAT IS VOTING, BECOMING AN ELECTION JUDGE, OR OBSERVER.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE BEING INVOLVED WITH THE ELECTION PROCESS, BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE, ENCOURAGING THEIR NEIGHBORS TO VOTE.

>> BEING AN ELECTION JUDGE IS FUN AND YOU GET TO SEE THE WHOLE PROCESS, HOW EVERYTHING IS COUNTED, HOW SAVE IT REALLY IS, AND HOW LITTLE FRAUD THAT CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN ON IT.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BAXTER, XZAYVER CURRY, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE COUNTY WILL START ADMINISTERING ABSENTTEE VOTING BEGINNING JUNE 26TH FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND AGAIN SEPTEMBER 18TH FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS.

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

>> Stacy: IT'S GOING TO BE A HOT WEEKEND WITH HIGHS IN THE 80s AND 90s WITH A LOT OF SUNSHINE BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, THE FIRST EVER PROCESSION OF SPECIES TOOK PART IN PARK RAPIDS TO WELCOME HOME THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES.

[♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> WORLD IRISH DANCE CHAMPIONS WILL BE COMING TO BRAINERD FOR THE SHOW A TASTE OF IRELAND, THE IRISH MUSIC AND DANCE EXPERIENCE THIS UPCOMING JUNE.

THE PRODUCTION BLENDS TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY IRISH DANCE WITH LIVE MUSIC, CREATING A DYNAMIC SHOWCASE OF CELTIC HERITAGE.

A TASTE OF IRELAND PERFORMANCES WILL INCLUDE DANNY BOY, TELL ME MA, WILD ROVER, AND MORE.

DANCERS WILL MIX MELODIC FOLK MASH-UPS, LIVE A CAPPELLA TAP BATTLES, AND STORY-TELLING, INTO AN EXPERIENCE INTENDED TO CAPTIVATE THE AUDIENCE, AS WELL AS INTRODUCE ATTENDEES TO THE MANY WRINKLES IN IRISH DANCE.

>> WE KIND OF LIKE TO TAKE THE AUDIENCE ON A JOURNEY WITH US THROUGH IRELAND'S HISTORY, FROM ITS CREATION, FROM THE VIKINGS COMING OVER, TO THE FAMINE, TO THE RISING.

I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE HAS A LITTLE IRISH IN THEM SO THEY LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND APPRECIATE THE HISTORY TOO.

>> A TASTE OF IRELAND WILL RUN FROM JUNE 6TH THROUGH THE 11TH AT THE GICHI-ZIIBI CENTER.

>>> THE 2ND ANNUAL ‘NATURE NEIGHBORS DAY FAMILY FESTIVAL' IS TAKING PLACE THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 6TH, AT THE RAIL RIVER FOLK SCHOOL IN BEMIDJI FROM THREE TO 6:00 P.M.

THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL IS, THE YEAR OF THE TREE ROOTING FOR BEMIDJI.

THE BEMIDJI COMMUNITY FELT THE WEIGHT OF NATURE'S POWER AS LAST YEAR'S MAJOR WIND STORM BLEW DOWNED AN ESTIMATED 9 MILLION TREES IN THE AREA.

ORGANIZERS OF THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL AIM TO TURN THOSE FALLEN BRANCHES INTO STEPPING STONES FOR THE FUTURE.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A JOYFUL COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF BEING OUTDOORS AND IN NATURE.

WE LIVE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL AREA HERE IN BEMIDJI AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

WE JUST LIKE TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO GET OUT AND ENJOY IT.

WE'LL HAVE OVER 15 ORGANIZATIONS TABLING WITH ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS FOOD TRUCKS, AND SOME LIVE MUSIC, WE'LL HAVE LIVE PERFORMANCES, JUST GIVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO AREA FAMILIES TO COME TO A FREE FAMILY EVENT.

>> ORGANIZERS WILL ALSO BE GIVING AWAY FREE TREE SAPLINGS AT THE FESTIVAL WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

THOSE SAPLINGS WERE DONATED BY THE ‘LET'S PLANT TREES' ORGANIZATION.

>>> THE LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVE-AWAY IS BACK AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

THIS YEAR WE ARE GIVING AWAY A FOUR-NIGHT STAY AT CHASE ON THE LAKE IN WALKER ALONG WITH A $200 RESORT GIFT CARD.

TO REGISTER YOU NEED TO SEND US A POSTCARD WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER ON IT AND THEN WATCH LAKELAND NEWS TO SEE IF YOUR NAME IS DRAWN.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME ANNOUNCED YOU CAN THEN QUALIFY BY CALLING US ON THE VACATION GIVEAWAY HOTLINE NUMBER BEFORE 5:00 P.M.

THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.

EVERY WEEKNIGHT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, RIGHT HERE ON LAKELAND NEWS, WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS FOR THE 2026 LAKELAND PBS VACATION CONTEST.

AND HERE ARE TONIGHTS FIVE POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, AND YOU WILL HAVE A SHOT AT BEING OUR 2026 CHASE ON THE LAKE VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER IN A LIVE DRAWING ON OUR MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST NEWSCAST.

>>> STACY IS HERE, I'M KIND OF EXCITED ABOUT THE WEEKEND FORECAST THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TOUTING FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS.

>> Stacy: WELL, IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE SUNNY AND HOT.

WE WILL BE SEEING HIGHS IN THE 80s AND 90s ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA THROUGH THE WEEKEND, A LITTLE BIT COOLER ON MONDAY.

WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE DID HAVE A PRETTY COMFORTABLE DAY OUT THERE TODAY.

HIGHS WERE MAINLY IN THE 70s, A FEW 80s OUT THERE.

AND WE WILL BE SEEING CLEAR SKIES RETURNING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, EXPECT TO SEE SUNSHINE, SOME VERY WARM TEMPERATURES RETURNING, HIGHING IN THE 80s AND 90s THIS WEEKEND, WITH MORE UNSETTLED WEATHER AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK.

IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 67 AT THE AIRPORT.

WITH A LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND.

OUR DEW POINT IS AT 53.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, 65, THE DEW POINT IS 62, SO MUGGY OUT THERE.

WINDS ARE WEST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW WE DO HAVE A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA.

THIS IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR WINDS, WHICH COULD GUST UP TO 30 MILES PER HOUR AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY AS LOW AS 25%, AS WELL AS THOSE HOT TEMPERATURES.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SOME CLOUDS, ALONG WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SHOWER ACTIVITY OUT THERE TONIGHT.

THOSE WILL BE MOVING OUT AND SKIES WILL BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR ACROSS THE VIEWING AREA.

THIS LEADS US INTO A SUNNY DAY TOMORROW, HOT TEMPERATURES RETURN, HIGHS IN THE 80s AND 90s TOMORROW AND POSSIBLY A LITTLE BIT WARMER WITH MAINLY 90s ON SUNDAY.

A VIEWER SUBMITTED A VIDEO OF THE LIGHTNING LAST NIGHT IN LAPORTE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT VIDEO WITH US.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYE PHOTOS, WE HAVE THE FOG, WHICH WAS PRESENT THIS MORNING FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA AND DEBRA WITH A PICTURE OF THE SUNRISE OVER LAKE ADA.

WE HAVE THE BLEEDING HEARTS IN FULL BLOOM AND SOME BABY DUCKLINGS.

CHRISSY SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE CLOUDS IN DEERWOOD.

WE HAVE SOME GATHERING CLOUDS OVER TURTLE RIVER LAKE FROM SONYA.

ANGELA SENDING US THIS PHOTO OF THE FOG RETURNING TO CASS LAKE THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR PICTURES TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, DEBRA IN PINE RIVER, 54 THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, THE HIGH WAS 77.

CHRISSY IN DEERWOOD, SOME LATE AFTERNOON RAIN AND THUNDERSTORM.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUNSHINE TODAY.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, PUFFY CLOUDS, 76 FOR THE HIGH, AND SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, 69 AND CALM THIS EVENING.

TAKING A LOOK AT OUR ALMANAC, 77 WAS OUR HIGH IN BRAINERD, A FEW DEGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND A LOW OF 55, SUNSET AT 9:05.

53 IS THE LOW IN BEMIDJI, SUNRISE AT 5:24.

SO LOOKING AT TOMORROW'S FORECAST, A FEW MODELS SUGGESTING A FEW POP-UP SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE MORNING, OTHERWISE FAIRLY QUIET, HOT TEMPERATURES RETURNING, HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-80s ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE ARE LOOKING AT MID TO UPPER 80s.

SO OUR FORECAST TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLEAR, LOWS NEAR 53, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10, SUNNY SKIES TOMORROW, HIGHS IN THE MID-80s.

LOOKING AT THE REST OF OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, IT GETS EVEN HOTTER ON SUNDAY, WITH MANY OF US SEEING HIGHS IN THE 90s.

SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS RETURN ON MONDAY, BRINGING TEMPERATURES DOWN TO 81, BUT WE'RE BACK UP INTO THE UPPER 80s AND 90s AS WE HEAD TOWARDS MIDWEEK.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: A WARM START TO JUNE.

>> Charlie: IT IS A WARM START TO JUNE BUT IT WAS RAINY TODAY.

>> Dennis: BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON IN AUGUST.

>> Charlie: WELL, AND THERE IS SOMETHING COMING UP WITH THE BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM.

WE KNOW WHO THE NEW HEAD COACH IS.

WE'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY WHO HE IS AND ALSO STATE TRACK CONTINUED TODAY AS WELL, EVEN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE RAIN, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE WEATHER WAS GOOD.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS AND MORE COMING U >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ENTERS A NEW ERA WITH THE HIRING OF KYLE MCMARTIN AS THEIR NEWEST HEAD COACH.

THE NAME MIGHT SOUND FAMILIAR BECAUSE MCMARTIN IS CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT BEMIDJI MIDDLE SCHOOL.

HIS COACHING EXPERIENCE INCLUDES MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL ALL THE WAY TO BEING AN ASSISTANT ON VARSITY FOR THE LUMBERJACKS.

MCMARTIN ALSO PLAYED DEFENSIVE LINE AT BEMIDJI STATE FROM 2005-TO-2009, FIRST UNDER JEFF TESCH AND LATER BRENT BOLTE.

ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR KRISTEN MCRAE SAID OF THE HIRE.

HE IS EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE WITH FOOTBALL AND HOW TO DEVELOP PLAYERS AND BUILD ON A SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY WELL-ESTABLISHED.

BEST OF ALL, HE IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

WE ARE EXCITED TO HAVE HIM JOIN THE TEAM.

>>> THE STATE TRACK AND FIELD MEET CONTINUED THIS MORNING FROM SAINT MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE WITH CLASS 2-A.

WE START WITH THE GIRLS 3,200-METER, LAINEY JACKSON FOR GRAND RAPIDS WOULD TAKE SEVENTH PLACE OVERALL IN THE EVENT, COMING IN AT 11-MINUTES-57-SECONDS.

IN THE 100-METER-HURDLE PRELIMS, ON THE FAR LEFT, BROOKLIN HANSEN FROM PEQUOT LAKES GALLOPS PAST THE LINE IN 15.82 SECONDS DURING HER HEAT, SHE FINISHED 17TH OVERALL.

AND THE PATRIOTS 4-BY-100-METER-RELAY OF LILA NORDBY, SHELBY WOTHE, MADILYNN DUPREE AND JOSIE TAYLOR, RUN A NEW SEASON BEST, WITH A TIME OF 49.66 SECONDS, THEY WOULD TAKE 13TH IN THE EVENT.

OVER TO THE BOYS, IN TRIPLE JUMP, GRAND RAPIDS FYNN SCHLICHT WITH A HOP, SKIP, AND A JUMP THAT GOES 41-FEET 2-INCHES, FINISHED 21ST OVERALL.

AT THE SHOT PUT RING, ANOTHER THUNDERHAWK, MASON JOHNSON, TWISTING, TURNING, AND PLANTING ONE 46-FEET 7-INCHES, GOOD ENOUGH FOR 15TH IN THE EVENT.

AND IN THE POLE VAULT, KOBE CAMERON FOR LITTLE FALLS, TAKES THE ELEVATOR WAY UPSTAIRS, CLEARING 13-FEET-AND-6-INCHES, CAMERON WOULD TAKE HOME 8TH PLACE, HIS SECOND STRAIGHT PODIUM FINISH IN THE EVENT.

OVERALL, JUST TWO AREA ATHLETES THAT MEDALED TODAY, NONE QUALIFIED FOR THE FINALS ON SATURDAY.

THERE WILL BE A FEW MORE FIELD FINALS BEING HELD TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE 3A CONCLUDES.

>>> THE CLASS A FINALS WERE IN THE AFTERNOON, AND WE START WITH THE GIRLS 4-BY-800-METER-RELAY, AND THE TEAM FROM PIERZ WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE PODIUM IN 5TH PLACE FINISHING IN 9-MINUTES 43-SECONDS.

IN THE 100-METER-DASH, WEARING NEVIS YELLOW, AZARIAH OGUNDEJI, JUST A 7TH GRADER, TAKES 6TH PLACE WITH A TIME OF 12.43-SECONDS.

AND IN SHOT PUT, ELSA GRAY FOR THE PIONEERS, SETTING A NEW PERSONAL BEST, HEAVING IT 40'1", GRAY WOULD TAKE FIFTH PLACE.

ON THE BOYS SIDE, ETAHN BUCHOLTZ FROM NEVIS CAPPED OUT AT 6'2" IN THE HIGH JUMP FOR 14TH OVERALL, LAKE OF THE WOODS JOHN FORREST, CLEARED 6'4", SNAGGING A MEDAL AT 8TH.

IN THE 100-METER-DASH, BRAYDEN FOUST FOR PIERZ DIGGING DEEP OUT IN LANE SIX, FOUST CLOSING IN AT 10.86-SECONDS, HE TAKES HOME FIFTH PLACE.

AND IN THE FIRST HEAT OF THE 4-BY-800-METER-RELAY, THE BERTHA-HEWITT-VERNDALE RAIDERS CROSSED FIRST AND FINISHED 5TH OVERALL, WHILE PARK RAPIDS WOULD FINISH ABOUT 10-SECONDS FASTER AT 8-MINUTES 7-SECONDS IN THE SECOND HEAT FOR A FOURTH PLACE FINISH.

HERE ARE THE TO FINISHES.

HE WON FOUR GOLD MEDALS TODAY AMONG A FEW OF THE OTHER ATHLETES.

FOR THE GIRLS, THE FULL RESULTS AND WHO MEDALS CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE.

ALSO PLAYING TONIGHT, THE TWINS ARE TRYING TO SNAP A TWO GAME SKID.

THE SPURS, THEY TRAILED BY 14 IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BUT THEY MANAGED TO COME BACK LATE IN THE FOURTH.

THEY'RE TRYING TO PULL IT OFF.

>> Dennis: HEADING BACK TO NEW YORK.

>> Charlie: MILES WALKER IS A KNICKS FAN.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE PARK RAPIDS COMMUNITY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MINNESOTA ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE STATE, AND GENERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED FOR THE FIRST-EVER PROCESSION OF THE SPECIES IN PARK RAPIDS, TO CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY FOR SUMMER.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS.

>> WE NEED MONARCHS, WE NEED ALL BUTTERFLIES, WE NEED ALL SPECIES TO SUSTAIN OUR LIVES AS HUMANS.

>> Reporter: THE IDEA BEHIND THE EVENT WAS NOT ONLY TO MARK THE RETURN OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, BUT TO WELCOME SPRING ON A NICE DAY AFTER A HARD WINTER.

>> IT WAS A COMMUNITY EVENT BUT I THINK IN PARTICULAR, THEY INVITED A COUPLE OF SCHOOL GROUPS, ONE FROM PINE POINT CAME.

SO, I THINK WE HAD 65 PEOPLE MAKING THESE LITTLE HAND PUPPETS IN THE MORNING.

THERE WAS A TEMPLATE IF YOU WANTED TO DO IT TO LOOK EXACTLY LIKE A MONARCH BUTTERFLY AND THERE WAS A LOT OF CREATIVITY, SO THAT IS FUN TO SEE.

>> Reporter: THE PROCESSION OF THE SPECIES STARTED AT THE PARK RAPIDS ARMORY AND MADE ITS WAY TO HEARTLAND PARK, WHERE IT WAS ON FULL DISPLAY TO RAISE AWARENESS, COMBINING SCIENCE AND THE ARTS.

>> WE DID A MAKE AND TAKE WORKSHOP THIS MORNING, AND THEN WE HAD SOME COSTUMES ON HAND FOR PEOPLE TO WEAR, AND IT CAME FROM THE ARMORY TO THE PARK HERE.

>> THE MONARCH IS AN INDICATOR SPECIES, INDICATOR OF THE HEALTH OF OUR ECOSYSTEM AND OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THE CLIMATE FOR THAT MATTER.

THEY'RE VERY VULNERABLE TO SIGNIFICANT ALTERATIONS OF THE LANDSCAPE, FOR INSTANCE THEY VERY MUCH DEPEND ON MILK WEED FOR RAISING THEIR YOUNG AND LAYING THEIR EGGS.

WHEN WE DECIMATE ALL OF THE MILK WEED, THEY SUFFER TERRIBLY.

>> Reporter: BEARS, MOOSE, AND OTHER ANIMALS WERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE EVENT, CELEBRATING THE BIODIVERSITY OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> ESPECIALLY COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH AND THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE CREATURES WE DEPEND ON FOR OUR SURVIVAL AND HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO US BECAUSE WE HAVE A HISTORY WITH THESE ANIMALS THAT GOES FAR BACK.

WE NEED TO BE OUT, WE NEED TO BE TOGETHER.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM PARK RAPIDS WITH THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, I'M SYDNEY DICK, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE EVENT WAS ABLE TO HAPPEN DUE TO A GRANT THROUGH THE CITY OF PARK RAPIDS, AND ORGANIZERS SAY THAT IF THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE GATHERING FUNDING, THE PROCESSION WILL BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT.

>>> WELL, LET'S GET ANOTHER CHECK OF OUR WEATHER NOW WITH STACY.

>> Stacy: WE DO HAVE A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR FAR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA DUE TO LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, STRONG WINDS, AND HOT TEMPERATURES.

FOR TONIGHT, WE'LL BE SEEING MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES, LOWS NEAR 53, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10, AND THEN SUNNY SKIES TOMORROW, HIGHS IN THE MID-80s, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10, COULD SEE 90s ON SUNDAY.

>> Charlie: AND THE SPURS MISSED A BUZZER BEATER SO THE KNICKS TAKE THE GAME.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY, WE ARE BACK MONDAY NIGHT AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]