>> 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.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

C.T.C; CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY ONLINE 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.

>>> A FIRE DESTROYED A STORAGE FACILITY FOR A WOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY IN CASS LAKE LAST NIGHT.

FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CASS LAKE AROUND 10:45 P.M.

AND FOUND A LARGE FIRE AT THE TIMBERLYNE WOOD PRODUCTS KILN DRYING AND STORAGE FACILITY.

FIREFIGHTERS AND EQUIPMENT FROM THE CASS LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT, WALKER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE MINNESOTA D.N.R.

WORKED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO CONTAIN AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.

THE STRUCTURE AND CONTENTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.

THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRE AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE.

>>> THE MORRISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A SERIES OF REPORTED BURGLARIES THAT WERE REPORTED TO THEM TODAY.

THE BURGLARIES OCCURRED IN THE EASTERN PART OF MORRISON COUNTY AND ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THREE LOCATIONS WERE TARGETED.

ST.

MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SUNRISE AG IN BUCKMAN, AS WELL AS THOMAS WELDING AND MACHINE IN LASTRUP.

THE BREAK-INS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN 10 P.M.

LAST NIGHT AND 8 A.M.

THIS MORNING AT THIS TIME, IT IS UNCLEAR IF ANYTHING WAS TAKEN DURING THE BREAK-INS.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS ASKING RESIDENTS IN THE AREA TO REVIEW ANY AVAILABLE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY DURING THE TIMEFRAME OF THE INCIDENTS.

ANYONE WHO OBSERVED UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR OR HAS INFORMATION RELATED TO THESE INCIDENTS, IS ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT THE MORRISON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING AND ADDITIONAL DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

>>> VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY IS THIS UPCOMING SUNDAY, A DAY TO HONOR THE 2.7 MILLION SOLDIERS THAT SERVED DURING THE 15-YEAR-LONG CONFLICT.

THE BRAINERD V.F.W.

HELD ITS FIFTH ANNUAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY GATHERING THIS EVENING IN HONOR OF THOSE MEN AND WOMEN.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: TODAY WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE STORIES WITH THOSE THEY SERVED ALONGSIDE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR VETERANS TO GET TOGETHER.

THEY SHARE PERKS AND STORIES THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD REALLY UNDERSTAND.

THAT'S THE BIG PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE FLASHBACKS AT NIGHT, YOU DON'T SLEEP WELL.

BEING ABLE TO TALK IT OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON, MENTALLY IT'S A HEALING PROCESS.

EVENTS LIKE THIS I THINK ARE REALLY NECESSARY.

>> Reporter: OTHERS LOOK BACK ON THEIR LIVES PRIOR TO JOINING THE WAR.

>> I WENT IN RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS AT FORT CAMPBELL RIGHT IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, SO I HAD VOLUNTEERED.

I KNEW IT WAS COMING UP.

>> I VOLUNTEERED TO GO OVER IN VIETNAM AND TO DO THAT, I HAD TO GET OUT OF SPECIAL FORCES.

I THOUGHT THE CAUSE WAS RIGHT.

>> Reporter: ANOTHER TALKING POINT CENTERED AROUND THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY UPON RETURNING HOME FROM THE WAR.

>> AT THAT TIME, IT WAS A NEGATIVE CONNOTATION TO BE A MEMBER OF VIETNAM.

NOWADAYS, IT'S A POSITIVE.

THAT'S GREAT.

>> IT'S DEMORALIZING.

YOU ARE RISKING YOUR LIFE AND IT'S GOING ON TODAY TOO.

YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT YOUR TROOPS.

THE POLITICIANS HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM.

I DON'T SEE HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET AHEAD BY BEING DIVIDED ON THESE THINGS.

>> Reporter: THEY TOOK THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE.

>> I WORK WITH PEOPLE FOR 30-SOMETHING YEARS AND WE DIDN'T KNOW SOME OF THEM WERE VETERANS.

NOWADAYS, IT'S GREAT TO SEE VETERANS BEING RECOGNIZED.

WE JUST DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

WE COME BACK AND WENT ABOUT OUR LIVES AND NEVER DID ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD, MILES WALKER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: ROUGHLY 100 VETERANS ATTENDED TODAY'S GATHERING.

>>> MINNESOTA WILL BE THE FLAGSHIP OF THE NO KINGS PROTEST MOVEMENT SATURDAY WHEN BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN PERFORMS STREETS OF MINNEAPOLIS IN A STATE WHERE EMOTIONS ARE STILL RAW OVER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN AND THE DEATHS OF TWO RESIDENTS WHO WERE SHOT BY FEDERAL OFFICERS.

THE RALLY IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE SERIES OF MORE THAN 3,000 PLANNED EVENTS IN COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL IN ALL 50 STATES THAT ARE EXPECTED TO DRAW MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

ORGANIZERS HAVE DESIGNATED THE RALLY AT THE MINNESOTA CAPITOL IN ST.

PAUL AS SATURDAY'S FLAGSHIP EVENT.

THE NO KINGS RALLY IS DESCRIBED BY ORGANIZERS AS A PEACEFUL, LARGE SCALE MOVEMENT WHERE PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA STAND TOGETHER TO SAY NO THRONES, NO CROWNS, NO KINGS.

IN LAKELAND COUNTRY THERE WILL BEAT LEAST THREE EVENTS TAKING PLACE.

THE GROUP ITASCA AREA INDIVISIBLE IS HOSTING ONE THAT DAY AT OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL IN GRAND RAPIDS FROM 11:00 A.M.

TO 12:30 P.M.

INDIVISIBLE BEMIDJI IS HOSTING ONE FROM 1:00 - 2:00 P.M.

THAT DAY AT THE PAUL BUNYAN PLAZA IN DOWNTOWN BEMIDJI.

AND BRAINERD LAKES INDIVISIBLE IS PUTTING ON A RALLY THAT DAY AT 2:00 P.M.

AT THE INTERSECTION OF WASHINGTON STREET AND SIXTH STREET.

>>> GRAND ITASCA CLINIC AND HOSPITAL IN GRAND RAPIDS HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN DESIGNATED AS A PRIMARY STROKE CENTER BY THE JOINT COMMISSION.

OUR REPORTER, MATTHEW FREEMAN, SPOKE WITH THE HOSPITAL'S STROKE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, TO SEE WHAT THIS DESIGNATION MEANS FOR THE HOSPITAL AND ITS PATIENTS.

>> Reporter: GRAND ITASCA CLINIC AND HOSPITAL WAS ORIGINALLY ONLY AN ACUTE STROKE READY HOSPITAL, WHICH MEANT THAT PHYSICIANS WERE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE, STABILIZE, AND FOCUS ON THE PREVENTION OF RECURRENT STROKES.

WITH THE HOSPITAL'S RECENT DESIGNATION AS A PRIMARY STROKE CENTER, ALL THAT AND MORE WILL BE OFFERED FOR ITS PATIENTS.

>> MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT FOCUSES ON THE TREATMENT OF AN ACUTE STROKE, WITH SPECIFIC MEDICATIONS THAT CAN REALLY HELP MINIMIZE SOME OF THE DEFICITS AND POTENTIAL DEATHS THAT COULD RESULT FROM STROKE.

>> Reporter: GRAND ITASCA UNDERWENT AN ONSITE REVIEW DURING WHICH A TEAM OF JOINT COMMISSION REVIEWERS EVALUATED COMPLIANCE WITH CERTIFICATION STANDARDS.

PHYSICIANS WILL RECEIVE EXTRA TRAINING AND EDUCATION DUE TO THE DESIGNATION.

>> THAT REALLY FOCUSES NOT ONLY ON PROVIDER EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION, BUT ALSO WITH OUR NURSING CARE, WHICH HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

THEY UNDERGO A VERY RIGOROUS TRAIN REGIMENT IN ORDER TO MONITOR AND MANAGE PATIENTS THAT HAVE RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR A STROKE AND THEN OUR OTHER ANCILLARY SERVICES LIKE OUR PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, AND ALSO OUR SOCIAL WORKERS AND RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS.

>> Reporter: STAFF AT GRAND ITASCA BELIEVE THIS RECOGNITION WILL ALLOW THEIR PATIENTS ACCESS TO STROKE TRAINED NEUROLOGISTS AND OTHER BENEFITS.

>> WE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE CARE WE DELIVER AND ALSO THE ACCESS OF THE CARE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, ESPECIALLY WITH SPECIALTY MEDICAL CARE THAT WOULDN'T OTHERWISE NECESSARILY BE ACCESSIBLE IN RURAL MINNESOTA AND FOR RURAL HEALTH CARE.

NOW BECAUSE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED, WE CAN KEEP PATIENTS CLOSER TO HOME, REALLY FOR BEST IN CLASS NUMBER -- NEUROLOGIC CARE WITHOUT THE NEED TO TRANSFER TO A TERTIARY CARE CENTER.

>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM GRAND RAPIDS, LAKELAND NEWS.

ALONG WITH BEING DESIGNATED AS A PRIMARY STROKE CENTER, THE CLINIC AND HOSPITAL WAS ALSO REDESIGNATED AS A LEVEL THREE TRAUMA HOSPITAL.

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

>> Stacy: DRY CONDITIONS AND BREEZY WEATHER WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SOME FIRE DANGER IN PARTS OF THE AREA TOMORROW.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>> AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, IN THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, CANADIAN GROUP PERFORMED AT THE RIPPLE CENTER.

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

[♪♪♪] >>> AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, TICK SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER ONCE AGAIN, AND SANFORD HEALTH BEMIDJI IS PARTNERING WITH THE MARSHFIELD CLINIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR THEIR TICK INVENTORY VIA CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAM.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE FROM REPRESENTATIVES >> Reporter: LONG PANTS, AND TICK CHECKS SHOULD BE PART OF THE GOING OUT ROUTINE ALL THROUGHOUT THE WARM WEATHER SEASON BUT SOMETIMES THE TICKS CAN STILL FIND THEIR WAY ON TO YOU, YOUR CLOTHES, OR YOUR PETS.

THE CLINIC WANTS TO TAKE THOSE TICKS OFF YOUR HANDS TO HELP OUT WITH THEIR RESEARCH.

>> IT CAN BE DEAD OR ALIVE.

YOU POP IT IN, THERE IS A PRE-PAID ENVELOPE AND YOU CAN MAIL IT BACK TO OUR LAB.

WE IDENTIFY THE TICK SPECIES AND WE POST IT ON OUR ONLINE DASHBOARD SO YOU CAN USE A UNIQUE I.D.

ON YOUR KIT TO SEE WHAT SPECIES YOU SUBMITTED.

WE HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY BY THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT WE RECEIVED.

WE'VE BEEN RUNNING THIS FOR TWO YEARS.

THIS IS STARTING OUR THIRD YEAR AND WE RECEIVED ALMOST 12,000 TICKETS FROM 13 U.S.

STATE AND ONTARIO.

>> Reporter: THERE ARE A WIDE VARIETY OF SPECIES ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST, WITH THE MAIN GOAL OF LEARNING MORE ABOUT TICK-BORNE DISEASES.

>> IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, IT'S THE DEER TICKS THAT CARRY DISEASE.

THE MAIN ONE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF IS LYME DISEASE, BUT THEY CAN CARRY OTHER DISEASES IN OUR AREA.

THESE ARE DISEASES THAT CAN MAKE PEOPLE REALLY SICK AND HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES.

WE WANT TO PREVENT AS MANY PEOPLE FROM GETTING TICK-BORNE DISEASES AS WE CAN.

>> Reporter: ONE THING IMPLEMENTED IS THE TICK LENS STUDY, WHICH ASKS PEOPLE TO SHARE STORIES ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH TICK-BORNE DISEASES.

>> WE HAVE SURVEYS IN OUR KITS, BUT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN GET FROM A MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEY.

WE'RE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO TELL US THEIR STORIES, WHAT WAS THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH A TICK-BORNE DISEASE LIKE, WHAT WAS THEIR EXPERIENCE SEEKING MEDICAL CARE, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO LISTEN AND LEARN FROM PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES IN A LONGER FORMAT.

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

>> ANY TYPE OF TICK, DEAD OR ALIVE, IS ACCEPTED TO USE FOR THE RESEARCH.

THE TICK COLLECTION KITS CAN BE MAILED TO PEOPLE BY THE MARSHFIELD CLINIC UPON REQUEST, OR BE PICKED UP IN PERSON AT THE BEMIDJI SANFORD WALK-IN CLINIC.

THOSE TICKS ARE WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE STACY, JUST LIKE THE OLD WEST POSTERS, IN THE OLD WESTERN MOVIES.

>> Stacy: THAT'S RIGHT, THEY CAN HAVE THE TICKS.

THAT'S FINE BY ME.

WE HAVE SOME DRY WEATHER IN STORE FOR US TOMORROW, NOT ONLY IS THE FIELDS DRY, TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP SO WE HAVE FIRE DANGERS IN THE AREA, A RED FLAG [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, MANY OF US HAD A WINTERY START TO THE DAY WITH NEW SNOW ON THE GROUND AND SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS SPOTTED IN THE AREA THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IT WAS A COOL DAY TODAY, BUT WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE IN STORE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND, SOME VERY DRY WEATHER, ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY WITH MORE GUSTY WINDS OUT THERE.

SO WE DO HAVE A RED FLAG WARNING OUT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE VIEWING AREA.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

HERE ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 17 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT THE STUDIO, WE HAVE A DEW POINT OF 8, AND A TRACE OF SNOW ACCUMULATION TODAY.

IN BRAINERD, CLEAR SKIES, 22, A DEW POINT OF 6, PRESSURE IS HOLDING STEADY AND WINDS ARE NORTHWEST AT 5 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW A RED FLAG WARNING IS OUT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE STATE, INCLUDING LAKELAND COUNTRY.

THIS IS IN EFFECT FROM 10:00 A.M.

TO 7:00 P.M.

SATURDAY.

WINDS ARE GUSTING TO 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY, AS LOW AS 22%.

THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXTREME FIRE CONDITIONS WE'LL SEE IN THE AREA.

SO ANY FIRES THAT START COULD SPREAD PRETTY RAPIDLY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING MORE CLEAR SKIES NOW AS WE MOVE INTO THE EVENING.

WE'RE EXPECTING VARIABLE CLOUDS OVERNIGHT AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT.

WE WILL SEE WARMER TEMPERATURES AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, ESPECIALLY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA WHERE WE COULD SEE THE HIGHS IN THE MID-50s.

AGAIN, WITH THE BREEZY CONDITIONS, WE DO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH ANY WILDFIRES OR ANY FIRES OUT THERE.

WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, WE HAD SOME SUNLIGHT THROUGH THE SNOW FROM ANGELA IN CASS LAKE THIS MORNING AND ARLENE WITH A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE SUNRISE IN MENAHGA.

RALPH TAKING THIS PHOTO FROM THE BRAINERD AIRPORT.

WE HAVE BLUE SKIES AND CLOUDS.

BLUE SKIES FROM CHRISSY IN DEERWOOD.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 16 AND CALM THIS MORNING.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, SUNNY AND WINDY.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, EARLY SNOW SHOWERS, OTHERWISE SUNNY SKIES.

CHRIS IS -- CHRISSY IN DEERWOOD SAYING IT WAS BREEZY.

ANGELA IN CASS LAKE WITH A HIGH OF 27 AND A DUSTING OF SNOW.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 27 WAS OUR HIGH TODAY IN BRAINERD.

AGAIN, A VERY COLD DAY OUT THERE.

OUR AVERAGE IS 45.

22 WAS OUR LOW TEMPERATURE AND WE HAD SUNSET AT 7:39.

BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 22, SO BELOW THAT AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE, 11 FOR THE LOW AND SUNRISE AT 7:08.

LOOKING AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE DO START OUT WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOUD COVER, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, CLEARER SKIES IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, BUT WE SHOULD BE SEEING THOSE SKIES CLEARING OUT AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON WITH SKIES BECOMING PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, BREEZY CONDITIONS OUT THERE, AND AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES GO, 40s IN THE FAR NORTH, BUT A LOT OF LOW TO MID-50s IN THE REST OF NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE SHOULD BE SEEING HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-50s.

SO OUR FORECAST, VARIABLE CLOUDS FOR TONIGHT, LOWS DOWN TO 14, SOUTH WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

SKIES BECOME PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY TOMORROW, HIGHS NEAR 51, BUT THE WINDS WILL BE PICKING UP.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, SUNNY AND 53 ON MONDAY.

A CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS -- SORRY, ON SUNDAY.

ON MONDAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40s, BUT IT COOLS DOWN ON TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: CHARLIE IS HERE NOW WITH OUR LOCAL SPORTS.

BIG SEASON FOR PEQUOT LAKES AND A BIG GAME FOR BOYS BASKETBALL TONIGHT.

>> Charlie: YEAH, THEY'RE PLAYING IN THE CLASS 2A SEMI-FINALS.

THEY HAVE 29 WINS ON THE SEASON, ONLY LOST ONE TIME SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THEY GOT A BIG MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB IN FRONT OF THEM.

THE MINNEHAHA RED HAWKS, THEY WON A FEW STATE TITLES RECENTLY AND HAD GOOD NBA STARS COMING OUT OF THERE AS WELL.

WE HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >> Charlie: AFTER FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE QUARTER FINALS, THEY BEAT BLAKE 69-60 TO ADVANCE TO THE SEMIS.

IT'S TIED THE FURTHEST THE PATRIOTS HAVE EVER MADE IT IN THEIR EIGHT TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES AND TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP, THEY NEED TO TAKE DOWN MINNEHAHA ACADEMY.

THE SEMIFINALS, PATS TRYING TO MAKE THEIR FIRST TITLE GAME EVER.

RED HAWKS TRYING TO WIN THEIR 6 CHAMPIONSHIP.

IN THE FIRST HALF, PEQUOT LAKES JUST COULD NOT BUY A SHOT, THEY WERE ONE FOR NINE FROM 3, 29% FROM THE FIELD, AND THEY TRAILED AT THE HALF.

THIS IS WHERE YOU KIND OF MAYBE THOUGHT IT WAS OVER, TO KELLEN, UNBELIEVABLE.

HE HAD 14 POINTS.

LATER, HITTING A THREE THAT TIES THE GAME, THEY'RE CLIMBING BACK IN, AND THEN GUS, I'M NOT SURE HOW HE GETS THIS ONE OFF OR MAKES IT BUT GIVES PEQUOT LAKES THE LEAD.

LATE IN THE GAME, TRAILING BY 2, MINNEHAHA ACADEMY GETS THE N1 FOR AIDEN GREEN, HE HAD 14 POINTS.

THE RED HAWKS HOLD ON TO BEAT PEQUOT LAKES 50-46.

PEQUOT LAKES WILL NOW PLAY FOR THIRD PLACE TOMORROW.

THEY WILL TAKE ON ALBANY, WHO THEY BEATEN TWICE THIS SEASON ALREADY.

>>> BEMIDJI BOYS VOLLEYBALL GETTING THEIR SEASON GOING, THE FIRST OF TWO HOME GAMES FOR THE LUMBERJACKS.

FIRST SET, JACKS TRAILING BY 5.

THE BALL IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

ADAM SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

GETS THE KILL TO MAKE IT 15-11.

LATER IN THE SET, TRYING TO PULL AWAY, THEY WILL SET UP BIG MAN TANNER.

HE GOES NUCLEAR, A 7-POINT LEAD.

NOW BEMIDJI HAS A BIG HITTER OF THEIR OWN.

SUTTON WITH THE ANSWER FOR THE JACKS, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH.

THEY DROP THE FIRST SET AND LOSE THE MATCH, 3-0.

THEIR FINAL HOME MATCH OF THE SEASON WILL BE TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, APRIL 10TH.

>>> MINNESOTA WAS 5 POINTS TRAILING UCLA AT THE HALF BUT UCLA PULLS AWAY IN THAT ONE.

THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SQUAD THERE.

DENVER, NO PROBLEM AGAIN CORNELL.

MICHIGAN, THEY HAD NO PROBLEM AGAINST BENTLEY EITHER.

RIGHT NOW MINNESOTA DULUTH AND PENN STATE IN A TIGHT ONE IN THE THIRD PERIOD.

>>> TRANSITIONS ARE NEVER EASY, AND NOBODY FELT THAT MORE THAN BSU FOOTBALL AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION LAST FALL.

THEY STRUGGLED TO FIND CONSISTENCY ON OFFENSE EARLY, BUT BY SEASONS END THE GROUP FOUND SUCCESS IN A DUAL SYSTEM WITH BART MACANICH AND CONNOR CARVER.

AND KNOWING WHERE THINGS SETTLED HAS HELPED THE BEAVERS WITH A SEAMLESS TRANSITION INTO SPRING BALL.

>> YEAH, IT DEFINITELY DOES.

WE'RE ALL PICKING UP ON THE LAST COUPLE WINS OF MOMENTUM AND EVERYONE IS WORKING HARD, GETTING BETTER, AND IT'S BEEN GOOD GETTING GUYS IN DIFFERENT SPOTS, DIFFERENT ROLES, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING HARD AT DEVELOPING.

>> THE BEAVERS ARE NOW AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THEIR SPRING PRACTICES AND SECOND YEAR OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JORDAN HEIN IS PLEASED WITH WHERE THE GROUP IS AT, BUT ALSO APPRECIATES THAT THEY'RE STILL PUSHING EACH OTHER BECAUSE THE DEPTH CHART IS NEVER SET IN STONE.

>> THE FUN PART IS THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THEY'RE ALL COMPETING FOR THAT JOB.

WHEN WE'RE IN THE MEETING ROOM OR WE'RE HANGING OUT, WE'RE ALL THERE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER.

THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN SO FUN ABOUT THIS GROUP THIS OFF SEASON, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET BETTER.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE COMPETING TOO MUCH BUT WE LOST SIGHT OF WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES.

THAT'S WHERE PUTTING PEOPLE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

JORDAN AND THOSE GUYS GAVE US THE TOOLS AND WE DID OUR OWN PRACTICES AND WALKED THROUGH THINGS.

WE'RE A LOT MORE PREPARED IS THAT NOT -- THAN IN THE PAST.

>> Charlie: WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THE FOOTBALL TEAM AS THEY ENTER THE END OF SPRING BALL.

THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR THEY WILL SCRIMMAGE AND THEY WILL HOST MOORHEAD, APRIL 18TH AT 2:00 P.M.

AT THE CHET.

>>> BSU -- EXCUSE ME, SORRY.

WE GOT LITTLE FALLS BOYS SOCCER HAD A RESIGNATION TODAY, HEAD COACH CHRIS BACKUS RESIGNED AFTER SIX SEASONS AS THE HEAD COACH AT LITTLE FALLS.

HE SAID HE IS GOING TO MOVE WITH HIS FAMILY TO BE CLOSER TO OTHER FAMILY, SO THAT IS WHY HE DECIDED TO DO THAT.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THANKS CHARLIE.

>>> THE RIPPLE CENTER IN AITKIN HOSTED THE POULAR FOLK STYLE BAND LE VENT DU NOR.

OUR REPORTER XZAYVER CURRY HAS THE DETAILS FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-FOCUS.

>> Reporter: LE VENT DU NOR BLENDS TRADITIONAL AND ORIGINAL MUSIC INTO A SOUND THAT IS BOTH DEEPLY ROOTED AND MODERN.

THE GUITAR, FIDDLE, AND GIRDY, THE BAND DELIVERS AN EARTHY ENERGETIC SOUND THAT MOVE FROM SOULFUL BALLADS.

>> IT'S A BALANCE BETWEEN THE COMPOSITION, THE CREATION, AND THE TRADITIONAL STUFF, WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT THE AURA OF TRADITIONS.

>> Reporter: WITH MORE THAN 2,200 CONCERTS PERFORMED ACROSS FOUR CONTINENTS SINCE PERFORMING IN 2022, LE VENT DU NOR HAS EARNED SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS HONORS IN FOLK MUSIC.

>> IT'S ALWAYS FUN.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE FAR AWAY IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY, BUT STILL IT IS IN SMALL VENUES.

IT'S FUN TO MEET PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE.

IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME.

>> EVERY NIGHT IS AN IMPORTANT CONCERT FOR US.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S 100 PEOPLE OR 5,000, WE GIVE IT ALL ON STAGE.

>> Reporter: GUESTS WHO ARRIVED EARLY WERE TREATED TO A SPECIAL EVENT DINNER THAT STEMMED FROM THE BAND'S FRENCH CANADIAN ROOTS.

IT INCLUDED DISHES LIKE PORK, AND MEATBALL STEW, A MEAT PIE, BAKE BEANS WITH MAPLE SYRUP, PORK RINDS AND POOR MAN'S PUDDING, BRINGING THEIR HERITAGE TO THE LOCAL AREA.

>> WE PLAYED A FEW TIMES IN MINNESOTA.

>> MANY TIMES.

>> THERE ARE PLENTY OF VILLAGES THAT ARE NAMED IN FRENCH.

>> GRAND RAPIDS.

>> IT'S ALL NAMED FROM THE FRENCH THAT WERE GOING AROUND HERE.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BRING BACK THE FRENCH CULTURE AROUND HERE.

>> Reporter: RIPPLE CENTER SETTLED IN ST.

PAUL MINNESOTA.

THEY SAID THEY WERE ENAMORED BY THE MUSIC AND IT TOUCHED THEIR HEART AND SOUL.

>> EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS BUILDING TO BRING THEM TO AITKIN AND FINALLY HERE THEY ARE.

WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO CELEBRATE ORIGINAL MUSIC AND SINGER SONG WRITERS, PERFORMING ORIGINAL MUSIC.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN AITKIN FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS, XZAYVER CURRY, LAKELAND NEWS.

[♪♪♪] >> Dennis: THE TOUR WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MAY 9th.

BACK TO STACY FOR MORE ON OUR WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE HAVE THE RED FLAG WARNING FROM 10:00 A.M.

TO 7:00 P.M.

FOR MUCH OF THE VIEWING AREA AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW.

WE WILL BE SEEING VERY DRY CONDITIONS AND STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.

OTHERWISE FOR TONIGHT, WE WILL HAVE VARIABLE CLOUDS, LOWS NEAR 14, SOUTH WINDS AT 5 TO 15.

>> Charlie: AND BEAVERS DEFENSEMAN SENIOR SIGNED A DEAL WITH THE RAILERS OF THE ECHL.

LOOK OUT FOR HIM.

>> Dennis: ALL RIGHT, THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYBODY.

WE'RE BACK ON MONDAY.

WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]