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

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>> 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, 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.

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.

>>> SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN AND UPROOTED DUE TO THE STORM THAT SWEPT THROUGH BELTRAMI COUNTY ON JUNE 21ST.

CLEANUP EFFORTS STARTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STORM PASSED, AND HAVE BEEN ONGOING EVER SINCE.

BUT IN JUST OVER A WEEK, LANDFILLS ARE STARTING TO RUN OUT OF SPACE.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN HAS MORE DETAILS ON HOW BELTRAMI COUNTY PLANS TO HANDLE THIS MASSIVE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS.

>> Reporter: IT TOOK A FULL WEEK TO RESTORE POWER TO THE BEMIDJI AREA.

OFFICIALS PRAISED THAT ACHIEVEMENT AS IT WAS INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT THE GOAL WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS A QUESTION MARK ON HOW LONG THE CLEAN UP PROCESS WILL TAKE.

>> WE ARE PAST THE PEAK RUSH OF PEOPLE BRINGING MATERIAL IN.

>> Reporter: THE SOLID WASTE DEMOLITION LANDFILL STARTED ACCEPTING TREE DEBRIS RIGHT AWAY AND FOR EXTENDED HOURS.

AROUND 2,500 CARS LINED UP TO DROP OFF DEBRIS.

>> ONCE WE KIND OF GOT OUR FEET UNDER IT, AT THE DEMOLITION LANDFILL, WE CLOSED THAT DOWN AND THERE WAS A COST TO HAVING THIS PLACE OPEN.

>> Reporter: $8,000 A DAY FOR THE COUNTY.

OFFICIALS CONSIDERED PROVIDING A COUNTYWIDE PICK UP BUT THAT ALSO COMES WITH A PRICE TAG.

>> WE HAVE 270 MILE OF ROAD IN THAT AREA, THE CITY IS OVER 100 MILES, SO MY ESTIMATE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT IS A $7 MILLION FIGURE.

>> Reporter: THE MASSIVE PILE BEHIND ME STRETCHES OUT TO BE AS LONG AS A FOOTBALL FIELD OR FURTHER AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE DEBRIS LANDFILLS HERE IN THE COUNTY.

>> THE LAST STORM WE HAD WAS TWO SUMMERS BEFORE WE SEEN RELIEF.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE A LOT LONGER THAN THAT.

>> Reporter: SOLID WASTE WAS SHORT TWO OPERATORS AT THE DEMOLITION LANDFILL BEFORE THE STORM HIT.

THE SOLID WASTE FACILITY WAS PRIORITIZED FOR STAFFING BUT CANNOT CONTINUE AT THE RATE ITS GOING.

>> WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF OVERTIME AND SOME HIGHWAY STAFF HAVE BEEN HELPING.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THOSE HOURS FOR THOSE STAFF.

>> IT'S WEARING ON THE GUYS ALREADY.

WE EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE PAST DURING OTHER EMERGENCIES, COVID HIT US HARD, IT TOOK A TOLL ON OUR GUYS, AND I ASK THAT WE ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THIS.

>> Reporter: WITH THIS BEING A COUNTY BOARD SESSION, NO DECISION WAS MADE, BUT THEY'RE COMMITTED TO EASING THE PROCESS FOR RESIDENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE SHOULD ALLOCATE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS SO THAT THE GOOD DECISIONS COULD BE MADE BY THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE TRUST THEM TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION LIKE THEY DID WITH THE TARGET SITE AND STANDING THAT UP.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A BOARD MEETING FOR THAT.

IT JUST GOT DONE AND WE NEED TO HAVE MORE OF THAT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE, SO RESIDENTS CAN GET THINGS TAKEN CARE OF.

THEY ALREADY HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> THE DEMOLITION LANDFILL AND THE TARGET SITE WILL REMAIN OPEN 7:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M.

THROUGH JULY 3RD.

THEY WILL BE CLOSED ON JULY 4TH BUT WILL REOPEN JULY 5TH AND 6TH.

THE TARGET SITE IS NOT ACCEPTING COMMERCIAL HAULERS, WHICH MUST GO TO THE DEMOLITION LANDFILL.

>>> MIDCO SAYS IT NOW HAS 98-PERCENT OF ITS PRESTORM INTERNET MODEMS IN ITS BEMIDJI SYSTEM BACK ON LINE.

SINCE JUNE 21ST, MIDCO FIELD TEAMS IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 319 CONFIRMED NETWORK DAMAGE LOCATIONS.

FALLEN TREES IN BEMIDJI TOOK OUT CABLE AND POWER WITH THEM.

AFTER THE POWER CREWS CAME THROUGH AND REPLACED THE POLES AND FIXED THE POWER LINES, MIDCO FIELD TECHS NEEDED TO GET A NEW STRAND AND CABLE ACROSS FROM POLE TO POLE.

THEY UTILIZED A SLING SHOT THAT COMES WITH THEIR ROOFTOP FALL ARREST GEAR, WITH A BEAN BAG AND TIED ON MULE TAPE TO IT AND SHOT IT OVER THE FALLEN TREES FROM ONE POLE LOCATION TO THE OTHER.

THEY TIED ON THE STRAND AND CABLE TO THE MULE TAPE TO PULL THEM OVER ALL OF THE DOWN TREES.

12 TO 15 ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS AND 4 TO 5 EXTRA BUCKET TRUCKS WERE UTILIZED IN BEMIDJI EACH DAY ASSISTING WITH RESTORATION EFFORTS.

MIDCO OFFICIAL SAY CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING 12 TO 14-HOUR SHIFTS IN SMALL TEAMS OF TWO TO FOUR, MOVING BLOCK BY BLOCK TO MAKE REPAIRS.

THE MIDCO FOUNDATION HAS ALSO DONATED $7,000 TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO ASSIST WITH THE RECOVERY EFFORTS IN BEMIDJI AND JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA.

>>> THE RECOVERY SPACE IS AN ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN BEMIDJI FOCUSED ON HARM REDUCTION AND HELPING PEOPLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

WHEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE BEMIDJI AREA WERE WITHOUT POWER DUE TO THE MAJOR STORM LAST MONTH.

THE RECOVERY SPACE STEPPED OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: THE RECOVERY SPACE HAS PLENTY ON THEIR PLATE FOR COMMUNITY AID, BUT WHEN BEMIDJI WAS ROCKED BY A STORM AND THOUSANDS SUDDENLY FOUND THEMSELVES UNPREPARED AND IN NEED, THE ORGANIZATION TURNED THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.

>> WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON FEEDING PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY.

THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND MEET MUTUAL AID NEEDS THAN TO FEED PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: THESE EFFORTS CAME IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT FASHIONS, FROM HOME DELIVERIES, SETTING UP FOOD DONATIONS, AND MASSIVE PICNICS LAST WEEK.

>> WE SERVED ABOUT 350 PEOPLE THAT FIRST NIGHT AND OVER 500 THE SECOND NIGHT.

>> Reporter: IT CAME FROM DONATIONS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS PITCHING IN AS MUCH AS THEY WERE ABLE.

>> I COULD LIGHT UP ALL DAY LONG.

IT WAS SO AMAZING TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN WAYS THAT WE WOULDN'T SEE ON A DAILY BASIS.

SOMETIMES IT DOES TAKE A DISASTER OR SOMETHING TO PUT IT INTO PERSPECTIVE HOW IMPORTANT OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE.

>> SHOWING UP TO THE PICNIC AND SEEING ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CITY OFFICIALS AND THOSE WHO ARE LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ALSO SHOWING UP TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RECEIVE SERVICES, IT WAS A REALLY POWERFUL THING.

IT WAS A GREAT REMINDER THAT WE'RE ALL FACING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER WHERE WE SIT NORMALLY.

>> Reporter: AND WHILE PERFORMING THESE SERVICES, THE RECOVERY SPACE FOUND MORE LONG-TERM ISSUES.

>> WE ARE ONE DISASTER AWAY FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE BEING WITHOUT A LOT OF THINGS.

SO THIS DISASTER DID A PHENOMENAL WAY OF HIGHLIGHTING WHERE WE HAVE MEANS TO IMPROVE AND THE THINGS WE'RE EXCELLING AT.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE NEED FOR SAFE USE SUPPLIES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND HARM REDUCTION IS AS IMPORTANT AS EVER.

>> OUR NALOXONE BOX IS AT THE SHELTER, STOCKED WITH NARCAN, AND THAT CONTINUES TO STAY ACTIVE AT ALL TIMES.

THAT IS ALWAYS STOCKED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR ANYONE TO COME TAKE FROM.

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

>> ONE OTHER THING THAT THE RECOVERY SPACE HAS BEEN WORKING ON IS CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH WHO THEY NEED TO TALK TO GET HELP SUCH AS POINTING THEM TO COMMUNITY RESOURCE CONNECTIONS OR THE UNITED WAY.

>>> AFTER MONTHS OF DELIBERATION THE LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT CAME TO A RESOLUTION REGARDING DR. SG KNIGHT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON MONDAY.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: THEY VOTED WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE THE OPERATION OF DR. S.G. KNIGHT ELEMENTARY.

>> JULIE.

>> YES.

>> SHARON.

>> NO.

>> DAN.

>> YES.

>> MYSELF.

>> YES.

>> Reporter: VOTING IN FAVOR OF CLOSING THE SCHOOL.

ACCORDING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE SCHOOL BOARD'S OPINION, CLOSING THE SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD.

>> LOOKING AHEAD LONG-TERM, PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS A 3 TO 5 YEAR PLAN FOR BUDGET AND FACILITIES AND DESPITE HOW DIFFICULT THAT DECISION WAS, IT WAS A NECESSARY DECISION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE MOMENTUM OF WHERE OUR BUDGET WAS HEADED.

>> Reporter: THE VOTE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL ON JULY 1ST.

>> AS WE PLANNED FOR BOTH SCENARIOS, THE BUILDING REMAINS OPEN OR CLOSES, WE MADE TENTATIVE REPLACEMENT OF STAFF.

STAFF WERE AWARE THIS IS WHERE THEIR PLACEMENT WILL BE.

>> Reporter: MOVING FORWARD, THE DISTRICT IS PLANNING TO REACH OUT TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE SCHOOL CLOSURE AND HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> EARLY NEXT WEEK, WE ARE ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY GOING TO BE CALLING ALL FAMILIES AT DR. KNIGHT TO CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE AT LITTLE FALLS.

WE ALSO HAVE A PLANNED OPEN HOUSE JULY 16TH AT BOTH BUILDINGS FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE INTERESTED TO COME IN, HEAR MORE INFORMATION FROM THE PRINCIPALS IN THOSE BUILDINGS AND SOME STAFF, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO TOUR THE SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: AS FOR THE BUILDING ITSELF, THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS ON WHAT THE DISTRICT WILL DO WITH THE EMPTY BUILDING, BUT THEY PLAN TO MEET WITH OFFICIALS IN THE COMING WEEKS TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE INTEND TO MEET THIS SUMMER WITH THE CITY TO START THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON HOW THE BUILDING WILL BE UTILIZED MOVING FORWARD AND IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THERE HAVE BEEN INTERESTING IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKED ABOUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY OF RANDALL.

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

>> THE LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS STILL EXPLORING WAYS TO CUT COSTS FOR THE DISTRICT AFTER CLOSING THE SCHOOL INCLUDING MOVING TO A FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK AS WELL AS COMBINING THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

>>> VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE CAST THE TIE-BREAKING VOTE FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DOMESTIC AGENDA BILL, WHICH THE PRESIDENT HAS NICKNAMED THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

THE FINAL VOTE WAS 51-50.

NOW AFTER DAYS OF GRUELING WORK PERSUADING KEY REPUBLICAN HOLD-OUTS, THE G.O.P.

'S HARD WORK STILL ISN'T YET DONE.

THE BILL NOW GOES BACK TO THE NARROWLY DIVIDED HOUSE.

SHERRELL HUBBARD HAS THE LATEST ON THE STATE OF TRUMP'S MEGA BUDGET BILL.

>> VICE PRESIDENT J.D.

ADVANCE VANCE HAD TO CAST A TIE-BREAKING VOTE.

>> THE BILL PASSrd -- HAS PASSED.

>> Reporter: THEY MUST PASS THE SENATE'S EXACT VERSION OF THE BILL.

TRUMP DISPLAYING OPTIMISM ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE.

>> THE BILL PASSED AND I THINK IT WILL DO VERY WELL IN THE HOUSE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT BUT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I'M HAPPY ABOUT IT.

>> Reporter: BUT THE PRESIDENT'S OPTIMISM MAY NOT BE SHARED BY THOSE WHO VOTE ON IT.

>> HOUSE DEMOCRATS WILL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS, TODAY, TOMORROW, FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS WEEK AND BEYOND TO STOP THIS BILL FROM EVER BECOMING LAW.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF US ON THE HOUSE SIDE WORRIED ABOUT THE SENATE BILL AND I THINK WE WILL HAVE A HARD TIME PASSING.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE TRUMP TRYING TO CONVINCE REPUBLICANS TO BACK HIS PLAN, THREE BROKE RANKS, SUSAN, TOM, AND RAND VOTING AGAINST THE BILL DUE TO MEDICAID CUTS AND INCREASING THE DEFICIT.

>> THIS IS NOT A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BILL AND IF YOU THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM, I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN VOTE FOR THIS.

>> Reporter: I'M SHERRELL HUBBARD REPORTING.

>> REPUBLICANS WANT TO GET THE BILL TO TRUMP'S DESK BY FRIDAY.

THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY TO VOTE.

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

>> Stacy: WE COULD SEE A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT AND TOMORROW, AND MORE EXPECTED THIS WEEK AS TEMPERATURES ARE HEATING UP.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, CROW WING COUNTY IS DEALING [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

[♪♪♪] >>> LIGHTHOUSE BEGINNINGS IS AN ADDICTION RECOVERY CENTER LOCATED IN BAXTER THAT AIMS TO HELP PEOPLE ON THEIR RECOVERY JOURNEYS THROUGH A PEER TO PEER PROGRAM.

THE CENTER HELD ITS THIRD ANNUAL BARBEQUE FUNDRAISER LAST MONTH WITH MUSIC, FOOD, AND DUNK TANKS TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

CO-FOUNDER JESSE JONES SAYS THAT EVENTS LIKE THESE HELP THOSE RECOVERING SEE THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY BEHIND THEM.

>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TEACH PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN HAVE FUN IN RECOVERY.

THERE IS A LIFE OUTSIDE.

THERE IS A SECOND CHANCE AND JUSTICE INVOLVED, TOO MANY TIMES PEOPLE WILL GET DOWN ON THEMSELVES IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE.

WE'RE ALL ABOUT SECOND CHANCES AND RECOVERY AND FUN.

>> LIGHTHOUSE BEGINNINGS ALSO OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND EMPLOYEE RENTENTION AND PLACEMENT PROGRAMS TO THOSE IN NEED.

>>> THE LAKELAND PBS VACATION GIVEAWAY IS BACK AGAIN THIS SUMMER.

THIS YEAR ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE GIVING AWAY A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUNS RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

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 2025 CRAGUNS VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER, WHICH WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING IN A LIVE DRAWING ON THE MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH NEWSCAST.

>>> TIME FOR WEATHER, STACY IS HERE.

PRETTY NICE DAY IN THE AREA TODAY.

IT DID START TO HEAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> Stacy: WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE TEMPERATURES WARMING UP.

WE WILL SEE MORE HUMIDITY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK WITH HIGHS IN THE 80s AND 90s.

POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS TO [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE ENJOYED SOME PLEASANT WEATHER ACROSS THE AREA TODAY, ALTHOUGH TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO WARM UP, WE HAD HIGHS IN THE 80s ACROSS MUCH OF THE VIEWING AREA.

AS WE HEAD INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, WE WILL EXPECT TO SEE WARMER TEMPERATURES AND BY THE TIME WE HIT FRIDAY, WE COULD SEE THE HIGHS AROUND 90 DEGREES, THE HUMIDITY IS ALSO GOING TO CREEP UP, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO FEEL A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, BETTER CHANCES ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND EVEN LINGERING INTO SUNDAY.

IN BEMIDJI, 73 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

WE HAVE A LIGHT WEST WIND AT OUR STUDIO, 56 IS OUR DEW POINT, HUMIDITY IS AT 55%.

IN BRAINERD, IT'S CLEAR SKIES, 79 DEGREES, 57 IS OUR DEW POINT, PRESSURE IS HOLDING STEADY, WEST WINDS AT 5.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE BEEN ENJOYING A LOT OF BLUE SKIES, A LOT OF SUNSHINE OUT THERE, A FEW PUFFY CLOUDS DECORAING THE SKY ACROSS THE AREA.

CLOUDS WILL BE INCREASING OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEEING SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA TONIGHT AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, SOME OF THOSE COULD LINGER IN THE NORTH.

WE HAVE A CHANCE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU, GORGEOUS SUNRISE FROM SAMROSE, TAKING THIS PHOTO BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER RED LAKE.

ARLENE WITH THE SUNRISE IN MENAHGA.

LAURIE SPOTTING THIS DEER NEAR LITTLE TURTLE LAKE AND GARY WITH A PHOTO OF THE PLANTS SPOTTED IN THE AREA.

JOAN IN LAPORTE AND SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, THE BLUE SKIES WITH THE PUFFY CLOUDS.

WE GOT THOSE PHOTOS FROM THESE THREE EAGLE EYES AS WELL.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, SONYA AT TURTLE RIVER LAKE, 81 AND BREEZY THIS AFTERNOON.

BOB IN BLUFFTON REPORTING SUNNY SKIES WITH A HIGH OF 83.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUNNY AND 82.

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, SUNNY AND 83.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 84 WAS THE HIGH TODAY IN BRAINERD, BEATING THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE BY A FEW DEGREES.

WE HAD A LOW OF 58 AND SUNSET AT 9:13.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 83, SO AGAIN JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT AVERAGE, 60 DEGREES FOR THE LOW, AND 9:20 WAS OUR SUNSET.

SO TOMORROW MORNING, WE DO START OUT WITH A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA.

IT WILL BE MOVING OUT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS.

OVERALL, FAIRLY QUIET FOR MOST OF THE DAY BUT THEN IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING, WE COULD SEE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, THOSE COULD POP-UP, COULD BE SEEING STRONGER STORMS IN THE MIX THERE.

HIGH TEMPERATURES TOMORROW WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM 80 TO 85 IN THE NORTHERN PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA, CENTRAL MINNESOTA SHOULD SEE THOSE HIGHS IN THE MID-80s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TONIGHT, A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTH, LOWS NEAR 59, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10, AND TOMORROW PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

HIGHS NEAR 83, VARIABLE WINDS UP TO 10.

PRETTY QUIET THERE ON THURSDAY, WE'LL START TO SEE THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY INCREASING ON THURSDAY AND THEN AS WE HEAD INTO FRIDAY, HIGHS WILL BE NEAR 90, VARIABLE CLOUDS WITH SHOWERS LIKELY AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS, AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

TEMPERATURES THOUGH WILL START TO DROP AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH.

SO SUNDAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHS IN THE MID-70s WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: OKAY, THANKS STACY.

CHARLIE IS HERE NOW.

WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE SPORTS SIDE?

>> Charlie: WE HAD A DOUBLE HEADER THIS YEAR FOR BEMIDJI LEGION BASEBALL, THE CENTAURS WERE OUT IN ACTION TAKING [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>>> BEMIDJI LEGION BASEBALL IS COMING OFF A SWEEP IN PERHAM TOURNAMENT THIS PAST WEEKEND GOING 3-0, WHILE ONLY THREE RUNS THE ENTIRE WEEKEND.

THE CENTAURS WERE BACK IN ACTION AGAIN TODAY PLAYING PERHAM IN A DOUBLE HEADER, FRESH OFF A 4-1 WIN OVER THE BUZZ ON SATURDAY, AND THEY WERE LEADING 1-0 IN THE TOP OF THE 2ND.

JACK LUNDQUIST ON THE BUMP.

IT HAPPENS SO FAST THE CAMERA MISSED THE CATCH.

IT'S A DOUBLE PLAY.

IT WOULD STAY 1-0 UNTIL THE BOTTOM OF THE 5TH.

LUNDQUIST WITH RUNNERS ON SECOND AND THIRD, HELPING OUT HIS OWN CAUSE, TWO R.B.I.

SINGLE GIVES BEMIDJI A 3-0 ADVANTAGE, BUT IN THE 7TH.

LIAM SHOEMAHKER WITH TWO ON AND NO OUT FOR THE BUZZ, FINDS THE WALL IN LEFT FOR A DOUBLE, SCORES ONE AND STARTS A RALLY THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY TIE THE GAME AT 3.

THEN IN EXTRAS, SAME SITUATION FOR PERHAM.

BRAYDEN ANDERSON FINDS THE SAME WALL, GIVES THE BUZZ THE LEAD.

BEMIDJI COULDN'T FIND AN ANSWER IN THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE 8TH, THEY FALL 5-3 IN THE FIRST GAME OF THEIR DOUBLE HEADER.

BUT THE CENTAURS WOULD SUCCESSFULLY HOLD OFF THE 7TH INNING RALLY IN GAME TWO, EDGING THE BUZZ 6-5 THERE.

>>> A CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, JULY 27TH FOR JIM LIEN, THE LONGTIME WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY GIRLS' BASKETBALL COACH, WHO PASSED AWAY ON JUNE 14TH.

DURING HIS 48-YEAR LEGENDARY COACH TENURE, LIEN IMPACTED THOUSANDS OF ATHLETES LIVES IN MULTIPLE SPORTS BECAUSE OF THAT IT'S ONLY FITTING THE CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD ON THE NEWLY NAMED JIM LIEN COURT AT WHA HIGH SCHOOL, A TRIBUTE TO THE PLACE THAT HELD HIS HEART AND WAS RECENTLY DEDICATED IN HIS HONOR.

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

>>> THE TWINS WERE IN MIAMI TAKING ON THE MARLINS.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND, NO SCORE, JOE HITS KYLE ON THE COUNT, BUT THE TWINS CHALLENGE SAYING IT JUST HIT THE KNOB OF HIS BAT AND THEY'RE RIGHT.

THEY REVERSE THE CALL TO A FOUL BALL.

HE HAS TO GO BACK TO THE PLATE.

TWO PITCHES LATER, CAN WE PUT HIM BACK ON FIRST?

THAT'S A TWINS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN.

THE MARLINS HAVE A 1-0 LEAD.

NOW DOUBLES ON HIS FIRST PLATE APPEARANCE BACK, BUT ONE OF ONLY 2 HITS FOR THE TWINS BECAUSE EDWARD WAS DEALING, AND THE TWINS FALL 2-0 TO MIAMI AND WASTE ANOTHER GREAT JOE RYAN OUTING WHERE HE ONLY ALLOWED 1 EARNED RUN IN 7 INNINGS.

>>> LYNX FALL TO THE FEVER.

SILVER LINING, THE LAST TWO TEAMS TO LOSE IN THE CUP FINAL WENT ON TO WIN THE WNBA THAT SAME SEASON.

>> Dennis: LET'S HOPE THAT HOLDS UP.

>> Charlie: THEY'RE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS YEAR.

NUMBER ONE IN THE WNBA RIGHT NOW.

>> Dennis: THANKS CHARLIE.

WHILE JUNE TYPICALLY SIGNALS SUMMER'S BEGINNING.

MOTHER NATURE HAS BEEN QUITE ERRATIC TO OPEN THE NEW SEASON.

WITH JULY NOW KICKING OFF TODAY.

REPORTER MILES WALKER TELLS US HOW CROW WING COUNTY HAS ENDURED THE UNPREDICTABLE SUMMER WEATHER IN THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: THE CROW WING COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS OVER 640 MILES OF HIGHWAY AND RIGHT OF WAY AND THE DEPARTMENT'S WORKERS HAD THEIR HANDS FULL AMIDST THE EARLY STAGES OF SUMMER.

>> FROM A CONSTRUCTION STANDPOINT, THE WEATHER IS CERTAINLY NOT A HUGE BENEFIT FOR US THIS SUMMER.

IT CERTAINLY SLOWED DOWN SOME OF OUR PROGRESS ON SOME OF OUR PROJECTS, BUT WE'RE MOVING RIGHT ALONG, PUSHING THROUGH IT.

>> THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAS $14 MILLION OF ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR 2025, INCLUDING ONE ON HIGHWAY 210 THAT CONCLUDED LAST WEEK, WHICH IS WHY THE DEPARTMENT IS HOPEFUL FOR LESS SPOTTY THUNDERSTORMS AND MORE SUNNY DAYS.

>> THE RAIN AND STORMS AND THE WEATHER, THEY CAUSE ISSUES WHEN WE HAVE ROADS WHERE WE'RE TAKING IT AND GRATING IT.

THAT WATER WILL GET INTO THE ROADWAY AND CAN CREATE SOME ROUGH TRAVEL AT TIMES.

>> Reporter: IN MATTERS LIKE TREE CLEAN UP IS ALSO PART OF THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT'S JOB.

WHILE THE WORKERS TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, THEY HOPE PHENOMENON LIKE EF-1 TORNADOS LEAVING THEM IN NEED OF ATTENTION ARE BEHIND THEM.

>> WE HOPE THE EXTREME WEATHER INSTANCES ARE BEHIND US, BUT OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS VERY CAPABLE AND HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF GETTING THE TREES CLEARED FROM THE ROADWAYS AND GETTING THE ROADS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> Reporter: DESPITE ENDURING TORNADOS, TOPPING OUT AT 110 MILES PER HOUR, ERRATIC THUNDERSTORMS, AND TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 92 DEGREES ON JUNE 21ST, TO 42 DEGREES ON JUNE 4TH, BUSINESSES IN CROW WING COUNTY HAVE CONTINUED TO FLOURISH.

>> WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT SO WHAT WE DO IS WHEN THERE IS BAD WEATHER, WE PUT PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS, BARS, AND THE ICE ARENA THAT WE HAVE OR THE SIMULATED GOLF THAT WE HAVE INDOORS.

WE DON'T LOSE REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.

WE JUST MOVE THEM IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

THAT WORKED OUT WELL FOR US.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BRAINERD WITH THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, MILES WALKER, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> AND WHILE CROW WING COUNTY CAN EXPECT SUNNY SKIES, OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THUNDERSTORMS AND RAIN SHOWERS ARE BOTH IN THE FORECAST FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND.

>>> TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT STACY.

>> Stacy: WE WILL BE SEEING SHOWERS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA TONIGHT, VARIABLE CLOUDS, LOWS NEAR 59.

TOMORROW, MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, BUT A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTH IN THE MORNING, AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA IN THE AFTERNOON.

LOOKS QUIET ON THURSDAY, THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY START TO INCREASE, HOT AND HUMID ON FRIDAY, AND RAIN SHOWERS COULD LINGER ON SUNDAY.

>> Charlie: MINNESOTA WILD MAKING MORE MOVES, THEY SIGNED ANY -- NIKO.

THEY'RE HOPING HE CAN BRING EXPERIENCE BACK WITH HIM.

>> Dennis: WE HOPE SO.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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