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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.

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.

[♪♪♪] >> Matthew: HI EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, MY NAME IS MATTHEW FREEMAN FILLING IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN WITH YOUR LAKELAND NEWS.

>>> TODAY, JUNE 19TH, IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE JUNETEENTH HOLIDAY.

SEVERAL LOCAL GROUPS GOT TOGETHER AT DIAMOND POINT PARK IN BEMIDJI TO EAT, PLAY GAMES, AND REMEMBER AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK WAS AT THE CELEBRATIONS EARLIER TODAY AND SPOKE TO ATTENDEES ABOUT WHY THE HOLIDAY IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

>> Reporter: JUNETEENTH HAS BEEN A FEDERAL HOLIDAY SINCE 2021.

JUNE 19TH IS THE DATE THAT COMMEMORATES THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES AND ONE CELEBRATION WAS HELD IN BEMIDJI.

>> GENERAL GORDON CAME TO GALVESTON, TEXAS TO LET THE SLAVES KNOW THEY WERE FREE.

THIS IS OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY AS A COLLECTIVE.

>> THINGS NEED TO BE DONE IN COMMUNITY.

THE MORE PEOPLE THAT ORGANIZE TO MAKE CHANGES, THE MORE LIKELY A CHANGE IS GOING TO OCCUR.

>> ALTHOUGH THERE IS MUSIC, GAMES, AND FUN FOR EVERYBODY, THERE IS A REASON THAT PEOPLE WERE GATHERED HERE TODAY.

>> IT'S SYMBOLIC COMING TOGETHER IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, BUT REALLY, IT'S SOMBER.

LONG AFTER THE EUROPEANS AND AMERICA WAS FREE FROM EUROPEANS, WE WERE STILL UNDER ENSLAVEMENT SO SOME PEOPLE GOT THEIR FREEDOM, BUT WE DID NOT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME TOGETHER NOT ONLY TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP DOING WHAT OUR ANCESTORS FOUGHT HARD FOR, BUT TO REMEMBER.

>> Reporter: IT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY PEACEMAKER RESOURCES AND PROJECT FOR CHANGE, BOTH NON-PROFIT SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS.

>> SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME POSITIVE CHANGES HERE IN BEMIDJI AND THE COMMUNITY AT-LARGE.

>> WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DAY WHERE WE CAN CELEBRATE, BE OFF OF WORK, AND CELEBRATE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND HOW FAR WE'VE COME.

>> Reporter: STILL MANY FEEL THEIR FIGHT IS JUST BEGINNING.

>> WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT OUR FOREFATHERS AND ANCESTORS FOUGHT FOR.

IT MAY SEEM THAT WE GOT OUR FREEDOM, BUT THAT'S ON PAPER.

WE HAVE PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT OUR ANCESTORS WANTED, TO BE SEEN AS EQUAL, NOT LESS THAN, WE'RE HUMANS, YOU'RE HUMAN, WE'RE ALL ON THIS EARTH TRYING TO SURVIVE, TRYING TO LIVE OUR LIVES.

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

>> MORE THAN 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS GATHERED WITH THEIR FAMILIES AT THE BEMIDJI EVENT TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH.

>>> WELL IT'S BEEN A MESSY JUNE SO FAR IN NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH NUMEROUS STORMS PASSING THROUGH, INCLUDING A TORNADO HITTING THE OUTSKIRTS OF CROW WING COUNTY THIS PAST MONDAY, WHICH IN TURN HAS LED TO SCAM ARTISTS AND IDENTITY THIEVES RESURFACING AS WELL.

SCAMMERS ARE LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE CLEANING UP AND NEEDING REPAIRS INVOLVING THEMSELVES IN ANYTHING FROM TREE CLEANUP, TO ROOF REPAIR, AND WITH LEGITIMATE HOME REPAIR CONTRACTORS BEING OUT OF THE AREA SINCE THE STORM ON JUNE 16TH.

CROW WING COUNTY IS URGING RESIDENTS TO WATCH FOR AND REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU AND WANTS TO TAKE DOWN TREES OR HELP CLEAN UP, I WOULD ASK TO SEE THEIR L.L.C.

OR THEIR NUMBER OR THEIR STATE'S LICENSE THEY SHOULD HAVE WITH THEM.

IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT OR THEY SAY THEY LEFT IT AT HOME OR WHAT HAVE YOU, THAT'S LIKELY NOT LEGIT.

I WOULD STEER CLEAR FROM THOSE FOLKS.

>> IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A SCAM, CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE NUMBER BELOW.

>>> THE BEMIDJI POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING HELP FROM THE PUBLIC IN IDENTIFYING A PERSON OF INTEREST IN REGARDS TO AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION.

THE DEPARTMENT POSTED THESE PHOTOS ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.

IF YOU KNOW THIS PERSON, PLEASE PRIVATE MESSAGE OR CALL OFFICER SCHNECK AT THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

YOU ARE ASKED TO REFERENCE PHOTO 506 WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE OFFICER OR LEAVING A MESSAGE.

>>> CROW WING COUNTY ALONG WITH FIVE OTHER COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE JOINED INTO AN AGREEMENT BACK IN MARCH WITH IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS ICE.

THE COUNTY AGREED TO JOIN THE 287G PROGRAM, ALLOWING ICE TO DELEGATE LOCAL OFFICERS THE AUTHORITY TO PERFORM SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS UNDER THE AGENCY'S DIRECTION.

CROW WING COUNTY SHERIFF ERIC KLANG SAYS THE COUNTY AGREED TO SIGN ON TO HELP FILL THE COUNTY PRISON, WHICH SITS AT JUST 25 PERCENT OCCUPANCY.

SHERIFF KLANG ANTICIPATES THE CROW WING COUNTY PRISONS COULD START SEEING INMATES AS A RESULT OF THE AGREEMENT WITH ICE AS SOON AS NEXT MONTH.

>> I THINK THE MOTIVATION BEHIND IT HAS BEEN TO FILL UP OUR FACILITY.

IT WORKS BEST WHEN IT'S FULL.

IT KEEPS EVERYONE BUSY AND FOCUSED ON WHAT OUR MISSION IS OVER THERE.

>> CASS AND ITASCA COUNTIES ALSO JOINED THE 287G PROGRAM ALONG WITH CROW WING COUNTY EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>>> BEMIDJI FIRE CHIEF, JUSTIN SHERWOOD, WILL BE RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MINNESOTA FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, A POSITION THAT HAS NEVER BEEN HELD BY ANY FIRE CHIEF IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

SHERWOOD CURRENTLY HOLDS A POSITION ON THE ASSOCIATION'S BOARD.

HE WANTS TO TAKE A STEP FURTHER THOUGH TO PROMOTE NOT JUST BEMIDJI, BUT NORTHERN MINNESOTA AS A WHOLE.

SHERWOOD SAYS THAT SOMETIMES IT FEELS AS IF THE STATE FIRE SERVICE ENDS AT THE CITY OF SAINT CLOUD BUT WANTS TO BE THE VOICE AT THE TABLE REPRESENTING NORTHERN MINNESOTA DOWN IN THE METRO.

>> I JUST WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING UP HERE.

I'M IN A POSITION AS A FULL TIME CHIEF WHERE I CAN HAVE THAT VOICE FOR ALL OF MY PARTNERS UP HERE.

WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY, AT LEAST BEMIDJI FIRE WITH 10 FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN OUR MUTUAL AID, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE REGION AS A WHOLE, THERE ARE 70 OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND I WANT TO BE THAT FUNNEL FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA DOWN TO THE METRO AND HAVE AN IMPACT.

>> SHERWOOD BELIEVES A LOT OF GRANT DOLLARS ARE MAINLY GIVEN TO THE METRO AREA.

SHERWOOD SAYS THAT IF HE WERE ELECTED, NORTHERN MINNESOTA FIRE DEPARTMENTS COULD SEE MORE GRANT DOLLARS COMING THEIR WAY.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA, STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE CONCENTRATED DOWN THERE AND I ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, WHY?

THEY SAY BECAUSE THE RISK IS HIGHER BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE, BUT IF WE HAVE JUST AS MANY PEOPLE, WE'RE JUST SPREAD OUT.

OUR PEOPLE ARE LATERAL, NOT UP AND DOWN, STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

>> THE BEMIDJI FIRE DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING TO EMPLOY SIX PAID ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN JOINING, YOU CAN CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE NUMBER ON THE CITY OF BEMIDJI'S WEBSITE.

>>> WIDESPREAD PARTS OF THE EASTERN U.S. ARE UNDER A DOUBLE-THREAT OF SAVAGE STORMS AND BRUTAL HEAT TODAY.

ALERTS FOR STRONG WINDS, RAIN, AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES STRETCH ACROSS SEVERAL STATES ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD.

AS LAURA AGUIRRE EXPLAINS, EVEN WHEN THE STORMS DIE OUT, SOARING TEMPERATURES COULD PERSIST INTO NEXT WEEK.

>> Reporter: A STORM SYSTEM THAT BROUGHT DAMAGING WINDS, AT LEAST ONE TORNADO, AND FLOODING TO SELF STATES IN AND AROUND THE OHIO VALLEY WEDNESDAY THREATENS THE EAST COAST TODAY.

IN JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS, POWERFUL WINDS LEFT THEIR MARK, RIPPING THROUGH THIS SPORTS COMPLEX.

>> WE LIVE AND BREATHE THIS BALLPARK SO FOR THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IS HEARTBREAKING.

>> Reporter: NOW THE COLD FRONT THAT FUELED THIS DESTRUCTION IS PUSHING SEVERE WEATHER FROM NEW ENGLAND INTO THE SOUTHEAST.

ISOLATED TORNADOS CAN'T BE ROLLED OUT, COMPOUNDING THE DANGER OF DEADLY HEAT ON TAP FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS MORE THAN 15 MILLION PEOPLE FROM WASHINGTON D.C., TO PARTS OF FLORIDA FACE A LEVEL 3 OF 4 MAJOR HEAT RISK THROUGHOUT TODAY.

MANY PLACES WILL SEE HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID-90s, BUT WITH THE HEAT INDEX, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRIPLE DIGITS.

THIS HEAT DOME IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND BY THE WEEKEND AND IN SOUTHERN MEXICO, HURRICANE ERICK ROARED TO SHORE AS A CATEGORY 3 STORM.

100 MILES EAST OF ACAPULCO.

THE WINDS WERE ROARING AT 125 MILES PER HOUR AROUND THE CENTER WHEN IT HIT, UNLEASHING HEAVY RAINS ACROSS THE REGION.

IT'S THE FIRST MAJOR CATEGORY 3 OR LARGER ON RECORD TO HIT MEXICO BEFORE JULY.

I'M LAURA AGUIRRE REPORTING.

>> ERICK WILL DETERIORATE QUICKLY AS IT TRACKS THROUGH MEXICO'S STEEP MOUNTAINS TODAY AND SHOULD DISSIPATE BY EARLY FRIDAY.

IT SLOWED TO A CATEGORY-ONE STORM A FEW HOURS AFTER LANDFALL.

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

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WE'LL SEE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND PART OF THE VIEWING AREA IS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

I'LL HAVE THE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> Reporter: COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, TWO COMMUNITY MUSIC GROUPS IN BRAINERD COLLABORATE FOR THE SUMMER POP CONCERT THIS SATURDAY.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >>> THE HEARTLAND SYMPHONY IS A COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA FEATURING BOTH AMATUER AND PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY PREPPING FOR THEIR SECOND CONCERT OF THE YEAR AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY'LL BE PLAYING ALONGSIDE A COMMUNITY FAVORITE, THE RUSTY CRAYFISH BRASS BAND.

THE TWO GROUPS ARE JOINING FORCES IN THE SUMMER POPS CONCERT THIS SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE LYMAN P WHITE PARK AMPITHEATER IN BRAINERD.

THIS CONCERT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE TWO BANDS HAVE PAIRED UP.

HEARTLAND SYMPHONY'S MUSIC DIRECTOR RYAN WEBBER HOPES THAT THE CONCERT WILL BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SYMPHONY AS WELL AS THE RUSTY CRAYFISH BRASS BAND.

>> THE CRAYFISH HAVE A VERY LOYAL FOLLOWING, SO THEY WILL HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEVER HEARD OF HEARTLAND COME SEE US.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO BLEND THESE AUDIENCES TOGETHER, CREATE SOME CROSSOVER, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> THE CONCERT ON SATURDAY IS FREE BUT GOODWILL DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE HEARTLAND SYMPHONY.

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

THIS YEAR ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE GIVING AWAY A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUN'S 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 CRAGUN'S VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER, WHICH WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING IN A LIVE DRAWING ON THE MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH NEWSCAST.

>>> WELL STACY, IT WAS A BIT OF A HOT ONE TODAY, WOULDN'T IT?

>> Stacy: IT WAS AND IT'S GOING TO STAY HOT AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEK.

THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL FUEL THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING AND SOME OF US ARE UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO THE AREA AND WE HAVE MORE HOT WEATHER ON THE WAY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE END OF THIS WEEK AND THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

WE HAVE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AS THEY DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND WE'LL HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER ALREADY, PARTS OF THE VIEWING AREA UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OVERNIGHT TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

SO WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT IN JUST A SECOND.

REAL QUICK LOOK AT OUR CURRENT CONDITIONS.

A LIGHT EAST WIND AT OUR STUDIO.

BRAINERD, PARTLY CLOUDY, 74 DEGREES, 59 IS OUR DEW POINT, AND THE WIND IS CALM.

NOW WE DO HAVE A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

THIS IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY.

WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE IS SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED HAIL UP TO 2.5 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MILES PER HOUR, THAT IS ALL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS.

IN ADDITION TO THE STORMS, WE HAVE AN EXTREME HEAT WATCH FOR MUCH OF LAKELAND COUNTRY, FOR CENTRAL MINNESOTA, FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING AND FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA, SUNDAY AFTERNOON TO SUNDAY EVENING, WE'LL BE SEEING THE HEAT INDEX READINGS IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT 100 TO 105 ON THE HEAT INDEX.

AS FAR AS THE SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE HAVE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS BEGINNING TO MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND AGAIN, WE'LL BE SEEING ALL OF THIS ACTIVITY MOVING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, A LITTLE MORE SCATTERED ACTIVITY POSSIBLE IN THE NORTH, BUT AGAIN THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER WITH THE LARGE HAIL AND THE DAMAGING WINDS.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, INTERESTING SKIES WITH SOME CLOUDS, AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT OF CLEARING IN THE DISTANCE.

GARY SENDING US THIS PHOTO WITH THE FLOWERS IN BLOOM.

ANGELA, WITH A PHOTO OF THE SUNSET IN CASS LAKE, WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS FROM BIANCA AND BILL AND JUDY.

THANK YOU EVERYWHERE FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 55 THIS MORNING, 0.1 INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT.

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

ANGELA AT CASS LAKE, MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A HIGH OF 78.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, 82 FOR OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE IN BRAINERD, A LITTLE BIT ABOVE OUR AVERAGE HIGH, THE LOW IS 58, SUNSET AT 9:13.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 81, SO ABOVE THE AVERAGE HIGH AND WE HAD A LOW THIS MORNING OF 58.

SO HEADING INTO TOMORROW, WE'LL STILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF SEEING SOME STRONG STORMS IN EASTERN MINNESOTA IN THE MORNING.

BY THE TIME WE GET TO 7:00 A.M. AND BEYOND, WE WILL SEE A LOT OF THOSE MOVING OUT OF THE AREA.

AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY, WE WILL SEE A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE, HOWEVER LATE TOMORROW, WE COULD START TO SEE SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING IN, BECOMING MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD OVERNIGHT AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME SEVERE WEATHER WITH THOSE.

AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES, TOMORROW WE WILL BE SEEING HIGHS IN THE 80s ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA, LOW 80s, SOME MID-80s IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA, AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, WE SHOULD SEE THE HIGHS AGAIN AT 80 TO 85.

SO OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, A LITTLE SMALLER CHANCE IN THE NORTH, BUT AGAIN SOME OF THE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE.

FOR TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, WE HAVE THE CHANCE OF SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING, IT COULD BE SEVERE WITH HIGHS NEAR 82.

LOOKING AT OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAT MOVING INTO THE AREA, HIGHS IN THE 80s AND 90s.

AGAIN, WATCH FOR THE POTENTIAL OF SEVERE WEATHER AS THESE SYSTEMS MOVE THROUGH.

A LITTLE BIT COOLER EARLY NEXT WEEK, STILL A BIT UNSETTLED, HIGHS SHOULD BE IN THE 70s MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU SO MUCH STACY.

WE HAVE CHARLIE YAEGER WITH US AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE MORE HIGH SCHOOL TRAP.

>> Charlie: YES, THE PARK RAPIDS CLAY DUSTERS 8th TRIP TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

VENLT -- I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THEM AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL IN THE AREA, A D1 COMMIT FROM BRAINERD AND TWINS AND REDS TONIGHT.

ALL THAT COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORT WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪] >>> IF IT'S BEEN RAINING DOWN ORANGE DUST AND DEBRIS LATELY INSTEAD OF THE USUAL AFTERNOON SHOWERS.

DON'T WORRY.

THE SKY'S NOT FALLING, IT'S PROBABLY JUST YOUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TRAP TEAM AT PRACTICE AND ONE OF THOSE TEAMS.

THE PARK RAPIDS CLAY DUSTERS IS GOING TO KEEP PRACTICING A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

LAST WEEK THE SQUAD COMPETED IN THE MINNESOTA STATE TRAP SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP IN ALEXANDRIA AND WAS ONE OF 40-TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE MSHSL STATE CLAY TARGET TOURNAMENT THIS FRIDAY.

THE CLAY DUSTERS FINISHED 16TH AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT IN 2024 AND HAVE CONTINUED TO BUILD OFF THAT SUCCESS INTO THIS SEASON, WINNING THE CLASS 4A CONFERENCE 5 TITLE THIS SPRING, SOMETHING THEIR SENIOR CLASS OF SHOOTERS IS PROUD OF.

>> OH, IT'S GREAT.

WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM.

IT'S COOL TO SEE A LOT OF GUYS, YOUNGER GUYS COME UP AND SHOOT REALLY WELL.

SO, I KNOW IT WAS A LOT SMALLER WHEN I FIRST JOINED SO IT'S COOL TO SEE IT GROW.

JUST DO IT, DON'T OVER THINK IT AND HAVE FUN WITH IT.

>> FOR ME, IT'S BEEN DECENT AND EVERYONE IS GETTING BETTER.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.

I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER WHAT WE GOT LAST YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR I THINK WE GOT IT.

JUST FOCUS, LIKE ROBIN SAID, AND HAVE FUN.

THAT'S ALL YOU GOT TO DO.

>> THIS WILL BE PARK RAPIDS 8TH STATE APPEARANCE AND THIRD IN A ROW.

THE STATE TOURNAMENT IS THIS FRIDAY AT THE MINNEAPOLIS GUN CLUB IN PRIOR LAKE.

TEAM COMPETITION BEGINS AT 9:00 A.M.

FOLLOWED BY INDIVIDUAL SHOOTERS AT 1:00 P.M. >>> BRAINERD FOOTBALL KICKER SAWYER RIFFLE WILL BE CONTINUING HIS CAREER AT THE DIVISION ONE LEVEL, COMMITTING TO KICK FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA NEXT FALL.

DURING HIS TIME WITH THE WARRIORS, RIFFLE HAS HELD A 55-YARD-AVERAGE ON KICKOFFS, A 44-YARD-PUNT-AVERAGE, CONVERTED 69 OF 71 P.A.T.

'S WHILE GOING 8 FOR 15 ON FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS.

RIFFLE GARNERED INTEREST FROM UND FOOTBALL DURING A PROSPECT CAMP LAST WEEK, WHERE HE SHOWCASED HIS BOOMING LEG IN FRONT OF FIGHTING HAWKS SPECIAL TEAMS COACH SHAWN KOSITCH, LAUNCHING A 78-YARD KICK OFF, ULTIMATELY LANDING HIM A SCHOLARSHIP OFFER TO THE SCHOOL HE HAS ALWAYS HAD HIS EYES ON.

>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO GET THERE.

SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO GO TO MY SENIOR SEASON KNOWING WHERE MY HOME IS NEXT YEAR.

THEY MADE ME FEEL REALLY WANTED.

IT WAS A BIG THING FOR ME.

THEY REALLY TRULY CARE FOR ME, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING A STEP WITH THE BIG TEAM.

EVERYONE IS THERE WITH THE SAME GOAL, MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

I'M EXCITED TO SUNNIED MYSELF WITH GUYS LIKE THAT, AND HAVE A BIG OPERATION, IT WILL BE REALLY SWEET.

>> RIFFLE IS NOW THE FOURTEENTH MEMBER OF THE FIGHTING HAWKS' 20-26 RECRUITING CLASS...AND IS THE 5-TH BRAINERD ATHLETE FROM THE 2025 SENIOR CLASS TO GO D1.

>>> THE MINNESOTA STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED THE ALL STATE PLAYERS FOR 2025.

THREE AREA PLAYERS MADE THIS YEAR'S LIST, CARTER AND JOEY, BOTH FROM LITTLE FALLS.

CONTINUING WITH BASEBALL.

TWINS ON A 6-GAME SKID, TRYING TO END IT AGAINST THE REDS.

TOP OF THE 1st, BYRON BUXTON, SECOND DAY IN A ROW, HE HAS HOMERED IN EVERY GAME THIS SERIES AND TWINS TAKE A 1-0 LEAD.

THEN HE PARKS ONE IN THE SEATS AGAIN, HIS FIRST MULTI-HOME RUN GAME THIS SEASON, 14th OF HIS CAREER, AND 4th HOMER IN THIS SERIES.

TWINS KEPT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL.

EVERY STARTER FROM THE TWINS HAD AT LEAST ONE HIT TODAY, FIVE WITH TWO OR MORE.

TWINS TIED THEIR BEST OFFENSIVE OUTPUT OF THE SEASON, 12 RUNS.

THEY SALVAGED THE FINAL GAME OF THE SERIES AGAINST THE REDS AND SNAPPED THE 6 GAME LOSING STREAK.

THAT WAS A TOUGH ONE FOR THEM.

>> Matthew: THANK YOU CHARLIE.

FOR THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF FISHING TIPS, WE LEARN ABOUT FISHING SONAR AND ITS USES ON THE WATER.

>> HI EVERYONE, I'M RAY GILDOW AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT HAS EVOLVED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'VE HAD, THE SOLAR BOXES, THE PAPER GRAPHS, A LOT OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGY AND LOTS OF PEOPLE ALWAYS FELT WHILE THESE ARE GOING TO GIVE FISH A REAL DISADVANTAGE AND IT'S GOING TO WIPE THEM OUT, IT HASN'T DONE THEM YET.

THE SYSTEM I WANT TO SHOW YOU TONIGHT JUST BRIEFLY, IT'S CALLED A FORWARD FACING TECHNOLOGY.

IT REALLY DEVELOPED FROM ICE FISHING WHEN PEOPLE WOULD GO ICE FISHING, THEY WOULD DROP THEIR TRANSDUCER AND THEY COULD SEE FISH OUT 30, 40, 50, 60 FEET, NOT LOOKING LIKE FISH, BUT THEY COULD SEE THESE MARKS.

THAT'S CALLED FORWARD FACING TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S BECOMING VERY, VERY POPULAR.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS A TRANSDUCER THAT I AM SHOWING RIGHT HERE WITH ME IN MY HANDS.

IN MY CASE, IT'S ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE BOAT AND I CAN TURN IT AND ROTATE IT AROUND AND SEE IF THERE ARE FISH CLOSE BY.

IT CAN BE MOUNTED ON A MOTOR, WHICH SOME PEOPLE DO.

IT'S ANOTHER WAY OF FINDING OUT WHERE THE FISH ARE.

IT DOESN'T MAKE THEM BITE.

IT DOES SOMETIMES, IT SPOOKS THEM IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE TO THEM, AND MANDY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY SEE THAT.

>> CORRECT, IT WAS A BIG DEAL WHEN SIDE IMAGING CAME OUT.

THEN THE 360 IMAGING AND NOW FORWARD FACING SONAR.

EVERYONE IS SAYING THIS IS THE LATEST AND THE GREATEST BUT ACTUALLY JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, A LOT OF THESE SPECIES ARE SUPER SENSITIVE.

THESE SEND OFF SONAR WAVES, RIGHT?

WHEN THOSE FISH GET PINGED BY THAT SONAR, THEY DON'T LIKE IT NECESSARILY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAD A LOT OF PRESSURE AND THOSE FISH WILL TURN AND THEY WILL SHY OFF.

>> I'M RAY GILDOW.

>> AND I'M MANDY UHRICH.

>> Matthew: WE HAVE SOME TIME SO WE ARE GOING TO HEAD TO STACY FOR THE WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE WILL BE SEEING SEVERE WEATHER UNTIL 4:00 A.M. ON FRIDAY, WE COULD SEE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS AS THE STORMS ROLL THROUGH.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE AN EXTREME HEAT WATCH FOR MOST OF OUR VIEWING AREA.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

>> Charlie: 108-91 OVER THE THUNDER, FORCING A GAME 7 IN OKC.

>> Matthew: I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING, WE'LL BE IN TOMORROW.

>> Charlie: GOOD NIGHT.

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