ANNOCAPTIONING PROVIDED BY Music isAV CAPTIONING www.avcaptioning.com >> Announcer: PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI, CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER, FDIC.

SOIRSWELL, BOOSTING STUDENT AND COMMUNITY SUCCESS RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> Announcer: LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS ADD 10.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU WITH LOCAL NEWS.

DENNIS WEIMANN WITH THE NEWS, STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER, AND CHARLIE YAEGER WITH YOUR SPORTS.

>> Dennis: HI, EVERYONE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

A NEW INITIATIVE TO RECOGNIZE ELECTION WORKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL BEGAN WITH AN EVENT IN BRAINERD THIS AFTERNOON.

REPORTER DANIEL PURSELL HAS MORE.

>> Daniel: THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STARTED THE EXCELLENCE IN ELECTION AWARD TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY IN MAKING SURE ELECTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT IN A SAFE AND SECURE WAY.

>> WE ARE HERE TO KICK OFF THE FIRST-EVER EXCELLENCE IN ELECTIONS AWARD, WHICH OUR OFFICE DECIDED TO GIVE REGULARLY AS A SIGN OF GRATITUDE TO PEOPLE WHO HELP OUR ELECTION SYSTEM FUNCTION.

THESE ARE PRIMARILY THE PEOPLE WHO ADMINISTER ELECTIONS, EARTH AT THE COUNTY OR CITY LEVEL, OR THE FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE POLLING PLACING AND HERE WE HAVE A CONVERGENCE OF A COUPLE FOLKS JUST LIKE THAT THAT MAKE THIS THE PERFECT PLACE TO KICK OFF THIS AWARD STATEWIDE.

>> Daniel: MINNESOTA SECRETARY OF STATE STEVE SIMON HONORED THREE FOR THE AWARD.

GLIEF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ACROSS THE STATE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT WORKING GROUPS AND COMMITTEES WITH MY STATEWIDE PARTNERS.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT I HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION TO BE A GOOD MOUTHPIECE FOR ELECTIONS AND I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SHARING INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE INFORMED AND AWARE.

>> Daniel: HELEN BURGSTALER IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LONGEST SERVING ELECTION JUDGE IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

THE FIRST ELECTED SHE HELPED FACILITATE WAS IN 1950 AND SHE HASN'T MISSED AN ELECTION IN THE LAST 75 YEARS.

>> MY MOTHER CAME TO SCHOOL AND THERE WAS AN ELECTION AND I THOUGHT, I MIGHT COULD DO THAT, AND I RAN FOR THE SCHOOL, AND BOY, WE FROZE TO DEATH BEFORE WE GOT HOME, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT TO ME.

AND AFTER THAT, I JUST KNEW THAT I WAS JUST AS PROUD AS I COULD BE.

I GUESS I'M THE PROUDEST PERSON HERE.

>> Daniel: ACCORDING TO SECRETARY SIMON, BURGSTALER AND THE REST OF THE CROW WING COUNTY STAFF ARE THE GOLD STANDARD IN PROTECTING ELECTIONS.

>> CROW WING COUNTY IS THE GOLD STANDARD, IT HAZ FOR A LONG TIME.

EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP, GREAT RESOURCES, GREAT TRAINING, CONSCIENTIOUS ETHICAL PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHAT ALL OF MINNESOTA SHOULD LOOK TO IN TERMS OF RUNNING ELECTIONS.

>> Daniel: REPORTING IN BRAINERD, I'M DANIEL PURSELL, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Dennis: THE STATE HOPES TO CONTINUE TO GIVE OUT THIS AWARD TO DESERVING ELECTION OFFICIALS.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS TONIGHT: A 39-YEAR-OLD ERSKINE MAN HAS DIED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH IN POLK COUNTY.

THE CRASH WAS REPORTED AROUND 1:00 ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON COUNTY ROAD 38 ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF NORTH OF HIGHWAY 2.

THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS A PASSERBY FOUND TRAVIS SHIMPA LYING IN THE DITCH.

HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE BY EMERGENCY PERSONNEL.

ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM POLK COUNTY, IT APPEARS SHIMPA WAS NORTHBOUND ON COUNTY ROAD 38, WHICH IS A GRAVEL ROAD, AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH.

>>> A FIRE CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO A BEMIDJI AREA HOME ON SATURDAY, BUT NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED FROM THE BLAZE.

BEMIDJI FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE 6000 BLOCK OF MARTIN LANE SOUTHEAST IN FROHN TOWNSHIP AROUND 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY.

WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND A SINGLE-STORY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE WITH HEAVY SMOKE AND FLAMES VISIBLE FROM THE ROOF AND REAR OF THE HOME.

A NEARBY VEHICLE AND GARAGE WERE ALSO ON FIRE.

24 FIREFIGHTERS AND EIGHT PIECES OF EQUIPMENT WERE ON THE SCENE FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS.

THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE FROM BEMIDJI FIRE CHIEF JUSTIN SHERWOOD, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTAL.

>>> ONE PERSON IS IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING A STABBING IN BEMIDJI ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

BEMIDJI POLICE CHIEF MIKE MASTIN SAYS THE STABBING APPEARS TO BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A THREAT TO THE PUBLIC.

OFFICERS RESPONDED AROUND 11 P.M. TO THE STABBING AT AHOME ON EAST AVENUE.

A FEMALE WAS TAKEN TO BEMIDJI SANFORD MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF HER INJURIES.

THE SUSPECT FLED THE SCENE, BUT AUTHORITIES ESTABLISHED A PERIMETER AND A CODE RED NOTIFICATION WAS SENT TO RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.

THE AREA WAS SEARCHED EXTENSIVELY WITH OFFICERS, DEPUTIES AND A K-9 UNIT, AND THE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

>>> HOPE HOUSE IN BEMIDJI IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES SUPPORT SERVICES TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LIFELONG MENTAL ILLNESSES, AND IN 2025, THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 45th YEAR OF HELPING THOSE IN NEED.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK WAS AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND ALSO SAW SOME OF THE NEW SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE STARTING THAT BEMIDJI HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> Sydney: TALK SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH HAVE SEEN DRASTICALLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, AND SEEING AS HOW THIS IS THEIR 45th YEAR OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY, HOPE HOUSE IN BEMIDJI HAS SEEN A GREAT MANY OF THOSE CHANGES.

>> BACK IN THOSE DAYS, PEOPLE JUST CONTINUE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL OVER AND OVER, AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM WAS TO KEEP THEM FROM HAVING TO DO THAT AND TO LIVE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

>> ADULTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH, CHRONIC ILLNESS, SUCH AS SCHIZOPHRENIA, MANIC DEPRESSION, ALSO KNOWN AS BUY POLAR DORD, THEY'RE ALL TREATABLE ILLNESSES.

>> Sydney: ALONG WITH THE ANNIVERSARY, THE HOPE HOUSE IS ALSO CELEBRATING THE END OF CONSTRUCTION TO THEIR NEW DROP-IN CENTER.

>> IT WAS A CEMENT FLOOR AND A GARAGE AND HAD A NOISY HEATER, NO BATHROOM IN THE BUILDING, SO WE RECEIVED A GRANT THROUGH THE COUNTY SO IT'S MORE DIGNIFIED.

>> YOU CAN HAVE MORE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANXIETY, PERHAPS, WHO MIGHT STRUGGLE BE IN A CLOSED-IN SPACE.

PERHAPS PEOPLE HEARING VOICES MIGHT WANT TO SIT BY THEMSELVES, BUT BE IN A SOCIAL GROUP, AND THIS IS A SAFE PLACE TO DO THAT.

>> Sydney: SINCE THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR FOUR AND A HALF DECADES, THE HOPE HOUSE DEFINITELY KNOWS HOW TO KEEP DOING WHAT WORKS, BUT NOW THEY'RE ALSO TRYING OUT SOME NEW THINGS.

>> WE HAVE A ROBOT THAT CAN TALK, TELL JOKES, DANCE, AND THEN THIS SUMMER, WE'LL USE IT IN OUR DROP-IN CENTER WITH THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND TEST IT OUT THERE.

>> Sydney: ROBOT AND FANCY NEW BUILDING OR NOT, HOPE HOUSE'S MISSION IS STILL THE SAME.

>> I TALKED TO PEOPLE TODAY WHO USED TO BE IN OUR PROGRAM WHO ARE NOW DOING WELL AND THEY SAID THAT THIS -- IF THEY HADN'T HAD THIS KIND OF PROGRAM, THEY MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY.

SO IT'S -- I THINK IT HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, UNCONDITION ACCEPTANCE, AND IT ENCOURAGES AND PROVIDES HOPE THAT THEY CAN GET BETTER.

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

>> Dennis: THE SOCIAL ROBOT IS COMING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, AND ITS TEST RUN WILL INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM TALKING TO PEOPLE AND PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT TO GREETING CLIENTS AND ASKING THEM WHAT THEY NEED AS THEY CHECK IN SO HOPE HOUSE STAFF CAN BETTER ASSIST THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> Announcer: STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT 10: >> Stacy: SMOKE IS AGAIN IMPACTING OUR AIR QUALITY AND AIR QUALITY ALERT IS OUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

I'LL HAVE DETAILS IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> UPGRADES ARE COMING ALONG >> Announcer: THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY CTC: INTERNET, PHONE AND TV.

CTC, CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY, ONLINE AT GOCTC.COM.

>>> AND NOW, MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>> Dennis: THE CROW WING COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED ITS FIRST EVER LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL HELP IDENTIFY AND PRIORITIZE LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENTS, HELPING THE COUNTY MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON FUTURE PLANNING FOR THE NEXT 10 TO 20 YEARS.

THE LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN'S GOALS INCLUDE MAINTAINING AND UPGRADING ROADS, BRIDGES, AND TRAILS, PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN COMMUNITIES.

THE PLAN'S FIRST STEP HAS BEEN COLLECTING FEEDBACK FROM COUNTY RESIDENTS REGARDING THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

>> WE TRAVEL THE ROADS ALL THE TIME IN CROW WING COUNTY AS, YOU KNOW, WORKERS AND JUST LOOKING AT THE SYSTEM FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE FOLKS, BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE THAT WE REALLY NEED, AND THAT'S FROM THE USERS OF IT, THE MOTHERS, THE FATHERS, THE BUS DRIVERS, PEOPLE GOING TO AND FROM WORK OR THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO VACATION HERE.

>> Dennis: THE COUNTY WILL CONTINUE GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS THROUGH THE END OF JUNE BEFORE THEN ANALYZING THE DATA IN JULY AND EARLY AUGUST.

FOLLOWING THAT, A PUBLIC MEETING WILL BE HELD TO ADDRESS THE COMMON TALKING POINTS LATER THIS SUMMER.

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

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

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 CRUISE HOTLINE NUMBER BEFORE 5 P.M.

THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY.

AND HERE ARE TONIGHT'S POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS.

WE HAVE FIVE TONIGHT TO START OFF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUMMER.

YOU SEE THE NAMES THERE.

IF YOU SEE YOUR NAME, CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN BEFORE THE END OF THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AND YOU'LL HAVE A SHOT AT BEING OUR 2025 CRAGUN'S VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

WE WILL ANNOUNCE WHO THAT IS AT A LIVE DRAWING ON OUR NEWSCAST ON MONDAY, AUGUST 25th.

>>> MORE THAN 25,000 RESIDENTS IN THREE PROVINCES HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AS DOZENS OF WILDFIRES REMAIN ACTIVE AND DIMINISHED AIR QUALITY IN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S.

MOST OF THE EVACUATED RESIDENTS WERE FROM MANITOBA, WHICH DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY LAST WEEK.

ABOUT 17,000 WERE EVACUATED BY SATURDAY ALONG WITH 1300 IN ALBERTA.

ABOUT 8,000 PEOPLE IN SASKATCHEWAN HAD BEEN RELOCATED, BUT LEADERS THERE WARNED THE NUMBER COULD CLIMB IN THE COMING DAYS.

SMOKE WAS WORSENING AIR QUALITY AND REDUCING VISIBILITY IN CANADA AND INTO SOME U.S. STATES ALONG THE BORDER.

AND STACY, I KNOW ONE OF THOSE STATES IT'S IMPACTING.

>> Stacy: YES, IT'S IMPACT OUR ENTIRE STATE AND SOME WORSE THAN OTHERS.

WE HAVE THIS AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT TONIGHT AND EVEN INTO WEDNESDAY IN PARTS OF >> Announcer: CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS 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 BY WIDSETH.

ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, LAND SURVEYORS, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS, SERVING MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES SINCE 1975.

>>> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

>> Stacy: IT WAS A SMOKEY AND HAYES DAY ACROSS THE STATE -- HAZY DAY ACROSS THE STATE AS WE CONTINUE TO BE IMPACTED BY THE WILDFIRES IN CANADA.

WE HAVE MORE ON THE WAY AND CONVEYOR QUALITY ALERTS IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE RAIN ACROSS THE STATE TODAY AND MORE CHANCES OF RAIN SHOWERS HEADING THROUGH THE WEEK.

RIGHT NOW BEMIDJI IS 53 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

AT THE STUDIO, WE HAVE AN EAST WIND AT 7 MILES PER HOUR AND WE PICKED UP JUST OVER.2 OF AN INCH OF PRESCRIPTION.

IN BRAINERD, HAZY CONDITIONS, 65 DEGREES, WINDS NORTH AT 16 MILES PER HOUR.

THE AIR QUALITY ALERT CONTINUES IN MINNESOTA UNTIL 4:00 A.M. TUESDAY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA WHERE THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MAROON OR HAZARDOUS CATEGORY.

IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, IT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON ON WEDNESDAY.

THE AIR QUALITY INDEX IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE PURPLE OR VERY UNHEALTHY CATEGORY.

AND IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, THE ALERT IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY.

THE AQI SHOULD BE IN THE RED CATEGORY, WHICH MEANS IT IS UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY.

AS FAR AS OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR PICTURE, NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE THE SMOKE, WE'VE HAD SOME RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS OUR AREA.

A COUPLE OF WAVES OF THOSE ALREADY.

COULD STILL SEE SOME OF THE RAIN SHOWER ACTIVITY MAINLY IN THE EASTERN PART OF OUR VIEWING AREA, PARTS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH SOME CLEARING STARTING IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND IT ACTUALLY MAY START TO SEE SOME OF THAT SMOKE CLEARING OUT OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BY THE TIME WE HIT TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

IT WAS A SMOKY AND HAZY DAY, CARRIE IN WALKER, ARLENE IN MENAHGA WITH PICTURES OF THE CONDITIONS.

WE'VE HAD MORE COLOR PHOTOS, GARY WITH THIS PICTURE, JOAN IN LAPORTE, LINDA WITH THE EVENING SKIES AND A BIT OF RAIN AT RABBIT LAKE.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE.

EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE REPORTING A HEAVY SMOKE WITH HAZE, BOB IN BLUFFTON, CLOUDS, RAIN AND HAZE.

STEFAN IN BRAINERD, OCCASION LIGHT RAIN, ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUNSHINE, BUT AGAIN PICKING UP A BIT OF RAINFALL.

SANDY AT BLACKDUCK, TORRENTIAL RAIN ABOUT 6:00 THIS EVENING, .

HIGHS TODAY IN BRAINERD, 87.

WE HAD A LOW OF 60 THIS MORNING, SUNSET AT 9:04 AND BEMIDJI TODAY A HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 82, TEN AGREES ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND THE LOW WAS 53.

AS WE LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL BE SEEING VARIABLE CLOUDS AND THERE'S A CHANCE OF A FEW RAIN SHOWERS LING LINGERING IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA, BUT OTHERWISE VARIABLE CLOUDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE'LL SEE CLOUD COVER ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE, MORE CLEARING IN THE NORTHWEST AND AGAIN EASTERN AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA COULD CONTINUE TO HANG ON TO SOME OF THAT SMOKE HEADING THROUGH THE DAY.

AS FAR AS TEMPERATURES GO, HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 70s IN THE NORTH WITH LOW TO MID 70s IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA AS WELL.

AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE FORECAST, TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS, LOWS NEARS 49.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW, ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS IN EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA IN THE MORNING AND HIGHS NEAR 72.

LOOKING AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, WE HAVE PERIODIC CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND MAYBE EVEN THUNDERSTORMS AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

HIGHS CONTINUE TO REACH THE 70s THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

COULD BE SEEING SOME UPPER 70s ON SATURDAY, 73 ON SUNDAY.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Dennis: THANKS, STACY.

STATE SOFTBALL THIS WEEK.

CHARLIE IS HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> Charlie: STARTS TOMORROW.

BRAINERD AND BLACKDUCK, THE TWO TEAMS FROM OUR VIEWING AREA THAT MADE IT.

HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO BOTH OF THE TEAMS BEFORE THEY LEFT TO MANKATO TODAY.

WE'VE >> Announcer: SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS, SEBTING TEN YEARS OF THE GIGA ZONE, THE ALL FIBEROPTIC NETWORK THAT TRANCE FORD HOW WE LIVE AND WORK.

>>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

>> Charlie: WELL, BRAINERD IS PLAYING ITS BEST SOFTBALL AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, WINNING NINE OF THEIR LAST 10 CONTESTS EN ROUTE TO THE PROGRAM'S FIRST CLASS 4-A STATE TOURNAMENT BERTH SINCE 2022.

THE WARRIORS RAN THE TABLE IN SECTION 8-AAAA BY WAY OF AN OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT, OUTSCORING THEIR OPPONENTS 27-3 ACROSS ALL FOUR GAMES THEY PLAYED.

BUT AS HOT AS THEIR BATS ARE AS OF LATE, THE WARRIORS' CALLING CARD ALL YEAR HAS BEEN PITCHING AND DEFENSE, ALLOWING LESS THAN THREE RUNS PER GAME WHILE SHUTTING OUT THE OPPOSITION EIGHT TIMES.

THEIR TOUGHEST CHALLENGE, HOWEVER, LIES AHEAD IN THE STATE QUARTERFINALS AGAINST A 23-2 BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON SQUAD THAT IS AVERAGING OVER SEVEN RUNS A GAME.

>> PITCHING IS KEY AND WE HAVE MIA, SO WE FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT WITH NA AND SHE'S A GREEDY COMPETITOR, SO WE KNOW SHE'LL BRING HER BEST.

THE X FACTOR COULD BE BASE RUNNING.

JUST HAVING THE STUNT TO GET ON BASE AND MOVE PEOPLE AROUND AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LITTLE MISTAKES THAT THE OTHER TEAM MAY GIVE YOU, AND THEY MAY ONLY GIVE YOU ONE, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> THE TEAM HAS IMPROVED A LOT.

I THINK EVERY GAME WE'VE GOTTEN BETTER.

IF WE HAVE A TIGHT DEFENSE, WE'LL BE ALL SET AND JUST TRYING TO GET ON BASE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO HIT HOMEOWNERS EVERY AT-BAT.

>> WE'VE DONE GOOD AT HITTING AND STAYING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, KEEPING THE POSITIVE ENERGY GOING AND WITH PUTTING THAT THROUGH THE SEASON, PUT THAT TOWARDS THE GAME AT STATE.

>> Charlie: BRAINERD WAS SEEDED FIFTH OVERALL.

IT WILL BE THE WARRIORS FIRST MEETING WITH THE JAGUARS SINCE 2014.

HIGHLIGHTS TOMORROW.

>>> SOMETIMES WE DON'T REALIZE THE HISTORY WE'VE MADE UNTIL WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON IT.

LAST THURSDAY, BLACKDUCK SOFTBALL BECAME THE FIRST GIRLS TEAM IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO WIN A SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT IN THE MOMENT, IT WAS ONLY REDEMPTION THEY SOUGHT AND VALIDATION THEY EARNED.

HISTORY TELLS US IT'S ALWAYS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN.

SOMETHING BLACKDUCK SOFTBALL KNOWS ALL TOO WELL.

LAST SEASON, THE DRAKES HAD HOPES OF REACHING STATE AFTER EARNING THE ONE SEED HEADING INTO THE TOURNAMENT ONLY BEEN KNOCKED OUT IN THE QUARTERFINAL ROUND.

>> IT WAS DISAPPOINTING, BUT I KNEW WE HAD SOMETHING TO PROVE, SO I THINK WE CAME INTO THIS YEAR THINKING WE NEED TO DO THIS, NOT JUST TO US, BUT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> Charlie: ADDED MOTIVATION CAME FROM RIVAL NORTH OLM KELLER WHO WON THE TITLE AND WENT TO STATE INSTEAD, SOME HISTORY BLACKDUCK WOULD LIKE TO FORGET.

>> PROBABLY MADE IT MORE DISAPPOINTING THAN IF SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE WENT, BUT I'M GLAD WE GET TO GO THIS YEAR.

>> Charlie: AT FIRST IT FELT LIKE HISTORY MIGHT REPEAT ITSELF.

THEY WERE ONE LOSS FROM BEING ELIMINATED, BUT THEY ARE NO STRANGERS TO ADVERSITY.

>> WE WERE ALL STILL PRETTY CONFIDENT WITH OURSELVES BECAUSE OUR FIRST GAME AGAINST EAST POLK, WE'RE DOWN IN THE VERY LAST INNING, 5-0 I THINK THE SCORE WAS, AND TWO OUTS AND WE STARTED HITTING.

>> Charlie: BLACKDUCK RALLIED TO WIN THREE GAMES IN A ROW, INCLUDING BACK-TO-BACK VICTORIES OVER HILL CITY NORTHLAND IN THE FINALS TO WIN THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP, MAKING HISTORY IN THE PROCESS.

>> IT'S STILL TRYING TO CLICK IN MY BRAIN THAT WE'RE THE FIRST EVER GIRLS TEAM TO GO TO STATE.

>> IT'S CRAZY.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH MAKING HISTORY FOR BLACKDUCK, SO IT'S AMAZING.

>> WE NUT A LOT OF WORK -- PUT IN A LOT OF WORK AND WE EARN IT.

>> Charlie: AND NOW THEY'VE EARNED THEIR SPOT IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

>> WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE LOOKING BACK TO IT AND THINK ABOUT THE GREAT MEMORIES WE HAD AND IT WAS A SEASON OVERALL, SO -- >> IT WAS REALLY FUN.

>> Charlie: BLACKDUCK COULD MAKE MORE HISTORY TOMORROW WHEN THEY TAKE ON TOP-SEED UNITED SOUTH CENTRAL FROM SECTION 2.

ANYTHING AT THIS POINT IS A FIRST FOR THE DRAKES.

THEY COME IN ONLY HAVING LOST THREE GAMES ALL SEASON.

THE REBELS COME IN WITH ONLY ONE LOSS.

WE'LL HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT GAME AS WELL TOMORROW NIGHT.

>>> WE DO HAVE A FEW SCORES FOR YOU.

IN BOYS BASEBALL: >> Dennis: THANKS, CHARLIE.

>>> BEMIDJI'S HAMPTON INN AND SUITES NOT ONLY WENT THROUGH A NAME CHANGE RECENTLY TO SOUTH SHORE HOTEL, BUT THAT HOTEL, THE DOUBLE TREE, AND THE GREEN MILL RESTAURANT AND BAR ARE NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP.

OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN SPOKE WITH THE NEW OWNERS OF THOSE PROPERTIES TO SEE WHY THEY VENTURED INTO THE HOTEL BUSINESS AND WHAT CHANGES COULD POSSIBLY COME TO ONE OF THE BUSIEST HOTELS IN BEMIDJI, FOR THIS WEEK'S IN-BUSINESS.

>> Matthew: BELTRAMI COUNTY ATTORNEY DAVID HANSON AND HIS WIFE ARE THE NEW OWNERS OF THREE MASSIVE PROPERTIES IN BEMIDJI.

THE NEWLY NAMED SOUTH SHORE HOTEL, THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL, AND THE GREEN MILL RESTAURANT AND BAR.

>> THE COMPLEX TOGETHER IS AMAZING.

PEOPLE LOVE TO STAY HERE AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY WITHIN BEMIDJI.

>> I KNEW THE FORMER OWNER OF THE HOTELS AND APPROACHED HIM LAST SUMMER ABOUT PURCHASING THEM, AND THE OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE, SO I JUMPED ON IT.

>> Matthew: THE HANSONS BELIEVE IN STRETCH OF PROPERTIES IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BEMIDJI AREA AND WON'T CHANGE TOO MUCH ABOUT THEM BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> THE GREEN MILL IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN EAT IN TOWN IN MY OPINION.

>> BOTH THE HOTEL AND THE DOUBLE TREE ARE IN MY OPINION THE PREMIER PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND WE WANT TO KEEP THEM THAT WAY.

>> Matthew: BUT THERE'S ONE CHANGE, AND THAT'S TO CREATE EASIER ACCESS FOR BOATERS ON LAKE BEMIDJI.

>> NEW DOCKS AT THE SOUTH SHORE AND THE GREEN MILL, SO YOU CAN HOW BRING YOUR BOAT RIGHT UP TO THE GREEN MILL AND PARK IT AND ENJOY SOME TIME.

>> Matthew: ALTHOUGH THE HANSONS STILL WANT TO MAKE THE PROPERTIES THEIR OWN IN SOME WAY.

>> IN THE NEXT 12, 18 MONTHS, WE'LL BE REMODELING.

THE LOBBY IN THE HOTEL HAS ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS.

WE'VE BEEN SPRUCING IT UP QUITE A BIT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THE PROPERTIES TO MAKE PEOPLE WELCOME WHEN THEY STAY AT THE SOUTH SHORE, STAY AT THE DOUBLE TREE AND COME AND EAT AT GREEN MILL.

>> Matthew: THEY SHARE THE SAME GOAL WITH ALL THREE PROPERTIES, TO MAKE IT THE PREMIER DESTINATION TO STAY.

>> MAKE IT THE THE BEST DESTINATION FOR NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

>> YOU LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY AND SAY I WANT TO STAY THERE, I WANT TO BE ON THE LAKE AND ENJOY THE BEACH AND THE EXPERIENCE AND WE WANT YOU TO STAY HERE WHEN YOU DO VISIT LAKE BEMIDJI.

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

>> Dennis: ONE MORE LOOK AT WEATHER.

SMOKING LEAVING THE AREA EVENTUALLY.

>> Stacy: EVENTUALLY.

IT'S NOT GOING AWAY JUST GET.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AIR QUALITY ALERTS OUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE IMPACTED AIR QUALITY FROM THAT -- THE SMOKE THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR HEALTH.

NOW, AS FAR AS THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, MOSTLY CLOUDY, COULD STILL SEE SOME RAIN SHOWERS IN PARTS OF OF EASTERN MINNESOTA.

>> Charlie: AND WE SAW A COUPLE OF SECTION GOLF TOURNAMENTS HELD OFF BECAUSE THE SMOKE, BUT THEY'LL GET STARTED TOMORROW AND WE'LL HAVE THE RESULTS FROM THOSE TOMORROW AS WELL.

>> Dennis: THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT EVERYBODY.

>> GOOD NIGHT.

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