>> 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 WITH LOCAL NEW FROM BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

DENNIS WEIMANN WITH THE NEWS, STACY CHRISTENSON WITH THE WEATHER, AND MILES WALKER WITH YOUR SPORTS.

[♪♪♪] >> Ryan: HI EVERYONE, I'M RYAN FLEMING IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN TONIGHT.

>>> A MYSTERY SPANNING MORE THAN FOUR DECADES IS ONCE AGAIN DRAWING INVESTIGATORS TO BELTRAMI COUNTY.

A NEW LEAD HAS RENEWED THE SEARCH FOR A YOUNG BOY WHO VANISHED WITHOUT A TRACE IN 1982.

3-YEAR-OLD KEVIN AYOTTE DISAPPEARED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1982, WHILE PLAYING UPSTAIRS AT HIS FAMILY'S SUMMER HOME IN SUGAR BUSH TOWNSHIP, ROUGHLY FOURTEEN MILES NORTHEAST OF BEMIDJI.

44 YEARS LATER, A NEW TIP HAS INVESTIGATORS RETRACING A CASE THAT HAS REMAINED UNSOLVED.

AGENTS WITH THE MINNESOTA B.C.A.

ARE NOW ASSISTING THE BELTRAMI COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH A SEARCH OF A NEARBY PROPERTY.

THE SHERIFF SAYS THE INFORMATION CAME FROM FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT IT TOOK TIME CARRY OUT THE LEAD AND ORGANIZE THE SEARCH.

>> THIS IS A TIP THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS SENT TO OUR OFFICE AND WE ARE DOING FOLLOW UP WITH IT.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FAMILY THAT IS LIVING AT THIS LOCATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST DOING SOME DUE DILIGENCE, LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL SITE.

>> BUT THERE'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION IN THIS LATEST SEARCH.

THE PROPERTY BEING EXAMINED ISN'T WHERE KEVIN ORIGINALLY DISAPPEARED.

THE SHERIFF STATED THAT SOMEONE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED A PERSON OF INTEREST ONCE LIVED THERE, AND INVESTIGATORS ARE NOW EXPLORING DIFFERENT AREAS AROUND A BUILDING ON THE PROPERTY.

SO FAR, NO NEW DISCOVERIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED, BUT THE INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT AVENUES PURSUED AROUND THE BUILDING, I WILL STATE THAT.

IT SOUNDED LIKE WE WEREN'T FURTHER AHEAD THAN WE WERE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS MAY CARRY OVER INTO A DAY OR TWO MORE.

>> A DRONE WAS SPOTTED FLYING ABOVE THE HOME AND GARAGE DURING THE SEARCH.

THE B.C.A.

HAS NOT ANNOUNCED ANY NEW FINDINGS, BUT ADDITIONAL UPDATES COULD COME AS INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS LATEST LEAD.

>>> THE BRAINERD SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A SHARED SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ON SEPTEMBER 21.

UNDER THE AGREEMENT, MARK DIEHL, LITTLE FALLS' EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WILL DEDICATE 20 HOURS PER WEEK TO BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

OUR REPORTER XZAYVER CURRY HAS MORE DETAILS.

>> IN HIS CURRENT ROLE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, MARK DIEL PROVIDES LEADERSHIP WITH SAFETY, SECURITY, AND OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS TO ITS BROADER EDUCATIONAL MISSION.

>> THE OPPORTUNITY REALLY CAME ABOUT BASED ON A CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENED AROUND HELPING BRAINERD WITH SOME EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PIECES, WHICH I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR IN LITTLE FALLS.

AS THE SUPERINTENDENT JUST GOT TO TALKING, THEY STARTED TO SEE A PATH WHERE MY LEADERSHIP ABILITIES BENEFIT BOTH DISTRICTS.

>> Reporter: SUPPORTING DISTRICT OPERATIONS LIKE BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONGOING PROJECT TRUE NORTH 2.0.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT COMBINATION, WE NEED MORE REVENUE.

WE HAVE A REFERENDUM THIS FALL, WHICH IS CRITICAL.

ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

WE WILL HAVE TO LOOK AT CLOSING A BUILDING OR TWO, CONSOLIDATING PROGRAMS, EVEN CONSOLIDATING LEADERSHIP ROLES.

THAT IS WHY WE PARTNERED WITH LITTLE FALLS.

>> Reporter: THE SUPERINTENDENT OF LITTLE FALLS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SAYS THE AGREEMENT IS NOT ONLY HELPING OUT A DISTRICT IN NEED BUT IT IS ALSO OPENING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISTRICT COLLABORATIONS.

>> SHARED RESOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE MONEY ARE REASONS WHY WE LOOK TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS.

IN OUR SITUATION WITH SHARING AND THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE SOME MONEY.

WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE SOMEBODY THAT HAS BEEN A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR US AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOL DISTRICT.

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

>> THE SHARED SERVICES ARRANGEMENT IS PART OF THE DISTRICT'S BROADER EFFORT TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES AND DIRECT MORE RESOURCES TOWARD STUDENT LEARNING.

THE SHARED AGREEMENT RUNS FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2028.

>>> ELECTION DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, AND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WE ARE PREVIEWING A FEW OF THE RACES IN LAKELAND COUNTRY.

TONIGHT, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES FACING OFF FOR THE BEMIDJI CITY COUNCIL WARD 2 SEAT, INCUMBENT JOSH PETERSON AND CHALLENGER KATE EGELHOF.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED THEM WAS WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THIS POSITION?

>> I WANT TO CONTINUE AND FINISH THE PROJECTS THAT WE STARTED.

YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WITH A PROJECT THAT I RAN ON ORIGINALLY WAS GETTING THE RAILROAD CORRIDOR CLEANED UP AND REALLY GETTING THAT AREA DEVELOPED.

HERE WE ARE NOW, WE HAVE A YMCA THAT BROKE GROUND, A NEW HOTEL AND CONFERENCE SPACE ABOUT TO BREAK GROUND SOON IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND WE HAVE THAT AREA BEING COMPLETELY CLEANED UP OF CONTAMINATION NOW AND NOW IT'S TIME TO DEVELOP IT.

WE'RE IN THAT PROCESS AND IT'S STARTING TO BE DEVELOPED.

I WANT TO SEE ALL THE PROJECTS THAT WE STARTED WITH THROUGH TO THE FINISH LINE.

>> WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE RENTER REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIFICALLY.

I THINK, I FELT A LOT OF THINGS WERE KIND OF BEING LEFT OUT OF THE PLANNING FOR A LOT OF STUFF.

I UNDERSTAND BEMIDJI HAS A REALLY DELICATE BALANCING ACT IN TERMS OF ALL THE STUFF THAT IS GOING ON HERE, BUT I FEEL SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER.

>> OUR LAKELAND NEWS ELECTION PREVIEWS WILL CONTINUE NEXT MONDAY NIGHT.

>>> MINNESOTANS ARE HEADING TO THE POLLS EARLY, AND IN MUCH BIGGER NUMBERS THAN FOUR YEARS AGO, WITH ELECTION DAY NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY.

MORE THAN 419,000 BALLOTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CAST ACROSS MINNESOTA, NEARLY 137,000 MORE THAN AT THIS POINT IN THE 2022 MIDTERMS.

ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, NEARLY 700,000 ABSENTEE AND MAIL BALLOTS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.

AND STARTING TOMORROW, VOTERS WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CAST THEIR BALLOTS, WITH EXTENDED HOURS AT EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS.

THOSE DAYS AND HOURS ARE LISTED ON THE SCREEN.

EARLY VOTING ALLOWS VOTERS TO PLACE THEIR BALLOT DIRECTLY INTO A BALLOT TABULATOR AT THEIR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICE.

MORE THAN 260,000 BALLOTS ARE STILL AWAITING RETURN.

VOTERS CAN CHECK THEIR BALLOT STATUS AT MNVOTES.GOV, WITH ALL BALLOTS DUE BY NOVEMBER 3RD.

>>> IT'S A FINANCIAL BURDEN THAT DOESN'T GET AS MUCH ATTENTION AS CREDIT CARD DEBT OR STUDENT LOAN DEBT.

A RECENT ANALYSIS FINDS AMERICANS CARRYING MORE UTILITY DEBT AS ENERGY PRICES RISE.

KARIN CAIFA, FROM WASHINGTON.

>> Reporter: POWERING, COOLING, AND HEATING ARE PUTTING MORE FINANCIAL PRESSURE ON AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS.

AN ANALYSIS BY PROGRESSIVE THINK-TANK THE CENTURY FOUNDATION FOUND THE NATIONAL AVERAGE MONTHLY UTILITY BILL REACHED $280 IN EARLY 2026, 12% HIGHER THAN THE END OF 2024.

THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OVERDUE UTILITY BALANCE, $817.

>> THIS IS PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING MONTH OVER MONTH, UNABLE TO PAY, TO KEEP THEIR HOMES HEATED OR TO KEEP THEM COOL IN THE SUMMER, AND AS A RESULT, IT'S TURNING INTO DEBT THEY'RE STRUGGLING TO PAY OFF OVERTIME.

>> Reporter: THE BANK OF AMERICA INSTITUTE SAID THEIR BILL PAYMENT FROM JUNE TO AUGUST SHOWED A 5% BUMP FROM THE SAME STRETCH LAST YEAR.

SOME IS DUE TO SHORT-TERM SUMMER COOLING DEMAND BUT ALSO LONGER-TERM CHALLENGES LIKE ELECTRICITY COMMAND FROM DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION.

>> IN BROAD TERMS, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW STRONGLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

I THINK THAT IS AN OUTWARD PRESSURE POINT ON PRICES, I THINK, OVER TIME.

>> Reporter: THE CHIEF OF POLICY PROGRAM SAYS THE EXPECTATION IN THEIR ONGOING ANALYSIS IS THAT THE UTILITY BURDEN FOR MANY CONSUMERS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> WHETHER IT'S THE WAR WITH IRAN, WHETHER IT'S DATA CENTERS COMING INTO THEIR BACKYARDS, PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY ARE JUST NOT POISED TO GET RELIEF FROM THIS ANY TIME SOON.

>> Reporter: IN WASHINGTON, I'M KARIN CAIFA.

>> OFFICIALS SAY ROUGHLY 14 MILLION AMERICANS, WHICH IS NEARLY 1 IN 20 HOUSEHOLDS CARRY SEVERE UTILITY DEBT THAT HAS BEEN OR WILL BE SENT TO COLLECTIONS.

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

>> Stacy: RAIN SHOWERS WILL MOVE OUT OF THE AREA TONIGHT BUT WE WILL SEE MORE TOMORROW AS A COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA AND THEN WE WILL SEE COLDER AIR BEHIND THAT FRONT.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK FOR IN FOCUS, THE CONCORDIA TEAMS UP WITH THE [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >>> IT'S HARVEST SEASON AND FARMERS IN THE MIDWEST ARE GETTING A FIRST HAND LOOK AT SOME NEW DRIVERLESS EQUIPMENT.

REPORTER ANNIE WITT HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: A GRAIN CART WITHOUT A DRIVER, IT'S A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE.

FENDT IS BRINGING THAT TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF THEIR 11 FARMS IN 11 DAYS MIDWEST TOUR.

HARVEST SEASON MEANS LONG HOURS, TIGHT TIMELINES, AND PLENTY OF EQUIPMENT MOVING THROUGH THE FIELDS.

AT THE FARMS NEAR ADRIAN, MINNESOTA, ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IS OPERATING WITHOUT A DRIVER IN THE CAB.

>> WE HEAR ALL THE TIME THAT LABOR IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT THE FARMERS FACE SO BY HAVING AN AUTONOMOUS GRAIN CART OR A TILLAGE OPERATION, THAT CAN FREE UP PEOPLE TO DO OTHER TASKS.

>> Reporter: IT ALLOW IT IS OPERATOR TO DIRECT THE GRAIN CART USING A TABLET, TELLING IT WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO UNLOAD, AND WHERE TO STAGE.

THE TECHNOLOGY CAN ALSO COORDINATE MULTIPLE VEHICLES IN THE SAME FIELD AND FOR FARMERS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST POTENTIAL BENEFITS IS ADDRESSING A FAMILIAR CHALLENGE, FINDING ENOUGH HELP DURING HARVEST.

>> IT'S HARD TO FIND GOOD HELP, FULL TIME HELP, AND THEN SEASONAL HELP.

ANY JOB WE CAN MAKE MORE EFFICIENT AND ELIMINATE LABOR, IT'S ALWAYS A POSITIVE.

>> Reporter: FULLERMAN SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY COULD REDUCE LABOR EXPENSES SO THAT THE UP FRONT AND ONGOING COSTS ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR FARMERS.

HE ALSO SAYS SEEING THE EQUIPMENT WORK IN PERSON HELPED EASE SOME OF HIS INITIAL CONCERNS.

>> I WAS LEERY AT FIRST BUT SEEING ALL THE PROTECTION THEY HAVE FOR IT GAVE ME A LOT MORE COMFORT, I GUESS.

>> Reporter: FENDT SAYS THE TECHNOLOGY IS STARTING TO EVOLVE WITH APPLICATIONS BEYOND GRAIN CARTS.

WHETHER AUTONOMOUS EQUIPMENT MAKES SENSE WILL DEPEND ON EACH FARMER'S NEEDS, COSTS, AND OPERATIONS.

>> FENDT HAS BEEN BRINGING THE TECHNOLOGY TO FARMS AS PART OF ITS 11 FARMS IN 11 DAYS MIDWEST TOUR.

THE TOUR WRAPPED UP THURSDAY NEAR FARGO.

>>> STACY JOINS US NOW WITH A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE ARE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME MORE SHOWERS MOVING INTO THE AREA TOMORROW AS THAT COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH.

THEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT BIG CHANGE IN TEMPERATURES, HIGHS ACROSS THE AREA N [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW THE WEATHER WITH STACY CHRISTENSON.

[♪♪♪] >> Stacy: WELL, IT WAS A BIT BREEZY BUT MILD TODAY.

WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF SHOWER ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

MOST OF THAT WILL BE MOVING OUT OF THE AREA AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE A CHANCE OF MORE RAIN SHOWERS TOMORROW AS THE COLD FRONT BEGINS TO MOVE ACROSS AND AS IT DOES, IT IS GOING TO BRING SOME MUCH COLDER AIR INTO THE AREA AND IN FACT, HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40s FOR US NEXT WEEK.

IN BEMIDJI, IT'S 64 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT.

WINDS ARE SOUTHEAST AT 8 MILES PER HOUR, 49 IS OUR DEW POINT AND HUMIDITY IS AT 57%.

IN BRAINERD, WE HAVE CLOUDY SKIES, 67.

IT IS 46 FOR OUR DEW POINT, PRESSURE IS RISING, WINDS ARE SOUTH AT 17, GUSTS UP TO 26 MILES PER HOUR.

ON OUR SATELLITE AND RADAR, WE CAN SEE THE SHOWERS AND EVEN A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER IN THE MIX AS THEY HAVE BEEN MOVING ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA TO THE NORTHEAST.

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, WE WILL SEE MOST OF THAT MOVING OUT OF THE AREA.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF A FEW RAIN SHOWERS OVERNIGHT TONIGHT IN THE FAR NORTHEASTERN PART OF LAKELAND COUNTY.

HOWEVER, AS WE HEAD INTO TOMORROW, WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH, SO THAT COULD BRING US A FEW MORE SHOWERS AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT BIG COOL DOWN NEXT WEEK.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, IT WAS A GORGEOUS SKY OUT THERE THIS MORNING.

WE HAVE PHOTO FROM ARLENE IN MENAHGA, ANGELA AT LEECH LAKE BAY, AND LORRIE FROM CASS LAKE.

WE HAVE FALL COLORS, AND RALPH SPOTTING THE MOON IN THE BLUE SKY, AND BILL AND JUDY FROM UPPER RED LAKE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING THOSE TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORTS, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 57 AND BREEZY THIS MORNING.

STEPHANIE IN BRAINERD, A HIGH OF 72.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, SUN AND WINDY TODAY.

ON OUR ALMANAC, WE TOPPED OUT AT 75, WELL ABOVE THE AVERAGE AND 1 DEGREE SHY OF OUR RECORD, WHICH WAS SET BACK IN 1981.

52 WAS OUR LOW, SO IT STAYED MILD OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT.

SUNSET WAS AT 6:16.

BEMIDJI TODAY REACHING A HIGH OF 75, SO WE DID TIE OUR RECORD SET IN 1992, 51 FOR THE LOW AND OUR LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREES BELOW THE AVERAGE LOW.

SUNRISE WAS AT 7:50.

LOOKING AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE MAY SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE EARLY IN THE DAY BUT WE'LL HAVE A MIX OF CLOUDS MOVING IN AND THEN A FEW SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH.

ONCE THAT DOES, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A DROP IN TEMPERATURE, SO WHERE IT MOVES THROUGH A LITTLE EARLIER, TEMPS WILL BE COOLER, HIGHS IN WESTERN MINNESOTA LOOKS TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 50s.

WE SHOULD SEE SOME 60s BEFORE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, MAYBE SOME UPPER 60s AS WE MOVE INTO THE AITKIN AREA.

OUR FORECAST FOR TONIGHT, PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUING IN NORTHEAST MINNESOTA, STILL BREEZY WITH HIGHS NEAR 57.

VARIABLE CLOUDS TOMORROW WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS, 59 IS THE HIGH, WEST WINDS AT 10 TO 25.

LOOKING AT THE REST OF OUR WEEKEND FORECAST, WE'LL SEE QUIET WEATHER ON SUNDAY, BUT MUCH COOLER WITH HIGHS NEAR 49 AND MID-40s ON MONDAY WITH A CHANCE OF RAIN AND POSSIBLY EVEN A FEW SNOW SHOWERS MIXED IN ON MONDAY NIGHT.

A FEW SNOW SHOWERS IS POSSIBLE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA ON TUESDAY, OTHERWISE A CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK, HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE BACK NEAR 53.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Ryan: MILES JOINS US WITH A LOOK AT OUR SPORTS.

>> Miles: WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT GRAND RAPIDS BOYS SOCCER.

THEY ARE ABOUT TO MAKE THEIR THIRD STATE TOURNAMENT APPEARANCE IN PROGRAM HISTORY.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THAT AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪] [♪♪♪] >> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH MILES WALKER.

>>> ADVERSITY, A NEW PATH TOWARDS SUCCESS TO BLOOM AND A MOMENT AFTER GRAND RAPIDS BOYS SOCCER FELL SHORT OF THE 7-2A TITLE IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAINST DULUTH DENFELD LAST YEAR, THEIR THIRD CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LOSS IN THE PREVIOUS FOUR SEASONS, THE BOYS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON REDEMPTION THIS YEAR.

>> Reporter: PROSPERITY IS NOT ALWAYS ACHIEVED IN ONE DAY, IT'S A PROCESS THAT GRAND RAPIDS BOYS SOCCER RELISHED DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.

>> AFTER OUR LOSS TO DENFELD LAST YEAR, WE KNEW WE WERE NOT GOING TO TAKE SECOND.

WE KNEW WE HAD TO OVERCOME OUR LOSS.

IT WAS HARD FOR EVERYONE, BUT WE JUST KNEW THAT WE HAD TO GRAB HOLD OF THAT.

HONESTLY RIGHT AS THE SNOW MELTED, THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED AND I KNEW WE WERE GOING PLACES.

>> Reporter: AND THE PREPARATION BORE FRUIT FOR THE THUNDER HAWKS, OPENING THE SEASON 6-0-1 EN ROUTE TO THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 13-WIN REGULAR SEASON IN THE LAST 21 YEARS.

>> FIRST GAME, AAA, I THINK WE'RE BEATING THEM.

IT JUST GAVE US CONFIDENCE TO KEEP PUSHING THROUGH AND KEEP WINNING AND SCORING.

>> Reporter: THE MOST DRASTIC IMPROVEMENT FROM LAST YEAR FOR GRAND RAPIDS IS THE OFFENSE, GOING FROM 43 GOALS TO 73 GOAL THIS YEAR WITH MR.

SOCCER NOMINEE LEADING THE WAY, BAGGING 31 GOALS, THE 3rd MOST IN THE STATE, THE LAST OF WHICH COMING 51 MINUTES INTO THE 7-2A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAINST CLOQUET ESKO.

>> I COULDN'T SCORE WITHOUT MY TEAM AND HOW THEY SET ME UP.

ALSO, I GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.

SO I HAVE THREE DEFENDERS ON ME AND WIDE OPEN IN THE MIDDLE AND HE WAS ABLE TO GO AND SCORE.

JUST PLAYING OFF EACH OTHER.

>> Reporter: AND MOMENTS LIKE THIS WITH THE THUNDER HAWKS NOW PREPPING FOR THE STATE TOURNAMENT STAGE, SOMEWHERE THE PROGRAM HAS NOT SEEN FOR 21 YEARS PUTS THE PAST IN PERSPECTIVE AND AS MOTIVATION FOR WHAT'S TO COME.

>> I'M STILL PROCESSING IT.

IT'S SO BIG FOR US, 21 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

THAT'S SUCH A JOY.

WITH THIS SQUAD ESPECIALLY, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF GOOD GUYS OUT HERE.

>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR SO LONG.

THERE ARE SO MANY TIMES THAT WE ENDED UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF IT.

TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GO TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

WE'RE HOPING TO DO VERY WELL THERE.

>> AND THE THUNDER HAWKS DREW THE 6 SEED, SETTING UP A DATE WITH CRETIN.

NOW HE IS THE FIRST PLAYER IN THE 30-YEAR HISTORY TO BE A MR.

MINNESOTA SOCCER NOMINEE.

>>> IN BEMIDJI STATE WOMEN'S SOCCER, THEY HAVE BEEN THROWING OPPOSING TEAMS IN ALCATRAZ, ALLOWING 12 GOALS IN 15 MATCHES, AND HAVE NOT BEEN DEFEAT IN 3 WEEKS.

2 GAMES AWAY FROM WRAPPING UP THE REGULAR SEASON, THE BEAVERS CURRENTLY SIT 1 POINT SHY FROM HOLDING A HOME PLAYOFF GAME FOR THE NSIC TOURNAMENT'S FIRST ROUND AND THEY HAD ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TODAY WITH THE BEAVERS HOSTING JAMESTOWN.

NOW STILL SCORELESS, JAMESTOWN LOOKING FOR THE KEY BUT PEYTON, TWO SAVES ON THE NIGHT FOR HER, AND SHE KIPSS -- KEEPS THINGS 0-0.

NOW SHE CANNOT CONVERT, GAME WILL REMAIN SCORELESS GOING INTO THE HALF.

FAST FORWARD TO THE 59th MINUTE, MEGAN, SHE DELIVERS THE FINAL BLOW, HER THIRD GOAL OF THE SEASON AS BEMIDJI STATE IMPROVES TO 8-3-5 ON THE YEAR, TALLYING SHUTOUT NUMBER 6 IN A 1-0 VICTORY.

>>> TAKING A LOOK AT SCORES AROUND THE AREA, BSU DROPS AGAINST UMD TODAY.

OVER IN WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY, DAVIS GETS HER SECOND GOAL OF THE SEASON AS BSU LOSES TO ST.

CLOUD STATE.

IN WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL, A NEW WIN RECORD WITH THEIR 15th WIN TONIGHT.

AND IN COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY FOR THE WOMEN, BSU FINISHES IN 10th PLACE IN THE WINONA STATE INVITATIONAL.

IN GIRLS VOLLEYBALL, THEY'RE WRAPPING UP THE REGULAR SEASON, PILLAGER DROPS TO FOLEY.

LAPORTE GETS THE W OVER CASS LAKE-BENA.

IN THE NBA, 7 DIFFERENT PLAYERS ON THE TIMBERWOLVES SCORED DOUBLE FIGURES AS THEY GET WIN NUMBER TWO AGAINST THE MAGIC.

>> Ryan: THANK YOU MILES.

21 YEARS, THE FUTURE IS DEFINITELY BRIGHT FOR THEM.

>>> THE BEMIDJI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HELD A SYMPHONY FOR THE SENSES EVENT YESTERDAY, AS THE ORGANIZATION'S SECOND FUNDRAISER AT THE CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES IN BEMIDJI.

OUR REPORTER SYDNEY DICK ATTENDED THE NORWEGIAN-THEMED EVENING, WHICH BLENDED CULTURE, FOOD, AND MUSIC, FOR THIS WEEK'S IN FOCUS.

>> Reporter: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN MINNESOTA AND NORWAY IS MORE THAN 4,000 MILES BUT THE CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES IN BEMIDJI BRINGS A LITTLE TASTE OF NORWEGIAN CULTURE TO THE NORTHWOODS, ESPECIALLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEMIDJI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE SYMPHONY FOR THE SENSES EVENING.

>> HE GREW UP IN NORWAY SO GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT IT MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE LEFT NORWAY AND WHERE HE IS FROM AND THE FOOD TONIGHT SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF HIS FAVORITE FOODS, THE FISH SOUP IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITES.

HE LIVED IN THE COAST IN NORWAY.

>> JUST BEING ABLE TO TIE THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND HAVE MEANING BEHIND THE FOOD THAT WE'RE SERVING BEYOND JUST FEEDING PEOPLE, WE'RE GIVING THEM AN IDEA OF THE CULTURE, HISTORY, OR TELL THE STORY, OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

>> Reporter: THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY HAVE PAIRED UP TO DO AN EVENT LIKE THIS WITH A HOUSE CONCERT FEEL TO CONNECT PEOPLE CLOSELY WITH THE MUSICIANS.

>> YOU JUST HAVE A MORE INTIMATE EXPERIENCE WITH THE MUSICIANS IN TERMS OF BEING CLOSE TO THEM AND BEING RIGHT THERE.

YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE, THE MUSIC WITHOUT MICROPHONES, BUT UP CLOSE AND ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTIMATE HERE.

WHEN WE'RE PLAYING, WE'LL BE WITHIN 5 FEET OF THE NEAREST AUDIENCE, WHICH DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN YOU PLAY IN A CONCERT HALL.

THEY ARE SITTING VERY FAR AWAY AND YOU ARE UP ON THE STAGE.

SO, AGAIN IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT'S MORE EDUCATIONAL THIS WAY BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN WATCH US SWEAT.

>> Reporter: THE WHOLE EVENT SERVED AS A FUNDRAISER FOR THE BEMIDJI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH TICKET PRICES, DONATION BOXES, AND A SILENCE AUCTION.

>> IT'S COOL TO KNOW THAT BEMIDJI HAS AN ASSET LIKE THE SYMPHONY AND CONCORDIA.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR BOTH ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S FOR PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY REALLY.

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

>>> YESTERDAY'S PERFORMANCE WAS DONE IN PREPARATION FOR THE BSO'S NORDIC ADVENTURES PERFORMANCES THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AT THE BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 15TH.

THE EVENT WILL SHOWCASE A NORDIC SYMPHONY AND A NORWEGIAN PIANIST.

>>> STACY IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME MORE WEATHER NOW COMING UP.

>> Stacy: WE WILL BE SEEING MOST OF THE SHOWERS COME TO AN END IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS, LEAVING US WITH PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES, LOWS NEAR 57.

LOOKING AT TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH, SO WE MAY SEE A FEW SHOWERS, HIGHS NEAR 59, IT WILL BE COOLER IN THE WEST, WARMER IN THE EAST, WITH WEST WINDS 10 TO 25.

THEN BEHIND THAT, IT GETS MUCH COLDER, HIGHS WILL BE MAINLY IN THE 40s AS WE HEAD INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AND A FEW SNOW SHOWERS MIXED IN WITH THE RAIN ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

>> Miles: AND BSU FOOTBALL WILL BE BACK IN ACTION TOMORROW.

THEY WILL BE TAKING ON JAMESTOWN FOLLOWING THEIR BYE.

>> Ryan: THANKS FOR JOINING US AND WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN ON MONDAY.

>> Miles: GOOD NIGHT.

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