>> PRODUCTION FUNDING FOR LAKELAND NEWS IS PROVIDED BY: FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI; CONTINUING THEIR SECOND CENTURY OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MEMBER FDIC.

>> SOURCEWELL; COOPERATIVE PURCHASING FOR GOVERNMENT NONPROFITS AND EDUCATION.

MN.SOURCEWELL.ORG.

>> CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF LOCAL NEWS FOR BEMIDJI, BRAINERD, AND ALL OF THE LAKES COUNTRY.

LAKELAND PBS IS PROUD TO PRESENT LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

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

[♪♪♪♪♪] >> Malaak: HI EVERYONE, I'M MALAAK KHATTAB IN FOR DENNIS WEIMANN.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>>> A MERRIFIELD MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE MURDER OF HIS DAUGHTER'S BOYFRIEND.

46-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL LAFLEX WAS SENTENCED MONDAY IN CROW WING COUNTY COURT TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR FIRST-DEGREE PREMEDITATED MURDER IN THE DEATH OF 23-YEAR-OLD BRYCE BROGLE.

IN APRIL, LAFLEX WAS FOUND GUILTY BY A JURY.

ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS IN OCTOBER OF 2022, LAFLEX SHOT BROGLE IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD FROM A DISTANCE AT A STORAGE UNIT AND THEN BURIED HIS BODY IN CROW WING COUNTY.

OFFICERS LATER FOUND A GRAVE WHERE BROGLE'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED.

>>> THREE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAYS 71 AND 197 IN BEMIDJI EARLIER TODAY.

THE STATE PATROL REPORTS AT AROUND 3:20 P.M., A SUBARU AND A RAM PICKUP WERE SOUTHBOUND ON HIGHWAY 71 WHILE A GMC ENVOY WAS HEADING WEST ON HIGHWAY 197.

THE VEHICLES COLLIDED IN THE INTERSECTION.

THE DRIVERS ARE DESCRIBED AS A 69-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, A 75-YEAR-OLD MAN, AND A 77-YEAR-OLD MAN, ALL FROM BEMIDJI.

NO REPORTS OF ANY DEATHS HAVE BEEN MADE AND NAMES OF THE DRIVERS HAVE NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.

>>> THE CROW WING COUNTY BOARD RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE NORTHLAND RELIABILITY PROJECT DURING TODAY'S MEETING APPROVED BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.

THE PROJECT IS A PLAN FOR AN APPROXIMATELY 180-MILE DOUBLE-CIRCUIT TRANSMISSION LINE THAT WILL RUN FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA TO CENTRAL MINNESOTA NEAR BECKER.

REPORTER MILES WALKER HAS THE LATEST.

>> Reporter: THE NORTHLAND RELIABILITY PROJECT IS BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO PHASES, THE FIRST OF WHICH WILL BUILD 140 MILES OF NEW 345 TRANSMISSION LINES.

>> WE NEED A MORE ROBUST INTERSTATE SYSTEM, WHICH IS MORE BACK AND FORTH.

THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY ALIGNED TO TRANSMIT POWER.

JUST WIND, SOLAR, COAL, NATURAL GAS.

IT'S GOING TO BE EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING WILL BE ON THIS LINE.

IT COULD BE AT THE SAME TIME, IT COULD BE ONE VERSUS THE OTHER, BUT IT'S TO GIVE US THAT FLEXIBILITY AND THAT RESILIENCY SO WE ARE PREPARED IN THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: THE SECOND PHASE WILL REPLACE TWO EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINES, ONE BETWEEN BIG OAKS.

>> THIS MAINTAINS RELIABILITY, IT'S ENABLING MORE AND INCREASING CAPACITY OF CLEAN ENERGY.

IT'S STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCY OF OUR SYSTEM AND IT'S ENHANCING THE FLEXIBILITY THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE YEARS TO COME HERE.

>> Reporter: IN RELATION TO CROW WING COUNTY, PROPOSED TRANSMISSION LINES WILL START NORTHEAST OF CROSS LAKE AND RUN DOWN SOUTH NEAR LITTLE FALLS, WITH ALTERNATIVE ROUTES BEING DISCUSSED.

>> WHEN FOLKS HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS AND GIVE A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE WHERE THEY THINK THE LINE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING THE RULES AND THE P.U.C.

ROUTING PROCESS, MINNESOTA POWER HAS MADE THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND ALTERNATIVES IN THIS AREA THAT WOULD HELP OUT AND ALLEVIATE SOME CONGESTION.

>> Reporter: THOSE WORKING ON THE PROJECT KNOW THAT A LARGE COMPONENT WILL INCLUDE SPEAKING TO RESIDENTS' WHOSE HOMES WILL RUN THROUGH THE LINE, WHICH IS WHY THE PROJECT IS IN THE RIGHT OF ENTRY STAGE.

>> WE'RE IN THE RIGHT OF ENTRY PHASE.

WE HAVE A CONSULTANT GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR AND CALLING LANDOWNERS AND FOCUSING ON DO WE HAVE RIGHT OF ENTRY?

CAN WE DO FIELD SURVEYS?

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD AND TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU.

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

>> Malaak: CONSTRUCTION ON SEGMENT TWO OF THE NORTHLAND RELIABILITY PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FALL OF 2025.

>>> RED LAKE NATION COLLEGE HAS OPENED A NEW CAMPUS IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM U.S BANK STADIUM.

THE TWO-YEAR TRIBAL COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE HIGHER LEARNING COMMISSION AND IS A PATHWAY TO FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES WITH 44 PERCENT OF THE STATE'S AMERICAN INDIAN POPULATION LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIES.

RED LAKE NATION WANTED TO PROVIDE A SPACE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS.

THE CURRICULUM IS GROUNDED IN OJIBWE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

COLLEGE PRESIDENT DAN KING SAYS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION AND 73 PERCENT OF THE FACULTY IS NATIVE.

>> THE FIRST TRIBAL COLLEGE TO BE LOCATE IN AN URBAN SETTING IN THE U.S. AND THE REASON WE'RE THE FIRST IS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO DO.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFICULT THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD, BUT WHEN THEY COME INTO THIS SPACE, WE WANT IT TO BE A COCOON OF SAFETY.

>> RED LAKE NATION COLLEGE OFFERS ONLY GRANTS, NOT LOANS.

THEY SAY ALMOST ALL STUDENTS GRADUATE WITH ZERO DEBT.

>>> THE SUDAN UNDERGROUND MINE IS WELCOMING VISITORS ONCE AGAIN.

AFTER A FOUR YEAR CLOSURE FOR REPAIRS AND $9 MILLION WORTH OF UPGRADES, IT IS NOW RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

THE MINE IS MINNESOTA'S OLDEST AND DEEPEST MINE.

VISITORS TRAVEL NEARLY A HALF MILE UNDERGROUND TO THE 27TH LEVEL OF THE MINE WHERE THE TEMPERATURE IS A CONSTANT 51-DEGREES YEAR ROUND.

THE THREE MINUTE RIDE DOWN IS IN A DIMLY LIT, CLOSE CONFINED SPACE.

ONCE UNDERGROUND, YOU'LL BOARD A TRAIN AND RIDE NEARLY A MILE TO THE LAST AND DEEPEST AREA THAT WAS MINED.

YOU'LL HEAR TRUE STORIES OF THE MINERS, INNOVATIONS, AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENT, AND LEARN FIRST-HAND ABOUT THE WORKING CONDITIONS THAT MADE THIS UNDERGROUND IRON MINE KNOWN AS THE CADILLAC OF MINES.

THE MINE OPERATED FOR 80 YEARS FROM 1882 UNTIL 1962 AND WAS GIFTED TO THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO BECOME A NEW STATE PARK IN 1965.

>>> THE INITIATIVE FOUNDATION IN LITTLE FALLS IS ONE OF NINE RECIPIENTS OF A GRANT TO HELP BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS IN THE FIELDS OF CONSTRUCTION, CLEAN ENERGY, AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

GOVERNOR WALZ TODAY ANNOUNCED $2.7 MILLION IN GRANTS TO BUILD CAREER PATHWAYS FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, AS WELL AS LOW-INCOME MINNESOTANS IN THOSE FIELDS.

NINE WORK-FORCE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS MINNESOTA WILL RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT'S CLEAN ECONOMY >> THIS PORTION OF LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED BY C.T.C.

; INTERNET, PHONE, AND T.V.

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

>> AND NOW LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪♪♪] >>> 1,000 BICYCLISTS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE BIKE BEMIDJI LOOP THE LAKE FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY.

NOW IN ITS TENTH YEAR THE FAMILY FRIENDLY RIDE LETS RIDERS TAKE A TRIP AROUND LAKE BEMIDJI.

THE JOURNEY STARTS AT THE SANFORD CENTER PARKING LOT AND HEADS WEST ALONG THE LAKE, LOOPING AROUND AT LAKE BEMIDJI STATE PARK AND BACK TO THE SANFORD CENTER.

THE ROUTE SHARES THE ROAD FROM BIRCHMONT DRIVE UP TO BEMIDJI AVENUE AND THEN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 20 UNTIL THE LAKE BEMIDJI STATE PARK ENTRANCE.

BICYCLISTS WILL BE USING THE PAUL BUNYAN TRAIL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LAKE.

IN A PRESS RELEASE, BELTRAMI COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CHRISTOPHER MULLER SAYS A DETOUR WILL BE IN PLACE ON COUNTY ROAD 20 ON SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE EVENT.

MOTORISTS ARE ASKED TO BE AWARE OF BICYCLISTS AND DRIVE WITH CAUTION.

REGISTRATION FOR THE EVENT IS STILL OPEN AT THE BIKE BEMIDJI WEBSITE.

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

THIS YEAR ONCE AGAIN WE ARE GIVING AWAY A THREE-NIGHT STAY AT CRAGUN'S RESORT NEAR BRAINERD.

TO ENTER THE DRAWING YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR MAIL US A POSTCARD WITH YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER.

THEN YOU JUST NEED TO WATCH LAKELAND NEWS AND CALL US BY 5:00 P.M.

THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY TO QUALIFY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT 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 2024 CRAGUN'S VACATION GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

>>> AND NOW HERE IS STACY WITH A LOOK AT THE WEATHER.

I KNOW TODAY WAS WINDY, SO HOW WILL IT BE TODAY OR THE REST OF THE WEEK?

>> Stacy: WE HAD THE WINDS, THEY ARE STARTING TO DIMINISH.

IT LOOKS QUIET TONIGHT, BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY GOING ON TOMORROW AND SOME STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

I'LL HAV >> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS SPONSORED IN PART BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ACCESS MINNESOTA.

>> AND BY SANFORD HEALTH; HERE FOR ALL, HERE FOR GOOD.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT OUR SERVICES IN THE BEMIDJI AREA IS AVAILABLE 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: WELL, LESS SUNNY BUT A BIT BREEZY ACROSS THE AREA TODAY.

WHILE WINDS ARE DIMINISHING, WE SHOULD SEE CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE WE COULD SEE SHOWER DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT, A BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF SEEING STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS THROUGHOUT OUR VIEWING AREA.

MORE ON THAT IN A SECOND.

HERE ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS IN BEMIDJI.

67 DEGREES AT THE AIRPORT, AT OUR STUDIO, WINDS ARE WEST AT 4 MILES PER HOUR, THE DEW POINT IS 50 AND OVERNIGHT AND EARLY THIS MORNING, WE PICKED UP 0.3-INCH OF RAINFALL.

IN BRAINERD, A DEW POINT OF 52, PRESSURE IS RISING.

IT IS QUIET ON THE RADAR AND OVERALL, IT LOOKS QUIET FOR US OVERNIGHT.

WE SHOULD SEE CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES, WE HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS, MAINLY IN WESTERN MINNESOTA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, A BETTER CHANCE OF SEEING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOMORROW, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON.

THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK.

THE AREA IN YELLOW IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE WEATHER.

SO IT'S ABOUT A 2 OUT OF A 5 LEVEL RISK FOR THAT.

THE MAIN THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WOULD BE DAMAGING WINDS, LARGE HAIL, AND POTENTIALLY SOME HEAVY RAINFALL AND AGAIN THIS WILL BE MAINLY TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW EVENING.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, SOME OF THOSE STORM CLOUDS THIS MORNING OVER LOWER RED LAKE FROM SAMROSE AND ARLENE SENDING US A PHOTO OF A DOE WITH HER FAWN IN MENAHGA.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, ARLENE IN MENAHGA, 75, WINDY, AND SUNNY TODAY.

WE HAD ARLENE IN LONGVILLE WITH SUN, WIND, AND 0.033-INCH OF RAINFALL TO REPORT.

BOB IN BLUFFTON, SUN WITH A SOUTH WIND, TOPPING OUT AT 77.

ON OUR ALMANAC, 79 WAS THE HIGH IN BRAINERD, WITH A LOW OF 54.

BEMIDJI TOPPING OUT AT 75, 1 DEGREE ABOVE AVERAGE AND OUR LOW TEMPERATURE WAS 53.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE SHOULD BE SEEING MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SEEING SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON AND AGAIN THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG OR SEVERE STORMS.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY WARM WITH HIGHS IN THE 80s, LOW TO MID-80s ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA, WITH MID-80s IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

AGAIN, A LOT OF SUNSHINE, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TONIGHT, SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN MINNESOTA LATE TONIGHT.

LOWS ARE NEAR 55.

FOR TOMORROW, MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, WE HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POTENTIALLY SOME SEVERE WEATHER IN THE AFTERNOON WITH HIGHS NEAR 84.

LOOKING AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA ON THURSDAY, TEMPERATURES ARE A LITTLE BIT COOLER ON THURSDAY, A LOT OF SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

ON FRIDAY, MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, A BIT MORE CLOUD COVER ON SATURDAY, SUNNY ON SUNDAY, BUT A POTENTIAL FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS WEEKEND, HIGHS SHOULD BE BACK NEAR 82.

BACK TO YOU.

>> Malaak: THANKS STACY.

HERE'S CHARLIE WITH OUR SPORTS.

>> Charlie: YEAH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF TEAMS THAT ARE HEADED TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

GRAND RAPIDS BASEBALL, WE GET A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THEM AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO AS THEY HEAD TO THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT TOURNAMENT.

WE ALSO HEAR FROM BEMIDJI BOYS VOLLEYBALL AS WELL.

THEY ARE PLAYING TOMORROW IN THEIR STATE TOURNAMENT.

ALL THAT IS COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK.

[♪♪♪♪♪] >> SPORTS ON LAKELAND NEWS IS SPONSORED IN PART BY PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS; BRINGING NORTHERN MINNESOTA THE GIGAZONE.

INTERNET SPEEDS UP TO 10 GIGABITS PER SECONDS, BOTH UPLOAD AND DOWNLOAD.

IT'S THE GIGAZONE FROM PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS AND IT'S RIGHT HERE.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH CHARLIE YAEGER.

[♪♪♪♪♪] >>> GRAND RAPIDS IS KNOWN BY MANY AS A HOCKEY TOWN BUT CALLING IT A BASEBALL TOWN WOULDN'T BE FAR OFF EITHER.

AFTER DEFEATING DULUTH DENFELD IN THE SECTION 7-3A CHAMPIONSHIP TO CLAIM THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT SECTION TITLE, THE THUNDERHAWKS ARE MAKING THEIR 22ND APPEARANCE AT THE STATE TOURNAMENT, THE MOST BY ANY BASEBALL TEAM IN ANY CLASS.

THIS GROUP OF SENIORS HAS NEVER NOT BEEN TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT, HAVING WON AT LEAST THEIR QUARTERFINAL MATCH EVERY TRIP SO FAR WITH A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN 2021, BUT JUST GETTING THERE WON'T BE ENOUGH FOR THE T-HAWKS THIS GO AROUND.

>> GOT THAT GOOD FEELING THAT YOU GET TO GO BACK AND PROVE YOURSELF AND SHOW EVERYONE THAT WE CAN DO IT AGAIN FOR THE FOURTH TIME.

WE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO IT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET INTO TARGET FIELD AND GET THE WIN THIS YEAR.

>> TRY TO GET IT DONE, HOPEFULLY GET TO THE TWIN FIELD AND GET IT DONE, BUT WHO KNOWS.

THESE GUYS GET HOT REALLY QUICK AND YOU HAVE TO PLAY GOOD DEFENSE ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT.

>> GREAT DEFENSE FIRST AND OUR LAST THREE GAMES OF THE PLAYOFFS, WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP A RUN.

IT'S HARD TO LOSE IF YOU DON'T GIVE UP A RUN.

HOPE THE BATS STAY HOT AND WE WILL BE FINE.

>> Charlie: GRAND RAPIDS WILL BE PLAYING MANKATO EAST OUT OF SECTION 2-3A.

THE TWO TEAMS HAVE NEVER PLAYED BEFORE.

WE'LL HAVE THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU RIGHT HERE ON LAKELAND PBS.

>>> THIS SPRING, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY, AN ORGANIZED BOYS VOLLEYBALL TEAM TOOK THE COURT FOR BEMIDJI HIGH SCHOOL AND IN THEIR FIRST SEASON THE LUMBERJACKS MADE THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

WITH BOYS VOLLEYBALL IS IN ITS FINAL YEAR AND AS AN EMERGING ACTIVITY SET TO BE MSHSL SANCTIONED IN 2025, IT IS NOW TIME FOR ALL SCHOOLS, INCLUDING BEMIDJI, TO MAKE THE DECISION TO KEEP OR CUT THE PROGRAM.

>> IN A SEASON OF FIRSTS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL CHECK OFF ALL OF THEM.

FOR BEMIDJI BOYS VOLLEYBALL, THAT INCLUDES A TRIP TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I'M A SENIOR SO I CAN'T PLAY NEXT YEAR.

I WAS HOPING TO GO THIS YEAR AND WE DID IT.

IT'S GREAT.

I AM EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE'VE DONE THIS.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

>> Reporter: IT WASN'T AN EASY ROAD.

THE LUMBERJACKS HAD TO BEAT PROCTOR HERMANTOWN TO MAKE THE 16-TEAM TOURNAMENT AFTER THE HAWKS HAD TAKEN TWO OUT OF THREE GAMES FROM THE JACKS DURING THE REGULAR SEASON.

>> WE LOST TO THEM BEFORE, SO WE ARE SUPER HOPING WE WOULD WIN.

IT'S A CLOSE MATCH.

I THINK IT WAS LIKE FOUR POINTS AWAY FROM US NOT GOING TO STATE.

IT'S CRAZY.

WHEN WE WON, IT WAS JUST AWESOME.

I WAS SUPER THANKFUL.

WE HAVE A BUNCH OF SENIORS ON OUR TEAM.

IT'S THE LAST TIME BEING ABLE TO GO TO STATE.

I'M GLAD.

>> Reporter: GETTING TO THE STATE TOURNAMENT IS AN IMPRESSIVE FEAT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE MAJORITY OF THE ROSTER HAVEN'T PLAYED VOLLEYBALL COMPETITIVELY UNTIL THIS SPRING.

>> IT'S AMAZING TO KNOW WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

A LOT OF THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN PLAYING SINCE 2018 AND THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR TWO MONTHS.

TO COMPETE AND DO REALLY WELL, IT SPEAKS TO HOW HARD THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING.

I AM SUPER EXCITED TO SEE HOW THEY DO.

>> Reporter: A DECISION HASN'T BEEN MADE, BEMIDJI WILL HAVE BOYS VOLLEYBALL WHEN IT BECOMES A SANCTIONED ACTIVITY NEXT SEASON BUT THERE IS THE HOPE OF THE HYPE WILL BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE TEAM.

>> NOTHING REALLY CLICKED, BUT I REALLY ENJOYED VOLLEYBALL.

THIS IS MY SPORT.

I MEAN NOTHING GIVES ME -- LIKE, IT'S JUST AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

I HOPE WE GET A LOT OF SUPPORT THAT WE CAN SPREAD TO MORE PROGRAMS SO OTHER SCHOOLS CAN HAVE SOMETHING.

FRESHMEN COMING IN HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.

>> I HOPE THEY CONTINUE TO BE STRONG.

I KNOW THAT A LOT OF SENIORS ARE LEAVING THIS YEAR.

I HOPE WE GET NEW PEOPLE NEXT YEAR AND I WILL COME AND WATCH THE GAMES.

I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> Charlie: WELL, THE STATE TOURNAMENT IS RUN BY THE MINNESOTA BOYS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION AND BEMIDJI'S BID FOR A TITLE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FIRST SEED TOMORROW AT 11:00 A.M. WE HAVE SOME GOLF UPDATES AFTER ROUND ONE IN BOYS CLASS A.

WE HAVE WALKER-HACKENSACK-AKELEY, THEY ARE SITTING CURRENTLY IN FOURTH, BUT ONLY SIX BACK OF FIRST PLACE BE BELTRAMI.

THEN IN THE CLASS 2A GIRLS, IT SHOULD BE 2A GIRLS, PEQUOT LAKES SITTING IN FOURTH PLACE AS WELL, 355 IS THEIR SCORE AND GENEVIEVE IS IN SECOND PLACE WITH 79, ONE STROKE BACK OF THE LEAD.

CLASS 3, SOFIA TIED AT TENTH.

THE ROCKIES BEAT THE TWINS TODAY.

IN THE WNBA, THE MINNESOTA LYNX LEADING THE LAS VEGAS ACES IN THE THIRD QUARTER.

>> Malaak: THANKS CHARLIE.

NOW FOR THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, OUR REPORTER MATTHEW FREEMAN DECIDED TO JOIN IN LAST WEEKS “TAKE A KID FISHING ANNUAL EVENT”, A DAY WHERE MINNESOTA RESIDENTS CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 15 FISHING WITHOUT AN OFFICIAL LICENSE.

BUT THIS YEAR'S EVENT IN BEMIDJI WANTED TO PAY OHMAGE TO ONE OF THE EVENTS FOUNDERS.

>> Reporter: THE LAKES HAVE MELTED, THE GRASS AND TREES ARE GREEN, THAT MEANS SPRING IS IN THE AIR AND FISH ARE READY TO BE CAUGHT.

THE PERFECT TIME TO STOP IS DURING THE TAKE A KID FISHING WEEKEND, WHERE MINNESOTA RESIDENTS CAN TAKE THEIR KIDS UNDER 15 FISHING AND YOU DON'T NEED A LICENSE FOR THE SPECIAL WEEKEND.

>> IT'S AN AWESOME PROGRAM.

I'VE BEEN IN IT SINCE '97 AND WE GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE KIDS OUT AND HOPEFULLY THEY CATCH FISH.

A LOT OF KIDS DON'T GET TO CATCH FISH DURING THE YEAR.

I THINK IT'S REMARKABLE.

>> Reporter: THE KIDS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FISH AND IT'S TOUGH TO GET THE KIDS OFF THE WATER AFTER A GREAT DAY OF FISHING.

>> A LOT OF THEM ARE ECSTATIC.

THEY GET A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.

IT DOESN'T COME OFF UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY.

I PERSONALLY, WHEN I WAS GUIDING, THERE WERE NUMEROUS YEARS WHERE THE KIDS DIDN'T WANT TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO CONTINUE TO FISH.

>> IT WAS PRETTY FUN.

WHEN WE FIRST WENT THERE, THERE WERE A LOT OF WAVES.

WE CAUGHT SOME NORTHERNERS, SOME BLUE GILLS, AND SOME BASS.

THEN WE WENT TO THE NEXT SPOT AND CAUGHT A BUNCH OF STUFF.

IT WAS REALLY FUN.

>> Reporter: NOT EVERY KID HAD THE BEST OF LUCK.

>> I GOT TWO FISH.

>> TWO IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

>> A PERCH AND WALLEYE.

>> HOW MUCH FUN WAS IT FOR YOU GUYS?

>> GREAT, VERY FUN.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOU JAMES?

>> 75% GOOD.

>> HE IS GETTING A LITTLE JEALOUS.

>> Reporter: THIS YEAR WAS DIFFERENT BECAUSE ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF TAKE A KID FISHING PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR SO ORGANIZERS WANTED TO HONOR HIS MEMORY DURING THE EVENT.

>> IT WAS A YEAR AGO ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT THAT I LOST BERKELEY, WHO IS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE OR FOUR OF THEM LEFT.

HE HAD A LOVE FOR GETTING PEOPLE OUT FISHING, LOVE FOR THE KIDS, LOVE OF EVERYTHING.

MILO IS JUST A REMARKABLE PERSON.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN BEMIDJI WITH THIS WEEK'S NORTHWOODS EXPERIENCE, I'M MATTHEW FREEMAN, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> Malaak: THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ♪