>> 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.

>> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

>>> THE BRAINERD COMMUNITY SHOWED OUT LAST FRIDAY FOR JOEY HALVORSON AS THE 1961 B.H.S.

GRADUATE RECEIVED BOTH HER 2023 BRAINERD CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD, AS WELL AS A BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT HALL OF FAME INDUCTION.

THE SCHOOL TRADITIONALLY HOLDS THEIR CEREMONY IN SEPTEMBER, ORGANIZERS PUSHED UP THE DATE AS SHE CONTINUES HER FIGHT WITH THE A.L.S.

ONE OF HER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IS HOW SHE IMPACTS OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> BE HAPPY.

CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

>> Dennis: SHE IS IN MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE BRAINERD LAKES AREA AND JOINING PHOTOGRAPHER FOR HER VOICE MAGAZINE.

>>> AND EMOTIONS WERE FLOWING IN A FORESTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM THIS PAST THURSDAY AS BRAINERD PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARDED 2024 BRAINERD TEACHER OF THE YEAR HONORS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER JEANNE KILIAN.

KILIAN HAS WORKED IN EDUCATION FOR 14 YEARS AND AT FORESTVIEW FOR 7 TEACHING STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, AND WHILE SHE'S FELT THE SUPPORT FROM BOTH HER PEERS AND STUDENTS DURING HER TENURE THERE, THE RECOGNITION AND RECEPTION SHE WITNESSED WAS EYE-OPENING.

>> YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NOT SEEN.

I HAVE THAT SUPPORT, THAT THEY ARE SEEING WHAT I DO EVERYDAY IN MY CLASSROOM AND WITH KIDS.

IT MEANS THE WORLD.

IT REALLY MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

>> Dennis: SHE SET UP PAST EXPERIENCES INSPIRED HER TO WORK IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.

>>> A FORMER DEER RIVER HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF THREE COUNTS OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A WOMAN HER APARTMENT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

27-YEAR-OLD ETHAN HARDY WAS STILL COACHING AT DEER RIVER BUT WHEN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CASE STARTED HE THEN LEFT THE TEAM.

ON FRIDAY AN ITASCA COUNTY JURY FOUND HARDY GUILTY OF FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH-DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT.

HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED ON JUNE 17TH.

THE VICTIM IN THE CASE TOLD INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL WITH HARDY WHEN HE PUT SOMETHING IN HER MOUTH THAT MADE HER BLACK OUT.

COURT DOCUMENTS SAY HARDY THEN RAPED HER AS SHE WENT IN AND OUT OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

>>> A 46-YEAR-OLD SOLWAY MAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HIS GIRLFRIEND'S DAUGHTER.

ACCORDING TO COURT RECORDS THE VICTIM WAS NINE YEARS OLD WHEN JEFFREY BOOGE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER TWICE IN AUGUST OF 2023.

BOOGE PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF SECOND-DEGREE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH SOMEONE UNDER THE AGE OF 14 AND WAS SENTENCED LAST FRIDAY.

BOOGE RECEIVED THREE YEARS OF PRISON TIME FOR THE FIRST COUNT AND FOUR YEARS FOR THE SECOND COUNT WITH THE SENTENCES TO BE SERVED CONCURRENTLY.

HE WAS ALSO SENTENCED TO 45 DAYS IN THE BELTRAMI COUNTY JAIL WITH TWO DAYS CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED.

BOOGE WAS BRIEFLY EMPLOYED AS A BEMIDJI MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL COACH LAST FALL BEFORE HE RESIGNED.

>>> NORTHERN TOWNSHIP IN BELTRAMI COUNTY HAS BEEN WORKING ON PLANS TO INSTALL A WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE NORTH AND EAST SIDES OF LAKE BEMIDJI.

WITH SEVERAL CONCEPTS BEING EVALUATED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE TOWNSHIP UPDATED THE BELTRAMI COUNTY BOARD ON THE CURRENT PLAN AND THE POTENTIAL FOR COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY.

THE TOWNSHIP DISCUSSED USING A COUNTY OWNED 80-ACRE PARCEL OFF OF BIG BASS ROAD, WHERE THEY HOPE TO PUT A SMALL TREATMENT PLANT, THAT THE TOWNSHIP CLAIMS WILL HAVE A SMALL FOOTPRINT, BUT WITH POSSIBLE TREATMENT OF THE WATER HAVING TO BE DONE IN AREAS WHERE THE WATER INTERACTS BETWEEN THE PLANT AND LAKE BEMIDJI.

AS WELL AS TESTING OF THE SOIL AROUND THE PARCEL, TO SEE HOW THE TREATED WATER WOULD FILTER WITH THE SOIL AROUND THE PLANT.

A MEMBER OF THE TOWNSHIP SPOKE WITH LAKELAND NEWS ABOUT WHY THIS PARTICULAR PLOT OF LAND WAS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION.

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS PIECE BECAUSE THERE IS NO RESIDENCE IN THIS AREA AND IT WOULDN'T BE AFFECTED WITH THE WATER TREATMENT.

WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THE NORTH OR SOUTH DEPENDING WHICH DIRECTION WE STARTED WITH.

WE WILL PROBABLY GO NORTH TO NORTHWOODS LANDING.

THIS IS A GOOD CENTER POINT TO START.

>> A BILL HAS BEEN FILED INTO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BY REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL ASKING FOR $10 MILLION IN BONDS TO FUND THE SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT SYSTEM ON THE NORTH AND EAST SIDES OF LAKE BEMIDJI.

>>> BELTRAMI COUNTY WILL JOIN OTHER MINNESOTA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES PARTICIPATING IN SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK TO PROMOTE WEATHER SAFETY AS WE TRANSITION TO OUR SUMMER SEASON.

APRIL 8TH THROUGH THE 12TH IS THE DESIGNATED MINNESOTA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK WITH EACH DAY HAVING A HAZARD TOPIC ADDRESSING SEASONAL HAZARDS.

ALERTS AND WARNINGS ARE THE DAILY TOPIC FOR MONDAY, STORMS, HAIL AND LIGHTNING ARE HIGHLIGHTED ON TUESDAY.

WEDNESDAY'S TOPIC IS FLOODING, TORNADO DRILL DAY IS THURSDAY, WITH TWO TORNADO DRILLS HAPPENING THAT DAY AT 1:45 P.M. INTENDED FOR SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES; AND AT 6:45 P.M. INTENDED FOR FAMILIES AT HOME TO PRACTICE THEIR TORNADO PLANS.

AND A NEW ADDITION ON FRIDAY BEING EXTREME HEAT AND WILDFIRE AWARENESS.

WITH THIS WARM WINTER HITTING MINNESOTA THIS YEAR, THAT'S SOMETHING BELTRAMI COUNTY WANTS TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO EXTREME HEAT, WE KNOW THE DANGERS OF LEAVING PETS AND CHILDREN IN VEHICLES.

ON WARM SUNNY DAYS, CARS CAN ACT AS A GREENHOUSE.

IT COULD BE DEADLY.

WE HAD INSTANCES WHERE WE HAD INJURIES WITH CHILDREN BEING LEFT IN VEHICLES.

BELTRAMI COUNTY AND MUCH OF MINNESOTA IS EXPERIENCING A DROUGHT AND WITH THAT IS ENHANCED WILDFIRE DANGER.

OUR TREES ARE VERY DRY.

THE WATER LEVELS ARE LOW AND THE INHERENT RISK OF WILDFIRE WITH OUR DENSE FOREST IS SOMETHING WE WANT PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> THE ALERTS WILL BE GOING OUT ON THE BELTRAMI COUNTY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FACEBOOK PAGE.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ASKS THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THE TORNADO SIRENS GOING OFF ON THURSDAY, AGAIN AT 1:45 AND 6:45 P.M. [♪♪♪] >> STILL TO COME ON LAKELAND NEWS AT SOCK.

>> Stacy: RAIN SHOWERS WILL TAPER OFF AS WE HEAD INTO THE OVERNIGHT AND TOMORROW MORNING.

WE COULD SEE MORE RAINFALL ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY.

I'LL HAVE YOUR FORECAST IN A FEW MINUTES.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK WITH THIS WEEK'S IN-BUSINESS.

BARK AND BEYOND, A STORE FOR ALL PETS HAS BEEN IN MOTION SINCE ITS OPENING.

[♪♪♪] >> 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 MORE NEWS WITH DENNIS WEIMANN.

>>> PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA WHO HOPED TO SEE THE SOLAR ECLIPSE TODAY WERE DISAPPOINTED AS CLOUDY SKIES MADE PRETTY MUCH A NON-EVENT HERE.

BUT OUR SPORTS DIRECTOR CHARLIE YEAGER MADE THE TREK TO FRISCO TEXAS TO TAKE IT IN AND HAS THIS FOR US.

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> THAT'S SO COOL.

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

>> THE SUN IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SKY, IT LOOKS LIKE DUSK.

EVERYBODY'S LIGHTS CAME ON AUTOMATICALLY.

I'M GOING TO ENJOY THIS GUYS.

SIGNING OUT.

>> MILLIONS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA EXPERIENCED THIS NEARLY-ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CELESTIAL OCCURRENCE TODAY AS THE MOON CROSSED PATHS WITH THE SUN, TURNING DAY INTO NIGHT.

IVAN RODRIGUEZ HAS MORE.

>> Reporter: A BREATHTAKING COSMIC EVENT WITNESSED BY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FROM AS FAR SOUTH AS TEXAS TO THE MIDWEST AND THE NORTHEAST, AWE ON THE FACES OF CHILDREN AN ADULTS AS THE MOON BLOCKED THE SUN, CASTING THE EARTH IN DARKNESS.

>> DAY TURNS TONIGHT, ANIMALS BEHAVED DIFFERENTLY, WE'RE SEEING CHANGES IN THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S A MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE.

>> Reporter: IT'S AN EVENT AS RARE AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL WITH THE SUN'S CORONA VISIBLE ONLY TO THOSE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY.

>> WE'RE THE ONLY PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM THAT THE APPARENT SIZE OF THE MOON IN OUR SKY IS THE SAME SIZE OF THE SUN IN THE SKY.

>> IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR SURE.

>> Reporter: SCIENTISTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE 3 TO 4 MINUTES TO UNLOCK CLUES INTO OUR PLANET AND BEYOND.

>> TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CORONA HELPS US TO MODEL AND PREDICT WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE BUT BETTER PROTECT OUR SPACE CRAFTS AND LIFE ON EARTH LIKE OUR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS.

>> Reporter: THE SERENITY OF THE MOMENT, A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENT.

THE NEXT TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE WILL BE IN AUGUST OF 2044.

>> Dennis: I'M NOT SURE I WILL BE BROADCASTING THE NEWS AT THAT YEAR.

YOU WILL STILL BE HERE.

>> Stacy: ANOTHER 20 YEARS, MAYBE.

YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY YOU KNOW, A PARTIAL ECLIPSE WOULD HAVE BEEN VISIBLE, BUT WITH THE CLOUD COVER, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.

WE DID HAVE RAIN OUT THERE, MUCH NEEDED RAIN OCCURRING IN THE AREA.

SOME OF THAT WILL TAPER OFF TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING.

WE HAVE ANOTHER SHOT OF MORE RAINFALL AS WE HEAD INTO >> 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: IT WAS A CLOUDY AND DREARY DAY, BUT WE DID RECEIVE SOME MUCH NEEDED RAINFALL IN THE AREA.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CHANCES OF SOME SHOWERS, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS, BUT WE WILL SEE THOSE TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST, BEGINNING LATER ON TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING.

THEN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE NEXT WEATHER SYSTEM ROLLS IN, BRINGING A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA.

WE WILL BE SEEING WARMER TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE WEEK.

RIGHT NOW IN BEMIDJI, IT IS 37 DEGREES.

AT THE STUDIO, WE HAVE A SOUTHWEST WIND AND THE DEW POINT IS 37 AND WE RECEIVED 0.018-INCH OF RAINFALL TODAY.

IN BRAINERD, 40 IS THE DEW POINT, A RISING BAROMETRIC PRESSURE WITH A LIGHT SOUTHWEST WIND.

LOOKING AT THE RADAR, WE HAVE SOME SCATTERED SHOWERS STILL OUT THERE TONIGHT AND WE WILL CONTINUE ACROSS OUR VIEWING AREA TO HAVE AT LEAST A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.

ON THE OVERNIGHT, WE WILL SEE THE SYSTEM MOVING TO THE EAST, SO CHANCES OF RAIN WILL TAPER OFF BEGINNING IN WESTERN MINNESOTA LATER ON TONIGHT AND THEN THE RAIN COULD LINGER IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE VIEWING AREA TOMORROW MORNING BEFORE IT TAPERS OFF.

SKIES WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY THROUGHOUT THE DAY, HIGHS IN THE 50s TOMORROW, BUT EXPECT WARMER TEMPERATURES MOVING THROUGH THE WEEK, A LITTLE BIT OF A COOL DOWN AS THE NEXT WEATHER SYSTEM ARRIVES ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO THURSDAY.

BY THE WEEKEND, WE SHOULD BE SEEING HIGHS IN THE 60s.

SOME WEATHER SHOTS TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT, AND CHARLIE YAEGER SUBMITTING A PICTURE OF THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE TODAY.

WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE CLOUD COVER OVER LOWER RED LAKE FROM SAMROSE, ANGELA SENDING US THIS PHOTO FROM DEER RIVER AND YOLANDA WITH THE ICE THAT IS MOVING TO THE SHORE.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHARING YOUR PICTURES WITH US TONIGHT.

FOR OUR EAGLE EYES REPORT, BOB IN BLUFFTON, CLOUDY WITH DRIZZLE, THE HIGH WAS 44.

ARLENE IN LONGVILLE, DRIZZLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AMOUNTING TO JUST OVER 0.1-INCH OF RAINFALL, 42 FOR THE HIGH.

CHUCK, DRIZZLY RAIN ALL DAY LONG, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

ANGELA IN CASS LAKE, RAINY, 0.1-INCH OF PRECIPITATION WITH A HIGH OF 42.

LOOKING AT OUR ALMANAC, 44 WAS THE HIGH IN BRAINERD, SO THE CLOUD COVER AND THE RAIN IS KEEPING THINGS COOL.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN FAIRLY CONSISTENT TEMPERATURES IN THE AREA.

OUR LOW IN BRAINERD IS 36, SUNRISE AT 6:42, BEMIDJI REACHING A HIGH OF 40.

37 WAS THE LOW.

THERE WE HAVE THE CONSTANT TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

SUNSET IN BEMIDJI TONIGHT AT 8:00.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORECAST FOR TOMORROW, WE WILL START OUT WITH VARIABLE CLOUDS IN THE AREA.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEEING RAINFALL, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING IN THE EASTERN HALF OF THE VIEWING AREA.

THAT WILL TAPER OFF INTO THE AFTERNOON, EVENTUALLY WE WILL SEE PARTLY SUNNY SKIES IN THE AREA.

TEMPERATURES COULD BE 55 IN BEMIDJI, IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA, THE LINGERING CHANCE OF RAINFALL IN THE MORNING AROUND BRAINERD, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE THE SKIES BECOMING PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY AS WE HEAD THROUGH THE DAY AND WARMER IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50s.

SO HERE'S OUR FORECAST, RAIN SHOWERS CONTINUE TONIGHT, BUT SHOULD START TO TAPER OFF BEGINNING IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

IT WILL BE MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES IN THE OVERNIGHT WITH LOWS NEAR 36.

TOMORROW, VARIABLE CLOUDS, BUT EXPECT TO SEE SKIES BECOMING PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE AFTERNOON.

AGAIN, THERE IS THE CHANCE OF LINGERING RAIN IN THE MORNING WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES NEAR 56.

HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR EXTENDED FORECAST.

ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS, A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MOVES IN ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND THEN A CHANCE FOR SHOWERS CONTINUES INTO THURSDAY.

62 ON WEDNESDAY, TEMPERATURES DROP OFF A LITTLE BIT THERE ON THURSDAY, BUT SHOULD WARM UP AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND.

A LOT OF SUNSHINE ON FRIDAY, PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY ON SATURDAY, AND THEN FAIRLY QUIET THERE ON SUNDAY, STILL PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, BUT THERE IS A CHANCE OF RAIN IN WESTERN MINNESOTA.

LOOK AT THE TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND, UPPER 60s, CLOSE TO 70.

>> Dennis: EXCELLENT FORECAST STACY.

HOPEFULLY IT HOLDS UP.

LOGAN VEO IS IN AND BIG NEWS OUT OF BSU.

>> Logan: YES, BIG BREAKING NEWS INVOLVING ONE OF THE HOCKEY PROGRAMS THERE AT BEMIDJI STATE.

WE'LL HAVE THAT NEWS COMING UP AND I GOT A CHANCE TO STOP BY PARK RAPIDS SOFTBALL TO SEE HOW THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.

I'LL HAVE THAT AND MORE FOR >> PAUL BUNYAN COMMUNICATIONS ANNOUNCING -- MORE INFO AT GIGAZONEGAMING.COM.

>> AND NOW YOUR LOCAL SPORTS WITH LAKELAND NEWS AT 10:00.

[♪♪♪] >>> SOME BREAKING NEWS TODAY COMING OUT OF BEMIDJI STATE WOMEN'S HOCKEY.

HEAD COACH JIM SCANLAN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AFTER TEN SEASONS AT THE PROGRAMS HELM.

THE BEAVERS BENCH BOSS FINISHES HIS BSU TENURE WITH PROGRAM RECORDS IN BOTH CAREER AND SINGLE SEASON WINS.

SCANLAN IS THE ONLY COACH IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH OVER 100 CAREER WINS, A MILESTONE HE REACHED DURING HIS 6TH SEASON.

HE WAS NAMED THE USCHO.COM NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR AND WCHA CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR DURING THE 2014-2015 SEASON.

UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, BSU WOMEN'S HOCKEY PRODUCED ONE ALL-AMERICAN, ONE WCHA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR, AND 176 WCHA ALL ACADEMIC TEAM SELECTIONS.

>>> OVER THE WEEKEND, THE MINNESOTA FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION HELD THEIR HALL OF FAME BANQUET AND TWO LOCAL COACHES WERE GIVEN SOME HONORS.

NEVIS HEAD COACH SHAWN KLIMEK WAS NAMED CLASS 9-PLAYER COACH OF THE YEAR AFTER GUIDING THE TIGERS TO A PERFECT 13-0 SEASON AND A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

ASSISTANT COACH MIKE DEWULF ALSO RECEIVED THE BUTCH NASH AWARD, WHICH IS GIVEN TO OUTSTANDING ASSISTANT COACHES.

>>> ALSO OVER THE WEEKEND, JACKSON FOGELSON OF BEMIDJI GOT TO COMPETE IN THE NATIONAL FINALS OF THE DRIVE CHIP AND PUTT COMPETITION IN GEORGIA AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB.

FOGELSON REPRESENTED THE UPPER MIDWEST REGION IN THE BOYS 12 AND 13 YEAR AGE GROUP.

HE CLAIMED THE TOP SPOT IN THE PUTTING PORTION OF THE COMPETITION, FINISHING 8TH OVERALL IN HIS DIVISION.

>>> LAST YEAR THE PARK RAPIDS SOFTBALL TEAM POSTED A RECORD OF 17-8, THEIR HIGHEST WIN TOTAL SINCE 2019.

THE TEAM RETURNS A MAJORITY OF THEIR STARTING LINE-UP AND WILL LOOK TO BUILD ON LAST YEARS SUCCESS THIS SPRING.

>> Reporter: IN 2023, THE PANTHERS SOFTBALL TEAM ROARED TO A FOURTH PLACE FINISH.

THAT RUN HAS BUILT A LOT OF ANTICIPATION FOR THIS YEAR.

>> I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THIS TEAM.

I'M SUPER EXCITED.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RETURNING PLAYERS.

I WANT TO MAKE IT A FUN PLAYOFFS AND WE HOPE TO GO TO STATE.

>> Reporter: DESPITE THE FAMILIAR FACES, THE PANTHERS FACE AN UPHILL BATTLE HAVING TO REPLACE THREEPLAYIERS AND TAKING ON TOUGH COMPETITION.

>> WE LOST A SHORTSTOP AND CENTER FIELDER.

THAT'S UP THE GUT AND THOSE ARE BIG POSITIONS TO FILL.

I EXPECT US TO BE A TOP TEAM IN OUR CONFERENCE.

>> WE HAVE A TOUGH SECTION.

>> THE TOP TEACH IN OUR SECTION LAST YEAR WON THE STATE TOURNAMENT.

>> Reporter: BUT IT DOESN'T INTIMIDATE THE GIRLS.

THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP IN THE BOX SCORE.

>> A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRUST.

THAT'S THE BOND YOU BUILD, TRUSTING YOUR DEFENSE IS AMAZING, TRUSTING YOUR PITCHER TO THROW WHEN YOU NEED THEM.

>> Reporter: AND THAT COMES DUE TO THE TEAM'S LEADERSHIP.

>> IN OUR PROGRAM, EVERYONE IS A CAPTAIN.

THESE GIRLS TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

THIS GROUP RIGHT HERE HAS SHOWN JUST QUALITY LEADERSHIP.

>> Reporter: SPEAKING OF LEADERSHIP, THIS SEASON MARKS THE 34th AS HEAD COACH FOR MARIANNE.

>> WHEN I PUT IN MY RESIGNATION FOR TEACHING, I SAID PLEASE DON'T OPEN THE SOFTBALL POSITION YET, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO COACH.

THEN I AM GOING TO TAKE ONE YEAR AT A TIME.

I INTEND TO COACH MY 35th YEAR AND THEN WE'LL SEE FROM THERE.

>> Reporter: OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, SHE HAS CONTINUED TO LEARN AND ADAPT HER COACHING PHILOSOPHY.

HOWEVER, SHE SAYS THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEVER CHANGE.

>> MY PASSION FOR THE SPORT AND THE BONDS THAT I'VE MADE WITH THE PLAYERS, THAT TRULY IS THE BEST PART, WHEN YOU RUN INTO A PLAYER YOU COACHED 20 YEARS AGO AND YOU GET A BIG HUG FROM THEM.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

>> PARK RAPIDS WILL KICK OFF THEIR SEASON TOMORROW IN A DOUBLE HEADER AT CROSBY-IRONTON.

>> Dennis: WHAT A CLASS ACT, THEY'RE GOING TO MISS HIM.

THE JOB HE DID WITH THAT PROGRAM AND YOU'RE PLAYING A TOP FIVE OR TOP TEN TEAM IN THE NATION, JUST ABOUT EVERY WEEK IN THAT CONFERENCE.

IT MADE HIM VERY COMPETITIVE THROUGH THE YEARS AND I WISH HIM THE BEST.

HE DID A LOT FOR THE PROGRAM.

IT WILL BE BIG SHOES TO FILL.

>> Logan: YEAH, ASTOUNDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

HE CAN ENJOY HIS RETIREMENT.

>>> "BARK AND BEYOND" PET SUPPLIES HAD ITS GRAND OPENING IN AUGUST 2023, IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS.

THE STORE'S BUSINESS OWNERS, JENNIFER HENDRICKSON AND AMY WIRTANEN, FOLLOWED THEIR PASSION AND OPENED A BUSINESS THAT THEY BELIEVED WOULD MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.

REPORTER ZY'RIAH SIMMONS HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT THE STORE FOR THIS WEEK IN BUSINESS.

>> Reporter: WHAT STARTED AS AN IDEA SOON BECAME A REALITY FOR BOTH OWNERS OF THE PET SUPPLY STORE.

>> MY FRIEND JAN AND I WERE ON A GIRL'S TRIP.

WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH OUR LIVES AND OUR PURPOSE AND IT CAME BACK TO PETS AND ANIMALS.

THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED AND DUG INTO IT.

WE DECIDED TO OPEN UP A PET SUPPLY STORE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ONE HERE.

>> Reporter: IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE OWNERS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE PET SHOPPING EASIER FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, DUE TO THEIR LOVE FOR ANIMALS.

>> I THINK WE PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE AS FAR AS PRODUCTS FOR ANIMALS AND WE ALSO SAVE PEOPLE FROM HAVING TO DRIVE QUITE FAR.

IT KIND OF KEEPS IT LOCAL, KEEPS PEOPLE FROM SHOPPING ONLINE SO MUCH AND HAVING TO ORDER ONLINE, HAVING TO DRIVE AN HOUR AND A HALF.

>> Reporter: A LOT OF THOUGHT IS PUT INTO SELECTING HIGH QUALITY ITEMS AT THE STORE.

>> WE HAVE SPECIALTY FOOD, THINGS YOU WOULD TYPICALLY ORDER ONLINE, MEDICINE FOR CHICKENS, MEDICINE FOR REPTILES, SUPPLEMENTS THAT YOU CAN'T FIND AROUND HERE.

WE CAN ALSO CUSTOM ORDER FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, IF THEY NEED.

SO WE ARE A PERSONAL BASED SERVICE.

IF THEY COME IN, WE CAN HELP THEM WITH WHATEVER THEY NEED TO GET FOR THEIR ANIMALS.

>> Reporter: THE MAIN GOAL FOR THE PET SUPPLY STORE WAS TO FILL IN A GAP OR NEED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH PETS.

>> WE OPENED IN AUGUST AND EVEN TODAY WE ARE STILL JUST AS BUSY CUSTOMERS ARE THANKING US FOR BEING HERE, FOR BEING OPEN AND WE STILL MEET NEW PEOPLE EVERYDAY.

>> Reporter: REPORTING IN GRAND RAPIDS, I'M ZY'RIAH SIMMONS, LAKELAND NEWS.

>> "BARK AND BEYOND PET SUPPLIES" WILL BE HOSTING A LIVE SNAKE EVENT ON APRIL 19 AT 4:00 P.M. BACK TO STACY FOR MORE ON OUR WEATHER.

>> Stacy: WE'LL START TO SEE THE RAIN TAPERING OFF IN WESTERN MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH LOWS AROUND 36.

RAIN SHOWERS IN THE MORNING, VARIABLE CLOUDS, HIGHS NEAR 56.

>> Logan: MINNESOTA TWINS FALL TO THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS TONIGHT IN THE FIRST GAME OF A THREE GAME SERIES, 4-2.

>> Dennis: WE'RE OUT OF TIME EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

>> Logan: GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪♪]