MAARJA: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH."

I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: AND I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, WE'RE SITTING DOWH ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF RY TO DISCUSS HIS ROLE IN LOCL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.

MAARJA: WE'RE ALSO HEARINGM A NORTHLAND GUIDE IN THIS S SNEAK PREVIEW OF "NO FILTE" BRETT: THAT'S COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, WE BEGIN THIS EG WITH SOME HEADLINES.

THE RECENT WILDFIRES AND EVACUATION ORDERS FORCED FAIRBANKS TOWNSHIP TO CANCS LOCAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MEETING, ORIGY SET FOR MAY 14.

WITH NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RESCHEDULE, THE ST. LOUIS Y ASSESSOR'S OICE HAS SET UPN ALTERNATE APPEAL PROCESS FR PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WANT TO DISPUTE THEIR 2025 ESTIMATD MARKET VALUE OR CLASSIFICA.

WE ALSO WANT TO NOTE, FIRE DAMAGE WON'T AFFECT 2025 ASSESSMENTS, BUT TAX RELIEY BE AVAILABLE.

VISIT STLOUISCOUNTYMN.GOV/ASSESSR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TOT STARTED.

MAARJA: MINNESOTA HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE LAUNCHING THY COOL MINNESOTA CAMPAIGN ONY 30 TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUE DANGERS OF EXTREME HEAT, NE DEADLIEST WEATHER HAZARD IE U.S.

THE CAMPAIGN URGES MINNESOS TO STAY HYDRATED, STAY INF, AND STAY COOL, ESPECIALLY G HEAT WAVES.

VULNERABLE GROUPS LIKE CHI, OLDER ADULTS, AND OUTDOOR WORKERS ARE MOST AT RISK.

THE CAMPAIGN RUNS THROUGH R DAY AND INCLUDES RESOURCEST MN.GOV/HEAT.

GOVERNOR WALZ HAS ALSO DECD MAY 30 AS EXTREME HEAT AWAS DAY.

BRETT: CONSTRUCTION OF A NW J-TURN AT HIGHWAYS 169 ANDN GREAT SCOTT TOWNSHIP BEGINS ON MONDAY, JUNE 2.

TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 169 WILE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, AND HIGHWAY 25 L DETOUR THROUGH THE MEDIAN.

THE PROJECT, EXPECTED TO WP BY EARLY AUGUST, AIMS TO IE SAFETY AT ONE OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY'S RISKIEST INTERSEC, WHERE SEVEN CRASHES, INCLUG TWO FATALITIES, HAVE OCCURD SINCE 2014.

FOR UPDATES, VISIT ENGAGE.STLOUISCOUNTYMN.GOV.

MAARJA: ON THIS WEEK'S “MAG IT UP NORTH,” MEET JAMES E, A LANDSCAPE PAINTER WITH A UNIQUE EYE FOR DETAIL.

♪ JAMES: AND THAT IS THE NEAT THING ABOUT PAINTING, IS TT WHEREVER YOU START OR WHERR YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING WIH PAINTING SOMETIMES CHANGES.

WELL, I SHOULDN'T SAY SOME.

IT CHANGES A LOT.

AND SOMETIMES, YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU JUST DON'TE WHAT YOU'VE DONE, AND YOU P TAKING ONE OF THESE LITTLES AND YOU SCRAPE OFF THE PAI, YOU START OVER.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, IT IS PRETTY COOL BECAUSE THE NET THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU SCRE THE PAINT OFF IS YOU SEE AL THESE SHADOWS, AND YOU STAO REALIZE, OH, THAT COULD BE, OR I COULD PAINT THAT, OR T LOOKS LIKE THAT, AND IT IS INCREDIBLE HOW THAT IMAGE APPEARS JUST BECAUSE YOU DD YOU DIDN'T LIKE WHAT YOU'DE BEFORE.

♪ HI, MY NAME IS JAMES ELLIS.

I AM A LANDSCAPE OIL PAINTR HERE IN DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

I WAS WORKING FULL-TIME ATB HERE IN DULUTH.

I WAS INJURED, WASN'T ABLEO MY NORMAL WORK ANYMORE, ANI WOUND UP BEING AT HOME ALLE TIME.

AND I WILL SAY, DRIVING MYE CRAZY.

[LAUGHS] AND SHE ENCOURAGED ME TO GET INTO SOMETHING I CAN BE PRODUCTIVE AT BECAUSE BEINE ALL THE TIME WASN'T FUN AND WASN'T GOOD FOR ME, SO SHE STARTED ENCOURAGING ME TO O AN ART CLASS THAT SHE HAD ATTENDED.

AND SO, RELUCTANTLY AFTER W NUDGES FROM HER, I DECIDEDO GIVE IT A TRY AND I WENT AI ENJOYED IT, AND KIND OF STD BEING A LITTLE HOBBY FOR M. AND THE NEXT THING YOU KN'M STARTING TO PAINT A LOT.

AND I JUST FOUND IT PEACEF, RELAXING.

A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND FAY STARTED TELLING ME, OH, Y'E REALLY GOOD.

YOU'RE GOOD.

YOU COULD MAKE A LIVING AT.

AND I'M LIKE,O.

[LAUGHS] I REMEMBER THE FIRST PAINTI SOL.

IT WAS CALLED "INTO THE WO" AND I SOLD IT TO A COUPLE E IN DULUTH THAT HAD BECOME D OF A COLLECTOR OF SOME OF T FROM TIME TO TIME, WHICH IY HUMBLING IN ITSELF.

WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT THATS BASICALLY BEING IN SHOCK.

[LAUGHS] THAT I HAD SOLD IT.

I DIDN'T GO INTORT, I DID'T BECOME AN ARTIST TO SELL.

I MEAN, THAT W NEVER EVEN N MY MIND.

I DIDN'T REALLY EVEN THINKT THAT.

BUT THEN IT STARTED TO HAP, AND THAT FIRST SELL PROPELLED ME TO SAY, MAYBEI COULD DO SOME OTHER THINGSE WITH MY ART.

SO, THAT'S WHAT TRANSPIRED.

I THINK THE FREEDOM IT GIV, IT TAKES ME AWAY FROM THE Y -- YOU KNOW, IT FREES MY MD UP, IT CREATES PEACE, IT GS ME A CREATIVE ASPECT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE ART REALLYT IS EMOTIONAL, IT'S PHYSICA, IT'S, YOU KNOW, SPIRITUAL,D IT HELPS ME TO PUT ALL THOE THINGS DOWN ON A PIECE OF S AND REALLY SHOW PEOPLE WHAT IS THAT I LIKE ABOUT ART.

AND IT HELPS ME TO PUT ALLT ON THE CANVAS.

YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST FEAI HAVE AS AN ARTIST WHEN I'M WORKING ON A PAINTING IS TT IT EXACTLY WHERE I WANT ITD THEN TO START ADDING THE D, THE FINAL DETAILS, AND ALLA SUDDEN I FEEL LIKE I'VE MED UP THE WHOLE THING UP.

[LAUGHS] MY FAVORITE PAINTING THAT'E EVER DID WAS "PAPER WHITE. "

IT IS JUST A SIMPLE, BASIC PAINTING THAT IS A FALL SCE AND IT HAS BIRCH TREES.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUBJECTO PAINT IS BIRCH TREES.

I TRY TO INCORPORATE BIRCHS IN A LOT OF MY PAINTINGS.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY WORK, YOL SEE BIRCH IS A VERY POPULAR TOPIC FOR ME.

THE OTHER THING I TRY TO DH MY ART IS PRESERVING THE PT BECAUSE OF THE THINGS I PAD DON'T EXIST ANYMORE.

THEY'VE FALLEN IN THE LAKER THEY'VE WORN AWAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TOOO DOCUMENT PLACES AND SITES D NATURE AND NATURAL THINGS T MAY BE DOWN THE ROAD WON'TT ANYMORE.

SO, FOR ME, PRESERVING WHAE SEE NOW IS JUST AS IMPORTAS SEEING IT NOW.

IT STARTED OUT REALLY SIMP, BUT NOW IT IS MY LIFE.

IT IS A FULL-TIME JOB FOR .

AND IT'S REALLY SAVED MY LN A LOT OF WAYS, JUST BECAU'S GIVEN ME SOMETHING I CAN FS ON AND ENJOY, AND THAT'S BN THE BEST THING ABOUT BECOMN ARTIST.

♪ BRETT: SUCH ATTENTION TO D. MAARJA: YEAH, HE CAPTURES E NORTH SHORE SO BEAUTIFULLY.

BRETT: I THOUGHT A FEW OF M WERE PHOTOGRAPHS.

THEY ARE PAINTINGS.

MAARJA: BEAUTIFUL DETAIL.

BEAUTIFUL.

NEXT UP ON "VENTURE NORTH,Y IS TRAUMA AWARENESS MONTH D OUR TEAM MET WITH INJURY PREVENTION SPECIALIST ALLIN NICHOLSON TO LEARN ABOUT TE RISKS.

ALLISON: HI, MY NAME IS ALN NICHOLSON.

I WORK AT THE TRAUMA FLOOR.

INJURY PREVENTION MONTH ISA MONTH WHERE WE RECOGNIZE OR TRAUMA SURVIVORS.

AND SO, WE ARE GOING INTO E SUMMER MONTHS AS OUR MOST Y YEAR TIME OF THE YEAR.

AND SO, WE WANT TO RECOGNIE THAT TRAUMA IS GOING TO HAN THIS SUMMER, AND WE WANT TO BRING RECOGNITION TO THE FT THAT WE CAN PREVENT THEM.

WE WANT TO MEET YOU OUT INE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO PREVENT INJURIEM HAPPENING.

AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE TT SOME OF THOSE TRAUMA SURVIS ARE GETTING BETTER, BUT WEY WANT TO MEET YOU IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN PREVENTION S ALREADY.

--IS OUR KEY.

I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR FOR CAR SEATS FA LITTLE OVER 20 YEARS.

WE HAVE BEEN EDUCATING A LN THE CAR SEAT WORLD.

AND WHAT OUR TRENDS HAVE SN IS WE ARE REALLY EDUCATING PARENTS ON HOW TO PROPERLY INSTALL THEIR CAR SEATS.

AND SO, OUR LAST FEW YEARSE SEEN LESS CHILDREN COME INE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BECAUF CAR CRASHES.

PARENTS ARE STILL GETTING O CAR CRASHES AND STILL COMIN HAVING INJURIES, BUT THEIR KIDDOS IN THE CAR WITH THEE BUTTONED DOWN CORRECTLY INR SEATS, SO WE SEE LESS KIDS COMING INTO THE E.D.

I CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND EDE WHATEVER I WANT TO TALK AB.

I HAVE TO EDUCATE ON WHATEE SEE DATA DRIVEN COMING INTE HOSPITAL.

SO, WE ARE OUT EDUCATING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CLASSES.

WE HAVE A CLASS HERE ONCE Y OTHER MONTH.

WE DO CAR SEAT EVENTS ONCEA MONTH IN CLOQUET, DULUTH, SUPERIOR.

WE HELP EDUCATE ON THE NEWS THAT HAVE COME OUT THAT ARE EXTREMELY STRICT IN MINNES, WHERE THE STRICTEST STATE R CAR SEAT LAWS, WHICH IS PHENOMENAL AND NOT A LOT OF PARENTS OR KIDS LOVE THAT, BUT AGAIN WE HAVE THE STRICTEST LAWS OUT THERE FA STATE.

SO IF PARENTS, I KNOW THEYE LISTENING TO THIS, I KNOW Y ARE HEARING THIS, SO THESES ARE RIDING DOWN A CRASH AM, SO THEY ARE NO NEEDING TO E INTO THE E.D.

BECAUSE THEYE HURT.

WHEN I LOOKED AT THE DATA S YEAR AND SAW THERE WERE LER CRASHES THAN YEARS PAST, I HAVEN'T SEEN AS MANY KIDDOE IN BECAUSE OF A CAR CRASH,T HAS TO BE FOLLOWING THE TR.

IT HAS TO BE THAT PARENTS E BUTTONING THEM DOWN CORRECY AND THEY ARE RIDING DOWN TE CRASH WITH THEIR PARENTS AT IS WORKING.

IT'S FINALLY WORKING.

IT'S TAKEN 20 YEARS, BUT 'S FINALLY WORKING.

SO, THAT'S WHAT MAKES ME H. PARENTS ARE FOLLOWING THE , THEY ARE BUTTONING THEM INCORRECTLY, AND EVEN THOUH THEY ARE GETTING INTO CAR CRASHES, IT IS WORKING THET WAY.

BRETT: TONIGHT, WE ARE EXCD TO SHARE A SEGMENT FROM OUW SHOW "NO FILTER," WHICH ISA CONVERSATIONAL INTERVIEW SS THAT EXPLORES THE RICH TAPY OF NORTHERN LIFE THROUGH INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS WITH DIVERSE, INTRIGUING PEOPLEM THE REGION.

BRETT: EACH EPISODE IS BRIG A FRESH VOICE TO THE SCREE, FOCUSING ON THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, PERSONAL JOU, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES SHAPIE NORTHERN COMMUNITY.

MAARJA: WE WILL SURE A -- E WILL SHARE A SHORT SAMPLE , BUT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO WAN THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

FULL EPISODES WILL BE AVAIE THERE SOON.

>> HI, WE ARE IN INTERNATIL FALLS TODAY.

WE CANNOT WAIT TO INTRODUCU TO AN INCREDIBLE PERSON.

♪ WE ARE SO PLEASED TO HAVE D ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF O FILTER."

BREAD IS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT MINNESOTA NOH COLLEGE'S RAINY RIVER CAMP.

HE IS ALSO A FISHING GUIDE.

BRAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT HED BE LIVING IN THE TWIN CITIT FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO A RUL COMMUNITY BY CHOICE.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE D ON "NO FILTER" TODAY.

HI, BRAD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOING US.

EXCITED FOR YOU TO BE HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> OF COURSE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU DID NOT GROW UP IN INTERNATIONAL FALLS OR IN S AREA, SO TELL US WHERE YOUW UP AND WHAT LED YOU HERE.

>> I WAS RAISED IN BRITAIN, MINNESOTA.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL THER, WENT TO THE COMMUNITY COLL.

THEN I MET MY WIFE, GOT MA, THEN WE MOVED TO WINONA, WO WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY, GR UNDERGRADS THERE, GOT OUR MASTERS THERE, THEN STARTER PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS THE.

WENT FROM THERE TO ROCHEST, MOVED UP TO INVER GROVE HES IN THE TWIN CITIES.

THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE TO BE THERE FOR HOWEVER LONG, ANE GOT REALLY LUCKY WHEN WE WE ABLE TO COME UP HERE TO INTERNATIONAL FALLS.

>> AND YOU THOUGHT YOU WOUD HAVE TO BE IN THE TWIN CITS AREA.

HOW COME?

>> SO, MY WIFE'S A THERAPID I'M IN HIGHER ED.

WE ALWAYS THOUGHT IN ORDERO GET JOBS IN THE SAME COMMUY THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BN THE TWIN CITIES AREA.

BUT IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY S. WE WERE HELPING MY FRIEND D FOR HOUSES IN THE SUBURBS BECAUSE WE ALL WORKED AT TE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TOGETHERD THE PRICES OF THE HOUSES WE CRAZY.

AND I JUST NEVER KNEW HOW EXPENSIVE IT WAS TO LIVE DN THERE.

AND MY WIFE AND I, DANIELLE WERE GOING TO BE PAID THE E AMOUNT NO MATTER WHERE WE D IN THE STATE, SO WE STARTED THINKING, ALL RIGHT, WHEREE WANT TO RAISE A FAMIL WHAT DO WE WANT OUR LIFESTS TO BE LIKE?

AND THAT'S WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AROUND.

SO WE MADE A TOP FIVE LISTF WHERE IN THE STATE OF MINN, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO STAY E STATE, WE WANTED TO LIVE.

WINONA WAS ON THAT LIST, GD RAPIDS WAS ON THAT LIST, AD INTERNATIONAL FALLS WAS ONT LIST.

WE SAW POSITIONS WERE AVAIE UP HERE, ONE AT RAINY RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ONE AT NORFOLK COUNSELING CENTER R DANIELLE.

WE BOTH APPLD AND ENDED UP GETTING JOB OFFERS WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER.

JUST BY MOVING UP HERE, WEE OURSELVES A $1000 A MONTH E BECAUSE OF THE LOWER COST F LIVING.

THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO B.

WE LIKE THE OUTDOORS, WE LE CAMPING, WE LIKE FISHING, E LIKE HUNTING, AND THIS HAS EVERYTHING FOR US.

IT WAS A PRETTY EASY NO-BRR FOR US.

IT WAS TOUGH TO LIVE THE PE -- TO LEAVE THE PEOPLE, BUY KNEW WHAT WAS CALLING FOR O WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT.

>> SO, YOU GREW UP IN BRITT ATTENDED VIRGINIA SCHOOLS.

TALK ABOUT GROWING UP.

>> ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE IRN RANGE, IT IS A UNIQUE PLACO GROW UP.

EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS YOU AE FROM THE RANGE TREATS YOU A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, I WOD SAY.

I AM A RANGER, YEP.

THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY.

SO THEY HAVE SOME EXPECTATS OF YOU IN MULTIPLE DIFFERET AREAS.

SO, IT'S KIND OF FUN.

YOU RUN WITIT A LITTLE BIT.

I GOT ACTIVE IN POLITICS, R INSTANCE, AND WE HAVE A GET TOGETHER WHERE THEY HAVE NE TAGS THAT SAY BORN RANGER R WANNABE RANGER.

GROWING UP ON THE RANGE WAY UNIQUE.

I AM A FIFTH GENERATION IRN RANGER.

IN MY FAMILY, THERE WERE FR GENERATIONS BORN IN VIRGIN, AND I'M THE FIRST GENERATIT TO WORK IN THE MINE.

IT IS INCREDIBLE TO HAVE TT KIND OF HISTORY.

THEY CAME STRAIGHT FROM EUE TO THE UP OF MICHIGAN, ANDT IS WHERE THEY SET ROOTS AND STAYED THERE ON THE IRON R. MY GRANDPA RETIRED FROM ER.

IT IS A LONG HISTORY ON THN RANGE.

>> MY DAD WAS MN TECH FOR 0 YEARS.

I BET THEY KNEW EACH OTHER.

SMALL WORLD.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GRG UP ON E IRON RANGE.

WERE YOU LOOKING TO LEAVE T AWAY?

WHAT WAS YOUR MINDSET AS YE A SENIOR IN VIRGINIA GETTIG READY TO GO OUT INTO THE W?

>> SO, WHEN I WAS IN NINTH GRADE, I GOT REALLY SICK.

LIKE, REAL SICK.

VIRGINIA HOSPITAL DIDN'T KW WHAT I HAD.

I WAS LIFE SLATED DOWN TO E TWIN CITIES.

THEY DIAGNOSED ME WITH AN ILLNESS.

20% LUNG CAPACITY LEFT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW MH ABOUT NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENC, BUT THAT CHANGES YOU.

COMING OUT OF THAT, THERE A LOT OF REHAB.

THIS IS ALL WHEN I WAS 15.

SO, COMING OUT OF THAT AND JUMPING BACK INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL ATMOSPHERE, IF YOU , WITH SOME OF THE EXPECTATIF WHO YOU WORK AND HOW THEY D GONE THROUGH THIS LIFE CHAG EXPERIENCE AND TRYING TO JP BACK INTO THAT, I WAS LOST.

I WAS A LOST PUPPY DOG FORA LONG TIME.

I MADE THROUGH GRADUATING H SCHOOL, HAD MY FIRST YEAR O IN COLLEGE, AND IT WASN'T L A FEW CLOSE FRIENDS ACTUALY SAID, HEY, YOU'VE GOT SOME SKILLS.

WE COULD USE YOU TO JOIN OR CLUB.

WE THINK YOU WOULD BE A BET TO OUR GROUP.

AT THAT POINT, IT WAS THE T TIME I HAD EVER BEEN LIKE D BY SOMEBODY THAT WAS CLOSEE THAT I COULD CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL STUFF, AND THAT I BROUGHT SOMEING TO THE TABLE.

SO JUST TT LITTLE BIT OF EMPOWERMENT IS WHAT SPRUNG GROWTH AND BETTER GRADES AI WAS ACTIVE IN THAT GROUP AD FELL IN LOVE WITH POLITICSA LITTLE WHILE AND HIGHER EDUCATION, AND ALL RELATINK TO THAT HOSPITAL EXPERIENC, WHICH I KNEW THAT I WAS PUN THE EARTH, IN MY OPINION, O HELP PEOPLE, IN WHATEVER W, PLACE, SHAPE, OR FORM I WA.

SO, IT I A HARD THING TO GP WHEN YOU ARE THAT YOUNG, BU KIND OF GROW INTO IT.

WHATEVER VOCATION OR SITUAI AM PUT IN, THAT IS MY GOALO HELP OTHERS AND LEAVE IT BR THAN YOU FOUND IT.

BRETT: OUR GUEST THIS WEEKS ST. LOUIS COUNTY SHERIFF GN RAMSAY.

SHERIFF RAMSAY, THANK YOU R JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

SHERIFF RAMSAY: HAPPY TO BE HERE.

BRETT: YOU HAVE HAD A VERYY SPRING, STARTING WITH SOMER WILDFIRES.

EXPLAIN HOW YOUR DEPARTMENP YOUR HEAD AROUND THAT.

SHERIFF RAMSAY: I THINK THE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN AS HIC FIRES, THE AMOUNT OF PROPEY LOST, PROPERTY DAMAGE IS SIGNIFICANT, AND SHEER ACR.

A LOT OF IT STARTED WITH EVACUATIONS BECAUSE THAT FE MOVED SO QUICKLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, -- AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS LARGE ASE FIRES HAVE BEEN, WE DID NOE ANY SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LI.

MAARJA: THAT IS GOOD TO HE.

AND IT IS MOSTLY OUT NOW, CORRECT?

SHERF RAMSAY: CORRECT.

JUST SOME BURNING STUMPS.

WE ARE WELL OVER THE HUMP,I THINK WE CAN QUIT HOLDING R BREATH.

MAARJA: ST. LOUIS COUNTY IA JEW BUT -- EIGHT GEOGRAPHIY VAST AREA.

YOU WERE POLICE CHIEF FOR Y YEARS.

HOW DO YOU TAKE WHAT YOU LD FROM BEING A CHIEF IN THE Y TO APPLYING IT COUNTYWIDE D HOW YOU MANAD THE DEPARTME?

SHERIFF RAMSAY: AOT OF IT S LEADERSHIP ISSUES.

I WAS 34 WHEN I WAS PROMOTO THE JOB.

I LEARNED A LOT OVER THE LT ALMOST 20 YEARS.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YO, A LOT OF THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE SAME O MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS BEING AN ELECTED OFFICIAL VERSUS AN APPOINTED OFFICIAL.

BRETT: WHEN IT COMES DOWN O FUNDING, WHAT DOES THAT LOK LIKE FOR YOUR OFFICE?

ON THE STATE AND MORE OF A FEDERAL LEVEL?

SHERIFF RAMSAY: SURE.

MOST OF OUR MONEY COMES FRE COUNTY TAX BASE.

WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF FEDEL GRANTS.

WE GET SOME TRAFFIC GRANTSR TRAFFIC SAFETY, BUT MOST OT IS LOCAL TAX BASE THAT FUNS US.

THERE ARE MANY STUDIES THAW ST. LOUIS COUNTY DOESN'T GT WHAT WE GIVE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACK, AND WE CERTAINLY CAN SAY THAT FROA LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE DON'T SEE A LOT OT FEDERAL MONEY FOR OUR SERVS PAID BACK.

MAARJA: AN ISSUE THAT PLAGA LOT OF COMMUNITIES ACROSS E U.S. IS DRUG USE.

WHAT IS THE STATUS RIGHT NW DEALING WITH SENTINEL OVER, USE, DEALING?

WHAT IS YOUR DEPARTMENT DOO COMBAT THAT ISSUE?

SHERIFF RAMSAY: IT IS STILE NUMBER ONE REASON FOR NOT NATURAL DEATH.

IT IS A SIGFICANT ISSUE FOR US.

FORTUNATELY, OUR OVERDOSESE GONE DOWN LAST YEAR AND THR BEFORE.

SO, WE ARE SEEING A DECREA.

BUT WE ARE SEEING A SIGNIFT AMOUNT IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR OVERDOSES ARE STILL VEY HIGH, BUT THE PROLIFERATIOF NARCAN HAS REALLY HELPED.

WE HAVE TWO TASKFORCES THAK ON DRUG ENFORCEMENT.

IN DULUTH, THE LAKE SUPERIR TASK FORCE.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURS THAT REALLY FOCUS ON DOINGT THEY CAN TO APPREHEND DEALN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BRETT:BRETT: YOU MENTIONED ENFORCEMENT.

WHAT ABOUT THE EDUCATION AT OF THIS TO YOUNGER FOLKS IR COMMUNITY?

SHERIFF RAMSAY: WE ARE NOT SEEING THE EDUCATION DONE E IT USED TO BE.

AS A 1980'S KID, THEY HAD Y REAGAN.

THAT WAS ONE OF HER BIG TH.

AND THEY SCARED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF US TO EVEY DRUGS.

AS A RESULT, THE YEAR I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL WAS E LOWEST LEVEL OF DRUG USE AG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING NOW IS INCREASE IN HIGH SCHOOLS, MARIJUANA, ALL KINDS OF DR, PILLS, AND WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH EDUCATION.

WE WANT TO BE THERE BEFOREE GET TO THE ENFORCEMENT END.

MAARJA: OF COURSE, DRUG USN ALSO PLAY A PART IN AN MENL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.

SOMETHING THAT IN DULUTH A. LOUIS COUNTY WE HAVE SEEN.

WHAT DOES YOUR DEPARTMENT O HELP COMBAT THE MENTAL HEAH AND LACK OF RESOURCES AND E NEED TO POLICE THAT?

SHERIFF RAMSAY: ONE THING T PEOPLE TO KNOW IS WE ARE SG SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF PEOE WHO HAVE DRUG-INDUCED PSYCS BECAUSE OF DRUG USE, ILLEGL DRUG USE, AND WHAT IT IS DG TO THEIR BRAIN CHEMISTRY.

IN MANY CASES, IT IS ALTERG THEIR BRAINS FOREVER.

WE ARE SEEING IT IN JAILS,N THE STREETS, 911 CALLS.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THIS COUNTY.

PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE DRUGSA LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMU.

AVOIDING DRUGS AT ALL COSTS IMPORTANT.

BUT WE ARE PUTTING A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO THE ENFORCET END WITH THESE TASK FORCESR EXAMPLE, AND WE ARE STILL G SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS COMINGO OUR COMNITIES THROUGH DRUG DEALERS.

SO WE ARE DOING EVERYTHINGE CAN.

BRETT: WE ARE HEADING INTOE NICE WARMER MONTHS.

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS YOU HAVR EACH RESIDENT IN THE REGIOS WE ENTER SUMMER?

WE ARE GETTING INTO THE BOG SEASON, SAFETY, ALL THAT KF STUFF.

SHERIFF RAMSAY:SHERIFF RAM: ONE THING THAT COMES OUT OE TOP OF MY HEAD IS WE HAVE N AN INCREASE IN BURGLARIES.

AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP AND PEOPLE DON'T LOCK THE DOORR LEAVE THEIR SCREEN DOORS OR LEAVE THEIR WINDOWS OPEN, E AN INCREASE IN PROPERTY CRS IN THE SUMMER.

THEY LEAVE THEIR BIKES OUT, ALONG WI DRUG PREVENTION WH PROPERTY CRIMES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO.

BE AWARE.

CAMERAS HAVE HELPED US CATA LOT OF CRIMINALS.

THOSE ARE TREMENDOUS.

THEY ARE CHEAP, EASY TO PU.

WHEN IT COMES TO WATER SAF, LIFE JACKETS.

THE COUNTY SINCE 1960 HAS D 700 DROWNING DEATHS.

THERE HAS BEEN LESS THAN 1T DROWNED USING LIFE JACKETS.

THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANT NUMB.

MAARJA: WOW.

SHERIFF RAMSAY: SO, LIFEJAS ARE IMPORTANT.

MAJA: GREAT ADVICE.

WE WILL KEEP THAT IN MIND.

BRETT: THANK YOU FOR BEINGH US.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S .

GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEK.

I'M BRETT SCOTT.

MAARJA: AND I'M MAARJA HEW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪