Dennis Weimann Staff

Dennis Weimann

News Director

Dennis has been the News Director/Anchor of Lakeland News since its inception in 1998. He supervises all newsroom employees and activities. He is also the executive producer and anchor of the show.

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Dennis began his career working in North Dakota. He worked previously as a News Reporter/Sports Anchor at KXMC-TV (CBS) in Minot and as a Sports Reporter/Anchor at KVLY-TV (NBC) in Fargo, ND. During his eight years in North Dakota, Dennis received statewide and regional awards for his work as a news reporter, sports reporter, news videographer, and sports videographer.

Dennis is a 1990 graduate of Bemidji State University, where he also played football and served as co-captain his senior year. He called play-by-play for many BSU hockey games while in college, including the television broadcast of the Beavers 1985 National Championship game win over Plattsburg State. He attended high school in Stillwater, Minnesota and is very proud of winning the state big school football championship his senior year.

In his spare time, Dennis stays active working out and playing numerous sports (tennis, hockey, basketball, flag football, and he attempts to play golf). He has run two triathlons, one full marathon, five half marathons and numerous 10K and 5K races.

He and his wife Rita were married while in college in 1988 and have one daughter.

Stacy Christensen Staff

Stacy Christenson

Weathercaster

Stacy has been the weather anchor for Lakeland News since it began in 1998. She compiles the forecasts and creates the graphics for the nightly newscast.

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Stacy also worked as a reporter for Lakeland News from 1998 to 2006. During that time, she covered news stories in the Bemidji area, as well as many feature stories in our Community Spotlight and Golden Apple segments. She also reported, wrote, shot, and edited a four-part, in-depth series on the Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji.

Stacy graduated from Bemidji State University in 1998, where she was among the first recipients of BSU’s Full-Tuition Scholarship. While in college, she wrote stories, anchored, and helped produce a weekly news program on the university television station, KBSU. She was the Salutatorian for the class of 1994 at Melrose High School, where she was involved in music, theater, and cheerleading.

In her spare time, Stacy is busy taking care of her family. She enjoys music, reading, doing fun projects with her children, and just spending time with loved ones.

She and her husband, Jason, married in 1999 and have seven children.

Charlie Yaeger Staff Photo

Charlie Yaeger

Sports Director/Anchor

Charlie joined Lakeland News as a Sports/News Multi-Media Journalist in January of 2023. He worked out of the Brainerd office covering local news and sports in the greater Brainerd Lakes area before moving to Bemidji to take on the Lakeland News Sports Director position.

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This is Charlie’s first job working in the News/Sports broadcast industry. He previously worked as a Full-Time Supervisor at UPS in their Air Division, overseeing the morning ramp operations of their western air hub in Southern California. He simultaneously coached college football at his Alma Mater, the University of Redlands, for 10 years before leaving to pursue a career in sportscasting. While working as a coach he also provided play-by-play for the soccer, basketball, softball, and baseball teams.

Charlie is a 2012 graduate of the University of Redlands where he played football. He would later return to school, this time at the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting at Full Sail University. It was while attending the Dan Patrick School that he decided to pursue a career in sportscasting. He graduated valedictorian of his class from Full Sail University in the fall of 2022. Charlie attended high school in Mission Viejo, California where he played football and earned the Mort-Joey ESPN “Student of the Game” award and scholarship.

In his spare time Charlie enjoys sporting events, concerts, and travelling. He also plays guitar, video games, builds LEGO’s, and frequents country western bars to go two-stepping. He has family all over the country, but his parents live in Dallas, Texas, and his brother and sister in-law live in Denver, Colorado. Charlie is a native Californian. This is the first time he’s ever been to Minnesota.

Matthew Freeman

Matthew Freeman

News Reporter

Matthew mainly follows City Government/Council stories and any related stories under Dennis Weimann’s guidance.

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Matthew has been a Multimedia Journalist for Lakeland News since January of 2024. Matthew mainly follows City Government/Council stories and any related stories under Dennis Weimann’s guidance.

Matthew interned for both the WWE and the XFL during his time in college, where he learned a lot about stage set-up. Matthew has hands-on experience in the newsroom as well thanks to his time at Full Sail University.

Matthew is a 2021 graduate of Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science of Sports Broadcasting, where he graduated 2nd in his class. He graduated from Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Florida in 2017.

In his spare time, Matthew loves exploring new areas and learning more about the community. He also enjoys going to the movie theater and watching his favorite sports like Football and Professional Wrestling.

Sydney Dick Staff Photo For Website

Sydney Dick

News Reporter

Sydney is the newest reporter at Lakeland News, who started at the beginning of June, 2024. She is an MMJ and is learning how to do producing, anchoring, and weather as well.

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Sydney is a recent college graduate, and Lakeland News is her first job in the industry. Throughout high school and college she has had several different part time jobs including working on a farm, at a Buffalo Wild Wings, law firm, and babysitting. She also does freelance photography and videography.

Sydney graduated high school in the top ten of her class in 2022. She played soccer, softball, basketball, and ran track as well as being involved in many other clubs and academic extracurriculars. For college, she attended the Dan Patrick School of Sportscasting in Winter Park, FL, where she earned a Bachelors’ of Science in Sportscasting degree at 19 years old. During her time at school, she participated in the broadcasting of many sports from the high school to professional levels. She has done sideline reporting, play-by-play broadcasting, producing, and videography for all levels of athletics.

In her spare time, Sydney enjoys working out, cooking and baking, connecting with nature, and art. She is originally from Maine and wants to travel the world.



Miles Walker 1080x1080

Miles Walker

Sports/News Reporter

Miles has been the Sports/News Reporter & Anchor for Lakeland News since August 2023. He currently works out of the Brainerd Office.

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Miles began his professional career as a Sports Editorial & Studio Production Intern with CBS Sports in late 2019. He’s also worked in food service previously, serving as a food runner at Yankee Stadium as well as a busser for the Glen Island Harbor Club in New Rochelle, NY.

Miles is a 2023 Syracuse University graduate where he studied both broadcast & digital journalism and minored in music. He also wrote for the Daily Orange as the paper’s Track & Field beat writer there. He attended high school in Bradenton, Florida where he ran track and served as captain his senior year. He also worked as the announcer’s spotter for the football team.

Miles likes to spend his free time staying active in the gym, playing various sports, and discovering new music. In addition to that, he plays the drums—an instrument he’s played for over a decade—as well as video games.

Xzayver Curry

Xzayver Curry

News Reporter

Xzayver Curry joined Lakeland News in March 2026 to be a News Reporter, where he assists with creating and delivering daily news content. In his role, he contributes to behind-the-scenes production and continues developing his on-air and storytelling skills.

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Xzayver is at the beginning of his professional journey, gaining valuable experience through his work at Lakeland News. While still early in his career, he has already begun building a strong foundation in broadcast journalism and sports media, and he looks forward to expanding his experience and taking on more opportunities in the field

Xzayver attended Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, North Carolina, where his interest in sports first developed. He went on to study at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, where he focused on building the technical and creative skills needed for a career in media and broadcasting

Outside of work, Xzayver is a dedicated sports fan who enjoys staying active and keeping up with the latest in football, basketball, and all the major sports. His love for the game continues to inspire his long-term goal of working in the sports industry, whether that’s through reporting, production, or another role that keeps him close to the action.

Josh Peterson

Josh Peterson

Contributing Anchor

Josh began his career with Lakeland News back in 1999, but recently took the fulltime position as Multimedia Journalist and Social Media Coordinator in May of 2016. He reports from the field daily and fills in anchors the broadcast when needed.

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Josh began his career in broadcast journalism when he was 16- years- old. He worked with the City of Bemidji on having a resolution made to have a television station built and/ or create a full half hour local news broadcast. Shortly after Lakeland News’s inception in 1998, Josh began his on air career as a reporter/photographer in 1999 on Lakeland News while attending his junior year at Bemidji High School. From 2000- 2003, he worked as a reporter/ photographer for the CBS affiliate KCCO-KCCW in Alexandria, Minnesota, reporting local news stories from the Bemidji area. In the summer of 2004 Josh began working as a weekend associate producer for the CBS affiliate WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. In 2005 Josh had a short stint as a reporter/photographer/ anchor with WDAZ- TV in Grand Forks, ND. In The spring of 2006 Josh worked for the Minnesota State Capitol as a writer and researcher for the Minnesota House of Representatives. That same year Josh was promoted to segment producing and morning traffic on WCCO This Morning at WCCO- TV. In 2010 Josh moved back home to Bemidji where he began working as the Bemidji High School broadcast and technical engineer, where he coached the AV- Tech crew and lead them to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Student Television Awards, where in four years the students brought home four Crystal Pillar awards. Josh then filled in as News Director at Paul Bunyan Broadcasting in 2014 before landing back at Lakeland News as a freelance Journalist in 2015.

Josh worked on his political science degree at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities in 2007 where he was part of the University of Minnesota Co-ed Cheerleading squad. Josh is a 2004 Bemidji State University graduate where he was active in the Omega Phi Fraternity. He graduated from Bemidji High School, where he took part in activities ranging from athletics to the fine arts. Josh was the first four-year member of the Vocalmotive Show Choir, and in 8 th Grade at Bemidji Middle School lead in the creation of the schools first student originated production of Holy Batmania.

In his spare time Josh stays active in the community by working with the Bemidji Jaycees. Josh has chaired 2 of Bemidji’s three largest events. He chaired The First City of Lights in 2015 and Water Carnival in 2016. Josh will be chairing the 20th Annual First City of Lights in 2016. He is also very active at his church where he does the stage design and décor display for each season. When he’s not doing community projects Josh enjoys working out, kayaking, hunting, and spending time with his family.