While many were celebrating Christmas in their homes, a gathering took place in the heart
of Duluth-Festop U.S. involvement in Central America.
A group of Vietnam veterans marched into St. Joseph earlier today to let the Wetterlings
know their son Jacob has not been forgotten.
And we'll have an incredible look back at 1989 with the top stories that'll surely go
down in history.
Good evening, I'm Kevin DiLorenzo.
KDLH News is next.
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There's a rumor going around that gambling has replaced baseball as America's favorite
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KDLH-TV Duluth.
Live from the Broadcast Center, this is the late edition of KDLH News.
Brought to you by Superior Computer Products.
Simply built computer systems from home computers to complete computer networks.
Merry Christmas and thanks for joining us.
While some people were celebrating Christmas at home today, members of the Duluth clergy
and Lady Concern spent part of their day in silent prayer and symbolic gift giving on
behalf of the embattled people in Central America.
John Gagnon has their story.
They came as wise men of a different era, bearing symbolic gifts of hope to thousands
of Central Americans and now US servicemen fighting there for peace.
To these protesters with the Duluth clergy and Lady Concern, involvement in Central America
is not bringing peace at all, but death and destruction to innocent people.
The body bags are coming again.
We have found ourselves another enemy, all in the name of freedom.
Do we support Noriega?
No!
Do we support military intervention in Panama?
No!
Do we believe we can forget diplomacy and send troops?
No!
Should we interfere in internal affairs of other countries?
No!
Do we pray for hope in Central America?
Out of respect for the many that have died, I hope for peace so no more have to die.
For wisdom and a change of heart in our governmental leaders, I live without fear and I ask and
request that for all peoples of the world.
I would offer for US repentance for basic turning around.
I don't think we're here just to see if we can't offer a little correction to a slightly
faulty foreign policy.
I think what this country needs is basic repentance.
Protesters say they came to honor the Prince of Peace and they hope that philosophies like
last notes and the winds of freedom that are being felt in Europe will begin being felt
here.
John Gagnon, KDLH News.
The protesters will meet again next Monday, New Year's Day, to talk about resolutions
to end congressional support of US involvement in Central America.
Attending church on Christmas has long been a part of life for Christians.
Consistent with that tradition, worshippers attended the church of their choice today
to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the so-called author and finisher of Christian
faith.
The members of this congregation at the First Lutheran Church in Duluth sang praises and
opened their hearts.
When we make room in our hearts for Christ, we also need to make room for Christ brothers
and sisters, the refugees and the poor and the lonely and the sick and those who maybe
not don't have such tangible reason to celebrate that they need some support that we can offer.
Pastor Olson in his sermon today encouraged parishioners to share what they have with
others.
The Christian tradition has it that Jesus Christ was born on this day nearly 2,000 years
ago.
Members of the Jewish community helped others celebrate a Christmas holiday today.
Thirty-five Jewish volunteers bought, prepared and served Christmas dinner to residents of
the Duluth at the Union Gospel Mission.
And what a crowd they had to serve.
Organizers say by meals end they welcome nearly 600 people who lined up for food and presents.
Members of the Jewish community say serving brings them joy on a day they don't ordinarily
celebrate.
Well, it's a wonderful feeling.
It's a good feeling that we're sharing in something that we all live here in Duluth
and we're proud of our city and we want to work together and we want to help each other.
And this is a chance for us to help in a special way.
Today's guests were entertained by a string quartet and given a bag full of stockings,
gloves, fruit and nuts.
Duluth firefighters responded to a call early this morning but found no fire.
What they found instead was three to four inches of water flooding the inside of Lincoln
Park School in West Duluth.
Firefighters say when they arrived water was gushing from a broken pipe located above the
school cafeteria.
School engineers were notified of the water and was shut off.
Engineers spent some of the morning mopping up the water.
It's not known what caused the leak or how much property was damaged.
Cleanup efforts will continue tomorrow.
A midway townshipman is homeless tonight after a fire totally destroyed his house early this
morning.
The fireman, Miner Hagen, was out milking his cows at about 2 a.m. when he heard a noise.
He turned around to find his mobile home completely engulfed in flames.
The fire quickly spread to a nearby vacant house, destroying it as well.
The Proctor Fire Department says both structures were burning out of control when they arrived
on the scene.
Damages are estimated at about $25,000.
There are no clues as to how the fire started.
Still ahead on KDLH News, families are tying up the phone lines this Christmas with long
distance calls.
AT&T is expecting a holiday record.
And ahead in sports, Jeff Papus will have a look back at the year in sports.
You'll see why 1989 will be a year to remember.
We'll be right back.
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When you think skiing, think Musabee Recreation in Virginia and Grand Rapids.
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Our very best wishes for the happiest holidays ever.
All your friends at KDLH-TV, channel 3.
Although most of us had the day off to spend with friends and family, AT&T operators were
busy handling the biggest long distance day of the year.
Stacy Schiebel has more.
These operators didn't see a dull moment today because families make more long distance calls
on Christmas than any other day of the year.
Just families, calling your family, everybody wants to wish everybody else a happy Merry
Christmas.
Last Christmas, 45 million long distance calls came through AT&T switchboards such as this
one.
This year they expect 53 million and that will set a new holiday record.
You'll talk to the customer for a while and learn some different things about them.
Some of them talk about Christmas wishes and gifts and ask me what my plans are for the
holidays.
Callers find that callers are very friendly on Christmas.
Some even make a point of thanking them for working the holiday.
The majority of calls AT&T handles on Christmas are international ones.
Though most probably reach friends and relatives without a wait, some face busy circuits when
trying to make calls today.
We have a call waiting lamp and the call waiting lamp will go on.
It's not on right now but it's generally on pretty steadier.
Fifty-three operators manned the Duluth AT&T today.
If you were one of the many placing long distance calls, they probably left you with this familiar
goodbye.
Thank you and Merry Christmas from AT&T.
Stacy Schiebel, KDLH News.
AT&T handles about 90 million calls on the average weekday but most of those are business
related.
On Christmas families are typically doing the calling to loved ones who can't be together
on the holidays.
The Wetterlings of St. Joseph had hoped their son Jacob would be home for Christmas but
the kidnapped victim has still not been heard from.
Today a group of Vietnam veterans showed that Jacob is certainly not forgotten.
About a dozen vets finished a three-day 60-mile march from Anoka to St. Joseph in a show
of support.
The vets called the march Jacob's Walk for Freedom and it ended at the Wetterlings front
door.
Hope, I hope.
I hope we've done up look at their spirits a little bit.
I hope that we've instilled in them that people out there care.
No.
That not to give up hope.
Jacob was kidnapped by a mass gunman nine weeks ago and the investigation still continues.
1989 has been a year of great change in the world.
I hope that we've done up look at their spirits a little bit.
I hope that we've done up look at their spirits a little bit.
I hope that we've done up look at their spirits a little bit.
I hope that we've done up look at their spirits a little bit.
Certainly a year worth remembering.
And after a pretty nice Christmas day weather wise we're in for some cooler temperatures.
We'll be back with another episode of the United Way.
That's right.
We'll be back.
We'll be back.
Thanks for joining us.
We'll see you next time.
I'm David C. Subrinds up next with the forecast.
Investing in the future is important to everyone in the Arrowhead chapter of credit unions and
we invite you to join us in supporting the United Way.
The United Way is much more than a fund drive.
It brings together agencies and hundreds of volunteers to help those who need it.
And because of the United Way's citizens budget review process you can be sure your gift will
be used effectively.
This message presented with pride by the Arrowhead chapter of credit unions.
On behalf of the United Way it brings out the best in all of us.
Hi, Marsh Nelson inviting you to join my wife and I on the scenic tours and travel baseball
in Florida adventure.
This air and motor coach trip March 3rd through the 14th will take us to see the Minnesota
twins in spring training, catch a few games and enjoy the Florida sunshine.
You'll also have a chance to visit Disney World, Epcot Center, MGM Studios, Sea World,
Tampa, Nashville and so much more.
For information call scenic tours and travel toll free at 1-800-682-0036.
Stop, stop, stop.
Before you welcome in the new year, hurry to your great American Buick dealers for an
all out close out sale.
We will celebrate the savings, purchase a new regal before the new year and get 4.8%
financing for 48 months.
That could translate into over $1,800 worth of savings.
Drive a Buick with Sabre into the 90s and get up to $1,000 cash back.
This new year's give yourself something to really celebrate, only at your great American
Buick dealers.
The New Year's Eve party at Leech Lake Bingo in Cass Lake is the exciting fun filled alternative
way to celebrate the new year.
That could be very rewarding too.
Select one of four packages and play for $200.
Up to $2,000 per game.
Play Mega Bingo for a half million and a special Mega Bingo game for $1 million.
Get your advance tickets today and join the friendly folks for the big New Year's Eve
party at Leech Lake Bingo in Cass Lake.
Merry Christmas to all the fine folks of the Northland.
Looks like we had a pretty nice day around our area but some more cold air is going to
be moving in over the next couple of hours.
That means we could see another night of deep freeze readings below zero.
Tonight's weather is being brought to you by Northern Lights Lighting Studio 102 East
Superior Street in downtown Duluth where you'll love shopping or just browsing.
As you can see by our temperatures right now, we've cooled off considerably since 6 p.m.
We have two below zero up at the airport, one above at the harbor, three above in Superior.
Temperatures are moving out of the north at 15 miles per hour, that gives us a wind chill
index of 34 below zero.
The barometer is rising now from 30.04 inches of mercury.
We have 68 percent humidity under clear skies.
Our high today was 33 degrees.
We're at the current low of minus 2.
7.53 a.m. and 4.26 p.m.
Those are the times you can expect the sun to rise and set.
Christmas Day was a cold, wintry and white one for much of the U.S. with snow not only
here in the Northland but across the northern tier of states.
In fact, we continue to see that cool air moving in with sub-zero readings and that's
what we'll see later on tonight by tomorrow afternoon.
Temperatures still in the single digits and teens around our area but warming up across
the west with 50s, 60s and even a few 70s.
Our map tonight shows quite a bit of activity in the eastern states as the frontal system
continues to make its way on through.
As I said, not only did we get snow but portions of the Great Lakes and into the New England
states got snow.
We also saw snow as far south as the Carolinas, that weak frontal system currently pushing
on through.
Lots of snow also being found around the Ohio Valley regions and down south into the Gulf
where they will continue to see very, very cold temperatures.
Right now we're in the midst of this high pressure system which has brought a lot of
cold Arctic air but a warm front is going to start moving through in the next 24 hours
and after a brief cold spell we will start to warm up by the midweek.
Wednesday should bring us temperatures in the 20s so it looks like it's going to be
pretty mild throughout the rest of the week but for the time being it looks like it's
going to be cold across the eastern half of the United States.
Mild air continues to move on in across the west so those folks will see daytime highs
ranging from the 40s to the 70s.
I'll be back before we get our temperatures, sky conditions and the forecast after this.
For over 50 years Northern Electric has been a household word offering the highest quality
electrical products and design.
You might have known that but did you know that this same quality is yours at Northern
Lights Lighting Studio, a new division of Northern Electric.
Whether you need an entire house full of electrical products and lighting or just looking for
the perfect chandelier or lamp to cozy up a room for the cool weather months, they're
there to help.
And even when you don't need a thing, Northern Lights invites you to come enjoy just seeing
what's new and browsing through their beautiful new lighting studio at 102 East Superior Street,
in Lut.
This is the sales event you've been waiting for.
The best time of the year to make your best deal on a new Toyota starts tomorrow.
It's here, McGee and Me, the great new children's video series from Focus on the Family.
It's a magical adventure that captivates children, a real world drama, an animated wonder that
teaches biblical values.
Take your children to the new video series McGee and Me from Focus on the Family and
Tindale House Publishers.
This great McGee and Me video series is available at Twin Forks, Bible and Book, Pintalute and
Superior.
The clock is ticking and Anderson Furniture's $39 sale is on now.
There are five floors of quality furniture reduced 30, 50 and 70 percent.
Absolutely the lowest prices of the year.
Anderson Furniture is dropping prices 30, 50 and up to 70 percent or more.
Anderson Furniture will deliver free within 200 miles.
Convenient credit of course, but remember Anderson's $39 sale is for a limited time
only, save 30, 50 and up to 70 percent.
The clock is ticking for Anderson Furniture's $39 sale.
How cold will it get tonight?
Well we're looking at single digits down south across southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin
to the sub-zero range up along the northern border and it looks like we're well on our
way.
Here are the temperatures and sky conditions for 10 PM.
it'll be fair and much colder tonight with lows dropping to 10 to 15 below zero,
north winds at 10 to 15 will become northwest at around five miles per hour late.
Look for clear skies early Tuesday followed by increasing cloudiness and a 50 percent
chance of light snow by afternoon.
Highs will only reach five to 10 above zero as southwest winds at five fifteen turn southerly
by noon.
Cloudy skies are being forecast for Tuesday night along with a 60 percent chance of light
snow.
Lows will start out at zero to five above early in the evening and slowly rise overnight.
And we're looking at partly cloudy conditions for Wednesday with warmer temperatures in
the middle 20s.
And the weather tonight has been sponsored by Northern Lights Lighting Studio, 102 East
Superior Street in downtown Duluth where you'll love shopping or just browsing.
I know what I got from Santa today, my mother sent me a comforter.
I'm going to need it tonight because it looks like it's going to be very cold but that cold
spell is going to be brief, looks like we'll warm up again by Wednesday.
And I'm nearly as cold as what we lived through, right?
No not even close.
Great, well thanks Teresa.
The day after Christmas is typically the biggest day for car accidents of the year.
The Department of Transportation warns those who travel tomorrow to do so with caution.
State Patrol Officer Dennis Burchland recommends we drive defensively.
You know watch the other cars, don't be just looking at the end of your hood which so many
people do.
They're so concerned with just what's happening in their little area.
You have to be looking ahead to see especially in our freeways where we have the curves.
Be looking up into that curve to see that something isn't happening.
Cold weather and slippery roads will add to driving difficulties tomorrow.
One of the best safety measures is to just plain buckling up.
That's good advice for everyone and it's the law.
And tonight was obviously a bigger night in sports than we thought it would be.
Yes, a big night for the Vikings.
We also have a tragic story to tell you about and we'll get to that shortly.
But first things first, the Minnesota Vikings are battling it out at the Dome tonight with
not only their own playoff destiny in their hands but that of the Green Bay Packers as
well.
Let's go to the scoreboard.
22-14 Vikings in the third quarter.
They're making it hard on themselves again but that's no surprise.
Five rich Carlos field goals as the offense can't get it done inside the 20 again.
Wade Wilson an 11-yard touchdown pass to Rick Fendi.
Vikings led 19-0 at one point but Cincinnati has got two boomeris size touchdown passes.
One to Eddie Brown and the other to Rodney Holman to make it 22-14 which is where we
stand right now in the third quarter.
Now assuming the Vikings can hang on and win this game, this is the way the first round
of the playoff would look.
It depends on who wins the wild card game.
Since a divisional champion can't meet a wild card in the first round if the two teams
share a division, the Vikings would play the Giants if Philadelphia wins the wild card
game and San Francisco if the Rams win and of course if the Vikings lose you can X out
Vikings from that board and substitute Packers because it would be the same way.
Either way, either team would really have their hands full.
As we said, we have a tragic story to report this evening.
Ex-New York Yankee and Minnesota Twins manager Billy Martin was killed in an automobile accident
this evening.
Martin was a passenger in a pickup truck that skidded 300 feet down an embankment near
Martin's farm in Binghamton, New York.
The truck came to a halt ironically enough in front of Martin's driveway.
Officials said the driver of Martin's vehicle was legally intoxicated at the time of the
accident and has been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol.
We get details from CBS News.
I'm in a state of shock because I just don't believe it.
I don't think we can replace a lot of things that Billy brought to the Yankees.
I just don't.
It's just like somebody took part of my family.
We were that close.
Just a few days ago Steinbrenner and Martin were together celebrating the holidays in
Florida.
Quite a contrast to his years as manager of the New York Yankees.
I'm handling the trades.
That isn't the way we stand.
I have to call you in the dark.
That's not the way it's going to be.
Well, it is and if you don't like it, you're fired.
It's always been a love-hate relationship between the Yankees and Alfred Manuel Martin,
better known as Billy.
His fiery managing style seemed to fit right into New York City.
Even after being fired five times, Martin was still a big part of the inner workings
of the Yankee organization.
He was going to be a very important part of the season next year.
You know, Billy had a tremendous knowledge of players and talent and he was very close
to me and we'd worked closer together in the last year, I think, than we ever had before
on player personnel.
Billy was the Yankees' connection to former greatness.
He managed the Bombers to the World Series in 1976 and to the World Title in 1977.
In the 50s, Martin helped the Yankees win it all as a player.
In 1952, he saved the World Series with this memorable catch off the bat of Brooklyn's
Jackie Robinson.
In 1953, he delivered the winning hit in the final game for yet another Yankee World Championship.
His Yankee career as a player ended in 1957 when traded to Kansas City following a fight
at New York's Copa Cabana nightclub.
While he wore the uniforms of several other teams, Billy's heart was always in Yankee
pinstripes.
In one of his last television interviews, Martin summed up his feelings about being
a Yankee.
I'm a Yankee and I want to be a Yankee the rest of my life.
I've reached my status in the sky and all that stuff and I just want to go out as a
Yankee.
Billy Martin was 61 years old.
Checking the scoreboard today, two bowl games and one game in the NBA.
In the blue-gray classic, the gray team made up of teams from the southern half of the
United States beat the blue team 28 to 10.
Michigan stayed over Hawaii 33 to 13 in the Aloha Bowl.
One game in the NBA this afternoon, Atlanta beat Cleveland 115 to 102 behind 26 points
from Spud Webb.
Also today, the Michigan Wolverines are literally on their way to Pasadena.
The Wolverines, who as we know are playing their last game for Bo Schembachler, left
Ann Arbor today for the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The Wolverines will be gunning for their second straight win in the granddaddy of them all,
this time against freshman Wiz Todd Marinovich and Southern Cal.
Well back with a look at the year in sports coming up in just a moment.
So you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas.
Cheer up!
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GMC truck has the right truck for you and now GMC truck also saves you money with up
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So wipe those Christmas blues away by heading to your GMC truck dealer.
We'll even take your Christmas tie-in on trade.
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DaVink's GMC truck Superior.
At Johnson Mertz end of year clearance sale we slash prices on all brand name electronics.
Our entire electronics department is at close out sale prices.
Every television including big screens, every VCR, every camcorder, every stereo on every
cabinet and entertainment center is on sale at liquidation prices.
For samples and one of a kind are priced at or below wholesale.
Don't miss this one time chance to buy brand name electronics.
At prices too low to mention think of B-Line to Johnson Mertz end of year clearance sale.
A parade?
A party?
What's going on in Jefferson Town?
I've never been more excited about anything in my entire life.
Everyone's celebrating Ang Bishops million dollar win from Publishers Clearinghouse.
It turned out to be my neighbor which I dearly love.
I know for sure that real people do win.
Now you can win 10 million dollars.
Watch for the Publishers Clearinghouse sweepstakes and send it in fast.
On January 26th you could be a millionaire.
We don't have to worry about our retirement now.
I'm glad that somebody won this and I'm going to send mine back.
Without saying that 1989 has been a momentous year in the world of sports so without further
delay let's look at some of the events of the past year.
Rock Rowe reports.
Well regardless of what the Commissioner said today I do not bet on baseball.
If this continues it's going to hurt more and more people and I don't want the University
of Kentucky basketball program to suffer anymore.
The time has come to change the system where coaches must choose between dividing by certain
rules or acting like caring individuals.
It's no fun anymore.
I don't enjoy walking in the office with the issues and things I have to deal with today.
If anything, any kind of evidence at all had shown up that could verify that we had broken
a rule our asses would already be fired.
Don't you know that?
Four who say they did nothing wrong but lost their jobs.
They were forced out in situations which shed a harsh light on the emphasis placed on winning
in sports today.
Situations which reveal that the sports we watch take place not on the fields of our
dreams but in the world of greed, deception and scandal.
All the games continued in fact despite the growing swath of scandal cut by their practitioners.
Within the larger picture of scandal then some winners did appear playing their games
well on fields of their dreams.
Just a few of the events of the year and we'll be showing the rest of that package a little
bit later on this weekend.
Certainly was a big year.
Yes.
Alright, thank you, Jack.
That's what's making news this Christmas night.
Thanks for joining us.
We hope your Christmas was a merry one.
Good night.
Tonight's travel guide is brought to you by AAA Minnesota Travel Agency, Village Mall,
Duluth and AAA Minnesota Travel Agency, Pocogama Plaza, Grand Rapids.
You won't find Tampa to be your classic Florida resort on the water community.
It sits on a bay.
The Gulf Coast beaches are 20 miles west.
Tampa's largely business and industry.
Banking, shipping, manufacturing.
Thirty years ago the Anheuser-Busch Corporation came to town.
It'll crank out about a billion bottles of beer annually.
Uh oh, I see two more.
The brewery began in 1959 but at about the same time the Anheuser-Busch Corporation started
giving the community of Tampa something other than beer.
It began very slowly right here on the grounds next door to the brewery with a five acre
bird sanctuary but today it's blossomed into 300 acres.
Tampa's Busch Gardens Florida's second most popular attraction.
Wild, exciting rides with names like Monstrous Mamba, Python and Tanganyika Tidal Wave.
A little too old for rides I think.
It says for old people to stay off the ride so we're going to stay off the ride.
If you try to get over the ground you won't go.
But Busch Gardens has something for everyone.
Although you probably couldn't convince the kids, its main feature is its African Safari Zoo.
You ride a narrow gauge train or a monorail through the park observing some 3,300 animals
in compounds that closely match their natural habitat.
One price, $24, covers all.
In our next report, the pleasures of the Gold Coast.
Tonight's travel guide has been brought to you by Engman Travel of Virginia with 43 years
of business and personal travel planning experience.
Call 800-642-7581.
From the Broadcast Center, KDLH News has been brought to you by Superior Computer Products.
Locally built computer systems from home computers to complete computer networks.
Thank you for watching.