Meet the News Team

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 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.

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 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.

Bio Coming Soon!

Multimedia Journalist Zy’Riah works for Lakeland News. Zy’Riah started reporting on events in the viewing region in July 2023. Zy’Riah, who primarily covers education, reports on school board meetings and related stories under Dennis Weimann’s guidance.

Zy’Riah recently interned for The Houston Astros as the Social Media Management . During her time at Texas Southern Univeristy she was a MMJ/ sports reporter for KTSU2 News from her junior year until graduating. Along with news content, Zy’Riah also has experience working on Social media content.

Zy’Riah went to Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. She held a major in Broadcasting Journalism with a minor in Radio Television and Film She also participated in the on-campus news program “KTSU2News.” Zy’Riah graduated Magna Cum Laude. Before college, Zy’Riah attended Lincoln High School and Humanities/Communications Magnet and graduated in June of 2019 in the top 10% of her classes at number 7. Participating in plenty of after-school activities and sports, Zy’Riah credits this participation toward her work ethic.

While Zy’Riah is new to the Bemidji area, She loves to drive and explore the city as well as other cities around. She also enjoys working out, reading books and watching movies in the theater in her free time.

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.

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.

Hanky grew up in Michigan and attended high school at Beth Haven Baptist Academy. After graduation, he worked at the local factory but knew he wanted more for his life. After great consideration, he decided to enroll at Full sail University. He studied and obtained his bachelor’s degree in Sports Broadcasting and media of journalism.

He’s ventured across the country to report on the Detroit Lions, Michigan State Spartans, Eastern Florida State College Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Toby Keith.

In his spare time, he enjoys networking with others and listening to motivational podcasts. His hobbies include the gym, fishing, and hiking.