 Well, today marks 70 years since the Beltrami monument was erected near Lake Julia. Reporter Cheryl Moore has a look at the Italian explorer's legacy and tells us how officials will be celebrating. Giacomo Beltrami was known as a jack of all trades. He was a legal scholar, a judge, and a journalist. Today we celebrate the legacy he left in northern Minnesota. Monument you see behind me was erected by the state conservation department today known as the DNR, the Department of Natural Resources. And they set this up here near to the spot where Giacomo Beltrami, the famous Italian explorer, stood on his quest to find the source of the Mississippi River. Dozens came out to the celebration at the Turtle Lake Town Hall today. The crowd toasted to Beltrami with red Italian wine. Then they were treated to a special preview of a new documentary being made on Beltrami's life. Norwood Hall actually is a local documentarian and filmmaker along with his colleague Janet Rithnigerian. They are creating a documentary film about the exploration of the headwaters region and Giacomo Beltrami. So that will be an excellent way once that's produced to learn more about this great man. Today's events didn't just celebrate the monument's 70th birthday. It was also the first of events leading up to the bicentennial anniversary of Beltrami's expedition to find the source of the Mississippi. The monument itself actually celebrated 125 years since Beltrami traveled through this area, which means, if my math is right, in five years in 2023 we'll be celebrating the 200th anniversary of Beltrami's travels through northern Minnesota. Leading up to the bicentennial celebration in 2023, Beltrami County has decided to take on a unique expedition of its own. Tonight, Mayor Rita Albrecht read a proclamation to start efforts in making Filatrano, the city Beltrami called home, a sister city of Bemidji. Nothing is official yet. With participation from the public, it's possible. We are hopeful that the private citizens, the residents of Beltrami County, the students, the business people, our tourism department, all take it upon themselves to engage in this program of cross-cultural interaction and exchange. Reporting in Bemidji, Shawmore, Lakeland News. People wishing to send well wishes to Filatrano can drop off notes at the Beltrami County History Society Building in Bemidji. They will be sent to Italy in September. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.