wbPM3CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND

THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE MID 60S. SOUTHEAST

WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.

.TUESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY.  20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.   HIGHS IN THE MID 80S. SOUTHWEST WINDS

10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE WEST IN THE AFTERNOON.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 50S. WEST WINDS

10 TO 15 MPH.

.WEDNESDAY…INCREASING CLOUDS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. WEST

WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AROUND 20 MPH IN THE

AFTERNOON.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN

THE LOWER 50S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.

.FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.SATURDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 50S.

.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND

THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S.

 

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. ALTHOUGH NO SEVERE

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED…THERE COULD BE A STRONG THUNDERSTORM

OR TWO, INCLUDING THE NORTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The City of Jamestown held a Budget Committee meeting Monday at 3-p.m., at City Hall, to discuss the 2017 budget.  All members were present.

At the outset of the meeting, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs read a narrative , and projected that 2016 revenues will be  $609,000 less than budget. Many based on North Dakota projected cuts.

The Highway Tax Distribution, items related to vehilces, is down $263,00 from the amount budgeted and $178,00 less than the 2015 actual.

The State Aid Distribution, sales tax, is down $417,000 from the budgeted amount and $311,000 less than the 2015 actual.

Fuchs says he used the same property tax levy of $2,939,215 for the General Fund, as was levied for 2016.

The value of one mill in 2016 was $38,2018, and for 2017, is projected to be $41,499.

Projecting that overall 2016 expenditures will be $450,000 less that was budgeted and about the same as 2015 actual expenditures.  Some 2016 expenditures have not yet been made.

The 2017 Draft Budget was prepared as a “bare bones,” operating budget and includes:

No salary adjustments for COLA increases or step adjustments included.

No requests for additional funding or equipment replacement or new equipment included, however, all additional requests are listed following each department’s budget for informational purposes.

No additional personnel were included in the budget.

No additional or improved employee benefits were included in the budget.

Based on that scenario, the 2017 base budget, if approved, will still result in $354,000 in deficit spending.

The 2017 Draft budget is $659,273, (8%) less than the 2016 Approved Budget.

As the city will deficit spend in 2016, and 2017, and most City Department are seeing a reduction in their 2017 budgets, averaging 8%, Fuchs is encouraging the City Council to reduce any funding to other agencies by a similar 8%.

He also strongly encourages the City Council to allow zero increases in levies for other agencies, as the city would not be levying any increase dollars in the City Levies.

At the end of 2017 the Reserve Fund should be at 25% to 30%.

The Equipment Replacement which is funded by depreciation annually, does, include the equipment items requested for replacement.  The purchases would not impact the General Fund ending balance for 2017.

The City Motel Tax is project to be $41,940, (21.9%) less than budgeted.

The Restaurant Tax is projected to be $28,310, (8.4%) less than budgeted.

It is anticipated that the fund will deficit spend $98,680  for 2016, and $86,805 in 2017.

City Fire Department Budget the request is for $349,000.  Chief Reuther said the dollars include equipment replacement, and possible additional fire fighters.  Currently there are 36, with the retirement of Gordie Christianson.  He said the requests are a “need,” and not a “want.”

Jamestown Police Department, Chief Scott Edinger said $20,000 for body cameras is an option at this time.  He said $150,000 is needed for radio replacement, noting recent radio failures.

Municipal Court….

Finance and Assessment….computers

Engineering…..replacing old surveying equipment.

Inspection Department….hiring a plumbing and mechanical inspector, and an additional vehicle, and to replace a retiring staff member.

Forestry…request for  $5,000 each for tree removal and planting.  $5,000 for a dump trailer.

Civic Center….new amplifier system.  Concession stand stainless steel counter top and triple sink replacement to be compliance with state guidelines.    Replacing food warmers.  Floor buffer. Locker room plumbing improvements.  Security gate replacement. Curtain and backdrop replacement.

Some items will be taken from the 2017 General Fund.

Arts Center requests $12,000 for matching grants including expanding educational grants.

Street Department $100,000 for river tree and debris removal.

Also hear from was the Municipal Court….Community Service Program…. Construction Fund.

City Administrator Fuchs pointed out that the city has lost in 2016, and 2017 10% in revenues from the state, or $700,000. He added that if that amount had been available all the department requests would likely be possible.

He said each department needs to take that under consideration.

City Council Member Phillips is not in favor of no salary increases for city employees, and suggested that the City Council Members might take a pay cut.

Council Member Buchanan pointed out that when health insurance premiums were increased to city employees, the city absorbed the increase in premiums.

The 2017 budget will be introduced at the September City Council meeting.

After that meeting the proposed budget may be reduced, but not increased.

Mayor Andersen asked department heads to review their requests for any possible cuts in requesting.

The next city budget meeting will be scheduled for a date to be announced next week.

Monday’s meeting was shown live on CSi 67.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Valley City Police Chief Fred Thompson reports that  two males are  facing charges of  terrorizing, felonious restraint and burglary resulting from an incident this past weekend that occurred at residences in Valley City.

The report says, the two men are in custody after terrorizing residents at two Valley City residences at gunpoint and kidnapping a juvenile girl

Chief Thompson says 23 year-old Johannes Brannan of Sharon, North Dakota and 22 year-old Drew Gullicks of Valley City were arrested Sunday in Valley City.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  JRMC and JRMC Foundation are pleased to bring nationally recognized nurse, author and motivational speaker Rich Bluni to Jamestown on Sept  12 and 13 for multiple speaking engagements. JRMC employees will have an opportunity to hear Bluni’s presentation, INSPIRED CARE over the course of two days.  Bluni will present to the Jamestown community on Sept 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Jamestown Reiland Fine Arts Center. Prior to the community event, JRMC Foundation will host its annual Pillars of Giving social recognizing benchmark levels of giving.

Bluni is a national speaker for the Studer Group, and the best-selling author of the award- winning books: Inspired Nurse and Inspired Journal. Bluni has presented to tens of thousands of people all across the United States and Canada and has keynoted major conferences as well as speaking for hospital organizations, medical practices, and Universities. With clinical experience in a broad range of areas such as pediatric intensive care, trauma intensive care, flight nursing, behavioral health and emergency medicine, Bluni understands the challenges, joys and value of purpose and worthwhile work while making a difference in healthcare.

Specific topics will include but not limited to: gratitude, humor, using different words and thoughts, mental preparation for “the day,” honoring mentors and encouraging new peers.

Bluni’s talk is free for JRMC employees, Pillars of  Giving honorees as well as University of Jamestown Nursing faculty and students with a valid university ID. The cost for general public is $10 for the keynote speaker. Tickets are not required in advance, but pre-registration is preferred. To register online, please visit our website at www.jrmcnd.com .The Pillars of Giving social is $10 per ticket. Please call JRMC Foundation at 701-952-4880 for more information.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, ND and serves approximately 60,000 people in nine counties. Between JRMC, JRMC Clinic, Sanford Health Jamestown and Essentia Health Jamestown, the community is served by over 25 local medical providers and a variety of visiting specialists. For more information on services at JRMC, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call 701-952-1050.

 

Update…

WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A West Fargo man is hospitalized with a bullet wound to the head and his wife is dead after an apparent argument at a mobile home.

Police in West Fargo say officers were dispatched for a medical-related call to the home about 9 p.m. Sunday. Detective Lt. Greg Warren tells KFGO radio that it appears the 55-year-old man fatally shot his wife and then shot himself.

The 45-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the man was transported to a hospital.

Warren says authorities believe the couple were separated and that the woman had been living in Fargo.

Police have not released the man’s condition. Authorities on Monday also would not release the names of the man and woman.

Police say a revolver was recovered from the scene.

 

GARRISON, N.D. (AP) — A man from Garrison drowned when the pickup truck he was in went off a road and into the McClusky Canal in McLean County over the weekend.

The Highway Patrol says 19-year-old Cole Kuschel was driving the vehicle that went into the water north of Turtle Lake and became partially submerged about 2:45 a.m. Sunday. He didn’t resurface. Divers who were called to the scene recovered the body about 7 a.m.

A 20-year-old man from Coleharbor who was a passenger in the truck suffered minor injuries.

 

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — A Williston teacher and coach accused of inappropriately touching an 18-year-old girl has resigned.

33-year-old Walter Eldridge quit earlier this month via a letter to the school board from his attorney.

Eldridge was Williston’s head girls basketball coach and an English teacher. The school district put him on paid administrative leave in April. He’d worked for the district about five years.

Eldridge is accused of fondling a clothed girl last December. Authorities won’t say whether she is or was a student.

Eldridge is scheduled for trial in early November on a misdemeanor sexual assault charge that carries a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Two men vying to be North Dakota’s next governor will participate in three debates before Election Day.

Republican Doug Burgum and Democrat Marvin Nelson will debate Thursday in Bismarck, Oct. 3 also at the state’s capital and Oct. 10 in Fargo. Prairie Public Television will air the Oct. 10 debate two days later.

Burgum, a former Microsoft executive, in a statement on Monday said the debates will allow voters to learn about how the state can move “forward in the 21st century.”

Josh Dryer is Nelson’s campaign manager. Dryer says Nelson is “open to the debates.” He says Nelson, a state representative from Rolla, will commit to participating in “any debate, any time.”

Burgum and Nelson also face Libertarian Party candidate Marty Riske. Riske did not immediately return a call Monday seeking comment regarding his potential participation in the debates.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Officials have dedicated a new elementary school in Minot named in honor of former North Dakota governor and current U.S. Sen. John Hoeven.

The Minot native was on hand for the Sunday afternoon ceremony. He presented 167 books from the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program to help fill the school’s library shelves.

It’s the first new school in Minot since Magic City Campus was completed in the early 1970s. It was funded through a $39.5 million bond issue approved by voters last year.

A public open house is scheduled Tuesday.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Four North Dakota teachers are among 213 nationwide that the Obama administration is recognizing for their efforts in teaching math and sciences.

The White House on Monday announced this year’s winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

The North Dakota educators receiving the award are Jonathan Fugleberg, a math teacher at May-Port CG High School in Mayville; Michelle Strand, a science teacher at West Fargo High School; Angela Stoa-Lipp, a math teacher at Kennedy Elementary School in Fargo; and Loni Miller, a science teacher at Saxvik Elementary School in Bismarck.

The awardees represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories and the Defense Department Education Activity schools.

Winners get a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They will be honored in Washington Sept. 8.

 

In sports…

(VCSU CSi) – The Valley City State University athletic department will once again host tailgating prior to all five home football games this season.

The first VCSU football game is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 25, when the Vikings host rival University of Jamestown at 7 p.m. The tailgating lot and Nodak Mutual Fan Zone will both open at 5 p.m.

The Nodak Mutual Fan Zone returns for its third straight year and will feature an inflatable game and other games for children of all ages. The VCSU Century Club also plans to host a free will donation meal in conjunction with tailgating and the Nodak Mutual Fan Zone.

VCSU has announced several changes to its tailgating policy this season.

The tailgating lot will now open two hours prior to game time and will close one hour after the game. Tailgating with alcohol will be allowed prior to kickoff and at halftime. No alcohol will be allowed during the game or after the game.

As part of the new tailgating rules, alcoholic beverages must be in an opaque plastic cup, which will be provided by the VCSU Century Club. No glass containers or cans are allowed. Those eligible to consume alcohol will be given wrist bands by the VCSU Century Club. The tailgating lot will be cleared of people before kickoff of each half.

A complete copy of the VCSU Tailgating policy can be found online at:

www.vcsuvikings.com/tailgating

VCSU is scheduled to host football games on Aug. 25, Sept. 10, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 22.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota’s Athletics Department has signed a five-year TV contract with Midco Sports Network.

The agreement that runs through the 2021-22 season will include a minimum of 40 live hockey, football, basketball and volleyball broadcasts each year.

The new agreement also continues the weekly programs “UND Sports Extra” and “North Dakota Hockey with Brad Berry.”

UND will receive more than $1.4 million in rights fees over the length of the contract.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Former longtime Louisiana State University men’s basketball coach Dale Brown has been honored by his North Dakota hometown.

Officials in Minot on Saturday named the basketball courts at a local park in his honor. The Minot Daily News reports that Brown was on hand for the ceremony, along with U.S. Sen. John Hoeven and U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer.

Brown told the crowd that when he was growing up in Minot, there weren’t any outdoor basketball courts. He said he and others would sneak into a church basement where they would shoot baskets.

The 80-year-old Brown spent a quarter century coaching at LSU. He retired after the 1996-97 season as the winningest coach in program history, with nearly 450 victories. He is a member of several halls of fame.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Bill Clinton is defending the work of his charitable foundation, saying it has “improved millions of lives around the world.” The former president is listing the accomplishments of the Clinton Foundation in an email to supporters. He says more than 11.5 million people in over 70 countries have access to HIV/AIDS drugs at a much lower cost and millions of American students have healthier food because of the foundation. Donald Trump says the foundation should be shut down immediately.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama prepares for a trip to flood-ravaged Louisiana Tuesday, Hillary Clinton says she’ll also visit the area — but only when “the presence of a political campaign will not disrupt the response.” Clinton notes that she has asked supporters to contribute to the Red Cross recovery effort. She also says she wants to make sure there’s a focus on Zika prevention. Donald Trump visited Louisiana on Friday. Heavy flooding this month killed at least 13 people and displaced thousands.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Defense Ministry says its planes could again use an Iranian air base to launch airstrikes in Syria, as long as Iran agrees. Russia says all of the Russian planes that have been based in Iran are now back home. Russia first announced last week that its planes had flown combat missions from Iran.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a victory for teacher unions, the California Supreme Court has decided to let the state’s teacher tenure law stand. The court isn’t going to consider a lawsuit by a group of students who claimed that incompetent teachers were almost impossible to fire because of tenure laws. The lawsuit also claimed that schools in poor neighborhoods were dumping grounds for bad teachers. The decision leaves in place a lower court’s court ruling that upheld tenure and other job protections for teachers.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court is upholding a state ban on using powerful underwater vacuums to remove gold from rivers. The court says the ban isn’t affected by a 19th century federal law that allows people to mine U.S.-owned land for gold and other minerals. Miners say preventing use of the devices amounts to an illegal ban on gold mining because mining by hand is labor intensive and makes the enterprise unprofitable.