wbPM2CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 40S. SOUTHEAST WINDS

5 TO 10 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 25 MPH.

.FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. SOUTHEAST WINDS

10 TO 15 MPH.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S. SOUTHEAST

WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.

.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 70.

LOWS AROUND 50. SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.

.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S.

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

AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S.

.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. LOWS IN THE MID 50S.

.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS

AND THUNDERSTORMS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY. LOWS IN

THE LOWER 50S. CHANCE OF SHOWERS 60 PERCENT.

.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT

CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. HIGHS AROUND 60. LOWS IN THE MID 40S TO

LOWER 50S.

.THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN

SHOWERS. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S.

 

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH

DAKOTA SUNDAY AND MONDAY.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Fire Department was called about 8:45 a.m., Thursday to 205 6th Street Southeast, to a gas leak, at the Stutsman County Courthouse, and Law Enforcement Center.

Jamestown City Fire Department Lt. Sheldon Mohr said occupants of the courthouse and Law Enforcement Center were evacuated as a precaution.  He said the gas level in the air was not sufficient to have to evacuate the 9-1-1 Dispatch area or the Correctional Center.

MDU arrived at the scene to shut off the gas supply, with the meter located in an area between the courthouse and the LEC.

The gas leak was contained about 9:22 a.m., with the building’s HVAC unit to extract the gas, as those evacuated were allowed to return to the building.

The probable cause of the leak was a malfunction in the gas meter.

Two city fire units, and five fire fighters were dispatched and were on the scene about 45 minutes, with 24 on standby at the fire hall in case they were needed to respond.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist, whose office is located in the basement of the LEC issued a statement which says,

At approximately 8:38 a.m. this morning, a building employee detected a natural gas leak outdoors on the NE corner of the Law Enforcement Center (LEC).  The air handling systems for both the LEC and the Courthouse were bringing the smell of gas into the two buildings.  Jamestown Fire Department was dispatched at 8:42 a.m. and Montana Dakota Utilities (MDU) was notified.  The air handling systems for both buildings were shut down.

As a precaution, all employees of the two buildings were evacuated with the exception of the Communications Center Dispatchers, Corrections staff and inmates.  Jamestown Police assisted with road closures and traffic control around the buildings.

The leak was a result of a relief valve attached to a gas meter that did not close properly causing natural gas to be released.  MDU arrived on scene at 9:12 a.m. to shut off the gas supply, contain the leak and make repairs.

MDU staff checked both buildings for any possible air quality issues.  Finding none, employees re-entered the buildings at approximately 9:30 a.m. The air handling systems for each building were used to extract the low levels of gas.  There were no injuries as a result of the incident.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Authorities responded to a motorcycle, pickup truck accident, Thursday afternoon, on U.S. Highway 52 at the intersection with 30th Street Southeast.

The motorcycle operator was injured and taken by Jamestown Area Ambulance Service to Jamestown Regional Medical Center, for treatment.

More information when the accident report is filed.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Park & Rec office will be closed September 29th and September 30th while they move their offices into the new Gaukler Family Wellness Center in Valley City.

All business for Gaukler Family Wellness Center and Valley City Park & Recreation  memberships and registrations will be done at the new location starting Saturday, October 1st.

 

(CSi- JSDC)  The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) held its Annual Conference from Sept. 25-28, 2016 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This conference was the largest ever in IEDC history with over 1600 attendees. Those in attendance from North Dakota included members from the Economic Development Association of ND board of directors: Connie Ova, President (CEO for JSDC, Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation; Ellen Huber, Vice-President (Business Development Director City of Mandan) and Mark Vaux, member at large (Executive Vice-President Business Development, Greater Fargo-Moorhead EDC).
The program theme, “Economic Development through Technology, Innovation and Productivity”, highlighted the changes in the economic development industry, current rising trends and best practices. This year’s conference coincided with IEDC’s 90th anniversary, and included special events to celebrate the milestone.
Connie Ova said, “The conference featured a series of informational sessions on topics such as the sharing economy and international exchange; receptions for networking and celebrating the 90th anniversary; and workshops on topics such as ethics in the profession.
“This year’s program reflected the current priorities that every economic developer is facing, and program content will help us all build upon our individual strategic objectives, plus to tackle the unique issues of our communities,” said Ova. Ellen Huber facilitated a session for “Communities with Populations under 25,000”. This town hall meeting was for developers to drill down to those issues most impacting their jurisdictions.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Saturday October 15, 2016 at  11am, at Veteran’s Memorial Park, in Valley City the   Herman Stern Historical Marker Dedication, will take place, free and open to all.

Back in February 2016, the Barnes County Historical Society was contacted by Herman Stern’s grandson, Rick Stern, regarding a proposal by Jerry Klein, President of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, to present a historical marker to Valley City, honoring Herman Stern and his actions that saved over 125 lives from certain death at the hands of the Nazis in Germany.  This is the first marker of its kind installed in North Dakota under a new program through the State Historical Society of North Dakota.  Working with the Valley City Park and Rec Department and Valley City VFW Post 2764, we are proud to receive this distinction telling this story of selfless action for generations to come as part of the great story of North Dakota’s history.

The Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, President, Jerry Klinger, says, it is with sincere appreciation that the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation thanks the Barnes County Historical Society, the State Historical Society of North Dakota and the community of Valley City for the special privilege of joining with you in recognizing Herman Stern.

Stern was an immigrant to North Dakota.  He came seeking opportunity and betterment.  What was so very special about Stern’s North Dakota experience as a Jew was that he was not pre-judged because of his ethnicity. Instead, North Dakota gave Stern an opportunity to succeed, to prove his metal. Stern was able to show his energy, his integrity, and his willingness to join with all North Dakotans to build positively together their mutual community as respected neighbors.  For that unique, very American open doorway, Stern gave back to his beloved Community, State and Country in every way he could.

In the 1930’s, dark clouds of hatred, bigotry and ignorance filled European skies presaging the Holocaust to come. Stern turned to his friend Senator Gerald Nye and friends in North Dakota for help. The help was given without reservation or question. Over 125 lives were saved from certain death.  It was a credit to Stern but it also was a credit to all North Dakotans.

The Herman Stern marker project is the first historical interpretive roadside marker of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.  It is the first of many more to come that will proudly tell the story of North Dakota.

Jerry Klinger is the president of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. www.JASHP.org

JASHP has completed projects in 27 states and in five countries reflecting on the commonality of the American experience.

 

GLADSTONE, N.D. (AP) — A semitrailer crash in the western North Dakota oil patch has killed the driver.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol says the semi hauling a flatbed trailer went in the ditch off a gravel Stark County road near Gladstone and rolled about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday.

The driver was identified as 45-year-old Jared Lewton, of Hettinger. The Highway Patrol says Lewton was alone in the semi and was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

EMERADO, N.D. (AP) — An Emerado man was injured when he was struck by an Amtrak train in the northeastern North Dakota town.

The Highway Patrol says in a statement that 51-year-old Dan O’Donnel was standing next to the tracks when he was hit about 5:20 a.m. Thursday.

Patrol Lt. Troy Hischer says  O’Donnel suffered an arm injury and walked to a nearby bar for help. He was taken to a Grand Forks hospital for treatment.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari tells KFGO that O’Donnel was on railroad property. The patrol is continuing to investigate.

No one on the westbound passenger train was hurt, but it was delayed for about an hour.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request by North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem to order a more detailed complaint in a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the state’s Depression-era anti-corporate farming law.

Plaintiffs including the North Dakota Farm Bureau sued in June, saying the law that aims to protect the state’s family farming heritage actually hurts the agriculture industry and interferes with interstate commerce.

Stenehjem maintained the lawsuit was so vague that his office couldn’t even respond to it. He asked U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland to order the plaintiffs to more specifically detail why they believe the law is unconstitutional.

Hovland has denied Stenehjem’s motion, saying the lawsuit “is more than sufficiently clear” for the state to file a response.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s first crop of industrial hemp is showing promise, with returns better than a lot of other commodities.

Three operations in three counties grew hemp this year under a federally approved research program. The goal is to determine whether hemp can be successful in North Dakota.

Program director Rachel Spilde with the state Agriculture Department says yields range from 860 pounds per acre to 1,125 pounds. Hemp is worth about $1 per pound, so its value is much higher than the $280 per-acre cost of raising the crop.

Hemp fiber can be used in numerous products, but production has been limited because federal drug law doesn’t differentiate between hemp and its cousin marijuana.

Spilde says the state research program will be conducted again next year.

 

In world and national news….

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says most of the injuries in Thursday  morning’s Hoboken train crash were among people aboard the train, not standing on the platform. But he noted that the one person who died was a woman who was standing on the platform and was struck by debris. He says 108 people were injured. Christie says there is no reason to believe there will be any more fatalities. He says the train’s engineer is in critical condition, but is cooperating with investigators. Witnesses reported that the New Jersey Transit train came speeding into the station and hit a concrete-and-steel bumper. It apparently knocked out pillars as it ground to a halt in a covered waiting area, collapsing a section of the roof onto the first car.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Thousands of Israelis have been paying final respects to former president and prime minister Shimon Peres (shee-MOHN’ PEHR’-ehs). They flocked to the country’s parliament Thursday to view the casket of a man who, in a seven-decade political career, was credited with leading Israel though some of its most defining moments. Scores of world leaders, including President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, will attend the funeral tomorrow in Jerusalem.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Clinton is urging her supporters in Iowa to cast their ballots as soon as possible. She told voters at a rally in Des Moines: “You can go vote and we can be on the path to victory here in Iowa.” Early, in-person voting in Iowa started Thursday. Clinton’s team is trying to follow President Barack Obama’s strategy of establishing an edge in the battleground state by getting backers to the polls early.

NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — A woman who was the victim of a sex assault at Iowa State University is speaking publicly about the incident and its effect on her life because she says she wants to change how rape victims are treated on college campuses. Melissa Maher spoke Thursday at the sentencing of her attacker, Patrick Whetstone, describing how the assault had “turned her life upside down.” Whetstone pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse under a plea agreement that Maher said will enable her to “go on with” her life. A judge sentenced him to two years of probation followed by 10 years of sex offender monitoring.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s governor is approving legislation that will automatically enroll millions of private-sector workers in retirement savings accounts. It’s an attempt to address the growing concern that many workers will be forced to work until they die or retire and live in poverty. The measure creates a state-run retirement program for nearly 7 million workers who don’t have an employer-sponsored plan. Employers will be required to enroll their workers and deduct money from each paycheck, though workers can opt out.