wbPM4CSi Weather…  .SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 30. SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S.  HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

.MONDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S.

.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW POSSIBLY MIXED WITH RAIN. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.

.WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.

.THANKSGIVING DAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S.

Regional Road Conditions Online

DALTON, Minn. (AP) — Transportation officials say a wintry storm that swept the northern Plains states Friday has sent cars and semitrailers into ditches along Interstate 94 in western Minnesota.

Jerimiah Moerke with the Minnesota Department of Transportation says snow and high winds have made it difficult for vehicles — especially big rigs — to get up hills on the interstate around Dalton. Officials say at least one semitrailer jackknifed on I-94 between Fergus Falls and Evansville.

Minnesota State Patrol trooper Jesse Grabow says low visibility, ice, snow and slush are the main causes for crashes and spin outs on the interstate.

A spotter for the National Weather Service reports nearly 14 inches of snow fell at a location in Cass County by early Friday afternoon. In Itasca (eye-TAS’-kuh) County, an observer reports a foot of snow near Coleraine, with 5 inches falling in less than two hours.

Meteorologist Amanda Graning of the National Weather Service in Duluth says some areas in northern Minnesota could see up to 2 feet of snow before the heavy band starts dissipating Friday evening.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign began today, (November 18, 2016.)

This year goal is $157,000 from both kettle donations and matching funds from anonymous donors.

Last year’s $156,000 goal was  short by $20,000.  The shortfall was made up from a one-time rainy-day fund.

Jamestown Salvation Army Major Tim Nauta says, the fundraising goal is reachable in the Jamestown  community, requesting more individuals to give.

He Points out that without enough revenue, one option is to cut services, adding that somewhat restrictive policies are already in place.

Nauta adds, that the annual cost of  providing direct services to individuals and families can reach $250,000 or more.  He says in 2015 there were three anonymous matching donors in 2015 and two this year.

More emphasis is being place on the  mail appeal solicitations and revenue from the thrift store.

Giving options include direct giving at the red kettle, a tax-deductible check by mail, or an electronic donation can be made online through the middle of January that is counted as part of the Red Kettle Campaign.

The Red Kettle Campaign runs through Saturday, December 24, 2016, with, volunteer bell ringers at the Cash Wise entrance to the Park Plaza, and at two entrances to the Buffalo Mall and Wal-Mart during store business hours Monday through Saturday, starting the day after Thanksgiving at Wal-Mart.

Major Terri Nauta says the Angel Tree Program, provides holiday gifts to children, adding that families can register their children for gifts or for a Christmas food box at the Jamestown Salvation Army office, on First Avenue North in Jamestown through November.

Angel Tree cards will be at the Buffalo Mall from November 18 through December 8. Each card has a child’s age and gender, along with clothing size or a wish list.

When a sponsor fills some or all of the card items and drops it off at the Salvation Army, the staff will match the card number to the child for distribution to the family. Families area asked to pick up the gifts or food baskets on Thursday, December 15.

Cash donations to buy gifts are welcome and go toward filling incomplete wish lists.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  Barnes County Sheriff’s Office members  on Sunday November 20, 2016 will hold a soup and sandwich fundraiser for the Barnes County Deputies Secret Santa program from 2-p.m. to 4-p.m. at the Valley City VFW Club.

The Secret Santa Program, in its fifth year,  assists families or individuals who have had a major change in their life due to unexpected medical expenses, death of a family member, residents who have lost their home to a fire and unexpected loss of a job, year ’round.

Tickets for the soup and sandwich fundraiser are $10 for adults; $5 for kids 12 and under; preschool free, with tickets also available at the door.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  As part of Valley City’s Holiday “to-do list,” this Sunday November 20, 2016, it’s the Holiday Preview Open House from noon to 4-p.m.

Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce, Event Coordinator, Jerilyn Beckman says several merchants are participating, helping area shoppers to get into the Christmas shopping mode.

She points out that the Snowman Contest is November 20 – Decmeber 1st.

Visit participating Valley City businesses, and get your card stamped, at each store visit, vote at the bottom of the card for your favorite snowman, and leave the card at the business or drop it off at the Chamber office.  Be entered to win $100 in Chamber Bucks to spend locally in Valley City during the Christmas holiday season.

She added more parade entries are welcome for the Parade of Lights in Valley City, to be held on Thursday December 1, 2016 on Central Avenue.  Contact the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce with parade entries.

Thursday Night Christmas Shopping in December will be on The 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd.

The Christmas in the Valley Button Drawing will be on December 22nd  at the Valley City VFW at 6:30-p.m.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The North Star Classic events and activities are set for Valley City, December 2 through 4th, 2016.

A new event this year is the Cattlemen’s Ball on Friday, December 2nd at the Eagles Club.

Dinner is at 7:30 p.m. and after the dinner there will be an auction of 10 elite animals from around the state.

There will be two grand prize winners with only 280 tickets for sale.

The prizes include a $5,000 credit toward the purchase of an animal that night, or  $2,500 cash prize tickets, available at the North Dakota Winter Show Office in the Rosebud Visitors Center.

The North Star Classic Dinner Show features the Acapella group “Blend” on Saturday, December 3rd in the Valley City Eagles Club. Blend performs hit songs from the 50’s and 60’s, that interacts with the audience.

Tickets are available at the North Dakota Winter Show Office in the Rosebud Visitors Center or at the Eagles Club. Reserve  tickets Monday thru Friday at 701-845-1401.

At the North Star Classic, there will be a Holiday Showcase December 3rd and 4th from 10 a.m. to 5-p.m. at North Dakota Winter Show Event Center, with a variety of vendors.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce will once again present the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award and the Above & Beyond Award at the Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, January 26, 2017.

Nomination forms should be submitted to the chamber office no later than

Monday, December 12, 2016 at 5 p.m.

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The lawyer for the man who confessed to kidnapping, raping and killing 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling says his client has shed ”countless tears” for Jacob and his family in the 27 years since his death.

Danny Heinrich will be sentenced Monday on a child pornography charge that stemmed from the investigation into Jacob’s disappearance. As part of his plea deal, Heinrich confessed to killing the St. Joseph boy, and prosecutors agreed not to charge him with murder. The plea deal calls for a 20-year sentence.

In a memo filed Thursday, defense attorney Reynaldo Aligada says nobody should feel sympathy for Heinrich. But he says Heinrich hopes to convey how sorry he feels.

Prosecutors say in their memo no sentence can ever truly reflect the “cruel, sadistic and narcissistic” character of Heinrich.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota National Guard is requesting more soldiers and airmen to assist law enforcement officers dealing with Dakota Access Pipeline protesters in Morton County. Maj. Amber Balken says about 90 guard members are on duty currently in Morton County.  Balken says that number is expected to increase to about 130 personnel in the next few days.

 

DALLAS (AP) — The head of the company building the Dakota Access oil pipeline says the company won’t consider rerouting it to address American Indian concerns.

The $3.8 billion pipeline to carry North Dakota oil to Illinois is largely complete except for a stretch under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux fears a leak could contaminate drinking water on its nearby reservation.

President Barack Obama has raised the possibility of rerouting the pipeline. Kelcy Warren, the CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, told The Associated Press on Friday that the company won’t change the route.

The Army Corps of Engineers has delayed approving the river crossing, calling for more tribal input. ETP has asked a federal judge to declare that it has the right to drill under the river.

 

DALLAS (AP)  North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has asked the Army Corps of Engineers to speed up its decision on whether to allow a company to proceed with laying a section of the Dakota Access pipeline under a Missouri River reservoir.

Dalrymple said at a news conference Friday that increasingly frequent protests against the pipeline in and around the state capital, Bismarck, have created “a tremendously challenging, tremendously difficult situation.”

Demonstrators have protested in several locations this week, including at the state Capitol building and the state-owned Bank of North Dakota, among others.

Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary credited residents for being patient with protesters and thanked residents for displaying “North Dakota nice.”

Protesters say the pipeline would threaten the drinking water on a Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

 

DALLAS (AP) —  Several celebrities, including the actors Shailene Woodley and Ezra Miller, are meeting with Standing Rock Sioux officials and youth in North Dakota to discuss efforts to halt construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Woodley, who starred in “The Fault in our Stars” and the “Divergent” series, has been to the protest site before. She was arrested last month on charges of trespassing and engaging in a riot.

On Friday, she suggested that people should consider pulling their money out of the banks funding the pipeline and putting it instead in federal credit unions.

Protester Kendrick Eagle says he was part of a group that met with President Barack Obama when the president visited the reservation in June 2014. He says the president promised to stand with the tribe and that he is needed “more than ever” to help in the pipeline fight.

 

MAYVILLE, N.D. (AP) — Most fire departments in North Dakota are made up of volunteers, and there are now fewer of them than ever before.

96 percent of the fire departments in the state are made up of volunteers.

Mayville fire chief Lee Brenna says she was on a wait list to join the fire department in 1988. Mayville had 50 firefighters at the time. Today, there are only 28 firefighters in the department.

As volunteers decline, departments have assisted other towns in emergencies. But that leaves the town that’s providing assistance more vulnerable.

Lavon Nelson, who lost his home to a fire in June, says he believe it’s important to have enough manpower to fight fires.

 

In sports…

Fargo  (CSi)   the Jamestown Blue Jays volleyball team lost to  West Fargo Friday 3-1  (25-15, 25-27, 25-14, 25-20) at the State Volleyball tournament, in Fargo .

Jamestown will take on the  loser of Red River and Davies Saturday at 11-a.m. for seventh place.

 

In world and national news…

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO says its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg (yehnz STOHL’-tehn-burg), has spoken with President-elect Donald Trump for the first time to congratulate him on his election victory. The military alliance says both leaders agreed during a telephone call Friday that progress has been made on making sure member countries are sharing the defense burden, but that there is more to do. During the campaign, Trump suggested that the U.S. might abandon its NATO treaty commitments and pull out of the alliance if other countries don’t contribute more.

LUDOWICI, Ga. (AP) — Federal authorities say a deputy U.S. marshal has been fatally shot while trying to serve an arrest warrant in southeast Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Service says the suspect was killed by officers who returned fire. Authorities say the marshal, Patrick Carothers, was shot twice while trying to serve a warrant at a mobile home in rural Long County, about 55 miles southeast of Savannah. They say the suspect was a fugitive wanted in Sumter County, South Carolina.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say a school bus has crashed and rolled over on an interstate off-ramp in Nashville, sending 23 students to the hospital, all of whom are expected to survive. They say a 17-year-old student received the most serious injury, a broken collarbone. The bus was on its way to a convention of an academic and community service organization at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Northern Nebraska residents are digging out after half a foot of snow fell in some areas, as a wintry blast moved from the Rocky Mountain region into northern Plains states. Temperatures have dipped into the lower 30s, with high winds making conditions feel colder. Forecasters say temperatures in the area will drop into the single digits and teens late Friday and early Saturday morning. That’s a big change from earlier in the week. Temperatures hovered around 70 degrees in the area on Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officials say a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe as she famously sang “Happy Birthday” to President John. F. Kennedy has sold for nearly $5 million at a Los Angeles auction.

Julien’s Auctions says that the iconic, form-fitting gown was sold for $4.8 million Thursday night to Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

The company says in a news release that the actress wore the Hollywood designer Jean Louis creation — flesh-colored and sparkling with over 2,500 handstitched crystals — on May 19, 1962, for an early 45th birthday celebration for Kennedy at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Monroe’s breathy rendition of the birthday song has been broadcast repeatedly since, adding to the lore surrounding the screen icon.

It was just a few months later on Aug. 5, that the 36-year-old Monroe was found dead from what the Los Angeles district attorney’s office ruled was an overdose of barbiturates.