wbam1CSi Weather…

…WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON…

.REST OF TODAY…PARTLY SUNNY. SCATTERED FLURRIES. HIGHS 5 TO

10 BELOW. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS

33 BELOW TO 38 BELOW ZERO.

.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 10 TO 15 BELOW. WEST WINDS 5 TO

15 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS 27 BELOW TO 32 BELOW ZERO.

.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING THEN MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS

ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH. WIND CHILL READINGS

21 BELOW TO 26 BELOW ZERO.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 15 TO 20 BELOW.

.SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 BELOW.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 15 TO 20 BELOW.

.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 5 TO 10.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS ZERO TO 5 BELOW.

.MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 5 TO 10.

.MONDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. LOWS ZERO TO

5 ABOVE.

.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW. HIGHS 10 TO 15.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS ZERO TO 5 BELOW.

.WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 10 TO 15.

 

A MORE ACTIVE PATTERN WILL DEVELOP EARLY NEXT WEEK AND SEVERAL

PERIODS OF SNOW ARE POSSIBLE. THE FIRST ROUND OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE

AS EARLY AS SUNDAY.

THE NEXT CHANCE FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL BE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY.

 

Valley City (CSi)  In a letter dated January 4, 2017,  to the Valley City Commission, Commissioner Rick Ross tendered his resignation.

That follows what he claims were threats of violence against him and his family that occurred over several weeks by some Barnes County residents.

The letter issued by Rick Ross to his fellow city commissioners and the citizens of Valley City, reads:

“Six months ago, I was elected to serve as a city commissioner. I had a strong desire to work within the system to bring change to city hall and potentially implement new and positive initiatives to make our community a better place to live, work, play and raise our families.

Unfortunately, I have twice found myself falsely accused of abhorrent behavior, have been threatened with physical violence, have found myself in court twice and have had my personal vehicle vandalized.

These incidents have caused my family a great deal of angst, have affected my personal health and well-being and frankly, given the failure of our legal system to effectively deal with the people involved and now threaten my financial well-being.

I am a firm believer in the value of healthy debate and I’ve had many conversations with Valley City residents pro and con, relative to the positions I’ve taken on a variety of issues. I am unwilling, however, to participate in a process dominated by threats and intimidation and therefore, to live in fear of harm to myself and my family. As a result, it is with deep regret that I announce that I am tendering my resignation from the Valley City Commission effective immediately.

I want to thank the citizens of Valley City for the trust they put in me and ask for their empathy and understanding as I make my family, my faith, my health and my existing career the focus of my future.”

Signed

Richard (Rick) Ross

At the January 17, 2017 Valley City Commission meeting, commissioners will officially approve Ross’s  resignation.

 

Jamestown, ND  (CSi)  – The Buffalo Mall announces that a brand new Dunham’s Sports department store coming soon to Jamestown.
The opening of the Jamestown store, anticipated this summer, is the first location in North Dakota. The nearest location is currently over 100 miles to the south in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It will be the only large format sporting goods department store for 100 miles in every direction.
The news release says the Midwest’s largest sporting goods chain, Dunham’s now has over 225 stores nationwide. This store will provide outdoor gear, athletic equipment, hunting and fishing equipment, footwear, and apparel from major brands like Nike, Under Armour, Columbia, and Gildan. Hunters and fishers can catch the big one with clothing and gear from Rocky, Bushnell, and Barret, and golfers can improve their swing from featured brands like Titleist and Callaway. Dunham’s is anticipated to open summer 2017.
Buffalo Mall  Manager Tim Perkins is optimistic on the chain’s impact, saying, “I believe they will give new life to the mall, increase mall traffic, and benefit the rest of the stores. Our community is very outdoor focused, biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, sledding, skating, to name a few. I am excited for the people in and around Jamestown to have this option to shop locally for their needs.”

He says Dunham’s will occupy about 40,000 square feet along the west side of the mall, and about half the size of the mall’s Home of Economy store.
Dunham’s has a strong and rich history of serving the local communities they are in. With programs like Dunham’s Rewards, which offers money saving coupons, Team Programs, which allows coaches access to low-cost equipment for their teams, and Company Programs, which gives discounts to other local companies to save money, they believe in engaging with and fostering positive relationships with their customers and the community they do business in.
Buffalo Mall regular hours are Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-6, and Sun 12-5.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Military veterans should note medication co-pay changes through the Veterans Administration.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Stutsman County Veterans Service Office, David Bratton said under the three-tier system some may see decreases, while others will see increases in co-pays.  The changes take effect of February 27, 2017.

Also on our show he pointed out that there will be a Veterans Art Festival in Fargo, at the Fargo VA third floor auditorium from 10-a.m., to 2-p.m.  The submission of art deadline id February 6th.

Also on March 23rd there will be a Brain Injury Awareness Day at the North Dakota State Capital, and March 24-25 is the Mind Matters Conference at the Radison Hotel in Bismarck.

More information on line at ndbin.org

He reminded viewers that the VA van based in Burleigh County comes through Jamestown on a regular basis to take veterans to the Fargo VA Clinic.   His office has the schedule available.

He added that veterans can be looking for the IRS form 109B to indicate VA health care coverage when filing their tax returns.

Bratton added that the PTSD Support Group meets on the second and fourth Thursday’s of each month, from 12:30-p.m., to 2-p.m., in the basement of the Law Enforcement Center in Jamestown, to discuss concerns with a combat veteran from Fargo.

He can be reached at his office, also in the basement of the LEC Monday-Friday from 8-a.m., to noon, and 1-p.m., to 5-p.m., or call 701-252-9043.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   Emma Lyn Kukowski was born on January 2, 2017 at 11:20 p.m. to parents Michelle and Kyle Kukowski from Harvey, N.D. Emma is the first baby born in 2017 at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Michelle  Kukowski expected to have a quick delivery with her fifth child, but she was unprepared for just how quickly.

She says, “The staff met me at the emergency room doors, and within five minutes, she was here.”

Although Michelle had quick deliveries with all of her other children, she said Emma is the fastest delivery she has had yet. “I knew I might deliver quickly, so I came into Jamestown just to avoid the bad roads and I am glad I did.”

To avoid traveling on wintery roads, Michelle and her family drove to Jamestown the week before her due date and stayed with friends and family.

Michelle, who is a 3rd grade teacher in Harvey, says she initially wanted to have her baby in 2016, before the new school year started. Michelle is a former teacher at Gussner Elementary School, in Jamestown. Once that date passed however, the thought of a New Year’s baby seemed fun, adding, “My friends and family kept telling me to try and have her on New Year’s, to ring in the New Year with a new baby.”

The nurses always look forward to the first baby of the year.

Family BirthPlace Manager, Emily Woodley says, “It’s a fun an exciting to start a new year with a new life.”

Emma will be welcomed home by five siblings and a stepbrother, ranging in age from 3-14.

Michelle says, the siblings are excited to meet the new baby.

Michelle says, “My three year old has been talking non-stop about holding and feeding her baby sister.  It will be nice for us all to be together, I am excited to see all of my kids’ reactions.”

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown Police Department and Jamestown Fire Department have another “Battle of the Badges,” blood drive competition.  The blood drive is today from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm, and Friday from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm and  again Saturday from 7:00 am to 11:30 am, at the Jamestown Civic Center each day.

“The Battle of the Badges” puts the department’s against each other as they compete for a donor’s vote.  Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger says Fire Chief Jim Reuther approached him about holding the competition.

Last year, the event attracted 220 donors and  this year 100 pre-registered so far.

The Jamestown Fire Department won the first year’s Battle of the Badges

On line go to bloodhero.com to pre-register using the sponsor code: Jamestown.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The AAUW – Jamestown Branch was selected as one of 23 sites across the country to host a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) event for Middle School girls titled Tech Savvy.

Regional Campaign Manager – Team Lead, of the ANCHOR Partnership Program, Joan Enderle says, this is the 3rd year for the event to be held on the campus of the University of Jamestown.   All Stutsman County schools have been invited to attend.   A similar event for middle school boys will be held at the middle school and led by STEM center at VCSU.     In conjunction with the event there will be a parent session.

The event is March 7, 2017.   Volunteers are needed to help that day, and parents  are encouraged to sign up, along with funding support.

So far $8,500 of the $11,000 needed, has been raised, with more funding requests, out, educating the community about the program and how to encourage kids in STEM fields.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota State University President Dean Bresciani (bruh-SHAW’-nee) is one of four finalists to lead Ohio University.

The school in Athens, Ohio, announced its presidential search finalists Thursday. Bresciani is to take part in an open forum at the school on Jan. 12.

Bresciani’s tenure in Fargo has been rocky at times. The state Board of Higher Education last June declined to extend his contract over complaints about his communication, teamwork and decision-making skills. The board gave Bresciani six months to show improvement, and voted in November to give him another year.

Bresciani was named NDSU president in May 2010. He makes about $355,000 annually.

Other finalists for the Ohio University job are officials with that school, Texas Tech and the University of New Mexico.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal grand jury in North Dakota is looking into a violent November clash between Dakota Access pipeline opponents and officers in which one woman was seriously injured.

Attorney Ralph Hurvitz says pipeline opponent Steve Martinez has been ordered to testify regarding New York resident Sophia Wilansky’s arm injury due to an explosion.

Protesters say she was injured by a grenade thrown by police, while authorities say she was hurt by a small propane tank that protesters rigged to explode.

Martinez, who is from Williston, North Dakota, says he’ll refuse to testify and is prepared to be arrested.

Grand jury proceedings are closed to the public. U.S. Attorney Chris Myers declined comment.

Pipeline opponents worry the four-state, $3.8 billion project will harm the environment. The pipeline developer disputes that.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Ward County commissioners are planning to ask North Dakota’s new governor to dismiss the former governor’s removal proceedings against the local sheriff.

The Minot Daily News reports that the commission voted Tuesday to write a letter to Gov. Doug Burgum asking him to drop the action to remove Sheriff Steve Kukowski.

Former Gov. Jack Dalrymple initiated removal proceedings after a special prosecutor handling misdemeanor charges against Kukowski petitioned the action last March. Dalrymple suspended Kukowski in June, pending a removal hearing that has been delayed until the criminal case is decided.

Ward County Commissioner Alan Walter says charges against Kukowski aren’t felonies that would require removal.

Commissioner John Fjeldahl cast the only vote against the motion. He says he’s hesitant to inject the commission into the removal process

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota Senate committee is considering a measure that would update state law to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that declared same-sex couples have the right to marry.

The measure would update dozens of references such as “husband and wife” to gender-neutral terms.

The measure got its first hearing Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The panel will decide later whether to endorse the proposal.

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Kelly Armstrong, says he’s received more than 300 emails from both supporters and opponents of the measure. Armstrong says some want to keep references of husband and wife on the books as a protest to the high court ruling.

Jen Dunn of Bismarck says approving the measure will make state law consistent with the Supreme Court ruling.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — One North Dakota lawmaker thinks the state should join its southern neighbor and bump up interstate speed limits to 80 mph.

Grand Forks Republican Sen. Lonnie Laffen has proposed the speed increase for Interstates 94 and 29. South Dakota is one of a handful of states that have the higher limit.

Truck driver Kelvin Kaizer says he’s not sure the increased speed is a good thing. Kaizer says a truck that weighs 80,000 pounds headed down the interstate at 80 mph might be too much. Kaizer keeps his speed at 70 mph. He says some drivers think they’re “super truckers” even in inclement weather.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo resident says he’s not going anywhere despite plans by the city to demolish his home to make room for a flood levee project.

John Stern’s home on River Road in central Fargo is among a group of homes set to taken over through eminent domain and demolished.

The 1,800-square-foot home was designed by a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright family. Stern calls it “an architectural masterpiece.”

Stern says it would be cheaper for the city to build a flood wall around his home and others rather than going through the buyout process.

Commissioners say they will move forward with the levee plan as scheduled, but will hear testimony from the Fargo Historic Preservation Commission on the historical significance of Stern’s home.

.

In sports…

Jamestown  (CSi)  The  Stutsman County Invitational Boys Basketball Tournament  begins on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Jamestown Civic Center running through Saturday with four games each day.

The Ellendale Cardinals are the defending champions.

Thursday’s schedule:

#1 DISTRICT 5 ELLENDALE VS. #4 DISTRICT 6 MEDINA/P/B (3PM)

#2 DISTRICT 6 NAPOLEON/G/S VS. #3 DISTRICT 5 EDGELEY/K/M (4:30)

#1 DISTRICT 6 KIDDER COUNTY VS. #4 DISTRICT 5 MIDKOTA (6PM)

#2 DISTRICT 5 CARRINGTON VS. # 3 DISTRICT 6 SOUTH BORDER (7:30)

Because of  a Jimmies game at 6-p.m., the tournament  on Saturday will start early, with the seventh place game starting at 10:30-a.m., the onsolation game is  at noon, third place at 1:30-p.m., and championship game at 3-p.m.

 

BISMARCK (AP) Once again, the Bismarck Century girls basketball team and the Minot High School boys basketball team are tops in the Class A Polls, as voted on by members of the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

First place votes are in parenthesis, followed by the team’s record, and the number of total votes received.

Girls

1. Bismarck Century (11) 6-1 67

2. Grand Forks Red River (2) 7-0 54

3. Fargo Davies (1) 5-2 37

4. Fargo Shanley 6-1 35

5. Bismarck 6-3 9

Others Receiving Votes: Bismarck Legacy (4-4), Mandan (4-3), Wahpeton (4-1)

Boys

1. Minot (13) 6-0 69

2. Fargo Davies (1) 7-0 52

3. Bismarck Century 6-1 42

4. Dickinson 6-1 33

5. West Fargo 6-1 12

Others Receiving Votes: Devils Lake (3-4), Fargo North (3-1)

 

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Final Atlanta 111 Orlando 92

Final Charlotte 123 Oklahoma City 112

Final Milwaukee 105 N-Y Knicks 104

Final Chicago 106 Cleveland 94

Final Golden State 125 Portland 117

Final Miami 107 Sacramento 102

Final L.A. Clippers 115 Memphis 106

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

Final Winnipeg 4 Florida 1

Final OT Montreal 4 Dallas 3

Final N-Y Rangers 5 Philadelphia 2

Final Calgary 4 Colorado 1

Final Vancouver 3 Arizona 0

Final Anaheim 2 Detroit 0

 

TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UNDATED (AP) — The number of unbeaten teams in Division I men’s basketball is down to two following Butler’s upset of the defending national champions.

Top-ranked Villanova was 14-0 on the season and riding a 20-game winning streak until Kethan Savage led the Bulldogs’ 66-58 win over the Wildcats. Savage hit the go-ahead layup while scoring five of his 13 points during a 7-0 run that put Butler ahead 58-52 with 1:46 remaining. The 18th-ranked Bulldogs also hit six straight free throws in the final 33 seconds to finish a perfect 15-for-15 from the line.

 

Steve Vasturia scored a career-high 24 points to lead 23rd-rated Notre Dame to a 77-70 upset of ninth-ranked Louisville. Matt Farrell tied his career high with 22 points as the Irish improved to 13-2 with their fourth straight win.

 

Grayson Allen returned from what amounted to a one-game suspension, delivering 15 points and seven assists as eighth-ranked Duke crushed Georgia Tech, 110-57

 

Sheldon Jeter nailed a pair of 3-pointers in overtime to help Pittsburgh secure an 88-76 triumph against No. 11 Virginia.

 

Final (2) Baylor 65 Iowa St. 63

Final (10) Creighton 85 St. John’s 72

Final (15) Oregon 83 Washington 61

Final NC State 104 (21) Virginia Tech 78

 

WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY…

MONTREAL (AP) — Troy Terry scored on all three of his shootout attempts, the last in the seventh round to give the United States a 4-3 victory over Russia on Wednesday in the world junior hockey semifinals.

The Americans will face Canada in the final Thursday night. Canada beat Sweden 5-2 Wednesday night.

Terry scored the winner right after Russia’s Alexander Polunin hit the crossbar. The University of Denver forward beat Ilya Samsonov through the legs for the third time.

 

SHANLEY-STREAK SNAPPED…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The longest active winning streak in North Dakota high school sports has come to an end, with the Fargo Shanley girls basketball team losing to Fargo Davies 45-41 on Tuesday.

Shanley’s streak ended at 76 consecutive victories — a span that included three straight Class A state championships.

North Dakota High School Activities Association spokesman Tom Mix says the streak is considered the modern record for Class A girls basketball, dating to the mid-1970s. Shanley’s streak began in January 2014.

The modern record for Class B is 63 straight wins by Minot Ryan. That streak ended in December 2014, when Ryan was beaten by Shanley in a mixed-class matchup.

 

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tiger Woods will make his PGA return at the course where he captured his last major championship.

Torrey Pines officials say Woods has committed to play in the Farmers Insurance Open later this month. It will be his first official PGA Tour event since he tied for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August 2015.

Woods has won eight times at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 U.S. Open.

Woods missed the entire 2016 PGA season recovering from two back surgeries. He competed at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last month, finishing 15th in the 17-man field.

 

ALPINE SKIING-VONN…

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — The Alpine director of the U.S. ski team says Lindsey Vonn could make her World Cup return in Austria next week, just two months after undergoing surgery on a broken arm. Patrick Riml tells The Associated Press that Vonn has resumed ski training in Colorado and that she plans to travel to Europe this weekend.

The four-time overall champion broke her right arm in a crash while training in Colorado and hasn’t raced since February 2016.

 

In world and national…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Coast Guard says it’s responding to a fire on an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana. The Coast Guard says four people aboard the platform south of Grand Isle were rescued by a supply vessel. No injuries have been reported. Four vessels are fighting the fire. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A winter storm has dumped more than 2 feet of snow around Lake Tahoe. Much of Northern California and the Sierra Nevada are bracing for possible flooding into the weekend. Meanwhile, winter storm watches are covering parts of Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas. Some areas of the Deep South could receive sleet or snow.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago police say charges are expected against four people who they say beat a man in an assault broadcast live on Facebook. Video from Chicago media outlets appears to show someone off-camera using profanities about “white people” and President-elect Donald Trump. Police say it’s too soon to determine whether the attack was racially motivated.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister says authorities are close to catching the gunman who killed 39 people during a New Year’s celebration at an Istanbul nightclub. The deputy premier told a Turkish news channel that “the circle is closing in” on the gunman who vanished after the attack.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will reportedly form a special military brigade this year tasked with removing North Korea’s leadership in the event of war. An official from Seoul’s (sohlz) Defense Ministry says the brigade will aim to remove the North’s wartime command and paralyze its function should a conflict break out.