CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 25 to 30. Southwest winds 5 to

15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 30 to 35. West winds 10 to

20 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 30 to 35.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 45 to 50.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers. Lows

40 to 45.

.WASHINGTONS BIRTHDAY…Showers and a slight chance of

thunderstorms. Highs 50 to 55.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A chance of light rain. Lows in

the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs 50 to 55.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 30 to 35.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 40 to 45.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of light snow. Highs

30 to 35.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  On Friday, February 17, 2017, Stutsman County Communications will be performing a county-wide test of the CodeRED mass notification system.  The test will occur between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.  This system is used to alert residents of emergency events and notifications of immediate concern to the public.  CodeRED informs the public by calling all land line telephones within the selected warned area.  It also alerts those individuals that have signed up for notifications via cell phone, email or text message.

The test message that will occur on Friday will be general in nature and

describe that the call is a CodeRED test call.  Residents will not need to

respond to the message.  CodeRED service is free of charge to residents and

businesses. Land line telephones are already included in the notification

database.

To receive notifications via cell phone, email or text, individuals can sign

up for the service by going to the Stutsman County website

(http://www.co.stutsman.nd.us/), scroll to the bottom of the page and click

on the CodeRED icon.  Those without Internet access can call Stutsman County Emergency Management at 701-252-9093, Monday through Friday, (8AM-5PM) to sign up over the phone.

 

The system is only used by Stutsman County officials to provide residents

with important information that will keep the community safe and informed.

Questions regarding CodeRED services should be directed to Stutsman County Emergency Management.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Advisory Board meeting was held Thursday at Historic Franklin School.

Grant requests were heard from the Stutsman County Museum concerning staffing, and Jamestown Drag Racing Association for advertising and Capital Construction.

The Stutsman County Museum represented by Tom Lindberg, requested $8,000 for the 2017 payroll for summer staffing.

Other donations/sources of funding were listed as $8,243 from the Stutsman County, mill levy, and $7,000 from donations and dues.

The 2017 payroll is expected to be $9,342.94.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Tourism Grant board granted, 80 percent of the anticipated payroll, which is $7,500.

It was pointed out that recent funding requests by other entities for payrolls, also in some cases, have not been fully funded.

 

Jamestown Drag Racing represented by Mike Trautman, requested a grant of $6,000 for advertising including posters.

It also requested $1,700 in purchasing  public address equipment, which previously had been rented.

Other funding sources and amounts were listed as: Local Business Sponsors, $11,170, from race entry fees, game admission fees, $10,000, event t-shirt sales, $2,500.

The economic impact of the drag races is estimated at $225, 000, with an attendance of visitors of 1,500.

The Grant Board approved giving,  the full amount of $6,000 for the advertising request, and the full amount of $1,700 to purchase the public address equipment.

This year’s Drag Races are scheduled for July 15, 16 at Jamestown Regional Airport.

In other business the Board, reviewed the Capital Construction process.

It was noted that the next round of applications are due by March 1st, this year, and that the news media was given the explanation of the Capital Construction fund and the application process.

The board reviewed the score sheet board members use  from the application information .

Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund  reported that officials with the University of Jamestown have pointed out that the NAIA Wrestling Championships are looking at holding the event in Jamestown, both at the Civic Center, and the University of Jamestown.  He said talks concerning a possible two year agreement will continue, and would include 2018 and 2019, if agreed to.

He pointed out that Tourism is helping to improve and expand the signage on the hiking and biking trails by working with the designer.

Tourism also assisted  Birding Drives North Dakota with the designing of the new brochure. The cost of $5,000 comes from last year’s Tourism budget.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The North Dakota Aeronautic Commission reports that boardings at Jamestown Regional Airport were off 1.15% in January this year, compared to January of 2016.

The January 2017 boardings were 862 compared to 872 in January of 2016, and 546 in January of 2015.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   An evening with friends can make a difference in the life of a cancer patient.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary is hosting its first ever Ladies Night event on Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The event includes appetizers, “mock”-tails, door prizes and a clearance sale on Gift Shoppe apparel and accessories.

Auxiliary member and former Gift Shoppe manager, Carol Lawrence, says, “Battling cancer is a community effort. This event helps raise money for the upcoming Jamestown Regional Medical Cancer Center. It also builds community and strengthens our support systems.”

JRMC is creating a cancer center with eight infusion rooms. The center would be the only one of its kind within 90 miles. At any given time, more than 100 Stutsman County residents are traveling more than 100 miles for chemotherapy care. Of the $1.5 million JRMC Cancer Center goal, so far, the Foundation has raised $729,000.

Ladies Night is set for 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Admission is free.

Auxiliary past-president, Cindy Grimm adds, “These are good deals for a great cause. No matter your budget, you can feel good about contributing to a cancer center. That cancer center will effect generations of the future.

The JRMC Auxiliary consists of more than 40 volunteers. Since fundraising for the Journey to Oncology campaign began, the Auxiliary has raised more than $40,000. It meets the first Monday of each month. If interested in volunteer opportunities, call (701) 952-4809. For more information about Ladies Night, email tiffany.wilkerson@jrmcnd.com or visit JRMCND.com.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The latest spring flood outlook from the National Weather Service calls for only minor flooding in the area of Dakota Access pipeline protesters’ encampment in North Dakota.

Thursday’s update is similar to one issued three weeks ago. The numbers still indicate that parts of the camp could end up underwater, but there’s little chance of major or even moderate flooding through May.

The outlook doesn’t include flood risks associated with ice jams, which can’t be predicted. That’s what has state and federal officials worried. They’re working to help the Standing Rock Sioux get the camp near the Cannonball River cleaned up and cleared out before any flooding.

Some in the camp say the flood fears are overblown, and many say they might seek higher ground but they’re not leaving.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Senate has endorsed a trio of House measures influenced by the dispute between Dakota Access pipeline protesters and law enforcement.

The Republican-led chamber on Thursday approved a measure that makes it a crime for adults to wear masks in most cases. The Senate also approved bills that increase penalties for rioting and trespassing.

The masks and trespassing measures were slightly amended by the Senate. They now return to the House to see if representatives will agree with Senate changes.

North Dakota has been the center of protests against the $3.8 billion, four-state pipeline, in large part because of objections of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in the southern part of the state.

There have been more than 700 protest-related arrests in North Dakota since mid-August.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a Minot woman to probation for fracturing her 2-year-old daughter’s skull.

Roberta Josephine Plentychief pleaded guilty to Class B felony child abuse. The  charge could have sent Plentychief to prison for 10 years. But prosecutors agreed to a plea deal that called for her to be sentenced to a year in prison, with all time suspended except for 140 days she already has served in jail.

Plentychief will be on supervised probation for 18 months. She also must register as an offender against children, and complete a chemical dependency and parenting evaluation.

Her attorney says Plentychief was 19 when she threw her daughter to the floor in January 2016.

The victim and Plentychief’s younger child are in foster care.

 

Washington DC  (CSi)  U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today joined the president at the White House for the signing ceremony of a bill she helped introduce and pass earlier this month undoing the previous administration’s Stream Protection Rule.

Proposed and finalized last year, the updated Stream Protection Rule was originally intended to address Appalachian mining practices, but the final rule was applicable to the entire country and showed little understanding of the mining practices of the lignite industry or the geography of North Dakota. For more than a year, Heitkamp had worked to fix or roll back the rule so North Dakota’s lignite coal industry wouldn’t be held back by unworkable federal policies.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s preference for wearing jeans got him booted from the state Senate’s floor.

Burgum, a Republican software entrepreneur elected in November, had finished posing for a photo with some students on the Senate floor Wednesday when he was asked to leave.

Spokesman Mike Nowatzki says the governor “meant no disrespect to the chamber rules.”

Burgum’s preference for jeans and sweaters has spurred much grumbling at the Capitol among many male lawmakers who wear a suit and tie when the Legislature is in session.

Burgum also wore jeans at his inauguration last month, when other governors in recent years donned tuxedos or a suit.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is staunchly denying that he has any contact or connections with Russia. Defending against accusations that he and certain members of his administration have close ties or contacts with the Russian government, Trump told reporters, “I have nothing to do with Russia. I have no deals there. I don’t know anything.” He also says that Michael Flynn, his national security adviser who was fired this week after revelations that he discussed sanctions with a Russian diplomat, was just doing his job by contacting Russia. Trump says Flynn was asked to resign because he was dishonest about the details of the call with Vice President Mike Pence.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are asking the White House and law enforcement agencies to preserve all materials related to contacts between Russians and individuals associated with Donald Trump. The nine Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to White House counsel Donald McGahn, and similar letters to the Justice Department and the FBI.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his administration will release a new executive order on immigration next week to — in his words — “comprehensively protect our country.” Trump’s original order restricted immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries. It led to massive protests and was put on hold by a federal appeals court. Trump says the rollout of that order was “very smooth” and “perfect” but that it ran into “a bad court.” He says he wanted to delay the effective date of the order for a month or so, but that he was advised by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly not to do that because it would give people with bad intent time to flow into the country.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The woman who’s been nominated to oversee the government’s major insurance programs says she doesn’t support turning Medicare into a “voucher” plan. “Voucher” is a term used by critics to describe a proposal under which retirees would get a fixed payment to purchase coverage from government-regulated private insurance plans. Indiana health policy consultant Seema Verma also told a Senate panel Thursday that she supports choice for Medicare beneficiaries and that the program needs changes to make it financially sustainable for the long run.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Investigators in Malaysia are still piecing together details of the case involving the death of a half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. There’s a widespread assumption that Kim sent a hit squad to kill his estranged half brother, Kim Jong Nam. Three suspects have now been arrested, including the two women suspected of spraying the victim with a poison at Malaysia’s main airport.