Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Mar 29

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Sunny. Areas of fog in the morning. Highs around 60. South winds around 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. South winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Southeast winds

10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Southeast

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s. Northeast winds

5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance

of rain. Lows in the upper 30s. Highs in the mid 50s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

Highs in the 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain after

midnight. Lows in the upper 30s.

.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of

rain. Highs in the mid 50s. Lows in the upper 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the lower 50s.

Thursday into early Saturday scattered showers with generally light amounts.

Precipitation may fall as a mix of rain and snow Friday night into Saturday morning across the northwest and north central. Another system moves into

the plains early to mid week, next week.

Valley City  (CSi)   The Barnes County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Valley City man.

Steven Lee Hovland is wanted for failure of 24/7 program stemming from four counts on a Class C Felony Burglary and four counts of Class C Felony Theft of Property charges.

It includes a Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear for a Change of Plea Hearing on a Class C Felony Burglary charge and a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief and theft of property.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hovland is asked to contact the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office at 701-845-8530.

Jamestown   (CSi)  A Special meeting of the Jamestown Public School Board, was held Tuesday, for a Reduction in Force  (RIF) Recommendation concerning  instructors being contemplated for non-renewal at the James Valley Area Career and technology Center.

Superintendent Robert Lech recommended the Reduction in Force, due to lack of funding and uncertainty of funds.

The Jamestown Public School Board issues contracts for the James Valley Career and Technology Center, as the operating board.

JVCTC was not selected for flow-through  programs as a regional provider for programs which previously was available  to each interested center/school district.

One program is not able to cover expenses through direct revenue received, nor is it projected to cover expenses in the future.  At the same time the Department of Career and Technical Education is projecting a decrease in revenue from the state, which will lower revenue again.

The second program also operated with direct flow-through funds from the state to James Valley Career & Technology Center, but it is now regionalized. This means the Career & Technology Center will have expenditures, but the money will flow through Sheyenne Valley Area Career & Tech Center in Valley City.

Superintendent Lech said funding, was applied for anticipating having the program, was not selected as the regional provider. Funds would be funneled through Valley City after this school year.  While this program was able to cover all expenses through the revenue received, there will no longer be any state funding for JVCTC for the program.

At Tuesday’s meeting, it was determined that there is a need for reduction in force of the three instructors of the James Valley Area Career and Technology Center, and directed the superintendent to determine within the Reduction in Force Policy, which instructors should be contemplated for nonrenewal.

A motion was made, and approved unanimously for the board to contemplate the non-renewal of the instructor in the Oakes Farm Business Management program, Lance Brower, and the instructor in the Jamestown Farm Business Management Program, Virgil Dagman.

Also to be discussed by the board and acted upon is the contemplated non-renewal of the current teacher contract of Kim Thoele an instructor in adult education support and GED services, for reasons provided by Superintendent Lech.

The board approved that a Special Jamestown Public School Board meeting be held at the Jamestown Middle School’s Thompson Community Room on Tuesday April 4, 2017, at 5:15-p.m., or a different mutually agreeable date, at which time the board will discuss and act upon the contemplated non-renewal of each of those individuals. The Business Manager will provide the notice to each.

If agreed to by all teachers/instructors, the evidence the District provides supporting the reasons for RIF can be provided in a public meeting all at one time, followed by separate hearing portions for each individual related to why each individual was selected.  If it is not agreed upon to do joint district evidence, it will be provided separately  at the beginning of each individual’s hearing.

Superintendent Lech recommends that the individual portion of the hearings each be conducted in Executive Session, after which, the school board will return to open session, and will then need to act upon the contemplated non-renewal, once for each of the individuals being contemplated for non-renewal.  The initial hearing date allows for continuances and still meets the statutory deadlines for non-renewals.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Schools (JPS) is examining the role its facilities play in educating students for 21^st century careers – many of which do not even exist yet.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent, Robert Lech again pointed out that  many systems in JPS buildings are nearing the end of their life, and it is necessary to consider the best options for repair or replacement. Community input in this examination has been critical and will be further sought in the coming weeks, including through listening forums, focus groups, and general comments.

Since May 2016, JPS has undertaken the following:

• Retained independent consultants to review the expected life of our facilities and recommend a 10-year capital maintenance plan, a summary of which was presented to the School Board in July;
• Gathered perspectives from staff through an electronic survey related to current instructional needs and the ability of our facilities to meet those needs;
• Launched a Citizen’s Facilities Steering Committee including school board members, the school leadership team, staff representatives, community leaders and our consultants DLR Group, PFM Financial Advisors, and Consolidated Construction Company;
• Provided school tours at Lincoln / Transition House, Gussner, Roosevelt, Louis L’Amour, the High School, Jamestown North, James Valley Career and Tech Center, the Middle School, and Washington; and
• Received preliminary updated enrollment projections from RSP & Associates, indicating continued growth in enrollment. (RSP will present their detailed findings at our School Board meeting on March 20, 2017).

Throughout March, this year JPS was holding facility needs discussion with staff, including a review of the survey taken last May.

Superintendent Lech said, in July of 2016 the Jamestown School board received a report from Tom Beck, a former school facilities director, regarding condition and expected useful life of JPS facilities. The report included recommendations from the engineering assessments done by DLR Group in 2014 as well as an independent review by Consolidated Construction. The goal of this study was to determine which repairs and maintenance are needed in the next 10 years.

Lech said the report confirmed that JPS facilities have been well maintained. The District has been able to fund maintenance at the recommended $0.80 – 0.90 per square foot annually, but many systems are nearing end of life or need updating to current standards. Critical items from the report included the condition of the roofs, windows, the lack of handicap accessibility to ADA Standards (American with Disabilities Act), heating and ventilation systems, electrical and lighting systems, safety and security improvements.

He added that there is a capital maintenance “bubble” in the next 3 – 5 years that will require additional funding. On average, the capital maintenance needs $2.1 million annually for the next 10 years in excess of the current annual funding of about $600,000.

He added that there may be a referendum by September this year, with a public vote to accomplish the goals outline for Jamestown Public Schools, facilities improvements.

School officials  were also presented with future enrollment projections from Robert Schwarz of RSP, confirming that  JPS enrollment should hold steady in the next five years (2% projected increase).

Lech pointed out that this is valuable as the school district works to confirm that it’s on target in discussions about our District facility needs.

The data has been provided to the Citizen’s Steering Committee, and they are currently considering best options to address maintenance and educational needs.

JPS invites the local community to join the discussion about the public school system, share your vision for othe future and what  students need to succeed in the 21st Century, and how facilities play a role in this evolution.

He added that all are welcome to attend the Citizen’s Steering Committee meetings, participate in the focus groups, or simply contact JPS at your convenience.  Visit their web site www.jamestown.k12.nd.us/, or call the District Office at 252-1950.

Updates on progress will be provided regularly to local media, including CSiNewsNow.com and The Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, and posted on the JPS website, provided through the Jamestown School District app, school newsletters, and on social media.

Updates on JPS information and calendars and events available on CSi Cable 76 The Blue Jay Channel.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Schools announces that a snow day that was used on December 6, 2016 will be made up on Monday April 17, 2017.

That means that the Easter Break will be cut short by one day with school in session the regular hours on the Monday after Easter.

There will NOT be school on Good Friday April 14, 2017.

Jamestown  (CSi-UJ)  The Higher Learning Commission has now formally broadened the University of Jamestown’s accreditation to include mechanical engineering. Qualified pre-engineering students will be admitted into the major this summer.

The engineering program will be housed on the University of Jamestown campus in the historic Sorkness Center, the former home of the nursing program. Renovations to the building have already begun, featuring a new engineering computer lab and renovated physics lab. The computer lab has 25 new computers with 3D solid modeling software and software for computer programming, as well as a virtual reality station.

The first floor of Sorkness will house four additional labs, two of which are currently being renovated, one for material testing and one fluid mechanics lab.  Additionally, a new electronics lab and instrumentation lab will be added to the second floor.  Finally, a major building addition will feature a new senior design lab, which will include a machine shop.

Engineering Department Chair, James Doane says, “I think the mechanical engineering program at the University of Jamestown will offer a unique experience combining engineering courses with a liberal arts background

The program features small class sizes that allow for close interaction between students and faculty on a daily basis. While other programs focus solely on the technical side of engineering, the University of Jamestown’s engineering program is built within the University’s liberal arts tradition. As such, the University fosters an environment that broadly develops engineering students – allowing them to excel in the classroom and labs, as well grow skills in areas like communication and critical thinking.

Paul Olson, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College commented, “We have hired outstanding faculty members who not only have the technical skills necessary to be great engineering professors, but who are committed first and foremost to teaching our students.”

Department Chair James Doane earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville in 2008.  From there, he gained nearly ten years of industry experience working in the fields of material handling and mining. He also taught at the University of Evansville and the Indiana Institute of Technology. Doane is the author of ‘Machine Analysis with Computer Applications,’ a textbook published by Wiley. Additional faculty members hired include Cherish Bauer-Reich and Mohammadhosein Baboly.

More information on the engineering program, and the application process, can be found at uj.edu.

Valley City  (CSi-VCSU) Valley City State University will host a Regional Science Olympiad for high school and middle school students March 30, 2017.

About 500 students on 19 high school teams and 14 middle school teams will compete at Valley City State University.

Events will be held in Rhoades Science Center, Graichen Gym and at the Valley City Rec Center. An awards ceremony will be held in Vangstad Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30th.

The Valley City event is one of five regional competitions throughout the state. Winning teams from each of the regions will advance to the state competition to be held April 22 at North Dakota State University.

Fargo  (CSi) –  A man was shot in the face early Wednesday morning in Fargo.

KFGO reports that Fargo police responded to 911 calls of multiple gunshots fired in the 2500 block of 15th Street South just before 2:30 am.  Deputy Police Chief Joe Anderson says officers responding to the reports spotted a car speeding north from the area and it was pulled over at the corner of 1st Avenue and 10th Street South:

He says it’s possible the people in the car were taking the victim to the E.R.  Police did recover bullet casings in the street outside apartments in the neighborhood.  Anderson could not say how many shots were fired but initial reports indicated as many as 8 shots were heard. Investigators were canvassing the area on Wednesday to see if anyone may have witnessed the shooting.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An American Indian activist accused of inciting a riot during protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota has pleaded not guilty.

Chase Iron Eyes entered his plea Tuesday. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted on the felony charge. He also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass.

Iron Eyes and 73 others were arrested Feb. 1 after setting up teepees on land that authorities say is owned by pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners. Protesters maintain they were peacefully assembling on land they believe rightfully belongs to American Indians.

Iron Eyes has said he doesn’t dispute his involvement but that he wasn’t the leader of the effort and had no authority to stop it.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Senate has rejected a proposal that would allow trained staff members to carry concealed firearms in schools.

The Senate voted 27-18 to kill the legislation on Tuesday. It would allow up to 10 schools to participate in the guns-in-schools “pilot program.” The House passed the bill in February.

The bill is aimed at rural schools without a school resource officer, since it takes law enforcement time to respond to an emergency situation.

Some education groups say the measure opens schools to lawsuits and higher insurance costs.

Ardent pro-gun lawmakers have unsuccessfully pushed similar legislation in the two prior sessions.

The bill would require 80 hours of training for potential gun-packing school officials. Schools also would be required to provide them counseling after a shooting incident.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Oil has been pumped into a controversial section of the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota, but that doesn’t put an end to the saga that began nearly a year ago.

Four Sioux tribes in North Dakota and South Dakota have a lawsuit pending in federal court and hope to persuade a judge to shut down the pipeline.

The Cheyenne River tribe has a protest camp operating in southern North Dakota, with about 25 people. Tribal spokesman Remi Bald Eagle says the camp’s future depends on the litigation.

A large law enforcement presence in the area is being scaled back, but North Dakota is still trying to recoup more than $38 million in policing costs from the federal government.

There also are hundreds of protest-related cases making their way through the state’s court system.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are considering reducing funding for homeless shelters around the state.

The Bismarck Tribune reports the Commerce Department’s education and environment subcommittee discussed the funding issue last week.

The state Legislature has given $2 million and $1.5 million the past two years in one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant. This year, the grant will probably not exceed $300,000.

The Commerce Department says that the grant funds outreach and shelters around the state. It also helps fund a central information system required before federal funding can be received.

The funding discussion comes as police found a homeless man frozen to death in the city last week.

April Fairfield of the North Dakota Coalition for Homeless People says the cuts would affect vulnerable homeless people.

Devils Lake  (CSi)   The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, that at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, the Fort Totten Bureau of Indian Affairs initiated a traffic stop in the St. Michael area. The driver of the 2008 Chevrolet pickup failed to stop and continued from the scene. BIA requested assistance from the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The Chevrolet continued south to Devils Lake where NDHP units joined the pursuit.

The Highway Patrol took over the pursuit as the suspect vehicle left Devils Lake on U.S. Highway 2. The Chevrolet stopped at a farmstead one mile east of Devils Lake and the driver fled on foot. The driver was located shortly after fleeing.

The 29-year-old was charged with fleeing, reckless endangerment, concealed weapon, and other driving-related charges.

Bismarck  (CSi)   – During  the month of April, law enforcement agencies in North Dakota will be participating in the national U Drive. U Text. U Pay. campaign in recognition of Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Officers will be looking for texting drivers, strictly enforcing North Dakota’s ban on texting and driving.

Composing, reading or sending any electronic message or using a communications device to access the Internet while driving is illegal in North Dakota for drivers of all ages and punishable with a fine of $100. The law applies to any driver of a vehicle in a traffic lane, even while stopped at a red light or in a construction zone.

In sports…

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ricky Rubio made three free throws with 3.4 seconds left to give the Minnesota Timberwolves a 115-114 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.

Minnesota snapped a season-high six-game losing streak by taking its only lead of the quarter. Rubio had 21 points and 10 assists, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 37 points and 12 rebounds.

Rubio was fouled by Jeff Teague, though it appeared Rubio ran into his own teammate on the play. Indiana fans booed the officials as they left the court.

Indiana’s Monta Ellis got off a last-second 3-point shot, but he was off the mark.

Paul George scored 37 points to lead the Pacers, whose playoff chances took another hit. Teague had 20 points and 10 assists.

Final Milwaukee 118 Charlotte 108

Final Atlanta 95 Phoenix 91

Final Miami 97 Detroit 96

Final Philadelphia 106 Brooklyn 101

Final Golden State 113 Houston 106

Final Portland 122 Denver 113

Final Washington 119 L.A. Lakers 108

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — T.J. Oshie scored his second goal of the game 1:42 into overtime to bookend Alex Ovechkin’s hat trick, Braden Holtby earned his 40th win and the Washington Capitals beat the Minnesota Wild 5-4 on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

After Eric Staal’s goal for the Wild tied the game with 26.6 seconds left in regulation, Oshie took a pass in the left circle from Marcus Johansson and beat struggling Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk with a wrist shot. Johansson had four assists.

Martin Hanzal and Jason Pominville had a goal and an assist apiece, but the Wild lost for the eighth time in nine games and fell to 3-11-1 in March after forward Zach Parise exited early with an injury.

Final Boston 4 Nashville 1

Final Carolina 4 Detroit 1

Final SO Philadelphia 3 Ottawa 2

Final SO Winnipeg 4 New Jersey 3

Final Columbus 3 Buffalo 1

Final Toronto 3 Florida 2

Final Montreal 4 Dallas 1

Final Edmonton 2 L.A. Kings 1

Final Anaheim 4 Vancouver 1

Final OT San Jose 5 N-Y Rangers 4

MEN’S NIT

NEW YORK (AP) — Georgia Tech and TCU have moved into the NIT title game.

Josh Okogie scored a game-high 22 points and Ben Lammers finished with 15 and 11 rebounds as the Yellow Jackets knocked out Cal State Bakersfield, 76-61 at Madison Square Garden. Quinton Stephens had 13 points for Georgia Tech, which led by nine before going on a 15-6 spurt to surge ahead 55-37.

Dedrick Basile’s 18 points led the Roadrunners.

In Game 2, Kenrich Williams scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half of the Horned Frogs’ 68-53 win over Central Florida. Williams also grabbed 14 rebounds and had seven assists for TCU, which trailed by two before opening the second half with a 16-5 run.

Matt Williams paced the Knights with 15 points.

MEN’S BASKETBALL-AP ALL-AMERICA TEAM

UNDATED (AP) — Kansas guard Frank Mason III has been unanimously selected to the AP All-America men’s basketball team.

Mason averaged 20.8 points and 5.1 assists for the Jayhawks this season to earn first team votes from all 65 members of the national media panel that selects the AP Top 25.

Joining Mason on the first team are fellow senior Josh Hart of Villanova, sophomore Caleb Swanigan of Purdue, freshman Lonzo Ball of UCLA and junior Justin Jackson of North Carolina.

MEN’S BASKETBALL-NC STATE

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State freshman Dennis Smith Jr. has announced he’s giving up his college eligibility to enter the NBA draft. Smith was named freshman of the year by the ACC after averaging 18.1 points, a league-high 6.2 assists and 1.9 steals. He is projected to be a potential top-five pick.

SOCCER-WORLD CUP QUALIFYING-US

PANAMA CITY (AP) — The United States men’s soccer team had to settle for a deadlock on Tuesday.

Christian Pulisic and Clint Dempsey combined on a go-ahead goal before the U.S. completed a 1-1 draw against Panama in World Cup qualifying.

Pulisic made an outstanding individual move to steal the ball and spin a defender before feeding Dempsey in the 39th minute for his 56th international goal. However, Gabriel Gomez tied the score four minutes later following a throw-in, leaving the United States 1-2-1 in group play.

NFL-MEETINGS

UNDATED (AP) — NFL referees will have a hand-held tablet for video replay reviews next season.

The owners approved the move at their meeting Tuesday in Phoenix. Previously, the referee would go to a sideline camera for reviews, and he would have final say on keeping or reversal a call. Now, league officiating chief Dean Blandino and his staff in New York will make those decisions with input from the referee.

NASCAR-ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have announced that they have postponed the repaving of the 20-year-old racing surface at least until after next year’s race weekend.

The decision is certain to please numerous drivers who prefer the aged, abrasive surface, saying it makes the racing more challenging and exciting. However, it also increases the chance that a race could be delayed by crumbling asphalt or water seeping up through the track.

Atlanta plans to continue its extensive maintenance program in an effort to prevent further deterioration.

USA HOCKEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — The US women’s hockey team will be going to the world championships, after all.

USA Hockey has announced that it has reached a wage agreement that avoids a team boycott of the championships. Players were seeking a four-year deal that included payment outside the six-month Olympic period.

The team was prepared to boycott the tournament as it sought greater compensation. USA Hockey was exploring the possibility of filling the roster with replacement players for the tournament, which gets underway on Friday in Plymouth, Michigan.

OLYMPICS-NBC

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — NBC says it will broadcast all primetime programming from the  Pyongyang Olympics live across all time zones, a first for the Winter Games.

The network will have primetime broadcasts at 8 p.m. EST on most nights, followed by local news and then “Primetime Plus” programming with more live coverage.

Pyeongchang, South Korea, will be 14 hours ahead of the East Coast during the Olympics.

In world and national news…