CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Mostly cloudy. scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s. North winds around 10 mph.

Chance of precipitation 30 percent in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds 5 to

10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northeast winds around

5 mph shifting to the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. South

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. South winds 10 to 20 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower

40s. Highs in the mid 60s to lower 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy in the evening, then mostly

cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight.

Lows in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance

of rain showers possibly mixed with snow showers. Lows in the mid

30s. Highs in the mid 40s to lower 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers and snow showers in the evening. Lows in the mid 20s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

 

Isolated thunderstorms can be expected this afternoon. Although no

severe weather is anticipated, a brief period of small hail is

possible with any thunderstorm.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

Mayor Carlsrud issued the City Government Week Proclamation being observed April 3-7, 2017, followed by recognition of Mayor For A Day.

City Government Week is a special time for city leaders and staff to enhance public awareness of the role local government plays in the lives of citizen’s every day.

The City of Valley City invited third grade students to participate in “Mayor for a Day” contest. The winner, Colin Hoff, helped conduct the April 4 City Commission meeting at City Hall.  Brenna Storly was selected as runner-up and  joined Colin and the Mayor including  a tour of City Hall. Their entries are posted in City Hall and Public Works hallways.

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

 

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,812,598.79

A License for Tree Trimming & Removal Service for Mike’s Construction & Repair, Ground to Sky

An Application to Block off Street on 4th Street NW from Central Ave. to 2nd Ave. NW for VCHS Prom on April 22, 2017

An  Application to Block off Street on 100 block E. Main, N Central Ave from Main Street to 3rd Street for Bridge City Cruiser Rally in the Valley 2017 Car Show on June 17, 2017

An Raffle Permits for Valley City High School DECA, Disabled American Veteran, Valley City Chamber of Commerce

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS: No one spoke

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

ü No personal attacks to persons present or not

ü No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

ü 5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

ü Thank you for participating in City Government.

 

RESOLUTIONS:

Approved a permanent flood protection bid for Phase Two, at $11,888,009.71 to Reiner Contracting from western Minnesota.

There were 11 bids submitted.

80 percent of the funding f comes from the State Water Commission of North Dakota. The Valley City share is $2.36 million.

A flood wall will protect the downtown district from future spring flooding in Valley City.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved the Permanent Flood Protection buyout purchase of 538 East Main Street for the appraised value of $125,000.

 

City Commissioners considered a letter of request from former Police Lt. David Swenson, for the city to pay for legal fees, that was unanimously defeated.

 

Approved was a Construction Engineering Agreement for Paving Improvement District No. 113 (2017 Hot Mix Asphalt Mill & Overlay and Patch, Level & Seal Coat) in an amount not to exceed $185,500.

 

The City Commission approved accepting the bid for 500KMIL primary cable from DSG in the amount of $61,618.60.  City Administrator Schelkoph said the 5,700 feet of cable are for three city projects, adding this is already budget dollars.

 

The City Commission approved  a Special Alcohol Permit for City Lights Supper Club at the VCSU Student Union Building for the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce, Barnes County Development Annual Meeting April 20, 2017.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelhoph said the Mill Dam site will be open for collection of grass only starting Apirl 17, 2017.

He added City Wide Clean up week is the first week of May, 2017.

He said the flow from Bald Hill Dam through the Sheyenne River in Valley City at 1,400 cfs, adding the high river level is fast moving and urges caution.

He pointed out that with street projects starting soon, that there will be much work for motorists to be aware of and to use caution while traveling.

 

 

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

City Auditor Avis Richter said absentee ballots are  available at City Hall,  for the May 23, 2017 Special City Commissioner, election.

It was noted that Valley City has a stiff fine for animal owners that don’t clean up waste left behind by their pets.

Mayor Carlsrud said in the past month, electricity was on 99.9 percent of the time.

 

The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Fire Department and Jamestown Police Department were called Tuesday morning, to a complaint concerning a structure at 924 4th Avenue, Southeast, in Jamestown

Jamestown City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said a complaint was lodged by an individual under the city’s Exterior Substandard Complaint Policy. The city officials then follow up and investigate the condition of the building, such as broken windows, and other items on the exterior.

He adds, following the complaint investigation, the information is passed along to the city if irregularities are found, for corrective action, or if the report turned up no items that need attention, and the report is provided to the person filing the complaint.

Reuther said this is the second call of this type this year, which occur infrequently.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser is dispelling rumors that say the investigation concerning claims against Stutsman County Auditor Casey Bradley has been completed, which it has not.

The investigation is being led by the Mercer County Sheriff following  allegations from a former county employee that Bradley had created a hostile work environment.

Kaiser says  when the investigation is complete, the county commission will be informed.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The North Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate  a motorcycle crash that occurred on Saturday about 3-p.m., westbound on I-94 near mile marker 290 west of Valley City.

The Highway Patrol reports that 59 year old Byron Botner of Mapleton  failed to control his motorcycle, and was forced to lay it down on the roadway where he became separated from the bike. He came to rest on the roadway with non-life threatening injuries.

He was transported to Mercy Hospital in Valley City, by Barnes County Ambulance.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The National Buffalo Museum will officially  unveil the project that has marked remodeling efforts, and the new orientation video, on May 1st.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said since January this year the Museum has undergone the interior changes, with about 85 percent of the Museum, and includes a re-arranging of displays.

Brand new is the Orientation Video available to visitors to watch in a theater setting.

Also this year White Cloud the albino buffalo who recently died, and a part of the buffalo herd for several years, has been preserved and will be in a display case inside the museum.

Searle pointed out that the Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) building under construction in Jamestown has tours each Friday at 3-p.m.

Contact Amy at Jamestown Parks and Recreation to set up specific tours.

He added that the updated restoration of the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse is completed, and set to be open this year from Memorial Day, through Labor Day.

He pointed out that funding from the State Historical Society may be in jeopardy to open the courthouse in 2018 stemming from budget cuts in state funding.

He added that Jamestown Tourism has funded $15,000 toward the new dugouts at Jack Brown Stadium.

On June 24, 2017 at 11-a.m., a ribbon cutting will be held at Jack Brown Stadium for the project, followed by a Jamestown Legion Post 14 Alumni Baseball game.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown’s very own, Steve Kuykendahl and the Jamestown Arts Center will present, a live solo concert by Steve, “For Love of Guitar, on Thursday April 27, 2017 at 7-p.m.

Steve will present ‘finger-style,’ renderings of classic favorites, original compositions, Blues, and solo vocal songs from a variety of genres.

During the 90 minute concert, Steve will carry the audience with the beauty of simplicity  and exciting technical intensity as he blends well loved melodies and the excitement of the unexpected, into an intimate and captivating guitar journey.

Contact the Jamestown Arts Center for more information.  Tickets  $15 / $10 for Arts Center Members & Students

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Police say a South Dakota man detained for questioning in the death of his wife had blood on himself when he asked to use a gas station’s bathroom just hours after her body was found.

Sioux Falls police say 43-year-old Irving Jumping Eagle was arrested on a warrant Tuesday in the death of 33-year-old Alicia Jumping Eagle. The warrant was on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter. Formal charges are expected Wednesday.

Alicia Jumping Eagle was reported missing Sunday. Her body was found in a Sioux Falls apartment Monday.

Police allege Irving Jumping Eagle had blood on himself while at a gas station Monday afternoon about 300 miles away near Streeter, North Dakota. He was detained Tuesday in eastern South Dakota.

The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Sioux Falls  Police Department in its investigation.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Ten North Dakota cabinet-level agencies are asking employees to take voluntary buyouts to help balance the state budget.

The letter sent to some 3,600 employees Tuesday comes as legislators continue struggling to adopt a balanced budget for the next two-year budget cycle. The most recent estimates are that revenues will fall nearly $500 million short of the state’s proposed $4.3 billion spending plan.

Mike Nowatzki, a spokesman for Gov. Doug Burgum, says the governor met with the appointed heads of 17 agencies to discuss the buyouts. He says 10 agencies opted to offer the buyouts.

Nowatzki says there is no target for the number of employees who may wish to leave.

The letter says the buyouts may limit the need for layoffs.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota House has approved a measure that would allow an elected official to carry a hidden firearm in a government building or at a public gathering.

House members voted 86-5 in favor of the measure on Tuesday. The Senate must approve some House changes before it goes to Republican Gov. Doug Burgum for his signature.

Qualified elected officials would have to maintain the same firearm competency requirements as law enforcement officers. They would join municipal and district court judges, retired law enforcement officers and members of the attorney general’s staff as those allowed to pack hidden guns at a publicly owned or operated building.

North Dakota law defines a “public gathering” as an athletic or sporting event, a school or school function.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has approved a comprehensive measure that regulates the state’s voter-approved medical marijuana initiative.

Representatives on Tuesday got the needed two-thirds majority to amend the citizen initiative. The Senate did the same earlier.

The House vote does not settle the debate on medical marijuana. The bill now returns to the Senate, and it likely will go to a conference committee, where three senators and three House members will negotiate its final details.

The measure, called the North Dakota Compassionate Care Act, won 65 percent voter approval in November. It allows the use of marijuana as medicine for people who suffer from debilitating illnesses.

The voter-approved version allowed far more freedom for citizens to grow and smoke the plant. Lawmakers removed provisions for growing it.

 

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) — The Devils Lake police chief and his top captain have been suspended after a city assessment of the department.

The City Commission on Monday placed Chief Keith Schroeder and Capt. Jon Barnett on paid administrative leave until officials can decide their future. Thirty-year force veteran Sgt. Jim Frank will handle the chief’s duties in the meantime.

The city assessment of the 18-member department found low morale, reports of a hostile work environment and an opinion of some officers that the department is a “laughingstock.”

Schroeder has been chief for seven years. Barnett has been with the department for 34 years.

Schroeder does not have a listed telephone number. A number listed for Barnett is disconnected.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The assistant administrator and operations chief for Montana State Parks is the new leader of North Dakota’s Parks and Recreation Department.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced the appointment of Melissa Baker on Tuesday. She’ll begin her duties April 24.

Baker currently leads regional park managers and all field-level parks staff within the 55-unit Montana State Parks system. She also oversees various programs within the system and directed the development of a statewide Heritage Resources Strategic Plan.

In North Dakota, she’ll oversee the management of 14 state parks and eight state recreation areas.

Baker was born in California and grew up in Tennessee. She previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and also has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Maine.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Minot’s former city attorney is appealing a federal judge’s dismissal of her wrongful termination lawsuit against the city.

Colleen Auer alleges her 2015 firing was in retaliation for a whistleblower complaint. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland in February dismissed her complaint.

Auer has appealed to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Auer was employed by the city from March 31, 2014, until her firing on May 2, 2015. Auer alleges she was fired for reporting sex-based harassment.

 

 

In sports…

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Hillcrest driving range opens today.

The course opens for play at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Passes and tee times can be made online at jamestownparksandrec.com. The Proshop is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

For more information call 252-4320.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Soccer Club’s spring rec program begins with practices on April 24th.

New programs this year are two, four-week rec seasons (spring and summer sessions). Also new is a three-week rec program for 3-year-olds, beginning May 6.

For more information or to register go to jamestownsoccer.org.

 

 

High School Baseball…

Mandan 3 Jamestown 0

Jamestown 8 Mandan 1

 

High School Softball

Bismarck Legacy 13 Jamestown 3

Jamestown 9 Legacy 8

The next Jays softball action is a doubleheader at home on Thursday against Minot.

 

 

MLB…

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Final N-Y Yankees 5 Tampa Bay 0

Final Cleveland 4 Texas 3

Final Houston 2 Seattle 1

Final L.A. Angels 7 Oakland 6

Detroit at Chi White Sox 4:10 p.m., postponed

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Final Colorado 6 Milwaukee 5

Final Chi Cubs 2 St. Louis 1

Final San Francisco 8 Arizona 4

Final San Diego 4 L.A. Dodgers 0

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 41 points for his 10th career 40-point game, Stephen Curry had 19 points and nine assists, and the playoff-ready Golden State Warriors ran their winning streak to 12 straight by beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-107 on Tuesday night.

Matt Barnes contributed 12 points, six rebounds and four assists, and Golden State could wrap up the West’s No. 1 seed as soon as Wednesday night with a win at Phoenix and a Spurs’ loss at home to the Lakers.

Now, it seems, the Warriors just need one key reinforcement: Kevin Durant. And KD could be back by week’s end with his team on quite a roll to finish the regular season atop the NBA again.

Andrew Wiggins scored 24 for Minnesota, which couldn’t keep up with Golden State’s spiffy passing and contributions from so many players on both ends of the floor.

 

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City’s guard Russell Westbrook has added another record to a sensational season playing for the Thunder. In Oklahoma City’s 110-79 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks, Westbrook had 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists — a triple-double. These performances are not commonplace, even in the National Basketball Association. He tied Robertson’s record of 41 games with a triple-double in a single season. Robertson set the standard in the 1961-62 season.

 

Final Indiana 108 Toronto 90

Final Washington 118 Charlotte 111

Final Brooklyn 141 Philadelphia 118

Final Cleveland 122 Orlando 102

Final Denver 134 New Orleans 131

Final N-Y Knicks 100 Chicago 91

Final OT San Antonio 95 Memphis 89

Final Utah 106 Portland 87

Final Sacramento 98 Dallas 87

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Nino Niederreiter had two goals and an assist to lead Minnesota to a 5-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night that clinched second place in the Central Division and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs for the Wild.

Zach Parise scored and had two assists, and Eric Staal also added two assists to give the Wild’s first line eight points. Charlie Coyle scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period, and Devan Dubnyk shook off a shaky first period to stop 27 shots for his 39th win.

Jeff Skinner scored twice to set a career high with 35 goals and Lee Stempniak had a goal and an assist, but the Hurricanes were eliminated from postseason contention on a night when they took their third straight loss.

Cam Ward made 31 saves for the Hurricanes.

 

Final Pittsburgh 4 Columbus 1

Final OT New Jersey 1 Philadelphia 0

Final Boston 4 Tampa Bay 0

Final Washington 4 Toronto 1

Final Ottawa 2 Detroit 0

Final Minnesota 5 Carolina 3

Final OT N-Y Islanders 2 Nashville 1

Final Winnipeg 5 St. Louis 2

Final OT Dallas 3 Arizona 2

Final OT Colorado 4 Chicago 3

Final Anaheim 3 Calgary 1

Final San Jose 3 Vancouver 1

Final L.A. Kings 6 Edmonton 4

 

ROMO RETIRES…

UNDATED (AP) — Veteran Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo is retiring from the game and going to CBS to join Jim Nantz for network broadcasts of National Football League games when the 2017 season gets underway. Romo had a stellar career with the Cowboys, but was injury-prone and ultimately lost his starting job last year to rookie Dak Prescott. But Romo says he’s excited about the new challenge and ready to take it on. He got his official release from the Cowboys Tuesday, even as CBS announced his hiring as its leading game analyst. He’ll join Nantz for broadcasts of Thursday and Sunday games.

 

In world and national news…

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The missile in North Korea’s latest launch didn’t fly very far, but it may have been the second test of a technology that worries experts. The Wednesday morning launch into waters off North Korea’s east coast came shortly before President Donald Trump’s first summit meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this week, raising speculation that it might have been timed to get their attention.

BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian monitoring group says the death toll from a chemical attack the previous day has now increased to 72 as activists reported renewed airstrikes on the town hit in the harrowing assault. Ahmed al-Sheikho, of the Idlib Civil Defense team, says the new airstrikes hit near where the suspected chemical attack occurred in the town of Khan Sheikhoun.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has told security officials from a regional alliance that this week’s subway bombing in St. Petersburg underlines that terrorism’s threat is not subsiding. Putin met Wednesday with heads of the security services from the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of most former Soviet republics.

LONDON (AP) — An heir to the Red Bull fortune has refused to answer questions about whether he will return to Thailand this month to meet with prosecutors over an alleged hit-and-run that killed a police officer almost five years ago. Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya was silent Wednesday as The Associated Press asked about his plans outside a London residence. He did not say why he was in Britain or whether he will meet with prosecutors in Thailand April 27.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bruising, partisan Senate fight over Neil Gorsuch’s nomination for a seat on the Supreme Court brought a Democratic opponent to the floor for a marathon speech overnight as lawmakers braced for a critical and possibly climactic vote Thursday. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says he has enough votes to get Gorsuch through, and he’s showing no inclination against changing Senate rules, if necessary, to achieve that goal.