CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Cloudy. A slight chance of light snow in the evening in the Jamestown area, a 40 percent chance in the Valley City area. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds 10 to 20 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. North winds 10 to

15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 20s. North winds

5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the

upper 20s. Highs in the lower 50s.

.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY…Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 50s.

Lows in the lower 30s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain after

midnight. Lows in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the mid 50s.

 

LaMoure   (CSi) The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports a two vehicle crash on Monday just after 10-a.m. seriously injured a 76 year old Oakes woman.

The report says a 2002 Dodge pickup operated by 37 Ty Kirby, of Edmore, Michigan, was eastbound on a gravel road at Highway 1 at the intersection with Highway 27, when the vehicle failed to yield at the intersection with Highway 1. The vehicle crossed Highway 1 in front of a northbound Chrysler driven by 76 year old Mary Miller of Oakes.

The Chrysler struck the Dodge, as the Dodge entered the northeast ditch, with the Chrysler coming to rest on the roadway.

Kirby suffered minor injuries, while Miller sustained significant injuries.  Miller was taken to Mercy Hospital in Valley City for treatment, and transferred to a Fargo hospital.

The crash remains under investigation by the Highway Patrol.

Assisting at the scene were: LaMoure Fire & Rescue, Verona Fire & Rescue, and the LaMoure County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Valley City  (CSi) Slick road surfaces in the Valley City area stemming from a mix of precipitation led to crashes, Wednesday morning.

Barnes County Sheriff Chief Deputy Don Fibiger said on I-94, eight miles west of Valley City a semi lost control and  blocked an I-94 lane.

In another incident, a semi went into the median near mile maker 283.

In addition, other vehicles slid off the interstate east of Valley City, in the area of mile marker 300.

There were no indications of injuries.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Stutsman County participated in the simulated statewide tornado exercise Wednesday morning, April 26, 2017, as part of Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week.  The exercise began at 11:18 a.m. with a test tornado warning initiated by the National Weather Service.

As part of the exercise, the county’s emergency operations plan was tested, which includes activating siren systems for several communities in the County.  The sirens in Medina, Buchanan, and Cleveland proved to be operational and ready for the summer weather season.  The siren in Streeter failed to activate.  Local Streeter officials will see that repairs are made.  Jamestown sirens were also tested; however, the siren located at Lifestyle Appliance in the SW part of town malfunctioned.  An effort is underway to get the siren repaired and ready for summer use.

In addition, the National Weather Service activated its All Hazards Radio System, which allowed local radio stations and cable TV providers to test their Emergency Alert Systems.

The CodeRED Weather Warning system that Stutsman County subscribes to was not part of the exercise.  CodeRED is designed to warn individuals that have addresses located within a warned area.  Since the “simulated” tornado warning did not identify specific warned boundaries, the system did not activate.  CodeRED Weather Warning activates for actual weather warnings where the warning boundaries are identified.

To sign up for CodeRED Weather Warning, go to the Stutsman County webpage at www.co.stutsman.nd.us and click on the CodeRED icon at the bottom of the page.  Choose to receive tornado, thunderstorm and/or flash flood warnings via land-line telephones, cell-phones (optional text messaging), VOIP phones and email.  CodeRED Weather Warning is a no-cost way to receive immediate weather warnings, but you must register for the service.  For those needing assistance to register, contact Stutsman County Emergency Management at 701-252-9093.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Beautification Committee’s, Residential Recycling Task Force continues to meet regularly, in planning for the anticipated July 1, 2017 start up of residential recycling in Jamestown.

Task Force member, Bob Martin, on Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 explained the process of picking up recyclables, the size of the garbage and recycling containers and costs.

More information on recycling in Jamestown is available on line at www.recyclenorthdakota.org  Click on FAQ tab at the top of the page, for Jamestown information.

He pointed out the recycling center will move later this spring to 1016 10th Street Southeast in Jamestown at the former Coca-Cola plant.   The date will be announced.

At the new location an addition day and hours of openings will be included.

The next Jamestown educational seminar on Residential Recycling will be on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at 9-a.m. at City Hall.

The balance of the schedule:

  • May 8 – 6:30 PM – Alfred Dickey Library
  • May 15 – 7:00 PM – City Hall
  • May 26 – 12:00 Noon – City Hall
  • June 3 – 1:00 PM – City Hall
  • June 5 – 1:00 PM – James River Senior Center
  • June 8 – 7:00 PM – City Hall
  • June 12 – 5:00 PM – James River Senior Center

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The South Central Homeless Coalition representing North Dakota’s Region VI, partnered with Jamestown Ministerial Association, Triumph Inc, and Edgewood Senior Living to assemble “Blessing Bags” of donated essential care items for people experiencing homelessness and or other hardships.

 

This second annual event established “Mercy Box” locations where individuals and organizations donated travel sized personal care items such as facial tissues, wet wipes, nail clippers, lip balm, hygiene products, nonperishable snacks, socks, small first aid kits, and feminine hygiene products. The South Central Homeless Coalition received donations from individuals and organizations.

 

Members of the Homeless Coalition board, Edgewood Senior Living staff and residents, Triumph Inc. staff and clients, and Region VI community members assembled 264 blessing bags on April 20, 2017. An additional donation of 27 pre-packaged bags came from Trinity Lutheran’s Sunday School program, for a grand total of 291 blessing bags.

 

Blessing bags will be shared with various organizations within Region VI such as South Central Human Service Center, Community Action, Freedom Resources, James River Correctional Center, Veteran Services, local churches, and Public Schools for distribution to individuals who are experiencing homelessness or extreme need.

 

The need to actively care for people experiencing homelessness in North Dakota is growing.  In 2016 it was estimated that over 10,000 people across the State experienced some form of homelessness. In January 2016 alone, 923 persons state-wide were documented as experiencing homelessness with 154 of those individuals being under the age of 18.

 

The purpose of the South Central Homeless Coalition’s purpose shall be to advocate, coordinate, and optimize services for homeless men, women and children within Region 6 of the South Central Human Service Center. For more information contact coalition President Pastor Susan Haukaas at Trinity Lutheran Church (701) 252-2841.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota officials are urging motorists to watch for orange cones as the state’s 2017 road construction season begins.

Officials announced the start of the road construction season Wednesday. The North Dakota Department of Transportation has about 200 projects planned across the state, with $465 million of work taking place on highways.

Wayde Swenson, the department’s director of operations, says staying safe in work zones “is the ultimate goal for workers and motorists alike.”

Last year, motorists were involved in 157 crashes in work zones resulting in four deaths.

Some of the major projects this year include Interstate 94 through Bismarck-Mandan, state Highway 20 in Devils Lake, U.S. Highway 83 bridges over the Mouse River in Minot, state Highway 1804 from Williston to Epping and 32nd Avenue South in Fargo.

 

 

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — Charges have been dismissed against three men accused in a fatal shooting at a Mandan warehouse party last year.

Quentin Felton, Kelvin Simmons and Jiqueal Simmons spent five months in jail before a South Central District judge dismissed charges of attempted murder and reckless endangerment Tuesday. The Bismarck Tribune reports the charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning the men could be charged again later.

The three were charged with shooting 34-year-old Kevin White at a party Nov. 26. At a preliminary hearing in January, police Lt. Pat Haug suggested there was a disagreement between the men over drug activity and money. The trigger man was not identified.

Morton County Assistant State’s Attorney Gabrielle Goter cited the “ongoing investigation” and the “interest of justice” in her motion for dismissal.

 

 

GRAFTON, N.D. (AP) — Grafton-based state District Judge Richard Geiger has announced his retirement effective Oct.1.

Geiger has served as a judge in the Northeast Judicial District since 1995.

The North Dakota Supreme Court will decide whether the judgeship should be retained, moved, or eliminated. It would be filled by appointment of the governor.

Geiger was initially elected a district judge in 1994. He previously served as county judge of Walsh, Pembina, and Cavalier counties starting in 1987. Before that, he was in private legal practice in Grafton for about eight years following his graduation from the University of North Dakota law school.

 

In sports…

ONALASKA, WIS. (Mark Potts) – VCSU golfers Cameron Rall and Nicole Heinitz were both named  2nd Team All Conference on Tuesday after the final round of the NSAA Conference Championships.

Rall led the Viking men with a 13th-place finish at the 72-hole tournament, while Heinitz led the women with a 14th-place finish. The top 14 individuals earned All Conference honors.

The 72-hole tournament began with 36 holes in the fall and concluded this week with rounds Monday and Tuesday at The Golf Club at Cedar Creek. The Viking men placed fourth out of six teams, while the VCSU women were fifth out of seven teams.

Valley City State’s men shot a 321 team total during Tuesday’s final round. Rall was the mark of consistency with two rounds of 80 in the fall and two rounds of 81 on Monday and Tuesday to place 13th. Jared Lentz finished with an 85 on Tuesday as he took 15th. Jeremie Pasitney shot his best round of the tournament as he moved up two spots to 18th in the final standings with a 79. Kyle Wiebe carded an 80 and Collin Hoss shot 81 on Tuesday.

Heinitz closed her tournament with a 94 on Tuesday, hanging on to the final All Conference spot by finishing 14th. Haley Christofferson fired a team-best round of 91 as she placed 18th overall. Mikayla Smith placed 25th and Megan McNamee finished in 27th to round out VCSU’s individual placers. Tory Anderson has her best round of the tournament with a 101 on Tuesday.

Bellevue University won both the men’s and women’s team competitions and had the top two individuals in both the men’s and women’s standings.

NSAA Golf Conference Championships
Final Results
VCSU Men – Team Results
4. 325-316-319-321, 1281

VCSU Men – Individual Results
13. Cameron Rall, 80-80-81-81, 322 (2nd Team All Conference)
16. Jared Lentz, 82-84-81-85, 332
T18. Jeremie Pasitney, 85-88-84-79, 336
Kyle Wiebe, DQ-75-73-80, DNF
Collin Hoss, DNP-DNP-89-81, DNF
Tyler Baukol, 78-77-DNP-DNP, DNF

VCSU Women – Team Results
5. 403-397-406-404, 1610

VCSU Women – Individual Results
14. Nicole Heinitz, 89-88-90-94, 361 (2nd Team All Conference)
18. Haley Christofferson, 100-92-89-91, 372
25. Mikayla Smith, 101-106-112-123, 442
27. Megan McNamee, 113-111-116-118, 458
Tory Anderson, DNP-DNP-115-101, DNF
Hannah Gress, 126-131-DNP-DNP, DNF

 

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — House and Senate Republican leaders offered mild praise for President Donald Trump’s outline to overhaul the nation’s tax code. In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan said the principles released by the Trump administration would serve as “critical guideposts” for overhauling the tax system.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating the review of dozens of national monuments designated by his predecessors over the past 20 years. Trump’s move could upend protections of federal lands in Utah and other states. Trump says during an appearance at the Interior Department that the order will end what he is calling an “egregious abuse of federal power” and give power back _ as he puts it _ “to the states and the people where it belongs.”

UNDATED (AP) — Americans are weighing in on President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, and while some supporters see reason for hope on immigration and the economy, detractors worry over his proposals on budget cuts and refugees. Some on both sides point to health care reform as a failure, and others are offering advice as Trump’s first term goes on. One supporter says focus on “Jobs, jobs, jobs.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — A leader of House Republican moderates is suggesting a proposal to revamp the GOP health care bill shows that conservatives are trying to shift blame for the legislation’s problems to party centrists. Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Charlie Dent also says he believes that moderates who have opposed the Republican health overhaul haven’t changed their minds, despite proposed changes.

NEW YORK (AP) — A startling new report asserts that the first known Americans arrived much, much earlier than scientists thought _ more than 100,000 years ago. And maybe they were Neanderthals. If true, the finding reported Wednesday would far surpass the widely accepted date of about 15,000 years ago.