CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. North winds 15 to 25 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Patchy frost after midnight. Lows

in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. East winds 5 to

10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain

showers after midnight. Lows around 40. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the lower 50s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the mid 40s.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Slight chance of rain showers in the

morning, then chance of rain showers and slight chance of

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. Chance of

precipitation 50 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of

rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Chance of

precipitation 30 percent.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid

40s. Highs in the mid 60s.

The threat for frost will remain Friday and Saturday morning when high

pressure is over the Dakotas. A moderation in temperatures is

forecast for Sunday, with cooler conditions early next week

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Minnesota Soybean Processors cooperative will  be starting a capital campaign for  construction of the $240 million soybean processing plant in Spiritwood

NDSU Extension Educator Randy Grueneich says those interested being an investors will have an opportunity to be a part of this capital raising effort starting in June this year.

He adds that interested farmers may want to look at building more storage units before the plant opens in 2019.

The plant is an integrated soybean crush facility and refinery, crushing 125,000 bushels of soybeans per day. The Spiritwood site is expected to produce about 900,000 tons of soybean meal annually.

The plant is expected to  create 55 full time jobs and support the soybean price paid to local farmers.

The membership cooperative owns and operates a soybean crush facility and biodiesel operation in Brewster, Minnesota.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The idea of sending a letter  to the North Dakota Public Service Commission with local concerns over occurrences of local phone service disruptions, will apparently not happen.

Jamestown businesses have indicated loss of business due to phone lines down, stemming primarily from cut fiber optic lines, with the latest occurrence on April 21st this year, when a Century Link phone line was cut near West Fargo, disrupting local and long distance phone services along with  9-1-1 calls for over four hours.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager, and 9-1-1 Coordinator Jerry Bergquist had suggested the Stutsman County Commission, and Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce send a letter to the PSC, outlining concerns, that included 9-1-1 records with documentation of five cable cuts that have occurred since 2011.

The Stutsman County Commission Tuesday, tabled sending a letter  after Bergquist said he spoke with the Chamber’s Executive Becky Thatcher-Keller, who is proposing, after speaking with Century Link’s Director of Legislative Affairs, Kent Blickensderfer, that the Chamber host a meeting in a few weeks for input from  representatives of phone companies, and business owners, and customers, plus Stutsman County and City of Jamestown representatives.

Stutsman County Commission Chairman, Mark Klose indicated that the best idea is exploring other options than filing a complaint letter with the PSC.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   The University of Jamestown received the Rising Star Award from the Dakota Medical Foundation for outstanding performance in its Giving Hearts Day 2017 campaign.

This year, the University of Jamestown raised more than $50,000, about a 60 percent increase from their 2016 Giving Hearts Day campaign.

University of Jamestown Executive Vice President, Polly Peterson says,  “We are so grateful to Dakota Medical Foundation for their generous support of our communities. Our alumni and friends have once again opened their hearts and supported us during this great event.”

Giving Hearts Day is an annual online drive. The Rising Star Award is given to organizations that raised $20,000 or more and increased previous year’s fundraising by greater than 30 percent. Of the 360 Giving Hearts Day participants, only 67 organizations received the award.

 

 

BEULAH, N.D. (AP) — Authorities say a Beulah police officer has been placed on administrative lead after firing his gun at a vehicle that was accelerating toward him.

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department says the incident happened on Highway 49 in Beulah Monday afternoon during a chase that began in Mercer County and ended in Bismarck.

The chase began when a 56-year-old woman was reported for reckless driving. The Beulah officer was pursuing the vehicle when the woman turned around and drove toward him. The officer got out of his car and fired at the suspect’s vehicle.

No injuries were reported. The names of the officer and the suspect have not been released.

The woman was eventually arrested in Bismarck after her car was stopped with spike strips.

 

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified an Ohio man who died in the fiery crash of two semitrailers in the western North Dakota oil patch.

The Highway Patrol says 45-year-old Douglas Baldwin, of Creston, Ohio, was driving a semi that drifted into the wrong lane on a curve on the state Highway 23 bypass near New Town early on May 6.

Baldwin’s semi collided head-on with one filled with crude oil and driven by 29-year-old Anthony Gonzales of Hamilton, Montana.

Both semis burned, and both men died.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A commission in a northern North Dakota county is opting to keep an audio recording of an executive session private.

The Ward County Commission made its decision Tuesday despite some debate regarding how the commission accepted the resignation of former Sheriff Steve Kukowski.

Commissioner Jim Rostad said the audio of an April 11 meeting should be kept private to keep the confidence of those who participated in the session by phone, including Kukowski’s attorney and the prosecuting attorney.

State’s Attorney Rozanna Larson says there are no legal reasons to withhold the audio.

Kukowski had been charged in the death of an inmate who died after being transferred to the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department in 2014.

Larson says the criminal and civil proceedings Kukowski faced were dropped when he resigned.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Twenty people might face charges after a prostitution sting in Bismarck.

Officers posted an advertisement for prostitution on a website commonly used for that purpose and arranged for men to meet them at a local motel late last week. They arrested 18 adults and two juveniles who showed up

The suspects range in age from 17 to 56. They could face a misdemeanor soliciting charge that carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.

The cases have been forwarded to the city attorney for review.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota county sheriff is hoping a new $69 million jail will help his county save money in sending inmates to other jails in the state.

The  new Burleigh County jail will aim to help inmates through work release, re-entry counseling, increased chaplain services and Alcoholics Anonymous groups.

Burleigh County Sheriff Pat Heinertis says with more space at the 525-bed jail, the county will be able to cut the cost of moving as many as 50 inmates a night to other jails in the state. Last year, the county spent more than $1.125 million on the system.

However, because of the surge in arrests there’s concern that the jail will fill up quickly.

The jail will house inmates from Burleigh and Morton counties.

The counties’ incarceration rate is currently about 301 per 100,000 people.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The state Health Department says a lightning strike at a saltwater disposal facility in northwest North Dakota led to the release of more than 16,500 gallons of what is known as produced water.

Houston-based Oasis Petroleum Inc. reported the spill on Sunday at the site 15 miles northwest of Williston.

Produced water is a mixture of saltwater and oil that can contain drilling chemicals.

Health Department Water Quality Director Karl Rockeman says about 3,360 gallons of the oilfield wastewater escaped the site. He says the spill traveled about 1,000 feet from the facility but did not threaten any water sources.

Rockeman says crews were working to excavate contaminated soil at the site, under the supervision of a state inspector.

 

 

In sports…

Jamestown  (CSi)  The 37th Annual Little Britches Tournament will be June 3rd 2017, to coincide with the  North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s free fishing weekend (no fishing license required).  There is no entry fee and no need to be a Dakota Anglers member.  Teams consist of one adult and one child.  Age categories are (0-6), (7-10), (11-13), (14-16).

 

Plaques will be awarded to winners of each age class, largest rough fish, plus Dakota Anglers traveling trophies for the highest Dakota Anglers member in each age class.  Each team will be allowed to weigh “one person’s” legal limit of fish except northern (only 3 northern).   Registration is from 8:00-10:00 AM at Joos Grove.  Fishing is from 10 AM-2 PM (teams may fish any “ONE” legal North Dakota water), weigh in is at Joos Grove at 2 PM.  Hot dogs, potato chips, and pop will be served after the weigh-in.  A casting contest for each age group will be held plus we will draw kid’s names for many prizes.  Please join us for the festivities even if you don’t catch any fish.

Questions, call Kay or Cliff Herrick at 252-8451.

 

The Dakota Anglers will again be sending kids to the Devils Lake Fish Camp

August 6th through August 10th, 2017.

Kids from ages 8 to 13 who are interested in attending at the

Little Britches will be registered.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — The University of North Dakota has announced its Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame class for this year.

University officials said Wednesday Mary Dempster (Volleyball, 1976-77), Robert Fransen (Track & Field, 1973-77), Steve Johnson (Hockey, 1984-88) and Tracy Martin (Football, 1984-86) will be inducted as individuals. The 1992 women’s cross country team will be inducted in the team category.

Also, former multi-sport standout and prep coach Erin Herman will receive the Tom Clifford Award, while longtime UND benefactors Mark and Marlys Brown will be recognized with the Honorary Letterwinner Award.

The 43rd annual Athletics Hall of Fame event will take place with a dinner and induction ceremony on Oct. 6.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is telling graduates of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy that no other politician has been treated more unfairly by the media. But he says, “you cannot let them get you down.” Trump is offering his advice at the academy’s commencement in Connecticut, telling the graduates that they will find that “things are not always fair.”

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — U.S. officials say arrests of immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally have soared in the early months of the Trump administration. Agents arrested 38 percent more people for deportation from late January through late April compared to a similar period last year. Arrests of immigrants with no criminal convictions more than doubled. U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Thomas Homan said Wednesday that actual deportations declined 12 percent during the period.

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s looking like another year of big premium increases and dwindling choice for many consumers who buy their own health insurance policies  – but why, and who’s to blame? President Donald Trump has seized on early market rumbles to validate his claim that “Obamacare” is collapsing. Democrats, meanwhile, accuse Trump of “sabotage” on a program he’s dissed and wants to dismantle. Independent experts say it’s more complicated _ Trump inherited some problems and risks making things worse.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pvt. Chelsea Manning says she’s unclear where her life will take her now that she’s free after serving seven years in a military prison for leaking classified materials to WikiLeaks. Manning said in a statement Wednesday that “whatever is ahead … is far more important than the past,” and that she’s “figuring things out right now.” Manning, who is transgender, was known as Bradley Manning before she transitioned in prison. She was granted clemency in January.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is extending nuclear sanctions relief for Iran but also slapping Iran with new unrelated sanctions over its ballistic missile activity. The State Department says it is telling Congress that it will continue to waive sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.