CSi Weather…

…FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY.

INCLUDES THE JAMESTOWN AREA.

.TONIGHT…Clear. Lows in the upper 40s. Southwest winds around

10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny, windy, cooler. Highs around 60. West winds

15 to 30 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. Southwest

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny, warmer. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds

5 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s.

.FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s.

Lows in the upper 40s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the upper 50s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper

30s. Highs in the upper 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of rain.

Lows around 40.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. A 30 percent chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Boardings at Jamestown Regional Airport in September this year were up just over 4-percent from September 2016.

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports, in September this year there were 969 Jamestown boardings compared to 930 in September of 2016.

Year to date numbers show through September this year 9,848 boardings compared to 8,360 through the first 9- months of 2016.

 

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

A PRESENTATION WAS MADE TO VALLEY CITY OF  THE TREE CITY USA AWARD.

The presentation was made by Bobby Koepplin, who recognized others in the audience that contributed to Valley City receiving the award.

NO ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA

PUBLIC COMMENTS   No one spoke

A presentation was made on Solar Gardens, where a savings on electricity can be made by installing a solar panel.

100 solar panels are now in use in Valley City.  A community solar garden would be available for the community to tap into, if approved in the future.  Petitions have been circulating in Valley City to determine support of residents. City officials will review the materials.

RESOLUTION

Following an October 3, 2017Public Hearing for an Application for Property Tax Incentives for New or Expanding Businesses (PILOT- Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) for Meridian Apartments II City Commissioners tabled a Resolution approving Property Tax Incentives to review materials.

Apartment building owners and developers spoke in opposition at that time.

The item was reconsidered at Tuesday’s meeting.  Developer Paul Diegel spoke, commenting on bringing more residents to Valley City with jobs development.  He said if jobs come, then apartment units will have a better opportunity to be occupied.

Others spoke about a number of apartment vacancies in Valley City, and take that into consideration when planning future apartment buildings, adding that existing units should be remodeled.

Commissioner Magnuson noted that a number of apartment units were lost due to being razed with permanent flood protection.

He says new businesses can be attracted with living units available.

Jim Knutson with Valley Reality, who made the PILOT application pointed out risk taking that has occurred in Valley City, and noted businesses looking at locating in Valley City.

Commissioner Bishop stated that the North Dakota Century Code says action should be based on what’s best for the municipalities.

Mayor Carlsrud said the issue is not “black and White,” and took several items under consideration.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the PILOT application.

NEW BUSINESS

City Commissioners received the 2017 Tree Report from City Forester Willis Wagar.   He said in 2017, 75 elm diseased trees were marked, with 50 removed through September.  He said Black Ash trees are being insect killed.

He pointed out a spray can be used to combat the disease.

He added that the Emerald Ash Borer insect has not yet appeared in North Dakota.

City Administrator David Schelkoph announced the city’s Energy Efficiency Promotion.

Valley City is placing a blue bag with light bulbs on residential doors of residence with electrical service this month, in recognition of October as Energy Awareness Month and to promote energy conservation.  He said over 7,000 LED light bulbs have been purchase, for just under $2 per bulb.  Rebates will be offered to consumers.

He said an LED light bulb uses one-sixth the energy of an incandescent light bulb.

The energy efficient light bulbs will be distributed through November 14, 2017.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelkoph said the Valley City telephone system is being reviewed with a committee appointed.

He said its an old computer based system.  With reliability issues the city is looking a purchasing a new telephone,  system with BEK Communications the least costly plan for replacement.

Over the next few weeks the city will work with BEK to replace and install the new system.

Missouri River Energy Systems  has implemented a three year rate freeze.

He pointed out the Transfer  station is the new drop off point for yard wastes including trees, leaves, and wood open 24/7.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

City Fire Chief Gary Retterath reminded the Battle of the Badges Blood drive is this week, Wednesday and Thursday at Stoudt Ross Ford showroom in Valley City.

KLJ reported on public hearings that will be held on pavement projects, on Wednesday October 25, 2017 at City Hall.

Mayor Carslrud thanked the commission members for their research on the PILOT application before Tuesday’s vote.

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

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread says he will deny any additional rate increases to individual health insurance premiums under the Obama health care law.

Godfread said last week that President Donald Trump’s plan to halt payments to insurers under the law could potentially raise health insurance costs as much as an additional 10 percent for up to 42,000 North Dakotans.

He said Tuesday he won’t allow that. He said the issue is between insurance carriers and the federal government, and it’s his duty to look out for consumers.

Medica says Godfread’s move cements its decision to withdraw its individual health plans from the federal marketplace in North Dakota.

Blue Cross Blue Shield says it will stay in the federal marketplace, and absorb the loss of the federal payments.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A pair of Chinese nationals has been indicted on charges that they manufactured tons of fentanyl and other powerful narcotics that were peddled in the United States and flowed, in part, through North Dakota.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the indictments Tuesday, saying the pair ran one of the world’s most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. One of the two, 38-year-old Jian Zhang, was indicted in the District of North Dakota, along with eight others accused in the conspiracy.

North Dakota U.S. Attorney Christopher Myers says the whole investigation began in January 2015 with the overdose death of 18-year-old Bailey Henke in Grand Forks. Officials say American customers could purchase pure fentanyl and other dangerous drugs online, directly from Chinese factories. Inexperienced users don’t know the drug is pure and overdose.

 

 

MEDORA, N.D. (AP) — A national park in North Dakota is reducing the size of its bison herd this week in a move that will benefit several Native American tribes.

A  majority of the animals from Theodore Roosevelt National Park will help supplement tribal herds through the InterTribal Buffalo Council.

The council represents about 60 tribes across 19 states.

Wildlife biologist Blake McCann says the reduction roundup is to prevent the bison herds from getting too large to ensure there’s enough available forage for the grazing animals.

He says the park aims to keep its herd at about 300 to 500 animals at the South Unit and less than 300 at the North Unit. South Dakota and North Dakota are among the states that will receive the animals.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Supreme Court has denied a petition by some district court judges who argued out-of-state lawyers were no longer needed to represent Dakota Access pipeline protesters.

Judges from the state’s South Central District have said the lawyers were no longer justified because no new cases have been filed, the Bismarck Tribune reported.

The state’s high court denied the petition on Monday.

South Central District Presiding Judge Gail Hagerty declined to comment on the justices’ decision.

The North Dakota Supreme Court in January said out-of-state attorneys may assist pipeline protest-related cases if sponsored by a North Dakota attorney.

About 830 criminal cases were filed in connection to the protests. More than 400 have closed, most of them with dismissed charges.

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota judge has taken the unusual step of allowing four protesters to use a “necessity defense,” enabling them to present evidence that the threat of climate change from Canadian tar sands crude justified their attempt to shut down two Enbridge Energy pipelines last year.

Emily Johnston and Annette Klapstein acknowledge they turned the shut-off valves on two pipelines in Minnesota as part of a coordinated action against five pipelines in northern states. A total of 11 activists were charged.

Johnston and Klapstein, of the Seattle area, say that as far as their team knows, this is the first time a judge has allowed a full necessity defense on a climate change issue. They’re due to go on trial Dec. 11. Two co-defendants who filmed them will stand trial later.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The state Agriculture Department says nearly all of the 215 North Dakota farmers who responded to a survey on the herbicide dicamba reported damage from newly registered formulations of the chemical.

But Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says 184 of the 207 responses reporting damage did not have plant tissue analysis to back up the claim.

Whether herbicide drift of newly registered formulations of dicamba is causing crop damage has been a topic in many states this summer.

The federal government on Friday released new label language classifying the new formulations as restricted-use products. He says his agency is drafting North Dakota-specific restrictions to mitigate potential damage next year.

 

KELLIHER, Minn. (AP) — One man has died and two others have been injured while moving a house onto a foundation in Beltrami County.

Sheriff’s officials say the men were moving the small house on the south shore of Upper Red Lake near Kelliher on Sunday. The house fell from the jacks, wood posts and cement blocks being used to lift and support it, trapping one of the men underneath the structure.

Kelliher fire and rescue personnel extricated the man from under the house, but he could not be revived. He’s identified as 25-year-old Joshua O’Brien of Blackduck.

Another man was taken to a Grand Forks, North Dakota hospital. The other was taken by a private vehicle. Their conditions are not known.

 

In sports…

Madison SD  —  (PlayNorthStar.com) – The eighth edition of the Dacotah Bank/North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Football Players-of-the-Week honors were announced by the conference office Monday.  Jake Peterson of Valley City State (N.D.) was selected to the Offensive Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Landon Arredondo was named to Special Teams Player-of-the-Week.  Eric Bell of Presentation (S.D.) was chosen as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week.

NSAA Football Offensive Player of the Week
Jake Peterson – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’4″ – 198 lbs., Sophomore – wide receiver – Larimore, N.D. – Peterson caught three touchdown passes and had career-highs with seven catches for 143 yards in Valley City State’s (N.D.) 58-0 romp over Mayville State (N.D.).  His touchdowns came on catches of 42 yards, 30 yards and 13 yards.

NSAA Football Defensive Player of the Week
Eric Bell – Presentation (S.D.) – 5’10” – 180 lbs., Junior – defensive back – New Orleans, La. – Bell collected seven tackles (6 solo, 1 assist), an interception and a pass break-up in helping Presentation (S.D.) to a 40-22 homecoming victory over Jamestown (N.D.).  He had a pick-six where he intercepted UJ Dylan Klatt’s pass and returned it for 40 yards to extend Saints’ lead to 13-0 in the first quarter.

NSAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Landon Arredondo – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’10” – 201 lbs., Sophomore – kicker – Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – Arredondo was 1-of-1 field goal and went 7-of-8 on PAT extra-point kicks in fueling Valley City State (N.D.) to a 58-0 rout over Mayville State (N.D.).  He converted a 28-yard field goal for the Vikings.  Arredondo recorded 10 kickoffs for a total of 459 yards (45.9 yards average per kickoff).

Madison  SD  —  (PlayNorthStar.com) – Jamestown (N.D.) is the coaches’ favorite to win the 2017-18 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Basketball league title, the preseason poll was announced Monday by the conference office.  The Jimmies received eight (8) first-place votes and 80 points to top the preseason poll.

Bellevue (Neb.) edged out Valley City State (N.D.) 60-59 to finish third in the poll.  Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish fifth after recording 44 points.  Presentation (S.D.) finished sixth with 32 points, followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) seventh with 27 points, Viterbo (Wis.) eighth with 23 points and Waldorf (Iowa) ninth with 12 points.

Points are awarded on a 9-1 basis and coaches could vote for their own team.

Bellevue (Neb.) is the unanimous pick to win the 2017-18 North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball conference title, the coaches’ preseason poll was announced Monday afternoon.  The Bruins collected all nine first-place votes and tallied 81 points to top the preseason poll.

Valley City State (N.D.) registered 66 points to finish second in the preseason poll, followed by Dickinson State third with 62 points.  Jamestown was fourth with 54 points, while Dakota State (S.D.) collected 48 points to finish fifth.  Waldorf (Iowa) recorded 35 points to place sixth, Viterbo (Wis.) seventh with 31 points, Presentation (S.D.) eighth with 16 points and Mayville State (N.D.) ninth with 12 points.

Points are awarded on a 9-1 basis and coaches could vote for their own team.

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — University of North Dakota athletic director Brian Faison is retiring at the end of December.

Faison was named to lead the department in 2008. He says the timing is right for his family and for his successor, who will have time to get in place before next season.

Faison came to North Dakota from New Mexico State. While at UND, he oversaw the program’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I athletics, first helping to secure membership in the Big Sky Conference and then announcing a move to the Summit League.

Also in Faison’s tenure, the school dropped baseball, men’s and women’s swimming and women’s hockey programs, and added men’s tennis.

School President Mark Kennedy says he appreciates Faison’s contributions and says Faison will be difficult to replace.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House visitor records from Barack Obama’s term show the former president hosted current White House chief of staff John Kelly at a breakfast for Gold Star families after his son died in Afghanistan. President Donald Trump defended his claim that his predecessors fell short in honoring those killed in action by saying: “You could ask Gen. Kelly, did he get a call from Obama?” The breakfast for relatives of U.S. troops killed in action six months after Kelly’s son died.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is warning Sen. John McCain after McCain questioned “half-baked, spurious nationalism” in America’s foreign policy. Trump said in a radio interview Tuesday, “I fight back.” McCain, a former Navy pilot who spent 5½ years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp and is battling brain cancer, responded that he has faced “tougher adversaries.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the nation’s drug czar is withdrawing from consideration for the job. Trump announced the decision in a tweet early Tuesday. The move follows reports by The Washington Post and CBS’ “60 Minutes” that Republican Rep. Tom Marino played a key role in passing a bill that weakened the federal government’s authority to stop companies from distributing opioids. Marino could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expressing support for an agreement struck by two leading lawmakers to extend federal payments to health insurers. Trump spoke at a news conference in the Rose Garden Tuesday with the Greek Prime Minister. He commented after Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee told reporters that he and a top Democrat have reached an agreement on a plan to extend the federal payments that Trump has blocked.

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) — Smoke is descending into the coastal beach town of Santa Cruz from a fire a fire that broke out late Monday, destroying four structures and injuring five firefighters. Rob Sherman, division chief at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, says the fire in the Santa Cruz mountains has grown to 150 acres. The agency had previously said the cause was a house fire, but spokeswoman Angela Bernheisel says it’s unclear if the structure initially reported as burning was a house.