Wayne Byers Show Weekdays on CSi 2

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow after midnight in the Jamestown area. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Lows around 30. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy. Chance of snow possibly mixed with rain in

the morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs around

40. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. West winds around

5 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s.

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

evening. Lows in the lower 30s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

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

.MONDAY…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain. Highs in

the mid 50s.

 

A rain and snow mix with minor snow accumulations are possible

Tuesday night through Wednesday. Some travel impacts are possible.

Slow but steady snowmelt will continue through midweek with high

temperatures in the 40s dropping back below the freezing mark

overnight. However, temperatures will finally begin to increase

towards the end of the week with highs expected to reach into the

50s with lows near or above freezing by the weekend. The warmer

conditions will accelerate the snowmelt for locations that have

any lingering snow cover. Ponding of water in low lying areas can

be expected as water begins to make its way to the local river

system.

 

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

All members were present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

A Raffle Permit for Barnes County Wildlife Federation, Disabled American Veterans, Express Wrestling

 

Electrician, Plumber and/or Mechanical Contractor license for ASAP Electric, RJ’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

 

Approved Blocking off the Street Request for Valley City Public Schools on April 28, 2018 on 4th Street NW from Central Avenue to 2nd Avenue

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS …No One spoke

 

PUBLIC HEARING

Regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 112.

 

Following the Public Hearing, City Commissioners approved a Special Assessments as recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 112 for $50,178.

 

Another Open Public Hearing regarded Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 113

 

Following the hearing, the City Commission approved Special Assessments as recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for Paving Improvement District No. 113 at $1,167,264

 

A Public Hearing was held regarding Special Assessments confirmed by the Special Assessment Commission for 2017 Parking Lot Improvement District, including seven parking lots, as a Special Assessment District was established, to Assess benefited property owners.

 

Following the public hearing they approved  Special Assessments as recommended by the Special Assessment Commission for 2017 Parking Lot Improvement District at $51,328.

 

ORDINANCE

City Commissioners heard the First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Title 4, Alcoholic Beverages. City Attorney Mertins explained the language changes.  Additional changes, additions, or deletions can be made before the Second Reading at the May 1st City Commission meeting.

 

RESOLUTIONS

The City Commission approved a Resolution of Sponsorship for After School Latch Key Program dba TL Childcare CDBG Loan Fund Application.  Stacy Bowerman from SCDRC said the approval is an endorsement by the city of the loan application. The loan will be used for job retention and creation.

 

Approved was a Resolution Accepting the Bid and Awarding Contract for Sanitary Sewer Improvement District No. 62 to Swanberg Construction in the amount of $234,938.  KLJ  explained the work will entail re-lining of pipes.

 

Approved was a Resolution Accepting Bid and Awarding Contract for Storm Sewer Improvement District No. 51 to DL Barkie Construction, Inc. in the amount of $167,665    KLJ explained a drainage ditch will be replaced with pipes north and south of the area west of the Winter Show Building.

 

Approved a Resolution to Designate Authorized Representative for the City of Valley City as a Member of Missouri Basin Municipal Power Agency d/b/a Missouri River Energy.  City Administrator Schelkoph stated that due to policies the primary representative was changed to Schelkoph.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved an NDDOT Cost Participation, Construction & Maintenance Agreement for UGP-SU-2-990(057), Central Avenue from Main to 12th St N

The City Commission approved Amendment No. 1 for Preliminary & Design Engineering Services with KLJ for Project No. UGP-SU-2-990(057), PCN 22043 (Central Avenue)   

Approved a Permanent Flood Protection Phase IV buyout purchase of 229 4th Ave SE for the appraised value of $155,000.

Approved a Gaming Site Authorization for Valley City Eagles Aerie 2192 Fraternal Order of Eagles at 345 12th Ave NE; Hi-Line Hospitality, LLC at 2369 Elm Street; The Labor Club, 214 2nd Street NE; My Bar Valley City LLC, 240 East Main Street; and Main Street Off Sale LLC – Tavern 94, 455 Wintershow Road.

Approved a Gaming Site Authorization for ND Wildlife Federation at Valley City Eagles, 345 12th Ave NE on April 6, 2019.

Approved a Special Alcohol Beverage Event Permit for City Lights at VCSU on April 25, 2018 for VCBCDC Annual Banquet.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT  No report was given.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

Building Inspector said citywide cleanup in Valley City will be May 7-11.

City Hall has information on the specifics, and posted on the city’s website.

City Fire Chief Retterath reminded residents to check that their smoke alarms are in working order.

Updates were given on the permanent flood control project was given by KLJ, and that bi-weekly construction updates will start.

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

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Nill Construction of Jamestown has been awarded the contract for the upcoming improvement project at the Alfred Dickey Public Library, downtown.

The James River Valley Library System approved the contract, and at the recent monthly meeting reviewed the timeline, for the Centennial Initiative with project work anticipated to start May 21 this year.

The contract with Nill is $376,300 as the business will perform interior and exterior work.

The project’s estimated cost is $502,640.

The Alfred Dickey Public Library will celebrate its one hundredth birthday in 2019.

Work is anticipated to be completed by the end of August this year.

JRVLS Director, Joe Rector says work will include, the library’s collection of fiction work and periodicals, along with other upstairs improvements.

Rector notes that when work begins in the upstairs and downstairs main areas and in the children’s library, the Alfred Dickey Library will be closed so exterior and interior construction can be  completed.

Rector points out that  the Stutsman County Library will be open, during work at the Alfred Dickey Public Library.

 

 

Jamestown  (JRMC) – Jamestown Regional Medical Center (JRMC) recently made the Becker’s Healthcare “150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare 2018” list. The list highlights hospitals, health systems and healthcare companies that work towards promoting diversity within their workforce, employee engagement, and professional growth.

JRMC Chief Executive Officer K.C DeBoer, says,  “This achievement is gratifying and validates JRMC’s commitment to being the best rural hospital for patients to receive care, employees to work and providers to practice.”

This is the second time JRMC was recognized as a Best Place to Work. Modern Healthcare named JRMC a Best Place to Work in 2017.

For an organization to be eligible on the Becker Healthcare list, it must offer benefits and opportunities that allow its employees to build successful careers above and beyond an average healthcare provider or company. They must encourage professional development and promote leadership from within. Additionally, most organizations that make the Becker’s Healthcare 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare list support volunteerism and organize community events.

JRMC’s employees consistently list “coworkers” as one of their top reasons why they continue their employment at JRMC. In addition, each year employees donate more than $35,000 towards future care endowments, community care, surgical equipment and more as part of its Employee Giving Campaign. Employees also have opportunities to participate in various community events including Relay for Life, annual blood drives, parades and block parties.

Across the United States, Becker Healthcare chose organizations based on nominations and editorial research. Organizations are not allowed to pay for inclusion on the list as is not an endorsement of any hospital, health system or company.

In addition to being named onto the Becker’s Healthcare 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare in 2018 list, JRMC has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital each year since 2014 by iVantage Health Analytics and the Chartis Center for Rural Health, as well as one of the Best Modern Healthcare Places to Work in 2017.

JRMC Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer Ricki Ramlo says JRMC works to exceed industry standards, and one example of that is employee engagement and competitive benefits.

Ramlo adds, “JRMC goes above and beyond for its staff from our Legend Awards each quarter to employee engagement.  We are grateful for our employees.”

Becker’s Hospital Review has published a version of this list since 2011. 2018 is the first year JRMC has received this award.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal workplace safety agency is citing an excavation contractor for allegedly exposing employees on a North Dakota municipal project to trench cave-ins and other hazards.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Kamphuis Pipeline Co. for failing to protect workers installing water metering pits and lines. The company faces proposed penalties totaling more than $454,000.OSHA inspected the Logan and Kidder Counties water project site in September and October. Inspectors determined the company failed to protect workers from struck-by hazards, did not place excavated soil piles far enough away from trench edges and failed to use appropriate protective systems during trenching.The company has contested the citations. The case will be reviewed by an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

 

Bismarck (NDDOT) – The North Dakota Highway Hall of Honor, which has inducted 48 North Dakota men and women since its establishment in 1974, will add two new members on May 11.

Receiving the award posthumously in 2018 will be John Windish of Fingal, ND and Clifford Johnson of Bismarck, N.D.

John Paul Windish first began working in the highway field in 1948, only 30 years from the official beginning of the Department of Transportation in North Dakota and still six years to completion of the Interstate System.

John’s career at Barnes County Highway Department encompassed an era of tremendous growth in the highway system for both Barnes County and the State of North Dakota. Through his tenure, he held many positions including laborer, equipment operator, mechanic, and snow plow operator to a list a few.

There wasn’t a task, job, or assignment that needed to be done that John could not or would not complete. John was instrumental in the construction of roadways that would eventually become the paved farm to market roads throughout Barnes County. In 1970, John was appointed Barnes county Road superintendent, a position he held until his retirement in 1998. By the end of his career, the state and local highway systems were virtually complete, with little change occurring in the years since. John was proud to have served the public those many years. He always gave credit for his success to Charlene Windish, his office manager and wife.

Clifford Johnson came to be known as “the first of the big bridge builders” in North Dakota. Clifford served as Bridge Engineer for the then North Dakota State Highway Department from 1924 to 1945. He resigned in 1945 to become chief design engineer with Crocker and Ryan Consulting Engineers in Denver, Colorado, and went on to start his own engineering consulting firm, Johnson and Associates, in Denver in 1950. His engineering consulting firm designed the Grant Marsh Bridge located on the Missouri River at Bismarck.

Clifford was credited with connecting North Dakota by designing bridges spanning the Missouri River, and connecting Minnesota and North Dakota by designing bridges spanning the Red River. Some of his unique design concepts are still incorporated in modern-day structures throughout North Dakota. Clifford Johnson was one of the Pioneers of the NDDOT. He led the Department in the development of bridges and underpasses that would make safer the movement of people and goods. Clifford’s life and career was exemplary.

The Highway Hall of Honor induction banquet will be held Friday, May 11, with 6:30 p.m. social and dinner at 7:00 p.m. at the Bismarck Municipal Country Club, 930 North Griffin Street, Bismarck. Tickets are $25 each and are available until Friday April 27, by calling Laurie Martin at the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT), at 701-328-2584. Tickets available after April 27 based on availability ONLY.

The North Dakota Highway Hall of Honor was created to recognize those who have had a major role and made a lasting and valuable contribution to the development of the highway system on the state, county, or local level. It also honors those who work on vital functions our roads provide to our state and its citizens. To see a list of previous Highway Hall of Honor Inductees go to the NDDOT website at https://www.dot.nd.gov/public/highwayhallofhonor.htm.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota ranchers are continuing with spring calving and lambing, while farmers are preparing to start getting into the fields to begin spring planting.

The federal Agriculture Department says in its weekly crop report that calving is 57 percent complete and lambing is 77 percent done. Death loss is mostly average to light.

Eighty-five percent of the state’s winter wheat crop is rated fair, good or excellent. The report says farmers on average plan to start spring fieldwork on May 3.

About two-thirds of the state’s topsoil moisture supplies and about half of the subsoil moisture supplies are rated adequate to surplus.

 

SPIRITWOOD, N.D. (AP) — Cargill says it will close its malt plant near Jamestown in October.

The closing will affect about 55 employees at Spiritwood Energy Park.

Cargill spokeswoman April Nelson says demand has dropped for the locally-produced type of malts being used in the production of beer. Nelson says growers were notified that Cargill would not continue its contract growing program prior to the 2018 season so they could make alternate plans.

Cargill has more than 200 workers at its West Fargo and Wahpeton facilities, which are not affected.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Authorities are looking for a man who allegedly assaulted a Burleigh County sheriff’s deputy during an Interstate 94 traffic stop in Bismarck.

Forty-seven-year-old Lonnie Howard allegedly gave the officer false identification Saturday, punched the deputy several times in the chest, rammed the vehicle of a person who stopped to help the officer and then fled.

Authorities later found his vehicle abandoned in Bismarck, but they’re still looking for him.

The deputy was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

Howard has not been formally charged in the incident, but The Bismarck Tribune reports he’s wanted on three unrelated warrants by the U.S. Marshals Service, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and North Dakota Parole and Probation office.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Attorneys are awaiting a court date in a case about a proposed clinic merger in North Dakota.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the Sanford Health and Mid Dakota Clinic providers agreed to merge last year, but a federal judge blocked the move. The judge ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission and the North Dakota Attorney General’s office, which argued that the merger could result in antitrust law violations if it’s allowed to proceed before a final FTC determination can be made.

The Bismarck providers have appealed, arguing that the state’s largest insurance provider, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Dakota, would maintain any lost completion from the proposed merger. They also argue that Mid Dakota could fail if the merger is denied.

The earliest the arguments could be heard is May 14-18.

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican legislative leaders from at least four states have acknowledged taking part in a London summer trip with lobbyists and an Ohio speaker who resigned last week citing questioning by federal investigators about his activities.

Minnesota Speaker Kurt Daudt, Wisconsin Speaker Robin Vos, Michigan Speaker Tom Leonard and North Dakota House Majority Leader Al Carlson were at the four-day event with Republican Ohio Speaker Cliff Rosenberger.

The event was sponsored and paid for by a group that works to elect Republicans.

The politicians say the money for their trip did not come from taxpayers. They say they were not lobbied during the event and complied with ethics laws in their states.

Rosenberger was criticized for his lavish lifestyle but says his actions as speaker were “ethical and lawful.”

The FBI won’t confirm or deny there’s an investigation into Rosenberger.

 

 

In sports…

Dickinson  (KFYR)  After two more seasons, NAIA basketball will make a dramatic change.

On Monday it was announced there will be a move from two divisions to one division in the 2020-21 season.

Dickinson State Blue Hawks Head Coach Josh Vaughan said the NAIA sent out an email laying out the changes this morning.

All of the NAIA University’s in our region are currently in Division-II.

Vaughan said the email indicated the main reason for the move was it will be cheaper for the NAIA. The scholarship limit will be 8, currently

Division One has 11 while D-2 can have up to 6.

The tournament will include 64-teams.

The NAIA had one division prior to 1992.

 

Madison, SD   (uj.edu)   Meghan Ramage (JR/Grand Forks, ND) has been named North Star Athletic Association Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

Ramage had an impressive day at the plate for the 16th-ranked Jimmies against Waldorf (Iowa) on Thursday. In UJ’s 15-5, 5-inning win, she was 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, and five RBI, and also scored three times. Ramage followed that up with a 2-for-4 performance with a triple and an RBI in UJ’s 11-1 win in five innings. She extended her hitting streak to 10 games, and has now hit safely in 17 of her last 19 contests, raising her average to .415 on the year.

Jamestown is scheduled to play a home-and-home series with Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday and Sunday.

 

In world and national news…

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Southwest Airlines jet with a damaged engine and window made an emergency landing at Philadelphia’s airport Tuesday, and one passenger was critically injured. A former federal investigator theorized the plane blew an engine and the shrapnel hit the aircraft.

Seven other people aboard the Boeing 737 that was headed from New York’s LaGuardia Airport to Dallas’ Love Field were treated for minor injuries, according to Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel. He said there was a fuel leak in one of the engines when firefighters arrived and a small fire was quickly brought under control.

Southwest said there were 143 passengers and five crew members on board the plane and most walked onto the tarmac after landing around 11:20 a.m.

 

 

(AP)  Last-minute filers got a rude surprise on tax day: The IRS website to make payments and access other key services is down. But the agency still expects Americans to pay their taxes on time.

The IRS did not give an immediate explanation for the failures but said in a statement that “certain IRS systems are experiencing technical difficulties.”

The agency also said that taxpayers “should continue filing their tax returns as they normally would.” The problem is, electronic filing is the most popular way to file. And the IRS offered no immediate solution.

Pages on the IRS website (www.irs.gov) used to view account information, make a direct payment or set up a payment plan were all not functioning most of the day Tuesday.

It’s unclear when and why the failure occurred. But it appears, based on a message on the site, that the online payment system became unavailable at 2:50 A.M. ET that morning.

Visitors to the IRS payment site saw one of two messages: One that says the website is unavailable. And another that the outage was due to planned maintenance scheduled to end on Sept. 22, 2016.

Both messages said, “Note that your tax payment is due although IRS Direct Pay may not be available.”

The IRS snafu also caused problems for popular third-party tax preparers such as Turbo Tax and H&R Block. Both said that they will hold onto customer tax returns and file them as soon as the IRS system reopens.

Tax day falls on April 17 this year because April 15 was a Sunday and April 16 was Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington, D.C.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The porn actress alleging a sexual affair with President Donald Trump has released a composite sketch of the man she says threatened her in a Las Vegas parking lot to stay quiet about the relationship. Stormy Daniels unveiled the picture on ABC’s “The View” Tuesday. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, says she didn’t report the alleged threat at the time because she was scared.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says part of a federal law that makes it easier to deport immigrants who have been convicted of crimes is too vague to be enforced. The court’s decision Tuesday concerns a catchall provision of immigration law that defines what makes a crime violent. Conviction for a crime of violence subjects an immigrant to deportation and usually speeds up the process.

NEW YORK (AP) — Starbucks says it will close its more than 8,000 U.S. stores for several hours next month to conduct racial-bias training to its nearly 175,000 workers. The announcement comes after two black men were arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks store, sparking protests and calls for a boycott on social media.