CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Patchy frost after midnight. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

 

.WEDNESDAY…Increasing clouds. Highs in the lower 60s. West

winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

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

showers in the evening. Lows in the lower 40s. Northwest winds

10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to

15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

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

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 30s.

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

Highs in the lower 50s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain showers.

Lows in the upper 30s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of rain showers in

the morning. Highs in the lower 50s.

 

Widespread frost is possible late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.

Freezing temperatures are possible Friday.

Frost or freeze conditions will be possible during the overnight and morning periods late this week into the weekend. The coldest morning will be Saturday when hard freeze will be possible for parts of region.

Active weather continues through the weekend into next week. Warm air rain/snow is still on track across southern North Dakota Saturday morning.

Update:

Jamestown  (CSi)  Voters in the Jamestown Public School District voted Tuesday to turn down the $34.4 million bond referendum.School District Business Manager, Sally Ost reports that, the vote was:

Yes votes 1140

No votes 2769

The referendum needed  60 percent  yes votes to pass.

The total vote count was 3909.

There were 875 Early Voting ballots cast, and 103 absentee ballots.

She says nine votes will be canvassed, with the canvassing at the October First School Board meeting.

Stutsman County COO Nichole Meland says, as of 2-p.m., Tuesday, voting was  steady since the Jamestown Civic Center polling location opened at 7-a.m.

At 2-p.m, there had been 1552 votes  at the Civic Center.

The vote total Tuesday was more than the 3528 votes cast in the June 2018 elections.

If approved by voters, the bond issue would have resulted in a 37 mill increase in annual property taxes, based on 2017 valuations. Final rates calculated on the 2018 valuation to be finalized in October 2018.

The school board approved delaying the sale of the bonds until January or February 2019. This removes any tax for repayment of the bonds from the upcoming tax season, and collection would begin with property taxes levied in late 2019.

Superintendent Robert Lech says it’s possible interest rates could increase from the time voters would have approved the bond issue, and the sale of the bond, which would have increased the amount of taxes the school would have had to levy to pay off the bond issue.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Pete Kostelnick’s historic run from Kenai, Alaska to Key West Florida brought him through Jamestown, Tuesday.

  • Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown     CSi Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown CSi
  • Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown     CSi Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown CSi
  • Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown     CSi Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown CSi
  • Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown     CSi Pete's feet Across America in Jamestown CSi
     

He is running 40-70 miles day and plans to reach Key West in early November.  He’s probably one of the few people who’s ever run the Alaska Highway.  He’s certainly the fastest!

He’s pushing a stroller with his gear and food.

Earlier this week he was running from Minot to Harvey, and Monday he  ran from Harvey to Carrington.  On Tuesday he ran from Carrington to Jamestown.

Pete is self funded on this run. To Support Pete and see how he is doing check out his webpage www.petesfeetaa.com or his facebook page Pete’s Feet Across America

Two years ago Pete set the world record for running across the U.S., breaking a 30-year record by four days.  He’s also won the Badwater 135 (regarded as the “toughest foot race on the planet”) twice, setting the course record a few years ago.  He was also a member of the USA 24-hour team that competed in the world meet in Northern Ireland last summer.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sen. Heitkamp’s Office)- U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Tuesday announced that she is donating five U.S. Senate computers to be used in classrooms at the James River Special Education Cooperative in Jamestown.

The U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program helps public schools take advantage of the information age by channeling surplus Senate computers into classrooms countrywide. All registered public schools in the United States and territories are eligible.

Heitkamp selected the James River Special Education Cooperative to receive the five gently-used computers so the school can meet students’ technology needs without having to buy all new equipment.

Heitkamp says, “For our students to learn, grow, and reach their full potential, they need access to updated technology and computers, that enable them to do research, access critical learning tools, and reach communities far distances away.
“We live in a digital world and I’m thrilled that some of our U.S. Senate computers will be put to good use to support students in the Jamestown region. It’s critical that all schools across North Dakota have access to updated technology, and that’s particularly the case in rural communities – and I’ll keep looking for opportunities to support our state’s schools, students, and teachers.”

Heidi Budeau, James River Special Education Director, said, “Thank you Senator Heitkamp for your technology donation to the James River Special Education Cooperative. The nearly new computers will provide students access to 21st century learning and skills.  I know students and staff are excited to use the computers and are very thankful for your thoughtfulness and kindness in assisting in the advancement of
their education.”

Heitkamp also selected the Oliver-Mercer Special Education Unit in Hazen, the Turtle Mountain Special Education Unit, and the GST Multidistrict Special Education Unit to receive gently-used U.S. Senate computers.

In 2015, Heitkamp visited Flasher Public
Schools<https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=2366cc69-4c91-4dae-9ac0-864220e52c66>
and Ed ClappElementaryinFargo<https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=72c0587b-a8ba-463a-9199-0ffc871c199f>
that received computers through the same U.S. Senate Computers for Schools Program.
In 2014, Heitkamp announced that Cannon Ball Elementary
School<https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=C9D52E54-6083-4D14-BAA5-557C1C2750B2>
was selected by Apple as one of 114 schools that received Apple Technology in every classroom.

(The Democratic Senator Heitkamp, faces a challenge by Republican U.S. Congressman Kevin Cramer for her senate seat this year).

 

 

 

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) — A crash in Williston involving a police sport utility vehicle and a passenger car killed the driver of the car and injured a police officer.The Highway Patrol says the two vehicles collided at an intersection about 4 a.m. Tuesday. Details weren’t immediately released. The investigation is continuing.The 29-year-old Willison woman driving the car died from her injuries. The 33-year-old male officer driving the SUV was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries. Neither was immediately identified. There were no passengers in either vehicle.The crash prompted the shutdown of U.S. Highway 2 in the area for about 5 ½ hours. 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota woman convicted of killing her pregnant neighbor by cutting the baby from her womb testified Tuesday that her boyfriend had pressured her to “produce a baby” after figuring out she had lied about being pregnant.

Brooke Crews told the court that she had concocted a phony pregnancy to keep from losing William Hoehn, who is on trial for conspiracy in the August 2017 death of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind. Hoehn has admitted helping to cover up the crime, but says he didn’t know that Crews had planned to kill Greywind and take her baby. Crews testified that she never “explicitly” told Hoehn that was her plan.

Crews said Hoehn appeared surprised when he entered the bathroom in their apartment and discovered she had cut Greywind’s baby from her body. Crews said Hoehn then retrieved a rope and tightened it around Greywind’s neck, saying: “If she wasn’t dead before, she is now.”

Greywind’s daughter survived and is being raised by family.

Hoehn spoke regularly with his attorney, Daniel Borgen, during Crews’ testimony but showed little emotion. Crews was crying and sniffling throughout.

“You never told Will that you had planned to do this, is that right?” Borgen asked.

“Not kill Savanna for her baby, no,” Crews replied.

“In fact, there was never a conversation at all about killing Savanna and taking her baby,” Borgen said.

“Not explicitly,” she said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what Crews meant by “explicitly.”

Crews described her relationship with Hoehn as rocky and violent, saying it was fueled by drugs and alcohol. She said they broke up at one point, and that’s when she lied to him about being pregnant. She went so far as to email him a phony positive pregnancy test and sonogram photo.

In early August, Hoehn told Crews he didn’t believe she was pregnant and said she needed “to produce a baby.” Crews said she believed this was “an ultimatum.”

“I took that to mean I better have a baby, no matter how it happened,” Crews said.

Crews originally told police that Greywind had given her the child. She later told police they had argued and that she pushed Greywind down and knocked her out before cutting her open. A medical examiner testified Monday that there was no evidence of any head injuries.

Crews stuck to her story Tuesday, saying she pushed Greywind, who was knocked out when her head hit the bathroom sink. Crews said that’s when she got a knife and began cutting the baby out.

Crews said the couple kept ropes around the house because Hoehn liked to tie her up during sex, including around her neck. She also said Hoehn expressed fantasies about killing people and Crews said she initially told him she would be interested in that too.

The medical examiner who performed the autopsy, Dr. Victor Froloff, testified Monday that he isn’t sure whether Greywind died from blood loss or strangulation .

Greywind’s disappearance sparked several searches before her body was found several days later, shrouded in plastic and dumped in the Red River. Crews testified Tuesday that police missed Greywind’s body and her baby during three searches of the couple’s apartment.

Crews testified that Greywind’s body was in the bathroom closet and the baby was covered up next to Hoehn on a bed during one of those searches. She said Hoehn eventually moved Greywind’s body to a hollowed-out dresser and the two of them carried it out of the apartment.

Fargo Police Chief David Todd did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Crews’ testimony.

Crews pleaded guilty to murder and is serving life in prison without parole. She said she has no agreement with prosecutors for a lesser sentence in exchange for testifying.

Greywind’s death prompted North Dakota Sen. Heidi Heitkamp to introduce Savanna’s Act, which aims to improve tribal access to federal crime information databases and create standardized protocols for responding to cases of missing and slain Native American women . A similar bill has been introduced in the House.

Also Tuesday

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota woman convicted of killing her pregnant neighbor says she never told a fellow inmate that she strangled the woman.

Brooke Crews testified Tuesday in the trial of her ex-boyfriend, William Hoehn (hayn), who is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the August 2017 death of Savanna Greywind.

Crews is serving life in prison after admitting earlier this year that she cut Greywind’s baby from her womb. But she testified this week that Hoehn wrapped a rope around Greywind’s neck to make sure she was dead.

Defense attorney Daniel Borgen challenged Crews with what he called “new information” from Jennifer Robinson, who’s in the same New England prison as Crews.

But Crews denied Robinson’s assertions that she said she strangled Greywind. Crews also said she never told her fellow inmate that Hoehn and Greywind were having an affair.

Crews says she has “very rarely” spoken about the case.

 

West Fargo  (Valley News Live) On Tuesday night, The West Fargo Public School District announced the $106.9M bond referendum passed with 5,976 preliminary votes at 70.68% approval rate.

The measure needed 60 percent approval to pass.

The $106.9 million bond referendum package includes a new high school, new middle school, art and gifted/talented classrooms, security upgrades, addition/renovation at Harwood Elementary School, the addition/renovation at Horace Elementary School, and turf at all three high schools.

The West Fargo school district says the culmination of these seven projects will address the challenges

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An oil company facing tribal opposition to drilling wells on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation close to Lake Sakakawea has proposed 23 more wells near the Missouri River reservoir.

The federal Bureau of Land Management is reviewing drilling permit applications from Slawson Exploration, some for wells less than 1,000 feet from the lake, The Bismarck Tribune reported.

A federal judge last year halted the drilling of proposed wells when the Three Affiliated Tribes argued they should be farther from the lake under tribal policy that requires a 1,000-foot setback and tribal approval for drilling within half a mile of the lake.

The lake is the tribe’s primary source of drinking water, and also a tribal cultural and recreational resource.

The company challenged the order and the judge reversed it . The company is drilling on private land on the reservation in northwestern North Dakota and developing minerals under the lake that are not owned by American Indians. The company said those wells should be complete by late November.

“There’s no application of that tribal law to these projects,” said Eric Sundberg, Slawson’s vice president of environmental and regulatory affairs.

The tribe continues to fight the earlier ruling, maintaining that tribal regulations should apply to all oil development within its reservation boundaries.

“If there’s a contamination or impact to occur … we’re all going to be impacted one way or another,” tribal Chairman Mark Fox said.

The BLM is accepting comments on the new drilling permit applications through Oct. 5.

 

In world and national news…

NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Bill Cosby will spend the first few days of his prison sentence at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility outside Philadelphia. Cosby left the suburban Philadelphia courthouse Tuesday in a dark SUV after a judge sentenced the 81-year-old comedian to three to 10 years in state prison for sexual assault. A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office says Cosby will be held at the county jail for at least the next few days. From there he’ll head to a state prison.

 

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is accusing the United States of trying to overthrow his government. He’s rejecting bilateral talks after President Donald Trump predicted stepped-up U.S. sanctions would get Tehran to negotiate over its nuclear program. Rouhani was addressing world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. national security adviser John Bolton will warn Iran of “hell to pay” and “serious consequences” if it defies the U.S. Bolton was to deliver a speech Tuesday in New York featuring rhetoric that is tough even by the standards of an administration hostile to Tehran. The speech is hosted by an organization that opposed the 2015 nuclear deal that the Trump administration withdrew from earlier this year. He calls the deal the “worst diplomatic debacle in American history”

 

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Donald Trump has told foreign leaders at a U.N. General Assembly luncheon that the world body used to feel a bit like “foreign territory,” but that now it feels like “home.” He addressed the assembly earlier Tuesday, asserting American independence from the U.N., a message that was not enthusiastically embraced by other members.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’s confident Brett Kavanaugh will be confirmed to the Supreme Court. McConnell told reporters Tuesday the Senate is “moving forward” on the nomination. The GOP leader says he’s “confident we’re going win.” The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hear Thursday from Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexual assault from high school. The committee could vote Friday.