CSi Weather..

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the evening

Lows 15 to 20. West winds around 5 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Increasing clouds. Highs in the lower 30s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow possibly mixed with rain in the evening.  Then slight chance of light freezing rain and snow after midnight in the Valley City area .

Lows in the mid 20s. Southwest winds around 10 mph shifting to the west after midnight.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny in the morning then clearing. Highs in

the lower 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

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

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 20.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 20s.

.SUNDAY…Sunny. Highs around 30.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 15.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 20s.

 

 

Light snow  Tuesday night for parts of the region. Accumulations will be light, generally less than one inch.

However some minor impacts to travel are possible with snow

occurring during the evening commute for some locations.

Some light snow accumulations are possible Wednesday night into

early Thursday, generally ranging around one half inch or less.

No widespread hazardous weather is expected for the remainder of

the period.

The extended looks dry and mild Thursday and Friday. A weak but dry clipper moves through Saturday, followed by a warmup again through the

end of next week. Current indications show the 6 to 10 day temperature outlook would be exceptionally warm if the low levels mix out by next weekend. Mid 40s for highs southwest and 30s elsewhere, but even upper 40s would be possible in a good mixing environment.



 


 


Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board met in monthly session Monday.


On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, JSDC, Business Development Director, Corry Shevlin said, board members reviewed CEO, Connie Ova’s job performance, giving her a positive review.


82 percent of the performance appraisals by the board members were satisfactory or higher, and 44 percent rated Connie’s performance as excellent.


In other business, the JSDC’s 2019 budget includes  a  two percent raise for  staff.


Shevlin added that the  JSDC eliminated a deadline for the completion of a portion of the  paving at the Airport Industrial Park, stemming from wet weather conditions and boulders under the road that  have delayed the project. The deadline for full completion of the project remains June 30, 2019.


 


Jamestown   (CSi) The Jamestown Planning Commission has approved a replat of five lots in northeast Jamestown.


Combined are five lots located at 1101 5th Avenue  Northeast into a single lot for a planned addition to Haut Funeral Home.


The change to property boundaries now moves to the Jamestown City Council for consideration at its Jan. 7 meeting.


The Planning Commission tabled a request to combine three lots into a single lot at 8381 32nd Street  Southeast, Unit 20, until its January 14 meeting to get more information from the property owners.


The property is between Jamestown Reservoir and. Highway 20, within the one-mile extraterritorial area.


 


Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission this month  approved new workers, and committee members .


On a 3-2 vote, commissioners voted to  allow Two Rivers Community Center to create the full-time position of guest services coordinator.


The commission approved the appointment of Tania Falk and Jen Gruebele to three-year terms on the TRAC Advisory Committee. They replace Mindi Schmitz and Rachel Liechty.


The Park Board approved  on a vote of 4-1 to keep the same Hillcrest Municipal Golf Course fees the same in 2019, as recommended by Pro Shop, superintendent, John Miller.


Commissioner Mike Soulis voted in opposing  saying that each department should do more to increase the revenue.


 


Valley City  (CSi)  On Wednesday December 12, Valley City Public Schools  will have Early Dismissal for Professional Development Day.


All students will be dismissed early to allow teachers and staff to attend a Trauma-Sensitive School Training focused on student behavioral and mental health issues.


 


Jamestown  (CSi)  Victory Lutheran Church, located at 510 9th Ave. SW, will host its Community Christmas Dinner, Sunday, December 16th, from 11:30 – 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.


A complete turkey meal with all the trimmings will be served.  Meals will also be delivered to those who are unable to attend at the church. Please call the church office at 251-1570 before 3 p.m. on Friday, December 14th to be assured of home meal delivery Sunday.


 


Valley City  (VCSU)   – Valley City State University will hold its fourth Winter Commencement on Thursday, December 13, at 3:30 p.m. in Vangstad Auditorium.


Interim President Margaret Dahlberg will preside at the commencement exercises and give remarks, as will Andy Wakeford, staff adviser for the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.


The undergraduate student reflection will be presented by Yaritza “Yari” Villanueva of Minto, N.D., graduating on Thursday with a triple major in biology, environmental science, and fisheries and wildlife science (fisheries concentration).


Faculty speaker is Hilde van Gijssel, professor of science. Born and raised in the Netherlands, van Gijssel has taught at VCSU since 2002. In spring 2018, she received the Faculty Excellence Award for senior faculty.


The VCSU Chamber Wind Ensemble, directed by Jerrold Heide, instructor in music, will perform at the ceremony.


 


BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp bid an emotional farewell to the U.S. Senate, telling colleagues that “gridlock and partisanship does not have to rule the day.”Heitkamp, in a half-hour speech from the Senate floor, appealed to Congress to display “more political courage” and to “rise above “partisanship and rancor.”Heitkamp told lawmakers to use “facts and judgment — not polls — to make our decisions.”She lost her seat to U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer in November in a race that helped the GOP expand its control of the Senate.Heitkamp, 63, portrayed herself as an independent who wasn’t afraid to vote against her own party or vote with President Donald Trump.Cramer won by persuading North Dakota voters that his emphatic conservatism would serve them better than her occasional independence from her own party.Heitkamp, who served just one term, said she fought every day for rural America.Heitkamp was the first woman elected to represent North Dakota in either the U.S. Senate or House. Jocelyn Burdick briefly served in the Senate after her husband, Democrat Quentin Burdick, died in September 1992, but she was appointed by then-Democratic Gov. George Sinner.Heitkamp’s loss was the low point of a political career that began in 1984, when she began the first of seven statewide campaigns with an unsuccessful run for state auditor. She served as tax commissioner and attorney general before her unsuccessful run for governor in 2000.She lost to Republican and now-Sen. John Hoeven in the gubernatorial race that was interrupted late in the campaign when Heitkamp was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery six weeks before Election Day.Heitkamp held back tears talking about her bout with breast cancer, which is in remission. She said she was only given a slim chance to live and used the time “God gave me” to pursue a “good and noble” cause in the Senate.



 


Bismarck  (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has been notified of a recent post on social media concerning a letter coming from the NDDOT Driver’s License Division.


The post has some misinformation. The letter is in fact a legitimate letter from the NDDOT. It is NOT a scam.


The purpose of the letter is to inform the driver there was an inquiry of their driving record from an insurance company, current employer or prospective employer. The NDDOT provides the driver record information in accordance with North Dakota Century Code 39-33-05 to the company and then also notifies the driver about the inquiry. If you receive this letter no action is needed by the driver, unless you have a question about the information provided.


The news release says,  “We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. For driver’s license questions please contact 701-328-2604.”


 


BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The head of North Dakota’s Labor Department and Job Service North Dakota has been named to lead the state Commerce Department.Gov. Doug Burgum announced Tuesday that he has appointed Michelle Kommer to the position, effective Jan. 1. She succeeds Jay Schuler, who resigned in October over a controversial email about then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.Burgum cited Kommer’s leadership qualities, extensive private-sector experience and commitment to addressing the state’s workforce shortage.Kommer will continue to serve as labor commissioner on an interim basis, and Workforce Safety and Insurance Director Bryan Klipfel will lead Job Service until both positions are filled. Interim Commerce Commissioner Shawn Kessel will return to his role as deputy commissioner.The Commerce Department has four divisions, overseeing tourism, economic development, workforce development and community services. 








MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A person is in custody after allegedly stealing a tow truck in Mandan and leading law officers on a chase that ended after he drove the vehicle into a slough.The Highway Patrol says a trooper located the stolen truck on Interstate 94 on Monday afternoon but the suspect fled. He eventually drove into a field and then a slough in the McKenzie area.Authorities used an airplane and a drone to monitor the suspect as officers closed in. He was taken into custody without incident. Authorities did not immediately release his name or age. 














BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Some rangeland was contaminated when nearly 6,900 gallons of oil spilled at a well pad in Dunn County.The state Health Department says a valve failure caused the spill on Dec. 8 at a Burlington Resources Oil and Gas Co. site about 11 miles north of Killdeer.About 6,300 gallons of the spilled oil were recovered. The other 600 gallons went through a storm water gate in the containment berm and impacted rangeland.Health Department officials are inspecting the site. 








DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — The federal Labor Department has ordered a North Dakota-based oil field service company to pay nearly $1.2 million in back wages to 275 current and former employees in six states.The government issued the order against Wyoming Casing Service Inc. after an investigation found violations of overtime and record-keeping requirements.The company will provide training to its managers and human resources personnel to avoid future violations.The Bismarck Tribune reports the investigation included crews working in North Dakota, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming. 






In sports..


North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick was one of three Bison players selected to The Associated Press FCS All-America team.


Stick is joined by North Dakota State offensive lineman Tanner Volson and defensive back Robbie Grimsley on the first team. The top-seeded Bison, who will play South Dakota State in the semifinals of the playoffs Friday, also placed defensive lineman Greg Menard and linebacker Jabril Cox on the second team and offensive lineman Zack Johnson on the third team.


The Bison have won six of the last seven FCS national titles.


Stick is a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the best player in the Football Championship Subdivision. The other finalists are Samford second-team quarterback Devlin Hodges, who broke the FCS record for career passing yards this season with 14,584, and third-team quarterback Chandler Burks for Kennesaw State.


Hodges leads FCS with 4,283 yards passing this season.


Cal Poly’s Joe Protheroe, the leading rusher in FCS with 1,810 yards, was first team at running back and San Diego’s Michael Bandy, who leads in yards receiving with 1,698, made All-America at receiver.


Sam Houston State defensive end Derick Robinson, who leads the nation in sacks with 15, highlighted the FCS All-America first team defense along with Dartmouth defensive back Isiah Swann, who leads with nine interceptions.


See the full story at CSiNewsNow.com


 


In world and national news…


WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi is unloading on President Donald Trump after their “wild” Oval Office confrontation over government funding.


Speaking to Democratic lawmakers back at the Capitol, Pelosi boasted on Tuesday that she and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer goaded Trump to “fully own that the shutdown was his.”


Trump threatened again to shut down part of the government next week if Democrats did not agree to fund his long-promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.


Pelosi says: “It’s like a manhood thing for him. As if manhood could ever be associated with him. This wall thing.”


She adds of the meeting: “It goes to show you: You get into a tickle contest with a skunk, you get tinkle all over you.”


 


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The mother of a woman killed by a man who drove his car into counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally says she is “content” with a jury’s recommendation that he spend the rest of his life in prison.


On Tuesday, a Virginia jury recommended a sentence of life plus 419 years for James Alex Fields Jr., who was convicted last week of first-degree murder and other charges in the car attack on Aug. 12, 2017.


Thirty-two-year-old paralegal and civil rights activist Heather Heyer was killed, and dozens were injured. Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, said “justice has him where he needs to be.”


Judge Richard Moore scheduled sentencing for March 29. Under Virginia law, the judge can impose a lower sentence than what the jury recommends, but cannot increase it.


 


 


TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Global Affairs Department says it’s aware of the detention of a Canadian citizen in China and has raised the case with the Chinese government.


The department says in a statement it is “seized with this case” and is providing consular assistance to the family of the Canadian. It declined to say more or state his name.


But a person familiar with the matter says former diplomat Michael Kovrig was detained Monday night in Beijing during one of his regular visits to the city. The person spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to speak publicly on the matter.


The detention follows Chinese warnings to Canada of consequences for its recent arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at Vancouver’s airport.


 


 


PARIS (AP) — The French government says tax relief and other fiscal measures announced by President Emmanuel Macron to try to calm nationwide protests will cost between 8 billion and 10 billion euros ($9 billion and $11 billion).


The figure was given by government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, speaking Tuesday to broadcaster BFM-TV.


After weeks of often violent demonstrations by so-called “yellow vest” protesters, Macron responded Monday with measures to boost the spending power of retirees and workers, including a 100-euro hike in the minimum monthly wage.


Griveaux said the government will make savings in the state budget to help finance the measures.


The protests, including blockades of roads, have also caused substantial economic losses to businesses that have lost customers in city and town centers hit by rioting.


 


 


PARIS (AP) — French media have reported a shooting in Strasbourg, and the Interior Ministry has called on the public to remain indoors amid a “serious security event” in the city center.


Local authorities in the Grand-Est and Bas-Rhin region tweeted for the public to “avoid the area of the police station,” which is close to the city’s Christmas market.


French news broadcaster BFM TV said there were “several people injured,” citing local police.


Some Strasbourg residents have reported hearing gunfire in some parts of the city center.


 


 


RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Authorities say an armed man entered a cathedral in southern Brazil and opened fire during Mass, killing at least four people before killing himself.


Police tell The Associated Press that the incident happened Tuesday afternoon at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Campinas, a city about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of from Sao Paulo.


Globo News showed paramedics on the scene.


Globo reported that firefighters say the man entered while Mass was being celebrated and went to the front of the church. He then began shooting two handguns, killing four and injuring several others. Authorities say he then shot himself.


The motive isn’t clear. Authorities have yet to release the name or age of the suspect.


While Brazil leads the world in total annual homicides, mass shootings are relatively rare.