CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 5 below. North winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Colder. Highs 5 to 10 above. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows zero to 5 above. East

winds around 5 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

morning. Highs around 10. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 5 below.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs zero to 5 above.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 15 below.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 5 below.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 20 below.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 5 to 10 above.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the

evening. Lows near zero.

.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance

of snow in the afternoon. Highs 10 to 15.

MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow.

Lows near zero.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy.  A Slight chance of light snow. Highs 10 to 15.

 

Tuesday night, very cold temperatures along and east of the Missouri River.

Expect low temperatures from zero to 11 below zero

 

Wednesday night through Friday the leading edge of the arctic air and

dangerous wind chills that are forecast Friday through Sunday.

A slight chance of snow Thursday as the colder air pushes

from north to south, but amounts are meager, perhaps a tenth or

two.

A better chance of snow develops over eastern Montana and

spreads east Thursday night and Friday, favoring southwest and

south central ND. Snowfall accumulations as of now are highest in

southwest ND, where around two inches are anticipated. South

central may see up to one inch.

Thursday night through Sunday morning  dangerous wind chills. Wind chills as low as 35 to 40 below zero at times still on track each night and into the

morning hours, from Thursday through Sunday.

Beginning Monday and through most of next week, a series of

clipper type systems.  The first one is forecast to

push through Monday, then possibly a more significant clipper

Wednesday through Thursday.

 

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

All members were present.

Main Street Initiative Proclamation was made by Mayor Carlsrud.

The proclamation indicates Valley City’s support of increasing community programming, and joins the North Dakota Main Street program.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

A Raffle Permit for Barnes County Ducks Unlimited

PUBLIC COMMENTS  …No one spoke

RESOLUTION

Approved was a Resolution Approving Engineers Report & Directing Preparation of Detailed Plans, Specifications & Estimates of Probable Construction Cost for Paving Improvement District No. 119 Northwest storm sewer project, and water main and reconstruction of the street.

KLJ said the project cost is $2.5 million.

City Commissioners then approved a Resolution Declaring the Necessity for Paving Improvement District No. 119.  A 30 day protest period is being set up, along with a public meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

The City Commission accepted Project No. SU-2-990(056)060, 7th St SE Mill & Overlay (Paving Improvement District No. 114) ), closing out the project near the Winter Show building.

Also approved was accepting the 3rd Ave SE Reconstruction (Paving Improvement District No. 115, including the street lighting project.)

City Commissioners approved increasing Public Works AMI meter Opt-Out Fee, currently charging those property owners $5 per month to manually read the meter.  The proposed charge was an increase to $20 per month to cover expenses to the city.

Also approved was a change in policy allow access to inside electric and water meters, or be turned off until access is gained.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:

David Schelkoph said a property tax “pie chart,” shows how the property taxes collected are divided among entities.  It’s available on the city’s web site.

He outlined upcoming 2019 projects, which include StreetScape One, Phase 3 of the permanent flood control project, along with the 7th Avenue Northwest utility and street project.  Other mill and over lay projects as well.

He said Mayor Carlsrud attended a legislative hearing on Tuesday, in support of the Prairie Dog Bill that sets aside significant dollars annually to non-oil producing counties, ear-marked for infrastructure, including airport improvements.

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

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Chorlaires concert,  “A World of Music,” will be on Friday January 25 and Saturday January 26,  at 7:30 p.m. each evening at the Jamestown High School Theater.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children, available at the door each evening of the concert or in advance from Choralaires members, Boys’ Choir members and at Looysen I Care, at  821 1st Avenue, South.  For more information on the event, contact Mark Sherfy at 952-6049 or msherfy@daktel.com and visit www.choralaires.com.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, members, Roger Caine and Alden Kollmam said, the concert features singing styles from the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Africa and Russia. The Jamestown Boys’ Choir, Directed by Meredith Meidinger, joins the Choralaires, performing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “Dona Nobis Pacem.”

The Choralaires, directed by Pam Burkhardt, will be  accompanied by Richard Walentine, and are the only North Dakota member chorus of the Associated Male Choruses of America, the group hosted Big Sings in 2016, 2012, 2004, and 1997.  Roger said there will not be a Big Sing held this year.

Roger pointed out that the January concert is dedicated to Larry Hoffman, in his 60th year as a baritone with the Choralaires. Larry will perform a solo of the Navy Hymn.

Alden has been a Choralaires member for 14 year, and Roger for 46 years.  The Choralaires formed in 1955.

Roger said in May this year, the Choralaires will host a ‘Mini Sing,” in Jamestown with male choruses invited from the Valley City Troubadours, and from Bismarck and Minot.

 

Bismarck (CSi)  The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports, North Dakota’s commercial service airports finished calendar year 2018 with a statewide total of 1,083,117 passenger boardings.  This is a growth of 52,478 passengers or a 5% increase from 2017 numbers.

In 2018, the airports also saw 1,081,283 passenger deplanements for a grand total of 2,164,400 passengers that traveled through the commercial service terminal buildings of North Dakota over the past year.

Six of the eight commercial service airports in the state saw more passengers this past year than they did in 2017.  The Bismarck and Devils Lake airports were also able to announce that they had each posted their highest annual airline passenger count on record in calendar year 2018.

Jamestown Regional Airport in 2018 saw 11,808 boardings surpassing the goal of 10,000 per year, but down from the 2017 Jamestown boardings at 12,865.

In December of 2018 Jamestown boardings were 907 compared to 924 in December of 2017, down 8.2 percent..

The Aeronautics Commission report says, the increased number of passengers throughout the state has allowed communities to attract and retain additional air service opportunities. 9 non-stop destinations (of which two are seasonal) are currently available to connect North Dakota to the rest of the world. All eight of the commercial service airports also continue to provide their communities with reliable jet service. The state is currently averaging approximately 55 airline flight departures per day with an estimated 3,800 available daily seats.  The top destination airline passenger markets in 2018 for North Dakota travelers were as follows:

  1. Phoenix / Mesa, AZ   Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
  2. Las Vegas. NV   Los Angeles, CA
  3. Denver, CO   Chicago, IL
  4. Orlando / Sanford, FL   Washington D.C – MD
  5. Minneapolis / St. Paul, MN              Houston, TX

 

North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, Executive Director, Kyle Wanner says, “The increased utilization of aviation transportation within North Dakota shows that our airports continue to play an important role in providing efficient transportation options for our residents and visitors.  North Dakota’s businesses compete within a global economy and the ability to connect our communities to the rest of the world allows our state to remain competitive. As efforts to diversify and grow North Dakota’s economy moves forward, the benefits that aviation transportation provides will continue to play a significant role.”

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Schools will be closed on Martin Luther King Day, January 21, 2019 for Professional Development workshops.

School will resume on Tuesday, January 22, 2019.

 

(CNBC)  Former U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota announced Tuesday on Twitter she is starting a new job as a CNBC (CSi Cable 38)  contributor.

Heitkamp, a Democrat was defeated in November 2018 in her re-election bid by Republican Representative Kevin Cramer.

Heitkamp tweeted on Tuesday, “Off to an interesting start! Looking forward to talking with you all as a @CNBC contributor. #NewBeginning.”

CNBC lists Heitkamp as a contributor on its website.

Last Saturday Heitkamp said  she does not intend to run for governor in 2020 but would make “some announcement” this week about her plans.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Police are looking for a man who robbed a bank in Bismarck.Officers responded to an alarm at U.S. Bank shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday. The suspect had fled, prompting law enforcement to advise residents in the area to lock their doors and call police if they see anything suspicious. Three area schools were put on “shelter in place” status for a time as a precaution.Police did not immediately determine whether the robber was armed, and there was no immediate word on how much he might have taken. No one was hurt.Authorities say the suspect had his face covered by black glasses and a respirator mask.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A company that provides clinical health care via phone is opposed to legislation in North Dakota that would restrict telemedicine services.The Bismarck Tribune reports that the bill supported by the North Dakota Board of Medicine would require patients to have an initial visit in person with a doctor or using video chat to establish an ongoing treatment plan.Teladoc contends the bill would have a “chilling effect” on rural patients who live too far from a hospital and have no access to broadband internet. Advocates say the legislation will ensure patients can verify they’re being treated by a licensed doctor.

A Teladoc executive says the company completed 1,500 virtual visits in North Dakota last year, saving corporations and employees in the state more than $700,000 in health care costs.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A woman who was fired from the Bismarck Police Department after 13 years on the force is suing the city and its former police chief in federal court for alleged gender discrimination and wrongful termination.Robyn Krile alleges the department took calculated measures to prevent her from advancing, including changing promotion procedures, denying her training and purposely giving her low performance rankings. She seeks more than $100,000 in damages for pain and suffering, lost pay and other reasons.Attorney Randall Bakke represents the city and now-retired Chief Dan Donlin. He says Krile’s claims are without merit.Krile earlier lost her discrimination case before the state Department of Labor and Human Rights, and the agency’s finding was upheld by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She maintains the investigation was incomplete.

 

In sports…

Jan 15, 2019

First place votes are in parenthesis, followed by the team’s record and the number of points received

Boys

  1. Thompson (18) 10-0 180
    2. Rugby 9-0 149
    3. Hillsboro-Central Valley 7-1 145
    4. Four Winds-Minnewaukan 8-1 130
    5. Richland 6-1 103
    6. Cavalier 8-0 100
    7. Kindred 6-1 57
    8. Shiloh Christian 8-2 48
    9. New Rockford-Sheyenne 7-1 33
    10. Bishop Ryan 8-2 32

Others receiving votes: White Shield (11-1), Beulah (6-3), Mandaree (9-2), Dickinson Trinity (9-3)

Girls

  1. Thompson (17) 12-0 170
    2. Kidder County 13-0 136
    3. Grafton 10-1 129
    4. Velva 12-1 94
    5. Langdon-Edmore-Munich 9-2 89
    6. Rugby 10-1 73
    7. Kindred 9-3 62
    8. LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 11-1 54
    9. Trenton 10-0 46
    10. Linton-HMB 12-1 29

Others receiving votes: Hettinger-Scranton (10-1), Four Winds-Minnewaukan (9-2), Oakes (10-2), Carrington (10-2), Harvey-Wells County (9-3)

 

In world and national news…

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers have begun voting on whether to approve or reject the divorce agreement between the government and the European Union. Lawmakers were voting on an amendment to the deal Tuesday night, then plan to vote on the deal itself. Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons it was a “historic decision which will set the future of our country for generations.”NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A State Department spokesperson says the United States condemns the “senseless act of violence” at an upscale hotel in Kenya’s capital. The spokesperson says the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi is closely monitoring the attack and working with Kenyan authorities to determine if any U.S. citizens are affected. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is condemning “the horrible terrorist act.”WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney general nominee Bill Barr says he would “not go after” marijuana companies in states where cannabis is legal. Barr said at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday that companies had relied on Obama-era guidance that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal. Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded that guidance last year. Sessions’ action came days after California’s broad marijuana legalization.WASHINGTON (AP) — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says the House will not take its scheduled recess next week if the government is still partially shut down. The Maryland Democrat says the House will be in session from Jan. 22 to Jan. 25 if the shutdown is still not resolved. This comes as rank-and-file House Democrats on Tuesday declined President Trump’s invitation for a White House lunch _ an effort by the administration to build support for funding the border wall with Mexico amid the government shutdown.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — No. 3 House Republican leader Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming suggests embattled GOP Rep. Steve King of Iowa should leave Congress. Cheney said GOP leaders do not support or agree with past racially insensitive statements by King.