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CSi Weather…
.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s. South winds 10 to 20 mph.
.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in
the morning in the Valley City area. Highs in the mid 60s. West winds around 10 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows around 40. North winds
5 to 15 mph.
.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.
.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 60.
.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.
.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs around 60.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the upper 30s.
.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 40.
.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Sattered showers and isolated thunderstorms into northern North Dakota from the north Friday night into Saturday morning.
Strong storms may develop along the front during the afternoon.
Behind the front, expect cooler, drier, and breezy conditions for
the remainder of the weekend.
Flood updates and water level updates for the …
Sheyenne River Level Through Valley City
James River level through Jamestown.
Water amounts in the snow pack
The Latest Flood Warnings from The National Weather Service
https://ndresponse.gov/flood-region
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board meeting was held Thursday at The CSi Technology Center at Historic Franklin School.
Board members present were: Tena Lawrence, (Chairing the meeting for Matt Woods), Frank Balak, Paulette Ritter, and Taylor Barnes.
Jamestown Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund, Ex-Offico Members Pam Phillips representing the Jamestown City Council, Corry Shevlin representing the JSDC, and Emily Bivins the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
Requested for grants were:
Rods and Hogs – Jamestown Downtown Association
Buffalo Days – Jamestown Chamber of Commerce
The Hansen Arts Park Summer Series – The Arts Center
Summer Concerts – 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse
Escape Room – 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse
Stutsman County Memorial Museum
Jamestown Choralaires
Representing the Downtown Association was Lynn Lambrect, who requested $1,000 for the Annual Rods & Hogs Event, to be held this year, on Saturday June 8, on First Avenue in Downtown Jamestown.
The event attracts participants bringing classic cars and trucks, along with “rat rods,” motorcycles, and has vendors, music and a street dance. Registration fees are estimated at $1,350, vendors providing $200, and sponsors $1,000.
The board voted to fund the full $1,000 request.
The Chamber requested $3,000 for the Buffalo Days Celebration, July 25-27 this year, formerly known as White Cloud Days. The economic impact is estimated at $120,000.
Chamber Executive, Emily Bivens said the community-wide celebration features a parade, along with many other entities holding events, including the Jamestown City Fire Department’s Pancake breakfast, the Mini Art Hunt, the Jamestown Classic Car Club Show, and much more.
The Tourism Board granted the full amount requested at $3,000.
The Arts Center, requested $6,000 for Arts Park summer events, including the Arts Market to be held this summer on Thursday evenings, June through August, with the exception of the 4th of July. This year the Arts Market will be 5:30-p.m., to 8:30-p.m.
Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz said the entertainment costs are $14,000.
Tourism funded the full amount of $6,000.
Representing the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse was Steve Reidburn, who requested $1,200 for the “Concerts in the Courtroom,” series, to be held June through August this year.
He said the concerts will help draw numbers to one of the most important buildings in North Dakota History.
He said the State Historical Society has contributed $800 toward the concerts.
The Board approved $1,000 in funding.
A request was made for $6,350 in funding for an “Escape Room,” at the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse basement, for startup and operations costs.
The Escape Room is said to attract local and out of town visitors to the historic courthouse, and will create a new revenue line.
Tourism funded the full amount of $6,350.
The Stutsman County Memorial Museum requested $2,200 to produce a Louis L’Amour video, of his life and his ancestors in Jamestown. Keith Norman said the planned debut of the video is on August 4 this year, in conjunction with a Front Porch Chat at the Stutsman County Museum.
The Tourism board voted to fund the full amount.
The Jamestown Choralaires Represented by Mark Sherfy requested $1,200 for advertising costs as they host the North Dakota Men’s Choral Festival in Jamestown, on May 11, at the University of Jamestown’s, Reiland Fine Arts Center, at 7-p.m.
The Choralaires will host choruses from Valley City, Minot, Harvey, and Bismarck.
Ticket sales are estimated at $3,750, with an economic impact of $20,000 including overnight visitors.
The Tourism Board approved funding for $1,000.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING
There were no Declarations of Conflict of Interest
Tourism Report – Searle Swedlund reported on his attendance at the North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Minot, Wednesday, as he accepted Jamestown Tourism’s, Trailblazer Award for Tourism Innovation.
Ex-Officio Reports:
City Council Member, Pam Phillips told the board that city street and infrastructure projects will soon be starting, and that she will be looking in to the present Jamestown snow removal policy, and possible changes in the procedure of clearing streets and alleys of snow, after a snowfall event..
Chamber Executive, Emily Bivens gave a report on a successful Home & Garden Show this year, noting possible changes in 2020.
Corry Shevlin from Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation reported that the Annual meeting will be on May First this year.
Under NEW BUSINESS
The board reviewed bids for Directors and Officers Policy concerning liability insurance.
Searle Swedlund said the low bid for the policy was from Great American Insurance Group in the amount of $854, substantially lower than the premium of $1,458 dollars being paid to Philadelphia Insurance Companies. The board voted to direct Swedlund to purchase the Great American policy, if it has adequate coverage.
The Tourism Board established the 2018 Financial Review Committee, consisting or Frank Balak, and Amanda Thrift. The board members are reset every three years.
Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Public Works Office will close Good Friday April 19th, at 12 noon.
The Transfer Station closes at 11:30 am Friday, and will be closed all day Saturday, April 20th.
Friday’s garbage route will be picked up Friday by noon. Have your garbage out by 7am Friday morning.
Valley City (VCPS) – Valley City Public Schools Superintendent Josh Johnson, has issued a news release concerning storm make up dates.
“It is very hard to believe that after this holiday weekend we will only have 25 (scheduled) school days left in the school year. As we approach the end of the year we know that schedules are very busy and so we want to make sure that we are sharing information with you that will help for a successful end of the year and transition into the 2019-2020 school year.
Which days WILL VCPS have school to make-up due to weather?
– Monday, April 22nd
– Thursday, May 23rd
– Friday, May 24th
What about the school time/day that we missed last week due to weather?
VCPS has submitted a 2nd waiver application to the Governor’s Office for April 11th (2 hours) and April 12th (full day). Once I hear back about this application, I will once again communicate with you as soon as possible. If we are not approved for this waiver, VCPS will need to extend the hours of the school day during the weeks of May 6-10 and May 13-17. Again, I will communicate with you as soon as possible and I’m optimistic that our 2nd waiver will again be approved by the Governor.
Which school days have we missed this school year due to the weather?
– October 10th (Fully Day)
– October 11th (Late Start- 2 hrs)
– January 28th (Late Start- 2hrs)
– January 29th (Full Day)
– January 30th (Full Day)
– February 7th (Full Day)
– February 8th (Late Start- 2hrs)
– March 14th (Full Day)
– April 11th (Early Dismissal- 2hrs)
– April 12th (Full Day)
I hope that you all have a great holiday weekend and you are able to enjoy friends, family, and what appears to be very nice weather. If you have any questions regarding this information please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will do my best to answer your questions. Happy Easter and a Hi-Liner “Shout-Out” to our ND Class A State Champion Speech Team!
Josh Johnson
Superintendent
Valley City Public Schools
Bismarck (NDDOT) Effective 5:00 p.m. CT, Thursday, April 18, 2019, load restrictions will be changed on the following North Dakota Highways:
- Highway 3 from the South Dakota Border to Ashley is reduced from a restricted legal weight restriction to an 8-ton restriction.
- Highway 20 from 9 south to Jamestown is reduced from an 8-ton restriction to an 7-ton restriction.
Motorists are encouraged to check current load restrictions to determine which load restriction remain in effect. Load restrictions may change quickly due to weather. Statewide seasonal load restriction information is available by calling 511 or online at www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info.
Please refer to the following link to see details of load restrictions for current and future orders, obtain printable maps and Text Version.http://www.dot.nd.gov/roadreport/loadlimit/loadlimitinfo.asp
Update…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota and the developer of the Dakota Access oil pipeline settled a lawsuit over the Texas company’s ownership of ranchland in the Plains state where corporations aren’t allowed in the farming industry.
The deal awaiting a judge’s approval involves a business structure that technically keeps the land tied to Energy Transfer Partners. However, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem told The Associated Press on Thursday that the setup is “proper and legal” and he is not opposing a recent motion filed by ETP attorney Lawrence Bender to dismiss the case.
“The corporation has divested itself of the land in question, and so there is no longer a complaint to be had against them,” Stenehjem said.
ETP subsidiary Dakota Access LLC in September 2016 paid an undisclosed price for about 12 square miles of private ranchland in an area where thousands of pipeline opponents gathered to protest in 2016 and 2017. The company cited the need to protect workers and help law officers monitoring the demonstrations against the $3.8 billion pipeline that’s now moving North Dakota oil to a shipping point in Illinois.
A Depression-era law in North Dakota prohibits large corporations from owning agricultural land in order to protect the state’s family farming heritage, with certain exceptions.
ETP denied violating the law and said it planned to transfer ownership of the land once the pipeline work was done. It reached a deal with Stenehjem that allowed it to keep ownership until July 2018 to help maintain the safety of pipeline workers. When the deadline passed and ETP still owned the property, Stenehjem sued , asking the court to fine ETP at least $25,000.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A New Town man accused of fatally stabbing another man on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation has pleaded guilty in federal court.
Twenty-seven-year-old Donovan Duchaine is charged with second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the death of 29-year-old David Rios, also of New Town. The Bismarck Tribune reports that the plea deal calls for the second charge to be dropped.
Authorities say Rios was stabbed outside a New Town residence on May 25. Duchaine fled the scene and led law enforcement on a high-speed vehicle chase.
Duchaine said during Thursday’s court hearing that he had been drinking the night he killed Rios. Duchaine said he fled because he was scared.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 29.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Senate killed a resolution Thursday that would have made it tougher for the Legislature to tap earnings from the state’s oil tax savings account.
The Senate voted 46-1 to replace the resolution with another that would form a special committee of lawmakers and others to study potential uses for Legacy Fund earnings before the Legislature meets again in 2021.
Senators used a so-called hog-house amendment to erase the old measure and rewrite it. By doing so, the public can’t comment on the proposal because hearings already have been held on the original measure.
The original resolution sponsored by Democratic Rep. Corey Mock initially had broad bipartisan support from legislative leaders in both chambers. It would have required a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to spend earnings from the Legacy Fund, which voters enacted in 2010. Mock argued that earnings should be “retained and reinvested” instead of automatically going into the state’s general fund for lawmakers to spend.
Voters would have had to approve the resolution in 2020. It passed the House two months ago.
Republican Sen. Dwight Cook, the chairman of the Senate’s Finance and Taxation Committee and primary author of the replacement legislation, said in an interview that he didn’t think voters would support it.
Update…
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Senate is has killed a resolution that would have made it tougher for the Legislature to tap earnings from the state’s oil tax savings account.
The Senate on Thursday voted 46-1 to replace the resolution with another that would study potential uses for Legacy Fund earnings.
The original resolution sponsored by Democratic Rep. Corey Mock initially had broad bipartisan support from legislative leaders in both chambers.
Mock argued that earnings should be “retained and reinvested” instead of automatically going into the state’s general fund for lawmakers to spend.
Voters would have had to approve the resolution.
Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Dwight Cook says he doesn’t think voters would have supported it.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Minot Republican Sen. Oley Larsen has been elected as the Senate’s new president pro tempore.
The president pro tem presides over sessions of the North Dakota Senate when the lieutenant governor is absent. He replaces Minot GOP Sen. David Hogue.
Larsen will have the position until the 2021 Legislature begins.
Larsen is an Alaska Native and member of Juneau-based Sealaska Corp. He was first elected to the Senate in 2011 and has worked as an educator and mechanic.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill that would amend the state’s Depression-era anti-corporate farming law by allowing second cousins in the mix of ownership.
The law dates to 1932, when it was put on the ballot as an initiated measure and approved by voters. It allows corporations with as many as 15 shareholders to own farms or ranches, as long as the shareholders are related.
Burgum signed the bill Wednesday night.
The North Dakota Farmers Union, the state’s largest farm group, has opposed the measure. The group says adding more relatives who can legally form a corporation or a limited liability corporation weakens the law.
Bankers from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. Justice Department attorneys want an appeals court to let construction proceed on the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada. But opponents say President Donald Trump is trying to skirt the law by issuing a new permit for the project.
The Trump administration has asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a lower court ruling that blocked construction of the $8 billion pipeline.
Government attorneys say the November ruling that more environmental study of the line was needed is now meaningless. That’s because Trump issued a new permit to developer TransCanada in March.
In a legal filing late Wednesday, environmental groups asked the appeals court to keep construction blocked.
Legal experts say the case is another test of Trump’s use of presidential power to get his way.
In sports…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays are finding their swing — and wins are following.
Randal Grichuk, Justin Smoak and Teoscar Hernandez hit home runs and the Blue Jays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 Thursday.
Eric Sogard added a three-run double for Toronto, who took three of four at Target Field.
“Not only are we scoring … but we’re getting some loud outs,” Grichuk said. “Early on we kind of had some quick at-bats, balls put in play or strikeouts quick. Now we’re battling, putting together good at-bats, swing at good pitches.”
Toronto is hitting .217 this season, 12th in the American League; since April 9, however, the Blue Jays are hitting .256 in winning five of nine.
“We score seven runs today they all swinging the bat pretty good right now,” manager Charlie Montoyo said. “Now if Sogard stays hot, you’ve got Sogard and (Freddy) Galvis getting on base for those three guys. That’s a good combination.”
That trio would be Grichuk, Smoak and Hernandez, the team’s 3-4-5 hitters.
Smoak hit a no-doubt, two-run shot and Sogard added a bases-clearing double as part of a five-run fourth that put the Blue Jays ahead 6-3. Smoak has reached base in 19 of his last 35 plate appearances, and Sogard, called up Monday, was 6 for 12 in the series.
Grichuk hit a solo home run in the first and Hernandez had a solo drive in the eighth. Hernandez was 6 for 15 with two home runs in the series.
Struggling with his cutter, starter Clay Buchholz allowed three runs on six hits in 4 2-3 innings before Thomas Pannone, Ryan Tepera, Tim Mayza and Joe Biagini (1-1) combined to allow one run in 3 1-3 innings. Ken Giles earned his sixth save in seven chances with a scoreless ninth.
The Toronto bullpen allowed two runs in 13 2-3 innings during the series.
Eddie Rosario homered twice for the Twins, against a right- and left-handed pitcher.
“Some of the stuff he does you go, ‘Wow. That’s pretty impressive,'” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “To come in facing the lefty (Mayza) and put a swing on that first pitch, people just don’t do that because it’s borderline impossible. You just don’t see things like that. But he does things that other people don’t do or can’t do.”
Michael Pineda (2-1) had his worst start of the season, allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings. He struck out one batter, threw a wild pitch and allowed two home runs to equal his combined total from his first three starts.
Rosario homered and Willians Astudillo and Jonathan Schoop both ended 0-for-15 stretches with singles in a three-run second inning for the Twins.
Ryne Harper tossed 3 1-3 innings of scoreless relief for Minnesota.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says he’ll be issuing a subpoena for the full special counsel report and the underlying materials.
New York Rep. Jerry Nadler says the report “outlines disturbing evidence” that President Donald Trump engaged in misconduct.
A redacted version of Robert Mueller’s report was released on Thursday.
Nadler says the attorney general’s decision to withhold the full report from lawmakers is “regrettable, but no longer surprising.”
He says it’s now up to Congress to hold the president accountable for his actions in the Russian probe.
The chairman has asked Mueller to testify before the panel by May 23.
PARIS (AP) — A French judicial police official said investigators think an electrical short-circuit most likely caused Notre Dame Cathedral fire.
The official, who spoke anonymously about the ongoing investigation, said investigators still don’t have the green light to work in the cathedral and search in the rubble for safety reasons.
He told The Associated Press the monument is still being consolidated with wooden planks to support some fragilize parts of the walls.
NEW YORK (AP) — Police say a man arrested after entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York with two cans of gasoline, lighter fluid and butane lighters had booked a flight to Italy and had also been arrested at a New Jersey cathedral a few days ago.
Deputy New York Police Commissioner John Miller says 37-year-old Marc Lamparello is facing charges including attempted arson and reckless endangerment for after his arrest Wednesday night at the New York City landmark. It happened just days after flames ravaged the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
Lamparello remains in police custody.
Police say Lamparello, of Hasbrouck Heights, was confronted by a cathedral security officer when he entered the church and was told he couldn’t bring the items inside.
The security officer notified officers from the counterterrorism bureau who were standing outside.
It isn’t immediately clear whether Lamparello has an attorney who can comment on his behalf.
BAUTA, Cuba (AP) — After two decades of relative stability fueled by cheap Venezuelan oil, shortages of food and medicine have once again become a serious daily problem for millions of Cubans.
Stores no longer routinely stock eggs, flour, chicken, cooking oil, rice, powdered milk and ground turkey, among other products. These basics disappear for days or weeks. Hours-long lines appear within minutes of trucks showing up with new supplies. Shelves are empty again within hours.
A plunge in aid from Venezuela and poor performances in sectors including nickel mining, sugar and tourism have left the communist state $1.5 billion in debt to the vendors that supply products ranging from frozen chicken to equipment for grinding grain into flour, according to former Economy Minister José Luis Rodríguez.
LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Colorado schools that were shuttered just ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting have reopened, a day after authorities found the body of a young Florida woman who was obsessed with the shooting. Many schools imposed increased security measures when they reopened on Thursday.
The FBI said the body of Sol Pais was discovered Wednesday in mountains outside Denver with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Columbine and dozens of other schools were closed Wednesday because of fears that Pais posed a threat. About 500,000 students in the area that includes metropolitan Denver and Colorado Springs were affected.
Authorities say Pais never threatened a specific school but made troubling remarks to others about her “infatuation” with the 1999 shootings. The FBI also says Pais purchased a shotgun immediately after arriving in Colorado on Monday.
The school closures affected about 500,000 students.
Events planned to mark the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine attack will go on as scheduled throughout the week, including a ceremony near the school on Saturday.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is ushering in the most solemn period in the Catholic liturgical calendar by celebrating a Holy Thursday Mass, made more poignant this year following the devastation of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral.
The Crism Mass celebrates the unity of priests with their bishops. During Thursday’s service, Francis blesses the holy oils that will be used over the course of the year in the administration of various sacraments.
In his homily, Francis stressed that when priests use the oil, they are distributing their vocation and heart to the people of God.
This year, Holy Week — which for Catholics commemorates Christ’s crucifixion, death and resurrection — has taken on particular meaning following the fire at Notre Dame, a symbol of French Catholicism.
Francis has offered his condolences repeatedly to the French faithful.
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