CSi Weather…

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT  TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

NORTH DAKOTA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAMS

BILLINGS

BOWMAN

BURLEIGH

 

DICKEY DUNN

EMMONS

 

GRANT

 

HETTINGER

 

KIDDER

 

LAMOURE

 

LOGAN

MCINTOSH

 

MERCER

 

MORTON

OLIVER

SIOUX SLOPE

STARK

STUTSMAN

Forecast…

TUESDAY NIGHT…Showers likely and scattered thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may be severe. Lows in the lower 60s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Numerous showers and isolated

thunderstorms in the morning, then scattered showers and isolated

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast

winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent in the Jamestown area, 60 percent in the Valley City area.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of rain showers and

slight chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Northeast

winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

.INDEPENDENCE DAY…Partly sunny with chance of rain showers and

slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s. Northeast

winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and

slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly cloudy

with rain showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms after

midnight. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation

40 percent.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight chance

of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of precipitation

40 percent.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Chance of showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny with chance of showers and slight chance

of thunderstorms. Highs around 80. Chance of precipitation

40 percent.

Thunderstorms, some possibly severe, are expected to develop by
mid to late afternoon Tuesday and continue through Tuesday night. Main threats are large hail to golfball size, damaging winds to 75 mph, and
heavy rainfall.

Chances for thunderstorms will continue on a daily basis. Some
thunderstorms could be severe Wednesday. Heavy rainfall is also
possible Wednesday night.

An active pattern will remain in place with on and off thunderstorm chances through early next week.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall. Mayor Carlsrud was not present.

Vice President, Commissioner Magnuson presided over the meeting.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $2,257,610.33

A Raffle Permit for Barnes County Ducks Unlimited

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  No One Spoke

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

No personal attacks to persons present or not

No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

Thank you for participating in City Government.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved was the 2019-2020 Renewal of Gaming Site Authorization for Valley City State University Foundation at Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Field; W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse; Valley City Town & Country Club; Valley City Eagles Club.  City Auditor Richter    

 

City Commissioners approved an Application for Property Tax Exemption for Improvements to 478 6th Ave NW.

Approved was an Application for Property Tax Exemption for Improvements at 1034 Viking Drive.

Approved was an Application for Property Tax Exemption for Improvements to 227 8th Street Northwest.

City Assessor Hansen recommended approval of all exemptions.

 

Considered was the Renewal of Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for:

Woodland Steakhouse, applying late, due Jun 3rd, in the paperwork, payment due, June 28, a violation of the City Ordinance.

The City Commission voted to approve the renewal of the  Alcoholic Beverage License and schedule a hearing for the violation

 

Sabir’s Dining and Lounge, the application was also late, due to the owner’s health issues.

The Commissioners voted to approve the application.

The request of the VFW Alcoholic Beverage License was incomplete, and the request was denied, and the liquor license is pending the completed application.

RESOLUTIONS:

Approved a Resolution Declaring Insufficiency of Protest for Paving Improvement District No. 118, at 5th Avenue Northwest.  City Auditor Richter said, one protest was received, from Ryan Fromke, and insufficient.  They protested their property’s Special Assessment cost.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelkoph said fireworks can be detonated until 11-p.m., July 5, and asked residents to make sure the fireworks is completely put out and cold, before disposal, and said the City Ordinance requires cleaning up debris from the spent fireworks.

He said the city and Barnes County has been discussing funding for Valley Recycling.  He said the Barnes County Commission will discuss funding at their next meeting.

He added that Central Avenue businesses remain open as the construction work continues, with the storm sewer installation completed as of Tuesday.

 

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

KLJ updated the Central Avenue construction progress.

Vice President Magnuson thanked the community for their patience  during the Central Avenue construction.

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

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund reminds residents that the public fireworks display will be held the evening of JULY 3RD, starting about 10:30-p.m., at the Stutsman County Fairgrounds.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, he said, Jamestown Speedway has a negotiated a contract with the fireworks show, and has obtained a sponsor for paying for part of the $11,000 costs.  He added that the cost of a fireworks show is somewhat less if it’s not held on the 4th of July, although the cost this year is a thousand dollars more than last year.

 

On another note the Drag Races at Jamestown Regional Airport will be held as planned on July 13 and 14, to be held on the airport’s taxiway, as approved by the FAA, which did not allow the drags to be held on the main runway, stemming from recent improvements.

Searle added Buffalo Days activities will be July 25-27 throughout Jamestown, including the downtown parade on Saturday the 27th.

He added that the National Buffalo Museum has added a kids activity room for visitors, adding an increase in attendance at the Museum thus far this year.

He pointed out the Escape Room is now added at the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse with the first activity there last week, in addition to the Escape Room now available at Meidinger Square in Downtown Jamestown.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Alfred Dickey branch of the James River Valley Library System will be closed on the following dates for building maintenance and repair: Thursday, July 11 & Friday, July 12.  The Stutsman County branch will remain open for regular business hours of 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. For more information, call the Alfred Dickey Library at (701) 252-2990.

 

Update…

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) —The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a 14-year-old girl on a motorized scooter was killed when she crashed into a semi in Dickinson.

The patrol says the crash happened Monday near an Interstate 94 business loop intersection. Authorities say the girl, 14 year old Isabel Ann O’Brien, failed to yield at a stop sign and struck the semi on the passenger side.

She was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.  She was wearing a helmet.  The semi driver, 29 year old Dadren Clark, of Weyanoke, LA, wasn’t hurt.  He was wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation.

Assisting at the scene were, the Dickinson Police Department, The Stark County Sheriff Office,  and the  Dickinson Fire Department

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Coffee bars selling $3 iced lattes are popping up in high schools, helped along by dairy groups scrambling for new ways to get people to drink milk.

It’s one small way the dairy industry is fighting to slow the persistent decline in U.S. milk consumption as eating habits change and rival drinks keep popping up on supermarket shelves.

At a high school in North Dakota, a $5,000 grant from a dairy group helped pay for an espresso machine that makes lattes with about 8 ounces of milk each. The drinks used 530 gallons of milk this year.

“We buy a lot of milk,” said Lynelle Johnson, the food service director for the Williston Public School District.

It’s not clear how much coffee drinks in high schools might help boost milk consumption, or whether the concept will gain traction across the country. But with consumption of milk in the U.S. down 40 percent since 1975, the dairy industry is looking for all the help it can get.

The industry famous for its “Got Milk” advertising campaign is hoping its newer “Undeniably Dairy” slogan will help fend off the almond, oat and soy alternatives that are becoming more popular. And regional dairy groups are encouraging schools to serve milky drinks like smoothies and hot chocolate, as well as iced lattes.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Three Affiliated Tribes have been granted trust status for the historic Figure Four Ranch.

The tribes bought the roughly 9,300-acre ranch that borders the reservation’s west side between Lake Sakakawea and the Little Missouri River in 1999, and converted it to a bison ranch.

They requested trust status nearly a decade ago, a move that would make the land tax-exempt. The Bismarck Tribune reports it wasn’t approved until May, with a deed-signing ceremony this week. The federal government attributed the delay to red tape.

Chairman Mark Fox said the change will allow the tribes to move ahead with energy development. Tribal officials also hope to develop tourism at the ranch, with expanded buffalo and elk hunting and the possible building of a hotel or resort.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The new chairman of the North Dakota Board of Higher education says one of his goals is to help address succession planning of college and university presidents.

The search for a new president at the University of North Dakota is the fifth one since Nick Hacker was named to the board in 2015. He says he would like to see shorter and more efficient searches.

Hacker, whose first official day as chairman was Monday, says the state also needs to work at retaining talented faculty and staff. He said that higher education is facing a workforce shortage like the rest of the state and it’s vitally important to retain professors and others.

Hacker runs the state’s largest title insurance and real estate closing company with 100 employees in 10 locations.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — One of the first tasks facing the North Dakota Board of Higher Education in Nick Hacker’s term as chairman is finding a new president at the University of North Dakota. Hacker would rather the process not turn into a major ordeal.

Hacker, a former Republican state senator, said one of his goals as board leader will be to help address the turnover of school presidents. The search for a new UND president is the fifth since Hacker was named to the board in 2015 and almost all of them have been time-consuming.

“Do we always have to need a big search?” Hacker asked in a phone interview Monday, his first official day as board chairman. “Succession planning for presidents is a real challenge. It’s something we desperately need to be doing.”

The university system announced a search committee last week to find a replacement for UND’s Mark Kennedy, who left for the University of Colorado after three years. Dr. Joshua Wynn, dean of the UND medical school since 2010, has been serving as interim president.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking President Donald Trump’s tax returns.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the Ways and Means Committee against the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service.

The committee says it doesn’t have to explain its reasons for seeking Trump’s tax return information. It says the administration has defied a subpoena for the documents “in order to shield President Trump’s tax return information from Congressional scrutiny.”

The committee says it’s investigating tax law compliance by the president, among other things.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has released video and photos of migrant women being held at a border facility in Texas.

Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro posted the images after touring a station in El Paso. Women held at the facility were “crammed into a prison-like cell with one toilet, but no running water to drink from or wash their hands,” Castro tweeted. Some had been separated from their children and held for more than 50 days, he said.

Castro said the women asked lawmakers to take down their names, shown in the video, to “let everyone know they need help.” He said the women feared retribution.

Officials had asked lawmakers touring the facility to leave their cell phones behind. After the visit, Democrats decried the conditions inside.

 

 

MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian military says that a fire on one of its deep-sea submersibles has killed 14 sailors.

The Defense Ministry says that the blaze erupted Monday while the vessel was performing tests in Russia’s territorial waters.

The ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the fire was extinguished thanks to the crew’s self-sacrifice.

It added that the submersible is now at the Arctic port of Severomorsk, the main base of Russia’s Northern Fleet. An official investigation has started.

 

 

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ursula von der Leyen, a surprise choice to become the next head of the European Union’s executive Commission, is a strong supporter of closer European cooperation who has been Germany’s defense minister since 2013 and a fixture in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet over the longtime leader’s nearly 14 years in power.

Von der Leyen, 60, was born in Brussels and spent her early years in the Belgian capital. She speaks fluent English and French, having studied at the London School of Economics in the 1970s and lived in Stanford, California from 1992 to 1996.

She was long viewed as a potential successor to Merkel, but has had a tough tenure at the head of the notoriously difficult defense ministry and had long since faded out of contention by the time Merkel stepped down last year as leader of her center-right Christian Democratic Union party.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is promising military tanks along with “Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!” for the Fourth of July in Washington.

But the District of Columbia’s government’s says “Tanks, but no tanks.” Others say Trump will politicize the festivities.

Trump said Monday that tanks will be part of a special event he’s headlining Thursday to honor the military. An Associated Press photographer found at least two tanks and other military vehicles on flatcars in a railyard in southeast Washington.

Trump tweeted Tuesday: “Big 4th of July in D.C. ‘Salute to America.’ The Pentagon & our great Military Leaders are thrilled to be doing this & showing to the American people, among other things, the strongest and most advanced Military anywhere in the World. Incredible Flyovers & biggest ever Fireworks!”