Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Aug 30

CSi Weather….

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and isolated thunderstorms in the evening, then rain showers likely and isolated thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds around 5 mph shifting to the south around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

 

SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of rain showers in

the morning. Highs 65 to 70. South winds 10 to 20 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds

5 to 10 mph.

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

upper 70s. South winds around 5 mph.

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

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

precipitation 40 percent.

 

LABOR DAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then rain showers and

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

Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. A 50 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the mid 60s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 70.

 

Warmer temperatures and thunderstorm chances to the area.

Severe weather potential, in the southern half of the forecast area on Monday.

Much will depend on how far north a warm front can lift into North Dakota. It appears the area with the best chance to see severe weather will be along and south of the Interstate 94 corridor.

This potential  should come into better focus in the coming days.

Dry and cooler conditions are expected on Tuesday.

Small shower/thunderstorm chances Wednesday

through Friday, next week. Temperatures remain seasonable to cool.

 

Jamestown, ND – Aug 30 – Spiritwood Energy Park Association (SEPA) today filed its response to the lawsuit filed earlier this month by North Dakota Soybean Processors (NDSP). In the 66-page memo, the association spells out in detail NDSP’s track record of broken promises, missed deadlines and bad management decisions that have prevented the timely construction of a 125,000 Bu/day integrated soybean crush facility and refinery to produce soybean meal, refined bleached and deodorized oil, and biodiesel.

 

“It’s beyond outrageous that NDSP is using the legal system to obscure its epic fail in this project,” said Connie Ova, SEPA’s chief executive officer. “More than two years ago, NDSP undertook to secure $120 million in equity funding no later than March 31, 2018; just last month it still didn’t have binding commitments for that funding. It failed to timely negotiate critical agreements with us, and it failed to meaningfully work with some strategic business partners at all. It missed deadlines and repeatedly changed direction on key provisions of our agreement. When it lost confidence in its own management team, NDSP and its parent sought to use those problems as an excuse for its own poor performance.”

 

Ova continued: “More than three years after we first started talking about this project, we have nothing to show for it but a filing cabinet full of NDSP’s promises made and broken. Every day lost to NDSP’s failures can be measured in jobs not created and economic development unrealized. North Dakota farmers deserve better. The residents of Jamestown and Stutsman County deserve better.”

 

Today’s filing was made in anticipation of a hearing next month before Judge Stephannie Stiel in the East Central District Court in Fargo. The hearing will determine if a restraining order sought by NDSP to block SEPA’s termination of the construction agreement will be continued. Since terminating its agreement with NDSP, SEPA has already entered into an exclusivity agreement with another soybean crushing plant developer.

 

“We believe that NDSP’s lawsuit is a deliberate, blatant effort to disrupt our relationship with our new partner,” Ova said. “NDSP’s sharp tactics convinced the Court to issue an ex parte temporary restraining order without giving us any prior notice or opportunity to correct the record. They created a misleading narrative, misapplied the law and have mounted a public relations campaign to cloud the facts. We’re confident that, with the evidence now before the Court, the record will be set straight and the way cleared to move ahead with other options.”

 

About Spiritwood Energy Park Association

 

SEPA’s sole function is to manage the Spiritwood Industrial Park, a 551-acre industrial park located approximately 10 miles east of Jamestown, North Dakota, and just south of Spiritwood, North Dakota.  The park adjoins the Great River Energy heat and power plant and its anchor tenant is Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, a 65 million-gallon-per-year biorefinery that produces ethanol, distillers’ grains and fuel-grade corn oil.

 

SEPA provides common-use transportation infrastructure, industrial lots, property management and value-added services on a fee-for-service basis to new and expanding businesses of the industrial park.  The association is majority-owned and operated by the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corporation with Great River Energy being the minority owner. JSDC was organized to develop employment, improve business conditions, and advance the interests of the City of Jamestown and Stutsman County, North Dakota, by implementing and sustaining an organized effort to attract new business and industry, support existing business and industry, and encourage new business starts.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The City of Jamestown reports that (beginning Saturday, August 31^st) through September 6^th the block from 4^th St SE to 5^th St SE on 2^nd Ave SE will be closed. 

Motorist’s should use extreme caution in this area.  Please use alternate route

 Update…

Jamestown    U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer was in Jamestown Friday, August 30, for a“Coffee With Cramer” town hall,  at Babb’s Coffee House in Downtown Jamestown, where over two dozen people attended.

During his Jamestown stop, at Babb’s, Senator Cramer began the town hall by answering questions on agriculture, including about the data reports from the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Risk Management Agency. Senator Cramer also spoke on the 2018 Farm Bill and his work to fix the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule through his Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee Chairmanship.

Next, the Senator fielded a question on the rising debt and deficit by expressing his belief that we must address the growing cost of mandatory spending.

“30 percent of the budget is discretionary,” said Senator Cramer. “Without hurting those already receiving benefits, we must tackle the rising cost of Social Security and Medicare, or they will go insolvent.” 

Later, Senator Cramer spoke on dealing with the rising cost of prescription drugs. He shared his vision of wanting to find ways to reward innovation while protecting against out-of-control profit and greed. Congress is currently debating several bills to help lower drug costs, and Senator Cramer committed to continuing to help advance these efforts.

Senator Cramer also answered questions on trade, pensions, veterans benefits, the judiciary, and his recent trip to the southern border.

“The best part of public service is the public,” says Senator Cramer. “Coffee with Cramer events—in addition to weekly talk radio town halls— afford me the direct access to North Dakotans I need in order to serve our state well.”

 

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) toured Collins Aerospace in Jamestown Friday following his Coffee with Cramer town hall.

“Many cargo loading systems- used all around the world on commercial and military aircraft- are made right here in Jamestown by Collins Aerospace,” said Senator Cramer. “I appreciate the opportunity to meet with the team at Collins and to tour their facility. I am always impressed.”

“It was a pleasure to host Senator Cramer at our cargo systems facility today, and for the team to highlight the products we manufacture locally here in Jamestown,” said Bryan Bauw, General Manager, Cargo Systems, Collins Aerospace. “Our business continues to redefine aerospace with technologically innovative solutions for our commercial and military customers, and we’re grateful for Senator Cramer’s support.”

Collins Aerospace is a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Of their 70,000 employees nationwide, over 400 are located in their Jamestown facility, which focuses on cargo loading systems and developing bullet-proof shielding on the Ch-47 Army lift helicopter.

Senator Cramer’s tour of the aerospace facility comes as the Senator announced Friday  morning he will host NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in Grand Forks. During his time in North Dakota, the Senator and Administrator will meet with aerospace stakeholders, observe the achievements in aerospace and unmanned systems at Grand Sky, and visit with UND students as they tour the university’s space program.

“Grand Forks is well-known as a premier location for space exploration research and emerging space technology,” said Senator Cramer. “I’m looking forward to hosting his tour of Grand Forks and reacquainting him with a community with which he is very familiar.”

 

Jamestown  (Chamber) The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Beautification Committee is pleased to announce the final winner of the Yard of the Week Program for 2019.  Dwight & Peggy Fettig of 1026 6^th Ave. SW in Jamestown have received this award for week fourteen. Join us in congratulating them on their beautiful yard and thank them for their efforts to help beautify Jamestown.  Congratulations, Dwight & Peggy for a job well done!

The Yard of the Week program has been established to recognize those within the community that take pride in the appearance of their yard and do their part to beautify the community. The program began June 1st and ended August 31^st. Yards were selected each week from nominations received.

All single family residences within Jamestown are eligible for the program.

The program is expected to be back next summer.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Young Professionals of Jamestown will host a new networking opportunity, “The Morning Buzz,” the first gathering will be on Tuesday September 10, from 7-a.m., to 8-a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express in Jamestown.

On Friday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive, Emily Bivens said, “The Morning Buzz,” features breakfast, while given those attending the opportunity to network with other professionals, all before work.

There will be door prizes, including $50 in Jamestown Chamber Bucks.

 

Update…

(CSi)  Jamestown Developer Brian Lunde says a building he recently purchased on First Street West, next to Gun N Reel Sports, will become a restaurant.  CSi Photos:

He says, Davoni’s is planned for a new Italian & Seafood restaurant in the space most recently occupied by Witthauer and Associates.

On Friday’s Wayne Byers Show, on CSi Cable 2, Brian said the first floor exterior and interior of the building have been  stripped, and the new construction has started.  He said the two second floor apartments, which have been previously remodeled will remain, with a slight window change, due to a ceiling change.

Lunde says he purchased the building from Dr. Steve Looysen on May first this year.  Looysen had bought the building from Paul Witthauer, whose insurance business now located in the former Pizza Hut location on 10^th Street SE.

They have found items of the past while building has begun, including a steel beam with the words, Jamestown Alert painted on it.  In 1902  the building was the location of the newspaper.

Brian felt a need in Jamestown to offer seafood and Italian cuisine, while creating more traffic to Downtown Jamestown, to other stores.

Brian says the restaurant is being operated by Depot LLC, which owns and operates the Depot Cafe in the downtown Jamestown Business Center.

The Depot’s owner, Davon Mitchell, will operate and staff Davoni’s, and Davon is developing the new menu.

Brian adds, the First Street West building is being expanded to south with property purchased from Gary Docktor.  The additional space will accommodate the restaurant’s kitchen with another 300 square feet with a 400 square feet, the dining area will contain 1200 square feet, to seat 52 patrons.

ADA compliant restrooms will be added for disabled accessibility.  Possible plans include utilizing the basement of the building for private dining experiences.

He added that new signage is being designed, to be installed on the front exterior of the building.

Brian projects Davoni’s will be open by Christmas this year, however the renovation and restaurant plans will develop on there own.

A partial history of 113 1st Street West building (from Jamestown Main Street Project 1997)

• 1908:  Jamestown Daily Alert
• 1932:  Singer Sewing Machine Co  & Miss Myrtle Olson beauty shop
• 1939:  A.L. Ravely’s Printing Shop in the basement
• 1959:  Wards Sport Shop
• 1995:  New Images – Lulu Vakoch

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Actor auditions for the two upcoming 2^nd Act Community dinner theater one act productions “Conflict” and “Sweeney Todd”, will be held Wednesday, September 4th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, September 7th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hansen Arts Center in Downtown Jamestown.

Experienced and new actors and actresses are encouraged to audition.

The productions are coming in November this year.

For more information call the Jamestown Arts Center at 701-251-2496 or Bill Nybo at 701-659-1578.

 

 

 

*AP Updates with details about coal facilities.

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) —Montana-Dakota Utilities has asked state regulators to consider its plan to build a second natural gas-fired power generator in North Dakota.

The utility company filed an application Thursday with the Public Service Commission seeking a determination that the proposed project north of Mandan is reasonable and prudent.

“This new facility will add to our generation portfolio and provide our customers with a cost-effective capacity resource for many years into the future,” MDU President and CEO Nicole Kivisto said in a statement.

Construction is slated to begin in 2022 and finish in early 2023

*The company announced in February that it would close some of its coal facilities. Building the new gas unit while retiring the coal facilities will allow the utility to avoid a lengthy interconnection process with the region’s grid operator, MDU spokesman Mark Hanson said

In world and national news…

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to a major Category 3 storm. The National Hurricane Center in Miami says the hurricane is “extremely dangerous” and poses a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.

Dorian was located 445 miles (715 kilometers) east of the northwest Bahamas at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving northwest at 10 mph (17 kph).

A hurricane watch was in effect for northwestern Bahamas. Hurricane conditions are possible by Sunday.

The center said additional strengthening is expected as the storm approaches the Florida peninsula.

 

 

HONG KONG (AP) — Police have appealed to Hong Kong residents to stay away from any non-authorized rallies on Saturday after authorities banned a major march, warning that those caught could face a five-year jail term.

The police commander of Hong Kong island, Kwok Pak Chung, said Friday that he was aware of social media messages urging people to take strolls or hold rallies in the name of religion.

The organizers of the march called it off after an appeals board upheld police objections to it.

Kwok said police would act sternly against anyone out to create trouble or incite violence. He said police have sufficient manpower and equipment for any untoward incident.

He urged the public to “make a clear break with all acts of violence and stay away from locations where violent clashes may take place.”

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Motorized electric bicycles may soon be humming their way into serene national parks and other public lands nationwide under a new Trump administration order.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is officially classifying the electric-powered bikes as non-motorized bikes and giving agencies 14 days to rewrite their rules accordingly.

He signed the order without fanfare on Thursday.

The move is being celebrated by e-biker supporters. They say the bikes are a boon to older riders and those with disabilities.

But critics say it’s a slippery slope that could change the nature of national parks. More than 50 hiking, horse-riding and other outdoor and conservation associations, including the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Pacific Crest Trail Association, objected in a July letter.

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s call for new “mental institutions” to help address gun violence is drawing pushback from many health officials.

Mental health experts say that approach would do little to reduce mass shootings in the United States and incorrectly associates mental illness with violence. In the weeks following the deadly shootings in El Paso and Dayton, the president has been placing more emphasis on the problem of mental illness as a leading cause of such events.

Now, in response to Trump’s concerns, White House staff members are looking for ways to incorporate the president’s desire for more institutions into a long list of other measures aimed at reducing gun violence.

 

 

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The Boy Scouts of America is facing a growing threat from a wave of lawsuits filed over decades-old allegations of sexual abuse.

The Scouts have been hit with multiple lawsuits filed in several states by purported abuse victims, including plaintiffs taking advantage of new state laws allowing suits previously barred because of the age of the allegations.

More litigation is on the way.

A lawyer representing 150 people who say they were abused as Boy Scouts is planning to file a suit on behalf of many of them in New Jersey when the state’s new civil statute of limitations law goes into effect Dec. 1.

In a statement responding to the pending New Jersey suit, the Boy Scouts said it apologizes to the victims and encourages them to report abuse to law enforcement.

 

 

(AP)  Artificial Intelligence is transforming surveillance cameras from passive sentries into active observers that can immediately spot a gunman, alert retailers when someone is shoplifting and help police quickly find suspects.

Schools are among the most enthusiastic adopters of the technology at a time when the threat of a mass shooting is ever-present. Police, retailers, stadiums and Fortune 500 companies are also using what’s known as real-time video analytics or intelligent video.

In February, Broward County installed AI cameras throughout the district where a student killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida, last year. The Fulton County School District in Atlanta will spend $16.5 million to put the cameras in its roughly 100 buildings in coming years.

Civil liberties groups worry the increasing use of the cameras poses a threat to privacy.