– Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Nov 1

…The flood warning continues for the following rivers in North
Dakota…
James River at Lamoure affecting La Moure County
For the James River Basin including LaMoure…Minor flooding is
occurring and is expected to continue.

.The James River at LaMoure continues to fall, but is falling slower
than earlier expectations. At the current rate of fall the James River
at LaMoure will fall below flood stage early Monday morning.

* At 2:15 PM Friday the stage was 14.3 feet.
* Flood stage is 14.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and Minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast…The river will continue to fall to below flood stage by
early Monday morning.
* Impact…At 14.0 feet…Urban flood stage.

FLD OBSERVED FORECASTS (7AM)
LOCATION STG STG DAY/TIME Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed

James River Basin
Lamoure 14 14.3 Fri 2 PM 14.2 14.0 13.9 13.8 13.7

Jamestown (CSi) At a hastily called meeting by Executive Director, Nichole Moslof, The Frontier Village Association board met Friday at 5-p.m., to address agenda items, brought forth by the FVA attorney, Matt Sorenson of the Vogel Law firm in Fargo.

The meeting was chaired by the now president, Melody Mittledider, who was Vice President of the Association and assumed the presidency after president Jay Mickelson resigned from that post.

The agenda included items of release of items at Frontier Village, including the release of the Fire Truck and display case at the Village’s “Fire Department,” building.

FVA Secretary/Treasurer, Tina Busche said the Frontier Village is currently working on project in memory of the late Bert Gray, former Fire Chief, and the items were to be given to the Jamestown City Fire Department. A motion to approve was passed by the board.

Other agenda items included were:

The sale of the Village’s goat herd, ponies, Tac Shack and Stagecoach, which was tabled.

It was said the sales were necessary due pay bills due to lack of grant request funding by Jamestown Tourism.

Heated exchanges continued through the meeting between some members of the board and those from the community present, as several questions were raised concerning the FVA as an organization.

Tina Busch said, there has been inaccurate information in the press about the current situation and actions taken by the FVA Board, claiming she was lied about with statements she has made.

She stated that it was not the intent of the FVA Board to “Give Jamestown away,” and the contact was made with Perham, Minnesota to transfer the Village to see if they would accept it, if the board decided to move the Village there. She said the nothing was transferred from Frontier Village.

A member of the audience said the FVA Board needed to be more transparent, including advertising of meeting dates, and disclosure of its financial status

A motion was made to turn over all items at Frontier Village to the City of Jamestown, including artifacts and all debts, including attorney fees .

The motion passed on a 3-1 vote with one abstention.

Busche, said she did not have current figures on debts, or the balance of dollars in the FVA treasury, and needed to research the information.

The meeting was then adjourned.

After the meeting Jamestown Tourism Executive Director Searle Swedlund told CSiNewsNow.com that it is unfortunate that events, “Have come to this.” Adding that Jamestown Tourism will be meeting, to determine, “Where to go from here.”

Also after the meeting Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich told CSiNewsNow.com that the city will await a formal notification on turning over Frontier Village to the city, and he will be meeting with City Attorney Leo Ryan, and City Administrator, Sarah Hellekson, on the possible direction the city will need to take.

The Frontier Village lease of the land from the City of Jamestown is to expire on December 31, 2019, and the FVA requested a new one year lease from the City. The City Council has not formally acted on the renewal request.

UPDATE

Jamestown (USACE) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be stepping DOWN releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams by 200 cfs per day with the target combine release rate of 800 cfs achieved by November 10, 2019.

The Corps reports that with below normal temperatures observed and forecast in Jamestown, river ice downstream of Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs could form as soon as November 11.

To mitigate the risk of freeze up ice jams or other ice related flooding, the target combined release rate before “ice-in,” is 800 cfs.

The dates release decreases are:

Jamestown Dam Pipestem Dam Total Combined

Sun Nov 3 1100 cfs 1100 cfs 2200 cfs

Mon Nov 4 1000 cfs 1000 cfs 2000 cfs

Tues Nov 5 900 cfs 900 cfs 1800 cfs

Wed Nov 6 800 cfs 800 cfs 1600 cfs

Thur Nov 7 700 cfs 700 cfs 1400 cfs

Fri Nov 8 600 cfs 600 cfs 1200 cfs

Sat Nov 9 500 cfs 500 cfs 1000 cfs

Sun Nov 10 400 cfs 400 cfs 800 cfs

River ice forecasts will be continuously updated during this time.

River ice forecasts will be continuously updated during this time. If conditions change and the forecast ice-in date shifts, combined releases will be held at 1400 cfs until three days before the new ice-in date.

Combined winter releases are not expected to exceed 850 cfs, however, additional precipitation or higher than expected baseflow could necessitate higher release levels. Ice conditions in the entire James River basin will be continually evaluated throughout the winter. The Corps of Engineers will operate to minimize the risk of ice related flooding and adjustments to the releases will be made as needed.

On Friday, the Jamestown Dam is at a pool level of 1441.0 feet, over 25 percent into the flood pool, and rising. Inflows to into the reservoir peaked October 30, 2019, and are dropping, currently near 2100 cfs. Reservoir releases on Friday are 1200 cfs.

Pipestem Dam on Friday currently at a pool elevation of 1474.1 feet, about 41 percent into the flood pool, and dropping. The pool elevation peaked on October 29, at 1475.0 feet, which was 43 percent into the flood pool. Inflows are holding steady near 800 cfs, and releases are 1200 cfs.

The Corps of Engineers is coordinating with the relevant agencies in North and South Dakota.

Valley City (CSi 11-1-19) Valley City Administrator David Schelkoph reported Friday that the outflow from Lake Ashtabula was to be reduced to 2500 cfs by the end of Friday.

Valley City will see a lower river level approximately 7-8 hours after the dam reduces their output.

He says, if there are no significant inflows between the lake and Valley City, the river should be around 12 feet.

Nearly three weeks of river flows have been higher than 12 feet above flood stage. High water at one point was 15.2 feet above flood stage.

He reminds residents that Valley City was ready for 16 feet above flood stage with flood protection built to 18 feet for insurance.

Schelkoph adds that he will advise the City Commission that the state of emergency should be lifted when two things happen:

The river falls below 12 feet below flood stage

The Lake is at or lower than 1266 feet.

He adds, that officials are still waiting on the lake, but the water level, should drop enough soon, maybe as early as late next week.

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Fire Department was called to Hardees Restaurant in Jamestown just after 8:30-p.m., Thursday.

City Fire Chief Jim Reuther says, there was an issued with the toaster that caused smoke, which was extracted by the fire fighters.

No injuries reported

Four city fire units and 23 fire fighters were on the scene until 8:57-p.m.

Update…

Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim Reuther says the City of Jamestown’s classic fire truck that was removed from the Frontier Village “Fire Department,” building has been stored in one of the former Lefevre buildings in Jamestown. He also says the fire department artifacts that were loaned to Frontier Village have city inventory tags, attached, indicating the items are city property. Those items are being stored in a trailer for safe keeping.

Video online.

CSiNewsNow exclusive photos

Jamestown (CSi) The James River Humane Society has a nice variety of dogs available for adoption.

On Friday’s Wayne Byers Show of CSi Cable 2, board member Jay Nitschke said included for adoption with 15 dogs available, are three black Labs, including “Lucky,” who is eight and a half years old. There is also a husky available for adoption.

She added that there are about 20 cats available for adoption, including a black and white cat with a nice personality.

Jay said the recent spaghetti funding raiser was well attended with dollars going to the Shelter’s operations.

She added that there were many donations of food, treats and cleaning supplies at the October collections by Jamestown car dealerships.

The humane capture of feral cats program is wrapping up for this year, and will start again next spring, adding that most of the cats were female. The cats are checked over, and then given to farmers for barn cats, to stay warm and safe and fed. A number of feral cats were found in the University of Jamestown area.

Volunteers are welcome to come out to the shelter, to perform tasks, and charitable monetary donations may be sent to post office box 636 in Jamestown 58402.

The James River Humane Society is located off the I-94 Bloom Exit, open everyday from 9-a.m. to 11:30-a.m., and again from 5:30-p.m., to 6:30-p.m., or by appointment by calling 701-252-0747.

On line visit jamesriverhumanesociety.org

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum is asking for federal help for North Dakota farmers and ranchers struggling with wet harvest conditions.

State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says unusual and relentless wet weather has been overwhelming for agricultural producers.

Excessive rain, an early October snowstorm, widespread flooding and high winds have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in commodity losses in North Dakota.

Burgum is asking for a secretarial disaster designation which would make federal loans available to farmer and ranchers. To qualify for a secretarial designation, a county must have experienced a minimum 30 percent production loss of at least one crop due to natural disaster. In North Dakota, 45 of the state’s 53 counties report meeting that threshold.

Bismarck (NDDOT) US Highway 52 between 2^nd St. N and the JCT of US 281 in Carrington will be open Saturday, November 2, following construction work that was taking place. The temporary detour will be removed and normal traffic operations will resume. The shoulder between JCT US 281 and 2^nd St. N will remain closed but will not hinder traffic.

The NDDOT would like to remind motorists to slow down and use caution throughout the work zone. For more information about construction projects and road conditions throughout North Dakota, call 511 from any type of phone or visit the Travel Information Map on the NDDOT website at http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum appealed to Keystone pipeline owner TC Energy to review its inspection and monitoring of the line after it leaked an estimated 383,000 gallons (1.4 million liters) in the northeastern part of the state.

Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki said the Republican governor spoke Thursday night to officials at the Calgary, Alberta-based company formerly known as TransCanada.

The conversation came two days after the company shut down the pipeline after the leak was discovered and affected about 22,500 square feet (2090 sq. meters) of land near Edinburg, in Walsh County.

Burgum said in a statement he “received assurance” from the company that the spill would be cleaned up “as thoroughly and quickly as possible.”

North Dakota regulators said some wetlands were affected, but not any sources of drinking water.

State Environmental Quality Chief Dave Glatt said the pipeline remained closed Friday and the cause of the spill was still unknown.

About 4,200 gallons (15898.26 liters) of crude oil has been recovered from the spill, Glatt said. He said workers were expected to dig up a portion of the underground pipeline within the next few days to inspect it.

“The company has the spill contained and nothing is moving off site,” Glatt said.

Crude began flowing through the $5.2 billion pipeline in 2011. It’s designed to carry crude oil across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri on the way to refineries in Patoka, Illinois and Cushing, Oklahoma.

It can handle about 23 million gallons (87.06 million liters) daily.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans approve of the impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump than disapprove of it.

That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

But there are warning signs for both parties. Many think the inquiry is motivated mainly by politics.

And only about a third say the inquiry should be a top priority for Congress.

The poll comes as the impeachment investigation is entering a new, public phase as the Democratic-led House investigates the Republican president’s dealings with Ukraine and whether he abused his office or compromised national security when he tried to pressure the country to dig up dirt on a political rival.

Trump has denied doing anything wrong.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden’s campaign is dismissing as “mathematical gymnastics” Elizabeth Warren’s promise of financing a single-payer government insurance system without a middle-class tax hike.

A top Biden presidential campaign deputy said Warren’s plan understates the cost and overstates savings while obscuring the costs to the middle class.

Kate Bedingfield on Friday dismissed Warren’s idea of having employers transfer to the government almost all of the $8.8 trillion she estimates will be spent on private insurance for employees. Bedingfield argues that’s a “sleight of hand.”

Health care is perhaps the starkest policy difference between Warren and Biden. The former vice president backs a “public option” plan that would introduce a government insurance option to compete alongside private insurers.

Biden and other more moderate Democrats point to a public option’s lower cost and say it allows Americans more choice.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tens of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. work illegally on the farms and in vineyards of Northern California, where a fire forced many to evacuate this week.

Translators and aid workers have been at evacuation centers, helping Spanish-speaking families. Groups are raising funds for those out of work. Local governments have increased bilingual outreach. They also have told immigrants that Immigration and Customs Enforcement won’t have access to any shelters, trying to allay fears that immigration authorities would use the crisis as an opportunity to detain and deport people.

The fire burning in Sonoma County has forced over 180,000 to evacuate, has burned 167 homes. Most of those evacuated have been allowed to return home, but they face power outages after California’s biggest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, has again imposed blackouts.

GENEVA (AP) — The World Trade Organization says China can impose sanctions on up to $3.6 billion worth of U.S. goods over the U.S. government’s failure to abide by anti-dumping rules with regard to Chinese products.

The award is the latest development in a wide-ranging trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. It has centered on Trump administration tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods, and retaliatory measures by Beijing.

Friday’s announcement from a WTO arbitrator centers on a case with origins long before that trade standoff: a Chinese complaint filed nearly six years ago seeking over $7 billion in retaliation.

Parts of a WTO ruling in May 2017 went in favor of China in its case against some 40 U.S. anti-dumping rulings against Chinese goods.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Fitbit is being acquired by Google’s parent company for about $2.1 billion.

With the deal announced Friday, Alphabet wades into a very crowded field. Fitbit is a pioneer in wearable fitness technology, but it’s been under pressure from other device makers.

Speculation swirled at the beginning of the week that a deal might be imminent. Premarket trading of shares of San Francisco-based Fitbit Inc. were briefly halted before the acquisition was announced.

Alphabet said it will pay $7.35 per share for the company.

The deal is expected to close next year if approved by regulators and Fitbit shareholders.

Shares of Fitbit and Alphabet both rose slightly before the opening bell.