Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 16

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above. West winds 10 to 15 mph.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow in the morning in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area, then partly sunny in the afternoon Highs around 10. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon.

TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 5 below. Southeast

winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Decreasing clouds. Highs in the lower 20s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 15.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Highs around 30.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s.

 

A period of snow, late Monday night through Tuesday morning, over north central and eastern areas of ND. Models overall are in agreement with this, producing a band producing a band of light snow.

On Tuesday, temperatures will struggle to make it above 10 degrees east of Highway 83 and north of Interstate 94.

A moderation in temperatures for Wednesday.

For the upcoming weekend, widespread highs in the 30s and low 40s by Saturday.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department has reports that  the schedules for the various warming houses are set at McElroy, Meidinger and Leapaldt Parks and the Bunker at Hillcrest Golf Course.

All warming houses will open for the season on Saturday, December 21st.

The ice rinks warming houses hours   at McElroy, Meidinger and Leapaldt Parks will be Monday through Friday from 3:30-p.m., to-8-p.m., Saturdays from 11-a.m. -7-p.m., and Sundays from 12-6-p.m.

The Bunker at Hillcrest Golf Course for sledding will be open Monday through Friday from 3:30-p.m. to -5:30-p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11-a.m. to – 5:30- p.m..

Warming houses will be closed if the wind chill is 15 degrees below zero and colder.

For more information, contact Jamestown Parks at 252-3982.

 

(CSi)  The Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Foundation and Volunteers invites the community to the Annual Tree of Love Dedication & Holiday Social, on Tuesday December 17, from 3-p.m., to 4-p.m.

There will be a short greeting, prayer and moment of silence to reflect on the holiday season and loved ones.

Ornaments can be purchased for a free-will donation online at www.jrmcnd.com/giving or in the JRMC Gift Shoppe or Foundation office.

The social is free and open to the public. Beverages and light snacks provided.

Jamestown  (NDFU) – Mark Watne of Velva was reelected to a seventh year as North Dakota Farmers Union president by more than 600 members attending the organization’s 93^rd annual state convention this past weekend, Dec. 13-14, in Bismarck.

Watne says, “I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the forward-thinking members of North Dakota Farmers Union. Even in these times of economic challenge, we find ways to work for solutions.”

Bob Kuylen of South Heart was reelected vice president.

A mix of educational speakers, youth achievement recognition, policy debate and entertainment highlighted the convention, as well as Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company’s annual meeting. Of special importance were two special orders of business adopted by NDFU members.

The first called on Congress and the Administration to ensure future ad hoc payments, such as Market Facilitation Program payments, account for direct and indirect impacts of trade wars on all commodities, and account for basis costs as well. The second order calls on Congress to enact legislation to strengthen antitrust laws, reverse the trend of agribusiness consolidation, and protect family farmers and ranchers from abuses of market power.

In other elections, Jon Iverson of Langdon joins the organization’s board of directors, replacing Terry Borstad of Devils Lake, who did not seek reelection. Borstad served on the state board for 18 years. Iverson will represent members from District 1, encompassing the counties of Benson, Cavalier, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Towner and Walsh. Tyler Stafslien of Makoti was reelected to the District 3 seat. That district encompasses the counties of Burke, Divide, Mountrail, Renville and Williams. Wes Niederman Jr. of Elgin was reelected to the District 5 seat. District 5 comprises a nine-county area: Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux. Ronda Throener of Cogswell was reelected to represent NDFU members in District 7. The district encompasses the counties of Barnes, Cass, Griggs, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele and Traill.

Members also elected delegates to represent North Dakota at the National Farmers Union (NFU) Convention, which will be held March 1-3 in Savannah, Ga. They include:

ALAMO – Devin Jacobson. ASHLEY – Polly Ulrich. BEACH – David Ekre. BINFORD – Ron Halvorson. CENTER – Dave Berger. COGSWELL – Joseph Throener. CRARY – Adam Leiphon. DAZEY – Justin Sherlock. DEVILS LAKE – Terry Borstad, Mary Borstad. DOUGLAS – Bob Finken, De Anne Finken. DRAKE – Mary Blumhagen. EDGELEY – Richard Schlosser; GLADSTONE – Jon Pierce, Lenci Sickler. GRAND FORKS – Jeanna Smaaladen. GRANVILLE – Kendra Larsen, Kyle Larsen. JAMESTOWN – Lori Carlson, Roy Musland; JUD – Alan Bergman; MCCLUSKY – Eden McLeod. MENOKEN – Karen Kershaw. MOTT – Jan Ottmar. NEW SALEM – Joanne Beckman. PAGE – Brad McKay. REGENT – Curtis Wax. SHARON – Ben Vig. ST. ANTHONY – Steve Tomac. SELZ – Adam Held. SHERWOOD – Ben Ethen, Lacey Ethen, Steve Keith. TIOGA – Patty Jensen. TOLNA – Sheila Rude. TOWNER – Ryan Taylor. VALLEY CITY – Bob Bruns. WILLISTON – Kurt Andre.

Keynote and convention speakers included Jay Debertin, CHS president & CEO; Roger Johnson, NFU president; Tom Halverson, CoBank president & CEO; U.S. Sen. John Hoeven; Josh Kramer, N.D. Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives CEO/general manager; Dan Hildebrandt, CEO of Farmers Union Industries; and Frayne Olson, NDSU crop economist.

Closing out the convention was the Torchbearer Award ceremony, where 20 youths earned the highest honor that can be achieved in the Farmers Union youth program. Recipients (listed by county) include:

BARNES – Benton Murray, Valley City. BENSON – Jacob Arnold, Esmond. CASS – Koral Salisbury, Horace.

CAVALIER – Marcus Iverson, Langdon. EDDY – Garret Schuster, New Rockford. EMMONS – Haley Hase and Bailey Hulm, both of Linton. HETTINGER – Autumn Geerts, Mott. LAMOURE – Jakkia Duffy, LaMoure; Kevonna Isakson, Litchville. LOGAN – Kourtney Bitz, Kylee Bitz, both of Wishek. MORTON – Teresa Westberg, St. Anthony. SARGENT – Joseph Throener, Cogswell. STUTSMAN – Zebedee Willer, Jamestown. TRAILL – Chase Fossum, Hillsboro. WARD – Hailee Miller, Sawyer. WILLIAMS – Taylor Barman, Danika Knox, Lydia Oster, all of Ray.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Insurance Department was informed Monday that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the Open Enrollment Period to accommodate consumers who attempted to enroll in coverage during the final hours of Open Enrollment but who may have experienced issues. The deadline to signup for Jan. 1, 2020 coverage is now 2 a.m. CST on Dec. 18, 2019.

According to CMS, while the HealthCare.gov website and call center remained open for business on Dec. 15, the original enrollment deadline, with over half a million consumers enrolling throughout the day, some consumers were asked to leave their name at the call center. Those consumers who have already left their contact information at the call center do not need to call back and apply during this extension because a call center representative will follow up with them later this week.

North Dakotans wishing to enroll on the Health Insurance Exchange should visit

www.healthcare.gov<http://www.healthcare.gov> or call (800) 318-2596.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Police have arrested a man suspected of setting a fire at a Walmart store in Bismarck. The 27-year-old man was taken into custody Monday after officers searched for him over the weekend. Authorities say the Walmart fire Friday happened under “suspicious circumstances.” Firefighters were able to contain it to the garden area of the store. Fire officials say the store’s sprinkler system activated and helped limit smoke and fire damage. No one was injured. Police say charges against the man are pending.

(AP)  North Dakota will work with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to help develop a response plan for potential spill of the Dakota Access pipeline. State Emergency Services Director Cody Schulz said tribal leaders recently requested a response plan and resources to prepare for a spill near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Schulz on Monday told a committee of state and tribal leaders headed by Gov. Doug Burgum that his agency would either “participate or facilitate” a training exercise. The state also would work with the tribe to obtain federal grant money for planning and equipment. Standing Rock Chairman Mike Faith, who sits on the panel, said oil spill response training would be “awesome” and he appreciates the state’s effort to work collaboratively with the tribe.

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — The Minot Air Force Base is among other similar bases that will soon receive replacements for the Vietnam-era Huey helicopters. A ceremony will be held later this week at Duke Field, in Crestview, Florida where Air Force officials will accept the first delivery of the Huey’s replacement, the MH-139A helicopter, and announce its name. The new helicopter is the first major acquisition in the Air Force command’s 10-year history. The helicopters provide security and support for the nation’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields. The MH-139 was acquired from Boeing at a cost of about $2.4 billion for up to 84 aircraft.

 

In sports…

Valley City  (VCSU)  VCSU athletics is offering free admission for all fans to the men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The Vikings host University of Maine at Fort Kent for a 7 p.m. game. Instead of a gate fee, the athletic department is accepting donations for the Barnes County Food Pantry. Fans are asked to bring their donation items to the game, and the athletic department will take care of delivering those items to the food pantry.
In world and national news…

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say at least nine people have died in weather-related crashes in several Midwestern states amid a storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow in places and forced schools to close. The National Weather Service says the wintry weather was part of a storm system that hit parts of the Midwest and was expected to extend into the Northeast through Tuesday. In one of the crashes, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said three people were killed Sunday night when a driver lost control and overturned. A motorist who was stranded after a previous crash and two good Samaritans who were trying to help were struck.

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Damage is being reported as strong storms move through the South. The Storm Prediction Center says trees are broken or down in parts of Louisiana, and at least one home is reported damaged. Forecasters issued a string of tornado warnings Monday morning and the National Weather Service says much of the Deep South could be in for dangerous storms. Forecasters say about 1 million people live in an area of northeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi that had a moderate chance of dangerous weather Monday. A tornado watch has been issued from east Texas through Louisiana into central Mississippi and southern Arkansas.

 

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge has put a pause on Georgia’s planned mass purge of its voting rolls, following an emergency request from a voting rights group founded by Democrat Stacey Abrams. The motion was filed by Fair Fight Action in U.S. District Court on Monday, hours before the secretary of state’s office planned to begin the purge of inactive voter registrations. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in October released a list of over 313,000 voters whose registrations were at risk of being canceled. Fair Fight says that over 120,000 of them are set to be removed simply because they’ve chosen not to vote in recent elections.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Senator Lindsey Graham says President Donald Trump will announce a U.S. troop drawdown from Afghanistan later this week. Graham says the drawdown will likely begin next year. He says the president may lower troop numbers to 8,600, down from the current 12,000. Graham has been a vocal opponent of a full withdrawal of U.S. troops. Speaking in Kabul on Monday, he said America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has to be “condition based,” and that the Taliban must keep the promises they make during talks. Recently-resumed peace negotiations between the U.S. and Taliban are again “paused” after an attack last week outside Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats have released a Judiciary Committee report detailing the rationale for impeaching President Donald Trump. The 650-page report says Trump “betrayed the nation by abusing his high office to enlist a foreign power in corrupting democratic elections.” Trump faces two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. They stem from Trump’s pressure on Ukraine to investigate 2020 political rival Joe Biden while withholding as leverage military aid the country relies to counter Russia as well as his efforts to block the House investigation. Trump says he’s done nothing wrong. The House is expected to vote Wednesday on the impeachment articles.