Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Jan 29

CSi Weather…

 

Areas of fog and freezing drizzle will continue into Wednesday night.

Some icy roads and sidewalks are being reported. Impacts from the

freezing drizzle are expected to increase overnight and may cause

widespread travel concerns for the Thursday morning commute.

Conditions are expected to improve by Thursday afternoon.

A warming trend begins on Friday.

Friday through Sunday are shaping up to be dry and windy, with at least some breaks from overcast skies at times.

In addition,  well above average high temperatures this weekend,

with most spots making it into the 40s or 50s. Saturday appears to

be the warmest day, with highs approaching 60 degrees in southwest North Dakota!

Turning colder for next week as a series of cold fronts move

across the area.

Update…

Jamestown  (CSi)  At the Jamestown Civic Center Exchequer Room Wednesday evening a good number of individuals turned out to hear about the spring 2020 flood outlook and along with flood preparedness, and steps people can take to prepare themselves and protect their property, along with flood insurance information.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Berqquist opened the meeting by explaining the presentation was sponsored by the State Water Commission, the State Department of Emergency Services, and the Federal  Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA).

Officials on hand were representatives from The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha Office, with information on Jamestown & Pipestem Dam operations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA), and the National Weather Service with a look at probable precipitation amounts in the long-range weather forecast.

Information was passed along by the ND State Water Commission and North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.  SWC spokesperson, Dionne Haynes,  introduced a video with Governor, Doug Burgum who said individuals should consider purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program by contacting your insurance agent, for coverage, and premium costs.

FEMA’s Matthew Buddie said:

One inch of water can cause, $25,000 in damages.

Most homeowners insurance policies DO NOT cover flooding.

The cost is based on factors such as risks, and coverage.

The coverage is for a 12 month period and becomes effective 30 days from when the policy is taken out, and covers other  above ground water seepage, year round.  The policies are renewable at the end of the 12 month policy coverage.

20-percent of claims are made from outside the High Risk, Flood Plain area.

No presidential disaster declaration is necessary to be paid by National Flood Insurance.

FEMA Grants or low interest lows could be available if a presidential disaster declaration is made.

It was pointed out that the State Mapping information is on line at www.ndram.swc.nd.gov

Jessica Batterman with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office in Omaha gave current information on water levels and releases at Jamestown and Pipestem Dams.

As of January 29, 2020, Jamestown Reservoir’s pool elevation in the flood storage zone was at nine percent occupied.   At Pipestem Reservoir, the flood storage zone was five percent occupied.  The Target Date to reach the normal fall freeze up storage capacity, or target evacuation date, is now March 1, 2020.  The current combined releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams is 650 cfs. That release rate is expected to remain through the rest of this winter.  The maximum combined release is 1800 cfs, or higher based on conditions.

She added that the Pipestem Creek is expected to have high runoff this spring.

Variables that may change that include water runoff from snowpack and rain events, temperatures affecting the rate of snow melt, and the soil moisture condition, including frost depth, affecting the runoff.

Todd Joersz the State Department of Emergency Services, Mitigation Officer said there are website resources including hazard mitigation assistance and other resources is www.ndresponse.gov

National Weather Service Hydrologist Allen Schlag pointed out record rain and snow fall moisture content events between October first 2019 and now, in the area, with the wettest calendar year on record in 2019. Between August and October of 2019 was the wettest period of rain fall recorded in 125 years.

The current snow-water equivalent is three inches at Jamestown, and three plus inches south of Jamestown.  The average snow-water equivalent is one and an half to two inches in the winter.

The outlook for February, March and April, 2020, suggests the snowpack lasting longer than usual, with cooler that normal temperatures, leading to above normal runoff.

The National Weather Service will update the Spring Flood outlook on, February 13, February 27, and March 12, 2020.

The presentation was recorded by CSi 10 The Replay Channel, with additional information that was passed along.  Be watching for when the replays start.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The 2020 Polar Pig “Walk The Plank for JRMC Hospice”  will be on Sat Feb 1  at Stutsman Harley-Davidson in Jamestown.

On The Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Don Wegner said, activities start at 10-a.m., the Silent and Live Auction is from 10am – 1pm, Registration  at 10:30 am, and the Polar Pig Walk The Plank starts at noon.  Usually around 15-22 jumpers take part in the plunge.

Sponsors include:  Stutsman Harley-Davidson, the local Harley Owners Group (HOG) Chapter, and ABATE North Dakota.

He said organizers hope that the accumulative dollars raised during this 14th year of the event will top the $200,000 for the JRMC Hospice program.  Those wishing … not to take the plunge may make a monetary donation with representatives on hand at the event.

Don pointed out that District 8 ABATE is hosting the Chili Cookoff, and pre-registration of chili entries can be made by calling Stutsman Harley-Davidson in Jamestown at 701-252-5271, or call Marla Wegner at 701-320-1506.  He added that over 120 people on average are served.

Those wishing to vote on their favorite chili may get in line to sample the bowls, at a donation of $5.  The Chili Cookoff winners will receive prizes.

He added that numerous Jamestown businesses have contributed items for the Live and Silent Auctions, with Roger Nenow auctioning the larger items.

Stutsman Harley-Davidson will offer discounted Harley-Davidson items that day.

Meanwhile JRMC reports that back in 2014 Chad Henningsgard walked up to the plank and jumped. The water wasn’t cold. Neither was his heart or dedication to families in need.

Before he jumped in his first Polar Pig “Walk the Plank” in 2014, Henningsgard collected more than $1,500 in donations from businesses and individuals in the Valley City area. This year he is back. Already, he’s collected more than $3,000 in donations and auction items. All proceeds benefit Home Health & Hospice at Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Months before the event, Henningsgard spends hours and days raising money for the cause. He likes the work, but declines the attention.

He said, “This isn’t about me, it’s about Hospice and raising money for those who need it. I feel guilty that I’ve gotten second chances in my life. Helping hospice is a way to give back.”

Henningsgard has seen the work of JRMC Hospice firsthand, saying,  “A friend asked me to help.  “I lived with him for six months and the nurses who came to support us were wonderful.”

Instead of riding for a good cause, the bikers walk the plank into a large pool of water. It would not be a big deal, other than the event always the fifth Saturday of the New Year.  The group challenges the community to participate to raise funds for need hospice services in the community.

Proceeds provide chaplaincy, bereavement support, medical supplies and equipment, telecare and comfort items.

Valley City (CSi)  The Valley City Commission reopened the  Special Session recessed on Monday evening at City Hall.  Commissioners Powell and Magnuson were not present.

The City Commission Wednesday, approved the Resolution Declaring Slum and Blighted Area, under the North Dakota Main Street Program, sponsored by the South Central Dakota Regional Council.

City Attorney Martineck further researched and recommended approving the Resolution, saying the 25 percent requirement of properties eligible in the area for rehabilitation was met at 26-percent, to receiving the $160,00 Grant, from CDBG funds.  After inspection of the properties they will be scored and rated for work to be done.

The City Commissioners voted unanimously to approved.

Also approved was a request for a Resolution of Sponsorship – Rocking DD Properties grant application for rehab of 358 North Central Avenue. Diane Hochhalter presented information on the plans for the rehabilitation at the Monday recessed meeting.

In both instances the city is acting as a pass-through to access the CDBG funds.

Wednesday’s meeting was shown live  on CSi 68.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   P.E.O. Chapter AB of Jamestown announced that a $3,000 scholarship in honor of Charlotte H. Hansen has been established to benefit a female student entering the University of Jamestown.

Applicants must be girls residing in or attending school in Stutsman County, who will graduate from high school in May or June and will be attending UJ in the fall. Applicants must also be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S. or Canada.

Hansen was a longtime resident of Jamestown, who was deeply involved in professional, educational and philanthropic activities. She was a strong believer in the value and importance of education. She held degrees in bacteriology and chemistry and received an honorary doctorate from UJ, where she taught for 11 years.

Scholarship applications are available through guidance counselors at Stutsman County high schools, the N.D. Home School Association, Jamestown Adult Learning Center or by contacting Jaci Trefz at jacit@daktel.com. Application deadline is March 15, 2020.

P.E.O. is a philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing education for women. Since its founding in 1869, the organization has given more than $321 million in scholarships, grants, awards and low-interest loans to help women achieve their scholastic goals.

Jamestown  (uj.edu)   University of Jamestown is once again hosting its annual Character in Leadership Conference. The event has been rescheduled for Thurs., Feb. 20 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Character in Leadership, Director, Liz Hunt, MA, says, “The spring 2020 UJ Character in Leadership Conference brings an interesting perspective and one that I hope people will appreciate and enjoy. . “For many people, faith and leadership go hand in hand, providing the impetus for how they engage with others and the world.”

Dr. Shane Berg, Executive Vice President at Princeton Theological Seminary and keynote speaker at the conference, will explore what the New Testament teaches individuals about what it means to be a Christian leader in his address titled, Leadership by Serving: Christian Leadership in a Chaotic Age.

Expanding on the keynote speech, Hunt explained, “This year, Dr. Berg will be addressing leadership from a biblical perspective and how that perspective can provide us with actionable guidelines for engaging in a diverse and ever-changing world. I hope attendees will find the presentation to be moving and profoundly relevant to their lives.”

Breakout sessions, which will each cover leadership ideas and experiences related to various professional fields, will take place from 6:30-7:20 in various locations on campus. Breakout speakers include Steve Bietz, retired CEO of WBI Holdings in Bismarck, Mindi Schmitz, Executive Director of the Jamestown Arts Center, and Trisha Jungels, Chief Nursing Officer at Jamestown Regional Medical Center. Location details are available in the Reiland Fine Arts Center lobby. Tickets, although free, may be reserved at the Reiland Box Office by calling 701-252-3467 ext. 5435 or emailing tickets@uj.edu. For a campus map, please visit uj.edu/CampusMap.

Established in 1883, the University of Jamestown is a private, liberal arts university granting Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Science in Nursing degrees, as well as Master’s Degrees in Education, Leadership, Clinical Counseling, and a Fargo-based Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. With the Jamestown Journey to Success, emphasis is placed not only on preparing students academically in their chosen areas of study, but also on preparing them through a student-centered experience. For more information, visit uj.edu.

Carrington (JRMC) – Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s vision is to be the best rural hospital in the country.

To do that, it has opened outreach clinics in both Carrington and Valley City.

As a thank you to those communities, JRMC is welcoming the public to a Business After Hours on Feb. 4.,from  4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the JRMC Carrington Clinic 923 1st St S (adjacent to Carrington Dental Care). The event is free and open to the public.

In conjunction with the Carrington Area Chamber of Commerce, Business After Hours will celebrate the JRMC Carrington Clinic. Attendees can tour the space and meet providers including JRMC Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Michael T. Dean, JRMC Podiatrist Dr. Rachael Renschler and JRMC Audiologist Marissa Leese.

Business After Hours also includes tours of Dr. Jay Bauer’s Carrington Dental Care and adjacent daycare.

JRMC, President, & CEO, Mike Delfs says, “JRMC’s had a big year. With the opening of the cancer center, the onboarding of new physicians and implementing new equipment like R.O.S.I.E. and the fetal heart monitor, we are grateful. This is how we can be THE difference in the lives of those we serve. We hope the Carrington-area community will join us in celebration,”

Jamestown  (Chamber)  Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce were at Plantation Coffee Bar on January 29^th to show support for this local business and Chamber member. This event promotes chamber members helping each other, shopping local, and economic growth. Plantation Coffee Bar is open from 6:30am to 3:00pm Monday through Friday, and 8:00am to 3:00pm Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on this new member program contact the Chamber office at 701-252-4830.

Bismarck  (NDDOT)  A construction project will begin  Thursday, January 30, on ND Hwy 11, approximately 3.5 miles west of Ellendale. During the project, the eastbound lane will be temporarily closed to traffic and motorists will need to stop and take turns through the construction zone. Work on the project will only take place during the daylight hours.

The project is expected to be complete near the end of February.

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/

(AP)  North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says the state should reinvest half of the earnings from the state’s voter-approved oil tax savings account to grow the fund’s principal by billions of more dollars over the next decade. Burgum gave his State of the State address Wednesday at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Burgum says the state also should use earnings from a voter-approved oil tax savings account to help build infrastructure and provide property tax relief. Burgum said the state needs to embrace and pursue more technology industries, and diversify beyond energy and agriculture. The first-term Republican announced in October he would seek a second term.

(AP) North Dakota’s secretary of state says he has no problem with the state’s new elections director, despite complaints that he undermined election security work, created a toxic work environment and broke the law in previous roles elsewhere. Brian Newby started working for North Dakota’s secretary of state’s office in mid-December. Newby was executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from 2015 to 2019. Politico last year reported about management troubles at the federal agency under Newby’s tenure. Newby this week told The Bismarck Tribune that he’s proud of what he accomplished there and blamed the “political environment” for the allegations leveled against him.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — City leaders in Fargo are considering a change to an ordinance that restricts selling firearms and ammunition from home. City Commissioner Tony Gehring says the state has no restrictions on it and if there is no good reason for the law enacted in 2001, it should be fixed. KVLY-TV says gun shop owner Duane Spooner welcomes the potential change and doesn’t think it would negatively impact his business. Fargo commissioners have sent the law to the city planning staff and law enforcement so they can research it and provide a recommendation.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Republicans will have an intraparty race for North Dakota treasurer. Rep. Daniel Johnston of Kathryn and Rep. Tom Beadle of Fargo have announced runs for the post that’s being vacated by Republican Kelly Schmidt, who was first elected in 2004. Johnston was first elected to the House in 2016. Beadle has served in the Legislature since 2010. No Democrats have announced bids for the office. The state treasurer is custodian of the state’s funds and sits on several state boards, such as the State Historical Board, State Investment Board and State Canvassing Board. The treasurer’s annual salary is about $110,600.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The attorney for the sheriff of Mercer County says prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client was driving drunk. Sheriff Dean Danzeisen was cited for DUI last week in Bismarck. Defense attorney Chris Redmann said Tuesday he is beginning to review the case against Danzeisen. A field sobriety test showed Danzeisen’s blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit, The Bismarck Tribune reported. His blood alcohol content was 0.194%, according to the document. The legal limit in North Dakota for driving is 0.08%. Danzeisen is scheduled to appear in Bismarck Municipal Court on the misdemeanor charge on Feb. 5.

In world and national news…

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles firefighters rescued 15 terrified residents from the rooftop of a 25-story apartment building where a fire broke out on the sixth floor and sent choking smoke billowing through the upper levels. Officials said early reports that some people may have jumped were not true. Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said the fire has been deemed suspicious. Six people were taken to hospitals, including two in critical condition. Two others were treated at the scene. A fire also occurred at the Barrington Plaza high-rise in 2013, injuring several people. Fire officials said then that the building was not equipped with a sprinkler system.

 

MIAMI (AP) — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued an Amber Alert for a father and newborn baby who’ve been missing since three women were found shot to death. Miami-Dade police say officers had been searching for 49-year-old Ernesto Caballeiro since three women were found shot and killed in a home on 187th Avenue. Wednesday morning’s alert says 1-week-old Andrew Caballeiro was missing. The father is related to at least one of the women but has not been named as a suspect. He’s believed to be traveling in a white van with decals saying “Nesty School Services” and “Caution: Transporting Children.”

BEIJING (AP) — World health officials, back from a visit to Beijing, are expressing great concern that a dangerous new virus is spreading between people outside of China, even as the number of cases continue to grow dramatically inside that Asian nation. The new virus has now infected more people in China than were sickened during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak. On Wednesday, the number of cases jumped to 5,974, surpassing the 5,327 people diagnosed with SARS. However, the death toll, which stood at 132 Wednesday, was still far lower than the 348 people who died in China from SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. Scientists say there are still many questions to be answered about the new virus, including how easily it spreads and how severe it is.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s trial has shifted to pointed and lively questions from senators. The debate proceeds as the Republicans concede they lack the votes to block witnesses in a potential setback in their hope of ending the trial with a quick acquittal. Republican senators are straining for ways to deal with fallout from former national security adviser John Bolton’s forthcoming book. Before that, they’re asking direct questions of Trum’s accusers and defenders.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Two aspiring actresses have testified that Harvey Weinstein preyed on their vulnerabilities while pushing the notion that sex could lead to film roles. Dawn Dunning testified Wednesday at Weinstein’s rape trial that he led her to a bedroom, put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during a 2004 meeting about her acting career. Tarale Wuluff testified that Weinstein led her to a darkened terrace where she was a waitress and started masturbating. She alleges Weinstein later raped her. They are part of a group of women prosecutors are calling to testify about experiences with Weinstein that are not part of the underlying criminal charges but could be a big factor in whether he goes to prison. He has said any sexual encounters were consensual.

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A crude oil tanker in the Persian Gulf has caught fire, prompting a warning from British naval officials to “exercise extreme caution.” The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations said the fire struck the vessel northwest of Sharjah, an Emirati sheikhdom. It offered no other information about the vessel. Emirati officials said they were working to put out the blaze, some 21 miles (34 kilometers) off the coast of Sharjah. They identified the ship as the crude oil tanker Zoya 1 and said 16 Indian and Pakistani crew reportedly had been stuck on the vessel for a year, unpaid, trying to come ashore amid a legal dispute over the vessel.