Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Mar 17

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow and light freezing drizzle. Lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy. Chance of light freezing drizzle and slight chance of snow in the morning, then drizzle likely, chance of

snow and light freezing drizzle likely in the afternoon. Highs in

the mid 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation

60 percent in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow and

light freezing drizzle in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area. Lows 15 to 20. North winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY…Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the morning.

Highs in the lower 20s. North winds 15 to 25 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Patchy blowing and drifting snow in the evening. Lows zero to 5 above. Lows zero to 5 above.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs 15 to 20.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows near zero.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 20s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 15.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the lower 20s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s.

A light wintry mix is expected over portions of the area
Wednesday morning, and again Wednesday night into Thursday. This
could result in slippery spots on secondary or non treated roads.
On Thursday, gusty north winds will also cause some blowing and
drifting snow. This may also result in slippery spots on roads.

Valley City  (CSi)  The City of Valley City passed a Resolution Tuesday, declaring Health Emergency in response to the COVID-19 virus.

The declaration allows the city access to potential funding stemming from   damages from the global Coronavirus pandemic.

City Attorney Carl Martineck said the city commission decided to close access to city hall to protect staff members from contracting the virus.

City Commission meetings public attendance will be limited to 10 people.

Those wishing to speak may do so by phone.  Contact City Hall for more information and arrangements.

Also the Barnes County Commission on Tuesday, Declared a Health Emergency at the regular meeting, allowing the utilization of the Barnes County emergency reserve fund to assist with expenditures related to the health emergency.

If residents have questions about COVID-19 they can contact City County Health at (701) 845-8518 or the COVID-19 hotline at the department of health 1-866-207-2880.

Bismarck   A news release on Tuesday evening states,  the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDOH) Tuesday confirmed four additional cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in residents from Cass, Ward and Burleigh counties. All the individuals have a travel history to impacted areas.

So far in North Dakota, 253 individuals have been tested, 248 were negative and 5 are positive.

The news release says, The individual who tested positive for COVID-19 from Cass County is a woman in her 20s and the individual from Ward County is a man in his 60s. The individuals who tested positive from Burleigh County were a man in his 50s and a women in her 20s. None of the four individuals are hospitalized and all are self-isolating at home.

Governor Doug Burgum says, “This increase in COVID-19 cases underscores the importance of exercising personal responsibility and following the CDC and White House recommendations for social distancing.  This is especially important on St. Patrick’s Day, when many are accustomed to going out to celebrate with friends. We all have a role to play in slowing the spread of coronavirus.”

State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte adds, “We anticipate there will be additional North Dakotans who test positive for COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks, we urge residents to prepare, not panic, and to follow social distancing recommendations.  Take steps such as ensuring you have materials on hand to self-isolate for two weeks or explore whether there are options to telecommute. Individuals should follow the presidential guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Health officials also ask individuals returning from traveling on a cruise ship or individuals returning from skiing in Colorado to self-isolate for two weeks and self-report on the NDDoH website.

Gov. Doug Burgum, and state health officials strongly recommend North Dakotans to follow the guidelines released by the White House on Monday to slow the spread of coronavirus, including:
• Stay home and don’t go to work if you feel sick.
• Practice good hygiene: wash your hands, avoid touching your face and cover coughs and sneezes.
• If someone in the household has tested positive for coronavirus, keep the entire household at home.
• Older individuals and those with underlying health conditions should stay away from other people.
• Work from home when possible.
• Avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.
• Avoid eating or drinking in bars, restaurants and food courts – use drive-thru, pickup or delivery options.
• Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits.

Symptoms of COVID-19 in people who have been exposed can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Individuals who think they may have COVID-19 but have minor symptoms should self-isolate at home. Individuals seeking medical attention should call before they go in.

For questions related to COVID-19, the public can call the NDDoH health hotline at 1-866-207-2880 daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Individuals who need medical advice should contact their health care provider.
For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus , follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Jamestown  (JPS)  Jamestown Public Schools Lunch Program,  has announced that free, Grab and Go Lunches will be available starting Thursday March 19, 2020, during the school closure period.

Meals will be  provided through a pick up process at certain school sites in Jamestown. Delivery options will also be available.

“Meals will be available for children up to the age of 18 years old. Students do not need to attend the pickup sites to receive a free meal. Due to current restrictions, meals are not allowed to be consumed on site. Adults can also pick up a grab-go lunch for $4.00.”  Available for pick up will will be: 1-cold breakfast, 1-cold lunch or both  per site.

Call food service by 9 -am each day at the site of pick-up. Only a limited number of meals will be available at each site without pre-ordering.

Sites that  will be open from 11 -am to 1 -pm Monday through Friday until schools have reopened:

Jamestown Middle School – 203 2nd Ave. SE, Kitchen phone 952-5905
Enter through the main front student door

Roosevelt Elementary – 615 6th Ave. SE, Kitchen phone 952-2395
Enter through the NE Gym door

Lincoln Elementary – 319 5th Street NE, Kitchen phone 952-2785
Enter through the SE Gym door

Washington Elementary – 705 4th Ave. NW, Kitchen phone 952-5548
Enter through the door closest to the playground

Meals will be available for delivery for those students unable to pick up at those locations. Please call for additional information.

Valley City  (VCPS)  Valley City Public Schools Superintendent, Josh Johnson reported Tuesday  four key areas of the district’s  COVID-19 plan that allows  the continuance of meeting,  “The needs of our students and families.

A brief summary of the plan. Please know that additional information will be shared by email and social media.

Distance Learning (Principals)
Teachers will be designing distance learning plans on Tuesday and Wednesday and will be prepared to share these plans with students on Thursday. Information regarding the “Resource Blitz” will be provided from your school principals before the end of the day on Tuesday, March 17th.

Nutrition (Joleen Hagen)
Detailed information regarding the School Meal Pick-Up Plan that will begin on Tuesday, March 17th at 11:00am.

Mental Health (Vanessa Kocka)
Detailed information regarding the Mental Health Plan that will be initiated in our school district beginning immediately. Our continuation of these services is very important for supporting our students and families through entirety of this school closure.

Childcare for Healthcare Providers and Emergency Responders
Following the guidance from the state of North Dakota, we will sending an email with a survey that will identify the childcare needs of our parents who are employed as healthcare providers or emergency responders. Please be looking for this email coming in the next couple of days.

If you have any questions regarding  the four identified areas of the District COVID-19 Plan, please send your questions to josh.johnson@k12.nd.us.

Josh Johnson

Superintendent

Valley City Public Schools

(701) 845-0483

Jamestown  (CSi)  The City of Jamestown reported Tuesday morning that Jamestown City Hall has temporarily closed its doors to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

City Administrator Sarah Hellekson says, the doors will remain closed until further notice.

She says, “The public is being asked to place all utility payments in the utility box located in our parking lot unless they have automatic deposit or mail in payments. Staff is still working in City Hall. If you need to talk to someone or gain access, you can call.”

City Hall’s phone is (701)-252-5900.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The El Zagel Mystics Fish Fry that was scheduled for  March 20, as been cancelled, due to concerns of public gatherings in light of the COVID-19. Craig Melhoff says the fish fry may or may not be rescheduled in the future.

Jamestown (CSi)  The  James River Figure Skating Club’s 43^rd Annual Ice Show has been postponed.

Jamestown  (CSi)   The Jamestown Community Prayer Gatherings have been cancelled until further notice.

Bismarck  (CSi)  the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission reports a February increase in Jamestown boardings.

In February of 2020 boardings were 1,001, compared to 894 in February of 2019.

Through February 2020 there were 1,824 boardings in Jamestown, compared to 1,684 in 2019.

Bismarck   (NDDOT)  The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has many services available online for residents who wish to conduct driver license or motor vehicle business without visiting an office.

Motor Vehicle and Driver License items you can do online at www.dot.nd.gov:

• Renew motor vehicle registration.
• Renew a driver’s license for operating a standard vehicle or motorcycle online, if over 21 and under the age of 65 and you don’t want a REAL ID.
• Change your address on your driver’s license.
• Replace a lost, stolen or damaged ND license.
• Replace a vertical driver license after you are 21 to a horizontal driver license.
• Schedule an appointment to get a REAL ID. Online renewal is not applicable when obtaining a REAL ID.
• Schedule a driving test.
• Schedule an appointment to renew a ND license, permit, or ID card.

For more information about driver license and motor vehicle services, please visit our website at www.dot.nd.gov or call our toll-free number 1-855-NDROADS (637-6237).

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A 29-year-old Florida man has pleaded not guilty to a federal drug charge after authorities say he was travelling with 78 pounds of meth on a Montana highway. Authorities say it was the largest amount of meth ever seized in a traffic stop in the state. Nicholas James Imhoff was returned to custody after appearing Monday in federal court in Billings. Authorities say he was traveling in a van rented in Las Vegas and the drugs were found under floor storage compartments in garbage bags. Imhoff told a state trooper that he was headed to North Dakota for work.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The city of Bismarck is partnering with local nonprofit organizations in an effort to promote participation for the 2020 census in underserved communities. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Bismarck is focusing on ramping efforts to engage Native Americans, homeless people and parents with children under age 5. Will Hutchings leads the Bismarck Complete Count Committee. He says it’s imperative that residents are counted in the state’s capital. Hutchings adds that North Dakota officials predict that the state will miss out on about $19,000 in federal funding over the next 10 years for each person not counted.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is asking Congress to unleash a torrent of emergency economic aid to help people through the financial storm of the coronavirus crisis. Sizable checks directly to Americans are part of the deal he wants. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says Trump wants the money sent to the public within two weeks. But the president has to deal with skepticism in Congress over the broad economic rescue package for businesses and taxpayers. The amount of the proposed checks hasn’t been disclosed but Mnuchin says it’s vital to get significant cash out to people quickly.

(AP)  Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City residents should be prepared for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order within days. De Blasio said Tuesday that no decision had been made yet, but that he wants city and state officials to make a decision within 48 hours, given the fast spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said earlier Tuesday he had no interest in imposing local quarantines, but he stopped short of ruling it out. Cuomo said that more restrictions on business would come first and that a quarantine would have to be at least statewide.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new coronavirus is keeping some voters and poll workers at home and hampering efforts to open some polling sites as three states held Democratic presidential primary contests amid a global pandemic. Leaders in Ohio called off their primary on Tuesday just hours before polls were set to open as the federal government urged Americans not to gather in groups of 10 or more and asked older people to stay home. The developments were a reminder of how the most elemental act of American democracy — voting — was being severely tested as Arizona, Florida and Illinois moved forward with primaries amid the uncertainty of the outbreak.

DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union wants Detroit’s three automakers to shut down their factories for two weeks to keep its members safe from the spreading coronavirus. But union President Rory Gamble says in an email to members obtained by The Associated Press that the companies were not willing to shut factories down. Gamble says the union gave Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler two days to put together plans to safeguard workers. That period ends Tuesday afternoon. The companies and union will meet this evening to discuss the safety measures. But Gamble says if the union isn’t satisfied it will take unspecified further action to protect members.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lyle Waggoner, who played comic foil on “The Carol Burnett Show,” has died. His family says in a statement that Waggoner died peacefully Tuesday at his Los Angeles-area home, with his wife at his side. Waggoner was the Burnett show’s announcer when it premiered in 1967. He proved so adept that he eventually became a regular cast member. He stayed with the show until 1974. He was the partner for star Lynda Carter in “Wonder Woman” and “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman” in the ’70s. Waggoner also built a successful business providing custom trailers available for film companies to rent so actors could relax in comfort on sets. Lyle Waggoner was 84.