CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY….Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.

.TONIGHT…Clear. Lows around 50. Northwest winds around 5 mph shifting to the southwest up to 5 mph after midnight.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds

5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Southeast

winds 5 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 10 to

15 mph shifting to the northwest around 20 mph in the afternoon.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows around 50.

.LABOR DAY…Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the morning. Highs in the lower 50s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Areas of frost after midnight.

Lows in the mid 30s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Areas of frost in the morning. Highs

in the upper 50s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

 

Cold air that eventually builds over the forecast area late Monday, through the middle of the work week. It certainly looks cold enough for snow if we had the moisture available and the timing works out. It looks to be a race between the cold air arriving and the moisture moving out.

Looks like nothing more than a mix of rain and snow with perhaps a dusting of snow at most.

A more significant impact will be the potential for a freeze over

a good portion of the forecast area, and possibly a hard freeze in

a few area.Freezing temperatures over a good portion of western and north central ND on Tuesday morning, and portions of southwest and central ND Wednesday morning.

 

Very cold and very dry conditions Tuesday morning through

Wednesday morning, compared to normals from late August through mid September.

Temperatures rebound toward the end of the work week, with mainly dry

conditions.

 

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly COVID-19 News Briefing, with the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) Thursday afternoon at the state capital in Bismarck.

Burgum said heading into the Labor Day Weekend to stay North Dakota Smart, and mask up observe social distancing, to slow the spread in the virus.  He said previous holiday weekends, saw a surge in positive cases.  He pointed out that college students are urged to stay on campus this weekend, and to continue with COVID-19 testing.  He said many college campuses have opportunities to be occupied.

He said regionally the pandemic is expanding into the midwestern U.S., with increased positive case increases.

North Dakota has set a near record for the number of daily positive coronavirus tests, and has increased its per-capita figures for the infection to the highest in the country. The state Health Department’s update showed that 360 of the 12,629 tests in the past day came back positive, with Cass, Grand Forks, and Stark counties each reporting 60 or more positive cases. North Dakota recorded of high of 373 positive tests statewide on Aug. 28. Data show North Dakota now ranks first in the country in the number of new COVID-19 cases per capita in the last two

NDDoH

COVID 1-9 Stats.

Thurs. Sept. 3, 2020

Posted 11-a.m.

 

Barnes

New Positives 5

Total Positives 124

Active Cases 50

Recovered  74

 

Stutsman

New Positives 29

Total Positives 251

Active Cases 101

Recovered 147

COVID-19 Test Results
The results listed are from the previous day. Additional data can be found on the NDDoH website.

BY THE NUMBERS

6,544 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

486,041 – Total tests completed since pandemic began

360 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

12,629 – Total positive individuals since pandemic began

5.50% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

2,428 – Total Active Cases

+143 Individuals from yesterday

139 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday****

10,051 – Total recovered since pandemic began

67 – Currently Hospitalized

+1 individuals from yesterday


2 – New Deaths*** (150 total deaths since the pandemic began)


INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 100s from Williams County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 60s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.


COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

  • Adams County – 1
  • Barnes County – 5
  • Benson County – 3
  • Billings County – 1
  • Bottineau County – 1
  • Burleigh County – 19
  • Cass County – 60
  • Eddy County – 6
  • Foster County – 4
  • Golden Valley County – 1
  • Grand Forks County – 79
  • Kidder County – 4
  • LaMoure County – 1
  • Logan County – 1
  • McKenzie County – 1
  • McLean County – 1
  • Mercer County – 4
  • Morton County – 24
  • Mountrail County – 1
  • Nelson County – 1
  • Ramsey County – 12
  • Ransom County – 3
  • Richland County – 6
  • Rolette County – 1
  • Sioux County – 1
  • Stark County – 67
  • Stutsman County – 29
  • Towner County – 1
  • Traill County – 3
  • Walsh County – 2
  • Ward County – 10
  • Williams County – 7

 

* Note that this does not include individuals from out of state and has been updated to reflect the most recent information discovered after cases were investigated.

**Because the serial tests completed and added to the total number of tests completed can result in new individuals who test positive, the daily positivity rate will be calculated using the total positives for the day by the daily number of tests completed instead of the daily number of unique individuals tested.

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.
**** The daily numbers are the actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.

******Totals may be adjusted as individuals are found to live out of state, in another county, or as other information is found during investigation.

For descriptions of these categories, visit the NDDoH dashboard.

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Burgum said, adding visitation to long term care, and other social gatherings the positive virus numbers have increased, since around the 4th of July. He said the increase in positive cases has increased, not due to increased testing, but from other socializing trends.

Burgum announced changes to the COVID-19 risk levels for 21 of North Dakota’s 53 counties under the ND Smart Restart plan, stressing the need to reverse the state’s upward trend of active coronavirus cases and positive test rate.

Eight counties – Barnes, Benson, Burleigh, Grand Forks, McLean, Morton, Stark and Williams – are moving from the low risk level (green) to the moderate risk level (yellow) under the ND Smart Restart color-coded health guidance. These counties currently account for 64 percent of North Dakota’s 2,437 active cases, Burgum noted.

Stutsman County will remain in the low risk category (green).

Valley City Public School has announced changes in light of Barnes  County moving into the yellow, or moderate risk category.  Some of the changes include going to plan B, with grades K-6 wearing face masks in the buildings and on the playground during recess.

More information on the VCPS website.

The goal of moving counties to moderate risk is twofold, Burgum said: to decrease transmissible moments, giving the virus less opportunities to spread, and to raise awareness and communicate to North Dakotans that an elevated risk level exists and there are simple steps they can take to slow the spread, namely:

 

  • Avoid large gatherings and social distance
  • Wear masks in public where social distancing isn’t possible
  • Wash your hands frequently.

 

“These are the things that need to happen if we want to keep schools open, if we want to keep businesses open and back to operating at 100%, and most importantly, if we want to protect the most vulnerable among us,” Burgum said. “Let’s remember that our students have given up a lot – missed classes, canceled sports and graduations – and so have our long-term care residents in terms of lost visits with their loved ones. The goal all along has been to protect the most vulnerable and keep things open – to save lives and livelihoods – and we need everyone to be in the fight and be responsible. We truly are in this together.”

 

Thirteen counties are moving from the low risk level to the “new normal,” or blue risk level: Billings, Cavalier, Divide, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Mercer, McIntosh, Nelson, Renville, Traill, Walsh and Wells. Burgum urged residents in those counties not to become complacent, noting the additional risk inherent with students returning to school and creating more transmissible moments for the coronavirus.

 

The changes in risk level were based on three main criteria: 14-day rolling average of active cases per 10,000 people, 14-day rolling average of tests performed per 10,000 people and 14-day rolling average percent positive rate.

 

The county-by-county risk levels will take effect at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. For those moving from low risk to moderate risk, the recommendation for capacity in bars and restaurants decreases from 75 percent to 50 percent and the recommendation for large gatherings would decrease from 75 percent occupancy up to 500 attendees, to 50 percent occupancy up to 250 attendees.

 

Despite a recent surge in active cases, because of its robust testing program, North Dakota’s test positivity rate remained under 5% until this week, when the White House’s weekly report to states classified North Dakota as being in the “yellow zone” for test positivity at over 5%, which is consistent with data tracked by the state. Today’s action aligns with the White House’s recommendation to adjust the state coronavirus risk level for highly affected counties to reflect persistently high and increasing reported cases.

 

While the state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations remain relatively low at 67 today, Burgum stressed that hospitalizations are a lagging indicator, not a leading indicator. Southern states that experienced surges in cases among 15- to 29-year-olds earlier this summer, as North Dakota is seeing now, saw those surges followed by increases in the older adult populations, increased hospitalizations and mortality rates, he noted.

 

“We said we’re going to be targeted and we’re going to be proactive. We’re doing both of those things today,” Burgum said.

 

The governor urged college students to make use of available COVID-19 testing and to stay on campus or in their campus communities during the Labor Day weekend to avoid potentially spreading COVID-19 to other areas, as young people are more likely to be asymptomatic and unknowingly transmit the virus.

 

The governor also announced the appointment of a new interim state health officer, Dr. Paul Mariani, who since 2015 has served as associate chief of staff for education at the Fargo VA Health Care System, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

Mariani earned his medical degree in Poland and completed his residency at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, where he served as chief resident. He also completed a fellowship in infectious disease at the University of Miami.

 

Prior to his current role at the Fargo VA, Mariani served as medical director of the North Dakota Aids Education & Training Center for three years and as an infectious disease physician at Sanford Health in Fargo for four years. He is a lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota Air National Guard’s Medical Corps.

 

Department of Health Chief of Staff Dirk Wilke will serve as interim state health officer until Mariani joins the Health Department on Sept. 14.

 

The governor also signed two executive orders today:

 

  • Executive Order 2020-40 allows qualified applicants wanting to practice dentistry in North Dakota to complete their patient-based clinical competency exam on a mannequin instead of a live patient, reducing the risk of virus spread.

 

  • Executive Order 2020-42 allows for interim substitute teachers to remain in a classroom beyond the current limitation of 10 consecutive days.

 

For more information on North Dakota’s COVID-19 response, visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus or www.ndresponse.gov.

 

He pointed out that FEMA has approved the grant request under the lost wages assistance program.  Grant funding from FEMA allows Job Service North Dakota to provide an additional $300 per week on top of claimants’ regular weekly unemployment benefit if they are unemployed due to COVID-19. The payments will be made retroactively to claimants who were eligible during the three weeks ending Aug. 1, 8 and 15.

More specific information is available on line at NDresponse.gov

Jamestown  (CVHD)   Central Valley Health District will  hold weekly testing event in Jamestown.  The testing will occur on Friday’s from 10 to Noon at the Jamestown Civic Center.

This event is open to anyone needing testing especially those with symptoms or who are close contacts.   There will be a total of 300 tests available and it is first come first serve.

“We will no longer be offering large-scale testing events and will be moving towards smaller weekly events to ensure availability of testing for those who are close contact or symptomatic,” says Robin Iszler, Unit Administrator at Central Valley Health District.

Appointments are not required but those who wish to receive a test are required to complete the online screening questionnaire in advance, which can be found here: https://testreg.nd.gov/.  Completing the online screening questionnaire does not guarantee you a test.

Jamestown   (CSi)  Beginning Friday, September 4, 2020; 2nd St NE (road over viaduct) from 2nd Ave to 5th Ave NE; also 3rd Ave NE (in front of Civic Center) will be closed for Covid-19 testing.
This will continue EVERY FRIDAY from 8AM-1PM through December 18, 2020.
These streets will be open on Friday, October 9, 2020.
Motorists should use extreme caution in this area.
Questions regarding testing; please contact Central Valley Health at 252-8130.

Valley City  (CSi)  City County Health in Valley City announces another drive thru COVID-19 testing event will be held Friday (Sept 4) morning from 11-a.m. to noon at City County Health.  50 test kits will be available, on a first come first served basis.

Another free COVID-19 testing event will be held Wednesday, September 9th in the parking lot of VCSU’s Lokken Stadium.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Special Session Thursday morning at City Hall.

All Members Were Present.

The City Commission Reviewed the open City Engineer Position.  City Attorney Martineck said the commission has the option of reviewing the requests for applicants, hiring an individual from applications, or looking to hiring an outside engineering firm. City Administrator Gwen Crawford said, the candidate interviewed had questions about the job description, concerning the Building Inspector part of the job.

The applicant’s interview was reviewed.  Commissioner Bishop said hiring a full time city engineer in house, would save the city money.   Mayor Carlsrud said has favored a city engineer’s position in the past.  He said the primary applicant under consideration would serve the position well.  Commissioner Magnuson said he was impressed with the candidate.

Martineck said the cost of an engineer was compared to hiring an engineering firm. Commissioner Gulmon feels the applicant will be able to learn certain aspects of the position.   Mayor Carlsrud said an outside consulting firm will have to be retained to assist with certain projects.

Bishop said he supports hiring the applicant.

The hiring of the position is the responsibility of the City Administrator.   She pointed out the pros and cons of hiring an individual, versus an engineering firm, including cost savings.

More negotiations with the candidate are forthcoming.

The commissioners consensus is to continue with negotiations with the applicant.

Commissioners considered changes to the 2020 calendar year, Preliminary Budget, before finalizing it.

City Auditor Avis Richter said the city has received a total of $600,000 from the Cares act, to use to offset budget items such as infrastructure project costs, or to offset property taxes.

She asked the commissioners to review the new information, and decide on where the additional dollars should go in the budget, concerning additional revenue, and to supplement the 2021 budget including health insurance increases.

She pointed out the dollars can also be used to transfer into the reserve fund.

The commissioners consensus is to have Avis move ahead with the discussed changes.

The meeting is replaying on CSi Cable 68.

Bismarck   (CSi) The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced  three communities in eastern North Dakota including Jamestown,  were recommended to receive funding from the Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant.

Nine communities across the state  to receive grant funding,  of a total $13,500 to be awarded.

Eastern North Dakota grant recipients include the Jamestown Downtown Association, , Argusville,  and Tuttle Rural Innovation Center.

The JDA will receive around $1,500 that will go towards another Alley Art/Mural.

The Main Street Initiative Vibrancy Grant Program seeks to assist in adding a spark of activity and energy to communities across North Dakota. This program helps provide small investments to community projects or events that encourage public art, activate underutilized space or promote walking and biking. By starting small and supporting an initial community vibrancy project, this grant program inspires others to engage and contribute to improving quality of life for visitors and residents.

Grant funding supports nonprofit organizations and/or local governments in vibrancy projects such as public events, public art, cultural celebrations, activating underutilized space, community gathering spaces, promoting active transportation, mitigating impacts of vacant or deteriorated infrastructure and more.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Arts Center is somewhat back to normal.   On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz said, the recently concluded Downtown Arts Market was successful.

She said the Arts Center is grateful for all of the sponsors and the community who supported the Downtown Arts Market, and respected its new “look.”

 

She added that the Arts Center continues to offer adult and family classes in person and online, and the

Arts After School Program. All of the in-person classes takes place in The Arts Center or Hansen Studio, saying each of those spaces will be COVID protected. The Arts Center has installed hand sanitizers, and  encourages and provides facemasks and social distancing, and our classrooms will have separate student spaces.

Mindi said that as most organizations, the Arts Center has suffered in  fundraising efforts, and has cancelled Oktoberfest.  The Wine & Cheese committee is planning on offering some smaller, more frequent events throughout the year. An Arts Center  “Special Events Committee,” and to  look for some creative events to come from them.

 

Mindi  added that The Jamestown Fine Arts Association 56th Annual Art Show is at the Arts Center, September 5- October 9.  Despite Covid-19 the show must go on and they currently have over 75 artworks submitted for this year’s exhibition.   She said, there was a moment in July when registrations were arriving slowly that we feared there might be an artistic hiccup for whatever reason. They e quickly re-advertised, dropped the entry fees (thanks to a generous support from Bank Forward) and reached out to again to artists. Miraculously, the show entries began to arrive. These times haven’t been easy on artists with galleries closed, exhibitions cancelled and sales down. All of our entry fees for this exhibition go to support small cash awards so Bank Forward stepping up to assist with covering these costs is a wonderful gesture and greatly appreciated.

The public can also help artists during this pandemic by visiting the show and perhaps purchasing a one-of-a-kind special gift of art. This exhibition is unique as many of the artworks are relatively affordable.

The exhibit will be open for public viewing starting on Saturday, September 5th, since it is Labor Day weekend and many will be enjoying the last days of summer, Th Arts Center has rescheduled the reception for Saturday, September 12 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm.  Awards will be announced on that date.

They ask that people wear masks and distance from each other. Bagged refreshments will be provided. Click here for more information

Open Mic Night is September 24, at 7-p.m.

Poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the door. Please limit your piece to 10 minutes. A P.A. system, bass amp, guitar amp and music stands will be provided and facilitated by local musician Steve Kuykendall. Open mic night is back on The Arts Center gallery stage. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing is in place and masks are highly encouraged. ENJOY (as safely as possible)!!

She added that Todd Green’s World of Music is coming to Jamestown for a week-long residency, and on Friday September 25, he will be in concert at 7-p.m.,  until 8-p.m.at the Arts Center.  (Tickets are $10 / $5 for members and children get in free with an adult). Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tickets and seats are limited and must be reserved in advance by calling 701-251-2496.

Friday evening’s concert at The Arts Center will conclude with a discussion moderated by Two River’s Performing Arts School Executive Director Mark Reeves.

Social distancing will be in place and wearing of masks is strongly encouraged.

Todd is an accomplished musician who performs on over 30 acoustic string, flute and percussion instruments from all over the world. During his time in Jamestown, he will perform and demonstrate for residents at Ave Maria Village on September 22.

There,  Green will take the audience on a whirlwind tour of musical instruments from around the world as he demonstrates 25 string, flute and percussion instruments and unusual rhythms and scales used in other cultures.

This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the North Dakota Council on the Arts and the Crane Group.

CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS & TEENS

Pre-registration required. Details and registration online at: www.jamestownarts.com

 

FAMILY POTTERY with Bill Nybo

Saturdays: September 19 and 26 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join us for a family class where you work side by side with your child, you will be introduced to the basic pinch, coil and slab hand-building techniques. Projects are designed to stimulate creativity in a playful way—a great way to share time with your child! Be sure to wear clothes you’re not afraid to get dirty. Includes all materials and kiln firing. Attendance at both sessions is necessary for a glazed finished piece. $40 / $30 for members (1 child,1 adult).

 

BEGINNING KNITTING with Trish Simon

Saturdays: October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 10am – 12pm

Go over knitting basics of knit and purl stitches with straight needles, how to cast on and off, and how to read knitting patterns by knitting washcloths and throw pillows.

Participants should bring needles size 7 and 10 for the class. All other supplies will be provided. $100 / $90 for members.

Pottery and Hand-building with Bill Nybo

September 14 – September 25 • $80

Bill Nybo is back with another fun session in our pottery studio! This time around he will be leading the class in a to-be-decided theme. The students will hand-build their own piece, it will be dried and fired, and then they will have the chance to glaze it! Don’t miss out on this fun after school class!

Art of Autumn with Dina Laskowski

September 28 – October 2 • $40

Learn about the many different colors and creative ways to make art in Autumn! In this class, Dina Laskowski will be teaching the students how to use different aspects, such as colors and outdoor items, of Autumn to create unique and wonderful art pieces!

Digital Art with ProCreate with Kathleen Roehm

October 5 – October 21 • $96

Education Coordinator Kathleen will teach students how to use the digital art software, ProCreate, for iPad and iPhone. In this class, you will learn the basics on how to use layers, sketching, line art, and color to create beautiful digital drawings. Bring your own iPad or iPhone and stylus (if wanted) and the Arts Center will pay for the ProCreate software!

* No school / No Arts After School October 9

 

INTRO TO DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
with Troy Gunderson
Tuesdays: September 8, 15, 22 & 29
7:00 – 9:00 pm •  At Teen City

Learn the basics of digital photography, what the terms mean, plus techniques that will improve your compositions. You will learn how to use your camera in manual mode and how to adjust the aperture, shutter speed and ISO to achieve photos not obtainable in automatic modes. The main focus of the instruction will be on using your DSLR camera. Informational handouts will be provided. To aid in learning participants should become familiar with their camera’s controls and features. (Any digital camera is fine, but cameras with adjustable controls are preferred.) This class is beginning held in The Teen City building located at (202 4th Ave SE in Jamestown).

Find all the details and registration information at jamestownarts.com

 

Jamestown   (JRMC)   — One woman dealt with a pandemic and a cancer diagnosis, all in the same six months.

The story’s beginning will give you goosebumps.

Diane Feist, of Edgeley, chose Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department for her care in March. She’d felt pain in her abdomen and experienced issues with her liver. The ED team asked for a CT scan from JRMC radiology, which is standard practice.

What wasn’t standard were the results.

The images showed spider-like dots – dots that require action.

Feist only knew of her breast cancer because Dr. Madhusudhan Reddy caught it reading the CT scan of her abdomen.

Dr. Reddy said, We’re trained to see incidentals like this.  Even if we’re looking at the abdomen, we’re trained to look elsewhere. I saw this and it bothered me. I thought it was important to follow-up.”

Because of Dr. Reddy’s diligence, the wife, mother, grandmother and daycare provider got a six-month head start on her treatment.

She Says, “My doctor told me to get those checked out right away. My next mammogram wasn’t until August, so I’m glad I found out when I did.”

Once she received her diagnosis, Feist acted quickly and aggressively. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy (surgically removing both breasts) in April. From there, she met with Dr. Jeff Wiisanen at Sanford Health’s Roger Maris Cancer Center for her first chemotherapy treatment.

JRMC partnered with Roger Maris to open the JRMC Cancer Center in 2019.

After her first visit, she learned she could continue to receive all the care she needed, closer to home. Dr. Wiisanen even travels to JRMC each month.

Feist adds, “I’ve been telling people how awesome it is here,  it’s a calming environment with an awesome team including Oncology Nurse Practitioner Laura Bond and Registered Nurses Garret Hillius and K.C. Robison.

Though any cancer journey is complicated and scary, treating cancer during a pandemic is especially challenging.

He husband Steve says, “It was hard for me to drop her off at the hospital for surgery.  husband, I couldn’t even go in with her for her procedure.”

Despite both the pandemic and the cancer diagnosis, Diane never closed her daycare, which cares for five children ages 2-6.

She says, “We talked about closing and Steve was worried. However, we have amazing families. Whenever a child had even the littlest sniffle, our families kept their little ones home.”

Through it all, Diane said her family felt support from the entire Edgeley community. More than 75 vehicles drove by their house for a surprise Prayer Parade in May.

Her family says she is pretty heroic, especially her children Kelsey, Seth, Jordan and Cole. Kelsey and Seth, attended Diane’s graduation.

Diane points out, “As funny as this all sounds, this has been a good experience. It has made me a better person. It has made me stronger in my faith. It’s life-changing for sure.” 

She’s so grateful, she’s convincing her friends from out of state to receive their care here as well, adding, “JRMC is definitely a destination for care,” she said. “I can’t say enough good about it.”

Diane is the ninth person from the JRMC Cancer Center to ring the graduation bell. The bell is important, because it was a gift to the hospital from the Marsha Leigh Espeseth family. Marsha Espeseth died from cancer in 1987. She was 34 years old. Her husband and grown children donated the bell in her memory, so people today could ring the bell that she never could.

And though she is the ninth to graduate, she is the first to use the on-body Neulasta. The Neulasta is a little matchbox-size pack that attaches to the belly. It’s stimulates the growth of white blood cells, fighting infection and rebuilding immune responses.

In its first year, the JRMC Cancer Center saved 244,000 miles of travel. Now that individuals can receive this kind of care close to home or even at home, JRMC expects to save even more.

JRMC President & CEO Mike Delfs, says, “Our mission at JRMC is to exceed expectations and be THE difference in the lives of those we serve. This is one way to do that,”

For Diane and her family, graduation day was a happy, tear-filled day.

She says, “I’m lost for words about how happy I am.  I hope I can put this all behind me.”

To learn more about the JRMC Cancer Center or to schedule care, visit www.jrmcnd.com/cancer. To learn how we are keeping patients safe, visit www.jrmcnd.com/covid.

 

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D. and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2019, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” for the sixth consecutive year. Modern Healthcare named JRMC a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” each year since 2017.  For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

About the JRMC Cancer Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center, in partnership with Sanford Health, opened the JRMC Cancer Center in 2019. The JRMC Cancer Center serves 100 people from Sanford and other healthcare organizations in the Jamestown area each month, saving more than 160,000 miles of travel each year.

 

In sports…

Jamestown  (UJ)  The University of Jamestown has announced a change in the Volleyball schedule.

Out of an abundance of caution, the University of Jamestown has postponed its home volleyball matches for Saturday, September 5th, Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12, 2020.

 

High School Volleyball, Thursday…

Jamestown 3 Minot 0

Valley City 3  Grand Forks Central. 0

 

Class A and  9-Man Football Polls

Ranking followed by team, (first place votes), record, total points, [last week’s ranking]

9-Man

  1. Kidder County (12) 1-0 83pts [1]
  2. Cavalier (3) 2-0 71pts [2]
  3. LaMoure-Litchville/Marion 2-0 54pts [3]
  4. Linton-HMB (3) 1-0 53pts [4]
  5. Beach 2-0 9pts [NR]

Others receiving votes: New Rockford/Sheynne (2-0), St. John (2-0), FSHP (2-0), Mayport/CG (2-0), Ray-Powers/Lake

Class A

  1. Langdon Area-Edmore/Munich (19) 2-0 95pts [1]
  2. Velva 1-0 66pts [2]
  3. Lisbon 1-0 47pts [4]
  4. Dickinson Trinity 2-0 37pts [5]
  5. Oakes 0-0 18pts [3]

Others receiving votes: Bowman County (1-0), Thompson (1-0), Bishop Ryan (1-1)

 

NBA PLAYOFFS

Anunoby’s buzzer-beater lifts Raptors

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — A buzzer-beating basket allowed the Toronto Raptors to beat the Boston Celtics, 104-103 and pull within two games to one in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

OG Anunoby (an-uh-NOH’-bee) grabbed a crosscourt inbounds pass from Kyle Lowry and drained a 3-pointer at the horn. It came just a half-second after Daniel Theis (tys) dunked to give Boston a two-point lead.

Lowry played virtually the whole way, finishing with 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) had 16 and Anunoby 12.

Kemba Walker scored 29 points for Boston, which lost for the first time in seven playoff games.

The Clippers had a much easier time winning the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard scored 29 points and the Clippers shot 57% from the field in a 120-97 trouncing of the Nuggets.

The Clippers took charge in the second quarter, outscoring the Nuggets 38-20 to take a 69-51 lead. Los Angeles held Denver to 25% shooting into the second quarter.

Paul George scored 19 points and Marcus Morris added 18 for L.A.

Denver guard Jamal Murray was held to just 12 points on 5-for-15 shooting. He averaged 31.6 points in the Nuggets’ seven-game series against Utah.

NBA-NETS COACH

Nets Steve Nash as coach

UNDATED (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets have hired Steve Nash as their coach, putting the Hall of Fame point guard in charge of the team that hopes to have Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving together next season.

Nash is a two-time MVP as the engineer of the high-scoring Phoenix Suns teams under Mike D’Antoni. He had been a player development consultant with Golden State, where he worked with Durant. The Nets finished the season under Jacque Vaughn, who will remain on staff as Nash’s lead assistant.

In other NBA news:

— Memphis guard Ja (jah) Morant is the runaway winner of the NBA Rookie of the Year Award for 2019-20. He’s the first Grizzlies player to win the award since Pau Gasol (pow-gah-SAHL’) in 2001-02. Morant averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 assists this season, picking up three Western Conference rookie of the month awards along the way. Miami’s Kendrick Nunn was second and New Orleans’ Zion Williamson was third.

— The Hornets have fired play-by-play radio broadcaster John Focke (FOH’-kee) after he used a racial slur on his Twitter account last month. The decision comes after the team investigated the matter in which Focke used the slur while Tweeting about the Jazz-Nuggets playoff game on Aug. 17. He has since deleted the tweet and apologized, saying it was a typo.

NHL-STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

Provorov goal lifts Flyers

UNDATED (AP) — The New York Islanders owned overtime periods while winning four straight Stanley Cups in the 1980s. Those days are over.

The Philadelphia Flyers have forced a seventh game in their second-round series after Ivan Provorov (PROH’-vah-rahv) scored 15:03 into double-overtime to complete a 5-4 win over the Islanders. All three of Philadelphia’s series wins have come in OT.

Carter Hart turned back 49 shots and was perfect after Mathew Barzal scored with 30 seconds left in the second period.

But the Flyers blew a 2-0 lead and had to come back from 3-2 and 4-3 deficits before Provorov ended it with his second OT goal of the series. Michael Raffl (RAH’-ful) and Scott Laughton provided the tying tallies.

Mathew Barzal (bahr-ZAL’) and Derick Brassard each had a goal and an assist for New York.

Game 7 is Saturday.

Like the Flyers, the Canucks have forced a seventh game after trailing 3-1 in their second-round series. Thatcher Demko stopped 48 shots for his second straight win as Vancouver stifled Vegas, 4-0.

J.T. Miller and defenseman Quinn Hughes each had a goal and an assist for the Canucks, who carried a 1-0 lead into the final period. Jake Virtanen (vur-TAN’-ehn) and Bo Horvat also scored for the Canucks, who were outshot 48-23.

Game 7 is Friday.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-NHL

NHL, players unveil series of anti-racism initiatives

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The NHL has unveiled a series of anti-racism initiatives more than eight months after Akim Aliu (ah-KEEM’ ah-LEE’-yoo) brought the topic to the forefront in the predominantly white sport.

The league and NHL Players’ Association are planning mandatory inclusion and diversity training for all players at camp. They are partnering with the Hockey Diversity Alliance to launch a grassroots program for young players of color in the Toronto area They are also working together on several inclusion committees aimed at encouraging diversity among executives, pro and youth players and fans.

The moves come amid mounting pressure from current and former minority players for the league to take concrete steps to address systemic racism.

MLB….

UNDATED (AP) — Mike Clevinger wasn’t bad in his San Diego Padres debut, but he wasn’t good enough to get a victory.

Clevinger allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings of the Padres’ 2-0 loss to the Angels. He didn’t retire the Angels in order until the sixth and allowed the leadoff batter aboard in each of the first four innings.

Andrew Heaney allowed only three hits over seven innings to help Los Angeles deal San Diego its second shutout loss of the season.

Andrelton Simmons and Justin Upton each had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

In Thursday’s other MLB action:

— Aledmys (ah-LEHD’-mees) Díaz belted a three-run homer and Michael Brantley added three RBIs to support Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) in the Astros’ 8-4 thumping of the Rangers. Greinke struck out a season-high nine in six innings, allowing three runs and six hits to get to 3-0. Brantley had three hits, capped by a two-out, two-run double in the eighth that pushed the lead to 8-4.

— Luis Robert’s 458-foot home run capped the White Sox second-five-run inning in an 11-6 dumping of the Royals. Robert was one of three White Sox to homer in the contest, joining Edwin Encarnacion (ehn-kahr-nah-see-OHN’) and Tim Anderson. Dylan Cease (sees) picked up the win, yielding three runs on four hits in five-plus innings.

— The Dodgers earned a 5-1 win over the Diamondbacks behind Clayton Kershaw, who allowed one hit while fanning eight over six shutout innings. Chris Taylor and Kike (KEE’-kay) Hernandez each had two hits and an RBI to help Los Angeles win for the 18th time in 21 games. AJ Pollock homered as a pinch-hitter for the NL West leaders.

— Bryan Reynolds slammed a three-run homer in his return from paternity leave to lead the Pirates past the Cubs, 6-2. Reynolds also doubled leading off the second and celebrated by pretending to rock a baby to sleep. JT Brubaker picked up his first big league win by navigating in and out of trouble for five innings, allowing just one earned run despite seven hits.

— Alec Bohm hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Phillies a 6-5 victory and a four-game sweep of the Nationals. Pinch-hitter Andrew McCutchen’s RBI grounder off Daniel Hudson tied it at 5 in the eighth. Trea Turner hit an inside-the-park homer and Michael Taylor went deep for Washington, but the defending champs suffered their sixth consecutive loss.

— The Mets erased deficits of 4-0 and 7-4 before beating the Yankees, 9-7 on Pete Alonso’s two-run blast in the bottom of the 10th. J.D. Davis tied it with a solo shot in the ninth before Alonso came through with his first career walk-off homer. Amed Rosario had three hits and three RBIs as the Mets gained a split of the six-game season series.

— Teoscar (tay-AHS’-kur) Hernández was the hitting star in the Blue Jays’ 6-2 win over the Red Sox, hitting a go-ahead, three-run homer in the 10th inning after breaking up Boston’s no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the seventh. Lourdes Gurriel (gur-ee-EHL’) Jr. added a two-out solo homer to cap Toronto’s four-run 10th.

MLB-NEWS

Mengden tests positive for coronavirus

UNDATED (AP) — Oakland Athletics right-hander Daniel Mengden has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantined at home in Houston. He received the result that forced Oakland and Major League Baseball to postpone four games this week.

A’s general manager David Forst said that Mengden is asymptomatic and was placed on the 10-day injured list. The A’s don’t know how Mengden contracted the coronavirus.

MLB said the A’s will resume their schedule on Friday.

In other MLB news:

— The Mets paid tribute to Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver with a series of salutes before their game with the Yankees. Each Met had a smudge of dirt on their right knee. That’s a nod to how Seaver’s uniform looked when he pitched, with his knee dropping low to the mound for more power. Seaver died Monday at age 75.

— Dick Allen’s No. 15 was retired by the Phillies in a ceremony prior to Thursday’s game against the Nationals. It’s a long overdue honor for one of the franchise’s greatest players who fought against racism during a tumultuous period with the team in the 1960s. Former teammate Mike Schmidt called him “an amazing mentor” who was wrongly labeled a “bad teammate” and “troublemaker.”

TENNIS-US OPEN

Serena wins, Murray ousted…No. 2s Thiem, Kenin advance

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams’ drive for her 24th major championship continues at the U.S. Open

The 38-year-old Williams has advanced to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Margarita Gasparyan.

Williams improved her career record to 20-0 in the second round at Flushing Meadows and will play Sloane Stephens in the next round. Williams leads the series 5-1.

Williams had 27 winners and seven aces to put away Gasparyan.

Stephens continued her path toward a second U.S. Open championship with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Olga Govortsova.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray was beaten in his second-round match as he continues to work his way back from a pair of hip operations. Felix Auger-Aliassime dispatched Murray, 6-2. 6-3, 6-4.

It was a successful day for the No. 2 singles seeds.

Dominic Thiem (teem) earned a spot in the third round on his 27th birthday, posting a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win over over Sumit Nagal.

American Sofia Kenin has won her second-round match at the U.S. Open against unseeded Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3. Kenin had more winners than unforced errors and never faced a break point.

Daniil Medvedev beat Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the third round.

Victoria Azarenka won the battle of the Belarusians with a 6-1, 6-3 win over fifth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.

There was a pair of top-10 upsets on the women’s side. Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea knocked off No. 9 Johanna Konta, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 to earn her spot in the third round. Tsvetana Pironkova has reached Round 3 in her first tournament following a three-year maternity break, beating No. 10-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza (moo-gah-ROO’-thuh), 7-5, 6-3.

NFL-NEWS

Newton to start for Pats

UNDATED (AP) — Cam Newton is officially the new starting quarterback of the New England Patriots.

A person familiar with the situation said Thursday that Newton was announced as the starter during a team meeting.

The move was expected after the 2015 league MVP outperformed second-year Jarrett Stidham and veteran Brian Hoyer during training camp.

Newton signed with the Patriots in July after being released by Carolina. He succeeds Tom Brady following his departure to Tampa Bay in free agency.

In other NFL news:

— The Seahawks are bringing back Josh Gordon on a one-year deal as the talented wide receiver awaits reinstatement from the NFL after his latest suspension. Gordon was banned indefinitely by the league last December, his eighth suspension either by the league or his team.

— The Titans have made a switch at kicker, agreeing to terms with veteran Stephen Gostkowski (gahst-KOW’-skee) and waiving Greg Joseph. Gostkowski is a four-time Pro Bowl kicker who has made 87% of his field goals with the fifth-best field goal percentage in NFL history.

— The Browns have acquired safety Ronnie Harrison from the Jaguars for a fifth-round pick. Harrison has played in 28 games and made 103 tackles along with three interceptions.

— All NFL and NFL Players Association facilities will close on Election Day, and the league and union will televise a one-hour program next week for players to highlight work being done to advance social justice. The league and the players’ union said Thursday they want to “ensure that every member of the NFL family has an opportunity to exercise the precious right to vote” on Nov. 3.

— Giants co-owner John Mara reiterated his support for a player’s right to protest social issues. While he prefers the team to stand during the national anthem, he will support the rights of those who choose to kneel and make a statement.

NCAA-FOOTBALL

NCAA oversight has ideas for early enrolling freshman

UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA football oversight committee is recommending early enrolling freshman football players not be allowed to play games for teams conducting winter or spring seasons.

West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons heads football oversight. He told the AP on Thursday night the committee worked on setting parameters for a 13-week winter/spring season that included an April 17 end to regular-season competition but no uniform start date.

Lyons said the committee will send a report with its recommendation to the Division I Council for approval by next week.

TOKYO-OXFORD COST STUDY

Oxford study: Tokyo Olympics are most costly Summer Games

TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics are already the most expensive Summer Games on record with costs set to go higher. That’s according to a wide-ranging study from Britain’s University of Oxford.

The lead author of the study tells The Associated Press that the Tokyo cost overrun already exceeds 200%. This is even before several billion more dollars are added on from the one-year delay from the COVID-19 pandemic.

NASCAR-COVID CONCERNS

NASCAR drivers cautious of COVID-19 as playoffs begin

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR has decided it will not grant COVID-19 relief during the playoffs, meaning a positive coronavirus test will end a driver’s championship bid.

The playoffs begin Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina without a safety net for the 16 participants during the pandemic. It’s up to each driver to protect themselves from COVID-19, understanding there is no cushion for missing a race.

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States keeps regaining more of the jobs that vanished when the viral pandemic flattened the economy early this spring. Yet so deep were the layoffs that began in March that millions of Americans remain burdened by job losses that might prove permanent. Economists have forecast that employers added 1.4 million jobs in August and that the unemployment rate fell from 10.2% to 9.8%, according to a survey by data provider FactSet. That rate would still be just below the peak unemployment level of the 2008-2009 Great Recession.

 

(AP)  European shares have opened higher and U.S. futures bounced back after a day of losses in Asia. Benchmarks rose in Paris and Frankfurt but fell in Tokyo and Shanghai. The mixed outcome on Friday followed a sharp decline overnight on Wall Street, as investors’ exuberance faltered after a spate of record highs. The benchmark S&P 500 lost 3.5%, its biggest loss since June, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 5%. Both indexes set record highs a day earlier. Big Tech companies have made outsize gains this year as investors bet that they would continue posting huge profits, even with many coronavirus restrictions still in place, as people spend more time online with their devices.

 

OSHAWA, Ontario (AP) — Police say four people have been found dead in a home east of Toronto after an early morning shooting. A spokesman for Durham regional police says multiple calls came in around 1:20 a.m. reporting the sound of gunshots from a home in Oshawa, Ontario. The official says two of the victims are believed to be men and the other two are thought to be in their early teens. A woman was also found in the house with a gunshot wound. She was sent to a hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries. Investigators believe the shooter is among the dead. Police were not looking for any more suspects.

 

CLEVELAND (AP) — Officials say a Cleveland police officer has died after being shot, a second person has died and authorities are seeking the person or people responsible. The shooting happened about 10 p.m. Thursday on the city’s west side. Police Chief Calvin Williams tells reporters that the officer who died was with the department for 25 years, saying “Cleveland lost one of its finest.” The officer’s name wasn’t immediately released. Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Jeff Follmer says a second person, who was not an officer but was in the officer’s car, also died. Details about that person weren’t immediately released by police.

 

ROME (AP) — A top aide to Silvio Berlusconi says the former Italian premier has been admitted to a Milan hospital as a precaution to monitor his coronavirus infection. Sen. Lucia Ronzulli told RAI state TV Friday morning that the 83-year-old media mogul, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week, is doing well. State radio said he was admitted to San Raffaele hospital early Friday to have tests after having COVID-19 “symptoms” but didn’t give details. On Thursday, Berlusconi told his supporters he no longer had fever or pain. Italian media have said two of his adult children also were recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and are self-isolating.