Wayne Byers Show – Evening -Sept. 24

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the mid 50s. South winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy

with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows

around 50. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers in the morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Highs

around 70. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph increasing to west around

20 mph with gusts to around 35 mph in the afternoon.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear in the evening, then mostly cloudy

with a 20 percent chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in

the mid 40s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the mid 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

 

A slight chance to chance rain from west central

ND Thursday evening into north central ND late and exiting the

Turtle Mountains into the northern James River Valley by early

Friday morning. Precipitation amounts are currently only a trace

to barely more than a trace.

Breezy to windy conditions will highlight the long term forecast

period. There will also be near daily chances of light

precipitation Friday through Monday.

 

A quasi-zonal flow on Friday and Saturday turns northwest Saturday

night and brings some cold Canadian air into the region by mid

week.

 

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Thurs. Sept 24,  2020

Posted 11-a.m.

Updates When Available

Barnes

New Positives  11

Total Positives 226

Active Cases 40

Recovered

 

Stutsman

New Positives  5

Total Positives  504

Active Cases 67

Recovered

 

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

BY THE NUMBERS

7,022 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

603,207 – Total tests completed since pandemic began

471 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

19,451 – Total positive individuals since pandemic began

7.09% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

3,482 – Total Active Cases

+180 Individuals from yesterday

281 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (186 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

15,757 – Total recovered since pandemic began

89 – Currently Hospitalized

+0 – Individuals from yesterday

8 – New Deaths*** (211 total deaths since the pandemic began)

            *The website currently shows 212 deaths and will be updated shortly.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Woman in her 70s from Benson County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 80s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 70s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 80s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Ward County with no underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 60s from Ward County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

• Barnes County – 11
• Benson County – 2
• Bottineau County – 12
• Burke County – 1
• Burleigh County – 118
• Cass County – 78
• Divide County – 1
• Eddy County – 8
• Emmons County – 12
• Grand Forks County – 29
• Grant County – 1
• Hettinger County – 1
• LaMoure County – 6
• Logan County – 4
• McHenry County – 1
• McKenzie County – 10
• McLean County – 1
• Mercer County – 9
• Morton County – 43
• Mountrail County – 4
• Nelson County – 2
• Pembina County – 7
• Ramsey County – 8
• Ransom County – 1
• Renville County – 5
• Richland County – 9
• Rolette County – 3
• Sargent County – 4
• Sheridan County – 1
• Sioux County – 1
• Stark County – 31
• Stutsman County – 5
• Towner County – 2
• Traill County – 5
• Walsh County – 5
• Ward County – 18
• Williams County – 12

 

* 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.

**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters).

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.
**** 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.

UPDATE

BISMARCK, N.D. – An amended State Health Officer order issued Wednesday related to quarantining of close contacts of positive COVID-19 cases was rescinded Thursday.

The Department of Health clarified that the intent of the order was to align with CDC guidelines, emphasize the urgent need for those exposed to positive individuals to avoid potentially spreading the disease to others, and encourage local officials to work together on the best strategies to combat COVID-19.

 

Interim State Health Officer Dr. Paul Mariani said, “This pandemic remains a threat. Nationally, 2.9% of reported COVID-19 cases have resulted in death. While that percentage is just over 1% in North Dakota thanks to strong coronavirus response efforts at the state and local levels, cases continue to rise and our state is on track for a record number of deaths of individuals with COVID-19 in September.  While this order is being rescinded, we continue to stress the importance of quarantining and isolation to bend the curve back in the right direction in North Dakota. Whenever possible, all close contacts of individuals infected with COVID-19 should avoid contact with others for 14 days past the last day they were in contact with the person who tested positive.”

The rescinded order had expanded an existing quarantine order for household contacts to apply to all close contacts, following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance. The North Dakota Department of Health has always recommended close contacts quarantine to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but previously the order referred only to household contacts.

As required by state law, both the original order and amended order referenced that failure to cooperate with quarantine was punishable by a Class B misdemeanor, though that provision hadn’t been applied since the original order was issued in April. The order continued to allow for essential workforce exemptions for close contacts.

Governor Doug Burgum says, “From the beginning, our approach to this pandemic has emphasized personal responsibility and a light touch of government, as evidenced by the fact that we’re one of the most open states, with schools and universities back in session, the economy open and the nation’s sixth-lowest unemployment rate.  Given the nature of this disease, it takes community collaboration to bend the curve, and in many counties right now as we reach record cases and positive rates, the curve is going the wrong direction. We need a light touch of government with more local leadership and collaboration, and we feel we can better support those efforts by working more closely with local public health and community leaders to identify mitigation strategies that will work and be supported in each community.”

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council Finance & Legal Committee Building, Planning & Zoning Committee

Civic Center & Promotion Committee Police & Fire Committee  and Public Works Committees met in joint session Thursday at City Hall.  All Council Members were present, Council Member Buchanan attended by phone.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

INFORMATIONAL: The public hearing and second readings of Ordinance No. 1537 and 1538, introduced by Mayor Heinrich, pertaining to the 2021 Budget, are scheduled at the October 5, 2020, 5:00 PM, City Council meeting. At Thursday’s meeting an amendment was introduced concerning adding employee compensation to the budget total.

Council Member Steele said the city has received additional dollars stemming from pandemic relief.

The committee recommends approving the amendment to allow for an increase in employee salaries across the board in the 2021 budget, amounting to an additional, $132,000.

INFORMATIONAL: The City Council Public Hearing for the 19-41 Paving Improvement District 19-41 special assessment project, is scheduled at the October 22, 2020, 3:00 PM, special city council meeting.

Considered was the request from IDK to amend City Code Sections 5.1 and 5.11.1, to add the definition of mason jar; to allow removal of beer, wine, and liquor from an on-sale license holder; to allow any on-sale license holder to fill, seal, and sell a mason jar with beer, wine, or liquor for consumption off-site without an additional license.

At a previous meeting, Mike Harris from IDK said 40 -50 mason jar sales are now being sold per day, and has supplemented sales income. He indicated properly factory  type seals are in place. Council Member Buchanan said he does not approve the request, with it “nibbling away,” at the city’s liquor ordinance. He questioned the sanitation enforcement of discarded mason jars, such as broken glass.  Mayor Heinrich said, if approved the action would allow a bar to open a bottle of beer, and pour it into a mason jar, to be consumed off premises, and if passed the action would allow mixed drinks to-go.

He added that the city is not likely to rescind the moratorium on liquor sales.

Mike Harris from IDK said he has on and off sale licenses, selling beer by the six pack only.

Mayor Heinrich said a motion needs to be positive, to be voted on.

A motion to approve the request died for lack of a second.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

Considered was the variance application from Common Wealth Development Cooperation to the requirements set forth in Article I Section 9.9 of Fire Limits, the former Eagles Club location.

Commonwealth Companies anticipates taking title to the Eagles property in October this year, and closing financing in April 2021, followed by construction, with completion now anticipated for the spring of 2022.

Eagle Flats will have 33 apartment units at the site of the vacant Eagles building on First Avenue South, in Downtown Jamestown.

Eagle Flats will provide ground level parking, and have 33 accessible apartment units over the three floors, with a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom units in the secured building.

City Building Inspector, Tom Blackmore recommended allowing for a variance, in the type of fire rated wood to be used, in researching the product.  Fire Chief Jim Reuther has no objections.

The committee recommends approval.

INFORMATIONAL: The proposed Ordinance No. 1540, introduced by Council Member Kamlitz, to amend and re-enact Section 4 – Establishment of Districts, and to enact Section 5.4.4, Uses Permitted- Planned Unit Development, all of Appendix C of the City Code will be discussed further at the October 12, 2020, 8:00 AM, Planning Commission meeting.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

Considered was  the proposed revised Civic Center rental rates.

Civic Center Manager, Pam Fosse said an increase in rental rates is to cover labor and other costs, currently operating at a loss.  She said the last rental rate increase was a few years ago. She said long term rental agreements would not be affected.   Mayor Heinrich said the proposed increase is steep, proposed at $1,500, saying  rental rate increases should be  implemented in steps.

The committee recommends approving the rate increase.

INFORMATIONAL:  A Frontier Village update was given by Jamestown Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund. He said last November the city had taken over the Village, right now managed by Jamestown Tourism.

Searle’s presentation included that the Village car traffic has gone down each of the past several years, with the evolution of Frontier Village needing to be addressed, pertaining to economics.  He said a more sustainable model needs to be in place.  He pointed out that the buildings are being  patched and repaired, with most of the 46 buildings needing major reconstruction, including roofs.

Phase One is this year looking at where the Frontier Village is now, including identifying artifacts.

Phase Two is taking the coming winter assessing this year’s information. He said the existing buildings need to be reassessed regarding their cost to maintain, versus their significance to the Village.

Phase Three is addressing a strategic development plan, and the future governing structure.

He said two buildings are identified for demolition due to being in bad shape, including the fire department building, allowing something new to be constructed in their place.  He added the General Store’s condition is beyond  cosmetic changes.  He asked the city to address the commitments outlined.

Mayor Heinrich said this past summer has seen a significant improvement to the buildings and grounds and pointed out Jamestown Parks and Recreation in assisting in work.

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

INFORMATIONAL: Fire department new ladder truck vehicle update was presented by Chief Reuther, who said, the arrival date is still up in the air.   He added the fire department continues with inspections and training.

INFORMATIONAL: Police department general update, was given by Chief Scott Edinger with training, COVID-19 protocols and precautions observed, and implemented.  He said a vacant position is about to be filled, and a promotion in the detective squad is upcoming, pending the addition of a police officer.  He said another police academy session is being discussed for next spring.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The committee recommends  approval of  a Change Order to Scherbenske Inc., for the 2020 Water Main Improvement District 20-61 (Approximately 11 Blocks).

The committee recommends a Change Order (Final Balancing Change Order) to Scherbenske Inc., for 2019 Water Main Improvement Project 19-61.

The committee recommends moving forward  with an engineering agreement for the rehabilitation and relocation of the University of Jamestown’s stormwater system by Taylor stadium.   Travis Dillman said the contract under consideration includes the scope of the project to be discussed in upcoming meetings with UJ President, Dr. Polly Peterson.

Discussed was the true cost of city water and recommended improvements. Darrell Hournbuckle of Interstate Engineering said water meters are over 50 years old and do not accurately reflect water usage.  He explained the fee structure, saying the cost of production is being met with the current fee structure. Water Department Superintendent, Joe Rowell said about 50 to 100 meters are replaced annually, that are no longer functioning.  The committee recommends further action and moving forward on the issue.

INFORMATIONAL: The Water Department meter readers begin inside visual reads again October 15, 2020. Contact the Water Superintendent with concerns and questions.

INFORMATIONAL: City Engineer project updates.   Travis Dillman says the NDDOT is taking bids on replacing the concrete barrier on the bridge next to the river, with the replacement project to be completed in October this year.

He added that removing and then installing pavement markings on First Avenue for the Road Diet project will be getting started next week, including for pedestrians.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.

Bismarck  (NDDA)  The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA), with support from the North Dakota Department of Human Services and the Indian Affairs Commission, awarded 80 grants totaling $2 million to help charitable food organizations and small grocers make necessary investments in tools to extend the shelf life of perishable foods.

The state Emergency Commission approved the funding from the coronavirus relief bill in August.

Ag Commissioner, Doug Goehring says, “The grants will help these organizations extend the shelf life of perishable foods in order to provide their clients with continued, uninterrupted access to foods such as fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products.  By investing in tools such as refrigeration units, freezer units, coolers, vacuum packers and dehydrators, these organizations will be able to serve current clients with greater efficiency and help even more people.”

Department of Human Services Executive Director Chris Jones, adds, “North Dakota’s charitable feeding network partners and senior nutrition program providers deliver vital nutritious food to thousands of vulnerable individuals, and these grants help support that mission and prevent hunger during this challenging time.”

Charitable food organizations include any organization that provides food and/or services, including local food pantries, soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, food distribution centers and hubs, churches, donation centers and more. Small grocers include any North Dakota grocer located in a community of 750 or less.

Some area organizations that will receive funding include:

Ruebs Inc/Ashley Super Valu, Ashley – $12,164
Carrington’s Daily Bread, Carrington – $470
Dickey County Senior Citizens – Ellendale Senior Center, Ellendale – $3,100
Tracy’s Market – Fessenden, Fessenden – $115,000
The Forbes Store/ Olson’s Mercantile, LLC, Forbes – $10,000
Central Dakota Food Pantry, Harvey – $2,500
James River Senior Center and Public Transit, Jamestown – $30,000
Kramlich-Deede Meats, Medina – $144,275
Del’s Super Market Inc, Napoleon – $58,482.96
T & V Grocery, Pettibone – $16,000
Kidder Emmons Senior Services, Steele – $900
Kidder Emmons Senior Services, Steele – $4,000
South Central Adult Services Inc., Valley City – $20,500
Wimbledon Community Grocery (WCG), Wimbledon – $27,850

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — A Minot man has been found guilty of assaulting a Ward County sheriff’s deputy while resisting arrest during a traffic stop. A jury handed down the verdict Wednesday, finding Joshua Lochthowe guilty of felony assault. He was acquitted of driving while intoxicated. According to court documents, the 27-year-old Lochthowe was stopped by Deputy Joseph Jackson last December, assaulted the officer while resisting arrest, then fled in his pickup truck. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 4 before Judge Gary Lee.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The owners of a defunct Bismarck spa have been ordered to pay nearly $380,000 for selling gift cards even as they made plans to close the business in 2017. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem filed a civil lawsuit against Jill Becker and Brent Voorhees, owners of Spa D’Athena, accusing them of selling the worthless gift cards and using the money to pay expenses at a separate business owned by Voorhees and to make Becker’s child support payments. While the lawsuit was pending in Burleigh County, the two moved to Nevada and filed for bankruptcy. Officials said it’s unlikely customers will be able to recover the money they spent on the gift certificates.

In world national news…

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities are pleading for calm while activists are vowing to fight on in Kentucky’s largest city after a gunman wounded two police officers during anguished protests over the decision not to charge officers for killing Breonna Taylor. A new round of demonstrations in U.S. cities was set off by outrage over a grand jury’s failure to bring homicide charges against the officers who burst into the Black woman’s apartment six months ago. The state attorney general said the investigation showed officers were acting in self-defense when they responded to gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer insisted Thursday that violence won’t cure his city’s pain.

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany says she’s not aware of any conversation between President Donald Trump and the family of Breonna Taylor but that their hearts go out to her family. Asked what the president’s message is to Taylor’s family, McEnany said what happened is “a horrible tragedy” and that their hearts are also with the two police officers who were shot Wednesday night during protests in Louisville. Cities around the country saw protesters take to the streets following a Kentucky grand jury’s decision to not indict officers in Taylor’s fatal shooting.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was booed as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump and first lady Melania Trump — both wearing masks — went to the court Thursday and stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin. Ginsburg’s death has sparked a controversy over the balance of the court just weeks before the November presidential election. Trump is expected to name a replacement on Saturday. Moments after Trump arrived at the court, booing could be heard from spectators who then chanted “Vote him out.”

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Since Joe Biden ran away with the Democratic presidential nomination in March, leading progressives have accepted him — sometimes grudgingly — as their party’s leader. But, in the final weeks of the campaign, the Supreme Court vacancy is threatening to inflame old divides. Some leading activists on the left are pressing Biden to endorse expanding the number of justices should he win the White House and Democrats take control of the Senate. But Biden ran a relatively centrist primary campaign, and he hasn’t embraced those calls, worried they may intensify the nation’s partisan split.

 

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Officials from six states and the District of Columbia have asked a federal judge to halt what they say are slowdowns at the U.S. Postal Service that threaten the upcoming presidential election. They argued Thursday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia that on-time delivery dropped sharply in July and has not fully rebounded as the nation battles a pandemic and prepares for an election that could hinge on mail-in ballots. Judges in Washington state and New York issued emergency orders this month in similar cases. The states involved in Thursday’s hearing are Pennsylvania, California, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Thursday that the government’s top priorities in any new economic relief package should be to provide affordable loans to small businesses and further support for millions of Americans who remain unemployed. With the prospects for any new federal aid package appearing dim, members of the Senate Banking Committee pressed both officials to list improvements that could be quickly made in the nearly $3 trillion in support that Congress has passed to fight the pandemic-induced recession that’s left nearly 11 million people still jobless.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Many American workers applying for unemployment benefits after being thrown out of a job by the coronavirus face a new complication: States’ efforts to prevent fraud have delayed or disrupted their payments. California has said it will stop processing new applications for two weeks as it seeks to reduce backlogs and stop phony claims. Pennsylvania has found that up to 10,000 inmates are improperly receiving aid.