Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 15

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 10 to 15. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Decreasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of snow in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area.

Highs in the mid 30s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows around 15. Northwest

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s. Southwest winds

5 to 10 mph shifting to the south 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

.FRIDAY…Decreasing clouds. Highs in the lower 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 5 to 10 above.

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

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

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

North Dakota health officials are reporting 13 additional deaths due to complications from COVID-19 and 340 new positive cases. The North Dakota Health Department’s report Tuesday comes a day after the state received its first doses of a coronavirus vaccine and quickly set about giving it to hospital workers on the front lines of the fight against the disease. The deaths confirmed Tuesday bring the statewide virus death toll to 1,170 since the pandemic began. The state’s death count ranks 41st in the country but is the fifth highest per capita at 152 deaths per 100,000 people.

NDDoH

ND Covid Stats

Tues. Dec. 15, 2020

11:00-a.m.

 

Barnes County

New Positives:  1

Total Positives: 1179

Active:  41

Recovered: 1116

 

Stutsman County

ONE NEW DEATH

Woman in her 80s

TOTAL DEATHS 67

New Positives: 15

Total Positives:  2898

Active: 126

Recovered: 2705

 

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

 

A couple of things to note:

• The NDDoH is following the guidance from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) – the independent professional body that determines case definitions for the country. CSTE guidance and the CDC indicate that someone who has a positive antigen test for COVID-19 should be considered a probable case. Probable cases receive the same level of case investigation and follow-up as cases confirmed using a PCR test.
• PCR tests and antigen tests are displayed separately on the first page of the dashboard and are broken out into daily and cumulative totals on the second page. For the rest of the graphs and maps, totals include both PCR tests and antigen tests combined.
• Antigen tests are not taken into account in the percent positivity. Some testing facilities are not reporting all antigen testing. As a result, we do not know the total number of negatives and total tests completed to be able to calculate a positivity rate.
• Positive antigen tests have been added to the totals. The past positive antigen tests and 12 deaths reported yesterday are reflected on the dashboard on the actual day they were resulted. So, the daily new positives reported today are the PCR tests and antigen tests reported from yesterday, as is usually done.

BY THE NUMBERS

3,675 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

1,237,350 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

340 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

255 – PCR Tests | 85 antigen tests
88,393 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

7.53% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

3,230 – Total Active Cases

-362 Individuals from Yesterday

677 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (514 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

83,995 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

277 – Currently Hospitalized

+0 – Individuals from yesterday

 

13 – New Deaths*** (1,170 total deaths since the pandemic began)

 

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID

• Man in his 90s from Burleigh County.
• Man in his 70s from Burleigh County.
• Woman in her 60s from Cass County.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County.
• Woman in her 80s from Cass County.
• Man in his 60s from Cass County.
• Man in his 70s from Grand Forks County.
• Woman in her 90s from Morton County.
• Woman in her 70s from Renville County.
• Woman in her 80s from Stutsman County.
• Man in his 90s from Walsh County.
• Man in his 70s from Walsh County.
• Woman in her 70s from Ward County.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TUESDAY

Barnes County – 1

• Benson County – 4
• Billings County – 1
• Bottineau County – 2
• Burke County – 1
• Burleigh County – 45
• Cass County – 80
• Dickey County – 2
• Divide County – 3
• Emmons County – 1
• Foster County – 1
• Grand Forks County – 23
• Grant County – 1
• Griggs County – 1
• Hettinger County – 2
• LaMoure County – 2
• McHenry County – 1
• McIntosh County – 5
• McKenzie County – 5
• McLean County – 4
• Mercer County – 4
• Morton County – 14
• Mountrail County – 8
• Oliver County – 1
• Pembina County – 2
• Ramsey County – 14
• Ransom County – 5
• Richland County – 18
• Rolette County – 17
• Sargent County – 4
• Sioux County – 7
• Slope County – 1
• Stark County – 8
• Stutsman County – 15
• Traill County – 5
• Walsh County – 10
• Ward County – 10
• Wells County – 2
• Williams County – 10

 

* Note that this includes PCR tests and does not include individuals from out of state.

**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters). Antigen tests (positive or negative) are not included in the calculation.

*** Number of individuals who tested positive with a PCR or antigen test and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19. Please remember that deaths are reported as they’re reported to us by the facility or through the official death record (up to 10-day delay).

 

**** The actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.

*****Daily positive numbers include people who tested with a PCR or antigen test. 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.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Central Valley Health Briefing was shown  live on CSi 10 & 67, Tuesday Dec 15 at 2pm.   It will also stream to Facebook.com/TheReplayChannel.

On hand were  representatives from Central Valley Health District, Sanford Health, and long-term care facilities, along with JRMC.  It was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays

From Central Valley Health, Unit Administrator, Robin Iszler said, the Pfizer  vaccines  are anticipated to arrive in Jamestown, with vaccinations to start on Monday December 21, 2020, with an initial 1,000 doses, with enrolled vaccine providers to be vaccinated first, followed by Healthcare Workers.

The vaccinations  for the public will be given at locations to be announced, in larger building locations.

 

The Moderna vaccine will arrive the week after.  She said the two vaccines are not interchangeable and a booster dose is need within a few weeks, at different time intervals.

Those not recommended to receive the vaccines are those having had a severe reaction to other types of vaccines.  The Pfizer vaccine can be administered to those 16 and older.  Robin said pregnant and nursing women will be able to receive the vaccine.  Contact CVHD with any questions.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s President Mike Delfs said the hospital staff is recommended to receive the vaccine, and will start the vaccinations next week.  He said the Moderna Vaccine has less severe side affects than does the Pfizer vaccine, however both area safe based on testing.

He said a person vaccinated needs to still wear a face mask, while the pandemic continues.

He concluded by saying JRMC is safe for patients, with the germ zapping robots, along with air exchangers at work.  So far those infected in the hospital have thus far not spread the virus to others in the hospital building.

Sanford Health’s  Jon Lillijord said, says, the 5^th Avenue Clinic continues to do asymptomatic testing.

Those with COVID 19 symptoms should call the downtown clinic in advance to be set aside in a separate waiting area.  He said the dialysis unit and other Sanford healthcare provide will receive the vaccine on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

 

Long-term care, update:

From Ava Marie Nursing Home, Toni said the nursing home residents and staff will be vaccinated at the same time, starting the week on December 28, 2020.  In the meantime education about the vaccines has been given to the staff. PPE masking will continue after the vaccines are given.  Weekly COVID-19 testing is continuing.

From Edgewood, Jason said, Thrifty White will work with the residents and staff will work with the them in giving the vaccines.  COVID-19 testing and antigen testing continues for the staff, along with residents.

55 air exchange units are being installed in the basic care apartments.

From Eventide, Administrator Doug Pinchot said the vaccine will be administered the week of December 28, at the nursing home with Thrifty White Drug.

Robin concluded by saying CVHD is reaching out to Logan County in contact with the Gackle Care Center, with ambulance personnel being vaccinated in both Counties.

She added another News Briefing is planned next week, with vaccine updates.

Valley City (CCHD)  The COVID-19 testing site in Valley City is now every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1pm to 2pm  at the VCSU Fieldhouse, “Bubble.”

Theresa Will says Quick Test being offered is accurate.

Face masks are required waiting in line at the test site. Those who need assistance should use the east entrance, others can use the west door. Register online at testreg.nd.gov. No need to registered more than one time.

She also says, the first Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in Barnes County will be available the week of December 21, 2020, to be administered first to healthcare workers.

In January of early February the vaccine is anticipated to be available to the general public.

She says a few individuals will be  susceptible to an allergic reaction to the COVID-10 vaccines.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session on Tuesday evening virtually.

All Members were present.

The City Commission Considered Emergency Orders 2020-02.4 and 2020-05.3 re extension of City COVID Plan, with respect to face coverings, and  business operations, and large events.

The City Commission approved the extension, to Friday January 8, 2021, in line with the state health department.

Emergency-Order-2020-05.3-Orange-plan-update-signed

Emergency-Order-2020-02.4-alcohol-sales-signed

City Attorney Carl Martineck says event planners and businesses must submit an application to City Hall prior to holding any event in City limits, regardless of size or type of event, to ensure compliance or to determine whether an exemption exists.

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

Approved 2021 Permit to Sell L.P Gas for

CHS Inc. dba Dakota Plains Ag

Petro Serve USA #071

Approved a 2021 Tree Trimming and Removal License for Ross’ Tree Service.

 

Public Comments  No one spoke

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved 2021 Application to Operate Mobile Home Park for:

 

Rockwater LLC

 

Richard Plecity Trailer Court  City  Administrator Crawford said after viewing the sites, she said she recommends approval.

 

Viking Drive Estates, application to Operate a Mobile Home Park was reviewed and the city will notify the operators for violations.  Crawford and City Attorney Martineck will meet and make a recommendation at the next City Commission meeting.

 

Approved the Public Works Capital and Operating budgets for FY21.  Public Works Manager Jacobson noted budget numbers, in line items, with some going up, with others going down. He said the FY 21 Public Works Capital Budget was down by $7,000 over the previous year, while there is no increase in the Operating Budget.  Commissioners approved the budget.

 

 

City Commissioners reviewed and awarded bids for 2021 Vehicle Purchase.  Police Chief Hatcher said, three bids were received from Valley City Dealers to replace the 2007 Ford 500.  The lowest bid from Miller Motors was $26,329 for a Dodge Durango, which was approved by the City Commission, having been budget for.

 

Reviewed was  Engineering Committee Recommendations. City Commission Gulmon said, the City met with KLJ and Moore and reviewed each proposal including costs.  KLJ-Moore Engineering was recommended as the City Engineer, from the committee. Midwest Inspection Service will continue with its services.

The maximum charge is $87,000 which will be regularly be reviewed during the three year period, within budget recommendations.

The scope of the responsibilities was outlined.

 

The City Commissioners, voted  3-2   to  approve with Commissioners Bishop and Erickson voting in opposition, feeling that the action is no change from the present engineering responsibilities, and possible conflicts of interest.  Mayor Carlsrud said the recommendation has been researched, and is favor of approving the recommendation.

 

Approved was the NDDOT Urban Roads Project Submittal List for Fiscal Year 2022-2025, as outlined by KLJ, including a change in dates for some projects, on the list, including drainage and mill and overlay projects, along with water main replacements, and turning lanes at the Petro Serve USA location.

The list was recommended for approval by KLJ

Discussed  was the City Administrator’s Review.  Mayor Carlsrud said the review was for her six months in the position, and he recommends moving forward with her agreement.

City Commissioners unanimously approved moving forward with the agreement.

 

The Commissioners voted unanimously to ratified the extension of the Emergency Order.

Commissioners approved  the quote for light fixtures for the 2020 6^th Street Reconstruction Project.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Included changes in the drop off of metal items, now across from the landfill.

CITY UPDATES  & COMMISSION Reports

City Auditor Avis Richter pointed out end of year items and the new year items to review with finances.

Gary Jacobson said, Inventory counts will be taken in the Public Works Department.

Police Chief Hatcher said Santa Cops & Kids continues with deliveries planned for next week.

Commissioners Magnuson and Gulmon suggested forming a committee to assist local businesses that may be struggling over the past few months of the pandemic.

Mayor Carlsrud said, the Barnes County COVID-19 positive numbers have decreased, saying masking up and other safe measures have been working to help mitigate the spread of the virus.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68 followed by replays.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Sheriff Office reports, the Stutsman Alert for a missing man, issued Tuesday morning has been cancelled. Arvid Ellingson has been located safely at a farmstead in Stutsman County. Sheriff Kaiser thanks everyone for their assistance.

Earlier Tuesday.

Jamestown  (CSi)   This is a Stutsman  alert emergency missing person notification for the Stutsman County sheriff department.

Law enforcement is trying to locate an 87 years old white male, Arvid Ellingson   5 feet, 11 inch tall 200 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes,.

last seen in southwest Stutsman County.  He was driving 2012 grey Toyota tundra MD PLATE 599AHN

If you know the whereabout of if this individual, please contact the Stuntman County Sheriff’s Office, at 701 252 1000.

Jamestown  (JPD)  The Jamestown Police Department is warning Jamestown Residents of  a new convicted sex offender, living in Jamestown.

Cruz Timothy Muscha currently lives at 2605 Circle Drive, ND State Hospital, Jamestown, ND 58401.

He presently has no vehicle.

Muscha is a 34 year old while male five feet nine inches tall, weighing 180 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

He has been assigned a high risk assessment by the North Dakota risk level committee of the ND Attorney General’s Office.

Offense: Gross Sexual Imposition.  One incident involved fondling a 23 year old female. He also had sexual contact with a 14 year old female on numerous occasions.

Conviction Date: January, 2007 in Barnes County, ND  District Court.

Disposition:  Five years, two years suspended on each count, 303 days credit.

Offense:  Gross Sexual Imposition when he was 16 years of age involving sexual contact with a 13 year old boy on multiple occasions, during the summer of 2003.

Conviction Date: January 2007 in Barnes County, ND District Court.

Disposition: 10 years, five years suspended, 303 days credit, five years supervised probation.

Muscha is currently on GPS Monitoring.

Muscha is currently not wanted by police and has served the sentence imposed by the court.

This notification is meant for public safety and not to increase fear in the community, nor should this information be used to threaten, assault, or intimidate the offender.

Any attempts to harass, intimidate or threaten these offenders, their families, landlords, or employers will be turned over for prosecution.

Printed handouts of the demographics of Muscha, are available at the Jamestown Police Department.

More information on registered sex offenders is available at the North Dakota Attorney General’s web site: www.sexoffender.nd.gov

 

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A Mandan man accused of fatally striking a pedestrian with his vehicle last month has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges. Nineteen-year-old TC Carry Moccasin appeared in South Central District Court Monday afternoon and entered the pleas to criminal vehicular homicide and five other charges. Carry Moccasin is accused of striking and killing 42-year-old Mark Streeper of Bismarck. Police say the man was standing next to his parked car on Main Street in Mandan on the morning of Nov. 17 when he was struck.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has turned down a Fargo man’s request to be released from prison because of concerns about COVID-19. Fifty-four-year-old Robert Scheiring was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child pornography. KVRR-TV reports that Scheiring believes he is at high risk for exposure to the virus because of his age and high blood pressure. Scheiring also says he wants to take care of his elderly father. Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ralph Erickson says that while Scheiring’s blood pressure is considered high, it appears to be well controlled, and his weight is not considered obese.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal judge has thrown out the lawsuit of an Arizona man who claimed North Dakota law enforcement officers injured him and violated his civil rights during the Dakota Access pipeline protests. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that 24-year-old Marcus Mitchell placed himself where he knew less-than-lethal weapons were being used and failed to show that law enforcement officers treated him any differently than anyone else at the protests. Mitchell claimed he was subjected to “excessive violence” by officers who fired beanbag rounds in January 2017 at unarmed protesters, including himself. He sought unspecified money damages.

 

PALISADE, Minn. (AP) — More than 4,000 workers are expected in northern Minnesota over the next couple weeks to build the contentious Line 3 oil pipeline replacement. Opponents of the pipeline have escalated their efforts to block construction, while local law enforcement is focused on keeping the peace. Construction has ramped up quickly on Line 3 since Enbridge Energy received its final state and federal permits late last month. So too have the protests of activists determined to stop work on the pipeline, at least until legal challenges can be heard in court.

In world and national news..

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is describing Monday’s Electoral College vote confirming Joe Biden as the nation’s next president as just “one step in the constitutional process.” Her assessment is the latest example of White House officials declining to accept Biden’s victory. McEnany was asked Tuesday by reporters whether President Donald Trump now considers Biden to be the president-elect and whether he plans to invite him to the White House. She declined to provide such an acknowledgement. Instead she said, “the president is still involved in ongoing litigation related to the election. Yesterday’s vote was one step in the constitutional process, so I will leave that to him and refer you to the campaign for more on that litigation.”

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to pick former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg to head the Transportation Department. That’s according to three people familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday to avoid preempting the president-elect’s announcement. The 38-year-old Buttigieg was one of Biden’s rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. He was a breakout star of the primaries, sharing victory in the nation’s first caucus with Bernie Sanders. He suspended his campaign before Super Tuesday and endorsed Biden. The Transportation Department helps oversee the nation’s highway system, planes, trains and mass transit and is poised to play a key role early in the incoming administration.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The pace is intensifying as Washington negotiators try to reach agreement on COVID-19 relief. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has summoned other top congressional leaders for a potentially critical meeting on Tuesday. Pelosi spoke with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for more than an hour on Tuesday, her office tweeted, and Mnuchin will join the meeting by phone. The uptick in activity could be a sign that an agreement is near, though COVID-19 relief talks have been notoriously difficult. Pelosi hasn’t met with Sen. Mitch McConnell in months. The Kentucky Republican is pressuring Democrats to drop a $160 billion aid package for states and local governments struggling to balance budgets because of the pandemic.

 

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is contracted to receive up to 168,000 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine before the end of December, pending approval by Canada’s health regulator. Trudeau says deliveries could begin within 48 hours of regulatory approval and officials said they expect to approve use of the second vaccine soon. Canadians began receiving vaccine shots developed by Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday. Trudeau says Canada expects to receive about 200,000 doses from Pfizer next week. Canada received an initial batch of 30,000 this week.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take their oaths of office outside the U.S. Capital building, but it probably won’t look like other inaugurations. That’s because inauguration planners want to craft an event that captures the traditional grandeur of the historic ceremony but also complies with COVID-19 protocols. Biden’s team is urging supporters not to come to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the inauguration. His team released some broad details of the Jan. 20 event on Tuesday. They’re proceeding with their plans without any assurances that outgoing President Donald Trump will participate.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A home test for COVID-19 will soon be on U.S. store shelves. The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday cleared the first kit that consumers can buy without a prescription to test themselves entirely at home. Regulators granted use for a similar home test last month, but it requires a doctor’s prescription. The test kit from an Australian company allows users to swab themselves and get the results at home in about 20 minutes. The test connects to a digital app to help users interpret the results. The company says it will have 3 million tests available next month.