Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 21

CSi Weather…

…WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT TUESDAY OVERNIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON…

Stutsman, LaMoure and Dickey counties. Eastern North Dakota including Barnes County,  into portions of the northwest quarter of Minnesota.

* WHAT…Snow and strong winds are expected. .Blizzard conditions possible. Total snow accumulations of around one inch possible in the Jamestown area 1-3 inches in the Valley City area . Winds could gust as high as 60 mph.Total snow accumulations of 1 to 4 inches are possible and winds could gust as high as 50 mph. Where the wind and snow overlap,
significant reductions in visibility could develop.

* WHERE…Stutsman, La Moure and Dickey counties. Eastern North Dakota including Barnes County, into portions of the northwest quarter of Minnesota.

* WHEN…From late Tuesday night through Wednesday afternoon.

* IMPACTS…Areas of falling and blowing snow could significantly
reduce the visibility. The cold wind chills as low as 15 below
to 30 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as
little as 30 minutes.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…This event will occur during the Wednesday
morning rush, and it also falls during a busy holiday travel
period.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

A winter system will impact the region late Tuesday and
Wednesday.

Light snow will be possible during the day, Tuesday mainly north
of Highway 2. Snow is then expected to spread across much of
western and central North Dakota Tuesday evening through Tuesday
night. Accumulations are expected to range from around one half
inch in southwest North Dakota to near 3 inches from the Turtle
Mountains south through the James River Valley.

In addition to the falling snow, strong northwest winds will
increase across western and central North Dakota Tuesday evening
and overnight, with gusts as high as 50 mph. The combination of
freshly accumulated snow and strong winds may create areas of
blowing snow Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon,
especially along and east of Highway 83. Winds will gradually
diminish from northwest to southeast Wednesday afternoon.

Very cold wind chills are also expected across parts of northern
North Dakota Wednesday morning, and again Wednesday night through
Thursday morning. Values as low as 30 below zero are possible.

If you have travel plans Tuesday and Wednesday, be sure to stay
tuned to the latest forecast information from the National Weather
Service. Be prepared for the possibility of hazardous travel
conditions, including slippery roads and significantly reduced
visibility.

Forecast…

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s. South winds 5 to

10 mph.

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

afternoon in the Valley City area. Highs in the lower 40s. South winds

10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

Patchy blowing and drifting snow after midnight. Windy, colder.

Lows 5 to 10 above. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph increasing to

north 25 to 35 mph after midnight.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow in the

morning, then mostly sunny in the afternoon. Areas of blowing and

drifting snow through the day. Windy. Much colder. Highs 10 to

15. Northwest winds 30 to 35 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Areas of blowing and drifting

snow in the evening. Lows around 5 below.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs 10 to 15.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above.

.CHRISTMAS DAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows around 10.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 20s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 10.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 20s.

 

Jamestown  (NDHP)  The North Dakota Highway Patrol has identified the Jamestown Man who died in a pickup trailer crash Sunday afternoon about 1:23-p.m., on I-94 west of Medina as 61 year old Harlan Vining.

The Chevrolet Silverado was traveling west bound on Interstate 94 near mile marker 231. The Chevrolet partially entered the median of Interstate 94 as the trailer began to fishtail. Vining overcorrected to the right and entered the North ditch of Interstate 94. The Chevrolet entered the North ditch traveling sideways causing it to trip and overturn. Vining was ejected from the Chevrolet. Vining was transported by Medina Ambulance to Jamestown Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased due to his injuries sustained in the crash. The crash is under investigation by the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

 

ND Covid Stats

Mon Dec. 21, 2020

Barnes County

New Positives:  1

Total Positives: 1210

Active:  38

Recovered:  1149

 

Stutsman County

Antigen tests (BinaxNOW, etc.) were added to the website beginning Dec. 9.

New Positives:  9

Total Positives:  2969

Active:  112

Recovered: 2787

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

 

BY THE NUMBERS

1,619 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

1,269,206 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

78 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

70 – PCR Tests | 8 antigen tests
90,121 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

4.84% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

2,795 – Total Active Cases

-140 Individuals from Yesterday

220 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (216 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

86,233 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

158 – Currently Hospitalized

+2 – Individuals from yesterday

 

2 – New Deaths*** (1,233 total deaths since the pandemic began)

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Woman in her 70s from Burleigh County.
• Man in his 70s from Ward County.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED MONDAY

• Barnes County – 1
• Benson County – 1
• Burleigh County – 19
• Cass County – 16
• Dickey County – 2
• Dunn County – 1
• Foster County – 1
• Grand Forks County – 4
• LaMoure County – 1
• McHenry County – 1
• McIntosh County – 2
• McKenzie County – 1
• McLean County – 2
• Morton County – 5
• Oliver County – 1
• Rolette County – 1
• Stark County – 2
• Stutsman County – 9
• Traill County – 1
• Walsh County – 2
• Ward County – 5

 

* 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.

Case investigators will again be reaching out to close contacts of positive cases to ask them to quarantine and seek testing for the virus.

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.

Valley City (CCHD)  City County Health District in Valley City has announced that the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Valley City.

<Doctors and front-line health care workers in Valley City celebrate the arrival of the new COVID-19 vaccine.

Statement from Theresa Will, City County Health District (CCHD) director and the lead for the pandemic command center in Valley City:

“It’s an historic moment…the COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Valley City. The first shipment of vaccine will be given to front-line health care workers over the next 2 weeks. This is a very special day—a day we’ve been waiting for.”

The first vaccine will be available for tier one staff, those who are prioritized because of elevated risk of viral exposure and nursing home residents who suffer higher rates of severe COVID-19. This is why the Sheyenne Care Center will be providing vaccinations for both its employees and staff.

Other healthcare sites receiving the vaccine this week include CHI Mercy Health, CCHD, and Sanford Health. CCHD will provide the vaccinations for Open Door, Legacy, and Emergency Responders (e.g. the ambulance team, the sheriff, police and dispatch). Thrifty White Drug Store is involved via a government contract and will provide vaccinations for Maryvale and Bridgeview.

All the providers at Essentia Clinic in Valley City received the vaccine last week. Dr. Tanya Diegel of Essentia says,  “I am definitely encouraging my patients to take the vaccine. The availability of this safe and effective vaccine is crucial in our fight against this virus. “

Dr. Misty Anderson of Sanford Health, says, “It’s important that we reach herd immunity. She continues, “herd immunity means that 70-75% of the population receive the vaccine, that’s the only way we’ll be able to bring this virus under control. I, too, will be encouraging my patients to take the vaccine.”

The COVID-19 vaccine from two companies has been approved by the FDA. Both vaccines require two shots with the Pfizer vaccine to be given 21 days apart and the Moderna vaccine given 28 days apart.

The statement adds,  “Our community and state has certainly been touched by COVID-19, with many people falling ill,
some dying. And nationwide over 310,000 people have unnecessarily died from this disease. Medical people across the world are rejoicing in the hope that this vaccine will bring.”

Bismarck  (CSi) – Gov. Doug Burgum Monday signed an amended executive order paving the way for restaurants and bars to resume normal hours of operation as active cases and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have decreased in North Dakota.

Bars, restaurants and other food service establishments have been closed to in-person service between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. since Nov. 16, one of several mitigation measures announced Nov. 13 to slow the spread of COVID-19 as active cases and hospitalizations were peaking. Take-out, curbside and delivery services were allowed to continue during those hours.

Under Monday’s amended executive order, bars, restaurants and other food service may resume normal operating hours at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, consistent with local and state requirements. These establishments remain limited to 50 percent of their licensed seated capacity, not to exceed 150 patrons, until 8 a.m. Jan. 8 to limit opportunities for virus transmission. Seating arrangements and tables must allow for at least 6 feet of physical distance between individual parties; dance areas must be closed; service must be provided to seated patrons only; and masks must be worn by owners, managers and employees at all times, and by patrons except when eating or drinking.

Burgum says, “These businesses are an important part of our economy, and we’re deeply grateful for their efforts and sacrifices to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and reduce actives cases and hospitalizations.  With the great efforts and personal responsibility of North Dakotans, the combination of the other mitigation measures we still have in place, and the promise and expanding deployment of vaccines, rapid tests and therapeutics, we can allow restaurants and bars to resume normal operating hours and still continue to protect the vulnerable, preserve hospital capacity and keep students in the classroom.”

A State Health Officer order requiring face coverings to be worn in indoor businesses and indoor public settings as well as outdoor public settings where physical distancing isn’t possible, remains in effect until 12:01 a.m. Jan. 18. Banquet, ballroom and event venues also remain limited to 25 percent of their maximum occupancy, not to exceed the ND Smart Restart capacity limits, until 8 a.m. Jan. 8.

Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in North Dakota have decreased to 158 from a peak of 341 on Nov. 11, while active cases have decreased to 2,655 since peaking at 10,293 on Nov. 13, according to the Department of Health. The state’s 14-day rolling average positivity rate also has decreased from 15.7 percent to 6.2 percent since Nov. 17.

While hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have decreased by more than half from their peak, some hospitals continue to report increased usage of intensive care unit (ICU) beds due to higher non-COVID cases. To avoid another surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the governor urges residents to physically distance, wear masks, wash hands, limit holiday gatherings and take advantage of testing opportunities. Visit www.health.nd.gov/testnd for more information on testing times and locations.

Burgum says, “The next 10 days over the holidays are a period of high risk for transmission, and it’s up to all North Dakotans to ensure we continue trending in the right direction.”

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

 

Jamestown (CSi) A Jamestown woman partnered with Operation Gratitude when she surprised employees at frontline businesses and organizations with a delivery of a total of 800 gift baskets.

An employee at the James River Correctional Center, and frontline worker, Tia Nordberg who is relatively new to Jamestown decided not being from North Dakota it gave her the opportunity and time to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She partnered with Operation Gratitude, a nationwide nonprofit, to assemble and then deliver the gift bags. The 800 baskets went to employees with the fire department, law enforcement, and the prison.

350 baskets going to Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

Valley City (Chamber)  12-21-20 Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud has issued a new statement to the community.

Greetings Folks,

For a number of religious Faiths this is a special time of the year. Whatever your celebration is, remember to include Faith, Hope, Love and Gratitude.

North Dakota and Barnes County continue making small improvements on the COVID numbers. Thank you for your efforts.

Family gatherings have been spreaders. Holidays bring stronger urges to gather with family because they are traditional. Please pause and use your best judgment. With the vaccine just around the corner and continued masking etc. progress will continue. The light at the end of the tunnel is a little brighter so “keep on keeping on”.

That we are a Municipal Power Community, our Electrical Department is always watching for opportunities to reduce peak load growth as a cost saving measure for us. Recently our Electrical Department partnered with the Airport Authority on a lighting project producing the aforementioned savings.  Through MRES and Bright Energy Solutions there may be something for you. https://www.mrenergy.com/services/energy-efficiency

Nice: Thank you to our Fire Fighters who helped assemble Christmas Food Boxes last week.

* PLEASE, recycle cardboard boxes etc. Thank you.

“May the simple joys of this time of year bring peace to your heart and fill your home with cheer.”   (Leanin’ Tree)                                                  

Blessings, Pray, Be Safe and Be Kind,

Dave

Dave Carlsrud

HILL CITY, Minn. (AP) — A contractor working on the Enbridge Energy Line 3 pipeline project has died in a fatal accident. Enbridge Energy spokeswoman Juli Kellner says the accident happened Friday at a construction yard in Hill City. Kellner said work in the area was stopped on Friday, but resumed Saturday. Few other details were released and Kellner said no more information would be shared while the investigation continues.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A plan that designates where oil wells can be built within the Little Missouri National Grassland is frustrating conservationists, who say it allows wells near roads in certain pristine areas. The plan by the U.S. Forest Service was released earlier this month. It offers protections for sage grouse, rare plants and bighorn sheep. Grasslands supervisor Bennie South says the plan recognizes the changes in oil and gas development in North Dakota. But conservationists say they were surprised by a provision in the plan that allows for oil well pads within a quarter-mile of existing roads in areas where new roads generally cannot be built.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Four Midwestern universities have formed a space-oriented academic and research alliance aimed at luring the U.S. Space Command headquarters to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. The Omaha World-Herald reports that University of Nebraska President Ted Carter says the partnership with the University of North Dakota, Kansas State University and Purdue would develop new degree programs and research initiatives. Offutt is among the six finalists to become the headquarters. Other finalists are Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, Redstone Army Airfield in Alabama and the former Kelly Air Force Base in Texas.

In sports…

YANKTON, S.D.  (UJ)  — The University of Jamestown women’s basketball team got back in the win column with a 65-44 victory over Mount Marty (S.D.) University Monday afternoon in Great Plains Athletic Conference action.

Hannah DeMars (SO/Grand Rapids, MN) posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for the Jimmies.

UJ improves to 7-4 overall and 5-4 in the GPAC. Mount Marty falls to 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the GPAC.

Jamestown opened the game with an 11-4 lead and never trailed, leading 15-8 after one.

Mount Marty closed the gap to six points with 6:12 left in the half only to have the Jimmies go on a 10-0 run over the next 3:01 to push the lead to 16 points.

The Jimmies took a 33-15 lead into the break and would go ahead by 20 early in the third. While Mount Marty shot 50 percent from the field in the quarter, they would get no closer than 12 the rest of the way.

UJ shot 39.4 percent from the field (26-66), 27.8 percent on threes (5-18), and 80 percent on free throws (8-10). Mount Marty shot 30 percent from the field (18-60), 11.5 percent from three (3-26), and 100 percent at the foul line (5-5). UJ outrebounded the Lancers 47-29 and had two fewer turnovers (16-14).

Joining DeMars in double figures were Noelle Josephson (JR/Ramsey, MN) with 14 points and Macy Savela (SO/Mountain Iron, MN) with 11 points. Josephson added nine rebounds while Kia Tower (SO/Bigfork, MN) had four assists.

Mount Marty was led in scoring by Kayla Jacobson and Sarah Castaneda with eight points each.

The Jimmies return to action on January 2, hosting Hastings (Neb.) College at 1 p.m.

In world and national news…

NEWARK, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the inoculations are safe. The president-elect took a dose of Pfizer vaccine on Monday at a hospital not far from his Delaware home, hours after his wife, Jill Biden, did the same. The injections came the same day that a second vaccine, produced by Moderna, will start arriving in states. It joins Pfizer’s in the nation’s arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 317,000 people in the United States and upended life around the globe.

(AP)  More and more countries around the world are restricting travel from Britain and elsewhere amid concerns about new strains of the coronavirus. The restrictions focus mainly on Britain, which imposed strict new lockdown measures Saturday night because of what it described as the unusually rapid spread of a new strain there. A few other European countries have confirmed cases of the virus variant, and another strain considered especially infectious has been identified in South Africa. Governments are looking at ways to protect their populations and hospital systems as scientists analyze test results.

 

TORONTO (AP) — Ontario is announcing a province-wide shutdown because of a second wave of COVID-19 in Canada’s most populous province. The lockdown will be put in place for southern Ontario from Dec. 26 until Jan. 23, but will lift for northern Ontario on Jan. 9. Ontario has had seven straight days of more than 2,000 cases a day. All high schools in Ontario will now be closed for in person learning until Jan. 25. Elementary schools will be closed until Jan. 11.

 

(AP)  Kuwait is suspending all commercial international flights and closing its land and sea borders starting Monday evening until Jan. 1 over fears about the highly infectious new coronavirus strain. The government said that cargo flights and trade routes will remain open. Health authorities ordered those who arrived from the European Union or the United Kingdom in the past week to immediately take a PCR coronavirus test. The Kuwaiti Health Ministry said COVID-19 cases increased by 230 to 148,209 on Monday, while the death toll rose by one to 922.

 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s overwhelmed hospitals are setting up makeshift extra beds for coronavirus patients, and a handful of facilities in hard-hit Los Angeles County are drawing up emergency plans in case they have to limit how many people receive life-saving care. The number of people hospitalized across California with confirmed COVID-19 infections is more than double the state’s previous peak, reached in July. A state model forecasts the total could hit 75,000 patients by mid-January. Dr. Christina Ghaly is Los Angeles County’s health services director. She says plans for rationing care are not in place yet, but they need to be established because “the worst is yet to come.”

 

Stocks are falling Monday as a new, potentially more infectious strain of the coronavirus has countries around the world restricting travel from the United Kingdom, raising worries that the economy is about to take even worse punishment. The S&P 500 was 0.3% lower in afternoon trading, on pace for a second straight drop after setting its record on Thursday. But the index pared its loss as the day progressed, recovering from an earlier 2% drop. The vast majority of stocks on Wall Street were falling, but gains for Nike and Goldman Sachs helped prop up the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

 

AMSTERDAM (AP) — The European Union has given official approval for the coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to be put onto the market across the 27-nation bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the commission “took the decision to make available for European citizens the first COVID-19 vaccine. We granted conditional market authorization.” The commission, the EU’s executive arm, gave the greenlight Monday just hours after the European Medicines Agency said the shot meets safety and quality standards. Brussels had been expected to require two or three days to endorse the market authorization move. Deliveries of the vaccine had been penciled in to start Saturday, with inoculations beginning across the EU Dec. 27-29.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Breaking with President Donald Trump, Attorney General William Barr says he sees no reason to appoint a special counsel on potential election fraud or the tax investigation into the son of President-elect Joe Biden. Barr gave his final press conference as attorney general Monday. He said the investigation into Hunter Biden’s financial dealings is “being handled responsibly and professionally.” He also reinforced that federal officials believe Russia was behind the cyberespionage operation targeting the U.S. government. Trump had suggested without evidence that China could be responsible. As for election fraud, Trump has continued to push baseless claims even after the Electoral College made Biden’s win formal.