CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 20s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Highs in the upper 40s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds

10 to 20 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.

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

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the lower 50s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain in the evening,

then chance of rain and snow after midnight. Lows in the upper

20s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Chance of snow in the morning, then

chance of snow possibly mixed with rain in the afternoon. Highs

in the mid 30s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The City of Jamestown has issued a clarification on the temporary emergency measure, which was effective on October 30, 2020, and is still in effect. It is now scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. on April 5, 2021, unless further extended or earlier terminated by the City Council.

Face coverings are required for all public-facing retail and service employees, including liquor and eating establishments, while the employee may come in contact with the general public.

A face covering shall mean a paper or two-layered cloth face mask or face shield that covers the nose and mouth completely. Any employee who is unable to wear a mask or other face covering because of a medical condition shall be exempt.

Although not currently required, it is strongly encouraged for all individuals to wear face coverings while in public to further prevent, control or reduce the spread of Covid-19 and all businesses are urged to require face coverings for the general public entering their establishment.

The City Council voted to schedule an expiration for this measure during its regular meeting this week.

 

Jamestown  (CVHD)  Central Valley Health District this week will have COVID-19 Testing Friday March 5 at the Jamestown Civic Center from 11-a.m. to 12 noon, using the Rapid Testing, BinaxNow.

By screening with rapid antigen tests, event attendees will be able to receive their test results within 15 minutes via text notification. The test also is less invasive than a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) test in that it uses a nasal swab to collect a sample from the lower part of the nostril.

If a person tests positive, they should isolate at home immediately and a case investigator will be in touch with them within 24 hours. If the screening yields a negative result, individuals should continue to monitor for symptoms.

Interested individuals should fill out an online survey at testreg.nd.gov for faster registration.

For more information about rapid antigen tests and North Dakota’s screening strategies, visit https://www.health.nd.gov/rapid-antigen-screening

 

Valley City  (CCHD)  Valley CCHD  Free COVID-19 testing events for the VCSU and Valley City communities will be held this week:  Again Friday March 5, from 1-p.m., to 2-p.m.,  at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”.Rapid testing events will be held.  Each day request if you would like either the BiNax Rapid testing or the PCR test.

These are WALK-IN testing events. Colder temperatures have moved operations indoors. If you wish to be tested, please park your vehicle and enter through the west entrance. Handicap parking spaces and access are available at the east entrance. Preregistration at testreg.nd.gov is encouraged; one only needs to register once.

Valley City  (CCHD)  City-County Health District (CCHD) is currently vaccinating all priority groups in Phases 1A, 1B and 1C of North Dakota’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. Barnes County residents or those employed in Barnes County are encouraged to be vaccinated.

City county Health Administrator, Theresa Will says, “We want to encourage the public to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Do not hold out for a single dose vaccine. Get the first vaccine that is available to you.”

The Health District has been allocated Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is approved for individuals ages 18 and over. CCHD is offering a mass-vaccination clinic on Friday, March 12th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Valley City Jr/Sr High School Gym. This event is now open to all priority groups in Phases 1A, 1B, and 1C.

Those who wish to be vaccinated by City-County Health District must register for an appointment by visiting www.citycountyhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine. Those in need of clinic registration support are encouraged to call CCHD at 701-845-8518.

For information and updates related to COVID-19 vaccination in North Dakota, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/covid-19-vaccine-information.

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Thurs. Mar 4, 2021

11am

Barnes:

New Positives +2

Total Positives 1298

Active 10

Recovered 1255

 

Stutsman

New Positives  +2

Total Positives 3298

Active 8

Recovered 3197

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

Please note that from now on the daily news release will be sent Monday – Friday. The NDDoH dashboard will continue to be updated daily.

 

BY THE NUMBERS
142,513 Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
241,102 Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
7,478 Total Tests from yesterday*
1,680,917 Total tests completed since the pandemic began
119 Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
58 PCR Tests
61 Antigen Tests
100,184 Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
2.11% Daily Positivity Rate**
665 Total Active Cases
+60 Change in active cases from yesterday
60 Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
98,071 Total recovered since the pandemic began
22 Currently hospitalized
+2 Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
0 New death(s)
1,448 Total deaths since the pandemic began

 
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
No deaths to report
 

NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY BY COUNTY
Adams 0 Grant 0 Ransom 0
Barnes 2 Griggs 1 Renville 0
Benson 0 Hettinger 1 Richland 5
Billings 0 Kidder 0 Rolette 1
Bottineau 1 LaMoure 0 Sargent 1
Bowman 2 Logan 2 Sheridan 0
Burke 2 McHenry 1 Sioux 0
Burleigh 7 McIntosh 2 Slope 0
Cass 34 McKenzie 0 Stark 10
Cavalier 0 McLean 0 Steele 0
Dickey 1 Mercer 1 Stutsman 2
Divide 1 Morton 3 Towner 0
Dunn 1 Mountrail 1 Traill 1
Eddy 1 Nelson 0 Walsh 4
Emmons 0 Oliver 1 Ward 5
Foster 3 Pembina 0 Wells 0
Golden Valley 1 Pierce 1 Williams 12
Grand Forks 6 Ramsey 2

 

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

**Individuals (PCR or antigen) 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 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)  The Jamestown Water Department informs residents that beginning March 15  City Water Department employees will resume entering businesses and apartment buildings to read water meters.

Water Superintendent Joe Rowell points out that due to COVID-19 and the safety of city’s staff and community, the staff will be following all current local and, state, and CDC safety protocol guildelines.

Rowell add,  safety measures include, “Wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves. We appreciate your assistance and your understanding as we work together to keep our community and city staff as healthy and safe as possible during this difficult time.”

If you have questions or concerns, contact City Hall at 701-252-5900 or email utilities@jamestownnd.gov.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  The North Dakota 9-1-1 Association recognized Jerry Bergquist at their quarterly meeting in Bismarck for his over 27 years of leadership and representation.

The Stutsman County Communications Center administrator, 9-1-1 coordinator, and emergency manager of Stutsman County, Bergquist is retiring from his current positions in April.

When the State of North Dakota was only beginning to recognize the three digits of 9-1-1, Jerry Bergquist was active in forming the North Dakota 9-1-1 Association to enhance, improve, promote and facilitate the North Dakota Emergency 911 system. He was elected President of the North Dakota 911 Association in October 1993 at the association’s organizational meeting. Through his time with Emergency 9-1-1, North Dakota residents have seen the transition from being able to dial 9-1-1 from their landline phone, to utilizing the first wireless cell phone 9-1-1 calls to now the ability to text to 9-1-1.

North Dakota 911 Association president Jason Horning, says, “We greatly appreciate the time and service Jerry has given the organization, and in particular the mentorship he’s provided to many of our members, including myself.”

Jerry Bergquist has served on many committees in the North Dakota 9-1-1 Association, often elected chairman for his experience and guidance. He has served in the Emergency Services Communications Coordinating Committee (ESCCC), Department of Emergency Services Advisory Committee (DESAC), STEPS, Public Relations and By-Laws, Standard Operations and Guidelines, and Legislative committees. During his time of service, the State of North Dakota has seen not only the transition of Emergency 911 to Next Generation 911 but also the current transition to a statewide interoperable radio system for the public safety community.

 

Update

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota House has expelled a lawmaker accused of threatening and sexually harassing women at the Capitol. The resolution to expel GOP Rep. Luke Simons was approved 69-25 on Thursday. It was the first time since statehood a lawmaker has been expelled. Simons denied wrongdoing and refused Republican leaders’ calls to resign. The rancher and barber is accused of a pattern of sexually aggressive, lewd, and threatening behavior. GOP Majority Leader Chet Pollert co-sponsored the resolution to expel. He said Simons had been given “multiple chances” to avoid being expelled. Simons said he believed he would have had more support from his fellow lawmakers.

Earlier

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota Republican House member facing expulsion for allegedly sexually harassing women at the Capitol told lawmakers that any of them could be in his position. A defiant Rep. Luke Simons, who has denied wrongdoing and refused to resign, blamed his accusers for “twisting my words” and lawmakers for not affording him due process.. He is accused of a pattern of sexually aggressive, lewd, and threatening behavior, dating back to shortly after he took office in 2017. Republican Rep. Emily O’Brien has said that his harassment was so pervasive that she switched desks to get away from him. A vote was expected later Thursday.) — A Dakota Access Pipeline protester who has refused to provide testimony to a federal grand jury is back behind bars. Steve Martinez was held in contempt of court Wednesday for the second time in a month. Jail records show the 46-year-old Martinez is being held in the Burleigh Morton Detention Center. He had been released on a technicality Feb. 22 following 19 days of incarceration, but was given another subpoena. His attorneys say he has refused to testify before a grand jury involved in a lawsuit filed by an injured protester because he believes authorities are trying to suppress the pipeline protest movement.

In sports…

Thursday

UJ Men’s Basketball

GPAC Quarter Finals

Jamestown 89 Dordt 68

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (UJ) — The NAIA has announced the Opening Round matchups and sites for the 2021 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament.

The University of Jamestown (20-8 overall) received an at-large bid and will be making their 11th appearance at the national tournament.

UJ is the second-seed in the three-team pod and will travel to Omaha, Neb., and face third-seed Bellevue (Neb.) in the 2020-21 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship Opening Round, presented by Ballogy, on Friday, March 12. They will be joined in Omaha Bracket B by LSU-Shreveport (16-1 overall), the winner of the Red River Athletic Conference regular season and postseason tournament.

The UJ-Bellevue winner will move on to face LSU-Shreveport on Saturday, March 13, with the winner of that game moving onto the 16-team final site from Mar. 18-23 at historic Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

Jamestown’s last trip to the national tournament came in 2019, with the Jimmies advancing to the round of 16.

The Jimmies gets one of 11 at-large bids to the NAIA men’s basketball national championship tournament. Opening round starts March 12  in Omaha  taking on Bellevue University,of Nebraska.

 

Thurs.

VCSU Baseball..

Valley City State University baseball team opened its spring season with an indoors doubleheader early Thursday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Vikings dropped both games against Midland University, falling 10-3 in the opener and 2-1 in the finale.

VCSU is now 4-7 overall this season. Thursday’s games were their first contests since October. Midland improves to 9-8 overall. The Warriors have now played 15 games in the spring season.

Up next: VCSU and Midland will play another doubleheader at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday at 10 p.m.

Midland University 10, VCSU 3
Midland scored five runs in the first inning and five more in the sixth en route to a 10-3 win in the opener.

After falling behind 5-0, the Vikings bounced back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. A two-run triple by JT Reed scored Jorun Hamre and Jayden Shipman, and then Gage Gellner doubled home Reed to cut VCSU’s deficit to 5-3.

VCSU could get not closer though, and Midland broke the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The Vikings finished with three runs on five hits. Midland scored its 10 runs on 10 hits.

Reed was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs. Gellner went 1-for-3 with an RBI. David Demeter, Adam Thompson and Jorun Hamre each collected a hit as well.

Reed Butz started on the mound for VCSU and went five innings, allowing seven hits and six runs. He walked two and struck out four. Wes Johnson and Zach Veneman pitched in relief.

Midland 2, VCSU 1
Midland won game two with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning, rallying for a 2-1 victory.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead after Jayden Shipman‘s sacrifice fly scored Jorun Hamre in the top of the fourth inning. The Vikings were on the verge of tacking on another run in the fifth inning after JT Reed singled and stole second and third base with one out. He tried to score on a bunt by Gedeon Ellis and appeared to easily avoid the tag with a headfirst slide, but the umpire called him out and VCSU was unable to score in the inning.

Midland tied the game in the top of the sixth inning, scoring an unearned run off Viking pitcher Phillip Almanza to make it 1-1. Midland then won the game in the seventh inning, loading the bases with three singles against relief pitcher William Hlady before drawing the game-winning walk.

Almanza started for VCSU and was lights-out on the mound, allowing just two hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, did not walk a batter and allowed just the one unearned run. Hlady took the loss after coming on in the seventh.

VCSU scored its one run on three hits. Drew Nixon, Hamre and Reed each had a hit for VCSU.

Midland scored two runs on five hits.

 

In world and national news…

(AP) The White House says President Joe Biden was expressing his “frustration and exasperation” when he said Republican governors lifting mask mandates were acting like “Neanderthals.” Press secretary Jen Psaki says with more than 500,000 U.S. lives lost, its important for people to listen to the guidance of public health experts.” Psaki says Biden would continue to make outreach to Republican governors who disagree with him. Psaki noted Biden has asked Americans to diligently wear masks for his first 100 days in office while vaccinations ramp up. She says: “Sixty more days. That’s what he’s asking and he’s certainly hopeful that businesses and people across the country will continue to do that.”

 

(AP)  A White House official says 98% of U.S. households that received a COVID-19 relief check in December will also qualify for the next round of payments being championed by President Joe Biden. Biden has said that Americans were promised $2,000 in direct checks, but only $600 was approved in December. The president views that promise as a cornerstone of his $1.9 trillion relief package pending in the Senate. His proposal offers $1,400 in additional payments that would quickly phase out based on income, so that money is better aimed at the middle class and poor.

 

(AP)  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that persistent budget deficits will cause the federal debt to double in size over the next 30 years. The long-term drivers of managing the debt are rising interest rates and spending on programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The estimates do not include President Joe Biden’s proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. That would further add to the deficit in hopes of speeding faster growth and hiring.

 

(AP)  Stocks turned lower as bond yields made another upward spike, renewing pressure on high-flying technology stocks. The S&P 500 was down 2% in afternoon trading Thursday, giving up an early gain and sliding into the red for the year. The tech-heavy Nasdaq pulled back 2.8%. The losses came as the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose sharply during a question-and-answer session with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during which Powell said that any pickup in inflation in coming months would likely be temporary. Crude oil prices rose 3.8% after OPEC members agreed to leave most of their existing oil production cuts in place.

 

DALLAS (AP) — Authorities say a Dallas police officer has been arrested on two counts of capital murder in a pair of 2017 killings. Bryan Riser was taken into custody Thursday morning and brought to the Dallas County Jail. Police Chief Eddie Garcia said at a news conference that Riser was arrested in connection with two unrelated killings that had nothing to do with his police work. He says that in 2019, someone came forward and told police that he kidnapped and killed Liza Saenz and Albert Douglas at Riser’s direction. Police say Riser joined the department in 2008 and had been serving as a patrol officer before his arrest. An attorney for Riser could not be immediately identified.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation will likely pick up in the coming months but the increase will be temporary, and won’t be enough for the Fed to alter its low-interest rate policies. Powell also said that the outlook for the economy has improved, after three months of weak job gains, but warned that the economy and job market are still far from fully recovered. He also said that maximum employment won’t be reached this year.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. long-term mortgage rates were steady to higher this week, as the benchmark 30-year loan breached the 3% mark for the first time since July 2020. Rates remain near historic lows as the economy strains toward recovery. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reports that the average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate home loan rose to 3.02% from 2.97% last week. The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate loans was unchanged at 2.34%. The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits edged higher last week to 745,000, a sign that many employers continue to cut jobs despite a drop in confirmed coronavirus infections and evidence that the economy is improving.