– Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Apr 21

CSi Weather…

..FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA THURSDAY AFTERNOON..THROUGH EARLY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
PORTIONS OF CENTRAL INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA…INCLUDES STUTSMAN, AND BARNES COUNTIES…. NOON TO 8-PM

* WINDS…Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…As low as 14 percent.

* AFFECTED AREA…Central into eastern North Dakota.

* IMPACTS…Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become
difficult to control or suppress.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

Forecast

TONIGHT…Clear. Lows in the upper 20s. Southwest winds around 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph increasing to around 20 mph in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest

winds 5 to 15 mph.

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

afternoon. Highs around 50. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph

increasing to north 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow

possibly mixed with rain in the evening, then mostly clear after

midnight. Lows in the lower 20s.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow

after midnight. Lows around 30.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain and snow in

the morning. Highs around 50.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain and

snow after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain possibly mixed

with snow in the morning, then slight chance of rain in the

afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation

20 percent.

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

Lows in the upper 30s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the mid 50s.

(CSi) A plastic recycling dumpster fire, Wednesday afternoon about 3:45 outside the James House at 715 3rd Avneue, Southeast, damaged the unit.

City Fire Lt. Sheldon Mohr says, the dumpster was not near any structures.

He said the dumpster was destroyed.

He added the likely cause was discarded smoking materials.

Four City Fire units and 23 fire fighters were on the scene about a half hour.

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public Radio) – The North Dakota House has passed the budget for the state’s Commerce Department.

Included in that is a potential $5 million grant for the Buffalo City Park in Jamestown.

That park would be located with the display of the world’s largest buffalo sculpture.

The measure says local developers in Jamestown have to raise $5 million in seed money. And if it were raised, it would be matched with a $5 million grant. And then the project could be eligible for up to $60 million in funding from the proceeds of the Legacy Fund, if the state Invest Board approves.

SB 2018l passed the House 58 to 35. It will go back to the Senate for further consideration.

Bismarck (CSi) Gov. Doug Burgum announced Wednesday that he will lift North Dakota’s COVID-19 emergency declaration on April 30 as the state continues to shift the focus of its pandemic response efforts to increasing vaccination rates.

Burgum declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, the same day then-President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and two days after North Dakota had confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

“Lifting this emergency declaration on April 30 recognizes the tremendous progress our state has made in protecting the most vulnerable, preserving hospital capacity and making safe, effective vaccines available to every eligible North Dakotan,” Burgum said. “Nearly 70% of North Dakotans ages 65 years and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 64% are fully vaccinated, including over 90% of long-term care residents. Our vaccination efforts remain a top priority as another wave of COVID-19 continues to spread across the country and world.”

The State of North Dakota currently has no enforced business or event protocols related to COVID-19, though local measures or orders may still be in place. A statewide mask requirement, implemented by the state health officer with Burgum’s support on Nov. 18 as hospitals and health care workers were overwhelmed with patients and COVID-related deaths were peaking, was lifted Jan. 18, making its 65-day duration the shortest among states that implemented such requirements.

“North Dakota has relied heavily on individual responsibility and local control throughout our pandemic fight. Mitigation measures were deployed strategically and kept in place long enough for vaccines to be made available to every eligible citizen,” Burgum said. “Our vaccination efforts will continue stronger than ever, and we encourage those who haven’t received the vaccine to consider getting it to protect themselves and their communities.”

Over 510,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in North Dakota, which has an estimated population of 762,000. More than 62% of North Dakotans ages 50 years or older have received at least one dose, and over 54% are fully vaccinated.

“While the emergency declaration is ending, the virus is still present in our communities,” Interim State Health Officer Dirk Wilke said. “We encourage North Dakotans to keep using the tools that got us here: physical distancing, wearing a mask when you can’t distance, getting tested and vaccinated.”

Lifting the emergency declaration on April 30 will eliminate the remaining pandemic-related executive orders. The Unified Command will be decommissioned effective April 30, however National Guard resources will continue to be available to support the Department of Health and local public health vaccination and testing efforts.

Waiting until April 30 to lift the declaration will allow the Legislature to pass pending legislation tied to pandemic-related executive orders that cut red tape and ensured assistance reached citizens, and will allow an orderly decommission of the Unified Command.

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

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Wed. Apr. 21, 2021

11:00 am

Barnes

New Positives 8

Total Positives: 1377

Active: 19

Recovered 1324

Stutsman:

New Positives: 8

Total Positives: 3434

Active: 33

Recovered: 3316

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
270,537	Residents who received at least one dose of vaccine
513,475	Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered
5,845	Total Tests from yesterday*
1,885,936	Total tests completed since the pandemic began
178	Positive Individuals from yesterday*****
90	PCR Tests
88	Antigen Tests
106,218	Total positive individuals since the pandemic began
4.06%	Daily Positivity Rate**
1,124	Total Active Cases
+53	Change in active cases from yesterday
107	Individuals with a recovery date of yesterday****
103,610	Total recovered since the pandemic began
49	Currently hospitalized
+9	Change in hospitalizations from yesterday
2	New death(s)
1,484	Total deaths since the pandemic began
INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19
Man in his 80s from Cass County
Man in his 60s from Dickey County
NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY BY COUNTY

Adams		0	Grant	0	Ransom	2
Barnes		8	Griggs	2	Renville	0
Benson		1	Hettinger	0	Richland	6
Billings		0	Kidder	0	Rolette	1
Bottineau		0	LaMoure	0	Sargent	1
Bowman		0	Logan	1	Sheridan	0
Burke		0	McHenry	0	Sioux	1
Burleigh		28	McIntosh	1	Slope	0
Cass		43	McKenzie	2	Stark	8
Cavalier		0	McLean	2	Steele	1
Dickey		0	Mercer	0	Stutsman	4
Divide		0	Morton	9	Towner	0
Dunn		0	Mountrail	1	Traill	1
Eddy		0	Nelson	0	Walsh	7
Emmons		1	Oliver	0	Ward	8
Foster		3	Pembina	0	Wells	0
Golden Valley		1	Pierce	1	Williams	10
Grand Forks		20	Ramsey	4

* 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.

(CVHD) Central Valley Health has set more vaccination clinics.

Thursday April 22, 2021

9-a.m., to3:30-p.m.

At Cemtral Valley Health District

Moderna Vaccine

Monday April 26, 2021

9-a.m. to 3:30-p.m.

At Central Valley Health District

Modena Vaccine

Thursday April 29, 2021

10-a.m., to 2-p.m.

Civic Center Exchequor Room

Moderna Vaccine

Review the due date on the back of your CDC COVID vaccination record card prior to registering.

Appointments are required and are first come, first serve. Once the clinics are full, they will be closed for registration.
.
. To register for an appointment, visit our website www.centralvalleyhealth.org and click the “COVID-19” tab.

Jamestown (CSi) Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist is winding down his 32 years of service, heading to retirement, and he’s working with his successors.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jerry said he will be on hand at his office the next few weeks, giving advice to the newly hired Stutsman County Emergency Manger, Andrew Kirking, and Assistant Emergency Manager, and Communications Administrator, (former 9-1-1 Coordinator title) Riley Schafer. His official retirement will come near the end of June this year. He said after that he will be available to consult with Andrew and Riley.

On our show, Andrew said he comes to Jamestown, following education in Emergency Management at NDSU, and recently the Pembina County Emergency Manager for eight years.

He noted he’s continuing to stay up to date on technology changes, while learning “in the field,” and receiving advice and training on the job from Jerry Bergquist.

Riley Schafer said has a degree in Business from Valley City State University, and then decided to go into law enforcement. He spent two years as a sheriff’s deputy in McHenry County, ND and then a year as a Stutsman County Sheriff’s Deputy. He’s also been in contact with FEMA officials, learning information from them.

He said he decided to apply for the Assistant Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Communication Administrator as he and Andrews Kirking were approved to be hired by the Stutsman County Commission. He and Andrew are also working together now for future adventures in both of their positions.

Jerry Bergquist also reminded viewers and listeners that the week of April 26^t has been designated, “Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week,” for the entire state of North Dakota. This annual event is intended to remind the public of the dangers associated with severe summer weather including lightning, high winds, large hail, flash floods and tornadoes. All of which, can cause severe property damage, personal injury, and even death. It is also the opportunity for family to discuss what they will go and where the will meet to be safe during a severe weather event, if they are separated, between home, work, school, or other activities.

Those living in mobile homes should also have arrangement made to head to a safe structure.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist says, as part of the awareness week activities, Stutsman County will conduct a tornado exercise that will begin at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 28^th. The exercise will simulate what occurs locally when a tornado warning is issued by the National Weather Service.

The tornado exercise will be testing internal notification procedures county-wide along with siren activation capabilities. Sirens will be activated in many area communities including the Cities of Jamestown, Buchanan, Cleveland, Medina and Streeter. In most communities, sirens will be activated for approximately 3 minutes.

Because the National Weather Service will not directly be involved with the exercise, the simulated warning will not be broadcast through the National Weather Service all-hazards weather radio system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) for local AM/FM radio stations and cable television providers will not be activated. The Stutsman Alert’s notification system powered by Everbridge will also not be activated for this test.

The most common reason a community’s warning sirens are activated is to warn the public of a possible tornado. However, sirens could also be activated to alert the public of other types of events that could be a danger to the community.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a landmark $680 million infrastructure bonding bill that will use earnings from North Dakota’s multibillion-dollar oil piggybank to pay off the money. The bipartisan bill has highlighted North Dakota’s legislative session and got wide support. The legislation represents the most amount of money borrowed in state history. It also has helped push the Legislature’s proposed two-year budget to a record $15.8 billion, or about a billion dollars more than the current budget cycle that ends June 30. The legislation allots three-quarters of the bond money for flood-control projects in Fargo and Minot.

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man accused of opening fire in a crowded bar faces multiple homicide counts. Kenosha County prosecutors charged 24-year-old Rakayo Vinson on Wednesday with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and three counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the shooting early Sunday at the Somers House Tavern in the village of Somers. Authorities say Vinson got into a fight at the tavern, came back with a handgun and opened fire. Cedric Guston, Atkeem Stevenson and Kevin Donaldson were killed. Three others were hurt. Vinson would face life in prison if convicted on any of the counts.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department is opening a sweeping investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis after the guilty verdict in George Floyd’s death. Wednesday’s announcement came a day after ex-officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s May 2020 death, setting off a wave of relief but also sadness across the country. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says city officials “welcome the investigation.” Bystander video showed Floyd handcuffed behind his back and gasping repeatedly, “I can’t breathe,” as Chauvin pressed his knee on or close to Floyd’s neck for several minutes. Floyd’s death prompted mass protests against the police treatment of Black people.

In world and national news…

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Body camera video shows a Columbus officer fatally shoot a Black teenage girl who swung at two other people with a knife. A black-handled blade resembling a kitchen knife or steak knife appeared to be lying on the sidewalk next to her immediately after she was shot and fell. The girl was identified as 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant, according to Franklin County Children Services, which said in a release that she was under the care of the agency at the time of her death. Police say Bryant was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. It’s unclear if anyone else was injured. The quick release of the footage is a departure from police protocol but comes amid heightened tension between Columbus police and the community they serve.

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. (AP) — At least one law enforcement officer with a North Carolina sheriff’s department shot and killed a man while the department was executing a search warrant. The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release that the shooting happened Wednesday morning in Elizabeth City in the eastern part of the state. The races of the officers and man shot aren’t clear. A TV station reports that neighbors heard multiple shots fired. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is looking into the shooting.

(AP) Police say a man who killed a manager and wounded two workers Tuesday at a Long Island grocery store was a “troubled employee” who’d been reprimanded in recent months for threatening and sexually harassing colleagues. Police say Gabriel DeWitt Wilson, a shopping cart collector at Stop & Shop in West Hempstead, opened fire in an office area above the retail floor about 40 minutes after talking to a manager about transferring to another store. Wilson was arraigned Wednesday on homicide and attempted murder charges and ordered jailed without bail. His lawyer said he’s still suffering the “lingering effects” of being shot in the head when he was 19.