CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. West winds around10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Clear. Lows around 50. Northwest winds 5 to

15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.

.SATURDAY…Sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. South

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Rain showers likely and chance of

thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation

70 percent.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny with a 40 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the mid 40s.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 50s.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.

Tonight, June 17, 2021; City crews will be out street sweeping in the downtown business district. This will take place at 11:00 PM and last approximately until 8:00 AM or until finished.
Please move vehicles off the streets during these times until sweeping is done in these areas.
The above schedule is contingent upon changing weather conditions.
Motorists should use extreme caution in this area.

 

In recognition of the President’s Declaration this afternoon; City Hall will be closed tomorrow, June 18, 2021, in observance of Juneteenth, a new federal holiday. Regular hours will resume on Monday, June 21, 2021.The Civic Center will be opened for scheduled events.The Baling Facility will remain openduringregular hours Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19, 202

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Rural Fire Department was call about 12:44-p.m. Thursday to where a Jamestown Recycle truck caught fire, along the Country Club Road, east of Infinity Builders.

Rural Fire Chief Brian Paulson says, the truck was moving down the roadway, when the fire started behind the cab.  He says, the entire truck was fully involved in flames when the Rural Fire Units arrived on the scene, and was extensively damaged.

He says the fire spread to a 20×30 foot area of grass, and caused minor damage to the pavement.  No injuries reported.

The road was shutdown for a period of time until the truck was towed away, and heat and fire damage was assessed to the roadway.

The Rural Fire Department was called back about 2:50-p.m., when smoke was reported coming again from the vehicle.

The official cause of the fire behind the cab was not immediately determined.

Seven Rural Fire Units and 17 firefighters were on the scene about an hour and 40 minutes.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Fire Department was called to respond to  two calls Thursday morning.

The first call at 7:30-a.m.was to a MDU gas line break at 2nd Avenue and 6th Street Northeast. MDU crews from Bismarck arrived in  Valley City to repair the gas line break which interrupted service to 16 customers.

Fire Chief Scott Magnuson said members from the Valley City Rural Fire District responded to a fire about four miles east of Valley City around 7:31am.

No injuries or structural damage in either call.

 

NDDoH

COVID-19 Stats  10:15 a.m.

Thurs. Jun. 17  2021

Barnes

New Positives  0

Total Positives 1423

Active: 3

Recovered: 1389

 

Stutsman

New Positives 1

Total Positives 3543

Active 3

Recovered   3460

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met Thursday at the University of Jamestown.

Members present:  President, Tena Lawrence, Frank Balak, Pam Phillips, Paulette Ritter.

and Tourism Director Searle Swedlund.

Ex Officio Member:  Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Executive Emily Bivens.

 

GRANT BOARD MEETING

  • A-Maze-N-Clown Pumpkin Patch – Shriners of Jamestown
  • Museum Brochure – Stutsman County Museum
  • Mill Hill Brackets & Banners – Jamestown Beautification Committee
  • Frontier Village Train Parkette

 

The A-Maze-N- Clown Pumpkin Patch, with the Shriners Of Jamestown requested $5,000  toward advertising, for the event September and October 2021, to be used for advertising and flyers.  Representative Corey Bayer, said it will be a five weekend festival starting September 11 running through October 17 each Saturday and Sunday, near Jamestown, with a tent provided and games for the kids.  Sponsored by Jamestown Clowns, there will be many volunteers assisting. It’s a fundraiser for Jamestown Clown causes, including, local gifts for children and Shrine Hospitals.  He said those attending in the past, outside the Jamestown area, include those from Fargo, Bismarck, Carrington, and Minnesota.  He added that a corn maze will be added.

Other funding sources include Jamestown Clown in the amount of $15,000.

The event is anticipated to attract 200 visitors within 150 miles of Jamestown, with an estimated economic impact of $25,560.

The board granted  the full  $5,000.  The event will be monitored for this year’s success.

The Stutsman County Memorial Museum Request $567 for new brochures, with a quote for 2500 brochures from Two Rivers Printing.

The board granted  $567

 

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Beautification Committee represented by  Paulette Ritter, requested $2,875 for double-sided vinyl banners to be erected on Mill Hill, placed there this summer, and fall.    The full quoted cost of the banners printing  and hardware from Newman Signs is $5,750.

The board granted voted to approve a one to match up to $3,000

 

Frontier Village requested  $8,500  for the Train Parkette, a circular area, near the entrance. The request was to help funding installing a tunnel and covered bridge for storage of the trains.

The board approved granting the full amount of $8,500.

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

 

Call to Order – Tena Lawrence

 

Declaration of Conflict of Interest:   Paulette Ritter, was allowed to discuss but not vote on the chamber beautification request, being on the committee.

 

Minutes:  Amended and approved.

 

Grant Allocation Report – Frank Balak with amounts granted so far this year, and dollars remaining in budget for the rest of this year.

 

Tourism Report – Searle Swedlund led a discussion on tourism’s future role in the proposed< Bison World, – A Legendary Experience, regarding providing assistance, concerning tourism’s mission.  He added that the new Trail Guides have been published.

 

Ex-Officio Reports: Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive, Emily Bivens, outlined several summer events and activities including Buffalo Days, the Farmers Appreciation Banquet, along with several ribbon cuttings so far this year, along with the Ground Breaking at the Frontier Village Train Parkette, and an upcoming “Cash Mob,” event.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City School Board has approved of a new agreement with the city to extend the contract of School Resource Officer Sean Haugen.  Haugen has been the School Resource Officer since January of 2017.

Police Chief Phil Hatcher says he supports the new agreement.

Superintendent Josh Johnson says officer Haugen has been a positive impact on students in the school district.

The agreement, includes, the school district paying $35,000 per year toward the cost over the next two year’s of the SRO’s salary and benefits, increasing to $40,000 a year for the school district in the final two years of the four year agreement. The city’s share will be $56,612 for the next two years.

 

 

Jamestown  (NDFU)   – The public is invited to a grand opening celebration of the James River Farmers Union Camp on Thursday, June 24, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the new facility, located at the Jamestown Reservoir.

Situated on 19 acres, the facility features a state-of-the-art lodge with indoor gymnasium, STEM classroom, game room and co-op store, in addition to a dormitory, boathouse, outdoor volleyball court, softball field and other features.

North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne, saysm “This facility gives our summer camp program a physical presence in the eastern part of the state and complements our camp facility in western North Dakota on the Heart Butte Reservoir. We are excited for all the cooperative learning and fun kids will have here. Investing in youth education is the greatest asset of our state and organization.”

More than 1,200 kids in grades 3-12 attend Farmers Union camp every summer. Cooperative education and leadership skill development are hallmarks of Farmers Union Camp, which incorporates traditional camp activities – such as swimming and singing around a campfire – into learning.

Watne said many individuals, businesses and organizations contributed to the construction of the youth facility. They include the CHS Foundation, CoBank, Broadband Association of North Dakota, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Farmers Union Insurance, First Community Credit Union, Ag Country Farm Credit Services, North Dakota Cooperative Managers’ Association, BCBSND Caring Foundation, Farmers Union Industries, Northern Canola Growers Association, BEK Communications, Verendrye Electric Cooperative, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Education Foundation, Dakota Pride Cooperative, North Dakota Soybean Council, North Dakota Corn Council, Farmers Union Enterprises, Ward County Farmers Union, National Farmers Union, and Knights of Columbus Council 1883.

For directions to the camp, turn west on 32nd St. SE off Hwy. 20 or travel north along E. Lakeside Road (on the east side of the Jamestown Reservoir) toward Lakeside Campground. For more information, go to ndfu.org.

 

Valley City  (Chamber)  The Valley City Area Chamber Ambassadors has presented Dr. Larry Sayler with the annual Hi Liner Award on June 16, at Mercy Hospital in Valley City.

The Hi Liner Award is given to an individual  in the Valley City community who has worked hard promoting the community. Sayler is a licensed chiropractor with more than 24 years of experience.

Sayler will be the honorary Parade Marshal for Saturday’s Rally in the Valley parade starting at s 10-am down Central Avenue in Valley City.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Chalkfest will feature works by nationally renowned chalk artist Shawn McCann accompanied by eight other artists from around the country. This is a family-friendly event where young and older alike can participate while enjoying in the breathtaking works of these great artists. The event starts on Thursday June 24 at 5-p.m. and continues on Friday June 25 and Saturday June 26, from 10-a.m. to 5-p.m, and is free to all, and opens this summer’s Jamestown Arts Market, at the Hansen Art Park in Downtown Jamestown.

On Thursday’s  Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Arts Center Director Mindi Schmitz said, eight nationally known chalk artists will be at the event, to take place at the Arts Park, and on the street, in front of the Arts Center. Planned artists to join Shawn are Jamie & Craig Rogers, Chris Carlson, Tonya Youngberg, Allison Severson, Julie Jilek, Erik Greenawalt, Brigid Higgins and Sandy Forseth.

Entertainment will be by singer Jesse Veeder returning to Jamestown.

Chalkfest opens The Downtown Arts Market  Thursday evenings June 24 through August 26.

The Jamestown Arts Center has announced this summer’s entertainment at the Downtown Arts Market, and the Hansen Arts Park.

Beginning Thursday, June 24 at 5:30 pm downtown Jamestown comes to life once again!

Enjoy the best of regional live entertainment in The Hansen Arts Park.  The Downtown Arts Market… a celebration of culture and community when we need it the most! Don’t forget your lawn chair or blanket.

Would you like to one of the artisan vendors at this year’s Downtown Arts Market? We are currently accepting applications. Click to download the Vendor Application.docx.

 

OPENING NIGHT, JUNE 24: CHALKFEST! begins

On Stage:   JESSIE VEEDER
With: Retro Entertainment (Mark Urquhart & Jeremy Gray)
Jessie has been a long-standing favorite and a symbol of folk music in the badlands of Western North Dakota for what seems like forever. She is well know across all of North Dakota and the region. The singer song-writer has recently released a new album “Playing Favorites.” Jessie’s new album pays tribute to those songs and songwriters who influenced her at a young age, celebrating the traditional songs as well as covering music by John Prine, Guy Clark, Nanci Griffith, Kathy Mattea, among others.

Retro Entertainment is Mark Urquhart & Jeremy Gray. They perform a wide range of genres but for the Downtown Arts Market we will be doing Maritime Folk Music which includes “Songs from the Sea” as well as Scottish and Irish tunes. We will entertain the crowd with some good toe tapping and hand clapping upbeat songs that will be sure to engage all.

July 1st:    OPEN MIC NIGHT
With: Kroshus Krew
Poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the stage. Please limit your piece to 10 minutes.  Facilitated by local musician and instructor Steve Kuykendall.

Kroshus Krew performs a popular blend of tunes from the 40’s to the present.  Tilford Kroshus is a retired college music professor and music consultant from Wahpeton, ND.  Kroshus is a showroom phenomenon.  He won’t hesitate to lead a parade through the park to get things cranked up. The other members of this music and comedy routine provide complimentary blends of a variety of talent performing on the keyboard, drum set, bass guitar, lead guitar, trombone and all are included in vocal selections.

 

July 8th:   BOULDER SHADES OF BLUE & SPACE DOGS
With: Local acoustic duo
Full description coming shortly.

 

July 15th:  DEB JENKINS BAND
With: Heather Rae
One of the upper midwest’s finest R&B and blues bands, the Deb Jenkins band has gained a passionate following from their performances ta the annual Fargo Blue Festival and clubs throughout the region. This is not a background music band… be prepared to be compelled to dance, dance, dance!

Heather Rae is an Indie/Pop singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, TN. Her refreshingly unique pop sound is a blend of Aretha Franklin and Bruno Mars, which is a rare find in a city known for its country music. The Nashville Songwriter’s Association International (NSAI) has named Heather Rae as a One-to-Watch amongst today’s rising songwriters. Please visit www.HeatherRaeMusic.com for more information.


July 22nd:  MATT HODEK & DAKOTA DUTCHMEN
With: Buffalo City Church
Matt Hodek’s Dakota Dutchmen band is an authentic style polka band from Lankin, ND. They use traditional instruments such as concertina, accordion, tuba, piano, brass, reeds and drums to make up the sounds of this fine group of musicians. The tunes they play not only include polkas and waltzes but foxtrot, two-step, big band, patriotic and an occasional Christian song. The Dakota Dutchmen can be seen playing for festivals, community gatherings, family events, clubs or any place festive music is needed. Come out and take a listen when you see them in your area playing “HAPPY MUSIC FOR HAPPY PEOPLE”!

 

July 29th:    OPEN MIC NIGHT
Poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the stage. Please limit your piece to 10 minutes.  Facilitated by local musician and instructor Steve Kuykendall.

 

August 5:    FLICKERTAIL BAND
With: Top of the Stairs Dance
Flickertail is a three piece band made up of old friends exploring and experiencing fun music of all sorts through the joy of live performance! Jeremy Gray on drums and Jon Beyer on bass…together, bring the rhythm section to life ! Steve Kuykendall adds his vocals and guitar to the mix and the result is pure fun ….this exciting trio is motivated solely by the joy of the journey….so why not come along?

 

August 12:  KICKS DIXIELAND BAND
With: The Jamestown Gymnastics Club
The Kicks Dixieland Band is a versatile jazz ensemble able to perform for intimate private parties or large special events. Our repertoire features arrangements of classic big band vocal and instrumental arrangements, waltz, polkas, with a nice mix of 50s & 60’s rock and blues charts. We also perform Dixieland jazz for school programs and other special events. This performance will be use a 6-piece combo featuring Dixieland Jazz. More information about the Kicks Band and booking information may be found at: www.fmkicksband.com.

 

August 19: BLUE ENGLISH
Full description coming shortly.

 

August 26:    OPEN MIC NIGHT
Poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the stage. Please limit your piece to 10 minutes.  Facilitated by local musician and instructor Steve Kuykendall.

This HUGE undertaking is only possible thanks to our many supporters, volunteers and grantors. Including, but not limited to, these Arts Market sponsors:

  • Association of American University Women
  • Dakota Central Communications
  • Farmers Union
  • Farmers Union Insurance
  • First Community Credit Union
  • Heartland Chevy Dealers
  • i3G Media
  • Interstate Engineering
  • Jamestown Downtown Association
  • Jamestown Chamber of Commerce
  • Jamestown Tourism
  • Lifetime Vision Source
  • Medicine Shoppe
  • Newman Signs
  • North Dakota Council on the Arts
  • OtterTail Power Company
  • Sanford Health
  • Unison Bank
  • United Way
  • Walter Brothers Lawn Service
  • John Zvirovski
  • Lynn Lambrecht
  • Christine Witt

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Federal regulators say a Colorado company has agreed to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations stemming from the company’s oil production activities in North Dakota. The Environmental Protection Agency says Phoenix Petroleum LLC has agreed to pay a $50,000 penalty as part of the settlement. The EPA says inspections of two of the company’s tank batteries in Divide and Williams counties in 2015 found inadequate spill prevention plans and containment measures. The EPA says the problems have been corrected. Federal regulators say discharges from the facilities have the potential to impact White Earth Creek, a tributary to the White Earth River.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is devoting more than $3 billion to speed development of treatments for COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses. There are some antiviral pills in development that could begin arriving by year’s end, pending the completion of testing. Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci announced the plan Thursday at a White House briefing. Fauci says the new program would invest in “accelerating things that are already in progress” for COVID-19. But it will also work to come up with treatments for other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan is locking down because of a massive spike in coronavirus cases among employees. The embassy in Kabul already is on uncertain footing due to the imminent withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. And now the embassy is ordering staffers into virtual isolation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It’s already killed at least one person and sent 114 into quarantine. The embassy says in a notice to employees that almost all group activities, including work meetings and recreational gatherings, are banned. The restrictions will remain in place until the chain of transmission is broken. Violators will be removed from the country on the next available flight.

 

LONDON (AP) — The U.K.’s latest surge in coronavirus infections is gathering pace. New confirmed cases rose above 10,000 for the first time in nearly four months as a result of the spread of the more contagious delta variant. Government figures on Thursday showed another 11,007 cases were reported, the highest daily number since Feb. 19. The development cemented talk that the country with Europe’s highest virus-related death toll is in the midst of a third wave of the pandemic. The government’s chief medical adviser says the height of the current surge is “still uncertain” but that it “will definitely translate into further hospitalizations and, unfortunately, it will undoubtedly translate into further deaths.”

(AP)  A push is underway on Capitol Hill and beyond for a full-blown investigation of the coronavirus outbreak by a national commission like the one that looked into 9/11. The proposal comes amid lingering questions over the government’s response to the crisis and the origin of the virus that has killed more than 600,000 Americans. A bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine would establish such a commission. Its prospects are unclear, though. And many worry that politics will get in the way of any inquiry, as happened when Republicans came out against a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House has passed legislation to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force in Iraq. Supporters say the repeal is necessary for Congress to reassert its constitutional duty to weigh in on matters of war. Detractors worry that it would embolden militia or terror groups operating in the region. President Joe Biden supports repealing the war powers. The White House says no ongoing military activities rely solely upon the 2002 authorization and it is committed to working with Congress to craft a more narrow authorization that ensures Americans will be protected from terrorist threats.

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has become the latest former Trump administration official to launch a political action committee. In an interview with The Associated Press Thursday, Pompeo declined to link the move to a possible 2024 presidential bid. He also wouldn’t say whether a potential run by his old boss, former President Donald Trump, would sway any plans. Pompeo spoke with AP two days after formally launching a political action committee he said he would use to boost conservative candidates across the country in 2022 races at the state and federal levels.

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Officers who serve on a specialized crowd control unit in Portland, Oregon, who have responded to the city’s ongoing, often violent protests have resigned en masse after criminal charges were filed against a team member. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the officers on the Rapid Response Team voted to resign from the team during a meeting Wednesday night. The move by officers and sergeants to disband their own team came a day after a team member was indicted. He is accused of fourth-degree assault stemming from a baton strike against a protester last summer. The team has been on the front lines at social justice protests held in the city after the May 25 murder of George Floyd.