CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the lower 70s. Southeast winds around 15 mph. Heat index 90 to 95.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 90s. South winds 15 to 25 mph. Heat index 95 to 100.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. South

winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. A 30 percent chance of showers in the

afternoon in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area. Highs in the lower 90s. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then showers likely and

chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s.

Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.FRIDAY…Showers likely and chance of thunderstorms. Highs in

the mid 70s. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. A 50 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of rain showers

and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s.

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

and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s.

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

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 80.

 

Low humidity values and steady south winds will lead to near
critical fire weather conditions through the early Tuesday evening.

Low humidity values and gusty south winds will lead to near
critical fire weather conditions again on Wednesday.

Thunderstorm chances increase Wednesday through Friday with strong
to severe storms possible, especially Thursday.

 

Update…

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday evening that the man being sought by authorities, was arrested Tuesday.

Sheriff Chad Kaiser reports that they were contacted Tuesday morning by  beekeepers who were at beehives, and noticed a suspicious vehicle on an old farmstead.

Kaiser says, “The suspects in the vehicle fled, but upon investigating, there was a car up on a jack. It appeared the suspect was attempting to steal a catalytic converter off the old vehicle.”

While searching for the suspect, a vehicle matching the description was found. Following a brief pursuit, the suspect fled into a combined wheat field and then into a corn field near the intersection of 84th Avenue Southeast and 41st Street Southeast, after 12 noon.  A female was apprehended from the vehicle as the driver fled on foot. The North Dakota Highway Patrol, a bloodhound, and drone were also used to search the field, only turning up an article of clothing.

Tuesday evening, a resident near Central Sales who has cameras was alerted to someone walking past their home.

Kaiser adds that, “We located the suspect near the home and took him into custody.”

Arrested on charges of fleeing and reckless driving is Daniel John Hoffer.  Charges  are pending for the theft of catalytic converters. He’s currently booked into custody and remanded to the Stutsman County Correctional Center.

Kaiser states, “We’d like to thank the residents of Stutsman County for remaining diligent and assisting us in the search.”

Earlier Tuesday

Jamestown (CSi)  Tuesday afternoon, August 17,  the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office was asking for the public’s assistance in locating a man who fled authorities on foot Tuesday morning.

Being sought is a male that fled on foot into a cornfield just Southwest  of Jamestown on Tuesday morning. The man was  last seen wearing a grey cutoff shirt and has long hair. Possibly James Hoffer. Last seen at 84th Ave/41st Street Southeast. Do not approach individual, call 9-1-1, or contact the LEC dispatch center, at 701-252-1000.

It’s unknown if he has any weapons at this time.

 

 

 

 

The North Dakota Department of Health dashboard is updated daily by 11 am and includes cases reported through the previous day. The investigations are ongoing and information on the website is likely to change as cases are investigated. The information contained in this dashboard is the most up to date and will be different than previous news releases. This dashboard supersedes information from previous news releases or social media postings.

Check out our other dashboards: The COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard, NDUS Dashboard.COVID- 19 stats:

 

Tues Aug 17, 2021

11:00- a.m.

Barnes

New Positives:  2

Total Positives:  1447

Active: 7

Recovered: 1408

 

Stutsman

New Positives: 5

Total Positives: 3610

Active: 22

Recovered: 3507

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Active cases of COVID-19 in North Dakota soared above 1,000 for the first time since spring, The state’s coronavirus dashboard on Tuesday showed 267 new virus cases. It’s the highest daily total since 303 cases on Jan. 8. Active cases statewide rose to 1,101, up 112 from Monday and more than double the total just two weeks ago. Cases are spiking nationwide due primarily to the highly contagious and fast-spreading delta variant of the coronavirus. Health officials also confirmed three more virus-related deaths Tuesday, raising North Dakota’s pandemic death toll to 1,548.

 

 

 

Jamestown  (CVHD)  Central Valley Health District reminds residents that COVID testing has  resumed the week of August 16  on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, at the Jamestown Civic Center, Exchequor Room, from 11-a.m. to noon.

Call CVHD at 701-252-8130 to register.

 

 

 

 

Valley City  (VCSU) – Valley City State University President Dr. Alan LaFave and Dacotah Bank in Valley City have announced a $500,000 donation to VCSU’s ongoing capital campaign. The donation from Dacotah Bank is one of several major gifts so far during the early stages of VCSU’s $25 million capital campaign: Forward Together.

LaFave says, “We are extremely grateful for this generous gift.  This contribution speaks to Dacotah Bank’s ongoing commitment to Valley City State University and the Valley City community. This gift, in addition to several others, clearly shows our campaign is gaining momentum and members of our community recognize this effort as an important part of the future of VCSU.”

The $500,000 one-time donation is the largest to VCSU in Dacotah Bank’s relationship with VCSU.

Dacotah Bank, Market President, Paige Bjornson adds, “As a committed, independent community bank we understand the value of creating quality experiences in our home towns and helping support the organizations that are shaping our future community members, leaders and families. We want our town to be a target for the best of the country’s youth to come and succeed. To celebrate VCSU’s legacy of successes we are more than excited to help the facility complete the new Dacotah Bank Viking Hall of Fame.”

Based in Aberdeen, S.D., Dacotah Bank has assets that exceed $3 billion, making it one of the largest independent banks in the upper Midwest. With dozens of hometown locations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota, Dacotah Bank employs over 500 people and serves over 60,000 customers with banking, insurance, mortgage, and trust and wealth management services.

VCSU’s Forward Together campaign includes an expansion of the university’s athletic facilities, increased scholarship support and renovations of two key buildings on campus.

Athletic facilities on campus have remained largely unchanged since the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse was built in 1960. The number of athletes, teams and athletic staff have more than doubled. The expansion of the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse will include an indoor turf practice facility, a new weight room and locker rooms, and the new Dacotah Bank Hall of Fame to honor former Viking athletes.

The campaign also includes additional scholarship support for students. Forward Together also includes necessary improvements to the Memorial Student Center, and renovations for McCarthy Hall. McCarthy Hall will become the home for VCSU’s renowned School of Education and Graduate Studies.

LaFave says, “These improvements are long overdue and will meet actual needs of the university.  This campaign is critical in our efforts to continue to provide the highest quality education for students. We are grateful to supporters who have stepped up to the plate like Dacotah Bank, and look forward to welcoming more donors as the campaign continues.”

 

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.

All members were present.

Missouri River Energy Services Update.  CEO Tom Heller, talked about the partnership between MRES and the City, along with the power supply, and the four state area, served established in 1965 supplying  power wholesale,a $300-million company.   Loans are secured by support from power purchasers such as Valley City.  Hyrdo power is supplied by WAPA.  He said a five percent reduction in rates  from MRES will be coming in 2022. $660,00 was refunded to Valley   the last year, in the form of an energy rebate.  He said Valley City has 93-percent carbon-free power supply.  In the future MRES is looking at a solar power supply that would be installed in Valley City.

 

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

An Application for a Raffle Permit for Barnes County Senior Citizens Council, Inc. from August 17th, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS ….No One Spoke….

 

 

ORDINANCE

Approved was the First Reading of an Ordinance Approving Text Amendments to Titles 11 and 16 of the Valley City Municipal Code.  City Attorney Martineck said, the Ordinance approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission, involves changes to zoning and subdivisions with guidelines. Among the issues are the Ordinance requires ADA compliant sidewalks in all residential areas.  It also outlines the number of off-street parking spaces, based on a formula, and includes multi family units.

 

RESOLUTION

Approved a Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator to Sell City Property if it’s below $2500. City Attorney Martineck said  the Resolution allows the City Administrator to do so administratively.

 

Approved a Resolution Approving the Replat of Original Townsite Block 17 Lot 15 (Fire Department Expansion).  

The City Commission approved a Resolution Approving the Replat of Grangers Subdivision Lots 9 & 10.

City Attorney Martineck said, stormwater runoff will be addressed, and incorporate sidewalks.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved was a request for the City of Valley City, to provide a Letter Supporting Changes that Support Development and Object Recent Changes Implemented by MDU. Valley City Barnes County Economic Development Director, Jennifer Feist said, the, changes require a Class One contractor license for work performed.  She said the issue needs to be elevated to community awareness, and statewide, concerning safety issues, and federal guidelines interpreted by MDU.  Support from the city and Barnes County, along with economic development is being requested.

 

The City Commission discussed Delinquent Electric Bills staying with Properties.

Commissioner Bishop, said the current Ordinance  procedure in place needs to be negotiated with landlords to possibly modify the policy, at a public meeting. Several North Dakota cities have the policy in place including Jamestown.  The City Commission voted to  set up a meeting with landlords regarding delinquent electric bills to protect the entities involved.

 

Approved was the Appointment of Tyler Marthaler as the Community at Large Representative for the Visitor’s Committee.  Deputy Auditor Klein said, the Visitors Committee approved the recommendation.

 

Approved was a Visitors Committee Recommendation for Image Enhancement Grant for Dakota Dogs in the amount up to $1,000 towards additional signage and $3,587 towards exterior and lobby improvements for a total grant of up to $4,587.00.

 

The City Commission Approved  Construction Engineering for West End Lift Station. Commissioner Erickson voted in opposition.

 

Approved was Design Engineering for 6th Street NW Reconstruction Project (NDDOT Project No. SU-2-990(060), PCN 23154). Commissioner Erickson voted in opposition.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Gwen Crawford said a downtown speaker issue has been addressed.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

Police Chief Hatcher outlined the agreement with local vehicle dealers concerning preventing the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles, by inscribing the vehicle’s VIN number on the part.  The service is free of charge.

With school starting ,crosswalks and pavement markings have been installed  around schools,  with some changes to traffic flows that motorists need to be aware of.

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

 

 

 

Jamestown (Chamber)   Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Smile Studio, formerly known as Dental Specialists. They recently built a new building at 1517 12th Ave. NE and made the location move and name change. Smile Studio provides Orthodontics services through modern technology and intuitive treatment options. They can be reached at 701-252-1212.

For more information, contact Emily Bivens by emailing: director@jamestownchamber.com or call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  At Monday’s Jamestown Public School Board meeting, at the middle school’s Thompson Community Room, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, Superintendent, Kirsten Baesler, explained an update on the process of creating course content standards. that the DPI will use to certify graduation, by the beginning of the next school year.

Baesler pointed out that the North Dakota legislature passed a bill that provides the state with flexibility to recognize a certified learning continuum as a personalized way for students to graduate high school.

Each school district will be given the opportunity of utilizing a learning policy that awards students the credits necessary to graduate from high school through demonstrated mastery of learning continuum competencies.  Students move through their learning at different paces and rates.

In other business, the school board, recognized Bob Toso for his service to the school district, first as assistant superintendent and then superintendent from 2001 to 2013 and as a member of the school board from 2014 to 2021.

Approved was a transportation agreement with St. John’s Academy for the 2021-22 school year.

Approved submitting a grant to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission to assist in the defraying of the cost of aviation and drone technology classes.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) — Minot police have identified the victim of a homicide and a suspect found dead at the scene of the crime. Authorities say officers were called to a southwest side residence Sunday about 7 a.m. on a report of a shooting. They found the body of 50-year-old Carrie Welnel. Police identified a suspect and began a search. Twenty-three-year-old Caleb Heyward-Treib was found dead in the back yard of a residence a short distance from the crime scene. Officials say there were no obvious signs of trauma to the suspect and his cause of death will be determined following an autopsy.

 

In sports…

Sioux City IA.  (UJ) –– The University of Jamestown football team was picked to finish ninth in the GPAC conference preseason poll, which was released this week.

The Jimmies received 27 points in the poll, ahead of Briar Cliff (Iowa) with 19, and Mount Marty (S.D.) with 13.

Morningside (Iowa) received eight of 11 first-place votes to finish in the top spot with 98 points, followed by Northwestern (Iowa), which received the other three first-place votes, with 93 points.

Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the poll.

UJ opens the season at Valley City State (N.D.) on August 26, then opens the GPAC conference schedule at home on September 11 against Mount Marty University in the first home game at the newly renovated Charlotte and Gordon Hansen Stadium.

Place Team Pts. (1st Place Votes)
1 Morningside (Iowa) 98 (8)
2 Northwestern (Iowa) 93 (3)
3 Dordt (Iowa) 82
4 Midland (Neb.) 73
5 Concordia (Neb.) 62
6 Doane (Neb.) 50
7 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 48
8 Hastings (Neb.) 40
9 Jamestown (N.D.) 27
10 Briar Cliff (Iowa) 19
11 Mount Marty (S.D.) 13

 

 

Valley City  (VCSU)  The Valley City State University athletic department is hosting its Century Club Kickoff in conjunction with a VCSU football scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 19.

The VCSU Booster Board will be grilling a free meal of burgers and hot dogs at the tailgate shelter located at Lokken Stadium. VCSU fans and supporters are invited to stop by for a free meal and watch the VCSU football team scrimmage M-State Fergus Falls.

People joining the Century Club will be able to register and pick up their season passes that night, and the VCSU Bookstore will also be on site selling Viking Apparel.

The Century Club Kickoff runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. outside the stadium. The football scrimmage starts at 5 p.m. There is no charge to attend the scrimmage or the Century Club kickoff.

 

 

Valley City    The Valley City State volleyball teaam  will host three  teams for three friendly scrimmage games Wednesday August 18 at the Bubble.

In the first game, at 10-a.m., the Vikings will play NDSCS on court two at to unofficially kickoff their 2021 season.

Then at noon,  it’s a game versus Jamestown’s junior varsity squad on court one. The Jimmies’ varsity team is ranked #2 in the country.

At 2-p.m., in the final match, they’ll take on Mayville on court two at 2:00 p.m.

The Vikings take on the University of Mary in Bismarck on August 27  ahead of starting their regular season in Phoenix, AZ in the Firestorm Tournament on August 28.

 

 

(ESPN)  The Memphis Grizzlies are trading guard Patrick Beverley to the Minnesota Timberwolves for guard Jarrett Culver and forward Juancho Hernangomez, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

With the trade, Minnesota gets the toughness and leadership of Beverley for its young, developing roster. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas is familiar with Beverley after their time together with the Houston Rockets.

Memphis, meanwhile, continues to add talent along the margins. Culver, 22, was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft and averaged 5.3 points and 3.1 rebounds in 34 games last season. Hernangomez, 25, averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 52 games last season.

The Grizzlies acquired Beverley from the LA Clippers in the trade that sent Eric Bledsoe to Los Angeles on Sunday.

 

 

In world and national news…

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban have vowed to respect women’s rights, forgive those who fought them and ensure Afghanistan does not become a haven for terrorists. Their longtime spokesman emerged from the shadows as part of a publicity blitz aimed at reassuring world powers and a fearful population after the Taliban overran the country. The Taliban have sought to portray themselves as more moderate than when they imposed a strict form of Islamic rule in the late 1990s. But many Afghans remain skeptical — and thousands have raced to the airport, desperate to flee the country. The Taliban appear to be trying to avoid the international isolation imposed on Afghanistan during their previous rule.

 

(AP) Italy’s prime m(in isteris vowing that Italy will remain committed to promoting and protecting fundamental rights in Afghanistan, especially of women, following the Taliban takeover and the evacuation of Western diplomats and military forces. He says Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 industrialized countries this year, is “the natural” forum to launch a process of collaboration among countries. He spoke to state-run RAI television and paid tribute to the 53 Italian soldiers killed and 700 wounded during Italy’s 20-year participation in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. He says Italy is looking to the future, not to the past.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says U.S. commanders at the Kabul airport are coordinating with the Taliban while accelerating the evacuation of Americans and at-risk Afghan allies. Spokesman John Kirby says there have been no hostile actions by the Taliban, and that several hundred members of the now-defeated Afghan army are at the airport assisting in the evacuation. He said the U.S. military intends to complete the evacuation by Aug. 31, and that any decision to extend it would require presidential approval. The goal is to get one evacuation flight out of Kabul per day, starting Wednesday.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — After struggling for months to persuade Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, U.S. health officials could soon face a fresh challenge: talking vaccinated people into getting booster shots. As early as this week, U.S. health authorities are expected to recommend an extra dose of the vaccine for all Americans eight months after they get their second shot. That’s according to two people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. It all means the biggest vaccination drive in U.S. history is about to get even more extensive.

 

(AP)  Britain’s medical agency has approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for use in children who are ages 12 and over. It is the second COVID-19 shot authorized in the U.K. for those between ages 12 to 17, after the Pfizer vaccine. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency says it is up to the government’s vaccination advisers whether children in this age group should be given the Moderna shot. This week officials announced all those ages 16-17 in England will be offered the chance to book their first shot by Aug. 23. Currently, children ages 12-15 are only offered the Pfizer vaccine if they are considered medically vulnerable.

 

ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia State Board of Elections plans to appoint a review panel this week as part of a process that could lead to a takeover of elections in the state’s most populous county. Using a provision in Georgia’s sweeping new election law, Republican lawmakers last month asked the state board to appoint the performance review board to investigate Fulton County’s handling of elections. The GOP lawmakers who requested the review say they’re worried about sloppiness in the county’s elections. Democrats and voting rights activists say the move is unnecessary and that takeover provision injects politics into local election administration.

 

 

LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) — Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Grace has forced a temporary halt to the Haitian government’s response to the deadly weekend earthquake and that’s feeding growing anger and frustration among thousands who were left homeless. Grace battered southwestern Haiti, which was hit hardest by Saturday’s quake. Officials warned that some areas could get 15 inches of rain before the storm moves on. The storm hit Haiti late Monday, the same day that the country’s Civil Protection Agency raised the death toll from the earthquake to 1,419 and the number of injured to 6,000. Many have had had to wait outside in wilting heat for medical help.