wbPM2CSi Weather…

 TONIGHT…CLOUDY. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE EVENING IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA, A 50 PERCENT CHANCE IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA.
LOWS IN THE MID 30S. NORTH WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN IN
THE MORNING IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S.
NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN.
LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE
AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN.
LOWS IN THE MID 30S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER
50S. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT
CHANCE OF RAIN. LOWS NEAR 40. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S.

Jamestown (CSi) The Stutsman County Sheriff’s office reports a grain truck was stolen for a farm building in rural Stutsman County between April 22, 2014, and Aprl 24, 2014.

The truck is yellow in color with North Dakota License FAS 319.

If located contact the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office at 701-252-9000.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The James River Family Y in Jamestown will host the regional Annual Marketplace for Kids, on Wednesday May 14, 2014.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, the Y’s Executive Director, Frank Conlin said, the students will set up their displays of invention on the 13th, and then on the 14th the Larson Lifetime Sports Center at the Y will open to the public at 7:15-a.m., until 4:30-p.m.

This Friday May 2, 2014 the Y hosts the First Annual, Sping Fling, Zumbathon with registration at 5:30-p.m. The event runs from 6:30-p.m., to 8:30-p.m.

The cost is $5 per person, $10 per couple, and $20 per family, with proceeds going to the Y’s fitness programming. The event will be held with certified instructors.

Zumba is an exercise-dance that allows people to work out while enjoying popular music.

Conlin also pointed out that the Larson Center will host the Jamestown High School Post-Graduation Party. The event takes place on May 25, 2014 starting at 11-p.m., and runs until 5-a.m., on May 26th. He said the event gives graduates and safe and fun place to celebrate graduation. He added local businesses have donated prizes.

Conlin added that the Spring Two Session has started at the Y. He said the latest brochure is available, along with signups at the Y’s front desk.

This summer the Y will offer outdoor classes, and the outdoor boot camp along with holding the popular battleropes program outdoors.

For more information, call the Y at 701-253-4101.

 

Jamestown (CSi) A reminder, the Annual LaMoure County Suicide Prevention Walk, will be on Sunday May 14, 2014, start with registration at 1-p.m., at the Kulm Community Center, on 1st Avenue Southeast.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, an organizer of the event, Caroline Homan said, teams or individual walkers may participate in the walk, which raises funds for education and outreach materials promoting suicide awareness.

She said more importantly it offers a network of support as we remember lost loved ones.

Registration is also online at

https://sites.google.com/site/lcspwalk/or will begin at 1:00 on the day of the event.

There is no cost to register, but donations are welcome. Donations can be made in person at the walk location, or checks made payable to the LaMoure Lions may be sent to Sandra Rupp 8558 68th ST SE Edgeley, ND 58433 Phone 701-493-2739.

A Face Book link,

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lamoure-County-Suicide-Prevention-Walk/116663745105364 is also availble.

There will be a lunch provided by the Kulm Lions Club.

There will be a short program, with the guest speaker, Nellie Degen of Jamestown, followed by the walk at 2:00-p.m.

After the walk, there will also be the opportunity for teams to participate in designing quilt squares that will become part of a memory quilt in honor of a loved one.

She invites residents in the area to joint the walk for fellowship among family, friends, and supporters during the afternoon of awareness and support the fight against mental illness and walk for hope.

Questions may be directed to Lucinda Malm at 701-647-2729 or

jucyleff@drtel.net or Sandi Rupp at 701-493-2739.

 

Jamestown (CSi) University of Jamestown President Robert S. Badal announces that Dr. Paul Olson has been named Vice President for Academic Affairs. He will begin his duties July 1, 2014.

Dr. Olson has spent the past nine years at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, where he is the Chair of the Division of Social and Behavioral Science and Associate Professor of Sociology. At Briar Cliff, Dr. Olson has also served on the Strategic Planning Committee and University Leadership Team and was Director of the honors program.

Dr. Badal says, “Dr. Olson’s leadership as a faculty leader and Division Chair at Briar Cliff University marks him as a person who has the qualities we seek in our next Vice President for Academic Affairs.”

Dr. Olson says he was impressed with the people he met through the interview process, including students, faculty, staff, administration and trustees.

He says, “I really look forward to working with all of the people at Jamestown. The University has an excellent combination of a reputation of producing outstanding graduates throughout its history plus an exciting future with the development of new programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

Originally from Laurens, Iowa, Dr. Olson holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Northern Iowa, a master of arts in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

He says, “I have a passion for the rural upper Midwest and understand how important higher education is in communities like Jamestown. It’s an exciting time to be at the University and in North Dakota in general.”

Dr. Olson and his wife, Teresa, have three daughters, ages nine, seven, and four.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  University of Jamestown Theatre will present “An Evening of One-Acts” featuring two one-act plays written by students at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1 in the Reiland Fine Arts Center’s DeNault Auditorium.

Tickets are $8 and can be reserved through the Box Office. Call (701) 252-3467 ext. 5435, send e-mail to tickets@uj.edu, or purchase at the door.

The plays are “What’s on Your Mind?” by Alex Smith, Kent, Wash., and “It’s Just a Snow Mirage” by Jana Lynch, Jamestown.

 

BISMARCK (CSi) – Gov. Jack Dalrymple Wednesday announced his appointment of Maj. Michael Gerhart Jr. to replace Col. James Prochniak as Superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol. Gerhart, whose appointment and promotion to the rank of colonel is effective July 1, will direct the Highway Patrol services of 168 troopers and manage a two-year budget of $61 million.

Prochniak, who began his career with the North Dakota Highway Patrol in 1987 and has served as the Highway Patrol’s superintendent since August 2009, is retiring as of July 1, 2014.

Dalrymple said, “Maj. Gerhart is a proven leader and a dedicated law enforcement officer who has done an outstanding job in every management position he has earned at the North Dakota Highway Patrol. The citizens of North Dakota will benefit from Mike’s extensive experience as a trooper and supervisor in our oil and gas region as well as his experience directing the agency’s training and serving as field commander. The North Dakota Highway Patrol is one of the best trained and most professional in the nation and I know that Maj. Gerhart will continue that strong tradition.”

The governor thanked Col. Prochniak for 27 years of dedicated service to the people of North Dakota.

Dalrymple said, “Col. Prochniak’s strong leadership has been critical during this remarkable time of growth throughout North Dakota. We have significantly increased the number of troopers serving on North Dakota’s roadways and it’s because of Jim’s dedication and leadership that we have maintained very high standards for our troopers while still meeting the state’s needs for a larger Highway Patrol presence. We are very grateful for Jim’s dedicated service to the people of North Dakota and we wish him all the best.”

Gerhart began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1992, serving as a trooper based in Kenmare. Gerhart was promoted to regional sergeant in Minot and served in that role until August 2008, when he was promoted to lieutenant and appointed to serve as the Highway Patrol’s Safety and Education Officer. In 2009, Gerhart was named director of the Highway Patrol’s Law Enforcement Training Academy and in 2011, he was promoted to Major and appointed Field Operations Commander of the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

Gerhart received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Business Administration from Dickinson State University in 1991. He is a 2006 graduate of Northwestern University Traffic Institute’s School of Police Staff and Command.

Prochniak began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1987. As a trooper, he was stationed in Bismarck, Minnewaukan, Casselton, and Fargo. In 1998, he was promoted to sergeant and served as district supervisor in Bismarck and Fargo. Prochniak was promoted to captain in 2005 and served as commander of the Fargo District. During his career, Prochniak also served as the agency’s safety coordinator, an instructor at the Law Enforcement Training Academy, commander of the Highway Patrol’s Emergency Response Team and as an accident reconstructionist. He was appointed superintendent of the Highway Patrol in August 2009.

 

BISMARCK (CSi) The North Dakota National Guard Tuesday night hosted retired Gen. David H. Petraeus during a forum at the Raymond J. Bohn armory in Bismarck after his visit to the Bakken oil patch in western North Dakota. Petraeus joined Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, to discuss leadership and to provide insight into his military career in front of an audience of Guardsmen, family members and special guests, including Kelly L. Schmidt, state treasurer and Dr. Larry Skogen, interim chancellor for the North Dakota University System.

Sprynczynatyk said as he introduced the former Army commander and CIA director,
“Whenever you think of great Americans associated with wars and conflicts, such as Gen. (Norman) Schwarzkopf with Desert Storm, Gen. (William) Westmoreland and Vietnam, you also associate the accomplishments of the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan with Gen. Petraeus.”
Petraeus’ distinguished military career includes service in Haiti, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. In the decade that followed 9/11, he was deployed overseas for nearly 7 years, and led six straight commands, five of which were in combat. During last night’s forum, he encouraged attendees to always seek “excellence at whatever level, job or position you currently hold as you advance through the ranks.”

After a 25-minute discussion moderated by Sprynczynatyk, Petraeus called on members of the audience for questions. One attendee asked the retired general about his thoughts on military members serving multiple deployments. Petraeus said, “It’s a privilege to serve our nation in uniform.” Being “boots on the ground” himself for many years during the Global War on Terrorism, he told the group that he understands the hardships that they and their family members face. Petraeus’ son currently serves in the military.

After the presentation, Petraeus met with audience members, several of whom served under his commands in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism.

 

In sports…

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University men’s basketball has added a sure-handed point guard to its 2014 recruiting class.

Viking head coach Jeff Kaminsky announced Wednesday that Alex Quist, a 5-foot-11 point guard from WDA champion Bismarck Century, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Vikings and attend classes at VCSU this fall.

Quist was the starting point guard this winter at Bismarck Century High School, which posted a 23-2 record, won the WDA regular season and tournament championships, and placed third at the Class A State Tournament. Quist committed just 11 turnovers the entire season and posted an outstanding 3.9 assist/turnover ratio.

Kaminsky said, Alex will be a great addition to our program. He has a great understanding of the game and an ability to make players around him better. His decision making and skill level will be quality assets. His character and work ethic will make him successful both on and off the court. We are excited to have Alex join the Viking Basketball program.”

Quist averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 assists and just .58 turnovers per game during his senior season. He shot 35 percent from 3-point range and made 27 3-pointers.

Century head coach Darin Mattern, said, “Alex has been an outstanding leader for our Bismarck Century boys basketball program and will be a great addition to the mens basketball program at VCSU. He is a dedicated student-athlete who will contribute both on and off the court.”

Quist is the son of Paul and Doreen Quist. He joins Briton Bussman (G, Milnor, N.D.) and Jayden Ferguson (F, Williston, N.D.) as VCSU’s signed recruits for the 2014 season.

Valley City State University posted a 14-14 record in 2013. The Vikings graduate just one senior from that squad. Under Jeff Kaminsky, the Vikings are 149-115 and have posted 20-win seasons in four of the past seven years. In 2013, Kaminsky led the Vikings to their first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 1987.

Los Angeles   Oprah Winfrey is interest as a potential buyer, of the NBA L.A. Clippers, after club owner Donald Sterling was banned for life from pro basketball for racist comments attributed to him.

At least two of the National Basketball Association’s 29 other team owners, including the governing board’s interim chairman, said they expect the necessary three-fourths majority of owners to back Sterling’s full expulsion, a move unprecedented in NBA history.

The advisory finance committee of the board scheduled a meeting on Thursday to review the next steps for removing Sterling as owner of the Clippers, as urged on Tuesday by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, a league spokeswoman said.

Sterling, who bought the Clippers in 1981 for $13 million when the team was based in San Diego, has not indicated whether he would relinquish ownership without a fight. Experts have estimated that the franchise, which moved to Los Angeles in 1984, could now be worth as much as $800 million.

Moreover, some experts said Sterling’s fellow owners might be hesitant to support action they felt might set a precedent that could jeopardize their own property rights in the future.