Burgum\u00a0issued\u00a0an executive order Friday with\u00a0multiple\u00a0measures designed to reduce\u00a0record\u00a0COVID-19\u00a0infections and\u00a0record\u00a0hospitalizations and take pressure off the state\u2019s\u00a0strained\u00a0health care\u00a0providers and staff\u00a0in the face of a pending capacity crisis.<\/p>\n The governor\u00a0will issue an\u00a0amended order\u00a0that\u00a0will\u00a0allow practices\u00a0to resume\u00a0for high school winter sports and association, community and club sports for youth and adults starting Nov. 30.\u00a0<\/strong>The change comes after daily consultation and collaboration between the governor and legislative leaders, constructive input from the North Dakota High School Activities Association and athletic associations, and feedback from numerous legislators, parents, school administrators, students, coaches, mental health professionals, and others concerned about the impacts of suspended activities on students\u2019 well-being.<\/p>\n Burgum says, \u201cOur goals remain unchanged: to protect the most vulnerable, provide relief to our stressed hospitals and health care workers, keep students in school and businesses open, and preserve the winter sports season.\u00a0 We appreciate the constructive solutions proposed by multiple districts and associations on how they will conduct practices safely, and we will continue to work with the North Dakota High School Activities Association and others on safely resuming competitions on Dec 14th.\u201d<\/p>\n Wardner says, \u201cAs a former coach and educator, I understand the importance of keeping our schools open for in-person learning for students\u2019 academic well-being and keeping students engaged in athletics and other extracurricular activities that promote their mental, emotional and physical health.\u00a0 We believe this will address the pleas coming from hospitals across the state to take swift, immediate action to slow the spread, while also balancing the concerns we are hearing from parents and students.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pollert says, \u201cAs someone with a daughter and spouse who both work in the school system, I fully support efforts to safeguard our students, faculty and staff from COVID-19 but also appreciate the impact that suspending activities can have on our young people.\u00a0 We want to thank the citizens for reaching out to their legislators and we appreciate the Governor\u2019s willingness to work together on a solution. While there will be ample time to review the state\u2019s response to this pandemic during legislative session, today we need to come together as North Dakotans to meet the needs of our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Active cases, hospitalizations and deaths have risen sharply in North Dakota in October and November, including 16 deaths reported Wednesday and 297 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, which are part of a total of 384 hospitalizations with COVID-19. It took the state over five months to reach 100 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 but just four more weeks to exceed 200 hospitalizations and only 13 additional days to exceed 300 hospitalizations, according to the North Dakota Department of Health. Based on the record high number of new positives in the first half of November, North Dakota hospitals project capacity constraints to escalate to possible shortages in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Burgum says, While young adults ages 20-29 and individuals 19 and under who test positive for COVID-19 rarely require hospitalization, it\u2019s essential for all parents and North Dakotans to understand that youth and young adults are part of the \u201cinvisible epidemic\u201d in the rapid chain of transmission occurring in North Dakota right now.\u00a0 The actions of individuals, families and teams have direct impacts on health care workers and those they care for in hospitals and long-term care centers now and in the future, especially over the next 10 days when traditional multi-generational gatherings hold dangerous transmission possibilities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To help avert a statewide crisis of rationing care, the order to suspend activities is focused on reducing transmissible moments, including between young people who are more likely to be asymptomatic spreaders and unknowingly infect friends, family members and others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As COVID-19 cases have climbed in North Dakota, so have the number of positive cases for ages 0-18 to date: 103 cases in June, 399 in July, 721 in August, 1,610 in September, 3,061 in October and 3,224 through the first 17 days of November.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This growth in cases also holds among 14- to 18-year-olds, from 366 cases in August to 943 cases in September, to 1,375 cases in October, to already 1,320 cases so far in November, according to the North Dakota of Health. Schools and contact tracing have reported greater positive spread and close contact designations in sports and activities compared to classroom settings.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Additional precautions that coaches and athletic associations said they will be taking at practices to help slow the spread\u00a0 and do their part to save vulnerable North Dakotans include no travel for association activities outside of their home territory, no locker room use, coaches masked at all times, and no spectators, with facilities restricted to players, coaches and staff only.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The four-week timeframe for suspending competitions will allow two 14-day incubation cycles of the virus to pass before teams begin competing against each other.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Burgum says, \u201cWe\u2019re fighting every day to protect our most vulnerable citizens, keep our businesses open, keep kids in school and save our winter sports season.\u00a0 And we need everyone to engage in this effort and do everything they can to help bend the curve.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWe make this plea on behalf of our overworked and overwhelmed health care providers,\u201d the governor added. \u201cWe understand and appreciate the concerns about the mental health needs of students, and we share them and empathize with the students who have sacrificed so much this year. We also can\u2019t allow an unchecked spread of infections to keep growing to the point where more and more schools are forced to switch to full distance learning due to lack of teachers, which also is detrimental to students\u2019 mental health and academic progress, and we also must consider the mental well-being of our health care workers. If we want to ease the tremendous burden on our teachers and staff, first responders, nurses and doctors, and make sure a staffed hospital bed is available for every patient \u2013 both COVID and non-COVID \u2013 who needs one until we can bridge the gap to an approved and effective vaccine, then we need to come together as friends, neighbors, and citizens and support one another through the impending challenges ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Measures receive support<\/strong><\/p>\n Several statewide groups have expressed their support for mitigation measures announced Friday by Burgum and State Health Officer Dirk Wilke as effective strategies to save lives and livelihoods by reducing the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In a letter Monday<\/a>, the North Dakota Long Term Care Association thanked the governor for the mitigation strategies, which include a statewide requirement to wear face coverings in indoor businesses and public settings and outdoor public settings where physical distancing isn\u2019t possible; capacity limits on event venues, bars and restaurants, with in-person service closed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.; and a four-week pause before starting winter sports and other K-12 extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Long Term Care Association estimates 1,500 health care staff not at work across North Dakota facilities because they are either COVID-19 positive, in quarantine as a close personal contact or have developed symptoms indicative of COVID-19 and are not allowed to work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBased on what we\u2019ve seen in our facilities, we believe taking steps now to decrease activities in North Dakota will slow the COVID-19 spread, preserve hospital capacity and keep our essential health care workers working and caring for our residents,\u201d the letter stated. \u201cThis action will help save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The North Dakota Hospital Association also offered its support for the mitigation measures in a letter Tuesday<\/a>, noting that the significant increase in cases and hospitalizations \u201cputs incredible stress on doctors, nurses, and support staff.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The letter stated:\u00a0 \u201cBy requiring masks, reducing restaurant and bar capacity and limiting hours, and temporarily pausing high school sports, we can slow the spread of the virus, keep schools open, and avoid hospitals being overrun. It will take all of us working together though.\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The North Dakota State Association of City and County Health Officials also expressed its support for the measures in a letter Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That letter stated:\u00a0 \u201cAs discussed throughout this pandemic, classic mitigation strategies to stay home when not feeling well, physical distancing, hand hygiene diligence, and wearing masks while physical distancing in public are individual pieces that work together in helping combat this infectious disease,\u201d the letter stated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bars restricted, relief available<\/strong><\/p>\n Burgum also addressed questions raised about bars being allowed to remain open while certain school activities are paused.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe bar and restaurant industry employs thousands of North Dakotans who rely on this income to provide for their families and support local schools and services, and the industry has been forced to modify operations throughout the pandemic\u201d Burgum said. \u201cThese measures allow establishments to continue operating in a manner that keeps both staff and customers safe.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some bars and restaurants in high-risk counties weren\u2019t adhering to the ND Smart Restart recommendations to limit occupancy to 25 percent and require face coverings, and Friday\u2019s actions replaced those recommendations with requirements.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bars and restaurants are now required to limit occupancy to 50 percent of licensed seating capacity, not to exceed 150 people.\u00a0Food and beverage can only be served to seated patrons; no stand-up service is allowed.\u00a0Tables must allow at least 6 feet of physical distancing between individual parties.\u00a0All staff must wear face coverings, and patrons must wear masks except when consuming food or beverages.\u00a0In-person service is not allowed between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Burgum noted that the North Dakota Department of Commerce will begin accepting applications<\/a> for the Hospitality Economic Resiliency Grant (HERG) at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, through 5 p.m. Dec. 4. The state has made $54 million available for the program to provide relief to bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and certain other businesses affected by the pandemic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information on North Dakota\u2019s COVID-19 response, visit www.health.nd.gov\/coronavirus<\/a> or www.ndresponse.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Regular and high dose (65 and older) vaccine will be available. High dose vaccine available on a The general public should enter the Civic Center at the main door and proceed to the arena floor. Central Valley Health District encourages all people to take precautions to protect themselves <\/p>\n All new attendees are required to complete the online screening questionnaire in advance, which can be found here: https:\/\/testreg.nd.gov\/<\/a>. If you have been tested by us in the past you do not need to register again.<\/p>\n Follow Central Valley Health District on Facebook<\/a> for current and up-to-date information on local response information.<\/p>\n Questions regarding testing; please contact Central Valley Health at 252-8130.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n The Barnes County Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign starts November 25 in Valley City, at Leevers North and South locations, along with Petro Serve USA, in Valley City.<\/p>\n Volunteers are needed to be bell ringers, with safety measures in place for the volunteers.<\/p>\n Anyone interested in helping the campaign by becoming a bell ringer should call Tim Kadrmas at 490-1044.<\/p>\n The Salvation Army Red Kettles will be located at Leevers North & South and at Petro Serve USA in Valley City.<\/p>\n The kettle campaign in Jamestown along with other charitable donations goes toward this year\u2019s fundraising goal of $151,000.\u00a0 All funds raised stay in the Jamestown community for assistance program not only at Christmas, but throughout the entire year.\u00a0 The dollars go toward buying toys for children, food for families, prescription assistance,<\/p>\n Clubs, families, and businesses are encouraged to challenge one another and ring a bell this holiday season.<\/p>\n Safety precautions will be in place at the kettles and a virtually will be available.<\/p>\n Those wishing signing up, or creating a virtual Red Kettle, or have questions, go on line to registertoring.com. You can also contact Major Judy Lowder at 701-252-0290 or 701-269-3930.<\/p>\n BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) \u2014 A powerful Republican North Dakota lawmaker who lost his seat after being targeted by Gov. Doug Burgum has been chosen by party activists to return to his old seat to replace a candidate who died before the election. Rep. Jeff Delzer was named by Republican district activists at a nominating convention Wednesday night to succeed David Andahl, who died Oct. 5 from coronavirus complications. Exactly who takes Andahl\u2019s seat is now the focus of a legal battle. Burgum appointed coal company executive Wade Boeshans to the seat. The state Supreme Court on Friday will hear arguments in the lawsuit filed by the governor.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n FARGO, N.D. (AP) \u2014 About 70 drivers and warehouse workers at a Fargo food distributor have gone on strike because they don\u2019t believe the company is doing enough to protect them from exposure to COVID-19. KFGO radio reports that members of Teamsters Local 120 walked a picket line Wednesday at Cash-Wa Distributing, formerly Food Services of America. Teamsters spokesman Brian Nowak says people coming into the plant aren\u2019t being temperature-screened and workers haven\u2019t been properly trained on how to clean equipment. Nowak says employees have been working under a collective bargaining agreement that expired in August. He says the union hopes the company will return to the bargaining table and \u201cnegotiate a fair contract.\u201d Company officials declined to comment.<\/p>\n MANDAN, N.D. (AP) \u2014 Authorities say a Mandan police officer has been charged with three sex crimes and fired from the force. Court records show that Scott Warzecha is charged in Morton County with one count of use of a minor in a sexual performance and two counts of surreptitious intrusion. The documents do not list an attorney for Warzecha. Deputy Chief Lori Flaten says Warzecha was fired after an internal investigation. He had originally been placed on administrative leave. The Bismarck Tribune reports that Warzecha was a 13-year police veteran and the handler of the Mandan department\u2019s first K-9, Kupper. The dog joined the department in August 2019.<\/p>\n In sports…<\/p>\n Wednesday<\/p>\n Jimmie Basketball<\/p>\n Men<\/p>\n Tied at 8, Northwestern scored the next eight points to go ahead 16-8 with 16:41 in the first half.<\/p>\n The Red Raiders led by 15 with 10:29 before halftime, but five points from Mason Walters<\/a> (SO\/Jamestown, ND) and a basket by Will Cordes<\/a> (FR\/Shakopee, MN) brought the Jimmies within eight points at 33-25 with 8:31 in the half.<\/p>\n After a Walters bucket cut Northwestern\u2019s lead to 37-27, the Raiders held UJ without a point for the next 4:02, scoring 12 of their own during that span. The next Jimmie points came on a basket by Brady Birch<\/a> (SR\/Melrose, MN), but by that point UJ was down 20.<\/p>\n Jamestown trailed by no fewer than 20 points throughout much of the second half, and fell behind by 30 after a Keegan Van Egdom basket with 9:02 to play.<\/p>\n UJ finished the game on a 25-8 run and forced Northwestern to miss their final five shots.<\/p>\n Walters led Jamestown with 24 points and nine rebounds. Cordes had 18 points off the bench, and Allante\u2019 Pickens<\/a> (SR\/Chicago, IL) was also in double figures with 15. Pickens dished out a team-high six assists.<\/p>\n Northwestern knocked down 13 of 31 three-point attempts while the Jimmies were 8 of 19 from beyond the arc. UJ outrebounded NWC 40-37, including 13-8 on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n Jamestown, 4-2 overall this season and 1-1 in the GPAC, travel to Hastings (Neb.) on November 23 and Doane (Neb.) November 25.<\/p>\n Women<\/p>\n Jimmiepride.com<\/a><\/p>\n Kia Tower<\/a> (SO\/Bigfork, MN) scored a career-high 25 points to help lead the University of Jamestown women\u2019s basketball team to a 70-65 Great Plains Athletic Conference victory over Northwestern (Iowa) College Wednesday night at Harold Newman Arena.<\/p>\n Jamestown closed the first half on a 7-0 run, coming back from a five-point deficit with 3:49 in the half to lead by two at the half.<\/p>\n A Sammy Blum three-pointer put Northwestern ahead 51-49 with 2:54 left in the third quarter. Three points from Tower and a pair of Emma Stoehr<\/a> (SR\/Woodbury, MN) free throws sparked a 5-0 run to put the Jimmies back in front heading to the final quarter.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/BurgumDougOfficialND-300x202.jpg\")
Bismarck\u00a0 (CSi) \u2013 Winter sports practices and extracurricular activities in North Dakota will be allowed to resume Nov. 30 with extra precautions, while competitions will remain suspended until Dec. 14,<\/strong> Gov. Doug Burgum said Wednesday in a joint announcement with House Majority Leader Chet Pollert and Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/CVHD-LOGO-300x202.jpg\"){kind=logo}
Jamestown\u00a0 (CVHD)\u00a0 \u2013 Central Valley Health District will be holding a flu vaccination clinic for all ages:<\/p>\n\n
\nfirst come, first serve basis. All individuals wishing to be vaccinated should wear a shortsleeved
\nshirt and should bring their insurance card for billing purposes. Most major insurance
\ncompanies, including Medicare, cover the cost of the flu shot. Those with Medicare should
\npresent their Medicare card.<\/p>\n
\nAnyone 65 and older, or those with mobility issues, may enter at the north door near the
\nExchequer Room and proceed to the main area. Face coverings and social distancing will be
\nrequired.<\/p>\n
\nfrom getting the flu this season. These steps include washing your hands with soap and water for
\nat least 20 seconds, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and staying home
\nfrom work and school when sick. For up-to-date information on the vaccination clinic and other
\nlocal public health happenings, follow Central Valley Health on Facebook or visit our website
\nwww.centralvalleyhealth.org.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/CivicCenter-Covidtesting-300x202.jpg\")
Jamestown\u00a0 (CVHD) Free COVID-19 testing available at the Jamestown Civic Center, Friday November 20, 2020 from 10:00am \u2013 noon (or when tests run out).\u00a0 Masks and social distancing required.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/SalvationArmylogo-300x202.jpg\")
Jamestown and Valley City Salvation Army officials remind the communities about the Christmas Holiday fundraising support.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/UJbasketball1-300x201.jpg\")
Jamestown\u00a0 (UJ<\/a>)\u00a0 A 12-0 run by Northwestern (Iowa) College late in the first half broke the game open, and the Red Raiders defeated the University of Jamestown men\u2019s basketball team 91-78 Wednesday night at Harold Newman Arena.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/wbAM2-300x202.png\")
CSi Weather…<\/p>\n