CSi Weather…

LATE THIS AFTERNOON…PARTLY SUNNY. WEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.
.TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOWS 15 TO 20. WEST WINDS 15 TO
25 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. WEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH 5 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. SOUTH
WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S. SOUTH WINDS
AROUND 15 MPH DECREASING TO 5 TO 10 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
LOWS 15 TO 20. NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.FRIDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS 15 TO
20.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS
NEAR ZERO.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
.MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
LOWS AROUND 10 BELOW.

 

A PERIOD OF COLDER AND MORE ACTIVE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE FRIDAY INTO THE NEXT WEEK. WIND CHILLS TO NEAR 30 BELOW ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA DURING THE NIGHTTIME AND MORNING HOURS SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

UP TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE DURING THE 2 DAY PERIOD FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.

 

 Engineer Unit Receives Alert for Possible Mobilization

BISMARCK, N.D. – (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 8, 2013)  —  A North Dakota Army National Guard unit has received an alert notification for possible mobilization. The Jamestown, N.D.-based 817th Engineer Company (SAPPER) was notified of their possible mobilization by their leadership.

If mobilized, approximately 100 Soldiers would serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the spring of 2014 to Afghanistan. The unit previously served in Iraq from June 2007-June 2008 and as Company B, 141st Engineer Battalion from Dec. 2003 until Feb. 2005. The unit specializes in combat engineering tasks. 

“The 817th Engineer Company offers extensive depth and experience that will make them successful during their mission,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “The other key component to their success is the continued support of their families, friends and employers during another mission away from home.”

More than half of the Soldiers have previously deployed.  Soldiers with the unit are from 34 communities across N.D., as well as eight Minnesota communities and 1 from Texas.

North Dakota Army National Guard units that are currently mobilized include, the Williston and Hazen, N.D. based 818th Engineer Company (SAPPER), the 1919th Contingency Contracting Team (CCT), and about 30 Soldiers from the Fargo-based 191st Military Police Company with Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

Other N.D. National Guard units on alert are the Grand Forks based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery and the Bismarck-based Detachment 42 (Det. 42), Operational Airlift Support Agency (OSA).

 

From Buffalo City Tourism…

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Jan 8, 2013) — Searle Swedlund from Moorhead, Minnesota has been hired as the new Executive Director for Buffalo City Tourism.

A news release from Buffalo City Tourism says, Searle’s experience of 14 years at Concordia College in a variety of capacities, most recently as the Associate Director of Alumni Relations, will serve him well in this position.

Searle views Jamestown as “A jewel on the prairie that provides wonderful access to historical events, social outlets and its people provide the element of hospitality that make it unique.”

The public is cordially invited to a Meet & Greet for Searle on Tuesday, January 22nd from 2 PM to 4 PM in the Lantern Room at the Depot Cafe.

Coffee and cookies will be served. At 4 PM, Buffalo City Tourism will host their 8th Annual Meeting with a business meeting followed by awards.

Outgoing President Dave Smette hands over the gavel to Alden Kollman and Outgoing Board Members Bob Lulay, Mark Wolf, Corey Bayer and Pam Phillips will be recognized. Mitzi Hager, Rev. Rich Fitzer, Paul Butenhoff and Jon Lillejord will become new Board Members.

Tourism Director, Nina Sneider is retiring, and will stay on board, the next several weeks during the transition period.

　

Jamestown, ND (Jan 8, 2012) — The 2013 American Cancer Society Daffodil Days is in progress sporting the American Cancer Society.

Community Relations Manager, Mary Dahl, of Fargo says, the Cancer Society’s Flower of Hope, is a sign of renewed life.

She says Daffodil Days comes at a time of year when a sign of spring is a welcome sight.

She adds, once again the Jamestown High School National Honor Society, under the supervision of Tammy Mullowney, along with Community Representatives, Bill & Nellie Degen and Jim & Linda Bender, are hosting the event in Jamestown and neighboring communities of Stutsman County.

On Tuesday’s (Jan 8,2013) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Nellie Degen and Jim Bender explained more about the area Daffodil Days.

Pre-Sale orders of daffodils on now through February 15, 2013, with the

fresh, cut daffodils being delivered March 18-22 by the Benders’, to the locations from which the flowers were ordered.

Those purchasing the daffodils may then pick up their daffodils from where they were ordered.

Don’s House of Flowers will keep the flowers fresh until they are delivered.

The products being sold remain the same as in the past: a bunch of 10 daffodils for $10; bunch and a vase for $15; 3 bunches for $25; commemorative Boyd Bear & bunch for $25; Gift of Hope for a Cancer Patient for $25.

For more information, please contact Bill and Nellie Degen at 320-5440 or Jim and Linda Bender at 763-6277.

A NHS student may soon be approaching you regarding an order.

Orders and payments may be made to several Jamestown business, and financial institutions, or send donations to: Mary Dahl, 4646 Amber Valley Parkway, Fargo, ND 58104.

Orders may also be faxed to 701-232-1109. Brighten someone’s day while helping to support the mission of the American Cancer Society.

The Society would like to share that every bouquet of daffodils purchased is appreciated, and that the dollars raised by the event will be used to help the American Cancer Society continue its funding of cancer research, its state and national legislative advocacy, and its many educational and patient service programs.

A portion of the money raised by past Daffodil Days in Stutsman County is presently being used to support Look Good … Feel Better, Reach to Recovery, Patient Lodging Program, and Transportation Assistance, which are very successful and well-utilized programs here in the area.

The money raised locally is also helping to fund the Society’s Cancer Resource Centers. Patients and their families from Jamestown and throughout North Dakota have been visiting these Centers for information and assistance following their diagnosis of cancer.

The Society’s research program is the largest, private, not-for-profit source of funding for cancer research in the United States, second only to the federal government.

46 of the researchers we have financially supported have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. The Society’s funding has also helped play a part in every major research break-through in the past 50 years, including: the Pap Test, mammography, Gleevex, Tamoxifen, Herceptin, Gardacil, the first successful chemotherapy treatment for cancer, and the bone marrow transplant technique.

　

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen says the Stutsman Rural Water District Board will meet on Wednesday January 9, 2013, to discuss items under negotiations with the city.

The Mayor indicated the city council will meet later this week in response to the next offer from Rural Water.

She said the city has retained Tammy Norgaard from the Vogel Law Firm as co-counsel.

The Mayor added that until City Attorney Ken Dalsted returns to town, the city’s Assistant City Attorney will also be involved in discussions.

On the January 7, 2013 Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Mayor Andersen said,

The city council has re-grouped, and the latest proposal to Stutsman Rural Water District was based on additional legal advice from counsel, and a recently hired consultant.

As issue is whether the City of Jamestown, or Stutsman Rural Water District is to serve the area west of Jamestown, in this case, specifically the Titan Machinery building, under construction, across from Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

A city Ordinance outlines that any facility within city limits has to be serviced by the city, with this area previously annexed into Jamestown city limits.

Stutsman Rural Water District contends that a federal code protects rural water companies from cities going into their territory.

The City Of Jamestown and the Rural Water District are negotiating a royalty figure the city would pay and keep the rural water district from filing an injunction.

Mayor Andersen says the agreement between the city and Rural Water states that the rural water district would not sell water to anyone within a mile of city limits, but its now backing out of that agreement.

She said the city would “loop” the water line to Titan, adding that the water pressure that results from the city water supply is better suited for a sprinkler system for fire fighting.

She added that rural water service would require extra water storage and water pumping.

Developer, Robert Thompson says the project has been at a stand-still pending which water sprinkler system will be used.

Titan was hoping to open the new building in July this year, at the latest.

Titan’s lease on the current location expires in March this year.

Titan machinery was looking at the new site for about 12 years.

Last summer, a building permit was issued by the city, and ground was broken for the new building, after a development agreement with the city of Jamestown, which stated the city would get water to the building.

Thompson assumes the city will have liability issues if Titan is not provided water.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP Jan 8, 2013) – Authorities have made an arrest in connection with an armed bank robbery under investigation in Fargo.
 
     Officers were called to Cornerstone Bank on University Drive about 1:45 p.m. Tuesday for a robbery in which the suspect reportedly displayed a handgun.
 
     The suspect led police, Clay County sheriff’s deputies and state troopers on a pursuit and was later arrested in nearby Moorhead, Minn.
 
     The incident remains under investigation.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Lawmakers are getting settled in for the start of the 63rd legislative session in North Dakota.
 
     Sen. Larry Robinson, of Valley City, has been a state legislator for 24 years. He says there’s a “golden opportunity” to pass meaningful legislation because the state is flush was cash.
 
     Says Robinson, “There shouldn’t be too many excuses. We better get the job done.”
 
     Sen. Tim Flakoll, of Fargo, says he believes the session will have long-term impacts. He says lawmakers will decide crucial issues such as investments in education and infrastructure, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
 
    
     The North Dakota Legislature meets every other year.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Gov. Jack Dalrymple says despite being blessed with a strong economy, North Dakota still faces big challenges for the future.
 
     Dalrymple gave his State of the State speech to a joint session of the North Dakota Legislature on Tuesday, as lawmakers begin their 2013 session.
 
     The governor says record oil production has helped North Dakota’s spur the state’s economy and grow its population. The state has the lowest unemployment rate in the country and is the second-largest oil-producing state behind Texas.
 
     But Dalrymple says the state faces many challenges because of its rapid economic growth “that far exceed” what a city or county would normally encounter.
 
     Dalrymple told lawmakers that the state must deal with the challenges by addressing needs in law enforcement, infrastructure, housing, education and human services programs.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The state Capitol in Bismarck was getting squirrely prior to the start of the Legislative session.
 
     The Central Cass High School Squirrels band was performing for Gov. Jack Dalrymple and lawmakers on Tuesday, the first day of the 2013 session.
 
     The school is based in Dalrymple’s hometown of Casselton. Seventeen-year-old Anthony Spooner says his grandfather built the governor’s house in Casselton. Spooner is a drummer and says it’s “cool” to play for the Legislature.
 
     Fifteen-year-old Matthew Buchholz is one of two tuba players in the 64-piece band. He says the experience is fun.
 
     The boys say many of the band instruments were too big to fit inside elevators at the Capitol so they worked up a sweat by lugging them up stairs. 
 
     BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Loretta Boehn (bane) began her 21st Legislative session at the state Capitol in Bismarck on Tuesday.
 
     Boehn has been a cashier at the cafe in the Capitol building for 43 years. She says she still gets excited working during the session, and seeing old customers and meeting new ones.
 
     Boehn says she enjoys her job and hopes to work at least two more sessions after the 2013 session.
 
     Lobbyist Josh Askvig of Fargo calls Boehn “a treasure.” He says he looks forward to seeing her friendly smile when he comes to the Capitol every other year.
 

WASHINGTON (AP) – A gun control group is targeting Sen. Heidi Heitkamp with print ads after the North Dakota Democrat spoke critically about gun restrictions being considered by the Obama Administration.
 
     The ads from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence invoke recent mass shootings including Newtown, Conn. They are running in two Washington newspapers on Tuesday and will appear in the Fargo Forum and Bismarck Tribune on Wednesday, and draw attention to critical remarks Heitkamp made about new gun restrictions on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
 
     In a statement, Heitkamp spokeswoman Whitney Philips says Heitkamp believes any solution to mass shootings must go beyond focusing solely on gun laws and include other issues. Philips says Heitkamp believes “all options must be on the table” when it comes to addressing gun violence.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota State University is continuing to lease an airplane from the NDSU Development Foundation, a practice scrutinized by state lawmakers in 2011.
 
     NDSU has leased the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air B200 since July 2007 for quarterly payments of about $80,000, for a total cost that runs into the millions of dollars. State lawmakers have questioned the spending.
 
     Rep. Jeff Delzer of Underwood says  a bill this session that aims to establish a centralized system of state-owned planes overseen by the Transportation Department would not include the NDSU plane because lawmakers were told it was for sale.
 
     NDSU spokeswoman Laura McDaniel says a prospective buyer backed out.
 
     Delzer says lawmakers might look at new policies to end the practice if the plane isn’t sold soon.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A company that provides transport services for railroad workers has closed its dispatch center in Bismarck and laid off 31 dispatchers.
 
     Professional Transportation Inc. vice president Gary Schumacher tells The Bismarck Tribune that the company is consolidating operations. Its main corporate dispatch center is in Evansville, Ind.
 
     PTI will continue to have drivers in North Dakota, and is giving the dispatchers a chance to apply for other positions in the state or at other company locations.

 

In world and national news..

 TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) – Residents of Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday  marked the second anniversary of the shootings that left six people dead and 12 others injured, including congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Bells rang at 10:11 a.m., the moment a gunman opened fire on Giffords as she met with constituents two years ago. Giffords and her husband today launched a political action committee aimed at curbing gun violence.
 
     CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) – Authorities are describing an elaborate booby trap system that was allegedly set up to pull police away from the Colorado theater shooting last July. They say it included improvised napalm and a substance that burns so hot that water can’t put out the blaze. An FBI bomb technician described the system Tuesday at a hearing in which prosecutors laid out their case against suspected gunman James Holmes. He’s accused of killing 12 people and wounding dozens of others.
 
     CHICAGO (AP) – A Chicago medical examiner says he plans to exhume the body of a lottery winner who was poisoned with a lethal dose of cyanide. The death was initially ruled a result of natural causes. But a relative’s request for a deeper look resulted in the conclusion months later that the man was killed with the highly toxic poison as he was about to collect $425,000 in winnings. Police have not announced any suspects.
 
     ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – An expert panel that’s been examining Superstorm Sandy’s effects in New York is calling for quick, simple prevention measures for future storms — including flood gates for tunnels, subways and airports as well as safe havens like old Civil Defense shelters. But it also calls for two more tunnels out of Manhattan, a rapid bus system and another Long Island Rail Road track. The report was delivered to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is expected to include some recommendations in his State of the State speech on Wednesday.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – Google says it’s teaming up with a neighborhood business group in New York City to provide the company’s first urban Wi-Fi network. Anyone in a 10-block area surrounding Google’s offices in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood will be able to access the Internet for free. It will be available outdoors and in some indoor spaces such as a senior center. New York’s mayor says he’d like to get federal funding to bring wireless internet access to the entire city.