Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Mar 17

CSi Weather…

REST OF TODAY…Cloudy, windy. Highs in the mid 30s. Northwest winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts to around 45 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly clear. Colder. Lows 15 to 20. Northwest winds

5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph in the evening.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Southeast winds

5 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the lower 30s. South

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. West winds 10 to

15 mph shifting to the northwest 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the upper 20s.

.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Highs in the mid 40s.

Lows 18 to 28.

.TUESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the lower 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning, then

chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 40s. Chance

of precipitation 50 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow

in the evening, then slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows

in the upper 20s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow possibly mixed with

rain in the morning, then slight chance of rain in the afternoon.

Highs in the lower 40s. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

 

New…

Jamestown (CSi) – Sad news.   The JC Penney store at the Buffalo Mall in Jamestown is on the list of 138 stores nationwide to close by June 2017.   Other stores to close in ND are located in Dickinson at the Praire Hills Mall and downtown Wahpeton.

The official announcement and closing list  released Friday March 17, 2017 from JC Penney:

As part of a continuing effort to advance sustainable growth and long-term profitability, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. will be closing 138 stores, one supply chain facility in Lakeland, Fla., and relocating one supply chain facility in Buena Park, Calif., to align the Company’s physical store footprint and omnichannel network. Approximately 5,000 positions nationwide will be impacted by the store closures, most of which will occur in June. JCPenney is in the process of identifying relocation opportunities within the Company for esteemed leaders. Additionally, JCPenney will provide outplacement support services for those eligible associates who will be leaving the Company. Most affected stores will begin the liquidation process on April 17.

Full list of store closures

 

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  The latest spring 2017 flood outlook shows that the early thaw on the lower end of the Sheyenne River Valley has brought down the overall spring flood risk.

Meteorologist Greg Gust, says the probability of the Sheyenne River in Valley City reaching 12 feet is at 50 percent.

Gust adds, some thawing has happened in the northern end of the Sheyenne River Valley.

Three  to five inches of moisture remains in the snow pack and Devils Lake & Stump Lake could rise to three feet above current levels this spring.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown Tourism’s, Grant/Exec Board, Thursday reviewed applications for funding under the Capital Construction Fund, at the CSi Technology Center, at Historic Franklin School.

Goals and Objectives of Capital Construction Fund were reviewed by Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund.

Funding for Frontier Village Building Repairs was made by  Swedlund, as Frontier Village, Treasurer, Tina Busche was unable to attend.

Their request was two-fold, $12,750 for roof shingle replacement at the General Store building, and $14,450 for shingle replacement for the Depot building.  The request application noted, $7,244.73 was received for the store in an insurance claim from Farmers Union Insurance.

After discussion the board voted unanimously to grant the General Store project, with $12,750 coming from the Capital Construction Fund, and $5,250 from the Grant Requests Fund.

The board tabled the request for the Depot Building project.

It was pointed out that a $10,000 BNSF grant will go toward supporting the Depot Building that is in need of a roof, siding and structural repairs along with care and maintenance of artifacts.
Jamestown Parks and Rec Foundation was represented by Jeff Gould concerning additional funding for replacing dugouts at Jack Brown Stadium.

Gould requested an additional $15,000, with the project’s budget at about $288,819.

With the project Gould pointed out other funding sources that have contributed  $131,000.

Those sources included: Jamestown Parks & Recreation at $78,000, University of Jamestown at $30,000, Jamestown High School $15,000, North Dakota Amateur Baseball $5,000, JayBal (American Legion and Little League Baseball $3,000.)

He said donations from businesses and private citizens were 64, with 174 donations from 14 different states, and 45 different cities, totaling $141,000.  Total pledge donations so far are $273,000, with the balance left of $16,819.00.

The dugout project leaders include, Jamestown Parks & Recreation Director, Doug Hogan, and Parks & Rec Business Manager, Bonnie Ukestad, and Jeff Gould as a private citizen.

Architectural engineer was provided by Interstate Engineering, and the contractor, Hillerud Construction.

Gould said the project is in progress and is expected to be finished at the end of April this year.

He added that on June 24, 2017 at 11-a.m., a ribbon cutting will be held at Jack Brown Stadium for the project, followed by a Jamestown Legion Post 14 Alumni Baseball game.

The former dugouts were antiquated in terms of what is needed to accommodate baseball teams of today, and noted safety issues for players occupying the dugouts, which are 51 years old.  He said players will no longer have to sit outside the dugout on a bench.

He added that the new dugouts will stop the current trend of losing profitable tournaments to cities such as Fargo, and Bismarck.

He said in 2016 there were  173 games played at Jack Brown Stadium including local teams, and tournament games, which in most cases had players and family and friends from out of town, staying overnight in Jamestown.

Those included Class A and AA, and AAA tournaments, with a total of 556 participants.

The board the granted the full amount requested of $15,000 for funding the dugout project, from the Capital Construction Fund.

Applications are being accepted for the next round of Capital Construction funding due by October 1, 2017.

Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said, annually, about $80,000 is available in the fund, coming from the Jamestown Restaurant tax.

The applications are considered twice a year, with the application deadlines March 1^st, and October 1^st each year.

 

 

Williston (CSi) U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Thursday announced a $1,132,000 federal loan for Ellendale to support the city’s water system infrastructure through the construction of a new water tower that will replace the current 100 year old water tower.

These federal funds are made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants program, a program which would be eliminated under President Trump’s budget that he released Thursday. The program would be eliminated as part of the 21 percent cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Just in the past two fiscal years, North Dakota communities received more than $37 million from this program for needed water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The funds for Ellendale are specifically authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill that Heitkamp, who was Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy, fought to write, negotiate, and pass to give our state’s rural and agricultural communities the security they need.

Heitkamp says “The federal loan announced (today) through a critical federal program will help support the construction of a new water tower for Ellendale that will not only support the delivery of clean, safe, and reliable water to Ellendale families, but will also support jobs during the construction of the new water tower.  But if the president’s budget went into effect, loans like this one, as well as federal grants to help rural communities get clean water and build sewer infrastructure, would disappear. Ripping the rug out from under rural communities isn’t right or fair, as we need these federal programs to invest in rural America and help North Dakota towns grow.”

 

Williston  (CSi)   U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp has reinforced the importance of strong policies that encourage certainty for renewable energy workers and promote increased build out of wind energy resources following the announcement of Xcel Energy’s new projects to build a total of seven wind farms in the Upper Midwest.

In total, Xcel Energy’s proposals will develop 1,550-megawatts of wind energy across North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa. The new wind farms in North Dakota will be built in Dickey, Morton, and Mercer Counties. By using federal production tax credits – available only because Heitkamp negotiated a long-term extension for the credits at the end of 2015 – Xcel Energy is able to secure low wind energy prices for customers and estimates these projects will save more than $4 billion in fuel and other costs.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota officials appear poised to go after the U.S. government — and thus U.S. taxpayers — to recoup more than $38 million in state expenses related to protests against the Dakota Access pipeline.

A longstanding offer from project developer Energy Transfer Partners to pay up remains on the table, but it’s unclear whether the state will accept it.

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum’s spokesman says no decisions have been made on seeking reimbursement from the company that’s worth billions. But he says the state has been talking to federal officials about reimbursement.

Dustin Gawrylow (GAV’-ur-loh) with the North Dakota Watchdog Network questions whether the financial responsibility should fall on taxpayers. He says the state should take the offered money.

 

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s U.S. senators are asking President Donald Trump to keep the state’s top federal prosecutor in place.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Myers was appointed to the job by U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson after Timothy Purdon resigned in February 2015.

Trump recently asked 46 politically appointed U.S. attorneys to resign. Because Myers was appointed by the court and not by the Senate, he is allowed to stay on until a new nominee is confirmed.

Sens. John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp want Myers to be that nominee. Heitkamp, a former North Dakota attorney general, says Myers is “capable, tenacious and focused.”

Myers has been a federal prosecutor since 2002. He has tried a number of successful cases against large-scale drug traffickers, including members of the violent Arelleno Felix cartel in Mexico.

 

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota state fire marshal’s investigator has determined a Moorhead apartment fire that killed a woman was caused by smoking materials in the bedroom.

Moorhead police on Thursday identified the victim as 58-year-old Billi Jo Larson.

Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Wallin tells KFGO-AM firefighters found smoke and soot coming from one of the apartments on the lower level of the building Wednesday. The victim was found in that apartment and was rushed to Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where she was pronounced dead.

Police say the fire was ruled accidental. The official cause of death is still pending the final autopsy report.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo man is in jail awaiting charges after authorities found drugs and a homemade bomb in his vehicle.

A Cass County sheriff’s deputy stopped the 52-year-old man for speeding Wednesday near Harwood.

The sheriff’s office says during a search of the man’s vehicle, deputies also discovered an apparent explosive device. The Red River Regional Bomb Squad arrived and seized the homemade bomb.

The  man was arrested on several charges, including possessing explosives, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, carrying a concealed weapon and preventing arrest.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — State officials are calling for a study of North Dakota’s energy landscape.

North Dakota Public Service Commission chairman Randy Christmann says the study must include as many stakeholders as possible in determining the state’s future energy needs.

Christmann testified before a Senate energy committee Thursday and urged legislators to take time with the study and include input from public utilities, private co-ops and experts in the state and federal regulatory processes.

On the same day that legislators considered the energy study, Allete Clean Energy announced plans to build a 100-megawatt wind farm in Morton and Mercer counties by 2019. The project will supply electricity to Xcel Energy under a purchase agreement.

 

 

In sports…

Jamestown  (UJ) Bryn Woodside (JR/Albert Lea, MN) was named the winner of the Hustle Award at the 2017 NAIA DIvision II Women’s Basketball National Championship, which concluded Tuesday night as Marian (Ind.) won their second straight title.

The award is given annually to the athlete in the tournament who shows the best hustle among the 32 teams at the tournament.

Woodside helped lead the Jimmies to their second quarterfinal appearance in the last three seasons. She averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while playing 106 minutes in UJ’s tournament run. Her best game of the tournament came against Davenport, where she scored 10 points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2017 Division II Women’s Basketball All-America teams on Thursday. Saint Xavier’s (Ill.) Kara Jamestown’s

Kyra Dewald was named to the second team. The senior from Jamestown, N.D., led the Jimmies in scoring with 15.1 points per game and recorded 105 steals. She finished her career with the seventh-most points (1338) in UJ history and was selected as the 2016-17 NSAA Most Valuable Player. Krolicki was named the NAIA National Player of the Year.

Valley City (Mark Potts VCSU))- Valley City State junior Jayden Ferguson has been named Honorable Mention All American, the NAIA national office announced Thursday with the release of its official 2016-17 Division II Men’s Basketball All American Team.

A 6-foot-5 forward from Williston, N.D., Ferguson led the Vikings in scoring this season at 21 points per game. He also pulled down 4.9 rebounds, dished out 1.9 assists and shot 51 percent from the field, 41 percent on 3′s and 75 percent at the free throw line. Ferguson was second in the North Star Athletic Association in scoring and finished fourth in shooting percentage. Nationwide, he ranked 19th in scoring average.

This is the second straight season that Ferguson earned Honorable Mention All American. He was also a 1st Team All Conference selection this year for the second straight season. Ferguson climbed the all-time scoring list at VCSU throughout the season, moving up to fourth all-time with 1,635 points. Only three Vikings have scored more points in their careers than Ferguson: Bob Price (1835 points, 1948-51), Bill Galloway (2006 points, 1949-51, 1953-54), and Cavin Anderson (2305 points, 1968-72).

 

Valley City State University junior Lexi Lennon was named Honorable Mention NAIA All American, the national office announced Thursday with the release of the 2016-17 Division II Women’s Basketball All American Team.

A 5-foot-8 guard from West Fargo, N.D., Lennon proved to be a versatile team leader this season for the Vikings. She played a team-high 31 minutes per game and filled up the stat sheet with averages of 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals. Lennon shot a team-best 49 percent from the field and 41 percent on 3′s. Lennon finished the season just eight points shy of 1,000 career points.

Lennon was also named 1st Team All Conference in the North Star Athletic Association. She helped the Vikings to a 24-9 overall record, tying the school record for wins in a season. The Vikings finished third in the NSAA regular season standings and advanced to the NSAA Tournament championship game. VCSU also earned a trip to the NAIA National Tournament for the fourth time in school history. The Viking season came to an end in the first round of the national tournament against previously undefeated Southeastern University (Fla.).

Valley City State University finished the season with a 16-15 overall record, tying for fifth in the NSAA regular season standings. The Vikings’ season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the NSAA Tournament.

 

Class B Boys Basketball Tournament…

MINOT   At the buzzer, Brennen Vance hit a 3-pointer  to give Ellendale  a 41-39 win against Dickinson Trinity Thursday in the quarterfinals of the North Dakota Class B boys high school basketball tournament.

Shawn Stoltz gave Trinity a 39-38 lead with 5 seconds remaining after scoring from close range.

The  Cardinals move  into Friday night’s semifinal against Hillsboro-Central Valley

Game time is  6:30pm at the Minot State Dome

 

Hillsboro/Central Valley 57, Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky 32

Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 66, Minot Bishop Ryan 60

Four Winds/Minnewauken 70, Stanley 64

 

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT…

 

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Freshman Lauri Markkanen scored 20 points as second-seeded Arizona cruised to a 100-82 victory over Number 15 North Dakota Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA’s West Regional.

Arizona used a 13-1 run early in the first half to take 24-13 lead and never looked back. The Wildcats (31-4) lead 53-37 at halftime thanks to a dominant 16-point half from Markkanen and a 61.1 shooting percentage in the first 20 minutes.

The Wildcats will face seventh-seeded Saint Mary’s in the second round on Saturday. The Gaels beat VCU 85-77.

It was almost as if Arizona’s players were taking turns scoring. Allonzo Trier continued his late-season success and had a highlight tomahawk dunk to push the lead to 44-27. He finished with 18 points.

Rawle Alkins was aggressive early and scored 20 while Dusan Ristic started hot in the second half and added 12.

Markkanen, who’s expected to be a high first-round NBA draft pick, was a constant as North Dakota couldn’t match his size (7-foot, 230 pounds) or skill.

Quinton Hooker led the Fighting Hawks (22-10) with 25 points and Drick Bernstine added 20.

 

 

 

 

Bronson Koenig (KAY’-nihg) drained a school-record eight 3-pointers and finished with 28 points as Wisconsin ousted Virginia Tech, 84-74. Nigel Hayes chipped in 16 points to help the Badgers earn a second-round meeting with Villanova.

 

Final (1) Villanova 76 Mount St. Mary’s 56

Final (2) Gonzaga 66 S. Dakota St. 46

Final (4) Arizona 100 North Dakota 82

Final (13) West Virginia 86 Bucknell 80

Final (14) Notre Dame 60 Princeton 58

Final (15) Purdue 80 Vermont 70

Final (16) Florida St. 86 Florida Gulf Coast 80

Final (17) Iowa St. 84 Nevada 73

Final (20) Florida 80 ETSU 65

Final (21) Butler 76 Winthrop 64

Final (22) Saint Mary’s (Cal) 85 VCU 77

Final (24) Virginia 76 UNC-Wilmington 71

 

INDIANA-CREAN FIRED…

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — The Indiana Hoosiers are shopping around for a new men’s basketball coach.

The school has announced that Tom Crean has been fired after going 166-135 in nine often lackluster seasons with the Hoosiers. Crean won two Big Ten regular-season championships over the last five seasons, but he went 18-16 this year and missed the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time since taking over the program.

Crean came to Bloomington following an NCAA scandal that gutted the program.

 

 

VIKINGS…..

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has confirmed Adrian Peterson’s time with the team is over.

The Vikings signed Oakland running back Latavius Murray early Thursday after a long night of negotiations. Then Spielman told reporters in the afternoon that he spoke with Peterson to wish him well, clarifying that the franchise’s all-time leading rusher will be playing elsewhere in 2017.

Peterson, the 2012 league MVP, played 10 seasons for the Vikings. Murray, who will join Jerick McKinnon as the team’s top two running backs, spent four years with the Raiders. He rushed for 788 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns last season despite missing two games with a toe injury.

 

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Victor Rask scored the tiebreaking goal with 3:24 to play and the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 Thursday night.

Teuvo Teravainen added an empty-net goal with 1:24 remaining. Derek Ryan also scored for the Hurricanes and Eddie Lack stopped 30 shots. Carolina has points in five straight games (3-0-2).

Mikael Granlund scored for Minnesota and Devan Dubnyk finished with 21 saves. The Wild had won six straight overall against the Hurricanes, who improved to 6-1-2 against Minnesota at home.

The Wild finished a 1-4 road trip to give them five losses in their last six.

 

Final Winnipeg 4 N-Y Islanders 2

Final OT Nashville 2 Washington 1

Final New Jersey 6 Philadelphia 2

Final Columbus 2 Florida 1

Final Chicago 2 Ottawa 1

Final Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 0

Final Edmonton 7 Boston 4

Final SO Detroit 5 Arizona 4

Final Dallas 4 Vancouver 2

Final St. Louis 4 San Jose 1

Final L.A. Kings 2 Buffalo 0

 

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Final Oklahoma City 123 Toronto 102

Final Cleveland 91 Utah 83

Final Brooklyn 121 N-Y Knicks 110

Final Memphis 103 Atlanta 91

Final Denver 129 L.A. Clippers 114

Final Golden State 122 Orlando 92

 

GOLF-ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL…

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Emiliano Grillo (GREE’-oh) and Matt Fitzpatrick share the first-round lead in the first Arnold Palmer Invitational since the beloved tournament host passed away last year.

Grillo overcame a rough start with seven birdies that gave him a 5-under 67.

Lucas Glover, Paul Casey and Charlie Hoffman are one shot back and one ahead of Greg Chalmers and Ryan Ruffels. Jason Day is three off the pace.

Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders, was 2-under with three holes to play before carding a pair of 6s for a 2-over 74.

 

In world and national news…