News Update

On Friday, WDAY T.V. interviwed Valley City city Attorney Russell Myhre… Click here to view.

Valley City, ND (WDAY TV) — A misunderstanding between the City of Valley City and Barnes County led to accusations of hacking.

Barnes County employees gained access to an emergency call taken by the city regarding a deer on the road. Controversy stemmed from a comment made by a city employee during the call.  The city was concerned about how the county had accessed the recording. But the 911 recording that was allegedly “hacked” was recorded on a server that both Valley City Police and Barnes county have access to.

City Attorney, Russell Myhre, says, “There is no investigation that is going to go forward from this point in time. Basically, what the state’s attorney and I are going to be working towards is to see if we can get this information back to our respective commissions and then make sure they understand clearly what took place.”

Myhre and Barnes County State’s Attorney Lee Grossman said in a joint release that they are disappointed in both the city and the county in how this entire matter was handled.

They believe it stems from a mistrust bred through years of conflict between the two entities.

 

WASHINGTON (Feb 8, 2013) – Senator John Hoeven and Great River Energy (GRE) Friday announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved Renewable Fuel Standard-2 certification for the company’s Dakota Spirit AgEnergy facility in the Spiritwood Park near Jamestown.

Hoeven last summer pressed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to expedite the approval process.

Friday’s notice of certification clears the way for GRE to market next generation biofuels as part of a model energy complex.

Under the EPA’s revised Renewable Fuel Standard, cornstarch-based ethanol production facilities built after 2007 are required to produce fuels containing 20 percent less carbon intensity than conventional transportation fuels.

The EPA’s approval certifies that Dakota Spirit AgEnergy meets the low-carbon threshold.

The Dakota Spirit AgEnergy biorefinery, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great River Energy, will be located adjacent to Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station power plant near Jamestown and Spiritwood.

Most of the energy needed to operate the corn-based biorefinery will come in the form of waste steam provided by Great River Energy’s adjacent power plant.

The power plant will go online once the ethanol plant is completed.

To date, Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has completed business planning, engineering and now, RFS2 certification.

Greg Ridderbusch, president of Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, and vice president of business development and strategy, Great River Energy, says, “We are pleased we could bring the EPA regulatory review of our unique RFS2 pathway to a successful and collaborative conclusion,”

The company will work to complete financing by spring and plans to break ground in the summer of 2013

Plans are for the power plant to also provide low-cost steam power to the nearby Cargill malt plant.

Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of GRE, will have a significant impact on the local economy, creating 36 direct jobs in the community.

The project will also create approximately 275 trade and construction jobs during the 18-month construction period.

The biorefinery will use 23 million bushels of No. 2 yellow corn to produce annually 65 million gallons of ethanol, as well as corn oil and distiller’s grains.

Future growth opportunities for the biorefinery are also being explored, including emerging technologies such as cellulosic feed stocks, and the production of isobutanol, an organic compound used primarily as a solvent.

The facility will also incorporate technology to meet the EPA’s revised Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires cornstarch-based ethanol production facilities built after 2007 to have lifecycle carbon emissions 20 percent lower than conventional motor fuels.

The Spiritwood Energy Park is a project that originated during Hoeven’s governorship under Empower North Dakota, the state’s first comprehensive energy plan, encompassing both traditional and renewable energy sources.

The energy complex includes Spiritwood Station, a coal-fired plant that produces both electricity and steam, and now the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy facility.

CHS, a Fortune 500 company owned by agricultural cooperatives and farmers and ranchers, is also planning to build a $1.4 billion fertilizer plant in the park to take advantage of shared resources and infrastructure.

Hoeven said the project will become a national example of how combined heat and power can be used to enhance industrial efficiencies and lower the carbon footprint of transportation motor fuels.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission provided a $500,000 grant for the project’s feasibility study.

Members of the Industrial Commission are Governor Dalrymple, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring.

Governor Jack Dalrymple  applauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-awaited decision to approve a renewable fuels certification.

North Dakota Ag- Commissioner, Doug Goehring says, “This is the state’s first advanced biofuels facility, a ‘hybrid’ of sorts.” Goehring.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, says,  “Commissioner Goehring and I saw firsthand in Denmark how this renewable energy technology can be used to fuel our homes and industries in North Dakota and Minnesota.”

Congressman Kevin Cramer says, “Our dynamic economy serves as a leader for the rest of the nation.  The Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol biorefineries expected creation of several hundred jobs certainly maintains this reputation.”

Senator Heidi Heitkamp, also applauded the announcement, saying, ” I applaud Dakota Spirit AgEnergy’s efforts on its progress, and I look forward to continued collaboration with Dakota Spirit and other North Dakota stakeholders to lead the nation in energy development. The increase in North Dakota production of biofuels is not only good for our state’s economy, but it will help us to alleviate our dependence on foreign oil.”

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — A ‘New Project Fund’ has been set up by Buffalo City Tourism in an effort to bring new and exciting programs, events and attractions to our area.

Buffalo City Tourism Executive Director, Searle Swedlund, says to qualify a group or organization must be an IRS registered non-profit entity or a municipal government entity. Eligible activities are varied and explained on the website or by stopping into the office for a copy of the application.

Grant applications are available for 2013 through Buffalo City Tourism. Application forms and guidelines can be found at

www.tourjamestown.com or by stopping into the office at 404 Louis L’Amour Lane between 9 am and 5 pm weekdays.

Details for this funding are also available upon request and will be available when the new website is up and running.

Buffalo City Tourism is interested in funding projects that enhance the impact of the tourism industry in the city and county.

Top priority will be given to those who can demonstrate a positive economic impact to our community and region though the use of this dedicated funding source. Questions will also be addressed by calling 251-9145 for more information.

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Feb 7, 2013) — The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for any information in the investigation of the discovered of a dog’s burned remains.

Detective Jason Falk says the large animal, possibly a mixed breed, was found January 30, 2013 near five mile corner, in the 8800 block of 30th Street, Southeast.

Authorities believe the animal was dead before it was set afire.

Charges could range from littering, to criminal mischief, if the dog was already dead.

Authorities say the presumably dead dog was put into a kennel with lumber and tires, and set on fire.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office at 701-252-9000.

By Liz Brocker, Office of the Attorney General of North Dakota
Feb 7, 2013.

 

BISMARCK, ND – Jamestown High School #1 team won the state LifeSmarts championship, and will be representing North Dakota in the national competition to be held later this year in Georgia. The students from Northern Cass High School took second place and New England Public School took third.

The eight high school teams competed in several elimination rounds before the top three teams advanced to the final round. The Jamestown #1 team quickly gained an unbeatable lead, but Northern Cass and New England schools had to battle through two tie-breaker rounds to decide the final place standing.

Competing students answered questions in five subject areas – personal finance, health and safety, the environment, technology, and consumer rights and responsibilities – such as “Your friend was hit in the head with a baseball and you are concerned he might have a concussion. What should you do?” (The answer: “Get him to the doctor immediately, keep him alert, and do not let him go to sleep.”)

The State Champion team members are: Declan O’Higgins (Captain), Kelsey Becker, Zach Fossen, Kyle Gee and Mariah Schlenker, led by Coach Marchel Krieger. These same five students competed as Jamestown’s #2 team last year. They won the 2012 state competition and competed in the national competition in Philadelphia.

Asked about the team’s secret for success, team captain Declan O’Higgins said “We spend about three or four hours a week studying.” Team member Zach Fossen said, “We’re really excited to go back [to nationals.]”

Parrell Grossman, Director of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, and Question Master for the competition, was very impressed with all the participants. “The contestants this year were very prepared.  They demonstrated an excellent understanding of the various subject areas and their knowledge in areas such as personal finance and consumer rights and responsibilities will serve them well as young adults in the future,” Grossman said.

The national competition will be held April 20-23, 2013, in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A judge has ruled that officials in central North Dakota can sell or give away 157 horses that were seized from a man because of alleged neglect.

The  horses were seized after authorities found 99 dead horses on the man’s property in Burleigh and Morton counties. The counties petitioned the court to place the animals permanently in the custody of the two sheriff’s departments.

South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick ruled Friday that the departments had probable cause to seize the horses from the man, who lives part-time in New Salem.

The man has not been criminally charged.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Some North Dakota lawmakers were surprised to hear about a bill to allow silencers on hunting rifles. Turns out the devices have always been legal.

Fargo Republican Rep. Joe Heilman sponsored the proposal. He says lawmakers want to get the practice on the books in case state Game and Fish Department officials decide one day to eliminate suppressors. The department would then have to go through the Legislature.

Some hunters say silencers get a bad rap because they conjure up images of Hollywood characters firing weapons that barely make a sound.

Fargo hunter Dan Liane (lee-AHN’) says a gun with a suppressor will still make a “fairly loud crack,” but it is still easier on the ears than shooting without one.

Suppressors are legal in many states, including South Dakota.

 

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) – U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says Delta Air Lines will begin twice-daily flights between Dickinson and Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning June 10.

The Delta flights will be operated by SkyWest using 50-seat regional jets. Tickets will be available starting Feb. 23.

United Airlines announced earlier this week it is beginning twice-daily flights between Dickinson and Denver on June 6. Those flights will be operated by ExpressJet, also using 50-seat regional planes.

Great Lakes Airlines already flies between Dickinson and Denver.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – Minot Air Force Base says it contributed a record amount to the local economy in the last fiscal year.

The estimated total of $522.6 million was about $29 million more than the amount in fiscal 2011.

The base’s 5th Comptroller Squadron presented the annual report this week to the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee. It factors in payroll, purchases and jobs created.

There are about 12,800 active-duty personnel, family members and civilians currently at the base, which has B-52 bombers and also oversees nuclear missiles throughout the countryside. About half of the population lives off base.

 

In sports..

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota State University is sending its two NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national championship trophies on a tour of the state.

The tour is sponsored by Scheels. The trophy will be on display at the store in Bismarck on Feb. 22, at the Minot and Grand Forks stores on Feb. 23 and at the Fargo store on Feb. 24.

Display times are 3-7 p.m. in Bismarck, 9:30 a.m.-noon in Minot, 5-7 p.m. in Grand Forks and noon-4 p.m. in Fargo. People can view the trophies and get their picture taken with them.

NDSU beat Sam Houston State in the 2012 title game and again in this year’s championship game to claim the back-to-back FCS crowns.

 

In world and national news…

BOSTON (AP) – Boston’s mayor has this advice for residents Friday: “Stay home.” The snow that’s started to fall in New England and upstate New York could pile up as high as three feet in Boston by the time it ends Saturday. Gov. Deval Patrick is banning all traffic from Massachusetts roads as of 4 p.m. Friday. Airlines have now canceled more than 4,000 flights, but they’re hoping to resume operations in the region Saturday afternoon.

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) – Although more than 100 police officers have been searching for Christopher Dorner in the Big Bear Lake area of the mountains east of Los Angeles, a police official says all options in the search are being kept open. Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese in Los Angeles says authorities don’t know of Dorner is on the mountain or not, or whether he is on foot. His burned-out pickup truck was found there Thursday. He has threatened to kill police officers — his former colleagues on the force — and is already suspected in three deaths.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is trying to ratchet up pressure on Congress by putting out details of federal spending cuts it says will take place if a scheduled March 1 deadline for deep automatic, government-wide spending cuts cannot be averted. In a fact sheet, the White House cites what it calls “large and arbitrary” cuts to federal programs on education, small business, food safety, law enforcement and emergency management. It says it could mean furloughs of hundreds of FBI agents and federal prosecutors.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The maker of the electrical device that is being blamed for the Super Bowl power outage is suggesting there was nothing wrong with the device — it just wasn’t used properly.  Friday  morning, officials of Entergy New Orleans, the utility serving the Superdome, said the device — called a relay — had been installed to prevent a power outage, but ended up causing the 34-minute outage that blacked out half of the Superdome. The manufacturer of the relay then issued a statement saying that the outage occurred because the electric load went beyond the settings that had been put in place by the operators.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Even though letter carriers were delivering a lot of political campaign material, the post office is still reporting a loss of $1.3 billion in the final three months of last year. The loss is far less than the $3.3 billion in red ink in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year, but it still shows the effects of a continued decline in first-class mailing, as customers use the Internet for email and for paying bills.