Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Feb 25

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Feb 22, 2013)  A New Rockford woman has been sentenced, after pleading guilty February 13, 2013 to theft of property, from the James River Humane Society, in connection with $22,000 missing from the Jamestown shelter.

30 year old Jillisa Lesmann was accused of making an unauthorized transfer of more than $10,000 between the dates of April 1, 2012, and June 12, 2012, from the James River Humane Society.

The theft was discovered by the shelter’s the executive board, reviewing monthly bank statements.

Southeast District Court Judge, John Greenwood, sentenced  Lesmann, the shelter’s former treasurer, to 30 days at the Stutsman County Correctional Center and to five years supervised probation.  A Class B felony is punishable by  a maximum of 10 years and $10,000 in fines.

She was also ordered to pay a $650 criminal administration fee, $100 defense/facility administration fee, $21,908.75 restitution and $25 victim-witness fee.

JRHS President, Jennifer Barnard says, a restitution amount, $21,908.75, is the figure they were able to prove Lesmann took through checks drawn on the society’s bank accounts.

The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office followed up with an investigation

The shelter has since made undisclosed changes in its bylaws to make sure  nothing like this happens in the future.

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Buffalo City Tourism Foundation Board, met Friday (Feb 22, 2013) at the CSi Technology Center Conference Room.

President Aldon Kollman reported that North Dakota Senate Bill 2203 was passed, and goes to the State House for review.

He said the bill authorizes counties to levy mills to support historic sites, which would include Frontier Village, the Stutsman County Memorial Museum, and Ft. Seward, in the Jamestown area.

He added that counties could levy point-72 mills, and up to 2.25 mills if approved by a vote of citizens.

He pointed out that the dollars raised through the mill level would be matched 50 percent by the State Historical Society, adding that in Stutsman County point 75 mills would raise $36,000 plus $18,000 in the state match.

The board voted to send a letter of endorsement of the bill to the District 12 and 29 legislators.

JSDC, CEO, Connie Ova mentioned that there is presently a Stutsman County levy for economic development.

She pointed out that the JSDC supports tourism, however, previously one half of the city sales tax that was earmarked for tourism is supposedly now set aside for infrastructure to support the city’s sewer replacement projects.

She said the wording of the petition which was the language of the measure voters had passed is not necessarily being used strictly for infrastructure improvements.

It was noted that the attorney hired by the board, concerning the contract with the city of Jamestown for 2013, will be notified of a time deadline to respond to the board..

Kollman said the 2012 contract extension provided by the city is about to expire, and the board needs to have more frequent contact by its attorney.

No other discussion was held at the open meeting about the contract.

Website Progress was discussed, and the consensus was to promote the site when up and running through Facebook, the local media, and tourism web sites.

With Grant Applications:

The board approved the Fort Seward request for $9,500 for summer staffing.

The board approved Stutsman County Museum’s request of – $6,000 for summer staffing.

Frontier Village Summer Staffing was approved at $33,546.

Frontier Village Horse Care at $11,700 was approved, provided bids are let for ferrier work.

Frontier Village Pioneer Days request for $5,000 was withdrawn.

A BCT IRS 990 form was noted, with no action taken.

Buffalo City Tourism Director, Searle Swedlund said he’s been in the position for six weeks, and that he has been meeting with members of the community, and plans more discussions, including meeting the the BCTF Executive Board in April to discuss issues.

That includes input to the BCTF Strategic Plan.

He also plans to meet with tourism officials in Aberdeen, Bismarck and Valley City, along with attending statewide tourism related conferences.

Informational:

The Buffalo City Toursim Foundation, Committed in 2012:

$6,000 Drag Races

$2,100 Big Sing/Jamestown Choralaires

$339 Frontier Village Payroll (Tina Busch-2011)

$6,000 Stutsman County Museum Staffing

$2,500 Pipestem Off-Road Festival

$12,168 National Buffalo Museum Staffing

$4,000 White Cloud’s 16^th Birthday

$9,500 Ft. Seward Summer Staffing

$1,500 Main Street Association Street Banners

$11,700 Frontier Village – Horse Care

$24,226 Frontier Village – Summer Staffing

$5,038.02 Additional Summer Staffing – Manager

$3,358.68 Additional Summer Staffing – Manager

$1,500 Kite Festival

$1,500 James River Rodeo

$790 Wild West Players – Frontier Village

$2,200 Ft. Seward Handicap Parking Area

$1,300 Frontier Village – Pioneer Days

$2,700 Frontier Village – Maintenance

$9,000 Fireworks

$7,500 ND Roughrider Assoc. State Rodeo Finals

$1,395 Stutsman County (Trail Builders)

$6,000 Arts Center – Caravanserai

$700 Radio City Flyers – Fly In

$3,000 Fishing Derby

$10,000 JC Conference Tourney

$8,985 Fireworks for 2013

TOTAL COMMITTED: $144,999.70

BUDGET: $145,000

BALANCE: $.30

CARRY-OVER TO 2013

$3,000 Fishing Derby

$10,000 JC Conference Tourney

$8,985 2013 Fireworks Show

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Feb 21, 2013) — The National Weather Service says the risk of major flooding on the Sheyenne River is low so far, less than 30 percent for minor flooding or greater in Valley City, Lisbon, Enderlin and Hillsboro.

Snowpack moisture in the James River Valley is low so far, but are increasing, with present snow melt amounts expected to be controlled by Pipestem and Jamestown Dams.

More information: http://csinewsnow.com/2013/02/21/spring-2013-flood-outlook-jms-missouri-rvr-basins/

The anticipated flood outlook as of Februay 21,, 2013 is roughly 10 percent for minor flooding of 12 feet, 6 percent for moderate flooding of 14 feet and 5 percent for minor flooding of 15 feet along the James River at Grace City.

The outlook includes 11 percent for minor flooding of 9 feet, 6 percent for moderate flooding of 11 feet and less than 5 percent for major flooding of 13 feet along Pipestem Creek at Pingree.

Calculations do not include any flooding caused by ice jams and assume normal levels of precipitation through the next three months.

Flooding below the Jamestown and Pipestem dams, measured at LaMoure, is also low with a 9 percent chance of minor flooding of 14 feet, 5 percent chance of moderate flooding of 16 feet and less than 5 percent chance of major flooding of 18 feet.

Overland flooding depends on the amount and timing of spring rains, and snow melt, plus the amount of frost in the ground, relative to run off amounts.

The National Weather Service has dramatically bumped up the chances of major flooding on the Red River near Fargo, but city officials say it should have minimal impact on residents.

Weather service meteorologist Greg Gust says the chance of major flooding in North Dakota’s largest city has increased from 6 percent a month ago to 79 percent, based mainly on water content in the snowpack.

Major flood stage in Fargo is 30 feet. There’s a 50 percent chance the river will reach 33.2 feet, a 25 percent chance it will hit 35.1 feet and a 5 percent chance of 37.8 feet.

Fargo officials say the city has taken steps to handle major flooding since a record crest in 2009.
The next flood outlook will be released March 7.

Bismarck, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Feb 22, 2013) – Anna Larson of Jamestown High School was named a REAL DEAL Scholarship winner by Bank of North Dakota’s DEAL Student Loan Program.

She will receive a $500 scholarship to attend a North Dakota college and qualifies to be one of 48 applicants to compete for a $3,000 scholarship to be awarded in the spring of 2013.

Recipients must demonstrate community or school involvement and have a 2.5 GPA or greater.

Anna is involved in cross country and student council.

High school seniors can apply for the Real DEAL scholarship when they visit Bank of North Dakota’s College Planning Center at banknd.nd.gov. Eight scholarships will be given statewide every month through March, 2013.

　FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A Fargo man accused of killing his wife and staging her death as suicide says he lost his job and needs a public defender.
 
     Ronald Rogers Jr. made his first appearance Monday in Cass County Court. He’s charged with murder and willful disturbance of a dead body.
 
     Authorities believe the 46-year-old Rogers shot 40-year-old Elizabeth Rogers in the head and placed a pistol in her hand to make it look like a suicide.
 
     Rogers told Judge Lisa Fair McEvers he recently moved to Fargo after living in northern Idaho for eight years.
 
     Asked by McEvers if she wanted him to appoint a public defender, Rogers said, “Yes please.”
 
     Rogers was not asked to enter a plea. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 21.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Frontier Airlines is adding more service in North Dakota’s largest city.
 
     The airline says it will operate four weekly nonstop flights from Fargo to Denver. That’s up from three.
 
     Daniel Shurz, Frontier’s senior vice president,says  the extra flight will be available during the summer months.
 
     The extra flight is scheduled to begin May 7, 2013.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota public university students say they do not support state University System Chancellor Hamid Shirvani and would like to see the State Board of Higher Education remove him from his post.
 
     That was the decision that came from a meeting of the North Dakota Student Association on Saturday at Bismarck State College.
 
     The association, which represents more than 48,000 public university students, approved a vote of “no confidence” in Shirvani. They also supported a proposed university system budget amendment that would have taxpayers buy out Shirvan’s contract for $800,000.
 
     The “no confidence” resolution says a “hierarchical, top-down culture for communication and authority … have created a culture of “mistrust and disconnect.”
 
     Shirvani did not respond to an email seeking comment.

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota lawmakers might soon decide whether to expand Medicaid to cover more uninsured North Dakotans.
 
     Republican Representative Robin Weisz of Hurdsfield, who chairs the Human Services House Human Services Committee, told The Associated Press that the House may give an “up or down” vote this week.
 
     Weisz had an informal meeting last week with fellow lawmakers to discuss expanding the program as part of the federal health care overhaul.
 
     Republicans have two-thirds control in both the North Dakota House and Senate. Weisz tells the AP that “the caucus is divided.”
 
     North Dakota’s Medicaid program now covers about 65,000 people a month. If the state expands eligibility, 20,000 more people would be added to the program.

　 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s oil tax fund now has about $850 million in assets. 
 
     The Legacy Fund gets 30 percent of the state’s oil tax collections. None of the money can be spent until 2017, and even then it takes a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to dip into it. 
 
     North Dakota Treasurer Kelly Schmidt says 57.8 million has been deposited into the fund this month. It’s been collecting oil tax revenue since September of 2011.

　BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – There’s no denying the fact that the booming oil industry in North Dakota has helped the state’s economy.
 
     But leaders in other industries say that the economy would have grown even without oil.
 
     Tax Commissioner Cory Fong says  North Dakota has been on a strong and steady growth pattern since the middle of 2003, long before the oil boom.
 
     Other industries that have seen an uptick based on taxable sales and purchases include retail trade, wholesale trade and manufacturing.
 
     Another important industry is agriculture.
 
     Dan Wogsland, executive director of the North Dakota Grain Growers Association, says agriculture is the economic engine of North Dakota. He says agriculture is a $35 billion industry in the state.

　 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota exports increased by about $900 million in 2012 led by strong global sales of agricultural and construction machinery and a record volume of crude that was shipped to Canada before returning to the U.S. by pipeline. Federal Commerce Department statistics show the state’s exports totaled $4.2 billion last year.

 FORT TOTTEN, N.D. (AP) – Representatives from U.S. Senator John Hoeven’s office are meeting with officials from the Spirit Lake Nation this week. Hoeven’s office will meet with tribal leaders on Wednesday to discuss issues surrounding child abuse on the reservation. The meeting takes place at the Spirit Lake Casino.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A wildlife study is under way to learn more about the movements and mortality of whitetail deer.
 
     The project is a collaboration between the North Dakota Game and Fish Department and South Dakota State University. Workers are trying to catch adult female whitetail deer and fit them and their fawns with radio collars.
 
     The study began last winter when a helicopter crew trapped 40 adult does, mainly in Walsh County in northeast North Dakota. The does were outfitted with transmitters that alerted researchers when they gave birth, allowing the fawns to be tracked down after birth for radio collaring.
 
     South Dakota State University professor and project advisor Jonathan Jenks says the goal is to learn more about deer survival and reproduction in a mostly agricultural region.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Former North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad is mourning the death of Dakota, his beloved dog that had become a fixture on Capitol Hill.

The bichon frise died last week due to complications of lymphoma. Dakota was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.

Conrad says Dakota was a fighter and had battled the disease valiantly for more than a year.

Conrad and his wife, Lucy, adopted Dakota in spring 2009 from a rescue shelter when the pooch was about 10 years old.

The dog had become very popular in Washington and was dubbed the “101st senator” by NBC’s Brian Williams.

Conrad says people loved having an animal in that setting because it made them feel more at home.