Wayne Byers Show – Evening – May 7

CSi Weather…

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a Red Flag Warning for dry fuels, low humidity, and strong winds, which is in effect unitil to 6 PM CDT Monday  evening. Includes the Valley City area..

* WINDS…Southwest 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY…15 to 20 percent.

* TEMPERATURES…In the mid 80s.

* IMPACTS…Any grass fire that ignites will have the potential

to spread rapidly.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions

are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of

strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can

contribute to extreme fire behavior.

The Fire Danger Rating in Stutsman County is in the High category Monday.

Open outdoor fires are prohibited when the fire danger rating is in the High or Extreme category.

Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are possible across
southwest and south central North Dakota into the James River
Valley Monday.

Numerous rain showers and thunderstorms will develop across most
of western and central North Dakota late Monday afternoon through
the evening, and continue into the night.

.Tuesday through Sunday

Rain showers with a few embedded thunderstorms are forecast
across southern North Dakota on Tuesday. Severe weather is not
expected.

 

Forecast….

 

.TONIGHT…Rain showers and chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the

mid 50s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.  Chance of rain 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley City area.

.TUESDAY…Cloudy. Rain showers likely in the morning, then

chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the

afternoon. Cooler. Highs in the mid 60s. East winds 10 to 15 mph.

Chance of precipitation 60 percent in the Jamestown area, 70 percent in the Valley Cit area.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area. Lows in the upper 40s. North winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Chance of rain showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs around 70.

Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.THURSDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the upper 50s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session, Monday evening at City Hall.  Council Member Brubakken was not present.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Individuals may address the City Council about any item not contained on the agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the hearing. If the full 15 minutes are not needed, the City Council will continue with the agenda. The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the hearing, with the exception of referral to staff or Committee.)

No one spoke.

 

NO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS WERE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

Approved and authorized the issuance of improvement warrants and exchanging them for $2,170,000.00 Refunding Improvement Bonds of 2018, Series AB, and awarding the sale of $2,170,000.00 Refunding Improvement Bonds to Raymond James for the purchase price of $2,170,000    at an average annual net interest rate of 2.5832%.

Six bids were received from around the United States.

The Moody’s report was positive, showing Jamestown with a Double-A-3 rating.

 

The City Council approved a Resolution to approve and authorize entering into a Cost Participation and Maintenance Agreement with the ND Department of Transportation for US-281 and I-94 Ramp Intersections, Project (No. IM-2-094(157)257.)

This summer, traffic signals at the north and south end of the overpass, will be installed. The signals to be synchronized with the existing traffic signals at 17th Street Southwest and 25th Street.

The contract requires the project be completed by October, this year.

 

ORDINANCES:

A SECOND READING: An Ordinance, to amend and re-enact a Chapter of the City Code pertaining to the Forestry Department, was approved.

The amendment pertains mainly to language changes.

Council Member Buchanan said draft indicated the reference of a member from NDSU to be deleted, and the at-large membership be increased from 3-to-4.

Lynn Hill from the Shade Tree Committee said the committee prefers to have the NDSU member be retained.

The City Council voted to keep the NDSU member as part of the committee, and amend the at-large membership numbers at three.

 

A SECOND READING: Of an Ordinance, was approved  to amend and re-enact Section  of the City Code  and to enact a Section pertaining to enact changes to  minor subdivisions.

 

A SECOND READING: Of an Ordinance, to amend and re-enact Sections of the City Code of the concerning special use permits for C-2, M-2 and A-1 Districts to allow special use zoning for compassionate care centers pursuant to State Law N.D.C.C. § 19-24.1.

The zoning outlines the areas where a potential medical marijuana distribution of manufacturing facility would be located through a Special Use Permit, in city limits.

APPOINTMENTS:

The City Council appointed Bob Martin and Colleen Grenz  to serve as members of the Shade Tree Committee for a three year term to expire April 2021.

 

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:

Council Member Phillips said the repairs are going well, on the retaining wall and access road to Frontier Village and should be completed in a short period of time.

She added that the gates to the Village have been chained open, and will remain that way.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Approved  the request from Jamestown Hockey Booster Club Inc., for a gaming site authorization at Shady’s Restaurant to conduct raffles from January 1, 2019, through February 28, 2019.

Approved the request from the Corner Bar for a permit to conduct street dances on 2nd Street SW, on Saturday, June 9, 2018, and Saturday, July 21, 2018.

The Meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown’s Mayor Katie Andersen says the grant application with the federal Department of Transportation for the project to reduce the number of traffic lanes through  Downtown Jamestown along with other traffic flow improvements  is still in the review process.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, she said the city expects to hear word whether the application has been approved in June this year, and what areas of the application may have been approved.

At this point the project cost is on cost share with 80-percent federal, administrated through the NDDOT, with the city’s share 20 percent.

Those percentages may change depending on how the project is approved, and through funds set aside by Governor Doug Burgum’s Main Street Initiative, with the Urban Road Grant Program.

She added that the application includes several items on the list, and not all will likely be approved for funding.

The mayor said the city’s share may be paid through Special Assessment to benefiting property owns, or by increasing the city sales tax regarding infrastructure, or another fund.

She said property taxes would NOT be increased.

The  $3.1 million Urban Road Grant applied for the downtown project, would include re-striping the street, upgrading the traffic signals, and pedestrian crossing signals, and extending sidewalks to  the width of the parking lanes at the crosswalks.  She said the new traffic signals will be modernized, with no addition or deletion of the present signals, which will also receive a change in timing between the signals, and pedestrian control of the lights changing color, with a button at the base of the traffic signal arm.  The current traffic signals were purchased, used, from the City of Grand Forks.

The Mayor added that the changes in the traffic lanes, including the left turn only lanes would come from re-striping, and no other physical changes, such as medians.

Diagonal parking is NOT an option with the project.

She pointed out that the heavy traffic count of about 10,000 vehicles per day is in the area of 10^th Street Southeast and First Avenue South, near First Community Credit Union.

The application includes funds for benches and tree plantings.

Travis Dillman, at Interstate Engineer in Jamestown says the scope of the project includes a bike path on the north side of 5^th Street Northwest, along with a bump-out at 4^th Avenue, Northwest.

He says the change would entail striping the pavement.

He pointed out that the bike path may or may not be included, pending the final plans approved, and funded.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public School announces that a full day of school on Thursday, May 24, 2018 and School will dismiss at 1:00 PM on *Friday, May 25, 2018 for the conclusion of the school year.

Buses will run at that time.

*A make up day from storm day on March 23^rd.

Graduation will be on Sunday, May 27, 2018, at 2:30 PM at the Jamestown Civic Center.

 

Valley City  (VCSU)  VCSU interim president, Margaret Dahlberg will address the campus community on Tuesday, May 8, at 12:15 p.m. in Vangstad Auditorium.
She will share information on the 2018–19 and 2019–21 biennium budgets, provide an update on the presidential search, and deliver summer updates from Facilities Services and Technology Services. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to attend.

 

Update…

 

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Police say preliminary results show that a Grand Forks mother shot and killed her three children and then took her own life.

Astra Volk and her children, 14-year-old Tyler Talmage, 10-year-old Aidan Talmage and 6-year-old Arianna Talmage, were found dead in a rental home Thursday morning after a school asked police for a welfare check. All had gunshot wounds.

Police said in a news release issued Monday that no additional suspects are being sought. The investigation remains open.

Court records show Volk was divorced and had struggled to pay off medical bills.

Family, friends and neighbors shared stories Sunday evening at a vigil held outside the home. Volk’s mother, Elizabeth Richards, urged people dealing with mental health issues to get help.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Three men accused of damaging land in the Little Missouri National Grasslands while driving their pickups in the mud four years ago are facing federal charges.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Terry Klein Jr., Bradlee Cole and Dustin Nelson are charged with aiding and abetting injury and depredation to property of the United States. The men lived in Montana at the time of the incident.

Cole and Nelson have pleaded not guilty. Klein has not appeared in court.

Authorities say the men were “mudding” in an illegal off-road use area along the North Dakota-Montana border known as Estes Springs. Five full-sized pickups allegedly became stuck in the mud and three road graders used to try to recover the vehicles also got stuck.

Damage was estimated at about $5,000.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown’s Mayor Katie Andersen says the grant application with the federal Department of Transportation for the project to reduce the number of traffic lanes through  Downtown Jamestown along with other traffic flow improvements  is still in the review process.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, she said the city expects to hear word whether the application has been approved in June this year, and what areas of the application may have been approved.

At this point the project cost is on cost share with 80-percent federal, administrated through the NDDOT, with the city’s share 20 percent.

Those percentages may change depending on how the project is approved, and through funds set aside by Governor Doug Burgum’s Main Street Initiative, with the Urban Road Grant Program.

She added that the application includes several items on the list, and not all will likely be approved for funding.

The mayor said the city’s share may be paid through Special Assessment to benefiting property owns, or by increasing the city sales tax regarding infrastructure, or another fund.

She said property taxes would NOT be increased.

The  $3.1 million Urban Road Grant applied for the downtown project, would include re-striping the street, upgrading the traffic signals, and pedestrian crossing signals, and extending sidewalks to  the width of the parking lanes at the crosswalks.  She said the new traffic signals will be modernized, with no addition or deletion of the present signals, which will also receive a change in timing between the signals, and pedestrian control of the lights changing color, with a button at the base of the traffic signal arm.  The current traffic signals were purchased, used, from the City of Grand Forks.

The Mayor added that the changes in the traffic lanes, including the left turn only lanes would come from re-striping, and no other physical changes, such as medians.

The project  includes reducing 5th Avenue Northeast from four lanes to three with the addition of a bike lane.

Diagonal parking is NOT an option with the project.

She pointed out that the heavy traffic count of about 10,000 vehicles per day is in the area of 10^th Street Southeast and First Avenue South, near First Community Credit Union.

The application includes funds for benches and tree plantings.

The project also includes reducing 5th Avenue Northeast from four lanes to three and adding a bike lane.

 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — An advisory board is convening this spring to narrow candidates for Sanford Health’s inaugural Lorraine Cross Award.

The Dakotas-based health system is giving a $1 million global medical research prize to honor advancements in medicine. The amount rivals that which goes to the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

A nomination period was held earlier this year. The first award will be presented in December.

Sanford Health is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota. It bills itself as one of the largest health systems in the nation, with 44 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and labor industry leaders in North Dakota are joining forces to increase awareness of trenching hazards and collaborate on training programs.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the alliance members signed a two-year agreement Thursday at the North Dakota Safety Council’s safety training campus to discuss the programs.

Alliance members include the North Dakota Safety Council, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Associated Builders and Contractors of North Dakota and Associated General Contractors of North Dakota.

The groups will provide employers and workers with information and training resources to help reduce exposure to excavation-related hazards.

Scott Overson is the assistant area director of the Bismarck OSHA office. He says the alliance’s “goal is to eliminate trenching hazards and prevent injuries and fatalities.”

 

In sports…

Aberdeen SD    At the North Star Athletic Association softball tournament championship game, Monday afternoon in Aberdeen, the University of Jamestown and Dickinson State University squared off, at Players Softball Complex

In the winner-take-all championship game, Dickinson State made one run scored in the third inning stand up, for a 1-0 win.

Dickinson State moves on to the NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round on May 14-16.

 

In World and National news….

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s “Fighting Back” against the Russia probe. He has warned the “13 Angry Democrats” on the special counsel’s team to “just wait ’till the Courts get to see your unrevealed Conflicts of Interest!” Trump also suggested special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible collusion between his campaign and Russia was politically motivated.WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is seeking to avoid any congressionally mandated reforms to address child-on-child sexual assaults on U.S. military bases. An ongoing Associated Press investigation shows that the military has failed to address the problem. That’s leaving both victims and offenders in a dead zone of justice. In response, members of Congress have been drafting at least three potential legislative fixes.HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The parents of a Penn State fraternity pledge who died after a night of heavy drinking are hoping prosecutors will appeal a decision to throw out the most serious charges some faced. Attorney Tom Kline says the parents are dismayed a judge threw out reckless endangerment and evidence tampering counts in last year’s death of Tim Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey. The judge upheld hazing and alcohol-related charges against 11 defendants, but tossed charges against one for deleting security video.UNDATED (AP) — With the midterm primaries about to go into full swing, the Department of Homeland Security is playing catch-up in helping to ensure that state election systems are secure against cybertampering by the Russians or others bent on mischief. The department says it has completed on-site risk assessments of election systems in just nine of the 17 states that have formally requested them so far. The security reviews are designed to identify any weaknesses that could be exploited by hackers.MOSCOW (AP) — Vladimir Putin has launched his fourth term as president with an ambitious call to vault Russia into the top five global economies by developing its technological products and agriculture and service exports. Putin, who has restored Russia’s military and diplomatic prominence on the world stage, focused almost entirely on domestic issues in his speech after taking the oath of office in a vast, ornate Kremlin hall.