CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Patchy fog. Lows in the lower 20s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the mid 30s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 20s. West winds 5 to 15 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. West winds 15 to

20 mph shifting to the northwest around 25 mph in the afternoon.

Gusts up to 40 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows

10 to 15.

.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 30s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow after

midnight. Lows in the mid 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

 

 

Fog is expected to develop again Friday night. Visibilities could fall
below a half a mile at times.

Windy conditions are expected Sunday, with west winds possibly
gusting around 45 mph. This could lead to drifting snow and
patchy blowing in open country which could create minor travel
impacts.

 

ST. Paul  (USACE)   -The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is lowering its reservoir elevations within the Red River of the North basin based on recent snow measurements to prepare for potential spring snowmelt.

The Corps is currently lowering the elevation of Lake Ashtabula, located near Valley City, North Dakota. The current elevation is 1,258.7 feet, and it will be further drawn down to 1,257.0 feet in time for spring runoff.

Elevation at Homme Dam, near Park River, North Dakota, is currently at 1,075 feet, and it will be slightly lowered to 1,074 feet before spring runoff.

Reservation Dam, part of the Lake Traverse project, near Wheaton, Minnesota, is currently at 976.1 feet and will be lowered to 974.5 feet by the end of the month. White Rock Dam, also part of the Lake Traverse project, is currently at 1072.1 feet and will hold steady.

Red Lake Dam, near Red Lake, Minnesota, is currently at 1,175.5 feet and will hold steady due to high inflows.

A wet fall has caused above average stream flows for this time of year throughout the basin. River and reservoir levels may change more rapidly as ice forms than they have in the past due to the higher water levels this fall

Omaha (USACE) – To minimize the risk of ice-related flooding along the James River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation will make an effort to keep downstream stages stable by holding releases at a constant rate.

As a result, elevations will be drawn down into the conservation zones at both Jamestown and Pipestem Dams.

Minimal impacts to other project purposes are expected, both due to the timing of this draw down and because of the volume of water currently frozen in the basin above the reservoirs. Releases are expected to be held constant until stages begin to rise between Jamestown and LaMoure, North Dakota from local flows.

Pipestem Dam is at an elevation of 1442.8 ft, 0.3 ft into its flood pool. Jamestown Dam is at an elevation of 1430.1 ft, 0.3 ft above its target elevation of 1429.8 ft. Both reservoirs are expected to be at or below their target elevations by March 1. Pipestem Dam is owned and operated by the Corps of Engineers, and Jamestown Dam is owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Releases are set by the Corps of Engineers for Jamestown Dam when the project is in its exclusive flood control pool (elevations 1431-1454 ft).

Current releases are 500 cubic feet per second from Jamestown Dam, and 100 cfs from Pipestem Dam, for combined releases of 600 cfs. The low-level gate at Pipestem has been opened to allow for constant releases.

The Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation are coordinating with relevant agencies in North and South Dakota.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The 2020 Centennial of Women’s Suffrage, a One Woman, One Vote, Film Screening will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at 7-p.m., at the VCSU Student Center, Skoal Room.

Moderated by Kiersten Baughman, from the VCSU Department of Social Services.

There will also be discussions held.

Before the presentation, stop by Allen Memorial Library to see the Centennial Exhibition, there.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Sponsored by:  North Dakota Women’s Network, VCSU Art Department, Allen Memorial Library, and the “What in the World Is Going On,” program.

 

Bismarck  (NDGF)  North Dakota Game & Fish reminds anglers that ice houses need to be removed by March 15.  They can still be used, but no longer left unattended by the 15th.

Game & Fish cautions anglers to still monitor ice conditions, especially as conctions move from winter to spring.

More Game & Fish information on line at gf.nd.gov

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The GOP District 12 & 29 Lincoln Day Dinner is Saturday, February 29 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in  Downtown Jamestown.

The  social at 6-pm with followed by the supper and  speaker.

North Dakota Republican  State Majority House Leader Chet Pollert will MC.

The event is open to the public, regardless of political party affiliation.

Proceeds from the dinner to to support  helping raise funds for Republican candidates in the districts.

The cost to attend  is $20.  Register by calling Joyce Heinrich at 701-269-0082.

Jamestown (CSi )  The Jamestown Area Grief Support Team is offering a grief support group for anyone who is grieving the loss of someone important to them, whether the loss is recent or from years past.  The group will meet once a week at 7:00 p.m. at the United Presbyterian  Church, 302 2nd Ave SE in Jamestown beginning on Monday, March 2, 2020 and will run for 6 weeks.

In his book, Understanding Your Grief, internationally recognized expert in the field of loss and grief, Dr. Alan Wolfelt states, “You can benefit from a connectedness that comes from people who have also had a death in their lives.  Support groups, where people come together and share the common bond of experience, can be invaluable in helping you and your grief and supporting your need to mourn long after the event of the death”

In our fast paced society, people who have had a significant loss are often expected to be ‘over it’ in a matter of a few weeks.  They may even expect this of themselves.  In reality, it may take years for someone to work through his or her grief.  The support group experience allows individuals to express grief in their own unique way and on their own unique timetable.

The group is free of charge, however, participants are asked to register to ensure that enough materials are available.  Participants should plan to attend all six sessions. For more information, or to register, please call Diane at 701-320-4915 or Eileen 701-269-4521.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — A man shot and killed by Bismarck police last month did not fire at officers as authorities initially reported. But an investigation found he did point a handgun at them, justifying the use of deadly force. An investigation found Cody Carnes also had a handful of encounters with police in the two weeks leading up to his death that were tied to alleged drug use, mental health issues and threats against law enforcement. Burleigh County State’s Attorney Julie Lawyer on Monday said the shooting of Carnes was justifiable.

FARGO, N.D. (KFGO-AM) — Police are investigating after a body was found near the Red River in Fargo. KFGO reports yellow police tape was placed around the scene where the body was found shortly after police arrived about 3 p.m. Thursday. Police have not provided any other details about the circumstances surrounding the death.

Bismarck  (Valley News Live) A care required citation has been filed against Kirsten Baesler after she was pulled over Wednesday night and accused of driving under the influence.

Sgt. Wade Kadrmas with the North Dakota Highway Patrol says charges are still pending for a DUI.

Kadrmas says the state is reviewing evidence including her blood and breath test refusal, dash camera video and state radio dispatch traffic before charges are filed.

He says because Baesler refused a blood and breath test, documents are filed with the NDDOT to review a license suspension.

According to Kadrmas, Baesler was issued a 25 day temporary driver’s license. The NDDOT will review her case and could suspend her license for a minimum of 180 days or maximum of 3 years.

Kadrmas says Baesler could argue the suspension in a hearing.

Bismarck (NDDOT) – Thirteen law enforcement officers from across the state of North Dakota graduated today from the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) program to become Drug Recognition Experts (DREs). The DEC program is part of a three-phase training process which includes over 130 hours of training to provide skills in the detection and identification of persons impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.

“This program is critical for recognizing and removing impaired drivers from the road. Drug impaired driving can look completely different than alcohol impairment and this rigorous training allows our certified officers to differentiate between the two,” said State DRE Coordinator Trooper Tarek Chase. “With 42% of fatalities in 2019 related to alcohol impairment, the removal of all impaired drivers is vital to achieving Vision Zero’s goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on North Dakota roads.”

The thirteen graduates as pictured with class instructors are: Front Row: Brandon Dalzell – North Dakota Highway Patrol; Austin Yancy – Fargo Police Department; Tyler Mees – Bismarck Police Department; Andrew Swanson – Watford City Police Department; Adam Solar – Grand Forks Police Department.

Middle Row: Instructor Trooper Tarek Chase; Trooper Michelle Roman – North Dakota Highway Patrol; Trevor Bergerson – Bowman Police Department; Zachary Hayden – Bismarck Police Department; Nichalos Schoedel – Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department; Instructor Corporal Ryan Wadlow, Corporal Jenn Freeman.

Back Row: Instructor Lt Sid Mann, Instructor Sgt Bob Arman – North Dakota Highway Patrol; Jesse Castle – Cass County Sheriff’s Department; Deputy Shane Rothenberger – Grand Forks County Sheriff’s Department; Michael Pietron – West Fargo Police Department; Zachary Corbin – McKenzie County Sheriff’s Department; Instructor Detective Jerry Stein – Bismarck Police Department.

The graduates are now required to complete a minimum of 12 drug evaluations under the supervision of a trained DRE instructor. As part of this final phase, the graduate must also pass a knowledge examination and be approved by two instructors before being certified as a DRE.

There are 52 DREs throughout North Dakota and this graduating class will bring the total to 65 certified DRE officers and/or public safety officials.

The DEC program is coordinated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Justice, the American Bar Association and the National commission Against Drunk Driving, to name a few. Funding for the North Dakota DEC program is through the North Dakota Department of Transportation in collaboration with the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

In sports…

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State University football team has finalized its 2020 schedule, head coach Dennis McCulloch announced today, revealing that the Vikings will open the season at rival University of Jamestown.

The 122nd meeting of the storied Viking-Jimmie rivalry kicks off the 2020 season, Aug. 29 in Jamestown. The football rivalry with the Jimmies dates back to 1909, and the 2020 season opener will be the 74th meeting in the Paint Bucket Series, which dates back to 1961.

McCulloch said about starting the season at Jamestown, “That really ratchets the intensity up right away.  Last year’s atmosphere in Valley City for the season opener was something special, and this year at Jamestown should be no different.”

The Vikings and Jimmies have opened the season against each other the past two seasons, with the home team winning both contests. The Vikings currently lead the all-time series with Jamestown, 63-53-5, and lead the Paint Bucket Series 42-31. The Vikings have won nine of the last 10 meetings since 2014.

Following the season opener at Jamestown, the Vikings will host Doane University for the 2020 home opener on Sept. 5. It will also be the third annual VCSU Ag Bowl, celebrating the importance of agriculture in the community. Doane has been a traditionally strong program in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, but slipped below .500 last season and finished with a 4-7 overall record.

More information and the schedule in this story at CSiNewsNow.com under sports.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell pledged that the Fed will “use our tools” to support the economy, a strong signal of a likely rate cut, perhaps at its next meeting March 17-18. The Fed said Friday that it will “act as appropriate to support the economy.” The statement came after a week of sharp market drops that drove stocks down roughly 13% in value. Powell said the fundamentals of the U.S. economy “remain strong,” but added that “the coronavirus poses evolving risks to economic activity.”

 

(AP)  Stocks sank again on Wall Street, Friday,  pushing the S&P 500 index down another 2.7% and putting the market on track for its worst week since October 2008. Bond prices soared again as investors sought safety, pushing yields down further into record-low territory. The weeklong rout is being driven by fears that the spreading coronavirus will derail the global economy. The losses moderated somewhat after the Federal Reserve said the economy was still strong and that it stood ready to help the economy if needed. The S&P 500 has lost 13% since hitting a record high just 10 days ago.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump say he’s dispatching the nation’s top diplomat to witness the signing of an agreement with the Afghan Taliban aimed at beginning a draw down of thousands of U.S. troops and ending America’s 18-year involvement in the war. Trump said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to be present for the signing of the agreement with the Taliban militants, who harbored al-Qaida before the 9/11 attacks and are responsible for the deaths of thousands of American servicemen and women. He says Defense Secretary Mark Esper also will issue a joint declaration with the government of Afghanistan. The signing is expected to occur Saturday in Doha, Qatar.

(AP)  Friends and family members are remembering the five men who were killed by a co-worker at a Milwaukee brewery as good people whose lives were cut short. Authorities say the men were killed Wednesday at Molson Coors Brewing Co. by a co-worker who then turned the gun on himself. The motive for the shooting by 51-year-old Anthony Ferrill is still unknown.

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has canceled a campaign stop with small-town mayors in South Carolina that some of the invited mayors were unable to attend. Fairfax Mayor Dorothy Riley said she showed up for Friday’s event in her town because she didn’t know it was canceled. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor’s campaign sent a news release three hours before the scheduled start time advising that he had canceled the event because of “scheduling constraints.” Some campaign aides said privately that some of the invited mayors declined to attend after South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president. Buttigieg’s communications manager disputed that assertion.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — An African American political consultant signed a nondisclosure agreement barring her from discussing a lawsuit alleging Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign and a nonprofit he later founded engaged in discriminatory racial conduct. The allegations in Tezlyn Figaro’s 2019 lawsuit raise questions about Sanders’ approach toward black voters. Figaro confirmed the existence of the agreement to The Associated Press. Sanders struggled to appeal to African Americans in 2016 and can’t afford to do so again if he hopes to become president. The agreement between Figaro and the nonprofit Our Revolution is silencing a woman who’d criticized Sanders’ record on race. That’s led some to call for her to be released from it.