Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Oct 4

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA…FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH.

 IN THE VALLEY CITY AREA…FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN CHANCE OF LIGHT SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF SNOW 50 PERCENT.HIGHS 35 TO 40.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST
WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 40S. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND COLUMBUS DAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.
.MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN.
LOWS IN THE MID 30S.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 50. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S.
.WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The first snowstorm of the season has
hit eastern North Dakota’s Red River Valley, causing travel
problems and power outages.
     The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm warning
for northeastern North Dakota, with 6-12 inches of snow expected.
Forecasters say wind gusting up to 45 mph will blow the snow
around, producing near-blizzard conditions.

The state Transportation Department has issued a travel alert for the region.

     Xcel Energy said the weather contributed to a power outage
affecting about 6,500 people in the Fargo region for a couple of
hours.
     The National Weather Service reported that 3  1/2 inches of snow
had already fallen in Grand Forks by about 8:30 a.m.
     On Wednesday, as much as 3  1/2 inches of snow fell in western
North Dakota.

 

Valley City, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Valley City Commission met in Special Session Thursday afternoon, (Oct 4, 2012) at City Hall, with members of the Barnes County Commission. All members of the City Commission were present.

The agenda item was Discussion of the 9-1-1 contract.

The County was looking to reach a consensus on the cost share, so the 9-1-1 fund is not left without a reserve.

At $1 per line, after costs there would be a zero dollar balance.

The County says equipment updates are needed, and the equipment costs are estimated at $271,000, if Barnes County opts to update and keep the 9-1-1 operations in Barnes county

The cost is estimated to be about $160,000 to form the three county partnership, with Stutsman and Richland Counties.

The County suggests Barnes County put in $50,000, Valley City $90,000 and 9-1-1 fees $100,000, for a joint operated system.

Mayor Werkhoven said the figures may be premature, until all 9-1-1 costs are known.

The Mayor also expressed concerns on the city’s share of costs.

It was noted the Stutsman and Richland County 9-1-1 agreement, and the possibility of adding Barnes County into the mix will help reduced operating costs, plus the availability of a backup system, in the event of a failure.

The host computer would be located in Stutsman County.

Barnes County would retain 9-1-1 dispatchers, and related new equipment.

Barnes County will further look into partnering with Stutsman and Richland County for 9-1-1 which is still possible, according to Stutsman County 9-1-1 Coordinator, Jerry Bergquist.

The City and County agreed on a proposed cost share at the meeting, for a one year contract to be revisited after a year.

No formal action was taken by the City Commission at the meeting.

Discussion then centered on a separate 9-1-1 dispatch center, to be located in the Law Enforcement Center, and run by Barnes County, the political subdivsion responsible for 9-1-1.

Dispatchers and the 9-1-1 Coordinator would be Barnes County employees.

The city would close the 9-1-1 fund and send the dollars to Barnes County for 9-1-1 operations.

It was suggested to keep the operations under Valley City Police, and newly appointed Police Chief, Fred Thompson, and revisit all issues in a year.

Barnes County Sheriff, Randy McClafflin said he wants 9-1-1 a separate stand alone entity from city operations, which City Commissioner Duane Magnuson agreed with.

Mayor Werkhoven asked from where a 9-1-1 Coordinator would come.

City Commissioner Pedersen suggested keep the management as is.

The Barnes County Commission will discuss the issue at it’s meeting and recommend which political subdivision will be in charge, of 9-1-1 and cost share issues.

Mayor Werkhoven said the city and county will be again, to further discuss the 9-1-1 future plans.

Thursday’s meeting was shown live on CSi 68, followed by replays.

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — A project at Jamestown Regional Airport is moving a wetlands area near the airport.

On Thursday’s (Oct 4, 2012) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, airport manager, Matthew Leitner said the wetland area southeast of the airport will be filled in, and land has been purchased to place the area away from the runway.

He said birds that migrate to the present wetland area, pose a danger to aircraft taking off and landing because of possible bird strikes to the aircraft.

He added that explosions are sent into the air to scare off the birds, but doesn’t always work.

On another topic Leitner said September 2012 Jamestown boardings were 171, or 90- fewer passengers than in August this year.

He expects boardings to pick up with holiday travel coming soon.

He pointed out that reservations can be made through local travel agents, or by calling Great Lake Airlines at 252-3414.

He said Great Lakes has significantly improved with its on-time performance at Jamestown.

Leitner noted that the recent Flyin-4-Food promotion in conjunction with Great Lakes Airlines netted over 100 pounds of non-perishable food items, that was dropped off at the airline counter at Jamestown Regional Airport in the month of September.

Those dropping off the food items were invited to sign up for four drawings for tickets provided by Great Lakes Airlines, roundtrip tickets between Jamestown and Minneapolis.

He said the items donated went to the Progress Center in Jamestown.

He pointed out that the airport is ready to handle any snow storm accumulations.

Leitner said the new $136,800 broom truck has joined the snow removal forces at the airport.

He added the previously used broom truck will be advertised for bids.

His office has more information on the specs.

 

 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – Drought conditions have worsened
dramatically in South Dakota, and all parts of North Dakota have
now slipped into some form of drought.
     The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows 27 percent of South
Dakota in the “exceptional” drought category, up from about 7
percent a week ago.

More than 82 percent of the state is in severe, extreme or exceptional drought, up from 75 percent.
     About half of North Dakota is in severe or extreme drought, up
from about 28 percent last week.

Areas that were considered just abnormally dry last week are now categorized as being in at least moderate drought.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Representatives of six North Dakota companies
are going on a trade mission to the South American nation of
Colombia next week.
     Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and officials with the
North Dakota Trade Office and the U.S. Commercial Service will lead
the group, which will meet with potential buyers in the cities of
Bogota and Medellin.
     It is the first North Dakota trade mission to Colombia in four
years. Gov. Jack Dalrymple says the recently signed U.S.-Colombia
Free Trade Agreement, along with Colombia’s growing middle class
and improved living standards, are opening doors for North Dakota
exporters.

 

BOWMAN, N.D. (AP) – Some residents in southwestern North
Dakota’s Bowman County are questioning a proposed 12 percent tax
hike given the county’s large reserve fund.
     The county has $21 million in reserve, though Commissioner Lynn Brackel says some of the money already is allocated to projects and future needs.
     The commission is proposing to raise property taxes for fiscal
2013 to cover rising costs.

Resident Pam Hestekin says such a hike would burden some people, especially those on fixed incomes.
     Brackel says the county is faced with the rising cost of social
services for residents, along with retirement and health insurance
for county employees.
     The budget isn’t final yet. Commissioner Bill Bowman says the
county is looking into using federal money to ease the property tax
burden.

 

 FORT TOTTEN, N.D. (AP) – The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is
likely to manage social service programs for the Spirit Lake tribe
in North Dakota for years.
     The BIA assumed control of the tribe’s social service programs
this month after criticism that the tribe has failed to protect
vulnerable children.

BIA regional director Bruce Loudermilk says  it likely will take at least a couple of years to strengthen the programs.

     Loudermilk says it’s up to the tribe to decide whether it wants
at some point to seek to regain control of the programs.

He says the tribe would have to through a process that includes submitting
a formal request.
     Loudermilk says the transition to federal control has gone well,
though it will take time “to get this all running smoothly.”

 

In world and national news…

DENVER (AP) – Democrats are looking to rebound from what’s being
seen as a disappointing debate performance by President Barack
Obama last night, by accusing Mitt Romney of being dishonest on the
debate stage.

Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod says Romney
was “hiding the truth and the facts” from the American people.
And Obama himself told a rally in Denver that the Romney who showed
up for the debate isn’t the same candidate he’s been running
against.
     
     DENVER (AP) – Spirits are high in Mitt Romney’s campaign in the
aftermath of last night’s debate.

As Romney’s plane took off from Denver for Virginia today, there were claps and whistles from Romney aides as the pilot announced that the control tower had commended Romney’s performance when the plane was cleared for takeoff.

A Romney spokesman says the Republican demonstrated in the
debate why he should be president.
     
     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A fifth person has died in a growing
outbreak of a rare form of meningitis that has sickened more than
two dozen people in five states.

Officials at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville say a patient died there late Wednesday or early Thursday, bringing the number of deaths in Tennessee to three.

Deaths have also been reported in Virginia and Maryland.

All received steroid injections used mostly for back pain that have been traced back to a specialty pharmacy in Massachusetts.
     
     WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve policymakers are in agreement
that helping the housing market recover is a good way to lift the
broader economy.

Minutes from the Fed’s mid-September meeting show that it’s why they structured their latest stimulus program around the purchase of mortgage bonds.

Those purchases have helped drive mortgage rates to record low levels once again this week.
     
     NEW YORK (AP) – Big Bird has never been quite so big. Saturday
Night Live,” Jimmy Fallon, Piers Morgan, the “Today” show and
“Good Morning America” have all asked for appearances from the
giant yellow Sesame Street Muppet after he was unexpectedly thrust
into the presidential campaign by Mitt Romney.

Sesame Workshop says Big Bird is declining all appearances.

During the debate with President Barack Obama, Romney called for cutting federal funding to PBS, even though he said “I love Big Bird.”