Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 2

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS NEAR ZERO. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH
INCREASING TO NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.WEDNESDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS 15 TO 20. WEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. SOUTH WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHWEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 5 TO
10 ABOVE. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS AROUND 30. LOWS
AROUND 10.
.MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.

 

SOMERTON, Ariz. (AP) – The pilot of a crop duster that went down in an open field near Somerton, Arizona and burst into flames has been identified.

The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office says 55-year-old Michael Alan Kratz of LaMoure, North Dakota, died Sunday. Authorities said the small aircraft had no chemicals on board at the time and Kratz was alone.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

 

Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall. Mayor Werrkhoven was not present.

Vice President Matt Pedersen chaired the meeting. Commission Nielson was not present.

　

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

Approved Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Approved Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,803,057.81

Approve 2nd Half Liquor & Beer License for Fraternal Order of the Eagles, VFW Post #2764.

Approved renewing Mobile Home Park license for Richard Plecity Trailer Court and Plecity Mobile Home Park.

Approved renewing Pawn Shop license for Northwestern Industries.

Approved renewing Gas Permit to Vining Oil and Gas LLC.

Approved a Game of Chance Permit for VC Fire Department, St Catherine’s Family Faith Formation and VC Baseball Association.

Approved a Taxi License renewal for South Central Adult Services.

Approved a Slaughterhouse Permit renewal for Valley Meat Supply, Inc.

Approved a Tree Trimming License renewal for Ross’ Tree Service.

　

PUBLIC FORUM: Lloyd Nelson asked the police department to patrol more uptown. He pointed out jay walking and other vehicle traffic infractions he’s observed.

Police Chief Fred Thompson said it’s difficult for the two officers being everywhere. He said attention is being paid to jaywalkers.

ORDINANCES

Approved a second and final reading of, an ordinance of Animals and Fowl. City Attorney Myhre said the Ordinance is update with the North Dakota Century Code, and will now include licensing of cats. Feral cats will be taken when possible to Friends of Animals and veterinary clinics, whose president is in favor of the ordinance along with vaccinating cats against diseases.

　

Reviewed the first reading of an ordinance extending the .5% sales tax to fund the Wellness, Health and Physical Education Center and Permanent Flood Protection. Attorney Myhre said a re-draft and amendment will need to be made to the ordinance before the second reading.

Valley City/Barnes County Economic Development Director Jennifer Feist outlined the proposed amendments, including Parks and Rec being the lead agency, and limits the city’s contribution. She also pointed to clarification of the termination date.

The City Commissioners voted to postpone any action and voted to hold a Special City Commission meeting on Monday December 8, 2014 at 8-a.m. for the first reading of the ordinance.

RESOLUTIONS

Approved, a Resolution Declaring the Necessity for Paving Improvement District No. 108.

Approved a Resolution Declaring the Necessity for Paving Improvement District No. 109.

Approved a Resolution approving the Replat of Horizon West Addition, on West Main Street. City Attorney Myhre said the replat was approved by the Planning Commission.

Approved a Resolution approving the bid and awarding contract for the Shared-Use Path Along 9th St NE to Strata Corporation in the amount of $229,749.60. Approved a Resolution approving the Replat of Horizon West Addition, on West Main Street. City Attorney Myhre said the replat was approved by the Planning Commission.

NEW BUSINESS

The commissioners discussed a Police Officer Hiring Contract that includes paying for academy training for new police hires, with the positions currently vacant. Police Chief Thompson said two candidates are in the running for the two new officer positions, a female from Jamestown and a male from Valley City. He said there has been difficulty in finding qualified police officers.

The Commission approved the contract as a pilot program and in the future make considerations on a case-by-case basis.

Considered a VCBC Development Corporation request for $5,000 for 2014-15 and $55,000 per year for the next three years starting October 1, 2015, to fund the Resource Development Specialist position including salary and related expenses.

Jennifer Feist explained the return on investment with the position.

City Commissioners voted to approve.

CITY ADMINISTRATORS REPORT:

David Schelkoph noted he will be in Bismarck on Wednesday at a League of Cities meeting.

CITY UPDATE & COMMISSION REPORTS:

Building Inspector Dave Andersen reminds residents to use the proper electrical extension cords, to prevent overloads, and possible fires.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 68 followed by replays

 

Valley City (CSi) On December 18, 2014, it’s the annual Santa, Cops & Kids program in Valley City to help less fortunate children in Barnes County at Shopko in Valley City.

The evening begins with a pizza buffet, then shopping for gifts that arebrought back to the police station and wrapped. Santa will also visit the children and provide more gifts.

The Santa Cops & Kids program is funded by the generous donations from individuals and businesses in the Barnes County area.

Monetary donations can be mailed to; Santa, Cops & Kids Program 216 2nd Avenue Northeast. Valley City, N.D. 58072.

Proceeds are used entirely for children and spent locally to support the economy in Barnes County.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Auxiliary members from Jamestown Regional Medical Center are sponsoring the 16^th annual Tree of Love fundraiser. Ornaments can be purchased with a silver or gold ribbon in honor of a loved one, family member or patient. The ornaments that are purchased will be displayed on a tree located in the main lobby of JRMC through the holiday season.

“The Tree of Love fundraiser is an annual event that helps raise funds for the JRMC Foundation,” said Nancy Jo Kropp, JRMC Volunteer and Gift Shoppe Coordinator.

Order forms may be picked up at the main lobby volunteer desk or the JRMC Gift Shoppe. Deadline for purchasing ornaments is December 19. The proceeds will be donated to the JRMC Foundation for an infant warmer in the Family BirthPlace. For more information on the Tree of Love, contact Nancy Jo Kropp, JRMC Volunteer and Gift Shoppe Coordinator at 701-952-4809.

 

 GRASSY BUTTE, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Highway Patrol says a 23-year-old man has died after a pickup truck and a straight truck collided on Highway 85.
 
     Authorities say the pickup truck on Tuesday was heading north when the driver swerved to avoid hitting a deer. But the Chevrolet Silverado drove onto the icy east shoulder of the highway and began to rotate clockwise.
 
     The pickup truck then entered the southbound lane directly into the path of the straight truck, which ended up striking the passenger side of the Silverado.
 
     The Silverado’s driver has been identified as 21-year-old Austin Krueger of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Authorities say the pickup truck’s passenger died at the scene. He hasn’t been publicly identified.
 
     The highway patrol says 54-year-old Edward Buford of Great Falls, Minnesota, was driving the Freightliner.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The attorneys for two North Dakota brothers accused of intentionally destroying potatoes to collect insurance payments say there’s no hard evidence in the case and prosecutors are relying on a key witness who can’t be trusted.
 
     Aaron and Derek Johnson, who farmed in the Cooperstown area, are on trial for conspiring to defraud federal crop insurance programs for more than $2 million and making false statements to authorities.
 
     Prosecutors say the brothers, among other things, added chemicals to make the potatoes deteriorate, then claimed the damage occurred naturally.
 
     Richard Henderson, Aaron Johnson’s attorney, said during opening statements Tuesday that the government has no proof the spoilage was intentional, and without that there is no case.
 
     The attorney for Derek Johnson, Ben Thomas, said his client should not have been indicted.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A man suspected in a series of business robberies in the Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota, area has been arrested.
 
 37-year-old Arturo Amador-Diaz called Moorhead police around 3 a.m. Tuesday and said he wanted to surrender.
 
     Amador-Diaz and 30-year-old Stephanie Padilla are facing multiple counts of robbery and motor vehicle thefts. Padilla was arrested last week.
 
     Police say the pair is connected to about a half-dozen robberies. Police say the list is expected to grow.

 

  BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A judge has set bond at $250,000 for a North Dakota man accused of assaulting five people in a mobile home.
 
     Judge Bruce Haskell on Tuesday set the cash-only bond for 57-year-old Richard Gourneau Sr. Authorities say he sent five people to the hospital last week.
 
     Authorities arrested Gourneau without incident about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. Police say they located him and a vehicle that was stolen from the home after a tip from one of the people who was assaulted.
 
     Gourneau has been charged with five counts of aggravated assault and one count each of felony theft of property, terrorizing and simple assault. He has requested a court-appointed attorney.
 
     Police had been searching for Gourneau since Wednesday. Authorities say Gourneau is the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A woman says she will plead guilty to her role in a drive-by shooting on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.
 
     Morgan Williams is accused of driving a vehicle during an Aug. 12 shooting at a residence in Mandaree. Authorities say Williams helped plan the crime and participated in a cover-up by hiding the shotgun, leaving the state and selling the vehicle used during the shooting.
 
     Police say there were people in the residence at the time of the shooting. There were no injuries.
 
     Williams says she will plead guilty to reckless endangerment and terrorizing. She faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
 
     A public defender for Williams could not be reached for comment.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A former North Dakota teacher of the year who is accused of a child sex crime is scheduled for trial early next spring.
 
     Court officials have scheduled a 5-7-day trial for Aaron Knodel, beginning March 24.
 
     Knodel is accused of having sexual contact with a 17-year-old female student more than five years ago. He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of felony corruption or solicitation of a minor. He could face up to 35 years in prison if convicted.
 
     Knodel was named the 2014 teacher of the year by North Dakota’s teachers union.

 

  WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Many employers in North Dakota’s oil patch are in a constant struggle to stay staffed in a competitive environment where even fast-food jobs can start at $15 an hour.
 
     Mercy Medical Center CEO Matt Grimshaw says his turnover rate has dropped from about 40 percent a year ago to about 30 percent today. But the hospital still has between 50 and 60 vacancies at any time.
 
     Cindy Sanford is the manager of Job Service North Dakota’s Williston office. She helps connect employers with potential employees but says even she struggles with staffing. Sanford says companies who use their service have even recruited away her employees.
 
     Williams County’s unemployment rate was just 0.8 percent in October according to Job Service North Dakota.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Bismarck’s main government meeting room is unusable after boiler pipes froze and burst, flooding the basement of the city-county building over Thanksgiving.
 
About 2 inches of water flooded the Tom Baker Meeting Room, an elevator, video camera equipment, carpeting, election equipment, stored county papers and electrical outlets.
 
     A contractor has vacuumed the water out but repairs continue this week, and operation of the four-story elevator is on hold.
 
     A damage estimate was not immediately compiled. County Auditor Kevin Glatt estimates that damage to the election equipment alone could exceed $50,000.
 

 MINOT, N.D. (AP) – MDU Resources Group is considering building an oil refinery in Minot.
 
     Spokesman Tim Rasmussen says  construction could start as early as next year if a study determines the project is feasible.
 
     Bismarck-based MDU Resources Group is wrapping up construction of the $350 million Dakota Prairie Refinery near Dickinson, in a partnership with Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products. The refinery in Minot would be a similar facility.
 
     The only refinery operating in North Dakota is the Tesoro Corp. facility at Mandan. A $450 million refinery is in the works on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and a Canadian company is considering a $200 million refinery at Devils Lake.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The Italian ambassador to the United States will be addressing the relations between America, Italy and Europe during a lecture this week at the University of Mary in North Dakota.
 
     Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero (be-so-NYEROH’) is scheduled to speak Wednesday at an open forum sponsored by the university. The school recently opened a campus in Rome. 
 
     Bisogniero is expected to talk about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 2013 Year of the Italian Culture in the America.
 
     Bisogniero has also served as NATO’s deputy secretary general.

 

 In sports…

VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The 2014-15 Barnes County Girls High School Basketball Tournament takes place Dec. 9, 11 and 13 on the campus of Valley City State University.

Eight area Class B schools will converge on the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse to compete for the Barnes County Tournament title.

Three-time defending champion Maple Valley is the top seed and will play (8) Barnes County North in the tournament’s first game, Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. LaMoure-Litchville-Marion is the No. 2 seed.

First round games on Dec. 9 include:

(1) Maple Valley vs. (8) Barnes County North, 3 p.m.

(4) Enderlin vs. (5) Oakes, 4:30 p.m.

(2) LaMoure-Litchville-Marion vs. (7) Griggs County Central, 6 p.m.

(3) Sargent Central vs. (6) Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page, 7:30 p.m.

 

In world and national news….

DETROIT (AP) – Automakers that sell cars equipped with air bags made by Japanese company Takata are teaming up to investigate why the bag’s inflators can explode with too much force and spew shrapnel into the passenger compartment. Toyota says it will seek industry-wide coordination to hire an independent engineering company to investigate, and all the affected companies would share in the results. Other automakers, including Honda and Ford, have agreed to cooperate.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – Government tests results are raising concern that bulk shipments of rechargeable lithium batteries carried in passenger airplanes are susceptible to fires or explosions. A loophole in battery shipment regulations permits shippers to pack many small boxes containing thousands of rechargeable batteries into a single cargo pallet or container. In one Federal Aviation Administration test, a heater placed in a container with 5,000 batteries caused an explosion and fire.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – The House may vote this week to undo President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. House Speaker John Boehner told Republican lawmakers in a closed-door meeting today that he’s leaning toward scheduling a vote on a bill aimed at blocking Obama from unilaterally allowing categories of unlawful immigrants to live and work here. The move would be mostly symbolic, since Obama would certainly veto such a bill and the Democratic-led Senate likely wouldn’t go along with it.

 
     LOS ANGELES (AP) – Heavy rain is falling in parts of California and authorities have ordered evacuation of about a dozen homes due to mud flows 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Ventura County fire officials say the homes in Camarillo Springs are in an area that burned in a wildfire more than a year ago.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – The green New York Jets jacket that Kevin Arnold always wore in “The Wonder Years” is becoming a piece of history along with other items from the popular TV show. Fred Savage, who played Arnold, his mother and other cast members donated costumes, studio tapes, scripts and Polaroid photos from the show to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History Tuesday. Savage says his mom likes to keep everything and had kept the jacket since the show ended in 1993.