Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Jan 4

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. LOWS 15 TO 20. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO
20 MPH.
.TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHWEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON.
.TUESDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10. NORTH WINDS AROUND
5 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY. A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
EVENING. LOWS AROUND 15. NORTH WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 20S.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF
SNOW. LOWS AROUND 15. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. LOWS
ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS ZERO TO
5 ABOVE. LOWS ZERO TO 10 BELOW.
.SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR ZERO. LOWS
AROUND 10 BELOW.

A WEAK SYSTEM APPROACHING THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT WILL BRING A SMALL CHANCE FOR SOME LIGHT SNOW

AT THIS POINT IT SEEMS THAT ANY ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINIMAL. BETTER CHANCES FOR SNOW WILL ARRIVE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

BY SUNDAY…HIGH TEMPERATURES MAY HAVE A HARD TIME RISING ABOVE
 ZERO FOR HIGHS ACROSS THE NORTH WITH SUNDAY MORNING LOWS 15 TO 20
 BELOW. ANY WIND AT ALL WILL EASILY PRODUCE BITTERLY COLD WIND
 CHILLS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Regional Airport Authority Chairman, Jim Boyd says another monthly record of boarding was set in December of 2015 of 936 passengers.

The figure compares to 639 boardings in December of 2014, and 763 boardings in November of 2015.

He says the accomplishment is due to the support of travel Agents, SkyWest Airlines/staff, Airport Staff, and air travelers.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session Monday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY:

Council Member Buchanan asked that items “H” and “J” be discussed separately.

“H” Resolution to approve Payment No. 7 (Inv 46705-H), to HDR Engineering, Inc., for services on the Jamestown Sanitation Utility Operational Analysis & Report, in the amount of $10,248.57. He indicated that he found no information saying the amount is due. He also recalled the November 24, 2015 committee meeting, concerning “findings” on a recycling study, which he is in disagreement with.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs says information he has indicates answers to Buchanan’s questions which will be considered at this month’s committee meeting.

Council Member Brubakken said he would like to see a more complete report on the study, before approving payment.

The Chamber’s City Beautification Chairperson, Joan Morris indicated not enough information was available in the study, that was presented to the public, and asked for details.

Mayor Andersen said the firm will be at a committee meeting with more information, which Ms. Morris said should be available before the committee meeting.

The mayor indicated that the city will have information before the meeting, and available to the public.

A motion to approve the payment was passed on a 4-1 vote with Council Member Buchanan voting in opposition.

 

“J” A Resolution to approve Payment No. 5 (Inv 46360), to AE2S, for engineering services on Jamestown Stormwater Utility Creation, in the amount of $10,610.63.

Council Member Buchanan asked what services has the city been paying for, and asked for progress reports.

Fuchs said the firm has been meeting with city officials on services provided to the city.

A motion to approve the payment was approve unanimously.

 

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

A Public Hearing was held concerning the draft Special Assessment Policy for the City of Jamestown.

Following the Public Hearing the City Council unanimously approved the Special Assessment Policy, dated January 1, 2016, for the City of Jamestown.

 

ORDINANCES:

The Second Reading of Ordinance to amend and re-enact a Section of the City Code pertaining to Board of Adjustment notice to adjoining property owners when a variance is requested was unanimously approved.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE: No one spoke.

　

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT: No reports were given.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

The City Council approved the request from Knights of Columbus for a gaming site authorization at Tapps Lounge at the Quality Inn & Suites.

The Council approved an Amendment (No. 3) to the Planning and Zoning Technical Services Contract between the City and SRF Consulting for continuance of planning services for calendar year 2016. The amount is up to $70,000, on an as-used basis.

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

 

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown’s Mayor Katie Andersen says, the city will step up its search for a new city engineer, starting with committee meetings this month.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, the mayor said, in the interim, the city is working on any issues concerning city engineering with consultants including Interstate Engineering and others on call, plus some issues can be handled by the city administrator.

The city will do a nationwide search to find the new city engineer.

On December 14, 2015, the Jamestown City Council accepted the resignation of City Engineer, Reed Schwartzkopf who announced his resignation, immediately.

Mayor Andersen said the resignation came after city officials performed an annual job performance review.

Mayor Andersen also pointed out that the 1-percent city sales tax increase to support the construction of the Two Rivers Activity Center, will start on April 1, 2016, instead of Januray 1^st, due to Communications with the Tax Department revealing that no one at the Tax Department recalled receiving the letter and enclosed ordinance mailed by the City to the tax department on September 22, 2015. The state tax department’s deadline for increasing or lowering a local sales tax effective January 1, 2016 was September 30, 2015.

She added that the city has a joint powers agreement with Jamestown Parks and Recreation, and will work together on any funding issues stemming from the later than planned implementation of the 1 percent city sales tax.

She added that another mis-communication between the city and the State Tax Department kept the 1-pecent city sales tax collections going from January 1, 2015, to April 1, 2015, when the tax that supported construction of the new Jamestown High School was still in effect, that was set to expire on January 1, 2015.

Mayor Andersen said the extra $100,000 in those sales tax collections have still not been earmarked for spending by the city.

She added that the June 2016 city election will have city council seats up for election currently held by Charlie Kourajian, Dan Buchanan, and Steve Brubakken.

All four year terms.

Other seats up for election during the city elections are those of:

Park Board Commissioners Mark Ukestad, and Ron Olson. All four year terms.

On the Stutsman County Commission: Mark Klose, and Dave Schwartz, for four year terms.

The primary election for those nominations is during the April 2016 elections, and the general election in November of 2016.

Also on the April 2016 election ballot is Jamestown Public School Board seats, currently held by rural member Terry Anderson, and city members Roger Haut, Diane Hanson and Gail Martin. All four year terms.

 

Jamestown (CSi) Prairie Paws Rescue presents the Raise The Woof Stand-Up Comedy Show fundraiser, on Saturday January 30, 2016 at the Gladstone Inn & Suites in Jamestown.

The doors open at 7-p.m., the show starts at 8-p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance, and $15 the day of the show, and can be purchased at R.M. Stoudt, Dr. Dawn’s Pet Stop, Country Acres Vet, Southwood Vet, Ingstad Family Media, or an Prairie Paws Rescue volunteer.

For more information contact Prairie Paws Rescue at 701-320-4553, or E-Mail

prariepawsrescue@hotmail.com

Sponsorships available for $100 and includes two tickets to the show.

 

Update…

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Law enforcement authorities in Grand Forks have released the name of the 19-year-old man who was found dead over the weekend in a vehicle parked on the University of North Dakota campus.
 
     The university’s police department on Monday identified the man as Braden Eli Robertson, of Wagoner, Oklahoma.
 
     Robertson’s cause of death has not been released, but University of North Dakota Police Sgt. Danny Weigel says no foul play is suspected.
 
     An officer found an unresponsive Robertson around 12:23 p.m. Saturday. Emergency personnel responded to the incident, and Robertson was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
     Weigel says Robertson was not a student at the university.
 

 

 WEST FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A West Fargo police officer is accused of drunken driving.
 
     The Police Department says a Cass County deputy arrested 38-year-old Weston Christianson about 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day.
 
     The sheriff’s office is handling the criminal case. The Police Department says it will conduct a separate administrative investigation.
 
     Christianson has worked for the West Fargo Police Department since November 2013 and currently serves as a school resource officer. He previously worked for the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office.
 
     It was not immediately clear if Christianson has an attorney. Calls to a home telephone listing did not go through on Monday.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The number of rigs drilling in North Dakota’s oil patch has dropped below 60 for the first time since 2009.
 
     State data show 59 rigs were operating in western North Dakota’s oil-producing region on Monday. That’s down from 171 rigs on the same day one year ago due to slumping oil prices.
 
     North Dakota’s Department of Mineral Resources says the state produced an average of 1.1 million barrels of oil daily in October, which was about 60,000 barrels per day less than the record set in December 2014. October production is the latest available because data typically lags about two months.
 
     State and industry officials say North Dakota should be able to maintain oil production at about 1 million barrels daily if the number of drill rigs stays above 50.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A new Bank of North Dakota loan program for farmers hit by poor crop production and low prices is off to a slower-than-expected start.
 
     The Industrial Commission authorized the state-owned Bank of North Dakota to begin the Farm Financial Stability Loan Program on Dec. 1. Up to $300 million is available for farmers to replenish working capital or restructure debts.
 
     Bank President Eric Hardmeyer says only 22 loans have been issued so far, with the bank’s share about $8.3 million.
 
     Hardmeyer isn’t concerned by the  slow start. He attributes it to the launch in December, when farmers are finishing up their year-end numbers. He expects the program to pick up steam as farmers begin planning for the upcoming crop year.

 

 MANDAN, N.D. (AP) – Weed control officials from around the state are gathering in Mandan this week.
 
     The annual North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner’s Weed Forum is scheduled Tuesday at the Baymont Inn and Suites. It’s held in conjunction with the North Dakota Weed Control Association annual meeting at the hotel on Wednesday and Thursday.
 
     Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the forum is an opportunity for local weed officials to talk about weed control programs and strategies with scientists, pesticide industry representatives and government officials.
 
     This year’s forum will include presentations on biological control, organic farming, endangered species and the state’s pipeline restoration and reclamation oversight program. All sessions are open to the public.

In sports…

Bismarck, (CSi) North Dakota Game & Fish reminds ice anglers to clean up the ice, after fishing.

It is unsightly, and illegal to leave fish behind on the ice.

Game & Fish officials point out it’s common practice for anglers to fillet fish on the ice, but individuals must clean up fish entrails and dispose of them properly. The department also says trash should also be packed.

The fishing proclamation states that when a fish is caught by anglers, it must either be immediately released back into the water unharmed or taken into possession.

 

In world and national news…

BURNS, Ore. (AP) – Federal authorities are keeping watch on a national wildlife refuge in Oregon — but they’re also keeping their distance. The facility is now in the hands of an armed anti-government group, in the latest showdown over control of public lands in the West. Residents say they haven’t seen a large presence of officers. The armed group hopes to turn over the property to local authorities so people can use it without any federal oversight. Group leaders say if the situation turns violent, it will be the fault of federal authorities.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is urging Saudi Arabia and Iran to not let their diplomatic spat derail talks to end Syria’s conflict. A spokesman is urging Saudi Arabia and Iran to show restraint. But President Barack Obama has not spoken with the leaders of either country since Saudi Arabia started scaling back diplomatic ties with Iran. The Saudis are incensed over the ransacking of their diplomatic missions in Iran, which was prompted by the Saudi execution of a prominent opposition Shiite cleric.
 
     PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) – The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the body of a missing country singer from Arkansas who disappeared during a severe storm has been recovered from a lake. The patrol says the body of Craig Strickland was recovered Monday morning in Kaw Lake, just south of the Oklahoma-Kansas state line. Strickland and a friend, Chase Morland, were reported missing on Dec. 27 during a duck hunting trip. The pair’s capsized boat was found the same day. Morland’s body was recovered from the lake a day later. Strickland was the lead singer of the Arkansas-based country-rock band Backroad Anthem.
 
     HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) – Authorities in a southwest Ohio city say a house fire that resulted in a firefighter’s death has been ruled arson. Hamilton officials say the Dec. 28 death of Patrick Wolterman is now being investigated as a homicide. Wolterman entered the smoke-filled home and died soon after falling through a floor into a basement.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal authorities are suing Volkswagen over emissions-cheating software found in nearly 600,000 vehicles sold in the United States. The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency today filed a civil complaint against the German automaker in federal court in Detroit. The lawsuit alleges the company illegally installed software designed to make its diesel engines pass federal emissions standards when undergoing laboratory testing. The vehicles then switched off those measures to boost performance in real-world driving conditions.