wbam1CSi Weather…

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. WINDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S. WEST WINDS
20 TO 30 MPH GUSTY TO 45 MPH.
.TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST
WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.
.THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WINDS 5 TO
15 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. SOUTHWEST
WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE MORNING.
BREEZY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S. WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
.SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID
30S. LOWS IN THE MID 20S.
.SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.
LOWS 15 TO 20.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
LOWS AROUND 10.
.TUESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS 10 TO 15.

NORTHWESTERLY WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY.

 

UPDATE…

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) – A fatal fire in Valley City might be linked to the home’s gas water heater.

Fire Chief Gary Retterath says the early morning blaze on Sunday appears to have started in the area of the water heater in the home’s basement.

The fire killed 85-year-old Art Kirschenman. His 82 year-old wife, Arlene, was taken to a Fargo hospital for observation after the blaze.

Valley City (CSi) Valley City Police Lt. David Swenson is accusing Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven of creating an abusive and hostile work environment.

In his grievance Swenson accused the Mayor of trying to get people to protest his promotion to Lieutenant during a swearing in ceremony in November of 2015.

Swenson said this issue stems from 2011 when the city of Valley City tried to fire Dean Ross and myself over false accusation. He said Ross and the city reached a settlement and he retired in good standing. Swenson said Mayor Werkhoven has disliked him since this incident.

Swenson’s attorney Joseph Larson said Mayor Werkhoven has hated Swenson for supporting former police chief Dean Ross and carried a personal grudge against Swenson.

Prior to this, Valley City’s City Attorney, Russell Myhre claims Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven has created a hostile work environment in City Hall, also alleging Werkhoven harassed city employees including Myhre

Myhre has issued a grievance about Werkhoven’s behavior to his attorney Joseph Larson who represents Myhre and three other city employees.

After reviewing the Myhre grievance Larson says Mayor Werkhoven’s conduct is erratic and his behavior combative.

 

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (AP) – A jury has convicted a mixed martial arts fighter from Jamestown who was accused of choking and sexually assaulting a woman.

21-year-old Antonio Borden was found guilty of gross sexual imposition, aggravated assault and menacing. He could face life in prison without parole. Sentencing was not immediately scheduled.

Borden was accused of assaulting a woman after she gave him a ride home from a bar in May 2015. He denied assaulting her and pleaded not guilty.

Borden is a 5-foot-9, 135-pound MMA fighter.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports a one vehicle rollover on I-94 east of Jamestown just before 9-p.m., Monday, was one of several accidents during the evening. The report says an ambulance operated by 31 year old Aaron Tangren of Bismarck was driving in snow and freezing conditions which caused an icy stretch of roadway east of Jamestown.

Multiple vehicles slid into the ditch and median.

The westbound ambulance, on a return trip from Fargo, slid into the median and rolled.

No patients were being transported at the time of the crash. Tangren and a passenger,24 year old William Caldwell of Jamestown were taken by Jamestown Area Ambulance service to Jamestown Regional Medical Center where they were treated and released.

Damage to the ambulance was estimated at $80,000.

The crash remains under investigation.

Jamestown (CSi) The NDDOT and Interstate Engineering are looking at replacing the I-94 Exit 260 westbound bridge near Jamestown, and held a public input meeting, Tuesday evening at the Gladstone Inn & Suites in Jamestown.

The open house featured proposals from the NDDOT and Interstate Engineering on replacing the bridge and loop near the exit.

North Dakota Department of Transportation’s John Thompson said the bridge needs replacement, and as important is how traffic flow will proceed if the loop is taken out.

NDDOT Bridge Division’s Randall Sandvig gave information on the proposed 2017 project. Sandvig sais that there were many reasons why the NDDOT made the decision that the 1958 bridge needed to be replaced.

Sandvig said the bridge and its support structures need to be replaced as the bridge was recently classified as “structurally deficient” by DOT engineers. The bridge was built in 1958 and had repair work done on the support structures and paving in 1984.

Sandvig added that the project would let bids in March 2017 and construction could begin as early as May 2017.

Public comment are being sought in order to determine how to detour the bridge while it is under construction and the effect on traffic flow.

There are two proposed detours for the project. A 4.76 mile detour through the city or a temporary off-ramp for westbound traffic.

Sandvig said that the cost would vary, depending on which steps are taken. If a through-city detour is approved, the cost would be $4,151,500. If the temporary off-ramp is approved, the cost would be $431,500 more.

The estimated project time will be roughly 6 months.

Pingree  (CSi) Discussion was held at a public input meeting Tuesday in Pingree about the proposed improvements at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 and N.D. Highway 36 at Pingree.

The proposal  included a possible northbound left-turning lane, southbound right turning lane, removal of a flashing beacon and others.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday held the Business After Hours at Fairfield Inn & Suites in Southwest Jamestown.

A ribbon cutting was held officially opening the indoor water park, which has been available to guests.

Those in attendance were also given a tour of the hotel, with refreshments and door prizes.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The 10th Annual Polar Pig, “Walk The Plank,” to support JRMC’s Hospice program, will be held Saturday January 30 at Stutsman Harley Davidson, in Jamestown.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Don Wegner said there will be a live and silent auction, from 9-a.m., to 1-p.m. Registration and ABATE Chili Cook-Off begins at 10:30-a.m. Walk the Plank starts at 1:30-p.m.

With the cook-off a $5 donation enables the individual to taste up to 20 different pots of chili, with the winner receiving recognition.

George Quigley at Stutsman Harley Davidson has more information, with registration still open.

Wegner pointed out that over the past nine years, $120,000 has been raised through Walk the Plank, to support JRMC’s Hospice Program.

He added that plungers will receive awards in the categories of Biggest Splash, Wildest contume, and Spirit Award.

2015 Photo Album by Matt Sheppard

Online at Facebook – The Replay Channel.

Adrian (CSi) A local group wants to raise $20,000 in order to purchase a service dog for a North Dakota Veteran.

“Junkin’ for GI’s” will raise the funds to purchase a service dog from Service Dogs for America out of Jud.

Shelley Nannenga with Service Dogs for America saysthese fundraiser make it possible for the organization to accomplish their goals.

The event will feature local work from Tessa Klein at Wildflowers Inc, which specializes in up-cycled junk.

The event will be held in Adrian, at The Field on January 29th. For more information or call Katie Ryan-Anderson at 701-251-8888.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – An 18-year-old man faces four felonies and a misdemeanor after he was shot by a Bismarck police officer while allegedly trying to hit the officer with a stolen vehicle.

Miguel Stubing of Mandan was charged Tuesday with theft of property, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.

Police say Stubing ignored verbal commands and drove toward an officer who was responding to reports of a vehicle stolen out of Mandan early Saturday.

Court documents show the officer fired five times at the vehicle to protect himself. The vehicle fled the scene and was later stopped by officers in Emmons County.

Stubing was taken to a hospital with two gunshot wounds. He’s being held in the Burleigh County Detention Center on a $100,000 cash-only bond.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A Minot man has been sentenced to serve three years in prison for setting a detached garage on fire and endangering neighboring buildings and occupants of a house.

Thirty-eight-year-old Michael Iverson also was ordered to repay nearly $353,000 in restitution.

Authorities say the February 2015 fire damaged the garage, a house and several vehicles. A jury last November convicted him of felony endangering by fire or explosion.

He’ll be on probation for three years following his prison term.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A Minneapolis man has pleaded guilty to bringing a 15-year-old to Fargo for the purpose of prostitution.

Twenty-one-year-old Anthony Sims, also known as Mar Mar, is charged with one count of sex trafficking of children. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum term of 10 years.

Authorities say Fargo police discovered the victim during a Jan. 16 traffic stop. Before he came to Fargo, Sims allegedly directed others to post an advertisement on the online site Backpage.com promoting women available for commercial sex.

Defense attorney Jeff Bredahl had no comment on the plea deal, but added that plans to present “numerous mitigating factors” at sentencing.

Sentencing has been scheduled for April 18.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A Grand Forks man accused of dealing powdered fentanyl has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to help pay back the families of two victims who died from drug overdoses.

Tyler Fulp pleaded guilty in June to a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances resulting in serious bodily injury and death.

Authorities say Fulp was part of a drug ring that led to the deaths last year of 18-year-old Bailey Henke and 19-year-old Evan Poitra. A judge ordered that more than $17,000 in restitution be paid to those family members by Fulp and other co-defendants.

The wide-ranging case includes one defendant from Portland, Oregon, who allegedly told authorities he could be the largest powdered fentanyl dealer in the United States.

 

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – The Williston City Commission is banning strip clubs downtown, but an attorney for one of the two existing clubs says he’s considering a lawsuit.

The  commission on Tuesday gave final approval to ordinances restricting all exotic dancing to industrial zones, on the city’s outer fringe. Clubs with dancers also will be prohibited from serving alcohol and will have to obtain a cabaret license.

City officials and police say calls to the Whispers and Heartbreakers clubs downtown are exhausting resources. The side-by-side clubs also have been the site of a fatal beating and a fatal shooting in recent years.  Both clubs have had their liquor licenses suspended in the past because of disturbances.

Heartbreakers attorney Greg Hennessy says he thinks officials are intentionally overstating the problem.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The head of the state university system says the president of North Dakota State University should have flown coach on a recruiting trip to India and plans to change the rules to keep it from happening again.

Chancellor Mark Hagerott says NDSU President Dean Bresciani did not break higher education board policy by getting business class tickets, but Hagerott says it’s an embarrassment for a public servant.

Hagerott said he knew Bresciani was flying to India and did not immediately respond to reports about the cost of the trip because he wasn’t sure about travel habits for college presidents. Then he discovered that all of the other presidents fly coach for business meetings.

NDSU officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota committee is working to overhaul the state’s prison system to lower costs and ease overcrowding.

The Legislature’s Incarceration Issues Committee met Tuesday at the state Capitol in Bismarck. The group is made up of lawmakers, prison officials, judges and members of the public.

North Dakota officials and the Council of State Governments are reviewing the state’s prison system, and are examining potential policy changes to cut recidivism and keep people out of prison, through treatment and sentencing alternatives.

North Dakota is one of 25 states participating in the council’s justice-reinvestment initiative, designed to help states reduce prison spending and enhance public safety. The U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Pew Center on the States financed the research.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Fargo businessman Jack Seaman has announced his candidacy for U.S. House as a Libertarian Party candidate.

Seaman made the announcement Tuesday.  Seaman received the Libertarian Party of North Dakota’s endorsement for the post at the party’s annual meeting in November.

Seaman is a precious metals dealer in downtown Fargo.

It will be Seaman’s second bid for U.S. House. He lost to Republican Kevin Cramer in 2014.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A cat named Hemi is back with his owner, who drove 1,700 miles from North Dakota to retrieve his lost-and-found pet. Multiple media outlets report Robert Connell drove from Bismarck to the Craven County, North Carolina, animal shelter to pick up Hemi on Monday. Connell says he decided to make the drive after the winter storm nixed plans for a family friend to fly Hemi to Bismarck. Connell served as a Marine, and he says Hemi helped him cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The longtime leader of the North Dakota Grocers Association is stepping down.

Tom Woodmansee is retiring April 1, after 31 years as president of the organization that represents grocers, vendors and wholesalers across the state.

Roger Larson of Fargo will succeed him. Larson most recently has worked as operations manager at Miller’s Fresh Foods. Before that he owned stores in Edgeley and West Fargo.

 

In sports…

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team remains at No. 2 in the national polls for the third straight week.

UND trails Quinnipiac in both the USCHO.com poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Fighting Hawks got one-fourth of the first-place votes in the two polls, with Quinnipiac getting more than two-thirds.

St. Cloud State, Providence and Boston College round out the top five in both polls.

The Fighting Hawks travel to unranked Western Michigan this weekend.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota State University softball team received votes in the preseason coaches’ poll but didn’t crack the top 25.

The Bison finished last season at No. 24 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, after making their sixth appearance in the NCAA tournament in seven years. They lost in the regional championship game.

Reigning two-time national champion Florida is atop the preseason poll, followed by Michigan, LSU, Auburn and Alabama.

NDSU opens its season Feb. 12 against Arkansas in the University of Texas Classic.

 

BOYS HOCKEY

Jamestown 2, Fargo North 1
Bismarck Century 4, Dickinson 2
Fargo Davies 6, Fargo Shanley 2
Grand Forks Central 4, West Fargo 3, OT
Grand Forks Red River 8, Devils Lake 1
Minot 6, Hazen/Beulah 4
GIRLS HOCKEY
Bismarck High 12, Dickinson 0
Grand Forks Knightriders 5, Fargo North 1

 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Valley City 92, Fargo Davies 90, OT

Jamestown 69, Bismarck St. Mary’s 65
Benson County 58, Lakota/Edmore 36
Beulah 59, Heart River 49
Bismarck Century 73, Mandan 72
Dakota Prairie 76, Warwick 44
Des Lacs-Burlington 78, Surrey 42
Devils Lake 72, Grand Forks Central 45
Drake/Anamoose 90, Westhope-Newburg 44
Fargo Shanley 98, Fargo North 87, 3OT
Flasher 50, Grant County 25
Four Winds/Minnewauken 110, Turtle Mountain 69
Glen Ullin-Hebron 59, Bowman County 46
Grand Forks Red River 83, Fargo South 59
Harvey-Wells County 52, New Rockford-Sheyenne 41
Hazen 69, Mott-Regent 64, OT
Hettinger/Scranton 66, New England 43
Hillsboro/Central Valley 60, Hatton-Northwood 44
Kenmare 50, Ray 41
Linton-HMB 56, Edgeley-Kulm-Montpelier 55
Minot 72, Williston 60
Minot Bishop Ryan 67, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood 60
Minot Our Redeemer’s 77, Glenburn 42
North Star 62, Rolla 47
Park River/Fordville Lankin 54, Langdon-Munich 42
Parshall 63, Trinity Christian 59
Powers Lake 54, Burke County 39
Rugby 58, Bottineau 37
Solen 79, New Salem-Almont 48
Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky 66, Center-Stanton 48
Underwood 77, Sawyer 65
Velva 68, Towner-Granville-Upham 39
Washburn 57, Garrison 40
West Fargo 95, Sheyenne 90, OT
Wilton-Wing 50, Kidder County 40
GIRLS BASKETBALL

Jamestown 51, Bismarck St. Mary’s 41

Fargo Davies 76, Valley City 32
Carrington 49, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion 40
Central Cass 51, Sargent Central 50
Devils Lake 69, Grand Forks Central 65
Drayton/Valley-Edinburg 62, Midway-Minto 43
Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 63, Lisbon 52
Fargo Oak Grove Lutheran 57, Northern Cass 25
Fargo Shanley 87, Fargo North 46
Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page 50, Barnes County North 32
Garrison 52, Washburn 31
Grand Forks Red River 58, Fargo South 39
Hankinson 54, Milnor-North Sargent 41
Hillsboro/Central Valley 37, Hatton-Northwood 27
Kidder County 43, Napoleon 36
Killdeer 67, Richardton-Taylor 43
Larimore 56, Griggs County Central 22
Linton-HMB 50, Strasburg-Zeeland 40
Medina-Pingree-Buchanan 44, South Border 39
Minot 63, Williston 39
New Town 56, Trenton 43
North Border 54, May Port CG 43
Powers Lake 62, Burke County 33
Richland 49, Maple Valley 40
Rolette-Wolford 58, St. John 45
Shiloh Christian 73, Standing Rock 49
Thompson 68, Cavalier 26
Turtle Lake-Mercer-McClusky 55, Center-Stanton 39
Watford City 83, Stanley 42
West Fargo 89, Sheyenne 51
Wibaux, Mont. 52, Beach 43
Wyndmere-Lidgerwood 66, Rosholt, S.D. 35

 

NATIONAL  BASKETBALL  ASSOCIATION

Final          L-A  Clippers        91    Indiana            89
Final          Philadelphia      113    Phoenix          103
Final          Miami                    102    Brooklyn          98
Final  OT    Oklahoma  City    128    New  York        122
Final          Toronto                106    Washington      89
Final          Milwaukee            107    Orlando          100
Final          Portland              112    Sacramento      97
Final          Dallas                    92    L-A  Lakers      90

NATIONAL  HOCKEY  LEAGUE

Final    Anaheim            6    Boston              2
Final    Carolina          5    Chicago            0
Final    Pittsburgh      2    New  Jersey      0
Final    Buffalo            3    Ottawa              2
Final    Columbus          5    Montreal          2
Final    Florida            5    Toronto            1
Final    Winnipeg          5    Arizona            2
Final    Nashville        2    Vancouver        1
Final    San  Jose          6    Colorado          1

TOP-25  COLLEGE  BASKETBALL

Nigel Hayes scored 31 points, Ethan Happ added 25 and Wisconsin snapped No. 19 Indiana’s 12-game winning streak, 82-79 in overtime.

Final          (  1)  Oklahoma                91              Texas  Tech        67
Final          (  7)  Xavier                    75    (10)  Providence        68
Final          (  9)  West  Virginia      70              Kansas  St.        55
Final          (11)  Virginia                72              Wake  Forest      71

GOPHER HOCKEY…

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Gophers have swept the Big Ten weekly hockey awards. The university says three Gopher players were honored by the conference for their performances in last weekend’s sweep over Wisconsin. Minnesota shut out the Badgers 4-0 Friday and followed with a 9-2 win on Saturday.

 

NFL-MANNING INVESTIGATION…

DENVER (AP) – The NFL says it is conducting a comprehensive review of allegations that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning had human growth hormone delivered to his house.

The probe isn’t expected to be completed before Denver faces Carolina in the Super Bowl Feb. 7.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy says the inquiry, which began weeks ago, involves reviews of records, interviews and coordination with other agencies.

Al Jazeera reported last month that an intern at an Indianapolis anti-aging clinic was secretly recorded suggesting that Manning’s wife received deliveries of HGH. Manning was with the Colts at that time and rehabbing from shoulder surgeries.

Manning called the report “complete garbage” and the intern has since recanted the story.

 

MLB-HOT STOVE LEAGUE…

NEW YORK (AP) – Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EHN’-ehs SEHS’-peh-dehs) and the New York Mets have completed their $75 million, three-year contract, which gives the slugging outfielder a chance to opt out after one season.

Cespedes helped power New York to the NL pennant last year after he was acquired from Detroit minutes before the July 31 trade deadline. He had 17 home runs and 44 RBIs in 57 games with the Mets.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN…

MELBOURN (AP) – Angelique Kerber won five consecutive games in the second set and saved five set points to beat two-time champion Victoria Azarenka (ah-zah-REN’-kuh) 6-3, 7-5 in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Johanna Konta beat Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 to reach the semifinals. She is the first British woman to advance the last four of a Grand Slam event since 1984.

 

SPORTS-MEDIA…

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Paul Azinger (AY’-zing-ur) has been selected as the lead golf analyst for Fox Sports as it enters the second year of televising the U.S. Open and other USGA championships. He replaces Greg Norman.

Fox signed a 12-year deal with the USGA that started last year.

 

In world and national news…

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Several blocks of Canal Street, which border New Orleans’ French Quarter, are closed as firefighters battled a commercial building fire. Fire Chief Timothy McConnell told reporters at the scene the main concern is to keep the fire from spreading. He says one person was in the building, but escaped the flames without injury. Live television images showed flames leaping from the roof.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – The prospects for restoring passenger train service between New Orleans and Orlando, Florida face an important test today. Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission will board an “inspection train” for a tour of the tracks to consider the feasibility of bringing back the service more than a decade after Hurricane Katrina damaged the tracks.

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) – Donald Trump says he’ll have a fund raising event in Iowa to raise money for veterans instead of attending the final Republican presidential debate before the leadoff Iowa caucuses. It’s all part of a dispute with Fox over moderator Megyn Kelly who he calls “a lightweight.” Trump objected to Kelly’s questioning during a previous debate. Fox says Trump is still welcome but not at the price of dictating the “moderators and the questions.”

 

ROME (AP) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (hah-SAHN’ roh-HAH’-nee) is trying to crack open the door of opportunity for American businesses. As he wraps up his Italy tour, Rouhani is inviting American businessmen to join their European counterparts in investing in Iran. Rouhani says a positive relationship could exist with the U.S. if Congress were to “end the tensions and hostility.”