CSi Weather…
TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. EAST WINDS AROUND
5 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTHWEST AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.SATURDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 15. NORTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. WEST WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH.
.SUNDAY…PARTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. PATCHY
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. BREEZY. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE.
NORTHWEST WINDS 20 TO 25 MPH.
.MONDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS 10 TO 15.
.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE.
HIGHS 15 TO 20.
.TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 5 TO
10 ABOVE. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
.THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10. HIGHS
IN THE MID 20S.
COLD WEATHER WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION THROUGH MONDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES OF 10 BELOW TO 20 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED DURING THE OVERNIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS.
NORTHWESTERLY WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE SUNDAY.
THE STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH SNOW ALREADY ON THE GROUND COULD CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITY IN BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW…LEADING TO DIFFICULT TRAVEL. THE WORST CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA…WHERE WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE STRONGEST…AND SNOW COVER IS DEEPEST. KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST FORECAST
A RELATIVE WARM UP INTO STILL BELOW NORMAL HIGHS IN THE 20S BY MID NEXT WEEK
ST. PAUL (CSi) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, recently started its annual winter draw down of nine of its Minnesota and North Dakota reservoirs.
Baldhill Dam, near began its draw down in October. Conservation elevation is 1,266.0 +/- 0.2 feet. The goal is to reach elevation 1,262.5 feet by the end of February. During the winter, the snow water content in the basin will be monitored and changes to the target drawdown and date may be changed. Maximum drawdown at Baldhill is elevation 1,255.0 feet.
Red River of North basin:
Lake Traverse, near Wheaton, Minn., is currently at its conservation elevation of 976.8 +/- 0.2 feet. The gates at Mud Lake are closed. Lake Traverse will be drawn down in March between 1.5-3 feet, depending on the amount of snow water content in the basin.
Orwell Reservoir, near Fergus Falls, Minn., is currently at its conservation elevation of 1,064.0 +/- 0.5 feet. The pool may be drawn down in March, depending on the amount of snow water content in the basin. Maximum drawdown at Orwell is elevation 1,050.0 feet.
Homme Dam, located near Park River, N.D., began its fall drawdown on Nov. 3. Conservation elevation is 1,079.8 +/- 0.2 feet. The pool is currently at elevation 1,077.3 feet. Drawdown target is dependent on snow water content in the basin.
Minnesota River basin:
Lac qui Parle, near Montevideo, Minn, was raised from its summer conservation elevation of 933.0 +/- 0.2 feet to its winter conservation elevation of 934.0 +/- 0.2 feet in September. The winter raise enhances conditions for fish survival.
Mississippi Headwaters basin:
Gull Lake, near Brainerd, Minn., will be gradually drawn down during the fall and winter, and the final elevation level will be determined by the winter snow water content.
Cross Lake, near Crosslake, Minn., started its draw down Oct. 1. The target elevation is 1,228.3 feet at the end of November. The final draw down level will be determined by the winter snow water content.
Big Sandy Lake, near Libby, Minn., also started its draw down Oct. 1. The normal draw down is to elevation 1,214.31 feet, or 2 feet below the middle of the summer band.
Pokegama Lake, near Grand Rapids, Minn., is currently releasing flows. The normal drawdown is to elevation 1,270.42 feet, or 3 feet below middle of the summer band.
Leech Lake, near Federal Dam, Minn., began its draw down Oct. 1. The final level will be determined by the winter snow water content.
Winnibigoshish Lake, near Deer River, Minn., also began its draw down Oct. 1. The final level will be determined by the winter snow water content.
The nearly 700 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2011 $175 million budget, nearly 2,800 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $271 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Community Christmas tree, on Friday, was cut and traveled from its location at 821 16th Street, Northeast, across from Leapoldt Park, to the west side of the Jamestown Civic Center, transported by RTS Shearing.
The tree was donated by Lloyd Landscoot.
City Forester, Doug Wiles says, the tree is a Colorado Blue Spruce stands just under 40 feet.
JDA Ambassador Charlie Kourajian pointed out that the tree this year will have about 1,500 new larger and brighter lights, with new wiring, and will be strung by members of the Jamestown Fire Department, using the department’s bucket apparatus.
The Jamestown Community Christmas tree lighting will be after the parade, with the time dependent on the number of floats in the parade, with the tree lighting about 7:45-p.m., with a short program at the tree location, outside the west side of the Civic Center, before the lighting.
Jamestown (CSi) The Frontier Village Association, board has approved funding for events.
The board approved funding a Christmas-themed event at Frontier Village in early December, with the Wild Wet Players hosting a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Eldridge Town Hall and will provide refreshments. The Wild West Players would also set up Christmas lights along Main Street in the village.
The activities were approved at a cost not exceeding $750.
Board member Tina Busche reported that 1,200 people were on hand at the Village on Halloween, when treats were handed out. 606 children and 594 adults, mostly in Halloween costumes attended.
The Wild West Players set up and ran a haunted village, with 45 people going through it, as $225 was raised by the Wild West Players who charged a $5 admission fee.
In other business, the board approved a debit/credit card in the Frontier Village Association’s name for the manager’s use, to purchase materials or services needed for the village, only to be used by the manager.
The FVA board heard a request from Association member Warren “Taz” Schooler asking to resign for health and personal reasons.
The association will in a month on the request and will hold its December meeting on the 11th to be held at meeting at Meeting Ground.
Jamestown (CSi) The 2014 Jamestown Turkey Trot, 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held on Thanksgiving Day.
Those participating should note the event time is at 8:30-a.m., with cash or check for $25 turned into Bank Forward or Coborn’s in Jamestown.
Credit/debit cards accepted on line at www.jamestownturkeytrot.webconnex.com/register
T-shirt pickup and race day registration opens at 7:30-p.m., on Thanksgiving Day at Coborn’s. (Register by November 20, 2014 to guarantee race day t-shirt pickup.
Proceeds benefit the Community Action, Region Six food pantry. Additional cash donations or checks made payable to Community Action Region Six Food Pantry, the day of the event.
Those coming to the event area asked to bring a non-perishable and personal hygiene items to donate on race day, to help keep the food pantry shelves stocked for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Choralaires presents the Holiday Showcase on Thursday December 4 and Friday December 5, 2014 at 7:30-p.m., at the Jamestown High School auditorium.
Adult tickets are $10 and students at $4.
Tickets are available from any Choralaire, Looysen I Care, and at the door.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Members of the North Dakota and South Dakota congressional delegations are cheering the passage of a House bill that allows construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline to move forward.
The Senate is set to take a similar vote next week.
Republican Reps. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Kristi Noem of South Dakota voted to advance the legislation. The House voted 252 to 161 in favor of the bill.
The lawmakers say the Canada-to-Texas pipeline would provide jobs, boost investment in rural communities and improve the country’s energy security.
Cramer says he thinks the vote will have more weight because it came after big wins for Republicans in midterm elections. Noem says she believes the vote will put pressure on President Barack Obama to allow the pipeline to move forward.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – BNSF Railway officials say it appears that a broken rail caused a derailment near the southeastern North Dakota town of Casselton.
The railway says 21 cars of an eastbound train carrying lumber and paper products derailed shortly after 5:30 p.m. Thursday about 2 miles west of Casselton. The wreckage was then struck by a westbound train carrying empty oil tankers. Twelve cars on that train derailed.
No injuries were reported and there was no fire or hazardous materials spill.
BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth says the railway is working with the Federal Railroad Administration on factors in the break.
The accident comes less than a year after a derailment involving oil tankers near Casselton sparked massive explosions.
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney says the accident raises serious issues about rail safety.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Another round of signups to get benefits under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul is almost underway.
The second enrollment period to get benefits starts Saturday and runs through Feb. 15.
Just over 11,300 people signed up for health insurance in North Dakota using the federal insurance marketplace during the first enrollment period.
Neil Scharpe is in charge of the state’s 16 navigators who are helping inform people of their options under the new law. He says the counselors will once again be meeting with people individually or with groups at town hall meetings, encouraging them to enroll through the online marketplace.
The health care law also was designed to reduce the number of people without health insurance through an expansion of Medicaid.
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – An Idaho man is sentenced to five years in jail for attempting to sell narcotics from a gun-packed room in the North Dakota oil town of Williston.
The 33-year-old Harris agreed to a plea deal on Wednesday.
Court documents show law enforcement executed a search of Harris’ room at The Vegas Hotel in 2013. Officers recovered a slew of drugs from the room including 17 grams of “suspected cocaine,” 90 oxycodone pills and 65 steroid doses.
Officers also found assault rifles, shotguns and a handgun. More loaded firearm magazines were strewn across the floor and hidden in a backpack.
The raid resulted in a long list of felony drug charges against Harris.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Officials say North Dakota’s oil tax savings account could more than double to $6 billion by 2017.
The fund’s balance is $2.4 billion at present.
The Legacy Fund gets 30 percent of the state’s oil tax collections. The money can’t be touched before 2017 and it would still take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature for the state to dip into the fund.
North Dakota voters approved the fund in 2010. It received its first deposit of $34.3 million in September 2011.
A group called The Legacy Fund Initiative says the fund could swell to $230 billion by 2060 with strong investments.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Republican-controlled House has approved the Keystone XL oil pipeline by a vote of 252 to 161. The project that has been stalled by environmental reviews and politics for six years still needs approval from the Senate, where supporters say they’re confident they have the necessary 60 votes. House Speaker John Boehner (BAY’-nur) is calling on the president to drop his veto threats and sign the bill.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Many of the 7 million consumers who got insurance under the new health care law will see premiums go up next year, unless they’re willing to switch to another plan. That’s the assessment of independent analysts as the Health and Human Services Department released a massive computer file of premium details. Certain low-cost plans used by the government to set subsidies for consumers will cost about the same as this year, but you could wind up paying more if your current plan is no longer the low-cost benchmark.
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is expected to announce a $3 billion contribution to a United Nations fund to help poor countries prepare for climate change and develop cleaner energy. The United Nations is trying to raise at least $10 billion to help developing nations adjust to rising seas, warmer temperatures, and more extreme weather.
NEW YORK (AP) – Microsoft has surpassed Exxon to become the second-most valuable company in the world. Exxon’s shares have been falling recently, along with the price of oil, while Microsoft’s shares have been rising since last month. The companies swapped places yesterday, when Exxon’s market capitalization dipped to $400.8 billion from $403.9 billion the day before.
CHICAGO (AP) – Chicago’s first and only female mayor has died. Jane Byrne died Thursday at a hospice in Chicago. She was 81. Byrne, who was elected in 1979, made headlines when she moved into a notorious housing project to draw attention to the gang violence there. She is credited with bringing major festivals to the city, as well as making it more welcoming to filmmakers who flocked to Chicago to make movies such as “Blues Brothers.”