CSi Weather…
TODAY…CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES IN THE MORNING…THEN
SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
SOUTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 10 TO 15. SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTH WINDS
AROUND 5 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS AROUND 15. SOUTH WINDS
AROUND 5 MPH.
.SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 30. SOUTH WINDS 5 TO
10 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING
RAIN…SNOW AND SLEET IN THE EVENING…THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW
POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SLEET AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S.
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF
LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND SNOW. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. LOWS
15 TO 20.
.TUESDAY…CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE AND
SNOW IN THE MORNING…THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION
20 PERCENT.
.TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 10 TO 15.
HIGHS 15 TO 20.
Update…
Jamestown (CSi) The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Ypsalanti man.
Sheriff Chad Kaiser, says about 9:30-p.m., Monday, a semi driver reported that his vehicle was sideswiped by a vehicle on U.S. Highway 281 south of Jamestown.
The vehicle left the scene, as debris was on the road.
An individual then reported Tuesday that a damaged vehicle was abandoned south of the North Dakota State Hospital.
A subsequent investigation led to finding 75 year-old Alvin Peterson of Ypislanti dead in the front yard of his own home.
He was the owner of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run incident.
Preliminary autopsy results indicated that Peterson died due to hypothermia.
The investigation continues.
Jamestown (CSi) The James River Valley Library System Board of Directors will be discussing a plan to better serve the community.
Development Director Bill Kennedy told the board Wednesday that he has been meeting with a number of people since the November 4, 2014 vote defeating the proposed quarter percent sales tax to support an expanded and renovated Alfred Dickey Public library in combination with the Stutsman County Library.
He declined to outline who has helped him develop a number of options.
He indicated that one of the options, was “very appropriate in terms of the vote that we received.”
More information is expected at the Janurary 21, 2015 board meeting.
Meanwhile the tax defeat has delayed any action on replacing the aging bookmoble.
Library Director Joe Rector rescinded his earlier recommendation to buy a new bookmobile.
Kennedy is putting together an application for a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office for assistance in purchasing a new vehicle.
In other business the library board approved 4 percent annual raises for the library system’s 15 employees, along with a 1 percent, two 4 percent and a 6 percent merit raise for four employees Rector had identified as having previous experience or excellent job performance.
Valley City (CSi) At Tuesday’ s Valley City Commission meeting, Robert Drake asked “Why the citizens of Valley City where told that they couldn’t buy flood homes from the city of Valley City, then move them to lots within the city limits.”
Drake says there is no law enforcing that action, saying other city’s allowed and encouraged such moves.
He pointed out that 20 flood homes were demolished that could have been saved, and thus saving the city demolitions costs.
He also said if citizens were aware of his assertions there would have been more interest in purchasing the homes.
He said the saved homes would go toward reducing the Valley City housing shortage, and kept the houses on the property tax rolls.
Drake went on to say that the City Commission is responsible for investigating the “failure” of the City Administrator, and City Building Inspector, for there interpretation of the laws.
No comments were made at the meeting by city officials and no
action was taken by the commission at Tuesday’s meeting.
Since the meeting, Schelkoph and Andersen have said that they did nothing wrong and they have not mislead the city commission concerning the flood buyout process, giving the City Commission the best facts available during the buyout process.
Drake says he and others are asking for legal advice concerning if they should pursue a class action lawsuit against the city or pursue an individual lawsuit against Schelkoph and Andersen.
Drake believes they should be reprimanded or fired.
Tuesday’s meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68, followed by replays.
MOHALL, N.D. (AP) – A 33-year-old woman is dead following a rollover crash in northern North Dakota. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says Rachel Gates of Mohall lost control of the GMC Envoy she was driving yesterday morning on 35th Avenue Northwest near Mohall before the wreck.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Authorities say about 20 people at a Fargo agricultural plan have been taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Firefighters and ambulance crews were called to Red River Commodities around 2 p.m. Wednesday. Several employees had complained about headaches and nausea. Responders evaluated 24 employees for exposure and at least 19 were taken to a hospital.
Their conditions were unclear early Thursday.
Investigators measured carbon monoxide levels of up to 300 parts per million. They say a faulty gas heater may have caused the problem in the bird food operations building. The building has been ventilated and the levels of the gas have declined.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A woman accused of child abuse on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation has been sentenced to eight months in prison.
Thirty-one-year-old Alesia Shaw is charged in federal court with child abuse or neglect. Authorities say police observed her handling in her 1-year-old son in a rough manner during a drug investigation at her residence.
Shaw was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2006 for a car accident that killed her 17-month-old child. Authorities say she was driving drunk and lost control of her vehicle.
Shaw was arrested earlier this year for drunken driving with a child her child in the vehicle.
The tribe’s child protection system has been the subject of numerous inquiries resulting from cases of child abuse on the reservation.
FORT YATES, N.D. (AP) – Federal authorities have charged a Cannon Ball man in his cousin’s stabbing death on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation.
Twenty-six-year-old Ryan Ironroad is charged with felony murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the death of 29-year-old Clay Hagel of Fort Yates.
A Bureau of Indian Affairs dispatcher received a report of a stabbing in Fort Yates on Nov. 22. Witnesses say Ironroad demanded money before cutting Hagel on the arm and stabbing him in the stomach with a serrated knife. Hagel died in a hospital.
Authorities say Ironroad denies killing Hagel. He was arrested Dec. 11 and is being held in the Burleigh County jail. Online jail records didn’t indicate an attorney.
Hagel and Ironroad are members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A Minot jury has found a Williston man guilty in the May 2013 killing of a local hobby rancher.
33-year-old Ryan Stensaker was convicted Wednesday after a jury of six men and six women deliberated for less than three hours. Stensaker was charged with murder conspiracy and other crimes in the in the spring 2013 shooting death of 58-year-old Jack Sjol (shohl).
Sjol’s body was found in a garbage dump, with bullet wounds to his head, face and upper left arm.
The prosecution rested its case Wednesday after five days of testimony. The defense didn’t call any witnesses.
Stensaker told some of Sjol’s family members after court had adjourned that he had “never seen him.”
Stensaker faces up to life in prison without parole.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Police say a man and a woman suspected of stealing $3,500 worth of name brand headphones from a Bismarck Best Buy store are also believed to have stolen several items from Target. Police are investigating after Target employees reported that the man and woman stole gaming consoles and name brand vacuums. Police say a couple on Friday stole 18 “Beats By Dre” headphones
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – An environmental health official is warning North Dakota hotels about a pool inspector impersonator.
Grant Larson with the city of Fargo says the con artist has visited two local hotels claiming to be a pool inspector. The male suspect allegedly checked the pools, and then told hotel employees that they had failed the inspections but he could repair the violations for a fee.
Larson says the city does inspect public pools, but inspectors do not make repairs or hire contractors to do the work.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota regulators have assessed a $687,000 fine against a Utah company for allegedly violating saltwater waste disposal rules.
The North Dakota Industrial Commission that includes Governor Jack Dalrymple (DAHL’-rimp-ul) approved the sanction on Wednesday against Redemption Energy LLC.
Officials say the company constructed a salt water disposal well before getting permission for it. Officials say the company also improperly stored oilfield waste.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Gov. Jack Dalrymple has appointed two judges to the northeast central judicial district in North Dakota.
Dalrymple on Wednesday announced the appointments of Grand Forks attorney Lolita Romanick and Larimore attorney Donald Hager. Romanick will replace Karen Braaten who died in October, while Hager will replace Sonja Clapp who resigned earlier this month.
Dalrymple praised the integrity and extensive experience of the attorneys, who will begin serving in January.
Since 1999, Romanick has worked in insurance defense, employment, personal injury, workers compensation and general litigation. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota and graduated from the University of Idaho’s law school.
Hager has operated his own law office since 1986. He received his undergraduate degree from Mayville State University and graduated from UND’s School of Law.
WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota officials will hear from an Oklahoma energy company that wants to build a factory in western North Dakota capable of processing 400 million cubic feet of natural gas daily. Oklahoma-based Oneok (ONE’-oak) is the largest natural gas company operating in the state. Oneok says the $640 million Demicks Lake factory is expected to be completed in 2016.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Officials from North Dakota are applauding the Obama administration’s move to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba.
North Dakota has long viewed the communist island nation as a potential market for crops such as dry peas, lentils and potatoes, which are grown in abundance in the state and are popular parts of the Cuban diet.
Former Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson visited Cuba eight times before leaving his post to become president of the National Farmers Union. Johnson says the embargo against Cuba has been going on for more than 40 years, and normalized trade will open new markets for U.S. farmers.
U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp visited Cuba in February and says she found Cuban officials interested in exports of not only U.S. commodities but also American farm equipment.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak will serve as the panel’s president beginning Jan. 1.
Fedorchak was tabbed for the position by fellow Republican commissioners Brain Kalk and Randy Christmann on Wednesday.
Kalk is the current PSC president. The president of the panel usually holds the post for two years.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple appointed Fedorchak to the PSC in 2012, after the seat had been vacated by Republican Kevin Cramer who was elected to the U.S. House.
Fedorchak won an elected seat on the PSC in November.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s two largest universities are holding their winter commencement ceremonies.
The graduations are scheduled Friday at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on the University of North Dakota campus in Grand Forks, and in Festival Concert Hall at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
NDSU’s ceremony is being held in the concert hall because the Fargodome is hosting a playoff football game and the Bison Sports Arena is being renovated.
About 900 UND students and about 1,100 NDSU students are eligible for degrees.
In sports…
Valley City (CSi) Deb Beilke has been named the new head girls and boys cross country coach for the Valley City Hi-Liners.
Deb is in her 27th year as an educator, the last 19 in Valley City. She started coaching 32 years ago, including 17 seasons as a girls basketball coach, 12 seasons as a boys basketball coach, 16 seasons with track and field, 4 seasons working with softball, and 8 seasons in volleyball.
Deb is an under graduate of Valley City State University and later earned her Master of Science in Education from Dakota State University.
Deb is an accomplished runner and has participated in road races for over 36 years. She has completed 30 marathons along with numerous half marathons and 10k races.
Deb is excited to share her passion with her athletes and looking forward to working with them to strive to do their best by reaching their running goals and making running a part of their lives.
Deb is married to Scott Beilke, an insurance agent at Dakotah Insurance. They have one son, Jason, who is a 6th grade teacher and coach in Thompson.
FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Two Football Championship Subdivision teams who started the season on opposite ends of the spectrum will meet in Fargo to decide a berth in the FCS championship. North Dakota State came into the year as the three-time defending FCS champions with a 24-game winning streak. Sam Houston State started the season with a new coach and many new players.
Kickoff is at 7-p.m., with the game to ve shown on CSi Cable 18 , ESPN 2.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Hankinson 63, Wheaton/Herman-Norcross, Minn. 46
Lidgerwood-Wyndmere 62, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Minn. 35
Underwood, Minn. 59, Fairmount-Campbell-Tintah 37
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
UNDATED (AP) – The Memphis Grizzlies needed three overtimes to knock off the defending NBA champs and continue their winning streak.
Marc Gasol (gah-SAHL’) scored 26 points and the Grizzlies picked up their sixth straight win by downing San Antonio 117-116. The Grizzlies coughed up a 23-point lead and trailed by three until Gasol banked in a 3-pointer as regulation expired.
James Harden scored eight of his 41 points in overtime and finished with 10 assists as Houston knocked off Denver 115-111.
Final Atlanta 127 Cleveland 98
Final Phoenix 111 Charlotte 106
Final Dallas 117 Detroit 106
Final Boston 109 Orlando 92
Final Utah 105 Miami 87
Final Toronto 105 Brooklyn 89
Final Portland 104 Milwaukee 97
Final L-A Clippers 102 Indiana 100
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Loui Eriksson’s goal 1:30 into overtime gave Boston a 3-2 win over Minnesota last night. Carl Soderberg scored early for the Bruins along with Patrice Bergeron. Jason Pominville tied the game in the third period. Kyle Brodziak also had a goal for the Wild. Niklas Backstrom stopped 22 shots
Final Ottawa 2 New Jersey 0
Final Dallas 2 Vancouver 0
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final (12) Ohio St. 97 NC A&T 55
Final (16) Washington 86 Grambling St. 38
Final OT Cincinnati 71 (19) San Diego St. 62
Final (25) Michigan St. 66 E. Michigan 46
TOP-25 WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Final ( 1) South Carolina 69 Hampton 49
Final ( 3) Texas 76 McNeese St. 59
Final Chattanooga 54 ( 7) Stanford 46
Final (13) Duke 92 Oklahoma 72
Final (21) Mississippi St. 66 Louisiana-Lafayette 51
Final (25) DePaul 109 Loyola of Chicago 84
College football…
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Paul Chryst (krist) is the new head football coach at Wisconsin after going 19-19 in three seasons at Pittsburgh. The 49-year-old Chryst had two prior stints as an assistant coach for the Badgers. He was part of the Wisconsin staff from 2005-11, helping the Badgers to five double-digit victory seasons and two Rose Bowls.
NFL…
UNDATED (AP) – Nearly 500 employees at NFL headquarters in New York have turned over phone and email records to investigators looking into how Commissioner Roger Goodell (guh-DEHL’) and his staff handled evidence in the Ray Rice case. Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press about the handover of material on condition of anonymity because details of the investigation won’t be made public until former FBI director Robert S. Mueller (MUHL’-ur) releases his report. One of the sources says the report is expected to be completed this month.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Cam Newton has returned to practice eight days after an automobile accident left him with two fractures in his lower back. The quarterback took part in all of the team drills and did some throwing during the portion of practice open to reporters. His status for playing in Sunday’s game against Cleveland remains up in the air.
Newton missed last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after flipping his truck in a two-vehicle wreck on Dec. 9. He is 3-8-1 this season as Carolina’s starter.
Seattle has acquired Justin Ruggiano (roo-JEE’-ah-no) from the Cubs for minor league pitcher Matt Brazis. Ruggiano appeared in 81 games last season for the Cubs, hitting .281 with six homers and 28 runs batted in.
In world and national news…
VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis is praising what he calls “small steps” of diplomacy and peacemaking between the U.S. and Cuba. In his first public comments about the breakthrough, Francis told new ambassadors today that diplomacy is a “noble job.” Francis played a crucial role in bringing the two sides together, writing letters to Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro this past summer, inviting them to find humanitarian solutions to their differences and offering the Vatican as a facilitator in negotiations.
BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union is imposing a ban on investment in Crimea, as well as other economic sanctions on the former part of Ukraine that was seized by Russia in March. The move comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin today blamed current Western sanctions partly for Russia’s economic crisis, in which the value of the ruble has plummeted. In a speech today, Putin vowed to fix Russia’s economic woes within two years.
NEW YORK (AP) – The unprecedented hack of Sony Pictures which a U.S. official says is linked to North Korea may be the most damaging cyberattack ever inflicted on an American business. The hack has exposed a trove of sensitive documents, escalated to threats of terrorism, and now has forced Sony to cancel the Christmas Day release of the North Korean spoof movie “The Interview.” The comedy had been predicted to gross around $30 million in its opening weekend.
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – A court-martial that sentenced 54 Nigerian soldiers to death will try another 43 soldiers and officers also accused of refusing to fight Islamic extremists. The 54 soldiers were sentenced last night for refusing to deploy to recapture three towns seized by Boko Haram (BOH’-koh hah-RAHM’) in August. Troops regularly complain that they are outgunned by Boko Haram and are not supported with enough ammunition or food.
BOSTON (AP) – Security will be tight in and around the federal courthouse in Boston today for a pretrial conference for Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv). It’s the last scheduled court hearing before jury selection begins Jan. 5. The trial is expected to last several months. Today, prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to discuss the jury selection process with the judge.