CSi Weather…
RED FLAG WARNING AND WIND ADVISORY INTO EARLY THIS EVENING.
…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING…
.TODAY…SUNNY…WINDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. SOUTH WINDS 25 TO
30 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 45 MPH.
.TONIGHT…INCREASING CLOUDS. A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 20 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH SHIFTING TO THE SOUTHWEST AROUND 10 MPH
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
.THURSDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S. NORTH WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S. WEST WINDS
AROUND 10 MPH.
.FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 60S. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO
20 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S.
HIGHS IN THE MID 60S.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS.
BREEZY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE
LOWER 30S. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 50S.
.TUESDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SNOW
SHOWERS IN THE MORNING…THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN
THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION
20 PERCENT.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Fire Department was called to a fire about 6:35 a.m., today at 611 11th Street Northeast.
The fire is uneder investigation.
More information posted on line at CSiNewsNow.com when the report is available.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Tuesday at City Hall. Council Members Brubakken and Gumke were not present.
The Council approved final payment to Northern Plains Contracting, Inc., for the installation of the LRAT Cover at the Wastewater treatment facility, which covers the digesting area. Two sump pumps will be provided, with a cost of $44,497.00 including interest.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 67.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Board of Equalization met Tuesday afternoon at City Hall. Those present were: Mayor Andersen, City Administrator Fuchs, Council Members Kourajian, Brubakken and Buchanan.
City Assessor Darrell Wollen gave his report.
He started by noting his office sent out 4,954 letters to property owners indicating an increase of property assessments of over 10%. Letters are required for properties which has an increase of at least 15%.
50 property owners contacted Wollen with questions or concerns, of the increase.
5 requested and inspection of their property, and re-evaluation.
Of those, there were 3 adjustments downward, and 2 stayed the same.
He pointed out that if the property assessment increases, that does not necessarily mean the city property tax will increase, as it is one facet of the total tax bill.
The city’s mill levy also has not been set at this point.
The report…with copies available at City Hall…explains the process, and showed the breakdown of property taxes, the 2014 Mill Levy breakdown, and included figures on 2014 building permits, and tax exemptions and evaluations.
The Average sale price of residential homes. In 2014 that figure was just over $140,000.
Building Permit numbers for between February 1, 2014 and February 1, 2015, for residential permits, 89, amounted to $3,417,900, with commercial permits, 57, totaling $44,481,306.
In 2014 there were 18 tax exemptions for $2,153,598 for charitable organizations, 3 for new business improvements at $12,290, for day care at $18,518, 1 Renaissance Zone, at $11,940, and single family dwellings with 16 at $105,00, for a total of $1,775,879. City Council Member Buchanan pointed out that the state statute sets the criteria for property tax exemptions.
The estimated increase in taxable valuation for 2015 over 2014 is 17.91%
Hearing from the audience:
A trailer home, owner, indicated a large increase in his assessment that he didn’t feel was reasonable.
Another property owner indicated that his property assessment went up $1,000, which he did not feel was reasonable.
Another property owner indicated that over the past 20 years his property value increase by $35,000, and over the past two years it increased another $45,000.
The Board of Equalization then approved and accepted the real property assessments for 2015, in the total aggregate of $8,983,593.
The assessments are subject to adjustments, Homestead Credit, and disability reductions. Council Member Buchanan voted no, in protest of the proceedures used.
The Stutsman County Board of Equalization will receive the city’s action, and in turn the county’s certification is sent to the state.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 67.
Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Board of Equalization met Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.
In attendance were:
City Commissioners:
Robert Werkhoven President
Matt Pedersen Vice President
Duane Magnuson Commissioner
Madeline Luke Commissioner
Mary Lee Nielson Commissioner
Department Supervisors:
David C. Schelkoph City Administrator
Avis Richter Auditor
Russell J. Myhre City Attorney
Sandy Hansen City Assessor
Auditor Richter read Sections of the North Dakota Century Code pertaining to the duties of the Board of Equalization.
After the hearing was opened, a report was given by the City Assessor, Sandy Hansen.
She said the 2015 Valley City taxable valuation of property was $341,378,573, an increase in values of 10.21% from 2014.
She then broke down the report, including exemptions and other information.
She pointed out that 340 property owners were notified of the increased assessment on their property.
She added that additional appeals can be made to the County Board of Equalization.
The report was followed by requests from property owners, and the auditor’s report on any written communications, received.
Paul Diegel asked for and received explanations on assessments on lots that he owns.
Another property owner asked her property value assessment be decrease, and Hansen took her information and adjusted the value lower, based on the information.
Auditor Richter said no written protests were received.
The Commission then reviewed the assessment books.
A parcel was recommended for a reduction as indicated earlier in the meeting, along with a reduction in a lot requested by Paul Diegel.
A motion to approve the assessment books as prepared by the City Assessor was approved, Commissioner Pedersen abstained from the vote.
The city’s certification will be forwarded to the Barnes County Board of Equalization, to be certified, and then to the state for certification.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 68.
Jamestown (CSi) The Spiritwood Energy Park Association Board Tuesday, heard from Spiritwood Energy Park Senior Project Manager Rich Garman with updates on the recently installed rail loop switch.
Garman says the rail loop is now in service and 60 ethanol cars were delivered the week of April 6th.
A rail loop crossing to access the Rudolph farm land west of the plant will be installed, following cash rent agreement.
About two and a half miles of the access road has been completed.
Greg Ridderbusch notes that the construction camera currently at the site will be removed at the end of this month as most of the visible construction at the site is completed.
Valley City (CSi) Valley City resident Rich Schueneman has announced his run for the school board seat now held by Rick Ross.
Ross has indicated his run for re-election.
Schueneman previously served on the Valley City Commission and the Planning and Zoning board. He now works as the Bald Hill Dam Resource Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
TOWER CITY, N.D. (AP) – An election to decide whether to build a new school in the Maple Valley School District in southeastern North Dakota is too close to call.
Superintendent Brian Wolf says that unofficial results show 59.76 percent of the 753 voters in Tuesday’s election in favor of a $10.3 million bond measure. That is just under the 60 percent approval required.
Wolf says 18 absentee ballots will be opened during the election canvassing process on Monday, and official results will then be tallied and announced.
If the measure passes, the school district will close schools in Buffalo and Oriska and bring all students into a renovated school in Tower City. The proposal was narrowly defeated in a January election.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Burleigh County authorities have lifted home evacuation orders issued for an area south of Bismarck after a fire reignited.
Burleigh County emergency manager Mary Senger says the fire reignited shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday and was contained by 8:30 p.m. The wildfire originally began Monday and scorched nearly 2 1/2 square miles.
The evacuation was in effect for the South Fork Junction area. The fire got close to the University of Mary campus, where school officials moved to evacuate some buildings and cancel classes.
A shelter at United Tribes Technical College remained open overnight to University of Mary students who were displaced from campus. The American Red Cross says 23 students had checked into the shelter as of 9 p.m. Tuesday.
No injuries or damage to property have been reported. The cause of the fire hasn’t been determined.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Health Department is urging residents to avoid inhaling smoke in areas where there are wildfires.
Health officials say smoke from grass fires can irritate the respiratory system and is especially hazardous for people who suffer from conditions such as asthma and allergies.
The department says people also should stay away from wildfires to protect themselves and also avoid getting in the way of fire crews.
The National Weather Service says dangerous fire weather is in store for much of the Northern Plains over the next several days, with gusty winds and low humidity levels.
A statewide fire emergency is in effect until the end of the month.
WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Public Service Commission is deciding on a proposed expansion of the Little Missouri Gas Plant in McKenzie County.
State regulators say Targa Badlands LLC has submitted an application to expand the facility to four gas processing units, at a cost of about $140 million.
The PSC scheduled a hearing in Watford City on Wednesday to give the public a chance to weigh in on the proposal.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dak
ota Legislature will keep funding at $50,000 over the next two years for a program to help identify and provide services to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange.
The bill originally asked for $100,000 in funding over the next two years. The House cut the sum to $50,000, while the Senate wanted $75,000.
House and Senate negotiators settled on $50,000 and both chambers approved the funding Tuesday.
Democratic Sen. Richard Marcellais says there are about 15,000 Vietnam veterans living in North Dakota, and many of them may have been exposed to the jungle defoliant.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A man accused of defrauding an elderly woman out of more than $1 million has been arrested in North Dakota.
56-year-old Vernon Officer has been charged with wire fraud and filing a false income tax statement. Authorities say Officer began defrauding the Virginia woman in 2011 after they both met online.
Authorities say Officer traveled to Virginia and demanded money from the woman. He eventually talked her into giving him over $600,000 to buy a former U.S. Coast Guard boat that was for sale after being decommissioned. Officer later convinced the woman to give her $400,000 more
Officer says he has lived in North Dakota since December. He’ll remain under the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is taken to Washington state, where the charges were filed. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he has an attorney.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Aerospace and defense technology giant Northrop Grumman has signed a lease with Grand Fork’s Grand Sky aerospace tech park. The company will be the anchor tenant at Grand Sky, a business complex for unmanned aircraft systems that will occupy 217 acres at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will include multiple buildings, four of which will be hangars.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s Senate has confirmed Michael Ness as member of the state Board of Higher Education. Ness is the superintendent of the Hazen School District and a North Dakota State University graduate. Ness replaces Kirsten Diederich, who stepped down in January.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Federal officials are completing the final work required on an aerial training area over the Northern Plains before military bombers can begin roaring overhead.
The U.S. Air Force could begin using parts of the expanded Powder River Training Complex over the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming in September
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek says expanded training can’t begin until the Federal Aviation Administration publishes the expansion in its aeronautical maps. The full airspace won’t be open until an aircraft recall communications system is instal
The FAA approve the plan last month to roughly quadruple the airspace to span across nearly 35,000 square miles.
It will be used by B-1 bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and B-52 bombers from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Aerospace and defense technology giant Northrop Grumman has signed a lease with Grand Fork’s Grand Sky aerospace tech park.
The company will be the anchor tenant at Grand Sky, a business complex for unmanned aircraft systems that will occupy 217 acres at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The 1.2 million-square-foot facility will include multiple buildings, four of which will be hangars.
Republican U.S. Sen. John Hoeven says groundbreaking for the initial office building will start in September. Employees will begin to occupy the facility a year later.
Hoeven has said the project could lead to up to 3,000 jobs.
The Federal Aviation Administration has designated Grand Forks as one of six drone test sites in the nation.
Drones are among the technology manufactured by Northrop.
In sports…
FOX Sports North (CSi 25) has announced that the regional sports network will televise the First Round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. All telecasts will include a one-hour Wild Live pregame show and extended postgame analysis.
Coverage begins on Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. with a one-hour edition of Wild Live presented by Century Link. Anthony LaPanta will call the play-by-play alongside analyst Mike Greenlay.
Game 1: Thursday,
· 7:30 p.m. Wild Live
· 8:30 p.m. Minnesota at St. Louis
· 11:00 p.m. Wild Live
The schedule posted on line at csinewsnow.com
MLB…
INTERLEAGUE
Final Boston 8 Washington 7
Final Detroit 2 Pittsburgh 0
Final L.A. Dodgers 6 Seattle 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 4 N-Y Yankees 3
Final Tampa Bay 3 Toronto 2
Final Chi White Sox 4 Cleveland 1
Final Texas 8 L.A. Angels 2
Final Oakland 4 Houston 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Miami 8 Atlanta 2
Final N-Y Mets 6 Philadelphia 5
Final Cincinnati 3 Chi Cubs 2
Final San Diego 5 Arizona 1
Final Colorado 4 San Francisco 1
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – C.J. Miles dropped in 25 points and the Indiana Pacers reduced their magic number to one for the No. 8 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs by outlasting Washington 99-95 in double-overtime. George Hill finished one rebound shy of a triple double, producing 24 points and 10 assists. The Pacers’ sixth straight win eliminates the Miami Heat from postseason contention and forces Brooklyn to beat Orlando on Wednesday if the Nets have any hope of grabbing the eighth seed from Indiana.
BOSTON (AP) – The Celtics have secured the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs as Jae Crowder drained an off-balance fall-away from the corner with 0.8 seconds left to send Boston to its fifth straight win, 95-93 over Toronto. Evan Turner and Avery Bradley each scored 14 points for Boston, which will face No. 2 seed Cleveland in the playoffs. The Raptors are wrapped up the fourth seed and will open the postseason at home against Washington.
PHOENIX (AP) – - The Los Angeles Clippers will have no worse than the third seed in the playoffs and could move up to No. 2 after Chris Paul hit six 3-pointers and scored 22 points in a 112-101 win at Phoenix. Blake Griffin hit his first six shots in a 20-point performance, and DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 14 rebounds. The Clippers will finish second if San Antonio and Houston lose their regular-season finales on Wednesday.
MLB…
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Twins have presented new manager Paul Molitor with quite a challenge after his first regular season week in charge. Molitor’s first year on the job was jarred when starting pitcher Ervin Santana was suspended for 80 games after a positive test for a banned substance. Then the Twins went to Detroit and were swept by a combined score of 22-1.
NHL…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Cooke has an injury that has clouded his availability for Game 1 of the first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues. Cooke did not practice yesterday. Coach Mike Yeo said Cooke is “definitely a possibility” to play tomorrow. Cooke missed two months after sports hernia surgery.
CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago Blackhawks should be at full health when they open the NHL’s division semifinals against Nashville Wednesday night.
Blackhawks star right wing Patrick Kane is expected to be in the lineup after head coach Joel Quenneville (KWEHN’-vihl) confirmed the forward is ready to return following today’s practice.
NBA…
UNDATED (AP) – Add Justise Winslow and Bobby Portis to the list of players who are leaving school early to enter the NBA draft.
Winslow is giving up his last three years of eligibility after helping Duke win its fifth national championship. Winslow averaged 12.5 points and 6 1/2 rebounds for the Blue Devils, who also are losing freshman Jahlil Okafor (jah-LIHL’ OH’-kah-fohr).
Portis says he is leaving Arkansas after being named the SEC Player of the Year as a sophomore. The 6-foot-11 Portis averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season, leading the Razorbacks to a 27-9 record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) – For those who have yet to file their income tax returns, deadline day has arrived and the forms need to be on their way by midnight. President Barack Obama is using Tax Day to draw new attention to his family-friendly tax proposals during a town hall in North Carolina. The president has called on Congress to expand existing tax credits and create new ones, but there’s been no action.
BOSTON (AP) – Mayor Martin J. Walsh is trying to start a new tradition on the second anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. He’s declared today “One Boston Day,” saying it’s a time to show kindness and generosity. The anniversary will also be marked with a moment of silence and the tolling of church bells. Walsh and other officials will raise commemorative banners.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – “Unresolved issues” with the United Nations nuclear watchdog are on the table today in Iran. The official IRNA news agency says U.N. nuclear inspectors are in Tehran on a long stalled visit meant to investigate suspicions that a site in western Iran was used for high explosives tests as part of nuclear research. Iran denies it. Talks with the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency are parallel to the nuclear negotiations with world powers.
LUEBECK, Germany (AP) – Secretary of State John Kerry says the White House compromise that will give Congress a voice in a nuclear deal doesn’t diminish his confidence that Iran and world powers will strike an agreement. Kerry is in Germany for a meeting with his counterparts in the Group of Seven industrial powers. Kerry says the challenge of finishing the negotiations with Iran loom large over the G-7 meeting.
DETROIT (AP) – A Detroit boy found in a basement after a nearly two week search could testify at a hearing to determine whether his father and stepmother face trial. The boy has accused the couple of abuse. The hearing resumes today for Charlie Bothuell (BAHTH’-yoo-ehl) and Monique Dillard-Bothuell. They deny the charges and any knowledge the boy was in the basement.