By Jason Metko NewsDakota.com
February 8
Two men from Washington State have been charged with Class AA Felonies after the North Dakota Highway Patrol found seven pounds of crystal methamphetamine in a vehicle driven by one of the men.
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, 31 year-old Regino Prieto was stopped around 1:15 on Thursday along eastbound Interstate 94 near Casselton on a routine traffic stop. Information gathered during the stop lead the trooper who made the stop to bring in a K9 to search the vehicle. The K9 found crystal meth inside the vehicle, and Prieto was arrested and charged with a Class AA Felony for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
On Saturday, the NDHP arrested 37 year old Guadelupe Navarro in Fargo on a Class AA Felony charge of conspiracy to posses a controlled substance.
Both men are charged in Cass County District Court in Fargo.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 8
The Highway Patrol had a busy weekend responding to vehicle rollovers from Valley City to Buffalo.
3 rollovers were reported Friday night, one on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. A Fargo woman was injured Sunday afternoon west of Tower City in a rollover. The 49-year old woman was transported to Mercy Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
Authorities say 10 other vehicles slide off the road and into the median or ditch on Interstate 94 from Valley City to Casselton from Friday to Sunday. According to the Highway Patrol motorists and passengers in the other rollovers escaped serious injury or were not injured.
The Highway Patrol says 37 crashes were reported in the Fargo area and 55 vehicles hit the ditch over a 3 day period.
A 20-year-old Danielle Thompson of Watertown, South Dakota struck the back of a snowplow near Casselton shortly after 12pm on Sunday. Thompson is a Jamestown College student. She was treated for non life threatening injuries. Her vehicle a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am was totaled.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 8
A winter weather advisory remain in effect until 6pm for eastern North Dakota. Grand Forks National Weather Service Meteorologist Pete Rogers says "snow fall amounts were heavier along the Red River Valley over the last three days and taper off the further west you go."
U-S Fish Hatchery spokesman Ron Zitzow says they recorded 6 inches of snow over a 7 day period northwest of Valley City. Zitzow says since Friday the Hatchery has recorded 4 inches of snow. The weather service says another 1 to 2 inches of snow is expected today before the storm winds down.
Many roads across the state are snow covered or icy from this storm with the exception of the southwest corner of the state.
By Wade Fossum NewsDakota.com
February 5
The annual meetings of the Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Oakes Enhancement Inc. was held Thursday night in Oakes.
Congratulations to Audrey O'Brien of Oakes awarded with the Distinguished Service Award. This award began back in 1988 as a way to recognize an individual or group giving service to enhance the quality of life in Oakes.
The Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors chose Audrey as this years recipient. A nice trick had to be played however, as Audrey is part of the Chamber of Commerce, they had selected a different couple to receive the award for Audrey to type and prepare for the meeting, but when they started to speak of the award and read some of the accomplishments, she realized it was not what she had prepared and it took a few minutes for it to set in and for her to realize what was actually going on. A well deserved award for a woman who puts in countless hours for many events in and around the Oakes community.
Audrey is the wife of Pat O'Brien. They have two children, daughter Katie, and a son Nathan.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 5
Valley City native Bob King and the 1958 Drayton American Legion baseball team will receive the Cliff Cushman Award during the induction ceremony at the North Dakota Sports Hall of Fame banquet on July 24 in Jamestown.
King was a teacher, coach and athletic director for over 25 years. Bob led his teams to 15 football conference championships and a State Class B Track & Field Championship in 1961.
King is a 1955 VCSU graduate and received his Masters degree in 1970 at NDSU.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 5
Lady Luck was busy this week. A Valley City man and someone from the Lakota area will split the Wild Card 2 jackpot drawn on Wednesday worth 384,000 dollars.
Lottery officials say Joe Jongeward of Valley City claimed his prized this week of $192,000 dollars. Jongeward says, “It’s a gift from God, we’ll pay off some bills and I’ll probably get a new set of golf clubs.” Joe said, his wife Sandra, could use a different car. He said he and his wife are simple people and there won’t be too much change in our lives. Jongeward bought the winning ticket at Brothers III Sports in Valley City.
The second winner from Lakota chose to remain anonymous. They bought their ticket at the Lakota Cenex store.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 3
Officials with the National Weather Service say the upper basin of the Sheyenne River Valley is in better shape this year to avoid a major flood this spring but that could change in the next month or two depending on snow storms and rain.
Grand Forks Warning Coordination Meteorologist Greg Gust says moisture content in the upper Sheyenne basin from Harvey to Cooperstown is two inches less today compared to one year ago. Frost depth is about 1 to 2 feet.
But the situation is not looking good for communities in the southeastern corner of the state. Gust says moisture content is higher in the Fargo and Wahpeton areas and further south in South Dakota compared to one year ago.
Gust says Sheyenne River will more than likely reach 14 to 15 feet in Valley City, major flood stage is 17 feet in Valley City. Last year a record crest of 20.65 feet was reached in Valley City in April of 2009.
Army Corps of Engineer Resource Manager Rich Schueneman says the draw down of Lake Ashtabula is underway to provide more storage space this spring.
Schueneman says the lake should reach a level of 1257 the maximum draw down level by mid to early March.
Schueneman will give Valley City officials a report concerning Bald Hill Dam releases and snow pack amounts and moisture content again on March 2.
Courtesy of Don Haney
February 3
3 Minnesota hunters face a number of charges after they were found hunting coyotes by snowmobile in southeastern North Dakota.
State Game and Fish Regional Supervisor Cory Erk says acting on a tip, a Game & Fish Department plane spotted the hunting party near Lisbon last Saturday.
It's the second such case in the area in the past month, 14 hunters, all from the Little Falls, Minnesota area, are also facing charges in Sargent County after they were discovered hunting coyotes on snowmobiles and pickups in the Cogswell area a few weeks ago.
States Attorney Lyle Bopp says several firearms were seized and it's likely several thousand dollars in fines will be assessed.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 2
One person was injured in a crash Tuesday morning after a car and a van collided at the bottom of a steep hill near the intersection of Valley avenue and 6th avenue southeast in Valley City.
Police say a 15-year-old Valley City girl was transported to Mercy Hospital with injuries, her condition was not released.
(Photos by Steve Urness.)
The driver of the van a 31-year-old Valley City woman was not injured. Slippery road conditions may have contributed to the crash. Damage to the front end of both vehicles was extensive.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 1
Elks footbridge moved to a new location temporarily.
(Bridge being move across main on Monday. Photo courtesy of Pam Erickson.)
The portion of Main Street near the Elks building was closed for a few hours on Monday to move the bridge.
(Bridge will be sandblasted and repainted to it's original color gray before its returned to its foundation later this year. Photo by Steve Urness.)
Refurbishing work on the Elks footbridge is now underway in Valley City. The contractor will work on the footbridge in the Rosebud Visitor Center parking lot.
(Support beams stick up on the north side of the river bank. Photo by Steve Urness.)
The Valley City commission approved of a construction engineering agreement with Kadrmas Lee & Jackson for work on the Elks Footbridge at a cost of $60,500. Reconstruction work is now underway.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 1
Authorities have charged an Eckelson man and his former wife with several child sex abuse felonies. Robert J. Schultz and Mary Wadkins of Jamestown both face charges ranging from sexual imposition to using minor in sexual performances.
The victims were a boy and a girl, both under 15. Schultz and Wadkins are accused of playing sexual games with the minors, including strip poker.
Schultz was registered as a medium risk sex offender with the state of North Dakota.
Schultz and Wadkins initial court appearance will be on Tuesday, February 9 in the Barnes County courthouse.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 1
Nearly 600 dollars was raised during “Kindness Week” at Jefferson Elementary School.
Principal Troy Miller says the money students collected will go to the American Red Cross for the people of Haiti.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
Emerson Drive will be the headliner band during the 73rd annual North Dakota Winter Show concert on Friday, March 5 in Valley City. The "MLC band" will be the opening act at this years NDWS concert.
Emerson Drive won the "Top New Vocal Group" at the Academy of Country Music awards in 2003. Their 2006 number one hit "Moments" was listed in the top 25 songs of the decade.
Tickets will go on sale February 10th at area Stop-N-Go stores, Ampride in Oakes, Town & Country Coop in Cooperstown and Finley, North Dakota Winter Show ticket office, or charge by phone at 1-800-437-0218.
Associated Press: (2/08 8:00 AM)
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A pair of North Dakota Republican House candidates are joining the race for the party's endorsement. Kenmare businessman J.D. Donaghe and former independent governor candidate DuWayne Hendrickson of Minot. Bring a total of 5 GOP candidates seeking the party endorsement to run against Democrat Earl Pomeroy.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota has the lowest unemployment in the nation and a booming oil industry. But with its good fortune has come an unexpected problem, homelessness, as desperate job seekers flow into the state looking for work. Officials say shelters are full statewide.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Spring turkey hunters in North Dakota have only a few more days to get their applications in. The state Game and Fish Department says applications must be postmarked before midnight Wednesday. The season opens April 10 and runs through May 16.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - About 50 members of the North Dakota National Guard have been trained to deal with flooding in anticipation of such an event this spring. In 2009, the Guard spent nearly 100 days on active duty helping state and local authorities fight flooding.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
February 2
The Valley City Hi-Liner Hi-Lites Dance Team placed 1st in Hip Hop Dance, 2nd place in the Jazz and Pom Dance, and 3rd place in High Kick Dance categories during the State Dance Team Tournament over the weekend.
(Mayor Nielson and the commission recognized the team on February 1 meeting in Valley City. Photo by Steve Urness.)
Dance Team coach Lisa Brown says team also received the Academic Award for maintaining a high grade point average and the Sportsmanship Award.
The Valley City board of commissioners recognized the teams accomplishments during a brief proclamation at their regular meeting this week.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
The North Dakota Department of Health will hold a public hearing next month to address proposed amendments to the Standard of Quality for Waters of the State concerning the Sheyenne River.
Environmental Health Administrator Dave Glatt doesn’t believe there would be an adverse affect on aquatic life if the department increases the amount of sulfates allowed per liter from 450 to 750 near the Devils Lake outlet.
However, the Manitoba Water Stewardship board is concerned about the deterioration of the quality of water with the increased sulfate level and the potential harmful affects the water may have on alien fish parasites entering the
Sheyenne river and into the Red River Basin via of Devils Lake outlet.
The Health Department public hearing will be held on February 17 at 1pm in Bismarck.
By Steve Urness NewsDakota.com
A Smithsonian Exhibit focusing on Journey stories in the upper Midwest is now on display in the Historic Opera House in Ellendale.
Spokesman John Boekelheide says the exhibition explores the mobile nature of Americans.
The exhibit will be on display in Ellendale now through March 14th. The exhibit is sponsored by the North Dakota Humanities Council, Dickey County Job Development Authority and Ellendale area businesses.
By Jason Metko NewsDakota.com
February 8
The North Dakota Highway Patrol will be conducting a high visibility enforcement of vehicle registration now through February 14.
A reminder that 2010’s registration tags are colored red, and all vehicles should have them on their license plates to be in compliance with the exception of vehicles registered in January, they should already have blue 2011 tags to be compliant with the law.
By Associated Press
February 5
The man who has been serving as interim chief executive officer at the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown has been given the job permanently.
Fargo health care consultant Eric Monson was given the position this week. He had been serving as interim chief since last August.
Before that, Monson served on the center's board of trustees for five years. He oversaw center operations as a senior executive with Banner Health System and its predecessor, Lutheran Health Systems, for 12 years before the center became an independently owned organization in 2003.
The Anne Carlsen Center helps people with disabilities or behavioral disorders. Its previous longtime CEO, Daniel Howell, left to head the Beatrice State Development Center in Nebraska.
By Shawn Elliott NewsDakota.com
February 5
The Jamestown Chamber of Commerce's 79th annual Awards Banquet was held last night at the Gladstone Inn. Curt Sayler was named the new President of the Board of Directors.
It was a full house as the chamber honored Stutsman Harley Davidson as the "Business of the Year" for fundraiser, community involvement and their promotion of the city.
(Al Pergande, Manager Stutsman Harley Davidson)
Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist was given the "Above and Beyond" Award for his direction and contributions in the fight of the "Flood of 09" here in Jamestown.
(Jerry Bergquist)
Larry Knoblich, former Jamestown High School teacher, avid golfer and founder of the now region wide famous, "Runnin o' the Green" was named the "2009 Citizen of the Year". Not only does the St. Paddy's day celebration bring over $500,000 to the city each year, but the run has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research and to help support other charities to benefit children.
(Larry Knoblich)
12 local business employees received "Customer Service Awards" for going above and beyond their job description
(Photos by Shawn Elliott)
By Shawn Elliott NewsDakota.com
February 4
It may not come as a big surprise that Jamestown Mayor Clarice Leichty is not seeking re-election.
On Tuesday's Classic Hits KQDJ "Let's talk about it" program, Leichty stated that she is not actively seeking re-election, but she said that "if someone wants to write me in they can".
The mayor reminded Jamestown residents "If you care about the future of Jamestown, you should seek public office".
So far one person has taken out a petition for the mayors job. Co-author of the quiet zone drive and former city councilman, Dwaine Heinrich has taken out a petition. He lost his re-election bid in 2008.
Former Mayor and current councilman, Charlie Kourajian was asked on Saturday if he was going to run, but made no comment.
Not only is the mayor's seat open, but there is one council seat open and if Councilwoman Kelini Parsien chooses not to run that could mean two council seats.
The election will be held June 8.
Courtesy of Brenda Scholten
February 4
The Anne Carlsen Center is gearing up for a major one-day online fundraising event that gives supporters the rare opportunity to double their gifts to the nonprofit.
Dakota Medical Foundation has selected ACC to participate in the 2010 Giving Hearts Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event that will be held on February 11, 2010. Contributions of $10 or more will be matched by DMF.
To support the Anne Carlsen Center and have your donation matched, simply go to www.impactgiveback.org on February 11th and click on the Giving Hearts Day “Learn More/Donate” button, or go to www.annecenter.org and click on the Giving Hearts Day link.
“The Dakota Medical Foundation provides a wonderful opportunity for donors to double gifts on this special day of the year,” says ACC Foundation Executive Director Dan Kunzman. “Giving online through this organization is safe and secure. We look forward to hearing from many of our loyal friends during this day.”
“Last year, Giving Hearts Day participants raised over $701,000 through 3,350 individual donations,” says Jennifer Thompson, Director of Development.
ND Farm Bureau Press Release
February 4
Terry Entzminger of Entzminger Dairy near Jamestown was named the 2010 Cultivation Award winner during the North Dakota Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Challenge in Minot, January 29-31.
The Cultivation Award is designed to honor individuals and families who have made a significant contributions to the agriculture industry and who serve as advocates for agriculture.
As a winner, Entzminger will receive a generous prize package.
By Mark McKenzie NewsDakota.com
February 3
Jamestown High School came away with the state title at the annual life smarts competition Wednesday in Bismarck.
Teams from various schools from around the state, put their skills and knowledge to work, with a chance to advance to nationals in Florida.
Topics and categories included consumer protection and safety, environmental protection, finance, government and health.
The Jamestown team, coached by Marchel Kreiger, consisted of 5 Seniors, and defeated Kindred in the title match.
Team members are Spencer Kamoni, Jennifer Neva, Chris Lane, Garth Allen and Jamen Windish.
This is Jamestown's first state title since 2005.
Kreiger says "We took second last year and lost on the final question. The next day, the kids were in my office and were determined to work harder. It paid off. They are excited."
The national meet will take place in Miami on April 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th.
By Jason Metko NewsDakota.com
February 3
The 2009-2010 winter snow bank is still large across the area, and higher in places where the wind can pile it against buildings.
If snow isn’t removed around exits of businesses, it can lead to serious issues. Wednesday, a worker was seen shoveling massive piles of snow away from the back exit of the Dollar Tree in south Jamestown.
(This man had a long road ahead of him as he attempted to clear a large bank of snow away from the back door exit of the Dollar Tree in south Jamestown on Wednesday. Photo by Jason Metko)
"You need to be able to open the door, and have a pathway of exit to a refuge, in other words, a way to get out and away from the building.' said Jamestown Fire Chief Jim Reuther.
Reuther says there can be stiff penalties for not complying with removal regulations ranging from a $500 fine to 30 days in jail, or both.
By Shawn Elliott NewsDakota.com
February 3
At the regular monthly meeting of the Stutsman County Commission yesterday, the commission approved the creation of a public input committee on the future of county roads.
The committee will be made up of Noel Johnson, chief operating officer for Stutsman County, Commissioners Doug Keiser and Dale Marks, Mike Zimmerman, County road superintendent and Steve Thompson engineer for Interstate Engineering as a technical advisor.
The County Commission has put forth a plan to turn some of the counties paved roads back to gravel. The county recently purchased a machine that will do just that. The plan has drawn a lot of heat from county residents.
The timetable and location of the meetings have not be determined, but the commission is hoping to start within a week.
The commission also approved a preliminary engineering contract for work on the Ypsilanti bridge. The bridge has fallen below a 50 rating and the bridge needs to be replaced or repaired. That decision will be made on the completion of the engineering study.
The commission also approved a flood damage ordinance that defines the permits and regulations for new construction in the flood plane in Stutsman County. This is the final step to get the county enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program.
Char Freeberg was appointed to a three year term on the Joint Library Board.
By Shawn Elliott NewsDakota.com
February 2
The Jamestown City Council, at their regular monthly meeting, voted to approve a $16,000 Flex PACE interest buy down for a local construction company.
Jamestown Mayor Clarice Leichty removed the item off the consent agenda and have a separate vote on the matter.
The council discussed if the business was a city business or a county business, since their shop is located in the county, not within the city limits. The council was assured that the business will be moving into the city as soon as they find a building. The Council then voted 4 to 1 to approve the buy down for Custom Construction LLC.
The Mayor also pulled from the consent agenda, the resolution to go ahead with the new Land Use and Transportation plan. The mayor wanted the council members to read the old plan from 1994. Then discuss it, then vote.
The council voted to put the new Land Use and Transportation Plan on the Public Works Committee consent agenda.
By Shawn Elliott NewsDakota.com
February 2
The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corps voted 7 to 3 to reject the proposal to use 30% of the sales tax earmarked for reduction of the city's special assessments.
Then the JSDC board voted unanimously to approve their own proposal that allows 25% of the one per cent tax, or $500,000 for repairs to Jamestown's sewer system. The JSDC also said another 25% would be used for infrastructure related to economic development.
The JSDC proposal will now go to the Jamestown City Council for their vote.