VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The following is a message from Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud.

“I am thankful for another week of nicer than average January weather. Be careful for the ice when walking or driving and if you have ice on sidewalks, please spread some “grit” so your mail carrier can have some traction.

Governor Burgum elected to let the State Face Mask Mandate expire on January 18th. Reflecting, the COVID-19 began on the coasts, worked its way to the mid-states and north. It took quite awhile for it to reach North Dakota though it arrived with fervor. We battled it with “North Dakota Smart”, washing hands and social distancing. We slowed it, but eventually the virus over-ran us and we had the highest numbers in the USA. Now we have battled and brought numbers down. The only difference from when we didn’t control it until now seems to be the masking. Data shows masking works and now there is a more contagious strain coming. That said, I believe it is imperative for us to “Wash Hands and Mask-up when we can’t Social Distance”. Those mitigations will be meaningful for us, and those around us until the vaccinations catch up.

Good News: Valley City Public Schools and Valley City State University represent approximately 3,000 people counting students and employees they have had only miniscule “on campus” positive cases due to masking.

Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud