North Dakota

Green Bison Soy Processing groundbreaking top story for Jamestown area

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2022

Press Room

Green Bison Soy Processing groundbreaking top story for Jamestown area

The

groundbreaking of the Inexperienced Bison Soy Processing

facility at Spiritwood is the highest information story for Jamestown in 2021 as chosen by the information employees of The Jamestown Solar.

The next are among the highlights of the highest 10 tales of the yr as chosen by Solar employees.

Gov. Doug Burgum touts the deliberate Inexperienced Bison Soy Processing facility throughout the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Masaki Ova / The Jamestown Solar

1. Inexperienced Bison Soy Processing breaks floor on mission

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in June for the $350 million Inexperienced Bison Soy Processing facility, a 75%-25% enterprise between Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Marathon Petroleum Corp., respectively.

The soybean processing facility on the Spiritwood Power Park Affiliation industrial park about 10 miles east of Jamestown is North Dakota’s first-ever devoted soybean crushing plant and refinery and is predicted to be on-line by the 2023 harvest.

Inexperienced Bison Soy Processing will course of 150,000 bushels of soybeans per day into oil, meal and fiber. The oil might be refined, bleached and despatched to the Marathon refinery in Dickinson, North Dakota, to be additional refined into renewable diesel.

Inexperienced Bison Soy Course of is predicted to provide 600 million kilos of refined vegetable oil yearly, which might be provided to Marathon as a feedstock for renewable diesel. It’s anticipated to make use of about 70 everlasting staff.

applied blockchain burgum looking at computers 050522.jpg — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum seems to be to the mountain-high rack of computer systems Thursday, Might 5, 2022, inside one of many buildings at Utilized Digital Corp.’s knowledge heart north of Jamestown.

2. Knowledge heart goes on-line

Utilized Digital Corp.’s

knowledge heart north of Jamestown

went on-line earlier this yr, and building began on the corporate’s new facility about 1 mile west of Ellendale, North Dakota.

Utilized Digital was previously often called Utilized Blockchain Inc. Utilized Digital designs, develops and operates next-generation knowledge facilities throughout North America to supply digital infrastructure options, in response to its web site.

Utilized Digital’s facility in Jamestown consists of eight buildings that host from between 30,000 to 35,000 mining machines.

The

deliberate facility 1 mile west of Ellendale

is predicted to be operational within the first half of 2023.

3. Glenfield man charged with homicide

A 41–year-old Glenfield, North Dakota, man was charged with the homicide of an 18-year-old Grace Metropolis, North Dakota, man in September.

Shannon Brandt is accused of operating over Cayler Ellingson together with his SUV after a avenue dance in McHenry, North Dakota, in September, in response to the North Dakota Freeway Patrol.

Brandt was first charged with vehicular murder, however that cost was later upgraded to homicide.

The preliminary report made nationwide headlines. Former President Donald Trump stated Ellingson was “focused and killed.”

Brandt claimed Ellingson stated one thing a couple of Republican extremist group and that he known as folks to “come deal with him,” in response to a Discussion board Information Service story.

The North Dakota Freeway Patrol stated there was no proof that Ellingson was a part of an extremist group.

Anne Carlsen Center construction 10072022.jpg — Work continues Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, on the web site of Anne Carlsen Middle’s new facility in southwest Jamestown. The biggest tasks that had been issued a constructing allow this yr are the Anne Carlsen Middle’s new facility and Collins Aerospace’s growth of its cargo methods facility.

4. Building begins on Anne Carlsen Middle’s new facility

Building started on the estimated $57 million

Anne Carlsen Middle’s new 110,000-square-foot facility

that might be situated east of Jamestown Regional Medical Middle and south of Interstate 94.

The brand new facility will assist 34 people, together with 24 with medically advanced wants and 10 with extra behavioral challenges. The plan is to maneuver into the ability by February 2024.

The Anne Carlsen Middle plans on having discussions on phase-two choices for the mission which is predicted to start shortly after employees occupy the brand new facility.

5. Workforce scarcity persevering with

A scarcity of employees is continuous to affect native companies within the Jamestown space together with some eating places which have decreased their hours.

Native enterprise leaders are attempting to give you methods to deal with the workforce points.

Packages obtainable to assist employers embrace the Jamestown Stutsman Improvement Corp.’s Internship Reimbursement Program and day care growth initiative program and the College of Jamestown’s UJ Accelerated division.

6. SkyWest Airways recordsdata termination discover, modifications flight schedule

SkyWest Airways filed a 90-day termination discover

with the U.S. Division of Transportation in March to cease offering important air service to 29 airports, together with Jamestown Regional Airport. SkyWest stated the termination discover was filed because of a scarcity of pilots.

The

USDOT later issued an order

requiring SkyWest Airways to proceed serving 29 airports together with Jamestown till one other air service begins serving the communities.

Jamestown Regional Airport has a contract with SkyWest by means of June 30, 2023, to supply service to the airport as a part of the USDOT Important Air Service program. Jamestown Regional Airport gives direct flights to and from Denver on United Airways, which is operated by SkyWest Airways.

The

flight schedule was modified

with an early morning departure being moved to the afternoon to assist SkyWest serve Jamestown Regional Airport with the airline’s pilot scarcity.

eagle flats apartments exterior from 112322.jpg — Tenants are anticipated to maneuver into the Eagle Flats flats shortly within the new yr.

7. Housing tasks take form

Various housing tasks to handle wants within the Jamestown area took form and started in 2022.

Building is wrapping up on the Eagle Flats mission, and tenants are anticipated to maneuver in shortly in 2023.

The Jamestown Metropolis Council permitted working with two builders to use for a Neighborhood Improvement Block Grant for housing tasks in Jamestown.

Stride Improvement is trying to redevelop property west of Metropolis Corridor that can embrace main-floor makes use of and housing that features inexpensive retinal items and for-purchase condominium items on the highest flooring.

The Jamestown Senior Residences mission consists of the development of two buildings with 36 items every focused towards inexpensive senior housing.

The College of Jamestown bought a portion of the Legacy Residing Middle and plans to make use of the constructing to supply housing choices for UJ college students and rental alternatives for people and companies in the neighborhood.

A preliminary engineering examine to gathered value estimates for proposed housing improvement websites inside and outdoors Jamestown metropolis limits and analyzed town’s present infrastructure.

A housing examine accomplished in 2022 exhibits the necessity for extra rental items throughout the 9 counties – Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Stutsman and Wells – that South Central Dakota Regional Council serves. Throughout the 9 counties, there’s a demand for 484 market price, 278 inexpensive and 201 sponsored rental items, and the examine discovered the necessity for about 2,500 senior housing items by 2030.

Active Shooter Threat 10132022 — Mother and father stand close to a fringe set by regulation enforcement round Jamestown Excessive College on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. A textual content message despatched by the Jamestown Public College District stated regulation enforcement was notified a couple of potential menace at about 10:40 a.m. Thursday.

8. Regulation enforcement offers with standoff, hoax lively shooter

Regulation enforcement handled an

hours-long standoff

and a

hoax lively shooter report

in separate incidents in Jamestown.

standoff crawling after teargas 080422.jpg — A suspect concerned in a five-hour standoff with regulation enforcement in Jamestown crawls out of his dwelling Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, after being bombed with tear gasoline.

The James Valley Particular Operations Staff apprehended Kevin Gene Garnica, 41, in entrance of an residence constructing at 119 fifth St. NW in August, the place he was reportedly armed with a gun and a knife. He reportedly held a sufferer in a single day and threatened to kill her, and he or she escaped.

The Jamestown Public College District went into lockdown on Oct. 13 after the Stutsman County Communications Middle obtained a name about an lively shooter in a particular space of Jamestown Excessive College. No proof of a shooter or accidents was found, and all colleges of the college district had been positioned on lockdown.

Various colleges statewide obtained related calls on Oct. 13 about experiences of a possible menace of an lively shooter.

Collins Aerospace staff and others take heed to audio system throughout the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, for an growth mission for the cargo methods facility in Jamestown.

9. Collins Aerospace breaks floor for growth

Collins Aerospace broke floor on an

addition of its cargo methods facility

in Jamestown.

The addition will assist Collins Aerospace modernize operations, add wanted manufacturing area and finest place the ability to fulfill each present and rising processing wants. The primary of the four-phase mission is predicted to be accomplished by Might 2023 with your entire mission anticipated to be accomplished by 2027.

The growth consists of area for a brand new state-of-the-art chemical processing and paint strains.

10. James River Valley Library System points

Discussions continued on whether or not or not the James River Valley Library System ought to function two libraries in Jamestown.

A letter deciphering the memorandum of understanding between town of Jamestown and Stutsman County dated Dec. 16, 2022, and signed by Mayor Dwaine Heinrich and Mark Klose, Stutsman County Fee chair, says each libraries will proceed to function except a transition plan is submitted to town of Jamestown and Stutsman County for approval.

“The language of the memorandum of settlement is evident, except and till a plan for transition is developed and permitted each buildings will proceed to function,” the letter says.

The library system is engaged on shifting ahead with plans for a brand new or expanded library that has extra space than at present obtainable.

Different high tales in 2022 for the Jamestown space embrace:

An investigation of a declare of sexual assault made towards Mayor Dwaine Heinrich discovered inadequate proof to provoke a legal prosecution. Valley Information Stay reported in January that it obtained a tip on its whistleblower hotline of a girl claiming to have been sexually assaulted by Heinrich at a neighborhood bar, and the mayor denied the accusations, saying the accusation was politically motivated as a result of he was operating for reelection.
A guide really helpful a brand new North Dakota State Hospital with 75 to 85 grownup beds. In 2020, the estimated value for a brand new State Hospital was $150 million to $160 million, stated Rosalie Etherington, who was the superintendent of the hospital on the time.
A hearth burned down a grain elevator owned by CHS Dakota Plains Ag in November in Edgeley. The State Hearth Marshal’s workplace was aiding the Bureau of Prison Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and native authorities with the investigation of the fireplace.

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North Dakota

Concerns over local control pop up in hearing on North Dakota bill to restrict student cellphone use

Published

28 minutes ago

January 16, 2025

Press Room

Concerns over local control pop up in hearing on North Dakota bill to restrict student cellphone use

BISMARCK — North Dakota lawmakers heard testimony for and against a bill to ban cellphone use by public school students during instructional time Wednesday, Jan. 15.

House Bill 1160,

sponsored by Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo,

would prohibit students from using cellphones during classes or any educational activity but allow such use during lunch, recess, between classes and open class periods.

Jonas said approximately 11 states have either total bans or restrictions on student cellphone use and another 10 are considering them.

“Let’s see if we can get better behavior, academic scores up, math, reading and better mental health,” Jonas told the House Education

ommittee on Wednesday.

A modified version of the bill makes exceptions for students who must use their cellphone to manage a medical condition or are on an individualized education program, plan or 504 plan who use their phone as an assistive device.

In addition, a school district or school may temporarily suspend the cellphone ban in the case of an emergency.

West Fargo High School Principal Rachel Bachmeier, who spoke in favor of the bill, said her school, along with others in the district, implemented a policy in the fall of 2022 to restrict cellphone use.

In effect, the cellphone policy is “out of sight, out of use from bell to bell,” she said, but students may use them during non-instructional time.

Consequences for violating the policy range from a classroom warning to surrender of the cellphone to the main office for a day or more to family meetings and behavior plans.

“We very, very rarely move beyond the first main office consequence. It is an incredibly effective policy in that way,” Bachmeier said.

Teachers have also noticed less “drama” in the classroom when students aren’t distracted by their phones, she added, and students themselves have reflected on how the policy improved their own behaviors.

Several school administrators and other stakeholders expressed concerns with aspects of the bill.

Steve Madler, principal of Bismarck Century High School, said they follow an “out of sight, out of mind during instruction” policy after attempting an all-out cellphone ban a few years back, which led to too many arguments from students and families.

However, he said, some students and teachers use cellphones in the classroom for research, surveys and language translation, adding that the Bismarck district distributes Google Chromebooks to students, which aren’t as efficient as Apple iPads for those tasks.

“It’s important for us to have policies, but I think it’s also important that we have pieces in the bill that allow us to use it for an educational purpose,” Madler said.

KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, in-house legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, expressed concern about a blanket ban on cellphone use. She said local control should be maintained, and a large majority of school districts already handle this issue.

Norby-Jahner suggested a change in the bill’s language simply requiring all school districts to come up with their own cellphone policies.

In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law requiring school districts and charter schools to adopt student cellphone policies by March 15, 2025.

Bachmeier said there is an argument for local control, but action is needed if lawmakers believe excessive cellphone use and social media access during classes is a public health crisis.

“If we do, what is our responsibility as a state to step in and take the first action in helping protect our kids?” she asked.

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North Dakota

School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say

Published

8 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

School phone policies needed, but not a state ban, bill opponents say

Mactrunk / Depositphotos.com

BISMARCK (North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota public education groups said Wednesday they recognize the need for a policy on student use of cellphones but mostly resisted a call for a state-mandated ban.

Rep. Jim Jonas, R-West Fargo, introduced House Bill 1160 that would ban students from using cellphones during class time.

A proposed amendment to the bill would add some exemptions, like using a smartphone to monitor health conditions, such as diabetes, and in some cases where students are on a learning plan crafted for the student.

The House Education Committee did not act on the bill or the amendment but indicated that there would be more discussion next week.

KrisAnn Norby-Jahner, legal counsel for the North Dakota School Boards Association, testified that the cellphone use issue should be handled at the local level, but added she would not be opposed to a bill requiring that school districts have a cellphone policy.

Mike Heilman, executive director of the North Dakota Small Organized Schools, testified that the group’s board members did not support the bill.

He said some teachers have students use their phone during class and designate a spot on the desk where the phone should be when not being used.

He also said some schools may want to make exceptions for juniors and seniors to have more access to their phones

But he also said schools might like the state’s support on the need for a cellphone policy.

Cellphone use among students was described during testimony as a mental health issue in addition to being a distraction.

Rachel Bachmeier, principal at West Fargo High School, said there has been “less drama” since the school restricted phone use to breaks between classes.

She said parents generally support that policy, with little support for an overall ban during the school day.

Steve Madler, principal at Bismarck Century High School, said his experience with a ban during the school day turned out to be unworkable for many students and parents.

The U.S. Department of Education in December called on every state and school district to adopt a policy on phone use in schools.

Jonas, a former West Fargo teacher, said the goal of the bill is improved test scores and mental health. He said he received some calls from principals for an all-out ban during the school day.

When asked what the penalty would be for a school that did not enforce the state policy, he did not give specifics.

“The hope is that they would abide by the law,” he said.

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North Dakota

Two Grand Forks residents among finalists for state Board of Higher Education

Published

16 hours ago

January 15, 2025

Press Room

Two Grand Forks residents among finalists for state Board of Higher Education

GRAND FORKS — Two Grand Forks residents are among six finalists to fill two seats on the state Board of Higher Education, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced this week.

A nominating committee selected the six finalists, and the names will next go before Gov. Kelly Armstrong to make the final two appointments, which then must be confirmed by the North Dakota Senate.

The selected nominees will fill the board seats currently held by Casey Ryan, a Grand Forks physician who is finishing his second four-year term on the board and is not eligible for reappointment, and Jeffry Volk, a retired Fargo consulting engineer, who is eligible for a second term.

The finalists for Ryan’s seat are:

Levi Bachmeier, business manager of the West Fargo school district and education adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum,
Russel Crary, a Grand Forks real estate developer, and
Rich Wardner, of Dickinson, a former North Dakota Senate majority leader and retired K-12 teacher and coach.

The finalists for Volk’s seat are:

Beverly Johnson, of Grand Forks, a retired physical therapy professor and clinical education director at the UND medical school,
Warren Sogard, owner and chairman of American State Bank and Trust Co., of Williston, and
Volk, the incumbent.

The nominating committee met Tuesday to review a dozen applicants for the two openings, according to a release. Baesler is chairwoman of the nominating committee, and other members are Jon Jensen, chief justice of the North Dakota Supreme Court; Nick Archuleta, president of North Dakota United, which represents teachers and state employees; House Speaker Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield; and Senate President Pro Tempore Brad Bekkedahl, R-Williston, the release said.

The Board of Higher Education has eight voting members and two nonvoting members who represent the system’s faculty and staff. It oversees the North Dakota University System’s 11 colleges and universities.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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