In case you missed it in The Sun the week of May 6, 2024
May 11—The following stories from this week appeared on
and in The Jamestown Sun.
The Jamestown City Council in a 4-1 vote
approved an annual membership in the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority
to support a long-distance passenger rail route that could go through Jamestown in the future.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich and Councilmen Brian Kamlitz, David Schloegel and David Steele approved the membership while Councilman Dan Buchanan was opposed at the meeting on Monday, May 6.
The City Council did not join the membership in the High Speed Rail Alliance. The annual membership would have cost $250 per year.
The annual membership in the High Speed Rail Alliance supports the creation of the former long-distance passenger rail route from Chicago to Seattle.
The annual membership in the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority will cost $2,000 per year.
The annual membership supports the planning and development of the long-distance passenger rail route from Chicago to Seattle. Jamestown would be a stop for the rail route because it is a historic site.
Many people deserve recognition for William S. Gussner Elementary School's
designation as a National Blue Ribbon School
for the second time in 10 years, according to Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.
Hoeven said about 350 out of about 130,000 K-12 schools in the country are designated as National Blue Ribbon schools.
"You all made it twice," he said. "It's a big deal."
William S. Gussner Elementary students, faculty and staff packed the gymnasium on Monday, May 6, to celebrate the school's designation as a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School. Jamestown Public School Board members, school district administrators, local legislators and past members of Gussner Elementary School's staff and faculty were also in attendance.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes elementary, middle and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student sub groups, according to the U.S. Department of Education's website.
The 27th annual Jamestown Middle School Penny Drive
raised a record-breaking $14,352 in five days
, which was distributed to four recipients on Monday, May 6.
The amount raised broke the previous record of $13,963 in the 2011-12 school year.
During the pep rally, $3,588 was presented to each of this year's Penny Drive recipients — Ethan Igl, Adalynn Peet, Kim Schmieg and the Adam and Jamie Bear family.
The goal was to raise more than $6,000 to break the $200,000 mark in what has been raised during the 27 years of the Penny Drive, Connell said. This year's Penny Drive brings the total raised in 27 years to $208,192, he said.
Activities on Saturday, May 11, will celebrate
the designation of 3rd Avenue Southeast as a historic area in Jamestown and the completion of an elevator project at the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich will officially proclaim Jamestown's Historic 3rd Avenue at Elevating Community Through History, an event to recognize the completion of the elevator project and the dedication of the historic avenue.
Heinrich has also proclaimed May 11 as Elevating Community Through History Day.
The Jamestown City Council approved in March a request by Jamestown Tourism to designate 3rd Avenue Southeast as Jamestown's Historic 3rd Avenue from 1st Street to 10th Street Southeast.
The state librarian will be in Jamestown on June 22
to review plans of a potential expansion
of Alfred Dickey Public Library, according to Joe Rector, director of the James River Valley Library System.
The James River Valley Library System Board of Directors is exploring the purchase of the Masonic Temple for an expansion of Alfred Dickey Public Library. If the Masonic Temple is purchased, the Stutsman County Library would be permanently closed. The Masonic Temple is located across the street from Alfred Dickey.
State Librarian Mary Soucie will provide feedback at a later date on the board's exploration to purchase the Masonic Temple, Rector said at the library board meeting on Wednesday, May 8.
The Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, May 7, unanimously approved
a 1% levy limit increase for agencies
outside the county for their 2025 budgets.
The county will notify all outside agencies, which include Jamestown Regional Airport, James River Valley Library System, James River Senior Citizens Center and the Stutsman County Soil Conservation District, among others. The agencies can submit a budget request of 1% over what they received from Stutsman County last year.
Jessica Alonge, auditor/chief operating officer, said the preliminary taxable value increase for 2024 is about 4.72%.
"That may change between now and June," she said.
Commissioner Joan Morris said she proposed the 1% levy limit increase because the outside agencies' budgets will increase by at least 5%.
