BISMARCK, N.D. – Three will move on to the next phase of screenings in the Bismarck Police Chief candidate search process. The three finalists include Rex Marks, Captain of the Grass Valley Police Department in California; Michael McNeely, Police Chief of Bath Township, Ohio and Bismarck Police Lt. Randy Ziegler. Candidates were required to complete an accomplishment survey and the survey results were then reviewed by a committee knowledgeable in law enforcement.

The three finalists were recommended to continue on to the next phase of the selection process; interviews with the Bismarck City Commission at a special meeting April 16, and an in-basket exercise that is designed to assess leadership and management skills.

Five candidates originally met the minimum qualifications for the position of Police Chief. Two individuals – James Hughes, Honolulu, Hawaii and Terrence LeMaster, Council Bluffs, Iowa, chose to withdraw their applications bringing the number of remaining candidates to three.

For more information visit www.bismarck.org

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bismarck Mayor’s Human Relations Committee recognized Crystal Mills and BreAnn Sullivan, both fifth grade students at Dorothy Moses Elementary School for their outstanding entries in the Human Rights Essay and Poetry Contest. Students in grades 4 – 6 were invited by the Bismarck Human Relations Committee to write an essay or a poem about human rights. Crystal’s winning essay spoke of “a country united by not discriminating against each other…America’s freedoms and its makeup of every heritage from around the world.” BreAnn’s winning poem expressed how “we should all be free to stand as one in liberty.”

Both were recognized by Mayor Warford at a ceremony held March 19, 2012, 1:15 p.m., at Dorothy Moses Elementary school in Ms. Barb Fix’s classroom with their classmates, family members, and Human Relations Committee members where both received an award for their essay and poem. Mayor Warford also encouraged the students to rededicate themselves to the principles of respect for human rights and freedom, of belief in non-violence, and of commitment to improving our City and nation through community service. The mission of the Human Relations Committee is to protect and promote the personal dignity of all Bismarck citizens and to eliminate any discriminatory barriers that prevent them from reaching their full human potential. For more information visit www.bismarck.org

BISMARCK, N.D. – March 21 marks the 17th annual Kick Butts Day – a national day devoted to educate youth about the dangers of tobacco – and an opportunity for the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy (the Center) to promote local tobacco-free school policies.

The Center stresses the importance of prevention because research shows that over 80 percent of adult smokers begin before the age of 18. Each year in North Dakota, 600 kids become new daily smokers and purchase 1.7 million packs of cigarettes.

Eleven thousand kids now under the age of 18 in North Dakota will ultimately die prematurely from smoking, which is why the Center works with public health units across the state to promote tobacco prevention and comprehensive tobacco-free policies in schools and communities.

Since the comprehensive program was put into place the number of North Dakota school districts that have adopted comprehensive tobacco-free policies has increased from 60 to 102. These policies eliminate not only cigarette use but also all other types of tobacco use on school grounds and at school events, which protect students, faculty, staff and visitors from exposure to all tobacco use.

“Kick Butts Day is an important part in our fight against the harmful effects of tobacco use and to help spread the word about the harms of tobacco,” said Susan Kahler, Bismarck Burleigh Public Health. Bismarck area students who attended the 6th Annual Bismarck Tobacco Prevention Youth Summit last fall, developed public service announcements (PSA’s) to educate their peers. St. Mary’s Middle School developed a radio PSA titled “I’d Get” and Wachter Middle School developed a TV PSA titled “How much would you be willing to pay for bad breath and smoker’s cough?” PSA’s and video productions are viewable at Bismarck Tobacco Free http://www.bismarcktobaccofree.com/ads/ or Breathe ND’s You Tube page at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8gHyBfkd88

Bismarck area school students will be holding Kick Butts Day activities: The activities will be focused on educating peers about the harmful effects of using tobacco products and promoting the ND Quitline, and ND Quitnet.

Research shows the Center’s partnered efforts are working. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, youth smoking rates have dropped from 22.4 percent in 2009 to 19.4 percent in 2011.

“We’re excited about our success, but our work has just started,” said Jeanne Prom, Executive Director of the Center. “Kick Butts Day is another tool we have to help prevent youth from ever using tobacco by implementing tobacco-free school policies.” Prom said tobacco-free policies are a Center for Disease Control and Prevention Best Practice that has been proven to successfully reduce both youth and adult tobacco use.

To learn about Kick Butts Day programs taking place in your community, contact Susan Kahler at (701) 355-1595 or go to www.breathend.com to see the North Dakota tobacco-free school listing and to learn more about comprehensive tobacco-free school policies.

For more information also visit www.bismarck.org/publichealth

Weather permitting)

Week of March 12 – 16: Main arterials will be swept during early morning hours which will include Main Street, 1st Street, downtown avenues, 10th Avenue SW and 19th Street SE. During daytime hours, sweepers will be in SE Mandan near the Ft. Lincoln School. Sweepers will continue into the Lohstreter area – moving towards 6th Avenue NW.

Week of March 19 -23: During early morning hours, crews will continue to sweep main arterials to include 6th Avenue NW, Sunset Drive, Old Red Trail and Collins Avenue. Daytime sweeping will continue in the Lohstreter area moving towards Collins Avenue.

Week of March 26 – 30: During early morning hours, crews will continue to sweep main arterials to include Mandan Avenue and 6th Avenue SE. Daytime sweeping will continue from Collins Avenue to Mandan Avenue to include the Bonanza and Riverbend Drive area.

Sweeping schedule updates will be done as needed.

If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at 667-3240.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bismarck Fire Department would like to encourage the citizens of Bismarck to use caution when using their fire pit, outdoor fireplaces, chiminea or charcoal grills. The following guidelines should be followed if you plan to use a fire pit or chiminea within the city limits:

- Fire pits or chimineas must be commercially manufactured with spark arresters or be a permanent structure that is part of your landscape design. A hole dug into the ground and ringed with rocks is not considered a fire pit.
- Fire pits must have a total fuel area of three (3) feet or less in diameter and two (2) feet or less in fuel height.
- The device must be placed at least 15 feet from any combustibles including your house, garage, shed, or fence.
- You must have a fire extinguisher, water hose, sand, or some type of extinguishing material available at all times.
- They cannot be placed on wood decks, used on or in enclosed patio decks, or under overhangs.
- Do not burn garbage, leaves, rubbish, or rotten wood that will smoke.
- A spark arrestor screen shall be used to control sparks and embers when provided with the unit.
- Make sure that the fire is out before you leave after having finished enjoying its use. Dose the fire with water or sand and ensure the fire is cool before leaving.
- Never discard ashes into a combustible container or garbage receptacle. Place them in a metal container first and wet them thoroughly with water and let them set.
- While operating chimineas or fire pits, if the smoke or odor emission becomes offensive or objectionable, you will be required to extinguish the fire.
- If your property is bordered by tall grass and vegetation, use extreme caution! Do not use your fire pit, chiminea, outdoor fire place, or charcoal grill in very high or extreme fire danger situations.

The Bismarck Fire Department would also like to encourage citizens that live in an area that is bordered by tall grass and brush to establish a defendable space to protect your home in the event of a fire.

- Maintain a 30 foot clear area around your home.
- Clean areas what have an accumulation of dry leaves and other debris.
- Cut down and remove dead vegetation in your yard that can contribute to fire spread such as old perennials or dead bushes.
- Water your yard to increase the moisture level of the evergreen shrubs and grass.
- For more information on establishing a defendable space visit www.firewise.org.
- The National Weather Service issues the Rangeland Fire Index every morning. See www.weather.gov/bis and look for “Fire Weather”.

For more information on how to protect your home from fire visit the Bismarck Fire Department Public Education section at www.bismarck.org/fire