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News Release

January 6, 2026 by centralv 0 Comments

Be Prepared this Season for Winter Weather!

Publication by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Winter storms and cold temperatures can create potentially dangerous conditions in and around your home, including some that can impact your indoor air quality. Extreme cold and icy conditions can lead to burst pipes. Heavy snow and ice can block furnace and other vents and pipes in your home that can cause buildup of harmful pollutants indoors, like carbon monoxide. Follow the tips and safety precautions below to prepare for potential severe winter weather.

Check Your Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible and odorless gas which comes from a variety of combustion appliances, like gas stoves, ovens or barbeque grills. CO can build up quickly indoors and can linger for hours. At elevated levels, CO can quickly cause significant harm and even death.

Test smoke detectors and CO alarms monthly and replace batteries in these devices at least once each year, unless they have sealed 10-year batteries. Replace the smoke detector or CO alarm if it is more than 10 years old.

Check that smoke detectors are installed inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of the home, including the basement.

Check that CO alarms are installed outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home to prevent CO poisoning.

Winter Tips for Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure

When used improperly, fuel-burning portable generators and other combustion devices can be sources of deadly CO. If your power goes out, safely provide power for lighting, cooking, and heating:

Do not use fuel-powered portable generators indoors (e.g., inside your home, garage, shed or similar enclosed areas). Generators should only be used outside and at least 20 feet away from buildings.

Do not try to heat your home by using combustion appliances including gas stoves or ovens, or barbeque grills.

Never operate any gas-burning heater or other appliance in a poorly vented or closed room, or where you are sleeping.

Learn more about Carbon Monoxide’s Impact on Indoor Air Quality

News Release

October 30, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Armstrong directs state funds to ND food programs during shutdown, urges donations to food pantries

Governor directs $915,000 to Great Plains Food Bank, $600,000 to fund Women, Infants & Children program through November

Read Article Here

NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BISMARCK, N.D. (OCT. 30, 2025) – Gov. Kelly Armstrong today announced he has directed more than $1.5 million in state funds to support food assistance programs during the ongoing federal government shutdown, while also urging North Dakota residents to consider donating food or money to their local food pantries to help meet the needs of those losing federal food assistance.

“The state of North Dakota has the responsibility and the resources to care for its citizens who face a sudden loss of federal food assistance through no fault of their own,” Armstrong said. “Through a combination of state contingency funds and private donations, North Dakota can help meet the nutritional needs of our children and families until Congress passes a temporary funding bill to reopen the federal government. We strongly encourage residents to open their hearts, wallets and food pantries to support their local food banks with cash or food donations and help their fellow North Dakotans in their time of need.”

Armstrong has directed the state Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide $915,000 in contingency funds to the Great Plains Food Bank, which supplies food and supports a network of nearly 200 partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens across the state.

Earlier this week, the Great Plains Food Bank launched an emergency fundraising campaign to source an additional 1 million pounds of food for statewide distribution – on top of the more than 1 million pounds per month it normally distributes even when SNAP is available. The $915,000 in state funds will allow the Great Plains Food Bank to purchase and distribute an additional 450,000 pounds of food in November, enough to assist approximately 24,000 households, said Kate Molbert, interim CEO and chief operating officer of Great Plains Food Bank.

“This allocation of state funds entrusted to our organization will help thousands of North Dakotans keep food on their tables,” Molbert said. “We appreciate Gov. Armstrong directing these state resources to equip the Great Plains Food Bank in our mission, and we’re thankful for everyone donating food and dollars to ensure that North Dakotans don’t go hungry during this government shutdown today or in the weeks and months ahead.”

Additionally, Armstrong has directed HHS to use contingency funds to support the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program through the month of November, at an estimated cost of roughly $600,000. Administered by the state, WIC protects the health of low-income women, infants and children up to age 5 by providing supplemental foods, nutrition education and health care referrals. Federal WIC funding for North Dakota is currently expected to run out around Nov. 10.

“Setting up children for success in life begins with proper nutrition at the earliest ages, and the state is pleased to do our part to ensure that infants, toddlers and their mothers have access to healthy food and helpful nutrition education and health care resources,” HHS Interim Commissioner Pat Traynor said.

Today’s announcement comes as more than 56,000 North Dakotans – about 28,000 households – are at risk of losing their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on Nov. 1 when federal funding runs out. Of those households, 48% have a child under 18, 30% have school-age children and 26% include someone 60 or older. Current SNAP payments to eligible households in North Dakota total about $10 million per month.

Due to a lack of access to the program infrastructure, the state is unable to use state funding to backfill SNAP benefits. SNAP recipients with remaining balances after Oct. 31 will be able to use the benefits in November.

For more information about Great Plains Food Bank, including a map and list of its partner food pantries by county, visit https://greatplainsfoodbank.org/get-help/partner-food-pantries/. Information about WIC and other assistance programs is available on the HHS website and at www.ndresponse.gov.

Armstrong, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives as North Dakota’s lone congressman from 2018 to 2024, urged U.S. Senate Democrats to join their Republican counterparts in passing a clean continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the government until Congress can approve budgets through the regular appropriations process.

“Major policy debates don’t get settled during a shutdown, and Democrats know this because they passed the same short-term funding extension 13 times during the Biden administration,” Armstrong said. “Senate Democrats need to stop holding the government hostage and pass a clean CR so Congress can get back to work and end this uncertainty for Americans who are just worried about putting food on the table for their children and families.”

News Release

October 13, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

WIC program fully operational; veterans receiving disability, pension checks amid shutdown

WIC program fully operational; veterans receiving disability, pension checks amid shutdown

By Masaki Ova

JAMESTOWN — The North Dakota Women, Infants & Children Program is fully operational and veterans are still receiving disability and pension checks despite the federal government shutdown, according to officials with Central Valley Health District and the Stutsman County Veterans Service Office.

The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has reported that its mandatory entitlement programs, including the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, are expected to continue without disruption, said Jill Wald, director of WIC at the Central Valley Health District, in an email to The Jamestown Sun.

“As of now, there are no disruptions to WIC funding, and all services are continuing as usual,” Wald said. “WIC participants should continue to use their benefits and attend appointments as scheduled. If a government shutdown leads to any change in funding, Central Valley Health District’s WIC staff will immediately notify participants and provide guidance on next steps.”

Other services or programs at Central Valley Health are not affected by the government shutdown, said Shannon Klatt, director of health promotion at Central Valley Health, in an email to The Jamestown Sun.

“CVHD will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates if anything changes,” she said.

The U.S. government shut down on Oct. 1. The government shutdown will extend into next week after the U.S. Senate failed to advance two spending proposals.

Wald said it is difficult to predict the long-term impacts of a federal shutdown.

“We will continue working closely with our state partners to maintain WIC services and support for our participants for as long as possible,” she said. “If any changes occur, we will communicate updates to participants immediately.”

If any disruptions occur in WIC funding, she said Central Valley Health will follow the guidance and direction of North Dakota WIC.

Wald said WIC is an essential service in the community that protects the health of low-income pregnant and postpartum individuals, infants and children younger than 5 years old. She said the program provides healthy supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care services such as prenatal care, immunizations and medical support for children

“By supporting the nutritional needs of at-risk families, WIC helps promote healthy growth, development, and long-term well-being,” she said.

The WIC program at Central Valley Health serves 400 participants per month from Dickey, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh and Stutsman counties, Wald said.

WIC participants who have questions or concerns can contact Central Valley Health District at (701) 252-8130 for more information.

“We understand that news of a government shutdown can be concerning, but we want to reassure clients that our office is currently operating as usual,” Klatt said. “We encourage residents to stay informed through our social media platforms and online at centralvalleyhealth.org .”

WIC participants who have questions or concerns can contact Central Valley Health District at (701) 252-8130 for more information.

For full article, visit here.

News ReleaseNursing

September 24, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Most current COVID vaccine to be available soon in Jamestown

By Keith Norman, For The Jamestown Sun

JAMESTOWN — The most current version of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available from Central Valley Health District on Sept. 29, according Kim Lee, director of nursing for the public health unit.

Some clinics or pharmacies may have it sooner, according to Molly Rachel, pharmacist for The Medicine Shoppe in Jamestown, who said their vaccine supply was on order as of Sept. 22.

“We are going to start immunizing people for COVID,” she said. “We will be vaccinating for the flu for those 3 and older and COVID for those 12 and over.”

Availability of the COVID vaccine follows action by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices last week on protocols related to the COVID vaccine.

Lee said the authorization by the ACIP, a federal board under control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, means the procedures for distributing the vaccines this year will be very similar to last year.

The ACIP updated to the schedules for administration of FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines to say the administration of the vaccines should be determined by “individual-based decision making” for those adults over the age of 65.

Vaccine administration for those people between the age of 6 months and 64 years should also be based on individual-based decision making, “with an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination is most favorable for individuals who are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease and lowest for individuals who are not at an increased risk, according to the ACIP.

The ACIP also passed on an 11-1 vote a requirement promoting consistent and comprehensive consent process that include six risks and uncertainties included in medical provider presentations.

Rachel said individual-based decision-making has always been the standard for administering vaccines.

“To me,” she said, “we have always done shared clinical decision making. … People should continue to discuss vaccines with their health care provider.”

This year’s late decisions on the COVID-19 vaccine protocols may have caused some confusion for the public, Rachel said.

“We just want to get people in and answer their questions,” she said. “We can usually clear things up for them.”

Lee said the actions by ACIP mean that COVID-19 vaccinations will be covered by most insurance plans this season. People should contact their preferred provider of vaccines for information about the cost and age requirements for vaccines.

Along with the COVID-19 vaccine, fall is often the time people think about updating their flu shots.

Rachel said flu and COVID shots can be administered at the same visit to a clinic or pharmacy.

According to the CDC website, this year’s flu shot is formulated to protect individuals against two variants of Influenza A and one of Influenza B. The CDC estimates 154 million doses of the flu vaccine will be available this flu season.

The vaccine is available in a regular dose and in a high-dose vaccine for those individuals over the age of 65.

The flu and COVID vaccines are rated at 30% to 60% effective in preventing hospitalization and severe illness, according to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.

Lee said another consideration for the fall vaccination season is a Respiratory Syncytial Virus shot.

The RSV shot is available to everyone over the age of 75 and younger individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

According to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, the RSV vaccine is between 82% and 86% effective in reducing the risk of severe illness.

The vaccine provides lifetime protection from the illness.

People with questions about any of the vaccines should talk to their pharmacist or health care provider, Rachel said.

“We are going to start immunizing people for COVID,” she said. “We will be vaccinating for the flu for those 3 and older and COVID for those 12 and over.”

Uncategorized

September 17, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Changes to WIC Infant Foods

Effective October 1, 2025

Starting in October, WIC’s infant food packages will be changing. The USDA made changes to infant foods by reducing the amount of infant cereal and infant meats and giving the option of fresh fruits and vegetables. For more information CLICK HERE.

Our WIC staff at Central Valley Health will discuss these changes with you at your next appointment. If you have any questions, please call our office at 701-252-8130.

Nursing

June 26, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Get Ready for the Season: Sports Physical Blitz Appointments Available in July!

Is your athlete gearing up for the upcoming sports season? Central Valley Health is here to help with our Sports Physical Blitz opportunities, offered on:

Monday, July 22
Monday, July 29

Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 701-252-8130.

Sports physical appointments will include a one-on-one health history screening, physical examination, as well as a full review of the athlete’s immunization records to ensure they are up-to-date and meet the requirements for the school year.

The cost of the sports physical can be billed to your medical insurance, or you may choose to pay a $40 cash price at the time of the appointment.

Please make sure your student brings their completed required forms to the appointment. These forms are available to download at:
👉 centralvalleyhealth.org/sports-physicals

Let us help your athlete start their season strong and safe—schedule your appointment today!

News Release

June 25, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

KIDS SAFETY DAY POSTPONED

For Immediate Release

Jamestown, ND — Due to recent severe weather and ongoing power outages, the City of Jamestown has requested that the Kids Safety Day event, originally planned for this Thursday, to be postponed. The event is held annually by the Community Health Partnership (CHP), a coalition of local health and safety organizations.

The new date for the event is Thursday, July 24, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Jamestown Civic Center.

This decision was made after exploring alternate venue options and reviewing the forecast for the original event date. With our community currently focused on recovery and cleanup efforts, postponing was deemed the most responsible and safest option for all involved.

“We were looking forward to hosting the event this week,” said Shannon Klatt, Director of Health Promotion at Central Valley Health District and member of the CHP coalition. “But we know the rescheduling will still provide a fun, engaging, and educational experience for children and families once our community is better positioned to come together.”

Central Valley Health extends sincere appreciation to all vendors and community health and safety partners for their flexibility and continued support.

Community members are encouraged to help spread the word and mark their calendars for the new event date.

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News Release

June 25, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Replacement benefits are available for SNAP participants who lost food due to power outages in ND counties affected by June storms

NEWS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BISMARCK, ND (JUNE 24, 2025) – North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that state residents who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and lost food due to the recent power outages caused by the June tornadoes, windstorms and hail may qualify for SNAP replacement benefits.

SNAP households that lost power for more than four hours have until June 30, 2025, to request replacement benefits.

Because HHS was able to verify power outage information based on county-wide impacts, households in the following counties can simply request replacement benefits without needing to further verify food loss due to outages:
Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, Logan, Morton, Ransom, Sioux, Steele, Stutsman and Traill.

SNAP households living in all other North Dakota counties may still be eligible if they experienced food loss,but must verify that they were affected by a power outage of four hours or more to receive replacement benefits. Verification should be a notification of power outage from the power company such as website updates, text notifications or other methods used by the company.

Impacted households can request replacement benefits by:

Submitting a fully completed and signed Request for Replacement Due to Loss of SNAP Benefits form (SFN 270) within 10 days of reporting a loss by uploading it to the Self-Service Portal (SSP), by emailing it to applyforhelp@nd.gov, or returning it to a human service zone office.

Contacting the Customer Support Center by email at applyforhelp@nd.gov, phone Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT at (866) 614-6005 or (701) 328-1000, 711 (TTY) or mail to Customer Support Center, P.O. Box 5562, Bismarck, ND 58506.

The program will replace the amount of the loss up to the monthly benefit amount. For example, if a household reports a food loss of $250 and the household received $300 in SNAP benefits for the month, $250 in replacement benefits will be issued once the loss is verified.

The maximum replacement amount cannot be more than one month of the SNAP benefit amount the household received. People with questions can find information online at hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp/snap or by contacting the Customer Support Center or a human service zone office.

North Dakotans who were impacted by the recent disaster and maybe struggling or in crisis, can find help through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Residents can also find help through 2-1-1 FirstLink, which provides confidential support and referrals for essential needs such as food, housing, utilities, transportation and more by visiting FirstLink’s Database or calling the 2-1-1 Helpline for 24/7 assistance.

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News Release

June 24, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

Kids Safety Day: POSTPONED

Due to recent weather-related events and power outages, the Kids Safety Day event originally scheduled for this week has been postponed.

We’re disappointed we won’t see you this week, but our city is currently facing significant recovery efforts and strains on infrastructure. Thank you for your understanding – help us spread the word!

A new date will be announced soon — stay tuned!

News Release

June 18, 2025 by centralv 0 Comments

You’re Invited: Kid’s Safety Day!

UPDATE 6/24/2025: Due to recent weather-related events and constrains on city infrastructure, the event has been POSTPONED to Thursday, July 24, 2025.

Central Valley Health District is excited to invite you to the Community Health Partnership’s Kid’s Safety Day — a free, interactive experience for families and children to age 12!

📍 Jamestown Civic Center
📅 Thursday, June 26
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

This highly anticipated event brings together local health and safety organizations, including first responders, educators, and wellness advocates, to offer a variety of hands-on activities, educational booths, live demonstrations, and more. It’s a great way to learn, engage, and connect with the people and programs that help keep our community safe and healthy.

✨ Highlights Include:

Explore first responder vehicles up close
Visit educational booths and interactive stations
Enjoy safety and wellness demonstrations
Take home a swag bag (free for the first 300 attendees!)

🚲 Don’t Miss the Bike Rodeo!
Back by popular demand, the Bike Rodeo—led by Jamestown Parks and Recreation—is a fun and engaging bike safety course designed for kids. Helmets are required, so if you have one at home, bring it along to get professionally fitted. Don’t have one? A limited number of free helmets will be available with Central Valley Health, thank you to the Jamestown Optimist Club for your recent donations to purchase helmets.

This event is part of our shared mission to promote a safe, healthy, and informed community. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or simply passionate about community wellness, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

🔗 More details + RSVP here:
Click to visit the Facebook event

We’ll see you there! 🧡

Thank you to our participating vendors:

Central Valley Health District
Jamestown Parks and Recreation
Essentia Health
South Central Human Service Center
Vision Zero North Dakota
Stutsman County Farm Bureau
American Red Cross
North Dakota Hunter Educators
Healthy Families ND
ND Highway Patrol
Sanford Health
Jamestown Fire Dept
Jamestown Regional Medical Center
Jamestown Area Ambulance
Jamestown Police Department
James River Senior Center & Public Transit
Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office
The Medicine Shoppe
Downtown Dental
Child Care Aware
Anne Carlsen Center
Jamestown Rural Fire Department
Looysen I Care
North Dakota Game and Fish
Bridgewell

Be Prepared this Season for Winter Weather!

Armstrong directs state funds to ND food programs during shutdown, urges donations to food pantries

WIC program fully operational; veterans receiving disability, pension checks amid shutdown

WIC program fully operational; veterans receiving disability, pension checks amid shutdown

Most current COVID vaccine to be available soon in Jamestown

Changes to WIC Infant Foods

Changes to WIC Infant Foods

Get Ready for the Season: Sports Physical Blitz Appointments Available in July!

KIDS SAFETY DAY POSTPONED

Replacement benefits are available for SNAP participants who lost food due to power outages in ND counties affected by June storms

Kids Safety Day: POSTPONED

You’re Invited: Kid’s Safety Day!

Central Valley Health District

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