11-15-12

Posted on Nov 15th, 2012 at 7:35 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Kevin Becker, Roger Boardman, Diana Kuehler, Patrick Mancini, Leonard Olmer, Al Rajaee, Patrick Zach

Skywatch Weather:

Today, partial sunshine early, then clearing, high 50. Tonight, mostly clear, low 18. Friday, mostly sunny, high 52.

Sports:

ESPN Radio now at 105.9 WJAG-FM & 780 WJAG-AM Mon-Fri at 5:00 PM & Sat & Sun at 4:00!

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The Nebraska volleyball team has landed a recruit from across the pond. Melanie Keil of Germany faxed her paperwork to the university on national signing day for college volleyball according to the Lincoln Journal Star. The 6’0 middle blocker was born in Germany and has an extensive international background playing for the German junior national team. Later in the day, there was a public signing ceremony for the three Nebraska-bound players fresh off of winning a state championship for Papillion-La Vista South in outside hitter Amber Rolfzen, outside hitter Kadie Rolfzen and setter Kelly Hunter. Also expected to be part of the recruiting class is Kira Larson, a 6’3 middle blocker from Fargo, North Dakota, and Justine Wong-Orantes, a 5’6 libero from Cypress, California. The class of six scholarship players should rank among the nations best. The class will be the largest at Nebraska under Head Coach John Cook, and replace five seniors on the current team. The class may grow by a few more players, because Cook is still looking to possibly add a few walk-on players to the class.

The first Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic, featuring many of the area’s finest graduated seniors, will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at Norfolk’s Veterans Memorial Field. 59 High School teams will be invited to nominate players for selection to one of the two squads that will be determined at a later date. Head coaches can make their nomination at the Classic’s website by November 30th. The Classic’s website is nenallstarfootballclassic.com. Potential advertisers can also contact the website for possible involvement opportunities. The Classic will feature athletes from eleven-man, eight-man, and six-man competition. Norfolk Catholic football coach Jeff Bellar will serve as the President of the Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic Board of Directors while Pierce coach Mark Brahmer will serve as Vice-president. Coaches and players will be determined at a later date for the inaugural game. It was determined at last night’s meeting that Red & White jerseys will be worn. Faith Regional Health Services is the Title sponsor.

Local Schedule: Valparaiso at Nebraska (MBB-8:00); Nebraska-Kearney at WSC (MBB-7:00).

Local Scores: Quakerdale Prep, IA 83 NECC 75 (MBB); Creighton 77 Alabama-Birmingham 60 (MBB); Texas Tech 61 Nebraska-Omaha 63 (MBB); Creighton 63 South Dakota St. 54 (WBB).

Kwifax:

Two atoms of hydrogen & one atom of oxygen make up water.

News Briefs:

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will hold a public meeting regarding the new proposed route of the Keystone XL oil pipeline on December 4th in Albion. Dan Gunderson is a representative of the American Petroleum Institute, and hopes to clear up some of the rumors surrounding the pipeline, including who actually owns the tar sands crude it will transport. Gunderson says tar sands crude has been pumped through the U.S. since the 1980s and this is really nothing new.

From taxes to wind power to the farm bill - the lame duck session of Congress faces a series of important decisions in the waning weeks of the year. Chuck Hassebrook , executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, says fast, decisive action by lawmakers would be a pleasant thing to see. Congress will also have to deal with the "fiscal cliff" as several tax credits are expiring, and a number of other tax issues.

Several Northeast Nebraska residents were honored this week during the annual meeting of the Nebraska Community College Association, held at Northeast Community College. Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood was named this year's Friend of Community Colleges for his work with the state's two-year colleges. Other recipients of the Friend of Community College Award this year were State Senator Greg Adams of York and the organization EducationQuest. Also honored at the NCCA annual meeting were Dr. Don Oelsligle of Tilden, a member of the Northeast Board of Governors. He was named the recipient of the 2012 Governor's Award. Northeast accounting instructor Linda Miller received the organization's 2012 Faculty Award. And the manager of the Nucor Detailing Center in Norfolk was recognized as one of the Nebraska Community College Association's Distinguished Alumni.

A well-known face in economic development circles is retiring - maybe. Joe Ferguson turns 70 on Saturday, and has announced his retirement from Northeast Community College. But he says he will retain positions on several boards and committees, still working with business and industry development. Ferguson says he first got involved in economic development during the mid 1980s at the height of the farm crisis. Ferguson was also instrumental in the design and fund raising for the Lifelong Learning Center. He gives credit for many of his successes to the others involved, saying he has always believed that if you start with the right people, you get the right results.

The driver of a semi that rolled Tuesday in Norfolk has been cited for reckless driving. Norfolk Police Captain Michael Bauer says 59-year-old Dean Sinz of Durland, Wisconsin was the driver of a 2000 Peterbuilt that was hauling a trailer full of milk product. The tractor-trailer was headed south on 13th Street, turning left onto Omaha Avenue. Bauer says the liquid load in the trailer shifted, causing the semi to flip on its side, skid southeast and collide with a light pole and the traffic signal pole.