11-20-12

Posted on Nov 20th, 2012 at 7:31 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Barry Bruckner, Marilyn Dieckman, Kirk Morgan

Skywatch Weather:

Today, mainly sunny, high 64. Tonight, mostly clear, low 39. Wednesday, more sun than clouds, high 70

Sports:

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

The Nebraska volleyball team drops from ninth to tenth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll released yesterday. The Huskers went 1-1 last week with a road loss at Minnesota and a win at Wisconsin. The Huskers are now 21-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Creighton jumped from 23rd to 21st. They went 2-0 with road victories over Wichita State & Missouri State. The Bluejays are 26-3 on the season and 17-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Nebraska will be in action next on Wednesday when they host Iowa while Creighton takes on Southern Illinois or Illinois State on Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinals. Penn State is the new number one.

The high school football playoffs conclude today with championships for Classes “C-2”, “C-1” & “B” at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. In Class the “C-1” title game, in a game that can be heard on 106 KIX & 106KIX.com, east bracket top seed 11-1 Norfolk Catholic battles west bracket top seed 11-1 Boone Central/Newman Grove at 2:45. Pregame coverage at 2:15. The Two-time Defending State Champions are looking to become the only team ever in Class “C-1” to win three consecutive titles. The Knights are outscoring their opponents on average 41.1-13.8 while the Cardinals are outscoring their foes on average 36.7-12.8. Norfolk Catholic rallied from a ten-point third quarter deficit to beat Boone Central/Newman Grove 35-31 in Albion on September 7th. The Knights have won the last eight meetings including the State Championship Game in 2004. The last time the Cardinals beat Norfolk Catholic was on September 17th, 2004 in Norfolk 33-17. The other championship games have David City Aquinas meeting Sutton in the Class “C-2” Championship at 10:15. In Class “B”, Omaha Gross faces Norris at 7:15.

Local Schedule: Ellsworth CC, IA at NECC (WBB-5:00); Longwood at Creighton (MBB-7:05); William Penn Univ. At WSC (WBB-7:00).

High School State Championship Football Games: Giltner 42 Humphrey St. Francis 26 (Class “D-2”); Elgin Public/Pope John 40 Exeter/Milligan 14 (Class “D-1”; Millard North 17 Omaha North 14 (Class “A”).

NFL Scoreboard: San Francisco 32 Chicago 7.

Kwifax:

44% of moms keep Facebook open on their computers all day.

News Briefs:

The City of Norfolk has taken the first step toward bringing city ordinances in compliance with EPA requirements on storm water management. At last night's meeting, the Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance dealing with illicit discharges and illegal connection to the storm drain system, storm water discharge from construction activities and post-construction storm water quality. Prevention Manager Trent Howard explained that it is important for the city to comply with the EPA requirement. The Council approved the ordinance on first reading only to allow contractors time to review the 20-page document and suggest any changes. The ordinance will come before the Council for second reading on December 3rd.

When the debate in the Nebraska Unicameral turns to state aid to K-12 schools, you can expect the new 19th District Senator to be in the middle of the discussion. Jim Scheer is a former member of the Norfolk Public School Board, and the outgoing president of the State Board of Education. He tells us that state aid was originally designed to ease the burden on property tax payers. Scheer says about 40 percent of school districts received NO state aid this year, and he has been told that could increase to 80 percent next year because of the increasing value placed on agricultural land in rural districts. Scheer replaces Mike Flood, who has completed the two terms he is allowed under the state's term limits law. Flood last week announced plans to run for governor in 2014.

The Norfolk Police Division has issued a warning for citizens about a text scam operating in the Midwest. Captain Michael Bauer says the unsolicited text message directs the victim to a dummy web site where they have allegedly won a $1,000 gift card to a major chain store. But there is no gift card, and the web site is used to get personal information about the victim and other friends and relatives. Bauer says there have been no reports of the scam in Norfolk yet, but Omaha Police have had reports of the scam using a web site with the Target store logo on it. Target officials are working to have the Target name removed from the bogus website.

The State Patrol, along with the Norfolk Police Division and other law enforcement agencies across the state, are taking part in the national Click It or Ticket It seatbelt enforcement effort this week. Officers will be watching to make sure motorists are wearing their seat belts - especially at night. Nighttime passenger vehicle occupants are less likely to buckle up at night, and more likely to die in crashes when unrestrained.

The Christmas season officially kicks off tonight in downtown Norfolk with Black Tuesday sales and the downtown River Point Christmas Festival. Merchants in the downtown area will have special pricing all day today and remain open late tonight. The evening festival will begin at 4:30, and will include a visit from Santa and the lighting of the community Christmas tree. Free horse and buggy and hay rack rides will be offered, and carolers and musicians will stroll the Avenue adding to the Christmas atmosphere.