12-04-12

Posted on Dec 4th, 2012 at 7:41 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Jim Brenneman, Tom Bruening, Kimberly Erickson, Jay Fisher, Jill Holcomb, Dean Kruse, Pat Norman, Anne Pruss

Skywatch Weather:

Today, mainly sunny, high 57. Tonight, mostly clear, low 27. Wednesday, a blend of clouds & sun, high 58.

Sports:

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

Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein are the finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Manziel is the favorite to win college football's most glamorous award when it is presented Saturday night in New York. He would be the first freshman to win the Heisman and the first Texas A&M player since halfback John David Crow won the school's only Heisman in 1957.

Ray Gallegos scored 20 points and made a career-high six three-pointers to lead Nebraska to a 63-51 victory over Southern California last night. The Cornhuskers, off to their best start since 2008-09, led by as many as 20 points in the most lopsided game in the four-game series with the Trojans. Nebraska, who came into the game shooting just 30% percent on three-pointers, made a season-high 11-17. Dylan Talley, who made three three-pointers, finished with 14 points. The Huskers improve to 6-1 while USC drops to 3-4.

The Creighton men’s basketball team has dropped from eleventh to 16th in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll and slip from eleventh to 13th in the USA Today Coaches poll released yesterday. The 7-1 Bluejays split two games in the last week, losing to Boise State 83-70 and beating St. Joseph’s 78-51. Indiana remains number one in the AP Top 25. Duke, Michigan, Syracuse, and Louisville round out the top five. Creighton will be in action next when they visit 6-1 Nebraska on Thursday at 7:05.

The All-District Football team has been announced for Class “C-1” District 4. Representing the first team for Norfolk Catholic were Connor Ketter, Jordan Bellar, Riley Knake, Jackson Love, and Kyle Schaefer. Honored on the second team were Allen Lewis, Garret McCarthy, & Michael Obermiller. Norfolk Catholic won their third consecutive title this past season.

Local Schedule: Twin River at LHNE (G&B BB-6:00); Pierce at Nfk Cath (GBB-8:00); Fremont at Nfk High (G&B SW Dual-4:00).

Local Scores: Nebraska 63 USC 51 (MBB).

NFL Scoreboard: Washington 17 N.Y. Giants 16.

Kwifax:

In 1921, Iowa imposed the first cigarette tax.

News Briefs:

A cost-benefit analysis of the redevelopment plan for the former Ramada Inn property found several positives and no negatives. That's according to Lowell Schroeder with the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District. At last night's meeting of the Norfolk Mayor and City Council, Schroeder said there would be no negative impact on the schools or other government services with the project because the majority of employees for the proposed Perkins Restaurant would come from current residents of the Norfolk area. Schroeder says the project would have several positives for the community. Infrastructure for the project will be paid for through Tax Increment Financing, and a 15-year bond has been approved for the project.

Madison County Judge Jim Kube administered the oath of office Monday night to those beginning new terms on the council. Taking the oath of office were newly elected First Ward Councilman Dick Pfeil and Josh Moenning from the Third Ward, Returning second ward councilman Jim Lange and Fourth Ward Councilman Thad Murren, and re-elected Mayor Sue Fuchtman. Councilmen Vicki Saunders and Jim Brenneman stepped down after each serving 12 years on the council. Administrator Shane Weidner thanked them for their service to the community. Dave Fauss was elected as President of the Council.

Motorists going north on State Highway 24 may experience some delays at the intersection with Highway 275 today. Nebraska Department of Roads Highway Project Manager Doug Lollman says the left turn lane for northbound traffic on Highway 24 will be closed. Northbound traffic will be routed on a single lane with traffic proceeding either straight through the intersection or turning left or right. Lollman urges motorists to use caution and to prepare for delays. The lane closure is part of the construction project converting Highway 24 from a two-lane highway to four-lanes from Highway 275 to north of Woodland Park.

The proponents of the Keystone XL pipeline project are inviting supporters and opponents alike to a meeting today in Albion to share information on the controversial project. The informational part of the meeting will run from 3 until 5:30 p.m. in the Event Center on the Boone County Fairgrounds, followed by the public hearing on the adjusted route at 6 p.m. Matt Koch is the vice president for Oil Sands and Arctic Issues at the U.S Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy. He says pipelines are the safest way to transport materials, and the Keystone XL pipeline may well be the safest pipeline ever constructed.

Retiring N-U Athletic Director Tom Osborne is looking back at his career with the Huskers as he prepares to retire at the end of the year. Osborne says there have been some rough patches, including 1995, a time he refers to as the "Lawrence Phillips era" Osborne says he will remain close to the University and will help out where and when he can. In his retirement, he plans to concentrate on his Teammates mentoring program for disadvantaged youth.