02-15-10

A number of area highways remained closed this morning due to blowing and drifting snow. The Nebraska State Patrol reports some of the closed roads include Highway 81 north of Norfolk to the South Dakota border and Highway 275 from the Highway 15 Junction to West Point. A Patrol spokesman said due to constantly changing conditions, other highways could become impassable. The Department of Roads pulled all its snowplows off state highways at dark Sunday night. Crews were to resume operations at sunrise.

Several people were transported to Norfolk's hospital late Sunday morning following a six vehicle pile-up on Highway 275 about three miles east of Pilger during blizzard-like conditions. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says a Bellevue couple in one vehicle, a rural Norfolk woman -- a passenger in a pickup -- and three people in a van were transported to Faith Regional Health Services for treatment. Unger says a westbound car drove under a semi-trailer after the semi slid sideways in the road while trying to avoid hitting a westbound van. Three other vehicles were involved later due to the blocked road. The driver of the van -- Rico Whitedress, 20, of Wayne, was cited for driving while intoxicated, minor in consumption and driving during suspension.

A number of area schools either closed or started late this morning due to the blowing and drifting snow.

Damage is estimated at $45,000 dollars to a Norfolk house destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. Norfolk Fire Division Shift Commander Steve Bettendorf says the call to the vacant house at 922 Blaine Street came at 4:13 a.m. He says crews were able to get the blaze under control, but the fire had breached the walls and wind swept flames into the attic. He says it was not known who owns the structure -- and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.

The Nebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environmental Education will host a stakeholders meeting tonight to seek input on the Nebraska Environmental Literacy Plan. The meeting will begin at 6:30 in the Lifelong Learning Center. Teachers, wildlife enthusiasts, farmers and anyone with an interest in the environment is invited to attend.

Youth baseball will look different in Norfolk this year. Norfolk City Recreation and other baseball teams are joining together to form a citywide Little League program. Youth ages 7 to 14 are invited to take part. Registration meetings are planned on March 15th from 5-to-7 p.m. and March 22nd from 7-to-9 p.m. at the City Auditorium.