NEWS – News Archive | US92 - Today's Best Country

MONDAY May 20, 2013

TILDEN – A Norfolk man is in jail, accused of kidnapping and assaulting his estranged wife. Officials with the Madison County Sheriff’s office say 49-year old Kevin Heldt was arrested Monday. Criminal Investigator Jon Downey says the Tilden Police Department received a report early Monday morning that 49-year old Rhonda Heldt of Tilden was missing from her home. Downey says there was evidence of a struggle at the scene. A passerby found Rhonda Heldt later on near an abandoned farmhouse southwest of Meadow Grove. She was transported to Antelope Memorial Hospital with numerous injuries. Kevin Heldt was arrested around 7:30 Monday morning, hiding out on the same property near Meadow Grove where Rhonda was found. He faces numerous charges, including kidnapping, assault and strangulation. He’s currently housed in the Madison County Jail.

MADISON, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska man convicted for the third time of having sex with young girls has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. Jake Laner, who is 26, has been sentenced in Madison County District Court on a charge of first-degree sexual assault. His prison sentence is 25 to 50 years but a mandatory minimum means he must serve 20 years before he’s eligible for release. Laner has two previous sex crime convictions in Cuming County from 2004 and was a registered sex offender last year when he became involved with a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant. In court Friday he blamed the victim’s mother for condoning the relationship. If he’s released from prison he’ll be under parole supervision for life.

NORFOLK – Chambers of Commerce members from all across Nebraska are in Washington D.C. over the next few days to speak with Congressional Delegates. The Norfolk Area Chamber and members of the Norfolk business community are among the attendees. Over the next two days, the Norfolk delegation plans to meet with all of Nebraska’s Senators and Congressmen, attend Federal issue policy briefings, attend the traditional Nebraska Breakfast along with a number of other receptions.

NORFOLK – Young bicyclists and their families took advantage of the nice weather Saturday in Norfolk by attending an annual event that teaches youngsters about safety and rules of road while biking. Norfolk’s Pedal Park was the site of the Landon Bos Memorial Bike Rodeo and included well over 100 participants. The event is named after young Landon Bos of Norfolk, who died six years ago as the result of a car/pedestrian accident and the track that goes around the park is called “Landon Lane”. At the bike rodeo, kids got fresh air in their tires, received helmets, got their bikes registered and tuned up, plus learned from local police what they are supposed to do when riding. Norfolk’s Police Chief says it’s important that kids know their responsibilities while riding, however motorists also need to be aware of THEIR responsibilities. Mizner says the #1 thing motorists can do to help prevent bicycle related accidents is to stay focused on their driving. Mizner says Norfolk has been very fortunate over the past couple of years when it comes to car/pedestrian accidents, and he hopes this bike rodeo combined with parents talking with their kids is having something to do with that.

NORFOLK – Norfolk area residents who are interested in planting trees this spring may be eligible to get paid to plant shade. Officials with the Norfolk Tree Board says the Norfolk Tree Voucher Program allows property owners in the city and those within the two-mile jurisdiction to apply for up to $100 per tree. The shade trees or fruit trees should be planted between now and June 30. The funding is provided by the United Parcel Service and other private contributions. Additional details and sign-up packets can be picked up at the UPS Store in Norfolk, at the Norfolk Fire Hall or Earl May. A tree planting workshop is also scheduled for June 8 at Early May in Norfolk.

FRIDAY May 17, 2013

NORFOLK– The official ribbon cutting was held Friday morning to celebrate the completion of several Central Park improvements in Norfolk. Improvements include a butterfly garden and spray painted mural on the restroom structure. The dedication was attended by various community leaders and Norfolk Jr High students, who were an integral part of the renovation process. Also in attendance were members of the Norfolk Chamber and the Norfolk Arts Center, who headed up the park improvements process. Arts Center Events Coordinator Melinda Kozel says with both physical and monetary donations, the renovations total cost came in at under five thousand dollars. Kozel says it could not have been done without the help of the Junior High students. Continuing work will include finishing up work on the stage structure and the construction of a reading nook. The ribbon cutting celebration will continue throughout the weekend with live music and yoga on Saturday. The Arts Center is also working on showing movies this summer in Central Park.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Authorities say Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate declined to 3.7 percent in April. The state had registered a 3.8 percent rate for the four previous months. The rate was three-tenths of a point lower than in April 2012 and less than half the national April rate of 7.5 percent for this year. For the counties of Madison, Stanton and Pierce, the unemployment rate for April was 3.3 percent which is a three-tenths of a percent lower than the March rate of 3.6 percent. In Platte County, the rate remained steady at 3.2 percent.

NORFOLK– Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Northeast Nebraska All-Star Football Classic Banquet on Friday, June 7. The banquet is held in conjunction with week-long activities in preparation for the first All-Star football game, which will be played on Saturday night, June 8 at Norfolk’s Veterans Memorial Field. Burns Hall gym, which is on the campus of Norfolk Catholic High School, will be the site of the banquet. Doors will open at 6pm, with the banquet beginning at 6:30. No tickets will be sold at the door. Pre-paid tickets can purchased at the Norfolk Area Visitor’s Bureau at 609 West Norfolk Avenue.

NORFOLK– Norfolk area residents who are interested in planting trees this spring may be eligible to get paid to plant shade. Officials with the Norfolk Tree Board says the Norfolk Tree Voucher Program allows property owners in the city and those within the two-mile jurisdiction to apply for up to $100 per tree. The shade trees or fruit trees should be planted between now and June 30. The funding is provided by the United Parcel Service and other private contributions. Additional details and sign-up packets can be picked up at the UPS Store in Norfolk, at the Norfolk Fire Hall or Earl May. A tree planting workshop is also scheduled for June 8 at Early May in Norfolk.

NORFOLK- Now that the winter-like weather has passed, road construction season is in full swing. The Nebraska Department of Roads says on Tuesday, eastbound traffic on highway 35 near the intersection with Victory Road will be moved to the westbound lane. The westbound lanes will also be reduced to one lane. The move will allow for construction to begin on a roundabout at the intersection of highway 35 and Victory Road. In addition, lane closures may be required beginning Monday on Norfolk’s south highway 81 project as pavement markings are installed.

THURSDAY May 16, 2013

NORFOLK – Northeast Community College officials say a top college administrator has stepped down. Dave Ptak submitted his resignation as Vice President of Human Resources Wednesday. Ptak, who has served the College on it’s administration team the past seven years has expressed an interest in returning to the practice of law. Before joining Northeast, Ptak was involved in private practice and also previously served as city attorney for Norfolk. Northeast leaders say Jennifer Happold, Northeast Human Resources Coordinator will oversee the HR office in the interim.

MADISON – The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a fatal car crash in Madison County. It happened about three-and-a-half miles southwest of Madison on Monday. Patrol officials say a vehicle driven by 63-year old Harry Miller of Norfolk collided with another vehicle driven by 31-year old Zolana Costello of Madison at around two in the afternoon at the unmarked intersection of 826 Road and 550 Avenue. Miller was killed in the crash. The State Patrol says seat belts were not in use in either vehicle. Costello is reported to be in stable condition.

WEDNESDAY May 15, 2013

ALBION – Two men were transported to the Boone County Health Center in Albion Wednesday morning following a crash that involved two pickups and a school bus. Albion Police Chief Brent Lipker says the crash occurred around 7:45 Wednesday morning at the intersection of highway 14 and Columbia street on Albion’s south side. Lipker says a northbound Ford Pickup, driven by 68-year-old Rolan Bentjen of Albion, turned in front of a southbound Dodge pickup, driven by Michael Muller of Avon, SD. The collision caused Bentjen’s vehicle to go into a flat spin. While in motion, Bentjen’s pickup collided slightly with a school bus traveling behind him. Lipker says both pickup drivers were transported to the Boone County Health Center in Albion with serious but non life-threatening injuries. No one on the bus was hurt and there was minimal damage to the bus.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - A 29-year-old St. Edward man has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on allegations that he molested his 8-year-old niece. Platte County District Judge Robert Steinke’s ruling followed a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. The state evaluation said the man was developmentally disabled and was unlikely to become competent for trial within the foreseeable future. Prosecutor Demi Herman says the county will begin a civil commitment proceeding to hold the defendant indefinitely. The man had been charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child.

NORFOLK - Constituents of the Norfolk Public School District will now be able to take part in more of the meetings held by the district’s board. During Monday night’s monthly meeting, Superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing said the city has agreed to allow the school to utilize the city council chambers for both of their meetings on the second Monday of the month. The meetings will be continuous beginning at 5pm and will include a short dinner break. The new schedule will begin with the NPS Board Meeting on June 10.

NORFOLK – Nebraska Public Power District is giving the public another opportunity to comment and ask questions about a proposed transmission line through northeast Nebraska. NPPD officials held open houses in Neligh on Tuesday and Norfolk Wednesday regarding the line, which would run from Hoskins to Neligh. NPPD officials have said they want to construct the line to help alleviate some of the issues that arose during last summer’s heat wave in that area. NPPD land management manager Al Beierman says the utility is still fairly early in the process of creating the new line. Beierman says NPPD will hold more public hearings when the official line route is unveiled. He says the utility hopes to have the line operational by summer of 2016.

NORFOLK – As Norfolk public school students get set to start their summer vacations, their peers are making sure they do so safely. The Norfolk JOOI Club presented an Act Out Loud rally at Norfolk Senior High Wednesday afternoon. The event featured speakers from the Nebraska State Patrol, Norfolk Police Department and others talking about the dangers related to distracted driving. Norfolk High Junior Taylor Ewald helped organize the event. Ewald says the group wants to get across the message that only one seconds worth of distraction behind the wheel can be life-changing. The rally held in Norfolk Wednesday was one of over 100 Act Out Loud events being held nationwide this week.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk-based non-profit organization that helps youth focus on education, leadership and respect held a year-end celebration Tuesday, and also recognized their first graduating senior. The Zone, is based in downtown Norfolk and is a safe place for youth to go after school where they can learn life skills, work on their school assignments and build relationships. Around 36 youth in grades 7 thru 12 participate in the after school program. As part of Tuesday’s celebration, each student received a certificate of participation and a number of outstanding leadership awards were also given out. The Zone will have their first graduating senior this weekend, in Norfolk High graduate Miranda Newman. Miranda says she started coming to the Zone a number of years ago when her mother became ill. She says initially it was a way to bring normalcy to her life, but in the end the Zone has made her a better person. Miranda is now in the top 5 percent of her graduating class, her leadership and communication skills have excelled and she says the Zone has made her a completely different person. Because of the generosity of a Norfolk community member, the Zone was able to provide Miranda with the organization’s first scholarship and her photo will be the first placed in the Zone’s wall of fame.

TUESDAY May 14, 2013

VALLEY – In a two-week span, Nebraska has gone from record lows to record highs. Much of Nebraska saw triple digit temperatures on Tuesday. Norfolk recorded a high temp of 100, which broke the previous record of 96, set back in 1941. Columbus recorded a temp of 102, also a record. Wayne hit 103. Tekamah was Nebraska’s hot-spot, recording a high of 107 degrees. The hot, dry air combined with 15 to 25 mile per hour winds have caused the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

UNDATED – Have you received an e-mail lately that appears to be from the IRS that asks for your personal and banking information? If you have, you’ve been “phished.” Internal Revenue Service officials say scammers “phish” e-mail accounts with messages claiming the recipient has qualified for a refund, and that they need to provide their personal information to receive the refund. But Christopher Miller with the IRS says that’s not how the bureau operates. Miller says anyone who receives an e-mail of this kind should forward it to phishing@IRS.gov. More information can be found at the IRS’ website.

NORFOLK - While officials wait for word on the latest State funding formula for public schools in Nebraska, Norfolk Public Schools’ Director Business Services says he is pleased with the work the Education Committee has done so far. During Monday night’s school board meeting, Bill Robinson said he hopes for an increase and the latest numbers look encouraging for Norfolk. Robinson says he appreciates the work Senator Scheer and others have done to help the district. Robinson says he also understands that there are smaller districts in Nebraska, who pay taxes, that also want a piece of the pie. Robinson says if you look at the lowest spending school districts in the State, Norfolk is #5 in a group of 10.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man who is developing a new school in his home country of Malawi is thanking the Norfolk Public School District for partnering with him. Joe Matijka is working on establishing what is called “Norfolk Private Schools Malawi”. Matijka says Malawi is smaller than Nebraska, but has a population of 16 million people, which causes schools to be very crowded and under-supplied. With this in mind Matijka’s vision is to create a secondary school where students can learn American education and prepare to go to college here in Nebraska. Norfolk Public Schools has donated 100 computers to help the students with their education. Matijka told the NPS school board Monday night that the partnership is about making a generational change. Matijka says even if it’s one student who becomes competitive enough to go to College in Nebraska, it’s worth every effort.

NORFOLK – Officials with Pheasants Forever are touting the advantages of the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program in meetings throughout the state. One of those meetings was held in Norfolk Tuesday afternoon, ahead of the annual CRP enrollment window that starts May 20th. Cassidy Gerdes with Pheasants Forever says that even in an era of unprecedented land and commodity values, there is a place for land conservation. Pheasants Forever will be holding another meeting on CRP enrollment at the Cornerstone Bank in Albion Wednesday at 7 p.m.

NORFOLK – The American Red Cross and Norfolk Fire Division are helping area kids plan for what to do in case of a fire. The Red Cross and Fire Division teamed up during the month of April for their Great Escapes program. Northeast Nebraska Red Cross executive director Shalle Wolff says the organizations presented fire safety information to nearly 500 students in Norfolk classrooms. The students then had to come up with their own fire escape plans with their families, with the best plans winning rides to school in a fire truck. Wolff says getting kids to understand the importance of having a plan is key. Wolff says the winning escape plans will be recognized during a ceremony at the Norfolk Fire Department on Thursday.

MONDAY May 13, 21013

STANTON - A 44-year-old registered sex offender was arrested over the weekend after witnesses complained he was watching children in the Woodland Park area. Johnnie Janzen, who lists himself as a transient, was arrested Friday afternoon near a playground following a call to the Stanton County Sheriff’s office. Janzen was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was taken into custody and is being held at the Pierce county jail on felony drug charges and driving while under the influence of drugs.

STANTON, Neb. (KTIV) - Three Northeast Nebraska men are arrested after authorities uncover stolen property in Stanton County. The Sheriff’s office says 38-year old Mark Kuehn of Stanton, and 48-year-old Kevin Mendenhall of rural Battle Creek, stole two enclosed construction trailers and the tools inside. The two men were also arrested with meth possession, and Kuehn faces a charge of making terroristic threats. Ten-thousand dollars in construction equipment has been recovered in and around Stanton and Norfolk. A third man, 62-year old Ernie Mastney, of rural Stanton, also faces charges of theft by receiving Stolen Property, after some of the items were located at his home. Authorities say additional arrests are possible.

NORFOLK – Two men are facing burglary charges after their arrest in Norfolk over the weekend. Police Captain Mike Bauer says police responded to a call of a stolen vehicle from a garage on the 2400 block of Dover Avenue just before noon on Saturday. Bauer says officers found the car a short while and performed a traffic stop at the corner of 13th and Norfolk Avenue. The officers identified the driver as 20-year old Dylan Bolte and a passenger as 20-year old Timothy Farrar. Both were arrested on burglary charges, while Farrar also faces drug charges. They’re both being held in the Madison County Jail.

NORFOLK – An Atkinson man needed to be tased by Norfolk Police after a pursuit early Saturday morning. Police Captain Mike Bauer says officers responded to numerous disturbances after midnight Saturday, involving the same group of people. Officers eventually found two of the men involved in those disturbances in the 200 block of W. Northwestern Ave. The two men fled upon seeing officers in the area on foot. Police were able to track down 26-year old Timothy Skeen of Atkinson, who was tased by an officer when he refused to stop. Skeen faces obstruction charges and is currently housed in the Madison County Jail.

NORFOLK – Northeast Community College has been bestowed an inaugural national award that recognizes partnerships between schools and the corporate business world. The Outstanding Corporate Relationship award was presented to Northeast and the Nucor Detailing Center last month. The award, presented by the National Association of Community Colleges, is the first of it’s kind and is a tribute to the partnership between Northeast Community College and the Nucor Detailing Center. Dirk Petersen is not only the President of Nucor, but he also serves on the Northeast Board of Governors. He says 60 percent of their detailers are graduates of Northeast, and they are making plans to make it even more in the future, adding about 120 new rebar detailing jobs in the near future. Northeast President Dr. Michael Chipps says Nucor and Northeast should stand proud about the awards because that’s what community colleges are designed to do. Northeast Officials say there are 1,167 community colleges in the US and Northeast is among 5 finalists that were bestowed the outstanding corporate relationship honor.

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Catholic school district is looking for a president. Sacred Heart Parish leaders sent out an e-mail to parishioners last week that they would like to hire a president for the district. Parish priest Father Dan Andrews has filled that role for the past 13 years, but Fr. Andrews says there isn’t time to serve as president and take care of the spiritual needs for over 2400 families. School officials have create a search committee to find the right candidate. A timeline for the hiring of a president has not been released.

NORFOLK – Six Norfolk homes found themselves in a stinky situation Friday after a sewer blockage forced sewage into their basements. City officials say they were informed of the blockage around 8:30 am Friday near the intersection of Georgia Ave. and 11th Street. City water and sewer division manager Dennis Watts says workers had the blockage taken care of in about a half an hour. Watts says that particular line was cleaned out last June, and says city officials are stressing that residents watch what they put into the sewage stream. He says workers have found some interesting items in the sewage system over the years. Watts says anyone who thinks they have a blockage in their sewage system can call the City‘s 24-hour number (402-844-2110) to report it.

FRIDAY May 10, 2013

BATTLE CREEK - More good news is coming in regarding the two Battle Creek School students who were injured in a semi/bus crash west of Norfolk. Both eleven-year-old Baily Hurlburt and 14-year-old Courtney Livingston have been released from Omaha hospitals and are now back home. School officials say both girls are very excited to get back to school and see their friends and teachers again. Superintendent Jay Bellar says the district is trying to get things back to normal again after a tough week. Bellar says one thing that’s helped is the amount of support the community has provided, especially on the day of the crash itself. Bellar says school officials will be meeting next week to go over what the school district did well regarding the aftermath of the crash, and what things things the district could do better should an accident happen again.

NORFOLK – A man seen on surveillance footage taking guitars from a Norfolk shop has been arrested. Norfolk Police Chief Mike Bauer says 25-year old Matthew Swoboda was arrested Thursday. Swoboda is accused of stealing about $3500 worth of guitars from Midwest Music in October. Surveillance footage showed a suspect leaving the scene, but authorities couldn’t make a positive ID. Bauer says State Patrol investigators received a tip to the location of one of the stolen guitars. Norfolk Detectives investigated, finding all three stolen guitars, and identifying Swoboda as the suspect. Swoboda faces burglary charges and is currently housed at the Madison County Jail.

NORFOLK - The Northeast Community College Board of Governors is searching for a new member. Peg Niewohner’s resignation, due to time constraints with her work schedule, took effect on April 17th. Niewohner had represented Madison County’s District 5 since November 2010. Board member Dirk Petersen is a member of the Human Resources committee and says applications for Niewohner’s replacement are being accepted. Whoever the selected successor is will be sworn in at the Board’s meeting in July. The appointee will also be asked to seek election to the seat when it comes up for election in 2014.

NORFOLK – Awesome and fun are two words 7-year-old Jack Hoffman of Atkinson uses to describe his recent Husker touchdown run and the trip to meet the President that followed. “Team Jack” was in Norfolk Thursday as part of a special store fundraiser at Norfolk’s Hy-Vee East. The 69-yard touchdown run was the idea of his buddy Rex and other Husker football players to help raise awareness for Jack’s effort to fight pediatric brain cancer. Jack says there were two concerns on his mind when he was making his big run…scoring a touchdown or tripping on his shoelaces. We all know the result. After the video went viral and reached the computer screen of President Obama, the Hoffman’s soon found themselves inside the Oval Office to meet the President. Jack father Andy says the real blessing of the month of April, with all of these events taking place, was that it got the nation talking about pediatric brain cancer. Hoffman says they’ll keep driving towards more funding for research. More than 9 kids per day are dying because of the disease.
Jack just finished a chemo treatment before coming to Norfolk Thursday. He will now have a break for a couple weeks before more treatments in late May. Andy says the tumor is responding to the treatment however doctors are telling them to keep their marathon shoes handy and keep in mind that this isn’t a sprint.

THURSDAY May 9, 2013

NORFOLK – Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board have released their preliminary report on a fatal plan crash south of Norfolk. The NTSB report says the crash, which killed pilot Dale Butler of Omaha and passenger Amy Brobst of Fort Collins, Colorado, happened just before 8 p.m. on April 27th. Witnesses at Norfolk Regional Airport told NTSB investigators that they saw the plane take off, climb to about a thousand feet, and then descend to a low altitude before dropping out of sight. Witnesses then say they saw the plane rise again, turn sharply left and then descend out of sight again. NTSB investigators say a 20-foot high power line about a quarter-mile from the crash site was severed, and the damage to the plane was consistent with a power line strike. An actual cause of the crash has not been revealed. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and NTSB officials have said the final accident report could take 12 to 18 months to complete.

BATTLE CREEK– More good news is coming in about the two Battle Creek School students who were transported to Omaha Monday following a semi/bus crash west of Norfolk. Officials with Children’s Hospital in Omaha have confirmed that 11-year-old Baily Hurlburt has been released from the hospital. Meanwhile Creighton University Hospital and Battle Creek school officials say 14-year-old Courtney Livingston is still admitted but is making good progress. Superintendent Jay Bellar says Courtney, who suffered a severe concussion, was awake and was up walking around Wednesday.

NORFOLK - Most of us take for granted every day that when we turn on our water tap, good, clean, treated water will be there. On Wednesday, Norfolk citizens had the opportunity to see and learn more about the quality and delivery of their water during an open house at the west water treatment plant. Norfolk’s Water Director Dennis Watts says there are a number of steps to bring water from the ground to your tap. Watts says one of the recent projects water division employees have been working on a national requirement to change out all of the city’s 9,000 water meters. The Norfolk water division includes 127 miles of water and sewer main and 1,200 water mains throughout the city. During this weeks Norfolk City Council meeting, Mayor Sue Fuchtman proclaimed this week as “Drinking Water Week” in Norfolk to go along with the national designation.

NORFOLK– The Norfolk Family YMCA is celebrating a century of service to the area with a special event this evening. From 6 until 8:00 this evening, the Y will be serving hot dogs, root beer floats and other refreshments. YMCA officials say a number of bounce houses will also be set up. The current YMCA facility on Benjamin Avenue opened in 1981, which replaced it’s first building at 203 south 4th street, which was built in 1913.

WEDNESDAY May 8, 2013

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk is looking to make downtown more parking accessible. The City Council Monday listened to recommendations from Vehicle Parking District Board member James Wapelhorst on how to make parking in downtown Norfolk less of an issue. Wapelhorst says about 850 people either live or work downtown, and the Parking District believes more can be done to accommodate both them and downtown shoppers. The Board’s recommendations include setting up designated parking spaces for downtown customers, employees and residents. Visitors would be able to park for free, while employees and residents would purchase parking passes for $55 annually that would grant them access to downtown parking lots. Wapelhorst says violators of the new parking rules would first be given a warning, and then ticketed $25.

NORFOLK – Some major road changes could be coming to the west side of Norfolk. The Nebraska Department of Roads hosted an open house Tuesday to go over design plans for renovations to Highway 275 near Faith Regional Health Services. District Engineer Kevin Domogalla says that area has become unsafe in recent years. The project would include construction of a roundabout at Highway 275 and 37th Street, a right turn bay at 34th Street and remove the merge from Norfolk Avenue onto 275. Access to the highway from Norfolk Avenue would be moved back to Hospital Road. Domogalla says the public has two weeks to offer comment on the plans. He says the project could get underway some time in 2015.

NORFOLK – Two road projects are getting the go-ahead from the Norfolk City Council. The Council voted unanimously Monday to approve plans for the projects. City officials say one includes improvements to 1st Street between Norfolk and Braasch Avenues. The second involves reconstruction of 20th Street from just south of Pasewalk Avenue to Parker Circle. Both projects will be let out to bid on May 23rd. City works manager Dennis Smith says the council will also be considering projects involving 27th Street and Sunset Avenue Circle at a later date.

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk is scrapping its economic guidelines in the hopes of bringing more development to the area. The City Council Monday voted to rescind the city’s current economic program guidelines and procedures. City economic director Courtney Klein says the guidelines as they were written were too restrictive to how Norfolk could use its LB840 funds, prohibiting the city from using them from infrastructure improvements. The move also came at the recommendation of the Norfolk Chamber’s Action Council, who were instrumental in the effort to pass an LB840 plan in Norfolk back in 2010.

NORFOLK – Norfolk’s LB840 is reaping positive rewards. That was the word from Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District manager Tom Higginbotham to the Norfolk City Council Monday. Higginbotham presented a report on the City’s first LB840 recipient, Premiere Marketing, who used the money to renovate the property at the corner of Riverside Boulevard and Benjamin Avenue. Higginbotham says Premiere has more than lived up to their end of the bargain, investing $3.2 million into the project, and adding 25 new jobs. City Councilman Dale Coy says the Premiere project was exactly the type Norfolk had in mind when LB840 was approved. Higginbotham says the Premiere site has also been inspected by state economic officials, who said the project is “perfect” in regards to its use of LB840 funds.

BLOOMFIELD – A northeast Nebraska student is among 15 recognized Wednesday for getting a perfect score on their ACT’s. Nick Nagengast of Bloomfield is among those being recognized by Gov. Dave Heineman during ceremonies in Omaha and Lincoln Wednesday. Nagengast scored a perfect 36 on his ACT test this year. State officials say that puts him in a class with less than one-tenth of one percent of students nationwide. The average ACT score in Nebraska is 22.

MONDAY May 6, 2013

BATTLE CREEK – Fog is being blamed for a Monday morning accident that hospitalized eight children. Nebraska State Patrol officials say the accident happened about 7:15 a.m. at the intersection of highway 275 and 549th avenue, which is about four miles northeast of Battle Creek. Patrol officials say a Battle Creek school bus, driven by 73-year old Larry Prauner of Battle Creek, was northbound on 549 Avenue when it struck a west-bound semi driven by 63-year old Stanley Jauer of Hinton, Iowa. Neither driver was injured, but patrol officials say eight Battle Creek students were transported to Faith Regional Health Services for treatment. Six were treated and released, while two unidentified children have been transferred to Omaha hospitals with what hospital officials have described as head trauma injuries. FThirteen students were on the bus at the time of the accident. The crash closed off a portion of Highway 275 for several hours while State Patrol and Madison County Sheriff’s officials investigated.

STANTON – A Norfolk man will spend at least a year in jail following a theft conviction. Twenty-seven year old Calvin Forget was sentenced to one to two years in prison in Stanton County District Court Monday. Forget pleaded guilty to the theft charges in March. He was arrested last fall, after authorities say he stole over $700 worth of tools and car parts in rural portions of Stanton and Wayne counties.

STANTON – A Stanton man is admitting to a theft charge in Stanton County. Thirty-eight year old Jeremy Hauf entered a guilty plea to theft in Stanton County District Court Monday. Hauf was arrested last fall following an investigation into the theft of car parts in Stanton last July. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says Hauf will be sentenced in July.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - Years of work has paid off for some happy dogs in Columbus. Residents began looking for land nearly a decade ago where they could establish a dog park. They finally found a 2-acre site last year and began work in October on fencing, lighting, benches and other features. Organizers officially opened Columbus Bark Park with a ribbon-cutting event Saturday. The park is funded by private donations, fundraisers and donated labor.

SATURDAY May 4, 2013

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - Sioux City Police confirm Jamal Dean is in custody. Police say he was apprehended in Texas early Saturday morning by U.S. Marshals. Dean is being held on an arrest for Attempted Murder in connection to the Wednesday shooting of Sioux City Police officer Kevin McCormick. McCormick stopped a car that Dean was a passenger in when Dean stepped out of the car and fired upon the officer. McCormick was treated for a gunshot wound to his head and has been released from a local hospital.

BASSETT– The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a fatal accident near Bassett. State Patrol officials say 26-year old Cody McCullogh of Ainsworth died when his pickup crossed the center line a mile west of Bassett on Highway 20. McCullogh’s pickup struck another truck, driven by 26-year old Alexander Thomsen of Norfolk, head-on. Thomsen was treated in Bassett with minor injuries and released.

LINCOLN – The extension of the Farm Bill doesn’t leave farmers with many options for disaster relief. That’s according to UNL ag economist Dr. Brad Lubben, who said in a Farm Bill webinar Friday that the current Farm Bill extension passed as part of the sequester discontinued the SURE program used by many farmers for disaster relief. Lubben says he doesn’t see it returning any time soon, either. Lubben says the disaster assistance that has been reauthorized is unfunded federally. That leaves farmers with crop insurance, the price-based safety net, or the revenue-based ACRE program for relief options. Lubbens says current commodities prices will likely keep price-based options from being viable in 2013, so he expects there to be a continued up-tick in crop insurance programs.

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) - The chief executive of the Winnebago Tribe’s business arm says it intends to develop a casino at a former horse track in South Sioux City. Lance Morgan of Ho-Chunk Inc. says the casino would be located at Atokad Downs. Ho-Chunk announced in May 2012 that it had bought the track property after the track was closed by the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. Morgan says Ho-Chunk’s Atokad development would include a casino, an events center, several dining options and retail shops. Morgan says the Atokad project faces several legal obstacles in Nebraska, which prohibits casino gambling.

DAVID CITY, Neb. (AP) – Authorities are perplexed as to what may have caused several hundred fish to die in eastern Nebraska. David City Park officials are warning visitors to avoid contact with its lake water while local and state officials investigate. Most of the fish are bluegill, which are the most populous fish in the water.

FRIDAY May 3, 2013

STANTON – Two Norfolk men are in jail following a fight Tuesday afternoon north of Woodland Park that also sent one of the men to the hospital. Stanton County authorities say around 3pm Tuesday officers received a report of an unconscious man in a ditch off of a county road. When officers arrived, they found 19-year-old Dakota Wright suffering from a head injury due to an assault. Wright was taken to Faith Regional Health Services for treatment. An investigation revealed that Wright and 19-year-old Moises Duarte had been involved in a physical altercation over an incident earlier in Norfolk. Both men were arrested on charges of third degree assault and will face the charge in court later this month.

DAKOTA CITY (KTIV) - Dakota County authorities are investigating the death of a man found lying next to a parked semi. Shortly before 11:00 am Thursday morning, sheriff’s deputies found 55-year-old Steven Hamlin of Otoe, Nebraska lying deceased on the shoulder of the roadway just north of the intersection of highway 77 and highway 35. Further investigation revealed the semi had stopped at that location around 10:00 am Thursday morning. They say Hamlin collapsed sometime after that. His cause of death is unknown.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Four small public libraries in northeast Nebraska are among those that have been given grants to improve services or facilities. The grants were provided by the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund, through the Nebraska Community Fund. A committee composed of nieces and nephews of the late Shirley Kreutz Bennett, of Lincoln, accepts proposals for matching grants for public libraries in communities with populations of less than 3,000 residents. The grants require a certain level of matching funds. About $70,000 is available each year. This year’s grants went to libraries in Albion, Osmond, Walthill and Wausa.

THURSDAY May 2, 2013

NORFOLK– The snow has moved on, but winter like weather could still wreak havoc on northeast Nebraska. The National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning, in effect until 9:00 Friday morning. Forecasters say any sensitive vegetation could be harmed by the cold. UNL Extension educator for Madison County Tim Lemmons says most area farmers are early enough in the planting season that they shouldn’t be affected too much by cold.
Lemmons says ornamental and garden plants will be more susceptible to a freeze. He says covering plants with a woven blanket has proven to be effective at keeping the cold from affecting plants overnight.

NORFOLK – The proposed water system south of Norfolk is moving forward, but officials say they’re still looking for more participation. The Lower Elkhorn NRD approved the formation an eleven-member advisory committee last week that will handle the day-to-day operations of the system. LENRD general manager Stan Staab says 124 people have signed up as of Thursday to take part in a survey gauging their interest in taking part in the system, but adds he’d like to see more get involved. Staab says the deadline to turn in surveys is May 10. Staab says the boundaries of the system are expanding eastward a bit to include properties along the Elkhorn River south of Norfolk, extending to Stanton. Staab says another public hearing will need to be held to officially change the boundaries.

SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - A reward up to $15,000 is being offered for information that leads to the immediate apprehension of Jamal Dean, who is wanted for attempting to murder a Sioux City Police Officer. Dean has warrants for his arrest in connection to the April 29 shooting of Sioux City Police Officer Kevin McCormick. McCormick stopped a car that Dean was a passenger in when Dean stepped out of the car and fired upon the officer. Dean fled the area after the shooting and remains at large.

NORFOLK - Officials with the Nebraska Department of Roads say work along highway 35 near Woodland Park will move closer to the roadway beginning next Monday. Drivers are urged to use caution as large, slow moving equipment will continue their grading work in close proximity to the highway.

WEDNESDAY May 1, 2013

NORFOLK – When Classen Manufacturing closed suddenly last week, 27 Norfolk residents found themselves suddenly unemployed. An event in Norfolk Wednesday sought to get them back to work as soon as possible. The Norfolk Area Chamber worked with state labor officials to set up a reverse career fair Wednesday. Twenty five area businesses met with former Classen employees and offered them opportunities to apply for new jobs. Grow Norfolk director Michelle Johnson helped organize the event. She says the former Classen employees were surprised to find that they wouldn’t have to navigate unemployment alone. Norfolk Economic Director Courtney Klein says while she doesn’t have exact numbers, the Classen closing did create a significant economic impact on the city. Klein adds the City is working with the current owners of the Classen building to determine what the future will hold for that site.

ALBION - Nebraska’s oldest living resident has passed away at the age of 112. According to Levander Funeral Home in Albion, Mable Ragan passed away at the Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center on Tuesday. The super-centenarian was born in Lindsay in 1901 and lived in Northeast Nebraska for most of her life. She had been living in Albion since 1946. Funeral services for Mable Ragan are pending.

NORFOLK – This year’s Viaero Great American Comedy Festival will offer attendees education in addition to entertainment. Festival organizers have announced that they, in conjunction with the Norfolk Public Schools Foundation, will be offering three Laugh and Learn sessions for students June 12th through the 14th. Organizers say the sessions will feature a magic lesson featuring local magicians as well as guest appearances by some of the magicians scheduled to perform at the festival itself. The other sessions will feature improv lessons longtime speech teacher LuAnn Schindler of Ewing, as well as festival alum Amber Preston. Both Schindler and Preston will be part of a sketch writing lesson as well. Anyone interested can find more information at the Comedy Festival’s website.

WASHINGTON D.C. - When the President of the United States requests your presence at the White House, most would jump on a plane in heartbeat. That’s exactly what the Hoffman family of Atkinson did this week. Many are familiar with 7-year-old Brain Cancer patient Jack Hoffman and his touchdown turned viral video from Nebraska’s Spring football game. If you watched the run, you weren’t alone. More than 8 million people have watched it online or saw it live. One of those viewers was President Barrack Obama. After the President saw the big run, he contacted Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska and made arrangements to meet the new football star. This Monday, the Hoffman family, along with former Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead made the trip to DC to talk about the touchdown run, about “Team Jack” and raising more awareness for pediatric brain cancer research. Jack’s father,Andy Hoffman, says Jack’s treatment and brain cancer research was actually the bulk of the conversation. Last week the U.S. Senate approved September 26th of this year as National Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day. Andy Hoffman says the resolution will lead to a great deal of fundraising for pediatric brain cancer research for his organization and many other like it all across the country.

TUESDAY April 30, 2013

NORFOLK– Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor is urging lawmakers to spend their extra money wisely. Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann served as chair of the Appropriations Committee for six years during his time as a state senator. He said during a stop in Norfolk Monday that lawmakers may have a tougher time crafting a budget now that economic officials have projected and additional 125-million dollars in tax receipts for the Unicameral to work with. Heidemann says that money needs to be spent wisely. Heidemann says any extra money the state does end up with should go to tax relief for Nebraskans. While in Norfolk, the Lt. Gov. will be touring the Nucor facility Monday afternoon.

NORFOLK – The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are in Norfolk to begin their investigation into a plane crash south of Norfolk Saturday night that killed two people. The victims in the crash have been identified as 26-year-old Dale Butler of Omaha, Nebraska, who was piloting the plane and his passenger, 24-year old Amy Brobst of Fort Collins, Colorado. NTSB officials say the crash occurred after the two flew to Norfolk for dinner and were returning back home to the Millard North Airport near Omaha. Authorities say minutes after the 8pm takeoff, the plane struck a power line, crashed into a soybean field and came to rest in a grove of trees. The location of the crash was just over two miles directly east of the airport, near the intersection of Sherwood road and 557th Avenue. The NTSB, along with the FAA, the plane’s manufacturer and the maker of the plane’s 180 horse power engine will be conducting the investigation. Investigator Mike Folkerts says they will be at the crash scene over the next couple of days to review all of the relevant factors. Fokerts says they will also take Saturday night’s weather conditions into account. Following the on-scene investigation, the agencies will conduct further reviews. The preliminary report will be available in about one week, while the factual report, probable cause report and the brief report will be released in about 6 to 12 months. On-line documents say the plane is owned by Pro-Flite Incorporated, which is a flight school based out of the Millard North Airport in Omaha. More details will be released as they become available.

SCHUYLER– Four people were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash near Schuyler. Colfax County Attorney Denise Kracl says the accident happened just before 5 a.m. Sunday. Kracl says a vehicle driven by 20-year old Annamarie Speicher was northbound on County Road 6, when she failed to stop at the intersection with Highway 30, colliding with a west-bound tractor trailer driven by 41-year old Kevin Gewecke of Schuyler. Kracl says Speicher, along with a passenger, Preston Valish, had to be extricated from the vehicle. All four were transported to Columbus Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. The accident remains under investigation.

NORFOLK– A 19-year-old Norfolk man is in custody after he ran from police following a traffic accident in Norfolk Sunday afternoon. Police Captain Mike Bauer says Ryan Meis (mees) fled on foot from a crash in the 1600 block of Omaha Avenue. He was apprehended three blocks away where he was arrested for driving under suspension, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and minor in possession of Alcohol. He is currently being held in the Madison County jail.

WASHINGTON D.C.– A Northeast Nebraska family have taken their fight against pediatric brain cancer to Washington. 7-year-old Jack Hoffman of Atkinson and his family were in the nation’s capitol Monday for a visit with President Barack Obama. Along with the Hoffman’s was former Nebraska running back and new Cincinnati Bengal Rex Burkhead, who help develop “Team Jack” and the family’s campaign. During the visit, President Obama presented Jack with a football and talked with him about his amazing 69-yard touchdown run in Nebraska’s Spring Game. Last week, thanks to the work of Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, the U.S. Senate declared September 26th of this year as National Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day. Fischer also helped to line up Monday’s White House visit.

MONDAY April 29, 2013

MADISON, Neb. (AP) – A new father who shook and injured his 2-week-old daughter has been sentenced to the six months he has already served in jail. 22-year-old Justin Gore, of Norfolk, was sentenced Thursday to time served. He also was ordered to take anger management and parenting classes. The baby was taken to a hospital for vomiting and diarrhea in September. A doctor called police to report bruising and cranial bleeding consistent with an infant being shaken or struck. Gore told the detective he had been up for long hours and she shook the baby when she wouldn’t stop crying. A lawyer for Gore says there appears to be no lasting injuries to the girl from the shaking.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska parks will soon kick off a summer competitive nature hunt. Registration for the Nebraska’s Great Park Pursuit has opened. The challenge is to go as many as 20 different local, state or federal Nebraska parks to search for natural impressions. The O‘Neill Depot of the Cowboy Trail and the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area in Crofton. The pursuit goes from May 1 and September 16. Organizers say the event started to encourage healthy outdoor lifestyles and increases awareness of recreational opportunities. MORE INFO

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska’s largest power utility is seeking work by amateur photographers in communities it serves for use in its 2014 Public Power Calendar. The Nebraska Public Power District says the calendar will be published late this year. Photo submissions are being accepted through Aug. 1. Each submission should be built around the contest’s theme: “There is power in …”. All entries must be of outdoor scenes within the state of Nebraska and must not contain people. Both landscape and close-up shots are acceptable, but only horizontal pictures will be considered. The entry chosen for the front cover will receive a $25 GROW Nebraska gift card. MORE INFO

NORFOLK - A group of Norfolk students are helping to spruce up a local park and learning about modern art at the same time. Students at Norfolk Junior High are working with Omaha street artist Gerard Pefung to paint a mural on the restroom structure at neighboring Central Park. The students are coming up with their own designs and Pefung is helping them bring their visions to life. Pefung says the students are relishing the opportunity to make their mark on the community. The painting is part of an overall park improvement project put on by the Junior High and the Norfolk Arts Center. Arts Center Events Coordinator Melinda Kozel says the plan calls for renovations to the park’s stage, as well as the construction of a butterfly garden and a reading nook. Kozel says area residents are appreciating the effort.
Kozel says most of the improvements should be done by the fall. She adds she hopes to organize similar murals on various landmarks around Norfolk.

FRIDAY April 26, 2013

NORFOLK (KTIV) - There is a glimmer of good news for the more than 20 workers at the Classen Manufacturing plant in Norfolk. Classen’s parent company, Schiller, announced it was closing the lawn care equipment plant on Tuesday, putting 27 workers out of a job. But, Norfolk chamber officials say their Rapid Response Team met Thursday and put together a plan to help place those employees in other positions in town. They’ll hold meetings for employees and prospective employers next week, and Chamber President and CEO Dennis Houston says he thinks they’ll be able to find them jobs. The “Meet & Greet” for Classen employees is Wednesday afternoon starting with a learning session at 1 p.m. and the meet & greet with employers at 3 p.m. For more information you can call the Norfolk Chamber.

PIERCE – A Creighton woman will stand trial in June on charges that she stole money from the City of Plainview. Forty-four year old Carolyn Conner pleaded not guilty Thursday in Pierce County District Court to felony theft charges. Conner is accused of stealing over $1500 while working for the City of Plainview. Court documents show that an audit performed of Plainview’s finances showed discrepancies in the city’s transfer station and utility accounts, while Conner worked for the city. Conner was arrested in December following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol.

NORFOLK – With the weather finally feeling like Spring, many are starting to turn their attentions to yard work. And for many in northeast Nebraska, that means trying to bring their lawns back to life after a summer of drought. UNL Extension Educator for northeast Nebraska Tim Lemmons says most lawns will probably need to be re-seeded. Lemmons says that needs to be done as early in the season as possible. Lemmons says homeowners need to be careful not to over-water their lawns this summer to try and compensate for the dry weather. Lemmons says even with the recent precipitation, most of Nebraska still find itself in extreme or exceptional drought, and that residents should be preparing for another dry summer.

WASHINGTON, DC - The Team Jack movement against pediatric brain cancer is getting a big push from the U.S. Senate. The Senate Thursday unanimously approved a resolution designating Sep. 26th as National Pediatric Brain Cancer Awareness Day. The bill was co-sponsored by Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer, who said in emotional testimony Thursday that the bill was inspired by the fundraising efforts of Team Jack and 7-year old Jack Hoffman of Atkinson, who recently gained national media attention thanks to his 69-yard touchdown run in the Nebraska Spring Game. Jack’s parents Andy and Brianna said in a statement Thursday that they hope the resolution will help to raise awareness, encourage early diagnosis and expand treatment options for pediatric brain cancer.

THURSDAY April 25, 2013

LINCOLN – Columbus Community Hospital will not have to pay damages to a woman that slipped and fell during physical therapy. The Nebraska Supreme Court affirmed a Platte County District Court decision Friday, exonerating the hospital from financial responsibility in the case of Jeanette Churchill. Churchill sued the hospital in 2011, after injuring herself in a fall at Premiere Physical Therapy, a off-site rehab facility owned by Columbus Community Hospital, in November of 2007. But the suit was thrown out by Dist. Court Judge Robert Steinke, who said the suit was subject to a two-year statute of limitations. The Supreme Court agreed in their ruling Friday.

BATTLE CREEK – Home owners in Battle Creek will be getting their properties inspected this summer. Madison County Assessor Jeff Hackerott says contractors will be performing exterior inspections of all Battle Creek properties starting the first week of May. The inspections are part of a state statute that requires counties to perform assessments of their properties annually. Newman Grove homes were inspected last summer. Hackerott says some homes in Battle Creek may also receive interior inspections as well. Hackerott says the county will be working on a contractor from Lincoln to get the inspections done.

WEDNESDAY April 24, 2013

NORFOLK – Dozens of northeast Nebraskans suddenly find themselves out of work after a Norfolk turf and lawn care manufacturer closed Tuesday afternoon. Employees at Classen Manufacturing on Logan St. were told Tuesday afternoon that they were to gather their belongings and vacate the premises because the plant was closing immediately. That’s according to former employee Travis Schwartzer of Norfolk, who says he’s still in shock. Schwartzer says he and his fiancee have a 16-month old baby, and he’s not sure where his family will turn next. He adds that no one seemed to know exactly why the plant was being shut down. Classen is owned by Schiller Grounds Care based out of Pennsylvania. Schiller officials released a state which we’ve transcribed below. Schwartzer, who says he holds no ill will towards the local management at Classen, says workers were told to return to the Logan St. location Wednesday afternoon to clear out their equipment and receive their severance pay.

***SCHILLER STATEMENT ON CLASSEN PLANT CLOSING***

Schiller Grounds Care announced today, it is consolidating its manufacturing operations. Effective immediately, production at its Norfolk, Nebraska facility is being consolidated into two of Schiller’s existing operations, Johnson Creek, WI and Southampton, PA. The Norfolk facility has been leased since the Classen brand was acquired in 2004. Approximately 27 full time employees are impacted with several individuals being offered positions to relocate. The decision to consolidate is in no way a reflection on the work of the Classen employees do, nor the talent and pride with which they do it. This consolidation will help ensure Schiller’s costs are structured in a way that will keep it strong, efficient and competitive both in today’s economic environment and into the future.

NELIGH – The trial of a Nebraska man accused of injuring a state trooper with his tractor is being pushed back to the summer. Antelope County District Court Judge James Kube granted a motion by 39-year old Aaron White to continue his trial Wednesday morning. The motion was filed because White has retained a new attorney, who said in court that he needs more time to look over the case. White was shot by state patrol troopers near Brunswick in December, after using his tractor to damage outbuildings and vehicles before ramming a state patrol car, injuring the trooper inside. White’s new trial date has been set for August 12th.

NORFOLK - Officials with the Nebraska Department of Roads say area residents have just under one month to give their opinion on a number of roads projects slated to begin next year. The projects dealt with concrete replacement and asphalt overlays on roads in and around Madison, Tilden and Battle Creek. One project would focus on the resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation of highway 32 from the highway 45 junction north of Newman Grove east through Madison to the junction of highway 81. A second project would place new asphalt on highway 45 from the highway 32 junction north into Tilden. A third project would resurface highway 121 from north of Battle Creek to the highway 275 junction. All projects are planned for the same construction season and could begin as early as spring of 2014 and conclude by the fall of the same year. Information regarding the proposed projects can be found on the department of roads website. The public is encouraged to express their concerns and make suggestions before May 20th. Go to the projects page HERE.

NORFOLK – For the sixth time in three years, authorities in Madison County are giving residents a chance to dispose of their expired or unwanted prescription drugs. The free and anonymous drug take-back will be provided later this week in Norfolk. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to drugs. Recent reports also show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from the medicine cabinet of family and friends. And, Americans are now advised that the usual method of flushing them down to the toilet or washing them down the sink can pose potential safety and health hazards. These are just some of the reasons why the Madison County Sheriff and the Drug Enforcement Administration is holding the drug take-back this Saturday. The event will be held from 10am to 2pm at Lloyds Drug Mart on west Norfolk Avenue. Authorities say no questions will be asked of anyone participating.

NORFOLK – When the City of Norfolk was looking for ideas to replace the deteriorating Elkhorn Cabin at Ta-Ha-Zouka park, they needed not look any further than their parks director for the ideal solution. Pat Mrsny’s aunt and uncle lived in the house that has recently been converted into the new Lodge and his grandparents lived right next door. A year ago, Mrsny’s aunt approached the city about selling her home that sits near the old cabin that was literally rotting at it’s foundation and needed replacing. Mrsny says it was like getting three or four birds with one stone. After the purchase of the lot last summer, the real work began to convert the house into facility that could be used to seat 90 people comfortably The work was finally complete earlier this month, and Mrsny says the new Elkhorn Cabin is ready for use The lodge sits at 1008 McKinley Avenue in an isolated area of Ta-Ha-Zouka Park. A privacy fence has been installed and a concrete pad was poured that can hold up to 150 people. The rental fee is $200 per day. Those interested can contact the city of Norfolk at 844-2014.

TUESDAY April 23, 2013

NORFOLK– The promise of more spring-like weather later this week only comes after yet another April winter blast.
Northeast Nebraska was struck with yet another late April snowstorm Monday after storms during the pervious two weeks also restricted travel and activities. While the Norfolk area saw just a couple inches of the heavy, wet snow, many areas to the north saw higher totals of 5 inches or more. Visibility in many areas were at or near zero for a few hours Monday, however no severe accidents were reported this morning. Today, the Nebraska State Patrol is reporting highways are slick and icy in spots along with some drifting to the north. Motorists are urged to use caution. The precipitation that was slush and snow yesterday is ice this morning.

MONDAY April 22, 2013

NORFOLK – Work on Highway 275 east of Norfolk will be affecting traffic this week. Officials with the Nebraska Department of Roads say workers will be closing a westbound traffic lane on Highway 275 near the Highway 35 intersection beginning Monday. Roads officials say westbound traffic will be merged into the passing lane to allow contractors to pave the intersection.

NORFOLK – Winter-like temperatures didn’t stop a group of Norfolk residents from getting outside and cleaning up their community Saturday. Dozens of volunteers gathered in downtown Norfolk Saturday for the fourth annual North Fork River Clean-up. Volunteers picked up garbage, spruced up trees and shrubs and even did some landscaping projects along the banks of where the Elkhorn River runs through downtown. Darrel Novacek is the chair of the Riverfront Development Group. He says the community is starting to rally around keeping the riverfront clean with the hopes of someday developing it for future residents. The event is put on every year by the Norfolk Chamber’s Green Council. Organizers say they’ve gotten a big boost from the participation of city officials, as well as by Nebraska Public Power, who donates equipment annually.

THURSDAY April 18, 2013

MEADOW GROVE – Nebraska State Patrol officials closed down a stretch of Highway 275 in western Madison County for about two hours responding to a multiple vehicle accident. The accident happened about a half-mile east of Meadow Grove. A cause of the accident is unknown at this time…but there were numerous people transported to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk with injuries. Rescue crews from Norfolk, Tilden and Meadow Grove helped respond at the scene.

UNDATED – Law enforcement officials responded to numerous accidents throughout northeast Nebraska Thursday afternoon. Reports of accidents near Madison, Columbus, Pilger, Laurel and Shelby caused traffic diversions and closures. Meanwhile, the weather made the morning commute in and around Norfolk difficult. There were reports of accidents in the roundabout at 25th Street and Benjamin Avenue as well as at the corner of 1st Street and Madison Avenue. City roads crews meanwhile had to help about ten cars that were having trouble navigating the hill on 37th Street near Benjamin.

STANTON – A former school bus driver for the Logan View school district faces up to a year in prison after being found guilty of third degree sexual assault this week. Sixty-five year old Steven Sprick, of Hooper, was found guilty by County Court Judge Mike Long in a Stanton County Court bench trial this week. Sprick was arrested last fall, accused of inappropriately touching a female Logan View student who was attending an FFA event in rural Stanton County. Stanton County authorities say Sprick will have to register as a sex offender when he’s sentenced in June.

NORFOLK – Patrons of Norfolk’s 5th Street Tavern can support a good cause Thursday evening. Organizers have set a Sock for Soldiers event, where guests can bring in items to be donated to the 3-4 Kilo Company 4th Platoon Unit currently stationed in Afghanistan. Event organizer Jim Scott says he got the idea for the event after a conversation he had with a mother whose son is currently serving with the Kilo Company 4th. Starting at 6 p.m., patrons can bring their donations to the 5th Street Tavern. Scott says the soldiers’ number one need right now is boot socks. Other than that, donations of powdered drink mix, sunflower seeds and canned food are also items that would be accepted.

BATTLE CREEK - Today is being recognized as National Linemen Appreciation Day by the U.S. Senate. We’re not talking about football players, this recognition deals with electrical linemen. The Senate passed a resolution on April 10th honoring power district line workers for their efforts in keeping power flowing. Among those marking the special day is Elkhorn Rural Power, headquartered in Battle Creek. Company officials say the distr ict has 30 employees who work in the field restoring power during outages and maintaining distribution lines an equipment. Across the nation, more than 19,000 men and women maintain 2.5 million miles of line for public utility districts.

WISNER – An event planned for Friday will raise funds for the Wisner-Pilger Teammates program. The Teammates One Hour Walk will be held Friday evening at Wisner-Pilger High School. Chapter coordinator Peggy Liermann says participants will walk around the high school track as well as the school nature trail for one hour starting at 6 p.m. Liermann says the one hour spent walking in symbolic to the Teammates program. Registration for adults costs $10, while students walk for free. The proceeds raised will go the Teammates scholarship fund.

NORFOLK - Many organizations are beginning to hold Relay for Life fundraisers, and one coming up in Norfolk this weekend sheds light on how cancer can effect man…as well as man’s best friend. The fourth annual Bark for Life will be held at the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex in Norfolk on Saturday. Organizers say the event will feature 1K and 2K dog walks as well as educational speakers. Ashley Gibbons with the Northeast Community College veterinary program says the Bark for Life serves to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. Organizers say participants must have current rabies vaccination proof with them on Saturday, and should keep their dogs leashed. Participants can pre-register by picking up forms at most vet clinics in Norfolk or by e-mailing doris@northeast.edu. There will also be registration on Saturday starting at 9 a.m.

WEDNESDAY April 17, 2013

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - A 42-year-old Creston woman has denied allegations that she harshly disciplined her children. Janelle Gertsch is scheduled to begin trial on June 18. She’s pleaded not guilty to five counts of felony child abuse that officials say occurred over three months last fall. Gertsch and her live-in boyfriend, 44-year-old Larry Einspahr Jr., were accused of abusing her 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Officials described the abuse as excessive discipline. Einspahr already has pleaded no contest to two counts of physically abusing the two children. His sentencing is scheduled for May 3.

NORFOLK – The Roberts Dairy name is going away, but company officials say the product isn’t going anywhere. Hiland Dairy announced recently that all Roberts Dairy brand products will begin being marketed under the Hiland name. Company officials said in a statement that the move is being made for the sake of consistency along the Hiland and Roberts line. The move won’t affect and staff or plant operations. In fact, Roberts plant general manager Brian Breci says operations in Nebraska have been nothing but positive of late. Breci says company signs will be changed soon, while the Roberts Dairy label is expected to be gone from store shelves by mid-May. Roberts Dairy was originally founded in 1906. The company was purchased by Hiland in 1981.

NORFOLK – Officials with Green Fiber Insulation in Norfolk are teaming up with the Norfolk Area Chamber for the annual North Fork Riverfront Clean-Up this weekend. Organizers are getting volunteers together to walk the banks of the North Fork of the Elkhorn River and clean up the garbage and debris that’s gathered up over the past year. This is the fourth year that the clean-up event will take place on the weekend before Earth Day, and organizers say most of the clean-up is centered where the Elkhorn winds through downtown. Despite this being the fourth year of the clean-up, Christian Ohl with the Norfolk Chamber says there is still plenty of cleaning to be done each time. Anyone who would like to volunteer can do so between 9 a.m. and 12-noon on Saturday at the corner of 1st and Braasch in Norfolk. Event organizers say volunteers should bring gloves with them…and wear clothes that they won’t mind getting dirty.

TUESDAY April 16, 2013

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man who walked through Norfolk on his trek across America a few years ago was among the volunteer workers near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday. B.J. Hill is an EMT and says he was in the family meeting area about two blocks away from the finish line. Hill says, since he was a distance away and also heard trucks and machinery, the explosions didn’t sound like what you’ve seen in some of the finish line videos. He says it was very metallic, hollow and resembled a dumpster lid being slammed shut. Hill says it wasn’t until about five minutes later that he and other workers realized what had happened. He says since all cell phone service had been shut down, they depended on ham radio operators to catch the latest reports. Hill’s trek through Norfolk took place about five years ago.

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk is ending its sewer service agreement with the SID #1 in Woodland Park. After an hour in executive session Monday night, City Councilman Dale Coy announced the city’s intentions. At issue is a $200,000 sewer bill that the City says the SID owes them, after faulty meters led SID users to pay Norfolk only one-third of what they should have been paying over a four-year period. Coy says city and SID officials met last Thursday to try and come up with a solution. But one couldn’t be found, and Coy says that forced the city’s hand. The City Council voted unanimously to disconnect from SID #1 and also to not take the district to court over the amount owed. The sewer service agreement with Norfolk and Woodland Park dates back to 1986.

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk is attempting to shut down a local motel that officials say is in violation of city code. City officials revealed Monday that a cease and desist letter has been sent to the owners of the Budget Inn on Norfolk Avenue. City prevention manager Trent Howard says city officials believe that the motel has been operated recently as an apartment complex, in violation of the city’s zoning rules. Adjacent property owners spoke at Monday’s meeting about motel staff leaving garbage on adjacent properties and being generally unpleasant to those around them. The Budget Inn’s owner has appealed the cease and desist notice. The Norfolk City Council also voted Monday 6-2 to deny the Budget Inn’s request for a zoning change on their property from a commercial/residential combination to strictly commercial.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man is in jail after leading police on a chase through downtown Norfolk early Tuesday. Police Captain Mike Bauer says 39-year old Bradley Borgmeyer was arrested on numerous charges Tuesday. Police say they attempted to stop a speeding car on W. Michigan Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Bauer says the car sped off before the officer could pull them over, running four stop signs and eventually crashing into a tree in front of a house on South 2nd Street. An injured passenger in the vehicle identified Borgmeyer as the driver to police. The passenger was treated at Faith Regional Health Services. Police found Borgmeyer at a neighboring house, and say he had fresh cuts and smelled of alcohol. Borgmeyer refused field sobriety and chemical tests and was arrested on numerous charges, including leaving the scene of an injury accident and driving under the influence.

PILGER - A two vehicle crash northeast of Pilger Monday evening sent two people to the hospital to be treated for non life threatening injuries. Stanton county authorities say around 8:30 last night, a westbound van collided nearly head-on with eastbound car at the intersection of highway 275 and highway 15 north. The car was attempting to turn north at the time of the crash. The driver of the van, 67-year-old Judy West of Stanton and her passenger, 72-year-old Leonard West were taken to Faith Regional Health Services with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car, 18-year-old Deondre White of Wayne declined treatment at the scene. Officials say seat belts were in use. The crash closed the intersection for about an hour while the scene was investigated and cleared.

NORFOLK – The dates for the second year of the Norfolk Rotary Club’s Music in the Park have been set. The Norfolk City Council Monday approved the Rotary Club’s use of the park for four concerts this summer as part of their consent agenda. The agreement lists four dates for the concerts: June 20, July 4, July 18 and August 15.

MONDAY April 15, 2013

BOSTON (AP) – Boston police say there’s been a third explosion in the city, following two blasts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon that killed two people and injured many others. Police Commissioner Edward Davis says authorities aren’t certain that the explosion at the JFK Library was related to the other blasts, but they’re treating them as if they are. David says there are no injuries stemming from the third explosion. He urged people to stay indoors and not congregate in large groups.

BOSTON (AP) – Boston police say two people were killed and more than 20 others were hurt when a pair of bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The blasts shattered the end of the race today, sending authorities out on the course to carry away the injured while stragglers in the 26.2-mile race were rerouted away from the smoking site. One runner says he saw at least two dozen people with very serious injuries, including missing limbs. Competitors and race volunteers were in tears as they fled the chaos, and as bloody spectators were carried into the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man is in jail after police say he hit numerous parked cars with his vehicle. Police Captain Mike Bauer says 33-year old Juan Carlos Romero Rivera was arrested Saturday night. Bauer says police were dispatched to an accident just before 9 p.m. Saturday. The driver of the vehicle had struck 4 parked cars with his truck, then fled the scene on foot. A passenger in the vehicle identified Rivera to police. Bauer says Rivera returned to his residence at about 1:15 a.m. Sunday and was arrested for reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and no driver’s license. He’s currently housed in the Madison County Jail.

NORFOLK – According to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Norfolk Veterans Home is perfect. DHHS officials announced Monday that the Vets Home received a perfect score for the second straight year on their annual health care system survey. DHHS officials say a team made up of RN’s, dieticians and safety code experts conducted the survey, and found no deficiencies at the Norfolk Veteran’s Home. The Norfolk facility is one of three veterans homes statewide run by the DHHS.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk company is being recognized nationally as the small business of the year. The U.S. Small Business Association announced this week that Petersen Ag Systems has been honored with the 2013 Nebraska Small Business of the Year. SBA officials say Petersen was chosen based on its growth in employees and increase in sales during tough economic times. Petersen company officials will take part in National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C. in June, and compete for the national small business award.

THURSDAY April 11, 2013

LINCOLN – Court documents filed in Lancaster County District Court last week reveal the company that the City of Norfolk owes over a half-a-million dollars in sales tax refunds…Tyson. Tyson Fresh Meats filed a petition in Lancaster County on April 5th against state tax commissioner Doug Ewald, seeking interest in addition to the refund of their overpayment of sales taxes to Norfolk between 1999 and 2005. Norfolk city officials were informed earlier this year that the company was owed over $544,000 in sales taxes that they overpaid. At the time, the company’s identity was being kept private, but Tyson’s filing last week makes the information public. Court documents reveal Tyson received the $544,000 they were owed on March 8th. The documents do not list the amount of interest the company is seeking. Tyson closed its Norfolk plant in 2006.

NORFOLK – For the second day in a row, winter weather is causing schools and businesses to start late and is causing motorists to see more hazardous driving conditions. All winter storm warnings and advisories have been cancelled. Once again, crews with the Nebraska Department of Roads and the City of Norfolk are working overtime to assure the roadways are ready for travelers. The Nebraska State Patrol says roadways are snow and ice packed once again this morning and extreme caution should be used once again. Light snow and rain is possible today, with an expected high of 38 degrees.

NORFOLK – Nebraska officials are trying to reverse an uptick in the amount of binge drinking in the state. April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and a report recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the rate for binge drinking in Nebraska is higher than the national average, particularly among women. Scot Adams is the behavioral health director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Adams says his office has made reversing the trend of binge drinking one of its top priorities. Adams says binge drinking is officially defined as having five or more drinks in one sitting. He says the DHHS is trying to focus on tying in a reduction in the number of binge drinkers with an overall health and wellness push at the state level.

TUESDAY April 9, 2013

STANTON – A Norfolk man has been arrested and others are possible as part of an ongoing stolen property investigation in Madison County. Authorities say 22-year-old Michael Ronnfeldt was arrested on theft related charges following the service of a search warrant in Woodland Park Monday. Sheriff’s departments from both Stanton and Madison counties have been working together on the investigation which led to property stolen from a rural business in Madison County. Ronnfelt is being held in the Madison County Jail pending a bond hearing. Officials say more arrests are possible.

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Public Schools Board of Education approved a number of personnel changes within the district at their monthly meeting last night. In all, there were five new additions to the staff and a total of 19 faculty and staff members who have submitted either their retirement or resignation. Board President Brad Krivohlavek especially thanked those who are retiring for their years of service to the district. Among the new hires of Norfolk Public Schools was Beth Nelson, who has been selected as the new Director of Teaching and Learning. Mrs Nelson is currently the secondary principal, Director of Curriculum and team leader for school improvement at Newman Grove Public Schools. She will take over for Bob Hastings who will be leaving at the end of the school year to become the Superintendent at Gering Public Schools .

NORFOLK – Also last night, the NPS School board voted in favor of a bond measure resolution to continue an agreement with Crofton, Hartington and Wayne Schools. The interlocal cooperative will issue 100-thousand dollars in bonds to finance hardware and software technologies. School officials say the change in the levy will amount to a half-cent.

HOSKINS – Two northeast Nebraska schools are getting a new piece of technology thanks to a recent contest. Store managers from HyVee East and West presented new SmartBoards to Battle Creek Elementary School and Trinity Lutheran School in Hoskins Tuesday morning. The schools were the winners of HyVee’s annual Smart Points promotion, that allows shoppers to buy Proctor and Gamble products and allocate points to the schools of their choice. HyVee East general manager Tim Bruzek says this is the third straight year that Trinity Lutheran has won a SmartBoard, while Battle Creek Elementary won for the first time. Bruzek says the opportunity for smaller schools to get technology they may not be able to afford otherwise gets the students involved. Store officials also presented I-pads to the students for each school who raised the most points individually.

NORFOLK – An iconic American comedian will be in Norfolk this summer to receive the Johnny Carson Comedy Legend Award as part of the Viaero Great American Comedy Festival. Festival leaders say Steven Wright will receive the award during the Festival Gala on Saturday June 15th. Wright is known for his distinctly lethargic, offbeat and slow comedic delivery and often offers ironic one-liners as part of his performance. Wright’s comedy career began in 1979 and by 1982 he had captured the eye of Tonight Show producers. He impressed Tonight Show host Johnny Carson so much that Wright was brought back on the show a week later. Tickets to for this summer’s festival, which also features headliner Drew Carey are on sale now at greatamericancomedyfestival.com or at Insurance Associates in Norfolk.

MONDAY April 8, 2013

NORFOLK -All city government flags in Norfolk will be flown at half-staff from dawn til dusk on Monday in honor of former Mayor Harley Rector. Rector died last Tuesday at the age of 84. He served as Norfolk’s Mayor from 1992 to 2000 and was also a past Principal at Norfolk Jr High. Private businesses and citizens in Norfolk are also encouraged to participate in the flag lowering on Monday. Services for Rector will be held at 10:30 Monday morning at First United Methodist Church in Norfolk.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The Vatican says the Archdiocese of Omaha will handle the investigation of a former Norfolk priest accused of sexual abuse in the 1970s. Archbishop George Lucas, along with two attorneys from outside the archdiocese, will decide what happens to Rev. Franklin Dvorak. Deacon Timothy McNeil, chancellor of the archdiocese, says Lucas could render a decision by this summer. Dvorak was accused last year of sexually abusing a female student from 1970 to 1972 when he was stationed at Sacred Heart Parish in Norfolk. He is on administrative leave as pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Omaha. The 69-year-old Dvorak was not formally charged because of the statute of limitations, but could face penalty within the church. He denies the allegation.

WOODLAND PARK – A Tilden man is in the hospital following a one vehicle accident early Monday. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the accident happened about a mile north of Woodland Park on Highway 35 around 5:20 a.m. Unger says a car driven by 50-year old Perry Clause was traveling north at a high rate of speed, when his vehicle left the roadway, striking an above-ground pool and a brick embankment. Rescue workers found Clause outside of his vehicle and transported him to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk with unspecified injuries. There’s been no update on his condition.

STANTON - A crash Saturday afternoon sends three Stanton residents to the hospital, including a 12-year old child. Authorities say 29-year old Christopher Matthies, was driving his SUV north of Stanton on 566th Avenue where he lost control on the county road, and rolled several times. Matthies suffered critical head injuries after being partially ejected from the vehicle, and was flown to Sioux City’s Mercy Medical Center. Two passengers, 38-year-old Jason Sothan and his 12-year old son, Justin, were taken to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Authorities believe the child was also ejected. They say seat belts were not in use and the SUV is a total loss. No further information about the condition of the victims are available at this time.

STANTON – No injuries are reported from a pick-up fire east of Norfolk Friday night that closed a portion of highway 275 for a short time. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says fire crews and law enforcement were called to an area of highway 275 six miles east of Norfolk around 8pm where they found a pick-up fully engulfed in flames. The blaze had also started the grass on fire along the highway around. The occupants were able to escape and Unger says no injuries were reported. A portion of highway 275 was closed for about 45 minutes while crews battled the blaze and cleared the scene.

NORFOLK – A new magazine launching Monday is designed to tout the credentials of northeast Nebraska in an effort to bring more people to the area. Norfolk Now magazine, a bi-annual magazine co-published by the Norfolk Chamber, Norfolk Visitors Bureau and Norfolk Economic Development, hits stands for the first time Monday. Norfolk Economic Director Courtney Klein says the three entities decided to collaborate on the project in an effort to help accomplish a common goal. The magazine features articles about various attractions in and around Norfolk, as well as articles geared towards local businesses and potential job-seekers.

MADISON – Northeast Nebraska’s 7th Judicial District officially has a new county court judge. Recently appointed Judge Mike Long was sworn in at a ceremony in Madison on Friday. Long most recently served as deputy county attorney for Madison County. He says leaving the world of prosecution will be difficult, but adds that he’s looking forward to the opportunity to look at cases from a different perspective. Long was selected in March by Gov. Dave Heineman to replace retiring Judge Richard Krepela. The 7th Judicial District covers Antelope, Cuming, Knox, Madison, Pierce, Stanton and Wayne counties.

NORFOLK – Northeast Nebraska youngsters got some tips on health and safety while playing games at an event in Norfolk on Saturday. Nursing students at Northeast Community College put on a student health fair, where area kids could play games set up by numerous area vendors that taught them various health, hygiene and safety tips. Event co-organizer Katie Buckels says the nursing students wanted to put on the event to get kids on track early in their lives for healthy and safe lifestyles. The event was funded in part thanks to a grant from the Norfolk Philanthropy Council.

LINCOLN – On a weekend in sports that featured the NCAA Final Four and the first full weekend of the Major League Baseball season, it was one play in the Nebraska Spring Game that ended up getting all the attention. Seven-year old Jack Hoffman, of the Team Jack pediatric brain cancer awareness campaign, scored a 69-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Spring Game. Jack’s father, Andy, says the Nebraska coaching staff came up with the idea of having Jack score a touchdown for the team that has supported his struggle with the disease. Andy Hoffman says the national media attention that Jack has received since Saturday has been nice, but he says he’s more excited to see the discussion of pediatric brain cancer take center stage. Jack’s relationship with the Huskers began when former running back Rex Burkhead struck up a friendship with the Atkinson family, and himself became a champion for the Team Jack movement.

FRIDAY April 5, 2013

LENAXA, Kan. – Tyson Foods will be paying almost $4 million in fines for federal environmental violations at 23 plants, including two in northeast Nebraska. Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency say Tyson has agreed to pay a $3.95 million civil penalty stemming from eight different incidents of accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia at various Tyson facilities between 2006 and 2010. EPA officials an investigation found the company found multiple violations at 23 plants, including the Tyson facilities in Madison and Dakota City. The Madison plant had its own anhydrous ammonia leak last May that hospitalized dozens of workers, but that incident isn’t part of this settlement. Tyson has also agreed to perform a third-party audit of their ammonia refrigeration systems to get them in compliance with federal regulations.

NORFOLK – Funeral arrangements are set for a former Norfolk mayor. Officials with the Home for Funerals in Norfolk say services for former mayor Harley Rector will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. Rector passed away at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk on Tuesday at the age of 84. He served two terms as Norfolk’s mayor from 1992-2000. Current mayor Sue Fuchtman says that all city government flags will be flown at half-staff from dawn to dusk on Monday in honor of Mayor Rector. Fuchtman says she is encouraging private businesses and citizens to participate as well.

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Area Chamber opened their 2013 annual banquet last night by announcing that they are a candidate for National Chamber of the Year for the 2nd time. Norfolk was the runner up in 2011. Chamber President Dennis Houston says the nomination is very humbling. The Chamber also handed out a number of awards of recognition during last night’s event. The highest honor , the Norfolk Oscar, was awarded to former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood for his many years of service. Other awards included the Ambassador Award, which was presented to Mary Beth Renter of A-S-Q and the Gerald L Arkfled award was presented to new Ambassador Tiffany Pokorny. The Chairman’s award, which is given to an outstanding Chamber partner, was awarded to Don Wisnieski of Wisnieski Corporation.

NORFOLK – He’s a legend when it comes to Notre Dame football, and his fight through adversity and obstacles inspired the 1993 film “Rudy”. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger was the special guest speaker in Norfolk, Nebraska last night for the Norfolk Area Chamber’s annual banquet. Rudy has moved away from South Bend, Indiana since his school and football days at Notre Dame and now lives in Las Vegas. He’ll be the first to tell you that the movie is not about Notre Dame football and it’s not about being of the Catholic faith, it’s about never quitting on yourself or giving up on your dreams. Ruettiger says you have to fail to succeed and when you have confidence, you become inspired. Rudy will be spending more time in Norfolk today. He will give a presentation at all three Norfolk high schools, speaking to more than 1,600 students.

THURSDAY April 4, 2013

SOUTH SIOUX CITY (KTIV) - There are a lot of services available for veterans, but you may be unclear about where to turn. The Department of Veterans Affairs is holding outreach events Friday and Saturday to help explain those services to veterans of all ages. Veterans who are not currently enrolled for VA benefits are encouraged to bring their DD Form 214 to the open house. While the event is in South Sioux City veterans from anywhere in northeast Nebraska are encouraged to attend. It’s being held at American Legion/VFW Post 307. That’s located at 109 E. 19th Street in South Sioux City. The open house is Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

MADISON – The second of three open houses regarding a proposed rural water district will be held Thursday. Officials with the Lower Elkhorn NRD are putting on the open house at the Madison City Auditorium. The open house will feature presentations from LENRD staff, the JEO Consulting Group and USDA Rural Development, as well as information on how residents can become a part of the initial study of the project. The proposed water district would serve potentially 1100 households in Madison, Stanton and Platte counties. The first open house brought dozens of residents to the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk on Tuesday. Thursday’s open house in Madison starts at 7 p.m.

NORFOLK – The annual Norfolk Area Chamber Banquet will be bringing a well-known sports figure to Norfolk Thursday. Daniel Ruettiger, better known as “Rudy”, will be the keynote speaker for the banquet. Ruettiger’s playing days at Notre Dame were the inspiration for the 1993 film “Rudy.” Chamber President Dennis Houston says the idea to feature Ruettiger as the keynote began with a drawn connection to Rudy’s story. Ruettiger is also speaking with students from all three Norfolk schools Thursday. Thursday’s Chamber Banquet begins at the Devent Center with social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7.

WEDNESDAY April 3, 2013

NORFOLK – A Norfolk woman is in jail after police say she falsely reported her child as having been abducted. Norfolk Police Captain Mike Bauer says 22-year old Johna Richards was arrested Tuesday evening. Bauer says police were called to 105 W. Phillip Avenue around 10:45 pm Tuesday, on a report that a 10-month old baby had been abducted. Richards told police that she had checked on her sleeping baby about 30-45 minutes before police arrived, and that when she returned a few moments later, she noticed her back door was open and her baby was missing. Police found the 10-month old a few minutes later, directly south of the residence, on the ground, strapped into a car seat and covered with a blanket. Bauer says police determined that Richards had intentionally left the child outside for about 15 minutes before calling police and that no abduction happened. Richards faces false reporting and child abuse charges and is currently housed in the Madison County Jail.

NORFOLK – Funeral services are pending for a former Norfolk mayor. Former mayor Harley Rector died Tuesday evening. Rector served as Norfolk’s mayor from 1992 to 2000, and was previously the principal of Norfolk Junior High. He was 84. Rector’s funeral services are being handled by Home for Funerals in Norfolk.

***STATEMENT FROM NORFOLK MAYOR SUE FUCHTMAN ON THE PASSING OF HARLEY RECTOR***

“I was so very sorry to hear about the death of former mayor Harley rector. He served as an extraordinary mayor of Norfolk with an admirable and caring character. On behalf of our city staff elected officials and all the citizens he willingly served, our thoughts and prayers to Harley’s family and to the city that survives him, the place he has called his home – All his life.”

MADISON – The felony assault trial of a Madison man accused of a shooting outside a Norfolk nightclub last year has been delayed. Twenty-eight year old Jordan Beehn waived his right to a speedy trial in Madison County District Court Tuesday. Beehn is accused of shooting Jorge Zepeda-Flores in the face during an altercation in Norfolk in November. Madison County Prosecutor Joe Smith says the shooting left Zepeda-Flores paralyzed and with difficulty communicating verbally. Beehn was scheduled to go on trial next week, but his trial has now been delayed to June 17th. The case will be among the first handled by recently appointed District Court Judge Mark Johnson.

NORFOLK – As the 2013 golf season begins, a group of homeowners are being asked to take a personal stake in the long-term future of a Norfolk golf course. Homeowners near Eldorado Hills Golf Club met both Monday and Tuesday, to discuss possibly taking over owner of the course. Kevin Hill is an area resident who helped organize the meetings. Hill says the current owners of Eldorado Hills want to auction the course off, but he would rather see area residents take control instead. Hall says he and others have used this week’s meetings to gauge interest in Eldorado becoming a homeowner-run private course. He says he’s worried that outside ownership could remove the course and adversely affect property values in the area. Hall says the group has set a goal of raising $1 million, and if there is sufficient interest, could be ready to make a purchase offer this fall.

NORFOLK – A fundraiser in Norfolk tonight will pit some hometown “celebrities” against a few seniors of the Husker football team, in a game of basketball. The Norfolk Noon Optimists are hosting the Husker Seniors vs. the Hometown Heroes basketball game on Wednesday. Ten seniors from the 2012 football team will be playing basketball against a team made up of various local first-responders, veterans and school officials. Seniors Cameron Meredith and Tim Marlowe will be among the Huskers participating. Event organizer Mark Claussen says all of the football players will be sticking around afterwards for autographs. Proceeds from the event will go to help support the Norfolk Noon Optimists and their various annual events. The Huskers vs. Heroes game starts at 7 p.m. at Norfolk Senior High. Tickets are $5 each.

LINCOLN - Northeast Nebraska high school teams that designed their own electric cars will compete this spring for scholarships. The student-built vehicles will compete in endurance, braking, maneuverability and overall design. The annual Power Drive competition begins this weekend with the Big Red Invitational on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. Three other events will be held including one at the Cuming County Fairgrounds in West on April 27th. The championships will be held May 4th in La Vista. More than 50 schools are expected to participate, including Bancroft-Rosalie, Clearwater-Orchard, Columbus Lakeview, Elkhorn Valley, Howells-Dodge, Stanton, Wayne, West Point-Beemer and Winside.

TUESDAY April 2, 2013

COLUMBUS - First District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry says he is not sure which way President Obama will decide when it comes to the Keystone XL pipeline. While talking with Chamber leaders in Columbus Monday, Fortenberry said Obama is still personally struggling with the answer and has not tipped his hand one way or the other. Fortenberry, on the other hand, knows which way HE would choose. He says given that the environmental concerns have been addressed, it is in the best interest of the U.S. that the President approve the pipeline. The oil industry and labor unions are encouraging Obama to support and approve the project, however environmental groups are opposed to the pipeline.

NORFOLK – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska says she’s getting acclimated to life in Washington. The first-year senator was in Norfolk Monday for an open house with the Chamber of Commerce. Fischer says she’s starting to get comfortable after her first few months on the job in the nation’s capital, but adds that she’s disappointed in the pace of the U.S. Senate. Fischer says the number one concern she’s heard from Nebraskans is the amount of spending in Washington, particularly in the budget recently passed in the Senate. Fischer says she’s been working with democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia to try and foster cooperation across the aisle among the 15 first-term senators.

COLUMBUS- With just under half of this year’s legislative session to go, Nebraska lawmakers are working diligently on Nebraska’s new biennial budget. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman says while only the preliminary budget has been brought foward so far and lawmakers are off to a good start, the key will be holding the line on spending and working to provide tax relief. Lawmakers are expected to adopt a state budget for the 2013-2015 biennium sometime this month. Heineman’s comments came Monday while speaking to Chamber and City leaders.

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk is clarifying some policies related to how the Planning Commission operates. The Norfolk City Council Monday approved new ordinance that updates city code in regard to the planning commission. City officials say the rules approved require that any conditional use permit that comes before the Planning Commission needs five votes for approval, and address procedures related to tabling motions. City attorney Clint Schukei says the discussion on adding the ordinance started when some questions were raised regarding how the planning commission handled the tabling of proposed storage units on the west side of town. Schukei says the ordinance gives city staff a consistent written policy. The Planning Commission also approved the city code amendment at their March 19th meeting.

NORFOLK – The area of a condemned Norfolk property could soon provide housing for multiple families. The Norfolk City Council approved a zoning change Monday for a property located at 1704 Phillip Avenue. City prevention manager Trent Howard says the current house on the property has been condemned, and the new owners have expressed and interest in building a duplex on the property, necessitating the zoning change. The move was also passed by the Norfolk Planning Commission in March.

COLUMBUS - A number of years ago, the Board of Directors for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce decided that their existing building did not represent the image they were seeking in representing the business community. That’s why a new campaign was launched two years ago to build a new facility. Monday, Columbus Chamber and business leaders cut the ribbon on a new 4-thousdand square foot, $1 million Chamber building. Columbus Chamber President K.C. Belitz say the new facility, directly across the street from their old location, adds new functionality and presents the desired new image for their more than 800 members. Among those on hand for the ribbon cutting was Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, State Senator Paul Schumacher and Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman. Columbus Chamber leaders will be offering tours of their new facility throughout the rest of this week with both morning and afternoon sessions.

MONDAY April 1, 2013

NORFOLK – Budget cuts in the U.S. Postal Service are going to be hitting close to home sooner than expected. Postal workers in Norfolk have been told that the USPS processing center in Norfolk will be scaling back production sometime this summer. The Postal Service had announced that they wouldn’t be making any cuts to the processing center until 2014, but USPS spokesman Brian Sperry says the organization has seen a 37% decline in first-class mail, which is effecting the bottom line. Sperry says there aren’t a lot of specifics about the cut-back that are known at this time, only that processing services will be shifted to Omaha at some point this summer. Sperry says the processing center will remain open, but that many of the employees will either be offered transfers or be eliminated through retirement.

PILGER – A portion of highway 275 northeast of Pilger was closed for about an hour Saturday night following a nearly head-on collision that sent two people to the hospital. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says the crash occurred at the highways 275 and 15 north junction about 8pm when a car driven by 53-year-old Rose Duncan of Newcastle turned into the path of a westbound car driven by 42-year-old Preciosa Polt of Pierce. The nearly head-on crash caused Polt’s vehicle to strike a third vehicle that was stopped at the intersection. Both Duncan and Polt had to be removed from their vehicles and taken to Faith Regional Health Services by Pilger and Wisner rescue crews. No updates on their conditions have been reported. Sheriff Unger says both drivers were wearing seat belts and airbags deployed.

NORFOLK – Driving on Nebraska’s roads is safer now than perhaps any other time, according to new statistics. State Patrol Troop B Captain Paul Hattan says the state of Nebraska reported six traffic fatalities in the March, the fewest recorded in any month since the Patrol began keeping track in 1937. Hattan says his office in Norfolk hasn’t responded to a fatal accident since Feb. 8th. While the weather has certainly been a factor, Hattan says he believes drivers are being safer. Hattan says the drop in fatalities comes despite an increase in the number of roll-overs accidents that have bee reported this year so far.

WISNER – Motorists traveling on highway 275 between the Pilger spur and Wisner will see construction delays beginning Monday. Nebraska Department of Roads officials say weather permitting, work will begin on the 10 mile stretch of highway 275 Monday. The asphalt resurfacing project will include concrete patching and bridge repair. Work on bridges will reduce traffic to one lane with traffic signals. The anticipated completion date is set for the fall of 2014.

FRIDAY March 29, 2013

NORFOLK– Hundreds of northeast Nebraskans gathered in Norfolk for an annual Good Friday tradition. The 9^th Annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast was held at the Divot’s Devent Center Friday morning. The event featured keynote speaker Josh McDowell of the Campus Crusade for Christ. McDowell says he admires the City of Norfolk for holding the prayer breakfast, adding that he wishes more cities were as open about religion. McDowell has traveled the world since the 60’s sharing his story of converting from an agnostic to an active Christian.

NORFOLK– The unemployment rate in the Norfolk area is going down. The latest statistics from the Nebraska Department of Labor released Friday show that the area comprised of Madison, Stanton and Pierce counties saw a 3.9% unemployment rate in February. That’s down four-tenths of a percent from January. Labor officials say the Norfolk area has added almost 600 jobs in the last calendar year. Statewide, the unemployment rate is 3.8%, unchanged from the previous month.

NORFOLK– Could Madison County support a new arena that could host regional sports and recreational activities? A study being performed by the Norfolk Area Visitors Bureau aims to find out. The Visitors Bureau has contracted a feasibility study that will look at what type facility, if any, Madison County could support. NAVB director Kim Kwapnioski says the study will look at a number of factors including location, demographics, who would use it and financial components. Kwapnioski says once the data has been gathered, the Visitors Bureau will meet with various members of the public and private sector to decide how best to move forward. Kwapnioski says there has been a great deal of interest in a new sports facility being built. Kwapnioski says Madison County is contributing $10,000 towards the cost of study and the Norfolk City Council is considering it, while the rest will be raised privately.

MADISON– The City of Madison will soon have a new motel. Ground was recently broken just south of the Short Stop gas station in Madison on the two-story, 13-room Comfort Ridge Inn and Suites. Osmond-based developer Cornerstone Associates is developing the motel. Company head of project development Toni Tauber says she was approached by bank officials last year about developing a motel in Madison. Tauber says the city is perfect for this type of project. Tauber says city officials are excited to keep some business in Madison as opposed to losing it to neighboring towns. Tauber says she hopes to have the motel ready to open in time for this year’s Madison County Fair.

NORFOLK– Weather permitting, work will begin Monday on a new roundabout on Norfolk’s east side. The Nebraska Department of Roads says the new roundabout at the intersection of Victory Road and Norfolk Avenue is part of a larger project to widen highway 35 to four lanes. Construction work is also set to begin Monday along highway 35 near Woodland Park. In addition, workers are expected to begin paving the new southbound lanes of Highway 35 between Norfolk Avenue and Highway 275 on Monday as well. Motorists are urged to use caution when traveling through these construction zones.

WEDNESDAY March 27, 2013

WAYNE – A Wayne man is in jail after police say he fired a gun within the city limits. Wayne Police say 36-year Michael Ellis was arrested Wednesday morning. Police say Ellis fired the gun along east 7th Street in Wayne at about 10 a.m. Police aren’t saying why Ellis fired the gun, but that no one was injured and nothing was damaged in the incident. Wayne and St. Mary’s schools were placed on lockdown for about an hour as a precaution.

NELIGH – The trial of a Ewing man accused of double-murder and arson has been delayed. Thirty-three year old Matthew Hinrichsen was scheduled to go on trial on first-degree murder, arson and felony weapons charges next week, but at a pre-trial hearing Wednesday morning, Antelope County District Court Judge James Kube granted the defense’s motion to continue the trial. Hinrichsen is accused of shooting newlyweds Victoria Lee and Alex Vargas and setting fire to their Ewing trailer in December. His trial is now set to begin August 12th, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for June 26th. Hinrichsen is currently being held without bond at the Antelope County Jail.

NORFOLK - Norfolk rural firefighters spent the late afternoon Wednesday fighting a blaze on South 37th Street in Norfolk. Shortly before 4 p.m., firefighters found a pile of equipment on fire just east of 37th Street Storage and had the fire under control in about ten minutes. The cause of the fire has not been released.

NORFOLK – A seminar of child welfare in Norfolk Wednesday brought out various law enforcement officials and child care providers, but organizers say the seminar’s message is just as important for the general public. The Northeast Nebraska Child Advocacy Center hosted the full day seminar. Chance Buss is a prevention specialist with the Child Advocacy Center. He says many people that may suspect a child is being abused don’t know the proper parameters for reporting it to authorities. Buss says knowing how to report abuse can be just as important as recognizing the signs. Buss says anyone who has any questions is more than welcome to contact the Child Advocacy Center at any time (402-644-7402).

NORFOLK - Disasters can strike at any time, and the Norfolk Area Red Cross is hoping to get more area businesses to prepare for the unknown. Officials with the Red Cross hosted a disaster planning session at the Norfolk Area Chamber Wednesday. The Red Cross has a program entitled Ready Rating, an free online assessment businesses can take to see how prepared for a disaster they are, and what further steps they may need to take. Norfolk Area Red Cross executive director Shalle Wolfe says businesses that take the assessment are often surprised by the results. Wolfe says the Ready Rating program provides businesses with the resources necessary to prepare them for the unexpected. More info on the program can be found online.

NORFOLK – A northeast Nebraska health organization is targeting area farmers to make sure they’re heart healthy. The Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department kicked off Operation Heart to Heart in January. Public health nurses have been providing free cardiovascular screenings for farmers at various ag-related events. Nurse Sarah Reigle says farmers are being targeted because they work in high-stress jobs with insurance plans that generally don’t cover screenings. Reigle says she’s been surprised by the overwhelming response the program has received. Reigle says they hope to plan more screenings this spring for farmers in the ELVPHD coverage area. More info about Operation Heart to Heart can be found at the ELVPHD website.

NORFOLK – Two downtown Norfolk stoplights will be going away soon. Norfolk city officials say a recent traffic study done of the 2nd and 3rd Street intersections with Norfolk Avenue show that stoplights aren’t necessary there. City officials say starting April 1st, the signals will be covered to get the public a chance to adjust to the change. The lights will be removed permanently in July.

NORFOLK, Neb. (KTIV/US92) - A routine oil change was anything but for a cat that got caught in the wheel well of a car traveling to Norfolk. The furry feline probably used at least one of its nine lives on the trip. When Mike Kerkman of Elgin left home Tuesday to get an oil change in Norfolk, he didn’t know he had an extra passenger for the 45 mile ride, until he arrived at Norfolk’s GM Auto Center. What was supposed to be a quick lube oil change, turned into a rescue operation. When employees found the cat, she had gotten stuck in a hole under the hood by the washer fluid, they knew they had to do something. Operation kitty rescue took about an hour and a half from start to finish. The Kerkmans were thankful that one of the employees here at Norfolk GM had worked at a veterinary clinic. A local vet was able to provide a sedative to make sure the cat could get out safely. After removing the front bumper, cutting a bigger hole in the metal around the kitty’s neck, the farm cat was removed and woke up minutes later. She’s back home now, with as much energy as she had before the big ride. She’s busy chasing mice and basking the in sun. Workers at Norfolk GM say they named the cat Sierra, after the type of vehicle she was stuck in.

CLICK TO SEE THE FULL STORY OF SIERRA’S TRIP.

TUESDAY March 26, 2013

OMAHA – A Madison couple will each be spending at least 10 years in prison for their part in distributing methamphetamine in northeast Nebraska. 34-year old Michael Pojar and 33-year old Stacey Pojar were sentenced in U.S. District Court Monday; Michael to 158 months in prison and Stacey to 138 months. U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says the two pled guilty to their involvement in distributing methamphetamine around Madison between September of 2011 and October of 2012. Gilg says both received stricter punishment because they were both already on probation for previous drug offenses.

NORFOLK – Dry conditions fueled a grass fire northeast of Norfolk Tuesday. Norfolk Fire officials were dispatched to a fire along railroad tracks near the intersection of First Street and Eisenhower Avenue just after noon Tuesday. The fire started in some grass near the Arnold Engineering plant. It took firefighters about an hour and a half to control the fire and overhaul the scene. An official cause for the fire has not been released.

NORFOLK – Small businesses shouldn’t be relying on the Yellow Pages anymore to market themselves to today’s generation. That was the message delivered to the Norfolk Area Chamber’s Small Business Council Tuesday. Dawn Nelson, owner of VIP Digital Marketing gave a presentation on small businesses utilizing social media like Facebook to market themselves. Nelson says area small businesses are somewhat lacking when it comes to making themselves available to the sub-40 year old demographic. Nelson says she’s finding that small business owners are starting to come around to the new reality that an online presence is a necessity in the 21st century.

NORFOLK – Officers on the Faith Regional Health Services Board of Directors are shuffling a bit. Hospital officials elected new officers at their March board meeting, electing Bernie Auten as Chair, Dr. Jeff Pape as Vice Chair, Anita Brenneman as Secretary and Craig Boche as Treasurer. Auten and Pape fill positions on the board that were recently vacated by Bert Lammli and Jeff Eisnmenger.

MONDAY March 25, 2013

WAYNE - Wayne County commissioners have set a May date for a recall election that targets one of their own. The vote is scheduled for May 14 on District 1 Commissioner Kelvin Wurdeman. The recall affidavit cites Wurdeman’s conviction after pleading no contest to charges that he stole a truckload of publicly owned scrap metal. He was fined $1,000. This is the second recall effort against Wurdeman. The first accused Wurdeman of removing dirt from a landowner’s field without permission and using it for a nearby road problem. He denied the allegation. Wayne County judge Robert Ensz ordered election officials to abandon the first recall effort because the petition paperwork used to gather signatures was flawed.

OMAHA – A Winnebago man will spend a year in jail for assaulting an officer. U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says 26-year old Landon Blackdeer was sentenced on Friday to a year and a day in prison in federal court. Gilg says Blackdeer was arrested in June of 2012 by Winnebago police. While in custody at the Winnebago PD, Blackdeer got free of his handcuffs and attempted to flee. As an officer attempted to stop Blackdeer, Gilg says Blackdeer repeatedly punched and elbowed the officer. Blackdeer will also face three years of supervised release when he gets out of prison.

SCHUYLER, Neb. (AP) – The Schuyler school board has chosen Alliance’s superintendent to lead its district in northeast Nebraska. Dan Hoesing will become Schuyler’s superintendent on July 1. He has led the Alliance district in the Nebraska Panhandle since 2009. Hoesing says he sought the Schuyler job, so he could move closer to family, but he thinks it will be a good fit because the challenges in Schuyler are similar to the ones he faced in Alliance. Schuyler school board president says Hoesing impressed the board with his 33 years of experience. Before Hoesing moved to Alliance, he also led the Laurel, Coleridge, Newcastle and Wynot school districts and worked as superintendent for Laurel-Concord Public Schools and Ansley Public Schools.

NORFOLK – An event in Norfolk later this week will provide the public with information and tips on preventing child sex abuse. The Northeast Nebraska Child Advocacy Center will be hosting a free training session and seminar this Wednesday at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk. The featured speaker is Craig Hill. Craig has spent 35 years in law enforcement, helped to found the Lost Children’s Network and has been involved in numerous other projects to promote child safety and doing presentations to help children who are in abusive situations. Organizers say Hill will talk about characteristics of perpetrators to watch out for, different crimes against children, internet safety and other ways parents, child care providers, teachers and others can really help to protect kids. Child Advocacy officials say in their 24-county service area, they see an average of 300 to 400 kids every year who have been involved in abusive situations. They also point out that 90 percent of kids who are sexually abused know and trust their abusers, mostly friends or other family members, so training like this is important so we know what to watch out for. Along with helpful information, this seminar will also provide child care providers with continuing education credits. The free Child Sex Abuse Prevention seminar will get started around 7:00 this Wednesday night. While the event is free and open to the public, it is recommended that you reserve a seat at 402-644-7347.

WISNER – Northeast Nebraskans can still participate in a survey to identify what health issues are important to them. Officials with the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department say residents of Madison, Stanton, Cuming and Burt counties have until April 15th to take part in an online health survey. The survey at the ELVPHD website and organizers say it offers the opportunity to share what health concerns area residents have. Health Department officials say participants will also be eligible for a grocery gift certificate. Survey Link. Surveys can also be mailed to those that would prefer not to take the survey online.

THURSDAY March 21, 2013

MADISON – A man accused in a string of burglaries around Madison County will go to trial in June. Forty-three year old Richard Scrivner, Jr. was arraigned in Madison County District Court Thursday. Scrivner pleaded not guilty to 19 counts of burglary, two counts of theft and one drug charge. Scrivner is accused of breaking into 19 different businesses in Norfolk and Battle Creek between Dec. 18th and Feb. 14th, and stealing a car in Battle Creek. If convicted, Scrivner would face a mandatory minimum of a year in jail for each offense. District Court Judge James Kube set Scrivner’s pre-trial hearing for June 4th. His trial will begin June 17th. He’s still being held at the Madison County Jail on a total of $370,000 bond.

OMAHA – An Orchard man is facing drug charges in federal court. U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says 37-year old Kelsey Allen was indicted in U.S. District Court in Omaha Wednesday. Allen faces two counts related to the sale of methamphetamine between August of 2012 and January of 2013. Allen faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on both counts.

LINCOLN – An eastern Nebraska deputy county attorney is the newest county court judge. Gov. Dave Heineman announced Thursday morning C. Jo Petersen of Beaver Crossing has been selected as the newest county court judge in the 5th Judicial District. Peterson currently serves as deputy county attorney for Saunders and Hamilton counties, and previously served in that capacity in Platte and Butler counties. Peterson replaces Judge Gerald Rouse who’s retiring. The 5th District covers eleven counties including Boone, Platte and Colfax.

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Area United Way is celebrating another successful year of fundraising. United Way board members gathered with various business leaders in Norfolk Wednesday for their Fair Share Giving recognition ceremony. Fundraising campaign chair Mike Hart said that area businesses supported United Way in a big way this year. To date, United Way volunteers have collected 99.6 percent of the overall campaign goal. 91 northeast Nebraska businesses were recognized as “Fair Share” givers, which means they gave on average $35 per employee. The over $535,000 raised will go to support over 20 non-profit organizations in northeast Nebraska.

WEDNESDAY March 20, 2013

WAYNE (KTIV) - National Ag Week is underway. It’s held to celebrate the importance of farming in the U.S. Farming is one of the biggest industries in the Midwest. It’s also what drives other key industries such as manufacturing and technology. In conjunction with National Ag Week, Governor Dave Heineman launched a statewide tour talking about agricultural growth in the state. One of the stops was Temme Dairy Farm near Wayne where Heineman addressed a crowd of a few dozen. He says it’s an exciting time for the AG industry, and farmers will need to be ready to feed more than two billion more people over the next 30 years. One of the ways to do that, he believes, is to build connections across the globe. But while the Governor points to growth, the owner of Temme’s Dairy Farm says there are challenges ahead including the current regulations on inheritance taxes. The tax issue is something the Governor says he’s pushing the federal government to change.

NORFOLK – The City of Norfolk will soon begin planning for the 2014 budget, and they’ll have about a half a million dollars less to work with than they expected. City officials were told last month that they owe the Nebraska Department of Revenue $544,000 dollars to make up for what the NDR says is sales tax money paid by a Norfolk business mistakenly between 1999 and 2005. City Finance Officer Randy Gates says the city doesn’t know who the company is, and officials with the revenue department say that information is protected by state law. Gates says there’s no way anyone in the city could have known that this overpayment was taking place, but now that it has, it will seriously impact Norfolk this spring. Gates says the city would need about $33 million dollars in additional taxable sales to make up for the loss, or an increase of $48 per $100,000 of valuation in property taxes, neither of which is likely. Gates says city officials will likely have to look at reducing some services going forward.

OMAHA – A Creston man has pleaded guilty to a bankruptcy fraud scheme. US Attorney Deborah Gilg says 57-year old Ross Boydston pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Tuesday. Prosecutors say Boydston concealed the fact that he had sold livestock that had been pledged as collateral to American Mortgage Company in a bankruptcy filing. Boydston also admitted to lying to creditors about the sale. Boydston could face up to five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine when he’s sentenced in June.

TUESDAY March 19, 2013

STANTON – An 18-year-old Stanton man was hospitalized Monday night after the vehicle he was driving east of Stanton lost control and rolled. Stanton County authorities say around 6pm an eastbound convertible, driven by Amos Gichuru, lost control on old highway 8 just east of Stanton. Gichuru’s car entered the ditch and rolled, coming to rest on it’s top. Gichuru was taken to Faith Regional Health Services to be treated for unknown injuries. The use of seat belts are being credited with lessening his injuries.

NORFOLK – A new business development in Norfolk will bring economic opportunity to the city according to developers, but to some residents, it’s bringing about unexpected stress. The Norfolk City Council Monday voted to approve an ordinance to zone five lots southwest of the intersection of 13th Street and Norfolk Avenues as commercial from residential. The move will allow an Alabama-based developer to build a CVS Pharmacy there. Attorney Tracey Buettner represented the developer Monday, and says a new pharmacy is a plus for the City of Norfolk and the current property owners. Buettner says purchase agreements are expected to be signed next month. Stephanie Rietz is a student at Northeast Community College and a single mother who rents an apartment at one of the properties. Rietz says she was told three-and-a-half weeks ago that she has to move, and that he hasn’t been able to find anywhere to go.
Mayor Sue Fuchtman thanked Rietz for bringing her concerns to the council, and expressed a hope that she’s able to find somewhere to go. The zoning change passed unanimously. Developers have said they hope to have the CVS open by October.

NORFOLK – Discussion on a fire-damaged hotel in Norfolk has been delayed again. The Norfolk City Council Monday voted to table a zoning change request from the owners of Norfolk’s Budget Inn, that would allow them to repair the portion of their hotel that was damaged in a fire last October. Attorney Jeff Hrouda represented the hotel’s owners on Monday, and told the council that the hotel is currently in negotiations with its insurance company regarding the damages. Hrouda says the outcome of that negotiation will determine how the owners want to move forward. The council will take up the issue again at their April 15th meeting.

NORFOLK - Norfolk’s Central Park is getting a facelift. The Norfolk City Council Monday approved plans for renovations to the city’s oldest park. Melinda Kozel presented updated plans to the council Monday. Kozel said the upgraded features at the park will include a butterfly garden, a new cover for the park stage with a removable movie screen and a mural that will be painted on the restroom structure. Kozel is partnering with students at Norfolk Junior High on the project, and says upgrades to Central Park are long overdue. The mural is proposed to be done in a “street-art” style and is meant to be representative of the community as a whole. Omaha artist Gerard Prefung will be collaborating with the Junior High on the mural, and says he’s looking forward to seeing what the young artists come up with. Kozel says she hopes to have volunteers ready to start the renovations as early as next month.

MONDAY March 18, 2013

NORFOLK – Two Norfolk men had to be tased by Norfolk Police during a fight early Sunday. Police Capt. Leon Chapman says 30-year old Ricky Jordan and 25-year old Phillip Lee were arrested Sunday. Chapman says police were called to a report of a fight at the Kum and Go on Omaha Avenue at about 1:20 a.m. Chapman says officers arrived to find Jordan and Lee fighting with about 50 people around them. Both men appeared to be bleeding. Chapman says an officer needed to use a taser to finally break up the fight. Both were arrested on 3rd degree assault and disturbing the peace charges. Both are free on bond.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - A northeast Nebraska business will be getting a more than $544,000 refund because it mistakenly paid Norfolk’s sales tax for several years when it wasn’t required to. The state told the city about the refund last month. Norfolk Finance Director Randy Gates says the refund will definitely have an impact on the city’s budget unless the business is willing to spread the refund payments out. The tax refund is due because a business outside the city limits mistakenly paid Norfolk’s city sales tax from 1999 to 2005. Officials aren’t identifying the business.

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska Public Power District says crews will soon begin patrolling its 4,300 miles of transmission lines in the state to trim any trees that threaten the lines. NPPD’s John Humphrey says the trimming program helps reduce outages related to trees. When trees do have to be trimmed, NPPD follows guidelines from the Arbor Day Foundation. But the utility encourages landowners to follow its guidelines when planting near power lines to avoid problems.

THURSDAY March 14, 2013

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Many of northeast Nebraska’s counties lost population in 2012 as the longstanding trend of the state’s rural population shrinking while urban areas grow continued. The 2012 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show population declines in 60 of Nebraska’s 93 counties, including Antelope, Cedar, Cuming, Dixon, Knox, Pierce and Stanton counties. Forty-two counties recorded more deaths that births. David Drozd, a researcher at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research, says the state’s three biggest counties – Douglas, Lancaster and Sarpy – are now home to more than 53 percent of Nebraska’s population.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – State Auditor Mike Foley says the agency that oversees Nebraska contracts failed to collect more than $60,000 owed by a Lincoln-based paper-recycling company. He says Shredding Solutions should have paid a market-rate value for the paper it collects from state offices, shreds, and sells for other uses. The company has repaid some money but still owes $33,000.

O’NEILL – The Northeast Community College Board of Governors is taking their act on the road. The Board will be holding their monthly meeting at the O’Neill Community Center Thursday, as opposed to the main campus in Norfolk. The main reason for the move is that the Board is expected to vote on a purchase agreement for property in O’Neill to construct a new student center. School President Dr. Michael Chipps says the current extended campus facility in O’Neill is over 70 years old, and a new facility would better serve the students of north central Nebraska. Chipps says the school has started a $2.5 million capital campaign for the project, which he says has been embraced positively by the O’Neill community.

NORFOLK – Things are back to normal at Faith Regional Health Services, after a technical glitch interrupted phone service to some clinics Wednesday. Officials at the Norfolk hospital say workers were able to restore the phone system on all campuses at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday. They say all phone lines should be working fine now.

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2013

WISNER – A family of three is homeless following an overnight fire in Wisner. Officials with the Northeast Nebraska Red Cross say they are assisting with food and shelter for the family after a fire broke out at their home near the corner of 12th Street and Avenue F in the Cuming County town around 1 a.m. Wisner Fire Chief Wade Eisenhauer says the home suffered heavy fire and water damage. He says the cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

NORFOLK – Norfolk Police are looking for the public’s help in solving a string of vandalisms around town. Police Captain Leon Chapman says over the past six weeks, someone has shot out almost 50 windows of businesses, homes and vehicles with a bb gun. Chapman says those incidents have been spread out all over town. Meanwhile, about 13 residents have reported that their vehicles have had their side mirrors smashed off. Chapman says those incidents began in January, and have been centered in an area between Norfolk and Park Avenues and S. 1st and 6th Streets. Chapman says anyone who has any information on either case is urged to call Norfolk Police (402-644-8700) or Norfolk Crime Stoppers (402-371-7300).

LINCOLN - Residents of Madison County got some face time with their elected officials on Tuesday. State Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk hosted about 40 people in Lincoln as part of the Norfolk Chamber’s annual Madison County Day. Attendees sat in during legislative debate, and got to meet with Sen. Scheer, as well as Speaker Greg Adams, chairman of the Revenue Committee Galen Hadley and even Gov. Dave Heineman. Heineman spoke about the importance of improving educational opportunities through the P-16 initiative, adding that he’d like to see more done to better prepare high schoolers for college. Heineman also stressed the importance of the proposed two-year tuition freeze, and the need for continued discussion on tax reform.

NORFOLK - St. Patrick’s Day weekend brings some big celebrations to northeast Nebraska, and the Nebraska State Patrol is taking steps to make sure people celebrate safely. Troop B Capt. Paul Hattan of Norfolk says extra troopers will be out over the weekend. Hattan says his troop has a lot of areas of focus, including St. Patty’s Day celebrations in Wisner and O’Neill. Hattan says everyone can have fun this weekend, as long as they do so responsibly. Hattan says the extra patrol officers is being paid for courtesy of a grant of just over $19,000 the patrol received from the state Office of Highway Safety.

TUESDAY March 12, 2013

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Public School District officially has a new superintendent. The Norfolk School Board Monday unanimously approved a contract with Dr. Jami Jo Thompson, while Thompson’s old district, Beatrice approved her resignation. Those moves clear the way for Thompson to become NPS’ superintendent effective July 1st. Thompson was first announced as the district’s choice last week. Board members Bob Waite, Bruce Mitchell and Sandy Wolfe visited Thompson’s old district in Beatrice during the search process. Waite says he, like the rest of the Board, came away very impressed. Thompson will take over for current superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing, who is retiring at the end of this school year. Board president Brad Krivolahvek says Thompson will join the district prior to her official start date to begin getting acclimated to Norfolk.

NORFOLK – How can schools be sure they’re teaching students the tools they need to be successful in the business world? Officials with the Norfolk Public School District are working to find out. School officials from Norfolk, Norfolk Catholic, Lutheran High Northeast and Battle Creek have held two recent meetings with area city and business leaders to find out what area employers are looking for in high school graduates. Superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing says the meetings have been beneficial for her district. Uhing says about 80 people attended both meetings, and a smaller group has volunteered to keep the dialogue between schools and businesses active going forward.

NORFOLK – A new system of teaching math in the Norfolk Public School District is paying dividends in state proficiency testing. School Director of Teaching Bob Hastings presented results of Nebraska’s MAP testing of kindergarten through eighth graders to the Norfolk School Board Monday, to illustrate the last four years since the district has applied the Saxon Math instruction program. Hastings says when the program was instilled in the spring of 2010, Norfolk graded in the 41st percentile among Nebraska school in math proficiency, and that number has steadily increased, jumping to the 61st percentile this school year. Hastings says everyone in the district is pleased with the results. Hastings says the Saxon method utilizes a constant review of previous learning combined with a limited introduction of new concepts, which he says is the main reason for the jump in scores.

NORFOLK – An altercation at a Norfolk motel Saturday night has resulted in a couple’s arrest on terroristic threats, drug and child abuse charges. Norfolk Police Chief Bill Mizner says officers were called to the Super 8 Motel where 31-year-old Tammy Lovejoy said 35-year-old Ahmed Jama threatened to cut her with a pocket knife during an argument. Along with the couple, there were five children under the age of 12 in the room. Upon investigation, Jama was arrested for terroristic threats and child abuse while Lovejoy was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and child abuse. The two have been taken to the Madison County Jail. Mizner says the five children have been temporarily placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.

WISNER – The Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department is asking northeast Nebraskans what health issues matter to them. Department officials have created a survey that residents in Madison, Stanton, Cuming and Burt counties can fill out a survey to identify the most important health issues to the area. Department emergency response coordinator Brian Porn says the results of the survey will help the department plan how best to serve their four-county area. The survey is available on the ELVPHD website , or paper copies are available in the department office in Wisner. Porn says he’d like the surveys done by April 15th.

MONDAY March 11, 2013

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) - A fire caused smoke and water damage to Columbus Family Resource Center and forced the evacuation of its residents. The fire occurred Saturday morning. The center is home to nearly 20 entities, including Catholic Charities and the Platte County Food Pantry. Columbus Fire Chief Dean Hefti says the fire alarm and sprinkler system were activated around 4:30 a.m. after a heater malfunctioned. Most of the flames were extinguished by the sprinkler system before firefighters arrived, Hefti says, but the third floor had significant smoke and water damage. The American Red Cross says 14 residents and four Catholic Charities staff members were evacuated.

NORFOLK – Officials with Norfolk Public Schools say the contract for their newly selected Superintendent will be up for approval during the school board’s monthly meeting tonight. Last Thursday, the Norfolk Public School Board announced the selection of Jami Jo Thompson of Beatrice as the district’s new Superintendent. Dr. Thompson was chosen out of five candidates who interviewed for the post. She is currently the Director of Student Programs in Beatrice, where she has been employed since 1995. Board officials say Thompson’s contract will be up for approval at tonight’s meeting pending her release from her current position at Beatrice. NPS officials say they are looking forward to welcoming Dr. Thompson into the district soon, however her official start date will not be until July first.

LINCOLN – Northeast Nebraska is well-represented on the annual list of Nebraska Passport sites. The Nebraska Tourism Commission announced the 80 featured stops on the passport tour over the weekend. Tourism officials say the program encourages travelers to explore Nebraska between the months of May and September, collecting stamps that can be redeemed later for prizes. Among this year’s attractions are the Norfolk Arts Center and Barnstormer’s restaurant in Norfolk, the Crystal Key Inn Bed and Breakfast in Newman Grove and Glur’s Tavern in Columbus. More info here.

SATURDAY March 9, 2013

FRIDAY March 8, 2013

NORFOLK– Officials with the Norfolk Area Visitor’s Bureau say Norfolk’s Johnny Carson Theater will be the site of the State One-Act Play Championships for the next two years. Mike Fuehrer of the Norfolk Area Sports Council says the NSAA awarded the bid to Norfolk for events in December 2013 and December 2014. Fuehrer says the competition will bring about a big economic impact. He says the State One-Act competition will draw 34 play-production teams from six classes over the course of three days. Organizers are expecting more than 1,000 competitors and coaches along with thousands more to watch the competition. Fueher says Visitor’s Bureau officials will be ready to roll out the red carpet.

NORFOLK– Voluteers from the Norfolk American Red Cross will be going door-to-door on Sunday in Norfolk, talking to people about how to prevent home fires and how to escape safely should a fire occur. Volunteers will canvas Norfolk neighborhoods between 1:30 and 5pm Sunday talking to residents who are available, and will leave safety-tip door hangers for people who are not at home. The door hangers, printed in both English and Spanish, provide cooking and heating tips, and also highlight the importance of smoke alarms and the need to create and practice a fire escape plan.

NORFOLK– An indoor tractor pull in Norfolk this weekend will help students at Northeast Community College raise funds to attend an Ag conference in Texas next month. Officials with Northeast say the Diversified Ag Club is hosting the event Saturday at the Chuck M. Pohlman Ag Complex. Pullers from 6 states will compete on two tracks beginning at 10am. There is no cost to attend the indoor pull, however freewill donations to the Diversified Ag Club will be accepted.

THURSDAY March 7, 2013

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Public School Board of Education has announced that Dr. Jami Jo Thompson of Beatrice has been selected as the next Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools. Dr. Thompson has spent her entire career at Beatrice Public Schools, beginning in 1995, and is the current Director of Student Programs. She was one of five finalists who interviewed over the past few weeks. NPS Board President Dr. Brad Krivohlavek describes Thompson as a quiet leader who will bring great leadership skills and vision to Norfolk. Thompson received all of her educational degrees at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Of her 18 years in education, 13 of them have been spent focusing on special education. Thompson says she also has an unwavering commitment to student learning. During Monday’s NPS School Board meeting, Dr Thompson’s contract will be up for approval and acceptance, pending her release from her current position in Beatrice. Board officials hope to have Dr. Thompson in the district soon, however her official start date will not be until July 1st. Krivohlavek says the board would like the thank the community and the staff of Norfolk Public Schools for their involvement in the selection process.

WOODLAND PARK– A 21-year-old Woodland Park woman is jail on felony drug and alcohol charges following her arrest Wednesday night. Stanton County authorities say Ashley Lindahl is being accused of selling marijuana to a juvenile and providing alcohol and marijuana to juveniles on at least two occasions. Lindahl is slated to appear in court in April.

DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (AP) - A 52-year-old northeast Nebraskan who made video recordings of female co-workers in a company locker room has been given two years of probation. Online court records say Larry Wolf, of Dakota City, was sentenced on Monday in Dakota County District Court. He’d pleaded no contest to unlawful intrusion for recording a person in a state of undress. A second count was dropped. Wolf also was sentenced to 120 days in jail, but a court hearing is scheduled for May 20 on whether that could be waived. Court documents say Wolf was arrested after a technician who was working on Wolf’s personal computer found a file that contained about 60 video clips of the women’s locker room at Solbar, a soy protein production company in South Sioux City.

NORFOLK– An open house was held Wednesday for a program based at Norfolk’s Faith Regional Health Services that enables young adults with disabilities to learn employable skills and get hands-on work training. Project SEARCH began three years ago as a business-led collaboration that also includes Norfolk Public Schools and Vocational Rehab. Each day students with disabilities who are near graduation report to Faith Regional where they learn employable skills in a classroom and participate in one to three worksite rotations. Lacey Hoesing is Project SEARCH’s business liaison. She says the cornerstone of the project is total immersion in the day-to-day operations of the business. There are four students enrolled in the program this year. They will all graduate in May. Student Oscar Zarate has learned to do four different jobs at the hospital this year including nutrition, housekeeping, surgery and patient escort tasks. Any businesses or families who may be interested in Project SEARCH are encouraged to call Lacy in the Project SEARCH office at 644-7216.

WEDNESDAY March 6, 2013

NORFOLK - Severe weather awareness week in Nebraska isn’t for another three weeks, but residents in the Norfolk and Neligh areas are getting a refresher this week from the National Weather Service. Weather officials are holding tornado spotter training in the area this week. Tuesday night, the training was held at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk. Brian Smith of the National Weather Service office in Valley says the training is an important way for residents to protect their communities and communicate with those who issue watches and warnings. Smith says even with all the new technology that’s available, they still need folks to spot the storms and call them in. Smith says it’s hard at this point to predict if this spring and summer is going to be active for storms, because everything is thunderstorm dependent. He says if you have multiple thunderstorm patterns that come through during a season, the chance of a tornado is higher. Another tornado spotter training is set for the Neligh fire hall tonight at 7pm.

TUESDAY March 5, 2013

NORFOLK – Fire has destroyed a machine shed south of Norfolk. Madison and Norfolk fire officials were dispatched to a fire at the Sunderman Feedlot on 556th Avenue about three miles south of the Norfolk Regional Airport at around 11 a.m. Monday. A machine shed on the property was completely engulfed in flames and believed to be a total loss. Anhydrous ammonia and propane tanks on the property caused fire officials to close off about a 2-mile radius around the scene. No injuries have been reported. The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time.

STANTON – Two people have been transferred to the hospital following a car accident between Norfolk and Stanton. Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says rescue officials responded to a two-vehicle accident on Highway 24, about four miles east of Norfolk at about 1:30 p.m. Monday. Unger says a vehicle westbound on Highway 24 driven by 33-year old Ramona Kaup crossed the center line and struck an eastbound vehicle driven by Robert Bates of Stanton. Both vehicles ended up in the south ditch. Kaup had to be removed from her vehicle with the jaws of life. She was transported to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk with a leg injury, while her passenger, 19-year old Kristina Appel of Stanton, was also hospitalized with a possible head injury. Both vehicles are considered total losses.

NORFOLK – The owners of Norfolk’s Budget Inn have told city officials that they’d like to repair the portion of their hotel damaged by fire in October. But in order to get the building permit to do that, the property zoning must be changed from residential to commercial. On Monday, the Norfolk City Council tabled the owner’s request for a zone change, after concerns were raised over the management of the motel. Al Rajaee of Norfolk owns property adjacent to the hotel on Norfolk Avenue. Rajaee says the hotel’s owners have provided “nothing but problems” for the area. Rajaee says the hotel’s rooms are being used more like apartments than rented rooms. City prevention manager Trent Howard said city staff have investigated the property and found situations where the Budget Inn is not in compliance with the city’s commercial code. The owners of the Budget Inn were not present at Monday’s meeting. The Council tabled the zoning change and instructed city staff to have the owners attend the next City Council meeting to address the city’s concerns.

NORFOLK – Norfolk’s Dollar General store could soon be moving to a new location. The Norfolk City Council Monday approved a plat and subdivision agreement with the owners of the property where the Alco store once stood. The agreement will allow the owners of Dollar General to move the store from 5th and Norfolk Ave. to a new location that would be built in the current parking lot at the corner of 1st and Norfolk Avenue. Concerns were raised at the meeting over how attractive the new building would be when constructed. City prevention manager Trent Howard says while there are no laws pertaining to the building’s aesthetics, the owners have indicated they will construct a welcoming structure. Store owners first submitted their request to the city to make the move back in December.

NORFOLK – Plans for a new CVS Pharmacy at the southwest corner of 13th Street and Norfolk Avenue have been temporarily put on hold. The Norfolk City Council Monday continued a public hearing for Orange Development’s request for a zoning change that would allow for the construction of the new pharmacy. The company was represented Monday by Norfolk attorney Tracy Buettner, who said the Nebraska Department of Roads has raised an issue with the developers’ plans for the property, specifically a left-turn entrance from the north that DOR officials worry could back traffic up into the busy intersection. Buettner says CVS is working with the DOR on the issue and will bring the plans back to the council during their next meeting. The Norfolk Planning Commission has already approved the project plans.

DAKOTA CITY (KTIV) – Dakota County Commissioners have settled a suit filed by several former jailers who are accusing discrimination and harassment. As they try to move past the controversy, leaders are faced with a new lawsuit. The case involves County Attorney Kim Watson, who is suing the board of commissioners after they denied two requests to raise her secretary’s pay two percent. The county has been under a wage freeze for the past eight months, and laid off several people. The County Chair argues that making the concession would set an unfair precedent. The two parties will go to court on March 18th.

DAKOTA CITY (KTIV) - Dakota County is planning on spending about $5,000 to remodel it’s old jail. Built in the mid 1970′s, the building’s sat empty since closing last April. Crews have spent the winter tearing out the old iron cells. Officials want to bring some of the county offices out of the county courthouse’s basement. The hope is to make departments, like the DMV and County Clerk, more accessible to the public. Right now, the county is working on getting the jail’s front office space renovated. A larger renovation that would turn the old cells into additional office space hasn’t been figured into the budget and likely won’t happen for a few years. Officials expect that project to cost close to a million dollars.

MONDAY March 4, 2013

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - Federal regulators have proposed $45,000 in fines against the operator of a food plant in Norfolk where two workers were burned. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Henningsen Foods Inc. had seven safety violations, including one repeat, during an inspection after the accident in October 2012. Norfolk Fire Capt. Lyle Lutt had said the workers suffered second-degree burns on their faces, heads and arms. Henningsen is based in Omaha. Company vice president of technical sales Darrell Kahler says Henningsen wouldn’t comment about the OSHA action. He did say, however, that the two employees have returned to work.

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) - A northeast Nebraska school district may be held in contempt of court for failing to obey a judge’s order to refund a tax overpayment. District Judge James Kube has ordered all members of the Nebraska Unified School District No. 1 school board to appear at an April 24 hearing. Kube says they are to show why they shouldn’t be held in contempt of court. Kube scheduled the hearing after learning the district – made up of Clearwater, Orchard and Verdigre schools – has not complied with an order to repay Charles Cook of Verdigre. The district has said it is impossible to do so. But the judge says Cook could at least be given credit for his overpayment in subsequent tax years.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 32-year-old Beemer man has been sentenced to four to seven years in prison for molesting a 10-year-old girl and for a drunken driving crash. Rudy Lindstrom was sentenced Thursday in Lancaster County District Court after pleading guilty to third-offense DUI and no contest to third-degree sexual assault of a child. Lincoln police say Lindstrom hit a parked car on the night of April 12, injuring a 25-year-old man in the driver’s seat, then drove away. After being arrested, his blood-alcohol level tested more than three times the legal driving limit. Police say in August, a 10-year-old girl reported that Lindstrom had touched her sexually in Lincoln when she was 8 or 9.

BROKEN BOW – Pheasant preservation group Pheasants Forever has named a man with northeast Nebraska ties as the organization’s new regional wildlife biologist for western Nebraska. Colby Kerber, currently of Broken Bow, will raise and spend funds on wildlife habitat and conservation education. He’ll also work with local, state and federal natural resources agencies on behalf of Nebraska Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters. Kerber grew up on his family farm outside of Battle Creek.

SATURDAY March 2, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The State Department on Friday raised no major objections to the Keystone XL oil pipeline and said other options to get the oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries are worse for climate change. But the latest environmental review stops short of recommending whether the project should be approved. State Department approval of the 1,700-mile pipeline is needed because it crosses a U.S. border. The lengthy report says Canadian tar sands are likely to be developed, regardless of whether the U.S. approves Keystone XL, which would carry oil from western Canada to refineries in Texas. The pipeline would also travel through Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The draft report begins a 45-day comment period, after which the State Department will issue a final environmental report before Secretary of State John Kerry makes a recommendation about whether the pipeline is in the national interest. Kerry has promised a “fair and transparent” review of the plan and said he hopes to decide on the project in the “near term.” Most observers do not expect a decision until summer at the earliest.

NORFOLK– Four teens were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries Friday afternoon following a one-vehicle crash east of Norfolk. Authorities say around 5:30pm an eastbound car driven by 18-year-old Justin Massey of rural Stanton left highway 275 about five miles east of Norfolk, traveled about 100 yards off the roadway and struck an embankment. Massey refused treatment at the scene, however his four passengers ranging in age from 14 to 16 were transported to Faith Regional Health Services by Norfolk Fire and Rescue. Their injuries are reported to be non-life threatening. Officials say all of the occupants of the vehicle were wearing seat belts. The vehicle is a total loss.

FRIDAY March 1, 2013

NORFOLK– The Board of the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District has given the go ahead for a study to research a possible new rural water system. The board gave their unanimous vote Thursday night for a consulting group to launch the 10 month feasibility study beginning immediately. The study area covers Madison County south of Norfolk, southwestern Stanton County and northern Platte County. Officials say due to last summer’s drought, some wells in the area went dry. If approved, the new voluntary water system would be used for domestic and commercial use and will offer a new option. LENRD general manager Stan Staab says the feasibility study will determine if there is a good source of water and if the project is viable. The proposed rural water system would not only involve rural residents in the area, but may also include folks living inside the city of Humphrey in Platte County where some water issues have been identified. It would be based in nearby Madison. Residents inside the proposed area would have the choice of whether or not to participate in the system. Also at last night’s meeting, the NRD Board voted 9 to 4 to approve sharing the cost of required flow meters with irrigators in Wayne County and eastern Madison County for the 2013 season.

YORK, Neb. (AP) – A June trial has been scheduled for a Stromsburg woman charged with robbing a bank in the eastern Nebraska city of Waco. Hannah Sabata has pleaded not guilty to robbery and theft. Court records say she’s accused of robbing the Cornerstone Bank in Waco on Nov. 28 and stealing a car in York. Sabata was arrested the day after the bank robbery. She’s also known as Hannah Smotherman. Her trial is scheduled to begin on June 18.

THURSDAY February 28, 2013

LAUREL (KTIV) - The cause of a fire that destroyed two buildings and damaged another in Laurel Nebraska will not be known. State Fire Marshal Deputy, Jeff Going, says there was too much damage to the buildings to determine an exact cause. The fire broke out around five Thursday morning. Going believes the fire started in between floors at the BioComposites building. The fire then spread to the other buildings. The BioComposites building and the other housed by Thrivent Financial Services had to be torn down.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man can blame his dog for his arrest on drug charges. Norfolk Police Captain Mike Bauer says 26-year old Chadwick Board was arrested Tuesday. Bauer says an animal control officer was chasing a dog at large on West Park Avenue around noon. The officer told police the owner of the dog eventually caught it and put it in the house, but when the animal control officer approached the dog’s owner, the owner took off in his truck. Norfolk Police eventually found the truck, driven by Board, as well as about $3000 cash, about 18 grams of marijuana and various drug paraphernalia. Board was arrested and faces numerous drug charges, as well as one count of driving under suspension. He’s currently housed in the Madison County Jail.

WEDNESDAY February 27, 2013

NORFOLK – Some residents of Madison, Stanton and Platte counties could soon be getting access to a new water system. A Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District subcommittee recommended approval Tuesday of a plan to set up a new rural water system. The system would be based out of Madison, and serve most of southern Madison County, some of southwest Stanton County, and a portion of northern Platte County, including the City of Humphrey. LENRD general manager Stan Staab says interest in the system ramped up after this past summer’s drought. If the LENRD Board approved the subcommittee’s recommendation, a consulting firm will spend the next few months studying the feasibility of a voluntary water system for domestic use within the system’s boundaries. Staab says the LENRD will be creating an advisory board for the system that will set the fees and rates for the system. The LENRD already currently has two similar systems, the Wau-Col system based out of Wausa, as well as the Logan East system based out of Oakland. The LENRD Board will take up the subcommittee’s recommendation during their next meeting Thursday evening.

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TUESDAY February 26, 2013

NELIGH – A man accused of using his tractor to damage buildings and injure a state patrol trooper is requesting a psychological evaluation. Aaron White’s attorney, Patrick Carney, filed a motion for a psychological evaluation in Antelope County District Court Monday, to determine if White is competent to stand trial. White had been scheduled for a pre-trial conference in Neligh Wednesday, but his attorney has requested that the hearing and his trial be continued. White was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and assault on an officer Dec. 18th after using his tractor to ram a patrol car and various outbuildings near Brunswick.

MADISON – A Norfolk man facing 20 counts of burglary made his initial appearance in court Tuesday. Forty-three year old Richard Scrivner waived his preliminary hearing in Madison County Court Tuesday. Scrivner is accused in a series of burglaries of businesses in and around Norfolk over the past few months. County court Judge Donna Taylor set Scrivner’s arraignment for March 15th in Madison. Scrivner is being held in the Madison County Jail on a total of $370,000 bond.

NORFOLK – Faith Regional Health Services has appointed an interim CEO. A release from the hospital states that current vice president of support and ancillary services Tim Auwarter has accepted the interim position while the hospital looks for a permanent replacement for former CEO Jim Sinek. Sinek resigned from his post Feb. 15th, citing professional and family reasons. Hospital officials say in addition to Auwarter’s taking over is interim CEO, Mike Hammond of the regional system development branch of the hospital will be in charge of physician relations.

NORFOLK – The cause of an outbuilding fire northwest of Norfolk Monday afternoon remains under investigation. Norfolk Fire Captain Lyle Lutt says crews were called to the area of west Nucor Road and 550th Avenue just after 3pm where they found a building fully engulfed in flames and already burned to the ground. It took fire crews from Norfolk and Hadar around 30 minutes to get the blaze under control and another 90 minutes for overhaul. The building was a total loss with 10-thousand dollars damage to the structure and 30-thousand to the contents. No one was hurt in the incident.

MADISON, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska Court of Appeals has affirmed the attempted kidnapping conviction of man who forced a teenage boy into his car. Jose Llerenas-Alvarado pleaded no contest in Madison County to the charge in 2011 and was sentenced to 10-to-15 years. Llerenas-Alvarado tried to withdraw his plea before his sentencing, saying he hadn’t been advised that his conviction could lead to his deportation. On Tuesday, the Nebraska Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction, saying Llerenas-Alvarado had been told twice at previous hearings that he could be deported if found guilty of the crime. Authorities say Llerenas-Alvarado propositioned the boy last summer in Newman Grove. When the boy refused, Llerenas-Alvarado forced the teen into his car, drove out of town and attempted to assault the boy.

MADISON – The Madison County Commissioners have approved the county’s one and six-year construction plan. The current one-year plan will cost $10.7 million and includes 17 projects and 10 structure projects. The six-year plan will cost the county $4.6 million. Highway Superintendent Dick Johnson says more than $7 million of the one-year plan includes funding for phase three of the Northeast Industrial Highway north of Norfolk, which stretches from Victory Road to First Street. The final phase of the Highway is listed on the six-year plan. The one-year plan also includes the completion of the Lindsay Road, which Johnson says the county has been working on for 8 to 10 years. In addition, the one-year plan includes starting the process of building a new road on 844th Road north of Tilden. A portion of the roadway was washed out by flooding in the summer of 2010.

MADISON – A Judicial Hiring Commission has forwarded to the Governor the names of their nominations for County and District Judge vacancies in the 7th Judicial District. Candidates for the two vacancies got their chance to tout their credentials publicly Monday during public hearings. The vacancy in the position of County Court Judge was created with the resignation of Judge Richard Krepela. The nominees forwarded for County Court Judge include attorneys Michael Long, Patrick Carney and Dennis Morland of Norfolk. The District Court vacancy is due to the retirement of Judge Robert Ensz. The District Judge nominees forwarded include Michael Brogan and Mark Johnson, both of Norfolk. Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Michael Heavican presided over the hearings. One of the questions asked of all of the District Judge applicants was how affective they think the drug courts have become. All of the applicants and Chief Justice Heavican shared the sentiment that there is great pleasure in the way the drug courts have worked. Heavican says the Governor will be conducting interviews with all the forwarded nominees in the coming weeks and will likely make his appointment within the next 60 days. The Seventh Judicial District includes Madison, Pierce, Stanton, Antelope, Cuming, Knox and Wayne Counties.

MONDAY February 25, 2013

NORFOLK – Police are still investigating a shooting in downtown Norfolk early Saturday. Norfolk Police Captain Mike Bauer has identified 20-year old Devan Key of Norfolk as the man who was shot in the abdomen during a house party around 3 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of S. 2nd St. Key’s injuries are not considered life-threatening. Bauer says police have been told that the suspect is a heavier-set Hispanic male, but have no other information at this time. Police are still in the process of identifying and interviewing other attendees at the party.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The lawyer for a 45-year-old West Point man says his client will plead not guilty to four counts of wire fraud. Attorney Matt Munderloh said Monday that he’ll make the plea for Troy Ortmeier at a hearing on March 15. The office of U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says Ortmeier illegally paid himself money from a real estate brokerage account he managed and falsified entries to conceal the unauthorized payments.

MADISON, Neb. (AP) - A man has been given three to four years in prison for bilking homeowners out of thousands of dollars in a roof repair scam. Twenty-nine-year-old Jerry Hendon was sentenced on Friday in Madison County District Court. Hendon told the judge that he doesn’t see himself as a con artist. Hendon was accused of promising to do repairs on the roofs of two homes but didn’t do the work. Prosecutor Mike Long said he doubted Hendon’s word and noted that there is an active warrant out of Kentucky alleging similar charges.

NORFOLK – The decision about who will be the next Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools is now in the hands of the NPS School Board. A total of five finalists were interviewed last week and board discussions began on Saturday in executive session. So far, an announcement has not been made. Candidates include current NPS director of business services Bill Robinson, Bancroft -Rosalie Superintendent Jon Cerney, Yankton High Principal Wayne Kindle, Beatrice director of school programs Jami Jo Thompson and Clearwater, Kansas Superintendent Michael Roth. Whichever candidate is selected will succeed Dr. Marlene Uhing whose retirement will be effective at the end of June.

NORFOLK – Nebraska Public Power District is gathering more public input on a proposed new transmission from Hoskins to Neligh. NPPD is holding an open house in Norfolk Monday to outline their plans to affected residents. NPPD chief operating officer Tom Kent says the new 345,000 volt transmission line will be a big boost to the area. Kent says the potential route for the line has narrowed since NPPD’s first hearings on the project last October. He adds the utility is zeroing in on an area northeast of Neligh for a new substation. Kent says the utility hopes to have a final route ready to present to the public by this summer. Monday’s open house runs until 8 p.m. at the Lifelong Learning Center. There will be another Tuesday from 2 to 8 at the Neligh American Legion.

NORFOLK – The Northeast Nebraska Philanthropy Council handed out the 2nd annual Philanthropy Awards over the weekend during their Celebrate Giving event in Norfolk. Clayton Andrews of the Orphan Grain Train and Andrews Van Lines received the Lifetime Philanthropist Award. Julie Robinson of Norfolk received the Philanthropist of the Year Award. This year’s Youth Philanthropist of the Year is Ashleigh Nelson. The Business Philanthropist of the Year Award goes to Affiliated Foods Midwest. The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Jacque Collison and the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year is Joe Fergusson. Along with the award presentations, the recent winners of the Youth Philanthropy Contest were also on hand to speak to folks about their winning projects that will soon be brought to reality.

SATURDAY February 23, 2013

MADISON – Madison County Sheriff’s officials say they have arrested one person in connection with a string of burglaries in northeast Nebraska. Sheriff’s officials say 20 counts of burglary have been filed against 43-year old Richard Scrivner, Jr., along with one count of motor vehicle theft, after the suspected burglar was arrest Thursday. Police have been investigating a string of burglaries that targeted numerous businesses in Norfolk, Battle Creek and other towns in Nebraska. Scrivner is currently being held in the Madison County Jail on $250,000 bond.

MADISON – A Madison man will stand trial this April on charges that he shot another man in the face at a Norfolk nightclub last November. Twenty-eight year old Jordan Beehn pleaded not guilty to felony assault and weapons charges in Madison County District Court today. Beehn is accused of shooting 28-year old Jorge Alberto Zepeda-Flores during an altercation outside Norfolk’s Club Hollywood back on Nov. 24th. District Court Judge Robert Ensz scheduled Beehn’s trial to begin April 8th in Madison. Beehn remains in the Madison County Jail on $975,000 dollars bond.

LINCOLN – A judgement leveled against Madison County related to a 2008 accident has been reversed by the Nebraska Supreme Court. The state high court Friday reversed a decision handed down by Madison County District Court that the county was partially liable for an accident on a vacated county road northwest of Battle Creek that injured Larry Blaser and Terry McCaw, both of Norfolk. Blaser, McCaw, and McCaw’s wife sued the county, saying the county was negligent in failing to maintain a “road closed” warning sign. District Court Judge Robert Ensz ruled that the County was partially negligent in the case, and awarded almost $400,000 in damages to Blaser and the McCaws, but Friday’s ruling in the Supreme Court reverses that decision. The case has now been remanded back to Madison County District Court for a new trial.

NORFOLK – As area residents clear off their driveways and sidewalks following Thursday’s storm, officials from Black Hills Energy are reminding folks to clear off their meters as well. Greg Shinaut with Black Hills Energy says letting snow or ice accumulate on gas meters can become a hazard. Shinaut says residents should remove snow or ice by hand or with a broom. Shinaut says not to use a shovel, as that could damage the meters. Anyone who has any questions or concerns is urged to call Black Hill Energy.

NORFOLK -Due to Thursday’s weather, officials with the Lower Elkhorn NRD postponed their Rural Water System Public Hearing and meeting scheduled for Thursday night. The new date for the meeting and public hearing will be next Tuesday, February 26^th at 6:30pm at the Lifelong Learning Center in Norfolk. The purpose of the public hearing is to establish an improvement project area for the establishment of a rural water system south of Norfolk. The system would provide drinking water for residents in the area, which includes parts of Madison and Stanton Counties, and south to Humphrey along highway 81. LENRD Manager Stan Staab says following the public hearing, the next step would be a study to determine whether or not the project is feasible. The public is invited to attend next Tuesday meeting. Testimony will be accepted in oral or written form.

THURSDAY February 21, 2013

NORFOLK – Along with the Nebraska State Patrol, both City and State workers in Norfolk spent Wednesday preparing their snow plows, blowers and other equipment. An official with the Norfolk office of the Nebraska Department of Roads says they have around 15 pieces of equipment ready to go out as snowfall dictates.

NORFOLK – Area residents are preparing for the worst as a winter storm moves into the region Thursday. Officials with Norfolk’s HyVee say they’ve been busier than usual over the past few days, as customers stock up on food and supplies, in case they find themselves stranded on Thursday. HyVee East manager Lamont Braithwait says the store has been stocking up as well.

MADISON – Law enforcement officials say being prepared is key, particularly in the rural areas. Madison County Sheriff Vern Hjorth says while they have vehicles capable of helping those that are stranded or may need supplies, they won’t be able to help everyone. Hjorth says residents should stay off the roads during a snow storm, but if you have to head out, make sure you have plenty of liquids with you, as well as blankets and extra layers of clothing.

NORFOLK – The Troop B Captain of the Nebraska State Patrol in Norfolk says he and his troopers are preparing for a serious snowfall potential, and he is asking motorists to do the same. Captain Paul Hattan says to make sure to monitor the local forecast, don’t travel unless it’s an absolute emergency and always make sure your seat belt is fastened. If you have to go out, Hattan recommends planning to drive on well traveled roads and telling someone when you leave, what route you are taking and when you plan to arrive at your destination. Motorists are encouraged to call 5-1-1 for the latest road reports or go to www.511.nebraska.gov.

NORFOLK – Nebraska State Patrol Captain Paul Hattan says if you get stranded in your car during a snowstorm, it’s wise to start your vehicle once per hour. Hattan also recommends to crack your window a little and clear the exhaust system of snow and debris. When it comes to cars sliding off the road, Hattan says the biggest factor is speed. If you do spin out of control, the first step is to let of the accelerator, then turn your vehicle’s wheels into the way of the spin.

LAUREL, Neb. (KTIV) - Two buildings in downtown Laurel are heavily damaged after an early morning fire. Laurel fire chief Craig Bathke says he believes the fire started in the Laurel BioComposite office on Main Street before dawn. Bathke says the fire then spread to the Thrivent Financial Services building. A home nearby was also evacuated. Officials say the home was not damaged. Firefighters from several area departments helped battle the blaze.

WEDNESDAY February 20, 2013

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man has been cited following the discovery of a pop-bottle bomb that was found on the campus of Northeast Community College. Police Captain Mike Bauer says 18-year old Reid Alden was cited Wednesday for possession of a destructive device. Police were dispatched to the campus at about 11:30 Wednesday morning, after receiving word of a homemade “pop-bottle” bomb located near Simon Hall. Norfolk Fire Chief Scott Cordes says three of the devices had already exploded Tuesday evening. Capt. Bauer says a fourth larger bomb was found on campus Wednesday that had not exploded, prompting a brief lockdown of the dorms. NECC executive vice president Mary Honke says four students were interviewed in relation to the incident. Bauer says no injuries or damage was reported.

NORFOLK– Along with the Nebraska State Patrol, both City and State workers in Norfolk spent Wednesday preparing their snow plows, blowers and other equipment. An official with the Norfolk office of the Nebraska Department of Roads says they have around 15 pieces of equipment ready to go out as snowfall dictates.

NORFOLK– NO snow emergency has been issued yet for the City of Norfolk, however city officials are reminding motorists about city code related to parking during a snow emergency. Norfolk Police Captain Mike Bauer says if a snow emergency is declared, parking is only allowed on the even numbered side of the street where parking is normally allowed on both sides. Parking in a cul-de-sac area is also prohibited during a snow emergency. In other parts of Northeast Nebraska, the community of Pierce has issued a snow emergency effective Thursday at 6pm.

NORFOLK– Nebraska State Patrol Captain Paul Hattan says if you get stranded in your car during a snowstorm, it’s wise to start your vehicle once per hour. Hattan also recommends to crack your window a little and clear the exhaust system of snow and debris. When it comes to cars sliding off the road, Hattan says the biggest factor is speed. If you do spin out of control, the first step is to let of the accelerator, then turn your vehicle’s wheels into the way of the spin.

NORFOLK– A Norfolk hotel has unveiled a display that pays tribute to the veterans of northeast Nebraska. A ribbon-cutting was held at Norfolk Country Inn Wednesday for their new military honor wall. The display currently features the pictures of 30 area veterans framed and on display in the hotel’s west foyer. Hotel manager Randy Dee says the display is a way to spruce up the hotel and honor some deserving residents at the same time. Dee says there’s room currently for about 20 more pictures, but that he’d be more than willing to expand the display if needed. Anyone who’d like a picture of a veteran to be displayed can bring it to the front desk of the Norfolk Country Inn.

NORFOLK - The interview process for the next Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools has officially begun. The first of five candidate interviews was held Tuesday night. Board President Brad Krivohlavek says pending weather has prompted two of the interviews to be held tonight. A fourth one will take place Friday and the final interview will take place Saturday morning. Krivohlavek says along with the school board, each candidate also meets with other local leaders. Following the last interview on Saturday morning, the board will enter into executive session where they will have discussion and hope to come to a decision. The candidates include current district director of business services for Norfolk Public Schools, Bill Robinson, Bancroft-Rosalie Superintendent Jon Cerney, Yankton Principle Wayne Kindle, Beatrice director of school programs Jami Jo Thompson and Clearwater, Kansas Superintendent Michael Roth. Whichever candidate is selected by the board will take over for current NPS Superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing whose retirement will be effective at the end of June.

NORFOLK – For years, many folks have rented the Elkhorn Cabin at Norfolk’s Ta-Ha-Zouka Park for various events. Now, a nearby building is currently undergoing a massive renovation effort to replace the aging cabin with hopes of completion by April first. During last night’s city council meeting, city leaders voted to change the name and it’s rental structure to go along with the improvements. The council passed an ordinance changing the name to “Elkhorn Lodge”. And, instead of a fee of $100 dollars for the daily rental, it will now cost $200 per day. Deposits will also be handled on a cash-only basis, instead of accepting checks. City Parks Director Pat Mrsny says the renovations are impressive. Mrsny says the old cabin will be torn down. And while the capacity of the lodge will be a few people less than the cabin, the outdoor seating capacity will increase with the addition of a new concrete pad. An outdoor classroom is also a future possibility for the area.

TUESDAY February 19, 2013

NORFOLK – Forecasters say up to eleven inches of snow could fall, and that’s affecting the search for the next superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools. The School Board has scheduled interviews with each of the five finalists for the position on each night this week, but the chance for inclement weather on Thursday has caused school officials to cancel Thursday night’s meeting. Instead, the Board will be interviewing two candidates on Wednesday, at 6 and 8:30 p.m. The board will also be conducting interviews Tuesday and Friday, and are expected to make their selection in executive session on Saturday

NORFOLK – What will be the best way to harness energy in Nebraska in 20 years? That’s a question NPPD is trying to answer. NPPD officials presented results of their 2013 integrated resource plan in Norfolk Monday. The IRP is an attempt by experts to outline how best the utility can provide energy to customers in an ever-changing market. NPPD chief operating officer Tom Kent says the key for NPPD over the next two decades is to remain flexible. Energy experts have come up with 19 different plans for utilizing energy. NPPD officials say the most cost-efficient plans include expansion of wind and nuclear energy resources, and a scale back of coal production. Officials say in the IRP report that plans that eliminate coal and increase natural gas and renewal energy sources would be more costly for the district. The NPPD Board of Directors is expected to adopt a final resource plan for the district sometime this summer.

MONDAY February 18, 2013

NORFOLK - The Board of Directors at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk say they have accepted the resignation of former CEO Jim Sinek. In a statement released Monday morning, the board says they were told Sinek is resigning to pursue an opportunity at a larger health care organization, and to make that transition before his children enter high school. Sinek resigned on Friday, having been CEO of Faith Regional since 2008. Faith Regional Board Chair Bert Lammli said in Monday’s statement that the board sees “a bright future for Faith Regional and look forward to continuing to progress under the guidance of a new CEO.” Sinek will continue to work for the hospital on an interim basis during the search for a new president and CEO.

NORFOLK – The Norfolk Area Chamber is among the groups happy that Gov. Dave Heineman has decided to scrap his initial tax plans and start over. In fact, Chamber President Dennis Houston says the Chamber hosted the governor less than 24 hours before he announced his decision on the tax bills, for a roundtable discussion in Norfolk with area businesses as well as Sens. Jim Scheer of Norfolk and Beau McCoy of Omaha. Houston says he doesn’t think the meeting on Friday was the sole reason for Heineman’s decision to kill his tax bills. But he does think the discussion certainly helped. Nucor Steek Norfolk general manager Dirk Peterson was among those who testified in Lincoln against the bills during recent hearings. Members of the Legislature’s tax policy committee have said they’ll be holding a series of hearing around the state to decide how best to modernize Nebraska’s tax code in the future.

NORFOLK – Thanks to funding from USDA Rural Development, an Elgin native couple has moved from Omaha back to their home area to work and live. And , USDA officials say there is more funding for those would like to follow the same path. USDA State Director Maxine Moul says the paper work on a home for Chris Richardson and Amanda Schindler was signed on Friday. The story for the couple began when they decided they would like to move back to the Elgin area to be closer to family instead of renting an expensive small home in the Omaha Metro area. Moul says thanks to a USDA Rural Development Guaranteed Loan Program, 100 percent of the loan funding was found at a very low interest rate. She says this is just one of the many recent examples of those moving back to a rural area. Moul says eligible communities are generally those with populations of 20,000 or less. To find out more about the program and eligibility guidelines, folks are encouraged to visit the USDA Rural Development website or see their preferred lender or realtor.

NORFOLK – It was a unique President’s Day experience for residents in Norfolk, Monday. On of four exact replicas of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin was on display at the Brockhaus-Hower-Filmer mortuary. The funeral home waited 18 months to bring the display, which is based on an 1865 photo, in on loan. Today, there’s a three-year waiting list. Along with the casket, a special presentation was held that informed attendees about Abraham Lincoln, his untimely death and the funeral procession that followed. More than 70 school students and area residents attended the program. Presenter Jeff Gould says the 6-foot-6 inch casket was extremely ornate for the time, costing $1500, which equates to about $150,000 today. The Lincoln casket will be on display again Tuesday. Then it will move on to other Brockhaus funeral homes in Creighton, Tilden and Spencer over the next two weeks.

NORFOLK – The Philanthropy Council of Northeast Nebraska has awarded 8 new youth-led project proposals with funding. The awards were handed out Saturday during the culmination of the Council’s Youth Philanthropy Contest. A total of 20 philanthropic ideas were submitted over the past few months. Tami Day with the Philanthropy Council says while the total number of submitted projects was down this year, the philanthropic focus of each project has increased. Each winner is paired with a non-profit mentor to help plan and implement their project idea. In addition, each project receives a $1,000 budget from the Philanthropy Council. Each of the projects will also be on display at the Philanthropy Council’s “Celebrate Giving” event on Saturday February 23rd.

YOUTH PHILANTHROPY CONTEST WINNERS:
“Getting a Head Start” – Norfolk Montessori 4th Grade
“Cuddles From Kids” – Jefferson Elementary
“Bags of Hope” – Norfolk JOOI Club
“Card Holders for Area Nursing Homes” – Cole Jacobsen
“Abuse No More” – Sarah Knight, Abby Robinson, Janece Paulson, Treslyn Howard
“Donate Your Birthday” – Geena Piper
“The Beauty of Your Presence” – YFC Missionary Group
“Children’s Health Education Carnival” – NECC Nursing Students

FRIDAY February 15, 2013

NORFOLK - Officials with Faith Regional Health Services confirm that President and CEO Jim Sinek is stepping down as President and CEO of the hospital. Hospital officials say Sinek tendered his resignation Friday morning, effective at 5 pm. So far, no official reason for the resignation has been given. Officials say Sinek will stay around as a consultant for the hospital while they search for an interim director. No timeline for a permanent replacement for Sinek has been set, Sinek began his career at Faith Regional in late 2008, and has served in the Hospital management field since 1990, which also included positions at hospitals in Iowa and Arizona.

NORFOLK – The Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to reform child welfare in Nebraska is worrying some shelter operators. Tracey Olson is the director of the Wesley Center Crisis Nursery in Norfolk. She wrote a letter to DHHS Director of Children and Family Services Thomas Pristow following a recent conference call, where Pristow outlined that he’d like to move away from the child shelter model by this July. Olson says she worries that would mean the end of the Crisis Nursery, which she says has been an asset for the surrounding area. Thomas Pristow with DHHS says he’s not trying to close shelters, but rather transition them from a shelter model to a family center or triage model, that he says would allow children to be moved to foster families quicker and decrease the number of state wards. Olson says she gets $146 per day for each child in her nursery, and while Pristow says that money would go to good use in the new proposed model, that is no way a motivating factor in his decisions. Pristow says he’s working with various childcare and law enforcement officials at the state and local levels to ensure that transitioning from the shelter-model to the family center-model goes smoothly this summer. But Olson says she’s not convinced, and that her experiences with the state, including the recent failed privatization effort, has fostered a deep mistrust in her. Olson says she’s been told that social workers are already being instructed to avoid sending children to shelters. Pristow denies that. Olson says there are currently no children at the Crisis Nursery, and there haven’t been any children sent to her since the beginning of the month.

NORFOLK – The search for the next Norfolk Public School superintendent is down to five finalists. School officials have announced that current district director of business services Bill Robinson is among the five finalists, joining Bancroft-Rosalie superintendent Jon Cerny, Yankton principal Wayne Kindle, Beatrice director of school programs Jami Jo Thompson and Clearwater, Kansas superintendent Michael Roth. School officials say the five will be interviewed next week, with the new superintendent to be announced sometime in April.

NORFOLK – A U.S. Representative from Nebraska says the national budget drama is just beginning. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry met with members of the Norfolk Area Chamber via video conference call Thursday afternoon. Fortenberry said that while the “fiscal cliff” was averted in January, there will likely be similar scenarios in the weeks ahead, as lawmakers navigate possible mandatory spending cuts and a debt ceiling debate. Fortenberry said the goal has been set in the House to balance the budget within 10 years. Fortenberry said he believes the House will end up taking the lead in budget talks, and that ultimately a new budget will get passed.

NEAR NIOBRARA (KTIV) – After years of legal battles with the State of Nebraska, some members of a northeast Nebraska Indian tribe thought they would never build a new casino. Today, the Santee Sioux Tribe’s Ohiya Casino will celebrate the grand opening of it’s new $20 million facility. But casino officials wondered if they’d get to see customers again. That’s because the tribe was mired in a costly legal battle with the State. State officials said the casino’s “Vegas style” machines were illegal. The tribe replaced them with “bingo style” machines. Still, the state objected and, the case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court dismissed the case. In 2011, the tribe began building a new 61,000 square foot casino just down the highway near Niobrara. There will also be twice as many employees working there. Officials are optimistic the new casino will create more growth in the area, for projects like apartments and businesses along highway 12.

HOMER, Neb. (AP) - Officials have reached an informal agreement to sell portions of a northeast Nebraska ranch that’s been used for years by Nebraska and Iowa Boy Scouts. John McCollister of the Boy Scouts Mid-America Council in Omaha says the agreement includes about 360 acres of the Thomas Ashford Scout Ranch. The ranch covers a total of about 600 acres a few miles west of the Missouri River in rural Homer. The buyer would use the 360 acres for hunting. McCollister wouldn’t discuss the price or identify the buyer.

NORFOLK – Representatives from NPPD will be in Norfolk next week to review results of an energy resource plan. NPPD officials say the Integrated Resource Plan is a 20-year glimpse into the future of energy resource usage by NPPD. They say the plan serves as an economic planning tool for the district. The Norfolk meeting will be held at the Divots Conference Center in Norfolk from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday.

NORFOLK – A replica of the coffin that Abraham Lincoln was buried in will be traveling northeast Nebraska to commemorate Lincoln’s birthday. The coffin replica will be at the at Norfolk’s Brockhaus Funeral Home Monday and Tuesday, and organizers say it is an almost exact replica of the coffin Lincoln was buried in. Replicas have been made for 20 years, and are loaned out to funeral homes across the nation for those who want to commemorate the 16th president. The replica will also make stops at other Brockhaus funeral homes in Tilden, Creighton and Spencer.

THURSDAY February 14, 2013

NORFOLK - The ongoing drought in Nebraska has many farmers scrambling for ways to protect their crops and livelihoods. With that in mind, the Natural Resource Conservation Service hosted a workshop on no-till, cover crops and grazing in Norfolk Wednesday. Speakers from all over the Midwest discussed the various ways farmers can guard against the drought’s affects. Joyce Reicks with the Pierce County NRCS says current conditions have farmers more interested in cover crops than ever before. Reicks says cover crops have shown to have benefits beyond livestock forages, including conserving moisture in the soil.

HOWELLS (KTIV) – With the drought conditions still persisting and the planting season just a few months away, producers are already concerned. Ron Coufal is the President of CTC Farms, a feedlot near Howells. On the feedlot alone, they can have up to 5,000 head of cattle. They grow corn to feed the cattle and on a good year, they market the extra. With a year like last year, that didn’t happen because “mother” wasn’t so nice. Coufal said “We did chop quite a bit of corn last year. The yields in our clay soils in western Cuming County was from zero to 55 on dry land yields and so most of that corn was taken as forage.” Coufal says they had to cut a third of their acres for silage, about 900 acres, and turned it into feed. He says they always have a plan B. Keeping a positive attitude, but knowing the formula it takes to succeed isn’t always in his control, Coufal says it’s going to take timely rains through the majority of the Corn Belt to raise that bumper crop that we are going to need. Coufal is hoping “mother” will be on their side, and he moving optimistically forward.

WEDNESDAY February 13, 2013

MADISON - A Norfolk city official is one of several defendants in a civil suit accused of intentional fraud, forgery and civil conspiracy. The city’s operations manager, Gary Miller, is among a group that was sued in Madison County District Court last Thursday by Norman and Virginia Raasch of Norfolk. The Rassch’s claim that Miller and his business partners, Chris Mejstrik of Howells and Jay Hansen and Steven Blocher of West Point, fooled them in 2004 into forgiving $545,000 of a $900,000 loan connected to the sale of land just west of Faith Regional Health Services. The Raasch’s attorney, David Domina of Omaha, says the defendants used deception to reduce the amount of the loan connected to the purchase price. Miller issued a statement this week saying “This claim has no merit. I expect to defend myself successfully in court and I have no further comment at this time.” Norfolk Mayor Sue Fuchtman says the city has taken no action against Miller at this time. The lawsuit against the group is civil, and not criminal in nature. An initial court date in the lawsuit has yet to be scheduled.

HOSKINS - A chimney fire caused damage to a home near Hoskins Tuesday evening. Hoskins/Woodland Park Fire Chief Russ Doffin says crews were called to the Mike and Mandy Tomasek home around 8:44pm where they found a fire in the chimney area of the home. Flames could also be seen coming through the roof. Doffin says 15 firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and were on scene until 10:30pm. While there is no estimate of the damage yet, Doffin says most of the damage was limited to the roof and a few rafters of the home. A full report on the blaze is still in the process of being filed.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man is working on plans to develop and open a private school in his native African country. Joe Mtika says his vision is to replicate the education system here in the U.S. and take it to his native country of Malawi. He says because of the need for schools, it’s not uncommon in Malawi to see one teacher with 100 students or more in their classroom and many of the facilities in the densely populated area are dilapidated. While the school will eventually be a K-12 school, Mtika says it will includes grades 6 thru 12 initially. Mtika says he will be going to Malawi soon to help get the school registered with the hopes of starting classes in a temporary location this September, giving it the name “Norfolk Private Schools Malawi”. One partner has already stepped forward. Mtika says Norfolk Public Schools has donated 100 computers. Mtika says anyone who would like to help with the project can do so by donating books and other school related items or by making monetary donations. An account has been established at Norfolk’s BankFirst. More information can also be found by contacting the First Presbyterian Church in Norfolk.

TUESDAY February 12, 2013

OMAHA (KTIV) – State regulators have cited a company following an incident in Norfolk last fall that killed one worker and injured another at the Nucor Steel Plant. In October, authorities say 58-year-old Perry Hoemann of Hoskins died after being struck by a large piece of steel. Another man, 49-year-old Harold Claussen Jr of Norfolk was hurt. Authorities say the two men were cutting a steel counter-weight off an old piece of machinery when it broke loose and hit them and the payloader they were in. Nebraska’s OSHA office issued two citations to Tube City IMS, LLC. One citation is for employees being exposed to a “slip and fall hazard” while working in the bucket of the loader. The other is for employees being exposed to a “struck by hazard from gravity” while removing the counterweights. The total penalty is $14,000. The company has 15 days to accept or contest the violations.

NORFOLK – Four teens were injured in a one-vehicle accident in Norfolk Monday evening. Police Captain Mike Bauer says the vehicle was east bound on Maple Avenue near Skyview Park around 8:15 p.m. Monday, when the 16-year old driver lost control of the vehicle due to speed. Bauer says the driver over-corrected, causing the car to spin, catch the curb and flip, landing on its top. Four juveniles were in the vehicle at the time of the accident. All four were taken to Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk with unspecified injuries.

NORFOLK – A Norfolk man is facing charges of domestic abuse and false reporting after police say he was caught on tape harming himself in an attempt to get a woman arrested. Police Captain Mike Bauer says 39-year old Eric Swanson was arrested around noon Monday. Swanson had originally called police to say that he’d been cut by a woman. When police arrived, the woman said that the two had gotten into a physical altercation. The woman recorded some of the altercation on video, which police say showed Swanson cutting his own hand with a knife. Swanson was arrested and has been released on cash bond.

NORFOLK – The search for a new director of teaching and learning for the Norfolk Public school district is officially on. The School Board of Education accepted the resignation of current director of teaching Bob Hastings at their meeting Monday, effective at the end of the school year. Hastings recently accepted the position of superintendent of the Gering school district. Norfolk Superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing says Hastings has been a valuable asset for the district. Hastings’ departure marks the continuation of a new wave of administrators entering the district. Superintendent Uhing is also retiring at the end of the school year, while Norfolk High School has a new principal this year.

NORFOLK – Teachers in the Norfolk Public school district are getting a raise. The School Board of Education Monday approved a new contract with the Norfolk City Education Association. School officials say the new contract is equal to a 3.1% increase in the total compensation package. Superintendent Dr. Marlene Uhing says both sides had to work hard at finding a new contract that worked, given all the new health care requirements associated with the federal health care law. The NCEA approved the contract as well Monday morning.

NORFOLK – The science curriculum at Norfolk Public High School is getting a bit of a makeover. School director of teaching and learning Bob Hastings informed the Board of Education Monday that staff have been working on ways to accommodate the move from a 20 credit to 30 credit graduation requirement. Hastings says the classes serve as an alternative to the more traditional chemistry class. Hastings says the classes are designed for students who don’t plan to pursue a career in a science related field.

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