Local News

Last updated at 6:05 am on July 30, 2010

NORFOLK--  A building that has been part of Downtown Norfolk since 1972 was torn down Thursday to make way for the new Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center.  The building at 7th and Norfolk Avenue started as a Kentucky Fried Chicken and was later converted to a deli sandwich shop.  Once complete, the new one-stop-shop for business and economic development will house seven organizations and be one of only three LEED certified green Chamber buildings in the country.  Norfolk Chamber President Dennis Houston says a ground breaking is planned for September 8th.  Construction will continue through the fall, winter and spring months with the goal of moving into the facility in the summer of 2010.  Chamber leaders have also announced that they have reached 85 percent of their fund raising goal of 2-million dollars.  They say even though construction is set to begin, they willl continue to solicit contributions to the new facility.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)--  Nebraska's US senators are split on a bill that would create a $30 billion government fund to help open up lending for credit-starved small businesses.  Sen. Mike Johanns voted Thursday with 40 other Republicans to
block the bill, noting that his amendment to the bill has been blocked. That amendment would repeal a provision of the new health care overhaul requiring businesses to file extra tax paperwork if they spend $600 or more in goods from another business throughout the year.  Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson voted to end debate on the small business lending bill to allow a vote on it.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)--  Nebraska is reporting its first cases of West Nile virus this year. Health officials say a Scotts Bluff
County man in his fifties and a Colfax County man in his forties tested positive for the illness. The Scotts Bluff County man was hospitalized for treatment but has since been released.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)--  About 300 Nebraska National Guard soldiers ship out this weekend for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. A farewell ceremony will be held Saturday morning at Hawks Field in Lincoln for the members of the 1-134th Cavalry Squadron.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)--  Mike Meister has made his candidacy for governor official by filing paperwork at the state Capitol. The 49-year-old lawyer replaced Mark Lakers as the Democratic candidate to challenge Republican Gov. Dave Heineman. Lakers dropped out amid allegations he inflated or falsified campaign-finance filings.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)--  A North Dakota environmental group wants government regulators to investigate whether a Canadian company used faulty steel in the construction of a pipeline that moves crude oil from Canada through six states.  Dickinson-based Dakota Resource Council says TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone pipeline used steel from a supplier that has had problems with steel in other pipelines. TransCanada spokesman Terry Cunha says the group's worries are unfounded.

NORFOLK--  A 28-year-old Norfolk woman was arrested on drug  and other charges Wednesday evening after she was caught shoplifting from a Norfolk business. Norfolk Police say Sheena Aesop had taken several items from ALCO, and during the investigation she was found to have a glass pipe and crystal meth.  Aesoph was arrested for shoplifting, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  She has been transferred to the Madison County Jail.   

WAYNE, Neb. (AP)--  Lockable prescription drug containers will be handed out this week's Wayne County Fair to make it harder for the drugs to be abused.  Wayne State College plans to hand out the secure drug containers to make it harder for teens and others to get access to prescription medicine.  The college's Kathy Mohfeld says a 2009 federal report suggested that one out of five high school students in the United States had taken a prescription drug without a proper prescription.  Mohfeld says locking up powerful painkillers and other drugs can help control the problem.  A grant paid for the drug containers.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)--  Residents have one last chance to stand up and be counted in the 2010 census.  Friday is the last day people who think they have not been counted in the census can call and complete questionnaires via phone interviews.  The number is 1-866-872-6868.  Preliminary figures released in the spring showed the return rate of census forms in Nebraska was 76 percent, compared to 72 percent nationally.  In the fall, the Census Bureau will release final mail-return rates after census workers double-check the occupancy status of all households that didn't return a form.

NORFOLK--  By now, we've all heard of the video game "rock band".  It gives you a chance to live out your dream of playing in a superstar band in front of a roaring crowd.  For a large group of Norfolk teens, that dream became reality this week.  Norfolk's Midwest Music Center hosted it's 5th annual Rock Band Camp, which is an opportunity for musicians ages 12 to 19 to learn more about forming a band and playing in front of a live audience.  All week they were taught by professional musicians who instructed them on instrument techniques, concert promotions, recording, rehearsals, behind the scenes work and more.   As a finale to the camp, the students held a concert in front of a live audience Thursday night where they played three songs.  One of them was a "challenge" song in which they took a country song and arranged it in the style of rock 'n roll. 

NORFOLK--  The deadline for Northeast Nebraskans to help area children getting ready to head back to school is quickly approaching.  The Norfolk Salvation Army and the Childhood Prevention Council have once again teamed up for the annual “Stuff The Bus” promotion.  Lt. Heather Montenegro of the Salvation Army says the annual event is designed to make sure all children have a chance to start off the school year on the right foot.  She says the program provides them with backpacks, school supplies, clothing needs and a haircut.  Lt Heather says they are in need of a variety of items you’ll find on all of the school supply lists including pink erasers, spiral notebooks, 3-ring binders, loose leaf paper, backpacks and a variety of clothing items.  Monetary donations are also welcome.  Donations need to be in to the Salvation Army by August 7th to allow them time to prepare for the distribution day which is set for August 14th.  The deadline for families to register for assistance is this Saturday. 

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