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Category: Obituaries

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL TEAM DOWNS NORTHWESTERN, 3-1

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Lincoln, Neb.- The No. 10 Nebraska volleyball team (23-6, 15-5) sent the 2012 seniors out in fashion on Saturday night as the Huskers topped Northwestern 3-1 (25-15, 25-22, 20-25, 25-21) in front of 4,092 fans at the NU Coliseum.

Hannah Werth led the Huskers on the night with a double-double, including a team-high 17 kills and 13 digs to go along with a .342 hitting percentage. Gina Mancuso recorded 13 kills and eight digs for NU. Lauren Cook also notched a double-double on the evening, with 45 assists and 10 digs. Meghan Haggerty led the Husker block with six.

Nebraska hit .261 as a team, while Northwestern notched a .209 hitting percentage. The Huskers out-blocked the Wildcats 14-7.

The Huskers win over Northwestern also marked the final regular season volleyball match to be played in the historic NU Coliseum.  The volleyball team will move to a renovated Devaney Center next fall.   The Coliseum has been home to Nebraska Volleyball since 1975, where NU has posted 524 victories.    The building opened in 1926, and was home to NU basketball until 1976.  The main basketball/volleyball court ran north/south, until the Coliseum was remodeled in 1991, and the volleyball court was changed to east/west on the south side of the arena, creating an intimate home court advantage for the Big Red. Since 1992, NU has collected 342 victories.

The Huskers will now wait until Sunday at 3 p.m. CST when the 2012 NCAA Tournament field is announced live on ESPNU. If the Huskers are selected as one of the 16 host sites for the first and second rounds tickets will go on sale Sunday at 7 p.m. on Huskers.com and will be available by visiting or calling the NU Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED starting Monday at 8 a.m.

 

GO BIG RED FOOTBALL 13, IOWA 7

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Iowa City, Iowa – No. 17 Nebraska used a stifling defense and a punishing running game to down Iowa, 13-7, in the HyVee Heroes Game Friday afternoon.

The Huskers (10-2 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) held the Hawkeyes to just 200 yards, and kept Iowa off the scoreboard over the final 45 minutes picking up their sixth consecutive victory. With the win, the Huskers will play for their third conference title in four years, when they take on Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game next Saturday evening in Indianapolis.

Nebraska’s seniors shined against the Hawkeyes, as Alonzo Whaley and Eric Martin turned in career afternoons in helping the Huskers to their sixth straight win. Alonzo Whaley totaled a career-high 11 tackles and capped his day with an interception of Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg with 2:11 remaining.

Martin spent most of the afternoon in the Iowa backfield, totaling seven tackles, three tackles for loss, including a sack, forced a fumble and had two quarterback hurries in holding Vandenberg to just 11-of-24 passing for 92 yards and a pair of interceptions.

The Huskers rushed for 200 yards on the ground battling wind chills in the teens and a wind gusts that made passing a chore. Rex Burkhead made his return in the second half after missing the last four games, rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, as his 3-yard scoring run with 3:10 left in the third quarter gave the Huskers the lead for good.

All four of the Huskers primary ball carriers had at least 40 yards on the ground, with Ameer Abdullah (50) and Braylon Heard (46) combining for nearly 100 rushing yards, while Martinez carried 16 times for 41 yards and completed 8-of-14 passes for 63 yards in blustery conditions.

Iowa lost its sixth straight game and ends its season with a 4-8 mark, including a 2-5 Big Ten record. The Hawkeyes have now dropped five straight games to the Huskers dating back to 1982.

Nebraska took the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards on 15 plays into a 25 mile per hour wind before Brett Maher’s 26-yard field goal put the Huskers on the board. Nebraska ran 14 times for 72 yards and took 8:09 before the Hawkeyes touched the ball. Abdullah rushed nine times for 32 yards, as Nebraska went 3-for-4 on third down conversions on the opening drive. Nebraska totaled 75 of its 93 first-half yards on its first possession, as its opening march was the longest of the season in both plays and time.

Iowa came right back on its opening possession, going 62 yards in 12 plays, capped by a Vandenberg one-yard TD run. After three straight runs to open the drive, Vandenberg found CJ Fiedorowicz for a 25-yard gain to the Nebraska 25-yard line. Mark Weisman, who carried eight times for 33 yards on Iowa’s first drive, put the Hawkeyes on the doorstep before Vandenberg snuck in to take a 7-3 lead.

The Huskers held Weisman for check most of the day, as he finished with 91 yards on 29 carries and did not have a run over 12 yards.

The Blackshirts came up big at opportune times throughout the first half, as Iowa forced a pair of Husker turnovers, but finished with nothing, as the Nebraska trailed 7-3 at the half. Iowa’s longest drive after its opening score was 24 yards, as the Blackshirts held Iowa to three plays or less on five of its seven second-half possessions.

Nebraska’s defense came up big after a fumbled punt return put the ball at the Iowa 41-yard. The Hawkeyes drove to the NU 39 where Martin stopped Weisman on 4-and-1 to give the Huskers possession. On the Huskers’ next drive Nebraska drove into Iowa territory, but Louis Trinca-Pasat recovered a Martinez fumble at the Iowa 48-yard line. Iowa got to the 28-yard line, but would get no closer. Daimion Stafford broke up a pass in the end zone Intended for Zach Darby on first down before Martin stopped Weisman for a three-yard loss on second down and forced an incomplete pass on third down, as Iowa was forced to punt.

Iowa had one more shot on its final drive of the half, as Micah Hyde’s 29-yard punt return got the ball to the Husker 42-yard line. Iowa drove to the NU 19, but was unable to capitalize, as Mark Meyer missed a 42-yard field goal into the wind with four seconds left in the half.

The Huskers forced Iowa to a three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half before running a 10-play drive which featured the return to action by Burkhead, who had not played since the Northwestern game. The senior I-back kept the drive alive with a 5-yard run on 4th-and-1 at Nebraska’s 44 before Martinez found Ben Cotton on a 14-yard pass to the Iowa 32. NU’s drive stalled before Maher connected on a 54-yard field goal to pull Nebraska within 7-6.

Cotton, who played his high school ball in Ames, Iowa, led NU with three catches for 39 yards.

The Blackshirts gave the Huskers great field position after Stafford intercepted a Vandenberg pass that was tipped by Ciante Evans and returned it to the Iowa 49-yard line. NU was unable to sustain a drive and Maher pinned the Hawkeyes at its 10-yard line.

Maher averaged 43.2 yards on his four punts, including a pair of punts that pinned the Hawkeyes inside the 20-yard line, and added a pair of field goals. Maher has now made his last six field goals and is 18-of-24 on the season.

Nebraska forced another 3-and-out and got the ball at the Iowa 43 yard line after the punt. The Huskers, who had just 48 yards after the opening drive, needed just 1:35 to go 43 yards and take a 13-7 lead. Martinez found Cotton for 19 yards on first down before Heard went 18 yards to the Iowa 6-yard line. Two plays later, Burkhead found the end zone, scoring from three yards out to give Nebraska a 13-7 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, Iowa pinned Nebraska at its 1-yard line after a 61-yard punt, but Burkhead and Abdullah kept the chains moving to get NU out of the shadow of its own end zone. Burkhead carried the pile on gains of nine and eight yards while Abdullah gained a crucial first down before the Huskers were forced to punt.

Iowa got the ball at its 42, but were unable to gain a first down and forced to punt. Iowa had one final chance and had the ball at its 27-yard line with 3:31 left, but Whaley’s interception ended the Hawkeyes’ comeback hopes.

Scoring Summary
Final: No. 17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7
Friday, Nov. 23, 2012
Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa)

First Quarter (Iowa, 7-3)
NEB – 6:51 – Brett Maher 26 field goal – 16 plays, 73 yards, 8:09 (NEB, 3-0)
IOWA – 0:28 – James Vandenberg 1 run – 12 plays, 62 yards, 6:23 (Iowa, 7-3)

Third Quarter (Nebraska, 13-7)
NEB – 9:30 – Brett Maher 52 field goal – 10 plays, 30 yards, 3:58 (Iowa, 7-6)
NEB – 3:10 – Rex Burkhead 3 run – 4 plays,43 yards, 1:35 (NEB, 13-7)

Final: No. 17 Nebraska 13, Iowa 7
Attendance: 69,805
Time of Game: 3:05
Game Start: 11:07 p.m. (central)

40,301 DEER HARVESTED DURING FIREARM SEASON

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Photo courtesy of Nebraska Games & Parks

 

LINCOLN, Neb. – Preliminary reports reveal that 40,301 deer were harvested during the November 10-18 firearm season, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. That is a decline of 27 percent from the 2011 record firearm season harvest of 55,400.

In addition to large numbers of deer lost to epizootic hemorrhagic disease, deer populations, permit sales and hunting success were impacted by a record drought and the elimination of Earn-A-Buck rules in some management units, where a doe had to be checked in before or at the same time as a buck.

The harvest total includes any type of hunting permit that was legal during the nine-day season.

Northeast Nebraska had the largest decline in harvest, while southwest had the least decline. Harvest by region, compared to 2011, was as follows:

Northeast – 8,040 deer (down 43 percent), Panhandle/Northwest – 5,505 deer (down 15 percent), Southeast – 10,870 deer (down 34 percent), Southwest – 15,886 deer (down 14 percent).


North American Hunter

NEB UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN IN OCT

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   Nebraska’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a point in October to 3.8%. That’s down 6-10ths of a point from last year and less than half of the national jobless rate of 7.9%.

The unemployment rate for Omaha actually rose a tenth of a point last month to 3.9%, but that’s still an improvement of 7-10ths of a point from a year ago. Lincoln was at 3.2%…also up a tenth of a point for the month, but 4-10th of a point lower than last year.

In the Panhandle, the Scottsbluff Micropolitan Statistical Area…which includes Scotts Bluff and Banner counties…had the same numbers as Omaha: an increase of a tenth of a point to 3.9%.

The numbers for all three are not adjusted for seasonal factors the way the state figures are, making direct comparisons meaningless.

Nebraska Commissioner of Labor and Director of Economic Development Catherine Lang says the positive report reflects good weather…which is keeping construction numbers up…and growth in a variety of industries.

Lang says Nebraska’s non-farm employment is close to a million jobs…an increase of about 3,600 from September  and over 10,000 more than a year ago…a 1.07% increase.

The three industries showing the largest job gains over the past 12 months were Mining and Construction, Education and Health Services, and Manufacturing.

FISCHER NAMES TOP STAFFERS

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U.S. Senator-elect Deb Fischer has chosen two Nebraskans as her top staffers.Nebraska Public Service Commission executive director Mike Hybl will be her chief of staff while Dustin Vaughan will serve as Fischer’s state director.

Hybl has directed the PSC staff since 2007 and is a past president of the Nebraska Trucking Association.Vaughan was Fischer’s legislative aide in the Unicameral before becoming legal counsel to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee…which she chaired.

UNL DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED

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The University of Nebraska-Lincoln recognized top Nebraska high school seniors for their academic excellence Oct. 30 at the 2012 Distinguished Scholars Recognition Dessert Reception. These distinguished scholars have demonstrated a high level of ability and a strong commitment to superior performance in academics as indicated by their class ranking, combined with their ACT or SAT test scores. All Nebraska National Merit semifinalists, National Hispanic Scholars and National Achievement Scholars were also recognized.

The Distinguished Scholars Recognition Dessert Reception at the Nebraska Union culminated a full day of events for the scholars. Distinguished Scholars Day gives students the opportunity to learn more about the academic programs offered at UNL through the University Honors Program. Students and parents learned about the numerous academic opportunities for students at UNL ranging from research to international experiences to campus resources.

Following is a list of Distinguished Scholars by school (the student’s hometown is included in parentheses where it differs from the name of the school):

Ainsworth: Conner Kozisek.

Allen: Hannah Finnegan (Newcastle).

Alliance: Kacey Horn.

Arlington: Austin Sampson.

Ashland-Greenwood: Lily Sundermeier (Greenwood), Amanda Washburn (Ashland), Kylie Washburn (Greenwood).

Auburn: Sofia Giles-Hnida.

Aurora: Julia Sullivan.

Battle Creek: Courtney Fuks, Driana Garcia (Meadow Grove).

Beatrice: Travis Eubanks.

Bellevue East: Ryan Boyland, Chayce Kenny, Kyle Kenny, Hannah Peck, Zachary Smith, Michaela Sullivan.

Bellevue West: Alexander Gangwish, Kevin Hanna, Maxwell Lydiatt, Ashley Weed.

Bennington: Jacob Bliss, Jacob Greenwood, Tyler Stansberry.

Blair: Seth Berggren, Amy Demers, Ashley Jennings (Fort Calhoun), Ryan Jensen, Alexander Johnson, Matthew Martens, Deidre Sandall.

Bloomfield: Dakota Burgerhoff.

Boone Central: Eleanor Wagner (Petersburg).

Broken Bow: Levi French, Alyssa Hunt.

Centennial: Dalton Dey (Gresham).

Central City: Amanda Dale.

Central City Nebraska Christian: Kimberly Deichmann, Jahn Landrigan (Broken Bow).

Centura: Nathan Heinz (Cairo).

Chadron: Lane Chasek, Terran Merriman-Honerkamp, Dillon Vogt.

Chambers: Corbin Rasmussen (O’Neill).

Clearwater: Travis Martin (Orchard).

Columbus: Madison Burger, Jacob Jenson, Patrick Keep, Victoria Mckinney, Cody Myers, Kelsy Neil, Fayth Ryan, Amanda Sealock.

Columbus Scotus: Derek Lahm, Ian Robak, Tara Starzec, Austin Wendt, Charrissa Zuerlein (Bellwood).

Council Bluffs St. Albert: Faye Assmann (Omaha).

Crete: Alexis Page.

Crofton: Brayton Hagge (Fordyce).

Cross County: Caleb Tweeten (Stromsburg).

Douglas County West: Colin Schnoes (Yutan).

Elkhorn: Andrew Berger, Drew Dudley, Jesse Elser, Karl Frazier, Sawyer Nietfeld, Colton Roessner, Leanna Willer.

Elkhorn Mount Michael: John Choi, Peter DeWald (Omaha), Hunter Hottovy (Waterloo), Joseph Kucirek (Omaha), Paul Kujawa (Omaha).

Elkhorn South: Kyle Cook, Connor Dietrich, Vaishnavi Ganesan, Lindsey Hollmann, Justin Isaacson, Blake Johnson, Garrett Kraudy, Cameron Maciejewski, Elyse Mancuso, Mallorie Wright.

Elmwood-Murdock: Stephan Stout (Louisville).

Eustis-Farnam: Hunter Ringenberg (Johnson Lake).

Exeter-Milligan: Blake Papik (Exeter), Jennifer Pribyl (Milligan).

Franklin: Joshua Siel.

Fremont: Davis Batten, James Howard, Jesse Kramme, Emily Krohn, Jacob Pribnow Ames, LaVonne Reed, Shannon Rezac, Rachel Samuelson, Sebastian Sorensen, Donald Steffensmeier, Trevor Wiegert.

Fremont Bergan: Thomas Fryklind.

Gordon-Rushville: Sara Marlatt (Gordon).

Gothenburg: Morgan Kowalewski.

Grand Island: Olivia Exstrum, Preston Fegley, Daniel Hauschild, Kali Kohlhof, Jordan McElligott, Riley Menagh.

Grand Island Central Catholic: Taylor Hayes, Jacob Jarecke, Catherine Sokol.

Gretna: Anna Elbracht, Elise Gahan (Omaha), Andrew Osborn.

Hartington: Rachel Flaugh.

Hartington Cedar Catholic: Katelyn Dickes (Fordyce).

Hastings: Adam Heyen, Grace Kelly, Trevor Rosno, Alyssa Ziemba.

Hastings St. Cecilia: Olivia Thomas.

Heartland: Ashley Quiring (Henderson).

Home school: Grace Eckstrom (Stanton), Josiah Krutz (Omaha), Carl Rohman (Lincoln), James Waters (Papillion).

Homer: Abigail Hall (Hubbard).

Kearney: Steven Lesher, Timothy Smith, Derrick Williams, Alexander Woodside.

Kearney Catholic: Michael Jensen.

Laurel-Concord: Katie Gubbels (Laurel), Ryan Lunz (Laurel).

Lawrence-Nelson: Levi Schroer (Nelson).

Lincoln Christian: Sara Gronewold, Andrea Jones, Joel Mohrmann, Susanna Zach.

Lincoln East: Rahmeen Bahramzad, Benjamin Bradley, Casey Christensen, Steven Christy, Nolan Cooney, Melanie Heermann, Timothy Kubert, Nikolas Leger, Jennifer Matthes, Kailee Pedersen, Makenzie Petersen, Brady Pramberg, Ravi Raghani, Thomas Rasmussen, Victoria Schlitt, Micah Summerlin, Nathaniel Wei, Abigail Wild.

Lincoln High: Gage Niemann, Astrid Ramsay (Roca), Itahi Sanchez, Shawn Wimer.

Lincoln Lutheran: Holly Atterbury, Hannah Bell, Rachel Meinke, Clara Rich.

Lincoln North Star: Marissa Schild, Megan Woodard.

Lincoln Northeast: Kasi Abbenhaus, Dakoda Kilzer, Pamela McLeod, Tanner Pfeiffer, Breanna Traupe.

Lincoln Pius X: Dale Allder, Samuel Baker, Sheila Boothe, Ellen Cook, Jayme Cox (DeWitt), Mary Driewer, Robert Gibson, Rose Medill, Benjamin Swanson, Jordan Verplank.

Lincoln Southeast: Noah Eno, Nathaniel Furr, Bailey Heil, Anna Higgins, Madison Joutras, Avi Knecht, Eileen McLean, Daniel Pacheco Ceballo, Andrew Peterson, Luke Peterson, Tyler Rediger, Matthew Strasburger, Andrew Arkebauer.

Lincoln Southwest: Jackson Bauer, Maranda Frey, Nicholas Knopik, Ashlyn Lee, Hunter Miller, Pujaa Rajan.

Logan View: Dylan Dam (Hooper).

Louisville: Jordan Beck, Kathryn Edwards.

Malcolm: Mikayla Locke.

McCook: Veronica Bair (Culbertson), Cashous Bortner, Kelsey Siebrandt.

Meridian: Desiree Bartels (Tobias).

Milford: Julia Mitchell (Beaver Crossing), Aaron Steckly.

Millard North: Nabilaa Azimi, Katherine Baxter, Brett Begley, Yasmeen Bora, Tyler Chen, Hannah Christian, Katherine Downey, Cole Edick (Waterloo), Cale Ewald, Jeanette Fendrick, Emma Flynn, Curtis Focht, Nathan Ghanavati, Kristen Gjesdahl, Christian Hanson, Max Headlee, Mitchell Hineline, Jacob Hock, Garrett Hoie, Rohan Khazanchi, David Kreis, Victoria Longley, Collin Macdonald, Emma Mazour, Kelson McCollum, Jesse Mu, Mark Peters, Daniel Reumund, Samantha St. Clair, Allison Schlender, Allyson Shirley, Shashwat Sitesh, Nathan Tibbels, Davis Vinckier, Vaibhav Viswanathan, Peter Xu, Tailong Xu.

Millard South: Jared Hill, Cole Nardini, Allison Nichols, Kimberly Sharp.

Millard West: Samantha Anderson, Caleb Ashton, Stephen Bloom, Mitchell Bruckner, Asmini KC, Dylan King, Neil Morrissette, James Pettay, John Spady, Amanda Van Sant, Zachary Wagner, Caitlin Welty, Samuel Wendt.

Minden: Alex Raun.

Morrison Academy: Manizha Kholmatov (Lincoln).

Mother of Divine Grace: Matthew Anderson (Bellevue), Mariah Ayers (Omaha).

Mullen: Matthew Furrow.

Nebraska City Lourdes: James O’Neil (Dunbar).

Norfolk: Bret Evert, Jonathan Ingram.

Norfolk Catholic: Peter Lux, Amy Miller, Brennan Roche.

Norris: Elli Dearmont (Hickman), Shelby Dorn (Beatrice), Hanna Flamme (Lincoln), Jared Kaser (Lincoln), Rachel Kechely (Roca), Anthony Mainelli (Roca), Janelle Mitchell (Roca), Luke Monhollon (Roca).

North Platte: Thomas Beckmann, Trevor Smith.

North Platte St. Patrick: Adam Pasquinelly, Margaret Vinton.

Omaha Brownell-Talbot: Alison Brockman, Andrew Chen, Emma Hussain, Zhiyu Liu.

Omaha Burke: Austin Derby, Hannah Evans, Joseph Gomez, Scott Irvin, Matthew Kent, Caroline McLeese, Aaron Zipursky.

Omaha Central: Lauren Bandel, Violet Brusnahan, Ross Harding, Clara Harlow, Maureen Kalkowski-Farra, Clare Patterson, Madelyn Pospisil, Marika Svolos, Giselle Tran, Evan White, Avery Zaleski.

Omaha Christian Academy: Jack Medlin.

Omaha Concordia: Jonathon Misiewicz (Bellevue).

Omaha Creighton Prep: Tobin Brown, Sean Brudney, Matthew Cervantes (Papillion), Samuel Davey, Patrick Fisher, Ryan Forney, Joseph Gehringer, Jonathan Henderson, Connor Kerschinske, Jackson Koehler, Sean Kuehl, Jonathon Latka, Robert Leddy, Alexander Lester (Papillion), Andrew McIntosh (Papillion), Nicholas Mullen, Nikolaos Piperis, John Porter Jr., Cameron Troshynski.

Omaha Duchesne: Catherine Carroll, Zoe Cohen, Emily Crnkovich, Jaclyn Grode, Erica Hedrick, Gina Keplinger, Erin Laughlin, Margaret Marx, Anna Petrow (Elkhorn), Olivia Straka, Melissa Ulrich (La Vista), Pooja Varman.

Omaha Gross: Kevin Humlicek (Bellevue), Paige Krupa, Sami Morford, Jessica Wilson (Papillion).

Omaha Marian: Kathryn Blaser, Megan Han, Elizabeth Hupp, Emily Mccusker, Nicola McCutcheon, Michaela Smith, Claire Sonderman, Megan Woodruff.

Omaha Mercy: Abigail Culp (Bellevue), Emily Dyer (Elkhorn), Allie Hennes, Jennifer Novotny.

Omaha North: Steven Hansen, John Heires, Douglas Rowen, Austin Schmidt.

Omaha Northwest: Connor Bergin.

Omaha Roncalli: James Bilek, Anthony Kitt.

Omaha Skutt: Mackenzie Hagge, Benjamin Harrison, Kathryn Kerins, Clare Koneck-Wilcox, Abigail Krone, Zachary Legband, Margaret Moore, Ann Moylan, Hannah Parry, Brenna Rossi.

Omaha Westside: Taylor Bosch, Grant Duin, Ellen Frederickson, Aaron Glazer, Joe Hack, Carolyn Hanus, Gabriel Levin, Andrew McVea, Mackenzie Mikkelsen (Bennington), Margaret Novoa, Matthew ODell.

Osmond: Laurel Krohn.

Papillion-La Vista: Trevor Borer (Papillion), Mark Casper (Papillion), Michael Casper (Papillion), Jacqueline Florick (Papillion), Alison Legett (Papillion), Connor McLaughlin (La Vista), Alyx Olney (La Vista), Michael Sempek (Omaha), Mark Tentinger (La Vista), Daniel Woodworth (Papillion).

Papillion-La Vista South: Nicholas Brockman (Papillion), Cassandra Cosimi (Bellevue), Alexandria Curttright Omaha, Nicole Eagin (Papillion), Daniel Forsyth (Papillion), Krysten Fries (Bellevue), Hannah Guritz (Papillion), Justin Hanig (Papillion), Elizabeth Lapke (Papillion), Jackson Lawrence (Papillion), Joshua Mueller (Bellevue), Nathan Nordbrock (Papillion), Justin Qualls (Bellevue), Ashley Saxe (Bellevue), Rachel Stack (Papillion), Elizabeth Stanton (Papillion), Matthew Trail (Papillion), Zachary Trail (Papillion), Megan Yank (Papillion).

Pender: Benjamin Burmester, Rebecca Dahlman (Thurston).

Pierce: Austin Unseld.

Platteview: Jessica Bargstadt (Omaha).

Plattsmouth: Trevor Steinkruger (Bellevue).

Ponca: Christiana O’Neill (Jackson).

Ralston: Serenity McAndrews, Christopher Petersen (La Vista), Jacob Quint (Omaha), Kyle Sramek (Omaha).

Raymond Central: Tanner Rasmussen (Ceresco).

Saint Edward: Dylan Haas.

Sandhills: Taylor Marten (Halsey).

Sandy Creek: Andrew Kuta (Edgar), Austin Nacke (Clay Center).

Scottsbluff: Derrick Goss, Michael Hadden, Tyler Mickey, Katelyn Nyers (Minatare), Allison Stricker.

Seward: Zachary Bruick, Sarah Moody.

Shelton: Cynthia Garcia, Ruben Meza, Dailim Ramos.

Southern Valley: Alicia Lambert (Beaver City).

Southwest: Blake Storrs (McCook).

Stanton: Justin Aaberg, Zachary Doffin.

Sterling: Allison Porter.

Stuart: Caitlin Kunz.

Tri County: Megan Stokebrand (De Witt).

Valentine: Kassidy Linabery.

Waverly: Tanner Buresh (Lincoln), Eric Herr (Lincoln), Bailey Rosecrans (Walton).

West Holt: Cole Gibbens (Atkinson).

West Point: Jonathon Jahnke (Bancroft).

Wisner-Pilger: Cody Callies (Wisner).

York: Alexandra Dickinson, Parker Johnson, Jacob Weskamp.

Yutan: Jordan Roth.

STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL ESTIMATED AT $200 MILLION

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska lawmakers should have an easier time balancing the budget next year, thanks to growing revenue and shrinking expenses.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that a new estimate puts the gap between revenues and expenses at around $200 million for the next two years.

That is below the nearly $1 billion shortfall that loomed over lawmakers two years ago, or the $377 million deficit they faced in 2009. And it’s one-third as big as the shortfall they expected to face just months ago.

Mike Calvert, director of the Legislative Fiscal Office, says a state board recently issued projections for state tax revenue that were $295.8 million higher than earlier estimates. He says new calculations also showed the state needs to spend about $202 million less on aid for public schools.

CLICK IT OR TICKET IS HERE AGAIN

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The latest edition of the national Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign is underway, running through the end of the Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday

  Law enforcement agencies across the country will be out in force, specifically searching for drivers who are not using seat belts or who have children who are not in safety restraints, such as car seats.

Once again, the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety has awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants to cover the costs of overtime to put more officers on the road.

71% of the 145 people killed in passenger vehicle accidents in Nebraska last year were not wearing seat belts.

BIG GAME MEETINGS SCHEDULED IN DECEMBER

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LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters and landowners are invited to attend a public informational meeting to discuss deer issues, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Meetings are scheduled in each Game and Parks district.

Game and Parks biologists will explain and take questions on a number of topics, including deer management, deer damage and depredation permits, antlerless harvest, trophy management and diseases. Antelope and elk issues also may be discussed.

The meeting schedule is:

Dec. 3 – McCook, Red Willow County Fairgrounds, 4-H building, 1400 W. 5th St., 7 p.m.

Dec. 6 – Norfolk, Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center, 801 E. Benjamin Ave., 7 p.m.

Dec. 10 – Kearney, Yanney Heritage Park, Environmental Resource Center Bldg., 2020 W. 11th, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11 – O’Neill, Cubby’s, 204 E. U.S. Hwy. 20, 7 p.m.

Dec. 11 – Gretna, Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, 21502 W. Neb. Hwy. 31, 7 p.m.

Dec. 13 – York, Kilgore Memorial Library, 520 Nebraska Ave., 6 p.m.

Dec. 18 – Chadron, Chadron State College, Student Center, Scottsbluff Room, 1000 Main St., 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 – Bridgeport, Prairie Winds Community Center, 428 N. Main St., 7 p.m.

GOV PICKS FED-RUN INSURANCE EXCHANGE

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Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has chosen to enroll the state in a federally-run health exchange program, saying a state-based option is too expensive and inflexible.

The governor says his “focus is on implementing the federal health care law in the most efficient and cost effective manner for Nebraskans and their families.”

The insurance exchanges serve as a marketplace where individuals and small businesses can comparison shop for insurance. They’re the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s health care law, which Heineman, a Republican, opposes.

Under the federal law, states can operate their own exchanges, partner with the federal government on operations or leave the job entirely up to the federal government…but have to declare by tomorrow if they plan to create a state-run health insurance exchange.

Heineman says he was initially leaning toward a state-run exchange,  touted by some lawmakers and health care advocates as the best option. but that a budget review showed that a federal exchange was cheaper for state taxpayers

Exchanges are described as one-stop shops where people can compare and buy private health insurance, get federal subsidies to afford the premiums, or enroll in Medicaid if they are eligible.

Heineman says he appreciates the input he received from a variety of perspectives since the federal health care law was enacted in March 2010, but that while there were diverse and emotional opinions on this issue his decision is based on what he believes is best for what he calls “Nebraska’s hard-working, middle class taxpayers.”

The governor says fiscal analysis of budget impacts done by two state agencies put the cost of a state insurance exchange at $646 million through Fiscal 2020 and the cost of a federal insurance exchange at $176 million….$470 million dollars less.

He also says that on the key issues, there is no real operational difference between a federal exchange and a state exchange…with the federal health care law “totally dictated and totally controlled by the federal government.”

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