07-09-12

Posted on Jul 9th, 2012 at 7:39 am

Happy Birthday Wishes to:

Toni Budke, Gary Emory, Royce Gehring, Jay Prauner, Rob Ronk, Rene Rucker, Lanette Stoffel, Catherine Wood

Skywatch Weather:

Today, a chance of showers after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, high 89. Tonight, chance of showers, partly cloudy, low 63. Tuesday, sunny, high near 87

Sports:

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

Baseball's best are en route to Kansas City for Tuesday's All-Star game, the midsummer classic. It's been a memorable first half featuring five no-hitters, including two perfect games. Going into the break, there are several surprising division leaders that have raised eyebrows around the game. The Washington Nationals, who won just 59 games three years ago, have a four-game lead in the National League East with a glossy 49-34 mark. The equally surprising Pittsburgh Pirates head into the All-Star break in sole possession of first place in the NL Central at 48-37, the first time they've led at the break since 1997. In the American League, the two-time American League champion Texas Rangers have regained their perch, comfortably ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the West.

A record 168 golfers will be participating in the Nebraska Junior Amateur stroke-play boys and girl’s golf tournament at Norfolk Country Club. The three-day Tournament starts today. This will be the first time the girl’s amateur has been held at Norfolk Country Club while it will be the third time for the boys. Doniphan's Danielle Lemek will attempt to win her eighth straight girls state championship. The boy’s championship consists of 54-holes of stroke play competition. A cut is made to 40 golfers following the first 36-holes. The final round of 18 holes will be played Wednesday morning. Competing in the Girls Tournament from the area include Norfolk’s Kayla Bahle, Hannah Baldacci, Samantha Bruening, Madison Buettner, McKenzie Essley, Tiffany Henning, Sydney Roenfeldt, Jenna Weber, & Kaitlyn Westcott. Participating in the Boys Competition will be Norfolk’s Travis Baker, Seth Brown, Ross Gerber, Tyler Lewis, & Preston Marsh.

The Norfolk Golden Girls 18’s softball team placed fourth at the Class “B” State Tournament in Norfolk Platte over the weekend. Yesterday, the beat Arlington 7-2 and then lost to Nebraska Gators 10-6. They are now 40-18-1 on the season.

Local Schedule: Nfk Seniors at Pender (Bsbl-7:00); Nfk Golden Girls 18’s at Columbus Bullets (SB DH-6:30).

Local Scores: Quad Cities Wolfpack 24 Nebraska Lawdawgs 20 (FB); Iowa 6 Omaha Storm Chasers 5 (Bsbl).

Kwifax:

Most of those who signed the Declaration of Independence did so on August 2nd

News Briefs:

Fire has destroyed a two-story Norfolk house. Norfolk Fire Division Fire Inspector Dan nelson says the blaze at 208 South 2nd St. was reported just before 2 a.m. Saturday. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were coming from the unoccupied house. No one was injured in the blaze, but one firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. Fire Marshal Terry Zwiebel is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.

Bob Kerrey is the Democratic candidate in Nebraska's U.S. Senate race, but that partisan label isn't as important to him as getting the nation's work accomplished. During a stop in Norfolk over the weekend, the former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator repeatedly talked about the need for bi-partisanship in Washington to get things done and regain the trust of the electorate. Kerrey also discussed health care, job creation, immigration and education, among other issues, with about 40 people at Saturday's meeting at the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. Republican Senate candidate Deb Fischer was also Norfolk later Saturday. She met with people at Skyview Lake during Big Bang Boom activities.

The future of horse racing in Lincoln is uncertain after this year's live racing session ended yesterday because the current track is set to be demolished. The track is being demolished to make way for a new research park the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is building at the former home of the Nebraska State Fair.

Work is underway on the Wayne State College campus to restore the Willow Bowl, home to graduations and other campus and community events since 1938. Wayne State Foundation Executive Director Phyllis Connor says the idea is to improve the facility but retain the look and style of the original Willow Bowl. Work is expected to be completed later this fall.

Wrestlers in grades 3 through 8 are invited to the Nebraska Elite Wrestling Camp in Norfolk, featuring Olympic gold medal winner Rulon Gardner and members of the University of Nebraska wrestling team. Gardner says he hopes to teach young wrestlers the skills they need to walk on the mat with confidence.

It was an ideal night to take in some fireworks. The Big Bang Boom Committee estimates 18,000 to 22,000 people took in their 37th annual fireworks display Saturday night at Norfolk's Skyview Lake. The display culminated a day of activities at the lake and surrounding area.