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Nebraska churches bolster security measures, some add guards

crossOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Several Nebraska churches have strengthened security around weekend worship services, and some have even added armed guards, because of worries about church shootings that have happened elsewhere.

Church leaders say they are taking precautions and aren’t responding to any specific threats. Shootings in recent years give church leaders reason to be wary.

Jim Nichols is security director at King of Kings church in west Omaha. He says any church’s worst fear is a mass shooting.

At King of Kings, security team members wear uniforms and an armed guard stands near the back of the worship hall in west Omaha. Another volunteer monitors security cameras.

2016-17 All-RPAC Volleyball Team

Volleyball2016-17 All-Republican Plains Activity Conference Volleyball Team

WEST DIVISON
1st Team (name, grade, school)
Aubrey Frederick, 12, Dundy County-Stratton
Faith Simpson, 11, Wauneta-Palisade
Jayden Widener, 10, Wallace
Sydney Mullin, 11, Maxwell
Grace Frederick, 10, Dundy County-Stratton
Cora Brott, 12, Paxton
Kyleigh Scott, 10, Hitchcock County

2nd Team (name, grade, school)
Emily Jones, 12, Dundy County-Stratton
Grace Sommer, 11, Maxwell
Brooke Scott, 12, Hitchcock County
Sydney Mullen-Shaw, 11, Maywood/Hayes Center
Aubrey Wagner, 12, Hitchcock County
Hannah Nelson, 11, Wallace
Maggie May, 12, Wallace

Honorable Mention (name, grade, school)
Taylor Dack, 12, Paxton
Dawson Latta, 11, Dundy County-Stratton
Callie Kriha, 11, Paxton
Kyndsay Kreutzer, 11, Maxwell
Elizabeth Stryker, 12, Maxwell
Adalene Krutsinger, 10, Dundy County-Stratton
Lanee Nordhausen, 11, Wauneta-Palisade
Avery Johnson, 9, Maywood/Hayes Center
Allison Hoyt, 10, Hitchcock County

Utility reminds Nebraskans to prepare for winter storms

south-dakota-snowCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Nebraskans should prepare for the winter storms that are certain to come.

The Nebraska Public Power District’s Chris Overman says winter storms can cause damage and knock out power, so it’s good to be prepared.

The utility recommends that homeowners put together an emergency kit with a flashlight, extra batteries, a portable radio, at least one gallon of water and some food.

And if the power does go out, remember to keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.

Anyone using a portable generator should remember not to run it inside a home or garage because of the exhaust fumes.

HIGHLIGHTS: Knights off to 4-0 start with pair of wins at Golden Eagles Classic

NPCC Knights on ESPNCheyenne, Wyo – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team defeated the Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs 90-87 on Friday and defeated the Central Wyoming College Rustlers 111-101 on Saturday at the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagle Classic.

On Friday, the Knights overcame a 23-16 Mustang lead by going on a 12-1 run to take a 28-24 lead with just over six and a half minutes in the first half. The Mustangs rallied to go on a 14-7 run to take a 38-35 lead.

The Knights held the Mustangs scoreless for the remainder of the half and scored nine points to take a 44-38 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Knights started off by outscoring the Mustangs 9-2 to take their biggest lead of the game 53-40.

The Mustangs continued to battle back and were down by two, 89-87 with 20 seconds left in the game. Free throws by Godfrey Rolle and Nate Duda sealed the win for the Knights.

Mike Amius led the Knights with a near double-double, scoring 20 points and nine rebounds. Samuel Kearns added 17 points and had five steals and five assists. Diontae Champion finished with 15 points and Rolle finished with 11 points.

Western Wyoming, now 4-3 on the season were led by David Thorton with 17 points. Tyrell Isaacs finished with 16, Callum Lawson added 15 points and Cole Huish chipped in 10. Lawson had a double-double by adding 10 rebounds.

On Saturday afternoon against Central Wyoming College the Knights used an 18-2 run during the first half to take a 47-38 halftime lead.

During the second half, the Knights led by as much as 15 at 81-66, on a three-pointer by David Niklasson.

The Knights led throughout the second half, with the Rustlers only able to come within four points. The Knights won the game 111-101.

Diontae Champion led the Knights, who had six players score in double figures, with 24 points. The other five Knights to reach the double digit mark were Godfrey Rolle with 22 points; Niklasson with 18 points, Jack Williams with 15 points, Samuel Kearns with 12 points and Mike Amius finished with 11 points. Williams also had 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.

For the Rustlers, Irshaad Hunte led them in scoring with 26 points, Chris Quayle added 21 points, Alihan Demir had 16 points, Devon Colley had 12 points and Marcus Nolan finished with 11 points. Hunte had a game high of 15 rebounds.

Knights Assistant Coach Chase Grabau said, “We have a lot of things we need to work on and fix, but our guys were able to figure out a way to get the job done. Both teams were able to execute offensively and appeared to come down to which team was able to get more stops. We need to learn to play together and as a team, especially on the defensive end.”

The Knights are now 4-0 on the season and have scored over the century mark three of the four games.

They are next in action on Sunday Nov 27 when they host York College JV at 5 pm.

Patrol says holiday enforcement to focus on seat belt use

seat-beltLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Patrol will again ramp up roadway enforcement this Thanksgiving holiday, focusing on seat belt use.

The patrol is taking part in a nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign for the week of Thanksgiving.

The agency says the effort will begin Monday and continue through Nov. 27. During the effort, troopers and communications specialists will put in overtime hours on Nebraska’s roads and highways.

The patrol says a nearly $22,000 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety will fund extra officers and overtime.

Nebraska Supreme Court disbars Omaha attorney

ne-supreme-courtOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha attorney has been disbarred for mishandling a client’s money.

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued the disbarment Friday for Omaha attorney Doug Lederer. In its order, the state’s high court said that Lederer voluntarily surrendered his license in early October.

Lederer has been practicing law in Nebraska since 2005. He acknowledged that he deposited clients’ advance fees into his personal checking account before earning them.

Lederer declined to comment when reached by The Associated Press.

Fire guts Wahoo State Bank in downtown Wahoo

fire-graphicWAHOO, Neb. (AP) — Officials say Wahoo State Bank — a cornerstone building of downtown Wahoo — has been gutted by fire.

Firefighters from Wahoo and surrounding communities responded Friday morning after a fire was discovered on the bank’s roof.

A rubber membrane on the roof kept water from reaching the fire, and strong winds whipped the flames.

Bank executive vice president Cindy Hohl says about 16 employees scrambled to secure deposits and documents in bank vaults, then safely fled the two-story building.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, but Hohl says patching work had been done on the roof the day before.

Hohl and her brother, bank CEO and President Greg Hohl, are the fourth generation to run Wahoo State Bank.

Omaha landlord indicted on public housing bribery charges

gavel-moreOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha landlord and his secretary have been indicted for allegedly bribing two employees of Omaha’s public housing agency.

Lafi Jafari and MaryLou Gruttemeyer were indicted in U.S. District Court on Tuesday on conspiracy to commit bribery and six counts of paying a bribe to an Omaha Housing Authority agent. Jafari was also indicted on one count of making false statements to special agents.

Online records do not list attorneys for Jafari or Gruttemeyer.

Prosecutors say Jafari and Gruttemeyer bribed or offered to bribe OHA employees to steer prospective tenants their way and to not refer complaints to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General.

The housing authority employees weren’t named in the indictment, which says there was a total of $2,100 in payments made.

Nebraska landowners voice concern over transmission line

nppd-feature-imageNORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Some landowners are voicing concerns that a proposed transmission line in central Nebraska that would disrupt wildlife and cultural gems, such as wagon ruts from the Oregon and Mormon trails.

The proposed 345,000-volt transmission line would start near the Gerald Gentleman Station near Sutherland and extend to a new station near Thedford.

The landowners met Thursday with officials from the North Platte Public Power District. Some landowners say it would be less disruptive if the power line went underground or used a different route.

NPPD president Patrick Pope says the exact cost of running the line underground wasn’t available, but that it would be more expensive for customers compared to the current plan.

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