News 2008-08-16 Andanh.com

Friends: Drugs fueled Crago's downward spiral Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:59:00 CDT
Not too many years ago, Brandon Crago had what friends and family characterize as a good life. He was an affable guy, had ...

Cindy Lange-Kubick: It was a dark and stormy night ... Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:55:00 CDT
The letter arrived in the newsroom one dark and stormy afternoon in 1996 -- or was it semi-stormy? Partly cloudy, but thre... (6 comments)

Next-to-last State Fair prepares to open Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:50:00 CDT
There are early clues that something big is about to happen at State Fair Park: The roar of weed whackers, the colored fla...

Public will get to view, comment on arena proposals Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:45:00 CDT
With nine months to go before the spring city election, supporters of a broad arena development proposal west of the Hayma... (15 comments)

Vietnam Wall to arrive in Lincoln on Wednesday Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:39:00 CDT
Nebraskans will have the chance to honor veterans who died in the Vietnam War by welcoming the Vietnam Traveling Memorial ... (1 comment)

More than $13,000 stolen at Thunder Collins event Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:30:00 CDT
At least $13,500 was stolen from the State Theatre building early Saturday after a fight broke out during an event there. ... (4 comments)

Police: Sex offender lives too close to school Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:25:00 CDT
Lincoln police arrested Gerald W. Etherton, 49, a Level 3 sex offender, Friday for reportedly living within 500 feet of an...

Girl, 2, drowns in home pool in Bellevue Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:01:00 CDT
A 2-year-old girl has drowned in a pool at a Bellevue home. Police were called to the area Saturday afternoon after a 14-y...

Omaha man shot by burglars last month dies Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:55:00 CDT
Omaha police say 28-year-old Random Goynes died Friday at Creighton University Medical Center. He had been in intensive ca... (1 comment)

Product recall: Kroger Hulless Corn Puff Poppers Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:53:00 CDT
The Kroger Co. is recalling packages of Kroger Hulless Corn Puff Poppers Extreme Butter because the product may contai...

Lincoln's LI-COR looks at dirt in Smithsonian exhibit Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:32:00 CDT
Dirt seems to be taken for granted by everyone except children, the people who make detergent, farmers, the Smithsonian In...

LI-COR Q&A Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:30:00 CDT
Doc Chaves, marketing communications manager for LI-COR Biosciences, answered some questions from Business Editor Richard ...

Tinker Bell gets Disneys permission to fly Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:46:00 CDT
Tinker Bell, after many decades with no spoken lines, is finally getting a starring role. Long one of the studio’s... (1 comment)

Guest column: Dont expect Congress to address pay discrimination Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:52:00 CDT
Employer organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management are inundating congressional offices with form le...

Nebraska to benefit from securities settlements Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:48:00 CDT
Nebraska will share in the proceeds from several large investment banks over the sale of auction rate securities.

Equipment rental firm plans new building, jobs Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:23:00 CDT
NCS Equipment Rental plans to build a new, larger facility in north Lincoln and will add up to 20 employees over the next ...

Retail outlet center planned for I-80 and I-29 in Council Bluffs Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:22:00 CDT
Continental Retail Development of Columbus, Ohio, announced plans to build a retail outlet center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. (6 comments)

Husker receivers focus on run blocking Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:59:00 CDT
Blocking is the name of the game in fall camp for all of Nebraska's receivers and tight ends.

Steven M. Sipple: Scandals tarnish proud program's image Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:59:00 CDT
College wrestling is a periphery sport, residing outside the core sporting consciousness of most people. Generally speakin...

Licht hoping her style fills Pavan's void Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:58:00 CDT
Of all the inherent dangers that come with following a legend, Lindsey Licht isnt allowing the most obvious one to be a...

No medal for Vering at Olympics Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:21:00 CDT
The Howells native, who turns 31 in less than a week, plans to step away from wrestling competition after his loss in the ...

Henry making O-Line push Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:29:00 CDT
The physical nature of offensive line newcomer Ricky Henry has already earned coaches and players respects. And it m...

Track athlete hurt in automobile accident Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:50:00 CDT
Husker high jumper Erin Hannon was seriously injured in a car accident in Greeley, Colo., over the weekend.

Huskers to scrimmage with Marquette Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:17:00 CDT
The Nebraska men's basketball team will face Marquette in a closed scrimmage, replacing an exhibition game this season, co...

Cleanup in works for old missile site Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:24:00
In the past 40 years, the Atlas missile site near this small farm town along U.S. Highway 30 has faded from memory and become a footnote to history. Over the next decade, the federal government plans a multimillion-dollar cleanup of toxins buried there during the Cold War.

'80s hair metal bands invade Midlands this week Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:27:00
Dave Backhaus is in hair-band heaven. The Omahan plans to enjoy all the metal debauchery he can stand with concerts this week from the likes of Def Leppard, Poison and part of Skid Row. Thanks to legions of nostalgic '80s rock fans, as well as package tours that showcase these groups and tribute bands that imitate them, hair-metal mania seems to be as hot as it was during its heyday some two decades ago.

• Music Clips:
3D In Your Face
Def Leppard, Poison, Skid Row and Billy Idol
• Video: 'Are You Ready' by 3D In Your Face

Today's best bets Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:53:00
Live Music
Def Leppard w/ Billy Idol, 7:30 p.m., Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N 10th St., $75, $55, $39.50, 341-1500 or www.qwestcenter.com

Everclear, 8 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, 2701 23rd Ave., Council Bluffs. Tickets: $29. 712-323-2500.

Farmers Market
Sunday Garden Mart, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Presbyterian Church of the Master, 10710 Corby Circle, 493-0239. Fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.

Family
Defenders of Freedom Open House & Air Show, free and open to the public at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Information and directions: www.offuttairshow.com

• Complete listings: Live Music • Night Life • Arts • Family Activities • More Events • Movie Times • Movie Reviews

Qwest contract talks stall, but no strike yet Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:03:00

PCL: Newly added Spann is a hit for Omaha Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:51:00
Chad Spann went to work after being released by the Boston Red Sox organization late last month, but then he got another job. So far, so good. Spann rapped out three more hits and, combined with his two hits in his Omaha Royals debut on Thursday, is 5 for 8 in two games. He drove in two runs with a third-inning single on Friday night, helping the Royals build a 7-0 lead in what turned into an 8-2 victory over Albuquerque before 9,587 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium.

Heavy release of Cottonwood seeds clogging AC systems Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:24:00
Keep an eye on your air conditioners: Excess cottonwood tree seeds are clogging them up more than in recent years. "They are heavy this year," said Mary Anna Anderson, horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Douglas and Sarpy County Extension office. Anderson said the late bloom is due to a cool spring keeping the soil — and roots — cold and inactive until later in the year.

World War II Veteran Profiles: Marian Goodenkauf, Joseph Rakosnik, Francis L. Kirk, Donna Kirk Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:38:00
Note to readers: The World-Herald's Memorial Day special section "Rendezvous With Destiny," which was published in conjunction with the initial Heartland Honor Flight taking World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., sparked tremendous interest in the personal stories of Midlanders who lived through that era. Today, we continue a feature that will profile Nebraskans and Iowans who are part of the Greatest Generation.

• Share your World War II experiences: If you lived through the World War II era, as a service member or a civilian, we want to hear your story.

Omaha apartment fire displaces resident Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:50:00

Events leading up to tot's death unclear Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:15:00

Reunion bittersweet for alumni Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:57:00

Carter Lake man injured in crash Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:20:00

Gergen to speak at Governor's Lecture Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:01:00

The Record, Aug. 17 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 01:06:00

Lotteries Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:11:00

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:21:56 EST
A Panhandle community plagued by drinking water woes will be able to resolve its issues with the help of a $5.4 million federal loan and grant program. Federal, state and local officials announced Saturday that USDA Rural Development had awarded the community of Bridgeport the funds.

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:02:38 EST
Scottsbluff Police recovered a 15-year-old runaway who had been missing for more than 20 days. At about 12:09 a.m. Saturday, Scottsbluff Police Officer Shawn West made a traffic stop on a vehicle driving on West 27th Street without headlights, according to a report from the police department. Chelsea Collier, 15, who had run away from her family's home on July 26, was found in the vehicle.

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:20:17 EST
HEMINGFORD - Don Haas is 86, but he stays busy on the family farm near Hemingford and said he hasn't even thought about retiring. Haas said he plans to remain on the home place unless he is ever forced to move into town. For others, planning for retirement is more complicated. Retirement years bring both challenges and opportunities, and one of the key challenges is having a sufficient flow of income to sustain a quality lifestyle through the retirement years.

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:15:30 EST
ALLIANCE - When it's time to honor America's troops, a group of motorcyclists answers the call. "There are no words to explain how it makes you feel," said Rodger Clark of Alliance, member of the Patriot Guard Riders. The Patriot Guard Riders include motorcyclists from across the nation. They don't care what brand a member rides or worry about political views or income levels. There are no dues or meetings.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:02 CST
PAWNEE, Okla. — Though she lives more than 400 miles away, Deb Echo-Hawk wants to connect with Kearney.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:19 CST
ELWOOD — More than 30 pet owners packed the Elwood village offices Wednesday to express opinions about an ordinance that would limit the number of pets per household.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:38:17 CST
LEXINGTON — A Lexington man who beat a man who attempted to rob him pleaded guilty to assault.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:39:56 CST
KEARNEY — Angela Regenos is scheduled to appear in Buffalo County District Court in September on charges of stealing money from the Kearney Public Schools Foundation.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:38:21 CST
LEXINGTON — Public telephone calls to the Dawson County Courthouse will soon be routed through a voice mail system.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:39:46 CST
Joshua Carlson of rural Chappell caught images of a tornado on his cell phone camera Wednesday evening near Chappell. The storm occurred about 9 miles north and 4 miles east of the Panhandle town, destroying a steel grain bin but causing no injuries.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:36:12 CST
KEARNEY - Two Kearney High School graduates are raising money for cancer research and running a 26-mile marathon in San Francisco.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:38:32 CST
LEXINGTON — Filing a local street and road improvement request with the Nebraska Department of Roads is the first step toward building a new east Lexington viaduct.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:41:05 CST
View this week's Hub videos and online features by clicking the following links:

- First day of school: A kindergartner’s journey

- Athletics Director Jon McBride announces the University of Nebraska at Kearney will add women’s soccer

- Hackin’ for the Hub in Gibbon

- Chinook helicopter makes emergency landing in pasture near Pleasanton

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:55:24 CST
KEARNEY — Going green with a bicycle is trendy nationally, but passion for pedaling is no passing fad for some local bike commuters.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:31 CST
KEARNEY — FedEx delivered a brand-new set of wheels to Stephen Willis of Kearney a week before his 16th birthday last month.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:38:27 CST
KEARNEY — Carlos Poche grabs a handful of jumbo shrimp, tosses them into a pan and slaps them with a spoonful of pesto.

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:59 CST
Step back in time: Visit Trails and Rails Museum, hear 'Elvis'

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:42 CST

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:40:25 CST

Elks Lodge makes sure veterans arent forgotten on birthdays Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:40:00 CDT
For years, Lincoln Elks Lodge 80 has given care packages to veterans living at Lancaster Manor and Gramercy Hill Nursin...

Demise of township governments may be near Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:17:00 CDT
With something like $11,000 in the bank, theres little chance Geneva Township can keep up with grading chores on its 1...

White a Democratic lightning rod Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:00:00 CDT
Tom White, who has served in the Legislature for two years, has emerged as as a Republican target and Democratic hope.

Man robs Lincoln motel Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:16:00 CDT
A man wearing a black mask and wielding a semi-automatic handgun robbed the Fairfield Inn at 4221 Industrial Ave. about 1 ... (1 comment)

Consumers complain about deceptive gas advertising along I-80 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:59:00 CDT
Some gas stations in communities along Interstate 80 are apparently advertising gasoline at one price, then selling it for... (13 comments)

Fired Boys Town workers wont face charges Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:35:00 CDT
Two female employees of Boys Town wont face charges for allegedly touching and kissing two teenage students. The boys, ... (17 comments)

Grand Island says it will have money for fair move Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:31:00 CDT
Grand Island officials say they'll have the money to pay their share of moving the Nebraska State Fair to their city. (8 comments)

Omaha officer admits handcuffing son Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:33:00 CDT
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says he'll drop felony child abuse charges against an Omaha police officer now that the... (4 comments)

Kearney man gets probation for punching teacher Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:52:00 CDT
A 19-year-old Kearney man who struck a Kearney High School teacher must perform 100 hours of community service while on hi... (3 comments)

Nebraska to benefit from securities settlements Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:48:00 CDT
Nebraska will share in the proceeds from several large investment banks over the sale of auction rate securities.

Qwest union contract expires Saturday Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:44:00 CDT
The labor contract with the largest union at Qwest Communications International Inc. expires Saturday, little more than a ...

Best Buy's musical instrument store opens Aug. 29 Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:57:00 CDT
Best Buys new musical instruments store within its Lincoln store opens Aug. 29 with public performances by local bands,...

Lincoln Grain Prices Friday Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:29:00 CDT
Range of cash grain prices paid to farmers by country elevators in the Lincoln area as of 4 p.m. Friday. Figures are avera...

Husker receivers focus on run blocking Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:59:00 CDT
Blocking is the name of the game in fall camp for all of Nebraska's receivers and tight ends.

No medal for Vering at Olympics Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:21:00 CDT
The Howells native, who turns 31 in less than a week, plans to step away from wrestling competition after his loss in the ...

Henry making O-Line push Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:29:00 CDT
The physical nature of offensive line newcomer Ricky Henry has already earned coaches and players respects. And it m...

Track athlete hurt in automobile accident Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:50:00 CDT
Husker high jumper Erin Hannon was seriously injured in a car accident in Greeley, Colo., over the weekend.

Huskers to scrimmage with Marquette Wed, 13 Aug 2008 16:17:00 CDT
The Nebraska men's basketball team will face Marquette in a closed scrimmage, replacing an exhibition game this season, co...

Understanding a Tragedy: Hawkins has no remorse, empathy after threatening stepmom's life Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:12:00
The card that teenager Robbie Hawkins made his stepmother for Mother's Day in 2002 was a far cry from the typically cheery Hallmark notes of appreciation. On the front, Robbie placed a picture of a hangman's noose. "Thank you for not letting me kill myself," he wrote inside. "I tried to love you but I couldn't." Today's stories reveal doctors' fears that as a 13-year-old, Hawkins might act on murderous threats to his stepmother.

• To our readers: This second installment of a three-part series is part of our continuing effort to shed light on why 19-year-old Robert Hawkins became a mass killer last December at Omaha's Von Maur store.

• Documents:
• A staff log from May 3, 2002, describes Robbie Hawkins' first day at the Richard Young Center.
• A staff log from May 8, 2002, describes Robbie Hawkins' feelings toward his family.
• Robbie Hawkins' psychiatrist notes on May 9, 2002, that the Hawkins' family fears Robbie will kill his stepmother.
• A staff log from May 10, 2002, describes an offensive Mother's Day card that Robbie had made and an unsuccessful meeting between Robbie, his father, stepmother and siblings.
• Before leaving Richard Young, Robbie filled out a "safety plan" on May 14, 2002, that recommended how to respond to stressful situations.
• Previous Stories
• Understanding a Tragedy: Westroads shooter was a little boy lost, Aug. 10
• Understanding a Tragedy: Hawkins' life takes fast downhill slide in final weeks, March 10
• Understanding a Tragedy: Robbie Hawkins stumbled through his try at independence, March 9

Dealers get crafty when it comes to hiding their drugs Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:07:00
Nebraska and Iowa investigators weren't surprised at recent news about drugs being smuggled in hidden compartments on trains. Union Pacific is challenging $38 million in federal fines after the Border Patrol repeatedly found drugs hidden in railcars. The places where drug dealers and users hide their wares is limited only by their imaginations, area officers say. Cops searching cars find secret compartments that seem straight out of a spy movie.

Photo gallery: Hidden drugs

Chicago offers Omaha a model on gun violence Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:58:00
Some are looking to Chicago for a plan to reduce gun violence in Omaha. The program, called CeaseFire, treats gun violence as a public-health problem. Impressed by the group's success and eager to launch a similarly styled intervention program in Omaha, State Sen. Brad Ashford plans to seek state funding to adapt CeaseFire to Nebraska.

• On the Web: Northwestern University study on the CeaseFire program

Outdoors: Record catches run in the family Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:37:00
Two brothers. One day. Two state records. End of story? Probably not. Seth and Wyatt Gutzmer of Columbus, Neb., caught state-record fish within hours of each other just steps from the Platte and Loup River woods where they are the fifth generation of their family to live and play.

• Photo Gallery: Over five dozen more Trophy Board entries

'Parkour' has been slow to catch on here Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:24:00
Vaulting a gap, jumping over an obstacle or running across an open field are just movements, but combining them to get to a destination is parkour. It might look like something out of a movie, but parkour is a discipline that is quietly gaining international recognition even though it appears to have little following locally.

• Parkour videos

Today's best bets Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:01:00
Live Music
Alice Cooper, 8 p.m., Stir Concert Cove at Harrah's Casino, 1 Harrah's Blvd., Council Bluffs, $41, 712-329-6000 or www.stircove.com

Peace Center Benefit with Baby Walrus, Orenda Fink, McCarthy Trenching, Outlaw Con Bandana, Bill Hoover, Simon Joyner, Bear Country, the Watch, 7 p.m., Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., $15 cover. 884-5353 or www.waitingroomlounge.com

Comedy
Frank Caliendo, 8:30 p.m., Omaha Music Hall, 17th and Davenport Streets, $39.75, 444-3353 or omahacivic.com/MusicHall.htm

Family
Defenders of Freedom Open House & Air Show, free and open to the public at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Information and directions: www.offuttairshow.com

• Complete listings: Live Music • Night Life • Arts • Family Activities • More Events • Movie Times • Movie Reviews

Holt among the Huskers looking to break out Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:37:00
At 6-foot-4 and 220-pounds, Menelik Holt ranks as a breakout performer in preseason football camp and a prime candidate to fill the role of big-play receiver for NU — up for grabs after the departure of Maurice Purify.

It's rush hour each and every day Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:23:00
The back-to-back beatings inflicted by Missouri and Oklahoma State last season had more in common than just the 40-plus points and 550-plus yards those teams piled on Nebraska. MU and OSU threw a combined 69 passes without being sacked once and with NU statistically registering just two quarterback hurries. So it takes no football genius to guess one thing the Husker defense is emphasizing in preseason practice.

Marketing tests small-town store Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:54:00
Mulholland Grocery is back in the hands of the family that opened it in the late 1800s, but first-time business owner Tom Mulholland needed help spreading the word about improvements he made. Mulholland contacted The World-Herald to participate in Small Business Makeover. The new occasional series teams entrepreneurs with local experts to provide assistance in areas such as cash flow, employee retention and, as in Mulholland's case, marketing.

Need some help with challenges in your business?
You may be a candidate for Small Business Makeover if you own a small business and are dealing with a particular challenge such as higher inflation, narrower profit margins or employee recruitment.

Backing up can save money, frustration Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:40:00
"Your computer will warn you if something isn't right," said Jeremy Johnsen, co-owner of Tech To Go, an Omaha computer service company. "I'm always amazed by the number of people who have had an error message for two or three weeks and say, 'It can't be that bad.' "By the time we get it, the drive is so bad you almost can't get data off it." And when a drive fails to that extent, it may cost upward of $1,000 to recover the lost information.

Ranchers balance feed and fuel costs Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:39:00
It's always been true that conditions that benefit one segment of agriculture often create hardships for another. The high corn prices now helping grain farmers have created higher feed costs for cattle producers. Cattle feeder Alan Janzen of Henderson, Neb., said last week at the eighth-annual Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney that when corn hit $8 per bushel and diesel fuel spiked at more than $4, he thought it might be time to "just be a grain farmer."

Warren Watch: Investing class gave a young Buffett exposure Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:00:00
Michel "Mike" Beilis was trying to attract adult students to Omaha University's new Eppley Conference Center, and one of the men in his office had heard of a fellow named Warren Buffett, who was "doing intelligent investing." Beilis knew of Buffett's father, a former congressman, and invited the younger Buffett to teach. "People were very attracted to him," Beilis said. "He had humility, but he believed in himself."

Businesses' cutbacks deliver another whammy to economy Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:31:00
Business at Dahlson's Mayesh Wholesale Florist began to wilt. This year, he'll slash his spending on expansion and improvements by two-thirds. He already has laid off more than 50 workers, or about 15 percent of the payroll. "We had been ramping up, and we were throwing human resources at our growth, and then we hit the wall in late fall," Dahlson said of his company, which had sales of $58 million in 2007. "We've had to pull back this year, just for the sake of trying to be smart about expansion."

Americans boost retirement savings Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:09:00

The next big thing? Some investors are pouring money into water companies Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:09:00

Five years after big outage, more feared Sat, 16 Aug 2008 18:41:00