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DEVELOPING: TIME FOR TEXAS.
ADOPTION AGONY
OMAHA—A northeast Nebraska man continues fighting for custody of his son nearly five years after he alleges a welfare worker allowed his newborn son to be taken for adoption by an Alabama couple without his permission. Matthew Ashby of Meadow Grove hopes the Nebraska Supreme Court will reinstate his lawsuit after hearing arguments next week. By Josh Funk.
FARM CHANGES
FREMONT—Jack Engel can tell you about the time he worked the land with a one-row cultivator and horses. He can’t quite remember how old he was—somewhere between 12 and 14—but he still recalls the results. Eds: Moved in advance. Nebraskaland Feature by Tammy Real-Mckeighan, Fremont Tribune.
FAITH CAME LATER
COLUMBUS—The Rev. Justin Erickson, 35, describes his pre-conversion character as that of a violent and depraved man who was raised in an openly hostile and atheistic family. “The view of Christianity in my family was a view similar to how Christianity is portrayed on television,” Erickson said. “‘Send me your money, and I’ll send you a blessed handkerchief’ is how we saw the Christian faith. Eds: Moved in advance. Nebraskaland Feature by Eric Freeman, Columbus Telegram.
TOUGH MOM
LINCOLN—Mom did it all. She hauled grain on the farm, near Filley. She basically was the hired man her whole life, her daughters like to say. She cooked, too, huge meals for the family, even into her 70s. Eds: Moved in advance. Nebraskaland Feature by Colleen Kenney, Lincoln Journal Star.
A YEAR SOBER
HASTINGS—Keeping life simple and sticking to the basics have helped Brandy Reed and David Kneher remain sober for a year after graduating from Central Nebraska Family Drug Court. “We’ve kept everything simple,” Reed said. “Deja is a big part of our sobriety. This baby means more to me than life itself.” Eds: Moved in advance. Nebraskaland Feature by Will Vraspir, Hastings Tribune.
SPORTS:
TIME FOR TEXAS
OMAHA, Neb.—After what coach Bo Pelini called one of his team’s worst efforts of the season in a closer-than-expected win over Colorado, Nebraska is going to need to be at its best when it plays third-ranked Texas in the Big 12 championship game. By Eric Olson.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— SHOT FIRED AT WIFE—A central Nebraska man accused of firing a gun toward his wife faces up to five years in prison after pleading no contest to one count of felony terroristic threats.
— THREAT ALLEGED—A 36-year-old southeast Nebraska woman who allegedly threatened to kill her brother with a rifle has been arrested.
— LINCOLN METH LAB—A 40-year-old Lincoln man has been arrested after authorities discovered a small methamphetamine lab in his apartment.
— WINDOW DEATH—Omaha police have identified the man who plunged to his death from a sixth-floor window of an apartment as 31-year-old Shane Niesen (NEE-sen).
— YOUTH CENTER RETIREMENT—The facility administrator for the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney is retiring.
— UNO-INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS—The University of Nebraska at Omaha ranked 33rd in a recent report on the number of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges.
— DEER MEETINGS—The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is preparing to hold informational meetings across the state to discuss deer issues.
— RADON POSTER—A Columbus student has been named the winner of Nebraska’s radon poster contest.
— DIABETES AWARENESS—State health officials estimate 104,000 adult Nebraskans have been diagnosed with diabetes, with 250,000 undiagnosed.
— UNO-SPEAKER SERIES—Omaha native Marc Manganaro will return to the state next week as part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Centennial Speaker Series.
The AP, Omaha.
