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DEVELOPING: TEACHER-WRITER, FBC–LOTT TROPHY, FBC–KANSAS-GILL, BKW–CREIGHTON-KANSAS, BKW–N. Illinois-Nebraska
WHITECLAY-ALCOHOL
LINCOLN—Residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation fed up with alcoholism and what they say is Nebraska’s contribution to the woes are pleading for a detox center in or near the beer-drenched town of Whiteclay. The idea, agreed to by leaders of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, is being floated to Nebraska lawmakers who are studying ways to the address problems. The four stores that mainly comprise Whiteclay, population 14, sell about 4 million cans of beer annually—most to residents of the Pine Ridge reservation. By Nate Jenkins.
AP Photo
TEACHER-WRITER
FREMONT—After spending several years writing short stories and plots for comic books, Matt Caldwell decided to try his hand at writing a novel. The high school social studies teacher at Douglas County West in Valley did just that. By Brett Ellis of the Fremont Tribune. Eds: A Nebraskaland Feature.
LIFETIME RIDE
BEATRICE—Josh Cunningham has ridden his bike 3,450 miles through 10 states. The 26-year-old Beatrice native took off from Paddock Lane Elementary School in August in an attempt to ride through 48 states. By Luke Nichols of the Beatrice Daily Sun. Eds: A Nebraskaland Feature. Previously moved in advance for weekend use.
FREMONT TOYMAKER
FREMONT—Not all of Santa’s elves live at the North Pole. At least one calls Fremont home. Sidney “Burnette” Johnson, 89, has spent the last two years making toys for children. Last year he gave the Salvation Army two boxes of toys to distribute, and this year’s production filled three boxes. By Chris Zavadil of the Fremont Tribune. Eds: A Nebraskaland Feature. Previously moved in advance for weekend use.
RICH HISTORY
LINCOLN—Jim Burden spent several years trying to convince his fiancee it would be great to live in an “underground house” because he didn’t want to be a slave to utility bills. “I’m not going to spend my whole life working to pay for the light bill, the electric bill,” he said to Colleen Kelley during their courtship days. By Nancy Hicks of the Lincoln Journal Star. Eds: A Nebraskaland Feature. Previously moved in advance for weekend use.
SPORTS:
FBC–LOTT TROPHY NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.—Tennessee’s Eric Berry, TCU’s Jerry Hughes, Rolando McClain of Alabama and Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska are the finalists for the Lott Trophy, which recognizes on-field performance and personal character among defensive players.
FBC–KANSAS-GILL
LAWRENCE, Kan.—Kansas made its decision official Sunday and announced that Turner Gill has been hired as head football coach. The Associated Press and other news outlets reported Saturday evening that the 47-year-old had accepted the offer of a multiyear contract to replace Mark Mangino.
ALSO:
— BKW–CREIGHTON-KANSAS—Eds: Game time is 3 p.m. CDT
— BKW–N. Illinois-Nebraska—Eds: Game time is 3:05 p.m. CDT
— FORT ROBINSON STATE PARK—A Lincoln hunter who won Nebraska’s lottery for a permit to hunt bighorn sheep in the state this year has bagged his prize. Eds: Also moving on general news lines.
— FOOTBALL 101—Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini has announced June 2 as the date for the Bo Pelini Foundation’s Football 101, presented by the Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center.
ALSO GETTING ATTENTION:
— HEALTH CARE-MEDICARE—Two senators whose support for the health care overhaul has been in question are speaking out against a proposal to let people as young as 55 buy into Medicare.
— GUARD DEPLOYMENT—The Nebraska Army National Guard expects to have a record number of troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010.
— MATH EDUCATION SUMMIT—Nebraska educators and policymakers gather this week to discuss the state’s strengths and weaknesses in math education.
— I-80 CLOSURE—A portion on Interstate 80 eastbound will be shut down as road crews work on a bridge over the interstate.
The AP, Omaha.
