February 4, 2012

Dry conditions closing Omaha golf course

The City of Omaha is facing a rare situation. The mild, dry winter has created a unique problem at the Johnny Goodman Golf Course. Bob Baber is Omaha’s Golf Manager and says there has been so much play and traffic on the course the dormant grass can’t rejuvenate itself. To prevent further damage to the green Baber says they are closing the course on Monday.

Baber says he can’t remember when the weather has been this mild and dry for such a long time. He says usually there are a few days in the winter when the greens are dry and the temperature is just right for a round of golf but this is basically unheard of.

He says they will be keeping a close eye on the conditions and hopefully will be able to reopen the course soon.

Two other city owned golf courses, Elmwood and Benson, will remain open.

Schedule of recruiting announcements for Nebraska football

National Signing Day is Feb. 1 and the Husker football team has 14 commitments coming into the day with the potential of four of five more. Bo Pelini is holding a press conference at 2:30 today where he’ll talk about the 2012 signing class. Here is a schedule of when other potential top recruits will make their announcement. Check back here for the latest or follow us on Twitter at Nebraskasports. (All times listed are central time)

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Severe weather poster contest kicks off amid record high temperatures

Nebraskans are all too familiar with severe weather and now 4th grade students across the state have an opportunity to put their knowledge about the subject to good use. The Nebraska Association of Emergency Managers, the National Weather Service and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency are again sponsoring a severe weather poster contest. Jodie Fawl is the Public Information Officer for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and says students are asked to put their ideas on paper for a statewide competition.

Fawl says this is open to all 4th grade students in the state of Nebraska. This is a classroom project in some school district but that isn’t a requirement. Individual students in schools not taking part or those schooled at home are encouraged to enter.

The top prize is a $200 gift card. Prizes will also be presented to those placing 2nd through 4th place. The deadline to enter posters is February 24th. They can be turned in to County Emergency Manager offices throughout the state. They can be found by logging onto “nema.ne.gov”.

Winter returns to Nebraska, but climatologist forecasts it to leave soon (AUDIO)

Winter returned to Nebraska today with snow over much of the state and below freezing temperatures.

The new, harsh reality should soon give way to the mild weather pattern we have enjoyed so far this winter, according to Climatologist Ken Dewey with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dewey says to expect these cold days to interrupt otherwise well-above-normal winter temperatures.

“It’s going to be an annoying winter in a way, if you want it to stay nice, because it’s going to be nice once in a while,” Dewey tells The Jack and John Show on Nebraska Radio Network affiliate KLIN. “We’re going to get slapped around once in a while.”

Dewey notes that the days are getting longer, with about 30 minutes more of daylight each day.

He says the odd winter pattern has been confirmed by the first tornado watch of the season, which was issued for eastern Missouri and western Illinois.

Dewey says the winter chill the next couple of days will give way to warmer weather.

“National Weather Service thinks 50 (degrees), I’m thinking closer to 60 on Sunday and, then, next week upper 40s and mid-40s the whole week.” Dewey forecasts.

A lack of moisture could take its toll, Dewey says. A lack of snow, higher than normal temperatures and strong winds have been pulling moisture from the soil, according to Dewey who says the winter wheat crop needs some snow cover or rain.

 AUDIO: UNL Climatologist Ken Dewey on KLIN’s Jack and John Show [10 min mp3]

Fatal crash in SW Iowa injures three Omaha men

Slick roads may have played a role in a southwest Iowa crash Wednesday evening that killed one person and sent three Nebraska men to the hospital.

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating the Mills County crash which claimed the life of 62-year-old Randall Jones, of Henderson, Iowa.

The accident happened on Highway 34, about two-miles east of Malvern, at around 5 p.m.

Jones was driving a 2003 Buick LeSabre east on Highway 34, when his car collided near the centerline of the road with a westbound 1997 Ford pickup, driven by 40-year-old Agustin Argueta, of Omaha.

Argueta, and two passengers in his truck, 21-year old Hector Gimenez, and 28-year old Rubin Antonio Soza Alvarez, both of whom are from Omaha, were transported to Creighton University Medical Center.

Arguetta and Gimenz was taken to the hospital by Malvern Rescue, while Alvarez was transported by Glenwood Rescue. Gimenez was the only one of the accident victims who was not wearing a seatbelt.

Ric Hanson, KJAN, Atlantic