The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, February 14, 1996, Image 1
WEDNESDAY WEATHER: | < Today - A 30% chance of rain. Northwest wind 15 to 20 mph. Tonight - Partly cloudy. Low around 20. February 14, 1996 Sneaking a peek „ Matt Miller/DN Freshman education major and Alyssa Utecht and freshman English major Lisa Jorgensen sort through the Valentine’s Day cards Tuesday at the University Bookstore. Halftime Hitch Couple to say 7do’s’ at Valentine's Day game By Emily Wray Staff Reporter Valentine’s Day wedding bells will be ring ing for one Lincoln couple at tonight’s Ne braska women’s basketball game. Lori Everson and Randy Chrastil will say their vows during halftime of the NU-Colorado contest, courtesy of a Valentine’s Day promo tion by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and radio station 102.7 KFRX-FM. Fifteen couples will also renew their vows in a separate halftime ceremony. Everson and Chrastil each have two sons by previous marriages and have been together for four years. They had been planning on eloping this summer, until a friend of Everson’s from work dared her to call KFRX, Everson said. “I’m in total shock,” she said. “We don’t win anything. There are a lot of things to do in a “I'm in total shock. We don't win anything. There are a lot of things to do in a short amount of time." LORI EVERSON Bride-to-be at halftime of the NU women's basketball game. short amount of time.” Lack of time meant that Everson had to find a wedding gown in hurry. She did find a dress and had it altered Tuesday. “It’s pretty formal, with a short train and lots of pearls and flowers,” she said. Since the wedding was on such short notice, w V*_r the couple will be attended by only a best man and a maid of honor, she said. An official reception will be held later. Tracie Morris, an administrative assistant at the Nebraska Athletic Department, developed the idea for the contest last Tuesday. “I did it to help with Valentine’s Day promo tions. “It’s an event that’s something different and out of the ordinary,” Morris said. “I had heard of people getting married at baseball games and half-court at basketball games,” she said. “I thought if we married somebody, it would be unique.” During the 13 minutes of halftime, the min ister, bride, groom, attendants and those renew ing vows will step out onto the floor. The wedding will take five minutes, and the vow renewals will be four minutes, Morris said. See WEDDING on 6 Legislature may toughen MEP penalties By Ted Taylor Senior Reporter “ Strong support from Nebraska young people may have helped seal the deal for stiffer penal ties against minors in possession of alcohol. ~ij . . . In a 6-2 vote Tuesday af LegiSiatlire ternoon, the Legislature’s '96 tfe A wi Transportation Committee advanced Elkhom Sen. Dwite Pedersen’s bill to full legisla tion. Pedersen told the commit tee about a youth drug-free rally last summer at the Capi tol, and he said the large crowd showed him that young people careu aooui me issue. “When they asked me to introduce legisla tion to stiffen the penalties for their peers who were found guilty of violations or our statutes with regard to MIP, I was more than happy to offer my sponsorship,” he said. More than 20 youths from various organiza tions were on hand to show support of the bill, but only three testified. The penalties outlined in Pedersen’s bill include: •A $250 fine that may be waived by a judge if the offender successfully completes a substance abuse education class. •A second offense could warrant a $500 fine and a possible Class III misdemeanor. •A mandatory minimum of 25 hours of com munity service. •A lengthy drivers license revocation: The first offense would result in a 90-day impound ment, the second would warrant a year’s revo cation, and a third offense would yield two years impoundment. •Parent or legal guardian notification of any MIP violation-related arrests. Pedersen said when the young people of the state asked him to introduce the bill, he re quested input directly from them. He wanted to know how they wanted the Legislature to deal with their friends who vio lated Nebraska MIP laws. “These young people believe that the current penalties amount to little more than a slapon the wrist,” he said. Joline Jager, a former member of the Ne braska Network of Drug-Free Youth board of directors, said she was “amazed” the bill had come so far. “During my time with the board, I have had the opportunity to see the ideas behind this bill in their infancy, when they were merely con cerns of youth, to seeing it develop to the stage it is at now,” she said. Jager, now a member of the Wayne FRIENDS drug-free youth group, said watching the youth take such an active role in government had been a remarkable experience. See MIP on 2 Lincoln possible home to pro hockey team By Chad Lorenz Senior Reporter A professional Lincoln hockey team may be on the ice by September if an Omaha investor can bring a proposed ice skating rink to the State Fair Coli seum. Irving Dana III, a certified public accountant from Omaha, is part of a potential three-person ownership look ing to start a U.S. Hockey League franchise in Lincoln. Dana said he and his two partners and lifelongfriends, Dr. Kent Recewey and Dr. Tom Tegt of Lincoln, decided to start the franchise because of a per sonal interest in hockey. “We thought it would be fun to get involved in hockey in the Midwest,” he said. The three were at an Omaha Lanc ers game more than a year ago and talked about how they wanted to start their own team, Dana said. He looked into the idea, and they decided it made sense economically, he said, so he scouted for a city to plant their dream. Lincoln seemed like a good loca tion for hockey to become popular, he said. “I see Lincoln similar to Omaha in the sense that they’re looking for good entertainment in the winter months.” Dana said the cost was estimated at $2.5 million to $3 million, which the owners would pay through personal funds. Dana said he wanted the rink open to the public and available for youth hockey clubs, figure skating clubs, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln hockey club, and university physical education classes. Dana, a 1976 graduate of UNL, said he and his partners had set aside seats for students, written fight songs and decided on team colors and a mas cot. But Dana said he feared that all might be premature until he has a sheet of ice. “It all really hinges on the rink,” Dana said. John Skold, State Fair Park general manager, said part of the franchise deal would convert the State Fair Coli seum to an ice rink available for public use when not used by the team. “On the whole, I think it’s a posi tive,” Skold said. The State Fair Board needed to reach an agreement with the owners to finalize when and where the team would play and what share of the franchise’s revenue the State Fair would receive, Skold said. He would like all the details taken care of quickly, Skold said. “We’ll certainly help out in any way we can,” he said. Because the coliseum is a state prop erty, the State BuildingDivision would have to approve the deal, Skold said. The board also would have to move other winter events — such as the See HOCKEY on 2