Noteworthy

The Omaha Downtown Kiwanis Club has announced new officers for 2009-2010.

They are: president, Bob Kenny; president-elect, Connie Miller; vice president, Tom Albers; immediate past president, William J. Lenagh; secretary-treasurer, Scott A. Brokke.

Directors also were named: John Adams, Bruce Dean, Matt Gunderson, Ron Lassek, Dan Owens, Steve Patterson, Sandra Staffeld, Jean Wiesner and Sara Woods.

Lt. Kevin Griger of the Sarpy County Sheriff's Office recently graduated from the National FBI Academy in Quantico, Va.

Griger was selected to attend from more than 15,000 applicants. The academy, offered to police executives to enhance various areas of law enforcement, includes 10 weeks of extensive coursework and rigorous physical fitness training.

Griger is a 22-year veteran of the sheriff's department currently assigned to the Administration Division.

Omaha businessman John Blazek recently received the Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions 2009 Alumni Merit Award.

Blazek is the president and owner of JMB Capital, managing director and co-owner of Heartland Health Therapy and director and co-owner of Pioneer Publishing. He has also served as president of the boards of directors for Catholic Charities and KVSS Spirit Catholic Radio, as well as board vice chairman for the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority.

Jeanne Emmons has been awarded first prize in an annual poetry competition sponsored by the Comstock Review, a semi-annual journal of poetry published in Syracuse, N.Y.

Emmons' poem, “Termites: the Covenant,” was chosen from among 2,500 submissions. Emmons is a professor of English and writing at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Several members of the Latino community will be honored Thursday at the fifth annual Latino Heritage Awards banquet at Creighton University's Harper Center.

Jose “Joe” Ramirez and Cecilia Huerta will be given Lifetime Achievement Awards.

Also honored will be Alberto Cervantes, Cindy Gonzalez, Giovanna Zermeno, Sergio Sosa, Rosemary Flores, Hector Ramirez and First National Bank.

A reception and silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dinner, awards and entertainment will begin at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $50. Register online at www.BarrientosScholarship.org.

Marc Grass recently was awarded the 2009 Legendary Customer Service Award by Hy-Vee Supermarkets.

Grass has worked at Hy-Vee for nearly 11 years. For 4½ years, he has been the fuel station manager at the store at 156th Street and West Maple Road.

Grass was nominated for the award through numerous letters from customers and co-workers and was chosen as one of nine recipients out of 55,000 employees.

Elkhorn-area resident John T. Komar will be honored as Marietta (Ohio) College's Distinguished Alumnus during homecoming ceremonies, which start Thursday.

Komar, a 1957 graduate, served as troop commander at every level in the U.S. Marine Corp., eventually as a battalion commander of the 7th Engineer Battalion.

Dr. Harold M. Maurer was elected to the Association of Academic Health Centers' board of directors at a recent annual business meeting.

Maurer, who is chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, will serve a three-year term on the board of the national nonprofit organization, which seeks to improve the nation's health through leadership of academic health centers.

The Nebraska Rural Health Association recently presented awards for outstanding rural health achievement.

The awards recognize individuals taking leadership roles and who make a difference in health care in rural Nebraska.

Winners: Dr. David Brown, UNMC College of Dentistry, Lincoln, the President's Award; Dr. Timothy D. Blecha, Family Medical Center, Superior, and Dr. Charles Nowacek, Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Hastings, Outstanding Rural Health Practitioner; Greg Schieke and CIMRO of Nebraska, Lincoln, Outstanding Rural Health Achievement.

Omaha resident Ed Ficenec was presented the Patrick J. Hodgins Distinguished Member Award at the 83rd annual Cosmopolitan International Convention in New Orleans.

The award, the highest given by the organization, is awarded to a member active for 10 years or more.

Ficenec joined the Bellevue-Big Elk Club in 1977 and the Omaha Club in 1996. He has been club president and secretary of both clubs and held the office of Federation Governor in 1999-2000.

Cosmopolitan International is a chartered not-for-profit civic service organization that consists of roughly 70 clubs throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nebraska businesses will be recognized in October by the Nebraska Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Nebraska State Rehabilitation Council.

The recognition is part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

The following businesses have worked to ensure Nebraskans with disabilities have an opportunity to reach their full potential and to recognize the positive contributions that citizens with disabilities make to Nebraska: Walmart stores in York, Seward, Hastings, Grand Island and Kearney; Apogee Retail LLC in Columbus; Lincoln Action Program; Park ‘N Go Airport Parking, Omaha; Heartland Family Service, Fremont; Goodwill Store and Donation Center, Scottsbluff; Subway, Norfolk.

Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and ServeNebraska recently announced the winners of Nebraska's 2009 Be Prepared Awards in conjunction with National Preparedness Month.

The recipients are volunteers who contribute to Nebraska's emergency preparedness efforts.

The Citizen Corps Council of the Year Award was presented to the Sarpy County Citizen Corps Council.

The Cornhusker Region American Red Cross Disaster Team based in Lincoln was presented the Citizen Corps Program Partner of the Year award.

Bob Hessler of Scottsbluff was recognized as the Citizen Corps Council Member of the Year.

Scott Zager of Lincoln received the Local Hero award.

Loren Uden of Hastings received the Excellence in Disaster Preparedness award.

Robin Zagurski of Omaha received the Excellence in Risk Communications award.

And Betty Plankinton of Columbus received the Excellence in Preparedness Education and Outreach award.

The League of Nebraska Municipalities has announced its Executive Board membership.

Annie Thomas of Auburn was elected president of the 2009-2010 Executive Board. David Boeckner of Scottsbluff was elected president-elect; Marlene Johnson, mayor of West Point, was elected vice president; and Doug Hanson of Hickman will remain a member of the board as past president. Directors elected include: Dan Kusek of Alliance; Stan Clouse, mayor of Kearney; Chris Beutler, mayor of Lincoln; Lois Shelton, mayor of Wayne; Jim Suttle, mayor of Omaha; Marlin Seeman, mayor of Aurora; Doug Kindig, mayor of La Vista; and Dan McGuire of North Platte. Representatives include: Sheila Schukei, Melissa Harrell and Pat Davison.

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