Massive $5,000,000 Grant Headed to Upper Big Blue NRD
The Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District has been awarded a $5,000,000 “Agricultural Water Enhancement Program grant from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
(The AWEP grant will support a five-year, $5 million project that will pay incentives to landowners for several water saving practices throughout ten townships in York County and two townships in southeastern Hamilton County as a first priority component of the grant.) Upper Big Blue PR Director Scott Snell says first priority projects that can be funded include: (Conversion of furrow irrigation to center pivot or sub-surface drip irrigation. Implementing real-time irrigation scheduling using soil moisture monitoring equipment and installation of water meters; and Conversion of irrigated acres to dryland or grassland. The secondary priority area includes lands in the Wellhead Protection Areas surrounding all communities in the Upper Big Blue NRD.) Irrigators are being urged to contact their local NRCS office now to apply for participation. The sign-up deadline for fiscal year 2010 funding is August 6th. For more information call the York County NRCS office at (402) 362-4906.
York County District Court
In York District Court this week, 18 year old Dylan Landers of Sutton was charged with theft by unlawful taking in an incident involving a stolen pick-up truck in March at a rural Henderson property. It’s alleged that Landers deserted the vehicle in Kansas and stole another and was proceeding to Nevada when apprehended. Landers sentencing is set for August 30th…In addition, Jeremiah Hildebrand of York was sentenced for threatening to slit the throat of a potential victim. Originally he was charged with a felony for making terroristic threats, but in a plea bargain the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor. Since he now resides in Kansas and has already spent 3 weeks in jail, Judge Alan Gless sentenced him to a $250 fine and an additional $129 in court costs and he is expected to finish his high school education.
Hastings, Neb., man faces US child-porn charges
A 35-year-old Hastings man faces two federal indictments alleging child pornography. A news release Thursday from the office of U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says Todd Tackwell is accused of receiving and distributing child pornography from around March 1, 2008, through Aug. 31, 2008. He also is charged with possession of child pornography. If convicted of both charges, he faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Tackwell doesn't have a publicly listed phone number. Case records don't yet list his attorney's name.
Ex-cop found guilty of having sex with girl
An ex-police officer who's accused of having sex with an underage girl has been convicted of sexual assault during his third trial. Prosecutors say 54-year-old Larry Williams was found guilty Wednesday in Buffalo County District Court of first-degree sexual assault of a child and five counts of first-degree sexual assault. He could face a prison sentence of more than 50 years. Sentencing is set for September. Prosecutors say Williams was sexually involved with the girl between 2001 and '03, beginning when she was 14. The crimes occurred while Williams was a Ravenna police officer. He resigned from the department in '05. Williams also was tried in 2007 and '09, but both trials ended in hung juries.
Family members charged in child abuse that led to boy's death in Kearney
Three central Nebraska family members have been arraigned in Kearney County Court, accused in the death of a four-year-old boy. Sharon and Charles Turnell of Minden, who are married, and Sharon's 19-year-old daughter, Katie Payne, were arraigned this week. All three are charged with aiding and abetting child abuse that caused the death of Landon Payne, Sharon Turnell's nephew who'd been living with the family. The boy died in December at a Kearney hospital. The three charged have told authorities the boy was injured in a fall from a bunk bed, but doctors who treated the boy say he had numerous injuries in various stages of healing. Attorneys for the three either had no comment or did not return calls.
The rush is on to apologize to USDA employee Shirley Sherrod
The rush is on to apologize to U-S-D-A employee Shirley Sherrod. She was fired after comments that were taken out of context were posted on a Conservative website. Many considered them racial, until the time was taken to listen to the entire speech. Former U-S Ag Secretary and Current Nebraska U-S Senator Mike Johanns has been watching the situation closely.
Johanns says the whole situation has been a mess.
Two Arrests Made In Brutal Beating Of Ft. Calhoun Girl
Two Omaha men are facing charges in the brutal beating of a 19 year old Fort Calhoun woman this past weekend. Officer Jacob Bettin (ba-TEEN) says Christine Schroeder was found laying in an alley near 40th and Grebe (greeb) where she had been brutally beaten and left alone. This happened after Schroeder had attended a party. (The victim and the suspect arrested as an accessory met at a party in western Omaha. They then moved to a different location and met up with the main suspect, Aaron Sheperd.)
Officer Bettin says 22 year old Samuel Irvin, who is charged as an accessory, Sheperd and Schroeder left together. (They then took her to an area of 40th and Grebe where she was assaulted and those two suspects left her there.) Wednesday night, officers raided an Omaha home and fired a number of shots. That is when 19 year old Aaron Sheperd was arrested. They also took evidence from the home and neighbors say Sheperd had been busy removing items from the house the day after Schroeder's attack. Officer Bettin is pleased the arrests were made. (We are glad this happened fairly quickly with this investigation considering the amount of violence involved with the victim's injuries.) After several days in a coma, Schroeder is showing good signs of improvement. (The victim is getting better at this time. She is improving. These charges are very serious and these suspects don't deserve to be on the street for what they did.) Sheperd is charged with attempted murder, sexual assault and using a weapon to commit a felony.
Nebraska Missing Three Key Safeguards For Children In Disasters
After Hurricane Katrina, the organization Save the Children's U-S Programs started researching how states are doing in protecting children during a natural disaster. Steven Fisher is their spokesman and says 90-percent of all children in the U-S live in an area of risk of a natural disaster. Statistics show that Nebraska lacks the basic protections for children in schools and in day care centers. (And if there is a disaster, a tornado or flood, parents want to make sure these kids are protected so these are minimal standards for schools and child care facilities to protect kids. Unfortunately, Nebraska is only meeting one of them and that is in schools.) Fisher says they look at four key standards for schools and day care facilities. (Evacuation and relocation planning’s. Reunification efforts. Showing we are meeting the needs of children with special needs in child care and then disaster planning in schools.) Fisher says while schools meet the necessary criteria in having a disaster plan in place, it is child care / day care centers that lack planning in Nebraska. He says this responsibility is on several shoulders. (It is up to Nebraskans and families and parents and kids nationwide to demand that states do more to ensure that kids are protected.) Fisher says each day, there are more than 67-million children in school or child care on any given day in the U-S. These children are separated from their families it is very important that a plan is in place if disaster strikes. He says we all need to learn a lesson from Katrina. (In some cases, up to six months to reunite a child with their family. There were over five-thousand missing kids after Katrina who weren't with their families.) Save the Children statistics show 38-states and the District of Columbia did not meet all four basic standards and seven states scored a zero.
Nebraska natives win $1M Iowa Lottery prize
Life just got a little easier for two Nebraska natives who now live in northwest Iowa. On Thursday, Robert Stewart, who's originally from Lincoln, became the Iowa Lottery's seventh million-dollar winner this year. Stewart describes his reaction when he noticed he struck it rich. "Oh, my God, I can't believe I won this," Stewart told reporters. The 41-year-old Stewart dropped off his wife, Deb, at work at an auto parts store in Storm Lake before driving across the street to a convenience store to fuel up. Deb is a North Platte native. Robert says he purchased the last twenty-dollar "Lifetime Riches" instant scratch game the store had in stock.
The Stewarts live in Aurelia (ah-REEL-yuh), Iowa.
Neb. abortion law may not get full legal fight
A new abortion law in Nebraska may be flawed enough that Attorney General Jon Bruning won't exhaust all legal options to try to keep it on the books. Bruning said Friday during an interview that he is considering whether it is worth the time and expense to defend the law through what could be a lengthy appeals process, or whether a new bill should be drafted instead. U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp last week blocked the state from enforcing the law that requires health screenings for women seeking abortions. She said the measure could have made it impossible to get an abortion in the state. Supporters of the law say it is designed to make sure women understand the risks that may accompany abortions.
Neb. high court rejects convicted killer's appeal
The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a man who fatally attacked a doctor at the state psychiatric hospital in Lincoln. In his appeal, Eric Lewis said there wasn't enough evidence to convict him and that he was deprived of his right to represent himself at trial. In a decision released Friday, the court rejected Lewis' arguments. Lancaster County District Judge Paul Merritt ruled in October 2008 that Lewis was competent to stand trial for fatally injuring Dr. Louis Martin on July 23, 2007. Martin died 10 days later. But the judge also ruled that Lewis was not competent to act as his own legal counsel. In January 2009, Lewis was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Nebraska high court also rejects Medicaid policy
The Nebraska Supreme Court has refused to restore the state's power to withhold Medicaid coverage under a welfare-to-work program. In a ruling released Friday, the court said the Department of Health and Human Services "unlawfully enlarged upon the authorizing statutes" passed by the Legislature. The department had appealed a decision by Lancaster County District Judge Karen Flowers. She had dismissed the state policy that tied Medicaid coverage for poor families to weekly work requirements. Flowers said in 2009 that the department had exceeded its authority when approving the work requirement, saying it was a matter for lawmakers to decide.
Lincoln, Neb., man faces 2 US child-porn charges
Federal authorities have indicted a 30-year-old Lincoln man, alleging that he received and distributed child pornography. A news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Deborah Gilg says Jeffrey Hunzeker faces two charges: receipt and distribution from around June 1, 2009, through March 2, 2010; and possession of child pornography. If convicted on both charges, he faces up to 30 years in prison. Hunzeker doesn't have a publicly listed phone. Case records don't yet list his attorney's name.
McGovern to Speak at Nebraska Democratic Party Meeting
Former Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern will be in Columbus this weekend to speak at the Nebraska Democratic Party convention. McGovern, who turned 88 on Monday, served South Dakota in the U.S. House from 1957 to 1961 and in the U.S. Senate from 1963 to 1981. But he's best known for his loss to Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential race. McGovern ran again in 1984, but he withdrew after the New Hampshire primary. McGovern now spends his time lecturing and traveling around the country. On Monday, he celebrated his birthday by going skydiving in Florida. He said his tandem jump was dedicated to increasing awareness of people who are starving around the world, particularly children.
Failed Pedestrian Bridges Prompts Inspections by City
City officials are still trying to figure out what caused a 7-year-old pedestrian bridge in Wilderness Park to partially collapse Wednesday, while 20 kids at day camp were crossing. Even though inspections are not required, Lincoln Parks and Rec employees check on bridges when they are sent to the area to mow. After Wednesday's drop of nearly 15 feet, city officials now say pedestrian bridges may need the same attention as roadway bridges. Engineers with Lincoln Public Works spent Thursday inspecting, making sure the Saltillo Bridge is the only pedestrian bridge that fails.
Former Alegent President Brought Back Permanently
The former president of Alegent Health has been reappointed to the position he left last year. Richard Hachten II had been serving as interim leader of Nebraska's largest health care company since president and CEO Wayne Sensor resigned in October. Alegent announced this week that Hachten's been brought on permanently. Hachten was president of Alegent from its founding in 1996 until his retirement in April 2009. Alegent has given no reason for Sensor's sudden departure last fall. It came soon after votes of no confidence in Alegent management from doctors at two of its Omaha hospitals. Alegent says it is the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care system in Nebraska and southwest Iowa and employs about 9,000 people.
Kearney I80 Interchange Among State's 2010 Budgeted Projects
More than 140 projects highlight the state's road construction plan this year. One of those projects is a new Interstate 80 interchange near Kearney, which has been more than a decade in the making. For now, many people just speed on by the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument. That's why the monument has focused on word of mouth promotion and educational trips for students. So when . Gary Roubicek, executive director of the Archway Monument heard an interchange could soon lead right to their door, his reaction was: "Great. I hope it happens this time, but obviously it has to be tempered because it's fallen through so many times." But Kearney city leaders believe the project will be completed. "We're excited and believe that the project is on schedule," said Michael Morgan, city manager. "The environmental documents should be completed by October, which is the really, really big step and once that's approved I think they'll be more excitement even then." Morgan says the interchange could boost economic development . The state's construction plan for this year will cost about $300 million. About $180 million is federal dollars. Some other big projects include replacing the Missouri River bridge at Rulo and resurfacing Nebraska Highway 15 from Highway 32 to 275.
Grand Island Murder Suspect Guilty in Separate Shooting
A Grand Island man awaiting trial in a 2009 killing has been found guilty in a separate shooting incident. Twenty-one-year-old Mohamed Said Abdulkadir was found guilty Wednesday in Hall County District Court of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and aiding and abetting attempted robbery. The charges stem from an Aug. 21 shooting at a Grand Island restaurant. A man was shot but has since recovered. Abdulkadir faces trial this fall on first-degree murder and other charges. He's pleaded not guilty. He and two other men are accused in the Aug. 27 death of Nyual Majak Angok Mathor
Lincoln Regional Center Escapee Won't Face New Charges
Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey said there will not be any new charges for 22-year-old Shane Tilley who was captured Wednesday evening after escaping from a psychiatric hospital in Lincoln. Lacey said since Tilley was not actually convicted of any crime, he could not be charged for the escape from the Lincoln Regional center. Tilley was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the January 2006 stabbing death of Andy Lubben. He was committed to the Lincoln Regional Center in 2007.
Dead Man, Woman Found near Entrance of Omaha Zoo
Authorities have identified the bodies of a man and woman found near the main entrance of Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo, across from Rosenblatt Stadium. Omaha police say they're 43-year-old Michael Anderson and 23-year-old Paige Miller, both of Omaha. A zoo worker found the bodies and alerted police around 4 a.m. Thursday. Police have not said how the pair died. The department's homicide unit is still investigating.
Pilot Injured After Plane Crashes into Parked Plane at McCook Airport
Authorities say a pilot was taken to a hospital after a crop-dusting plane taxied into a parked private plane at the McCook airport in western Nebraska. The crash Thursday morning touched off an explosion and fire that destroyed both planes. The injured crop-dusting pilot was burned on his face, hands and chest. No one was aboard the parked plane, but authorities say people were walking out to board it when the accident occurred. Names and other crash details have not been released yet.
JPA Board Approves $100 Million In Bonds To Sell For Arena
It's official. Lincoln's Haymarket Arena project is headed to the public market. The Joint Public Agency board, on Thursday, approved its first round of bonds that will fund the arena project. Now they just need investors to show interest. The bonds, totaling $100 million, will be sold through a public sale, starting sometime in mid August. The bonds the board approved will be capped at a 5.5 percent payout and the life of the bonds is capped to 35 years. The bonds will be issue through a public sale which arena coordinator Dan Marvin described as being similar to an auction. The board will use the money to fund the first phase of the arena project; to purchase land from Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific, pay for track relocation, environmental remediation and eventually, construction projects. The JPA board is set to meet again August 19.
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