Troopers Plan Increased Presence during Boys State Basketball
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol will be conducting high visibility enforcement efforts in conjunction with the Boys State Basketball Tournament March 11-13, 2010, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Beginning Thursday, March 11 and continuing through Saturday, March 13, 2010, troopers with Headquarters Troop-Lincoln and Troop A-Omaha will focus on high traffic areas in an effort to reduce crashes. A $7,800 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) will help pay for the special enforcement efforts. High visibility patrols during the 2009 Boys Basketball Tournament resulted in 300 speeding citations and warnings.
Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit, always wear their seat belt, never drive impaired and to allow plenty of time to reach their destination. Several construction projects are underway on Nebraska roadways. I-80 widening projects between Omaha and Lincoln continue. Drivers are urged to obey the posted speed limits and use caution in construction zones. Travelers wanting to check road and weather conditions along their route can do so by utilizing 511, the state of Nebraska’s automated weather and road condition hotline. Anyone experiencing a roadside emergency or wanting to report a reckless or impaired driver should call the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline at * 55 from any cellular phone or 1-800-525-5555 from any landline.
Police Call 23 Month Old Nebraska Boy's Death a Homicide
Police now say someone killed a 23-month-old Lincoln boy. Carter Vetter was pronounced dead last Tuesday night at a Lincoln hospital. Authorities say medical techs were unable to revive the boy at his Lincoln home. Police say an autopsy showed the little boy didn't die of natural causes. On Monday, police spokeswoman Katie Flood said: "We're calling it a homicide. We're just trying to figure out at whose hands."
No arrests have been reported. Police are interviewing his parents and others who spent time with the boy on the day he died.
Johanns will not chime in on prenatal care for illegal immigrants
The Federal Government has told states they will not pay for the prenatal care of illegal immigrants, so the legislature in Nebraska is taking up a bill to provide funding to help the women in our state that our not here legally, but may be giving birth to a new citizen. Senator Johanns says he will not second guess the Governor, who has said he does not support providing money for prenatal care for illegal immigrants. Johanns says he has been asked before to issue comments on issues facing the state. No word on when Nebraska legislators will vote on the issue.
Happy Ending to Missing Persons Search
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says deputies were called Branched Oak Lake around 6 p.m. Saturday on a case of some missing juveniles. The two missing boys were 11 and 12 years old. Wagner says they were boy scouts, who were part of a compass orientation course. Wagner says several deputies, a K-9 unit, and even the Nebarska State Patrol helicopter were dispatched to the area. Wagner says the ordeal lasted about two hours, and it had grown dark. Wagner says the kids were both located safe and sound just west of "Area 10" at the lake. Wagner says the two reported losing their compass. He says the kids also said they mis-read their maps and got lost.
Seat Belt Survivor Award to be Presented in Wahoo
The Nebraska State Patrol, in cooperation with the Saunders County Sheriff’s Office, will present a Nebraska State Patrol Seat Belt Survivor Award on Tuesday, March 9, 2010. The Award will be presented to 29-year-old Nina Papousek of Wahoo, Nebraska. Papousek was the survivor of a two-vehicle fatality crash on the Highway 92 Bridge in Saunders County. The crash involving a pickup and an SUV occurred on Friday, November 13, 2009. Media is invited to attend the awards presentation which will take place beginning at 5:00 p.m., at the Saunders County Law Enforcement and Judicial Center in Wahoo, Nebraska.
Major Slide Closes I-70 in Western Colorado
A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 70 has been closed in western Colorado after a rock slide punched gaping holes in a bridge and left huge boulders on the highway. The Colorado Department of Transportation says the slide struck at about midnight Sunday near the Hanging Lake Tunnel in Glenwood Canyon, a deep and narrow chasm about 110 miles west of Denver. No injuries were reported. Both lanes are closed from Glenwood Springs east to the town of Dotsero. CDOT spokeswoman Stacy Stegman says initial reports indicate the slide left two large holes in a westbound bridge, one of them about 10 feet by 20 feet. She says eastbound and westbound lanes are blocked by boulders, some the size of a tractor-trailer rig. It's not clear just how long it will remain closed. The slide dumped huge boulders onto Interstate 70. It's used by as many as 25,000 vehicles a day. The slide has blocked the main route between Denver's airport and the four resorts in the Aspen area owned by the Aspen Skiing Company -- but a spokeswoman says resort operations weren't disrupted. Because of the rugged terrain, the shortest detour adds about 200 miles to the trip. Nobody was hurt in the overnight rockslide, and no damage to vehicles was reported. The biggest hole in the roadway is 10 feet by 20 feet. About 20 boulders as long as 10 feet were left scattered on the highway, including one weighing 66 tons. Officials say some of the rocks will have to be blown apart by explosives.
Survey predicts good quarter ahead for jobs in Nebraska
Springtime should bring welcome growth in our yards and gardens -- and in the state's job prospects. A survey of Nebraska employers finds an improving job picture for the upcoming quarter. Mike Lynch, spokesman for Manpower Incorporated, says April, May and June look promising, especially in Nebraska's largest cities. In the Omaha/Council Bluffs area, 11-percent of employers surveyed plan to increase staff while eight-percent plan cuts. Lynch calls Lincoln the "shining star of the Midwest" as 22-percent of employers plan to add to their staffs while 13-percent expect a decrease. Lynch says there's a pattern much of the state is following. "Job prospects look best in the manufacturing sector, transportation and utilities, information and financial services," Lynch says. "Really wholesale/retail and education and health and government entities are the only ones expressing their intentions to decrease staff." Lynch says the state, region and nation are all on a similar footing as the nation recovers from the recession. "Overall, the entire Midwest is looking relatively good and employers are expressing some optimism towards hiring," Lynch says. There's a much lower percentage of employers who say they don't know what their immediate hiring prospects will be, which Lynch says is "a positive sign that people are having a better handle on what their future is likely to be." The national outlook for the upcoming quarter shows 16-percent of employers planning to add to their staffs, while about eight-percent plan reductions. Learn more at: "www.manpower.com".
Committee to decide if prenatal care bill will advance to the floor
As of March 1st, over 1,000 unborn children in Nebraska lost access to medical care. It's happening because their mothers are illegal immigrants. Tiffany Seibert with Voices for Children says that continuing that state funded prenatal care is crucial. Governor Heineman said on his radio call-in show yesterday that he remains opposed to continuing state funding pre-natal care for illegal immigrants. Seibert says that Voices for Children is working on educating Nebraskans to take action to better the lives of Nebraska's vulnerable children. A legislative committee is to consider today whether to advance to the floor a proposal that would continue state funded prenatal care for low-income illegal immigrants.
Sheriff's candidate arrested on DUI charges
A man running to head up the Keith County Sheriffs Office was arrested for Driving Under the Influence Friday night. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, a trooper pulled over Jeff Stevens of Ogallala around 8pm Mountain Time Friday night. The Patrol says Stevens was speeding on East Highway 30 in Ogallala. After a subsequent traffic stop, the trooper detected the odor of alcohol and conducted a field sobriety test. Stevens was then arrested and taken to the Keith County Jail. He faces a maximum of 60 days in jail, a $500 fine and a license revocation. Stevens, a former Keith County Deputy, put his hat in the ring this year taking on incumbent sheriff Kevin Mueller in this year's election.
Armon Dixon Found Guilty
A jury has found a 30-year old Lincoln man guilty of sexual assault and robbery. Armon Dixon was convicted for a March 21, 2009 incident at a Casey's General Store, near 56th & Superior Streets. In closing arguments yesterday, Prosecutor Patrick Condon told jurors that "DNA evidence is the crux of the case." Condon reminded jurors of the two condoms found near the store that had DNA that matched Dixon's and that of the victim. In his closing statement, Shawn Elliot, the attorney representing Dixon, questioned whether DNA evidence was handled correctly and he told the jury that a lot of testimony was too inconsistent to find his client guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. A May 3 sentencing date has been set for Dixon. He faces up to 50 years in prison for each of the counts.
Parental Powers Form
The Nebraska Supreme Court's legal self-help committee has developed a free online form for parents to assign temporary parental powers to friends and relatives. The high court's Committee on Pro Se Litigation came up with the form so that parents needing others to temporarily care for their children don't have to endure the expense of hiring a lawyer to complete the process. Nebraska law allows a parent or legal guardian to designate another adult for up to six months to make important decisions on behalf of their children, such as consent to medical treatment and enrollment in school. The form is not filed with the court, but is kept by the individual caring for the child to show to hospitals, schools, and the like.
Nebraska Manufacturer Expands Pet Food Recall
Lincoln-based Nature's Variety has expanded its recall of chicken-flavored pet food. The company said Monday that the raw, frozen food is being recalled because it could be contaminated with salmonella The recall includes three-pound packages of chicken medallions, six-pound packages of chicken patties and two-pound packages of chicken chubs. Initially, the company recalled only packages with a best-by date of Nov. 10, 2010. Now packages with best-by dates of Oct. 29 and Nov. 9, 2010, are also being recalled. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Pets can also become ill if they consume the bacteria.
Nebraska Lawmakers to Discuss Axing Elected Office
Nebraska lawmakers are set to debate whether the state treasurer's office should be eliminated. Debate on the measure (LR284CA) introduced by Sen. Dennis Utter of Hastings was scheduled to begin on Tuesday. He says he introduced it to save the state money and that services now done by the office such as returning unclaimed property could be done by other state agencies. Current State Treasurer Shane Osborn opposes the measure even though he isn't running for re-election. He says it's important residents have someone they've elected to help oversee the state's finances. If OK'd by lawmakers, the proposal would go to a statewide vote. If approved, the office would be gone in 2013.
Nebraska teen faces adult charge of robbery
A 15-year-old Grand Island boy faces adult charges of robbery. Javante Moore is accused of robbing the Five Points Bank of nearly $12,000 on Saturday. A warrant affidavit says officers use video from the bank to identify Moore, who was arrested later Saturday. Police say Moore hid near the bathrooms until the bank closed. He crawled to the teller area, took the money, then ran to an exit door that was locked. Police say Moore persuaded a bank employee outside to unlock it. The affidavit says Moore shoved the unlocked door into the employee, knocking her down, and then ran. Hall County authorities say Moore remains in custody. Court records don't list an attorney for him yet.
Longtime Hastings Tribune publisher Seaton retires
The Hastings Tribune has a new publisher to replace the newspaper's longtime leader, Don Seaton. Seaton announced his retirement last week, saying that 45-year-old Darran Fowler would take over the job.
Fowler has been associate publisher since July after serving as managing editor since 2001. He joined the newspaper in 1995. Fowler's been replaced by 62-year-old Stephen Hermann, who returned to Nebraska after a stint as director of student publications at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. Hermann's professional experience includes time at the Lincoln Journal-Star and Omaha World-Herald. The 69-year-old Seaton had been publisher since 1974, taking over from his father, Fred. The Seaton family has owned the Tribune since 1937.
Web Cam Shows Sandhill Cranes
The Rowe Sanctuary in south-central Nebraska has activated its crane cam so people can watch some of the thousands of sandhill cranes pausing on their way north to breeding grounds. The Web-based video site can be found on the sanctuary Web site, www.rowesanctuary.org, which can be accessed through the link below. The birds stop along an 80-mile stretch of the Platte River for three to four weeks in the spring. Experts say the birds take advantage of the scattered corn and insect-rich cow waste in the adjacent fields, building reserves of energy for their migration. Each year they fly from their winter grounds in the southern United States and Mexico to northern Alaska, Canada and Siberia, where they spend the summer. The Rowe Sanctuary is owned and managed by the National Audubon Society .
Omaha Police ID 3 Killed in Weekend Shootings
Police have identified the three people killed in shootings last weekend in northeast Omaha. The three people were killed in two separate shootings that occurred early Sunday morning. Police said Monday the shootings appeared gang related, but no arrests had been made. In the first shooting, 19-year-old Paul Richards was killed and another man suffered non-life-threatening injuries. In the second shooting, 24-year-old Qjuan Moore and 23-year-old Jonas Amerson were killed.
Nebraska Tax Revenues Fall 2% Short in February
Nebraska state government's overall revenue fell more than 2 percent below projections in February because of lagging sales and income taxes. The state Department of Revenue said Monday that the state collected $201 million in February. That's $5 million less than the official projection the state budget is based on. Higher-than-expected revenues from corporate income taxes helped keep the state from missing the mark by more. The revenue report comes on the heels of a state board's downward revision of state tax-revenue estimates for this fiscal year, and next. The Legislature will now be forced to make cuts to the current, two-year budget to deal with the revenue shortfall and an increase in state aid to schools.
Gibbon Turkey Processing Plant Sold
The turkey processing plant in Gibbon that was shuttered in 2008 has been sold. Documents filed Friday with the Buffalo County register of deeds shows the former Nebraska Turkey Growers Cooperative plant was sold to Midwest Meat Packing Facility LLC of New York for $400,000. The county assessor's office says the plant is valued at $1.8 million. A formal announcement of the sale has not yet been made. The Gibbon facility was Nebraska's only turkey processing plant when it closed in December 2008, citing increasing feed and fuel costs. The plant had 225 full-time employees and processed more than 20,000 turkeys a day.
M-S: Comprehensive care makes a difference
Twelve years ago, Nebraskan Angela Molden woke up not feeling well. (I actually woke up one morning and my jaw was numb and throughout the day it traveled all the way down the right side of my body. I ended up going to the emergency room. They thought it was a migraine. I went to see my neurologist and within three days he diagnosed me with M-S.) Molen says over the past 12 years, she has lived a normal life. (Had everything from numbness to weakness to extreme fatigue. Right now I'm battling some optic neuritis; I'm losing some sight in my eyes. But also in the last 12 years stayed married, had two children and I'm active with the kid’s school and the M-S society.) Molen received treatment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center where after trying a number of treatments, one is showing good signs of progress. Molden says she just received her 44th infusion of a drug called Tysabri (tah-SOB-BREE) and is feeling excellent. (It has been wonderful. I've had clean MRI's. The last for MRI's shown no new activity so it has been a wonder drug for me.) Molden is also a volunteer at the Nebraska M-S Society Chapter and she encourages anyone diagnosed with M-S to give them a call. (The Nebraska Chapter does a lot of things as far as direct financial assistance. They raise awareness. We do a get away weekend every year where families with M-S can get away and have a good time. All the activities are accessible. It is a great weekend.) On Wednesday, a fundraising effort that will benefit the M-S Nebraska Chapter will be held at California Pizza Kitchen.
Mello on state budget
Now that lawmakers will have to come up with an extra 16-million dollars for education on top of an already large projected shortfall in the next biennium, Senator Heath Mello says the appropriations committee has their work cut out for them. Mello does not agree with the two percent across the board cuts that were approved last week. Mello says it's too decide on not moving forward on floor debate on the bill that would provide funding for prenatal care of the unborn children of Illegal immigrants.
Neb. woman who had been left in filthy bed dies
A 77-year-old Lincoln woman has died, weeks after three relatives were accused of failing to get her medical treatment and leaving her in a urine- and feces-soaked bed for more than a week. Police Capt. David Beggs says Betty Wickline died Monday at a care home. He would not comment further about the circumstances.
Wickline's daughter, 53-year-old Sheryl Dunn, has been charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult. No trial date has been set. Dunn's 20-year-old daughter, Francis Wilson, and the daughter's husband, 24-year-old Jonathan Wilson, were charged as accessories. Their next hearings are April 2. Court records say Dunn told police she didn't seek help because her mother wanted to die at home. The Wilsons said it was because Wickline was uninsured.
Western Nebraska man pleads guilty to manslaughter
A 20-year-old Scottsbluff man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the August stabbing death of another man. Artie Lowery also pleaded guilty Monday to tampering with physical evidence and tampering with a witness. In exchange for his guilty pleas, prosecutors reduced the charges from second-degree murder and felony weapon use. He faces up to 30 years in prison when he's sentenced April 30 in Scotts Bluff County District Court. Lowery fatally stabbed 20-year-old James Mendoza in August during a dispute that began in a Scottsbluff parking lot. Lowery's brother, 20-year-old Joseph Lowery, and wife, 18-year-old Rozlyn Lowery, 18, have been charged with being accessories to the crime.
Neb. CSI chief's lawyer asks to withdraw from case
The attorney for an Omaha-based crime-scene investigator facing trial this month in an evidence-tampering case is seeking to drop his client. A motion filed Monday by attorney Steve Lefler asks that he be allowed to withdraw as David Kofoed's (KOH-fohd's) attorney. Kofoed is accused of tampering with evidence in a 2006 Cass County case in which two men were wrongly charged in a double murder. Kofoed was acquitted in September of federal charges in a case related to the tampering accusations. His state trial in Cass County is set to begin on Monday. Lefler's motion to withdraw says Kofoed "has not been able to fulfill his contractual obligation."
GM car dealers wil keep brands
Several central nebraska General Motors car dealers breathed a sigh of relief after getting a long awaited letter saying they will not lose brands. GM said few Midwest car dealers can keep selling Buicks and Cadillacs. That includes Advantage Chevrolet in Aurora. Last year, GM said they would lose the brands. In a turn of events, GM found other ways to market the cars. "We were not going to close our doors if they were not successful. We did not have a plan B. We were going to go with plan A the entire time," said Brett Schwartz, Advantage Chevy. Advantage Chevrolet in Aurora will also keep Buicks and Cadillac's in stock. They have been working with other dealers to keep cars in stock.
Premium Protein plant sold to new owners
Hastings former Premium Protein Plant was sold in auction to a new owner. And, the new owners said they want to be up and running by late spring. That means new jobs. We are talking about up to 150 new jobs by the time the plant opens. A deal on the facility was reached Monday afternoon. It was a multi–million dollar deal. The new owner of the plant is an Illinois based corporation called Hastings Acquisitions LLC. Premium Protein also had another plant in Lincoln. That has not yet been sold. But the new owners do have the option of buying that as well. Hastings Acquisitions plans to use the facility as a slaughter house and meat packing plant similar to what it used to be. The new owners have 75 days to officially close the deal. Hastings Acquistions LLC is a partnership between two owners from Chicago and New York. At this point they are not yet sure what name the meat packing plant will have when it opens.
Nebraska gets financial reason to fill out census form
A report says that, per capita, Nebraska in fiscal 2008 got more federal money tied to census data than most other states. The report released by the Washington-based Brookings Institution says Nebraska received $3.1 billion, or $1,734 per person, during the fiscal year that ended in September 2008. Per capita, that was the 14th most among states. The Brookings Institution tallied how much money states got from more than 200 federal programs that use census data to determine distributions. The 2010 Census is under way, and Brookings says it released the data to encourage people to fill out census forms. According to the report, the District of Columbia got the most money per capita in 2008, $4,656, and Nevada got the least, $742.