POTTER, Neb. (AP) — Officials say firefighters have contained a blaze that blackened nearly 3,000 acres in the southern Nebraska Panhandle.

Hot spots are smoldering inside the area, which is about 15 miles north of Potter in Cheyenne County. The area is about 80 miles south of a wildfire that’s burned an estimated 3,000 acres in the northwest corner of the Panhandle.

Spokesman Bob Hilpert of the Potter Volunteer Fire Department says the fire was touched off Saturday night by lightning and was soon extinguished.

But Hilpert says wind fanned hot spots back into flames that raced over rangeland and into canyons on Sunday. He says containment was achieved early Monday morning.

There have been no reports of injuries or any damage to structures.

BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Two more former workers accused of abusing residents at a Nebraska center for developmentally disabled adults have entered pleas to abuse charges.

Local media in Beatrice  says Cody Creek and Carmen Yates pleaded no contest to attempted abuse of a vulnerable adult on Monday in Gage County District Court.

Prosecutors dropped a count of strangulation against Creek. They’d already dropped a theft charge against Yates.

They were among five workers charged after an investigation last year at the Beatrice State Development Center.

Matthew Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult last Friday. Cameron Barnes, of Fairbury, pleaded no contest to two abuse charges on Thursday.

Matthew Pangborn faces a July 9 trial.

Update(7:00 AM 6/19):  Omaha fire officials say a man found dead inside a burning house apparently started the fire by setting a mattress on fire.

Officials found the body of 55-year-old Dennis Hansen inside the burning home in southeast Omaha Sunday morning. An autopsy showed he died of smoke inhalation.

Capt. Tim McCaw says Monday that investigators determined a mattress in a bedroom was intentionally ignited. He says there’s no evidence to suggest that anyone outside the home set the fire and all accidental causes have been ruled out.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A standoff in northwest Omaha lasted several hours until a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy shot the man who refused to leave his car.

Chief Deputy Martin Bilek says the standoff ended around 11:30 a.m. Monday. Bilek says 36-year-old Lance Wetzel was hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound afterward.

Bilek says a deputy fired one shot at Wetzel after he pointed his gun at officers. Wetzel also may have fired his gun.

Officers were looking for Wetzel because his wife said he had punctured her tires around 8 a.m. and he was wanted on a warrant for illegal gun possession.

During the standoff, nearby residents were evacuated. Bilek says Wetzel ignored officers’ commands during the standoff and wouldn’t leave his car.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Parts of southern Nebraska have received some much-needed rain, but northern and western parts of state remain hot and dry, which is putting stress on crops and pastures.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that 62 percent of the corn is in good to excellent condition. That’s below the average of 78 percent.

Sixty-one-percent of the soybean crop is rated good to excellent, also below the average of 78 percent.

South central, east central and southeast Nebraska got 1 to 3 inches of last week. Little or no rain was recorded elsewhere. The USDA says 63 percent of Nebraska’s topsoil and 65 percent of the subsoil are dry.

The wheat harvest continues across southern Nebraska. Alfalfa and pastures are showing little growth in many areas.

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — The Agriculture Department is giving $154,730 to three American Indian groups in Nebraska to help improve business and provide job opportunities.

USDA rural development officials announced the grants Monday as part of a package of $3.2 million in grants nationwide.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s First Ponca Financial will receive $60,189 to provide education and support to Native American entrepreneurs.

The Winnebago Tribe will receive $54,541 to provide technical help to businesses through its Winnebago business development program.

The Little Priest Tribal College received a $40,000 grant to train tribe members on growing and marketing crops.