A former treasurer in south-central Nebraska accused of stealing money from a girls softball association has reached a plea deal.

As part of the agreement, the Buffalo County Attorney’s Office reduced 47-year-old Vicki Aten’s charge of theft to attempted theft. Aten pleaded no contest to the charge Monday in the county’s district court.

The 47-year-old Aten is accused of stealing nearly $28,000 from the Kearney Girls Competitive Softball Association between January 2009 and January 2012. She served for more than three years as treasurer of the association, which runs the girls softball leagues in Kearney.

Aten has paid back more than $22,000. She will pay back an additional $7,500 as part of the plea deal.

Aten will be sentenced in May.

The Nebraska State Patrol says 37-year-old Lisa Conrad died from exposure after leaving her stranded vehicle during the recent snow storm. Conrad’s 19-year-old son Brandon remains in stable condition at the Box Butte General Hospital where he is being treated for hypothermia and frostbite.

Conrad’s car became disabled approximately one mile south of Berea on Highway 385 late Monday night as she was returning home from work in Alliance. Conrad was last heard from around 12:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 9, when she called her husband to say she and their son were leaving the vehicle to walk to their home in Berea.

“In talking with Brandon, we were able to learn he walked from his family’s home in Berea to where his mother’s car was stranded,” said Captain Mike Gaudreault, Troop E Commander. “He and his mother then left the vehicle and attempted to walk back to their house, but became disorientated in the blinding snow and never made it.”

At some point Lisa Conrad was unable to go on. Her body was located around 5:40 p.m., (MDT), Tuesday in a field approximately half mile west of Highway 385 off of Johnson Road by local resident’s searching the area on snowmobiles. Brandon Conrad was able to make it to an abandoned farm house about 2 ½ miles away.  He was found alive by the snowmobilers.

Captain Gaudreault said, “This is a very tragic situation. Brandon did everything he could to help his mother. He is a brave young man, and we are thankful he is alive. Our hearts go out to the Conrad family.”

Berea is an unincorporated community about 10 miles northwest of Alliance in Box Butte County.

A body found near the South Platte River last April has been indentified.

On April 1, 2013, Investigators from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received a letter from the University of North Texas in reference to the Missing Person/DNA Database.

Investigators were informed of a match from the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, stating that the sample submitted by North Texas was consistent with convicted offender, 64-year-old Denys Ray Hughes.

Hughes was convicted in 2005 and serving time in prison for attempting to make deadly biological toxins, Ricin, and bomb making materials.

He was serving his time in Colorado and was to report to a halfway house in Milwaukee, WI.  On May 25, 2011, when he did not show up at the halfway house, a warrant was issued by the Unites States Marshals Service.

It is believed that Hughes got off the bus in North Platte and was in the area until his death in late 2011 or early 2012.

His only known next of kin is a sister living in Wisconsin and arrangements are being made to get his remains back to her.

Hughes’ badly decomposed body was found last April on private property near the South Platte River.

No foul play is suspected in the death.

Here is the original story from the Post:

https://www.northplattepost.com/2012/04/23/human-remains-found-near-south-platte-river/

Great Plains Health Care Foundation will host a donor recognition event, “Healthcare Heroes” at the Golden Spike Tower on Thursday, April 11.

“We are very grateful to the many donors who support the Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality and availability of healthcare services for the patients and communities served by Great Plains Regional Medical Center,” said Libby Lashley, director of Great Plains Health Care Foundation.

Attendees of the recognition event include donors who made a contribution to the Foundation of $2,000 or more in 2012. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a presentation at 6:15 p.m.

The Great Plains Health Care Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that partners with many generous donors who join them in raising private funds to support the continued advancement of local healthcare in the areas of patient care, technology, service, education and quality.

Since its inception in 1992, the Foundation has raised approximately $9.3 million and contributed to many successful projects including:

• The development of the cardiovascular service line at Great Plains.
• Ongoing funding for equipment and services at the Callahan Cancer Center.
• New technology for the advancement of local stroke and epilepsy services.
• The development of a patient assistance fund.
• Support programs for hospice and cancer care.
• Sleep monitoring equipment.
• Supplies and calendars for the local Cancer Survivor’s Painting Group.
• Ongoing education assistance for medical professionals.

The Foundation is currently fundraising for the development of a healing garden, which will be located west of the new hospital entrance when it opens in the summer of 2015 and a state-of-the-art linear accelerator for advancements in local radiation oncology services

“The generosity of those who have given to the Foundation not only makes an impact on the community, but also touches the lives of individuals and families,” said Lashley, “Without our donors, many of the improvements and additions at Great Plains Regional Medical Center would not have been possible.”

For more information about the Foundation including ways to give, please contact Libby Lashley, Foundation director, at 308.696.7411.