A 19-year-old Grant woman has entered a plea of No Contest to a Motor Vehicle Homicide charge stemming from the death of a 19-year-old Ogallala woman.

Casey Lake entered the plea Monday in Lincoln County District Court.

Lake was driving on Interstate 80 in March of 2013, when she lost control of her vehicle causing it to roll several times.

Emma Redinger, the sole passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol say Lake was traveling in excess of 100 mph and was texting at the time of the crash.  Authorities said Redinger was wearing her seat belt, but was not wearing it properly.

Lake was also seriously injured in the accident.

Her sentencing has been set for November 4th.

 

A North Platte woman who kept her kids in a kennel has been sentenced to jail for violating her probation.

Ashly Clark was sentenced to 180 days in jail in Lincoln County District Court.

Clark admitted to failing to complete the requirements of her probation, which included attending required classes and notifying her probation officer if she would be leaving the jurisdiction.

Clark was arrested in October of 2011 after she left her five and three-year-old sons in a kennel over night because, she said, they were trying to crawl out of a window in their mobile home.

Clark was given credit for time served and released.

A 27-year-old North Platte man who was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl is going to prison.

On Monday, Lincoln County District Court Judge Richard Birch sentenced Stanley Churchwell to 15 to 25 years in prison.

According to court records, prosecutors say Churchwell raped the girl, who has a child from the assault, in July of last year.

Churchwell claims the sex was consensual.

As part of his sentence, Churchwell will be required to register as a sex offender.

Dangerous sultry Summer heat is forecasted to bake the region this week, which is why the American Red Cross is urging people follow these steps to stay safe as the temperatures soar to the triple digits.

“Excessive heat can be deadly; it has caused more deaths in recent years than all other weather events,” said Tina Labellarte, Region CEO. “We want everyone to stay safe during the hot weather and have some reminders for them to follow when the weather is hot and humid.”

NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN, PETS IN THE CAR, the inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees. Other heat safety steps include:

§  Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.

§  Avoid extreme temperature changes.

§  Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.

§  Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.

§  Postpone outdoor games and activities.

§  Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.

§  Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.

§  Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water.

§  If someone doesn’t have air conditioning, they should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (schools, libraries, theaters, malls).

HEAT EXHAUSTION Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.

If someone is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

HEAT STROKE IS LIFE-THREATENING. Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting and high body temperature. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately if someone shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.

For more information on what to do when temperatures rise, people can visit redcross.org, download the Red Cross Heat Wave Safety Checklist, or download the free Red Cross First Aid. The app is available for iPhone and Android smart phone and tablet users in the Apple App Store and theGoogle Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. People can learn how to treat heat-related and other emergencies by taking First Aid and CPR/AED training online or in person. Go to redcross.org/takeaclass for information and to register.

(AP) — The condition of the corn crop in Nebraska and nationally has declined slightly as a late summer dry hot spell settles in over Midwest states renewing fears of a crop damaging drought.

The Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that 44 percent of dry land corn is in good or excellent condition, down a percentage point from a week ago and lower than the 59 percent average.

Nebraska irrigated corn is 81 percent good or excellent compared to 79 percent a week ago.

Nationally a slightly larger percentage of the corn crop slipped into poor or very poor category.

Nebraska soybeans are now 6 percent poor or very poor, up from 5 percent the week before. A slight decline also is reported nationally.

(AP) — The Center for Rural Affairs has named a new director because its longtime leader Chuck Hassebrook is leaving the nonprofit to focus on politics.

The nonprofit said Monday that it is promoting Brian Depew to lead the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons as executive director.

Hassebrook, who has led the center for 17 years and worked there for 36, is running for the Democratic nomination for governor.

The nonprofit’s board president Jim Knopik says he’s confident in Depew partly because he served as interim leader last year while Hassebrook briefly ran for U.S. Senate.

The Center for Rural Affairs is getting ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary this fall. The nonprofit advocates for rural communities.