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Nebraska Fire, Water District Fight Over Hydrants

firedpt(AP) — A rural water district in southeast Nebraska and local firefighters are locking horns over the fire department’s use of fire hydrants connected to the rural district’s system.

Cass County Rural Water District No. 1 has sent certified letters to local fire departments — including Plattsmouth, Nehawka and Murray — saying hydrants on its system are not to be used for fighting fires. The district fears that pressure from fire trucks could break the district’s plastic water lines and contaminate drinking water.

The request has riled firefighters, who say they likely will use the hydrants in life-and-death situations. One fire official hinted at drawing law enforcement into the fray, saying that interfering with a firefighter during an emergency is a criminal offense.

Explosion Blows Hole in Omaha Truck Windshield

explosion(AP) — Police are investigating an explosion in a south Omaha neighborhood that blew a hole in a pickup windshield and damaged a second nearby car.

Police say no one was injured in the blast.

Police say officers in the area heard the explosion and saw a bright flash. They found pickup that appeared to have had an explosive device detonate on its windshield. Besides the hole in the windshield, the explosion also damaged the truck’s dashboard.

The department’s bomb squad was sent to the scene and is conducting an investigation. No arrests have been made.

Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Hall County Crash

judgeship(AP) — A Grand Island man accused of killing one of his passengers in a crash has pleaded guilty to four charges in a deal with prosecutors.

30-year-old Hermino Alamilla Jr. pleaded guilty Friday in Hall County District Court to felony motor vehicle homicide, refusal to test and obstructing a police officer. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault with a bodily fluid for spitting at a sheriff’s deputy.

In exchange, a charge of being a habitual criminal was dropped.

Authorities say Alamilla was driving recklessly on Aug. 19 south of Grand Island when he lost control of his car. One of Alamilla’s passengers died after being thrown from the car.

Alamilla will be sentenced June 24. He remains in jail on $100,000 bail.

Officials Investigate Norfolk Death

stanton-county-sheriff(AP) — Law enforcement officials are investigating the death of a 38-year-old woman whose body was found in a Norfolk home.

Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger says Keisha Spears was found dead at about 4 a.m. Thursday after someone called 911.

Unger says the cause and manner of Spears’ death are still unknown, but that officials are hoping autopsy results will provide more clues.

Spears’ body was found in the home of Kevin Broberg.

Broberg was in Stanton County Court earlier this week, where he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting. That charge stems from a case where authorities say they found Spears with her hands and feet bound in Broberg’s house.

Unger says Broberg is cooperating with investigators.

Royals Bullpen Holds on for 5-4 Victory over Twins

kc-royalsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bruce Chen labored through five innings before the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen took over, shutting down the Minnesota Twins the rest of the way in a 5-4 victory Saturday.

The Royals have won five straight after getting swept last weekend in Minnesota.

Chen (1-1) allowed all four runs on eight hits and four walks, but the damage could have been worse. He twice walked the bases loaded, and his only clean inning was the first, when Brian Dozier hit a fly out that nearly left the park.

Still, a five-run fourth inning off Kevin Correia (1-1) staked Chen to a lead, and his bullpen made it stand up.

Danny Duffy tossed two scoreless innings, and Wade Davis navigated a perfect eighth before turning the game over to All-Star closer Greg Holland. He set down the top of the Minnesota lineup in order for his sixth save in as many chances.

UNL Expert Offers Tree Planting Advice

unl-extension(AP) — More than 1 million tree and shrub seedlings are planted in Nebraska each year, and most of those are planted in spring.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension forester Dennis Adams says there are a number of things that can be done to help seedlings thrive.

The best time to plant seedlings that are typically only about a foot tall with bare roots is between mid-March and mid-May.

Ideally, seedlings should be planted the same day they are received. And Adams says the roots should be kept moist until planting.

The seedlings should be planted at the same depth they grew at in the nursery.

Seedlings will need good weed and pest control after they are planted. And supplemental watering may be required.

Arbor Day is April 25 in Nebraska.

Inmate Suing Nebraska Prison System Over Policy

Scott-Bonham(AP) — An inmate is suing the Nebraska prison system, saying a new policy is denying him the ability to visit with or write to his wife, who is also in prison.

38-year-old Scott Bonham filed the lawsuit last week in Lancaster County District Court. His lawsuit says that under the policy issued in March, married male and female inmates or those who decide to marry while imprisoned may not visit each other, write each other or go out on furloughs or any type of pass together.

Bonham says that has left him and his wife, Sealess, depressed. He says the policy violates his constitutional rights.

The two married on Dec. 6, two months after each transferred to a work release center in Lincoln..

Police Say Omaha Man Arrested for 22nd Time

Geno Lasir Montgomery
Geno Lasir Montgomery

(AP) — Police in Lincoln say they have arrested a 29-year-old Omaha man on suspicion of driving on a suspended license — a crime for which he’s been convicted 21 other times.

Lincoln police said officers arrested Geno Lasir Montgomery early Friday morning. Police say he was stopped after making a wide turn.

Police say Montgomery didn’t pull over immediately after the officer turned on his overhead lights. Public Safety Director Tom Casady says Montgomery was jailed on suspicion of failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving on a suspended license and making an improper turn.

Did Manning’s Meeting with Saban Cross the Line?

Peyton-ManningENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Peyton Manning’s never-ending quest to hone his game and Nick Saban’s desire to decipher fast-paced offenses led to a recent meeting that the Crimson Tide coach called mutually beneficial.

It also might have violated NFL rules because, according to Saban, Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase also was in attendance.

The league doesn’t allow players and their coaches to meet before the start of offseason workouts, which for the Broncos begin Monday. On-field instruction won’t start until mid-May.

The Associated Press left messages with the team and the NFL on Friday seeking comment.

Gase, one of the rising young stars in the NFL coaching ranks, and Saban go way back. Gase worked under Saban at Michigan State in the late 1990s and followed him to LSU as a graduate assistant in 2000.

Saban also has known Manning for a long time and is friends with his father, Archie.

The Broncos gather Monday for what’s called Phase One of the voluntary offseason workout program. During the first two weeks of the offseason program, activities are limited to strength and conditioning and rehabilitation before any on-field work and instruction are allowed.

Man Charged in Shooting Death of Omaha Teenager

crime-scene-police-shoot(AP) — A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a teenager in Omaha.

Dennis Brewer Jr. appeared in court Friday. A judge set no bond for him.

Brewer is accused of shooting at a sport utility vehicle at Gallagher Park Monday night. Responding officers say they were advised that two people with gunshot wounds had arrived at a nearby hospital.

Eighteen-year-old Tielor (TYE’-lur) Williams, of Omaha, was killed. Another man, 22-year-old Joshua Schmitt, also of Omaha, was injured.

Brewer has also been charged with use of a firearm to commit a felony. Online court records do not list the name of his attorney.

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