(AP) — Police have identified a man found dead near Omaha’s Westroads Mall.
Omaha police said in a news release Thursday that it was the body of 50-year-old Ronald Price found the afternoon of April 3 in some bushes near an office building northwest of the mall.
Police say Price, of Omaha, was reported missing on Oct. 15 and that foul play is not suspected in his death.
Police did not release details on how Price died.
(AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have passed a bill designed to help the state prepare for floods, water shortages and water quality problems.
Lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to legislation that would help local governments and the state pay for water projects, with an $11 million annual appropriation.
Budget bills that were approved this year are expected to generate $32 million for the new water sustainability fund by mid-2015.
The bill by Sen. Tom Carlson of Holdrege would also expand the Natural Resources Commission, from 16 members to 27, to ensure that more major water users are represented. The new commission would include groundwater and surface water irrigators, cities, public power districts and wildlife conservation groups.
Katheryne “Katie” F. Weekly, age 101 of North Platte, passed April 9, 2014 at North Platte Care Center.
Katie was born on November 7, 1912 in Lincoln County, NE to Charles and Carrie (Lindenmuth) Matthews. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1932 and married Howard E. Weekly on July 9, 1933 in Stockville, NE. During WWII Katheryne helped in the North Platte Canteen serving the troops as they passed through. She worked at the Buffalo Bill trading post from 1967 until 1974. She was a member of the Nazarene Church, teaching Sunday School for over 40 years, and the What Knot Extension Club, earning her 60 year pin in 2000. She enjoyed sewing and doing crafts.
Katie is survived by her daughter Janet (Deryl) Reed of North Platte; son William (Pam) Weekly of Lincoln; brother Keith (Donna) Matthews of North Platte; 6 grandchildren Mark (Koleen) Stone, Laurie (Frank) Griffin, William “Matt” (Vicki) Weekly, Kurt (Tiffani) Weekly, Deryl (Jodi) Reed Jr., and Kalynn (Stanley) Key; and 16 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Howard in 1977; 3 sisters, Lucille and Sarah Matthews and Cora Howe; 3 brothers, Harold, Kenneth and Leo Matthews; and a granddaughter Shelly Stone.
A memorial has been established to the Gift of Hope Cancer Foundation or donor’s choice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday April 16, 2014 at the Parkview church of the Nazarene with Reverend Richard Karr officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
(AP) — Authorities say the Nebraska woman whose body was found near her wrecked car froze to death.
Cuming County Attorney Daniel Bracht says an autopsy shows Donna Baumert died of hypothermia, not her crash injuries.
The body of the 56-year-old woman was found March 5 near her car about a mile south of Beemer. Authorities say it appeared her car ran through a dead end and went about a half-mile through a field before coming to rest in a creek bed.
The accident appeared to have occurred about two weeks before the wreckage and Baumert’s body were found. She lived in West Point.
(AP) — A bill that would provide millions of dollars in federal and state funding to help elderly Nebraskans stay in their homes has won approval from lawmakers, despite a veto.
Lawmakers overrode Gov. Dave Heineman’s veto on Thursday with the minimum 30 votes required. The proposal would direct Nebraska to apply for a federal grant that would help pay for in-home services. Nebraska would spend an estimated $8.2 million over the next two years, while the federal government would provide $36.4 million.
Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln says her measure would help keep more of Nebraska’s aging population out of nursing homes, which ends up being more expensive.
Heineman argued that while the idea is laudable, more of the cost will eventually shift to the state.
(AP) — A North Carolina man who sucked an unwilling woman’s toes inside a Wal-Mart has been sentenced to 60 days in jail.
Michael Anthony Brown apologized for his actions during his court appearance Thursday. He was convicted of assault, but a judge agreed to subtract the three weeks Brown has spent behind bars from the sentence.
Police said the 31-year-old Brown told the victim he was a podiatry student and asked her to try on shoes for him in the shoe department of the Wal-Mart in Lincolnton last month.
Investigators said Brown eventually stuck the woman’s foot in his mouth and sucked on her toes, then offered to pay for her groceries after she appeared outraged.
Brown was apprehended at his home in Concord and turned over to Lincolnton police.
LINCOLN – Some Nebraska hunting and fishing permits now may be purchased, accessed or displayed on a mobile device.
The image of a mobile permit may be displayed and saved on a device such as a phone or tablet. The mobile permit fulfills the requirement of carrying a permit while eliminating the need to carry a paper version.
Mobile permit purchase options are currently limited to hunt (small game), fish, and resident fur harvest permits, as well as associated stamps. Mobile big game permits and park entry permits are not available.
Users should remember that Internet service is required to access a mobile permit or the mobile site. Precautions, such as saving the image of the permit to your device, should be made in the event Internet service is not available in the field. A paper copy of a permit could be a backup, as well.
To access or purchase a mobile permit, a user must first have created a profile in Game and Parks’ electronic permitting system. A profile cannot be created on a mobile device. On the mobile site, permits may be purchased with a credit or debit card. Previously purchased permits and stamps also may be displayed and saved on mobile devices.
Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a link to the mobile site on the bottom of the home page, where users can view information and instructions on accessing mobile permits.
A 31-year-old North Platte man is behind bars on a felony charge after he allegedly crashed his car into a local business following an argument.
At around 6:30 p.m., on Wednesday, North Platte Police responded to the report of an injury accident at the intersection of 13th and Miles.
Upon arrival, the officer learned that, following an argument with a female at a residence in the 1800 block of West 13th Street, Fernando Vences got into a black 1990 Chevrolet G20 van and sped off down West 19th Street at a high rate of speed.
Officer Rodney Brown says witnesses told officers that, as Vences tried to turn south onto Miles Street, the driver’s side door became ajar and he fell out onto the street.
The van continued travelling southwest until it finally struck the back of Todd’s Alignment, 1901 Rodeo Road, causing approximately $500 damage to the van and $2,000 damage to the building.
Brown said Vences then fled the scene on foot and was located a short time later in an alley near Sherman Street.
Vences, who suffered lacerations to his arm and back, was arrested and charged with felony leaving the scene of an injury accident and driving under suspension.
He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
North Platte – Sophomore Ethan Montalvo was named to the 2013-14 Honorable Mention All-American Team on Tuesday afternoon. Montalvo becomes the 8th player in program history to be named an All-American.
“Ethan will go down as not only one of the school’s all-time great players,” said head coach Kevin O’Connor “but did so with character and class. His work ethic and desire helped him achieve great things as a Knight. He was a privilege to coach and will be hard to replace.”
Montalvo joins Glover Cody (1989-90), LeMont Daniels (1993-94), Doug Rogers (1996-97), Jason McDonald (1998-99), Donta Watson (2003-04), Eugene Bain (2008-09) and Joseph Ragland (2009-10) as All-Americans to wear a North Platte Knights uniform.
Click here to see previous All-Americans
“I am extremely honored and blessed to be named an All-American,” said Montalvo. “I want to thank my teammates and coaches for helping me along the way. It is a perfect way to end my career at North Platte Community College.”
Along with being named an All-American, Montalvo was named All-Region IX 1st Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team. As a freshman, Montalvo was All-Region IX 2nd Team, All-Region IX Tournament Team and All-NCCAC 1st Team.
This season Montalvo led the Knights in scoring at 18.9 points per game and in steals at 2.2 per game while also contributing 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Montalvo finishes his career with 1,173 points to finish 5th All-Time and ties Chase Grabau, Ben Wilson and Aboubacar Casse for most games played in a Knights uniform at 68. Montalvo started every single game of his Knights career.
Montalvo has been a part of the most successful two year stretch in program history as the Knights compiled a 57-11 record during his career, including a Region IX Championship in 2013 and National Tournament appearance. The 57 wins are the most in program history in a two year stretch and the 11 losses are the fewest. Montalvo has never known defeat at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium finishing a perfect 28-0 in two years, also a school record.
(AP) — An Arizona woman who left her 5-week-old baby in a car seat on the roof of her car when she drove off has been sentenced to 16 years of supervised probation.
Catalina Clouser pleaded guilty to child abuse and misdemeanor DUI in February. She was sentenced Wednesday by Cynthia Bailey of Maricopa County Superior Court.
Phoenix police arrested Clouser last year after an infant strapped in a safety seat was found in an intersection. The baby was in good condition.
According to police, Clouser forgot the boy was on the roof her car when she left the home of friends where she had smoked marijuana.
Clouser was sentenced to three months of deferred time in jail, but she won’t have to serve that time if she successfully completes probation.
