SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — No injuries have been reported after a train struck a stalled semitrailer at a crossing near Sidney.
The Chicago-bound Union Pacific train hit the truck around 2 a.m. Monday, and three locomotives and seven rail cars ran off the tracks. Railroad spokeswoman Calli Hite says nearby U.S. Highway 30 was closed so crews with heavy equipment could clear away the wreckage and make repairs. The highway was reopened by early afternoon.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Five people have been rescued from a house fire in Omaha on what turned out to be an Omaha rookie police officer’s first day of training patrol.
Officer Anthony Abboud and his trainer, Officer Robbie Goering-Jensen, were discussing the importance of being able to quickly change direction Sunday, when Goering-Jensen spotted a house fire.
Goering-Jensen and Abboud called firefighters and responded to the fire. Goering-Jensen went inside the burning home and rescued Robert Damper, his wife, Lula, and their three sons.
Investigators say an uncovered light bulb hanging too close to clothes in a closet started the fire.
Abboud said he did not think he would be involved in something like that on his first day, but gave all the credit to Goering-Jensen.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s population grew modestly again this year, but it might not be enough to protect all three of the state’s U.S. House seats after the 2020 Census.
The new U.S. Census estimates released Tuesday show that Nebraska’s population grew by 0.7 percent to 1.896 million by July 1 of this year.
David Drozd with the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research says the state is likely in good position to keep all three House seats, but there’s still some risk if Nebraska grows slower than most other states.
Since this estimate was completed, ConAgra Foods announced more than 1,000 layoffs in the state and Cabela’s has said it is considering major changes that could affect employment.
The national population grew 0.8 percent to 321.4 million this year.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to serve more than four years in prison for robbing a bank in Omaha in 2014.
U.S. Attorney Deborah R. Gilg says in a news release that Robert M. Davis was sentenced Monday to four years and ten months in prison. He was also ordered to serve three years of probation.
Davis pleaded guilty in September to bank robbery in connection with an incident in October 2014 at an American National Bank branch in Omaha. Davis was accused of pointing a gun at a bank teller and demanding money. Prosecutors say the teller gave Davis $965 in a bag.
Davis was later connected to the robbery through surveillance video and DNA. He has been ordered to repay the stolen money.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska zoo is welcoming a new addition: a pygmy hippopotamus calf named Mabel.
The nearly 3-month-old calf is now on display at the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium in Omaha.
Pygmy hippos are native to swamps and rain forests in western Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as endangered.
Named by her keepers, Mabel is in the Lied Jungle portion of the zoo with her mother, Chomel, who came from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. Her father, Scooby, was born in the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.
Mabel now weighs 76 pounds, up from 19 pounds when she was born on Oct. 1. She will blossom to between 350 and 600 pounds when fully grown.
Autopsies are scheduled on the remains of two bodies found in a burned-out pickup in a Pierce County Field.
Just after 3:00 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 21, Pierce County authorities responded to a call of a vehicle on fire in a field nine miles west and one mile north of Pierce. Upon their arrival emergency crews found a 1991 GMC pickup fully engulfed in flames. After knocking down the fire, authorities discovered two bodies in the cab of the pickup.
“We have made preliminary identification of the two bodies,” said Investigative Service Lt. Dan Wilson, Troop B-Norfolk. “Our investigation at this point is consistent with a murder-suicide.”
The names of the deceased who are believed to be from Northeast Nebraska will not be released until the autopsies are completed.
Lt. Wilson said, “At this point, we do not anticipate release of names or additional information before the end of the week”.
The Nebraska State Patrol is being assisted in the investigation by the State Fire Marshal, the Pierce County Attorney and Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The Nebraska State Patrol, in conjunction with the State Fire Marshal, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and Pierce County Attorney are investigating a burned-out vehicle containing human remains.
Just after 3:00 p.m., Monday, Dec. 21, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a vehicle on fire in a field nine miles west and one mile north of Pierce. Upon their arrival deputies found a pickup truck fully engulfed in flames. The Pierce Volunteer Fire Department worked to put out the fire. Upon suppressing the flames, what appeared to be human remains were discovered in the cab of the pickup.
The Nebraska State Patrol and the State Fire Marshal’s Office were called in to investigate.
“At this time the vehicle is still smoldering and too hot to get inside,” said Investigative Services Lt. Dan Wilson, Troop B-Norfolk. “Once we are able to make entry, we will work to identify the remains and determine what caused the vehicle to catch fire.”
The investigation is on-going.
The Tri-City Storm enters the holiday break on a six-game point streak, its longest of the season and tied for longest in the USHL. The Storm’s Wade Allison sniped a USHL-best four goals in Tri-City’s pair of weekend wins.
Friday at Sioux City, Allison recorded his first USHL hat trick, including the overtime game-winning tally, to push the Storm to a 3-2 win. A day later in Omaha, Allison scored an insurance goal in the third to rush the Storm over the Lancers, 3-1. Continue reading “Storm enters holiday break on six-game point streak”
Today
Pauline ‘Polly’ Trisdale, age 75, of North Platte, NE, passed away Monday, December 21, 2015, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.
Polly was born December 16 , 1940, to Claude Kirk and Vola B. Scott Trisdale at Gallitan, TN. The family later moved to Colorado then to North Platte in 1951. Polly attended school in North Platte and later worked in housekeeping at St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital and Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She retired in 2002. Polly then cleaned for Dr. Lamberty’s office before caring for her family.
Polly loved her nieces, nephews and her dogs, Molly and Squeek.
She is survived by her brothers, Harry Trisdale and Marlin (Diana) Trisdale, of North Platte; sisters, Mary Wade, of Las Vegas, NV, and Sue (Joe) Hackler, of Cheyenne, WY; her dogs, Molly and Squeek; and many nieces, nephews and other family.
Polly was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Vola; seven brothers, John, David, Roy, Claude, Jr., Donnie, James and Robert Trisdale; and four sisters, Sara Trisdale, Kathrine Walker, Peggy Williams and Nellie Johnston.
Cremation was chosen. Graveside Memorial Service will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 28, 2015, in the North Platte Cemetery with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or at the graveside. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
