OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a motorcyclist has been killed in a collision with a semitrailer in northeast Omaha.
The accident was reported a little after 8:50 p.m. Tuesday. Police say the northbound motorcycle struck the right rear of the semitrailer, which was turning left.
The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. Police identified him as 47-year-old Christopher John, of Omaha.
The truck driver was identified as 44-year-old Dave Conklin, of Fremont.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island City Council has voted in favor of hiring a 30-year employee of the local police department as the next police chief.
The City Council voted 9-0 to approve Mayor Jeremy Jensen’s pick of Robert Falldorf as the next police chief.
Falldorf will begin his duties Monday with a salary of more than $114,000. He replaces current Chief Steve Lamken, who retires Friday.
Jensen says Falldorf can bring consistency to the department, where he has worked since 1986. He has served as a police officer, sergeant and captain.
Falldorf says his goals as police chief include fostering better communication between the department’s three divisions and continuing to reach out to the community through special programming and events.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) —Authorities in Orlando, Florida, are still searching for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney’s upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and are hoping for the best.
Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman Jeff Williamson said at a Wednesday morning news conference that it’s still being considered a search and rescue operation and additional deputies will be joining the search.
The boy was with his family on vacation from Nebraska. The family of five was wading in the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon on Tuesday night when the alligator came out of the water and attacked.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says the boy’s father tried to rescue him but was not able to.
Jimmie Ray Andersen, age 77 of North Platte, passed away Monday, June 13, 2016 at Great Plains Health. He was born May 20, 1939 at Seneca, Ne to Ernest William and Verna Esther (Yost) Andersen. Jimmie graduated from Thedford High School and eventually moved to North Platte where he worked at Centeral Nebraska Packing as a foreman. He was a member of the Bethel Church. Survivors include sisters; Charlene (Loren) Taylor of Broken Bow and Kay (LeRoy) Wolfenden of Valentine, brother; Bill (June) Andersen of Liberal, KS, sisters-in-law; Dora and Grace Andersen. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Joyce, Mae, and Elagene, brothers; Dale, Wes, Edwin, Dennis, Gerald, Don, Jack, and Larry, sisters-in-law; LaVon, Shirley, and Sonja, brother-in-law; Don McLaughlin. Private graveside services will be held. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Raymond L Cooper, Jr. 69 a resident of Aurora, Colorado he was Born June 28, 1946 in North Platte Nebraska and passed away on June 12, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. He is survived by his 2 sons Craig and Brett along with his wife Karen who he was married to for 3 months. He also has 2 brothers Leroy Cooper of North Platte and Richard Cooper of North Platte and 2 sister Linda Bunce of Centennial, Colorado and Laurie Cooper of North Platte and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in Death by his wife of 32 years Betty L Cooper, his father Raymond L Cooper and his mother Leora Cooper.
Retired in 2000 from Brotherhood Maintenance of Way/Teamster as an Assistance Chairman for 13 years. Prior Raymond work for Union Pacific Rail Road for 19 years. He was in the Army and served in the Vietnam War.
Raymond was a member of the Eagles, VFW, Moose Lodge, United States Bowling Association, and National Street Rod Association. He was also a past President of Midwest Street Association of Omaha.
He was always helping neighbors, friends work on the vehicles. He had major pride in his 1935 Chevy Street rod that he built from the ground up and drive to car shows on the weekends. He always loved to bowl, tell jokes and make people laugh and enjoyed life along with loving his dogs. His favorite football teams were Nebraska and the Denver Broncos.
Services will be 10:00 am Friday, June 17, 2016 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
Robert E. Motl, 69, died June 11, 2016 in Mullen
Graveside Service will be held Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM MDT with Military Honors at Cedarview Cemetery, Mullen
Athletic director Shawn Eichorst receives mostly positive reviews in an internal study of the leadership and culture of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic department.
The university on Tuesday released findings of the review. The review began in January and was conducted by the SilverStone Group of Omaha.
University President Hank Bounds said the review shows the athletic department is “high-performing” under Eichorst. Bounds says Eichorst “has opportunities to strengthen communications so that internal and external stakeholders can be even more closely engaged with the Athletic Department’s goals and activities.”
Electronic surveys were sent to 327 people, most of them department employees, and 237 responded. Telephone and in-person interviews also were conducted.
A body found in the Platte River near the Minden interchange has numerous tattoos, including this dragonfly skeleton on his shoulder. Police are asking the public for help in identifying the body.
The Buffalo County Sheriff’s office is continuing its efforts to identify a body found in the Platte River, and they’re asking the public for help.
The body of a male subject was discovered by canoeists on June 10, near the Bassway Wildlife Management area, at the Minden I-80 interchange.
Authorities provided the following description of the adult male body:
5’7″
180 to 200 pounds
Tattoo of a black and red scorpion on the inside of his forearm.
Tattoo of dragonfly skeleton with a human skull for a head on his shoulder.
Tattoo of a dark colored shark surrounded by light blue water on the outside of his forearm.
Large tattoo on the side of his neck
BCSO Captain Bob Anderson says the body was mostly intact, but they have not been able to determine the man’s age. The man was wearing a camouflage hooded jacket, camouflage BDU pants, and dark colored boots. Dental information and DNA was also collected.
No direct evidence of foul play has been found, according to Anderson.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the special tip line dedicated to this case, (308) 233-5298.
Anderson says the tip line will be checked periodically throughout the day, and calls will be returned in a timely manner.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Five companies working on a Lincoln apartment complex have been cited for federal workplace safety violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday that it found multiple safety hazards at the construction site in the 1800 block of P Street.
Federal safety investigators observed seven workers exposed to fall hazards up to five stories high at the three-building complex.
The companies cited were East Framing Inc. of Grimesland, North Carolina; South Georgia Framers of Statesboro, Georgia; America’s Best Siding of Fort Collins, Colorado; Aspen Heights of Austin, Texas; and ProCon Construction Services LLC of Ailey, Georgia. The companies face combined fines of $115,000.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a motorcyclist has been killed in a collision with a semitrailer in northeast Omaha.
Athletic director Shawn Eichorst receives mostly positive reviews in an internal study of the leadership and culture of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln athletic department.
