Craig VanMeter, 32, of North Platte, passed away June 8, 2016 at North Platte. He was born April 3, 1984 to Orrie and September (Webb) VanMeter at Aurora, CO. He moved to North Platte when he was 17 years old and worked construction. On May 14, 2011 he was united in marriage to Jessica Humphrey. He is survived by his wife, Jessica of North Platte; children, Ariana, Damian, Matthew, Jediah, Triden and Kaelub; his siblings, Dawn VanMeter, Kyle Snow and Crystal Webb; his father, Orrie VanMeter and many other relatives. He is preceded in death by his parents, Tracy and September Snow. Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2016 at Victory Church of God, 3121 West A Street in North Platte with Pastor Dean Bailey officiating. Cremation was chosen. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.
As of Tuesday morning, June 14, the search for escapee Timothy Clausen continues.
“We are confident Clausen remains in Omaha, and continue to pursue any and all leads as we work to take him into custody,” said Colonel Brad Rice, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.
Based on investigative leads, law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions continue to focus their search for Clausen in and around the Omaha metro area, with an emphasis on the northeast portion of the city.
Clausen is considered dangerous and citizens are urged to remain vigilant, to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity or sightings of Clausen to 911.
Clausen, 52, is an African-American male, 5’8”, 160 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. He does not have any distinguishing marks or tattoos and could be wearing his hair in cornrows or pulled back.
A $2,500 reward for information leading to the Clausen’s capture is being offered by Omaha Crime Stoppers, citizens can provide tips by calling 402-444-7876. Information can also be provided through the Lincoln Crimestoppers at 402-475-3600 and the Nebraska Statewide Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-1494. Providing information through any of the Crime Stoppers numbers can be done anonymously and could result in a cash reward. Tips or information may also be called into the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline at *55 from any cellphone.
Clausen is one of two inmates who escaped Friday, June 10, from the Lincoln Correctional Center. The other escapee Armon Dixon, 37, was captured just after 2:00 p.m., Saturday in northeast Lincoln.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska corrections officials say an inmate who tried to escape from an Omaha youth facility was caught before he could get out of his housing unit.
Officials say the youth was able to hide in a commons area because a unit caseworker failed to conduct a formal count. Another staff member found the youth, who was placed in a restricted housing unit.
Department officials say the inmate never came close to approaching the facility’s perimeter and the public was never in any immediate danger. The incident is under investigation.
Department director Scott Frakes says the agency will not tolerate failures to adhere to basic security practices.
The Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility is a maximum, medium and minimum security facility.
CHICAGO (AP) — Accidental overdoses aren’t the only deadly risk from using power prescription painkillers. A new study says the drugs may also contribute to heart-related deaths and other fatalities.
The study involved patients given prescription medicines for chronic pain, including persistent backaches and arthritis. Outcomes for patients on other types of painkillers were compared with those on long-acting opioids including controlled-release oxycodone, methadone and fentanyl skin patches.
Among more than 45,000 patients, those on opioids had a 64 percent higher risk of dying within six months of starting treatment compared with the others. There were 185 deaths among opioid users, versus 87 among other patients.
The results bolster previous research linking the drugs with heart risks. The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — Western Nebraska authorities are investigating the death of a 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in some water.
The Morrill County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responding to a call Monday morning about a lost child found the girl in a small body of water near the Bridgeport residence where she’d been reported missing. She was pronounced dead later at Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport.
An autopsy has been ordered. The girl’s name hasn’t been released.
ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed penalties against two companies that officials say were involved in the fatal collapse of a sewer line trench in Alliance.
Authorities have said 61-year-old Jimmy Spencer, of Minatare, died March 21 after the 8-foot-deep trench collapsed during construction. Another worker was injured.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release Monday that neither Spencer’s employer, Clau-Chin Construction, or the housing project’s contractor, Larry Kessler Construction, of Scottsbluff, provided cave-in protection.
The agency is proposing $31,000 in fines for Clau-Chin and $21,000 in fines for Larry Kessler Construction.
President Shaun Houchin of Clau-Chin said Tuesday that he couldn’t immediately comment. A spokesman for Larry Kessler Construction didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A 29-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting several women in Omaha has pleaded no contest to two counts of sexual assault.
Christopher Ennis reached a plea agreement with prosecutors Monday. He had faced six counts of first-degree sexual assault, one count of attempted first-degree sexual assault and one count of strangulation.
Prosecutors say Christopher Ennis attacked as many as seven women over three years as they walked alone. Ennis is accused of grabbing the women from behind and dragging them behind bushes or buildings before raping them.
Ennis is scheduled to be sentenced in September. He faces up to 100 years in prison.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The widow of a man who killed a police dog during a 25-hour standoff with law enforcement at his Omaha home is seeking money for damage done to the house.
Ann Siewert filed a tort claim notice in the Douglas County Clerk’s Office seeking more than $64,600.
Law enforcement officers had a standoff with Mark L’Heureux on Jan. 22 and 23 after deputies went to the house to serve a Douglas County Board of Mental Health warrant ordering a psychiatric evaluation of L’Heureux. The officers tried to get L’Heureux out of the house by using noise grenades, tear gas and water.
L’Heureux was arrested and died 10 days later. An autopsy report says he died due to water on the brain, low levels of sodium and chloride in his blood.
