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Man, woman imprisoned for Omaha park slaying

Jail-Bars-and-Cuffs_mediumOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man and woman have been sent to prison for the fatal shooting of their victim during a robbery at an Omaha park.

Twenty-seven-year-old Anthony Hollins had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and to a weapons charge in the slaying of 46-year-old Ray Patterson on Jan. 25, 2015, at Norwick Park. On Monday Hollins was given 55 to 80 years in prison.

His accomplice, 21-year-old Janessa Arias, had pleaded no contest to conspiracy to commit robbery. She was given 20 to 30 years.

In court Hollins offered his regrets to Patterson’s family.

Janet Katheryne Reed

reed

Janet Katheryne Reed, 78, of North Platte, passed away June 5, 2016 in Lincoln, NE at Bryan Health Medical Center East. She was born July 17, 1937 to Howard and Katheryne (Matthews) Weekly in North Platte. She attended school in North Platte and graduated from Nebraska Teachers College at Kearney with a Teaching Degree. She taught at Meadowlawns, Maxwell, Osgood and Platte Valley Christian. She was involved with 4-H for 10 years in the “What Knot Extension Club” and Summer Church Camp in the music area during Vacation Bible School. She was very crafty, loving to knit sweaters for family members. She also enjoyed camping with her grandkids. She is survived by her husband, Deryl of North Platte; children, Laurie (Frank) Griffin of Bethany, OK, Mark (Koleen) Stone of Ogalalla, Deryl (Jodi) Reed Jr. of Ord, and Kalynn (Stanley) Key of Burwell; a brother, William (Pam) Weekly of Lincoln; grandchildren, Chadd Griffin, Kathleen Griffin, Jacob Dowdy, Mikel Dowdey, Jerry Patterson, Lance Reed, Cody Reed, Breanna Reed, Skyler Key and Ashton Key; and four great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Shelly Stone. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 13, 2016 at Harvest Christian Fellowship with Pastor Jacob Rahrig officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1 to 7 pm Sunday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with family receiving from 5 to 7p.m. Memorials can be made to Harvest Christian Church or Youth for Christ. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Authorities release more details on shooting involving Kearney officer

officer-involved-shootingThe Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office has released more details regarding an officer involved shooting in Kearney.

According to BCSO Captain Robert Anderson, the incident began at around 7:08 p.m., on June 5, in the gravel parking lot of Johnson Lawn and Landscape, 306 East 6th Street.

Investigators say Kearney Police Department officer Derek Payton made contact with a white 1996 Pontiac 4-door in the parking lot.  Payton was alone in his patrol car, and the Pontiac was occupied by the driver, 35-year-old Rueben Klich, and 31-year-old Amanda Journey, both of Kearney.

During the contact, authorities say Klich attempted to flee the scene.  At this time, officer Payton fired three rounds from his service revolver, striking the vehicle in the windshield and rear window.  As Klich fled, he allegedly struck the corner of Payton’s patrol car.

Payton returned to his cruiser and began to pursue the vehicle.

At the intersection of 17th Street and 5th Avenue, Payton’s vehicle collided with a 2013 Dodge Dart, driven by 25-year-old Mattie Davis, totalling both vehicles.  At the same time, Klich collided with at building at 19th Street and 5th Avenue.  Klich fled the scene and Journey remained in the car.

Officers located Klich nearby and discovered that he had suffered a single gunshot wound to the torso.  He was transported to CHI-Good Samaritan hospital, as were Davis, Journey, and Payton.  Their conditions are unknown.

Authorities did not comment on pending charges in the case.

The case is being investigated by the BCSO and the South Central Area Law Enforcement Services.

 

Vietnam veterans from Nebraska visit national memorials

vietnam-veteranOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — About 500 Vietnam veterans from Nebraska have returned to their home state with a warm welcome from a large crowd after they spent the day in Washington, D.C.

The Omaha World-Herald (https://bit.ly/1TX8zKB ) reports that the veterans returned late Monday to a crowd of at least 4,500 people greeting them at Eppley Airfield in Omaha.

Airport Police Chief Tim Monahan says it surpassed the largest welcome home for military groups by far, including the World War II honor flights.

A nonprofit, Patriotic Productions, raised $450,000 through 550 individual and corporate donors to cover the cost of trip.

When the group arrived in the nation’s capital, airport firetrucks saluted the planes with water cannon and the West Point Alumni Glee Club sang. The veterans spent the day touring military memorials.

North Platte Weather-June 7

forecast graphic june 7 2016Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 14 mph becoming south southeast in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 90. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 61. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 93. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 95.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 92.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Former state official chosen as Nebraska Lottery director

nebraska-lotteryLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former state official has been chosen as the Nebraska Lottery and Charitable Gaming Division’s new director.

Brian Rockey, a former manager for the division, will assume his new role on July 1. Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton announced the appointment on Monday.

The 55-year-old Rockey worked in the Lottery Division in various capacities between 1993 and 2011. He then worked for International Game Technology, the Nebraska Lottery’s primary contractor.

The Nebraska Lottery and Charitable Gaming Divisions of the Department of Revenue were merged under a single administrator in July 2007.

Longtime Lincoln philanthropist James Seacrest dies at 78

James and Rhonda Seacrest (Photo: NU Foundation)
James and Rhonda Seacrest (Photo: NU Foundation)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A longtime Nebraska newspaper publisher and Lincoln philanthropist has died.

James Seacrest was 78. His nephew, Eric Seacrest, says he died on Thursday.

James Seacrest was active in the newspaper industry for 40 years, and served as president and chairman of Western Nebraska Publishing Co. in North Platte from 1968 to 2000. The company published daily, weekly and shopper newspapers in western Nebraska.

James Seacrest and his wife Rhonda were awarded the Lincoln Community Foundation’s Charity Award two years ago for their participation in several Lincoln nonprofit organizations, fundraising efforts and donations to arts and education programs.

In North Platte, he helped raise $1.3 million as vice chairman of the Great Plains Regional Medical Center expansion campaign. He also served on the University of Nebraska Foundation’s board of directors.

Woman dies after fall from third-floor Omaha balcony

omaha-policeOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a woman has died after falling from a balcony in west Omaha.

Police say the accidental fall occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m. Sunday from the third floor of an apartment complex in west Omaha.

Police say the woman died at a hospital Monday morning. She’s been identified as 63-year-old Colleen McMahon.

Sutherland trustee fined for not disclosing business ties

neb-state-seal-featureLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A village trustee in Sutherland has agreed to pay a $500 fine for failing to declare his ownership of a company that was awarded a maintenance contract.

The Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission voted 6-3 on Friday to approve the settlement agreement with John Lutz.

The commission says Lutz’s business, John’s Repair, was one of three companies that bid on a $17,300 contract to install new doors at a village maintenance shop. Lutz was accused of failing to declare on the record that he had an interest in the company and of using his office for financial gain.

Lutz acknowledges in the settlement that the commission had enough evidence to conclude that he didn’t declare his financial interest. The allegation that he used his office for personal gain was dismissed.

Nebraska senator fined $500 for failing to disclose conflict

Senator Al Davis
Senator Al Davis

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker will pay a $500 fine for not disclosing that he owned stock in a company which would have been affected by legislation he introduced last year.

Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis agreed to the settlement Friday with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.

Davis introduced and later withdrew a bill that would have imposed a severance tax on niobium while owning stock in a company that was planning to mine the mineral in southeast Nebraska. Jack Gould of the group Common Cause Nebraska argued in a complaint that Davis should have filed a conflict of interest statement.

According to the settlement, Davis says he didn’t intend to violate state law and notes that his stake in the company NioCorp Developments Ltd. was already publicly known.

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