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City administrator pleads not guilty to 3 misdemeanors

city-of-bellevueBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — A suburban Omaha city administrator has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an altercation in a dentist’s office.

The attorney for Bellevue City Administrator Dan Berlowitz entered the pleas Tuesday in Sarpy County Court in Papillion (puh-PIHL’-yuhn). The misdemeanor charges are trespassing, disturbing the peace and assault.

Berlowitz has been placed on paid administrative leave.

A police report says Berlowitz poked a Bellevue dentist in the chest on June 21 and then pushed the dentist’s in a shoulder. Berlowitz’s attorney, James Schaefer, says Berlowitz felt threatened and says Berlowitz denies assaulting the dentist.

Powerball’s estimated jackpot hits $478 million

powerballDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — No one has matched the jackpot-winning numbers in Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing, and the prize has increased to an estimated $478 million.

The next drawing will be Saturday. Nearly three months have passed without a winner of the big prize.

The chance of winning the Powerball is incredibly small, at 292.2 million-to-1. But players have much better odds, of about 1 in 25, of winning smaller prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.

A new threat in fight against overdoses: Elephant sedative

needleCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A drug used to sedate elephants and other large animals that is 100 times as potent as the fentanyl (FEHN’-tuh-nihl) already escalating the country’s heroin troubles is suspected in spates of overdoses in several states.

Authorities say they’ve found carfentanil (kahr-FEHN’-tuh-nihl) mixed with or passed off as much weaker heroin.

A central Ohio man suspected of selling carfentanil as heroin was indicted this week on charges including murder in connection with 10 overdoses, including one death. Investigators are still trying to track down the source.

Carfentanil also has been suspected in overdoses or found in Akron and Cincinnati, central Kentucky and western Florida.

A coroner in Cincinnati warned that the overdose antidote naloxone might not be enough to save people overdosing on carfentanil.

Pam M. Poile

poile

Pam M. Poile, 63, of North Platte passed away July 25, 2016 in Aurora, Colorado at University of Colorado Hospital. She was born on February 6, 1953 in Wagner, South Dakota to Nerl and Rose (Gilfillan) Ballweg. Pam graduated from Riggs High School in Pierre, South Dakota. She was united in marriage to Gene Poile on April 29, 1979 in Pierre, South Dakota. They made their home in North Platte in 1998 when Gene started his management position at Karl’s. Pam was employed at Hobbe’s Restaurant and most recently at Herberger’s. Pam was an avid reader and enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and playing board games. She also loved spending time with her yorkies, Korki and Kadi. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Patricia (Mel) Handley, Dolly (Ed) Slagle, Toni Royce and a grandson, Jesse James Templeton. She is survived by her husband, Gene, sons, Lee Jay (Brooke) Templeton, Jamie (Jessica) Templeton and Raymond Poile, brothers, Keith (Karen) Ballweg, Conrad (Hande) Ballweg, Michael (Carol) Ballweg and Tim (Cindy) Ballweg, sister, Judi (Gary) Mewes, brother-in-law, Gordy Royce, grandchildren, Georgiana, Ireland and Carter Templeton, Whitney Jo and Haley Irene Christopherson and other relatives. Memorials are suggested in her name. Online condolences may be shared at carpentermemorial.com. The memorial book may signed from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, Friday, July 29, Monday, August 1 and Tuesday, August 2. A celebration of Pam’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 3 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Inurnment will be at a later date. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-July 28

NWS-North-PlatteToday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 5 to 8 mph.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind around 8 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South southeast wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Monday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95.
Monday Night
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Wednesday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92.

Man who dragged Lincoln officer sentenced to prison

Robert Mello
Robert Mello

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 46-year-old Omaha man who pleaded guilty last month to dragging an officer with his car has been sentenced to up to 12 years in prison.

Robert Mello was sentenced Wednesday in Lancaster County District Court. Police say an officer had reached into Mello’s car on Feb. 4 to try to arrest Mello for shoplifting when Mello began driving forward and backward, dragging the officer.

The officer suffered minor injuries.

Mello pleaded guilty on June 28 to second-degree assault on an officer. He had asked for probation, but Judge Lori Maret sentenced him to eight to 12 years.

Safety violations alleged at Bridgeport grain facility

OSHABRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — A federal safety agency wants to penalize a Nebraska Panhandle grain facility for what the agency says are several violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing nearly $62,000 in penalties for the New Alliance facility in Bridgeport. The agency says that during February and March inspections, officials found violations that included the lack of guardrails to prevent falls of up to 15 feet. The agency also says workers at the facility were exposed to grain dust explosions because the facility didn’t prevent grain dust accumulation.

New Alliance is a division of Western Cooperative Co., commonly known as Westco. Westco general manager David Briggs would say only that Westco is cooperating with OSHA.

Fire chief: Omaha house explosion that killed 1 was accident

OMAHA-FIRE-AND-RESCUE-BADGEOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Fire officials say an explosion that leveled an Omaha house and killed one person was an accident.

Property inspector Clara Bender died at a hospital following the Monday afternoon blast that also heavily damaged four adjacent homes and injured two other people.

In a report released Wednesday, interim Omaha Fire Chief Dan Olsen says the gas started flowing into the house on Saturday after people moving a clothes dryer didn’t properly shut off a natural gas line to the appliance.

Authorities say the movers reported the smell of gas to the tenant, who called Bender’s cellphone and left a message to report the gas smell. Officials say it’s not known whether Bender received the message before she entered the house on Monday.

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