BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — A 43-year-old woman has been given four years of probation for embezzling nearly $30,000 from a trucking company in Morrill County.
Brandy Laur, of Broadwater, was sentenced Wednesday. She’s already paid $10,000 of the restitution ordered by the court.
The owner of Ladely Trucking Co. told investigators that he discovered Laur had written unauthorized checks to herself while working for the company as a bookkeeper and secretary.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A former Shelton school superintendent accused of attacking his wife has taken a plea deal.
Brian Redinger pleaded no contest Wednesday in a Grand Island courtroom to two misdemeanors: domestic assault and reckless driving. He’d originally pleaded not guilty to charges of terroristic threats, strangulation, domestic assault and criminal attempt at assault.
His sentencing is set for June 8.
Sheriff’s investigators say that on April 10 last year, Redinger attacked his wife, hitting her head on a car dashboard and later driving at her before she escaped to safety at a Hall County truck stop.
He resigned his position as superintendent of Shelton Public Schools some weeks after his arrest.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials say they’ll complain to Kansas about smoke from its agriculture burning that sometimes makes it unhealthy to breathe in some parts of Nebraska.
The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department issued a health warning Wednesday, warning people to stay indoors.
Gov. Pete Ricketts’ spokesman Taylor Gage says Nebraska officials will follow up with their counterparts in Kansas. On Wednesday he said the “air quality today is unacceptable.”
Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler’s (BYTE’-lur’s) chief of staff, Rick Hoppe (HAH’-pee), says officials are reviewing all options, “including potential legal action.”
Officials have said the smoke originates mostly in Kansas’ Flint Hills area. A Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesman says he can’t immediately say what Kansas’ response might be.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A woman who was struck in the head by a discus at a 2014 state track meet in Nebraska has been awarded $350,000 in a settlement.
83-year-old Bernice Gorecki filed a lawsuit in 2015 after being hit by a student-athlete’s discus while standing in the visitor area of the track meet at Burke High School in Omaha.
She and her husband sued the Omaha Public Schools and the Nebraska State Activities Association, alleging the entities failed in their duty to keep spectators safe.
District spokeswoman Monique Farmer says a spectator fence has now been pushed back farther.
Gorecki’s attorney, David Mullin, says he can’t comment on Gorecki’s injuries or her recovery.
BANCROFT, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have charged a father and son in the slaying of a northeast Nebraska man whose body was found in his burned home.
Court records say 27-year-old Derek Olson is charged with second-degree murder, arson and related crimes. His father, 48-year-old Jody Olson, is charged being an accessory to a felony. Both men remained in custody Thursday, pending $1 million bail. Derek Olson’s attorney declined to comment. His father’s didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
A court affidavit says the body of 64-year-old Ernest Warnock was found March 11 in the rubble of his home north of Bancroft. Investigators have determined that he’d been stabbed to death during an altercation before the fire began.
North Platte High School Activities Director, Marc Mroczek, has named Curt Softley as the new head girls basketball coach for the 2017-2018 school year. Coach Softley is currently the head girls basketball coach at Columbus Lakeview High School. Curt is a 2008 Perkins County High School Graduate and will be teaching high school business at North Platte High School.
Marc Mroczek, North Platte Activities Director comments: “Curt’s energy and passion for the sport of basketball will be a big asset to our coaching staff at NPHS. He has a great vision for the program and will do what is best for our student-athletes and youth programs. I am excited for the future of North Platte High School Girls Basketball team under his leadership.”
Softley takes over for Mark Woodhead, who resigned earlier this year.
NPHS Activities Director Marc Mroczek comments on Curt Softley
North Platte – Megan Chintala, a sophomore for the North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at Chadron State College.
Chintala, a 5’ 3” Libero / Defensive Specialist is from Fleming, Colo.
Chintala had 1263 defensive digs in her two years with the Lady Knights. She is ranked seventh on the Lady Knights list for defensive digs in a career. She also had 519 service points, which is 24th in school history.
“I knew some girls on the volleyball team and was in contact with the coaches over Christmas break. I went for a tryout in February and really liked the coaches.” Chintala said, “I felt it was a good fit for me and the other girls were nice and it felt like home.”
Chintala said that she would be playing defensive specialist at Chadron.
“Megan has a tremendous volleyball IQ and I think that she will be a good asset for Chadron to have. She is always working on growing and getting better as a player. She is ready to take her skills to the next level and I can’t wait to see how she grows as a player.” Lady Knight Head Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall said, “I have been blessed to have her for two years as player and a leader for our program. She is a great kid I have loved working with her and wish her the best of luck.”
Chadron State is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II program and is in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They finished with a 7-20 overall record and 6-12 in the conference.
North Platte – Two starters from this year’s Region IX Division II championship team, Jessica Lovitt and Mickenzie Brennan have signed letters of intent to play basketball with the Chadron State College Lady Eagles for the 2017-18 season.
Lovitt, a 5’ 10” sophomore post player from Mullen, played both volleyball and basketball for the Lady Knights. She played two years of volleyball and one year of basketball.
Lovitt was a two-time All-Region IX player in volleyball and an All-Region IX player in basketball this past season. Lovitt averaged 12.4 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game.
“I have no doubt that Jessica will be successful pursuing her next step on the basketball floor. Her best qualities as an athlete are her work ethic and her competitive attitude and those are what will take her to the next level.” Lady Knight Volleyball Coach Alexa McCall said, “I enjoyed my time with Jessica and wish her the best because she’s a great kid.”
Lovitt said, “I chose Chadron because it is a good fit for me and close to home. I like the family atmosphere. There are a lot of local girls. I got the opportunity to play basketball here and I am going to go on with it.”
Richard Thurin, who retired in March after 16 years as head coach of the Lady Knights said, “Jessica has a great work ethic, attitude, and fierce competitor. She is very good in the classroom and a very good leader and example.”
Brennan, a 5’ 8” small forward from Ellsworth, Neb., played her high school basketball at Alliance High School.
As a Lady Knight, Brennan started all 56 games in her career. As a sophomore, Brennan averaged 6.2 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. In her career she averaged 7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game.
“I really like the school and the program.” Brennan said, “It is close to home.”
Thurin said, “Mickenzie has a great work ethic and attitude. She is very good in the classroom and a very good leader and example.”
Chadron State is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II program and is in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They finished with a 7-18 overall record and 7-14 in the conference in the 2016-17 season.
ELGIN, Iowa (AP) — The owner of a gun that a 4-year-old boy used to kill himself in Iowa last summer has been charged with illegally owning the firearm after telling police he uses marijuana.
Daniel Henriksen, 29, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. He wasn’t there when 4-year-old Jayden Choate shot himself in Henriksen’s trailer on June 17 in Elgin, a town in northern Iowa.
An affidavit signed by an Iowa agent says the boy and his younger brother and sister were trying to nap while their mother and another individual were sitting on the deck. The agent says Jayden found Henriksen’s handgun and unintentionally shot himself.
The affidavit says Henriksen, as a marijuana user, was ineligible to own the gun.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is one step closer to overturning local gun restrictions in Omaha and Lincoln that are stricter than state law.
Lawmakers gave first-round approval to a gun-rights pre-emption bill on Wednesday with a 32-12 vote. Supporters overcame a filibuster by opponents who want to protect existing local rules.
Supporters say the bill would eliminate a confusing patchwork of local gun-possession rules that legal owners unintentionally violate when they travel.
Opponents say the bill would allow out-of-state gun groups and residents to sue cities even if local rules haven’t harmed them directly.
The measure includes some exceptions for Omaha after the city’s police union warned that it could hinder their ability to fight gang violence.
Two more votes are required before the bill heads to Gov. Pete Ricketts.
