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Omaha VA official acknowledges longtime use of waiting lists

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Officials have acknowledged that secret waiting lists for psychotherapy appointments at Omaha’s U.S. Veterans Affairs Department hospital were used far longer than previously reported.

A VA investigation dated Sept. 30, 2015, says the lists were used as far back as 2006 and were still used after the VA prohibited them in 2010 and after a 2014 scandal that eventually showed chronic delays, false paperwork and secret lists at VA hospitals across the nation.

The World-Herald reported last month the discovery of a separate, unauthorized Omaha list earlier this year.

VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Director Don Burman told the newspaper the VA made changes after the 2015 investigation. But he says some problems weren’t fixed properly, allowing use of a waiting list to recur.

Parolee charged with killing second Iowa man after release

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators say an Iowa parolee charged with killing a cab driver in June is also responsible for the April shooting death of a bail bondsman.

Police said Monday that Curtis Jones is charged in the death of 34-year-old Jonathan Wieseler, who was shot during a robbery at his Iowa City office.

Jones has been in custody awaiting trial in the death of 46-year-old Ricky Lillie, who police say was robbed and shot after giving Jones a ride.

Authorities said charges in Wieseler’s death were filed after testing uncovered the victim’s DNA on evidence seized from a vehicle Jones was driving.

The Iowa Board of Parole released Jones from prison years early in November 2016 in an armed robbery case, even though he’d been deemed a high risk to reoffend.

Attorney: Video contradicts Kansas shooting police account

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The widow of a Kansas man killed last month by an undersheriff has asked a court to release video and audio recordings that her attorney says show her husband was unarmed and trying to obey instructions when he was shot.

Attorney Michael Kuckelman says recordings he viewed are troubling and the public has a right to see them.

He told The Associated Press on Thursday that the video captures the Barber County sheriff telling the undersheriff minutes before Steven Myers was shot with a bean bag round on Oct. 6 that with “a little luck and he’ll just pass out and die.”

The sheriff disabled his body camera after the shooting and instructed a deputy to disable his camera. The sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

After refusing to stop, Omaha bus driver says man beats him

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha bus driver says a man punched him after he refused to stop to pick him up.

Police were called Friday afternoon to a downtown intersection after the driver didn’t answer his radio. Officers found the bus with the driver sitting outside, complaining of dizziness and nursing a cut to his nose.

The 59-year-old driver told officers a man tried to wave him down but it wasn’t a posted bus stop so he kept driving. About 20 minutes later, the same man got on the bus and punched the driver several times in the face before running away.

The driver was treated by paramedics.

Man pleads no contest to charges in Lake Maloney boating accident

Douglas T. Haney: Intentional Child Abuse (Felony), Child Abuse (Felony), Driving Under the Influence of Liquor-Boat

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of causing a boating accident that severely injured his granddaughter at western Nebraska’s Lake Maloney has pleaded no contest to drunken boating and negligent child abuse.

The North Platte Telegraph reports that 53-year-old Doug Haney, of North Platte, changed his plea Monday as part of a deal with prosecutors.

He was sentenced to two years of probation, and he will spend two days in jail on his victims’ birthdays.

Prosecutors say Haney was pulling his 9-year-old granddaughter and another girl on a tube when the boat turned sharply and the girls were thrown on the rocky shoreline. The other girl suffered minor injuries.

Since the June 12 incident, Haney has completed alcohol rehabilitation, but he lost his job and remains unemployed.

1 person killed, 4 hurt in I-80 collision in east Nebraska

GREENWOOD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say one person has died and four people have been injured in a collision on Interstate 80 in eastern Nebraska.

The crash occurred around 2:15 a.m. Monday near the Greenwood exit. The Nebraska State Patrol says an eastbound Nissan sport utility vehicle crossed into westbound traffic and struck a pickup truck. The Nissan then veered into another lane and hit a Toyota Camry.

The driver of the Nissan, 23-year-old Ashley Chinana, of Niobrara, was pronounced dead at the crash.

The pickup and Toyota each were carrying one passenger as well as the drivers. They were all taken to Lincoln area hospitals.

Former Omaha teacher, coach takes plea deal in child sex case

Daryl Clark

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Omaha schoolteacher and area youth softball coach accused of child sexual assault has taken a plea deal.

47-year-old Daryl Clark pleaded no contest Monday to enticement by electronic device and to attempted visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct. Prosecutors had already dropped three counts of child sexual assault when they determined the girl had been 16, the age of sexual consent in Nebraska. They amended other charges in exchange for Clark’s pleas.

At the time of his arrest last year, Clark was a business education teacher at Omaha’s Monroe Middle School and a girls softball coach in Papillion and Bellevue. Court records say he lives in Crescent, Iowa.

 Lora Lee Garner Death Notice

Lora Lee Garner, 61, of Gothenburg, died Nov. 9, 2017, at her home. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25, at the God Rock, 304 W. 10th St., Cozad. Memorials are suggested to the family for final expenses, Central Plains Hospice or the Gothenburg Senior Center. Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel & Monuments, Gothenburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Deward “Doug” Douglas McIntosh

Deward “Doug” Douglas McIntosh, 67, of Grand Island, passed away Nov. 15, 2017, at his residence.

Doug was born on November 18, 1949, at Genoa to Deward and Helen (Gdowski) McIntosh. He grew up working on the farm with his dad and brothers. Doug and his family moved to North Platte in 1980, where he worked for Twin Valley Communications. About five years ago, he moved to Grand Island to be closer to his family.

He was a loving father and grandfather. He had a passion for people. He had so much love for others around him. He enjoyed spending time with family and will be greatly missed by all.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Sandra.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children and their spouses, Deward “Don” McIntosh, of Juneau, Alaska, Wesley and Sarah McIntosh of Grand Island, Angela and John Fisher of Kettering, Ohio, and Timothy McIntosh of Lincoln; sisters and their husbands, Dixie McIntosh and Jody and Roger Nelson; brothers and their wives, Terry and Amy McIntosh, William “Bert” and Beverly McIntosh and Rick and Diane McIntosh; 10 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Online condolences may be shared at livson.com.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Chapel, Grand Island, with Pastor Mark Oberbeck officiating. Family will be receiving friends from 9-11 a.m. prior to services. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Fullerton Cemetery. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home, Grand Island, is in charge of arrangements.

Opal Darlene Meyer

Opal Darlene Meyer, age 91, of North Platte, NE, went to be with her Lord on Friday, November 17, 2017, at Great Plains Health.

Opal was born July 21, 1926, to Albert Earl and Rebecca Elizabeth (Smith) Cooper in North Platte where she grew up and lived her whole life. Opal attended Our Redeemer Lutheran School and graduated from North Platte High School in 1943. After graduation she worked at Brown Harano Studio, Nebraska Machinery Company, Lincoln County Treasurer’s Office and the Pawnee Hotel.

On November 17, 1951, Opal was united in marriage to Freddy C. Meyer. The couple worked together at Western Motors Company and Midwest Auto Market. Opal was a lifelong member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Freddy; her parents, Albert and Rebecca Cooper; sisters, Bessie, Gladys, Dorothy and Vera; and brothers, Albert and Gerald.

Opal is survived by her “Son by Heart”, William (Sharon) Negley, of North Platte; as well as many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Bob Deardoff officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery, south of Sutherland. Visitation will be on Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials can be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

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