Month: December 2017
HIGHLIGHTS: Bulldogs start 2-0 with road win at Lincoln Northeast
HIGHLIGHTS: Lincoln Northeast runs past North Platte girls 71-33
Officials: 6 children injured in holiday trolley crash in Clay Center
CLAY CENTER, Neb. (AP) — Clay County sheriff’s officials say six children have been injured in a crash involving a holiday trolley at Clay Center.
Clay County Sheriff Jeff Franklin told television station KSNB that the crash occurred when the trolley hit an SUV just before 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Clay County fairgrounds.
Franklin says the children were taken to a Hastings hospital by ambulances for treatment of broken bones, cuts and bruises. None of the injuries was believed to have been life-threatening.
The trolley is a 1940’s model owned by the Clay County Historical Society.
Franklin say no citations have been issued in the crash.
US flu season off to an early start; widespread in 7 states
NEW YORK (AP) — This year’s flu season is off to a quick start and so far it seems to be dominated by a nasty bug.
Health officials say the flu vaccine seems well matched to the viruses making people sick, but it’s too early to tell how bad this season will be. The main flu bug this season tends to cause more deaths and hospitalizations and vaccines tend not to work as well against this type.
Flu began picking up last month. By the end of last week, seven states reported widespread flu activity: Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
Most flu seasons don’t really get going until around Christmas. That’s how last year’s flu season played out.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the latest data Friday.
Minnesota parolee convicted of killing woman in Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man released on parole for a Minnesota slaying has been convicted of fatally shooting an Omaha woman and injuring her fiance.
On Thursday a Douglas County jury found 32-year-old Tyeric Lessley guilty of first-degree murder and four other crimes. Prosecutors say he killed Suzanne Pope and injured Curtis Goodwin on Oct. 29, 2016. He’d used a gun to gain access to their house, apparently to rob them.
Authorities say Lessley was sent to a Minnesota prison after pleading guilty in 2010 to unintentional felony murder in Minneapolis. He was paroled in April 2015.
County treasurer offers to pay back mileage reimbursement
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lancaster County treasurer has offered to pay back $3,400 in mileage reimbursement that raised criticism from the state auditor’s office.
An audit report released Wednesday says the missing information included reasons and dates for Andy Stebbing’s trips and included possibly incorrect mileage and reimbursement requests for trips taken on legal holidays.
On Thursday he’d asked his attorney to call the county attorney with the offer. Stebbing also says he apologizes for the lack of specifics in reporting mileage.
He says his reimbursement documentation has lacked details since he took office in 2011 and says no one told him he needed to provide the information. He says he’d requested reimbursement for just a fraction of his daily mileage.
Conagra Brands plans $500M redevelopment project in Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Conagra Brands plans to redevelop its downtown Omaha property with a $500 million mix of housing, a hotel, restaurants, offices and green space.
The company announced Friday that Hines, a Houston-based real estate firm, will lead the project.
One of the Conagra buildings would be razed to allow space for a two-lane plaza. Nine new buildings would be erected over the 10-year project span.
Four other Conagra buildings would remain. They were remodeled last year as the Conagra workforce was downsized to about 1,200 after the company headquarters was moved to Chicago.
Omaha man gets 35-45 years for stabbing ex-roommate 42 time
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man has been imprisoned for the brutal Lincoln stabbing of a former roommate.
Court records say 23-year-old Joshua Johnson was sentenced Thursday to 35 to 45 years in prison. Authorities say he stabbed 22-year-old William Lyons 42 times at an apartment parking lot, causing Lyons to lose the use of his right hand.
The records say Lyons told police he’d lived with Johnson for a few months in Kearney while Lyons was there on a football scholarship. Lyons says Johnson had been kicked off the team and that the two sometimes did deals for marijuana.
The records also say the two had arranged to meet at the parking lot on March 3 and that Johnson attacked Lyons shortly after Johnson got into Lyons’ vehicle.
Marilyn Grace Downing
Marilyn Grace Downing, age 87 of Mullen, passed away Wednesday December 6, 2017 at Pioneer Memorial Rest Home in Mullen.
Marilyn was born on September 10, 1930 in Mullen, NE to William H. and Sarah T. (Thomas) Bramer. She spent her school years in the Mullen Public School. After graduation she attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She was a lifetime member of the University Alumni Association and an avid fan of the Cornhuskers. Marilyn married Daniel C. Deibler, Jr. and together they had 6 children, Pamela, Daniel C. III, Scott, Christopher, Douglas and Gail. After Dan’s death in 1966, Marilyn married Howard V. Downing. Howard passed away in 1996. Marilyn was a 75-year member of the United Methodist Church in Mullen, where she actively served on many committees. She was a member of the United Methodist Women, a long time member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and she also served as Coordinator of the Red Cross Bloodmobile in Mullen for over 20 years.
Marilyn is survived by her 6 children; 13 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents William and Sarah Bramer; husbands Daniel Deibler and Howard Downing; and grandson Michael Jeffrey Deibler.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Mullen United Methodist Church, the Mullen Ambulance Service, Pioneer Memorial Rest Home, or Cedarview Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. A celebration of Marilyn’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. MST on Monday, December 11, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Mullen with Reverend Insung Kim officiating. Burial will follow at the Cedarview Cemetery. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.