GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested a suspect in the slaying of a 19-year-old in Grand Island.
Police say 24-year-old Herbey Portillo Jr. was found hiding in a Grand Island garage Tuesday and was taken into custody without incident.
He’s accused of shooting to death Trevor Sok, whom officers found wounded around 3:45 a.m. Monday at a Grand Island home. Police say he died later at a hospital.
Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Portillo.
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A Clarkson man is accused of using customers’ Social Security numbers to create bogus accounts for stealing money from the rent-to-own store he was managing in Columbus.
43-year-old Michael Schnelle is charged with identity theft and related theft crimes. His lawyer didn’t immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press. Schnelle’s next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 11.
Authorities say a store audit uncovered around $250,000 in losses in missing merchandise.
Court documents say store employees told investigators that, under Schnelle’s direction, they were told to create bogus accounts by using customers’ Social Security numbers but changing the names on the accounts. The employees say Schnelle told them the fake accounts were being used to “prop up” store sales numbers.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a homeless man suspected of killing a 19-year-old in Grand Island.
Police said in a news release Tuesday that the warrant for 24-year-old Herbey Portillo Jr. lists charges of first-degree murder and a weapons crime. Police say he may be armed with a semi-automatic handgun.
He’s accused of shooting to death Trevor Sok, who officers found wounded around 3:45 a.m. Monday at a Grand Island home. Police said he died later at a hospital.
No arrest has been reported. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for Portillo.
The Nebraska State Patrol says they will not be releasing any information after a person apparently jumped from the Buffalo Bill Avenue Interstate 80 overpass.
Just after 10:00 a.m., on January 2, law enforcement and rescue personnel responded to the report of someone jumping from the overpass and onto the Interstate.
The Post has confirmed through a law enforcement source that one person did die in the incident, but a spokesperson for the Nebraska State Patrol says they will not be releasing any details at this point.
The NSP says the Interstate was not completely closed during the incident.
If new information becomes available, we will update this story.
INDIANOLA, Neb. (AP) — Investigators have determined that a candle started the house fire that killed two people last week in central Nebraska.
The Nebraska State Fire Marshall says the fire that started near Indianola, Nebraska, shortly after midnight Thursday appears accidental.
Douglas and Debra Swanson died in the fire. They were both 61.
One of their adult daughters, 34-year-old Laura Swanson of Denver, escaped the fire. Another adult daughter who lives at the home wasn’t there at the time of the fire.
Rodney T. “Rod” Swanson, age 81 of North Platte, passed away December 30, 2017 at Great Plains Health surrounded by his family and due to complications of pneumonia. He was born June 6, 1936 to Torry and Ana (Nitler) Swanson at Burwell, NE. Rod graduated from Burwell High School. He worked various jobs throughout his life including North Platte Lumber and recently for Cornhusker Cleaning and as a custodian at North Platte High School. Rod loved animals and helping his family. He loved fishing, camping at Lake McConaughy, and Nebraska Football. His barbecued ribs were the best, his potato salad was awesome, and his sugar cookies were spectacular.
He is survived by his wife Anita, daughters, Teresa Deterding and Cristy (Jerry) Thompson, grandchildren, Aubrey Ann Deterding, Aden and Lane Thompson, nephew, Jim Swanson, and two special friends, Gary and Ben.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Robert, Forrest, and Con Swanson.
Private services will be held. Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 9am to 5:30 pm Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his memory. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.
Ethel Keith, age 93 of Maxwell, NE passed away Friday December 29, 2017 at Linden Court in North Platte.
Ethel was born January 8, 1924 in Maxwell, NE to Stanley R. and Clara Rose (Brittenham) Grandstaff. She attended high school in Maxwell through the 10th grade and earned her GED in 1971. She married Woodrow Keith on August 31, 1940 and the couple lived in the Maxwell Community their entire lives. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post #181 and served as Secretary. She was baptized in 1971 in the North Platte River by the Assembly of God Church in Maxwell. She enjoyed being a homemaker for her family, fishing, gambling, traveling to Branson, MO, quilting, knitting and making ceramics.
Ethel is survived by her sons, Stanley “Grant” (Joyce) of Maxwell, Dwayne (Carolyn) of Norfolk, NE, and Jerry (Cleo) of Taylor, NE; grandchildren, Kay, Joni, Tracy, Tammy, Darryn, Kendra (Paul), Brian (Andrea), and Brandin (Michaela); 13 great grandchildren; 10 great great grandchildren; sister Arlene Melendy; sisters-in-law Florence Shetler, Marian Keith, and Jeanette Grandstaff; as well as other extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Stanley and Clara Grandstaff; husband Woodrow Keith in 1990; grandson Jeffrey Keith; and siblings Forest, Floyd “Cac”, Stanley Jr., Phyllis, Mildred, Harold and Wanda.
Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday January 4, 2018 at the First Baptist Church in Maxwell with Pastor Kelvin Boltzes officiating. Burial will follow at Plainview Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be noon until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday January 3, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The online lodging rental company Airbnb says business doubled in Nebraska in 2017.
Nebraska users hosted about 46,000 guests in 2017 and generated $4.3 million revenue. That was 107 percent of the previous year.
Most of the lodging activity was in Omaha, which always draws large crows for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting and the College World Series.
Omaha Airbnb hosts generated $2.7 million on 27,000 stays.
Lincoln hosts accounted for more than 6,100 stays and more than $480,000 in income.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wants anglers to check the thickness of the ice before venturing out to catch a few fish this winter.
The commission says at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice is needed to support a person ice fishing.
Other recommendations include fishing with another person, wearing a life jacket and telling a family member or friend where you’ll be fishing before venturing out.
The commission also says all ice anglers should carry ice picks around their necks and have long rope handy.
GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — A future Interstate 80 interchange is stirring up drama in an eastern Nebraska county.
Gretna and Papillion city officials have been struggling to come to an agreement about sharing the area around the interchange. The area is in high demand because Nebraska Highway 50 is flourishing and the area could provide cities with more space to expand.
Gretna annexed land around the future interchange last month.
Gretna council members said they felt threatened by Papillion and took the steps to annex the area in order to secure their development plans. Gretna officials hope to use the area for retail and mixed-use development or for a business and office park development.
“We want to have control, and that’s because it’s going to involve significant development and economic growth,” Gretna City Administrator Jeff Kooistra said of the intersection.
Papillion Mayor David Black had proposed a boundary agreement that would give Papillion land on the southern side of I-80. Gretna countered with a different boundary proposal but Black declined the offer, according to Papillion spokesman Trenton Albers.
Discussions have since halted, though both cities have “left the door open for future discussions,” Albers said.
“I would say the smart thing for the orderly growth of the county is for both Papillion and Gretna to have a presence at the interchange,” Black said.
Sarpy County has filed a lawsuit challenging Gretna’s annexation.
Much of the county has been divided in boundary agreements between five cities, which limits where cities can grow.
