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Man accused of sex assault on co-worker gets 12-20 years

Edmundo Leon Vera

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker behind a Lincoln restaurant has been given 12 to 20 years in prison.

Court records say 44-year-old Edmundo Leon Vera was sentenced Monday. He’d pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault after prosecutors reduced the charge. He also was credited for 327 days already served.

The records say Vera attacked the co-worker in the restaurant storage shed on April 14 last year after asking her whether she wanted to see inside it.

Vera’s 37-year-old brother, Ivan Leon, was sentenced in November to two years for tampering with a witness — the woman. Police say in court records that he gave her $1,000 to ask police to drop the case against his brother.

Scotts Bluff County repairing rain-damaged roads

GERING, Neb. (AP) — Scotts Bluff County authorities are working on gravel and other roads damaged by heavy rain over the weekend.

Around 7 miles (12 kilometers) of roads were still closed Monday. County highway superintendent Linda Grummert says clay will be used to repair road grades, and more gravel will be spread as well.

More than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain fell on rural areas south of Gering.

School officials say up to an estimated 150,000 gallons (nearly 570,000 liters) had to be pumped from Gering High School boiler room. The rainwater got in through utility tunnels created for renovations at the school. Workers labored through the weekend so school could be opened Monday.

County commissioners are considering seeking a disaster declaration to see whether the state and federal government can help pay for the repairs.

Nebraska to consider mountain lion hunting season in 2019

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State officials are considering whether to resume a mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska next year, a move likely to generate intense debate.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has set a public hearing for the proposal on June 22 at Mid-Plains Community College in Ogallala.

The proposed season would let hunters harvest up to eight mountain lions in two designated areas of northwest Nebraska’s Pine Ridge region.

State biologists say the number of adult and kitten mountain lions increased to 59 last year, compared to as many as 33 during the last official hunting season in 2014. They say the population is now established enough to sustain a harvest.

Sen. Ernie Chambers, of Omaha, has fought to eliminate mountain lion hunting in Nebraska the last few years.

Officials: 1 dead in head-on crash in southwestern Nebraska

ELWOOD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say one person had been killed in a head-on crash in southwestern Nebraska.

Radio station KRVN reports that that the two-vehicle crash happed around 9:20 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 23 just east of Elwood in Gosper County.

Sheriff Dennis Ocken says arriving first responders found a fuel truck in the ditch on the north side the highway and a pickup truck with extensive front end damage.

The driver of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. The extent of any injuries to the driver of the fuel truck was not immediately available. Their names were not immediately released. Officials say the vehicles were traveling in opposite directions and collided head-on.

Ocken says no fuel from storage tank of the fuel truck was spilled.

Lois J. Braun

Lois J. Braun, 69, of Grand Junction, Colorado, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on May 9, 2018.

Lois was born to the late William G. Braun and Bessie (Adams) Braun in North Platte. She graduated from North Platte High School and lived in Gothenburg and Lexington before moving to Denver to attend college at the University of Denver, earning two associate degrees.

In 1998, Lois moved to Grand Junction, Colorado, to work for Grand Junction Veterans Health Care System until she retired in 2014. Lois felt very honored and blessed to serve the veterans who had given so much for our country.

Lois was a member of the First Christian Church, enjoying worship, fellowship and helping with church activities. Lois loved her dogs, proudly displaying pictures of Corky and Skeeter. Lois enjoyed many hobbies including cooking and reading.

She looked forward to chats with her friends, Suzanne, Nancy, Les and David.

Lois is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gene Braun; and nephew, Jason Braun.

Lois is survived by her sisters, Terri (Dave) Gossett and Linda (Bart) McDermott, both formerly of North Platte; sister-in-law, Nancy Braun; nieces, Kerry (Greg) Baxter, Erika (Mark) Kitz and Ashley (Derek) Dubois; nephews, Michael McDermott, Kevin McDermott, Christopher (Cynthia) Braun, David (Jenni) Gossett and Ronald (Jimmy) Gossett; aunt, Sharron Hollen of North Platte; and many friends.

Special thanks to the staff at LaVilla Grande Care Center for their care and concern for Lois while she was a resident there.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Roice-Hurst Humane Society, 362 28 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81501, or the First Christian Church, 1326 N. First St, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

At Lois’ request, a private family ceremony will take place.

Robert Lemule “Rob”Sharp Death Notice

Robert Lemule “Rob,”Sharp, 48, of North Platte, died May 20, 2018, at the Swedish Medical Center, Englewood, Colorado. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 28, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. The register book may be signed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 25, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

 Connie L. Boss Death Notice

Connie L. Boss, 56, of North Platte, died May 18, 2018, at Great Plains Health. Services will be at a later date. Cremation was chosen. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Pair of Huskers earn All-Big ten nods

The Nebraska baseball team produced two All-Big Ten performers and two All-Freshman Team selections, when the conference announced its all-conference teams and individual awards on Tuesday.

Senior Scott Schreiber and junior Jesse Wilkening each earned second-team honors from the conference. Jaxon Hallmark and Gunner Hellstrom each made the All-Freshman Team. Mojo Hagge captured Nebraska’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

Schreiber, who was named one of 25 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award on Monday, achieves All-Big Ten status for the third year in a row after making the first team in 2016 and 2017. Schreiber led the Big Ten in runs scored (62) and tied for first in the league in hits (79). He ranked second in home runs (18) and total bases (148), while his .369 batting average ranked sixth in the Big Ten.

Wilkening, who has been on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List each of the last two seasons, led the Huskers with a .372 batting average, which ranked fourth in the Big Ten. He ranked second in the Big Ten in RBIs (56), fourth in hits (74) and fifth in total bases (117).

Hallmark, who started 50 of Nebraska’s 52 games in 2018, batted .261 with two doubles, two triples and a home run. He went 7-for-7 stealing bases to lead the Huskers in that category this season.

Hellstrom, who made 19 starts and 26 appearances altogether, batted .310 with 22 hits, 13 RBIs, five runs scored and one double. On April 21 at Rutgers, he led the Husker offense with a 5-for-6 performance in NU’s win over the Scarlet Knights.

All-Big Ten Second Team: Jesse Wilkening (C), Scott Schreiber (1B)

Big Ten All-Freshman Team: Gunner Hellstrom (C), Jaxon Hallmark (OF)

Big Ten Sportsmanship Award: Mojo Hagge

Man gets 2-10 years for causing crash that killed 2 people

Kalen Pfeiffer

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 24-year-old man has been imprisoned for causing the crash deaths of two people in south-central Nebraska.

Court records show 24-year-old Kalen Pfeiffer, of rural Amherst, was sentenced Monday in Buffalo County District Court to two to 10 years in prison. He’d pleaded no contest to two counts of manslaughter. Prosecutors dropped a charge of drunken driving in exchange for the pleas.

The crash occurred just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 4 last year on a gravel road northwest of Amherst in Buffalo County. Investigators say a large pickup driven by Pfeiffer and carrying five other adults ran off the roadway and rolled.

Twenty-one-year-old Amber Frerichs, of Bassett, and 29-year-old Neal Maloley, of Kearney, died at the scene.

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