NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot was unhurt when his landing gear collapsed as he set down his small plane at North Platte Regional Airport in western Nebraska.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. Monday. Airport manager Sam Seafeldt says the gear collapsed after the single-engine plane touched down, causing the plane to slide along its belly.
The pilot’s name wasn’t released. He’d flown the Beechcraft Bonanza to North Platte from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A convenience store clerk has been accused of selling alcohol consumed by a 17-year-old who later died when his speeding car crashed on the west end of Omaha.
Douglas County Court records say 29-year-old Kevin Hart is charged with procuring alcohol that resulted in a death. The records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Prosecutors say Hart sold the liquor to two teenagers on Oct. 11 who later sold it to George Gervase and another teen. The two teenagers who bought the liquor have been charged in juvenile court. Prosecutors say Hart knew the two were underage.
Gervase’s wrecked car and his body were found early the next day . His blood alcohol level tested out at nearly three times the legal limit.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska inmate has been sentenced to an additional 80 to 140 years in prison for charges related to his escape in 2016.
Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen sentenced 54-year-old Timothy Clausen to the lengthy term Monday after his convictions for escape, theft and fleeing to avoid arrest.
Clausen already was serving a more than 50-year sentence for first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Clausen and inmate Armon Dixon escaped from the Lincoln Correctional Center by hiding in a laundry cart as it was loaded onto a truck and then punching a hole in the truck’s roof. They later stole a vehicle and were chased by Nebraska State Patrol troopers.
Officers stopped chasing the vehicle but it crashed into a parked SUV.
Dixon was sentenced earlier.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Lottery won’t have to pay out to dozens of players who thought they won prizes in a holiday scratch-off game with misprinted tickets.
The state lottery cancelled its new Holiday Bonus Bucks game in September after discovering the mistake by International Game Technology, the company that produced the tickets. Lottery officials found that 405 tickets had been sold before the issue was identified within two hours of the game’s opening.
Winner amounts on the misprinted tickets varied from a few dollars to $40,000 prizes, but state law doesn’t legally obligate the Nebraska Lottery to pay prize money for tickets that are produced or issued in error, according to Brian Rockey, state lottery director.
“We’ve never had anything like this, to this degree. It was a real fluke,” Rockey said. “I’m glad we were able to catch it when we did or there would be many more disappointed people.”
Lincoln resident Connie Johnson was one of those first players to purchase and attempt to cash in Holiday Bonus Bucks tickets. She had several $40,000 winning combinations but learned that the tickets had been incorrectly printed.
The Nebraska Lottery is now asking anyone who purchased a Holiday Bonus Bucks ticket to return the card by March 24. Those who send in the tickets will receive Lottery scratch coupons in return.
Lottery spokesman Neil Watson said 150 of the tickets have been returned. About 80 of those appeared to be winners because of inaccurately printed symbols and 52 others appeared to win larger prizes than the actual amounts tied to the cards, he said.
Whitney Joy Steele, age 5, of North Platte passed away November 24, 2018 at Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Whitney was born on March 26, 2013 in North Platte to Michael and Colleen (Sinsel) Steele. Whitney was baptized in Christ on May 12, 2013.
With Whitney’s passing we remind others that her time with us is to be celebrated, thanking God for the gift of life and assurance of eternal life with Christ. As a family, we have been able to create wonderful memories and it has been a privilege to be her parents. We are so thankful Whitney’s sister Shelby and brothers Benjamin and Seth knew her, and they will hold dear the memory of Whitney’s spunky personality.
Whitney’s life would seem too short, but those touched by her, understand that the quality of existence far exceeds quantity of time which you live. Although Whitney’s different abilities challenged her, she possessed strength and perseverance. She taught us each day is a blessing and an opportunity to create lasting memories. She could spend hours rocking in her favorite chair, while cuddling close to those she loved. She enjoyed the sound of Velcro, paper ripping, zippers and reading her favorite book, “Down on the Farm.” Her infectious smile, belly laugh and head of curls melted our hearts. A sign of her love to her family and friends was a pat on the shoulder or a “love” on their necks.
Whitney’s maternal grandparents were her adoring caregivers two days a week, and they will remain forever changed by her love. Whitney was involved with Early Development, and a student at Kids First Preschool where she was cherished by her teachers, classmates, therapists, and para educator Rhonda Richman. Whitney encountered many wonderful physicians especially Kathy Lopez and Grishma Parikh, and numerous other Children’s Hospital and Boys Town doctors.
Whitney is survived by her parents, Mike and Colleen Steele of North Platte; sister, Shelby of North Platte; brothers, Benjamin, and Seth both of North Platte; grandparents, Loren and Marilyn Sinsel of North Platte, and David and Shirley Steele of Lexington; great-grandparents, Bonnie Strumpler of Broken Bow, and Polly Steele of Bates City, Missouri; uncles and aunts, Brent Sinsel of Sutherland, and Daniel and Raconda Steele of Scottsbluff; cousins, Jackson and Issac Sinsel, and Taedyn, Sydney, Reigan, Juelle, and Cade Steele; numerous other family members; and many friends.
Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 29, 2018 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church with the Reverend Bob Deardoff officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Democrats are expected to decide soon on whether to hold a primary for the 2020 presidential election or hold caucuses again.
The state’s Democratic leader, Jane Kleeb, told the Omaha World-Herald that feedback is running about 3-to-1 in favor of scrapping the caucuses. The party is distributing a survey on the issue.
The party first caucused in 2008 in an effort to bolster party excitement and move the Nebraska nominee selection earlier.
Kleeb expects that holding caucuses would cost the state party at least $100,000 — maybe twice that — if the Democratic presidential field were to prove as large as expected.
The party is scheduled to vote on the question at its Dec. 7-8 quarterly meeting in Ord.
Nebraska Republicans hold a primary.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Lottery officials are seeking missing tickets from a canceled holiday scratch-off game months after a mishap that disappointed many players who thought they had won large prizes.
The state lottery deactivated its new Holiday Bonus Bucks game in September after discovering a misprint. Lottery officials found that 405 tickets had been sold before the issue was identified.
The Nebraska Lottery is asking anyone who purchased a Holiday Bonus Bucks ticket to return the card by March 24. Those who send in the tickets will receive Lottery scratch coupons in return.
Lottery spokesman Neil Watson says 150 of the tickets have been returned. He says 80 of those appeared to be winners because of inaccurately printed symbols and 52 others appeared to win larger prizes than the actual amounts tied to the cards.
PLAINVIEW, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man died in a head-on collision southeast of Plainview in northeast Nebraska.
Pierce County Sheriff Rick Eberhardt says Tim Wacker was driving southeast Friday morning on Nebraska Highway 13 when his vehicle collided with an oncoming vehicle being driven by 25-year-old Chance Johnson, of Norfolk.
Eberhardt says the 48-year-old Wacker was killed. He lived in Plainview.
The sheriff’s office said Monday that Johnson was flown to a Sioux City, Iowa, hospital for treatment.
The collision is being investigated.
