LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – State officials are asking those affected
by flooding in Nebraska to submit information regarding damages and
losses.
The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency says the information
will be used to determine whether areas of Nebraska meet federal
thresholds for assistance.
The agency is in the early stages of collecting information for
a damage assessment. Those who have evacuated homes, have sustained
damages to a business and those whose jobs have been affected by
flooding are encouraged to contact the agency.
NEMA is seeking the information from those affected by current
flooding along the Missouri, Platte or North Platte rivers. Those
people are asked to call NEMA’s public toll-free lines at either
855-211-2453 or 855-211-2454. The lines are staffed daily from 8
a.m. to 8 p.m. Central time.
Author: Cooper Radio Show
Curmudgeon with a microphone....
Omaha slows sandbagging efforts as 100K goal met
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Omaha has scaled back its sandbagging efforts
after a huge volunteer effort churned out almost 100,000 sandbags.
Melinda Pearson in the city’s parks department says the city
opened a second sandbagging station Wednesday afternoon but it
won’t reopen unless there’s a huge need for sandbags. She says
volunteers filled 12,000 sandbags at that site in just a few hours,
depleting the entire sand supply there.
At the first station, Pearson says, volunteers have almost met
Omaha’s goal of 100,000 sandbags to protect against the swollen
Missouri River. She says efforts will continue there but will be
scaled back. For example, this weekend the station will run two
four-hour shifts instead of three.
Lincoln airport works on flood plan
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Airport officials in Lincoln are working on
a contingency plan just in case the airport in Omaha is flooded by
the Missouri River.
Lincoln Airport Executive Director John Wood told the Lincoln
Journal Star on Thursday that the airport is working on a
worst-case scenario in case Eppley Airfield in Omaha has to close.
Wood says if that happens, flights will likely be diverted to
Lincoln and Des Moines, Iowa.
Omaha Airport Authority Director Steve Coufal says the airport
is not considering closing.
Eppley is surrounded on three sides by the Missouri River and is
protected by levees tall enough to withstand a flood stage of up to
42 feet. The river is expected to crest in Omaha at 36 feet and
stay above flood stage for months.
Swift Beef to pay $1.3M in Nebraska pollution case
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) – Swift Beef Co. has agreed to pay $1.3
million to settle allegations that it violated the federal Clean
Water Act and Nebraska law at the company’s Grand Island beef
plant.
A news release from the U.S. Department of Justice says
violations occurred several times since 2006. Authorities say the
plant discharged pollutants beyond permitted levels to the Grand
Island wastewater treatment plant and directly into the Wood River.
The Justice Department says Swift already has spent more than $1
million at the plant to cut the release of pollutants.
Swift Beef is based in Greeley, Colo., and is a subsidiary of
JBS SA, a Brazilian company. A JBS USA statement says the Grand
Island plant is now in full compliance with discharge requirements
and is upgrading its wastewater treatment system.
Omaha man arrested in shooting death of wife
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A 45-year-old man has been arrested on
suspicion of killing his wife at their west Omaha home.
Omaha police say Sean Barrett remains in custody.
Barrett is accused of shooting to death 40-year-old Rochelle
Barrett. Police say she was found dead by officers who were sent to
the home around 3 a.m. Thursday.
Other details about the homicide have not been released.
Online court records don’t yet list the case. It’s unclear
whether he has an attorney.
New Miss Rodeo Queens speak
Highlights from a press conference on Thursday June 16 with newly crowned Miss Rodeo Nebraska Sierra Peterson (on the right) and Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Dakota Clough (on the left). The ladies were officially crowned at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo on Wednesday night.
VIDEO – One Arm Bandit gets bucked!
John Payne, the one armed bandit who performs at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo fell off his mule during last night’s opening night performance. While the fall looks scary, both Payne and his mule were okay and both man and animal were able to recover and complete their performance.
For background on John Payne, click here.
U.S. Highway 30 to reopen soon
NORTH PLATTE – According to Gary Thayer at the Nebraska Department of Roads, U.S. Hwy 30 between North Platte and Maxwell is currently dry. Thayer says that his department has been working with Union Pacific Railroad to increase the amount of protection against high levels along the North Platte River for both the highway and rail lines that run parallel. The work is nearing completion and Thayer says that the highway should reopen next week, possibly as early as Monday.
“Pink Out” at Buffalo Bill Rodeo
In 2004, PRCA Wrangler GM’s wife was struck with breast cancer. Her
son began a tradition that year by wearing pink at the evening rodeo. This small step has grown to raise millions of dollars for the fight against breast cancer all over the U.S.
Thursday’s rodeo at NEBRASKAland DAYS will be Tough Enough to
Wear Pink Night. NLD will be partnering with Great Plains Regional
Medical Center’s Callahan Cancer Center. Visitors will be greeted at the arena to a sea of pink. Cupcakes from Candy’s Cupcakery and Gracie Mae’s along with pink balloons and “Hope” bracelets will be for sale. All proceeds will go to the Callahan Cancer Center.
People can join the fight against cancer, enjoy a fabulous
rodeo show, and enjoy the Wild West only North Platte can give you.
UPDATED – Sierra Peterson crowned Miss Rodeo Nebraska
NORTH PLATTE – The results are in for Miss Rodeo Nebraska. Sierra Peterson, a 21 year old contestant from Ashland, Nebraska, was crowned last night at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. Dayna Olson from North Platte finished first runner up. Dakota Clough from Ogallala was named Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska. First runner up was Nicole Nickerson from Brady.