Larry Richard Petska, age 67 of Hershey, passed away Monday June 4, 2018 at Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, NE, after a short battle with cancer.
Larry was born November 4, 1950 in Ord, NE to Richard Stanley and Lois Katherine (Crane) Petska. He graduated from Hershey High School in 1969 and joined the Navy in June of 1969, serving until June of 1989. In addition to his other duty stations, he served on 3 submarines, The Sam Rayburn, the Francis Scott Key and the Von Stueben. He married Ruth JoAnn Dishman on May 15, 1970 in Virginia Beach, VA. He was a member of the Hershey American Legion Paul R. Martin #279. He enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycles, playing guitar and chess, and operating his Ham radio. Larry was an avid sportsman, skeet and trap shooting, pistol and cowboy shooting, bird hunting and archery. He was a lifelong learner.
Larry is survived by his wife JoAnn Petska of Hershey, NE; sons Michael and Richard of Sutherland, NE; grandsons John and Michael Jr. of North Platte, NE; siblings Jane (John) Haines of La Feria, TX, ; Jean (Butch) Brecks of Cozad, NE, Frances Petska of El Cerrito, CA, Gary (Cindy) Petska of Hershey, NE, Linda Petska of Hershey, NE, Virginia (Paul) Michalski of Elyria, NE, Charles (Lisa) Petska of Cozad, NE; sister-in-law Mary (Terry) Collins of North Platte, NE; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Lois Petska; and grandparents.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Christian Wake Services will be held 7:00 p.m. Sunday June 10, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday June 11, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sutherland with the Reverend James Janovec as Celebrant. Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 p.m. Sunday June 10, 2018 with the family receiving friends from 5:00 until 7:00 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced today the filing of criminal complaints against two New Jersey men as a result of a seizure of over 118 lbs of Fentanyl – an extremely potent and dangerous opioid. The seizure of the fentanyl occurred during an April 26 traffic stop by Nebraska State Patrol Troopers along Interstate 80, just outside of Kearney, NE. The seizure of the foil-wrapped Fentanyl was initially suspected to be cocaine. This fentanyl seizure is the largest ever in Nebraska, surpassing the seizure of more than 36 lbs in October 2017 in Omaha. Fentanyl is an opioid drug, 40-50 times more potent than heroin.
The individuals arrested have been identified as Nelson Nicolas Nunez-Acosta, age 52, and Felipe Genao Minaya, age 47, both of Newark, New Jersey. They are charged with knowingly and intentionally possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. In violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and Title 21, United States Code Section 841(b)(1). The penalty for these charges is 10 years to life.
“Heroin is one of the most potent and addictive drugs known to man—and fentanyl can be up to 50 times as powerful,” Attorney General Sessions said. “It is alarming but true that we are seeing more and more of this drug smuggled into this country and sold on our streets. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl killed more Americans than any other kind of drug in 2016; in response, the Department of Justice tripled our fentanyl prosecutions in 2017. In this case, our fabulous partners with the Nebraska State Patrol conducted the largest fentanyl seizure in Nebraska history, seizing 118 pounds of fentanyl. I have no doubt that these outstanding law enforcement officers have saved lives—and that this case will help us get closer to ending this unprecedented drug epidemic.”
“The diligence of these two Troopers is incredible,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly. “The interdiction of these opioids saved countless lives. This is a multi-faceted problem that we are addressing through enforcement, prevention, and treatment. This is an exceptional example of the enforcement work making our streets safer.”
BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) – A police captain says authorities are searching the Missouri River south of an Omaha suburb because a man told officers he dumped his wife’s body there.
Sarpy County prosecutors have charged 37-year-old Brandon Norton with second-degree murder, and he’s being held without bail. Court records don’t list the name of an attorney who could comment for him.
Police say he told Bellevue officers what he’d done after surrendering Tuesday evening, but authorities have been unable to find 32-year-old Jennifer Norton or her body.
Police Capt. Tim Melvin said Thursday that investigators think Norton killed his wife Monday evening and then hauled her body to the river south of Bellevue. Melvin says Brandon Norton has told investigators how he killed his wife, but Melvin wouldn’t share the information.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is establishing a new field division based in Omaha that will include Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
In a news conference Thursday in Omaha, DEA Acting Administrator Robert Patterson said the new division will open in July. It is the agency’s 23rd division office in the United States.
Patterson says the move was prompted in part by the nation’s growing opioid crisis. In April, authorities seized a record 118 pounds of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl during a traffic stop.
The Omaha division will be led by Matthew Barden, who previously served as the Associate Special Agent in Charge of the St. Louis Division.
Barden says the new division will “produce more effective investigations on methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioid trafficking.”
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have released the name of a man killed by a carbon monoxide buildup at a mobile home in north Lincoln.
On Thursday police identified the man as 57-year-old Ruben “Javier” Moreno Campos.
Police and medics were called to the home around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Fire Battalion Chief Jim Bopp has said a first responder’s carbon monoxide detector went off while there. Bopp also said Black Hills Energy workers blamed the deadly gas buildup on a water heater venting problem.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials have approved Nebraska’s plan to reduce by 50 percent over the next decade the number of students who are not proficient in core subject areas.
A U.S. Education Department news release said Tuesday that the Nebraska plan “establishes ambitious but attainable long-term goals in alignment with its strategic vision and direction.”
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to devise systems that identify schools needing help and outline plans for intervention.
The act replaced the No Child Left Behind law, giving states more flexibility in creating their accountability systems.
Schools deemed “In Need of Comprehensive Support and Improvement” will qualify for federally funded improvement activities under the Every Student Succeeds Act. That includes money for professional development, teacher evaluations and strategies to hire, train and retain teachers.
ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials have awarded an $18.3 million grant for work on the Heartland Expressway project in the Nebraska Panhandle.
The office of U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., announced the grant in a news release Tuesday.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation will use the money to convert to four lanes a nearly 15-mile (24-kilometer) segment of U.S. Highway 385. That stretch runs north to Alliance from the state 62A junction.
The Heartland Expressway project includes four-lane highways spanning nearly 500 (805 kilometers). The expressway would connect Denver and Rapid City, South Dakota, running through Nebraska, and also connect to Interstate 25 in Wyoming.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a buildup of carbon monoxide gas has killed one person and caused three others to be hospitalized in Lincoln.
Police and medics were called to a north Lincoln home around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Officer Angela Sands says four people found there were taken to a hospital, where one of them died. No names have been released.
Fire Battalion Chief Jim Bopp says a medic’s carbon monoxide detector went off at the home. Bopp also says Black Hills Energy workers blamed the deadly gas buildup on a water heater problem.
BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police in an Omaha suburb say they’ve been unable to find a woman whose husband says he killed her.
Bellevue police Capt. Tom Dargy says the 37-year-old man told officers what he’d done after surrendering Tuesday evening. Investigators obtained warrants to search the man’s home, but they didn’t find the woman or her body.
The man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder. Court records don’t show that he’s been formally charged.
