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City administrator quits after less than 2 months on the job

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The Grand Island city administrator has quit after less than two months on the job.

A city news release says Brent Clark and Mayor Roger Steele mutually agreed to end Clark’s employment. The release says Clark has “chosen to explore other opportunities.”

Clark declined to comment when reached by phone on Tuesday. Steele says he can’t talk about the situation because it’s a personnel matter. But he told The Grand Island Independent that “we both agreed there was a difference in management priorities and styles.”

Steele intends to have City Attorney Jerry Janulewicz serve as interim city administrator.

Clark was city administrator in Broken Bow before joining Grand Island to replace Marlan Ferguson when he retired.

Columbine threat by woman with gun shuts Denver-area schools

Sol Pais (Photo: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office)
LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Denver-area public schools will be closed Wednesday as authorities search for a young Florida woman who flew to the city and bought a gun after becoming “infatuated” with the mass shooting at Columbine High School.

The FBI said Sol Pais, 18, is “considered to be extremely dangerous” and “made threats to commit an act of violence in the Denver metropolitan area” just days before the 20th anniversary of the attack that killed 13 people.

All schools in the Denver area were urged to tighten security because the threat was deemed “credible and general,” said Patricia Billinger, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Public Safety. Columbine and more than 20 other schools outside Denver lock their doors for nearly three hours Tuesday afternoon before Wednesday’s complete closures were announced.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI say Pais traveled to Colorado from Miami on Monday night and bought a pump-action shotgun and ammunition.

Denver Public Schools said that all facilities and programs will be closed Wednesday, and there will be no afternoon activities or athletic competitions. The district said the decision to close campuses was in collaboration with other Denver metro-area school districts due to the ongoing safety concern.

On Tuesday, some schools released their students after additional security was called in and canceled evening activities or moved them inside.

“We always have heightened awareness close to high-profile anniversaries like this,” Billinger said.

Authorities said Pais was last seen near Columbine — in the Jefferson County foothills outside Denver — wearing a black T-shirt, camouflage pants and black boots. They appealed for anyone seeing her to call an FBI tip line at 303 630-6227, and said she is too dangerous to be approached by civilians. The alert also said police who come into contact with her should detain her and evaluate her mental health.

“This has become a massive manhunt … and every law enforcement agency is participating and helping in this effort,” Dean Phillips, special agent in charge of the FBI in Denver, said late Tuesday night.

The FBI’s Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force issued a notice Tuesday describing Pais as “infatuated with (the) Columbine school shooting.”

Sheriff’s spokesman Mike Taplin said the threats she made were general and not specific to any school.

The Denver Post reported that a call to a phone number listed for Pais’ parents in Surfside, Florida, was interrupted by a man who identified himself as an FBI agent and said he was interviewing them.

Surfside Police Sgt. Marian Cruz confirmed that her parents last saw her on Sunday and reported her missing on Monday. The Miami Herald and WTVJ are reporting that neighbors say the teen is a senior at Miami Beach High School.

The Associated Press left messages at two numbers listed for Pais’ relatives in Florida, while another number was disconnected.

Two teenage gunmen attacked Columbine on April 20, 1999, killing 12 classmates and a teacher.

Man wanted in 2016 Mississippi killing arrested in Nebraska

Stephon Clay

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man wanted in the 2016 shooting death of a man in Mississippi has been arrested more than 700 miles away in Lincoln, Nebraska.

The U.S. Marshals Service says in a news release that its Metro Fugitive Task Force arrested 25-year-old Stephon Clay, of Clarksdale, Mississippi, on Monday night in Lincoln. Members of the Lincoln and Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Lincoln Police Department helped in the arrest.

Clay is suspected in the March 19, 2016, shooting death of 22-year-old Steven Harris in Clarksdale.

Omaha police helicopter forced to make emergency landing

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say one of its helicopters was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday after suffering a mechanical failure.

A news release from police says the helicopter, Able-1, had just left its base at Omaha North Airport when the emergency happened.

Police say the pilots took immediate action and landed in an open field just northwest of the airport. No one was injured.

The department still has two other aircraft. Police say the helicopter that made the emergency landing was a military-acquired Bell OH58.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.

FHSU grad who bought out Payless heading to ‘Ellen’ show

Addy Tritt, FHSU grad, stands in the Hays, Kansas Payless with some of the shoes she bought for Nebraska flood victims.

By HANNAH BRANDT
KSNT

A Kansas woman got viral attention for donating 204 pairs of shoes to Nebraska flood victims after buying all the remaining shoes at a Payless store that was closing.

On Wednesday, Addy Tritt will be featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” A show spokeswoman said that while Tritt generously gives back to her community, she is actually in debt herself with student loan and even relies on family support to buy groceries.

Tritt, a Fort Hays State graduate, said she wanted to help others because so many people have helped her in the past. When the price at a Hays store dropped to $1 per pair, Tritt negotiated with the business to buy the remaining shoes for $100.

They included 162 pairs of baby shoes, two pairs of men’s shoes, and the rest were women’s shoes.The retail price of the shoes would have been more than $6,000.

— Republished with permission

Tritt’s story, which was originally published by Hays Post, went viral, being distributed by news outlets globally.

NPPD Activity Log (4.15.19-4.16.19)

Call Date Call Time
Call Number RMS CFS Description
Location Of Incident
04/15/2019 00:37:05
19-006156 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
200 N GARFIELD AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 01:05:08 19-006158 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER 500 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 04:05:35 19-006159 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 100 PLATTE OASIS PKWY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 04:30:32 19-006160 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 1100 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 05:03:53
19-006161 WELFARE CHECK
300 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 05:15:36 19-006162 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 05:48:04 19-006163 DEAD ANIMAL CALL 1600 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 06:43:17 19-006164 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 600 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 07:53:19
19-006166 SUSPICIOUS PERSON
300 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 07:57:24 19-006167 SUPP TO PRIOR CASE NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 08:32:19 19-006168 DUP OR UNNECESSARY 700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 08:54:14 19-006169 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF 1900 W 18TH AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 09:08:57 19-006170 VEHICLE INSPECTION 2300 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 09:39:41
19-006171 ILLEGAL TURN
900 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 09:43:22 19-006172 OTHER DISTURBANCE 1800 W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 09:46:28 19-006173 VEHICLE INSPECTION 600 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 09:53:04 19-006174 WELFARE CHECK 1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 10:06:47 19-006175 LOST PROPERTY 3000 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 10:44:43
19-006176 OTHER DISTURBANCE
300 N MILES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 11:06:48 19-006177 FOUND PROPERTY S JEFFERS ST /W FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 11:27:22 19-006178 FOUND PROPERTY 1200 N TAFT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 11:48:03 19-006179 WELFARE CHECK 2300 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 11:50:40 19-006180 WELFARE CHECK 2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 13:14:57 19-006182 CITIZEN ASSIST 700 S TAFT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 13:43:21 19-006183 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE W C ST / AMES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 13:54:53 19-006184 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER 600 S WELCH AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 14:27:28 19-006185 WELFARE CHECK 700 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 14:30:38
19-006186 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
100 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 14:38:59 19-006187 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 700 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 15:09:44 19-006188 THEFT BY DECEPTION 1300 ROOSEVELT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 15:11:13 19-006189 CITIZEN ASSIST 1300 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 15:50:11
19-006191 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION
100 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 15:52:46 19-006192 CITIZEN ASSIST 2100 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 16:03:33 19-006193 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL W LEOTA ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 16:05:52 19-006194 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 500 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 16:21:54 19-006195 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 16:27:58
19-006196 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC
W 1ST ST /S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 16:31:00 19-006197 WELFARE CHECK 1400 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 16:36:16 19-006198 FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN E LEOTA ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 17:04:06 19-006199 USE OF TOBACCO BY MINORS 2300 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 17:29:17 19-006200 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT 2100 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 18:34:42
19-006201 NP CITY ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL
1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 18:43:17 19-006202 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 200 W  B
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 19:07:08 19-006203 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 19:48:47 19-006204 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC E 9TH ST /N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 20:03:51
19-006205 CITIZEN ASSIST
2200 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 20:13:21 19-006206 CITIZEN ASSIST 2400 W 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 20:50:26 19-006207 REGISTRATION REQUIRED 400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 21:00:08 19-006208 SUSPICIOUS PERSON CHESTNUT / COTTONWOOD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 21:37:23 19-006209 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE W 7TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 21:53:42
19-006210 OTHER DISTURBANCE
N MAPLE ST /W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 22:11:54 19-006211 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 22:14:44 19-006212 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT 2500 W C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 22:22:06 19-006213 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 3900 W WEST PARKLAND CR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/15/2019 22:32:50 19-006215 CITIZEN ASSIST 900 S  TAFT
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 22:37:55 19-006216 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS 1600 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 22:48:02
19-006217 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS
500 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 23:11:17 19-006219 SUSPICIOUS PERSON HALLIGAN DR /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 23:12:27 19-006220 SUPP TO PRIOR CASE 2500 W C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 23:23:20 19-006221 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 1200 W 2nd ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 23:25:35
19-006222 FICTITIOUS PLATES
E LEOTA ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/15/2019 23:41:42 19-006223 OTHER DISTURBANCE 700 N  EMORY                                    AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/15/2019 23:43:51 19-006224 OTHER DISTURBANCE 1000 S Tabor AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 00:03:22 19-006225 OTHER DISTURBANCE 2400 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 01:05:40 19-006226 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS 400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 01:07:14
19-006227 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE
800 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 01:21:27 19-006228 SUSPICIOUS PERSON 200 PLATTE OASIS PKWY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 02:24:37 19-006229 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 300 S POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 02:25:27 19-006230 MOTORIST ASSIST E 13TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 04:04:43 19-006231 CITIZEN ASSIST 400 N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 04:20:13
19-006232 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT
LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 04:20:20 19-006233 OTHER DISTURBANCE 600 W 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 07:18:22 19-006234 CITIZEN ASSIST NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 07:30:46 19-006235 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION RODEO RD /N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 07:32:46 19-006236 SUPP TO PRIOR CASE 2200 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 08:37:24
19-006237 LOOSE CATS
800 W 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 08:38:06 19-006238 LOOSE ANIMALS 1900 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 09:04:48 19-006240 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 500 W 18TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 09:22:11 19-006241 DUP OR UNNECESSARY 700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 09:43:07 19-006242 DEAD ANIMAL CALL 1800 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 09:51:18
19-006243 ILLEGAL TURN
W LEOTA ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 10:02:15 19-006244 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC N MADISON AV /W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 10:15:51 19-006245 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC 700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 11:42:10 19-006247 ESCORT – CARPENTERS 400 N CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 12:45:21 19-006249 LOST PROPERTY NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 13:09:26 19-006251 ILLEGAL TURN S JEFFERS ST /E F ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 13:25:35 19-006253 VEHICLE INSPECTION 800 S BRYAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE   69101
04/16/2019 13:30:59 19-006254 CITIZEN ASSIST 1800 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/16/2019 13:50:44 19-006255 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

Officials: Woman, baby safe following Nebraska carjacking 

DONIPHAN, Neb. (AP) – Central Nebraska deputies say a woman and her baby are safe after a man carjacked the woman’s vehicle near Doniphan.

NTV reports that the incident happened shortly after 11 a.m. Monday on Highway 281 south of Doniphan. Doniphan is about 12 miles south of Grand Island.

Hall County Sheriff Rick Conrad says a man walked into the middle of highway traffic, causing the woman to stop her van, and forced his way into the vehicle. Conrad said the man – identified as 30-year-old James Wheeler of Superior – told the woman to drive, but she instead grabbed her baby and jumped out of the van.

Conrad says the man took off in the van, but because the keyless ignition fob was still with the woman, the van shut down after a short distance.

Wheeler was arrested on suspicion of robbery, theft and criminal mischief.

Senators advance tougher penalties for witness tampering 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Tampering with witnesses, jurors or evidence in a criminal case could carry harsher penalties under a bill advanced by Nebraska lawmakers.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval Tuesday on a 38-0 vote.

Sen. Justin Wayne, of Omaha, says he introduced the bill to discourage criminals who might otherwise try to destroy evidence or influence witnesses to avoid getting convicted.

The penalties for witness tampering are designed to correlate with the severity of the underlying crime. Tampering in certain misdemeanor cases would be a misdemeanor while tampering in higher-level felony cases would be a felony.

Two additional votes are required before it goes to the governor.

Eagle Cares fundraiser nets more than $16K for Nebraska flood recovery

Rachelle Lipker, executive director for the American Red Cross Central and Western Nebraska area, accepts the Eagle Cares donation from Eagle Communications employee-owners.

CENTRAL CITY, Neb. — When catastrophic flooding hit central Nebraska this spring, Eagle Communications employee-owners went into action — both in the field during recovery efforts and over the airwaves collecting money for the American Red Cross.
Eagle operates broadband, television and telephone systems in 29 Nebraska communities, as well as radio stations and broadband services in Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.

As part of the fundraising effort, Eagle’s Kansas radio stations kicked off Eagle Cares, a cash drive that will result in $16,515.12 being donated to the American Red Cross to aid recovery efforts in the Midwest. The donation also includes a generous contribution from the Robert E. and Patricia Schmidt Foundation.

“Eagle Cares really started as soon as our broadband field teams in Nebraska set out to work to ensure our communities stayed connected in the midst of the flooding,” said Travis Kohlrus, vice president of broadband. “Those teams inspired our employee-owners, companywide, to come together to give back to our friends and neighbors in the communities we serve.”

As part of a check presentation at Eagle’s Central City location Tuesday, Rachelle Lipker, executive director for the American Red Cross Central and Western Nebraska area, expressed her gratitude.

“We are certainly proud of the work the Eagle staff has done to rally Kansas communities to help those affected by the recent flooding. Donations of time and money are vital in ensuring the Red Cross is able to mobilize quickly and help those during times of need,” she said.

“We worked as fast as we could, constantly assessing the safety of our teams, to ensure we could get our communities back up and running,” said Kelly Bandt, Eagle system maintenance technician. “We are thankful for your patience and hopeful our communities will recover quickly. We are proud to be Nebraska Strong.”Besides the cash donation, Eagle employee-owners put in countless hours working to restore critical broadband services in the flooded region. Crews quickly restored services to the community of Silver Creek, where a washed-out bridge cut the fiber-optic network.

About Eagle Communications
Eagle Communications, Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with more than 290 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as broadband, TV and phone services in 59 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers business solutions, including technology as a service, broadband, telephone, TV and advertising in most service areas. For more information visit www.eaglecom.net.

Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of  North Platte Post.

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