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Police: Fire that destroyed Lincoln camp building was arson

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Lincoln police say a fire at Wilderness Park Day Camp in Lincoln that broke out on Halloween was arson.

Witnesses told police a homeless person had been spotted in the building before the fire on Tuesday.

The camp supervisor says the building is a total loss.

Andrea Faas says the day camp hosts hundreds of kids every summer.

Fire Inspector Rick Campos says the fire caused about $60,000 in damage to the building and everything inside. He says the park was using the building for storage.

 

Lincoln man sentenced to prison for stealing clients’ money

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has sentenced a former insurance agent to at least six years in prison for bilking clients out of nearly $160,000, saying he felt “heartsick” for the victims.

The Lancaster County judge noted on Tuesday the seriousness of a felony theft by deception charge when deciding against probation for Raymond Sanchez Jr.

Investigators allege Sanchez’s clients in Lincoln gave him money to buy annuities, but that Sanchez instead deposited the money into his personal account.

One victim says she and her husband lost more than $40,000 in the scheme. She says she’s disappointed in the sentence because she was hoping for restitution.

Sanchez says he wants to eventually pay the money back so he can face all his victims again.

 

Omaha police: Crash into coffee shop drive-thru injured 5

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investigating after a sport utility vehicle crashed into a small coffee shop drive-thru, injuring the driver and four employees in the shop.

Police say it happened Tuesday morning at 129th and West Maple Road, when the SUV veered off Maple and over grass before plowing into Crane Coffee.

Four employees inside were hurt, two of them seriously. Police say one employee was knocked outside the building by the impact. A 25-year-old woman suffered a lacerated liver and fractured pelvis and a 36-year-old woman suffered an injury to her esophagus and cuts. Two others suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to broken bones.

The 33-year-old driver suffered only minor injuries and told police he blacked out. Alcohol and drug tests came back negative.

The building was destroyed.

 

2nd Lincoln police officer leaves force amid investigation

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A second Lincoln police officer has resigned amid allegations related to a sexual assault investigation involving another officer.

Lincoln Police Chief Jeff Bliemeister says the second officer was placed on unpaid leave as a result of an internal investigation into the sexual assault allegation. Bliemeister says the second officer was put on leave on suspicion of violating the department’s code of ethics, and that he resigned earlier this week. The chief says the second officer has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.

Bliemeister did not release any details of what the officer is accused of having done.

Last month, another officer left the force after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met while on duty. That criminal investigation continues.

 

Nebraska State Fair director’s retirement announced

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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — The executive director of the Nebraska State Fair says he’ll be retiring at the end of the year.

The fair board announced Wednesday that Joseph McDermott will serve as a board consultant next year.

McDermott joined the fair staff as a computer programmer in the late 1980s and moved up the ranks, becoming executive director in 2009. He directed the fair’s move from Lincoln to Grand Island.

 

Man accused of killing 6 ordered to remain in state care

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Erwin Charles Simants

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A judge has ordered a man who authorities say killed six members of a Nebraska family more than 40 years ago to remain in state care.

Lincoln County District Judge Donald Rowlands ruled Wednesday that 72-year-old Erwin Charles Simants is still mentally ill, based upon a diagnosis by experts at the state psychiatric hospital in Lincoln.

A report from experts at the Lincoln Regional Center says Simants hasn’t demonstrated “any agitation, anger, paranoia or delusional thinking and has been in remission for a long period of time.” He’s been diagnosed as schizophrenic.

Prosecutors say Simants shot and killed Henry and Audrey Kellie, their son David and three of their grandchildren in 1975 at the Kellies’ Sutherland home.

 

Plans underway to erect K-9 memorial in Grand Island

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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Organizers hope to build a memorial to law enforcement dogs and horses next to the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial in Grand Island.

Organizers said at an announcement ceremony Wednesday at Grand Island’s Law Enforcement Center that work is expected to begin in 18 to 24 months. Jarret Daugherty is chairman of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Memorial Committee, and he says the committee hopes to raise $25,000 to $30,000 for the project.

The addition would sit just northwest of the police memorial, which carries the names of 144 departed officers. A sidewalk would connect the two memorials.

The animal memorial would have a pillar on which images of a dog and horse would be etched. There also would be a concrete patio and two benches.

 

Man injured, horse killed when train hits pickup, trailer

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THEDFORD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man was injured when his pickup truck and horse trailer collided with a train in the Nebraska Sandhills.

The collision occurred around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at a private crossing about 3 miles (5 kilometers) east of Thedford.

Thomas County Sheriff Gary Eng says the man was taken to a North Platte hospital. His name hasn’t been released.

Authorities say one horse in the trailer died and another survived.

 

Mom says son’s bite into Halloween candy revealed needle

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BELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating a report by a suburban Omaha couple that their son found a sewing needle when he bit into some Halloween candy.

Lucas Ady’s (AYE’-dee’s) father says his son wasn’t injured Wednesday morning when the 10-year-old sampled some of his haul from the night before in his Bellevue neighborhood.

Police report no arrests. Bellevue Capt. Tom Dargy says the department hasn’t received any other calls about needles in candy, but he says another report could surface as kids work their way through their sweet treats.

Elsewhere in the nation, police in two Wisconsin communities say they’re investigating reports of nails and needles showing up in kids’ Halloween candy.

Bryce and Reanna Ady say they’ll Lucas eat the rest of his candy, but they’ll check it first.

 

University of Nebraska officials respond to state senators

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — University of Nebraska officials are objecting to lawmakers who publicly questioned the school’s treatment of conservative students.

University President Hank Bounds and Chancellor Ronnie Green wrote letters responding to an op-ed piece that questioned whether the school was a hostile environment for conservative students.

Green says the university won’t “be politicized” and used a pawn, while Bounds questioned the senators’ intent.

The letters came after two Nebraska newspapers featured the opinion piece by Sens. Steve Erdman of Bayard, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Steve Halloran of Hastings.

The legislators highlighted an incident that involved the university’s English department and a second-year student. The student was allegedly called a “neo-fascist” by a graduate student and lecturer while recruiting for a conservative group.

The senators also questioned whether the university could fairly investigate the incident.

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