LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — State health and environment officials have issued health alerts for toxic blue-green algae at Iron Horse Trail Lake in Pawnee County and Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County.
Officials say in a news release Friday that the alerts were issued following tests of the lake water.
Skin exposed to the toxin from certain strains of blue-green algae can develop rashes and blisters. Someone who drinks water containing the toxin is at risk for headaches, nausea and muscular pain.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The parents of a young woman strangled by her boyfriend and dumped in an open cemetery grave will be allowed to pursue their lawsuit against an Omaha mental treatment facility where the boyfriend was being held.
The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled Friday that the lawsuit Melissa Rodriguez’s parents filed against Lasting Hope Recovery Center of Catholic Health Initiatives should not have been dismissed.
Mikael Loyd is serving a 30- to 35-year prison sentence for the August 2013 death of the 19-year-old Rodriguez. Loyd was initially found not mentally competent to stand trial.
Loyd was being held at Lasting Hope at the police’s request in the days before Rodriguez was killed. The lawsuit blames the center for failing to call police after Loyd walked away from the center and killed Rodriguez.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 500 bicyclists are in their second day of travel along the more than 200-mile Tour de Nebraska route.
The annual ride began Wednesday and goes through Sunday.
Riders traveled from St. Paul to Loup City on Wednesday and will travel to Broken Bow on Thursday. Cyclists will then spend the night Friday at Ord. They’ll have their choice of various side trips Saturday and will spend the night in Ord again before riding back to St. Paul Sunday.
Riders cycled more than 45 miles Wednesday and will go 65 miles Thursday.
Tour special projects director Charlie Schilling says the route this year showcases the Nebraska’s landscape and beauty.
The event was founded by Rich and Susan Rodenburg and is in its 30th year.
MONROE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 36-year-old driver died after his car struck a bridge railing and rolled in Platte County.
The crash occurred around 2 p.m. Wednesday, about a half mile (1 kilometer) north of Monroe. The Platte County Sheriff’s Office says the car drifted off the roadway into the railing.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office identified him as Robert Clifford, who lived in Cedar Rapids.
The crash is being investigated.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has taken a plea deal in the slaying of his roommate.
Online court records say 45-year-old Trenton Reiner pleaded no contest Tuesday to second-degree murder after prosecutors lowered the charge. His sentencing is scheduled for July 17.
Police say Reiner killed 35-year-old Robert Leazer sometime after May 7 last year in the mobile home they shared. An autopsy showed Leazer died of blunt force trauma to the head.
Police were called to the Contempo Lincoln Mobile Home Park on May 26 to check on reports that Reiner was breaking the windows of his car. Officers found Leazer’s decomposing body inside the home.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say an Omaha man was injured after hopping on a van for joyride, then jumping off onto a busy street.
The 30-year-old man jumped on the back of the delivery van Wednesday afternoon while it was stopped for a red light in northeast Omaha.
Police say he stayed on the back of the van for about three blocks before he decided it was going too fast and jumped off. Officers say he suffered a gash on the back of his head, a cut to his left elbow and extensive road rash on his back. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and released.
The man told police he had been smoking methamphetamine before he went for the joyride.
RALSTON, Neb. (AP) — An early morning crash into an apartment building in the Omaha suburb of Ralston led police to the body of a 23-year-old man in a nearby garage.
The crash happened around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, when a pickup truck smashed into the garage. The driver — and sole occupant of the truck — suffered only minor injuries.
But apartment managers cleaning debris from the crash site hours later discovered the body of Jessi Domingo in a nearby garage, bringing police back to the scene.
Police are investigating the cause of Domingo’s death and whether it was connected to the crash.
U.S. regulators have approved a more convenient version of a blockbuster drug for treating three common blood cancers.
The Roche Group’s Rituxan, on the market for 20 years, is administered in a hospital or clinic through an intravenous drip that can take several hours.
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Swiss drugmaker’s new version, Rituxan Hycela (RIH’-tux-en HEYE’-cell-uh). It’s injected in about six minutes, shortening clinic visits.
It’s given every three weeks for six months to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, for a total cost of about $48,600 without insurance — the same as for Rituxan.
Rituxan Hycela also was approved for treating follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Rituxan, which will still be available, is Roche’s top seller. It had 2016 sales of $7.5 billion.
Drexel Jerome Smith, 86, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, passed away June 20, 2017.
He was born on Dec. 19, 1930, in North Platte to Harold and Leita (Messersmith) Smith. Drexel grew up in North Platte until he moved to Corvallis, Oregon, with his family when he was 13. He returned to North Platte four years later.
He married Ardis Jean Staples on Feb. 1, 1948. The couple lived in North Platte until January 2010 and then moved to Mountain Grove.
He was an active member of the Wesleyan Church in North Platte and became a member of the Faith Community Church of the Nazarene after moving to Mountain Grove. He was a wonderful Christian husband, father and grandfather.
He was hired by Union Pacific Railroad as a fireman oiler in 1949. He retired as a conductor in 1992.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Donlay and Gordon Smith; daughter, Kathy Boldt; and granddaughter, Carrie Elizabeth Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; children, Steven Smith of Louisville, Colorado, Vicki (Steve) Thompson of Norwood, Missouri, Andy (Kathy) Smith of Sabetha, Kansas, Doug (Mary Beth) Smith of Norman, Oklahoma, and Bette (Mike) Brandewie of Corpus Christi, Texas; one sibling, Blaine (Juanita) Smith of North Platte; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Faith Community Church of the Nazarene, Mountain Grove, c/o Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home with the Rev. Gene Edwards officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery, Mountain Grove. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, June 23, at Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, which is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Frederick Stark, age 62, of North Platte, NE, went home to his Lord on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Mike was born November 20, 1954, to Marvin and Joyce Stark at Sutherland, NE. He grew up on the family farm in the North Platte River Valley, north of Sutherland, and attended school in town.
Mike proudly served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After he was honorably discharged in 1975, he returned to Sutherland and farmed with his dad until he hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad. Mike worked his way up to being an engineer and was awarded Engineer of the Year in 2008. After 37 years on the railroad, he retired due to illness.
Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman and in his younger days, enjoyed trapping. He adored his horses and dogs and enjoyed grilling and smoking meals for his family. He was a member of the Sutherland Presbyterian Church, V.F.W., American Legion, and a life member of the N.R.A.
On September 6, 1997, Mike was united in marriage to Cindy Cain Foster in North Platte. He always said, “I married the woman I waited my whole life for.”
Along with his wife, Cindy, of North Platte, Mike is survived by his son, Travis Stark (fiancée, Natalie Lower), of North Platte; daughters, Darcy Stark (fiancé, Julius Reed) and Courtny (Justin) Foust, of North Platte, Jennifer Stark, of Louisville, KY, and Mary Jo Stark, of Neligh, NE; stepchildren, Eric (Lindsey) Foster and Fauna Garcia, of McCook, NE; sisters, Kathy (Roy) Bailey, of Roscoe, NE, Laurie Stark (special friend, Patty Bear), of Lexington, NE; stepmother, Jean Stark, and stepsisters, Pam Wescoat and Lisa Wescoat, all of North Platte; his dogs, Angel and MOJO, and cat, Pooker; 21 grandchildren; as well as his nieces, nephews and other family.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Marvin Stark; mother, Joyce Stark; brother, Steven Dale Stark; and stepdaughter, Terra Foster.
Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Ned Cooper officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The family requests casual dress or camouflage (Mike’s favorite) for the service. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to H.E.X.
