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Nebraska officials ID drivers involved in fatal collision

fatal-crashHICKMAN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of the drivers involved in a fatal collision in southeast Nebraska.

The accident occurred around 7 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 77, at a rural road intersection about six miles (9.65 kilometers) south of Lincoln. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Houchin says a westbound car that didn’t halt at the intersection was struck by a northbound car, which then struck a south-facing pickup truck waiting to turn east onto the rural road.

Houchin says the westbound car driver died at the scene. She’s been identified as 87-year-old Laverda Baehr, who lived in Hastings. The other car’s driver was hospitalized in Lincoln. He’s been identified as 26-year-old James Rivers III, of Beatrice.

The pickup driver wasn’t injured. He’s been identified as 64-year-old Jim Jinings, of Macedonia, Iowa.

Nebraska senator criticizes voter forms in refugee baskets

voteLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A state lawmaker is criticizing the Nebraska Democratic Party for including voter registration forms in welcome baskets for refugees.

Republican state Sen. John Murante called on the party Monday to provide a list of basket recipients to county election officials and notify recipients that they are ineligible to vote.

The Democratic Party donated baskets that included baby formula, dishware and other items to refugee resettlement groups. The resettlement groups have said they discarded the forms and distributed items based on need.

Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb says she has received death and sexual assault threats since the story broke on conservative blogs.

Murante says officials need to be “absolutely certain” that no one ineligible has tried to register to vote. Murante is considering a run for Nebraska secretary of state.

Rare rest stop sight in Lincoln: Hundreds of white pelicans

odd-newsLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Migrating white pelicans apparently have found in Lincoln what they’ve been looking for on their way north: a well-stocked lake.

Hundreds have been resting at Capitol Beach Lake, restoring their strength for their remaining journey to summer homes in North Dakota.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln bird expert Paul Johnsgard told the Lincoln Journal Star (http://bit.ly/2nmVhK3 ) that it’s not uncommon to see this many pelicans congregating at food spots in late March, but that hasn’t been the case at Capitol Beach Lake until this year.

Harvey Schwartz is vice president of the Capitol Beach community’s board of directors and he says the lake was drained and deepened several years ago. It wasn’t until recently that varying species of catfish were stocked with success. Schwartz thinks that abundance has attracted the winged visitors.

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Passenger killed in Antelope County crash, patrol says

state-patrol-logoCLEARWATER, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a passenger has been killed in a rollover crash in Antelope County.

The crash occurred on a rural road early Sunday morning, southwest of Clearwater. The Nebraska State Patrol says the driver’s view of an approaching curve apparently was limited by fog. The vehicle ran off the roadway and rolled.

The driver and another passenger received minor injuries. The names of all three people haven’t been released.

The crash is being investigated.

Two Lake McConaughy SRA campgrounds closing temporarily for projects

Nebraska_game_and_parksLINCOLN, Neb. – Two campgrounds at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area will close temporarily to allow construction crews to complete upgrades to campground amenities.

Lone Eagle Campground, located between Arthur Bay and Sandy Beach, will be closed March 31 until approximately early May. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission received a $740,000 appropriation from the 2013 Nebraska legislature to upgrade all 84 camping sites at Lone Eagle to full-service accommodations. An electrical system upgrade and accessibility upgrade were completed in 2014 with $100,000 in additional funding from the Keith County Visitor’s Committee. This closure will allow construction crews to complete installation of a wastewater and drinking water system, which will bring RV dump and fill locations to each of the 84 sites.

Little Thunder Campground, located between Martin Bay and Arthur Bay, will be closed March 31 until approximately late April. Little Thunder received an improvement grant from the Keith County Visitor’s Committee in 2016 for $50,000 for the installation of new 20/30/50 amp electrical pedestals at all 42 camping sites located in the area. Nebraska Game and Parks is providing additional funding.

Several minor upgrades recently have been completed or are in the process of being completed, including landscape and existing facility improvements.

Contact Park Superintendent Colby Johnson at 308-284-8804 or [email protected] for more information.

Knights softball finish off weekend sweep of Williston State with two more wins Sunday

NPCC Knights LogoNorth Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team completed their weekend sweep of the Williston State College Lady Tetons on Sunday afternoon with a pair of wins, 13-5 and 13-0.

In game one, the Lady Tetons took a 1-0 lead on a run by Kortney Perkins.

The Knights got on the board in the second inning by scoring three runs. Shelby Belloni, Erin Renwick, and Alyiah Franco, each scored for the Knights. Franco had an RBI double, which scored Renwick. Franco scored on a single by Samantha Gill. The Knights held a 3-1 lead after two innings.

In the Lady Teton third, Nohemi Mariscal Rivera led off the inning with a home run over the left center field fence to cut the Knights lead to 3-2.
In the bottom of the third, the Knights broke the game open scoring six runs. Sarah Beaton singled and Samantha Foster doubled. Both Beaton and Foster scored on a double by Belloni, who scored on an overthrow to third on a stolen base. Alexandra Baldner doubled and scored on a single by Renwick. Franco reached on a fielder’s choice. Gill hit a two-run home run to right field to give the Knights a 9-2 lead after 3 innings.

The Knights added to their lead in the fourth on runs by Foster, Belloni, Baldner, and Renwick to take a 13-2 lead after four innings.

The Lady Tetons did score three runs in the top of the fifth on a three-run home run by Madison Raynaud, scoring Sydney Flanagan and Monique Camarillo.

In game two, the Knights scored four runs in the bottom of the first. Gill and Mikela Cabagua each scored on a single by Belloni. Belloni scored on a single by Baldner. Baldner ended up on third on the play after a fielding error by the Lady Teton leftfielder. Baldner later scored on a single by Alicia Romo.

The Knights added two more runs in the second inning by Gill and Cabagua.

In the third inning, the Knights scored seven runs. Beaton and Foster had back to back home runs in the inning. Beaton’s home run was a three-run home run.

The Lady Tetons were not able to get anything going on Knights pitcher Erin Renwick. Renwick pitched a complete four inning game and allowed only one hit and two walks, striking out one Lady Teton.

The Knights are now 15-20 on the season. The Lady Tetons drop to 2-18 on the season.

The Knights are in action on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2 when they host Region IX Division II opponent Central Community College.

On Saturday, the Knights will play Central in three games. Game times are at 1 pm, 3 pm, and 5 pm. On Sunday, it will be a double header starting at 1 pm and 3 pm.

All games will be livestreamed at www.npccknights.com.

Man struck by car in Omaha died in hospital, police say

car-pedestrian-accidentOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man has died of injuries suffered when he was struck by a car in Omaha.

The accident occurred just before 11 p.m. Thursday in the eastern part of the city. Police say the man was walking across a street when the car struck him. The man wasn’t in a crosswalk.

Police say the man died early Sunday morning at a hospital. He’s been identified as 19-year-old Dylan McConeghey.

Man arrested after disturbance at NP motel

Carlos Alvarez
Carlos Alvarez

A man is facing several charges after a disturbance early Sunday morning at a North Platte motel.

According to the North Platte Police Department, officers responded to the Best Western Motel, 3201 South Jeffers Street, at around 12:26 a.m. on the report of a disturbance.

Officers arrived and located a male, later identified as 21-year-old Carlos Alvarez, standing outside yelling at a group of people and threatening them.  Officers detained Alvarez and spoke to several witnesses and a 23-year-old male victim.  They all reported that they had been on the balcony of their room when Alvarez approached and asked if he could hang with them.

Investigator John Deal says they agreed to let Alvarez into the party, but he soon became confrontational.  When he was asked to leave, witnesses say he punched the male victim in the mouth and threw a beer bottle at him, narrowly missing.

Deal says others in the party took control of Alvarez and escorted him out, at which time officers arrived and detained him.

Following further investigation, Alvarez was placed under arrest and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.  He’s been charged with 3rd-degree assault, felony attempted 2nd-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

The victim suffered only minor injuries, according to Deal.

Wayne Arthur Devine

wayne-arthur-devine

Wayne Arthur Devine, 94, of Grand Island, formerly of Gothenburg, died March 23, 2017.

Wayne was born on Jan. 18, 1923 in Farnam, the son of Albert and Rebecca (Hilton) Devine. He grew up on the family farm in Farnam until eighth grade before moving to Cozad and graduating from Cozad High School in the class of 1943.

Wayne was united in marriage to Norma Slack in Cozad on Oct. 2, 1946. A wonderful, caring husband and father, Wayne and Norma made every decision together.

Following their marriage, the couple made their home and farmed north of Gothenburg.

In 1962, they moved to Gothenburg, where Wayne managed Slack Nursing Home. In 1969, he purchased Phillips 66 in Gothenburg, and in 1973, he purchased the Phillips 66 in Cozad. He then went back doing various odd jobs at the nursing home.

Never one to stay idle, Wayne officially retired at the age of 63 and went to work for Blasé Memorial Chapel.

The couple relocated to Grand Island in 1994, and Wayne worked part time at Skagway South, where he enjoyed morning coffee sessions with the other help.

An avid baseball fan, Wayne’s favorites were the Kansas City Royals and the Huskers. He played softball as one of the Gothenburg Sodbusters back in the day.

Music was also a big part of his life. As a member of the Hay Valley Boys, he only set his guitar down long enough to take a turn around the floor with Norma.

Wayne enjoyed people and loved to visit. A member of Peace Lutheran Church, he was disappointed when his health prevented him from attending. His family will forever miss his wry humor and corresponding grin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Diane Penner; and brothers, Dale, Morris and Gilbert.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Norma; son, Lennie (Barbara) Devine of Grand Island; five grandchildren, Amy Devine, Sara (Nick) Kutovy, Aaron Devine, Derrick (Gina) Devine and Rebecca Penner; stepgrandchildren, Mickey Dennison and Elizabeth Dennison; and three great-grandchildren, Jake, Alexis and Tony.

Memorials are suggested to Lebensraum Assisted Living Center. Online condolences may be shared at giallfaiths.com.

Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island with the Rev. Luke Biggs officiating. Burial will be at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 28, at Farnam Cemetery with the Rev. Larry Viter officiating. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, March 27. at All Faiths Funeral Home, Grand Island, which is in charge of arrangements.

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