SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (AP) — Residents who were displaced by a Nebraska plant’s gas odors are demanding to know what steps are being taken to let them return to their homes.
Residents have been out of their homes since October because of harmful hydrogen gas that a Big Ox Energy plant pumped into sewer lines. A plug was placed to block the residential sewer line from the industrial line Big Ox was using, but the smell has lingered.
South Sioux City Public Works Director Bob Livermore says a team of people will meet with each homeowner to assess the damages. The meetings will start next week.
The city has said that Big Ox will reimburse displaced residents for meals, laundry, hotels and other costs totaling about $336,000.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court will soon allow news cameras and tweeting in the state’s trial courts.
The court approved a rule change this week which will go into effect on March 1. It will allow expanded media coverage in county and district courtrooms in Nebraska, with limited exceptions such as juvenile court, grand juries and jury selection.
Expanded media coverage includes broadcasting, recording, photographing and live tweeting of judicial proceedings by the news media.
The decision replaces a 1992 rule that prohibited broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing in courtrooms unless approved.
The Nebraska Supreme Court’s courtroom in the Capitol has been one of the few in the state to allow still or video cameras. But that has been changing in some districts.
VALENTINE, Neb. (AP) — People will be able to collect firewood next month at Government Canyon on the Valentine State Fish Hatchery property.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says non-commercial firewood users who obtain permission from the commission will be allowed to cut down dead timber during January.
A free authorization form and map may be obtained by contacting the hatchery at 402-376-2244 or by visiting the hatchery office at 90164 Hatchery Road in Valentine.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Online retailer Amazon says it plans to start collecting sales taxes on purchases in Nebraska next year, a decision that could generate millions for the state.
An Amazon spokesman says the company will start collecting the taxes on Jan. 1.
State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton says the announcement will help ensure Nebraska consumers comply with existing laws. Consumers are already legally required to report and pay the tax through their annual tax returns, but few ever do.
Fulton says Amazon’s move is a good example of “responsible corporate citizenship” and a chance to educate Nebraska residents about the law.
The announcement follows a similar announcement by Amazon in Iowa.
Marjorie Ruth Frels, age 105, of Sutherland, NE passed away December 21, 2016 at the Sutherland Care Center.
Memorials are suggested to the Sutherland United Methodist Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday January 4, 2017 at the Sutherland United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating. Inurnment will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in North Platte. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A North Platte woman was jailed on a felony charge after she allegedly assaulted a man with his cane and a can opener.
At around 11:34 p.m., on Thursday, officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 2400 block of West 9th Street.
Officers arrived on scene and met with a female, identified as 31-year-old Angela Smith, who was walking in the area. Investigator John Deal says Smith made statements that led the officers to believe that she had assaulted a man inside the residence.
Inside the residence, officers met with a 65-year-old male and a 30-year-old male, who police described as “intoxicated and uncooperative.” The older male had a minor cut on his forehead and an injury to his shin.
Further investigation revealed that a verbal argument had taken place between all three subjects. At one point, police say Smith grabbed the older man’s cane and began to strike him with it. Deal says she continued to strike him until the cane broke.
Once the cane broke, Smith allegedly grabbed a manual can opener and attempted to attack the men with that. Deal says it’s believed that Smith was trying to stab them with the sharp triangle point of the can opener.
Eventually, the men were able to disarm Smith, at which time she left the residence.
In the end, Smith was placed under arrest and transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.
She’s been charged with felony 2nd-degree assault.
Deal sais all three subjects were intoxicated at the time of the incident.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have arrested an Omaha woman whose 2-year-old daughter’s blood tested out more than three times the legal limit for an adult to drive.
Online court records say 23-year-old Joann Powell is charged with felony negligent child abuse causing injury. Her attorney told a judge Thursday that Powell disputes the charge but did not say why.
The child was taken to a hospital early Tuesday morning after her mother called 911. Hospital staffers noted two burns on the child and told police they doubted the wounds were caused by what Powell said was incense being burned and a knocked-over iron.
The staffers also noted the child’s high blood alcohol content. Powell acknowledged leaving unattended a cup of cola spiked by brandy.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say an Iowa woman has been charged with murder in connection with the 2012 disappearance of a woman last seen alive in Omaha.
Police say officers Thursday arrested 41-year-old Shanna Goylar at her home in Persia, Iowa, a city of 300 people about 35 miles northeast of Omaha. Goylar was charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Cari Farver, who was last seen Nov. 13, 2012, in Omaha.
Farver’s mother reported her missing to the Pottawattamie County sheriff’s office on Nov. 16, 2012.
Weeks later, Farver’s vehicle was found in Omaha. In February 2016, Pottawattamie County detectives contacted the Omaha police cold case unit to assist in the investigation, which led to Goylar’s arrest.
Goylar was taken to the Pottawattamie County jail awaiting extradition to Omaha.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska’s Omaha campuses are opening a new institute to turn academic ideas into businesses.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have created a partnership called UNeTech that is moving into a three-level, 5,000-square-foot building.
The partnership’s executive director Dr. Rod Markin says UNeTech will be a part of a way to encourage faculty and staff from the universities to turn their ideas in to marketable products and services, as well as create businesses and jobs.
UNeTech will help organize and fund startups. The program is seeking between $7 million and $10 million from individuals and outside agencies to invest in the fledgling companies.
The Nebraska Legislature allocated $1 million a year toward the facility’s operating expenses.
MADISON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a couple died after their minivan struck a semitrailer on U.S. Highway 81 near Madison in northeast Nebraska.
The accident occurred around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office says Martin Deets turned north onto the highway but struck the northbound semitrailer. The 92-year-old Deets and his 85-year-old wife, Norma, were taken to a Norfolk hospital. The Sheriff’s Office says the couple died there. They lived in Madison.
It’s unclear whether the truck driver was injured.
In 1961 the couple established in Madison what has become Deets Homestore in Norfolk.
