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Treasurer seeks guidance in wrongful conviction lawsuit

Don Stenberg
Don Stenberg

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The state treasurer has asked for guidance on whether Gage County can borrow money from Nebraska to pay off the $28.1 million judgment owed in a case in which six people were wrongfully convicted in the 1985 rape and murder of a Beatrice woman.

The so-called Beatrice Six sued Gage County for violating their civil rights. Together, they spent a combined 77 years in prison in the rape and killing of Helen Wilson.

A jury awarded the $28.1 million, plus attorneys’ fees, to the six people in July.

State treasurer Don Stenberg recently asked the attorney general whether Nebraska is obligated to make a low-interest loan to the county, which hasn’t taken any steps to the pay the judgment, since the verdict was in federal court.

A spokeswoman says the attorney general will provide an answer on the matter as soon as possible.

Authorities identify driver killed by anhydrous ammonia

Google Maps
Google Maps

TEKAMAH, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have identified the man who died after driving near anhydrous ammonia that was leaking from an underground pipeline in northeast Nebraska.

The Burt County Sheriff’s office says 59-year-old Phillip Hennig of Tekamah, Nebraska, died after coming in contact with the chemical.

The leak in the pipeline operated by Magellan Midstream Partners, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was reported Monday evening about eight miles north of Tekamah, which is nearly 40 miles from Omaha.

Authorities are still trying to determine why the pipeline leaked.

Anhydrous ammonia is a farm fertilizer with suffocating fumes that cause breathing difficulty and irritation to eyes, nose or throat.

41 arrested in human trafficking operation in Nebraska, Iowa

FBIOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities arrested 26 men and 15 women in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa as part of an annual nationwide operation targeting human trafficking.

The FBI led a task force of law enforcement agencies in the three-day operation that ended on Sunday.

Police in Omaha, Lincoln, La Vista, Council Bluffs, Iowa and Glenwood, Iowa, all took part in the operation locally.

The names of the people arrested were not immediately available Tuesday.

The FBI says 82 sexually exploited children were recovered nationwide and 239 people were arrested in the operation.

Disneyland’s Tower of Terror making way for ‘Guardians’ ride

disneylandANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Disney’s decision to remake the popular “Twilight Zone Tower of Terror” ride at Disneyland’s California Adventure into a “Guardians of the Galaxy” themed attraction isn’t sitting well with fans.

The plan was greeted with boos as soon as it was announced to fans at Comic-Con in San Diego in July, and the outrage has been simmering since. Negative votes are outpacing positive ones by a 3-to-1 margin on a YouTube video describing the project. A Slate article on the plan to close the ride in January described it as “a national tragedy.”

The ride opened in 2004 and treats thrill-seekers to a freefall plunge down a mock hotel’s elevator shaft.

Disney hasn’t announced any changes to a sister attraction at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Omaha Public Schools hope to hire superintendent by March

omaha-psOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Public Schools board has given itself a March deadline to hire a new superintendent.

The board voted on Monday to approve a request for a proposal that will guide search firms in submitting their bids. Bids are to be submitted by Nov. 2.

The request for a proposal includes a tentative timeline for the search and the desired qualifications in a search firm.

Superintendent Mark Evans is retiring at the end of this school year. He was hired in 2013.

The board hopes to hire someone in March so the incoming superintendent can work with Evans on a transition plan before he steps down.

Teacher fired after video shows her dragging student by hair

schoolGREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Officials in a Mississippi school district have fired a special education teacher after a video showed her dragging a special-needs student by her hair across the floor.

The Greenville Public School District’s Board of Trustees voted Monday to terminate Linda Winters-Johnson.

The decision comes 11 days after the video began circulating on the Internet.

A state Office of Educator Misconduct investigator has accused Winters-Johnson of “grabbing, hitting in the head and dragging of a special-needs student during P.E. class at Greenville High School” around Sept. 21. The commission on Nov. 4 will decide whether to suspend or revoke her special education teaching license.

Police have said they are investigating, but have filed no charges.

The Associated Press could not find a phone number for Winters-Johnson.

Man pleads not guilty in Foltz family burglary case

Scott Davis
Scott Davis

GREELEY, Neb. (AP) — A man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he burglarized the home of the brother of the late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz.

Thirty-eight-year-old Scott Davis, of Lennox, South Dakota, entered the pleas Monday in Greeley County District Court.

Authorities say Davis broke into the home of Jordan Foltz on Sept. 3 as the Foltz family attended a memorial for Sam Foltz at the Huskers’ home opener. Davis is also suspected in a theft at a Greeley construction site.

Davis’ next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 21.

Man killed by anhydrous ammonia, pipeline operator says

ambulance-lightsTEKAMAH, Neb. (AP) — A pipeline operator has reported that a release of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer in northeast Nebraska has killed a man.

Magellan Midstream Partners, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said in a news release Tuesday that the leak occurred late Monday evening in part of its 8-inch pipeline system near Tekamah. The cause of the leak is being investigated.

The company said other nearby residents were evacuated and some roads were closed.

The man’s name hasn’t been released.

Magellan says it’s notified local, state and federal authorities. A dispatcher said the Burt County sheriff was unavailable, and the phone rang unanswered at county emergency manager’s office. Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Jodie Fawl says a state emergency response team has been dispatched, but she had no other information.

Sherry Margaret Keuter

keuter

Sherry Margaret Keuter passed away peacefully at the age of 63 in her residence at Lake Maloney surrounded by family on Monday, October 10, 2016. She was born on May 25, 1953 to Joan (Lamplaugh) Anderson and Levi Anderson Jr. in Sutherland, NE. She grew up loving life and never passed up a good sale. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and wife. She grew up in Sutherland and graduated from NPHS in 1971 and attended college for 2 years at NPCC.

After school she married Rick in 1975 and they both traveled the US, living in NH, CA, TX, and OH where she mostly resided, then she and Rick moved back to NP to take care of her mom, Joan. Sherry was always caring for everyone around her and her laughter was contagious. She took pride in being a caring, loving and nurturing daughter, mother and wife as well as running her own interior design firm while in Dayton, OH. She enjoyed antiques (always looking for the best sale or deal), refinishing furniture, creating art, interior decorating and spending time with her family and friends.

Sherry was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Linda (Anderson) Johnston.

She is survived by her loving husband of 41 beautiful years, Richard L. Keuter of North Platte; son, Rick and his wife Erica; 2 granddaughters Chloe and Charlotte Keuter, all residing in Redondo Beach, CA; son, Ryan and his fiancé Rena of Denver, CO; brothers, Rick L. and wife Sue Anderson of Paxton, and Levi (III) and wife Joyce Anderson of North Platte and many nieces, nephews and cousins as well as her life-long friend Linda (Shattuck) Henry of Petoskey, MI.

Her joyous spirit will be celebrated with private services on November 11, 2016 at Fort McPherson Cemetery. The family would like to express thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Great Plains Home Health, especially R.N. Josh Lorenz and Hospice as well as Dr. Janet Bernard for her personal care. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to Great Plains Home Health and Hospice. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. “Live, Laugh, Love”- Sherry’s favorite quote.

North Platte Weather-October 18

NWS-North-PlatteToday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Light and variable wind.
Wednesday
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Light north wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. North wind 3 to 8 mph.
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday Night
Clear, with a low around 38.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night
Clear, with a low around 40.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 73.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 71.
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