(AP) — A worker at a northwest Nebraska grain elevator has been injured in a 20-foot fall.

Gering Fire Chief Jay Templar says the man was doing maintenance work Thursday morning at the Crossroad Cooperative elevator in Lyman when he fell to a platform.

Scottsbluff Fire Captain Jamie Wallace says crews from Gering put the man into a medical sled and then lowered him with ropes to a Scottsbluff bucket truck.

Wallace says the man was talking when he was rescued.

The worker, whose name wasn’t released, was flown to a hospital in Scottsbluff.

A Crossroads employee told the Scottsbluff Star-Herald the man was “doing fine” but wouldn’t give details.

Lyman is 16 miles west of Scottsbluff.

Nebraska recorded one traffic fatality on Interstate 80 during the eight days of the I-80 Challenge enforcement July 24-31. The I-80 Challenge was a multi-state, multi-agency high visibility traffic enforcement operation encompassing all 2900 miles of the Interstate 80 corridor.

The one fatal crash in Nebraska occurred Thursday, July 25, in Seward County and claimed the life of Godfrey J. Brokenrope, 50, Aurora.  Brokenrope, the Chief Police in Aurora, Nebraska, crashed his motorcycle into the median after coming up on traffic slowed due to a previous accident. Brokenrope, who was wearing a helmet, was flown by medical helicopter to a Lincoln hospital. He died of his injuries on Saturday, July 27.

“We are extremely saddened by the loss of Chief Brokenrope,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As we think of Chief Brokenrope and his family, we are reminded that one life lost in a traffic crash is one too many.”

Troopers worked more than 2,900 enforcement hours, and dynamic message boards displayed safety messages across the state during the eight days of the I-80 Challenge.  A $15,500 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) helped to pay for overtime hours for troopers and communication specialists participating in the special enforcement effort.

Colonel Sankey said, “The I-80 Challenge allowed us to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to raise awareness of the need for voluntary compliance of all traffic safety laws.”

The following statistics are a reflection of statewide activity by the Nebraska State Patrol during the I-80 Challenge enforcement effort:

The North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment-Trust is thanking two outgoing directors for 6 years of service.

North Platte attorney Mike Nozicka, a 1985 North Platte St. Patrick’s graduate, served two 3-year terms on the Endowment Board. Nozicka led the board for the past two years as President.

Troy Brandt, a commercial banker at Great Western Bank in North Platte also completed six years of service to the Endowment.

Both Nozicka and Brandt saw the Endowment Board through many important events for theNorth Platte Catholic Schools… including the hiring of a new Endowment Director in 2007,renovation of the St. Pat’s High School science lab in 2010, multiple fundraising events, and the organization of the “Forward in Faith” campaign that will kick off for the North Platte Catholic Schools this fall.

Endowment Director Wendy Dodson says that, “Both Mr. Nozicka and Mr. Brandt have provided incredible leadership to the Endowment, and have been a blessing in their service to our Catholic Schools.”

The Endowment Board is currently working to fill the vacant seats. Newly elected Board officers for the 2013/2014 year are: Mike Montgomery (President), Lori Clinch (Vice President), Kim Schroll (Treasurer), and Ann Marie Blakely (Secretary).

A 23-year-old North Platte woman who made her two children sleep in a kennel has been arrested after she violated her probation.

Authorities say Clark was arrested in Sarpy County after a warrant was issued by Lincoln County.

Officials say Clark was refusing to take classes that are required as part of her probation.

Clark was arrested in October of 2011 after she left her five and three-year-old sons in a kennel over night because, she said, they were trying to crawl out of a window in their mobile home.

Clark was convicted of felony child abuse and sentenced to two years probation.

 

(AP) — Chrysler says its U.S. sales rose 11 percent last month for its best July in seven years.

The strong performance is a sign that auto sales remain strong into the second half of the year.

Chrysler says it sold just over 140,000 cars and trucks last month.

The company says Ram pickup sales were up 31 percent over a year ago. Jeep Grand Cherokee sales rose 30 percent. It was the SUV’s best July since 2005.

All automakers report sales numbers Thursday. Most industry analysts expect July sales to rise around 15 percent from a year ago.

Chrysler is predicting that July sales will run at an annual rate of 15.8 million vehicles. That’s almost back to sales levels before the Great Recession.

 

(AP) — Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican has been selected to lead two national judicial organizations.

Heavican was named president of the Conference of Chief Justices, which is comprised of the top judicial officers of each state and promotes the interests of state judicial systems. Heavican also was named chairman of the board of the National Center for State Courts, a nonprofit court organization that aims to improve justice administration.

Both positions are one-year terms and are effective immediately.

Heavican was appointed Nebraska’s Chief Justice in 2006 after serving five years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Nebraska. He joined the Lancaster County Attorney’s office in 1975, and from 1981 until 1990, he served as the Lancaster County Attorney.

• Today: Scattered thunderstorms, mainly after 10am. Some of the storms could be severe. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Tonight: Thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Friday: A slight chance of thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

(AP) — State health officials are confirming three new cases of rare parasite in Nebraska, bringing the total number to 81.

Nebraska state epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Safranek said his office received confirmation of the new cases on Wednesday. Safranek says he is urging the medical community to stay vigilant for new cases of cyclospora, a parasite that causes lengthy gastrointestinal illness. Outbreaks have been reported in at least 15 states.

A spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services says two of the new cases were reported in Sarpy County, and one was reported in Lancaster County.

Nebraska officials say they’ve traced cases to a prepackaged salad mix that includes iceberg and romaine lettuce, along with red cabbage and carrots.

A North Platte man was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance after Police found him with prescription meds without a precription.

According to North Platte Police Public Information Officer, Rodney Brown, Officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of West Philip on Tuesday night.

Upon arrival, Officers witnessed a vehicle in the alley behind the residence, which appeared to be picking up one of the individuals involved in the disturbance.

Officers identified the driver as 21-year-old Kenneth Reed.  Police say Reed is a suspect in a prior theft case.

Officers made contact with Reed and witnessed him attempting to hide something from their view.  They also observed drug paraphernalia on Reed’s lap.  When Reed refused to comply with the Officers directions, he was asked to exit the vehicle and a search was conducted which revealed a prescription bottle containing the drug, Diazepam.

Because Reed did not have a prescription for the drug, he was arrested and jailed on a felony possession charge.

Reed has cases currently pending in Lincoln County District Court.