(AP) — Authorities say a 4-year-old has died after being struck by a vehicle in the central Nebraska town of Cozad.
Cozad Police Chief Randy Adams says the crash happened around 6:15 p.m. Sunday, as Camdyn Trew of Eustis ran onto Highway 30. A driver on the highway was unable to stop before the vehicle struck the child.
Trew was pronounced dead at Cozad Community Hospital.
Authorities released no other details about the accident.
(AP) — The number of grasshoppers is down in parts of Nebraska, thanks to a relatively cool spring.
The decline is good news for many farmers and ranchers in west-central Nebraska, because the bugs are considered pests.
Dave Boxler, an entomologist with the West Central Research and Extension Center, says the numbers will remain fairly steady into the fall. Boxler says a recent survey showed that number of grasshoppers per square yard is lower than 10. As a result, farmers and ranchers in the area may not have to treat their land.
Some counties are still battling the pests, which can destroy entire pastures. Boxler says officials are monitoring numbers in Arthur and Cherry counties.
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Three North Platte men are facing charges after confusion leads to anger.
At around 9:15 PM on Friday, North Platte Police received a call from the 1300 block of North Dodge. The caller advised dispatchers that a white pickup was hooking up to a camper and driving off.
As an Officer responded, he witnessed the pickup and camper in the area of North Walnut and 12th Street and initiated a traffic stop. An investigation revealed that the driver, 33-year-old Joseph Martino, had been paid by the owner of the camper to move it. However, because Martino had entered the property without the land owner’s permission, he was cited for 2nd Degree Criminal Trespass and Disturbing the Peace.
In the meantime, Martin Sellers, Sr., 62, Martin Sellers, Jr., 38 and 34-year old Jason Sellers arrived on the scene and began yelling at and arguing with Martino.
Martin Sellers, Sr. then tried to assault Martino and had to be physically restrained by Officers. He was arrested and jailed on an Obstruction of Justice charge.
Officer also determined there was probable cause to charge Martin Sellers, Jr. and Jason Sellers with the same charge.
A North Platte man is facing a felony charge after he attempted to steal goods from a local store.
At around 12:40 PM on Saturday, North Platte Police were dispatched to Walmart on the report of a shoplifter inside the store.
Upon arrival, Officers witnessed the suspect, 30-year-old Aaron Kirts, flee from the store. After a brief chase, Kirts was taken into custody.
Following an investigation, Police learned that Kirts has placed $363.00 worth of products from the store in a bag, which they believe he planned to steal.
Officers also learned that Kirts was a suspect in a previous shoplifting case from Walmart. In this case, Police say Kirts cut two holes in plastic sheeting on a store fence in order to position stolen goods outside of the store. Damage to the store’s property and the stolen items were valued at around $380.00.
A search of Kirts’ vehicle resulted in the discovery of additional stolen property and evidence linking him to the prior case.
Kirts was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with Felony Criminal Mischief, as well as two counts of Theft by Shoplifting, Resisting Arrest and Possession of Stolen Property, all misdemeanors.
(AP) — The creators of a trail plan for Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska are seeking public input on their proposal.
The 30-day public comment period opened on Monday. The plan has been under development for more than a year.
The final plan adds about 10.5 miles to the existing 4.5 miles of trails around the monument. It includes options to connect monument trails with the Monument Valley Pathways system, loop trails in the park’s southwest corner, and create a pathway that traces old Oregon Trail ruts.
An open house is scheduled for the evening of July 30 at the Farm and Ranch Museum. The event will include a short presentation.
Members of the public can also leave comments at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ .
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) Troop C Headquarters- Grand Island arrested two motorists for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and cited 11 juveniles for Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP) during special enforcement efforts held Friday and Saturday, July 20-21.
The special enforcement held in and around Buffalo County was planned in conjunction with the annual Kearney Cruise Nite celebration, held July 17-21. Special enforcement efforts center on weekend activities to include a classic car parade in downtown Kearney Saturday night.
In addition to the two DWI arrests and 11 MIP citations, troopers issued two open container citations, two citations for possession of marijuana more than an ounce, less than a pound and one seat belt violation. Six speeding citations were also issued including one citation for 100 mph in a 45 mph zone and one for 93 mph in a 50 mph zone.
During special enforcement efforts conducted during Kearney Cruise Nite in 2012, troopers arrested four drivers for DWI and cited 37 juveniles for MIP.
The special enforcement efforts conducted in conjunction with the Kearney Police Department and the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office were paid for thanks in part to an $8,885 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).
(AP) — Nebraska officials are making changes to the yearly notices to update a vehicle’s registration.
Vehicle owners will receive a letter from the Nebraska Department of Revenue, instead of a postcard. The change will take effect on Nov. 1.
The mailings have traditionally come from county treasurer offices. Platte County Treasurer Theresa Gabriel says that change will save the office $10,500 annually, but also remove a significant revenue source.
Gabriel estimates her office handles about 50,000 vehicle registrations annually. The office receives 50 cents per notice, generating about $25,000 per fiscal year.
Gabriel says the state renewal notices will go through a national address database that will make it easier to keep track of changes in address.
(AP) — Officials in Hemingford are excited about a new $5 million wheat seed plant that’s being planned in the western Nebraska town.
But project organizers are telling the village that Hemingford needs to draft a comprehensive plan so the project can qualify for tax increment financing.
Gothenburg attorney Mike Bacon told the village board that to qualify for the tax breaks the project has to comply with a town’s comprehensive plan, but Hemingford doesn’t have one.
The new plant would be used to clean small grains such as wheat and oats for use as seeds. It will be about 170-feet-long and 60-feet-wide with some storage bins outside.
Hemingford officials approved an agreement with project backers and pledged to work on resolving the comprehensive planning concerns.
(AP) — U.S. researchers are about to test a way to thwart one of chemotherapy’s most despised side effects — to see if giving the scalp a deep chill can prevent hair loss.
The idea: Cooling the scalp during chemo slows blood flow, making it harder for cancer-fighting drugs to reach and harm hair follicles.
The approach is widely used in Europe and Canada, where several types of so-called cold caps are sold. But the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t approved their use in this country.
The new study asks if it’s time for that to change. This summer, researchers will begin recruiting 110 breast cancer patients to strap on the DigniCap during their chemo sessions. Photos of their hair will show how well the cap works.
A longtime locally owned restaurant in McCook is a complete loss after a fire broke out Saturday evening.
Firefighters were called to Fuller’s Family Restaurant around 8:40 PM.
Employees attempted to control the fire with extinguishers prior to the fire department’s arrival, but to no avail.
Authorities say when firefighters arrived, the structure was fully engulfed and they were unable to get the blaze under control before significant and devastating damage was sustained.
Neighboring businesses suffered smoke damage from the fire.
McCook Fire officials say the fire appeared to have started in a cooler in the restaurant that was under repair.
No injuries were reported, but the heat was so intense that firefighters had to get out of the building and only fight the blaze from the outside.
Two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation. Both continued to fight the fire after treatment.
Fuller’s opened in McCook in 1946.
