Nebraska lawns that were damaged by last summer’s drought will need some extra care this spring and summer.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln turf expert Zac Reicher says dead lawns should be reseeded as soon as possible because that needs to be done before mid-May.

Reicher says Nebraska received enough snow this winter to prevent severe drying, but homeowners shouldn’t expect their lawn to rebound if it wasn’t green last fall.

If lawns do need to be seeded this spring, homeowners should be careful about which fertilizers they use because pre-emergence herbicides can kill new grass. The university has suggestions for fertilizers online at https://turf.unl.edu.

For lawns that are in decent shape, homeowners should try to begin mowing the grass soon because that helps produce healthier lawns in summer.

 

• Jacob Michael Morris, 28, North Platte and Chandra Lee Smith, 20, North Platte

 

• Jared Thomas O’Keefe, 28, North Platte and Melony Ann King, 33, North Platte

Nebraska women binge drink at a rate higher than the average in the rest of the country, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC data indicates that in 2011, 15.7 percent of women age 18 or older reported binge drinking in the state, compared to 12.5 percent nationally.

“This is an area where we don’t want to be Number One,” said Scot L. Adams, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

For women, four or more drinks during a single occasion is considered binge drinking.  For men, it’s five or more drinks.

Nebraska men also report binge drink at a higher rate than the national average—30.2 percent, compared to 24.2 percent nationally.

“For women, binge drinking is especially concerning because it increases the risk for breast cancer, heart disease and stroke—leading causes of death in women—as well as other health problems,” said Dr. Joseph  Acierno, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Division of Public Health.

“Binge drinking isn’t healthy on many levels. There’s a risk of alcoholism,” Adams said. “There’s a risk of drunk driving.  There’s a risk of social behaviors you don’t want to face the next day.”

The Division of Behavioral funds community coalitions in Nebraska to combat underage and binge drinking, as well as drunk driving and prescription drug abuse.  Strategies include responsible beverage server training, education in schools and media campaigns designed to raise awareness, and change social norms.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month.

Sampson Construction Co., Inc. in partnership with Aero Fence is beginning construction on the new fence for Osgood Elementary Friday, April 19. Aero is donating their labor for this project and Sampson is donating the cost of materials, valued at $15,000. The 1000 foot fence will serve as a perimeter for the school playground.

Sampson Construction has enjoyed working in the North Platte community and watching its growth throughout the past decades. Giving back to the community is something that the firm feels a responsibility about and is honored to be a part of this project for Osgood Elementary. Currently, Sampson is building the expansion project for Great Plains Regional Medical Center and recently completed the new public transit building “bus barn” project for the City of NP.

Osgood Elementary parents and staff are very grateful for the many benefits this fence provides, safety being at the top of the list. This donation also launches Project: Building Dreams; a community wide project that will benefit not only the area south of North Platte that is currently underserved by recreational facilities, but the community as a whole.

Through fundraising, grants, donations and various resources, the Project: Building Dreams committee will facilitate the development of a diverse playground to serve all of North Platte. This will be a safe play zone, close to the North Platte Trail system, with state of the art equipment, soccer fields, an open grass field and potentially including adult fitness stations. To learn more about Project: Building Dreams, contact Osgood Elementary at 535.7144 or go to the Facebook page: Osgood Elementary PAT.

WATERTOWN, Mass. (AP) — Boston Police say a 19-year-old college student wanted in the Boston Marathon bombings is in custody after a manhunt that left the city virtually paralyzed and his older brother and accomplice dead.

Police announced via Twitter that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (JOH’-kahr tsahr-NY’-ev) was in custody. His brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan, was killed Friday in a furious attempt to escape police.

The brothers are suspects in Monday’s marathon bombings, which killed three people and wounded more than 180 others. The men are also suspected of killing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer in his vehicle late Thursday.

Authorities in Boston had suspended all mass transit and warned close to 1 million people in the entire city and some of its suburbs to stay indoors as the hunt for the remaining suspect went on.

Crowds gathered after a nearly 28 hour lockdown to applaud and cheer the Boston area authorities.

The American Red Cross will offer several health and safety training courses such as First Aid/CPR/AED, Babysitters Training at the Mid-Plains, located at 1111 S. Cottonwood  beginning May 7, 2013.

Blended Learning—combines online learning with in-person skills sessions conducted by a Red Cross Certified Instructor. The new blended learning courses build the same knowledge and skills as a traditional classroom setting.

First Aid/CPR/AED will be provided monthly, see attached schedule. These courses are perfect for Daycare Providers, Manufacturing Industries, Office Personnel, OSHA regulated industries and anyone that wants to be prepared to learn to save a life. Some topics covered in these courses include:

 

• ·         Recognizing signals of emergencies.
• ·         Skill practice and demonstrations in CPR and Wound Care.
• ·         Caring for a person choking.
• ·         Identify signals of common sudden illnesses.
• ·         Describe purpose of Good Samaritan Laws.

 Babysitter’s Training will take place on May 17, 2013. The class session is 9:00 am to 2:00 pm and students should bring a sack lunch.  This course for 11 to 15-year-olds is fun and fast-paced with hands-on activities, exciting video, role-plays and lively discussions.  Students will learn how to:

• ·         Supervise children and infants.
• ·         Perform basic child-care skills such as diapering and feeding.
• ·         Choose safe, age-appropriate games and toys.
• ·         Handle bedtime and discipline issues.
• ·         Identify safety hazards and prevent injuries.
• ·         Care for common injuries and emergencies such as choking, burns, cuts and bee stings.
• ·         Communicate effectively with parents.
• ·         Find and interview for babysitting jobs

Advance registration is required for classes.  Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to register or learn more.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog athttps://blog.redcross.org.

Authorities say a small explosive device has been neutralized at the McCook airport in southwest Nebraska.

Transportation Security Agency workers spotted a suspicious item along an exterior wall a little after 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Nearby buildings were evacuated and firefighters were summoned.

Nebraska State Patrol bomb experts also were called in, and the device was rendered harmless by 1:45p.m. Police say the item turned out to be a plastic container with two wires protruding from the lid, with a live shotgun shell and metal objects inside.

The airport was reopened by 2:30 p.m.

Police say a person of interest has been identified. A police dispatcher said Friday morning that no arrest has been reported.

A Nebraska bee supplier says millions of honeybees headed for Nebraska and other states have died during a Wyoming snowstorm.

Jane and Warren Nelson own Valhalla Bee Farm in Lincoln, and she says they were notified about the problem Thursday morning.

Jane Nelson told the Associated Press that a semitrailer was hauling the more than 16 million bees from a Northern California supplier.

The California company hopes to replace the shipment within a few days.

Jane Nelson says many of her customers are hobbyists, describing them as “people who want to have a little bit of honey for themselves or promote good pollination in their gardens.”

Three North Platte men accused in last week’s shooting appeared in Lincoln County Court today.

Britton Renfrow, 21, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and had his case bound over to Lincoln County District Court.  Renfrow is charged with Attempted Robbery, Possession of Oxycontin, Possession of a Defaced Firearm, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony and 2nd Degree Assault.

Matthew Bobo, 28, had his case continued.  Bobo is charged with Attempted Robbery, Possession of a Defaced Firearm and Possession of Methamphetamine.

Ethen Bentley, 21, also had his case continued and is charged with Attempted Robbery and Accessory to a Felony.

Police say the three men picked up 30-year-old Benjamin Newman, near 17th Street and Sheridan Avenue, on April 11 in order to purchase methamphetamine.

When Newman pulled out a scale to weigh the drug, Renfrow allegedly pulled out a gun and told Newman to get out of the car.  When Newman tried to flee, he was shot in the leg.  Renfrow claims the gun went off accidentally, but Investigators believe Renfrow was the trigger man.

Newman went to Great Plains Regional Medical Center to get treatment for his gunshot wound and Police were contacted.  Newman’s injury was not life threatening.

 

 

 

• Allen M. Hudson, age 41 of Plattsmouth, who was sentenced to 303 months in prison for producing child pornography.  Hudson produced images of child pornography depicting 3 different boys between the ages of eleven and twelve

• Mark Roble of Bellevue who was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to produce child pornography.  Roble installed cameras in his bathroom with the intent to record a minor female

• Nathan T. Young, age 22 of Columbus, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for receiving child pornography.  Young, a registered sex offender, solicited and received sexually explicit photos from a middle school student over cell phones

• Robert Fleming, age 32 of Chadron, who was sentenced to 10  years in prison for receiving 78 videos and 4,000 images of child pornography

• Thomas Schildt, age 30 of Gering, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for receiving 15,000 images of child pornography.  The images included children as young as 3 years of age engaged in sexual acts and bondage
• Jason Bielicki, age 35 of North Platte, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for receiving and distributing 96 videos and 105 images of child pornography

• Steven Fonder, age 33 of Omaha, who was sentenced to 7 years in for receiving and distributing 1,250 videos of child pornography.