Authorities are investigating the deaths of two men whose bodies were found at different locations on different days in the Nebraska Panhandle city of Alliance.

Alliance Police Chief John Kiss says the body of a 40-year-old man was discovered Monday evening in the basement of his home. Kiss says the body of the second man was found Tuesday morning, leaning up against a fence elsewhere in town.

Their names haven’t been released.

It’s unclear whether authorities suspect crimes were involved in the men’s deaths.

Kiss and Box Butte County Attorney Kathleen Hutchinson didn’t immediately return messages Wednesday from The Associated Press.

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the North Platte Police Department…

 

All Dressed Up:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight and hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child’s costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Make sure to remind your children how to call 9-1-1in case of emergencies or they become lost.

Home Safe Home:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

 

On the Trick-Or-Treat Trail:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• If your older children are going alone agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.
• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks. Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.
• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn’t mean others will!
• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

On Monday, October, 29^th, a car accident in Deuel County killed a young mother who leaves behind two children who were also involved in the accident.

According to the Deuel County Sheriff’s office, the accident happened when Gabriell Palmore, 22, of Sidney, went off the highway in her SUV which ejected her from the vehicle. Palmore died of her injuries Monday afternoon at a hospital located in Denver.

The accident occurred on County Road 22 near Chappell, Nebraska. The two children involved in the accident were secured in car seats. Palmore was not wearing a seat belt. The crash is still under investigation.

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Today: Sunny, with a high near 77. West northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon.

Hurricane Sandy continues to bear down on the East Coast of the United States and has now forced the cancellation of approximately 300 Red Cross blood drives resulting in a shortfall of nearly 9,000 units of blood and platelets. That number is expected to grow as Sandy is causing power outages and flooding in many areas along the East Coast.

The Red Cross shipped blood products into the affected areas ahead of the storm and now urges eligible donors in unaffected areas, like ours, to roll up their sleeves and give blood or platelets> to replenish supplies. Just as Red Cross disaster workers from across the country have mobilized to help, blood donated through the Red Cross can help patients locally as well as patients in areas affected by Sandy.

Make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

All blood types are needed to ensure an adequate blood supply is available during a disaster, especially type O positive, O negative, A negative or B negative blood. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information.

Upcoming Blood Drives

Lincoln County:

Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

Nov. 2 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at Community Building, 121 N. Main in Brady, Neb.

Nov. 2 from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

Nov. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at North Platte Community College Tech Campus, 1101 Halligan Drive in North Platte, Neb.

Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at North Platte Blood Donation Center, 1111 S. Cottonwood in North Platte,Neb.

For some voters, there’s nothing like the experience of actually going to the polls on Election Day. As Nebraskans prepare to cast their ballots on November 6, Secretary of State John Gale is offering some important reminders.

 

–Check your voter registration and polling place. People can check the status of their voter registration and location of their polling place by contacting their county election office or logging onto https://www.votercheck.necvr.ne.gov/.

 

–Change of address. If a registered voter has moved within a county (out of their former precinct) and not updated their registration, the person should go to the polling place associated with their current residence. The person will be required to vote a provisional ballot.

 

–Be prepared. Before going to the polls, the voter should become informed about the candidates and issues on the ballot. Sample ballots are printed in newspapers and posted on county websites. Mark and take the sample ballot with you to the polling place.

 

–Conduct at the polls. To maintain proper decorum at the polls, it is requested that people turn off their cell phones.

 

–Campaigning prohibited. Campaign items such as buttons, stickers and T-shirts are not allowed in a polling place. It is illegal to campaign within 200 feet of a polling site.

 

–Voter identification. Identification is not required for voters other than those who have registered for the first time by mail. They will be informed prior to Election Day about bringing a document that shows their name and current address.  Identification at the polling place is not required of any other voters.

 

“These guidelines are not complicated by any means, but they should help people have an efficient and effective voting experience. We want to make sure all votes are counted,” said Gale. “By making sure you are registered in the right place, educating yourself on the candidates and issues, and of course, bringing identification if needed, will help ensure that.”

 

Polls are open on Election Day from 8 a.m. CDT (7 a.m. MDT) to 8 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. MDT).

They are often busiest the first thing in the morning and later in the day when voters are going to and from work, so the best time to go is late morning or early afternoon.

A 49-year-old man escaped from his sport utility vehicle before it was rammed by a train in the Nebraska Panhandle.

Scottsbluff radio station KNEB reports  that Claude Shelby was driving north on a county road west of Scottsbluff on Tuesday morning when he swerved to miss a deer.

Authorities say Shelby’s SUV ended up stuck on tracks at a rail crossing. But he got out of his vehicle before it was hit by the eastbound coal train.

It is said that only your peers truly understand the skill, time and effort it takes to rise to the peak of excellence. The Nebraska Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus recognized Lisa Burke for just such an accomplishment last week at the annual Nebraska Travel Conference. Burke, the Executive Director of the North Platte/Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau since 2002 received NACVB’s 2012 Crystal Compass award.

 

According to Dana Markel, Director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau, “Upon arriving at the North Platte CVB, Lisa was compelled to elevate the CVB’s purpose beyond distributing tourism related material – she set out to establish a role in developing North Platte’s destination appeal and introduce more people to its culture and heritage. Lisa’s business plan has always emphasized ‘the experience’ as she has collaborated with local attractions, festivals and events to develop an experience that provides a visitor memory and a strong marketing message.”

 

From the other end of the state, Gering’s CVB Executive Director Karla Neidan-Streeks had this to say, “Not only has Lisa helped develop her community as a tourism destination, she has served as a take action leader on a state level.  The Crystal Compass award recognizes individuals who have given of themselves to lead this association of statewide Convention and Visitor Bureaus which in turn, strengthens our state tourism industry.”

In addition to serving in various leadership capacities with the Nebraska Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus, Lisa has also been active in the Nebraska Travel Association and the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition.

 

“Lisa Burke continues to lead her staff to thinking “what’s next”.  Their office excels on building partnerships within the county and state for international positioning.  Burke’s role as the Executive Director of the CVB requires seeing the big picture and working on the details to accomplish sustainability and growth.  It has been a pleasure working beside such leadership,” Clarine Eickhoff, Advisory Board Chair.

 

Beyond developing the North Platte experience – Lisa has developed and lead a marketing strategy that has established new audiences which receive the North Platte message. Her efforts have succeeded in helping to attract visitor spending totaling just over $81 million in 2011, supporting 1,500 jobs in Lincoln County.