Fires in Boone, Cherry, Fillmore, Holt, Knox, Merrick and Nance counties accounted for an estimated 58,000 acres yesterday in Nebraska bringing fire acreage estimates to about 300,000 this fire season.

 

 “There is potential for any spark to become a flame with these high winds and dry conditions,” said Al Berndt, assistant director for Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. “We have activated our fire watch and hope we don’t see more situations like we saw yesterday. This will be a persistent problem until we get some moisture on the ground. We really could use some snow.”

 

 

Updates:

Cherry – Crookston was officially re-opened this morning. Fires are contained, but firefighters are having difficulty maintaining containment lines due to the wind.

Holt –The Stuart fire is mostly contained, and crews are on-scene working hot spots. An estimated 600 acres burned including several outbuilding. A mile of trees west of Stuart was still on fire, and not contained.

Knox – A fire south of Center started this morning but is now fairly well contained thanks to the 11  responding fire departments. Approximately 200 to 300 acres were affected.

Boone, Merrick, Nance – Cedar Rapids fire remains at 100 percent contained on 500 acres.  St. Edward is 100 percent contained on an estimated 160 acres. Genoa is contained in a canyon but is still active with dry timber surrounding the rim of the canyon. The  fire is 50 percent out with 80 acres affected. The hay bales near Palmer are 95 to 100 percent out and did not spread beyond the feed lot.

Fillmore- Approximately 75 percent contained. Nine fire departments are on scene.

 

After conducting a nationwide executive search led by healthcare leadership solutions firm B. E. Smith, Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) in North Platte, Neb., has hired Fiona Libsack as vice president of marketing and communications. A seasoned healthcare executive with 12 years of healthcare marketing and public relations leadership experience, Libsack will assume her new duties at GPRMC immediately.

 

“Fiona has a proven track record in developing and implementing marketing initiatives resulting in growing market strength and branding,” said Marcia Baumann, vice president of growth and development, Great Plains Regional Medical Center. “Her collaborative leadership style and diverse background in marketing and communications will be an outstanding addition to Great Plains Regional Medical Center.”

 

Prior to joining GPRMC, Libsack served as marketing and communication strategist for Poudre Valley Health System in Fort Collins, Colo. She successfully managed marketing, communication and public relations initiatives for the cardiovascular service line, neurosciences division, trauma and emergency services, occupational health and physician recruitment. She also served as community relations manager for Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb.

 

“Great Plains Regional Medical Center was looking for a vice president of marketing and communications who could lead strategic planning and continue to grow the organization’s brand,” said Teresa Collins, vice president of executive search for B. E. Smith, the leadership solutions firm who conducted the nationwide search for Great Plains Regional Medical Center. “Fiona possesses the exact skill sets they needed.”

 

Libsack earned a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Wyoming. She has a national accreditation in health care public relations and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

 

About Great Plains Regional Medical Center:

Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) is a non-profit regional medical center that offers a comprehensive range of services including cancer care, general and specialty surgical services, women’s services, a free standing imaging center, behavioral health services and a hospitalist program. GPRMC is the only level III trauma center in west central Nebraska. For more information, visit www.gprmc.com.

 

About B. E. Smith: 
Founded in 1978, B. E. Smith is a full-service healthcare leadership solutions firm and the top-ranked provider of senior-level leadership services including Interim Leadership, Executive Search and Consulting Solutions. Veteran healthcare leaders and regional healthcare experts partner with each client to create customized solutions. B. E. Smith’s proven methodology has resulted in the recent placement of more than 600 leaders into healthcare organizations worldwide. The firm utilizes a comprehensive sourcing strategy incorporating the latest marketing techniques, association partnerships, social networking and the largest database of skilled senior-level healthcare executives in the industry to deliver immediate results in today’s complex healthcare environment. For more information, visit www.BESmith.com or call 877-802-4593.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 59. Very windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 35 mph increasing to 35 to 45 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 65 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. Blustery, with a northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West northwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

 

 Wednesday: Peak Gust  Recorded At The North Platte Airport @ 5:40 PM 56 MPH

A Sargent mother has been charged with two counts of felony child abuse for an Aug. 22 crash that killed one of her daughters and a friend.

Investigators say 28-year-old Amanda Wilder was south of Miller on U.S. Highway 183 when she lost control of the truck and it rolled, ejecting three of the four people in the truck.

Eleven-year-old Destani Wilder and 24-year-old Rebecca Veeder died at the scene. Amanda Wilder and 8-year-old Montannah Wilder were treated at a hospital.

The Kearney Hub reports that investigators believe Amanda Wilder was speeding, and that none of the truck’s occupants were wearing seat belts, as required by law.

A phone listing could not be found for Amanda Wilder. Online court records indicate she does not yet have an attorney.

Sheriff Jerome Kramer reports as a result of several months of investigations, 20 year old Dylan Digiovanni and 20 year old Kyer Feeney were arrested for multiple theft cases and the burglary of Maxwell School.

On September 10^th, 2012 a female south of Maxwell reported her purse was stolen from her vehicle while she was assisting with harvest work in the field.    An associate of the female observed a vehicle in the area during the time of the theft and later located it at a local interstate lake.     Deputies found the vehicle as it fled the area of the lake and made contact with the driver Dylan Digiovanni.   Deputies found some of the victim’s property and other suspected stolen property in Mr. Digiovanni’s vehicle.    Deputies located an area by the lake where Mr. Digiovanni had attempted to burn the stolen purse, they also found personal paperwork belonging to Mr. Digiovanni under the partially burnt purse.   Mr. Digiovanni was arrested for the theft and transported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for an interview.

On August 12^th, 2012 Maxwell School Officials reported being burglarized during the late night hours. Deputies found a lap top computer in Mr. Digiovanni’s vehicle which was stolen from Maxwell School.      Investigators searched Mr. Digiovanni residence and located 4 more lap tops, all belonging to Maxwell School.    Evidence found at Maxwell School indicated Kyer Feeney was responsible for the crime.   Mr. Feeney is a known associate of Mr. Digiovanni.

On October 16^th, 2012, Mr. Feeney was arrested on a local warrant.   Mr. Feeney was interviewed and incarcerated by Lincoln County

Sheriff’s Office Investigators for the Burglary of Maxwell School.   Investigators also charged both Mr. Digiovanni and Mr. Feeney with theft from Miller Repair in Maxwell it was suspected they have removed numerous items from the business for several months.

Investigators are working with Frontier and Logan County Sheriff’s Office as it is believed the two men may be responsible for similar thefts and burglaries in their jurisdictions.   The investigation continues.

A roll-over collision on I-80 Wednesday morning resulted in the death of 28-year-old Floriberto Parra-Munoz Jr., just hours before his death, Parra-Munoz was believed to be the driver in pursuit by an officer from the North Platte Police Department. No other individual was involved in the accident.

The fatality occurred at 3:22AM, near mile marker 203, four miles east of Brady in Lincoln County. According to the Nebraska State Patrol Parra-Munoz was heading east when the vehicle entered the median, he over corrected, causing the vehicle to roll-over, ejecting Parra-Munoz from the vehicle. Parra-Munoz was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident.

The victim had two active arrest warrants with probable cause for arrest. Leading up to the accident, almost seven hours before at 8:45PM, on October, 16^th, authorities responded to the Kwik Stop at 1402 Rodeo Rd, because Parra-Munoz allegedly fueled his vehicle with nearly $50.00 of gasoline and drove away without payment. Parra-Munoz left his Nebraska ID inside the Kwik Stop before he left. Authorities were unable to locate the victim/suspect until sometime around 1:33AM Wednesday morning.

An officer on routine patrol from the NPPD noticed a Chevy Impala that matched the description from the incident, which was confirmed to be registered to the victim/suspect, Parra-Munoz. A pursuit began once the vehicle began to violate stop signs and traveling at excessive speeds.  According to officer Rodney Brown, with the NPPD, the pursuit began eastbound on E. 4th Street, south to Philip, east to Newberry, North to E. 4th and then south on Bicentennial, at which time it was terminated by the supervisor on duty.

The search for the suspect ended once the NSP identified Parra-Munoz at the scene of the accident Wednesday morning at 3;22AM. His family has been notified. NSP Troopers Connelly and Haday responded to the accident.

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Author and lecturer, Michael Tougias, was the featured speaker today at the North Platte Town Hall Lectures program held at The Neville Center.  Tougias has authored several books on the theme of survival stories, and what can be learned from those incidents.

Tougias joined the lecture circuit so that he could share his writing experience of developing an understanding of how people can actually develop survival skills or techniques that may be able to help them out of a tight situation, should one develop unexpectedly.

Many of the books written by Tougias are real life stories that have an urgent quality about them, as he relates the details of a tragic accident, and then how those involved were able to survive.  He does this through extensive interviews with the survivors.

Tougias said Disney Company has expressed interest in making one of his books into a full length motion picture.  Tougias is published by Simon and Schuester Books.

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It appears many Nebraskans across the state have made a final decision of who they want to see in office. Early voting has experienced a boom in many counties that’s keeping election commissioners on their toes.

Lincoln County has sent out 2,000 ballots since early voting started October 1^st. Election Commissioner and Lincoln County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell, mentioned how busy lunch hours have been during this year’s election. According to a press release from the office of the Secretary Of State, John Gale, the first week of early voting in October was the busiest her office has ever had.

Counties such as Lancaster, Sarpy and Douglas have all seen high voting numbers as well. Landcaster County records nearly 20,000, Douglas County shows 3,676 people have voted in person. More than 54,774 requests have been submitted for ballots and Over 17,000 Sarpy County voters have already requested an early ballot be sent to them or have voted in the office, according to Gale’s release.

Requests for early voting ballots can be found on the Secretary of State’s website (www.sos.state.ne.gov).  Look under ‘Elections’ for ‘Voter Forms’.

 

Approaching Deadlines:

— Registered voters can make requests until 4 p.m. October 31 for early voting ballots to be mailed. November 5 is the deadline for in-person early voting at county election offices for registered voters.

 — The close of polls on November 6 is the deadline for the return of early voting ballots to county election offices, including ballots returned by mail.

 

Advice From Gale:

“Don’t waste your ballot. Early voting in person or by mail should be done well ahead of deadlines to make sure your ballot gets cast and counted,” advised Gale.

“Early voting mail-in ballots have been shown to have as high as a 4% rejection rate when envelopes aren’t signed, or signed by someone else, or sent in a wrong envelope, or returned due to no postage.  So, follow the simple rules, get it done right, and make your ballot count.”

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Windy, with a northwest wind 25 to 30 mph increasing to 32 to 37 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Very windy, with a northwest wind 24 to 29 mph increasing to 35 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.

The fire at 1718 W 3rd has left the Storm family without shelter which they can call their own, “They’ve lost everything,” said a a cousin of the family who organized a donation.

The family of six is looking for a rental property owner who has an available home with four bedrooms that allow dogs. Donations of household items such as clothing, dishes, food, personal hygiene or any basic need are being accepted by cousin of the family, Kim Ziel. contact her at 308-660-6335

 

If you would like to donate funds you may do so by going to Centris Federal Credit Union at 301 East Philip Avenue.

 

 

 

North Platte Fire Department received the report of the house fire at 1718 W 3rd at around 3:23PM Monday. The home was giving off heavy smoke when responding units arrived.

According to Battalion Chief Jason Trimble, the fire is believed to have started in the bedroom of the home. No injuries were reported. The cause of the blaze is undetermined.