The Nebraska Department of Roads advises motorists of several reminders when traveling to and from the next Husker football game in Lincoln on Saturday, October 1.

In an effort to relieve congestion on US-6 and around the Waverly Interchange (I-80 Exit 409), motorists leaving Lincoln and wishing to travel east on I-80 are urged to access the interstate at one of the other Lincoln interchanges: Exit 397 (South US-77), Exit 399 (Airport), Exit 401 (I-80/I-180 Interchange), Exit 403 (27th Street), or Exit 405 (56th Street).

An additional option for heading out of Lincoln is to use US-77 north. The northbound Superior Street on-ramp to I-180 will also be closed after each home game. This allows for traffic from I-180 downtown to keep moving faster without having to watch on-ramp activity.

Motorists are reminded to buckle up and pay close attention to the increased traffic both before and after Husker football games.

Use 511 resources before you travel to be aware of possible construction. Call 511 or 800-906-9069 and follow the prompts. 511 is available on the web at www.511.nebraska.gov.

LINCOLN – Catchable-size rainbow trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. These stockings will enhance fishing opportunities this fall and winter.

Trout fishing is a great way to introduce children to fishing because simple and inexpensive equipment may be used. A spinning or spin-cast rod and reel with a hook baited with a worm will work well. Add a split shot a couple of feet above the hook and a bobber a couple of feet above the split shot. Trout also can be caught with spinners, salmon eggs, dough baits and artificial flies.

The stockings began Sept. 28 with 1,400 trout put in the northwest pit at Bridgeport State Recreation Area (SRA), 900 stocked in the Scottsbluff Zoo Pond, and 1,500 put in Rock Creek SRA Lake.

The stocked trout are approximately 10 inches in length. The following is a tentative stocking schedule, including quantities:

Oct. 3 – Grabel Ponds Nos. 1, 2 and 3, Fort Robinson State Park (SP), Crawford, 2,400 trout; Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Pond, Harrison, 600

Oct. 5 – Morrill Ponds, Morrill: north, 1,350; middle, 450; south, 400

Oct. 6 – Holdrege City Lake, Holdrege, 2,000; Windmill SRA Lake No. 2, Gibbon, 600; Fort Kearny SRA Lake No. 6, Kearney, 1,200

Oct. 11 – Crystal Cove Lake, South Sioux City, 4,250

Oct. 12 – Fremont SRA Lake No. 2, Fremont, 4,750; Oxford City Lake, Oxford, 300; Elm Creek, Red Cloud, 1,000; Lexington City Lake, Lexington, 750

Oct. 13 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln, 3,000; Bowling Lake, south pond, Lincoln, 400

Oct. 14 – Carter P. Johnson Lake, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford, 2,500

Oct. 17 – CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland, 1,500; Lake Halleck, Papillion, 1,200; David City Park Pond West, David City, 600

Oct. 18 – Standing Bear Lake, Omaha, 4,000; Niobrara SP Ponds, Niobrara, 750; Curtis Golf Course Pond, Curtis, 150; Birdwood WMA, North Platte, 4,000

Oct. 19 – TaHaZouka Park Lake, Norfolk, 1,500; Pawnee Pond West, Columbus, 1,500

Oct. 20 – Standing Bear Lake, Omaha, 3,250; Hitchcock Park Pond, Omaha, 450; Towl Park Pond, 300

Oct. 24 – Fort Kearny SRA Lake No. 6, Kearney, 120; Holdrege City Lake, Holdrege, 200; Windmill SRA Lake No. 2, Gibbon, 60; Such’s Lake, Grand Island, 650; Heartwell Park Lake, Hastings, 900; Independence Landing, Seward, 600

Oct. 25 – Grove Lake, Royal, 1,250; Steinhart Park Ponds, Nebraska City, 1,200; Fairgrounds Lake, Auburn, 800; Stanton Lake, Falls City, 200; Humboldt City Park Lake, Humboldt, 600; Pawnee City Park Lake, Pawnee City, 300; Benson Park Pond, Omaha, 1,050; Weeping Water Pond, Weeping Water, 1,500

Oct. 26 – Ord City Lake, Ord, 1,500; Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow, 1,200; Ansley City Lake, Ansley, 1,200

Oct. 27 – Gracie Creek Pond, Burwell, 1,000

The Nebraska State Patrol has released the names of the three people killed in a fiery multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 80 on Friday, Sept. 23.

The crash, which occurred about a mile east of the Gibbon exit, claimed the lives of Donald S. Cox, 73, Columbia, Tenn., Tanner Allen, 20, Imperial and Christopher W. Bieber, 22, Holyoke, Colo.

Cox, was the driver of an eastbound semi- trailer truck. Allen was the driver of a 1989 Chevy pickup and Bieber was a passenger in the pickup.

“This was a horrific accident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved,” said Captain Chris Kolb, Commander Troop C- Grand Island. “We want to thank our law enforcement, fire and rescue partners for their assistance.”

The crash occurred around 4:22 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, when an eastbound semi driven by Cox blew a tire as it was being passed by a 2013 Chevy Silverado pickup. The semi struck the pickup causing both vehicles to go through the median and into the westbound lanes of traffic. The semi then struck the rear of a westbound semi before continuing down the westbound lane and striking a 1989 Chevy pickup driven by Allen.

The impact caused the pickup to roll into the ditch where it burst into flames. The semi, also rolled onto its side and caught fire. The Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Terry Purcell, 60, Carter Lake, Iowa came to rest in the westbound driving lane. The second semi, driven by Jake Hofer, 42, Lynden, Washington continued on to the Gibbon exit. Purcell and a passenger in his pickup Lisa Purcell, 55, Carter Lake, Iowa were both transported by ambulance to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney with non-life threatening injuries. Hofer, the driver of the second semi, was not injured.

The crash closed portions of I-80 for nearly 4 ½ hours.

The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office and Fire and Rescue units from Gibbon and Shelton.

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Kearney police officer has pleaded not guilty in the shooting of a man after a traffic stop.

Online court records say 35-year-old Derek Payton entered the written plea to a felony assault charge last week in Buffalo County District Court in Kearney. The records don’t show a trial has been scheduled. Payton remains on administrative leave.

A phone listed for the prosecutor rang unanswered Thursday morning.

Payton is accused of shooting three times at Jose Klich, striking him once in the abdomen. An affidavit in support of Payton’s arrest warrant says Payton was not in the path of Klich’s car when he fired as Klich began to drive away from the scene.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska village known for selling beer on the border of an alcoholism-plagued American Indian reservation is getting a new broadband tower that officials say could eventually help connect residents to health care and distance learning services.

State officials announced Wednesday that Whiteclay now has a cell tower to provide broadband service in the village and parts of South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where alcohol is banned.

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln says the tower lays the groundwork for services in the remote area.

Whiteclay’s beer stores sold the equivalent of 3.5 million cans last year despite having a dozen full-time residents. Public drunkenness and violence have plagued the town for years, but recently the town got a nursing home and a local faith ministry is helping Native American artisans sell their work.

A North Platte woman is facing a litany of charges after a disturbance at a North Platte home.

On September 27, at around 11:28 a.m., officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 3300 block of West 2nd Street.

Officers arrived and made contact with a 37-year-old male.  They learned that the other party involved in the disturbance, 27-year-old Johnna Thayer, had left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival.

The male told officers that he and Thayer lived together in the residence, as boyfriend and girlfriend, but were in the process of moving out.

He stated that, on the evening of September 26, he and Thayer became involved in a verbal argument.  At one point, Thayer allegedly threw a box of silverware at the victim, striking him in the chest, then threw other unknown objects at him, causing a laceration to the back of his head. According to Investigator John Deal, the victim also told officers that Thayer had also sprayed him in the face with mace.  Deal says the investigation revealed that the substance was actually wasp killer.

After the argument, the man told police that he left and slept in his car.

On the morning of September 27, Thayer reportedly began pounding on the hood of the vehicle the victim was sleeping in, then retreated to the residence.

Deal says she then came back outside, carrying a knife, and approached the victim in an aggressive manner.

When the victim retreated to the vehicle, Deal says Thayer slashed two of the vehicle’s tires. Officers found the knife still stuck in one of the tires.

At this point, a neighbor intervened and contacted police.

Later in the day, Thayer was contacted and placed under arrest.

She was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center on charges of felony terroristic threats, use of a weapon to commit a felony, domestic assault, and criminal mischief.  She was also charged with theft after the victim reported that his wallet and cell phone were missing.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — A zoo in Scottsbluff is facing staff turnover troubles as two members have resigned and another has been terminated.

The Riverside Discovery Center board recently decided to let go of zoo director Peter Halliday.

Board president Martin Mickey says former executive director Anne James unexpectedly resigned shortly after Halliday was terminated. The board is currently searching for a new executive director.

And Education Curator Amber Schiltz left in July to take a position with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies. A new curator has been hired to replace her.

After the three departures, the board asked the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for assistance. Association spokesman Rob Vernon says inspectors visited the zoo to confirm there were no deficiencies that would warrant a change in accreditation status.

The North Platte Public Schools Foundation Board has announced that Jodi Howard has been selected as the new Executive Director of the North Platte Public Schools Foundation.

Howard is a graduate of Ft Hayes State University with degrees in Public Relations and Marketing. She has previously served as an Executive Director for several non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas initiatives. She has also worked as a substitute teacher and para-educator in the North Platte Public Schools.

Howard will begin her duties on October 1st .

Laura Troshynski says she and other members of the Board who spoke at length with Howard think she’s an ideal fit. “Jodi has all of the qualities that we were looking for in our search. She has a great skill set for this role and an eye for what’s going on in the district. We’re excited to have her on board.”

Howard says she’s looking forward to getting started. “I am excited to assist in the continued growth of the Foundation and to support the wonderful programs that are enhancing the North Platte Public Schools.”

Howard will have to hit the ground running on October 1 as one of the Foundation’s biggest events, The Backyard BBQ, will be held on October 7th from 4:30 to 6:30. She’ll also be working with the Oil Exchange in advance of their fundraiser on October 6th.

On Sunday, Sept. 25, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at retail outlets in Lincoln County.

During the effort, 21 businesses were checked with five found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor.

The retail outlets checked included convenience, liquor and grocery stores as well as restaurants and bars. Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol.

The compliance checks were conducted thanks in part to a grant from Region II Human Services.

The businesses found to be non-compliant are:

I-80 Centex South
3002 S. Jeffers Street
North Platte

Prairie Mart
7474 E. North Lake Road
North Platte

Gary’s Super Foods
1620 E. 4^th Street
North Platte

Cornhusker Liquor & Tobacco
601 W Rodeo Road
North Platte

Starting Gate Liquors
1807 West A Street
North Platte