A North Platte woman has been named Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska 2016. Taylor Fugate was crowned Wednesday morning at the North Platte Community Playhouse in North Platte.

Rebel Sjeklocha, 15, of Hayes Center, was named first-runner up and will fulfill the duties of queen if Fugate is unable to do so.

Fugate, 15, won the horsemanship and appearance categories in the pageant and tied for first place on the written test with Sjeklocha. Sjeklocha also placed first in the speech and personality categories.

Danielle Forster, 16, of Smithfield, won the photogenic award, and Halee Kohmetscher, 16, of Lawrence, took home top honors for congeniality.

Chyanne Friehe, 16, of Culbertson and Maceyn Howard, 15, of North Platte were named the pageant’s Rising Stars.

Fugate is a sophomore at North Platte High School where she competes in volleyball, basketball and track. Her parents are Jeremy and Dustie Cole, of North Platte. Taylor’s previous queen titles include: Miss Ogallala Junior Rodeo and Sutherland Rodeo Queen.

She and the other five teen contestants spent four days this week competing in the 10th annual Miss Teen Rodeo Nebraska Pageant.

A new Miss Rodeo Nebraska 2017 will be crowned during the first performance of the award-winning Buffalo Bill Rodeo tonight in North Platte.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s office is continuing its efforts to identify a body found in the Platte River, and they’re asking the public for help.

The body of a male subject was discovered by canoeists on June 10, near the Bassway Wildlife Management area, at the Minden I-80 interchange.

Authorities provided the following description of the adult male body:

• 5’7″
• 180 to 200 pounds
• Tattoo of a black and red scorpion on the inside of his forearm.
• Tattoo of dragonfly skeleton with a human skull for a head on his shoulder.
• Tattoo of a dark colored shark surrounded by light blue water on the outside of his forearm.
• Large tattoo on the side of his neck

BCSO Captain Bob Anderson says the body was mostly intact, but they have not been able to determine the man’s age.  The man was wearing a camouflage hooded jacket, camouflage BDU pants, and dark colored boots. Dental information and DNA was also collected.

No direct evidence of foul play has been found, according to Anderson.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the special tip line dedicated to this case, (308) 233-5298.

Anderson says the tip line will be checked periodically throughout the day, and calls will be returned in a timely manner.

As of Tuesday morning, June 14, the search for escapee Timothy Clausen continues.

“We are confident Clausen remains in Omaha, and continue to pursue any and all leads as we work to take him into custody,” said Colonel Brad Rice, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.

Based on investigative leads, law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions continue to focus their search for Clausen in and around the Omaha metro area, with an emphasis on the northeast portion of the city.

Clausen is considered dangerous and citizens are urged to remain vigilant, to be aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity or sightings of Clausen to 911.

Clausen, 52, is an African-American male, 5’8”, 160 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. He does not have any distinguishing marks or tattoos and could be wearing his hair in cornrows or pulled back.

A $2,500 reward for information leading to the Clausen’s capture is being offered by Omaha Crime Stoppers, citizens can provide tips by calling 402-444-7876. Information can also be provided through the Lincoln Crimestoppers at 402-475-3600 and the Nebraska Statewide Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-1494. Providing information through any of the Crime Stoppers numbers can be done anonymously and could result in a cash reward.  Tips or information may also be called into the Nebraska State Patrol Highway Helpline at *55 from any cellphone.

Clausen is one of two inmates who escaped Friday, June 10, from the Lincoln Correctional Center. The other escapee Armon Dixon, 37, was captured just after 2:00 p.m., Saturday in northeast Lincoln.

CHICAGO (AP) — Accidental overdoses aren’t the only deadly risk from using power prescription painkillers. A new study says the drugs may also contribute to heart-related deaths and other fatalities.

The study involved patients given prescription medicines for chronic pain, including persistent backaches and arthritis. Outcomes for patients on other types of painkillers were compared with those on long-acting opioids including controlled-release oxycodone, methadone and fentanyl skin patches.

Among more than 45,000 patients, those on opioids had a 64 percent higher risk of dying within six months of starting treatment compared with the others. There were 185 deaths among opioid users, versus 87 among other patients.

The results bolster previous research linking the drugs with heart risks. The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — Western Nebraska authorities are investigating the death of a 2-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in some water.

The Morrill County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responding to a call Monday morning about a lost child found the girl in a small body of water near the Bridgeport residence where she’d been reported missing. She was pronounced dead later at Morrill County Community Hospital in Bridgeport.

An autopsy has been ordered. The girl’s name hasn’t been released.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — Federal regulators have proposed penalties against two companies that officials say were involved in the fatal collapse of a sewer line trench in Alliance.

Authorities have said 61-year-old Jimmy Spencer, of Minatare, died March 21 after the 8-foot-deep trench collapsed during construction. Another worker was injured.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release Monday that neither Spencer’s employer, Clau-Chin Construction, or the housing project’s contractor, Larry Kessler Construction, of Scottsbluff, provided cave-in protection.

The agency is proposing $31,000 in fines for Clau-Chin and $21,000 in fines for Larry Kessler Construction.

President Shaun Houchin of Clau-Chin said Tuesday that he couldn’t immediately comment. A spokesman for Larry Kessler Construction didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

WELLFLEET, Neb.–An Oklahoma woman is dead following a one-vehicle crash near Wellfleet.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, at around 12:30 p.m., on Monday, 65-year-old Ronald Evans, of Choctaw, Oklahoma was driving a motorhome southbound on US Highway 83, just north of Wellfleet, when the vehicle blew a tire.

Troopers say when the tire blew, Evans lost control and the vehicle traveled into a field and rolled.  It’s estimated that the motorhome rolled one and a half times.

Evans’ wife, 64-year-old Brenda Evans, and his two teenage grandchildren were traveling with him.

Authorities say the two teens were ejected from the vehicle and Brenda became pinned underneath it.

While the teens sustained lacerations and other minor injuries, Brenda did not survive and was pronounced dead at the scene.  The children were transported to Great Plains Health.

Ronald was also transported to GPH before being transferred to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

None of the vehicle’s occupants were wearing seat belts.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s corrections director says two inmates escaped from a Lincoln prison because staff members failed to follow multiple written procedures.

Corrections Director Scott Frakes said Monday that Lincoln Correctional Center employees failed to have shift supervisors present when inmate workers were moved, didn’t seek managerial approval before placing inmates on a work roster, didn’t conduct an informal hourly head count and didn’t properly supervise laundry carts.

Authorities captured 37-year-old Armon Dixon in Lincoln on Saturday, but 52-year-old Timothy Clausen remains at large. Authorities say they received a report Sunday that Clausen was in north Omaha, and they’re searching homes in that area.

Gov. Pete Ricketts says state officials will make available whatever resources are needed to catch Clausen. He says officials will conduct an investigation to learn where security failed.