LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Howard G. Buffett and Howard W. Buffett said America’s future lies on the strength of rural communities at the Rural Futures Conference at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Wednesday night.

The father-and-son team said their philanthropic efforts around the world have highlighted the need to develop strong rural communities back home. Their conversation kicked off the fifth season of the Heuermann Lecture Series, which focuses on food, water and agriculture.

Howard G. Buffett is the son of Omaha investor Warren Buffett. Together with his son, Howard W. Buffett, he wrote a book called “Finding Hope: Pioneering Your Own 40 Chances.” The book is a series of stories about inspiring people who make a difference in the world.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

10/21/2015 00:47:32 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “400 S VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 02:12:14 NO NEBRASKA OPERATORS LICENSE “RODEO RD /N CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 02:21:23 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 02:51:19 ALARM-GENERAL “100 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 04:36:54 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 06:57:31 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:30:08 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:41:31 DEAD ANIMAL CALL “200 W FREMONT DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:50:12 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W A ST /N LAKEVIEW BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:54:09 CITIZEN ASSIST “3000 EAST STATE FARM RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:58:03 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E E ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 08:59:21 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “CLEARWATER CT /W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 09:07:50 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “1300 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 09:08:06 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “1300 BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 09:13:24 ESCORT- ADAMS & SWANSON “400 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 09:52:51 BURGLARY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 11:11:12 VIOL OF PROTECT ORD-HARRASSMENT “1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 11:20:00 LOST PROPERTY “1100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 11:35:27 OTHER DISTURBANCE “600 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 12:20:13 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “N JACKSON AV /W 18TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 12:23:43 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 12:25:55 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1200 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:06:29 BARKING DOGS “1400 BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:09:42 LOOSE ANIMALS “RODEO RD /N CURTIS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:28:32 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “400 E FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:31:53 CITIZEN ASSIST “1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:42:47 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “E FRANCIS ST /S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 13:51:10 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

10/21/2015 13:57:25 LOOSE ANIMALS “RODEO RD /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 14:03:21 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “3200 S NEWBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 14:27:50 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “1100 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 14:41:53 LOOSE ANIMALS “1100 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 14:47:16 CAT-SURRENDER “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:04:47 WELFARE CHECK “700 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:07:37 FOUND PROPERTY “1300 N BUFFALO BILL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:25:47 ALARM – OTHER “700 S BARE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:30:00 WELFARE CHECK “RODEO RD /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:25:00 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “800 S TAFT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:39:52 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 15:53:44 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “N BUFFALO BILL AV / RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:04:10 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “600 S MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:08:58 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “E D ST /S SILBER AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:13:07 DOG BITES “1000 E 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:16:46 FOUND PROPERTY “600 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:21:25 CITIZEN ASSIST “600 W FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:31:18 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:35:22 PROP DAMAGE,NO ALC RELAT NO ALCOHOL RELATED “W 2ND ST /N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:37:50 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:48:55 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “900 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 16:56:09 CARELESS DRIVING 39-669 “E FRONT ST /N TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 17:05:38 DOG-STRAY FR CITIZEN “1400 N SYCAMORE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 17:08:33 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “200 E 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 17:24:42 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2500 MARKO CT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 17:37:26 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “2700 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 17:50:08 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “E 9TH ST /N COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 18:10:07 FOUND PROPERTY “200 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 18:18:53 CITIZEN ASSIST “1400 BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:16:39 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W 2ND ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:18:39 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1100 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:26:27 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “CODY PARK,
1 CODY PARK
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:43:23 OTHER DISTURBANCE “N WELCH AV / BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:50:08 LOUD ABUSIVE LANG “E 5TH ST /N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 19:58:59 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

10/21/2015 19:59:42 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL “E E ST E /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 21:05:28 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION “1200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 22:01:01 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “W LEOTA ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/21/2015 23:32:26 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 02:02:29 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 03:26:46 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1200 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 04:50:18 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1200 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 04:51:56 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “700 N ELM ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 06:53:11 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

10/22/2015 07:15:43 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “S NEWBERRY RD /E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

“Halloween” will be the theme of the North Platte Community College fall concert next week. Performers will dress in costume, and those who attend are invited to dress up as well. The concert is free and open to the public.

“We’re going to be handing out candy afterward,” said Elizabeth Peters, NPCC music instructor. “So, children are welcome to bring their trick-or-treat buckets.”

The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 29 in the McDonald-Belton Theater on NPCC’s South Campus. The time is half an hour earlier than usual.

“All of our concerts are going to be at 7 p.m. from now on,” said Peters. “We wanted to move them up a little so that people aren’t getting home so late.”

A variety of songs will be performed throughout the night, including “Prayer of the Children,” by Mark Hayes.

“It’s a really famous number,” said Peters. “It’s a beautiful piece with a needed message for today.”

The song will be performed by the Concert Choir, which also selected “Dies Irae,” a Latin hymn that translates to “Day of Wrath.” Peters said it seemed fitting given the Halloween theme.

“It’s an intense and captivating piece,” said Peters. “This text is used a lot in classical music, describing the Day of Judgment.”

The Select Choir will present “Kiss the Girl,” “Come in from the Rain” and “Hey Jude,” and the Jazz Band will offer renditions of such popular pieces as “Superstition” and “Fever.” The Chamber Ensemble will perform “House of the Rising Sun,” and “The Pink Panther” among other recognizable tunes.

“I would really encourage community members to come out to this concert,” said Peters. “We have extremely talented instrumentalists and singers, and I think people will be amazed by what we’re going to showcase.”

Peters will direct the Concert and Select choirs. Carmen Allen will direct the Chamber Ensemble and serve as choir accompanist. Ron Daly will direct the Jazz Ensemble. Guest performers will include Tristan Winters, Donna Pucket, Tori Daly, Ryan Carey and Gregg Todd. The student performers will be:

Jazz Ensemble:

Malachi Murtaugh – trumpet

Courtney Nunberg – trumpet

Stephen Capel – alto saxophone

Andrew Parish – trombone

Bryan Wheeler – guitar

Concert/Select Choirs-*denotes Concert Choir members who are also Select Choir members:

Sopranos: Autumn Bickel, Jade Higgins*, MaKenna Ketter*, Holly McPheeters, Brianna Mason*, Stacy Osbon, Sara Savage

Altos:

Jeannette Carmel, Michaela Chasek*, Ceara Franke, Bailey Rickertsen, Katie Roessler*, Amy Taft

Tenors: Walker Baird, Ryan Carey*, Jacob McNeel*, Bert Ogg, Bryan Wheeler

Bass: Justin J. Morgan*, Malachi Murtaugh*, Andrew Parish*, Trevor Pochop

Chamber Ensemble:

Holly McPheeters – flute

Andrew Parish – violin

Bert Ogg – clarinet

Bob Allen – trumpet

Amanda Osler – French horn

Ryan Carey – trombone

Andrew Parish – trombone

Walker Baird – tuba

CHICAGO (AP) — Marijuana use among U.S. adults doubled over a decade. That’s according to government surveys showing that almost 10 percent of adults use the drug, or more than 22 million people.

Most of that is recreational use.

The researchers say the trend reflects a cultural shift and increasingly permissive views about the drug. Recreational use is now legal in four states.

Almost 1 in 3 users had signs of marijuana dependence or abuse. That’s a slight decline from a decade ago.

The results come from a comparison of health surveys from 2001-02 and 2012-13 sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Results were published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska government will save an estimated $5.3 million in computer-related costs over 10 years while improving security under a plan unveiled by the state’s information technology office.

Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the changes Wednesday as part of his effort to run state government more efficiently.

The plan focuses on consolidating computer services and licenses that are spread over different state agencies and counties.

Ed Toner, the state’s chief information officer, says his office found 20 different cost-saving changes.

Toner says 90 counties have agreed to relocate their servers to a secure central location owned by the state, which will increase safety while reducing maintenance, power and infrastructure costs. The office is also working to reduce the number of software licenses.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts says the state is still working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to try to import lethal injection drugs from India.

But the governor declined to say Wednesday whether he believes the state could carry out an execution before the November 2016 election, when voters will decide whether to keep the punishment on the books.

Ricketts says the state is moving one step at a time, concentrating first on obtaining the drugs. The previous supply expired in 2013.

Nebraska lawmakers voted to abolish the death penalty in May over the governor’s veto, triggering a petition drive that garnered enough support to place the issue on the ballot and prevent the law from going into effect until voters decide its fate.

A North Platte family is asking the community and people across Nebraska to help them find their loved one.

According to family members, 18-year-old Isaiah Huerta, who is autistic, was last seen at the North Platte High School at around 8:00 a.m., on Tuesday.

He has not been seen or heard from since.

If you have any information on Isaiah’s whereabouts, please contact the North Platte Police Department at (308) 535-6789.

A North Platte man is in jail on felony enticement charges after he allegedly tried to lure a young girl into his home.

On October 19, an officer from the North Platte Police Department met with several individuals regarding a possible child enticement case.

It was reported that a 10-year-old female and a 12-year-old male were walking home from school in the 2200 block of West 15th Street when a male subject standing in the doorway of a home tried to lure the girl into his house.

The man, later identified as Terry Yonker, allegedly asked the girl several times to “come over here,” and told her that he would give her money if she did something for him.  Police say Yonker did not tell the girl what she had to do to get the money.

Police learned that Yonker had attempted to lure the girl into his home on several previous occasions as well.

On Tuesday, officers met with Yonker and placed him under arrest for felony child enticement.

Authorities say more charges may be filed as other have come forward making similar allegations against Yonker.

The investigation is ongoing.

Yonker is a registered sex offender due to a conviction for attempted first-degree sexual assault in Lincoln County in 2005 (View Yonker on the Registry here).

Here is the Nebraska Statute for child enticement:

28-311. Criminal child enticement; attempt; penalties.

(1)(a) No person, by any means and without privilege to do so, shall knowingly solicit, coax, entice, or lure or attempt to solicit, coax, entice, or lure any child under the age of fourteen years to enter into any vehicle, whether or not the person knows the age of the child.

(b) No person, by any means and without privilege to do so, shall solicit, coax, entice, or lure or attempt to solicit, coax, entice, or lure any child under the age of fourteen years to enter into any place with the intent to seclude the child from his or her parent, guardian, or other legal custodian or the general public, whether or not the person knows the age of the child. For purposes of this subdivision, seclude means to take, remove, hide, secrete, conceal, isolate, or otherwise unlawfully separate.

(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that:

(a) The person had the express or implied permission of the parent, guardian, or other legal custodian of the child in undertaking the activity;

(b)(i) The person is a law enforcement officer, emergency services provider as defined in section 71-507, firefighter, or other person who regularly provides emergency services, is the operator of a bookmobile or other such vehicle operated by the state or a political subdivision and used for informing, educating, organizing, or transporting children, is a paid employee of, or a volunteer for, a nonprofit or religious organization which provides activities for children, or is an employee or agent of or a volunteer acting under the direction of any board of education and (ii) the person listed in subdivision (2)(b)(i) of this section was, at the time the person undertook the activity, acting within the scope of his or her lawful duties in that capacity; or

(c) The person undertook the activity in response to a bona fide emergency situation or the person undertook the activity in response to a reasonable belief that it was necessary to preserve the health, safety, or welfare of the child.

(3) Any person who violates this section commits criminal child enticement and is guilty of a Class IIIA felony. If such person has previously been convicted of (a) criminal child enticement under this section, (b) sexual assault of a child in the first degree under section 28-319.01, (c) sexual assault of a child in the second or third degree under section 28-320.01, (d) child enticement by means of an electronic communication device under section 28-320.02, or (e) assault under section 28-308, 28-309, or 28-310, kidnapping under section 28-313, or false imprisonment under section28-314 or 28-315 when the victim was under eighteen years of age when such person violates this section, such person is guilty of a Class IIA felony

A 45-year-old North Platte man has been charged with a felony after he allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

On September 26, North Platte Police were contacted by the legal guardian of the alleged victim.

The caller expressed concern that her ward may be in a relationship with an older man.

It was reported that suspicions grew when the teen began receiving expensive gifts from a man later identified as Anthony Vigil.

Police say in addition to the gifts, Vigil also sent the girl text messages and letters that were sexual in nature.

The teen was interviewed by police and admitted to officers that she had had sexual intercourse with Vigil on more than one occasion in a vehicle in the city of North Platte.

Following further investigation, Vigil was arrested on Tuesday and charged with felony first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Police say Vigil and the alleged victim were familiar with each other but are not related.