OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts declared an emergency to make sure state agencies have what they need to battle bird flu in the state.

Earlier this week, agriculture officials confirmed the contagious disease’s presence in a flock of 1.7 million chickens in Dixon County, Nebraska. Ricketts issued his declaration Wednesday.

Several state agencies are working to quarantine the farm where the disease was found and carry out the destruction of the infected birds.

Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach says the declaration will give him additional resources to respond to the disease outbreak.

Officials say the bird flu doesn’t represent a significant health risk to humans.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The cost of brand inspections for cattle could rise to as much as $1.10 per head under a law signed by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts notified lawmakers Wednesday that he approved the legislation, which allows the Nebraska Brand Committee to charge the higher maximum fee. Committee employees inspect cattle that are about to be sold and investigate reports of missing or stolen livestock.

Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis told lawmakers last month that the committee has reached the maximum fee it can charge under state law. The ceiling was last increased from 65 cents to 75 cents per head in 2005.

Davis says the committee needs to upgrade its records system, and is struggling to recruit and retain quality employees because of low salaries.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Landowners whose property is adjacent to a planned oil production wastewater site in the Nebraska Panhandle have filed a court challenge to the site’s approval.

The petition for review was filed last week by Jane Grove and Hughson Flying A Ranch Inc. against the Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Terex Energy Corp., of Broomfield, Colorado. Last month the commission approved Terex’s request to use a well north of Mitchell to dispose of salty groundwater and chemical-laden fracking wastewater that result from oil and gas production.

The petition says the commission didn’t have jurisdiction because the well was intended to dispose of wastewater produced in Colorado and Wyoming and that there were no plans initially to dispose of wastewater produced in Nebraska.

MORRILL, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Panhandle couple who authorities say lived in a filthy house with their five children have taken a plea deal and been convicted of child abuse.

Court records show that 55-year-old Jerry Farr and 33-year-old Nicole Farr, of rural Morrill, pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count each on Tuesday. Prosecutors dropped four other counts facing each Farr in exchange for their pleas. The Farrs are scheduled to be sentenced on June 16.

Authorities say a relative called last month to share her concerns about the Farrs’ five children. Court documents say deputies who went to check on the children’s welfare found a filthy house with pieces of rotten food on the floor and cat vomit and feces in various places.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

05/12/2015 00:27:32 PLATE CHECK “E 3RD ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 00:49:29 SPEEDING “1800 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 01:40:20 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 04:18:23 FOUND PROPERTY “1 DOWNTOWN
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 06:40:34 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “5400 E Lee Bird Dr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 07:18:52 ASSIST OTH AGENCY “800 N Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 08:26:51 ASSIST OTHER AGENCY-GENERAL “2300 E D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 08:32:11 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1400 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NB 69101”

05/12/2015 08:36:04 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “W 9TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 09:35:44 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “400 N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 10:55:10 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “600 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 10:58:17 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “W PHILIP AV /S CARR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 11:05:30 CITIZEN ASSIST “2400 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 11:06:49 VIOLATION OF COURT ORDER “1200 W E
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 11:10:17 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “500 S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 12:50:23 ROBBERY “1200 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 12:52:58 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “300 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 13:04:22 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “600 E FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 13:26:40 CITIZEN ASSIST “800 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 13:40:40 LOOSE ANIMALS “W F ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 14:50:45 LOOSE ANIMALS “1600 W WILLIAM AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 15:05:51 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “W LEOTA ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 15:21:29 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E WILLIAM AV /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 15:34:53 CITIZEN ASSIST “600 E FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 15:49:33 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “400 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 16:14:47 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 17:02:53 CITIZEN ASSIST “700 E 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 17:23:10 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “500 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 17:50:24 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “100 CIRCLE DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 18:20:31 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 18:44:50 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2400 Rodeo RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:02:41 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W 17TH ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:05:29 SPEEDING “1000 block E 6th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:16:43 IMPROPER LN USAGE “4th / Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:17:07 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:21:05 LOOSE ANIMALS “2500 CEDARBERRY LN
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:33:44 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “1700 block W 14th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:38:21 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 19:58:39 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “Rodeo RD / Adams
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:04:51 FOUND PROPERTY “700 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:14:06 EXPIRED OPERATORS LICENSE “1000 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:21:05 SPEEDING “300 block N Willow
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:34:26 SPEEDING “E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:58:00 OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS “200 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 20:56:10 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2400 W 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 21:00:15 SPEEDING “800 N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 21:04:31 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 21:53:07 WELFARE CHECK “2700 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 22:00:10 ILLEGAL TURN “W 4TH ST /N VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 22:07:50 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “2700 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 22:29:55 2ND DEGREE CRIMINAL TRESPASS “700 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 22:30:58 STANDBY TO PREV VIOLENCE “1900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 22:45:51 OTHER DISTURBANCE “700 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/12/2015 23:14:31 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 00:34:26 DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION “E PHILIP AV /S COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 01:09:35 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1200 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 02:37:12 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E F ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 04:11:20 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 07:11:55 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “500 W 11th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 07:39:02 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

05/13/2015 08:06:44 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “700 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The government says farmers are expected to grow 13.6 billion bushels of corn this year, about 4 percent less than last year’s record crop.

The estimate released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture assumes an average per-acre yield of nearly 167 bushels an acre, down from last year’s record 171 bushels.

Soybean farmers are expected to grow nearly 3.85 billion bushels, down 3 percent from last year’s record crop. The soybean per-acre yield is projected at 46 bushels per acre, down 1.8 bushels from last year’s record.

The USDA says farmers have started well this growing season with 75 percent of the corn crop planted, ahead of the five-year average of 57 percent.

Soybean farmers have planted nearly one-third of the crop, ahead of the average of 20 percent.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill to eliminate some of Nebraska’s mandatory minimum prison sentences and habitual criminal punishments has advanced by the narrowest of margins.

Lawmakers gave the measure second-round approval on Tuesday with a 25-16 vote, the minimum support required to move it to a final vote.

The bill has faced opposition from prosecutors and law enforcement groups. Some opponents say mandatory minimums give prosecutors an important tool to get plea bargains, and the habitual criminal law only applies to repeat offenders.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha introduced the bill on behalf of a group of senators who have studied the prison crowding problems. Chambers says the state’s sentencing policies have made the situation worse because of politicians who want to appear tough on crime.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old man accused of stealing a fire truck from the U.S. Forest Service and driving it around Nebraska has been sentenced to probation.

Aaron Timmens, of Sidney, was sentenced Tuesday. He pleaded guilty in April to theft by unlawful taking.

As part of his plea agreement, Timmens has agreed to pay $8,500 in damages and serve three years of probation.

Court documents say Timmens stole the fire truck in September from Forest Service property in Chadron, drove it through a locked gate and ditched it at an area Wal-Mart. The federal agency reported the vehicle was stolen by Timmens, a National Guardsman who reportedly went absent without leave.

At Tuesday’s sentencing, Timmens said he was remorseful and had learned from his actions.

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 19 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. South southeast wind 9 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Thursday: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South southeast wind around 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. North wind around 8 mph becoming east after midnight.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a southeast wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Courtesy of the PRCA

SPRINGS, Colo. – Greg Rumohr, the 1990 world champion freestyle bullfighter and a three-time reserve world champion, died May 11 when a piece of heavy equipment he was delivering to a ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas, fell on him. He was 53.

Rumohr, a native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in May 1988 and spent the next 24 seasons developing a reputation for being one of the toughest and most athletic bullfighters the sport has ever seen.

Before moving to Texas and making rodeo his career, Rumohr had been a four-time Golden Gloves champion, a Junior Olympic Boxing champion, a two-time Alberta Junior Hockey League All-Star Team participant and a Class A hunting and fishing guide.

He got his first big bullfighting break in 1989 when his mentor, Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Rex Dunn, was forced into retirement by an injury and gave Rumohr all of his remaining contracts, including the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb.

“This guy thrives on the impossible,” Dunn once said of Rumohr. “He thrives on doing what no one else can do.”

Rumohr worked the North Platte event for the next 23 years, until his retirement in 2011, when he was presented with the committee’s Trail Boss Award for his longtime service.

“He’s just done a wonderful job for us inside and outside the arena as far as public appearances, autograph signings and anything else we need,” rodeo co-chairman Marty Petersen told the North Platte Telegraph at the time. “Not to mention that he’s one of the best cowboy protection bullfighters in the nation.”

Rumohr worked the 2003 Tour Finale in Dallas and served as a bullfighter at the RAM Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in 1991.

His athleticism allowed him to excel on the Wrangler Bullfight Tour for many years. Rumohr made the freestyle finals, held in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, 11 times from 1989-2000 (when the competition ended).

He won the world championship in 1990 by 21.5 points over Donny Sparks and was runner-up in 1995, 1997 and 1999.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be posted on www.prorodeo.com as soon as they become available.