McCOOK, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a man’s deceased body has been found in a Nebraska house that was being cleared after a gas leak.

McCook Police Chief Ike Brown says the body was found Thursday afternoon in the basement of the house. His identity hasn’t been released.

Authorities approached the house and observed a strong smell of natural gas. Houses in each direction were evacuated and officials shut off the natural gas to the house. Electrical power was also shut off to the entire block.

Two dogs inside the house’s enclosed porch were removed and fire officials eventually entered to start ventilating the house. That’s when they found the body.

Additional information about the circumstances of the death has not been released. The case remains under investigation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — One of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s extension experts has won an award for his beef research and education efforts.

Rick Funston recently received this year’s regional excellence in extension award for the north central region.

Funston’s work has helped ranchers identify new market options and reduce feed costs for their cattle. He’s an expert on cattle reproduction who has focused on how the nutrition levels of a cow affects their offspring.

Funston is based in North Platte, but he is also a professor with UNL’s animal science department.

Todd Adams, CEO of Adams Bank & Trust, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amanda Fanning as Chief Financial Officer.  Amanda earned a BS in Business Administration in 2004 and her Master of Professional Accountancy in 2005 from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Fanning was previously employed in the Federal Tax Practice of KPMG, LLP in the Lincoln, Omaha, and St. Louis offices.  As a Tax Manager, she performed final review of client federal, state, and international tax returns, income tax provisions, and tax products.  She is a licensed CPA in both Missouri and Nebraska.

Amanda is a 5^th generation family banker.  After working as a summer teller from 1999 – 2001 and a Loan Officer Trainee in 2005, she returned full-time to Adams Bank & Trust in 2011.  During the past three years, she has served as both the Deposit Compliance Officer and the Controller.  She was elected to the Board of Directors in 2014 and currently serves as Cashier and Secretary of the Board.

She is a 2014 graduate of the Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) Leadership Class, a 2012 graduate of and current board member for the Keith County Area Leadership Program, serves on the NBA Government Relations Committee, is current President of Chapter CL, P.E.O., is a board member for the Spirit of Nebraska Girl Scout Council, and attends the Graduate School of Banking at Boulder, CO.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska and South Dakota officials will be discussing what actions to take following the discovery of an invasive zebra mussel on a boat dock on the South Dakota side of Lewis and Clark Lake.

The Missouri River impoundment straddles the state line in northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota.

A single adult zebra mussel was discovered on Nov. 14. A subsequent search found no other zebra mussels. Nebraska Game and Parks and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks staffers have sampled the lake yearly for zebra mussel larvae, and all samples have been negative.

Zebra mussels can attach themselves to pipes or other structures, damaging boat motors and reducing the ability to draw water into facilities such as water treatment and power plants.

MORRILL, Neb. (AP) — A locomotive has struck an unoccupied vehicle at a crossing four miles south of Morrill in the Nebraska Panhandle.

The incident occurred Wednesday morning. Union Pacific says the coal train carried the car for a little less than a quarter of a mile before stopping.

No injuries have been reported. Union Pacific says the incident is being investigated.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska woman has been making memory pillows for bereaved families, pillows that she makes from the clothing of the deceased.

Vicki Anderson said she lost her husband to cancer 19 years ago. She says he’d received hospice care, so she decided to help the organization that provided him comfort in his final days.

The clothing has been provided by families who responded to letters sent by Great Plains Health Home Health & Hospice. The organization’s Renee Callaghan says she got the idea for memory pillows from other hospice organizations.

Anderson has made 14 pillows from shirts, sweaters and robes since May and has orders for 12 more.

• Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. South wind 6 to 9 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. South wind around 7 mph becoming west after midnight.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 6 to 8 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.
• Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Zoo officials in Scottsbluff say a reaction to anesthesia killed a zebra foal that was going to be castrated.

The young zebra, named Olaf, was born earlier this year and was to be routinely castrated last week. But Anne James, executive director of the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff, said Wednesday morning that Olaf had “an unanticipated reaction” to the anesthetic and died immediately, without suffering.

James says the procedure has been done many times by the local veterinarian who’d been called in. She says the vet is certified with the Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

Olaf’s parents live at the zoo, and James says it’s hoped that when they mate again they’ll produce another foal.

A 34-year-old Stapleton woman is dead following an accident on Highway 83, just north of North Platte.

At around 11:17 a.m., on November 26, deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an injury accident at Mile Marker 87 on Highway 83.

According to a LCSO news release, it was reported that a minivan and a tractor trailer had collided head-on.

Deputies say a preliminary investigation indicates that the minivan was southbound, when it completely crossed the center line, and entered the northbound lane.  The tractor trailer was traveling northbound up a hill, and was unable to avoid contact with the minivan.

Investigators say the vehicles struck completely head on.

Deputies say the van was being driven by 59-year-old Vicky Allen, of Stapleton.  She was accompanied by her daughter, 34-year-old Michelle Heisz, also of Stapleton, and Heisz’ 3-year-old daughter.

According to deputies, Heisz was pronounced dead at the scene.  Allen and the child were both transported to Great Plains Health in critical condition, the child was then flown to Omaha.

The driver of the semi, 28-year-old Corey Peters, of North Platte, was also injured, but deputies say his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

Deputies say the accident remains under investigation, but say it appears seat belts and a car seat were in use.

Traffic on Highway 83 was diverted for several hours during the investigation,

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska has hired a Philadelphia-based branding firm to help the university brag about its institutes, online class offerings and general educational opportunities.

The 12-month, $605,000 contract is with 160over90, which has done campaigns for Michigan State University, UCLA and other universities and institutions.

Nebraska Regent Bob Phares says the company name of 160over90 comes from an indication of high blood pressure. Phares says the company is “planning to raise the blood pressure of our constituents.”

University spokeswoman Melissa Lee says 160over90 will be coordinating advertising materials for the four universitywide institutes: the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute; the Buffett Early Childhood Center; the Rural Futures Institute; and the National Strategic Research Institute.