OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new survey suggests slower economic growth ahead in rural areas of 10 states in the Plains and the West.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said Thursday falling grain prices and weak global growth are weighing down the economy in rural areas.

The overall economic index for the region fell to 43.4 in October from September’s already negative 48.2. The index has been steadily falling since June 2013 when it hit 60.5.

The survey indexes range from 0 to 100. Any score below 50 suggests decline in the months ahead.

Bankers from rural areas of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were surveyed.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A legislative committee investigating Nebraska’s prison problems has voted unanimously to subpoena Gov. Dave Heineman to testify in a hearing later this month.

Panel members voted 7-0 on Thursday to summon the governor to their next hearing on Oct. 29.

The committee is looking into hundreds of prison sentences that were miscalculated, as well as a subsequent prisoner roundup that may have violated state law.

They’re also probing the state’s handling of Nikko Jenkins, who was released from prison despite warnings from state ombudsmen and psychiatrists who examined him while he was incarcerated. Jenkins had pleaded for mental health treatment, and went on to kill four people in Omaha shortly after his release.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — A western Nebraska woman has been found guilty of stealing nearly $12,000 from a youth soccer team in Alliance.

30-year-old Erinn Merrill pleaded no contest Wednesday to two counts of attempted theft.

Prosecutors say Merrill used the soccer team’s debit card to withdraw $8,180 cash in 39 transactions between September 2012 and August 2013. They say she also used the team card to make nearly $3,500 in purchases.

The Box Butte County attorney says she doesn’t oppose a probation sentence but believes restitution needs to be made in full.

Merrill is free on bond and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

GERING, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Panhandle woman has been arrested after police say her husband fell from her truck as she drove away drunk.

The 36-year-old woman faces charges of second offense drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

Witnesses tell Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s deputies the woman and her husband were arguing Sunday when they left an area bar. They say the man was holding on to the outside of the truck when the woman drove off.

The husband was transported to an area hospital with unreported injuries and later released.

Deputies say the woman was arrested at her home.

A 48-year-old North Platte man has been charged following an alleged domestic assault.

On October 14, at around 2:45 p.m., North Platte Police officers responded to a domestic assault complaint from a 38-year-old female.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, the woman alleged that her “domestic partner,” Richard Harrach, had assaulted her at his home.

She told officers that, following an argument, Harrach headbutted her in the face, pushed her forcibly inside the house, body slammed her multiple times, and threw a laptop computer at her.

Officers investigated, and determined that there was probable cause to charge Harrach with 3rd degree domestic assault.

The next day, officers made contact with Harrach and placed him under arrest.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

A 39-year-old North Platte man is facing sexual assault charges after he allegedly assaulted a woman at a local motel.

Just before midnight, on October 15, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the Roadway Inn, 920 North Jeffers Street, on the report of a sexual assault.

Upon arrival, an 18-year-old female told officers that Joe Askvig has touched her more than once in a sexual manner in a room at the motel.

The victim alleged that when she attempted to leave, Askvig forcibly grabbed her by the arm and attempted to make her stay.

She said Askvig then pulled her into a car door, causing her injury and pain.

After further investigation, officers determined that there was probable cause to arrest Askvig and charge him with 3rd degree sexual assault and 3rd degree assault.

Askvig was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.

 

CLAY CENTER, Neb. (AP) — A truck driver has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter charges in the crash deaths of three family members in Clay County.

Online court records say 53-year-old Kenneth Johnson on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to three counts of manslaughter and one count of being a habitual criminal. His next scheduled court date is Nov. 12.

Authorities say that on Aug. 28 Johnson was driving south on Nebraska Highway 14 when his semitrailer stuck a sport utility vehicle where Highway 14 met U.S. Highway 6. Three people in the SUV were fatally injured: 53-year-old Gary Isom; his wife, 52-year-old Susan Isom; and their daughter, 26-year-old Tiffany Isom. The couple’s teenage son survived the collision.

The Isoms lived in Hastings.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission soon will begin thinning forests at Chadron State Park near Chadron and Keller Park State Recreation Area near Ainsworth.

The projects are scheduled to begin this month and might continue through the end of the year.

The Chadron project is designed to remove dead and dying ponderosa pine trees that were burned by wildfire in 2012. The Keller project will remove excess red cedar, which could be fuel for wildfire.

The Nebraska Forest Service has endorsed both projects for wildfire prevention and will pay about 50 percent of the projects’ costs, using money from the U.S. Forest Service.

The NEBRASKAland Days office will be getting a new home in very familiar territory.

NEBRASKAland Days Board of Directors President, Robbie Stefka, announced at a news conference Thursday morning, that the NEBRAKAland Days offices will be getting a permanent home at the Wild West Arena.

Thanks to a major contribution of labor from the construction students at North Platte Community College, construction is underway on a new 3,000 square foot office building on the west side of the Arena.

Stefka said the entire operation will be headquartered at the new location.

According to NEBRASKAland Days Executive Director, David Fudge, celebration officials have envisioned placing their offices at the Arena for decades.  He added that, thanks to a visionary Board of Directors, and a newly created partnership with North Platte Community College’s 2nd-year Building and Construction program, the vision is now a reality.

“Having our offices at the Arena will really be a huge advantage from an operations standpoint,” said Fudge.  “The amount of time we spend driving back and forth from our current office to the Arena is really mind boggling.”

Typically building houses, the NPCC Building and Construction students are now venturing into the commercial realm, where NPCC officials hope they will gain valuable experience in working with clients, contractors and overseeing the project as a whole.

NPCC area Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jody Tomanek, said the partnership with NEBRASKAland Days came at a good time.

“Our second year construction students have already completed construction of a house and they are excited to be building yet another structure,” Tomanek said.  “The college crew will basically build the walls and enclose the new office building.   Then, NEBRASKAland Days’ subs (contractors) will do all the rough work.”

Tomanek added that it will be a hands-on real-world experience for the students.

“The college’s contribution to our facility is the reason we can make this project work,” said Fudge.  “Without them, we simply wouldn’t be able to make this happen.”

Fudge said the construction footings, foundation, power, water and sewer systems have been placed, and the structure will be built and enclosed before winter.

Organizers say the plan is for the project to be completed in time for the 2015 celebration.

The cost of the project is expected to be around $180,000.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Earthquakes are rare in Nebraska, but emergency officials say it’s still a good idea to prepare for the possibility.

So the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency is encouraging people to participate in the Great Shakeout earthquake drill on Thursday.

NEMA assistant director Bryan Tuma says Nebraskans should take a minute during the day to practice dropping to the ground, seeking cover under a table and holding onto it.

More details about the drill and how to prepare for earthquakes is available online at www.shakeout.org .