SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say two people have been killed in separate motor vehicle accidents in the Nebraska Panhandle.
The Nebraska State Patrol says a 38-year-old woman died Wednesday morning after she lost control of her sport utility vehicle on a Sheridan County road about a mile east of Rushville. She was identified as Joni Lee Twiss, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota.
The patrol says a Colorado man died after an accident about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on Nebraska Highway 71 about nine miles north of the Colorado state line. The patrol says 71-year-old Jesus Javalera-Chavez, of Colorado Springs, swerved his vehicle to miss an object on the roadway. The vehicle went into a roadside ditch and rolled.
The patrol says Javalera-Chavez died at the scene.
North Platte Public Schools Superintendent Marty Bassett has resigned.
In a news release Thursday afternoon, North Platte Public Schools Board of Education President, Kathy Phares, said the Board will vote to formally accept Bassett’s resignation at the next regular board meeting.
The Board plans to fill the position with an Interim Superintendent for the 2014-2015 school year, saying they will work diligently to find the right person.
According to Phares, the Board will begin the search for a full-time superintendent in the coming months.
“Hiring a superintendent is one of the most important endeavors a board must face,” Phares said.
“The task will be approached with fervent attention to each vital detail necessary to ensure a rewarding and successful search,” Phares added.
The resignation comes less than a week after a grueling hearing regarding Jefferson Elementary physical education teacher, Mark Woodhead. Woodhead stood accused of dragging a third-grader to a timeout room and causing rug burns to the boy’s back.
Bassett had recommended that the Board of Education terminate Woodhead’s contract due to the incident.
However, after 15 hours of testimony and deliberation, the Board voted 4-2 to allow Woodhead to keep his job.
Hundreds packed into the North Platte High School Performing Arts Center to show their support for Woodhead, and cheered loudly when the vote was cast.
Bassett’s first full year with the NPPS was the 2012-2013 school year. His contract was to run through June 30, 2015.
Phares said the Board is grateful for Bassett’s service to the NPPS and wish him well in his future endeavors.
The reason for Bassett’s resignation was not given.
NEW YORK (AP) — Millions of U.S. drivers are expected to hit the highways this holiday weekend — and some of them may be nodding off behind the wheel.
According to a new government survey, about 1 in 25 adults say they recently fell asleep while driving.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest drowsy driving report on Thursday, along with some tips on how to stay awake. They include getting enough sleep the night before and breaking up the drive with naps, coffee breaks and a change if drivers. Also avoid driving late at night or very early in the morning.
The city of North Platte has announced a new road construction project that will begin on Monday.
On July 7, the city’s contractor, Western Engineering, will be performing milling an overlay operations on Rodeo Road, from Sycamore Street to Mills Avenue.
The project is expected to last through mid-August.
Official say traffic will be narrowed to one lane in either direction, and intersections may be closed for short periods of time.
They say delays should be expected, and they are urging citizens to use caution in and around the construction area. A flagger will be in place.
A North Platte woman is facing a felony drug charge following a fight with her sister.
At around 8:39 p.m., on July 2, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a disturbance between family in the 1000 block of West E Street.
Upon arrival, officers met with the mother of the household, who advised that her two daughters, Sara and Melissa Ohlson, had gotten into an altercation inside of the home.
The mother stated that the girls were breaking things in the home, which upset her and led to her contacting police.
Investigator John Deal said that, during the conversation, Sara gave an officer consent to search her purse. During the search, the officer discovered Alprazolam, a prescription drug used to treat panic disorder.
Deal said Sara did not have a prescription for the drug.
In the end, both Sara and Melissa were cited for disturbing the peace, and Sara was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance.
Sara was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and jailed.
SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska Panhandle woman accused of trying to extort money from a man who groped her 7-year-old daughter has been sent to prison.
On Wednesday in Cheyenne County District Court, the woman was given one to three years in prison.
Court documents say the 30-year-old woman originally pleaded not guilty to trying to extort money from Jason Frei, of Potter. In May she entered a new plea after Cheyenne County prosecutors reduced the theft-by-extortion charge.
The Associated Press isn’t identifying the woman in order to protect her daughter’s privacy.
Frei pleaded no contest to negligent child abuse and attempted witness tampering in December. Authorities say Frei groped the girl while giving her mother a massage at his home in August. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 85. South southeast wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Independence Day: A slight chance of thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South southeast wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: A chance of thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. South southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 95. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 95.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Monday: A slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
A 40-year-old North Platte man is facing several charges following a disturbance Wednesday morning.
At around 4:30 a.m., on July 2, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to a disturbance in the 300 block of East 9th Street.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a Ford Explorer with the front window broken out, and furniture strewn about the back yard of the residence.
They then noticed Rodger Roose inside the residence and requested that he come outside and speak to them.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, Roose briefly opened the door, cursed at the officers and slammed it shut.
Brown said officers noticed two small children, ages two and six, inside the residence with Roose. They also observed that the interior of the home appeared to be damaged and in disarray.
Officers learned that the children’s 36-year-old mother, who Roose had been fighting with throughout the night, had left on foot prior to their arrival.
Eventually, officers were able to reason with Roose and took him into custody.
He was charged with misdemeanor obstructing the police and misdemeanor child abuse, because the children were witnesses to the violence.
Roose was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center, and the children were placed in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services.
At around 7:00 a.m. the same morning, the children’s mother contacted law enforcement and wanted to know where the the girls had been taken to.
An officer made contact with her at the residence, and learned that, during the fight, Roose had punched her, kicked her and dragged her by hair.
As a result, the officer returned to the jail and charged Roose with felony 3rd degree domestic assault.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Six Nebraska communities will share in nearly $1.2 million in grants.
