NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — People are being urged not to swim in the Sutherland Reservoir in western Nebraska because there may be toxic algae in the water.

Nebraska Public Power District officials issued a warning about the Hershey Beach area Tuesday because blue-green algae had been spotted near the shore.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is testing the water at the lake to determine whether the algae are toxic.

But the utility that owns the lake wanted to warn the public because algae can be harmful to humans and pets in large quantities.

Skin exposed to the toxin can develop rashes and blisters. Someone who drinks water containing the toxin is at risk for headaches, nausea and muscular pain.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Wet and stormy weather last week slowed fieldwork in Nebraska, but helped improve soil moisture levels.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says reports of 2-to-3 inches of rain were common in central Nebraska, and up to 6 inches of rain was reported in northeast Nebraska.

Significant storm damage was also reported in northeast Nebraska. Crops, livestock, irrigation equipment and grain storage facilities were all damaged by tornadoes near Pilger and Wakefield.

The USDA says 80 percent of the topsoil had adequate or surplus moisture, and 68 percent of the state’s subsoil had adequate or surplus moisture.

About 68 percent of the corn is in good or excellent condition. And 69 percent of the soybeans are in good or excellent shape.

A 34-year-old Pennsylvania woman has been charged with misdemeanor child abuse after she allegedly left her baby in the car while at the Platte River Mall.

At around 8:00 p.m., on June 23, officers with the North Platte Police Department were dispatched to the Platte River Mall on the report of a small child being left unattended in a vehicle near the front entrance.

Officers located the 23-month-old female toddler in a locked Chrysler Town and Country van with Pennsylvania plates.

Officer Rodney Brown said officers were able to determine that the child’s mother, Kristin Smedley, of Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, had forgotten her daughter in the car and went into the mall.

Brown said officers were able to gain access to the car and took temporary custody of the child approximately 30 minutes after a witness first noticed her.

Smedley was located inside JC Penney and, following further investigation, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse.

Smedley was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The child’s father was summoned from Gothenburg and took custody of the little girl.

Brown said it is unknown exactly how long the child was in the car.  He said drugs and alcohol are not believed to be involved in the incident.

• Today: Scattered thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Tonight: Scattered thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Light east southeast wind becoming southeast 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
• Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Breezy, with a southeast wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
• Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Breezy.

MITCHELL, Neb. (AP) — Nine people were treated for injuries after the sport utility vehicle they were in rolled on Highway 92 near Scottsbluff.

None of the injuries to the two adults and seven children in the GMC Yukon were life-threatening.

The crash happened Sunday afternoon south of Mitchell when the 35-year-old driver, Kurt Martinez, of Scottsbluff, veered off the road and the vehicle rolled. It slid on its side before coming to a stop.

All nine people inside were taken to Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

The children’s ages ranged from 1 month to 13 years.

Martinez was cited for alleged child restraint and seat belt violations.

Mitchell is about seven miles northwest of Scottsbluff.

COZAD, Neb. (AP) — A 63-year-old Holdrege woman has died after a collision on U.S. Highway 30 in south-central Nebraska.

Dawson County authorities say the accident occurred around 6 p.m. Saturday about two miles west of Cozad.

The Sheriff’s Office says Linda Waldon was headed west in her van when it struck an eastbound sport utility vehicle. Waldon was pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver and his two passengers were taken to Cozad Community Hospital. He was identified as 44-year-old Troy Olmstead, of Overton.

The accident cause is being investigated.

A North Platte man’s alleged drunken behavior landed him in jail with a felony charge.

At around 8:20 p.m., on June 22, North Platte Police responded to Kwik Stop, 1421 South Dewey, on the report of two male subjects creating a disturbance in the store.

When officers arrived, they made contact with 23-year-old Glenn Brown, who was leaving the store.

Brown told officers that he had been in the store with a friend and felt that the store employee was being “racist.”

Officers then spoke to Brown’s 24-year-old male friend, who stated that the employee had refused to sell him tobacco because he did not have the proper identification, but said he wasn’t bothered by it.

Police then say Brown, who was intoxicated, became belligerent and refused to comply with officers’ orders.

As Brown was being taken into custody for disturbing the peace, police say he continued to struggle, resisting officers’ attempt to place him in a patrol car.  They say Brown began kicking and banging his head against the door, leading to a laceration that required medical attention.

After receiving treatment at the Great Plains Health Emergency Room, Brown was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

In addition to disturbing the peace, Brown was also charged with 2nd offense resisting arrest, a felony.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has been busy rounding up suspected thieves.

At around 10:00 p.m., on June 2, Deputies received a report from a resident on West Vannoy Drive, south of Hershey, that his residence had been broken into.

Deputies learned that numerous items had been taken, including guns and jewelry.

Earlier in the day, a deputy had stopped a suspicious vehicle near the Hershey Interstate Lake.  During the stop, the deputy make contact with three occupants; 26-year-old Kent Smith, 36-year-old Dawn Herweh and 27-year-old Jenna Wilson, all of North Platte.

The deputy conducted a search of the vehicle and found numerous items of jewelry.  It was reported that none of the occupants claimed the jewelry to be theirs.

As a result, the items were seized and the occupants were released.  It was later determined that the jewelry had been taken from the house on West Vannoy Drive.

Over the last couple weeks, deputies have searched for the individuals, and, at this time, Smith, Herweh and Wilson have all been arrested.

In a separate case, at around 5:45 p.m., on June 17, deputies responded to a reported burglary of a residence on South Colonial Lane.

The resident reported that their home had been broken into, and a lock box containing personal information and some prescription medication had been taken.

The resident told deputies that he had a good idea that 29-year-old Zachary Rote was the culprit.  Deputies investigated and determined there was probable cause to arrest Rote for felony burglary.  Additionally, 25-year-old Taylor Trembly was arrested for aiding and abetting burglary.

Chief Deputy Roland Kramer said the investigations continue in both cases, and more arrests may follow.

The NEBRASKAland Days Board and Parade Committee have announced the winners of this year’s parade floats.

Winners were selected for the following four divisions: horse, youth, sponsor, and commercial. The floats were judged based upon their integration of this year’s theme, presentation and originality.

First place in the horse division is the Nebraska Game and Parks Buffalo Bill Ranch SHP.

First place in the youth division is Kid’s Klub After School and Summer Program.

First place in the sponsor division is First National Bank.

Finally, first place in the commercial division is JM Parts & Equipment.

An 80-year-old Dickens woman has died following a one-vehicle crash near Dickens on Sunday evening.

According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Deputies were dispatched to a one-vehicle injury accident at around 7:11 p.m.  It was reported that the vehicle had rolled and the female driver was ejected from the car.

Investigation at the scene showed that 80-year-old Nora Harris, of Dickens, lost control of the silver 2011 Chevrolet K-2500 Pickup she was driving.  Deputies say the vehicle entered the north ditch, returned to the roadway and nearly entered the south ditch before leaving the roadway and entering the north ditch again and rolling at least one time.

Harris was pronounced dead at the scene.

An accident reconstructionist from the LCSO determined that inattention was most likely the cause of the crash.  Investigators say Harris was not wearing her seatbelt and alcohol was not a factor.