Courtesy of the North Platte Police Department

(Lincoln, Neb.)- The Nebraska State Patrol encourages all motorists to do their part in saving lives on Nebraska roads during the heavily traveled summer months through its “100 Days of Summer” enforcement initiative.

In its 7^th year, the “100 Days of Summer” initiative provides motorists an opportunity to view planned NSP enforcement activities. Each day, beginning with the Memorial Day holiday weekend and continuing through Labor Day, the Nebraska State Patrol Field Services Division will work to hold at least one traffic safety enforcement operation somewhere in the state.

“The concept is simple,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.  “On our website we provide a link to some of our special enforcement activities, in turn we ask motorists to do their part by complying with all traffic safety laws.”

Interested motorists can visit the Nebraska State Patrol website @ www.statepatrol.nebraska.gov and click on the NSP Enforcement Activities link located beneath the state map on the NSP homepage to access an enforcement calendar. The enforcement calendar will list at least one traffic safety enforcement effort per day. By viewing the calendar, motorists can access information on the type of enforcement planned and the location of the enforcement.

Colonel Sankey said, “Help us make this summer travel season a safe one. Follow the rules of the road and remember to always buckle up.”

• Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North northeast wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

• Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. East northeast wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East northeast wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

• Wednesday Night: A chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

• Thursday: A chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. East wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

• Thursday Night: A chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

An Illinois man was arrested by North Platte Police officers Sunday evening after making terroristic threats at a North Platte truck stop.

NPPD officers responded to a report of a disturbance at the Love’s Truck Stop around 6:50 pm Sunday, May 18. Officers learned that a male subject was claiming he was “going to blow the place up.”  While the officers were en route staff at the truck stop reported that George J. Tzakis, 53, of Lincolnwood, Ill. began swinging at other customers.

According to a report from the NPPD, officers located Tzakis inside the plaza and he began acting elusive and making strange comments to them about the CIA and being ‘God.’ The officers investigated further and determined there was probable cause to arrest Tzakis for terroristic threats. During this time Tzakis climbed into his vehicle to retrieve his ID and was refusing to exit and became non-compliant. Officers were eventually able to get him out of the vehicle and after a brief struggle arrested Tzakis and transported him to the Lincoln County Detention Center, where he was jailed for felony terroristic threats, felony assault on a police officer, 3rd degree assault and resisting arrest.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — In different parts of the state, Nebraska farmers have been battling freezing temperatures, tornadoes and drought.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says those weather challenges have been making things difficult for farmers in the state.

In eastern Nebraska, some farmers are picking up debris and mangled irrigation systems the May 11 tornadoes left behind.

Some farmers are considering replanting some of their crops after last week’s weather remained 9 to 12 degrees below normal.

And southwest Nebraska remains in severe to extreme drought.

But planting is ahead of schedule. About 91 percent of the corn crop is planted. That’s ahead of the average of 89 percent at this time of year.

About 65 percent of the soybean crop has been planted. That’s ahead of the average of 55 percent.

A Wyoming man was seriously injured early Sunday morning after hitting a diesel tanker truck head-on at Bailey Yards.

Lincoln County Sheriff Office Deputies and North Platte Rescue responded to a call at 2:04 am Sunday, May 18 at Bailey Yards regarding a vehicular accident. Deputies found the scene and located the drivers of both vehicles. Kerry Hoffard, 58, of Pine Haven, Wyo. was driving a Tan 2002 Buick Lesabre and traveling westbound on a narrow oil road. Jeffery Howard, 54, of North Platte was driving a diesel tanker truck eastbound on the same road. Howard told deputies that he was traveling toward Hoffard’s car so he pulled his tanker completely to the south side of the road to avoid a collision. Hoffard did not move over and struck the tanker essentially head-on.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reports that Howard was not injured, but Hoffard suffered serious head injuries and was eventually transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. The deputies investigation at the scene showed Hoffard was not wearing his seatbelt and it appeared he had consumed alcohol.

Hoffard is not an employee of Union Pacific Railroad and will be issued a citation for trespassing and further charges may be forthcoming according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s economic development director and state labor commissioner has resigned to take a private sector job.

Catherine Lang will leave state government next month after more than three decades of service. Gov. Dave Heineman announced her resignation on Monday and praised her work.

The 57-year-old Lang has worked in state government since 1981. She was appointed Commissioner of Labor in August 2008, after as serving deputy tax commissioner. She was named director of the Department of Economic Development in 2011, and has worked in both roles since that time.

Both agencies have worked on efforts to find jobs for veterans. During Lang’s tenure, the Department of Economic Development opened a trade office in China.

Lang earned her bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

ALLIANCE, Neb. (AP) — The National Weather Service says it has received several reports about tornadoes, funnel clouds and hail in the Nebraska Panhandle.

A storm chaser reported several funnel clouds or tornadoes around 6:30 p.m. Sunday in an open area seven miles north-northeast of Lake Minatare and later at Lake Kilpatrick in Box Butte County.

A weather service employee reported a tornado or funnel cloud a little after 6:30 p.m. about 15 miles northeast of Scottsbluff. A service employee also reported seeing hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter around 8 p.m., four miles north of Alliance.

It’s unclear whether any of the reports were different sightings from the same storm.

A Box Butte County dispatcher said Monday morning that no injuries or damage have been reported.