BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the names of a passenger who died and the injured pilot of a private plane that crashed northwest of Broken Bow Airport in central Nebraska.

The crash occurred about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

In a news release Thursday, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office says the passenger, 48-year-old John Webb died. The pilot, 33-year-old Dustin Webb, was flown to a hospital for treatment. He is John Webb’s nephew.

They’re both from Huntsville, Texas. A sheriff’s office spokeswoman didn’t immediately return messages.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the crash investigation. An NTSB representative didn’t immediately return an Associated Press call.

The sheriff’s office says the two-engine aircraft was headed from North Dakota to Texas when the crash occurred.

 

BROKEN BOW, Neb. (AP) — A plane crash near the Broken Bow airport in central Nebraska has killed one person and has left another hospitalized.

The plane occupants have not been identified.

Tathe injured person was initially taken to the Broken Bow hospital but later airlifted by helicopter ambulance to an unknown destination.

The two-engine plane went down in a cornfield northwest of the airport. Emergency personnel have the roads barricaded to local traffic near a farmstead by the airport.

A spokeswoman for the Custer County Sheriff’s Department says investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are on their way to investigate.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A 40-year-old North Platte woman who was charged with manslaughter and drug violations in connection with the death of her sister has made a deal with prosecutors.

On Tuesday, Elizabeth Crawford pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors: attempted abuse of a vulnerable adult and possession of methamphetamine. Crawford and Jeffery Manary originally were charged with manslaughter and distribution of methamphetamine in the Aug. 3 death of 45-year-old Esther Smith.

Crawford’s sentencing is scheduled for June 4. Lawyers for both sides Crawford will cooperate in the prosecution of Manary. Police say Manary supplied the meth that Crawford injected into Smith. Manary’s next court hearing is set for April 16.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man accused of stabbing another man to death has made a plea deal with prosecutors.

On Tuesday, 25-year-old Nathaniel Polanco pleaded guilty to a felony count of attempted assault. In exchange, prosecutors reduced the charge from manslaughter and dropped a weapons charge. His sentencing is scheduled for May 21.

Police say Polanco fatally stabbed 24-year-old Michael Fernau on Oct. 22. Fernau was stabbed at his house and died at a hospital. Police say the two men had been arguing and that Polanco “just snapped.”

 

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – The tornadoes that struck near North Platte earlier this month caused at least $2.1 million damage and prompted Lincoln County to declare a disaster. County emergency manager Dan Guenthner says he hopes the county will be able to qualify for disaster aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the March 18 storm.

But before Lincoln County can even apply for disaster aid, it needs to have a minimum of $2.5 million damage. Guenthner says he thinks the damage in Lincoln County will exceed the minimum, but that doesn’t guarantee that FEMA will approve aid.

Four tornadoes touched down around North Platte on March 18. They injured at least four people and damaged farm buildings,
homes, vehicles and railroad cars.

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a 20-year-old North Platte man who held paramedics hostage and threatened to kill them has been given five to 12 years in prison.

Carlos Charging Elk had pleaded no contest to two counts of false imprisonment and one weapons charge. In return, prosecutors dropped three counts of terroristic threats. He was sentenced on Monday.

Authorities say Charging Elk lured paramedics to his home with a false 911 call in August. Police say he pulled a knife and held twoparamedics hostage. They captured him when he lost control of his knife. No injuries were reported.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two groups that help farmers with disabilities are offering Nebraska workshops on arthritis.

The National AgrAbility Project and Nebraska AgrAbility have scheduled a workshop for April 11 in North Platte and April 12 in Grand Island. The workshops will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Educational topics will include the basics of arthritis, gardening with arthritis, assistive technology for farmers and Tai Chi. Nebraska AgrAbility Educational displays are also planned.

AgriAbility partners with land-grant university extension offices and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The group was created to help farmers and their families overcome physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

Pre-registration is required. To register, contact a local university extension office of University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension educator Sharry Nielsen at 308-832-0645.