A powerful storm system moved through southwest Lincoln County on Wednesday afternoon, leaving extensive damage and large hailstones in its wake. A tornado warning was issued with the storm, but no confirmed touch downs were reported. The storm also wreaked havoc on the Wallace area as it moved south into Hayes County.
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (AP) – Authorities say an Oregon couple is in custody after a shooting, a high-speed pursuit into Utah, and a foot chase. Detective Dick Blust Jr., of the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s office says Roy and Jessica Fritts were arrested around 1 p.m.
Sunday. Blust says 54-year-old Edmund Thornell of Costa Mesa, Calif., was camping with the Fritts when a dispute arose and he was shot several times Sunday morning. He says Thornell, who was in stable condition, reported that they fled in his van. Wyoming authorities spotted the van and chased it 30 miles into Utah near Echo, where the pair fled on foot but were quickly captured. They are being held at the Summit County jail in Utah. The Deseret News reports that the sheriff’s office says 33-year-old Roy Fritts is wanted in Oregon after fleeing from supervised prison release on two counts of attempted aggravated murder. In Nebraska, state troopers suspect the pair stole a car last week before abandoning it.
Roland Kramer has replaced Dean Sparks as the new Chief Deputy Sheriff. Sparks resigned in May opening the way for Kramer who brings 17 years of experience to the post. Roland Kramer will have his hands full with his second promotion in less than six months, not only with new training, but dealing with the growing pains and issues that have arisen moving in to the new jail building.
The Live Well Nebraska tour was in North Platte Thursday with a big special guest and a big check for a local educational organization. Olympic Gold Medalist and Biggest Loser participant Rulon Gardner spoke to the crowd about his own personal journey and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Live Well Nebraska, which is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, presented a $10,000 check to the North Platte Public Schools Foundation, who will use the funds to promote healthy lifestyle programs locally. One such program awards a bicycle to the student who most adheres to a commitment to walking and biking to school. For more information visit the North Platte Public Schools Foundation’s website at https://nppsf.org/, or the Live Well NE website at https://livewellnebraska.com/section/livewell
The North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club is pleased to welcome Katharina Sterr of Erding, Bavaria, Germany to the United States as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Her first host parents are Matt & Jessie Bergen of Paxton. The Bergen’s daughter Dakota recently returned from her own Rotary Youth Exchange experience in Sweden. Dakota was the featured speaker at the North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club’s weekly meeting on Thursday, August 11th, at Hobbe’s Restaurant.
(North Platte, NE)- Nebraska authorities are looking for a stolen vehicle out of Cozad that is believed to be driven by a suspect and his female companion. The male suspect is wanted for Absconding Post Prison Supervision, Union County, Oregon. Just before 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 10, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen vehicle from the home of an employee of Paulsen Construction. The vehicle is described as a red 2008 Chevy Silverado C150, 4 door extended cab, with Paulsen Incorporated written in white letters on the doors and bearing NE Commercial license plate 18-5857. Authorities believe the stolen vehicle may be driven by Roy Scott Fritts, Jr., 33, Union, Oregon. Fritts is described as a white male, shaved brown hair, blue eyes, 5’10’’, and 160 lbs. He is traveling with a female companion; identified as Jessica (a.k.a. Kadesh) Fritts, 35, red hair, green eyes, 5’8”, and 150 lbs. Roy Fritts has an extensive criminal history and should be considered dangerous. Anyone who spots the vehicle should call 911 or local law enforcement immediately.
Prior to the stolen vehicle report, the Nebraska State Patrol on Tuesday evening, August 9, received a broadcast from Oregon authorities that Fritts, who absconded from parole and was wanted in Oregon could be traveling I-80. Fritts was believed to be traveling with his wife identified as Jessica (a.k.a. Kadesh) Fritts in a 2010 Chrysler 300.
Just before 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 9, a trooper spotted a vehicle matching the description traveling westbound on Highway 30 west of Lexington. The trooper attempted to stop the vehicle on the outskirts of Cozad. The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit traveled through a portion of Cozad before returning to Highway 30 and onto county roads in the area. It ended approximately 10 minutes later, when the suspects abandoned their vehicle on the north side of Paulsen Construction and fled into a field.
The Nebraska State Patrol assisted by the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office and the Cozad Police Department set up a perimeter and initiated a ground search. The search was called off after more than three hours.
MCCOOK, Neb. (AP) – Hail from a fast-moving storm has damaged homes and cars in McCook and other southwest Nebraska communities. The McCook Daily Gazette says hail the size of golf balls was reported Tuesday evening. The Heritage Hills Golf Course was so covered by hail that it looked like a snowstorm had blown through town. The hail broke out skylights at a store, injuring one person. Wind gust of 70 mph were reported. Hail reaching nearly 3 inches in diameter was reported near Danbury.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife has been found competent to stand trial. The attorney for 34-year-old Rogelio Diaz had asked for the evaluation. Diaz was seen by a state expert, and a judge ruled on Monday that Diaz was competent. Police say Diaz killed 35-year-old Michelle Diaz in their backyard around 2 a.m. on June 25. An ambulance crew found Michelle Diaz unresponsive. She died at a local hospital. Police say Roger Diaz told officers his wife fell from the backyard steps, but he later changed his story. Diaz is being held on $2 million bail. His attorney did not immediately return a call Tuesday. A hearing is set Aug. 22.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the heat and humidity continue to cause livestock deaths in Nebraska, while the growing number of grasshoppers is becoming a problem. The USDA in its weekly crop report on Monday says temperatures last week averaged 2 degrees above normal, with highs mainly in the mid to upper 90s. Rainfall was heaviest in the eastern Panhandle and the south central region, with about 3.5 inches. The northern two thirds of Nebraska were dry, and grasshopper numbers are becoming a concern in parts of western Nebraska. The USDA says 79 percent of the corn crop and 78 percent of the soybeans are in good to excellent shape. The wheat harvest is nearly finished along with the second cutting of alfalfa.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say the body of a North Platte man was found near a bridge over the South Platte River. North Platte television station KNOP says Michael Decent had been camping with friends when he jumped into a canal near Cody Go-Carts. The Nebraska State Patrol says officers were dispatched to the scene about 4 a.m. Sunday. It’s believed Decent had been drinking alcohol. The North Platte dive team was called for help when Decent couldn’t be found. His body was recovered a little before 9 a.m. near Newberry Bridge, about a mile and a half downstream in the river. The incident is being investigated.
