FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — The regional publisher for daily newspapers in Fremont and Columbus has resigned to take a job with the Fremont Area Medical Center.

Bill Vobejda announced on Monday that he will leave next month.

Vobejda will become vice president of administration for the hospital. He will be responsible for human resources, marketing and public relations, community health, the hospital foundation and external affairs.

Vobejda became the Tribune’s publisher in January 2005. In 2009 he was named regional publisher to also oversee the Columbus Telegram and two weekly newspapers, The Banner-Press in David City and Schuyler Sun. Oversight of the Plattsmouth Journal was added recently.

The newspapers are owned by Lee Enterprises, which is based in Davenport, Iowa.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A U.S. Department of Agriculture weekly report says Nebraska’s corn and soybean crops are ailing and getting sicker.

A report says only 37 percent of the corn crop is rated in good or excellent shape. Last week the figure was 43 percent, which also is well below the average of 79 percent for this time of year. Thirty-three percent of the crop was rated in very poor or poor condition.

The soybean crop rated even lower, with only 28 percent in good or excellent condition, compared with 34 percent a week earlier. Normally, about 77 percent of the soybean crop is rated in good or excellent shape.

The heat and lack of rain have taken a toll on pastureland as well, with 72 percent rated very poor or poor.

NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NEMA) “Coordination and good communications will be the key to a successful day,” said Incident Commander Mark Hatcher this morning at briefing. On Monday, the Rocky Mountain Incident Management Team B arrived to assist state and local firefighters in three counties to suppress the Fairfield Creek fire in north central Nebraska. Approximately 50,000 acres were mapped by infrared flight as of 6 a.m. Active burning has been observed on the east and west flanks.

Crews were able to burn out pockets of fuel on the north east corner to reinforce dozer lines. Firefighters will work on lines in all areas of the fire in anticipation of the dry, hot, windy weather expected today.

The weather outlook for Monday shows hotter weather with dry winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour near the fire area. A heat advisory is in effect until 9 p.m. on Tuesday and a Red Flag Warning is in effect for winds and low relative humidity.

Four Divisions have been established for managing the fire:

•  Division C (northwest): Springville Fire District, Keya Paha County
•  Division E (northeast): Springville Fire District, Keya Paha County
•  Division H (southeast): Ainsworth Fire District, Brown County
•  Division A (southwest) Cherry County Fire District

Air Operations: Aircraft will be available as needed.

Road Closures

•  Road blocks will be in place on Highway 12. Motorists are asked to find alternate travel routes.

Evacuations:

•  Volunteer evacuations are still in place for Meadville.
•  Niobrara River is closed for recreational use between County Line and Brewer bridges.

Fire stats at a glance:
Start Date: July 20, 2012

Containment: none reported

Cause: Lightning

Acreage: 50,000

Personnel: 150

Crews: 3 ordered

Cooperating Agencies: Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry

Counties, State of Nebraska

Aviation : (3) Type (1) National Guard Black Hawks, and

1 Type 2

Engines: 30

Injuries: 3 (minor)

Structures destroyed: 10 and associated outbuildings

Structures/outbuildings threatened: 70

Cindy Todd

Omaha Neb.(AAA) -The Nebraska Office of Highway Safety is literally hitting the road with their latest statewide education and awareness campaign to combat drunk driving.  A dozen large delivery service vehicles wrapped with truck-size impactful images, stress the need for citizens to report drunk drivers immediately by dialing 911 or *55 on their cell phone.  The trucks are heading out on roadways traveling to nearly every county in Nebraska. 

With increased awareness about reporting drunk drivers, the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety expects that those who continue to drink and drive will be more conscientious about making the right choice not to get behind the wheel.  Last year 1,822 alcohol related crashes occurred on Nebraskaroadways resulting in 1,185 injuries and 51 deaths.

Nebraskalaw enforcement officers arrested more than 12,000 motorists in 2011 on drunk driving charges.  Tougher driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws and enforcement efforts, an expansion of education and awareness campaigns, and higher conviction rates for DWI offenses, have all contributed to a reduction in alcohol related fatal crashes.

For the past two years, Nebraskahas recorded the lowest alcohol related death rates on record.   AAA says that even with the positive advancements Nebraskahas made towards getting drunk drivers off the road, education and awareness efforts must remain a priority.  Nebraskaneeds to do so since more than one-third of all fatal crashes are alcohol related, says AAA.  By taking this strong message on the road, more citizens will become actively engaged in doing their part to help keep our roadways safe.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police are investigating an attack on a Lincoln woman, who reported three men broke into her house, carved anti-gay slurs into her skin and tried to light her house on fire.

Police spokeswoman Katie Flood says Monday the case is under investigation as a hate crime because it appears to be motivated by hatred or bias. Flood says there are no suspects.

The victim told police she was attacked by three masked men. She reportedly crawled from her house, naked, bleeding and screaming for help. Police responded at 4 a.m. Sunday.

The case spread rapidly on the Internet and prompted a rally of hundreds of people outside the Capitol on Sunday night. Speakers were from a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender group.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A new report into the investigation of private bank accounts established by former Chadron State College’s head football coach Bill O’Boyle assigns the blame largely to O’Boyle and credits college administrators for investigating the accounts.
A recently released Chadron State College-NCAA investigative report says O’Boyle violated NCAA bylaws by opening the outside accounts to hold funds to finance the college’s football program.

The college suspended O’Boyle in October and did not renew his contract.

In February, Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley’s office criticized college administrators for failing to control the three private bank accounts.

The NCAA-Chadron State investigative report largely exonerates college leaders and credits them for hiring an investigator once accounts were discovered.

YORK, Neb. (AP) — Deputies have taken a man into custody after they got a gun and knife away from him at a hospital in southeast Nebraska.

The armed man had gone into the emergency room at the hospital in Henderson around 8 p.m. Saturday.

County Sheriff Dale Radcliff says the man threatened a doctor who wasn’t on duty and a nurse who was there.

The man told deputies who were dispatched that he was suicidal and repeated that he intended to find the doctor and hurt him.

Radcliff says the deputies were able to get the weapons away from the man and take him into emergency protective custody.

RAVENNA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a man who was accidentally killed while target shooting at a residence near Ravenna.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office identified him as 47-year-old Armando Tinajero, of Ravenna.

Tinajero had been shooting at targets in the backyard of a friend’s house on Friday night. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy was ordered.

The sheriff’s office says a crime is not suspected, but the investigation is continuing.

AINSWORTH, Neb. (AP) — Officials say more fire crews have been sent to help battle flames that have blackened thousands of acres in north-central Nebraska.

Susan Ford is spokeswoman for a federal interagency management team that’s been dispatched to help local and state agencies with the wildfire in Keya Paha  County. Ford said Monday that three more ground crew teams of about 20 firefighters each are expected on the lines soon, replacing some local volunteers.

Winds gusting to 30 mph are expected to fan the flames.

Ford says an overnight aerial survey using infrared technology provided officials with an updated estimate of about 50,000 acres burned, compared with previous estimates approaching 100,000 acres. She couldn’t confirm a previous estimate that the fire was about 50 percent contained.

No injuries have been reported.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska at Omaha is planning to offer a new degree in emergency management, starting this fall.

University officials say the new bachelor’s degree was approved this week. It will be offered through the university’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service.

John Bartle, the college’s acting dean, says the emergency management profession is rapidly evolving and offers the opportunity for high-paying jobs.

The degree will focus on the policies and infrastructure needs of cities, states and countries.

The approval of the new degree program follows a decision in February to add an emergency management and fire protection concentration to the university’s bachelor of general studies degree.