OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Federal authorities have indicted a fifth person who prosecutors say used spas as fronts for a prostitution operation in Omaha.
Federal prosecutors say the spas attracted customers from the Omaha area, elsewhere in Nebraska and from other states.
The prosecutors say 45-year-old Kimberly Bivens, of Omaha, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a conspiracy charge.
The other four are 63-year-old William Knox, of Omaha; 41-year-old Tammy Schuck, of Omaha; 31-year-old Christopher Tierney, of Omaha; and 22-year-old Tabatha Ashburn, of Junction City, Kan.
All four have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other charges.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Utility officials say Nebraska consumers should be wary of scammers who might offer to pay their bills for free through a bogus government program.
Lincoln Electric System CEO Kevin Wailes says the utility scam has been making its way across the country.
As part of the scam, consumers are told they can get their utility bills paid through special funding from the Federal Reserve that President Barack Obama approved.
Wailes says the scammers steal users’ personal information and social security numbers.
The scam has been confirmed in California, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee and Texas so far. Wailes said LES wanted to warn consumers in Nebraska ahead of time.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Army National Guard has sent a helicopter and crew to help fight wildfires in Colorado.
Source: http://www.nbc33tv.com
Nebraska Guard officials say they deployed a UH-60 Black Hawk and four-member crew from the 1-376th Aviation Battalion. They’ve been sent to the Fort Collins, Colo., area.
The helicopter is equipped with a 660-gallon bucket that can scoop water from lakes and other water bodies so it can be spread on or ahead of flames.
The helicopter left Lincoln on Tuesday and could remain in Colorado for more than a couple of weeks.
The Nebraska Guard says the help was requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a multistate agreement that eases the way for emergency aid from state to state.
Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind between 10 and 13 mph becoming light.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light wind becoming southeast between 13 and 16 mph. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
WAHOO, Neb. (AP) — Saunders County officials have released the name of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in the spillway south of Lake Wanahoo in eastern Nebraska.
The sheriff’s office identified the boy as Baden Martinez.
The body was recovered around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The boy’s mother reported him missing Tuesday about 10:30 p.m. when he didn’t returned to their Wahoo home. He’d gone fishing by himself around 5 p.m.
It’s unclear whether an autopsy has been ordered. County Attorney Scott Tingelhoff, who also acts as the county coroner, didn’t immediately return a call from The Associated Press.
TRENTON, Neb. (AP) — Officials have recovered the body of an 80-year-old man from Swanson Reservoir in southwest Nebraska.
The Hitchcock County sheriff’s office says the body of Alvin Brown, of McCook, was recovered Monday afternoon. Authorities were notified about a missing fisherman earlier in the day.
Brown’s body was found near a boat ramp.
Local Media says the investigation is continuing and an autopsy is pending.
(Alliance, Neb.)- An armed man who wounded three law enforcement officers and a hostage is dead after a more than 14 hour standoff at an Alliance pharmacy.
The suspect, identified as Andres Gonzalez, 472 Cody Avenue, Alliance was pronounced dead at approximately 11:30 p.m., (MDT), Tuesday, June 12, 2012.
The incident began just before 9:00 a.m., (MDT), Tuesday, June 12, when an armed male later identified as Gonzales, walked into the Thiele Pharmacy, in the 300 block of Box Butte Avenue, downtown Alliance. Officers with the Alliance Police Department responded to a 911 call reporting an armed man entering the building.
During the initial response, Gonzales exchanged gunfire with an Alliance Police Officer. Officer Kirk Felker, 43, a 15-year veteran of the Alliance Police Department was transported to the Box Butte General Hospital where he underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to his arm. Officer Felker remains hospitalized in stable condition. No-one else was injured in the initial confrontation.
The owner of the pharmacy, Charles Lierk, 62, Alliance remained inside the building and was taken hostage by Gonzales.
The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) responded to the scene just after 9:00 a.m., (MDT). NSP resources began assisting local authorities with setting up a perimeter and the clearing of nearby buildings.
Just after 10:30 a.m., (MDT), a trooper with the NSP SWAT team was wounded when gunfire was exchanged through a door into an adjacent building. Trooper Tim Flick, 37, a 15-year veteran of the agency suffered three gunshot wounds to the left side of his body, to include his arm and midsection. Trooper Flick was transported to Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance where he remains in stable condition.
A second Alliance Police Officer suffered a shrapnel wound at the time Trooper Flick was shot. Officer Matt Shannon, 35, a five year veteran of the Alliance Police Department was treated and released from the Box Butte General Hospital.
The Nebraska State Patrol established phone contact with the suspect inside the pharmacy and began negotiations.
At approximately 4:30 p.m., (MDT), pharmacy owner Lierk, escaped from the building. During his escape, he suffered a gunshot wound to the back and arm and was transported to Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance where he remains in stable condition.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., (MDT), Tuesday, June 12, an exchange of gunfire occurred between Gonzales, who was barricaded inside a back office, and members of the Nebraska Sate Patrol (NSP) SWAT team. At approximately 11:30 p.m., (MDT), NSP SWAT team members were able to confirm the suspect was deceased at the scene. No SWAT team members were injured.
The scene, in the 300 block of Box Butte Avenue has been secured and is being processed at this time. The initial investigation has determined the suspect was armed with an assault rifle, as well as a handgun. The Box Butte County Attorney has scheduled an autopsy on the body of the suspect. Nebraska law requires a Grand Jury be convened anytime someone dies while in the process of apprehension or in the custody of law enforcement.
As of June 13, 2012, the Box Butte County Attorney is continuing to assist Nebraska State Patrol in the investigation of the events leading up to the hostage situation and stand-off involving Andres Gonzales.
“This is a very complex and involved investigation,” said K. J. Hutchinson, Box Butte County Attorney. “We continue to work multiple crime scenes and release of information will be subject to the Grand Jury process.”
The Nebraska State Patrol is also working a second crime scene at 472 Cody Avenue, Alliance. Investigators say a body identified as Larry Gonzales, 62, Alliance was discovered deceased by law enforcement at approximately 10:00 a.m., (MDT), Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Larry Gonzalez is the father of the armed suspect, Andres Gonzales. An autopsy will be conducted to determine cause of death. The investigation continues.
“I would like to commend everyone involved for their dedication and professionalism during this very dangerous situation,” said Colonel David Sankey, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Flick, Officers Felker and Shannon, and Mr. Lierk, as well as all of the individuals touched by the tragic events. We will continue to work these cases and cooperate with the Box Butte County Attorney throughout the investigative process.”
The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by law enforcement officers from the Alliance, Scottsbluff and Chadron Police Departments, Box Butte & Dawes County Sheriff’s Offices, Nebraska Game and Parks, Nebraska Brand Committee, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) negotiators. Assistance was also provided by the Alliance Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Department of Roads, and the City of Alliance.
In preparation for the 2013 Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique, the Lincoln County Child Abuse Prevention Council is now seeking donations of new and gently used prom dresses. The Dresses for a Cause Prom Boutique will be held winter 2013 and provides new and gently used dresses for $20 or less while raising money for the Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training. Dress donation sites are Orr’s Draperies & Dry Cleaning, located at Westfield Shopping Center and the Platte River Mall office. For more information, visit the Child Abuse Prevention Council’s website at www.lincolncountychildren.com.
HAZARD, Neb. (AP) — A utility worker has died after being injured in a fall while working on a power line northeast of Hazard in central Nebraska.
Sherman County Attorney Mark Eurek said Tuesday that Kurt Keaschall died at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
Keaschall, of Pleasanton, was taken to the hospital on June 6. Dawson Public Power District general manager Robert Heinz reported last week that Keaschall was working in a utility truck bucket when it broke away from its boom. Keaschall fell an estimated 25 feet.
The 46-year-old Keaschall had worked 26 years for the district.
The investigation is continuing. Eurek says there won’t be an autopsy.
