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3 arrested in child’s death in southern Nebraska

FRANKLIN, Neb. (AP) – Three family members have been arrested in the death of a Franklin County toddler in southern Nebraska.
The Nebraska State Patrol say 2-year-old Joseph Rinehart of Naponee died after he was taken to a hospital Monday night. The patrol say an autopsy shows he died of head and internal injuries caused by blunt force trauma.
Officials say the boy’s mother, 24-year-old Laura Rinehart, and his grandparents, Peter and Nancy Draper, were arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death.
Rinehart was being held in the Phelps County jail. Peter Draper was in the Franklin County jail, while Nancy Draper was in the Hall County jail Thursday.

 

You’re not THAT Willie…

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) – A Wisconsin man has been sentenced to four to six years in a Nebraska prison on a drug charge.
37-year-old Willie Vaughn of Eau Claire, Wisconsin was sentenced on Wednesday for possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
Vaughn and 41-year-old Jesse Reese were arrested in February after troopers found over three pounds of marijuana in their car during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in western Nebraska.
Reese, of New Richmond, Wisconsin, awaits trial on three charges.

 

Prosecutors: Don’t steal drugs…now go about your day

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Prosecutors have dismissed a drug charge against a Lincoln woman arrested after she kept a prescription for painkillers mistakenly given to her by a pharmacy.
Diane Louise Meyer was arrested in February and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Prosecutors dismissed the charge Friday after Meyer agreed to participate in a drug diversion program.
Police say when Meyer went to pick up a legitimate prescription, she was accidentally given more than 200 oxycodone pills meant for a woman with a similar name.
When the pharmacy called about the mix-up, Meyer said she had flushed the pills. But police searched her home and found them concealed in a wall.

 

Nebraska teen: I’m not dead

HARVARD, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska high school senior is set to graduate and go to college, although he’s been listed as dead.
Corbin Russell’s education plans are on hold because credit agencies and other records show that he’s deceased.
Russell’s Social Security number was used in a death benefit claim for a man in South Carolina who died in January 2010.
Russell and his mom, Monica, say scholarship applications have been rejected because of flagged credit reports. A valid and unchallenged Social Security number is necessary to seek student loans.
Social Security administration officials say Russell is alive in their records. The three major credit reporting companies say they need documentation to clear up the problem, which has vexed the Russells for nearly two years.

 

Lesson here: Don’t kill your spouse with hammers…

Susan DeJong

FAIRBURY, Neb. (AP) – A southeast Nebraska woman has been given life plus 50 years in prison for beating her husband to death.

55-year-old Susan DeJong was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison for the first-degree murder of her husband. DeJong was given 50 years for using a deadly weapon to commit a felony.

Prosecutors say 52-year-old Thomas DeJong was beaten with two hammers at the couple’s home eight miles west of Fairbury on March 11 last year. He died the next day at a Lincoln hospital.

Prosecutors say Susan DeJong became obsessed with suspicions that her husband was having an affair.

 

Arrests Made in Kearney Child Prostitution Case

(Kearney, Neb.)- Two people are in jail following a Nebraska State Patrol investigation involving the forced prostitution of a 14-year old female.
The arrests follow a weeklong investigation in which investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol were provided information of a Craig’s List personal ad offering female companionship in the Kearney area. On Thursday, April 26, a 35-year old Upland woman was arrested at a Kearney motel, after she offered an undercover officer the services of a 14- year-old female.
A search warrant was served on April 26, at the Upland home of the 35-year old woman, where investigators recovered computers and other electronic devices. The continuing investigation led to the arrest of a male suspect in Omaha.
The 35-year-old female is being held in the Buffalo County Jail on a charge of conspiracy to commit sexual assault of a child and child pornography. Her name is being withheld to protect the identity of the 14-year-old child victim.
28-year-old Alexander C. Rahe, of Omaha was arrested, May 2, without incident at his residence in Omaha. He is being held in the Buffalo County Jail on a charge of 1st degree sexual assault of a child. The investigation remains ongoing.

 

Elm Creek teen wounded while trying to shoot raccoon

ELM CREEK, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska teenager is recovering after he shot his own foot while trying to shoot a raccoon that was attacking his dog.
18-year-old Devin Stall, of Elm Creek, was wounded Monday night. The Buffalo County sheriff’s office says he heard a raccoon attacking his dog and shot the animal with .22 rifle.
The sheriff’s office says the raccoon was wounded with the first shot and Stall put his foot on the animal to hold it down. When he fired again, he accidentally shot himself in the right foot.
Stall was treated at a Kearney hospital and released.

 

 

Dental records may ID skeleton found in NP

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities hope dental and surgical records may identify human remains found along the South Platte River in western Nebraska.
The remains were found April 20. Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer says a second search of the area turned up the lower portion of a jaw, which gives investigators a full dental record.
Kramer believes the remains had been along the river since at least October. He says forensic experts have said identifying the body through anything other than dental records would be difficult.
The sheriff says there were metallic wires in the sternum, which probably indicates a past surgery. He says foul play is not considered a factor, and Lincoln County doesn’t have any open missing person cases.

 

Nebraska Gov. Heineman emphasizes education

NE Governor Dave Heineman

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Gov. Dave Heineman is emphasizing education in a series of public events and using his position to draw attention to high-achieving Nebraska students.
The governor plans to recognize high school seniors Thursday who earned top scores on their ACT exams. Earlier in the week, he honored middle-school students who have advanced to a national math competition. And last month, he called a press conference to congratulate the regional winners of a science bowl competition.
Heineman has traveled to schools in Lincoln and Fairbury this week, and is expected to visit Millard West High School in Omaha on Thursday. In several speeches to student groups, he has stressed the importance of earning a two- or four-year college degree.

 

Storms damage vehicles, structures in eastern Neb.

SHICKLEY, Neb. (AP) – Hail, high winds and a possible tornado have damaged structures and vehicles in parts of eastern Nebraska.
National Weather Service meteorologist Briona Saltzman says a house and garage were damaged about five miles southwest of Shickley in Fillmore County, reportedly by a tornado. She says the tornado report won’t be confirmed until later Thursday.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning after a funnel cloud was spotted a little before 11 p.m. Wednesday.
No injuries have been reported.
Wind gusts approaching 60 mph toppled trees in several Saline County towns.
Flash flood warnings have been posted as well. Saltzman says a rain total of almost 3 inches was recorded in Clay County, and several county roads were flooded.
Two-inch hail damaged vehicles in the south-central Nebraska city of Hastings.

 

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