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Authorities Release Name of Iowan Killed in Nebraska Crash

sarpy-co.-sheriffsarpBELLEVUE, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say the wrong-way driver who was killed in a Bellevue freeway crash was a 61-year-old man from Iowa.

The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office says the man has been identified as Richard Wilcoxson, of Bedford, Iowa. He died early on Feb. 24 when his sport utility vehicle ran into a semitrailer on the Kennedy Freeway, which also is known as U.S. Highway 75. The truck driver was not injured.

Authorities say the SUV had been spotted earlier heading south in the freeway’s northbound lanes.

Pet Tech Offers to Keep Pets Safe, Healthy and Connected

puppy-and-kittySAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Technology isn’t just for humans anymore. It’s also for their furry friends.

In Silicon Valley and beyond, a growing number of startups are selling devices to keep pets safe, healthy, entertained and connected when their owners are away.

“Pet tech” entrepreneurs and investors see a big opportunity as pet ownership grows globally and owners show a willingness to spend serious money on their four-legged companions.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households, or 80 million homes, have pets, and Americans spent more than $60 billion on them last year, according to the American Pet Products Association.

But as more pet-tech gadgets come to market, experts caution owners against relying on them too much, saying technology is no substitute for actually spending time with your dogs and cats.

Omaha Police Arrest Suspect in August Fatal Shooting

Marcus Short
Marcus Short

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police have arrested a man in connection to an August shooting that killed an Omaha teenager.

The Omaha Police Department announced that 26-year-old Marcus Short was arrested Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony in the death of 19-year-old Garion Johnson.

Police found Johnson with multiple gunshot wounds in north Omaha on August 8. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Authorities say Short is being held at the Douglas County Jail.

Court records do not list an attorney who could be reached for comment.

Nebraskan Convicted of Forging Checks on Grandpa’s Account

gavel-moreFREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A Norfolk man is scheduled to be sentenced in April for forging checks on his grandfather’s closed account.

Prosecutors say 26-year-old Daniel Wetherell also opened accounts at other retailers and services by using his grandfather’s Social Security number. Online court records say Wetherell pleaded no contest Monday to a charge of forgery. His sentencing is set for April 18.

Wetherell also most pay nearly $4,000 in restitution to a Fremont bank branch.

2 Arrested in Nebraska Murder-for-Hire Plot

Jail-Bars-and-Cuffs_mediumAn investigation into a murder-for-hire plot has led to the arrest of two men on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

On Friday, Feb. 26, the Nebraska State Patrol was contacted by the Aurora Police Department reference an Aurora man who had solicited another individual to kill his estranged wife.

The case investigation continued through the weekend and on Monday, Feb. 29, a Nebraska State Patrol undercover investigator made contact with the suspect identified as Robert S. Honken, 37, of Aurora.  During the contact, Honken arranged to pay the undercover investigator to kill his estranged wife. He provided the undercover investigator, with a cash deposit for the murder of his estranged wife, with the remainder of the agreed upon price to be paid after the murder was completed.

After completing the deal, Honken who was under surveillance by NSP investigators and the NSP Aviation Support Division drove away. His vehicle was then stopped by a Nebraska State Patrol trooper and he was taken into custody. Honken was lodged in the Hall County Jail on a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

A second suspect, Derrick Shirley, 30, of Bradshaw was also taken into custody in conjunction with the investigation.  Shirley had made a previous arrangement with Honken in which he was also paid cash to kill Honken’s estranged wife.

Shirley was lodged in the Hamilton Jail on a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

4th Nebraska Student Pleads No Contest in Alcohol Death Case

Vance Heyer
Vance Heyer
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A fourth University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity member charged in the alcohol death of another member has pleaded no contest to procuring alcohol to a minor.

According to court records, Vance Heyer entered his plea Monday.

Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Bruce Prenda said that Heyer was 21 and vice president of the FarmHouse Fraternity when he purchased bottles of vodka for an off-campus party on Sept. 4, 2014. Eighteen-year-old Clayton Real was found dead the next morning in his room at the fraternity house. Affidavits in the case say Real died of acute alcohol intoxication.

Twenty-year-old Thomas Trueblood, 23-year-old Ross Reynolds and 23-year-old Cory Foland pleaded no contest to procuring alcohol to a minor in February.

All four men are scheduled to be sentenced April 25.

Lawsuit Says Lancaster County Ignoring Commissioner Law

gavelLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man has sued Lancaster County, saying the county doesn’t have as many commissioners as required by state law.

Gary Aldridge filed the lawsuit last week, seeking to force the five-member board to add two more commissioners. The county’s chief administrator declined to comment about the lawsuit.

The law requires counties with populations of more than 300,000 to have seven commissioners within a year after reaching that figure. The lawsuit cites U.S. Census Bureau estimates that say the county reached 300,000 in population by December 2014.

In January Sen. Matt Hansen, of Lincoln, introduced a bill that would increase the population threshold to 400,000 and make it effective only after a general census. The next is scheduled for 2020.

Tecumseh Man, 24, Dies in Head-On Collision Near Syracuse

fatal-accidentSYRACUSE, Neb. (AP) — A Tecumseh man has died in a head-on collision on a highway south of Syracuse.

Otoe County Sheriff’s office says 24-year-old Ryan Dela Cruz drove his southbound car over the center line on U.S. Highway 50 and collided with a semitrailer just after 8 a.m. Monday.

Dela Cruz’s sedan was knocked back toward a road intersection, and the semitrailer went into a ditch east of the highway.

Dela Cruz was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators say he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. The semitrailer driver was wearing a seat belt and had minor injuries.

Ex-Schuyler Officer Gets Probation in Domestic Assault Case

Google Maps
Google Maps

COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A former Schuyler police officer has been given a year of probation after making a deal with prosecutors.

Scott Wimer also was fined $150 at his sentencing hearing Thursday in Platte County Court. The 38-year-old pleaded no contest to attempted domestic assault after prosecutors lowered the charge.

Court documents say Wimer clashed with his estranged wife on Oct. 1 and July 12 last year at their home in Columbus.

Wimer joined the Schuyler force in May 2003. He resigned on Nov. 9.

More Charges for Omaha Man Accused of Abusing Day Care Kids

Mark Mays
Mark Mays
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — More charges have been filed against a 24-year-old Omaha man accused of sexually assaulting girls under the age of 3 at day cares where he worked.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine says he has charged Mark Mays with another count of first-degree sexual assault of a child and five counts of making child pornography. Mays has already been charged earlier this month with a one count of child sex assault.

Omaha police say investigators found photos of the genitals of toddler girls on Mays’ phone. He said investigators are working to identify the children, but it has been difficult because the photos don’t show identifying information. Police believe Mays molested eight toddlers.

Mays had worked at two child day care centers in Omaha since May.

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