NELIGH, Neb. (AP) — Work is scheduled to begin this week on a power line project in northeast Nebraska.
Nebraska Public Power District officials say a 345,000-volt line will be run 39 miles from a substation southwest of Hoskins to a new substation northeast of Neligh (NEE’-lee). Also, four 115,000-volt lines will be run from the new substation to existing lines.
Project manager Jedd Fischer warns motorists that a helicopter being used to string shield wire could be distracting.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Lincoln resident punched a would-be robber in the face, apparently persuading him to run away.
The resident told police that someone knocked on his front door around 11 p.m. Sunday. The man who knocked was pointing a gun at the resident when he opened the door. Police say the resident pushed aside the gun and punched the robber, who fled.
Police Capt. Danny Reitan says investigators found a starter’s pistol at the scene. No arrest has been reported.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — The Beatrice City Council has voted to sell the city’s interest in Store Kraft, which went out of business in 2014.
On Monday the council approved a proposal to sell all of its remaining interests to Alexander Plastics Inc., a Dallas-based corporation doing business as Creations Global Retail. The city will be paid $7,500.
City Administrator Tobias Tempelmeyer says no other companies approached the city about such a purpose, and he says the city isn’t sure exactly what stake it has in the fallen company. He says Alexander Plastics was willing to take a risk to find out.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Engine trouble has forced a flight instructor to land a small plane on a frozen farm field in western Iowa.
The single-engine Cessna touched down safely around 11 a.m. Monday near Lake Manawa south of Council Bluffs.
Authorities say neither flight instructor Travis Yohn, of Blair, Nebraska, nor his student, Connor Galvin, of Omaha, Nebraska, were injured. The plane sustained no damage.
The engine problems became apparent after the plane took off from Council Bluffs Municipal Airport.
Authorities say an acquaintance found the body of 50-year-old Tod Lundberg a little after 6 p.m. Monday. Beatrice Police Lt. Mike Oliver says a crime is not suspected in Lundberg’s death. An autopsy has been ordered.
Lundberg pleaded guilty to one fraud count on Jan. 6 and was scheduled to be sentenced March 2. A plea agreement called for him to pay restitution of nearly $38,000.
Prosecutors say Lundberg billed Nebraska Medicaid for the brand name of certain drugs and then dispensed the generic version of those drugs. Medicaid then paid Lundberg higher prices for the brand-name versions.
Prosecutors say Lundberg carried out his scheme from at least 2010 through 2013.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Electric power generation from Missouri River dams fell below average last year.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says energy production from the six dams in the Dakotas, Montana and Nebraska totaled 8.5 billion kilowatts of electricity last year, down more than 1 billion kilowatts from the year before.
Corps spokesman Mike Swenson says more water was kept in upstream reservoirs last year to balance the river system. He says Missouri River reservoirs are at ideal levels now.
The shortfall in electricity production last year meant the Western Area Power Administration spent more than $67 million buying energy from other, more expensive sources to help make up the shortfall.
That higher cost is ultimately passed to ratepayers.
CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — A jail supervisor says “American Pie” singer Don McLean has been arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge in Maine.
Cpl. Brad Woll says McLean was arrested and posted $10,000 bail early Monday at the Knox County Jail.
The 70-year-old singer-songwriter lives in Camden, Maine. A message left for the police chief there by The Associated Press was not immediately returned.
Woll says he did not know if McLean had a lawyer. A message seeking comment was left through the singer’s website. A phone number listed under his name rang unanswered.
McLean’s original manuscript and notes to “American Pie” sold at auction for $1.2 million in April. The 1971 hit was about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959 — The Day the Music Died.
BLAIR, Neb. (AP) — A judge has resentenced a man convicted of killing a 21-year-old Blair woman nearly 33 years ago.
50-year-old Dale Nollen, who began serving his life sentence at age 17, was resentenced Friday to 90 years to life.
District Judge John Samson’s sentence means Nollen will be eligible for parole at age 62. He can’t be released without parole.
The sentence was prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that says judges must have the ability to sentence juveniles to something other than an automatic life term.
Nollen pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Mary Jo Hovendick, who authorities say was raped, robbed, bound and trapped inside a car sent hurtling into the Missouri River by Nollen and another teen, Brian Smith.
Nollen’s attorney says prison has reformed him.
BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Beatrice police have deployed a new weapon in their search for suspects: humor.
Officer Kris Gill is the brain behind the humorous Facebook posts that accompany security snapshots, and Gill says all of the individuals pictured in the posts have been identified. Gill says that’s a vast improvement from the limited results gained from previous postings.
Police Chief Bruce Lang said he was amazed by how fast some of the crimes were solved following the posts
He also says it’s tricky finding the right balance of humor and seriousness when dealing with suspected crimes.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Valentine’s Day specials are being planned at two Nebraska state parks.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says dining specials will be offered at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Feb. 12-14, and at Platte River State Park, Feb. 13-14. Mahoney has a lodging discount on Feb. 11 and special Valentine’s packages for people who reserve cabins or lodge rooms.
Birds and Breakfast is the theme of the Valentine’s weekend at Ponca State Park. This package includes participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count, as well as breakfast, lodging discounts and other activities.
Go online at OutdoorNebraska.org and click on Calendar for more information or to make a reservation. Park entry permits are required for vehicles.
