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Firefighters find body in house fire Sunday

Update(7:00 AM 6/19):  Omaha fire officials say a man found dead inside a burning house apparently started the fire by setting a mattress on fire.

Officials found the body of 55-year-old Dennis Hansen inside the burning home in southeast Omaha Sunday morning. An autopsy showed he died of smoke inhalation.

Capt. Tim McCaw says Monday that investigators determined a mattress in a bedroom was intentionally ignited. He says there’s no evidence to suggest that anyone outside the home set the fire and all accidental causes have been ruled out.

 

Standoff in Omaha Ends Monday Morning

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A standoff in northwest Omaha lasted several hours until a Douglas County Sheriff’s deputy shot the man who refused to leave his car.

Chief Deputy Martin Bilek says the standoff ended around 11:30 a.m. Monday. Bilek says 36-year-old Lance Wetzel was hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound afterward.

Bilek says a deputy fired one shot at Wetzel after he pointed his gun at officers. Wetzel also may have fired his gun.

Officers were looking for Wetzel because his wife said he had punctured her tires around 8 a.m. and he was wanted on a warrant for illegal gun possession.

During the standoff, nearby residents were evacuated. Bilek says Wetzel ignored officers’ commands during the standoff and wouldn’t leave his car.

High Temps put Stress on Nebraska Crops

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Parts of southern Nebraska have received some much-needed rain, but northern and western parts of state remain hot and dry, which is putting stress on crops and pastures.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says in Monday’s weekly report that 62 percent of the corn is in good to excellent condition. That’s below the average of 78 percent.

Sixty-one-percent of the soybean crop is rated good to excellent, also below the average of 78 percent.

South central, east central and southeast Nebraska got 1 to 3 inches of last week. Little or no rain was recorded elsewhere. The USDA says 63 percent of Nebraska’s topsoil and 65 percent of the subsoil are dry.

The wheat harvest continues across southern Nebraska. Alfalfa and pastures are showing little growth in many areas.

American Indian Groups Receive Grants

WINNEBAGO, Neb. (AP) — The Agriculture Department is giving $154,730 to three American Indian groups in Nebraska to help improve business and provide job opportunities.

USDA rural development officials announced the grants Monday as part of a package of $3.2 million in grants nationwide.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska’s First Ponca Financial will receive $60,189 to provide education and support to Native American entrepreneurs.

The Winnebago Tribe will receive $54,541 to provide technical help to businesses through its Winnebago business development program.

The Little Priest Tribal College received a $40,000 grant to train tribe members on growing and marketing crops.

Troop E Enforcement Leads to Five DWI Arrests

(Scottsbluff, Neb.)- A special enforcement effort designed to reduce the potential for fatal or injury crashes in and around Scotts Bluff County, resulted in five motorists being arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

The special enforcement which included four DWI check point as well as high visibility patrols took place Friday & Saturday, June 15-16 in and around Scotts Bluff County.

In addition to the five DWI arrests, troopers issued three citations for open container, three citations for drug possession, four citations for driving under suspension, and four citations and warnings for speeding.  Eleven citations and warnings were also issued for violation of the state’s seat belt law.

The June enforcement was the final in a series of special efforts conducted in Scotts Bluff County (April-June), as part of a $7,440 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS).

Scotts Bluff County is listed as a priority county by NOHS due to the high number of alcohol related fatality crashes. In the past three years, Scotts Bluff County has had 12 fatality crashes of which seven have involved impaired driving.

The Nebraska State Patrol Troop E Headquarters-Scottsbluff will continue special enforcement efforts throughout the summer with an emphasis on impaired driving. Motorists are reminded to never drive impaired or distracted.

The following statistics reflect activity by the Nebraska State Patrol Troop E- Scottsbluff during the April –June special enforcements;

18- Driving While Intoxicated Arrests 14- Driving Under Suspension
12- Minor in Possession citations 34- Seat Belt Citations & Warnings
16- Open Container citations 20- drug possession citations


Omaha Teen Sentenced for Killing Pizza Delivery Man

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha teenager has been sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison for his role in the stabbing death of a pizza delivery man.

Omaha media reports 18-year-old Marcus Robinson was sentenced Monday for helping kill Christopher Taylor in 2010.

Prosecutors say Robinson was one of four men who lured Taylor to a vacant apartment and killed him.

Robinson cooperated with investigators and testified against two of the other people involved. He also completed high school while out of jail on bond as the case progressed.

But the judge who sentenced Robinson said he played an active role in the crime, so he deserved a stern sentence.

Hot Air Balloon Crashes In Field

NORFOLK, Neb. (AP) — One person was injured in a hot air balloon crash Sunday at a Norfolk air show.

Iowa media reports that the balloon crashed in a cornfield near the 2012 Nebraska Airfest and State Fly-In.

An air show spokesman says the balloon took off as normal just before 7 a.m. Sunday, despite high winds. The balloon reached 500 feet, and began to lose altitude when it hit a warm pocket of air.

Four people were inside of the balloon. Officials say one was taken to the hospital with a possible fractured ankle. Officials are not immediately releasing the names of the pilot or passengers.

The show continued as planned, but the U.S. Army’s Parachute Team did not perform because of the windy conditions.

Car Collision Kills South Dakota Woman

FORDYCE, Neb. (AP) — A 23-year-old South Dakota woman has been killed in a car collision with a semitrailer in northeast Nebraska.

Cedar County authorities say Stacey Myers, of Yankton, S.D., died early Sunday morning. The crash occurred around 4 a.m. west of Fordyce on U.S. Highway 81, about two miles south of Nebraska Highway 12.

The sheriff’s department says the truck driver wasn’t hurt.

The accident is being investigated.

Fremont has the best tasting water says The American Water Works Association

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — The American Water Works Association says Fremont has the best-tasting water in the country.

Local Fremont media says the city won the association’s annual Best of the Best Water Taste Test, besting the regional winners from across North America.

The city water comes from nine wells with an average depth of 90 feet in a well field about three miles southeast of the city, near the Platte River.

Officials say the city water treatment plant adds fluoride and a little chlorine and a substance to control manganese.

GED Testing Meets Technology

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Adults taking a GED test in Lincoln, Hastings and Norfolk will soon have the option to answer all of the questions on computers.

Nebraska Department of Education administrators announced that they will offer the new, computer-based tests starting June 25. The remaining 28 Nebraska-based testing centers will allow computerized GED testing no later than January.

Nebraska adult education state director Vicki Bauer says the computerized system expands access to the GED tests and will help more adults find jobs. Bauer says the new system offers better security, more flexible scheduling for test-takers, and instant scores in four out of the five content areas.

The GED test still must be taken in-person at an official testing center. Computerized GED testing will cost $24 for each content area.

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