We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Safety Regulators Seek Penalties in Nebraska Worker’s Death

OSHACOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Federal officials propose to penalize a company nearly $15,000 because of safety violations that officials say contributed to the death of a Nebraska worker.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration says Gehring Construction & Ready-Mix committed three violations connected to the April 11 accident at Lake Socorro, south of Schuyler. The Colfax County Attorney’s Office says 26-year-old Craig Anderson, of Columbus, was part of a Gehring crew. Officials say Anderson was driving a front-end loader while attempting to free a cement truck that had gotten stuck. The loader was chained to the truck when the chain snapped and a section struck Anderson.

A Gehring spokesman didn’t immediately return a call Friday from The Associated Press.

New Private School in Omaha Offers Free Tuition

schoolOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new private school in Omaha that won’t charge families a dime for their children’s education is wrapping up renovation work in preparation for its August opening.

The Lozier Foundation announced plans a year ago to convert a former church and school into a private school with free tuition.

Nelson Mandela Elementary will begin with kindergarten and first grade students. It will add a grade each year until it reaches fifth grade.

A foundation official says around 93 percent of students admitted into the school come from families that qualify for free or reduced-price meals. About 85 percent came from single-parent homes.

Nebraskan Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide

Everett Hoesing
Everett Hoesing

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A July sentencing has been scheduled for a 27-year-old Hickman man who’s pleaded guilty to allegations that he was driving drunk when his car hit and killed a bicyclist south of Lincoln.

Everett Hoesing faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced on July 16. Court records say he pleaded guilty and was convicted on Wednesday in Lancaster County District Court.

Authorities say Hoesing’s car struck 57-year-old Douglas Dalke, of Lincoln, on Sept. 22. Authorities say Hoesing’s blood tested out at more than twice the legal limit to drive.

Missouri Man Sentenced for Hate Crime in 2013 Omaha Assault

Gregory Duncan
Gregory Duncan

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Missouri man convicted of a hate crime in connection to the October 2013 assault of a Marine in downtown Omaha has been sentenced.

36-year-old Gregory S. Duncan of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 to 18 months in prison.

In February, Duncan was convicted of third-degree assault for punching Ryan Langenegger in the face after Duncan and his friends used derogatory names regarding Langenegger ‘s friend’s sexual orientation.

James Martin Davis, Duncan’s attorney, has said Duncan’s friends were responsible for the derogatory slurs.

Eastern Nebraska Teen Dies in Rollover Crash Off County Road

washington-county-sheriffKENNARD, Neb. (AP) — A teenage girl has been killed in a rollover crash off a county road in eastern Nebraska.

The crash was reported about 4 p.m. Wednesday and occurred southeast of Kennard in Washington County.

Sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Willis says 16-year-old Meagan Swets apparently lost control of her pickup, and it rolled as it ran off the road into a farm field. Willis says the girl was ejected and died at the scene. She had lived in Blair.

The crash is being investigated.

Authorities Say Worker Shocked at Nebraska Construction Site

sarpy-co.-sheriffPAPILLION, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a worker at a construction site in eastern Nebraska is in critical condition after being shocked.

Sarpy County Sheriff Capt. Rolly Yost says the person was working Wednesday afternoon at the site of the new Papillion Public Works Department when a service line was touched. The worker was shocked and taken to a hospital.

A backhoe had affected electrical service to the building prior to the worker’s injury.

Additional information is not available.

Man Believed to Be Oldest Nebraskan Dies at 110

nebraska-city-neNEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — A man believed to have been the oldest Nebraskan had died at the age of 110 in Nebraska City.

Gude Funeral Homes says Mark Behrends died Saturday at nursing home. Services were held Wednesday.

Behrends was born on May 16, 1905. He farmed for years and worked for a farm implement dealer. He married Irene Schreiner in 1930, and she died in 1983. He’d lived on his own until turning 106.

According to the Nebraska Health Care Association and verified by E.A. Kral of Wilber, Nebraska, who tracks Nebraska’s oldest residents, Behrends was one of three people living in Nebraska to have reached age 107 and older.

The Omaha World-Herald reports that Behrends used to tell people that his secret to longevity was love and a daily can of beer.

Nebraskan Dies After Pickup Rolls Over and Pins Her

antelope-county-sheriffFULLERTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 58-year-old woman has died after a pickup she was driving ran over her in northeast Nebraska’s Antelope County.

The accident occurred early Monday morning about three miles south of Elgin, at the intersection of Nebraska Highway 14 and 836 Road.

Sheriff Robert Moore says in a news release that Sarri Stecki, of Fullerton, stopped the pickup and the trailer it was pulling at the intersection, and she got out. Moore says it appears the truck began to roll and Stecki may have fallen into its path while trying to get back inside the cab. Moore says the pickup rolled over Stecki and pinned her underneath. She died at the scene.

An autopsy has been ordered.

Hall County to Seek New Terms in Housing State Inmates

Hall-County-SheriffGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Hall County will seek new terms when bidding to continue housing state inmates in its jail.

Corrections director Fred Ruiz told Hall County supervisors on Tuesday that state inmates are more demanding to oversee compared to county inmates. Ruiz says the state inmates are “a handful.”

Hall County began taking in the state inmates last June amid prison overcrowding at the state level. The county was contracted to house up to 80 state inmates a day for $88 per inmate per day.

Counties must respond Wednesday to the state’s request for proposals for inmate housing. Ruiz says he plans to respond with a bid of up to $93 per inmate per day if the state provides 96 inmates daily.

___

Pilger Village Clerk Steps Up After June 2014 Tornado

pilger-tornado-2PILGER, Neb. (AP) — A tornado last year that damaged most of a small, northeastern Nebraska town left the village clerk known as “Momma Kim” with plenty to do.

Pilger Village Clerk Kim Neiman said she decided that she needed to be someone for the community who was a reliable source for help after the 2014 June tornado destroyed more than three-quarters of the town and killed two people.

Neiman said at one point, she had worked between 16 and 18 hours a day.

Her work recently was recognized by the Nebraska chapter of the American Society of Public Administration. She was named Outstanding Public Administrator of the Year.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File