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2 Nebraskans Survive 4-Hour Ordeal on South Dakota Lake

lewis-and-clark-lake
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YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — Two 23-year-old Nebraska residents who became stranded on a South Dakota lake for nearly four hours are expected to make a full recovery from hypothermia.

Daniel Deanda and Dulce Vite of South Sioux City, Nebraska, were in Yankton for a family gathering Sunday and trying out a new personal watercraft on Lewis and Clark Lake. They said water conditions quickly deteriorated when the wind picked up.

The watercraft flipped in the water and they were unable to get it restarted. They tried swimming for shore but were swamped by waves. They eventually were found by rescuers alerted by their family members.

Vite was released from the hospital Monday. Deanda was still being treated with antibiotics to stave off bacterial infection.

Northern Nebraska Man Gets 20-40 Years for Killing Baby Son

gavel-and-scaleO’NEILL, Neb. (AP) — A 26-year-old Atkinson convicted of killing his infant son has been given 20 to 40 years in prison.

Michael Schroeder was sentenced on Monday in Holt County District Court. In March he’d pleaded no contest to intentional child abuse resulting in death. Prosecutors dropped a second charge in return for Schroeder’s plea.

A court affidavit filed by an Atkinson police officer said Schroeder’s son, Kalium Ebsens, was taken to West Holt Memorial Hospital on Oct. 26 after he was found unresponsive. The almost 9-month-old boy was then flown to an Omaha hospital, where he died a few days later.

Officials: Nothing Found in Initial Search for Missing UNL Student

lincoln-fire-departmentLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say initial search efforts didn’t turn up the body of a missing University of Nebraska-Lincoln student believed to have fallen into a creek and been swept away in strong currents.

Lincoln officials say a nine-hour search Wednesday that spanned from Lincoln to the Platte River east of Ashland turned up nothing but debris. Crews began combing the area after a local business released security footage of a woman believed to be 30-year-old Anwesha Dey falling into Antelope Creek and being carried away.

Dey was last seen leaving a friend’s house May 3.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Eric Jones said recent flooding “increased the area that needed to be looked at tenfold.” The search was suspended at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Nebraska Inmate Dies While Serving Time for Robbery Conviction

John Loeffler (Dept. of Corrections Photo)
John Loeffler (Dept. of Corrections Photo)

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials say an inmate at the Nebraska State Penitentiary died last month.

52-year-old John Loeffler died April 22 at a Lincoln hospital.

A news release posted on the Department of Correctional Services’ website five days after his death says he was taken to the hospital after being found unresponsive in his cell on April 20.

Loeffler had been in prison since 1992 after being convicted of robbery and use of a firearm to commit a felony in Douglas County. He had a tentative release date of Dec. 15, 2016.

A grand jury will investigate the death, as is required when someone dies in custody.

Lincoln Motocross Park Hopes to Turn Financial Corner

www.abbottsports.com
www.abbottsports.com

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Organizers of a struggling Lincoln motocross park hope that a possible $222,000 grant and increasing daily ridership will put it on track to generate profits.

The Abbott Motocross Park reported a $29,400 deficit last year.

It had gross revenues of $95,000 in 2014, nearly $27,000 more than it had the year before. But its expenses also increased, from $89,500 in 2013 to $124,400 in 2014.

Motocross director Craig Fritz said the track saw increased daily ridership and usage but also had increased maintenance costs. He has applied for a grant from a Lancaster County fund in hopes of making improvements at the track.

The motocross park is a joint venture between private Abbott Sports Complex and several government groups, including the Lancaster County Board.

Council Bluffs Woman Reports Stabbing Estranged Husband After Break-In

council-bluffs-policeCOUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A 39-year-old man is recovering from stab wounds that police say he received when he broke into a Council Bluffs home and attacked his estranged wife.

Council Bluffs police say the man was taken to an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital for treatment after a traffic stop. Officers had responded to a call around 5:45 p.m. Sunday by a woman reporting threats against her and another woman.

The officers say the man had left by the time they arrived at the home. The women reported that he’d broken in and tried to choke one of them, but she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him. Officers say her injuries were minor and that the other woman wasn’t hurt.

Police say charges are likely against the man, but he’s not yet been arrested.

Grand Island Unveils Deal for Outsourcing Ambulance Billing

grand-island-fire-departmentGRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Grand Island has removed a veil over its deal with a company contracted to handle ambulance billings.

The city said in a news release Friday that it will pay PST Services, a McKesson Corp., company, 4 percent of the net amount collected. That would be around $48,000 on the $1.2 million collected in a typical year.

The City Council approved the contract last week but wouldn’t say what the city will pay PST. City Attorney Bob Sivick said the cost was confidential because the company’s billing formula is considered a trade secret, which is protected under Nebraska’s public records law. The Grand Island Independent submitted an open records request.

The city’s news release said “it was determined releasing the information was in the best interest of the community.”

Family of Slain Yankton Woman Makes Push to Find Killer

Tammy Haas (Facebook)
Tammy Haas (Facebook)

YANKTON, S.D. (AP) — The family of a Yankton woman slain nearly a quarter century ago is making a renewed effort to find her killer.

The body of Tammy Haas was found 23 years ago in a ravine along a Nebraska highway just across the South Dakota border. Nineteen years ago, a jury found her boyfriend not guilty of manslaughter.

Haas’ family last month hired private detectives to work on the case, using $24,000 raised through social media. The Facebook page “Justice for Tammy Haas” has grown to more than 5,000 followers. Also in April, “Dateline NBC” listed the slaying in its “Cold Case Spotlight.”

Mother Nancy Haas says the family hopes someone with knowledge of the case will come forward with information.

Nebraska Man Gets Probation Revoked, Gets Prison in Fatal Crash

jailCOLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — Probation has been revoked for a 32-year-old man convicted of vehicular homicide in the crash death of a Columbus woman.

Brian Browning was sentenced last week to two to three years in prison.

Judge Robert Steinke said in court that Browning, who now lives in Wolbach, began taking terms of his original sentence seriously only when prosecutors sought to revoke his four-year probation. In mid-March Brown admitted failing to report for drug testing, not participating in substance abuse counseling, not completing any community service and driving under suspension.

Authorities say Browning was speeding and driving recklessly on July 21, 2012, when he lost control of his pickup and it rolled, ejecting Browning, another passenger and 20-year-old Toni Krumland, who died days later.

Tornado, Hail Reported in Southeast Nebraska

severe-weatherBEATRICE, Neb. (AP) — Two tornado sightings have been reported in southeast Nebraska but remain unconfirmed.

The National Weather Service says a member of law enforcement reported a twister crossing U.S. Highway 77 north of Cortland around 8:25 p.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.

A storm chaser reported a tornado about two miles northeast of Adams in Gage County 10 minutes later. It’s not clear whether the reports were about the same tornado. The weather service says the sightings have not been confirmed.

The service also says Sunday’s storms brought 2-inch hail to Lancaster, Gage and Johnson counties. Barn roofs were dented and fields of strawberries were damaged at Roca Berry Farm, southwest of Roca.

Forecasters say storms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds are expected to hit the area Monday evening.

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