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Suicide Investigated at Northeast Nebraska School

police-lights-redWAKEFIELD, Neb. (AP) — The discovery of a suicide on school property in northeast Nebraska forced a lockdown lasting several hours.

The K-12 Wakefield Community Schools building was locked down for several hours Wednesday while the Dixon County Sheriff’s office investigated. Normal operations resumed before the end of the school day.

The sheriff’s office said in a statement that a 20-year-old man was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday morning.

Superintendent Mark Bejot said a teacher noticed a running car parked on a soccer field near the school Wednesday. When he investigated, Bejot found the man dead inside the car.

The man’s identity wasn’t immediately released, but officials say he wasn’t a student.

Wakefield is a small city of about 1,400 people about 35 miles southwest of Sioux City, Iowa.

Earthquake Shakes Parts of Kansas, Oklahoma

us-geological-surveyCONWAY SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 has shaken parts of Kansas and Oklahoma.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday. It had an epicenter about 8 miles south of Conway Springs, which is a town of about 1,200 people about 30 miles southwest of Wichita. It wasn’t immediately clear how much damage the quake may have caused.

The southern part of Kansas has been experiencing an upsurge in earthquakes this year. A panel commissioned by Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback found there wasn’t enough evidence to link the temblors to oil and gas exploration. The panel is recommending more study and the installation of more monitoring stations.

Deputy: Nebraska Teen Injured in Bridge Crash

lancaster-county-sheriffLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln-area teenager has been hospitalized after driving her car off of a bridge and onto a railroad track.

Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jon Osterhaus said the 17-year-old girl had set her car on cruise control near Lincoln when she lost control.

She was taken to an area hospital with a broken arm. Her condition is unclear and her identity hasn’t been released.

BNSF Railway had to divert trains until the track was cleared.

Deputies cited her for careless driving.

Airline Plans Florida Service from Omaha

Allegiant AirlinesOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Allegiant Airlines has announced that will begin nonstop flights in March from Omaha to Florida’s Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

The Las Vegas-based airline said in a news release Wednesday that the service will begin on March 5, with direct flights from Omaha’s Eppley Airfield to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport.

The airline also serves Grand Island airport, and it says that service will continue.

The Omaha flights were announced with news about new service to four other cities: Pittsburgh; Indianapolis; Richmond, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida.

3 Escape Flames in Northwest Omaha House Fire

OMAHA-FIRE-AND-RESCUE-BADGEOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Three members of a northwest Omaha family have escaped flames from a house fire.

Fire officials say the fire was reported a little before 2 a.m. Wednesday. A smoke alarm had awakened the three, who got out of the house without injury.

Fire officials say flames from a fireplace had jumped to a ceiling.

Lancaster County to Place Markers on Vet Graves

grave-siteLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Officials in a southeastern Nebraska county say they have enough markers to place one on every war veteran’s grave in Calvary Cemetery.

Marine veteran Richard Zierke asked Lancaster County officials in January to purchase almost 600 brass markers for the graves.

Gary Chalupa, the county’s veterans services officer, says the county can now purchase them and expects to buy up to 600 metal alloy flag holders to be fastened to headstones.

Officials usually place brass flag holders to mark veteran graves.

Chalupa says that brass flag holders cost almost $30 each. He says the county ordered the metal alloy version at $10 each to stretch available funds.

Nebraska Prosecutor Helps Subdue Defendant

judgeshipMADISON, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska prosecutor helped deputies subdue a defendant during a courtroom melee.

The incident erupted Monday morning during a hearing in Madison County District Court in Madison.

Twenty-three-year-old Taylor Pass began screaming at a judge after the judge sent Pass back to jail because the man who’d posted bond for Pass wanted his money back.

Norfolk defense attorney Doug Stratton says County Attorney Joe Smith joined deputies in gaining control of Pass, who eventually was taken from the courtroom.

After the incident, Judge Mark Johnson raised Pass bail amount to $75,000 from $20,000.

Pass is scheduled for a February trial on theft and threats charges.

Nebraska Volunteers Find Yellow Lab Missing Since Crash

lancaster-county-sheriffLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Volunteers have reunited a yellow Labrador retriever with his family after the dog ran away from the scene of a car crash.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says the 5-year-old Labrador named Jack was on his way to go duck hunting on Saturday when a pickup crossed the center line near Bennet and collided head-on with the SUV he was in.

Three family members and Jack were thrown from the vehicle. Family friend Tom Keller says the dog stayed with the family but was scared off by police sirens. Two family members remained hospitalized on Monday and one has been released.

Keller announced the dog was missing over the weekend and volunteers found Jack on Monday. He says Jack made a female friend on his adventure and will likely soon become a father.

Publication Calls UNO Top University for Veterans

university-of-nebraska-omahaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska at Omaha has been named the top university for veterans by the Military Times publication.

UNO was praised for the programs it offers to help veterans succeed and for its detailed data on how veterans fare when they do return to school.

Mike Connolly, who leads UNO’s office of military and veteran services says the ranking is an honor for the school.

UNO’s support for veterans include Connolly’s one-stop office for help, an online bachelor’s degree, a fee waiver for active-duty soldiers and a student organization for veterans.

The rankings for 2015 are available online at http://bit.ly/1u31PMZ .

Omaha Priest Dies in Missouri Traffic Accident

Rev. Francis "Frank" Partusch
Rev. Francis “Frank” Partusch

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Omaha Archdiocese has announced that a priest has died in a traffic accident while vacationing in Branson, Missouri.

The archdiocese chancellor, Tim McNeil, says the Rev. Francis “Frank” Partusch was struck by a car and killed. A Branson police news release says the accident occurred a little before 5 p.m. Monday on Missouri Highway 76 on the west side of Branson. The accident cause is being investigated.

Archbishop George Lucas says Partusch’s death “is a tragic loss for his family, parishioners and his brother priests.”

The 68-year-old Partusch had been pastor of St. Bridget-St. Rose Parish in south Omaha. He’d previously served at other Omaha parishes and at St. Michael’s in South Sioux City.

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