A Nebraska City police officer alerted firefighters around 2:56 a.m. Friday to a fire at Nebraska City Mobile Home Court.

Sgt. Chris Bando noticed an orange glow in the trailer and black windows, said Fire Chief Alan Viox. He said the description indicates that the fire was in a smoldering stage as it was deprived of oxygen inside of the trailer.

A tornado warning was issued for southwest Otoe County around 1:45 p.m. on Friday, but storm spotters have not confirmed a touchdown and there are no reports of damage.

Gregg Goebel, Otoe County Emergency Management director, was traveling toward the thunderstorm as it entered the county.  A tornado warning was issued after radar indicated cloud rotation.

Peru State College (PSC) President Stan Carpenter has announced a three-year pilot program that will allow students who live outside of Nebraska the opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates beginning this fall.

A master plan for Nebraska City's water system is currently available at city hall.

The plan recommends several projects, including a new wellfield, new water tower and service improvements for the J. Sterling Morton Beltway.

The Nemaha Natural Resources District board approved $220,000 at its meetings Thursday to engineer renovations at Iron Horse Trail Lake.

The 360-acre recreation area in Pawnee County opened in 1985 with an 85-acre lake, but NRD Manager Bob Hilske said sediment has made up to 30 percent of the lake unusable.

City commissioners voted to immediately increase the cost of water in Nebraska City despite objections from Commissioner Jeff Crunk about a slumping economy.

The increase will impact all Nebraska City Utility customers, including residential, industrial and rural water. For the typical residential customer, rates will increase 9 percent immediately and another 9 percent in January.

Rainfall forced the cancellation of Friday’s Otoe County’s Relay for Life event, but participants say the fight against cancer will go on.

A group calling themselves “Mothers Lil’ Angels” stayed on the track late into the evening despite persistent rain that fell through the afternoon and puddled on the campgrounds.

The Nebraska City school board voted to hire the Minnesota-based Taher company to run the school’s food service program.  The board approved the hire at a special meeting Wednesday night.  They also heard presentations from Creative Dining out of Michigan and Lunchtime Solutions out of South Dakota. 
 

Sarah Zwickle of Lopez Island, Wash., gave a composting demonstration in Nebraska City on May 28.

The Nebraska City Public Schools Board of Education approved the hiring of Christopher Fletcher of Holton, Kan. as the District Technology Coordinator.  The hiring was finalized at Monday night's regular meeting.  Five individuals were interviewed for the new position.  More details will appear in Friday's News-Press.

A search for a missing girl in Nebraska City was called off shortly before 10 p.m. Monday night when the girl was found safe.

A variety of events were held over the weekend in the Nebraska City area, including Talmage Days and a Strawberry Festival at Kimmel Orchard.

A man suspected of murdering his girlfriend Friday at their Nebraska City home is being held without bail at the Otoe County Jail.

On Thursday afternoon, a traffic stop for speeding led Nebraska City Police officers to search a local residence and recover approximately a half a pound of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

A preliminary hearing for former Nebraska City stockbroker Brian Schuster has been scheduled for Thursday, June 25.  Schuster is charged with eight felony counts of failing to effectively inform investors about the risks associated with investments in American Capital Corporation or Royal Palm Capital Group.