A 22-year-old Grand Island man escaped injury Friday when icy conditions on the Missouri River bridge at Nebraska City resulted in a three-vehicle accident.

A 2008 Toyota Rava4, driven by Thomas J. Clinch, hit a concrete barrier dividing the lanes of the bridge and spun into the path of eastbound traffic.

Public funding and equality at the ballot box are on the line when federal census day arrives April 1, Otoe County Commissioner Carol Crook said Tuesday.

Crook encouraged all Otoe County citizens and non-citizens to participate in the census, which is being promoted as 10 questions that take 10 minutes to complete.

She said it’s 10, 10 in 2010, but its affects will go on much longer. The census determines distribution of over $300 billion annually in government funding.

Prosecutors have dropped animal neglect charges against an Otoe County man who had been hired to winter a herd last year.

Otoe County Attorney David Partsch filed the charges against Christopher Schram, 33, after his office received a complaint from the cattle owner.

He said he filed charges based on the information at that time, but eventually informed the owner that he would move to dismiss the charges.

 

A 46-year-old Fairbury man was taken to St. Mary’s Community Hospital Thursday after the truck and semi-trailer he was driving turned over at the intersection of Highways 75 and 2 south of Nebraska City.

The Nebraska State Patrol has begun training on three light armored vehicles (LAV’s) surplused by the Nebraska Army National Guard.

The LAV-25 is an all terrain, all weather light armored personnel carrier.  Built by General Dynamics, the LAV-25 is an amphibious vehicle capable of forging streams, rivers and inland waterways.

Nebraska City Fire and EMS responded the intersection of Highways 2 and 75 at 11:08 a.m. on Tuesday where there was an accident  involving Shalena Lakisha Mae Spellman, 29, of Hamburg, Iowa.

The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office reports that Spellman suffered fatal injuries after she pulled her 2001 Plymouth Neon into the path of a westbound Freightliner truck and semi-trailer hauling treated power poles.

School board member Tom Farrell says Nebraska City’s response to federal education reform should reward good teachers by making a stand when teaching is not acceptable.

New federal guidelines require school districts to include student achievement as part of teacher evaluations, which influence salaries, promotions and retention.

Rather than increasing pay when students meet federal objectives, Farrell suggested reviews of annual pay raises when students fall short.

Ignite Lincoln is now looking for people who have a passion and love to talk about it. The event features fast-paced, 5-minute presentations, and is turning to the community to provide some enlightened local entertainment.

Video>>> The 30th Annual Avoca Quack Off was held Saturday, Jan. 30, at Tefft Park. The event is sponsored by the Avoca Volunteer Fire Department.
 

The Mayhew Cabin & Historic Village Board announced Tuesday its purchase of the former John Brown’s Cave gift shop building at 2010 Fourth Corso.

“This is a great opportunity for this site to develop as a first rate attraction for Nebraska City and tell the story of the Underground Railroad,”said board director Bill Hayes.

The USDA Agricultural Statistics Service confirmed Jan. 12 what farmers who waited in long lines at elevators this fall suspected, the 2009 corn and soybean harvest was one for the record books.

While records yields are reported, the harvest is not completed for some area farmers.

Video>>> Zachry Construction has donated $10,000 toward new city Christmas lights, decorations and signage.

The Nebraska State Patrol arrested 49-year-old John Suppes of Nebraska City Thursday after a hit-and-run accident near Waverly.

The driver of a Jeep Cherokee told state troopers her vehicle had been struck from behind by a red, two-door sports car while she was stopped near highways 6 and 31.

About 15 minutes later, troopers located a 1998 red Honda that had been abandoned at the Waverly interchange near Interstate 80. A wallet and empty beer can were found inside.

Otoe County prosecutors swore out arrest warrants Monday regarding what police earlier described as a gruesome beating.

Christopher Jordan, 21, of Nebraska City is charged with first degree assault on 28-year-old Michael Anderson of Shenandoah on Dec. 22.

Police say Jordan brought Anderson to his home in Nebraska City after Anderson had an argument with his girlfriend in Iowa.

It took only minutes for customers to spread through the low profile aisles after Walgreens opened its doors at 502 S. 11th St. for the first time at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

There was a steady stream of 20 to 25 customers all morning long to the satisfaction and surprise of Certified Store Manager John Wood.