OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – A new survey of business leaders suggests little or no economic growth in most of a group of nine Midwest and Plains states through the end of the year, but the booming oil business will continue to drive growth in North Dakota and Oklahoma.

The region’s overall economic index improved to a weak 50.4 in September from August’s 49.7.

Any score above 50 suggests economic growth in the months ahead while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

By contrast with the overall index, North Dakota’s economic index hit 61.6 in September and Oklahoma’s registered 56.6.

 

GENOA, Neb. (AP) – A central Nebraska farmer who is being treated for lung cancer says he was amazed by the nearly 100 people who gathered to harvest his soybean crop.

Bernard Cuba of Genoa returned home Friday after a week of radiation treatment in Omaha and watched as dozens of people completed the harvest. They came from around the region and made use of 18 combines, 24 auger wagons and 30 trucks.

It took them about four hours to clear 600 acres of soybeans from seven fields. Cuba’s son had already harvested about 600 acres of corn.

Cuba tells the Columbus Telegram that “words can’t explain it.”

Bob Konwinski organized the event with his wife Michelle. He called it “just a neighborly thing.”

 

SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) – The Black Hills communities of Spearfish, Belle Fourche and Sturgis have welcomed home 160 South Dakota Army National Guard soldiers on Thursday.

A ceremony for the 842nd Engineer Company took place Thursday afternoon at Black Hills State University in Spearfish.

The unit, which deployed in September, just completed a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. The soldiers have been completing demobilization requirements at Fort Bliss, Texas.

While overseas, members of the 842nd used bulldozers, scrapers, cranes, loaders and 20-ton dump trucks to build and maintain roads, construct base force protection measures and provide limited clearing operations.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Lt. Gov Rick Sheehy has honored volunteers and groups that help prepare Nebraska communities for emergencies.

Sheehy on Thursday announced the winners of this year’s “Be Prepared” awards. The award recognizes Nebraskans who respond to emergencies, train others, or help with preparation efforts.

This year’s awards went to a Nebraska storm spotter, a fire official who trains youths, emergency responders who searched for a missing Nebraska child last year, and others.

The awards are sponsored by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center. Sheehy serves as Nebraska’s Director of Homeland Security.

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will campaign for fellow Republican Deb Fischer, who is seeking Nebraska’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Thune will appear Saturday in Lincoln with Fischer, who is seeking to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson. She’s up against former Nebraska governor and two-term U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey in the November election.

Thune briefly considered a run for the 2012 presidency and was mentioned for months before August as a possible vice presidential pick for Mitt Romney.

Thune will speak Saturday afternoon at Fischer’s campaign office in Lincoln.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WAVERLY, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say more than $1,300 worth of popcorn has been stolen from a Cub Scout pack in southeast Nebraska.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/Pu0WWf) that a leader of Waverly Cub Scout Pack 76 discovered Wednesday that the flavored popcorn was missing from a garage at Waverly United Methodist Church in Waverly.

It’s believed the popcorn was stolen between 6 p.m. Monday and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The Cub Scouts sell the popcorn as a fundraiser.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Douglas County jailer who said he was injured during training.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports (http://bit.ly/Pu0WWf ) that Lancaster County District Judge Andrew Jacobsen ruled this week against Robert Sullivan.

Sullivan’s lawsuit says he suffered the injuries in a July 2004 class on defensive tactics and inmate control that was taught by two trainers with the state Department of Correctional Services. Sullivan says he hasn’t been able to work since October 2004.

Jacobsen says Sullivan didn’t prove the state caused his injuries by something the trainers did or didn’t do.

The judge said that “inherent in participating and learning the techniques is the risk of injury stemming from being punched, struck, stunned, kicked or otherwise contacted by a training partner.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A 27-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he fatally stabbed another Lincoln man.

The Lincoln Journal Star says (http://bit.ly/Pu0WWf) a trial date hasn’t been set yet for Joshua Albright, who entered his plea earlier this week.

Albright is charged with second-degree murder, accused of stabbing 30-year-old Benjamin Miller on Aug. 10 in front of Miller’s home. Miller was pronounced dead later at a Lincoln hospital.

Prosecutors suspect the confrontation was over a woman both men had dated.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The Nebraska Supreme Court has granted a new hearing for an Omaha man convicted of murdering a college student, based on his claims that he was framed by a corrupt crime scene investigator.

The high court’s opinion issued Friday found that a Douglas County District Court should have granted an evidentiary hearing for Christopher Edwards before denying his request for post-conviction relief.

Edwards was convicted of second-degree murder in the 2006 disappearance of 19-year-old Jessica O’Grady and was sentenced to 100 years to life in prison. Edwards contends that former Douglas County CSI commander David Kofoed  planted some of the evidence.

Kofoed was convicted in March 2010 of tampering with evidence in a Cass County double slaying in which two men were wrongly charged.

 

Jerry A. Lackey, 74, of Morrill, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Monday, September 24, 2012, at Regional West Medical Center, in Scottsbluff.

 His memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 28, 2012, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Jason Schmidt officiating.  Military honors will be provided by the Nebraska Army National Guard.  He will be laid to rest in a private graveside ceremony at the East Lawn Cemetery in Minatare.  Cremation was at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory in Scottsbluff. A memorial has been established to Valley Bible Church in Scottsbluff.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com

 Jerry Lackey was born April 11, 1938 in Minatare, NE to Floyd and Alva (Imus) Lackey.  He attended school in Minatare and served in the Nebraska Army National Guard for 4 years.  He met the love of his life, Wanda Lou Quinn, in Scottsbluff, NE and married her on March 30, 1962.  Jerry and Wanda lived in Minatare for 19 years where they raised their three children Jerome, Sherrie and Brad.   In 1981, Jerry and Wanda moved to the Scottsbluff/Gering area.  Jerry was employed by the Scotts Bluff County Road Department for 30 years, specializing in road construction and maintenance.

 Jerry enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, especially the Black Hills.  Even so, his greatest joy came from spending time making memories with his children and grandchildren. 

 Survivors include his children, son and daughter-in-law Jerome & Stefani Lackey of McKinney, Texas, daughter and son-in-law Sherrie & Rick Sides of Morrill, and son and daughter-in-law Brad & Tracy Lackey of York; seven grandchildren, Brena Lackey, Brooke Lackey, and Brylee Lackey of McKinney TX,  Scott Sides and Sarah Sides of Torrington WY, Katie (James) Wills of Lincoln NE, and Jerry Lackey of York NE; one great-granddaughter, Lily Lackey; and five siblings, Mary Holten of Loveland CO., Floyd “Tom” Lackey of Gering, Birdie Lopez of Scottsbluff, Inez Steele of Morrill, and Ron Lackey of Gering.

 He was preceded in death by his parents Floyd and Alva Lackey; his wife Wanda (Quinn) Lackey; and siblings, Leota McCune, LeRoy Lackey, Merle Howie, and Judy Cole.