Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 13

Lincoln Journal Star Tuesday, May 23, 2006 3B HOMETOWN Man sentenced in attempted assault Elizabeth W. and Brent T. Erths childrea" Merritt this year pleaded no contest to attempted first-degree sexual assault of a child, contrary to the advice of his attorney, Deputy Lancaster County MERRITT Public Defender Webb Bancroft. Merritt, who at one time was a suspect in at least 10 incidents involving children, made the plea partly because he wanted to avoid a trial and the trauma it could cause any juveniles associated with the case, Bancroft said. "His hope, my hope, is that they (the juveniles) can put this behind them," Bancroft told Witthoff before sentencing.

Bancroft, in other remarks Monday, suggested what Merritt's de man," Schmidt said. He has "a long history of approaching boys to be alone with them." The Lancaster County attorney's office alleged in court papers last year that Merritt drove up to the 1 1-year-old boy near 17th and Washington streets and asked him if he wanted to earn $5. As the boy continued to walk toward his home, Merritt reportedly approached him twice more with the same offer. He apparently followed the boy to his house. Lincoln police arrested Merritt on Oct 3 in his car near 18th and Washington streets and close to Prescott Elementary School.

Prosecutors initially charged Merritt with 10 counts of misdemeanor child enticement that stemmed from incidents involving juveniles in the area. The case was amended to the single felony charge. Patrol is working to enforce seat belt law Man will serve 10-15 years for incident involving boy, 11. BY CLARENCE MABIN Lincoln Journal Star A Lancaster County district judge on Monday sentenced Richard Merritt r. to 10 to 15 years in prison for attempting to sexually assault an 11 -year-old boy last year.

Merritt, 39, will become eligible for parole in five years minus the 23 1 days he already has spent in jail, under the sentence imposed by Judge Earl Witthoff. In a brief statement before sentencing, Merritt expressed remorse for his actions. "For what I have done, I apologize," he said. "I (did not) intend to hurt anyone or do any harm to any Nebraska State Lincoln Journal Star The first of two special enforcement efforts meant to encourage seat belt usage resulted in the Nebraska State Patrol issuing 45 seat Lincoln man hurt in plane crash Lincoln Journal Star Four Lincoln men crashed in a 5single-engine airplane in northeast Nebraska over the weekend, leaving one of the men injured. An emergency helicopter took Brad Foerster to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, for broken ribs.

He since has been released from the hospital. Knox County Sheriff Jim Janecek said Daryll Lightner was flying the Cirrus SR22 four-seat airplane when it went down at 10:15 am Saturday northwest ofVerdigre. Lightner was trying to land and started sliding on the grassy runway, which was wet at the time. Janecek said Lightner tried to take belt citations from May 7 to 13. The "Buckle Up in Your Truck" effort included an ad campaign by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety aimed at pickup drivers.

Nebraska's seat belt law is a sec- D. MATT VAN DRIESTLincoln Journal Star off, but the landing gear hit a tree-top at the end of the runway, and the plane crashed. One of the passengers climbed out and called 911. Janecek said rescue workers checked Lightner and the other passengers, Kip Lightner and Dave Watermeier, at the scene and 1 wx i i Vercl're ijj rlt Sctewk, Sarah and Johnny; Lincoln, grt, BryanLGH East May naH, Janls (Fiero) and Barry; Lincoln, boy, BryanLGH East ftartdnfc Brooke (Bauer) and Travis, Princeton, girt, BryanLGH East IMMiutl, Tiffany (Bliss) and Rick, Uncdn, girl, Saint Elizabeth. Iteoo, KrisUna M.

and Haider, Lincoln, boy, BryanLGH East Man, Kayla (Siemen) and Patrick, Lin-cotn, boy, BryanLGH East Mora, Heather (Hughes) and Craig, Lincoln, boy. Saint Elizabeth. Solano, Trinidad, and Estrada, Marvin, Lincoln, boy, Saint Elizabeth. StiaUiMB, Carrie (Zlmmer) and Charles, Lincoln, boy, Saint Elizabeth, WdK, Angelyn (Satire) and AMn Rey, Lincoln, boy, Saint Elizabeth. WW, Alshah (Cossey) and Adam, Lincoln, boy, Samt Elizabeth.

Marriage licenses Tjatto, Douglas 31, and Brown, Wan da to, imam. PaparaM, David John, 34, and KoDin Jill, 31, Lincoln. Ttautt, Adam Lloyd, 27, and Vtam, Leslie Joy. 30. Lincoln.

uaig jh, Mirrord, and Cowan. 40, Lincoln. Franz 63. and rtowHw, Linda 61, Lincoln. Quandt, James 27, and Coma, 23, Lincoln.

McOamaM, Jason 23. and Lathrop, Kate L. 23, Lincoln. Adams, Alexander II, 36, and Newman, vbmanechia 29, Lincoln. AuOKtyn, Daniel 29, and Qrisasr, LinrJ-lC, 25, Lincoln.

sayC, on, Michael Clinton, 24, and Da son, Tanya Marie, 26, Greenwood. Bombergar, Joshua 28, and Yonhar, Amberina 24, Lincoln. Matters, Danny 59, and Bowars, Tonya 58, Lincoln. Schudka, Kyle 21, and Stout, Megan 22. Lincoln.

HSket, Bradly 23, and Itonttay, Cassandra 23, Lincoln. Price, James R. 38, and Johnson, Karl 34, Lincoln. Divorce decrees Kenneth and Shirley M. Lafcrmm, Alan J.

and Tami Indian School Museum open this weekend The Genoa Indian School Museum opens for the season this week-; end with new exhibits and activities. In addition to the permanent displays, there will be two new exhibits on the first floor photos by Daisy Yokley and Navajo art Yokley, originally from Genoa, will show "Photographs of Genoa." Her photos will be available for sale. The Navajo art exhibit will include paintings, woodcarvings, pottery and jewelry by several artists. These will be displayed and sold during the tourist season. Harold NezBegay, a Navajo painter from New Mexico, is cooroJ-nator of the exhibit At 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nancy Carlson, a Genoa archaeologist, will present "Archaeological Aspects of the 2005 Genoa Highway Project." She will discuss some of the artifacts found during the rebuilding of nearby Nebraska 22. NezBegay will speak at 2 p.m. Sunday. He will answer the question: "Am I Getting the Real Thing?" when buying Native art Atterthe program, visitors can enjoy the fry bread prepared by his sisters. Summer visiting hours are from 1 to 5 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For details or to schedule a guided tour, call (402) 9936636, 9936055 or 562-8528. Fanners should sign up by June 1 for program Nebraska farmers who want to enroll in the federal Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program need to act by June 1 to avoid a $100 late fee. Signup for the program began in October. The late fee applies to each farm added between June 1 and Sept 30, according to a statement from the state office of the Farm Service Agency in Lincoln.

Direct payments have meant an average of $342 million in Nebraska in recent years for producers of corn, wheat soybeans and grain sorghum. Those with questions should contact local offices of the Farm Service Agency. Online registration is an option but must be followed up by a visit to the county office for identity verification. Fiddler Championship be held Saturday A Monumental Fiddling Championship will start Saturday at Home-: stead National Monument west of Beatrice. Fiddlers of all ages can compete.

A fiddling workshop will be offered at 10 a.m. Registration for the championship begins at 1 p.m. for the 2 p.m. competition. A winners' concert will start at 7 p.m.

All activities are free, but early registration for fiddlers is encouraged. Summer Food Program for kids sites named Uncolntancaster County Health Department will offer its Summer Food Service Program for Children at several sites throughout Lincoln from June 5 to Aug. 11. Free meals will be available to children at the sites listed below. Breakfast only: Nothbridge, 1533 N.

27th Otoe County man or In WiHiam and Batoy, Tamara J. Courts Minimum sentences for publication, one more of the following: 10 days jad. $250 total fine, six months probation or license suspension, probation revocation. Also published: bindovers to District Court Court costs additional to fines. Age.

address, If any, from public record. Corrections will be made only if public record was reported incorrectly. MSTOCT COURT MoWrnan, 519 S. 18th St, No. 7, three to five years jail.

(McGinn) COUNTY COURT AssMriL tlifkt or cmm bodily htJwy Weaver, George 20, 946 S. 1201 St, No. 1,10 days Jafl. AsttttR. tMrd dotws Welch, 42, 1951 Philadelphia Drive, $300.

DnMw torn. Kashaun 27. 4032 St. $250. Also, male false statement to police of ficer.

Police calls Of the 370 calls received by Lincoln police Sunday, the following resulted in property losses of $500 or more. Between MOttnuinli 5:30 pjn. Friday, the 2700 block of South 18th Street cash was taken; loss: $6,000. Auto 1Mb Between not and 1:15 am Sunday, Kwlk Shop, 2710 St; car; $5,000. Hwfti from yoMcIm Between 8:30 p.m.

Saturday and 11:15 am Sunday, 2800 block of North Sixth Street; CD player faceplate, CDs, speakers, amp, soft-ball equipment golf clubs, air compressor; $1,690. TMb) Between 8 p.m. Saturday and 6 am Sunday, 6200 block of Ballard Avenue; utility trailer; $750. Between noon May 13 and 12:30 pm May 18, 7300 block of Ballard Place; rings, bracelet necklace; $1,440. Between tUO am May 9 and May IB, Lincoln Federal Credit Union, 4638 counterfeit check deposited Into account cash withdrawn; $1,815.

St, a.m. Lunch only: Belmont Recreation Center, 1234 Judson, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 Carol Yoakum Family Resource Center, 4621 N.W. 48th St, noon to 12:45 p.m. City Impact, 2820 0 St, 11:15 a.m.

to 12:45 p.m. Dawes Middle School, 5130 Colfax noon to 12:30 p.m. Norwood Park Elementary, 4710 N. 72nd St, noon to 12:30 pm Breakfast and lunch: Airpark Recreation Center, 3720 N.W. 46th St, a.m.; 11:30 a.m.

to noon. Elliott Elementary, 225 S. 25th 8:309 a.m.; 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Street Recreation Center, 1225 a.m.; noon to 12:30 p.m.

Huntington Elementary, 2900 N. 46th St, 8-9 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm Indian Center, 1100 Military Road, 88:45 a.m.; noon to 12:45 pm Malone Center, 2032 St; a.m.; noon to 12:45 pm McPhee Elementary, 820 S. 15th St, a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to noon.

Park Middle School, 855 S. Eighth St, a.m.; pm Salvation Army, 1645 N. 27th St, 9-10 a.m.; noon to 1 p.m. Saratoga Elementary, 2215 S. 13th St, a.m.; 11:30 a.m.

to 1 p.m. West Lincoln Etjementary, 630 W. Dawes a.m.; 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Enrolled only: Asian Community and Cultural Center, 2615 0 a.m.; 11:30 am to 12:15 p.m.

Letter Middle School, 1100 S. 48th St, a.m.; noon to 12:30 p.m. Northeast Family Center, 5903 Walker am; noon to 1p.m. Free meals are available to children enrolled in the program who meet family size and income standards. Eligibility standards are $17,705 annual income for a household of one; $23,736, two; $29,767, three; $35,798, four; $41,829, five; $47,860, six; $53,891, seven; $59,922, eight.

Children who are members of food stamp households, Food Distribution Program on Native reservations or on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families automatically are eligible. For details, call 441-3889, 441-8045 or 4416726. Meet the fleckers at Lincoln ChiHren's Zoo A flock of designer flamingos created by local artists will go on display Thursday inside the McGruff House in Zooville Square at the Lincoln Children's Zoo. The artwork will be displayed through June 10 and auctioned during the "Party With the Peacocks" fundraiser that evening. Proceeds will benefit the Lincoln Children's Zoo's Third Annual Wildest Garden Party in Town.

Tickets to attend the June 10 event are $75 each and must be purchased by June 5. For Information, call Cheryl Dahl at 475674L dies in accident was westbound on Nebraska 2 in a 2001 Dodge pickup when he apparently drove into the median, corrected himself and came back into the westbound lane before leaving the road. His vehicle went into the north ditch and rolled into an embankment Schraeder, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was wearing a seat belt Alcohol is not believedto be a factor in the crash. fense would have been if the case had gone to trial. The attorney contended Merritt got sexual gratifica-.

tion by speaking to the youths he approached but did not intend to have sexual contact with them Merritt "never did intend to sexually assault that child," Bancroft said, referring to the 1 1 -year-old boy. He "got sexual excitement from the conversation," the attorney said. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Steve Schmidt told Witthoff that Merritt had a history of sexual de-viancy that suggested he was a danger to the community. Schmidt said Merritt earlier was convicted of conirnitting a sex act in view of a child. In addition, Schmidt said, Merritt had a sexual relationship with a boy who was barely 16.

Merritt could have been prosecuted for the relationship had the boy been younger than 16. "Richard Merritt is a dangerous ondary law. Drivers can be cited and fined $25 only if stopped for another violation, The second special enforcement effort began Monday with the kick-off of the nationwide "Click It or Betty Ann Beltz Lincoln Betty Ann Beltz, 85, Lincoln, widow of Philip, died Saturday (52006). Services: 10 am today, Butherus, Love Funeral Home, 4040 A St. Memorials, in lieu of flowers: Shriners Children's Hospital.

Eleanor Margueritte Bennett Lincoln Eleanor Margueritte Bennett, 96, Lincoln, widow of Gordon died Wednesday (5 1706). Services: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th St Reception follow-ing services: lower level, funeral home. No visitation; cremation Viola Bertha Marie Bjerrum Seward Viola Bertha Marie Bjerrum, 93, Seward, widow of Millard, died Saturday (52006).

Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, United Methodist Church, Seward. Visitation: 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. today, with family, 6-8 p.m., Wood-Zabka Funeral Home, Seward; one hour before services, church. Memorials: family.

Condolences: www.woodzabka.com. Harold R. Bookstrom Lincoln Harold RBook-sgiiC; strom, 90, Lincoln, died Monday (52206). Bom, Lincoln (12 1 1 15) to John Fred and Ellen Marie (Newman) Bookstrom. Re- -uredSgirfounderpresidentj- Construction 47 years.

U.S. Army World War II veteran, RO.W Member: First Presbyterian Church; Sigma Alpha Epsilon; Lincoln Country Club, Survivors: wife, Marylouise; son, daughter-in-law, Eric G. and Deborah Bookstrom, Lincoln; daughters, sons-in-law, Saranne and Jerry Renaud, Lincoln, Pamela and Richard MacMillan, Phoenix; grandchildren, spouse, Erica and Ben McRae, Alexa Bookstrom, Derek Scott Bookstrom, Ian MacMillan, Scott MacMillan; sister, Alice Hart, Bradenton, Fla; niece, Anne Cech, Lincoln. Preceded in death by: parents; brother, Fred sister, Lillian, Memorial service: 1 1 a.m. Thursday, Roper Sons, 4300 0 St.

The Rev. Dr. Otis Young. No visitation; cremation. Memorials: Desert Voices Oral Learning Center, 3426 E.

Shea Phoenix, AZ 85028; Cedar's Youth Services, 620 N. 48th, Lincoln 68504. Condolences: www.roperand sons.com. Norman D. 'Mike' Boring Humboldt, formerly Nebraska City Norman D.

"Mike" Boring, 75, Humboldt, formerly Nebraska City, passed away Friday (5 19 06) in Lincoln. Born, Richardson County. Retired carpenter, Capital Bridge Co. Made and sold wood items at area flea markets. Survivors: children, Rick, Seward, Walt, Johnson, Les, York, Susan Studebaker, Pensacola, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Iva Van Winkle, Beatrice; brother, Hugh, Fountain, Cola; nieces; nephews.

Graveside services: 2 pm today, Heim Cemetery, Dawson. Memorials: American Diabetes Association. Gude Mortuary, Nebraska City. Allan E. Brown Jr.

Lincoln Allan Brown 43, Lincoln, died Saturday (52006) in Pawnee City. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Wyuka Cemetery Wildlife pond. Please enter for services Into Wyuka Cemetery from Vine Police suspect one person in two burglaries Police suspect the person who tried to break into a convenience store at 2:56 a.m. Saturday tried again 10 minutes later at a liquor store about 1V4 miles away.

Sgt. Tom Beam said police first were dispatched to Casey's General Store at 550 W. Cornhusker Highway. Someone had thrown a large piece of concrete through the front door but left before entering the store when the alarm went off. At 3:05 a.m., police got another call, this time to Amen's Liquor at 1172 Belmont where a nearby resident reported an alarm going off.

Someone had thrown concrete through the front window to get in and had stolen two cases of Bud Light beer, valued at $29.98. Considering the method of entry and how close in time and place the two crimes happened, police are looking into whether the same person committed them. Man hurt after losing control on gravel road A 25yearold Lincoln man was hurt when he lost control on a gravel road and went into the ditch near Cortland on Sunday afternoon. Iteputy Larry KendallofthetSage County Sheriffs-Office said AarorrSn Ticket" campaign. The effort runs through Memorial Day, May 29.

In the efforts, the State Patrol will use 600 hours of overtime, paid for in part by a $27,000 grant from the state Highway Safety Office. Street and wear relaxed attire or camouflage. Wildlife calls are welcome. Visitation: 2-8 p.m. Tuesday, with family, 6-8 p.m., Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 St Memorials: family.

EarleWillard Brown Ocean Pines, Md. EarleWUlard Brown, 83, Ocean Pines, died Thursday (5 1806) at his home. Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Taylorville United Methodist Church, Berlin, Md. Graveside service with full military honors at 3 p.m, July 19, 2006, Arlington National Cemetery.

Please assemble at the administration building by 2:30 p.m. Memorials, in lieu of flowers: church, Hilda Murray, RO. Box 456, Berlin, MD 21811; Coastal Hospice, RO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21801. Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin, Md. Condolences: www Irene D.Bucklin Lincoln Irene D.

Bucklin, 92, Lincoln, died Friday (5 1906). Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, First United Methodist Church, 50th and St. Paul streets. No visitation, and no flowers, please.

Memorials: United Methodist Committee on Relief co First United Methodist Church. Condolences: www.lincolnmemorial Earkandfuneralhome.com. The trnily's deepest thanksgo to the loving caregivers from The Lexington and Acera Care Hospice. Helen Rebecca Inness Carter Denver Helen Rebecca Inness Carter, 94, Denver, died Friday (51906). Registered Nurse.

She was bom April 9, 1912, on a farm near Shelby, Polk County, to William Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (McMeekin) Inness. The property had been homesteaded by her grandparents John and Rebecca (Steele) Inness in the 1870s after immigration from England. Her McMeekin grandparents also settled in Polk County after immigration from County Down, Ire-land, in 1880. hi 1930, Helen entered nurses training at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital, Omaha, and graduated in 1934. She took post-graduate training in pediatrics at Chicago Children's Hospital in 1936.

Her six-year nursing career was spent at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, and Children's Hospital in Denver, She married Wendell E. Carter in Denver on Aug. 14, 1940, just as he was called to active duty. They moved immediately to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The family lived in many localities during her husband's 30-year Air Force career, includ-ing Ohio, Virginia, Massachusetts, Alabama, Alaska, Illinois and Maryland After retirement Helen and her husband lived in New Mexico and Colorado.

Helen was an active volunteer serving others wherever the family lived. She was a Girl Scout leader and camp nurse, a thrift shop and hospital volunteer and church deacon in the Presbyter- i ian Church. She performed the obligatory social duties required of a ranking military officer's wife. Survivors: daughters, Sandra (Duane) (arter-Duff, Denver, Karen (Paul) Forster, Williamsburg, son, David Inness Carter, Denver; grandsons, Josef (Marija) Forster, Fairfax, Martin Forster, Brooklyn, N.Y. Preceded in death by husband, Wendell; parents; sisters, Tena Inness, Mariam Inness and Bess W.

Inness Sneath. Services: 2 p.m. Wednesday, Grace Presbyterian Church, 25 1 Sterne Centennial Interment at Fort Logan National Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials: Hospice of Metro Denver 501 S. Cherry St, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80246.

foot was driving 2 miles southeast of Cortland on South 38th Road when he crossed a bridge and lost control because he was driving too fast. Smallfoot's 2003 Dodge Ram pickup went into the west ditch and through a fence and across Eugene Busboom's pasture. He hit a creek embankment, causing the pickup to become airborne and turn sharply. Claytonia Rescue took Smallfoot to BryanLGH Medical Center West in Lincoln for injuries to his head and neck. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Kendall said.

He said Smallfoot was not wearing a seat belt and alcohol was net believed to be a factor. Woman's public nudity case goes to a judge A judge, not a jury, will decide whether a Lincoln woman violated a public decency ordinance when she emceed a wet T-shirt contest March 4. On Monday morning, Lancaster County Judge Jean A Lovell heard final evidence and arguments in the case against Melissa Harrington, 23, and took the case under advisement Lovell could make her ruling at any time. At issue is whether Harrington violated a public nudity ordinance when she appeared topless at Cheerleaders, 5560 S. 48th St.

Harrington said she satisfied the ordinance, which requires an opaque covering over the areola and nip pie, by putting a layer of pink paint on that part of her breasts. An officer testified at her trial Thursday that, if she had paint on that night, hecouldnttell. If Harrington is convicted, she could face as much as eight months in jail or a $500 fine. Grand jury indicts man, woman on drug charges A federal grand jury indicted a California woman and Michigan man on drug charges after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near North Platte turned up 275 pounds of marijuana. According to U.S.

Attorney Michael Heavfcan, Michelle Milton, 34, of Sacramento, and Dion Walker, 32, of Detroit both stand accused of possession with intent to deliver. The second count seeks the forfeiture of $578 cash, believed to have been used to commit the drug offense, which was seized on March 3 when they were stopped. Their trial has been set for July 30. If convicted, Milton and Walker could face five to 40 years in prison and a fine of as much as $2 million. Police: Man invades apartment at gunpoint Lincoln police are looking for a man who invaded a woman's apartment at gunpoint Monday evening, Capt David Beggs said.

The woman flagged down an officer at 40th Street and Normal Boulevard at 7:28 p.m., saying a man had forced his way into her apartment Beggs said. She said the man bound her wrists with an extension cord and rummaged through the apartment, Beggs said. The woman was able to free her hands, and a knock at the door enabled her to run toward the door and flee, Beggs said. The person at the door turned cut to be her boyfriend, he said. Beggs said a neighbor reported that the man came outside and also confronted him, then fled.

The woman was not injured, and it was unknown Moo day night whether anything was taken, Beggs said. Police are looking for a man wearing a white bandanna, black hooded sweatshirt black pants and possibly black gloves. Anyone with information can call Lincoln police at 441-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 475-3600. PoTsce find drugs on airport traveler Lincoln police were called to the Lincoln Airport at about noon Monday after Transportation Security Administration screeners found drugs in a passenger's luggage. Justin D.

Ott 26, who gives a Seattle address, was about to get on a plane when screeners reportedly found three rolled bags of marijuana, four empty bags and various items of drug paraphernalia in his checked luggage, Pollce Capt David Beggs said. After searching further, police also found $1,600 in cash in his canyon lu gage and four baggies of methamphetamine in his checked bag, Beggs said. Police seized a total of 19 grams of marijuana and 1.6 grams of meth. Ott was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and possession of meth with intent to deliver, Beggs said. Lincoln Journal Star A 39-year-old rural Otoe County man died in a one-vehicle, car accident Saturday night According to an Otoe County Sheriff's Office news release, at 11:22 pm, the sheriff's office investigated the fatality on Nebraska 2 near the intersection of Nebraska 67, rural Dunbar..