Nebraska

Central Nebraska Regional Airport unphased by inclement weather

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Central Nebraska Regional Airport unphased by inclement weather

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Drifting snow continues to impact road conditions throughout the Tri-Cities; however, traveling by air in Central Nebraska has remained unscathed despite the weather.

Flights at the Central Nebraska Regional Airport have departed and arrived on time and Airport Executive Director Mike Olson gives all the praise to the crew who have been clearing the runway. A few passengers did experience a slight issue on Monday going to Dallas, Texas because of the weather in the southern part of the country. When it comes to adjusting flight statuses, whether it is postponing or canceling them, it is all in the hands of the airline. But if any factors affect the safety of airport employees then Olson and the operations manager say traveling isn’t advised. Snow might have been a traveling roadblock this week but another weather element presents a bigger challenge to the facility.

“It is the wind and the wind direction. When the storm came in yesterday the winds were blowing the snow across the runway,” Olson said. “During the night however they shifted to the north, the winds are blowing right down the runway which makes it so much easier for snow removal.”

Not only has the wind been an obstacle, but other parts of the airport has been serving as a bigger obstacle.

“We so our best to make it easy for the cars to get in and out,” Olson said. “When you have three to four drifts between cars it makes it a little problematic for the passengers and there is nothing we can do about that.”

Two years ago the airport made a purchase for new snow equipment for situations like blizzards and winter storms. Olson said it has been serving its purpose this week.

Since flights have been unfazed, the road conditions suffer a different fate.

“Getting to the airport is usually the problematic issue for the travelers,” Olson said. “Not that the snow crews, the city, the county and the state don’t do a good job but again when you have high winds and low visibility it makes it harder to get to the airport.”

Airport officials ran into similar issues during the Christmas winter storm, yet the flights took off and arrived like normal.

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Nebraska

Judge sentences Northeast Nebraska man for sexual assault of a minor, faces possible deportation

Published

9 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Press Room

Judge sentences Northeast Nebraska man for sexual assault of a minor, faces possible deportation

WOODLAND PARK, Neb. (KTIV) – A Northeast Nebraska man was sentenced to prison after being convicted in May.

Authorities say 51-year-old Henry Pena-Urrutia of Norfolk was sentenced to six years in prison. The Stanton County Sheriff’s Office says Pena-Urrutia was also given 18 months of post-release supervision and will have to register as a sex offender after his time in prison.

Mugshot: Henry Pena-Urrutia(Stanton County Sheriff’s Office)

In May, Pena-Urrutia pleaded guilty and was convicted of one count of sexual assault involving a minor. Deputies say the man also faces sex offense charges in both Kearney and Buffalo County after the sheriff’s investigation.

Stanton County deputies say Pena-Urrutia also faces possible deportation from the United States as he is here on a green card from El Salvador.

Pena-Urrutia was arrested in December 2025 after an investigation by the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office. As previously reported, the sheriff’s office was contacted by the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office about a possible sexual assault suspect who lived in Stanton County.

An investigation led the sheriff’s office to determine that a minor, younger than 11, was sexually assaulted at a Woodland Park residence.

Law enforcement was led to Pena-Urrutia after an interview with the minor. During an interview with Pena-Urrutia, he reportedly admitted to improper sexual contact with the minor on several occasions.

The two children in his Norfolk home were removed by deputies and placed in the custody of DHHS.

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