Nebraska
Nebraska man accused of stealing fuel from Tampa gas station, striking intervening deputy's car
TAMPA, Fla. – A Nebraska man faces a plethora of charges after authorities say he was caught stealing fuel from a Tampa gas station and then struck a deputy’s car as he attempted to intervene.
According to an affidavit, Kiusler Perez Ortiz was spotted at a Mobile gas station in Town ‘N Country on Saturday parked over the fuel intake lock.
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The deputy who spotted Perez Ortiz knew of a recent trend of diesel theft attributed to a car matching the same description as the one he drove – a white Chrysler.
Authorities said the deputy then pulled behind the car with his scene lights on, and another deputy pulled around in front of the car to try to make contact with Perez Ortiz.
Perez Ortiz then sped off, striking one of the deputy’s patrol vehicles and causing the deputy to jump out of the way to avoid being struck, according to the affidavit. He caused about $1,500 in damage to the deputy’s vehicle in the process.
Deputies followed Perez Ortiz as he fled into Pinellas County jurisdiction, reaching speeds over 100 mph. During the pursuit, he ran a red light and drove over a raised median to avoid law enforcement before arriving at a cul-de-sac and climbing out of his car to run off.
The pursuing deputy eventually tracked Perez Ortiz down and placed him under arrest. He faces several charges, including aggravated assault on a LEO, unlawful conveyance of fuel, resist officer without violence, and more.
He is being held in the Orient Road Jail.
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ALLIANCE, Neb. (WOWT) – Carhenge, a replica of the world-famous Stonehenge made of old cars, opened in the Nebraska Panhandle in 1987.
According to Visit Nebraska, it was constructed in Alliance by the Jim Reinders family in memory of his father during a family reunion.
Carhenge also includes sculptures made of old cars and car parts.
It is open year-round and free to visit.
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LINCOLN, NEB — With less than 1% of Nebraska’s native tallgrass prairie remaining, Lincoln officials say a newly acquired tract of land could help preserve a disappearing part of the state’s landscape while expanding outdoor recreation opportunities for future generations.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and city leaders announced the purchase of nearly 100 acres southwest of Pioneers Park for $924,630 through a partnership involving the City of Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, and Solidago Conservancy.
The acquisition advances the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch project, a long-term effort to establish a continuous conservation and recreation corridor stretching from Pioneers Park Nature Center in Lincoln to the Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton.
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird said the project will provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors to experience Nebraska’s prairie landscape while protecting natural resources.
“Advancing the Prairie Corridor, we create more opportunities for residents and visitors to hike, bike, explore nature, and experience the beautiful landscape that defines our region,” Gaylor Baird said. “We protect vital natural resources that improve water quality and help reduce flood risk downstream, and we preserve an important part of Nebraska’s natural heritage for future generations.”
The newly acquired Prairie Corridor Link property is intended to help connect Pioneers Park Nature Center and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center through a continuous protected prairie and trail system.
Plans for the Prairie Corridor include restoring over 5,000 acres of prairie lands (~2,000 acres of tallgrass prairie, and ~3,400 acres of native prairie) and constructing a 14.5-mile multiuse trail that will connect to Lincoln’s existing trail network.
“This property is a piece of a long-term vision to connect Pioneers Park Nature Center and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center through a continuous corridor, protected prairie, and trail,” Gaylor Baird said.
Parks and Recreation Director Maggie Stuckey-Ross said approximately over a majority of the Prairie Corridor Trail project has now been secured.
“Once complete, the corridor will include a continuous 7,400-acre passage of tallgrass prairie and a 14.5-mile multiuse trail, and in just nine years, nearly 70% of the Prairie Corridor trail corridor has been secured,” Stuckey-Ross said.
Project leaders say the Prairie Corridor has the potential to become a destination for hikers, cyclists, students, and nature enthusiasts from across Nebraska while helping preserve one of the state’s rarest ecosystems for future generations.
More information about the Prairie Corridor on Haines Branch is available at PrairieCorridor.org.
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