Nebraska
'There was just smoke everywhere': Church catches fire in southeast Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The community in Sterling is starting the long road to rebuilding after a fire torched St. John Lutheran Church.
Around 7 p.m. Friday, a neighbor near the church called 911 as smoke poured out of the building.
Mike Hestermann, a council member at the church, said he got there as quickly as he could.
“When I first got there, you could see heavy, heavy smoke,” Hestermann said. “It was coming out of the windows in the basement, the front doors, the back doors. At that point, there was just smoke everywhere.”
Firefighters worked for hours to put the flames out.
SEE ALSO: Crews investigating church fire in town southeast of Lincoln
“The basement of our church is pretty much gone,” Hestermann said. “The sanctuary had very little burn damage but extensive, extensive smoke damage and water damage.”
The church was built in 1930, and according to Hestermann, the state fire marshal suspects it was an electrical problem that sparked the fire in the basement.
There’s no estimate on the total amount of damage yet.
Jenna Pelchat is also a member of the church council.
She said it’s hard to walk in and see everything that’s been lost.
“Memories flash back in your head right away of all of the times you’ve been down there and what it used to look like,” Pelchat said. “Just sad with all of the history that’s in the church and rebuilding it will be different.”
But she said they will rebuild.
The church started a GoFundMe to raise money for the costly process ahead.
“You know, this happened for a reason, and I think that out of it, we will become better and stronger for it,” Pelchat said.
In the meantime, the congregation is meeting for regular services at the Sterling Community Center.
There’s no timeline yet on how long it will be before they can return to the church.
Hestermann said the council is grateful for the support from the community and all the fire departments that responded.
“Just makes you proud to be from a small town where stuff matters,” he said.
The community gathered at St. John on Sunday morning to ring the bell in remembrance of memories made at the church.
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Omaha Police was able to assist Iowa authorities in arresting a man on a kidnapping warrant in the metro.
According to a release from the Omaha Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa issued an Endangered Person Advisory for a missing 8-year-old around 5:30 Sunday morning.
SCSO issued a nationwide kidnapping warrant for 51-year-old Garry McBreen, who was reported as traveling in a silver 2009 Dodge Journey.
OPD units responded to the McDonald’s near 84th and Papillion Parkway around 11:30 a.m. after receiving information that McBreen and the child were in the car at the address.
Once on the scene, multiple OPD officers and Nebraska State Patrol Troopers were able to safely locate the 8-year-old.
McBreen was taken into custory without incident and booked into Douglas County Corrections.
Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.
ASU outfielder named 2026 Big 12 Player of the Year
Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston talks about being named the 2026 Big 12 Player of the Year after a standout season with the Sun Devils.
The Arizona State Sun Devils next play in Game 5 of the Lincoln Regional of the 2026 NCAA Baseball Tournament today against the loser of the Nebraska vs. Ole Miss game, which was suspended due to weather on May 30 and would resume Sunday morning.
The game will be played at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. Ole Miss was leading Nebraska when their game was suspended on Saturday.
How can you watch the Arizona State vs. Ole Miss or Nebraska game on May 31, 2026? How can you stream the NCAA regional matchup on Sunday?
Check out the TV and streaming information for the ASU baseball vs. Nebraska or Ole Miss regional game today.
The winner of the game will move on to the regional final later Sunday, while the loser will be eliminated from the NCAA tournament.
NCAA Baseball Tournament 2026: Regional predictions | Regional schedule/TV | Regional odds | College World Series odds | Tickets
Watch Arizona State vs Ole Miss or Nebraska with ESPN+
What time is the Arizona State vs Ole Miss or Nebraska regional game today?
The Ole Miss or Nebraska vs. Arizona State NCAA Baseball Tournament game is scheduled for noon MST (3 p.m. ET) on Sunday, May 31.
What channel is the Nebraska or Ole Miss baseball vs Arizona State game on Sunday?
Game 5 of the Lincoln Regional between ASU baseball and either Ole Miss or Nebraska can be seen on ESPN.
How can I stream the ASU baseball vs Ole Miss or Nebraska game today?
The game between the Rebels or Cornhuskers and Sun Devils can be streamed on ESPN+ or FUBO, which offers a free trial.
Click here to sign up for ESPN+
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This story has been updated with new information
LINCOLN, NE — Ole Miss baseball will have to wait until May 31 to finish its second game of the Lincoln Regional.
The game between Ole Miss (37-20) and Nebraska (43-15) will resume May 31 at noon. TV information has not been announced. The game went in a weather delay at 10:20 p.m. before the ninth inning on May 30 because of rain and lightning.
No. 2 Rebels are leading No. 1 Nebraska 6-3. It’s a winner’s bracket game in the Lincoln Regional at Haymarket Park.
Ole Miss has taken control of the game after entering the sixth inning down 1-0. Starting pitcher Taylor Rabe pitched six innings and gave up one run.
Owen Paino had a two-run double in a three-run sixth for the Rebels. Ole Miss scored two runs on bases-loaded walks in the seventh.
The other two games on May 31 remain in their originally scheduled timeslots. If Ole Miss wins, the Rebels will face the winner of Nebraska and Arizona State on May 31 at 7 p.m. The Cornhuskers and Sun Devils play an elimination game at 2 p.m. to get to the night game.
If Ole Miss wins that game, the Rebels will move on to a super regional against the winner of the Auburn Regional. If Ole Miss loses, the Rebels will play in an if-necessary game against the same team on June 1 to decide who wins the regional.
Lincoln Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA Tournament
Friday, May 29
Game 1: Nebraska 4, South Dakota State 1
Game 2: Ole Miss 7, Arizona State 6
Saturday, May 30
Game 3: Arizona State 17, South Dakota State 0
Game 4: Nebraska vs Ole Miss, suspended ninth inning
Sunday, May 31
Game 5: Arizona State vs Game 4 loser, 2 p.m. CT
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs Game 5 winner, 7 p.m. CT
Monday, June 1
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs Game 6 loser, if necessary
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
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