WAYNE, Neb. (AP) – Authorities in Nebraska say a pilot has been found dead at the scene of a plane crash in the northeast part of the State. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office says the wreckage of the single-engine Cessna 172 was found around today (Monday), at around 1:30 a.m.

The plane was reported overdue Sunday and had gone off radar. It had been diverted to the Wayne County airport from its destination of Sioux City, Iowa, because of bad weather. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released, pending notification of relatives.

Tom Becker manages the Wayne County facility, and he says Columbia, Missouri, was the last known stop for the aircraft. Federal authorities will be investigating.

Police in Creston say officers investigated a theft and two incidents of vandalism on New Year’s Eve Day. A resident of the 800 block of N. Lincoln Street reported Thursday afternoon that sometime within the past two weeks, someone stole a winch off his trailer located at 624 New York Avenue. The loss was estimated at $2,000.

Thursday evening, a restaurant at 211 N. Pine Street in Creston reported someone broke out a window in the back entry way to the business. The incident, which happened sometime between 7-p.m. and 8:30-p.m. on Dec. 30th, resulted in a loss estimated at $100. And, a resident on N. Pine Street reported two taillights on her vehicle had been broken out while it was parked outside her home. The incident happened sometime after 9-p.m. Dec. 31st. The loss was estimated at $150.

The Creston Police Department reports six people were arrested over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Sunday night, 21-year old Mario Pantoja, of Lenox, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on a Union County warrant for Failure to Appear in court on an original, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana – 2nd offense, charge. Pantoja was being held in the jail on $2,000 bond.

Also arrested Sunday, was 30-year old Jamie Barrans, of Creston, for OWI/1st offense. He was later released on $1,000 bond. And, 52-year old Troy McKinney, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Revoked. He was also later released on $1,000 bond.

On Friday, Creston Police arrested 23-year old Michael Overhulser, of Creston, on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Bond was set at $5,000. On Thursday, 28-year old Cody Vandel, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Probation Violation. Vandel was being held without bond  in the Union County Jail. That same day (Thursday), 37-year old Stephanie Giesken, of Creston, was arrested for Simple Domestic Assault. She was later released from the Ringgold County Jail, of a Promise to appear in Court.

The City Council in Atlantic will hold its first meeting of the new year, 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, at City Hall. During their session, the Council will handle administrative matters, including approval of the City’s official bank for 2016 checking accounts, and approval of the official newspaper for legal publications.

The Council is also expected to act on the re-appointment of Deb Wheatley Field as City Clerk. City Administrator John Lund says Wheatley-Field has served as City Clerk since 1982, and will be completing her 34-year of service, in February. In his strong recommendation to the Council for her appointment, Lund said “I cannot express enough what an asset she has been for Atlantic. She possesses the classic work values that built this country that are so rare, today.” Lund said “I have tremendous respect for her both as a co-worker and often as a mentor.”

In his report to the Council, Lund will discuss a Request for Use of the second floor auditorium in the City Hall building. The Atlantic City Council will also act on approving a change order for the Nishna Hills Golf Course Storm Water Improvement Project. John Lund says the change order pertains to the extension of an existing culvert on 14th Street, near the Atlantic High School. The culvert, he says, will be extended across the third fairway of the golf course.

At the conclusion of regular business, the Council will adjourn into a Closed Session for the purpose of discussing the job performance of City Administrator John Lund.

An investigation into drug activity in Sidney Sunday night, resulted in the arrest of a man from Shenandoah. Fremont County Sheriff’s officials say 22-year-old Jacob Tacker was arrested at around 10:15-p.m., for delivery of a controlled substance/methampetamine. Tacker was being held in the Fremont County Jail on $50,000 bond. The Fremont County K-9 unit and the Iowa State Patrol assisted the sheriff’s office in the arrest.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Figures have dropped for a fifth straight month in a survey of supply managers in nine Midwest and Plains states, providing continuing evidence of a regional economic slowdown. A report issued Monday says the overall Mid-American Business Conditions Index dropped to 39.6 in December from 40.7 in November, 41.9 in October, 47.7 in September and 49.6 in August.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he again blames manufacturing losses linked to the strong dollar and economic weakness among trading partners. The survey results are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests economic growth. A score below that suggests decline.

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

Kentucky Republican Senator/presidential candidate Rand Paul and his wife, Kelley, will return to Iowa on Thursday, January 7th for a two-day, grassroots swing. They will host several ‘Stand with Rand’ Meet and Greets, along with Town Halls focused on Eminent Domain and government abuses.

The couple’s first stop Thursday, is in Council Bluffs for a 10-a.m. “Stand with Rand Paul Meet and Greet” at the Council Bluffs Public Library (400 Willow Ave.). Similar events will take place at 1-p.m. in Sioux City, at the Sioux City Public Library – Wilbur Aafls Branch (529 Pierce Street), and at 4-p.m. in Carroll, at the Santa Maria Winery
(218 West 6th Street).

The senator will also celebrate his birthday with supporters in Des Moines and Davenport. In the final stretch leading up to the Iowa Caucus, Sen. Rand Paul will continue to focus on the importance of protecting the entire Bill of Rights, and being boldly for conservative ideals that limit the powers of the Washington Machine.