Don L. Randle, age 72 of Nebraska City, passed away Tuesday.

At 11pm Tuesday, a deputy from the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office performed a traffic stop near County Road 22 on Highway 2 about 1 mile east of Unadilla. During the stop, the deputy located approximately 3 ounces of suspected methamphetamine.

The Nebraska City Jaycees are once again preparing for a bang-up celebration Friday as the nation observes Independence Day. Legion games are to be held Friday afternoon at 1 and 3pm, with Music In The Park provided by Finch on the Run DJ from 6 to 9:30pm.

Swimmers have been taking to the water early in the morning at Steinhart Park these past 2 weeks, learning water safety and swimming techniques with Red Cross Swim Lessons. Certified Water Safety Instructor Sally Juilfs is leading the lessons with the help of local lifeguards.

A carjacking occurred in dowtown Plattsmouth during the noon hour Tuesday. A 45-year-old Omaha woman told police she was carjacked at knifepoint in the Dollar General store parking lot in the 600 block of 1st Avenue. A male assailant kept her in the dark blue 2004 Ford Explorer for a few blocks driving her north on 6th Street before she was able to escape.

One Mills County city is fighting a war on mosquitoes. Malvern has acquired a mosquito sprayer. Starting today, the city will spray every evening between 7 and 10pm through October.

Gary Lee Ratliff, age 62 of Auburn, passed away Tuesday.

A Cass County teenager will compete in the World Championships for Soap Box Derby racing later this month. 15-year-old Adam Johns of Union recently won 1st Place in the Masters Division at a competition that took place at Seymour Smith Park in Ralston. The victory came with an $800 prize and ensured Johns a spot in the world finals.

The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting a special enforcement for the July 4th holiday weekend. There will be increased saturations Thursday through Sunday.

The maximum sentence was given in a Cass County vehicle death case. 23-year-old Jacob Drewes of Bellevue received five years in prison Monday. Drewes had entered a "no contest" plea to Motor Vehicle Homicide in Cass County District Court in March and was found guilty of the charge. Drewes was also given one year for Driving Under the Influence, 3rd Offense and had his driver’s license suspended for 15 years. Judge Randall Rehmeier followed terms of the plea arrangement, and the DUI sentence was ordered to be served concurrently with the MVH conviction. Five years was the maximum sentence for MVH, a Class IIIA Felony.