Free Republic

Farm animals born with abnormalities often have a bleak future. This chicken’s unique traits ensured its survival. In 1995, a chicken was born with four legs near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. It was aptly named 4Runner. 4Runner was owned by two brothers who ran a chicken processing operation. His extra legs bought him some extra time. “He was spared the ax,” his owner said. The persistent bird didn’t waste that time. True to his name, he often dashed around his home in an endearing shuffle, becoming a local curiosity and a family favorite. If you liked this story, here are a...

The suspect who stabbed a Catholic priest to death in a small Nebraska community has been identified. Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux County, Iowa was arrested for killing Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, during an invasion at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun. Williams was charged with homicide and use of a weapon to commit a felony, the Washington County Sheriff said. Gutgsell was taken to an Omaha hospital where he died from his stab injuries, church officials said. The suspect was taken to Washington County Jail and the sheriff's office said that the...

OMAHA, Neb. — A berm holding the flooded Missouri River back from a Nebraska nuclear power station collapsed early Sunday, but federal regulators said they were monitoring the situation and there was no danger. The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station shut down in early April for refueling, and there is no water inside the plant, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said. Also, the river is not expected to rise higher than the level the plant was designed to handle. NRC spokesman Victor Dricks said the plant remains safe. The federal commission had inspectors at the plant 20 miles (32 kilometers) north...

OMAHA, Neb. -- While insisting that Nebraska’s two nuclear power plants remain safe in the face of record flooding from the Missouri River, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on Wednesday issued a statement noting among other things “two feet of water” onsite in many areas of the Fort Calhoun plant which is 19 miles north of Omaha. The NRC says it has upped its around the clock coverage at Fort Calhoun which is operated by the Omaha Public Power District. In addition to the two resident inspectors “three more inspectors and a branch chief” are now at the plant...