Man escapes robbers on Nine Bridge Road

Authorities are looking for three people suspected of trying to rob a Vail, Colo., man early Friday morning on Nine Bridge Road.

Vincent Goria, 38, was in town on business and had gone to the bar at the Midtown Holiday Inn, 2503 S. Locust St., where he was staying. He met a woman there who took him to Club 69, 106 E. Third, said Hall County Sheriff Jerry Watson.

At the club, Goria met two other women who wanted to take him into the country. At first he considered getting a taxi back to his hotel, but then he decided to get into a minivan with the two women. The van was driven by a white male, Watson said.

"He went with them willingly and ended up in a bad situation," Watson said.

The group drove to Nine Bridge Road, near a bridge commonly referred to as "Witch's Bridge," Watson said. At some point, one of the women pulled out a steel pipe on a leather strap and attempted to rob Goria. He refused to give them his wallet and ran away through a field, Watson said.

Goria contacted law enforcement from the Holiday Inn near Interstate 80. The incident occurred between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m. Friday. Deputies are investigating leads on the suspects, Watson said.

The location of the robbery is less than one-half mile from where a murder victim was discovered in August 2007. That man had met two of the people charged in his death outside of Club 69.

Library to be closed on Easter Sunday

The Grand Island Public Library will be closed on Sunday in observance of Easter.

The library will reopen at 9 a.m. Monday.

Marine Parents Group to meet in Grand Island

The South Central Nebraska Marine Parents Group will have its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the VFW Club in Grand Island.

The scheduled guest speaker is Cpl. Trevor G. Stryker, 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, Support Co., Heavy Equipment Pit., whose hometown is Grand Island.

This is a new support group geared toward parents of Marines in the South Central Nebraska area. The purpose of the group is to provide fellowship among parents, to share news, knowledge and support and to actively participate in events such as care package projects, letter writing or community events.

Central Plains Chapter of Red Cross announces bloodmobile results for March 3

Seventy-five persons were present to donate blood at the Central Plains Chapter of the Red Cross Bloodmobile the week of March 3.

Ross Barton reached the two-gallon level. Phillip Webb reached the three-gallon level. Michelle Foster reached the five-gallon level. Kathy Sass reached the seven-gallon level. Pattie Hirshman reached the 11-gallon level.

The Central Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a bloodmobile Monday through Friday at 404 E. Third St. Please call 382-3790 to schedule an appointment.

Emergency services seminar scheduled in Hastings

An educational seminar for emergency services personnel will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday in Classroom "C" in the Lower Level of the Medical Services Building in Hastings.

"Traumatic Brain Injury" is the seminar topic. Terry Leslie, EMS Instructor and Paramedic, is the presenter. All EMS personnel are invited to this free seminar and will receive continuing education credit for attendance.

This is the second of six seminars in Mary Lanning's annual series on various topics throughout 2008. For information or to register, call Crystal Finnegan at (402) 461-5177 or Sharon Hayek at (402) 461-5329.