the legal process must run itscourse, and I remain confidentthat the sentence and ultimatejustice will be carried out.”

Even though Robert asked thetrial judge for the death penalty,South Dakota law requires theSupreme Court to review that sen-tence. Jackley said the high courtwill examine three issues: whetherthe sentenced was imposed underpassion, prejudice or another im-proper factor; whether evidencesupports the judge’s findings of ag-gravating circumstances that per-mit the death penalty, and whetherthe sentence is excessive or dis-proportionate compared to similarcases.

Because Robert is not allowinghis defense lawyer to argue againstthe death penalty, the high courtalso appointed Randal Connelly ofRapid City to submit friend-of-the-court briefs and oral arguments onwhether the death penalty isproper in the case. Connelly said

the Supreme Court wants his inde-pendent input on whether thedeath sentence is appropriate.

Robert was serving an 80-yearsentence on a kidnapping convic-tion when he attempted to escapewith fellow inmate Rodney Berget,49, and killed Johnson. The two in-mates were captured before leav-ing the prison grounds.

Berget also pleaded guilty andwas sentenced to death. He mayfollow a traditional appeal thatseeks to overturn his sentence.

A third inmate, Michael Nord-man, 47, was given a life sentencefor providing the plastic wrap andpipe that Robert and Berget usedto kill Johnson.

Jackley is promoting a bill inthe Legislature that seeks to limitthe number of appeals death-rowinmates can file after their initialappeals are decided. He notedthat two of the men on SouthDakota’s death row are still ap-

pealing their sentences nearly twodecades after they committedmurder.

Donald Moeller, who was sen-tenced to death for the 1990 rapeand killing of 9-year-old Becky O’-Connell of Sioux Falls, still has anappeal pending in federal court.His conviction and sentence havebeen upheld, but he is arguingthat South Dakota’s procedure forlethal injection is unconstitu-tional.

Charles Russell Rhines has ap-peals pending in both state andfederal courts for his convictionand death sentence for the 1992slaying of Donnivan Schaeffer dur-ing the burglary of a Rapid Citydoughnut shop.

Briley Piper of Anchorage,Alaska, is facing the deathpenalty for the March 2000 mur-der of Chester Allan Poage nearSpearfish.

Leona ReckowLeona A. (Forman) Reckow,

103, of Yankton died Saturday,Feb. 18, 2012, at her home at Wal-nut Village in Yankton.

A graveside service will beheld at a later date when her cre-mated remains will be laid to restbeside her parents and brothersat the Eagle Presbyterian Ceme-tery near Academy.

Arrangements are under the di-rection of Wintz & Ray FuneralHome and Cremation Service,Yankton.

To send an online sympathymessage, visit wintzrayfuneral-home.com.

Gerald HansenRANDOLPH, Neb. — Gerald J.

Hansen, 90 of Randolph, Neb.,

died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at theNorfolk Veterans Home, Norfolk,Neb..

Funeral arrangements arepending at Wintz Funeral Home,Coleridge, Neb.

Monday, 2.20.12ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net

NEWS DEPARTMENT: news@yankton.net 3PRESS DAKOTANthe midwestOmaha Police Investigating Fatal Shooting

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investigating an earlymorning shooting that killed one person and left another hospitalized.

Authorities responded to the 1600 block of Harney Street shortlybefore 3:30 a.m. Saturday to investigate a crowd disturbance. The firstofficer to arrive heard multiple gunshots, and witnesses in the area di-rected the officer to a person fleeing from the scene. The officer de-tained the person, who was not identified.

Police found two victims at the scene suffering from gunshotwounds. Both were taken to Nebraska Medical Center, where one hassince died.

Omaha police have not identified either victim. Authorities say theyare still investigating, but urge anyone with information to contactCrime Stoppers at 402-444-7867.

State Fair Eyes Boost In Some Budget AreasHURON (AP) — The manager of the South Dakota State Fair says he

expects the annual event to be able to boost some budget areas thisyear, particularly in entertainment, marketing and equipment rental.

Jerome Hertel tells KOKK radio that years of increasing attendanceand upward revenue are giving the fair confidence as it prepares forthis summer. He says the fair will be in the black as of the end of thefiscal year on June 30.

The state fair has seen its state appropriation drop in previousyears, but Hertel expects lawmakers to stabilize funding at the$268,000 received last year.

Offseason events account for 25 percent of the fair’s revenue. Her-tel says the Wally Byum International Airstream Caravan will bringabout 500 of the rounded, silver campers to the fairgrounds.

Fleeing Driver Just Had License ReinstatedMITCHELL (AP) — Authorities say a South Dakota man arrested for

leading police on a high-speed chase earlier this month had his driver’slicense revoked for 25 years before a judge recently reinstated it.

Justin Hofer, of Ethan, is charged with aggravated eluding, recklessdriving and driving with a revoked driver’s license. Mitchell police saythe 30-year-old Hofer exceeded 100 mph, nearly struck several vehi-cles, ignored traffic signals and drove through a ditch to pass a vehi-cle. Police called off the chase for safety reasons.

Hofer’s license was suspended for 25 years in 2007 after his fourthdrunken driving conviction. Judge Sean M. O’Brien reinstated the driv-ing privileges on Jan. 1 after Hofer met conditions set during the origi-nal suspension.

The Mitchell Daily Republic says Hofer could not be reached forcomment.

Environmentalist Finds Himself In Tree TroubleRAPID CITY (AP) — A noted South Dakota environmentalist is ac-

cused in federal court of changing marks on trees set for a timber salenear his home, so that more trees would be cut down.

Authorities say Brian Brademeyer painted over marks on morethan 20 pines trees on U.S. Forest Service land across the fence fromhis Black Hills home. He faces up to six months in jail for the misde-meanor citation.

Brademeyer has fought the Forest Service on timber-cutting proj-ects for many years. He tells the Rapid City Journal (http://bit.ly/ABX-ujo) he had hoped there would never be a timber sale, but says hewanted the meadow restored to enhance the view from his property.

Former Forest Service spokesman Frank Carroll, who retired in Jan-uary, says Brademeyer was acting on “pure selfish reasons.”

OB ITUAR I E S

Session 1: Prelude to War • February 28 Cronkite Remembers • March 6 The Seeds of War • March 13 The German High Command • March 20 Europe: Wars Within A War • March 27 The Scandinavian & Soviet Fronts Session 2: The Eastern Theater • May 29 The Eastern Front • June 5 Battleground: Italy • June 12 Air War Over Europe • June 19 Invasion: The Allies Attack – 1942 • June 26 Europe: The Allies Close In Session 3: The Pacific Theater • October 16 The Pacific: War Begins • October 23 The Pacific Campaign • October 30 The Pacific Perimeter

• November 6 The War Against Japan • November 13 The Home Front & Victory

In honor of the true heroes of our

country and those who fought so bravely for our freedom, the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service is proud to offer free showings of a series of World War II videos narrated by Walter Cronkite and pro - duced by CBS News. Relive the story of the campaigns and the com - manders, the horror and heroism that marked the most terrifying and unforgettable chapter of human history. Filled with gripping combat scenes and never-before available footage.

Videos will be shown on the following Tuesdays at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home starting at 7:00 PM.

** Each Video Last About 90 Minutes **

2901 Douglas Ave., Yankton, SD 605-665-3644 • www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com

Popcorn & Refreshments

Provided!

Our care and concern does not end with the funeral service. This week we remember with family and friends the anniversary of the deaths of:

Our Thoughts And

Prayers Are With The m

Charles Adolph Zoss who passed away on February 25, 2011

Dorothy M. Larson who passed away on February 26, 2011

Jerry Nova Saul Sr. who passed away on February 26, 2011

Leonard A. Tacke who passed away on February 26, 2011

Ervin George Syrovatka who passed away on February 24, 2009

Jean Hunhoff who passed away on February 22, 2003

This remembrance is brought to you free of charge. If you have a loved one you would like remembered, contact us at

Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory.

Guiding and serving families with compassion and trust.

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live in the Middle East,” she added.“What country that would be, Idon’t know.”

The Arabic language is simplerthan English in some ways, accord-ing to Stevens.

“There is not a lot of fluff,” shesaid. “There is the past tense andpresent tense. That’s it. Once youget past reading right to left andmaking the new sounds, everythingis so straight to the point that thegrammar seems natural. There isnothing that doesn’t make sense.”

Stevens first learned the Arabicalphabet last summer, so she hasless than a year with the language.The full-immersion program willallow her to not only pick up moreof the language but the culture.

“If they asked me to wear a veil,I don’t think I would have a prob-lem doing that,” she said. “I’m

there to learn about the culture,and you can’t understand a lan-guage until you understand the cul-ture. I don’t want to be one ofthose Americans who refuses to ac-cept that there are differences be-tween cultures and believes ourculture is the only way.”

Despite some apprehensionabout his teenage daughter livingoverseas for the summer, MikeStevens believes it is a great oppor-tunity for Sadie to learn.

“Whatever reading you doabout learning a language, the im-mersion process always seems tobe the best way to learn it,” hesaid. “It becomes second nature toyou.”

Stevens said he is glad hisdaughter is passionate about herstudies and hope she is an exampleto other young students to followtheir aspirations.

“It’s important for kids in theMidwest to realize that the educa-tion you get here in Yankton allowsyou to go and do anything,” hesaid.

StevensFrom Page 1

BY GRANT SCHULTEAssociated Press

LINCOLN, Neb. — Gay rights advocates arepreparing to fight a bill in the Nebraska Legisla-ture that would prevent cities from enforcinglocal rules to protect gays and transgenderedpeople from discrimination.

Omaha Sen. Beau McCoy says his proposalwould ensure that businesses are not subjectedto piecemeal regulations by cities and counties.But opponents claim it’s designed to pre-emptan Omaha anti-discrimination measure.

Omaha City Councilman Ben Gray has intro-duced an ordinance that would let gay or trans-gendered people file complaints with the city, ifthey believe they suffered workplace discrimi-nation because of their orientation. The meas-ure also prohibits discrimination byrestaurants, hotels or bars, but it exempts reli-

gious organizations.Gray said he expects a “massive” turnout at

the bill hearing Wednesday before the Legisla-ture’s Judiciary Committee. The bill wouldblock cities and counties from creating separateclasses of people not already defined under Ne-braska’s existing anti-discrimination laws.

“The timing is suspicious, first of all,” Graysaid. “Secondly, there are some issues that aremore unique to Omaha than to the rest of thestate. We need the flexibility and latitude (topass local measures), and it’s getting kind offrustrating that the Legislature keeps trying tomicromanage the city.”

State law prohibits discrimination based onrace, religion, gender, age, marital status andother characteristics, but does not include sex-ual orientation.

McCoy has said Nebraskans in one city de-serve the same protection under the law as

those working in another city. He said busi-nesses need uniform anti-discrimination rules,especially as more employees work from homeor in a town other than where their company islocated.

He pointed to concealed weapons permitsand smoking bans, which were once regulatedby cities and counties and are now under statejurisdiction.

“This is a huge issue,” Gray said. “It’s a con-troversial issue, but it’s one that demands wedo something.”

Nebraska lawmakers have considered billsto ban employment discrimination based onsexual orientation as far back as 1993, but themeasures have died in the Legislature. FormerOmaha Sen. Ernie Chambers introduced onesuch measure in 2007, but the bill was indefi-nitely postponed.

A FIRST SIGN OF SPRING

ELIZABETH FLORES/MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE/MCT

Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano warms up, as he’s watched by pitching coach Rick Anderson, left,and Eddie Guardado, right, during the first day that pitchers and catchers reported for spring training at Ham-mond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla., Sunday.

RobertsFrom Page 1

Nebraska

Bill Irks Gay-Rights Supporters

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Dismayhas improved to disgruntlementfor proponents of the three-stateLewis & Clark Regional Water Sys-tem.

The project will receive an ad-ditional $5 million this year, con-siderably more than the $487,000the pipeline was originally allo-cated for 2012. The news came aspart of the Department of the In-terior’s announcement Wednes-day of $30 million in addedfunding for rural water construc-tion projects in the West.

The money will help Lewis &Clark build three more miles ofpipeline, buy equipment for awater treatment plant and do se-curity fencing and maintenancework.

Still, Lewis & Clark officialshad hoped for much more.

“The congressional delega-tions did what they could. But theBureau of Reclamation didn’t dotheir part, in our opinion,” saidTroy Larson, executive director ofthe Lewis & Clark pipeline.

Lewis & Clark proponentswere stunned last year when theDepartment of Interior’s Bureauof Reclamation allocated lessthan half a million dollars for thepipeline’s construction and oper-ation this year, a small fraction ofwhat officials say the projectneeds to stay on schedule. Forcomparison’s sake, the pipelinehas received as much as $27 mil-lion a year (2009) since 2001.

But the nation’s debt crisisand the fact that Congress scut-tled its system of earmarks lastyear has made securing fundingmuch more difficult.

L&C WaterPipeline

Still ComingUp Short