Antelope County attorney passes away

NELIGH, Neb. -- A county attorney in northeast Nebraska passed away Monday afternoon. 

Antelope County Attorney Joseph Abler passed away at his home, according to Madison County Attorney Joe Smith, who serves as Antelope County's Deputy Attorney. Smith confirmed the 48-year-old Abler's passing on Tuesday.

Smith, who had served in place of Abler last month as attorney while Abler was out due to illness, is expected to handle Antelope County cases in the interim, though a longterm plan has not yet been made official.

Abler's funeral will be held Monday, January 23, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Norfolk.