Editing Rulo, Nebraska (section)

==History==
Rulo was laid out in 1857.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dlas_EPVGFEC | title=Nebraska Place-Names | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | author=Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. | year=1960 |isbn=0-8032-5060-6 | pages=120}} A [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=englishunsllc 1925 edition] is available for download at [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.]</ref>   It was named for Charlie Rouleau, the original owner of the town site.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.casde.unl.edu/history/counties/richardson/rulo/ | title=Rulo, Richardson | publisher=University of Nebraska | work=Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies | accessdate=August 22, 2014}}</ref>

In 1933, the foundation for the [[Rulo Bridge]], a toll bridge across the Missouri River, was laid. The owner of the bridge was originally John Mullen from Falls City, together with a group of investors, the "Kansas City Bridge Company". Construction of the bridge began in 1938, after the [[Works Progress Administration]] decided to finance half the cost.  The bridge was finished in 1939.

During the early 1980s, a small group of [[Christian Identity]] survivalists, led by [[Michael W. Ryan]], began living in a religious cult located on a farm two miles north of Rulo, along the Missouri River. The farm was converted into a compound and the members of the cult would commit thefts throughout the Nebraska-Missouri-Kansas area. The stolen property would be sold in order to buy weapons and survival equipment for the group.<ref>Rod Colvin (1992). ''Evil harvest: The shocking true story of cult murder in the American heartland.'' Bantam. {{ISBN|0-553-29868-2}}.</ref> Ryan was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death after the [[Nebraska State Patrol]] discovered that he was responsible for the torture murders of a 26-year-old cult member and a five-year-old boy.<ref>[http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2004/winter/return-of-the-pastor?page=0,2 "James Wickstrom Faces Attacks, Continues to Preach Christian Identity Doctrine".] ''[http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2004/winter Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report, Winter 2004, Issue Number 116].''  Retrieved March 12, 2013.</ref><ref>Bergin, Michael. [http://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/attorney-asks-for-death-sentence-to-be-lifted/article_524a1454-9e92-5550-9924-02e06b0dabc4.html "Attorney asks for death sentence to be lifted."]  ''[http://journalstar.com/ Lincoln Journal Star].'' February 13, 2012.  Retrieved 2013-03-12.</ref> Ryan died of natural causes in prison in 2015.<ref>Edwards, Jonathan.  [http://journalstar.com/news/local/911/death-row-inmate-michael-ryan-dies-in-prison/article_39a44933-d8a5-5284-804e-1be575bea261.html "Death row inmate Michael Ryan dies in prison".]  [http://journalstar.com/ ''Lincoln Journal Star''.]  May 25, 2015.  Retrieved 2015-06-15.</ref>

In 2013, a new bridge carrying [[U.S. Highway 159]] across the Missouri River was opened.  The 1939 bridge, deemed too narrow for [[Semi-trailer truck|semi-trailers]] and farm machinery, was demolished in 2014.<ref>Laukaitis, Algis J.  [http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/span-of-historic-rulo-bridge-destroyed/article_edf0319a-d34a-56b7-a627-cd7918c24821.html "Span of historic Rulo bridge destroyed".]  [http://journalstar.com/ ''Lincoln Journal Star''.]  January 19, 2014.  Retrieved 2014-08-02.</ref>