May 2013 – Page 41 – North Platte Post Archive

Insanity Plea May Slow Colorado Theater Shooting Trial

Posted on May 8, 2013

The man accused in the deadly Colorado theater shootings wants to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity.

James Holmes’ attorneys revealed his intention Tuesday. The new plea could mean a long delay for a mental evaluation and legal arguments.

Holmes is charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in the July 20 attack that killed 12 people and left 70 injured. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Holmes’ lawyers delayed entering a plea for weeks, saying the state insanity law could severely hamper his ability to mount a defense against the death penalty.

A judge entered a standard not guilty plea for Holmes last month.

The court will hear arguments from both sides Monday on whether to let Holmes change his plea to insanity.

NE Businessman Accused of Embezzlement to Be Sentenced in June

Posted on May 8, 2013

(AP) — A June sentencing date has been set for a businessman convicted of embezzling money that was supposed to go to employees’ pension funds and insurance premiums.

U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon set Richard Odermatt’s sentencing hearing for June 7.

The 61-year-old Odermatt, of Ashland, is the owner of Odermatt Floor Covering Inc. in Omaha.

Federal prosecutors say Odermatt withheld nearly $59,000 from employee paychecks between April 2009 and last July and used it for other things.

Odermatt pleaded guilty in February. He faces up to five years in prison when he’s sentenced.

Nebraskan Gets Prison Sentence for Harsh Discipline of Girlfriend’s Children

Posted on May 8, 2013May 8, 2013

(AP) — A 44-year-old Creston man has been given 30 to 36 months in prison for physically abusing two of his girlfriend’s children.

Larry Einspahr Jr. last week was given credit for 150 days already served.

Online court records show he’d pleaded no contest and was convicted of two counts of negligent child abuse.

Einspahr’s girlfriend, 42-year-old Janelle Gertsch, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of child abuse that officials say occurred over three months last fall.

Gertsch and Einspahr were accused of abusing Gertsch’s 12-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.

Gertsch had adopted the two and another child but has since divorced the man she was married to at the time. Officials described the abuse as excessive discipline.

‘Miss America’ Song Cut from Pageant Over Dispute

Posted on May 8, 2013

(AP) — The next Miss America won’t hear a familiar refrain when she’s crowned in Atlantic City, N.J., in September.

The song, “Miss America,” which starts with the words, “There she is, Miss America,” will not be part of the pageant.

Miss American Organization vice president Sharon Pearce says the tune, which was first played in 1955, is no longer included. She says no decision has been made on a final song.

The song was replaced by instrumental music at the 2013 pageant in January after the widow of the songwriter filed a licensing lawsuit in federal court in California in 2012. The complaint was dismissed in December following a confidential settlement.

The song was not used for three years in the 1980s after a contract dispute.

51-Year-Old Arrested in Fatal Omaha Stabbing

Posted on May 8, 2013

A 51-year-old man has been arrested, accused of fatally stabbing another Omaha man.

Police say Jade Owens was arrested late Tuesday. He’s suspected of stabbing 20-year-old Anthony Baker on Monday night in eastern Omaha.

Police say Owens also faces charges in another stabbing.

A Douglas County jailer said Owens remained in custody on Wednesday morning. Online court records don’t list the name of Owens’ attorney.

UPDATED: North Platte Police Find Body at Centennial Park

Posted on May 7, 2013May 8, 2013

UPDATE:

The body found at Centennial Park on Monday has been identified as that of Howard D. Russell, 54, of North Platte.

North Platte Police say the body was discovered by a passerby and reported to police.

The Lincoln County Attorney has not yet determined a cause of death.

_______________________________________________________________________________

North Platte Police found a body at Centennial Park on Monday.

Public Information Officer Rodney Brown said Officers found the body of a 54-year-old local man at around 6:50 a.m near the Bike Trail on the South side of the park.

Police say the man died alone, and no evidence of foul play has been discovered.

According to Brown, the investigation is ongoing.

Tri-City Storm Draft First Ever Nebraskan

Posted on May 7, 2013

The Tri-City Storm made history with their first round selection in Phase 2 of the 2013 USHL Draft by selecting forward Chris Wilkie, an Omaha native who will be the first ever player from Nebraska on the club’s roster.

“We were going to take the best player available and that’s what we felt Chris was,” Storm head coach and general manager Josh Hauge said. But it’s an added bonus to say that he’s from our area. It makes our pick even more special. We were lucky enough to be in the number two spot to take him right away.”

Wilkie played with the United States National Team Development Program last season, appearing in 56 games and scoring 31 points with 13 goals and 18 assists. He also played six games for Team USA in the U17 World Challenge and amassed nine points on three goals and six assists.

At 16-years-old, Wilkie stands at 5-feet 10-inches and weighs 172 pounds.

“He’s going to be an extremely skilled hockey player,” Hauge said. “He’s got a dynamic skill set and what’s even more impressive is how hard and physical he plays. He’s going to be a leader for us and I’m really excited about him coming into our locker room.”

Before the NTDP, Wilkie played for the Omaha Lancers Midget Minor team. He was coached by his father David, a former NHL player with the Montreal Canadians, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers from 1994-2001.

“I think you can tell he’s been coached very well by his father growing up and he’s got a hockey pedigree,” Hauge said. “But I think that Chris has written his own chapter and he’s a guy that’s going to make his own mark on the game because he’s so talented. Chris has done all the work.”

The second overall pick is also committed to play collegiately at North Dakota.

“We think he’ll be ready to play college hockey after one season and hopefully, if we do our job, he’ll be a high-end NHL Draft pick,” Hauge said. “He’s ready to come in and be a marquee player for a franchise in our league and I think that’s what he’s going to do here.”

Trial Set in Death of Two-Year-Old Gering Girl

Posted on May 7, 2013

An August trial has been scheduled for a 26-year-old man charged with child abuse in the death of a 2-year-old Gering girl.

Two of three charges against Dustin Chauncey were dismissed last week. Prosecutors cited problems with the statute of limitations for a felony manslaughter charge and a misdemeanor charge of providing false information to police.

Chauncey has pleaded not guilty to harming Juliette Geurts, of Gering in July 2008. He was the boyfriend at the time of the girl’s mother, Charyse Geurts. Charges against her also have been dismissed because of the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations on Chauncey’s child abuse charge is seven years. It’s less on the other charges.

Chauncey is serving time in a Colorado prison on a drug conviction.

Scottsbluff City Council Hires Police Chief and Shelves Police Consolidation

Posted on May 7, 2013

The Scottsbluff City Council has approved the hiring of a police chief and has shelved plans for consolidating police operations.

On Monday the council endorsed the selection of Kevin Spencer, who’s spent 11 years on the city’s force.

In one of its first directives to Spencer, the council asked him to compile the consolidation research for future use by local residents and the council.

Mayor Randy Meininger says there has been scant support for the latest proposal to fold the Scottsbluff and Gering police forces into the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office.

NPPS Fills Vacant Administrator Positions

Posted on May 7, 2013

North Platte Public Schools Superintendent Marty Bassett will be recommending two new administrators at the May 14 North Platte Public Schools Board of Education meeting.

Danny McMurtry will be recommended for the Madison Middle School principal position and Peggy Board will be recommended as the new Assistant Principal at North Platte High School (NPHS).

Current NPHS Assistant Principal, Vikki Carlson, will return to Adams Middle School as the Assistant Principal. Carlson was a teacher at Adams before becoming the Dean of Students at NPHS in 2010.

Danny McMurtry is a NPHS graduate and attended Howard College in Texas where he earned an Associates Degree before transferring to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette to play baseball. McMurtry earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from UL-Lafayette. He will earn a Masters in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University in May of 2014.

Peggy Bourge is a graduate of Brady High School and attended Doane College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Political Science. She received her teaching certificate from Texas A & M University. She also earned two Masters Degree from Texas A & M in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Administration. Bourge has 14 years of experience as a Social Studies teacher and Assistant Principal.

The filling of these two positions completes the North Platte Public Schools administrative team.