A weekend traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Buffalo County led to the seizure of 3.5 lbs. of methamphetamine and two arrests.
Around 9:45 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, a trooper stopped a westbound 2013 Subaru Legacy for following too close about two miles west of the Elm Creek interchange on I-80. The trooper was given consent to search the vehicle. The search led to the seizure of six packages containing 3.5 lbs. of methamphetamine.
The driver of the vehicle, Jose Ivan Preciado, 28, of Mojave, Calif., and a passenger in the vehicle Alberto Hineges Jr., 29, of Mendota, Calif., were both lodged in the Buffalo County Corrections, each on a charge of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver.
A 40-year-old man, who recently moved to North Platte from Denver, is being held on charges that he assaulted his girlfriend and held her captive for several days.
At around 4:45 a.m., on March 1, officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to the report of a woman being held against her will at a residence in the 2200 block of West 2nd Street.
The 28-year-old female alleged that her boyfriend, Louis Olona, had become angry following an argument, on February 25, and began punching and kicking her.
He then allegedly held her captive in a bedroom at the residence.
According to the victim, Olona physically and sexually assaulted her, while he was holding her against her will.
Upon arrival, police discovered that Olona was passed out inside the residence, and they were able to help the female escape through the back door.
Officers then made contact with Olona and placed him under arrest.
Following his arrest, officers learned that the female had an active protection order against Olona, issued by a Colorado court.
In the end, Olona was charged with felony 3rd degree domestic assault, felony strangulation, felony 1st degree false imprisonment and 2nd offense violation of a protection order.
According to Officer Rodney Brown, the female had injuries that corroborated her account of what happened.
Brown said other allegations made by the victim are still being investigated.
Olona was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is slated to host a debate on the effects of regulating carbon emissions.
The forum is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in downtown Lincoln.
A pair of experts will debate the pros and cons of carbon regulation through taxation, cap and trade and other measures at the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues. The forum will examine the global, environmental and financial effects of proposed regulations.
The debate will feature Marlo Lewis Jr. of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Gilbert Metcalf of Tufts University. The debate will be moderated by Susan Poser, dean of the University of Nebraska College of Law.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say a 23-year-old man is facing a criminal charge after stealing a rainbow flag from a lesbian couple’s home and setting it on fire.
Cameron Mayfield of Omaha is charged with arson and resisting arrest in the Saturday incident. Police say Mayfield tried to run away from officers when they showed up at his residence to speak with him.
The flag hung on the front porch of couple’s home and had been replaced with a new one by Sunday afternoon. The couple says they have never been confronted by Mayfield before, who lives about 10 houses away from them.
Mayfield was being held in a Douglas County jail as of Monday. Online jail records didn’t list an attorney for him.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A spokesman for Gov. Pete Ricketts’ office says the state is no longer considering the sexual orientation of a person seeking to become a foster parent.
The state health and human services department hasn’t officially changed its policy, but it hasn’t been following it either.
He says it’s hard to pinpoint when the agency changed course, except that it came before Ricketts took office in January. The disconnect between policy and procedure has prompted the governor’s office to ask department officials for a review.
The 20-year-old policy effectively prevents gay and lesbian couples from becoming foster parents by barring unmarried, unrelated adults who live together from having children placed with them. It also bars placing children with a single, gay person.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A study by federal health investigators warns that some foster children are not getting their required medical screenings even though the visits are paid for by Medicaid.
The Health and Human Services’ inspector general study released Monday looked at a random sample of roughly 400 foster children from California, Texas, New York and Illinois. It found nearly 30 percent did not receive one or more of their required health screenings between 2011 and 2012. Of those who did not receive at least one required screening, 12 percent didn’t get an initial screening and 17 percent didn’t receive one or more periodic screenings.
Experts say foster children experience high rates of chronic medical, developmental, and mental health issues. They often face challenges getting access to health care.
Marlin Douglas Miller, 77, of North Platte, passed away March 1, 2015 at his home. He was born June 18, 1937 to Bernard John and Frances Marguerite (Kemper) Miller at Wellfleet. Marlin was raised in North Platte attended North Platte High School graduating with the class of “55”. He served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958, during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany. On January 30, 1965, he was united in marriage to Mona Colleen Mullen in Cheyenne, WY. He was employed by the Nebraska State Game and Parks in the Fishery Department, retiring in 2002, then worked at Walmart and University of Nebraska Creel Survey. He enjoyed his family, fishing, gardening and the outdoors. Marlin is survived by his wife, Mona; his children, Marvin (Julie) Miller of Gering, Marla (Danny) Wallace of Maywood, Melissa Miller of North Platte, Michelle (Jason) Crouse of Beebe, AR and Melinda Miller of Albin, WY; sister, Gladys Forbes of Wilson, NC; 16 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Bernard, Alvie and Marvin Miller; four sisters, Hazel Ling, Arlene Ingram, Phyllis Hilty and Marguerite Smith. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in his memory. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 5, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the Reverend Dale Heimer officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with military honors graveside by the North Platte Veteran’s Organizations. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been cited for possessing pot inside a container that had been slapped with a label reading: “Not Weed.”
Lancaster County deputies stopped the man’s vehicle around 9 p.m. Saturday. Officers found the plastic sour cream container during a search of his car, and the driver acknowledged that the pot belonged to him.
He was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and cited for having less than an ounce of marijuana.
Bonnie Ellen Lunkwitz, 71, of Maxwell, departed this life February 28, 2015 at Great Plains Health. She was born the eldest of three children to Kenneth and Alice Bernhardt Gentry on August 18, 1943 in Humboldt, NE, while her dad was away during WWII. The family lived in the southeastern part of Nebraska during her childhood years and later moving to Gering, NE, where she graduated high school. She married Donald Lunkwitz on April 5, 1964 at Gering, NE. They met with the help of Don’s twin brother, Dan, who set him up on a date. Don was working on the railroad at that time and many trips from North Platte to Gering were made. Don and Bonnie finally settled down on the family farm, southwest of Maxwell. Bonnie was an active member with Bignell School Board for numerous years, and became the hub of the farm/dairy operation. She was bookkeeper for the business, cooked, and raised two children along with an extensive extended family. Anyone who walked through the door was welcome to sit and have a cup of coffee and a piece of her wonderful apple pie if you were lucky enough to get one before it was gone. She enjoyed her pets, family, grandchildren, the farm, gardening, collecting antiques, home improvements, ceramics, bowling, getting together with friends and many other interests through the years. After being married there were two children that were born, but that is not entirely true as she was “Mom” to many others. Many of the meals consisted of extended family, friends, hunters, and individuals working on the farm. Creating a small meal was not in her vocabulary and never was able to cook for two. Bonnie was preceded in departure of this life by her parents; and her youngest sister, Patricia. Her mother and sister were both killed in separate incidents due to automobile accidents. Larry Gentry, her brother, has been a big help to her over the years and lives nearby. She has left a devoted husband, Don, of almost 51 years; two sons, Donald Allen (Chris) Lunkwitz of Maxwell and Michael Otto Lunkwitz of Omaha; three grandchildren, D.J., Mollee and Dalton Lunkwitz; brother, Larry (Kathy) Gentry; special friend, that was there through the good times and the bad without hesitation, Judy Steele Mullen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in her memory. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at Plainview Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An effort to reinstate the winner-take-all system in presidential elections has cleared a first-round vote in Nebraska’s Legislature.
Lawmakers voted 31-17 on Monday to advance the bill through the first of three required votes. Supporters of the bill overcame a legislative filibuster.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states where it’s possible to split electoral votes between opposing presidential candidates, though other states have considered the practice. Two of Nebraska’s electoral votes are awarded to the statewide winner, while the remaining three are distributed by congressional district.
Nebraska split its electoral votes for the first time in 2008, when Democrat Barack Obama captured one from the 2nd congressional district in Omaha on his way to the presidency.
A weekend traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Buffalo County led to the seizure of 3.5 lbs. of methamphetamine and two arrests.
