MINATARE, Neb. (AP) — Law enforcement is getting back to normal in the Nebraska Panhandle town of Minatare.
A new police chief has been on the job for nearly a month, and earlier this week the City Council hired a new full-time officer. Chief Robert McFarland says he wants to hire a part-time officer as well.
There had been turmoil since February, when two officers were suspended because they failed to meet annual firearms training and continuing education requirements. Police Chief Robert Regester called it a paperwork error. He resigned on April 21, and Officer Jim Lawson quit on April 24.
Prosecutors later charged Regester with four misdemeanor counts of abuse of public records and one misdemeanor count of making a false statement under oath. He’s pleaded not guilty.
KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska man has been indicted on five federal counts, accused of having sex with probationers while he was a probation officer in Kearney, then lying to the FBI about it.
A federal grand jury handed down the indictment Wednesday against 56-year-old Thomas Peterson. In it, Peterson is charged with four counts of deprivation of civil rights under color of law and one count of making false statements to a government agent.
The indictment says that from 2010 through 2014, Peterson had sex with four different women while they were on probation and while he was serving as their probation officer. The indictment also accuses Peterson of tipping off probationers to planned drug tests and of threatening to have one woman’s probation revoked unless she left the state.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Dakota County has received the state of Nebraska’s “Livestock Friendly” designation for its support of the industry.
Gov. Pete Ricketts announced the award on Friday during a visit to South Sioux City. Dakota County is the 30th county in Nebraska that is now part of the state program. Dakota County is home to many livestock and poultry operations and meat processing facilities.
Ricketts says Dakota County officials have shown a strong commitment to rural economic development and agriculture.
Counties that wish to receive the designation must hold a public hearing, and the county board must pass a resolution to apply. A completed application must be submitted to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former University of Nebraska- Lincoln college student has been sentenced to prison for downloading child pornography using the university’s Wi-Fi.
29-year-old Joseph Anderson, originally from De Pere, Wisconsin, was sentenced Monday to five to eight years.
Prosecutors say Anderson was already on probation in Idaho for doing the same thing when he was a student there. Last year, UNL police were tipped by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Anderson’s email account had been used to download child porn. He was arrested Aug. 25.
He later pleaded no contest to possession of child pornography.
Anderson will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A change in Nebraska law set to take effect next month will make it easier for funeral directors to sell insurance that covers funeral costs.
A funeral life insurance policy is a method of paying for what’s known as “pre-need” funerals. Such policies offer advantages over putting money in a certificate deposit, which would be payable to the funeral upon death, or giving cash to the funeral home.
An insurance policy can include increases in value to keep up with inflation and are portable in case the funeral ends up somewhere different from where the buyer had planned.
The change in state law sets a lower amount of training and continuing education that funeral directors and others must take to maintain licenses that allow them to sell funeral insurance.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has found a Lincoln man was guilty of trespassing when he handed out religious leaflets too close to the front of Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Judge James Foster found Larry Ball guilty of two misdemeanor charges and fined him $50 for each offense. He also ordered Bell to pay court costs.
The 78-year-old man was cited after incident in March when he handed out religious pamphlets on a plaza about 30 feet from the Lincoln arena’s doors.
The matter went to trial in June, and the judge had taken his decision under advisement.
Ball has filed a civil lawsuit, alleging his free speech rights under the First Amendment have been violated.
(Broken Bow, Neb.)- On Thursday, July 23, the Nebraska State Patrol conducted alcohol compliance checks at nine retail outlets in Custer County.
During the effort one business,Suzy’s Pizza & Pub in Arnold, was found to be non-compliant after selling alcohol to a minor. The retail outlets checked included convenience, liquor and grocery stores as well as restaurants and bars.
Law enforcement performs compliance checks to ensure that businesses are complying with the state’s alcohol laws and to decrease youth access to alcohol.
Frances Mary “Vicky” Williams, age 88 of North Platte, passed away Thursday July 23, 2015 at Centennial Park.
Vicky was born October 24, 1926 at Seven Oak’s, Kent, England to James and Frances Ada (Long) McClernon. She attended London Wenchmore Hill School. On February 4, 1947 she married Clarence Williams at Phillipsburg, KS. She worked 25 years in health care, working at Highland Hospital in London, and Linden Manor in North Platte. For a time she and Clarence lived in Hastings and she worked at monastery, and for a doctor as a private nurse. She also worked as a receptionist for Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte and was a member of the Does (Elks) Club.
Vicky is survived by her sons Keith (Linda) Williams and Leland Williams all of North Platte; sisters Jean (John) Lampell of London, England, Margaret Woodhouse of Denver, CO, Sheila (Joe) Landry of Tucson, AZ; brother Bob McClernon of London, England; 2 granddaughters, Bekki (Kale) Merklin of North Platte and Laurie (Jesse) Polvika of Lincoln; 5 great grandchildren, Trevor, Dillon, Nichole, Jaret, and Taylor; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; grandparents, three brothers, Jim, Joseph and Stan McClernon; brother in laws Ray Woodhouse and Wayne Landry; and 2 sisters-in-law.
Memorials are suggested to the 20th Century Veteran’s Memorial and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday July 28, 2015 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Brent Montgomery officiating. Burial will follow at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Dinner will be served at the Moose Club following the burial. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, and 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Monday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Derek Wolfe will miss games against the Ravens, Chiefs, Lions & Vikings
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe will miss the first month of the season after being suspended by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
Wolfe said in a statement he took medicine this offseason that he didn’t realize was prohibited by the NFL. He apologized to the Broncos and their fans.
Wolfe played in every game last year, contributing to a Denver defensive line that allowed 79.8 rushing yards per game, the lowest single-season figure in team history.
He was a shell of himself, however, after missing a good chunk of the 2013 season, which was marked by a seizure on the team bus. Doctors believe that was related to a bruised spinal cord he suffered that preseason.
A North Platte man has been charged with multiple felonies following an alleged attack on his girlfriend.
At around 1:39 a.m., on July 20, an officer with the North Platte Police Department met with an adult female who alleged that she was the victim of an assault.
According to police, the victim stated that she had been in the bedroom of her boyfriend’s residence in the 2300 block of East D.
She said her boyfriend, identified as Anthony Rico, entered the bedroom and demanded that the victim give him her cell phone. Rico reportedly had suspicions that the victim was sending text messages to another male.
The victim stated that she gave Rico the phone, which he snapped in half, and an argument ensued.
Rico then allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat, restricting her breathing, and shoved her up against a wall.
As the victim tried to escape, she said Rico grabbed a machete style knife and held it to her throat, then threatened to kill her.
Police say the victim was able to punch Rico in the abdomen and get out of the house.
But Rico wasn’t done, the victim told officers that, as she was attempting to drive away, Rico broke the window out of her car.
The female was able to drive to another location and sought medical attention for injuries which police say didn’t appear to be serious.
On July 23, officers responded to Rico’s place of employment and placed him under arrest.
Officers then executed a search warrant on Rico’s house, where they were able to locate a knife that matched the victim’s description of the knife used in the assault.
Rico was transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with use of a weapon to commit a felony, felony terroristic threats, felony strangulation, criminal mischief and domestic assault.
