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Suspect Sought in Theft of Vehicle, Other Items from Great Plains Health

Benjamin Beauvais
Benjamin Beauvais

North Platte Police are investigating after a North Platte man allegedly broke into lockers at Great Plains Health and stole numerous items, including a vehicle.

Police were called to GPH at around 6:49 p.m., on January 19. Staff at the hospital told officers that someone had rummaged through the employee lockers and several items were missing.

According to Investigator John Deal, the stolen items included cash, credit cards and prescription medication.

One employee reported that her car keys were missing and so was her 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, which had been parked in the parking lot.

Officers viewed surveillance video and identified the suspect in the thefts as 24-year-old Benjamin Beauvais.

Investigators say Beauvais arrived at the hospital with two other people, one of whom checked into the hospital for legitimate medical reasons, then separated from his group and entered the unauthorized area.

Another witness reported seeing Beauvais enter the Grand Prix and leave.

Police say the car was recovered in North Platte on Wednesday afternoon, but Beauvais remains at large.  He is currently sought on felony theft charges, and, according to Deal, additional charges for controlled substance violations and trespassing may be added.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the North Platte Police Department at 308-535-6789 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-933-TIPS.

 

 

NPCC Volleyball Signs Camacho

Aly Camacho of Scottsbluff High School signs letter of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College. (Photo Courtesy of Randy Henry)
Aly Camacho of Scottsbluff High School signs letter of intent to play volleyball at North Platte Community College. (Photo Courtesy of Randy Henry)

The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team has announced the signing of Aly Camacho of Scottsbluff, Neb.

Camacho, a 6’ 0” middle blocker, played for coach Kenna Urwiller and the Scottsbluff High School Lady Bearcats.  Camacho was a three-sport athlete in high school and started three years in volleyball.

Urwiller said, “I watched Aly develop as a volleyball player.  She started playing volleyball in the eighth grade.  She is one of the most competitive people I know.” Continue reading “NPCC Volleyball Signs Camacho”

Feds Probe Complaints That Ford Focus Doors Won’t Latch

fordDETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that doors won’t latch properly on about 400,000 Ford Focus compact cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that the probe covers cars from the 2012 and 2013 model years.

The agency says 73 drivers have reported problems with latches including some who said the doors opened while the cars were moving. One person reported getting hurt by a door that rebounded after an attempt to close it.

The government says the problem is similar to one that caused the recall last year of more than 456,000 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion and Fiesta models. Investigators will check how often the problem happens and could seek a recall.

A message was left Wednesday seeking comment from a Ford spokesman.

 

Douglas County Judges Oppose Colleague’s Courtroom Gun Ban

no-gunsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Douglas County judge’s controversial courtroom ban on guns is now being disputed by his own colleagues.

Douglas County District Judge Mark Ashford sent a letter to Omaha’s police chief saying that he disagrees with Judge James Gleason’s ban on guns in his courtroom.

Gleason ruled earlier this month that only sheriff’s deputies providing courthouse security will be allowed to wear their weapons.

Ashford says he believes on-duty officers should carry their weapons throughout the courthouse.

Police officers, union leadership and Omaha’s police chief opposed the ban and have discussed taking action to express this disagreement.

The judges briefly discussed the matter during a meeting Tuesday. Presiding District Judge Leigh Ann Retelsdorf says the county’s other 15 district judges disagree with Gleason’s decision and won’t adopt a similar policy in their courtrooms.

Nebraska Plea-Change Hearing Set in Slaying of Toddler

gavel-and-scaleHASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A change-of-plea hearing has been scheduled for a woman accused of stuffing a baby wipe down the throat of a Nebraska toddler.

Adams County District Court records say the hearing is set Feb. 4 for 34-year-old Azudany Serrano-Contreras. She’s already pleaded not guilty to intentional child abuse resulting in death. Prosecutors say she was baby-sitting 19-month-old Aliyana Peterson on March 12 when she stuffed the wipe down the child’s throat, killing her.

Court records don’t say what Serrano-Contreras’ new plea will be.

2 Nebraska Students Treated After School Bus Collides with Tow Truck

bus-accidentFREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Two students were treated for minor injuries after the school bus they were in collided with a tow truck.

The accident was reported around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. Highway 77 on the north side of Fremont. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office says the eastbound bus was turning north onto the highway when it was struck by the southbound tow truck.

The Sheriff’s Office says the bus driver didn’t allow enough time in the snowy, icy conditions to safely turn onto the highway.

The bus was carrying 52 students to Johnson Crossing Academic Center in Fremont.

Omaha Man Gets 60-70 Years for Stabbing Brother to Death

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An Omaha man who authorities say stabbed his brother at least 70 times has been given 60 to 70 years in prison.

Twenty-four-year-old Stephen Russell was sentenced Tuesday. He’d pleaded no contest and was convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying of 27-year-old Jonathan Russell in April. Prosecutors had lowered the murder charge and dropped a weapons count in exchange for Stephen Russell’s plea.

Authorities say the body was found by the Russells’ mother inside the family home.

Stephen Russell apologized to his family at his sentencing hearing and said, “What happened on April 4 was a horrible mistake.”

Carl E. “Bud” Deidel

deidel

Carl E. “Bud” Deidel, 81, of North Platte, passed away January 17, at Golden Living Center in Cozad. He was born March 6, 1934 to Edgar B. and Violet (Haney) Deidel near Tryon, NE. He moved to North Platte in 1938 and graduated from North Platte High School with the class of “52”. Bud joined the United States Army and served from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1956. Bud lived in Chula Vista, CA and worked for Rohr Aircraft from 1956 to 1962. He then moved to Englewood, CO and worked for Verticel Honeycomb from 1962 to 1972, then returning to North Platte. He was employed by Nosky & Nosky Engineering as a surveyor’s helper and he also helped care for his mother. He is survived by his sister, Audrey Deidel of North Platte; nephews, Ronald (Carolyn) Deidel, James (Ann) Deidel and Michael (Sandy) Deidel; a niece, Linda Jepsen; and several great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Wayne and Harry Deidel; sisters-in-law, Jeane and Ruby Deidel; and a niece, Barbara Cassell. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in his memory. Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 22, 2016 with the Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery with military honors graveside. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

North Platte Weather-January 20

forecast graphic january 20 2016Today
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Tonight
A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north after midnight.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 32. North wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
Sunday
A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42.
Sunday Night
A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Game and Parks Seeks Information on Bald Eagle Found Shot

File Image
File Image

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking information related to the apparent shooting of a bald eagle in northeastern Nebraska.

A citizen found the dead eagle on Jan. 17 in Cedar County, approximately 3 miles southeast of Yankton, S.D. The eagle appeared to have been shot on the day it was found. Two rooster pheasants and two hen pheasants were found with the eagle. Rooster pheasants are in season through Jan. 31, but it is illegal to harvest hen pheasants.

Bald eagles are protected by the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), which prohibits the take, possession, sale, purchase, barter, offer to sell, transport, export or import of any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, unless allowed by permit. “Take” includes pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, molest or disturb. Maximum penalties for violating BGEPA can be as high as a $250,000 fine and imprisonment for up to two years.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Commission Conservation Officer Jeff Jones at 402-762-5022 or Nebraska Wildlife Crime Stoppers at 1-800-742-7627.  The caller can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.

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