January 2016 – Page 33 – North Platte Post Archive

Douglas County Judge Still Barring Guns from Courtroom

Posted on January 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Douglas County judge is not budging from his order to keep his courtroom gun-free — despite concerns by uniformed Omaha police who’ve been barred from entering with their service weapons.

District Judge James Gleason says he is aware of the concerns of Omaha police, who have said that their service weapons are a required part of their uniform.

But Gleason said in a recent written response to Omaha police authorities that he has had a no-guns rule in his courtroom for almost 13 years, and the first time an officer objected was at a Dec. 14 hearing.

Gleason says the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is solely responsible for security at the courthouse.

Omaha Police Investigate Man’s Death as Homicide

Posted on January 9, 2016

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say they are investigating the death of a man whose body was found Friday in a vacant Omaha house as a homicide.

Omaha police say the body of 54-year-old Derek DeWolf was found around 12:30 p.m. Friday in a house near 15th Street and Willis Avenue in east Omaha.

The house had been damaged at one time by fire.

Police have not disclosed how DeWolf died, and no arrests have been made.

Officials Say Dangerous Wind Chills to Freeze Iowa, Nebraska

Posted on January 9, 2016

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Frigid temperatures and strong winds have led weather officials to warn Iowa and some Nebraska residents of dangerously low wind chills this weekend.

The National Weather service says temperatures in the single digits Saturday in northern and eastern Nebraska and the northern half of Iowa will feel like 15 to 25 degrees below zero because of strong winds. The service says the dangerous wind chill is expected to last through Sunday morning.

Weather officials warn that wind chills that low can lead to frostbite within minutes for any exposed skin.

Residents are asked to stay in heated areas and bundle up if they must head outside.

Nebraska AG Backs Bill to Combat Identity Theft, Fraud

Posted on January 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts will visit 10 Nebraska cities to discuss his legislative agenda following his annual State of the State address to lawmakers.

Ricketts will deliver the speech at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Nebraska Capitol. After a news conference, the governor will travel that day to South Sioux City, Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings.

On Friday, Ricketts will visit North Platte, Sidney, Scottsbluff, Alliance, Valentine and Fremont.

Ricketts is expected to focus on property tax reform, prison issues and roads in his second State of the State address since he took office.

Ricketts Announces Travel Schedule After State of the State

Posted on January 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Pete Ricketts will visit 10 Nebraska cities to discuss his legislative agenda following his annual State of the State address to lawmakers.

Ricketts will deliver the speech at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Nebraska Capitol. After a news conference, the governor will travel that day to South Sioux City, Columbus, Grand Island and Hastings.

On Friday, Ricketts will visit North Platte, Sidney, Scottsbluff, Alliance, Valentine and Fremont.

Ricketts is expected to focus on property tax reform, prison issues and roads in his second State of the State address since he took office.

Lincoln Police: Toddler Hospitalized After Nearly Drowning`

Posted on January 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 2-year-old boy has nearly drowned in a Lincoln bathtub.

A police spokeswoman says the child’s stepmother reported stepping away from the tub for a couple minutes to check on another child Thursday night. The woman says the toddler was under the water when she returned.

Police spokeswoman Katie Flood says Officer Aaron Peth arrived at the home within minutes of a 911 call and gave the toddler CPR until medics arrived. The boy then was taken to a hospital.

At Sentencing, Rapist Blames 10-Year-Old for Initiating Sex

Posted on January 9, 2016

MERCER, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania man being sentenced on rape charges has blamed his 10-year-old victim for initiating sex with him.

49-year-old Merrell “Moe” Sanders was sentenced Thursday to 10 to 20 years in prison. He pleaded no contest to two counts of rape for repeated contact with the girl starting in 2007.

Sanders’ attorney, Randall Hetrick, says the case “can’t be much worse.” He says he believes his client is having a hard time acknowledging his crimes “because the facts are so horrible.”

Mercer County Judge Daniel Wallace warned Sanders that he’ll likely serve the maximum 20-year sentence if he can’t acknowledge wrongdoing. The state parole board won’t grant his release if he continues to deny the crimes.

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Nebraska Court Overturns Man’s Kidnapping Conviction

Posted on January 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has overturned the kidnapping and assault convictions of a man accused of attacking his former wife.

The court said in a ruling Friday that the Custer County trial court should have held a hearing on the defendant’s claim that prosecutors had seen his confidential trial strategy, thus violating his constitutional rights.

Tyler Bain was convicted in 2014 of the 2011 attack and sentenced to life in prison.

One of the prosecutors who handled his case had told the trial court before Bain’s trial about seeing a document from the defense that discussed trial strategy. The trial judge determined that the prosecutor who actually tried the case hadn’t seen the document, but the high court says that was insufficient to ensure Bain’s rights were not violated.

Nebraska Senator Proposes Paid Leave for Family Caregivers

Posted on January 9, 2016

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska senator says families should not have to sacrifice financial stability to provide in-home care for loved ones.

Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue announced Friday she will introduce legislation to support Nebraska’s voluntary caregivers.

One measure would allow employees to purchase paid sick leave through the Department of Labor for up to eight consecutive weeks if caring for a sick family member or up to 12 weeks for a mother who has given birth.

The group Voices for Children says the state should support families as a critical part of the health care system.

The second would require hospitals to give detailed instructions and demonstrations for in-home care to a designated caregiver before the patient is discharged. The bill is backed by Nebraska AARP.

NPCC Knights Basketball Defeated by Laramie County

Posted on January 9, 2016

The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team travelled to Cheyenne, Wyo. and was defeated by the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles 78-74 in a National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX South Sub-region contest.

The Knights trailed at halftime 37-31, but started the second half on a 15-3 run to take a 46-40 lead.

They continued to lead with just under 14 minutes to go 48-45. The Golden Eagles cut the Knights lead to one 54-53 with eight minutes to play. Continue reading “NPCC Knights Basketball Defeated by Laramie County”