A North Platte man is facing several charges after he allegedly burglarized a home.

At around 4:53 p.m., on February 12, an officer with the North Platte Police Department responded to a residence in the 1100 block of West 4th Street on the report of a burglary.

The victim told the officer that, upon returning to their residence, they had discovered numerous items missing, including prescription medications, a camera, clothing items, a laptop computer and the victim’s 2000 Chevrolet pickup.

On the morning of February 13, an officer located the stolen pickup in the parking lot of the Knight’s Inn, 501 Halligan Drive.

Witnesses were contacted and claimed they had seen a male exit the vehicle about 20 minutes prior to the officer’s arrival.  It was then reported that a male, who fit the description, was seen leaving Penny’s Diner without paying for his meal and entering a room that had not been rented.

Officers made contact with the suspect, identified as Austin Otte, in the room.

According to investigator John Deal, Otte was wearing clothing that had been stolen from the residence on 4th Street, and the keys to the stolen pickup and other stolen items were found in the room.

Otte was arrested and charged with burglary, theft of services and possession of a controlled substance.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The Nebraska State Patrol Troop E-Scottsbluff is teaming up with community partners Allo Communications, Logoz and Platte Valley Companies, along with the Gering and Scottsbluff High Schools, Junior High and Middle School, to promote seat belt safety.

From February 16-19, troopers will conduct Seat Belt Convincer programs at the High Schools, Junior High and Middle School in both Gering and Scottsbluff in an effort to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes. The safety demonstrations are being held to coincide with the big basketball games between the two high schools on Friday, February 19.

“The theme for this event is ‘Buckle Up for the Rivalry’,” said Captain Mike Gaudreault, Commander Troop E Scottsbluff.  “We are looking to make an impression on our young drivers on the need to wear their seat belt, every trip, every time. By riding the convincer before the game, we hope they will see firsthand how seat belts save lives.”

Students who ride the convincer during the week of February 16-19 will be given a raffle ticket provided by the community sponsors. They can then bring the raffle ticket with them to either or both the girls or boys basketball games for a chance to win a prize. During the halftime of the girls’ game a drawing will be held for a basketball autographed by NBA player Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder.  A basketball autographed by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors will be given away during halftime of the boys’ contest. Ticket holders must be present to win.

“These are big games that draw big crowds,” said Glen Koski, Gering High Athletic Director. “Not only are we excited for some great basketball action, we are excited to be able to use this venue to draw attention to the important role seat belts play in keeping our teens and their families safe.”

T-shirts and rally towels with the theme of “Buckle Up for the Rivalry” provided by the community sponsors will also be given out during both games.

Captain Gaudreault said, “We want to thank our sponsors for their support of this important public safety initiative and encourage all teens to make the pledge to always wear their seat belt.”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska and the Northern Ponca Housing Authority have each received grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to tackle housing issues.

Tuesday that the state received a grant of about $8.2 million through the department’s Capital Fund Program, an annual program that allows housing authorities to build and renovate public housing. The grant will be divided among housing authorities across the state.

The Northern Ponca Housing Authority received a $1.1 million grant from the department’s Indian Community Block Grant Program. It will be used to try and rehabilitate 93 rental housing units in the authority’s service area.

DONIPHAN, Neb. (AP) — A malfunctioning smoke generator is being blamed for a fire that damaged a butcher shop in Doniphan.

Authorities say a volunteer firefighter driving by Steve’s Butcher Shop around 11 a.m. Sunday noticed smoke and called dispatchers.

Steve St. John says he finished hanging 22 slabs of bacon in the smokehouse about two hours earlier and turned on the smoke generator. He says it malfunctioned and started the blaze.

No injuries have been reported.

A meat inspector says all of the meat in the shop must be tossed out. Some of it burned, some of it had smoke damage

St. John told The Grand Island Independent, “We’re temporarily closed, out of business, but there will be a future.”