A penguin that was stolen from a display at Cody Park’s Santa’s Workshop and Winter Wonderland last month has been recovered.

On January 9, at around 4:24 p.m., a North Platte police officer took several reports of items being stolen from vehicles in the 800 block of West E Street.  Investigator John Deal says two citizens reported that their vehicles had been broken into and numerous items were stolen, including a work bag with a two-way radio, a spotting scope and other hunting optics and several other items.

One of the victims found a cell phone in their vehicle that didn’t belong to them.

Deal says officers checked the phone and determined that it belonged to 20-year-old Alexander Fourtner.

Officers responded to Fourtner’s residence in the 700 block of South Eastman.  According to Deal, the officers were speaking with Fourtner in his bedroom when one of them noticed the penguin that had been stolen from Cody Park.  The penguin had some minor damage and had the words “Buckaroo Bandits” written on it in permanent marker.

Further investigation led to the discovery of the majority of the property that had been stolen from the two vehicles on E Street.  Property from numerous other thefts around North Platte was also recovered.  Deal says a number of cases will likely be cleared once the investigation is complete.

Officers questioned Fourtner, who claimed that he did not steal the penguin, and said it had been brought to his house by an acquaintance that he would not name.

Police are asking anyone with information about the penguin, or if you’ve been a victim of theft, to contact the North Platte Police Department.

Deal says Fourtner was charged with felony theft between $1,500-$5,000 for the two vehicle break-ins and jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing and Deal says Fourtner will likely face more charges, including possession of the stolen penguin.

A former North Platte travel agent will spend the next three to five years in prison after she was convicted of stealing thousands of dollars from clients.

In December of 2015, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office received information from a Moorefield couple that they had possibly been scammed by a travel agent in North Platte.

The couple reported that they had booked a large family vacation to Hawaii in February of 2015 through a travel agent, later identified as Ella Mae Sculley.  The couple alleged that they made two large payments to Sculley but began finding problems with the vacation plans.

According to Investigators, the couple contacted the parent travel company and found that their vacation had not been booked.  They say they made numerous attempts to contact Sculley but got no response.

After a lengthy investigation into Sculley’s business banking accounts, it was determined that Sculley had indeed received two checks from the alleged victims, but did not make any payments to the parent travel company.

It was determined that the couple has lost over $18,000 due to the incident.

On February 11, 2015, Sculley was contacted by law enforcement and placed under arrest.  She was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with felony theft by deception.

On Monday, Lincoln County District Court Judge Donald Rowlands sentenced Sculley to three to five years at the Nebraska Women’s Prison, in York.

Rowlands noted that a previous theft conviction, in which Sculley was convicted of stealing $8,000 when she worked for Goodwill, in Lexington, meant that he had no choice but to send her to prison.

Sculley must also pay over $30,000 in restitution.

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) — The Scottsbluff City Council is supporting plans to building a micro-distillery in the city.

The council agreed to send a positive recommendation for the distillery to the state Liquor Control Commission.

Father and son Phillip Mitchell and Austin Propp will share ownership in the business they’ve named Great Plains Distillery.

Mitchell says he and his son will initially be the sole workers but hope to hire employees as the business expands in the future.

The distillery will rely as much as possible on locally grown crops.

Council members expressed concern that Propp has twice been charged with driving while intoxicated but decided to support their plans.

Propp says he’s contesting a drunken driving charge from November 2016.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska senators have unveiled a new legislative package intended to provide services for youths who are involved in the child welfare system or juvenile court.

The measures announced Monday would mandate legal representation for juveniles, increasing funding to help the state meet caseload standards in the child welfare system and extend foster care services to certain youths through age 21. It also would establish a bridge custody program to minimize a child’s interactions with juvenile court while ensuring his or her safety.

The bills were introduced by lawmakers who also serve on the state Children’s Commission. The commission was established in response to Nebraska’s failed attempt to privatize its child welfare system.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Two state agencies that serve Nebraska veterans would merge under a new proposal backed by Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ricketts unveiled the measure as one of his top priorities on Monday, saying it would serve veterans in a more efficient and effective manner.

The legislation would combine the Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state’s Division of Veterans Homes, which operates under the Department of Health and Human Services. Ricketts says combining the two would create a one-stop shop for veterans.

Nebraska has more than 143,000 veterans, many of whom are served by both agencies.

Sen. John Murante, chairman of Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, is expected to introduce the bill Thursday after Ricketts delivers his annual address to lawmakers.