Month: September 2017
NPCC volleyball drops rubber match at Northeastern
Sterling, Colo. – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights volleyball team travelled to play the Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen at the Bank of Colorado Events Center and fell to the Plainswomen in four sets 25-11, 16-25, 25-10, and 25-13.
The tone for the match was set early on. The Lady Knights took the lead 1-0, but the Plainswomen went on an 8-0 run to take the lead 8-1. The Plainswomen continued to dominate the set and led 23-6. The Lady Knights Shaylee Johnson served the next four points to make the score 23-10 in favor of the Plainswomen.
The second set was a little closer. The Plainswomen jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Lady Knights rallied to take a 17-11 lead and held on to take the second set.
In the third set, the Plainswomen started the set on an 11-0 run to take control of the set.
In the fourth set, the Plainswomen remained dominant by taking a 10-0 lead in the final set.
The Lady Knights are now 10-12 on the season. Luisa Hernandez had 12 kills for the Lady Knights. Antonya Schaffert finished with 13 defensive digs and Carlie Wytulka had 18 set assists.
The Lady Knights will travel to Overland Park, Kan., to participate in the Johnson Community College Invitational this Friday and Saturday.
NP Police, LCSO investigate storage unit burglaries
During the month of September, the North Platte Police Department and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office have investigated several burglaries of storage units.
Authorities say arrests have been made but it is believed that numerous other units have been burglarized and haven’t been discovered or reported. NPPD is in possession of property believed to be stolen but they are unable to identify who the owners are.
Investigator John Deal says suspects have been cutting the locks off of the units then replacing them with new padlocks to make it look as if the unit hasn’t been tampered with.
Deal says if you have a storage unit, police are requesting that you check it to ensure your property is still in place.
Ex-Omaha gymnastics coach faces trial in hidden camera case
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police say a former Omaha gymnastics coach accused of secretly recording a 14-year-old girl as she changed clothes was caught on the video setting up the hidden camera before the girl entered the room.
An Omaha officer testified Monday that 28-year-old James Bryce Fogg recorded the girl earlier this year in an Omaha gym where he worked.
Fogg will stand trial on two counts of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct and one count of unlawful intrusion. He faces up to 102 years in prison convicted.
Fogg’s public defender says he wasn’t trying to record the girl.
Police say he also recorded a 22-year-old woman. Fogg was arrested in July in Emporia, Kansas, where he’d moved for another coaching job.
He remains jailed on $500,000 bail.
Senators eye repeal of Nebraska’s personal property tax
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers say they’re looking to reduce or repeal a tax on business and farm property in next year’s legislative session.
Sens. Jim Smith of Papillion and Curt Friesen of Henderson expressed interest in the idea Tuesday at a forum sponsored by the Platte Institute, a think tank that advocates for lower taxes and fewer regulations.
The personal property tax generates revenue for local governments by taxing tangible property owned by businesses such as computers and mechanical equipment. Farmers pay the tax when they upgrade farm machinery.
Smith says the tax could benefit rural and urban Nebraska and help unite lawmakers who have been at odds over tax policy.
Legislation to repeal the tax could still face opposition from advocates who say it would shift the tax burden onto homeowners.
SkyWest Airlines recommended to feds by 3 Nebraska airports
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — North Platte Airport officials have joined officials in Kearney and Scottsbluff in recommending that SkyWest Airlines provide federally subsidized service to Denver.
The North Platte Airport Authority board voted Monday to recommend the St. George, Utah-based airline to the U.S. Transportation Department. Five other airlines also had submitted bids.
If the airports’ selection of SkyWest is approved, the airline would replace PenAir for flights under the federal Essential Air Service program. The Anchorage, Alaska-based carrier filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization plan in August and ended operations for Nebraska and Kansas earlier this month.
Man accused of peeping on women at gym takes plea deal
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A man accused of spying on nude women at a Lincoln fitness gym and making videos has taken a plea deal.
29-year-old Jade Hawklen pleaded no contest Monday to three counts of unlawful intrusion. Prosecutors agreed in exchange not to file separate charges for the 15 women he’s suspected of watching. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20.
Hawklen told police he used to work at the gym and used a key he’d acquired to access a room that contained a light therapy machine.
Omaha police charge woman in shooting of 15-year-old girl
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they have arrested a woman in connection with the shooting of a 15-year-old girl.
Police say 25-year-old Catessa Barnum was arrested Monday afternoon and booked into the Douglas County jail on charges of 1st-degree felony assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony.
The charges follow a shooting early Saturday of Shadaisja Hill. Police say died at an Omaha hospital.
Woman dies in northeast Nebraska car crash
WALTHILL, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a 38-year-old woman has been killed in a northeast Nebraska car crash.
The accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. Monday on Nebraska Highway 94, about 2 miles (3 kilometers) southwest of Walthill. The Nebraska State Patrol says the car ran off the roadway and rolled, ejecting the driver.
She’s been identified as Diona Jo Doenhoefer, who lived in Walthill.
Nebraska mayor pleads not guilty in child sexual abuse case
HARTINGTON, Neb. (AP) — A northeast Nebraska mayor has pleaded not guilty to four counts of child sexual abuse and one of intentional child abuse.
Court records say 61-year-old Dwayne Schutt (shuht) entered the pleas Monday in Cedar County District Court in Hartington. The judge scheduled a pretrial conference for Nov. 27. The records don’t show that a trial date has been set.
Schutt has been mayor of Randolph since 2011. The Cedar County city has about 940 residents.