NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A California woman accused of having marijuana for sale has been fined in western Nebraska.
Lincoln County District Court records say a judge told 51-year-old Jewel Estrada on Monday to pay fines of $5,000 and $5,000 restitution to Nebraska. Estrada took a deal and pleaded guilty to possessing more than a pound of marijuana and to not having a tax stamp. The pot charge was lowered from possession for sale.
The Nebraska State Patrol says a trooper made a traffic stop of the woman’s car on Dec. 17 just after she left Interstate 80 in North Platte. The trooper discovered the driver, Estrada, was wanted on a 2010 traffic citation for speeding in eastern Nebraska. She lives in North San Juan, California.
The patrol says troopers found around 59 pounds (27 kilograms) of pot in her car.(backslash)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former doctor was sentenced to death on Friday for the revenge killings of four people connected to a Nebraska medical school, including the 11-year-old son of a physician who helped fire the man from a residency program nearly two decades ago.
Anthony Garcia, 45, of Indiana entered the courtroom in a wheelchair and appeared to sleep through the hearing as a three-judge panel sentenced him to death. The judges, who heard arguments earlier this year during the sentencing phase of Garcia’s trial, also had the option of life in prison.
Garcia was convicted in 2016 for two attacks — that occurred five years apart — on families connected to Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha. Prosecutors argued the killings were motivated by Garcia’s long-simmering rage over being fired in 2001 by Dr. William Hunter and another Creighton pathology doctor, Roger Brumback.
Some of the victims’ relatives testified Friday, including Jeff Sherman, whose mother was fatally stabbed alongside Hunter’s young son when she worked at the Hunter family’s home in 2008.
“I’m left with constant images from courtroom pictures of what happened to my mom,” Sherman said. “I can’t ever get those images out of my head.”
Investigators said Garcia fatally stabbed 11-year-old Thomas Hunter and 57-year-old Shirlee Sherman at the family’s home in an upscale Omaha neighborhood. Police collected a slew of evidence but struggled to find a suspect in the killings.
The case went cold in the following years. But that changed with the 2013 Mother’s Day deaths of Brumback and his wife, Mary, in their Omaha home. Police recognized similarities in the 2008 and 2013 killings, and Garcia was quickly eyed as a suspect. He was arrested two months later during a traffic stop in southern Illinois.
On Friday, Thomas Hunter’s mother, Dr. Claire Hunter, spoke of the agony of losing her young son so violently. She said the boy “was a joy in everybody’s life.”
“You can’t begin to enumerate what an event like has had on us, on the entire community,” she said after Garcia was sentenced.
Garcia’s parents and brother, who live in California, also attended the hearing. They were tearful as the verdict was read.
His brother, Fernando Garcia, said it was hard for his family to imagine his brother committing the crimes.
“We just want the victims’ families to know we do pray for them. We feel their pain,” he said. “We’re sorry those things took place. We’re not an evil family. We hope they find peace somehow.”
During the trial, prosecutors presented massive amounts of circumstantial evidence, including credit card and cellphone records placing Garcia in and around Omaha the day the Brumbacks were killed. One receipt showed Garcia eating a meal at a chicken wings restaurant within two hours of when police believe the Brumbacks were attacked.
Prosecutors also presented evidence that Garcia had sought to attack another Creighton medical school faculty member on May 10, 2013 — the same day the Brumbacks were killed. Prosecutors said Garcia pushed in a back door of that woman’s home but fled when the home’s alarm went off. Police believe he then found the Brumbacks’ address on his smartphone and attacked them.
Roger Brumback was shot in the doorway of his home and then stabbed. His wife was stabbed to death, much the same way Thomas Hunter and Shirlee Sherman had been stabbed, according to investigators.
Nebraska had not executed an inmate in more than 20 years until last month, when Carey Dean Moore died by lethal injection for the 1979 shooting deaths of two Omaha cab drivers.
However, the state’s mode of execution remains riddled with controversy and legal challenges in the face of difficulty in obtaining some of the drugs used to carry out lethal injection.
Under Nebraska law, Garcia’s sentence will be automatically appealed.
Friday’s sentencing was briefly interrupted when the lead judge in the case suffered a medical emergency and had to be carried from the courthouse on a stretcher. Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner took over, explaining that Randall had undergone a medical procedure earlier in the week that caused him extreme back pain.
NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (AP) — The annual AppleJack Festival kicks off next week in southeastern Nebraska, ushering in another fall season in the state.
It’s the 50th year of the festival in Nebraska City. The festival begins Friday with a street carnival, antiques and quilt shows and a food court. Saturday will bring in a 5K race, pancake breakfast, arts and crafts fairs, parade and apple picking. The festival wraps up Sept. 23.
Between 60,000 and 80,000 people are expected to descend on the city of nearly 7,300 for the festival.
Nebraska City is the apple capital of the state, with its many orchards attracting day-trippers. It’s also the home of Arbor Day and Arbor Lodge State Historical Park.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has set up a public “exchange area” outside its northwest Omaha headquarters to make public interactions safer.
The marked area in the front parking lot of the building is intended to be a neutral location to conduct e-commerce transactions, child custody exchanges and other types of lawful transactions.
The area has video cameras recording all transactions. But Sheriff Tim Dunning says it’s still important to use good judgment when meeting others in the exchange area. He recommends conduct meetings in daylight hours, bringing a friend or relative when meeting strangers, and having a cellphone readily available to call 911 if necessary. He also says the public should be aware of recent or ongoing scams and should conduct transactions with cash when possible, not personal checks.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A term limit push could be coming to Omaha following a Republican-connected effort to place limits on Lincoln’s mayor, according to the leader of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
Efforts are underway to place a term limit on the Lincoln mayoral office after Democratic Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler announced that he plans to seek a fourth term. The push is being led by the Political Renewal Association, which is backed by J.L. Spray, a Republican National Committeeman.
“We don’t think anybody should be able to serve a lifetime in public office,” said Matt Innis, spokesman for the association. “The Founding Fathers, when setting up everything, never intended for people to become kings or emperors.”
Organizers have gathered more than 4,300 valid signatures, enough to put the Lincoln term limit issue on the November ballot, said the Lancaster County Election Commissioner’s Office.
It would only be fair to apply the term limit to both cities, said Jane Kleeb, chairwoman of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
But Republican Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, who may run for a third term, said term limits should be placed on an office in general, not aimed at an individual.
“What Jane Kleeb is trying to do is directed at me,” Stothert said. “It’s because I’m a Republican, and that’s unfortunate.”
But Kleeb countered that the Democratic party wouldn’t stand by as efforts move forward to limit the Lincoln mayor’s term.
“You can’t put term limits on a mayor in Lincoln because you can’t beat him and then expect that the (Nebraska Democratic) party is just going to sit there and say ‘oh well,'” Kleeb said.
The state GOP isn’t behind the Lincoln petition, said Kenny Zoeller, executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party. The party does support the concept of term limits, he said.
Nebraska’s governor and members of the state Legislature are limited to two, four-year terms.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Police in Lincoln are warning residents of a scam on an online classified ads site that seeks to steal money from people looking to rent homes.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports in two cases, victims found listings on Craigslist that advertised homes for rent. The victims were told that to secure the homes, they needed to wire money, and then keys would be sent via FedEx delivery.
Officer Angela Sands says one woman wired $650 on Wednesday to rent a home and learned she had been scammed when she called the number on a rental sign outside the home.
On Thursday, another woman wired $1,300 for a deposit and became suspicious after a man posing as the landlord requested another $2,600 to cover the first and last months of rent.AP) — Police in Lincoln are warning residents of a scam on an online classified ads site that seeks to steal money from people looking to rent homes.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports in two cases, victims found listings on Craigslist that advertised homes for rent. The victims were told that to secure the homes, they needed to wire money, and then keys would be sent via FedEx delivery.
Officer Angela Sands says one woman wired $650 on Wednesday to rent a home and learned she had been scammed when she called the number on a rental sign outside the home.
On Thursday, another woman wired $1,300 for a deposit and became suspicious after a man posing as the landlord requested another $2,600 to cover the first and last months of rent.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Lincoln postal worker caught with stolen mail has been sentenced to nine months in federal prison and ordered to pay nearly $3,700 in restitution.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that 45-year-old Domonic Harris was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in February of illegal transactions with an access device. Federal prosecutors dismissed two other counts in exchange for Harris’ plea.
Prosecutors say that six weeks in early 2017, Harris worked for the U.S. Postal Service and was found to have filled out cards changing people’s mailing addresses in order to steal credit card information. Investigators say Harris obtained at least 12 credit cards in victims’ names and charged about $6,000 on them.
Lincoln County authorities have arrested an Ogallala man, accusing him of several burglaries.
On September 13, 2018, Deputies were advised of a suspicious male around a residence in Sutherland, NE. The male subject reportedly took a gas can out of a storage shed at a residence. The homeowner confronted the subject and he gave the can back. After the suspect left the homeowner contacted the Sheriff’s Office and gave a very detailed description of the suspect and vehicle.
A Deputy observed the vehicle near the interstate in Hershey and stopped it. The Deputy made contact with the lone male occupant and he was identified as 48-year-old Ogallala resident Brent McEntee. The Deputy saw an abundance of tools in the vehicle and became suspicious of Mr. McEntee while speaking with him. A request to search the vehicle was denied by Mr. McEntee.
The Deputy contacted the Sutherland homeowner and asked him to check his shed to see if anything else was missing. The owner checked and found a wire feed welder was missing and described it. The Deputy had previously observed the welder in the vehicle.
Mr. McEntee was arrested for Burglary and Receiving Stolen Property over $1500.00. An inventory search of the vehicle revealed a suspected stolen Plasma Cutter from a previous burglary in the vehicle. The case continues to be investigated and additional charges are likely.
Lois M. Reckard, age 90 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday September 11, 2018 at her home after a short illness.
Lois was born May 6, 1928 on the family farm southwest of North Platte to Clyde and Irene (Curtis) McKain. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1945. She continued her education in Omaha by completing beauty school. She then returned to North Platte to open her own shop. She married Robert Reckard on June 1, 1952 and to this union three children were born: Patrick, Peggy and Robin. Bob and Lois started their marriage living in the apartment attached to Lois’s beauty shop. After Pat and Peggy were born, they moved to Sidney, Nebraska for 9 years. They lost Peggy at age 8 while they were living in Sidney and they later moved back to North Platte. Bob and Lois enjoyed many trips around the United States and got to enjoy a trip to Europe. They particularly enjoyed camping throughout their marriage and even spent a few winters in Texas after Bob’s retirement. Lois & Bob celebrated 50 years of marriage before Bob’s death in 2002. Lois was a member of the Jolly Dozen, the Miller Mother’s Club, the North Platte Shrine Club Auxiliary, and the Lakeway Homes Club. She was a life long member of the First United Methodist Church and volunteered many hours. She was also on the election board for 29 years and their garage served as their precinct’s polling place. She was an avid reader, and amazing baker, the toughest crosswords couldn’t stump her. Lois loved sports, particularly Major League Baseball and anything Huskers. She was the mom that not only came to every game, but she was there for every practice too. She was the patient grandma that delighted in everything about her grandchildren. She was overjoyed to be a great grandma.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Pat (Melinda) Reckard and Robin Reckard; grandchildren Tiffany (Jeremy) Hill, Kelsey Reckard, Charity (Bubbi) Hansen, Brady Reckard, and Shalee Taylor; great granddaughter Lark Hill; special sister-in-law Gerry McKain; special nieces and nephew Marcia (Gaylen) Rogers, Marlene (Bill) Songster, and Mike McKain.
She was proceded in death by her husband Bob; daughter Peggy; brother Merle McKain; and sister Evelyn McKain.
Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday September 14, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating. Burial will follow at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 p.m. Thursday September 13, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Leroy Dodson, age 89, of North Platte passed away Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at Centennial Park Retirement Home. Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Lois M. Reckard, age 90 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday September 11, 2018 at her home after a short illness.