A 28-year-old North Platte man is facing a felony charge after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.

On December 26, at around 5:27 p.m., an officer with the North Platte Police department met with a 38-year-old female regarding an alleged assault.

The woman told the officer that she and her boyfriend, Christopher Schirmer, were living at the Knights Inn.

She reported that on December 23, Schirmer struck her in the side of her face/neck with a tray.  Investigator John Deal says the woman had a visible cut on her neck, consistent with what she was reporting. Schirmer also allegedly head-butted her and hit her in the face.

Then, on December 25, the victim alleged that Schirmer grabbed her by the throat and cut off her breathing, then punched her in the stomach.

Deal says the victim was able to remove herself from the situation and contact the police.

An officer was able to locate Schirmer in the Great Plains Health parking lot and place him under arrest.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center and charged with domestic assault and felony strangulation.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A three-judge federal appeals court panel won’t revive a lawsuit filed against the Nebraska State Patrol leader fired earlier this year.

Todd Steckelberg, of Omaha, had appealed dismissal of his lawsuit against Brad Rice, whom Gov. Pete Ricketts fired amid allegations that patrol leaders mishandled internal investigations.

Steckelberg was a trooper for more than 25 years before retiring last year. His lawsuit alleged Rice created a hostile work environment and passed over Steckelberg for promotions.

The federal judge who dismissed the case said Steckelberg’s allegations weren’t supported by the facts. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel said in a decision issued Tuesday that further discussion of the case “would have no precedential value.”

Steckelberg’s lawyer says another appeal is likely.

CHICAGO (AP) — A white Christmas for much of the Northeast and Midwest has given way to bitter cold until the New Year.

Chicago-area National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley says to expect colder-than-normal temperatures the rest of the week. Temperatures hovered around zero degrees in Chicago on Tuesday.

The city of Erie, Pennsylvania, issued a snow emergency after forecasters say a Christmas storm dumped a record 34 inches of snow on the area. Another 19 inches fell before dawn Tuesday, bringing the total to 53 inches.

Meteorologists warn of sub-zero frigid arctic air and dangerously cold wind chills.

Wind chill advisories or warnings are in effect for parts of several states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Maine. Meteorologists say frostbite is possible with as little as 30 minutes of exposure.

SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — An investigation is underway after a freight train derailment in western Nebraska.

No one was injured when the train derailed Sunday morning on the Union Pacific line west of Sidney, near the intersection of Highway 30.

Several railroad crossings were closed and blocked by the train.

The cause of the derailment is not known. It wasn’t immediately clear how many cars were off the tracks, or when the tracks would be cleared.

BRIDGEPORT, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has set a new date for its public meeting in the Panhandle on big game.

The meeting scheduled for last Thursday in Bridgeport was canceled because of bad weather. It’s been rescheduled for this coming Thursday, starting at 7 p.m. in the Prairie Winds Community Center, 428 N. Main St.

A Game and Parks biologist will explain issues and take questions on several topics, including deer management, deer damage and depredation permits, antlerless harvest, trophy management, and diseases. Antelope and elk issues also might be discussed.

The commission is encouraging hunters and landowners to attend and offer feedback.