Post Staff – Page 660 – North Platte Post Archive

Journal details Offutt airman’s slaying

Posted on February 17, 2017

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) — Prosecutors say a journal allegedly written by an Omaha man last year detailed how he killed an Air Force service member.

A recounting of the slaying was presented Thursday in an Offutt Air Force Base courtroom.

Prosecutors say 20-year-old Airman 1st Class Rhianda Dillard was killed late July. She was found unresponsive on her bed Aug. 1. Prosecutors add that the handwriting in the journal matches that of suspect Airman 1st Class Timothy Wilsey, who went missing after Dillard’s death.

An Air Force Office of Special Investigations special agent testified that the journal was found when then-20-year-old Wilsey was picked up by military and local law enforcement in Virginia nearly two weeks after Dillard’s death.

Wilsey has been charged with premeditated murder and desertion under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Nebraska death row inmate’s latest appeal rejected

Posted on February 17, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected the latest appeal of a Texas man on Nebraska’s death row for killing two Grand Island men in 2007.

Marco Torres Jr., formerly of Pasadena, Texas, had sought post-conviction relief, saying his trial lawyer was so ineffective that it violated his right to a fair trial. A lower court dismissed his motion, and he appealed.

Torres was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and other charges in the robbery and shooting deaths of 48-year-old Timothy Donohue and 60-year-old Edward Hall.

On Friday, the state’s high court ruled that Torres’ arguments of prosecutorial misconduct and that his defense lawyer failed to obtain surveillance video beneficial to his case were without merit.

North Platte Forecast-February 17

Posted on February 17, 2017

Today

Sunny, with a high near 66. West northwest wind 7 to 17 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 26. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. Light east southeast wind becoming south southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. South southeast wind around 7 mph.

Sunday

Partly sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 7 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Sunday Night

A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Washington’s Birthday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Monday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 32.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 70.

Tuesday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Thursday

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

Nebraska bill would allow SNAP benefits for drug felons

Posted on February 16, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska residents with major or multiple felony drug convictions could qualify for federal food assistance under a bill that would repeal the state’s current ban.

Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln told a legislative committee Thursday that his proposal would help recently released prisoners get back on their feet and reduce their odds of reoffending. Morfeld says the bill would ultimately save the state money because the benefit is federally funded and cheaper than incarcerating someone who commits a new crime.

Nebraska prohibits people from collecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits if they were convicted of three felony drug possession charges or one felony distribution charge.

The Department of Health and Human Services opposes the measure, arguing that the prospect of losing SNAP benefits encourages drug users to seek treatment.

Nebraska lawmaker: Give inmates photo IDs before release

Posted on February 16, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska lawmaker says giving inmates driver’s licenses or other state-issued photo ID cards before they’re released will help former prisoners reintegrate into society.

Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln told a legislative committee Thursday that recently released inmates often have trouble obtaining ID cards after they leave prison. He says they need IDs to find housing, start working, open a bank account and apply for benefits.

Prison volunteer Fran Kaye says she often helps inmates preparing for release apply for driver’s licenses. She says it would be much easier if the Department of Corrections handles the process.

Inspector General of the Nebraska Correctional System Doug Koebernick says the Department has begun working on how to provide IDs already and that Hansen’s legislation was “good public policy.”

Nebraska judicial nominating committee to meet

Posted on February 16, 2017

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — A state judicial nominating committee will hold a public hearing in April to interview applicants for a judicial vacancy in Hall County.

The Nebraska Judicial Nominating Commission will meet April 6 at the Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island. The commission will receive information on the qualifications of candidates to fill the vacancy left by the Jan. 31 retirement of County Judge Philip Martin Jr. The primary place of office for the judicial vacancy is Grand Island.

The meeting is open to the public.

At the hearing, public comments will be accepted in favor of and in opposition to candidates.

Hastings man to stand trial in baby abuse case

Posted on February 16, 2017

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — A Hastings man accused of seriously injuring his girlfriend’s baby will stand trial on two felony counts of child abuse.

31-year-old John Brown’s case was bound over for trial Thursday.

Brown is charged with felony child abuse resulting in serious injury and felony negligence. If convicted, he faces up to 53 years in prison. The baby’s mother, 23-year-old Brittany Hatch, also has been charged with felony child abuse.

Police say they found the baby unresponsive earlier this month, and a doctor later found that the baby had methamphetamine in her system. The doctor also found bruises, cuts to the baby’s mouth and burns on her feet.

Attorneys for Brown and Hatch, who both remain jailed, could not be reached late Thursday afternoon.

Knights unable to overcome slow start, fall 92-75 at Laramie County

Posted on February 16, 2017

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles came out firing and jumped out to a 24-4 lead, on their way to a 92-75 win over the North Platte Community College Knights basketball team on Wednesday night.

The Golden Eagles shot an incredible 18 for 28 from the field at 64.3 percent in the first half, while holding the Knights to a 42.3 oercent from the field. The Golden Eagles led at halftime 45-30.

In the second half, the Knights were able to pull within 10 at 67-57 on a three-pointer by Samuel Kearns, but the Golden Eagles answered back by outscoring the Knights 25-12 to give the Golden Eagles their biggest lead of the game at 92-69.

The Knights are 17-7 on the season, but are only 6-7 in Region IX South Sub-Region play. Godfrey Rolle led the Knights in scoring with 26 points, connecting on six of seven from behind the three-point line. Samuel Kearns added 22 points and Buom Dobuol added 11 points. Diontae Champion led the Knights with five rebounds.

The Golden Eagles are 18-9 on the season and are leading the South Sub-Region at 10-3. Five Golden Eagles reached double digits led by Dominik Heinzl with 22 points. DaZhon Wyche added 16 points. Ola Ayodele added 14 points, while Alfonzo Anderson and Elijah Oliver each had 13 points. Heinzl led the Golden Eagles with nine rebounds.

The Knights are on the road this weekend playing Central Community College on Friday at 7:30 PM in Columbus. On Saturday, they travel to Beatrice, to play Southeast Community College at 4 pm.

The two games are Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference games and do not count toward Region IX standings.

Lady Knights earn road victory over Laramie County 74-58

Posted on February 16, 2017

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team went on the road and defeated the Laramie County Community College Golden Eagles 74-58 on Wednesday night.

NPCC’s Jessica Lovitt scored five of the first eight points for the Lady Knights as they jumped out to an 8-0 lead to begin the game. The Lady Knights maintained that lead throughout the first quarter leading 18-10 at the end of the first quarter.

To begin the second quarter, the Lady Knights went on a 4-0 run and cushioned their lead to 12 at 22-10. The Golden Eagles outscored the Lady Knights 15-8 to pull within five at 30-25. The Lady Knights finished out the half outscoring the Golden Eagles 5-1 to hold a 35-26 lead at halftime.

The Golden Eagles cut the Lady Knight lead to three at 40-37 midway through the third quarter, but the Lady Knights closed out the period outscoring the Golden Eagles 15-8 to lead 55-45 at the end of the quarter.

The Lady Knights continued to extend their lead in the fourth quarter by going on a run of 8-2 for their biggest lead of the game at 63-47. The Golden Eagles did cut the lead to single digits at 63-54, but the Lady Knights used a 9-4 run to close out the game and secure the win

The Lady Knights are 8-16 on the season. Lovitt led the Lady Knights in scoring with 20 points. Allison Tichy added 16 points and Lexa Lealiiee added 12 points. Leilliiee also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Golden Eagles are also 8-16 on the season. Three Golden Eagles finished the night in double figures led by Caylin Arnold with 19 points. Darian Hale added 15 points and Madison Hamm finished with 10 points. Arnold led the Golden Eagles in rebounding with seven.

The Lady Knights will go on the road on Friday and Saturday for two important Region IX Division II games. They play Central Community College in Columbus on Friday at 5:30 pm and then go to Beatrice on Saturday to play Southeast Community College at 2 pm.

The Lady Knights return home for their final regular season game against McCook on Feb 21. The time has changed to a 7:30 tip-off.

Following the game there will be a retirement reception for Lady Knights Coach Richard Thurin.

Bigfoot Conference planned for weekend in Hastings

Posted on February 16, 2017

HASTINGS, Neb. (AP) — The first Nebraska Bigfoot Conference is scheduled for this weekend in Hastings.

Organizers say true believers and skeptics are expected to attend at the C3 Hotel and Convention Center.

The event begins Friday night with a free showing of a Bigfoot movie, “Something in the Woods.” There will be several speakers Saturday, including some who will share what they say are their personal experiences with Bigfoot.

Entry tickets will be sold at the door. Call 402-705-0000 or go online at http://bigfootcrossroads.org/ for more information.