Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) have arrested a Valentine man in connection with the shooting death of his wife on Monday, March 4.

NSP was initially called by the Valentine Police Department after they had responded to a shooting at 301 Edna Street in Valentine at approximately 7:00 p.m. The victim, Pamela Nickisch, 71, was found deceased. Her husband, Paul Nickisch, 70, and a juvenile grandson were also present at the residence.

Investigators have determined that Paul Nickisch shot Pamela Nickisch as a domestic violence situation escalated. He was arrested for murder and lodged in Cherry County Jail. A final determination on charges will be made by the Cherry County Attorney.

The Nebraska State Patrol, Valentine Police Department, Valentine Fire and Rescue, and Cherry County Attorney’s Office have all contributed to this investigation and response

Charges are pending against a North Platte man who was believed to be under the influence of drugs when he was involved in a traffic accident.

On March 5, 2019 Deputies were sent to mile marker 197 (just east of Brady, NE.) on U.S. Highway 30. It was reported two vehicles had struck each other and there were injuries to both drivers. Deputies arrived and met with the drivers of the vehicles.

The investigation revealed that a black GMC Denali was eastbound on Highway 30 in its proper lane. A white Mitsubishi Mirage was westbound on Highway 30 and crossed the center line and struck the GMC Denali. The driver of the GMC was injured but refused medical treatment.

The driver of the Mitsubishi suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Great Plains Health. He was identified as thirty-one-year-old Joshua Baker of North Platte.

Deputies believed Mr. Baker was under the influence of narcotics at the time of the accident. Deputies found suspected THC Wax in the vehicle and other items. Mr. Baker did not have a license or insurance at the time of the accident.

Criminal charges are pending Mr. Bakers release from the hospital and laboratory testing.

The investigation continues.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Juveniles who successfully complete probation or a diversion program after committing a crime in Nebraska could get those records sealed right away under a bill advanced by lawmakers.

The measure won first-round approval Wednesday on a 33-0 vote.

Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks, of Lincoln, says she introduced the bill to give juveniles the chance to move on with their lives once they’ve been rehabilitated. Current law prevents the records from being sealed until the minor reaches the age of 17.

The State Court Administrator could allow the viewing of sealed records for bona fide research.

A North Platte Community College Student was arrested after police say he was “playing” with a firearm on the college’s North Campus.

On March 5, at 1205 PM, the North Platte Police Department received an anonymous tip about a subject with a firearm on  Mid-Plains Community College property located in the 1100 block of Halligan Drive.

The tip further detailed that 19-year-old Robert Battreall had been “playing” with the firearm in the past and had pointed it at other students, but that the firearm was now stored in his vehicle.

Battreall and his vehicle were not located at that time. Officers worked with school staff, and on March 6, at 910 AM, the vehicle was located at the school and officers responded. A firearm was located in plain sight in the vehicle and seized.

Battreall was arrested for possession of a firearm on school property, a class IV felony, and lodged at the LCSO jail.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill to make additional space available at the state’s prison work camp in McCook.

Senators gave the measure first-round approval Wednesday on a 38-0 vote.

The bill by state Sen. Steve Lathrop, of Omaha, eliminates the need for the state’s Work Ethic Camp to reserve space for female offenders. The space is currently unused but cannot be set aside for other purposes because of existing state law.

Lathrop says he introduced the bill after hearing from Nebraska’s inspector general for correctional services that the space could be put to better use.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities say a man convicted of shooting to death his father killed himself in a Lincoln prison.

The Nebraska Correctional Services Department says 46-year-old Steven Braesch died Tuesday at a Lincoln hospital. Prison staffers began CPR after Braesch was found unresponsive in his cell.

He’d been sentenced in November 2014 to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder and other crimes. Braesch shot his dad, 69-year-old William Braesch, five times within the clear view of three children under the age of 7 at the family home in Gretna.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the death, and a grand jury will conduct an investigation. Nebraska law requires a grand jury to investigate whenever someone dies in custody or while being taken into custody.

A department spokeswoman didn’t immediately answer a request for data that compares Nebraska’s prison inmate suicide rate with national or other states’ rates.