A North Platte man has been accused of raping a woman last October.
According to North Platte Police Department (NPPD) Public Information Officer Rodney Brown, an Officer responded to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) Emergency Room at around 4:00 a.m. on October 15, 2012 on the report of a possible sexual assault.
Upon arrival, a 19-year-old female told the Officer that she has been raped at a residence in the 2400 block of West 9th Street earlier that morning. The victim alleged that she had been by awakened by 19-year-old Joshua Walsh attempting to have sexual intercourse with her. She said that following the assault, she was taken to GPRMC to seek medical assistance.
Through the course of the investigation, a DNA sample was taken from Walsh and submitted to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis. The results indicated the presence of Walsh’s DNA on the victim.
Investigators determined there was probable cause to charge Walsh with the crime.
He was arrested on August 20, 2013, and charged with 1st Degree Sexual Assault, a Class II Felony.
Walsh was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
(AP) — Nebraska’s 2013 high school graduates scored higher than students nationally.
In test results released Wednesday, Nebraska’s average ACT composite score was 21.5, six-tenths of a point higher than the national average of 20.9.
The highest possible ACT score is 36.
Steve Kappler is an ACT assistant vice president, and he says that because of various changes, past ACT results should not be compared to the 2013 results.
Nebraska students scored an average of 22 last year, down from 22.1 in 2011, on the test that measures college readiness. The national average was 21.1.
Eighty-four percent of Nebraska’s high school graduates took the ACT this year, compared with 78 percent last year.
(AP) — The grandmother and the mother of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was fatally abused by his grandfather have been sentenced to prison.
Forty-nine-year-old Nancy Draper on Tuesday was given 20 to 30 years by Judge Terri Harder in Franklin County District Court. Twenty-five-year-old Laura Rinehart was given 12 to 22 years.
Draper had pleaded no contest to felony child abuse. Rinehart had pleaded no contest to attempted child abuse. Prosecutors had reduced the charges in exchange for the women’s pleas.
Authorities say the two did nothing to stop the abuse of Joseph Rinehart Jr. by Draper’s husband, 48-year-old Peter Draper, in April last year at the home they shared in Naponee (NAP’-uh-nee).
Peter Draper has been found guilty of two child abuse charges. He’s scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 10.
(AP) — A bankruptcy judge is expected to release a ruling next month on a bankruptcy plan submitted for the Great Platte River Road Archway museum in Kearney.
At stake is whether the museum that spans Interstate 80 must close or may remain open to continue its financial fight. The decision is expected on Sept. 18.
The foundation that runs the museum has proposed a reorganization plan that includes paying bondholders $50,000 for their $20 million in bonds. In 2002 bondholders wrote off $40 million of the archway’s $60 million debt. The archway is proposing to pay another $50,000 to unsecured creditors.
Joel Johnson leads the archway foundation, and he told the Kearney Hub (https://bit.ly/16bmDAY) that if creditors reject the proposal, the archway will close.
Authorities say an Illinois pesticide manufacturer and a Nebraska company that sold some misbranded pesticide products have agreed to pay civil penalties for their roles in distributing or selling the products.
The Environmental Protection Agency says Wellmark International Inc., of Schaumburg, Ill., agreed to pay nearly $45,000 to resolve 19 violations of federal regulations.
The EPA says Vitalix Inc., of Alliance, Neb., agreed to pay nearly $40,000 to resolve 19 violations.
The EPA says two of Wellmark’s fly control products were either misbranded with labels that did not include required cautionary language or were distributed in conjunction with claims that differed from the pesticide registration information supplied to the EPA.
Regulations say a pesticide’s distributor and manufacturer are both responsible for ensuring that the product complies with regulations.
Back to school also means back to practice for thousands of student athletes and coaches. The American Red Cross has training and resources available for people to learn how to treat a variety of emergencies and injuries that may occur throughout the sports season.
“School and neighborhood coaches, athletes and spectators should know how to help prevent and respond to common sports injuries such as strains and sprains, fractures, cuts and concussions,” said Tina Labellarte, Region CEO.
Safe Kids Worldwide reports that every 25 seconds a child is hurt playing sports and that more than 1 million emergency room visits are made due to sports injuries each year. Sports injuries account for about 20 percent of all injury-related emergency room visits for young people, according to their study.
Red Cross has developed a number of resources for everyone involved in sports and recreational activities:
First Aid, Health and Safety for Coaches is an online program for teens and adults who coach at any age level. Developed with the National Federation of State High School Associations, this course covers first aid skills including breathing emergencies and injuries to muscles, bones and joints. Coaches are encouraged to take a CPR/AED course as well.
Family First Aid and CPR is an online course for those not required to have OSHA-compliant certification. Participants learn how to treat cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies until help arrives. Pediatric modules are also available.
American Red Cross First Aid App is a free app for smart phones and tablets. It gives users instant access to information on how to handle the most common first aid situations, and includes videos and interactive quizzes. The app puts lifesaving information right in people’s hands wherever and whenever they need it.
Information on courses and additional resources are available at redcross.org. A variety of Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross, or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.
The Nebraska State Patrol Troop C-Grand Island will conduct two weekends of special enforcement activities in conjunction with the Nebraska State Fair.
During the evening hours and continuing into the early morning hours, onSaturday, August 24 and again on Saturday, August 31, troopers will conduct high visibility patrols in and around Hall County. The special enforcement is designed to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes.
“With the extra activity, we can expect to see an increase in traffic volume over the next couple of weeks,” said Captain Chris Kolb, Commander Troop C-Grand Island. “We hope putting additional troopers out on the road will encourage voluntary compliance with all traffic safety laws and in turn reduce the potential for serious injury or fatality crashes.”
A $1,450 grant from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety (NOHS) will help to pay for the special enforcement effort.
(AP) — The tiny mosquito all too often has man on the run. And this summer it seems even worse than usual.
Experts say it’s been a buggier-than-normal summer in many places around the U.S. because of a combination of drought, heavy rain and heat. The University of Florida’s Jonathan Day says the Southeast is getting hit with three years’ worth of bugs in one summer.
Parts of Connecticut this summer reported traps showing mosquito levels double the normal levels. In Minnesota last month, they were triple the average. And central California topped them with five times the recent average.
Experts say the mosquito population in Nebraska is slightly larger than average this year.
According to a news release from North Platte Police Department Public Information Officer Rodney Brown, Curt Bohman has now been charged.
According to Brown, on August 20th, an Investigator met with Curt in regards to the assault.
Following further investigation, Officers found probable cause to arrest Curt and charge him with False Imprisonment, 3rd Degree Assault and 2nd Degree Criminal Trespassing.
He was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center. No bond information was available.
A 20-year-old Sutherland man is facing serious charges after he and his father allegedly assaulted a man.
According to Public Information Officer Rodney Brown with the North Platte Police Department, Officers responded to the 300 block of East 8th on August 15th at around 9:30 p.m., after they received a report of a bleeding male subject running into a residence in the area.
Officers arrived to find a 20-year-old male who had been the victim of an assault at his house in the 800 block of North Bailey.
The victim alleged that Levi Bohman and his father, 59-year-old Curt Bohman, both of Sutherland, had come to his residence and attacked him. He reported that, initially, Curt confronted him in the doorway at which time Levi struck him in the face. The attack then continued inside the home where Levi continued to punch, kick, hit and choke the victim.
Police say both Curt and Levi held the victim and prevented him from leaving.
Eventually, the victim was able to escape and run next door and into a neighbor’s residence. The owner of the residence was able to secure the front door and prevent a pursuing Levi from entering.
The Bohman’s left the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival, and the victim was transported to Great Plains Regional Medical Center where he received treatment for minor injuries to his arms, chest, head and back.
An Investigator met with Levi on August 19th regarding the incident. Following further investigation, Police found probable cause to arrest Levi and charge him with 1st Degree False Imprisonment, Strangulation, two counts of 3rd Degree Assault, 2nd Degree Criminal Trespassing, Disturbing the Peace and two counts of Child Abuse due to the fear experienced by the children who lived in the residence.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing into the role the elder Bohman played in the assault.
Levi was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center where he is being held without bond.
