(AP) A Sargent woman has been sentenced to three months in jail for a crash last year that killed one of her daughters and a friend.

29-year-old Amanda Wilder was sentenced Monday in Buffalo County District Court on two counts of felony manslaughter. She was given four years of probation and required to get outpatient counseling.

Wilder was driving south of Miller on U.S. Highway 183 in a borrowed pickup truck last August when she lost control. Eleven-year-old Destani Wilder and 24-year-old Rebecca Veeder died at the scene. Amanda Wilder and her other daughter, who was 8 years old at the time, survived. No one was wearing seatbelts.

Prosecutors argued Wilder made a choice when she drove a vehicle without enough seatbelts.

The 2013 edition of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo will see a couple of modifications to the way people are admitted to the rodeo and where they are allowed to sit.

The first change is a slight one, requiring a ticket for admission to the west side of the venue.

“We require everyone who wants admission to the grounds to have a ticket,” said Executive Director David Fudge. “In the past we’ve allowed admission to the west side vendor area without a ticket, but we’ve made some changes to the production and grounds layout that necessitate this change.”

This change brings the rodeo in line with the NEBRASKAland Days Concert Series Policy.

The other change is the elimination of seating in the south east corner of the arena and the closure of the south east ticket gate.

Only Rodeo participants will be allowed access to the southeast end of the arena.

“This decision was difficult because we have a lot of long time patrons that like to sit over in that area,” said Fudge. “But in the end, we were allowing people to watch the rodeo in a live contestant warm up area, and the risks of doing that in this litigious day and age are too great. “

General admission seating will still be available on the southwest and northwest ends of the arena.

Dozens of young men and women will experience what it takes to become a law enforcement officer as they participate in the American Legion Junior Law Cadet program. The cadets will spend a week in June at the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center/ Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy (NLETC/NSPTA), 3600 Academy Road in Grand Island.

In its 46^th year, the week-long academy follows a strict itinerary providing the cadets with firsthand knowledge of what is required to become a law enforcement officer in Nebraska. The participants begin each day at 6:15 a.m., with physical fitness training, followed by a flag raising ceremony.

The 38 young women cadets will attend the Jr. Law Academy, the week of June 10-14, while 41 male cadets will participate the following week, June 17-21. During their stay, the cadets will receive hands-on experiences to include defensive tactics, vehicle operations and patrolling, firearms, and Police Service Dogs (PSD).

American Legion Posts from across the state nominated the cadets, who were then selected by District. Participants were selected based on worthy character, interest in law enforcement, evidence of self-discipline and the ability to share the knowledge gained with others. The American Legion and the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) originated the Junior Law Cadet program in Nebraska. The program has since been used as a model in many other states.

The young women participating are from communities across Nebraska to include: Ainsworth, Beatrice, Blair, Broadwater, Callaway, Cambridge, Chambers, Cody, Crookston, Diller, Dixon, Fremont, Gering, Greeley, Guide Rock, Hebron, Kilgore, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, Merna, North Platte, Omaha, Osceola, Otoe, Palmer, Shelton, Spencer, Springfield, Stapleton, Sutherland, and York.

The young men participating are from communities across Nebraska to include: Ashland, Arapahoe, Auburn, Beatrice, Blair, Central City, Cody, Columbus, Comstock, Deshler, Elmwood, Farwell, Firth, Friend, Gering, Gordon, Hastings, Hay Springs, Herman, Humboldt, Jackson, Kearney, Lawrence, Lexington, Lincoln, North Platte, Ogallala, Omaha, Papillion, Ponca, Scottsbluff, Scribner, Sidney, Sterling, Syracuse, Tobias, Trumbull, and Verdigre.

A graduation ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m., on the final Friday of each week at the NLETC/NSPTA.

The North Platte Police Department would like to warn citizens in North Platte and surrounding communities of a scam in the area.

Public Information Officer Rodney Brown says the department has received at least three fraud complaints recently.

An unknown party has been contacting residents by phone and advising them that they owe a debt, and need to make payment to avoid being arrested and/or jailed.

The reasons given for monies being owed vary, and in some cases, fraudulent documentation has been emailed to the victims to support the scammers claims.

As with any scam, the callers try to obtain personal and financial information from the victims.

Complainants have advised police that the caller speaks with a foreign accent.

Police would like to remind residents that banks, credit card companies and businesses will not solicit personal information via the telephone.

Additionally, Brown urges people to use extreme caution and never provide personal information to anyone over the phone or via email.

If you have been a victim of this or any other scam, contact the North Platte Police Department at (308) 535-6789.

 

The Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation has elected new officers.

John Patterson has been elected president of Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation for its new fiscal year, succeeding Bob Spady. Other officers elected by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors are: J. Patrick Keenan, vice president, and Jim McClymont, secretary-treasurer.

The Community Foundation currently administers 250 separate charitable and scholarship funds. “It’s amazing how the funds of the Community Foundation have benefited so many in this entire area,” Patterson said. “I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

Patterson is a lifelong resident of Lincoln County, growing up near Gothenburg and moving to North Platte in 1961 after attending UNL and serving 3 years in the US Army.

John was employed by BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska for 36 years. He then directed marketing for First National Bank North Platte. His wife Edy and he owned Pro Printing and Graphics until they sold it in 2010.

John Patterson has served many community organizations. John currently serves on the Board of Directors of Great Plains Regional Medical Center and the Lake Maloney Property Owners Association.

He previously served three terms on the North Platte City council. He served as president of the local chapter of the Red Cross, North Platte Ambassadors, North Platte Rotary and United Way. He also served on the Buffalo Bill Rodeo Committee and the DEVCO Board. He has been a TeamMates mentor and coached youth sports teams for over 20 years.

Patterson has served four years on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, including two years as Vice President. “The Community Foundation carries on the legacy of donors for generations,” Patterson said. “This is a great way to benefit communities over a long time period.”

Newly-elected directors to the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation are Diana Diffendaffer, Dr. Mark Nielsen, Margene Phares and Kim Steger.

In the last 12 months, the funds of the Community Foundation paid out more than $1 million in scholarships and grants to non-profit organizations, according to Executive Director Eric Seacrest. The Community Foundation primarily serves North Platte, Lincoln County and the eight bordering counties.

“There are many advantages to donors and their advisors in working with the Community Foundation.” Seacrest said. “The funds administered by the Community Foundation are lasting legacies for donors that support specified charitable causes in a tax-advantaged manner.” The Community Foundation also administers charitable funds for many other non-profit organizations.

For more information about Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, contact Eric Seacrest, executive director, 120 N. Dewey, North Platte, 308-534-3315.

The North Platte/Lincoln County 911 Center has gone high tech.

According to a news release, the 911 Center is now offering two online services to show their commitment to the public’s safety.

The first is the Code Red Weather Warning service.  This service provides weather warnings of your choice if your registered residence is in the path of potential severe weather.  It works for land lines and cell phones.  It also enables emergency personnel to contact you in the case of a hazardous spill or any other emergency.  The service is also available as a smart phone app.

The other service is Smart911.  This service gives you the ability to register details for any phone number, such as information on your family members, where your pets are kept in case of a fire, directions to your home and many other vital details that may be extremely useful in an emergency situation.  The information is only displayed if you call 911 and is otherwise kept completely private.

You can register for one or both of these services at the City of North Platte’s website, www.ci.north-platte.ne.us.

For additional information, contact Mary Ann Agler at the North Platte Police Department, (308) 535-6789.

A Brady man has been arrested in connection with a Maxwell burglary.

Lincoln County Sheriff Investigators say that sometime between May 24 and May 26, a home on West 2nd Street in Maxwell was burglarized.  Several items were stolen including multiple guns.

On June 1, Deputies received a call from the home’s owner stating that he had located some of his stolen firearms at a rummage sale in Sutherland.

Deputies responded and secured five firearms which were positively identified by the homeowner.

The subject holding the rummage sale advised Deputies that he had purchased the weapons from Seth Schuett, 23, of Brady.

On June 3, Schuett was contacted by Deputies, who conducted a search of Schuett’s residence.  During the search, an additional stolen firearm was located.

Schuett told deputies that he had sold the final weapon to another subject.

Deputies were able to locate the subject in question, who turned the firearm over.

Schuett was arrested and charged with Burglary, Criminal Mischief and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.

He was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Another arrest has been made in the burglary of Kohler Trailer Sales.

On Monday, Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office along with the CODE Task Force executed a search warrant at the Patriot Trailer Park located on East Phillip in North Platte.

The trailer belonged to 30-year-old Ryan Walsh.

Authorities were hoping to find items stolen from Kohler Trailer Sales on May 22.

Once inside, Deputies located numerous items of evidence from the burglary, as well as narcotics.

Walsh was transported to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and questioned by Investigators.

Eventually, he was arrested and charged with Burglary and Distribution of a Controlled Substance.

Cody Jolliffe and Jacob Moser have also been charged in connection with the Kohler Trailer Sales burglary.

The following are highlights from Lincoln County District Court:

-A 42-year-old North Platte man is going to prison after being convicted of distributing cocaine and marijuana.

Joseph Miller was sentenced by Lincoln County District Court Judge Donald Rowlands to three to nine years in prison.

Court records indicate that Miller sold the drugs to an undercover Nebraska State Trooper at the Cedar Lodge in North Platte in 2009.

After his arrest, Miller posted bond and was on the run for two years before being apprehended in Iowa and extradited to Nebraska.

 

 

 

-A North Platte man who was arrested for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm, is going back to prison.

Troy Culpepper, 25, of North Platte was sentenced by District Court Judge Donald Rowlands to three to six year in prison.

Acting on a tip, police executed a search warrant on Culpepper’s vehicle where they located the stolen firearms.

Judge Rowlands noted Culpepper’s lengthy criminal record and previous penitentiary sentence when handing down the sentence.

 

 

 

 

 

-A North Platte man who assaulted his estranged wife, was given credit for time served.

Burgess Running Enemy, Jr. was sentenced to 150 days in jail by Judge Donald Rowlands, but was given credit for time served.

Prosecutors say Running Enemy arranged a meeting with his estranged wife at Memorial Park so he could see his child.

Upon meeting, an argument ensued and Running Enemy grabbed the woman by her hair and threatened her with a knife.

The female told police that she felt Running Enemy was threatening to kill her.