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Category: Local

Scuffle with NP Police Lands Ogallala Woman in Jail

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Chelsey Mackey
Chelsey Mackey

An Ogallala woman found herself in the Lincoln County Detention Center after scuffling with North Platte Police.

At around 7:45 p.m. last Wednesday, Officers responded to the Emergency Room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center (GPRMC) on the report of a patient causing a disturbance.

Upon arrival, Officers learned the suspect, Chelsey Mackey had become combative and out of control.

While attempting to restrain Mackey, one of the Officers injured an ankle that required medical attention.

Mackey also caused approximately $500.00 worth of damage to GPRMC property.

On Friday, Mackey was arrested for Assault on an Officer and Criminal Mischief.

She was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Scottsbluff Sex Offender Gets 50 Years for Committing Additional Sex Offenses

Posted on
Timothy Fuentes
Timothy Fuentes

A 51-year-old registered sex offender has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for committing another in a string of sex offenses.

A Scotts Bluff County jury last month found Timothy Fuentes guilty of sexualLY assaulting a 9-year-old girl in August. Fuentes had been tried on the same case in January, but that jury couldn’t agree on a verdict.

Fuentes insisted he was innocent at his sentencing Friday. But District Judge Randall Lippstreu said 11 pages of criminal history and behavior showed that “when Mr. Fuentes is free, children are at risk to be molested.”

Nebraska Sex Registry records say Fuentes’ first child sex assault conviction occurred in 1984. He was convicted in other cases in 1995 and 1997.

USDA Declares Lincoln County a Natural Disaster Area

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usdaThe United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared Lincoln County a Primary Natural Disaster Area.

Lincoln County and 89 other Nebraska Counties have now been given the designation due to the drought that continues to plague the State.

The designation means that producers in the area are now eligible for low interest emergency loans through the USDA to help recoup production losses that are expected this year.

For more information, producers are encouraged to contact their local FSA office or visit  www.fsa.usda.gov.

NE Picketing Law Challenge Goes to Federal Court

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ne-court-of-appealsA federal appeals court has kicked back to a lower court a challenge of Nebraska’s amended law that requires protesters to stand 500 feet away from a funeral service — 200 feet more than the 300 feet the law had previously required.

In December, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated its 2011 opinion striking down Nebraska’s original funeral protest law. That came after the appeals court had ruled two months earlier that the St. Louis suburb of Manchester, Mo., could enforce a similar funeral protest ordinance.

The 8th Circuit said Friday that it did not become aware Nebraska had enacted an amended version of the protest law pushing protesters further back until recently, and that the U.S. District Court in Lincoln should hear the challenge to it first.

 

Love Birds: Lincoln County Marriage Licenses (Week of April 8)

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marriage-licenses

  • Justin Lynn Christner, 24, Wallace NE and Jolene Renae Kerner, 23, Wallace NE

 

  • Andrew Robert Younghans, 24, North Platte NE and Robyn Leigh Lopez, 24, North Platte NE

 

  • Victor Manuel Vera, 41, North Platte NE and Jessica Janet Fonseca, 32, North Platte NE

 

  • Jeffry Brit Gorley, 61, North Platte NE and Eileen Marie Wolfe, 63, North Platte NE

 

  • Cory Francis Lange, 34, North Platte NE and Amy Lynn Wendorff, 29, North Platte NE

 

  • Robert Alan Nielsen, 46, North Platte NE and Heather Leigh Szeliga, 35, North Platte NE

 

  • Gilberto Sanchez Jr., 20, North Platte NE and Tesla Marie Ramona Laack, 20, North Platte NE

 

  • Roger William Layton, 58, North Platte NE and Susan Violet Cox, 58, Sutherland NE

Nebraska State Fair Announces a $5.4 Million Project

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ne-state-fairThe Nebraska State Fair has announced plans for a $5.4 million building that will provide exhibition space and headquarters for the State Fair staff.

State Fair Executive Director Joseph McDermott says the Nebraska Building will be the “final piece of the original Nebraska State Fair building complex plan.”

McDermott says construction should begin within 30 days and be finished by the end of the year.

The building will be erected just inside the main State Fair Boulevard entrance. It will have 54,000 square feet of exhibition space on the ground level and 10,800 square feet for offices on the upper level.

 

UNK Library Repairs May Take Until Fall

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unk-library-damageOfficials at the University of Nebraska at Kearney say repairs to its library that was damaged by a snowstorm could take until the fall.

Janet Wilke, dean of the Calvin T. Ryan Library, says the school will have some time since it’s almost the end of the semester.

About 6,500 library books were damaged during a Monday storm that tore parts of the roof off. Water saturated the library carpet, and the wireless Internet system was damaged.

University staff and student volunteers have been cleaning up the debris since Tuesday. The books have been moved and are being refrigerated to prevent molding.

The library reopened Wednesday with limited access to the second floor.

NPPD Crime Log (4/9-4/11)

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NP_CRIME_LOG

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

04/09/2013 00:00:04 ALARM – OTHER 3700 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 00:14:54 ALARM – OTHER 1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 00:16:00 ALARM – OTHER 200 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 01:03:51 CITIZEN ASSIST 600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 02:07:50 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS E B ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 02:56:51 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 03:16:51 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL 2300 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 03:31:30 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 05:14:44 SPEEDING 900 S OAK ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 05:28:37 MOTORIST ASSIST E 5TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 05:53:42 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2300 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 06:51:35 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 07:05:26 CITIZEN ASSIST 2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 07:37:12 NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL W 4TH ST /N WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 07:38:57 CITIZEN ASSIST 2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 07:51:03 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1300 N HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 08:14:09 CITIZEN ASSIST 1700 BURLINGTON BL
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 08:18:09 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 08:32:18 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 400 E LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:08:45 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 1800 N WASHINGTON
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:15:23 CITIZEN ASSIST 800 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:34:49 LOOSE ANIMALS 4000 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:34:38 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 1600 W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:53:02 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 1200 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 09:56:18 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV mcdonald / Philip
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/09/2013 10:11:04 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV philip / oak
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/09/2013 10:16:41 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 1700 W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 10:25:24 LOOSE ANIMALS 2400 N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 10:57:50 LOOSE ANIMALS N BUFFALO BILL AV /W 18TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 11:19:10 PARKING PROH CERTAIN AREAS 100 E C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 11:52:03 LOOSE ANIMALS 3700 PRAIRIE RIDGE RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 11:54:24 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF 400 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 11:57:36 CITIZEN ASSIST 300 RIVERSIDE DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 11:57:11 ASSIST OTHER AGENCY-GENERAL Charlie Evans / Buffalo
NORTH PLATTE, NE
04/09/2013 12:14:49 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS 1100 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 12:28:13 CITIZEN ASSIST NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 12:39:15 OTHER DISTURBANCE 2600 W 21ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 12:50:39 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION 100 N ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 12:55:48 TERRORISTIC THREATS 1700 W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 13:18:37 CITIZEN ASSIST 1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 13:27:22 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT W 7TH ST /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 13:50:01 CITIZEN ASSIST 2400 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 14:06:27 DOMEST ASSAULT-MISD 1400 W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 14:40:09 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION 700 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 14:48:12 THEFT BY DECEPTION NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 15:09:07 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER 1500 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 15:35:54 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC 4000 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 15:44:21 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL 400 S LINCOLN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 16:12:28 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 1300 N Carr
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 16:17:14 CITIZEN ASSIST 1200 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 17:06:34 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT W 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 17:06:40 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 18:03:16 ALARM-GENERAL 500 W 18TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 19:02:17 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET 300 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 19:05:08 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED 1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 20:23:38 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 900 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 20:35:02 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER 300 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 20:36:16 CITIZEN ASSIST 700 E Philip
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 22:06:15 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS W Reid /S Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 23:14:38 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 23:48:35 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS E E ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/09/2013 23:59:25 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT 800 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 00:16:48 ASSIST FIRE DEPT 2600 W 21ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:23:37 ASSIST OTH AGENCY 1700 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:34:58 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS W 4TH ST /N MILLS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:39:01 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS W B ST /S ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 02:30:15 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 02:51:19 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET 300 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 03:21:46 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 05:58:43 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2800 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 06:29:59 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103
04/10/2013 07:03:58 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL W PHILIP AV / DILLON CT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:15:41 WELFARE CHECK 400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:43:02 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION 1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:50:28 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL W 1ST ST /N SHERIDAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:59:12 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION 300 N GRANT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 08:25:07 MOTORIST ASSIST 3400 S NEWBERRY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 00:16:48 ASSIST FIRE DEPT 2600 W 21ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:23:37 ASSIST OTH AGENCY 1700 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:34:58 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS W 4TH ST /N MILLS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 01:39:01 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS W B ST /S ASH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 02:30:15 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 02:51:19 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET 300 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 03:21:46 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE 200 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 05:58:43 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY 2800 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 06:29:59 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103
04/10/2013 07:03:58 PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS A ST / Lakeview AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:15:41 WELFARE CHECK 400 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:43:02 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION 1400 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:50:28 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT W 1ST ST /N SHERIDAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 07:59:12 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION 300 N GRANT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 08:25:07 MOTORIST ASSIST 3400 S NEWBERRY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 08:47:35 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 900 E 5TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 09:28:23 WELFARE CHECK E 13TH ST /N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 09:52:31 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC 300 W C ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 10:05:54 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 100 W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 10:15:19 UNCONT JUV MALE 200 W 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:13:14 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION W Leota ST /S Jeffers ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:19:25 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION 1100 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:21:20 CARE OF ANIMALS 800 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:27:43 ALARM-GENERAL 800 S ELM ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:29:52 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION 300 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:36:00 TRAFFIC HAZARD POPLAR VIADUCT,
1 POPLAR VIADUCT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 11:42:33 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV E 4TH ST /N Poplar
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 12:22:36 CITIZEN ASSIST 1100 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 12:25:25 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV S Oak / Reid
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/10/2013 12:37:02 DRUG PARPH- USE OR POSSESS 1100 HALLIGAN DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 13:11:34 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV B ST / Jeffers AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/10/2013 13:22:30 EXPIRED INTRANSIT TAGS RODEO RD /N CURTIS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 13:38:57 SPEEDING 700 W WALKER RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 13:47:14 FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN W PHILIP AV /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 14:07:16 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV W B /S Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103
04/10/2013 14:30:13 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION 1100 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 14:43:43 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION 100 E F ST
North Platte, NE 69101
04/10/2013 14:54:02 SPEEDING 2nd ST / Jeffers AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 15:05:06 FORGERY- 1ST DEGREE 4500 SOUTH PARKWAY DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 15:34:45 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL W B ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 16:09:13 WELFARE CHECK 2000 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 16:18:29 WELFARE CHECK 3000 W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 16:21:53 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION E Philip AV /s Dewey ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 16:41:17 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL W B ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 17:11:46 WATCH FOR/INFORMATION 1900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 17:34:09 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL HALLIGAN DR /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 18:43:49 OTHER DISTURBANCE 800 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 18:45:39 SUSPICIOUS PERSON N CARR AV /W 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 18:51:25 FALSE REPORTING W 1ST ST /N MADISON AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 19:00:47 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY 900 E E ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 19:32:10 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF 600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 19:45:08 ASSAULT ON OFFICER- 1ST DEG 600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 20:28:30 ASSIST FIRE DEPT 1300 S TABOR AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 20:31:15 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF 700 N POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 23:06:16 CITIZEN ASSIST NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 23:09:13 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS W PHILIP AV /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/10/2013 23:47:29 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 01:02:42 ASSAULT- 2ND DEGREE 1700 N FRANKLIN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 02:06:06 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL E 4TH ST /N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 03:50:21 FALSE REPORTING 200 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 06:12:01 WELFARE CHECK 400 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 06:43:41 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 07:43:14 MOTORIST ASSIST BUFFALO VIADUCT-NORTH,
1 BUFFALO VIADUCT
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 07:49:44 TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL RODEO RD /N CURTIS AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101
04/11/2013 07:55:46 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC 700 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

Alcohol Enforcement in Nebraska Hits Budget Hurdle

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state-patrol-logoAn effort to boost state-level alcohol enforcement in Nebraska is colliding with budget realities in the Legislature.

Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber presented a bill Thursday to increase the number of Nebraska State Patrol officers, who would focus primarily on alcohol-law enforcement.

The patrol has 477 sworn officers, the lowest number since 1986. Karpisek says the number of alcohol licenses has surged during that time.

Lawmakers spent the morning debating the proposal’s costs, without reaching a vote. Some questioned whether they should commit money specifically for alcohol-law investigators, as opposed to giving the State Patrol more money for officers in general.

Karpisek has scaled back his original proposal from 15 officers to 10, and he says that number is still fluid.

__

Federal Cuts Impact National Monuments in Nebraska

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Scottsbluff National Monument
Scotts Bluff National Monument

Officials at two national monuments in Nebraska are reducing staff and eliminating programming due to federal budget cuts.

The automatic, across-the-board cuts have affected Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice and Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering.

Homestead Superintendent Mark Engler says five percent, or $62,000, has been taken from the park’s annual budget of about $1.2 million. Scotts Bluff Superintendent Ken Mabery says the park is losing five percent of its annual budget of about $1 million.

Homestead’s cuts include a popular campfire series, and some grounds keeping and janitorial services. Scotts Bluff is cutting some of its summer staff and shortening its hours.

Both Engler and Mabery say the cuts could affect how many people visit the park.

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