The latest survey of Nebraska farmers suggests the winter wheat crop may be in better shape.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture report for the week ending March 31 says 49 percent of the wheat was rated poor or very poor. The previous report said 61 percent of the wheat was rated poor or very poor.

The soil moisture data weren’t encouraging, however, as the statewide drought continues.

Topsoil moisture supplies were rated 37 percent very short, 43 percent short and 20 percent adequate. Subsoil moisture supplies were rated 60 percent very short, 36 short and 4 percent adequate.

The survey says 31 percent of the expected oat crop has been planted, compared with 35 percent last year at this time and 16 percent on average.

A North Platte man is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after causing trouble at a local bar last weekend.

Officers with the North Platte Police Department responded to Shooters at around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday after receiving a report of a disturbance.

Upon arrival, bar staff told officers that 31-year-old Jacob Titman was being unruly and refused to leave the property.  Titman continued to be belligerant and refused to cooperate with police.

When officers attempted to place Titman under arrest, he resisted their efforts.

Officers were finally able to place Titman in handcuffs and transported him to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Staff at the jail was unable to complete the booking process due to statement made by Titman and he was then take to Great Plains Regional Medical Center for an evaluation.

While at the hospital, Titman continued to be uncooperative and belligerent with both hospital staff and police.  He assaulted an officer while at the hospital by kicking him in the jaw.

Titman was eventually medically cleared at was taken back to the Detention Center.

He is charged with 3rd Degree Assault of an Officer (Class IIIA Felony), Resisting Arrest 2nd Offense (Class III Felony), 2nd Degree Criminal Trespassing (Class II Misdemeanor) and Disturbing the Peace (Class III Misdemeanor).

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it will be conducting a labor survey of Nebraska’s farms and ranches later this month.

Dean Groskurth is director of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service office in Nebraska. Groskurth says the data will let state and federal policymakers establish labor policies that help ensure farmers can get enough hired help.

The data also will help the USDA and U.S. Labor Department establish minimum wages for agricultural workers, administer farm labor recruitment and placement programs and help lawmakers adjust labor policies.

The survey results are expected to be released on May 21.

A collision between a moving vehicle and a parked car sent one man to the hospital on Monday evening.

The accident happened about 6:45 p.m. on Sunset Avenue just east of William Avenue.

The black car (pictured), driven by a male, was westbound when it collided with a red jeep parked on the north side of Sunset.

Witnesses to the accident told the Post that the impact was extremely violent and caused the black vehicle to flip and land on its top.

The Firefighters with the North Platte Fire Department were able to extract the male driver and immediately transported him to Great Plains Regional Medical Center with unknown injuries.

Witnesses said the driver appeared to be talking to Paramedics as they loaded him into the ambulance.

Law enforcement on the scene would not comment on the possible cause of the accident or the condition of the male driver, stating that the accident is under investigation.

(This is a developing story.  The Post will provide more details as they become available.)

Beginning on the morning of Tuesday, April 2, road work will be performed on East Philip Avenue between Prospect Drive and Bicentennial Avenue.

East and west bound lanes will be restricted to a width of 11 feet and lower speed limits will be posted in the construction area.  The project is anticipated to be complete by Friday evening April 5.

Motorists are urged to use an alternate route.

If you have any questions, please contact the City of North Platte Engineering Department at 535-6724.

Nebraska authorities have been searching for a 39-year-old Missouri fugitive.

The Nebraska State Patrol used a helicopter and police dogs while looking for Lloyd Tabor III on Friday. Officers say Tabor fled on foot after a vehicle he was driving got a flat tire on Nebraska Highway 2 near Halsey in the north-central part of the state.

It’s believed the vehicle had been stolen from Hot Springs, S.D.

Authorities say they think Tabor stole a truck in Thedford, Neb., on Saturday. The truck was found abandoned in the North Platte area on Sunday morning.

Tabor is wanted in Missouri on several charges, including burglary and resisting arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Contact 911 or local law enforcement with any information.

A monthly economic survey index for nine Midwest and Plains states jumped last month, suggesting improving economic growth for the region over the next three to six months.

The Mid-America Business Conditions index hit 58.2 in March, compared with 53.1 in February and 53.2 in January.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he credits the index jump to “the strongest new-orders growth in two years.”

The survey of business leaders and supply managers uses a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth while a score below 50 suggests decline for that factor.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

A 37-year-old Nebraska man who was arrested last year with nearly half a pound of marijuana and other drugs has been sentenced to three to five years in prison.

Glenn Condon was sentenced Friday. He pleaded no contest to delivering cocaine as part of a deal with prosecutors who dropped all other drug charges.

Condon was arrested in December as police were investigating a theft from the Wal-Mart parking lot because an officer smelled marijuana in his pickup truck.

Police say the Scottsbluff man had a dozen oxycodone pills and a small amount of cocaine.

(AP) — Members of the University of Nebraska at Kearney student government are collecting used sports equipment to donate to the Special Olympics.

Students have organized a local Play it Forward group to collect the equipment.

Organizer Katie Swett says the students are trying to raise enough equipment for participants in Special Olympics to be able to play more sports.

Stan Banks, who helps lead Kearney’s Special Olympics, says the chapter needs softball and baseball gloves, bats and tennis rackets because it’s hard for the athletes to afford the gear.

Banks also hopes to add tennis and softball to the Kearney Special Olympics.