The weather got wild Friday night in Lincoln County.

A little after 5:30 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm for Central Lincoln County, as a somewhat small cell blossomed and started moving through the area.  However, the cell quickly gained strength and a Tornado Warning was issued at 6:00 after trained weather spotters confirmed a tornado on the ground.

Lincoln County Emergency Management Director, Dan Guenthner, reported that the tornado did touch down about two miles south of the Gerald Gentleman Power Plant near Sutherland.  Luckily the twister stayed over a very rural area, and no damage was reported.

The storm brought with it torrential rain, ping pong ball sized hail, funnel clouds and winds in excess of 60 mph.

Trained weather spotters also reported two additional funnel clouds to the Post.

Friday night’s twister was the first in the State for 2013.

 

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is slated to begin collecting walleye eggs, requiring the temporary closure of fishing spots at Sherman and Merritt reservoirs and Lake McConaughy.

The collection is slated to begin on April 1, weather permitting. Commission officials will place warning signs for boaters and anglers, to keep fishing lures and boat propellers from becoming entangled in the nets.

State officials predict it will take up to 10 days to collect the nearly 62 million eggs needed to satisfy walleye stocking requests for Nebraska waters in 2013. Inclement weather or poor catch rates could extend the dam closures.

 

 

• Kirk Allen Brown, 35, Stapleton NE and Melissa Marie Thompson, 26, Stapleton NE

 

• Charles Gene Kramer, 27, North Platte NE and Nicole Christine Schmidt, 28, North Platte NE

 

• Troy Everett Garrels, 38, North Platte NE and Kira Lee Hill, 30, North Platte NE

 

• Walter Waldemar Yanes Ortega, 28, Lexington NE and Lizeth Adrianna McFadden, 29, Lexington NE

Authorities say Nebraska’s preliminary unemployment rate for February was unchanged at 3.8 percent, matching the revised rates for January and December.

The Nebraska Labor Department said in a news release Friday that the rate was two-tenths of a point lower than in February 2012 and less than half the national February rate of 7.7 percent for this year.

The 3.8 percent state rate is the second-lowest figure in the country, trailing only North Dakota.

A 29-year-old woman is scheduled to be sentenced in May for the deaths of her 11-year-old daughter and another passenger in a central Nebraska crash.

Amanda Wilder, of Sargent, pleaded no contest in Buffalo County District Court to two counts of felony manslaughter.

Authorities say Wilder was speeding while driving a pickup on Aug. 22 about 2½ miles south of Miller on U.S. Highway 183. Crash investigators say Wilder lost control of the truck and it rolled, ejecting Wilder, 11-year-old Destani Wilder and Wilder’s friend Rebecca Veeder.

The girl and Veeder were pronounced dead at the scene. Wilder and another daughter, 8-year-old Montannah, were taken to a Kearney hospital for treatment and soon released. Investigators say none of the four was wearing a seat restraint.

 

In what appears to be a familial ruckus, North Platte Police have arrested a mother, her son and the son’s girlfriend after an early morning scuffle.

Officers with the NPPD responded to the 800 Block of North Bryan at around 6:30 on Thursday morning after dispatchers received a reported assault.

Police contacted Cynthia Catchings, her son Michael Catchings and Michael’s girlfriend Krystien Schutt.  Police say it was quite obvious that the trio had all been drinking and fighting.

As officers investigated, they discovered that Schutt had punched Michael Catchings, which had enraged Cynthia Catchings so she punched Schutt.

Michael Catchings came to the rescue of his girlfriend by putting his mother in a headlock.  Officers learned that somewhere along the line, Cynthia Catchings had also choked her son.

All three were arrested.  Cynthia Catchings was charged with Third Degree Assault for punching Schutt and Felony Assault for choking Michael.  Michael Catchings was charged with Felony Assault-Strangulation for trying to choke out his mom and Schutt was charged with Misdemeanor Simple Assault for striking Michael Catchings.

Officers booked the trio into the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says a western Nebraska resident has shot and killed an adult male mountain lion near his home.

A written release from the commission says the animal was killed Wednesday in the Pine Ridge of Dawes County, about 10 miles south of Chadron.

The release says a man spotted the 160- pound animal while walking along a creek near his home. The man says the cougar was about 20 yards from him and that his attempts to scare the mountain lion away by making noises didn’t work.

The man then shot the cougar with a 9 mm handgun about 150 yards from his home.

Mountain lions are a protected species in Nebraska, but may be killed if threatening people or attacking livestock.

An 18-year-old North Platte man is facing serious charges after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend.

On March 26, Deputies with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to a North Platte residence after speaking to a female who reported that she was the victim of an assault.

Deputies spoke with the victim who advised Deputies that her boyfriend, Justus Case, punched and strangled her until she lost consciousness.

The alleged assault occurred while the couple was parked in the parking lot at Dodge Hill, just south of North Platte.

The victim told deputies that after she regained consciousness, she was once again assaulted by Case, but managed to lock him out of the vehicle.

Case then jumped on the victim’s vehicle and shattered the windshield.  He then told the victim that he was going to “kill her.”  The victim was able to escape in the vehicle, leaving Case behind at the scene.

Later that evening, Deputies located Case at his grandparents house and placed him under arrest.  He was charged with Misdemeanor Domestic Assault, Criminal Mischief and Felony Strangulation.  He was then booked at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The victim received treatment for her injuries at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center Emergency Room.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed against Case.

 

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

03/27/2013

00:05:04

NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323

RODEO RD /N SHERMAN AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

00:35:04

DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION

REID AV /S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

01:32:31

PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS

Vine / F NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

01:47:16

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

1000 W PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

04:57:52

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LEE BIRD FIELD, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

06:57:37

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

LBF, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

07:45:10

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

Philip / McDonald NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

07:46:54

OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION

1100 S DEWEY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

07:55:00

SPEEDING

600 W WALKER RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

07:59:20

SPEEDING

2900 W Sunset NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

08:06:32

SUSPICIOUS PERSON

400 N DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

08:29:31

SPEEDING

600 W WALKER RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

09:09:35

SPEEDING

3800 S Willow NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

09:41:54

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

2800 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

09:56:22

INHALE OR DRINK INTOX SUBSTANCES

1200 W 2ND ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

10:01:31

SPEEDING

1100 W 4TH NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

10:40:35

THEFT BY FAILURE TO RETURN LOST/MISDELIV PROP

2500 S OAK North Platte, NE 69101

03/27/2013

10:47:38

SPEEDING

700 MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

11:01:07

SPEEDING

700 MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

11:02:25

SPEEDING

I-80/HWY 83 NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

11:17:09

VEHICLE INSPECTION

3800 S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

11:18:04

FAILURE TO YIELD ROW

I-80 / HWY83 NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

11:29:39

WELFARE CHECK

2300 W 3RD ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

11:40:42

THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING

1900 W A ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

11:41:00

BARKING DOGS

800 S CHESTNUT ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

12:46:22

ABANDONED VEHICLE

1400 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

12:47:45

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

Dewey AV / Leota AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

12:53:47

ASSIST OTHER AGENCY-GENERAL

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

12:00:00

LOST PROPERTY

1300 MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

13:07:29

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

W A ST / MCDONALD RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

13:14:25

NO PROOF OF OWNERSHIP

Halligan AV / Jeffers AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

13:21:31

BURGLARY

1400 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

13:54:33

STALKING

200 W 9TH ST North Platte, NE 69103

03/27/2013

14:03:53

SPEEDING

1900 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

14:11:56

LITTERING

200 W 9TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

14:19:48

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

800 S DEWEY ST North Platte, NE 69101

03/27/2013

14:40:23

ASSIST OTH LAW ENF

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

14:54:14

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

1100 Halligan Drive NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

14:59:25

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

Philip / Poplar NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

15:26:31

LOOSE ANIMALS

2400 W 15TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

15:42:40

ASSIST FIRE DEPT

2300 E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:02:42

CARE OF ANIMALS

3100 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:11:52

SPEEDING

Hwy 83 / I-80 overpass NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

16:14:14

SPEEDING

1900 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:15:08

LOOSE ANIMALS

E D ST /S BAILEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:21:06

SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE

600 S SILBER AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:41:59

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

N SYCAMORE ST /W 11TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:45:54

OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION

200 W FRANCIS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

16:58:07

LOOSE ANIMALS

BUFFALO VIADUCT-NORTH, 1 BUFFALO VIADUCT NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:04:28

DEAD ANIMAL CALL

800 E 3RD ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:23:17

LOOSE ANIMALS

E E ST E /S COTTONWOOD ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:29:23

UNCONT JUV MALE

W 2ND ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:31:18

LOOSE ANIMALS

221 S ASH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:31:40

WELFARE CHECK

1100 S TABOR AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:48:16

LOOSE ANIMALS

900 W B ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:50:18

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL

E 5TH ST /N JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

17:49:37

PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT

W 5TH ST /N JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

18:06:11

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL

W 4TH ST /N WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

18:41:13

THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER

1900 W A ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

19:30:37

LOOSE ANIMALS

E 5TH ST /N TAFT AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

19:32:54

LOOSE ANIMALS

1400 N SYCAMORE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

19:41:48

ILLEGAL TURN

W 7th ST /N Willow ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

20:02:38

SPEEDING

E Philip /S Taft NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

20:25:58

PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS

E Philip /S Bryan NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/27/2013

20:39:00

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

N MCCABE AV /E 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

20:52:09

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

S TABOR AV /E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

21:00:22

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

E 3RD ST /N BELMONT AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

21:05:45

CITIZEN ASSIST

1400 MCDONALD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

21:45:19

LV SCENE OF ACC PROP DAMA

400 W 10TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

22:28:45

SPEEDING

W 2ND /N BUFFALO NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

22:42:35

SPEEDING

SUNSET /S BUFFALO NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

22:45:14

SPEEDING

E PHILIP AV /S TABOR AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

22:46:28

VIOLATION OF RESTRAINING ORDER

400 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/27/2013

22:51:28

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

HALLIGAN DR /S JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

00:19:46

CITIZEN ASSIST

W 20TH ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

00:27:04

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

AIRPORT, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

00:43:48

SPEEDING

E FRANCIS ST /S COTTONWOOD ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/28/2013

00:58:16

FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN

300 S Dewey North Platte, NE 69101

03/28/2013

01:12:48

GEN PARK & TRAFFIC

2300 E E ST E NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

01:48:00

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

N SILBER AV /E 12TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

03:00:29

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

AIRPORT, 5400 E LEE BIRD DR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

03:31:56

FIGHT-NO ASSAULT

1000 W 11th ST North Platte, NE 69101

03/28/2013

03:37:37

CITIZEN ASSIST

100 PLATTE OASIS PKWY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/28/2013

05:50:47

WELFARE CHECK

300 HOLIDAY FRONTAGE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

Three North Platte High School students were hospitalized on Wednesday for taking more than the recommended dosage of over-the-counter cough medicine in an attempt to get high.

According to North Platte Police, officers responded the NPHS along with the North Platte Fire Department after receiving a report of a possible overdose.

Police say one of the students stole the pills from a local business and gave them to the other students, at which time they all took “several” pills.

The student who stole the pills was cited for Using Intoxicating Compounds, Shoplifting and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

The other two students involved were both cited for Using Intoxicating Compounds.

All of the charges in this case are misdemeanors.

Police say they do not know the condition of the three students involved, but assume they would have heard if there had been complications arising from the pill consumption.

The students were all conscious, breathing and able to communicate with law enforcement when they were contacted at the school.