A Nebraska civil rights organization is warning a western Nebraska county that its public defender’s office is woefully understaffed, to the point of violating state and federal constitutions.

The Nebraska chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says Dawson County had only a part-time public defender with a part-time deputy to handle more than 250 cases last year.

The ACLU says the standard is no more than 150 felonies per full-time public defender each year.

The group sent a letter Thursday to the Dawson County Board of Commissioners, saying the public defender’s office must be better staffed, or the ACLU could sue.

Dawson County Commissioner Butch Hagan said Thursday he had not seen the letter and that the board will soon be voting on staffing for the public defender’s office.

A North Platte man was arrested and charged with assault for punching a juvenile.

Officers responded to the 700 block of West Walker Road on March 19 after they received a report of an assault.

North Platte Police charged 48-year-old Kent Lower with assault for allegedly striking a juvenile male in the face during an argument.

Lower has been charged with felony child abuse.  His bond was set at $10,000.

 

 

A North Platte man who is already in jail, has been charged with another crime.

According to a news release, on December 12, 2012, the North Platte Police Department (NPPD) received a complaint in regards to the theft of a wallet from a vehicle.

The victim, a 17-year-old male, then learned from his bank that his stolen debit card had been used four different times for fuel and cell phone minutes.

Following further investigation, it was determined there was probable cause to arrest Bradley Clark, 26, for Unauthorized Use of a Financial Transaction Device.

Clark, who was already incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center for Possession of Meth and another unrelated theft, was issued a summons on Thursday and placed back into custody.

The current charge is a misdemeanor.

A North Platte man has been arrested and charged with Statutory Rape for the second time.

According to North Platte Police Public Information Officer Rodney Brown, an Investigator with the North Platte Police Department (NPPD) received information on March 6 that Christopher Russell, 19, reportedly had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old female.

Russell, who is currently in custody at the Lincoln County Detention Center, had been previously arrested on March 1 for having sex with a 14-year-old female.

Following an investigation, the Investigator determined there was probable cause to charge Russell with a second count of 1st Degree Sexual Assault, a Class II Felony.

Nebraska law prohibits anyone 19-years-old or older from having sex with anyone under 16 years of age.

Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison.

A Nebraska man has been sentenced to 60 days in jail and four years of probation for writing a bomb threat on a restaurant job application.

38-year-old Jason Dornhoff was sentenced earlier this week for the threat last July. Dornhoff had pleaded no contest as part of a deal with prosecutors.

Police arrested Dornhoff on July 5 after the threat was found. Prosecutors say Dornhoff wrote on the back of the application, “I have no money, a huge bomb in my truck, and a syringe of bleach that will kill you instantly. If you be quiet and help me, you won’t die.”

Police did not find a bomb.

The judge ordered Dornhoff to complete counseling. Prosecutors say he was using methamphetamine before making the threat.

Bankers in 10 Midwest and Plains states expect the rural economy to continue growing in the months ahead because of the strength of farm income.

The overall economic index on the March Rural Mainstreet survey remained at a healthy level of 56.9 even though it was down from February’s 58.2.

Any score above 50 on the index, which ranges from 0 to 100, suggests growth in the months ahead. Scores below 50 suggest contraction.

Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the report. He says the survey suggests farmland values will continue to grow and home sales are beginning to grow.

The index is based on a survey of rural bankers in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

COURTESY OF THE NORTH PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

03/20/2013

00:08:52

WELFARE CHECK

2300 E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

00:20:03

DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION

S WILLOW RD /W WALKER RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

00:21:28

OTHER DISTURBANCE

800 W 11TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

01:27:10

FAILURE TO YIELD ROW

N Willow /W 4th North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

01:53:15

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

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

03/20/2013

02:56:02

WELFARE CHECK

400 E 12th North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

05:21:01

SPEEDING

W PHILIP /S CARR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

06:22:53

FOUND PROPERTY

1200 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

07:11:19

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

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

03/20/2013

07:27:37

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

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

03/20/2013

07:30:59

SPEEDING

200 N Buffalo Bill North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

07:34:13

ILLEGAL TURN

1500 W FRANCIS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

07:38:11

SPEEDING

1200 BURLINGTON BL NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

07:49:19

IMPEDING TRAFFIC 39-665

1500 W Francis NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/20/2013

08:02:57

THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM MOTOR VEHICLE

2000 E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:05:00

SPEEDING

1300 E E ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:06:34

SPEEDING

1400-1300 W 4th North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:08:12

ESCORT – CARPENTERS

2700 W E ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:17:36

SPEEDING

1400 BURLINGTON BL NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:19:13

SPEEDING

1900 W Rodeo Rd NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/20/2013

08:59:44

PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT

W 3RD ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

08:55:45

DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET

300 W 4th ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

09:11:05

H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED

E 8TH ST /N BRYAN AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

09:39:18

SPEEDING

2000 Rodeo Road North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

10:02:38

SPEEDING

1400 BURLINGTON BL NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

10:39:02

LOOSE ANIMALS

2400 W 15TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

10:41:43

CITIZEN ASSIST

600 W LEOTA ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

10:40:35

CITIZEN ASSIST

100 S ELM ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

10:44:53

B.E.A.T. COMM POLICING

1400 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:12:53

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

200 BLK E 4TH North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:22:52

SPEEDING

1200 W PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:27:42

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

900 W 9TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:32:51

SPEEDING

1200 W PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:44:57

SPEEDING

1200 W PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:49:04

FAILURE TO YIELD ROW

W 2ND ST /N WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

11:56:12

WELFARE CHECK

1900 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

12:03:02

HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS

2400 W 9TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

12:13:28

VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV

RODEO RD /N WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

12:28:44

SPEEDING

1400 W 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

13:11:33

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

400 W 2ND ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

13:14:28

SPEEDING

Willow / Front North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

13:40:00

BARKING DOGS

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

03/20/2013

13:51:15

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

3rd / Buffalo North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

13:55:49

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL

E 4TH ST /N DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

13:56:49

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

800 W 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:09:22

EXPIRED INTRANSIT TAGS

A / SHERMAN North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:12:42

USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:17:44

OTHER DISTURBANCE

400 N WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:25:00

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

800 W 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:32:14

ASSIST OTH LAW ENF

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:39:30

THEFT BY EXER CONTROL-MOT VEH PARTS & ACC

1000 W 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

14:54:49

ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER

300 W LEOTA ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

15:02:19

EXPIRED INTRANSIT TAGS

4th / Washington North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

15:05:11

OTHER DISTURBANCE

1000 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

15:12:02

OWN ACCIDENT REPORT

S CHESTNUT ST /E FRANCIS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

15:30:06

EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION

1100 W B ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

16:02:01

LOOSE ANIMALS

1400 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

16:18:16

LOOSE ANIMALS

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

03/20/2013

16:27:22

SPEEDING

1900 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

16:28:21

SPEEDING

Grant / 4th North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

16:32:42

LOOSE ANIMALS

600 S BELMONT AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

17:10:02

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

700 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

17:13:35

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

900 W 5TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

17:15:07

NON-CRIMINAL/GENERAL

700 S WALNUT ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

17:46:40

DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION

E 4th /N Chestnut NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/20/2013

18:27:24

THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING

1400 RODEO RD NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

18:41:08

USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN

NORTH PLATTE, 1 NORTH PLATTE NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

19:23:57

NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323

W D ST /S WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

19:24:16

SPEEDING

E 8th / Taft NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

19:24:45

THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING

1400 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

19:28:19

BURGLARY

400 N DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

19:58:11

LOUD MUSIC

W 3RD ST /N MILES AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

20:19:54

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

W 19TH ST /N MADISON AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

20:31:44

DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET

1000 E 8TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

20:51:56

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

E 14th /N POPLAR NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

21:18:17

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS

S Dewey /E PHILIP NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

21:32:35

SPEEDING

Front /N Ash North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

21:36:36

TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS

E Philip /S DEWEY NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

21:46:29

SPEEDING

Front /N Ash North Platte, NE 69101

03/20/2013

21:57:09

HANDICAPPED PARKING

1600 E 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

22:00:24

THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER

2300 E 6TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

22:17:22

NO LICENSE PLATES 60 323

W 2ND ST /N WILLOW ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/20/2013

22:59:25

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

1800 Rodeo Road NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/21/2013

00:31:08

DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET

1000 E 14TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

00:37:12

FAILURE TO SIGNAL TURN

5th/Jeffers NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103

03/21/2013

00:41:50

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

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

03/21/2013

01:02:37

PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS

W 4th ST / N Buffalo NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

01:17:09

PREF RIGHT OF WAY-STOP AND YIELD SIGNS

W 4th ST / N Buffalo NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

01:21:55

FOUND PROPERTY

1200 S DEWEY ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

01:31:45

MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS

E 9TH ST /N JEFFERS ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

01:39:48

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

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

03/21/2013

02:06:40

ILLEGAL TURN

W A ST / MICHAEL AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

02:55:33

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

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

03/21/2013

03:41:15

SUSPICIOUS PERSON

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

03/21/2013

05:10:47

DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET

2000 BURLINGTON NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

05:29:43

ASSIST FIRE DEPT

500 E PHILIP AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

05:35:17

BURGLARY

1200 E 4TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

06:48:21

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

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

03/21/2013

06:50:39

AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT

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

03/21/2013

07:01:02

SUSPICIOUS PERSON

600 W 3RD ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

07:20:22

DEAD ANIMAL CALL

W 9TH ST /N AUGUSTA AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

07:44:24

LOOSE ANIMALS

800 W 8TH ST NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

07:46:57

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

W FRANCIS ST / UNION AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

03/21/2013

07:54:15

TRAFFIC ENFORCE GENERAL

W FRANCIS ST / UNION AV NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101

In less than a week, more than 80 Nebraska high school students from across the State, will travel to the State Capitol for the 15th Nebraska Capitol Forum on America’s Future.

The event is sponsored by Humanities Nebraska and Secretary of State John Gale.  Capitol Forum is designed to engage high school students in a discussion about our nation’s future in a changing international environment.  This year, 21 teachers and their students are taking part.

The day will begin with a greeting from Governor Dave Heineman and Secretary Gale.  During the morning, students will meet in break-out sessions in which they will discuss U.S. foreign policy topics including: terrorism, immigration, global environment, trade and nuclear proliferation.  The afternoon session will feature student presentations related to the future of  U.S. foreign policy.

“Capitol Forum has been an incredibly successful program that has reached over 20,000 Nebraska high school students.  The students study, debate and absorb the breadth of American foreign policy.  With the globalized world we live in, that is extremely important for this generation,” said Gale.

As part of the program students also create posters, which will be on display in the Rotunda, depicting their various viewpoints.

The day will culminate in a question-and-answer period in the Warner Chamber involving U.S. Senator Mike Johanns and U.S. Representatives Jeff Fortenberry and Lee Terry.

Upon completion of the one-day event, teachers and their students return home an share their experiences with their classmates, broadening the impact of Capitol Forum to more than 1,500 students statewide.  Those classes will complete a ballot describing their view of America’s future role in the world.  The results will be compiled and distributed to elected officials, Nebraska schools and news media.

North Platte High School teacher Dennis Fornander will be one of the Lead Teachers for the event.

Starting January 1, 2013, Great Plains Regional Medical Center’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Greg Nielsen, began his year-long position as treasurer of the Nebraska Hospital Association.

The Nebraska Hospital Association is a statewide trade association representing Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems that was established 1927.  It’s governed by a 17 member board of directors, who works closely with association members to provide them with state and federal legislative advocacy, health care trend and regulatory information, educational programming, communication, data reports and special services.

“The NHA has been an essential part of the healthcare delivery in the state of Nebraska since its inception,” said Nielsen, “The NHA board members and staff work hard to ensure that Nebraska is on the forefront of quality and innovation.”

Nielsen became Chief Executive Officer at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in 2009. Under Nielsen’s leadership, GPRMC has grown its services throughout west central Nebraska. Nielsen has partnered with the medical staff to grow new product lines and strengthen the hospitals overall portfolio of service offerings; including a hospitalist program, bariatric program, the first certified stroke center in Nebraska outside of Omaha and Lincoln and Great Plains Heart & Vascular Center.

The mission of the NHA is as follows, “The Nebraska Hospital Association is the unified voice for Nebraska’s hospitals and health systems. NHA will provide collaborative leadership, assisting its members to provide comprehensive care to their communities, improving the health status to those communities.”

“I’m excited about the chance to represent advanced healthcare in our state by serving on the NHA board,” said Nielsen, “I’m also looking forward to partnering with the state of Nebraska to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare throughout the state.”

Nielsen is also a board member of the North Platte Area Chamber of Commerce/Economic Development Corporation and the Mid-Plains Community College Foundation. In addition, Nielsen also serves as a Nebraska Hospital Association Political Advisory Committee Member.

Nielsen earned a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a Bachelor’s in Healthcare and Long-term Care Administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Before coming to Great Plains Regional Medical Center, Nielson was CEO of Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City, Montana, a 137-bed hospital/long-term care facility.

Lawmakers waded into an intense gun debate Wednesday during a hearing on several bills, including two that would try to prevent the federal government from enforcing new firearms restrictions in Nebraska.

Supporters filled a hearing room at the Capitol to speak in favor of the measures, while each bill faced a heavy grilling from the Legislature’s longest-serving member, Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha.

Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont said he modeled his bill after legislation introduced in Wyoming. Janssen, a Republican candidate for governor, pointed to other states that have defied federal laws, including Colorado, where voters recently legalized marijuana.

Nebraska lawmakers already have considered several proposed gun restrictions aimed at juveniles, introduced in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The 20-year-old shooter killed 20 students and six faculty members before committing suicide.

“These tragedies cannot and should be not be used to abridge the rights of responsible Nebraskans,” Janssen said.

Chambers called several of the bills “preposterous,” saying the bills focused on nonexistent problems and were a futile attempt to trump federal law. Chambers said the measures could create a scenario in which a local sheriff would have to arrest federal agents who were confiscating illegal guns.

Chambers said the bills were introduced to exploit “naive, fearful” residents who falsely believe that Nebraska can trump federal law.

“To put it on the books doesn’t mean anything except that the Legislature is foolish,” Chambers said.

The bill drew support from two rural Nebraska sheriffs, Jerome Kramer of Lincoln County and Shawn Hebbert of Grant County.

The bill “at least tells the federal government how we feel in Nebraska,” said Kramer. “We need to make our feelings known, and that’s what I’m doing here today.”

A third measure by Sen. Mark Christensen would require the Nebraska State Patrol to design a standard sign to be used in places where guns are prohibited.

A fourth bill would ban public disclosure of gun permit information. The measure came in response to a New York newspaper that published an online map of all gun-permit holders.

The sponsor, Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion, said he was planning to introduce an amendment that would exempt the news media in cases where a crime was committed. Gun-rights groups argued that revealing gun ownership information could lead to invasions of privacy.

Kintner acknowledged under questioning that gun-permit disclosure hasn’t been a problem in Nebraska but said he introduced the bill as a preventative measure.

“I think this is a measured, reasonable way to head (off) any problems,” he said.

The bill is opposed by several news media groups, which argued that it denies access to public records based on isolated cases from other states.

“It’s a record of our government, and it’s bought and paid for by taxpayers,” said Dave Bundy, editor-in-chief of the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper. The bill “isn’t about keeping information from the news media. It’s about keeping information from the public.”