A trail of candy bars led officers to two teenagers who have been arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a Scottsbluff convenience store.

The two 17-year-olds were arrested early Monday morning.

Officers responded to the store break-in late Sunday night. They followed the trail of dropped Butterfingers bars from the store to a nearby apartment complex. While some officers kept an eye on the apartment building and talked to some residents, others watched a surveillance video from the store.

Police say a pair of cowboy boots worn by one of the burglars matched a pair found at the apartment building’s laundry room. That and other evidence helped officers identify the two teenagers, who were arrested.

Airline passengers will be allowed to carry small knives, souvenir baseball bats, golf clubs and other sports equipment on planes beginning next month.

That announcement Tuesday by John Pistole (PIH’-stohl), head of the federal Transportation Security Administration, drew an immediate outcry from unions representing flight attendants and other airline workers.

The unions said the items can be a danger to airline workers and passengers. They said TSA’s decision to drop its prohibition on passengers carrying the items onboard was made for the convenience of the agency’s screeners, not the safety of the traveling public.

TSA spokesman David Castelveter said armed pilots, federal air marshals and airline crew members trained in self-defense provide additional layers of security to protect against misuse of the items.

The Connection Homeless Shelter has a new leader.

The Connection Board of Directors announced Tuesday that Neal Criddle has been hired as the Executive Director of the Shelter.

Criddle has worked as an Area Manager at the Wal-Mart Distribution Center since 2006, and prior to that, was an Officer with the North Platte Police Department.

Criddle says that he is excited for the future of the Shelter, but knows that there will be challenges with all the changes occurring in Washington.

Additionally, Criddle said, “I truly feel that the Shelter remains a viable resource to the community, and I’m confident that the community will continue to support this ministry as they have for many years.  I promise that I will do everything I can to help people in need and provide them with the resources they need.”

Connection Board President Jim Nelson issued a statement saying, “”The Connection is thrilled to have Neal Criddle, a dedicated local leader, as the new Executive Director of the Connection Homeless Shelter.  Neal is uniquely qualified to lead the way by working with and galvanizing the efforts of the Connection Board, our partners, and community leaders to positively impact the cause of helping the homeless in our region.”

Criddle replaces Roy Lawton who resigned from the position in late October of 2012.

 

A Kearney man will continue to search for a job, however it may be more difficult after he admitted to writing a bomb threat on a job application.

38-Year-Old Jason Dornhoff pleaded guilty to one count of Felony Terroristic Threats in July after reaching a deal with prosecutors.  In exchange, a felony charge of Threatening to Use Explosives was dismissed.

Judge Bill Wright accepted the plea and ordered the state probation department to conduct a pre-sentence investigation, including a drug and alcohol evaluation.

According to Court records, on July 5, 2012, a restaurant employee called the Kearney Police Department after Dornhoff entered the restaurant, filled out an application and wrote, “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.”

When officers arrived, they found the man sitting at the bar.  Police then ordered Dornhoff to the ground at gunpoint and took him into custody.

The investigation revealed Dornhoff had been using methamphetamine earlier that night.  His vehicle was searched, but no bomb or bleach-filled syringe was found.

A Union Pacific engine caught on fire this morning just west of Maxwell.

The smoke could be seen from North Platte, and quickly filled the Platte River Valley, as what appeared to be an oil fire burned on a Union Pacific engine.

The Maxwell Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at about 7:30 to the fire.  By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had, for the most part burnt itself out.

A Union Pacific employee on scene told the Post that no one was injured in the blaze and a railroad official stated that the cause of the fire is unknown and will be investigated.

 

A North Platte man faces sexual assault charges after he allegedly had sex with an underage girl.

A news release from the North Platte Police Department says that 19-year-old Christopher Russell, is charged with First-Degree Sexual Assault after a mother told police that her underage daughter was involved in sexual relationship with him.

According to a statement from the daughter, the relationship was consensual, however, Nebraska law prohibits anyone over 19 from having sex with anyone under 16.

Russel was already incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center on unrelated charges.  His bond for the new charge was set at $250,000.

The City of North Platte’s search for a new Fire Chief will continue.

Mayor Dwight Livingston made a request to the Civil Service Commission to give the test for applicants again, due to the fact that only one applicant passed the test in January.  Four people applied for the position.

North Platte Fire Chief Paul Pederson’s retirement will be effective on March 18th.

According to the Civil Service Commission, applicants must score a 70 percent or better on the Civil Service Test.  Those applicants receiving a passing score are then interviewed by the Commission and a recommendation is then made to the mayor.

The interview process will be extended until April.

The American Red Cross is touting a free app that will forward warnings about tornadoes.

The Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross says the Red Cross Tornado App is available in English and Spanish, giving iPhone, iPad and Android smartphone and tablet users instant access to local and real-time information.

The app includes a high-pitched siren and tornado warning alert that signals people when a National Weather Service tornado warning has been issued in their area, even if the app is closed. An “all clear!” alert will sound when the tornado warning has expired or has been canceled.

The Tornado App, along with the others, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android.

Two Colorado men were incarcerated at the Lincoln County Detention Center on Friday, after they were busted with pot on I-80.

Robert Maltz, 57, and Marcus Maltz, 28, of Idaho Springs, CO were both charged Friday with Possession of Marijuna with the Intent to Distribute after a Trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) stopped them for speeding just to the East of North Platte.

According to a news release from the NSP, the father and son were traveling Eastbound headed toward Chicago in a 2013 Dodge Dart.

NSP officials say the Trooper searched their vehicle and found four packages of marijuana totaling about four pounds.

Troopers believe the father and son were trying to illegally distribute the marijuana that comes from legal dispensaries in Colorado.

Recreational marijuana use was legalized by Colorado voters last November.

According to Deputies at the Lincoln County Detention Center, both subjects have been released after posting bond.

A North Platte man has been arrested after breaking into a local bakery.

Jamey Koch, 41, was placed under arrest early Monday morning after police found in inside Gracie Mae’s Bakery located on Philip and Cottonwood.

Police arrived to find the front window of the business broken out and the alarm was sounding.  Koch was ordered out of the building and placed under arrest.

According to Officer Rodney Brown, Koch had what police believe to be Methamphetamine in his possession, which was discovered in a search incident to the arrest.  Authorities also believe Koch was under the influence of Meth at the time of the crime.

Koch entered a plea of not guilty in Lincoln County Court on Monday, and requested a Public Defender to represent him.  He is charged with Burglary-Forced Entry and Possession of a Controlled Substance.