Authorities say the fatal shooting of a man in western Nebraska was an accident.
Sidney radio station KSID reports that 28-year-old Donald Vizina was at a friend’s house in the southern Panhandle city of Sidney on Sunday evening. The friend told police that Vizina was handling a gun when it went off and the bullet struck Vizina.
Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub says Vizina’s fatal head wound was self-inflicted and accidental — not a suicide.
According to a North Platte Police Department (NPPD) Media Release from Public Information Officer Rodney Brown, at around 9:50 PM on January 13th, Officers from the NPPD became involved in a vehicular pursuit with a 1996 Honda Accord northbound on Ash Street after the vehicle refused to stop.
The fleeing vehicle’s speeds soon reached approximately 60 mph, at which time the Officer terminated the pursuit due to unsafe driving conditions in a residential area. Minutes later the fleeing Honda was witnessed losing control and colliding with at least one other vehicle near W. A Street and Ash. The identified driver fled the scene west between W. 1st and 2nd Streets. A non-compliant, uninjured passenger was temporarily detained and later released.
Officers soon located suspect, Ryan Gabel, 24, near Washington Elementary, at which time he was detained and questioned regarding the pursuit and accident. Following the investigation Officers determined there was probable cause to arrest Gabel for multiple charges to include Violating a Traffic Control Signal, Stop Sign Violation, Driving Under Suspension, Careless Driving, DUI, Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and Misdemeanor Operating a Motor Vehicle to Avoid Arrest. Gabel was jailed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.
A drug investigation continues due to contraband seized from the Honda Accord.
Police Call Log January 11th-14th:
01/11/2013 01:11:45 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″
01/11/2013 01:50:05 FIGHT-NO ASSAULT “200 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 02:00:49 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 03:44:34 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “2000 BURLINGTON
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 04:27:15 NO NEBRASKA OPERATORS LICENSE “RODEO RD /N MAPLE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 06:55:27 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103”
01/11/2013 07:08:45 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “900 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 09:28:51 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “2100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″
01/11/2013 09:40:04 UNAUTH OPER OF A MOTOR VEHICLE “2700 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 10:04:10 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION “N BUFFALO BILL AV /W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″
01/11/2013 10:24:09 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- FROM BUILDING NO TRESPASS “1300 MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 10:23:03 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “4000 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 10:47:48 THEFT BY DECEPT BY USE OF CREDIT/CHARGE CARD “900 N HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 11:01:30 BURGLARY “400 E 7TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 11:28:12 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1800 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 11:42:22 BARKING DOGS “1200 W 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 11:37:13 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 12:00:06 LOOSE ANIMALS “900 S BRYAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 13:13:00 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1500 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 13:51:12 ABANDONED VEHICLE “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 14:04:19 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “600 E FRANCIS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 15:09:13 THEFT BY DECEPTION “5560 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103”
01/11/2013 15:48:05 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “200 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 15:46:46 USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 16:59:16 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “N BUFFALO BILL AV /W 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 17:00:46 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “SUNSET DR / MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 17:07:56 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1400 N SHERIDAN
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 17:07:13 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “1900 W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 17:13:17 SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE “W 4TH ST /N VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 17:33:37 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “700 S BAILEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 18:02:58 INJUR ACCID-NO ALC RELAT “E D ST /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 19:18:09 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1807 WASHINGTON
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 19:18:09 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “E PHILIP AV / INDUSTRIAL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 19:34:50 OTHER DISTURBANCE “1200 W 10TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 19:51:40 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “1400 RODEO RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 21:22:42 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E LEOTA ST /S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/11/2013 23:06:04 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 00:20:15 LOOSE ANIMALS “1100 W B ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 00:35:57 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “3000 WRIGHT AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 01:46:32 INJUR ACCIDENT-ALC RELAT “E C ST /S POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 03:18:47 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 04:53:23 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 E 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 06:04:27 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 E 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 06:56:09 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1600 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 07:04:18 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LEE BIRD FIELD,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
North Platte, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 07:12:37 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 E 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 08:49:46 SPEEDING “400 W Leota
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 08:50:14 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “3400 S NEWBERRY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 08:55:53 USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN 800 N JEFFERS
01/12/2013 08:58:27 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1900 CEDARBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:00:44 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2300 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:13:45 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1100 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:17:12 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2300 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:22:04 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1800 CEDARBERRY RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:27:36 CITIZEN ASSIST “1400 N SHERIDAN
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:43:18 OTHER EQUIP VIOLATION “W Philip AV /S Vine ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 09:56:12 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “800 E 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 11:07:45 VIOL TRAFFIC CONTROL DEV “E FRANCIS ST /S POPLAR ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 11:19:52 SPEEDING “Willow Viaduct
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 11:22:27 TRAFFIC ACCIDENT-GENERAL “E PHILIP AV / INDUSTRIAL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 11:30:45 IMPROPER LN USAGE “1000 S Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 12:21:53 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “E Philip AV /s Dewey ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 12:29:04 OTHER DISTURBANCE “300 E 13TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 12:36:02 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “2100 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 12:41:16 WELFARE CHECK “2800 W 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 12:49:21 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “3200 W 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 13:19:06 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “100 S BARE AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 13:36:33 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “200 E 9TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 13:58:50 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “1000 S DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 14:03:24 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “900 W PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 14:29:04 THEFT BY EXER CONT-USE OF FRAUD CREDIT CARD “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 14:50:53 ANIMAL DISEASE CONTROL “100 W WILLIAM AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 15:07:06 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “400 W 1ST ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 15:13:11 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1200 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 15:20:40 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “1300 E 4TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 16:25:43 CITIZEN ASSIST “1100 E 8TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 16:34:24 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “500 EASY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 16:51:15 STANDBY TO PREV VIOLENCE “400 N DEWEY ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 16:53:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1200 S EMORY AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 17:59:27 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- ALL OTHER “2300 W 14TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 18:10:31 ANIMAL COMPLAINT OTHER “2300 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 18:40:40 GEN PARK & TRAFFIC “700 E 12TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 19:03:16 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “3200 S NEWBERRY
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 19:22:33 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “2800 W 4th ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 19:22:17 HARRASS-ANNOY PHONECALLS “2400 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 19:32:42 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “800 N Silber
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 19:48:33 TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNALS “E PHILIP AV /S WALNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 21:05:27 STANDBY TO PREV VIOLENCE “2400 E 2ND ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 21:50:11 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “W B ST /S VINE ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 22:06:42 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “2000 S Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 22:33:32 MOTOR VEH LIGHT REQUIREMENTS “E 11th /N Jeffers
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/12/2013 22:51:24 VIOL PROT ORDER “900 N EASTMAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 22:59:51 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “600 GILMAN AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 23:23:42 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/12/2013 23:26:55 SUSPICIOUS PERSON “1200 W 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 00:01:58 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “200 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 01:38:02 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101″
01/13/2013 01:37:47 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “500 N JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 01:38:54 ASSAULT- 3RD DEGREE- MINOR INJURY “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 02:22:16 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “W 2ND ST /N HAYES AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 03:32:08 OTHER DISTURBANCE “500 PACIFIC PACE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/13/2013 07:07:54 DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE “W B ST /S WILLOW ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 08:20:38 DISTURBING THE PEACE AND QUIET “500 E 3RD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 09:49:20 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 09:52:28 NO PROOF OF INSURANCE “S WALNUT ST /E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 10:09:00 ASSIST OTH LAW ENF “600 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 10:41:46 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2300 SUNSET DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 10:53:59 THEFT BY SHOPLIFTING “500 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 11:15:44 LOUD MUSIC “700 S YORK AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 12:17:28 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “1100 S Tabor
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/13/2013 12:26:24 72 HR PARKING VIOLATION “900 DEVCO CR
North Platte, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 12:32:52 H&R ACC-NO ALC RELATED “200 E 6TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 12:56:14 LOOSE ANIMALS “900 W WILLIAM AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 13:55:53 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “E 4TH ST /N COTTONWOOD ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 14:33:01 LOOSE ANIMALS “200 W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 14:33:06 USE THIS WHEN DUP OR UNKNOWN “300 W LEOTA ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 14:45:57 SPEEDING “W 16TH ST /N BUFFALO BILL AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 14:56:20 LOOSE ANIMALS “400 W 8TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 15:23:19 FOUND PROPERTY “800 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 15:49:11 SPEEDING “I80 OVERPASS,
2400 S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 16:31:08 EXPIRED PLATES/REGISTRATION “E WALKER RD /S JEFFERS ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 16:30:20 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF “2500 CEDARBERRY LN
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 16:42:22 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “NORTH PLATTE,
1 NORTH PLATTE
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 16:57:02 SPEEDING “1900 W Rodeo Road
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/13/2013 16:54:53 WELFARE CHECK “700 E PHILIP AV
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 17:43:56 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2300 W D ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 18:09:20 FAMILY DIST-NO ASSAULT “2000 W 15TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 18:11:00 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1100 S Tabor
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69103”
01/13/2013 18:10:35 PROP DAMAGE-NO ALC RELAT “W B ST / MCDONALD RD
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 18:11:14 THEFT BY EXER CONTROL- THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE “400 S CHESTNUT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 19:41:22 THEFT OF SERVICES BY DECEPTION “100 PLATTE OASIS
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 21:27:12 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “2500 W FRONT ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/13/2013 21:51:47 OPER MV TO AVOID ARREST-MISD “S ASH ST /W A ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/14/2013 00:00:46 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/14/2013 01:46:54 SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY “1100 E 11TH ST
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/14/2013 01:57:20 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “AIRPORT,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
01/14/2013 07:14:25 AIRPORT SECURITY CHKPOINT “LBF,
5400 E LEE BIRD DR
NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101”
One of the men charged in connection with a drug-related slaying in western Nebraska has pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the man accused of shooting Adam McCormick.
The Sidney Sun-Telegraph reports 35-year-old Billy Fields pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony as part of a deal with prosecutors.
Fields agreed to testify at James Custer’s second-degree murder trial.
Custer is accused of fatally shooting McCormick on Nov. 3 in Sidney. Authorities have said they think the two men were arguing about $160 in drug money.
Prosecutors say Fields and Custer’s girlfriend, Amber Davis, both helped Custer flee to Big Springs after the shooting, and then provided misleading information to police.
Davis faces two misdemeanor charges, and she’s due back in court on Jan. 28.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values as low as -7. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around -2. Wind chill values as low as -13. South southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values as low as -17. West wind 7 to 13 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values as low as zero. Southwest wind 13 to 15 mph becoming west northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 13.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 41.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 44.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 20.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 41.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.
A Minatare man has pleaded no contest to manslaughter in the traffic death of a 21-year-old Gering man.
Online court records show that that 21-year Drew Schmaltz pleaded no contest to the charge on Friday. In exchange, prosecutors dropped drunken driving and felony motor vehicle homicide charges.
Police say Schmaltz was driving a vehicle carrying five other men when it went off the road and rolled three times. Five of the six people in the vehicle were ejected, and Taylor Magdaleno died.
Court records say that at the time of the crash, Schmaltz had a blood alcohol level of .155 — nearly twice the legal driving limit.
Schmaltz faces up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced on Feb. 26.
The Nebraska State Patrol has released the names of four men killed in the crash of a twin-engine plane Friday afternoon, January 11, near Maxwell in Lincoln County, Neb.
The fatalities have been identified as the Mark Bottorff, 54, Lancaster, Kan., Ken Babcock, 71, Hiawatha, Kan., Jason Drane, 39, St. Joseph, Mo., and Chris Nelsen, 53, York, Neb.
The twin-engine plane piloted by Bottorff, was reported missing shortly after taking off from the North Platte airport around 3:46 p.m., (CST) on Friday, January, 11. The plane was located in a field approximately 13 miles Northeast of Maxwell.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are investigating the crash.
According to a Media Release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), on the afternoon of January 11, Deputies from the LCSO, with assistance from the North Platte Police Department, executed a search warrant at 604 E. 2nd Street in Hershey. The home’s resident was Chad E. Hall. LCSO Investigators had developed information that Hall, a convicted felon, was in possession of at least one firearm and other stolen items.
Upon executing the warrant, Deputies and Officers located firearms both in the garage and in the residence. A large gun safe was found and eventually open with the assistance of a lock smith. After opening the safe, a large stash of firearms were found, including twenty one long guns (several of which were assault weapons), seven pistols and a large flare gun. At least one on the assault rifles is believed to be fully automatic.
Hall was located in North Platte and arrested for being a felon in possession of firearms. The investigation continues, and authorities expect additional charges to be filed. He was booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center and remains in custody. Hall is also a suspect in numerous theft cases in North Platte and Lincoln County, according to LCSO officials.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is now offering three- and five-year hunting, fishing and combination permits.
The multiyear permits provide a 10 percent to 20 percent discount over permits bought each year.
The permits include all necessary state stamps as part of the price.
Multiyear permits do not include big game and turkey permits.
The multiyear permits were developed in response to a survey of hunters and anglers. More than 50 percent indicated an interest in buying multiyear permits.
The new permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org and at Game and Parks permitting offices.
UPDATE: The Associated Press Reports:
An official with a Kansas concrete contractor has confirmed that the pilot killed in a central Nebraska plane crash was the owner of the company.
Jerry Ernzen, vice president of operations at Bottorff Construction of Atchison, Kan., says 54-year-old Mark Bottorff, of Lancaster, Kan., died in the Friday crash that also killed three others.
Ernzen, speaking Saturday for Bottorff’s family, said the three others on board were with agriculture equipment companies in Kansas and Nebraska who were doing business with Bottorff, which owned the plane.
Authorities lost contact with the plane about 10 minutes after it took off from North Platte on Friday afternoon.
Federal aviation investigators are heading to the crash site. Neither they nor local officials would confirm Bottorff’s identity. Officials also are not yet releasing the names of the others killed.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A tragic plane crash near Maxwell has claimed the lives of four people Friday afternoon.
According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office, the plane wreckage was located approximately 11 miles northeast of the Regional Airport at North Platte.
Federal Aviation Spokesman Elizabeth Isham-Cory reported to the Associated Press that the victim’s names are not being released until family members could be notified, and reported that the plane was a small multi-engine aircraft.
The plane reportedly took off from North Platte at 3:46pm en route to York, which is located about 170 miles east of North Platte. Contact was lost with the plane shortly after takeoff, and a search was initiated when the it did not make it to its destination.
The crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, with assistance from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
The North Platte Post is currently gathering more details and will bring them to you as soon as they are available.
