Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Light south wind becoming south southwest 10 to 15 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. South wind 6 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of rain before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 47. North wind 7 to 11 mph.
A North Platte woman, accused of abusing her child at a child care facility in June, pleaded not guilty in Lincoln County District Court.
Amanda Hastings, of the daycare known as “Little Monkeys Child Care”, is charged with felony child abuse, pleading not guilty in district court on December 4th.
On June 25th, 2012, Hastings allegedly hit her son at the Little Monkeys Child Care, according to the news release from the North Platte Police Department,
Officers were told that allegedly the suspect, Amanda Hastings both struck and kicked her son the victim causing the child injury and pain.
Hastings is scheduled to appear for a jury trial in the district court on March 19th, 2013.
A North Platte man, who is also a convicted sex offender, pleaded not guilty to 1st degree sexual assault of a child on Tuesday, December 4th, 2012, in Lincoln County District Court.
Donald Warfield, 69, is accused of inappropriately touching a girl when she was seven. The girl, who was fifteen when she reported the alleged abuse, told investigators that the touching progressed over 3-4 years. Warfield is charged with 1st degree sexual assault. Warfield was convicted in 2002 of 3rd degree sexual assault on an 11-year-old female who was living near him at the time of the reported assault.
Warfield is scheduled to appear in district court on January 17th, 2013, for trial.
On Tuesday, a North Platte man charged with motor vehicle homicide has pleaded guilty in Lincoln County District Court.
Michael Malmkar, 21, of North Platte, withdrew a plea he made previously and plead guilty of two felony charges, motor vehicle homicide and failing to stop & render aid. According to court documents, Malmkar pleaded not guilty to the charges against him in February of 2012.
On June 16th, 2011, Malmkar hit Levern and Roberta Walter while they were riding their bikes. Malmkar left the scene and 58-year-old Levern Walter died from his injuries.
Malmkar faces a maximum of five years in prison and possibly a $10,000 fine when he is sentenced on Monday, February 25th in 2013.
A 30-year-old western Nebraska man has been given seven years in prison for having thousands of images of child pornography on his home computer.
Thomas Schildt, of Gering, had made a deal with federal prosecutors who dropped one of the counts against him in exchange for his guilty plea to receiving and distributing child pornography.
Prosecutors said in a news release Monday that Schildt also must serve 10 years of supervised release after he leaves prison and must register as a sex offender.
Schildt was arrested on state charges last year, but they were dismissed as state prosecutors gave way to the federal case.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. South wind 6 to 8 mph.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 66. Light south southwest wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
Nebraskaland Days already had Lady Antebellum scheduled to play on June 21st for one of Nebraska’s biggest summer events but now two more music talents will join the fun.
Four time Academy of Country Music Award Nominee, Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett agreed to appear in North Platte for NLD’s June 21st show.
The news release from NLD describes Lee Brice as a well-liked country talent,
“”Lee Brice is a proven talent,” said Concert Chairman Hans Julius. “And Thomas Rhett’s first single is sure to be one of the most talked about songs of the year. We couldn’t be more pleased.””
Lee Brice’s latest album “Hard 2 Love” has rewarded him with success of the title track recently peaking to the #1 position.
Purchase your tickets at for the June 21st NEBRASKAland Days concert with Lady Antebellum and special guests Lee Brice and Thomas Rhett at nebraskalanddays.com
Just before 11:30 p.m., Friday, November 30, a trooper conducted a traffic stop for speedingon eastbound Interstate 80 near the mm 180 in Lincoln County. Upon making contact with the driver of a 2012 Mazda, the trooper smelled an odor of marijuana coming from the car. A probable cause search led to the seizure of 25.5 lbs of marijuana. The marijuana contained in 15 packages was located wrapped in Christmas paper in the trunk of the vehicle.The driver of the vehicle, Robert L. McLeod, 25, Sunrise, Fla., and a passenger, Benjamin T. Whitted, 28, Lauderhill, Fla., were both lodged in the Lincoln County Jail, each on a charge of
possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.
Authorities say a 31-year-old man has died after being hit by a train in the western Nebraska city of Gering.
Scotts Bluff County Attorney Doug Warner identified the victim of Thursday’s accident as Brendan Pratt. Warner says Pratt was an area resident but didn’t have a permanent address.
Authorities say Pratt was struck around 6:45 p.m., about 100 yards from the Country Club Road crossing. Warner says some witnesses reported that Pratt was lying on the tracks, but that hasn’t been confirmed.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a northwest wind 19 to 24 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
On November 30th, 2012, fourteen people were arrested for their involvement in a drug investigation which began around September in 2011.
Arrested Individuals Include:
Bill Smith of Lexington, Male
Dennis Hines of Lexington, Male
Jibril Nur of Lexington, Male
Michael Gilmore of Lexington, Male
Shavon McCourt of Lexington, Female
Jorge Yzeta of Lexington, Male
Toby Grieser of Cozad, male
Jason Costanza of Cozad, Male
Troy Kraft of Cozad, Male
Charles Albertson of Cozad, Male
Stephanie Carlson of Cozad, Female
Michael Willets of Cozad, Male
Albert Jaso (Currently in Custody of the South Dakota State Penitentiary), Male
One 17-year-old juvenile, Male.
According to the news release, members of the CODE (Cooperative Operation for Drug Enforcement) Task Force, working on a Joint Operation, executed fourteen arrest warrants for individuals accused of distributing controlled substances and/or aiding and abetting distribution of a controlled substance. According to authorities, the substances which were seized during the investigation were marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine and pharmaceutical controlled substances.
Agencies involved in the investigation include, Lexington PD, North Platte PD, Broken Bow PD, Cozad PD, Dawson County Sheriff, Custer County Sheriff, Red Willow County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), the DEA(Drug Enforcement Administration) and Homeland Security.
