Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager has announced payments to 189 companies to support the production and expansion of advanced biofuels.  Four are from Nebraska.

Ag Processing, Inc. headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska will receive $942,335 in payments for biodiesel production from soybean, canola and waste vegetable oils at their St. Joseph, Missouri, Sargeant Bluffs, Iowa, and Algona, Iowa production facilities. Chief Ethanol Fuel, Inc. will receive $10,110 in payments for ethanol production from sorghum at its plant located in Hastings, Nebraska. Cornhusker Energy Lexington, LLC will receive $12,105 in payments for ethanol production from sorghum at its plant located in Lexington, Nebraska. KAAPA Ethanol, LLC will receive $658 in payments for ethanol production from sorghum at its plant located in Minden, Nebraska.

“These payments support the nation’s expanding alternative fuels industry by encouraging the use of renewable feedstocks and helping to create a stronger energy future,” Tonsager said. “Advanced biofuels production is a key component of the President’s ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy, which is designed to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil.”

The payments total more than $15.7 million. The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development’s Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Under this program, payments are made to eligible producers based on the amount of biofuels produced from renewable biomass from a wide variety of non-food sources, including waste products.

Examples of eligible feedstocks include but are not limited to crop residue; animal, food and yard waste material; and vegetable oil. Through this program and others, USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary to build a strong biofuels industry that brings enhanced economic opportunity to rural areas.

For a list of the 166 producers receiving payments of more than $500 for the production of advanced biofuels, please click here (The 23 producers receiving payments of $500 or less are not included in the list.)

For information on Rural Development loans and grants to other rural businesses and individuals, visit Rural Development’s new interactive web map featuring program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2011. The data can be found at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html.

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $174 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

The 35-year-old mother of Upland, who was convicted of organizing a prostitution ring to prostitute her two young daughters, will be sentenced separately in three different counties, each count combined could reach up to 500 years in prison.

The woman made no-contest pleas to 13 felony charges in Franklin, Furnas and Buffalo County which includes charges of child pornography and conspiracy to commit sexual assault of a child.

The Nebraska State Patrol says she allowed multiples of men to have sex with her two daughters, who are only 14 and 7-years-old, through arrangements made on craigslist. So far at-least five men have been placed under arrest, one of the men are from North Platte and another is from McCook.

The convicted mother faces a 90-year-sentence this December in Buffalo County, In January, she faces up to a 50-year-sentence in Furnas County and in Franklin County she faces a possible sentence of 360 years in prison.

Today: A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. North northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the evening.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

On November 22^nd, at about 1PM, officers with the North Platte Police Department were dispatched to La Casa Nueva, 1911 E. 4^th Street, after someone reported that someone has been stabbed in that area.

Before officers arrived to the reported location they were told that the suspect, 34-year-old Quincy Shugart, left the scene on foot, only to be arrested shortly after an investigation which included the Nebraska State Patrol and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s office.

When officers arrived to La Casa Nueva they discovered a vehicle behind the building that appeared to have blood inside and outside of it. Inside the restaurant is where officers found the 23-year-old male who had been stabbed, injuring his neck and torso area, according to the NPPD in a news release:

 

Officers then located a 23 YOM, victim inside the business.  The victim was then transported by ambulance to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center, where he received medical attention for lacerations to his neck and torso.

The victim alleged that he and Shugart were involved in a physical altercation during which Shugart brandished a knife and stabbed him.

 

The following investigation and search of Shugart included help from the LCSO’s K-9 Handler, Deputy Jeff Gaasch and K-9, Zeigo.

Officers found that Shugart ran north and that he may be located near the 1700 block of E. 6^th Street, though officers found Shugart north of UPRR property during the search. Upon arrest, officers found what is believed to be methamphetamine in the suspect’s possession along with prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia which is being held as evidence.

Shugart was arrested for 2^nd degree aggravated assault with a weapon and is currently being housed at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

The drug investigation continues.

Keep up to date on everything happening in North Platte LIVE on the North Platte Post Police Scanner Page..

Authorities say they’ve arrested a suspect in the robbery of a Nebraska Panhandle bank branch.

Scottsbluff police say 42-year-old Michael Scott was arrested early Friday morning at a mobile home in Scottsbluff.

He’s suspected of robbing a Valley Bank branch in Scottsbluff on Wednesday afternoon. The robber didn’t show a weapon and no injuries were reported.

Authorities say Scott also is a suspect in other theft and fraud cases.

Scott remains in Scotts Bluff County Jail. Online court records don’t list the name of his attorney.

 

Panhandle Post Has More Information, Click Here

A Scottsbluff man and his girlfriend have been given probation after receiving illegal drugs through the mail.

The Scottsbluff Star-Herald reports  that 22-year-old Andrew Vanderveen and 20-year-old Sarah Trook were sentenced on Wednesday.

Vanderveen was convicted of possession of a controlled substance for sale after prosecutors dropped three other felony counts. He was given three years of probation.

Trook pleaded no contest to being an accessory to attempted possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors dropped four other drug counts. She got two years of probation.

Authorities say investigators saw Vanderveen pick up from his post office box an envelope containing LSD. Authorities say Trook tried to hide other drugs that Vanderveen said he had.

WHAT: The day after Black Friday is Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 24^th this year, was created in 2010 by American Express in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: creating more demand for their products and services.

In 2011, Small Business Saturday gave a boost to Main Street merchants and spurred millions of Americans to shop at independently-owned small businesses, including President Obama, who took his daughters on a shopping trip to an independent bookstore a few blocks from the White House.

Small Business Saturday 2012 will be BIGGER than ever and the “Shop Small” initiative is resonating with more small business than ever. According to the inaugural Small Business Saturday Insights Survey, 46 percent of independent merchants plan to incorporate Small Business Saturday into their holiday strategy, and the majority (67 percent) of them say they will offer discounts on November 24^th.

WHERE:  Downtown North Platte

WHEN:  Saturday, November 24, 2012

WHO: Dan Mauk, President/CEO of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce, is available for on-site interviews to help shape your holiday shopping stories.

They can discuss:

1. The importance of local businesses to our economy and job creation
2. The benefits of shopping small that consumers often overlook, such as connecting with your neighbors and gaining a sense of community involvement (not to mention fewer crowds, better customer service, etc.);
3. Background on Small Business Saturday
4. Impact of Small Business Saturday on America’s small businesses