The Nebraska Tourism Commission is getting the word out that parks and attractions in northwest Nebraska are open for business, despite recent wildfires in the region.

Nebraska Tourism Commissioner Mike Kesselring says travelers should know that attractions in communities like as Chadron, Crawford and Hay Springs are open and accessible. Those attractions include museums, parks, forts, wildlife areas, golf courses and national monuments.

Kesselring says visitors to Chadron State Park may see a change in the scenery, but will still find a full slate of outdoor experiences such hiking, biking, fishing, camping and hunting. The park closed briefly late last month because of fire. Toadstool Geologic Park, noted for its moonlike geologic formations, also reopened after a short closure, and Fort Robinson State Park remains open.

Today: Patchy frost before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 41. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.

Here Is a North Platte Crime Update…

On Tuesday September 4^th an investigation at Hansen’s Heating & Cooling (120 Rodeo Rd) led to the arrest of Daviene Morrissey.  The 38-year-old stole over $1500.00 worth of money. According to Officer Rodney Brown from the North Platte Police Department Morrissey stole the money through various methods over an 18 month period.  After investigation Daviene was arrested for theft by unlawful taking over $1500.00.

On Sunday September 9^th a violation of a protection order took place at the intersection of E and Dewey. The NPPD investigated the situation where they learned that the suspect 20-year-old Chase Comeau had yelled obscenities at the 21 year old female who had the protection order against him. Comeau was then incarcerated the next day for the protection order violation.

The latest technologies and advancements in the investigation of human trafficking, sexual assault and stalking are among the topics to be discussed during a training conference sponsored by the Nebraska State Patrol.

Entitled “Crimes of Power and Control”, the two day conference, Sept. 19-20, at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center in Kearney, will present best practices and emerging ideas dealing with a variety of topics centered around the crimes of human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.

Participants will hear from national speakers on the impact of sex trafficking on our communities, developing a community response to crimes of power and control and working with trauma victims. Sessions will also be provided on the use of technology in stalking cases, state firearm laws and enforcement, and achieving victim participation in the criminal justice system.

Conference participants will include prosecutors, advocates, medical personnel, victim assistance programs, corrections officers, campus personnel, law enforcement and individuals working with sexual assault and stalking victims or offenders. Funding for the conference is provided by a grant awarded to the Nebraska Crime Commission.

Union Pacific Railroad is assembling an all-star cast of locomotives to attend the North Platte Railfest Sept. 14-16, including its six-unit heritage fleet. UP’s heritage engines first debuted in 2005 and feature the Chicago & North Western Railroad, Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, Missouri Pacific Railroad, Missouri-Kansas Texas Railroad, Southern Pacific, and Western Pacific Railroad.

Also scheduled to attend are Cheyenne-based 4-8-4 No. 844 and the railroad’s commemorative diesel locomotives, pink ribbon No. 7400 and Boy Scouts of America No. 2010. UP will also be bringing its gasoline-powered 1956 mini train.

North Platte Railfest runs Sept. 14-16, 2012. More information can be found online at www.nprailfest.com.

Today: Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 74. West wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 79. Light west southwest wind becoming south southwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon.

(Maxwell, NE – North Platte Post)

In a news release from LINDEMEIER, GILLETT & DAWSON, Attorney Robert Lindemeier makes the following statement.

I have been retained in regard to the employees of Maxwell High School who have been accused of Failure to Report Sexual Abuse. These individuals acknowledge the seriousness of these allegations against them, but they do not want to try this matter in the media. Because of some material omissions in the media accounts, I want to respond with the following:

These individuals maintain that they followed school policy and Nebraska law. They obtained accounts of what happened from several students. They investigated the allegations and determined there was no reasonable cause that a child had been subjected to abuse.

During the course of the school’s investigation in these matters, the alleged victim and his mother told the school employees more than once that the abuse did not happen Currently, the alleged victim and his mother deny any abuse ever took place.

There has been reference to a video in the news media accounts, however, that video has not been produced. The woman who reported the video said it was on the victim’s phone. She actually never saw the video, but was only told about it. When the school was made aware of the video they investigated. Among questioning several students, they directly asked the alleged victim and his mother about the video. They were told the video did not exist.

These employees investigated these matters appropriately under Nebraska law and according to the school policy. They have cooperated with law enforcement during the Nebraska State Patrol investigation. There was never any attempt to cover up any abuse.

All allegations of abuse are taken seriously by the Maxwell High School employees. They believe they have followed the proper steps in this case.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Lindemeier

 

The North Platte Post has not seen the video in question at this time.  In a phone interview with Lindemeier,  he states that there has been no reference from the Nebraska State Patrol to the schools internal investigation where the alleged vicitm and parent both state that the incident did not happen.

On Tuesday September 11^th a fatal one-vehicle accident left a Lincoln County man dead.

At around 5:26pm deputies from Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the accident southeast of Brady about a quarter mile east of McPheeters Road on Banner Road. Once deputies arrived they found 39-year-old Monte Hueftle dead at the scene.

According to a release form the Lincoln County Sheriff a witnesses said Hueftle was heading west when a tire on the vehicle blew, sending it into the south ditch striking two trees before stopping.

Hueftle wasn’t wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was partially ejected from the vehicle.

An Accident Reconstructionist from the LCSO was called on scene to complete investigation. Result are pending on the investigation. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor.