SUTHERLAND, Neb. (AP) – The Midwest Renewable Energy ethanol plant near Sutherland is halting production for several weeks, citing a surplus of ethanol with falling demand.
About 20 employees will be out of work until production resumes.
General Manager Troy Gavin says that the decision to shut down was based on a lack of profit. He says many plants across the country are also temporarily shutting down.
Today: Scattered flurries before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. North northeast wind between 9 and 11 mph.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around -3. Wind chill values as low as -12. Northeast wind between 3 and 11 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -10. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -9. South wind between 5 and 8 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25. South southeast wind between 8 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Today: Areas of dense freezing fog before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 37. West northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -2. North northwest wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.
Friday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 8. East wind between 5 and 7 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of snow, mainly before noon, then a chance for flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. East northeast wind at 5 mph becoming south southeast. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A North Platte man charged with holding paramedics hostage and threatening to kill them has pleaded no contest.
Carlos Charging Elk made a deal with prosecutors, who dropped three counts of terroristic threats. On Tuesday Charging Elk pleaded to two counts of false imprisonment and one weapons charge. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on March 19.
Authorities say Charging Elk lured paramedics to his home with a false 911 call in August. Police say he pulled a knife and held two paramedics hostage.
No injuries were reported.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (North Platte Post)- A 30-year-old North Platte man faces three felonies after an early morning robbery at a local convenience store.
David W. Traxler has been charged with Robbery, Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony, Terroristic Threats and Resisting Arrest after allegedly robbing the Kwik Stop on Rodeo Road and Madison at knifepoint.
Officers responded to a call around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday that an armed robbery had occurred. After a search police found the suspect, Traxler, on foot near 9th and Carr. He attempted to escape but was subdued with a Taser. The knife used in the robbery was found in Traxler’s backpack as was the exact amount of money taken in the heist. The mask worn was recovered a short time later in a nearby alley.
Traxler was taken to the Lincoln County Jail where he remains. No bond is listed.
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -6. South wind at 7 mph becoming west.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Wind chill values as low as -8. West northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Northwest wind between 7 and 10 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Northwest wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska inmate has pleaded guilty to threatening President Barack Obama.
Loren Hamlin, of McCook, was indicted in November with making threats against the president. Federal prosecutors say he sent a letter from prison saying he would “track down” and kill the president.
Hamlin pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Lincoln last Friday. He faces up to 5 years in prison when he’s sentenced in April.
Hamlin is currently serving 3-to-5 years in prison for burglary in McCook in 2010.
Today: A slight chance of flurries before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. North wind between 8 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. North wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -3. Calm wind becoming south between 4 and 7 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -2. South southeast wind around 6 mph becoming west.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 37. Northwest wind between 7 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Northwest wind between 6 and 8 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. North northwest wind between 9 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Tuesday: A slight chance of flurries before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 24. North wind between 8 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. North wind between 4 and 7 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Southwest wind between 5 and 9 mph.
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) – A 15-year-old North Platte student has been arrested, accused of branding another teenager during a welding class.
The incident occurred Tuesday at North Platte High School.
Lt. Rich Hoagland says one boy touched a hot welding rod to the neck of a 15-year-old classmate. The injured teen was treated.
The other boy was taken into custody and was released on Wednesday.
He’s due back in court on Feb. 29 to face a charge of felony assault.
The boys’ names have not been disclosed.
